from Katherine
Greetings from Colorado Springs and Missionary Training International. We have finished the first week of cross cultural training. Our group has 30 adults and 37 children. We have come from all over the US and will head to 4 continents!
As we wrapped up class yesterday our instructor directed us to add the words, 'As Is' next to our names on our name tags. The purpose is to remind us that we are God's work still in progress. This was very freeing to me.
For years I tried to be what my mom and dad wanted me to be. Then as I grew older, I let society tell me what I should be. Now I can just hear God saying, "I can see my fingerprints on her and I like what I see."
God will continue to mold and shape me and while I will grow in Christ likeness, I can be content being who I am today - As Is.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Stops Along the Way
from Elliott
When we were planning our trip to Colorado for additional cross cultural training we mapped the route on Google. When we examined the route we knew we had been presented an opportunity. The route went through St. Louis and Lawrence, KS both locations of friends and family.
The St. Louis stop offered us a mini-family reunion with one of the branches of my family, the Metzenthin’s. We were grateful for the enthusiastic response. A picnic was planned and an invitation went out and four generations responded! All graciously received ‘our story’ and it was fun to catch up on each one of their lives. We left encouraged and with a sense of increased connectedness as we prepare to leave the US.
The next stop was Lawrence, KS. I had heard what a great town it was but my interest was one of its residents. I had not seen George Thompson, a Davidson College roommate, in many years. In our time together, as we traced each others stories, we realized that much had changed in our lives since Davidson. The surprise was that in some ways, despite starting out in different places after graduation, our paths had converged. Many of his areas of interest and professional focus bear a strong similarity to the journey of discovery that we have been on.
Amazing how God places people in our path and uses others to encourage us along the way!
When we were planning our trip to Colorado for additional cross cultural training we mapped the route on Google. When we examined the route we knew we had been presented an opportunity. The route went through St. Louis and Lawrence, KS both locations of friends and family.
The St. Louis stop offered us a mini-family reunion with one of the branches of my family, the Metzenthin’s. We were grateful for the enthusiastic response. A picnic was planned and an invitation went out and four generations responded! All graciously received ‘our story’ and it was fun to catch up on each one of their lives. We left encouraged and with a sense of increased connectedness as we prepare to leave the US.
The next stop was Lawrence, KS. I had heard what a great town it was but my interest was one of its residents. I had not seen George Thompson, a Davidson College roommate, in many years. In our time together, as we traced each others stories, we realized that much had changed in our lives since Davidson. The surprise was that in some ways, despite starting out in different places after graduation, our paths had converged. Many of his areas of interest and professional focus bear a strong similarity to the journey of discovery that we have been on.
Amazing how God places people in our path and uses others to encourage us along the way!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Cason Visits Port Edward Primary
from Cason
I visited the Port Edward Primary School with my friend Jonathon who is in grade four. It is the school where I will attend when we move. School starts at 7:30am and they wear uniforms like at my former school, Landmark. The uniform is brown shorts and white button up shirts. They also have brown sweaters.
There were about 15 people in the class I visited. The first thing that we did was say the Lord’s Prayer. The teacher asked me to stand and tell the class my name, where I was from and what it is like back home. The classes I attended were math, science, Zulu and Afrikaans. I think I will do fine in math and science but learning two new languages freaks me out.
They have breaks in between classes and for lunch I had something like chicken pot pie. We ate on the soccer field and you can see the ocean from there. During lunch the boys talked about rugby and the girls next to me talked about horses and ponies. Some things are the same as America.
After school I went to rugby practice with Jonathon. I don’t know anything about rugby but I better learn since it is so popular here.
I would really like to spend the day at the tide pools and the beach but I don’t think mom and dad will let me skip school!
I visited the Port Edward Primary School with my friend Jonathon who is in grade four. It is the school where I will attend when we move. School starts at 7:30am and they wear uniforms like at my former school, Landmark. The uniform is brown shorts and white button up shirts. They also have brown sweaters.
