Well, summer is over and the kids are back in school. Calvin started Kindergarten this year and Sydney is in second grade. We had a very busy summer, but were blessed to have a chance to spend lots of time with some of our extended family. Those times become much more precious when you realize that by next summer we will be living halfway across the globe.
We’d like to take a minute to say thanks to all of you who are partnering with us in this journey. Your prayers and financial support are invaluable. We are definitely looking forward to getting to Papua New Guinea, but this time we spend in preparation has given us a chance to get to know some amazing people who are a part of our team. In fact, this summer Kendal had the privilege of meeting some of our prayer partners. The residents of the retirement community where Kendal’s mom works have been faithfully praying for us for the past year. While in Oregon this summer, Kendal had a chance to meet this amazing group of people and share with them a little more about what we will be doing and where we are going. What a blessing to meet and share with these faithful members of our team!
Financial update:
We are at 84.8% with $600 p/month left to discover.
We don’t use the word “raise” because really we aren’t earning or raising any money, but you as our partners are supporting us because you care.
We are constantly reminded that we are on God’s clock, not our own. Personally, I (Chad) would like to see 100% before September ends. That would mean we could buy plane tickets to North Carolina at the best value, and make all our training on time, as well as finalize the details of moving. It is an interesting limbo state that we are currently in. If we do not reach 100% in time to purchase plane tickets and leave in January, then we will have to wait until the following August to go. God is sovereign, His timing is perfect. He has answered so many prayers that indicate that this January is the right time that we are acting in faith He will provide. All signs point to January as being when He wants us to depart, which is why we strongly believe we will reach 100% in time.
Please pray. Currently we have reached out to everyone we know, and friends of people we know. Historically missions finances primarily come from churches, but that does not seem to be the method God had in mind for us as over 95% of our current funds come from individuals.
If you attend a church that has an active missions department please contact us.
If you are interested in partnering with us through prayer or finances please contact us.
Please pray that God provide the 100% in time.
If you really want to sing shouts of praise, pray that we reach 100% by September 30th as it would take a load of pressure off of us. Not that God wants us to live pressure free lives (-;
Again, thank you to everyone for your prayer and support. It takes a team to accomplish this work, and we are very thankful to God for you.
9/07/2006
8/30/2006
Learning as we go
I don't desire this to sound preachy, so if it does let me know.
Part of the process of becoming a missionary is learning to let go of control.
Control of when the support will come in, how long it will stay.
There is also the kind of control that comes in the form of leverage.
Americans have leverage because of competition and because they are consumers.
If a service you pay for, doesn't live up to your standards, there is competition you can go to.
As a consumer, you have power and control.
Inside of a missionary organization things are different than inside of a company.
In a company, if they want you to train on something, they pay for the training, and typically it is optional but strongly encouraged.
In a missionary organization, the training is mandatory, and they don't pay for it.
Does it strike you in an odd way if I said, "you have to go to this class, AND you have to pay for it."
In my corporate America culture, that is an offending thought. I don't HAVE to do anything, I'm an employee with skills, I can quit and join a competitor!
Pay for it? Why would I pay for something YOU need me to do?
And so we have this sense of control, of leverage, of options.
I'm in the process of discovering how it feels to lose those ...options.
Admittedly, I have discovered that a lot of my trust is in my ability to creatively negotiate my options.
I don't like getting stuck in a corner in any way. Whether it's a service I pay for, or my career. I like to have possibilities.
It boils down to, finding the truth behind where my trust lies.
When I desire control, and I become upset when I can not have it, I discover that my trust lies in my abilities.
We're losing control. (not self-control). We're losing a lot of our ability to exert force over our environment.
It seems like a sad thing but it isn't.
We are discovering the truth behind putting our trust in Jesus (who is alive!).
Our hope is in Jesus. Not in ourselves.
The possibilities in Christ are endless, who can stand against Him?
Truly, this is a process of dying to self. It is not an easy process. Admittedly for the past week or two I've been emotionally struggling with the idea.
But in the last two days, I've changed from focussing on us, what WE lose, what WE are giving up, and instead discipline my heart towards praising God. It is amazing how, you think you figured it out before making the decision. You say "sure I can give up this, and this and this" and the growth doesn't really come from the easy things to give up, it's when you hit the parts that are harder to give up, the sneaky ones, the parts you didn't anticipate. Something as small as the fact that you won't have as much variety in life.
It was not until I was praising God that my perspective was altered, and I was transformed into a step of humility and understanding.
God is great, God is good. Christ is Risen!
Our trust is not in ourselves it is in Christ.
Our trust is not in our ability to make things work, but in God's ability to fulfill His plan.
still on the journey.
Part of the process of becoming a missionary is learning to let go of control.
Control of when the support will come in, how long it will stay.
