from Elliott
I have heard it said that with retirement you find yourself moving from a strong sense of purpose and a sense of being coming from a defined position to a world of less influence and authority. Somehow, though, in that ambiguous place new forms of ‘significance’ emerge in surprising ways through new relationships and engagement with a new calling.
I find myself ‘grieving’ for what I used to do and how what I used to know made me ‘somebody’ in our culture. I had position and it is easy to get used to the benefits of position. Now, I often find myself wondering do I know what I need to know for what I am about to do. Perhaps I am still seeing my new world using the lenses of my former world without having made the necessary transition to a new perspective – a Kingdom perspective.
Being ‘in between’ can be uncomfortable – kind of like straddling a fence! Which side am I on? When you are on both sides, you are really on neither and that is frustrating. While scary, you have to make a decision – one side or the other.
I am learning to seek God’s will for each day and hope that relying solely on his judgments, instead of the judgments of others, may make the transition less complicated and more fruitful.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
A Small Church with a BIG heart for Mission
from Elliott
We got an email out of the blue; they were having a mission conference and needed missionary speakers. We of course, without knowing anything about the church, jumped at the chance; it was our first invitation to speak about the ministry at a church.
Then, the sudden anxious moment – “What are we going to say?”
We gathered some of our South African crafts, made a display board and loaded up the car and headed to Reidsville, NC and Mt. Carmel UMC. The good news is, we had 6 hours to think about what we would present at the various times over the weekend. We met our host family once we got there. They had a daughter near Cason’s age setting our mind at ease as they played.
The more people we met at the church, the more at home we felt and the more at ease we were simply sharing God’s story with them. Folks were friendly, engaged and asked thoughtful questions. It was amazing to me how much easier the presentation was when I allowed it to be ‘God’s story’ that we had been invited to participate in and not let it be ‘our story’ that we were trying to ‘make the sale’ with.
At first I wondered why this church was having this mission focus and then I heard their story. God had been actively engaging this church in mission for many years. In fact, they have been hosting this conference for decades and many missionaries had benefited from this relationship. What at first looked like a typical small rural church was anything but typical! This was a small church with a BIG heart for mission.
We left uplifted and grateful that God had given us a story to tell!
We got an email out of the blue; they were having a mission conference and needed missionary speakers. We of course, without knowing anything about the church, jumped at the chance; it was our first invitation to speak about the ministry at a church.
Then, the sudden anxious moment – “What are we going to say?”
We gathered some of our South African crafts, made a display board and loaded up the car and headed to Reidsville, NC and Mt. Carmel UMC. The good news is, we had 6 hours to think about what we would present at the various times over the weekend. We met our host family once we got there. They had a daughter near Cason’s age setting our mind at ease as they played.
The more people we met at the church, the more at home we felt and the more at ease we were simply sharing God’s story with them. Folks were friendly, engaged and asked thoughtful questions. It was amazing to me how much easier the presentation was when I allowed it to be ‘God’s story’ that we had been invited to participate in and not let it be ‘our story’ that we were trying to ‘make the sale’ with.
At first I wondered why this church was having this mission focus and then I heard their story. God had been actively engaging this church in mission for many years. In fact, they have been hosting this conference for decades and many missionaries had benefited from this relationship. What at first looked like a typical small rural church was anything but typical! This was a small church with a BIG heart for mission.
We left uplifted and grateful that God had given us a story to tell!
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Money Does Grow on Trees
from Cason
Mom and Dad were wrong-money does grow on trees! Last December I (along with mom and dad) was invited to talk to the kids at Landmark Christian School 3rd grade class. I had a great time and the kids really seemed interested in what we told them about our ministry.
Last week my friend Mrs. Hermecz invited me back. She said that the 3rd graders had something for me. My mom and I went and the kids gave me a small tree covered with $1, $5 and $10 dollar bills! I was excited and very surprised. The 3rd graders had a used book sale to raise the money for the ministry. I will take the money with me in may and buy toys for the pre-school.
I think it is cool that God can use kids to make a difference in the Kingdom!
Mom and Dad were wrong-money does grow on trees! Last December I (along with mom and dad) was invited to talk to the kids at Landmark Christian School 3rd grade class. I had a great time and the kids really seemed interested in what we told them about our ministry.
Last week my friend Mrs. Hermecz invited me back. She said that the 3rd graders had something for me. My mom and I went and the kids gave me a small tree covered with $1, $5 and $10 dollar bills! I was excited and very surprised. The 3rd graders had a used book sale to raise the money for the ministry. I will take the money with me in may and buy toys for the pre-school.
I think it is cool that God can use kids to make a difference in the Kingdom!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Waiting
from Katherine
At the end of January I joined good friends from PTCUMC on the annual womens retreat. What fun! One of the talks was titled "Wait". Boy, did I think I had become a professional 'waiter.' Waiting for God's go-ahead to sell our home, business and raise financial support.
I have 'waiting' down pat and I am not patient! One of the things the speaker gave out was a conversation between God and well, it could have been me. It really gave me pause to think about what this process has been all about and how much more I have to learn.