There were about 15 people in the class I visited. The first thing that we did was say the Lord’s Prayer. The teacher asked me to stand and tell the class my name, where I was from and what it is like back home. The classes I attended were math, science, Zulu and Afrikaans. I think I will do fine in math and science but learning two new languages freaks me out.
They have breaks in between classes and for lunch I had something like chicken pot pie. We ate on the soccer field and you can see the ocean from there. During lunch the boys talked about rugby and the girls next to me talked about horses and ponies. Some things are the same as America.
After school I went to rugby practice with Jonathon. I don’t know anything about rugby but I better learn since it is so popular here.
I would really like to spend the day at the tide pools and the beach but I don’t think mom and dad will let me skip school!
Another Experience
from Elliott
We often wonder when we are in South Africa who God will place in our path - those people that will become a part of our story. Sometimes it is an experience not a person that informs our understanding. Well as we headed away from Johannesburg a couple of days ago on our way to KwaZulu Natal we met a man name Reginald; a tall man speaking quite proper English with authority. Not just any man though he wore a well pressed uniform of the South African Police.
You don’t often see many police in South Africa although that is not a statement of demand for more are needed. Our friend Reginald was manning a radar post well hidden under some trees and I had been caught going 79 in a 60 zone. Before you make a judgement, that is Km per hour not miles! The procedure was very similar to the US – license, papers, etc. But it became a bit more complex when he wanted to hear the story of our situation. What were we doing here, where had we been and what was my employment?
After reviewing my passport and license, he asked where I worked. I told him Atlanta First United Methodist wondering at first whether that would be bad PR for other local churches for me to be pulled over for speeding. He wondered where Atlanta was in South Africa but was perhaps more confused when I said it was in the US. He then said he would write down that I was a Pastor. I did not argue in hopes that it may be to my benefit.
When he looked at my driver’s license he noted with a smile that it had been my birthday earlier in the week. He said, “You are now 40” Not certain whether this was a test, I corrected him, gently of course. “No, 50” “No, you were born in 1960, which makes you 40” I felt it best not argue at this point but instead accept the compliment. It did make me wonder if math was not his strong suit, how fast was I really going and how would he calculate the fine.
When he came back to the car and handed me the paperwork, he commented, ‘Don’t worry Pastor the fine won’t be much. 250 Rand” I hope I did not look too excited – that is only about $32.00!
Well at least I can check that off the list of authentic South African experiences! But what was God trying to say with that one?
We often wonder when we are in South Africa who God will place in our path - those people that will become a part of our story. Sometimes it is an experience not a person that informs our understanding. Well as we headed away from Johannesburg a couple of days ago on our way to KwaZulu Natal we met a man name Reginald; a tall man speaking quite proper English with authority. Not just any man though he wore a well pressed uniform of the South African Police.
You don’t often see many police in South Africa although that is not a statement of demand for more are needed. Our friend Reginald was manning a radar post well hidden under some trees and I had been caught going 79 in a 60 zone. Before you make a judgement, that is Km per hour not miles! The procedure was very similar to the US – license, papers, etc. But it became a bit more complex when he wanted to hear the story of our situation. What were we doing here, where had we been and what was my employment?
After reviewing my passport and license, he asked where I worked. I told him Atlanta First United Methodist wondering at first whether that would be bad PR for other local churches for me to be pulled over for speeding. He wondered where Atlanta was in South Africa but was perhaps more confused when I said it was in the US. He then said he would write down that I was a Pastor. I did not argue in hopes that it may be to my benefit.
When he looked at my driver’s license he noted with a smile that it had been my birthday earlier in the week. He said, “You are now 40” Not certain whether this was a test, I corrected him, gently of course. “No, 50” “No, you were born in 1960, which makes you 40” I felt it best not argue at this point but instead accept the compliment. It did make me wonder if math was not his strong suit, how fast was I really going and how would he calculate the fine.
When he came back to the car and handed me the paperwork, he commented, ‘Don’t worry Pastor the fine won’t be much. 250 Rand” I hope I did not look too excited – that is only about $32.00!
Well at least I can check that off the list of authentic South African experiences! But what was God trying to say with that one?
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Retirement at 50?
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.
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.
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!
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