There is also the kind of control that comes in the form of leverage.
Americans have leverage because of competition and because they are consumers.
If a service you pay for, doesn't live up to your standards, there is competition you can go to.
As a consumer, you have power and control.
Inside of a missionary organization things are different than inside of a company.
In a company, if they want you to train on something, they pay for the training, and typically it is optional but strongly encouraged.
In a missionary organization, the training is mandatory, and they don't pay for it.
Does it strike you in an odd way if I said, "you have to go to this class, AND you have to pay for it."
In my corporate America culture, that is an offending thought. I don't HAVE to do anything, I'm an employee with skills, I can quit and join a competitor!
Pay for it? Why would I pay for something YOU need me to do?
And so we have this sense of control, of leverage, of options.
I'm in the process of discovering how it feels to lose those ...options.
Admittedly, I have discovered that a lot of my trust is in my ability to creatively negotiate my options.
I don't like getting stuck in a corner in any way. Whether it's a service I pay for, or my career. I like to have possibilities.
It boils down to, finding the truth behind where my trust lies.
When I desire control, and I become upset when I can not have it, I discover that my trust lies in my abilities.
We're losing control. (not self-control). We're losing a lot of our ability to exert force over our environment.
It seems like a sad thing but it isn't.
We are discovering the truth behind putting our trust in Jesus (who is alive!).
Our hope is in Jesus. Not in ourselves.
The possibilities in Christ are endless, who can stand against Him?
Truly, this is a process of dying to self. It is not an easy process. Admittedly for the past week or two I've been emotionally struggling with the idea.
But in the last two days, I've changed from focussing on us, what WE lose, what WE are giving up, and instead discipline my heart towards praising God. It is amazing how, you think you figured it out before making the decision. You say "sure I can give up this, and this and this" and the growth doesn't really come from the easy things to give up, it's when you hit the parts that are harder to give up, the sneaky ones, the parts you didn't anticipate. Something as small as the fact that you won't have as much variety in life.
It was not until I was praising God that my perspective was altered, and I was transformed into a step of humility and understanding.
God is great, God is good. Christ is Risen!
Our trust is not in ourselves it is in Christ.
Our trust is not in our ability to make things work, but in God's ability to fulfill His plan.
still on the journey.
8/29/2006
Status 8/29/06
News from the homefront is that the cost of health insurance has gone up, which changes our monthly goal from $3700 to $3900 which in turn brings our progress from 86% to 82%.
AT first what seems dissapointing (as if they moved the finish line while we were nearing the end of the race) is in fact another opportunity to worship God.
God is great. Christ is risen! Christ is alive. We don't serve a Jesus who is back in Israel 2000 years ago. We serve a Christ who is here, who is now, who is alive!
God can bring in the funds.
We have some pressing needs:
- we need to get to 100% by January, but I'm really praying for September.
- we need more contacts, more interested partners, more churches.
We've written and visited everyone we can think of, so now we need new ideas, new resources, new ways to get to 100%.
We are excited because we've made it so far so quickly and it's all because of you, our partners in this ministry!
Thank you.
As we continue to wait on God, we wait for some people to make final decisions as to whether or not they wish to support us.
We wait on God's timing as to when our Visa's will be completed.
In this society we live in, everything is HERE and NOW, instant, fast-food, microwave culture, learning to wait is something that is hard, but an experience we're becoming more accustomed to.
Praise God, His timing is perfect!
AT first what seems dissapointing (as if they moved the finish line while we were nearing the end of the race) is in fact another opportunity to worship God.
God is great. Christ is risen! Christ is alive. We don't serve a Jesus who is back in Israel 2000 years ago. We serve a Christ who is here, who is now, who is alive!
God can bring in the funds.
We have some pressing needs:
- we need to get to 100% by January, but I'm really praying for September.
- we need more contacts, more interested partners, more churches.
We've written and visited everyone we can think of, so now we need new ideas, new resources, new ways to get to 100%.
We are excited because we've made it so far so quickly and it's all because of you, our partners in this ministry!
Thank you.
As we continue to wait on God, we wait for some people to make final decisions as to whether or not they wish to support us.
We wait on God's timing as to when our Visa's will be completed.
In this society we live in, everything is HERE and NOW, instant, fast-food, microwave culture, learning to wait is something that is hard, but an experience we're becoming more accustomed to.
Praise God, His timing is perfect!
8/09/2006
It's happening
pausing a moment for reflection
in the past week our support has gone up almost 8%.
As I look around now, we’re nearing 90% of funding, it’s sinking more deeply in that we’re leaving.
I’m having a great conversation with my dad and in my brain I hear “you won’t be doing this next year” and I start to tear up.
I’m looking at my nieces and cousins and having fun camping and thinking “you won’t be doing this next year” and choke up a little.