At the end of January I joined good friends from PTCUMC on the annual womens retreat. What fun! One of the talks was titled "Wait". Boy, did I think I had become a professional 'waiter.' Waiting for God's go-ahead to sell our home, business and raise financial support.
I have 'waiting' down pat and I am not patient! One of the things the speaker gave out was a conversation between God and well, it could have been me. It really gave me pause to think about what this process has been all about and how much more I have to learn.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Its not the 'How' but the 'Who'
from Elliott
It is easy to get caught up in ‘How’ questions. How will we get the house sold? How will be raise the necessary financial support to fund our missionary efforts? We do it as individuals as well as churches. It seems especially true in difficult economic times like these and with a God – size calling.
We just had a Mission Conference at Atlanta First and the speaker, Pastor Rudy Rasmus, presented the story of the Woman at the Well. From the discussion between Jesus and the woman, we learn that Jesus makes all things possible as with the example of ‘Living Water.’ Rudy suggested that Jesus takes the ‘How’ out of the question and replaces it with ‘Who.’
By its very nature responding to any calling of God suggests that we focus first on the ‘Who’ and that who is Jesus Christ. A good sign that something is a call of God is when it is impossible to do without Him. We are beginning to see that more and more each day! There is no way our moving to South Africa will happen if it is solely up to us – only God and those that respond to His call to help send us to South Africa can make it happen. That is both humbling as well as comforting!
It is easy to get caught up in ‘How’ questions. How will we get the house sold? How will be raise the necessary financial support to fund our missionary efforts? We do it as individuals as well as churches. It seems especially true in difficult economic times like these and with a God – size calling.
We just had a Mission Conference at Atlanta First and the speaker, Pastor Rudy Rasmus, presented the story of the Woman at the Well. From the discussion between Jesus and the woman, we learn that Jesus makes all things possible as with the example of ‘Living Water.’ Rudy suggested that Jesus takes the ‘How’ out of the question and replaces it with ‘Who.’
By its very nature responding to any calling of God suggests that we focus first on the ‘Who’ and that who is Jesus Christ. A good sign that something is a call of God is when it is impossible to do without Him. We are beginning to see that more and more each day! There is no way our moving to South Africa will happen if it is solely up to us – only God and those that respond to His call to help send us to South Africa can make it happen. That is both humbling as well as comforting!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
The Long Good Bye
from Elliott
There have been 'Good Bye's' before but none like this one. Most are single events; not prepared for in advance even though they are expected. And with technology and convenient travel, most 'good byes' are, at worst, temporary.
This one seems different though. Our departure will happen sometime in the near future but the actual time of departure is an unknown. Also, we don't necessarily see everyone involved on a regular basis and we are blessed to have relationships in places that won't visit before our departure. It seems as though we have already begun those 'good byes' as we enter 2010, knowing that we will be leaving sometime during this year. Every moment of every encounter is savored as we seek to live fully in the present.
With the distance and duration of our commitment to the people in South Africa these 'good byes' feel more profound than the 'temporary' good byes that we are used to. And frankly, with the knowledge that all of us are here on earth just temporarily, some of these 'good byes' feel more 'final' than others - that is, until we meet again on the other side!
There have been 'Good Bye's' before but none like this one. Most are single events; not prepared for in advance even though they are expected. And with technology and convenient travel, most 'good byes' are, at worst, temporary.
This one seems different though. Our departure will happen sometime in the near future but the actual time of departure is an unknown. Also, we don't necessarily see everyone involved on a regular basis and we are blessed to have relationships in places that won't visit before our departure. It seems as though we have already begun those 'good byes' as we enter 2010, knowing that we will be leaving sometime during this year. Every moment of every encounter is savored as we seek to live fully in the present.
With the distance and duration of our commitment to the people in South Africa these 'good byes' feel more profound than the 'temporary' good byes that we are used to. And frankly, with the knowledge that all of us are here on earth just temporarily, some of these 'good byes' feel more 'final' than others - that is, until we meet again on the other side!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Expecting An Exciting New Year!
from Katherine
It is finally here, 2010. We can stop telling folks we will deploy to South Africa 'next year.' Next year is now THIS year!
Is that a bit scary? You bet!
On the other hand, we are so excited we can feel butterflies in our stomachs when we think about the new life God has planned for us. We have met so many people in the past six years during our African travels. At the time we had no idea that God had sent us new friends to help us along the path to our new home. Now with a clear vision we are humbled to see what an amazing God we serve! We have “old” friends who are supporting us financially and with encouragement and new friends to welcome us to our new home.
Don’t we have an awesome God!
It is finally here, 2010. We can stop telling folks we will deploy to South Africa 'next year.' Next year is now THIS year!
Is that a bit scary? You bet!
On the other hand, we are so excited we can feel butterflies in our stomachs when we think about the new life God has planned for us. We have met so many people in the past six years during our African travels. At the time we had no idea that God had sent us new friends to help us along the path to our new home. Now with a clear vision we are humbled to see what an amazing God we serve! We have “old” friends who are supporting us financially and with encouragement and new friends to welcome us to our new home.
Don’t we have an awesome God!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)