I’m hiding zucchini at my neighbor’s house and I think “this is my last practical joke in America for a few years” and I start to get melancholy.
The tragedy of this process is that it lets the pain linger for a very long time.
It’s like attending a wake for a year. No person should have to prolong these emotions.
There is a definite sadness to this process. I would be negligent if I didn't mention them in the blog.
You ask yourself questions like, "how long will it be before I see them again? What if something happens? Will I ever see them again?" In every person's case there are specific details and difficult to cope with emotions.
There is sadness on the side of those watching us go.
My dad explained it to someone like this "it's a joyful heartbreak."
This blog is about the process of becoming a missionary, and so I have to include these harder parts, even if they make it seem less...what's the word.. "glamorous" doesn't quite fit.
We aren't guaranteed that if we follow God's orders we will have a happy life. It is a temptation to believe that in following God all will be good. We know God desires good for His people, but we are prepared for bad to happen as well. Modern day martyrs are rare, but the heart still needs to be prepared.
So what do we do during these sad times? Do we complain to God, do we try to bargain with God and ask for Him to let us off the hook? No, because He jsut might (-;
We turn it, through discipline, into worship. Sacrificing our emotions of sadness and turning them into tears of praise because we know that following God is our goal in life. We don't know what the outcome will be, but we know, we need to be obedient, even unto a broken sadness that is leaving loved ones.... even further than that.
A mind like mine, asks "what if" a lot.
"what if you lost a child because of this?"
"what if you died and your wife was left in the country with 2 kids?"
"what if your grandmother got sick while you were gone?"
"what if your best friend marries and you weren't around to be the best man?"
but there is a what if question that trumps them all:
"what if, you didn't obey God?"
What would our lives be like if we decided to turn our back on what we know to be God's direction for our lives? We have very clear marching orders, He's confirmed it to us time and time again. To refuse to go, would be a clear case of ignoring God's specific will for us.
Living life after rejecting God in that way, would be a path we don't want to go down. God has set a banquet before us, and invited us, we're going.
We have fields and committments we're leaving behind, but that is the price we pay in order to live a life of obedience.
It's not all sad I don't mean to concentrate on that too much, it's mostly joy. Because knowing we are doing what God wants, is more comforting than anything, and it is also what comforts our family in our absence.
There is great honor and joy and comfort and hope and excitement and anticipation and love in knowing that we have been asked to do a small thing for God.
in the past week our support has gone up almost 8%.
As I look around now, we’re nearing 90% of funding, it’s sinking more deeply in that we’re leaving.
I’m having a great conversation with my dad and in my brain I hear “you won’t be doing this next year” and I start to tear up.
I’m looking at my nieces and cousins and having fun camping and thinking “you won’t be doing this next year” and choke up a little.
I’m hiding zucchini at my neighbor’s house and I think “this is my last practical joke in America for a few years” and I start to get melancholy.
The tragedy of this process is that it lets the pain linger for a very long time.
It’s like attending a wake for a year. No person should have to prolong these emotions.
There is a definite sadness to this process. I would be negligent if I didn't mention them in the blog.
You ask yourself questions like, "how long will it be before I see them again? What if something happens? Will I ever see them again?" In every person's case there are specific details and difficult to cope with emotions.
There is sadness on the side of those watching us go.
My dad explained it to someone like this "it's a joyful heartbreak."
This blog is about the process of becoming a missionary, and so I have to include these harder parts, even if they make it seem less...what's the word.. "glamorous" doesn't quite fit.
We aren't guaranteed that if we follow God's orders we will have a happy life. It is a temptation to believe that in following God all will be good. We know God desires good for His people, but we are prepared for bad to happen as well. Modern day martyrs are rare, but the heart still needs to be prepared.
So what do we do during these sad times? Do we complain to God, do we try to bargain with God and ask for Him to let us off the hook? No, because He jsut might (-;
We turn it, through discipline, into worship. Sacrificing our emotions of sadness and turning them into tears of praise because we know that following God is our goal in life. We don't know what the outcome will be, but we know, we need to be obedient, even unto a broken sadness that is leaving loved ones.... even further than that.
A mind like mine, asks "what if" a lot.
"what if you lost a child because of this?"
"what if you died and your wife was left in the country with 2 kids?"
"what if your grandmother got sick while you were gone?"
"what if your best friend marries and you weren't around to be the best man?"
but there is a what if question that trumps them all:
"what if, you didn't obey God?"
What would our lives be like if we decided to turn our back on what we know to be God's direction for our lives? We have very clear marching orders, He's confirmed it to us time and time again. To refuse to go, would be a clear case of ignoring God's specific will for us.
Living life after rejecting God in that way, would be a path we don't want to go down. God has set a banquet before us, and invited us, we're going.
We have fields and committments we're leaving behind, but that is the price we pay in order to live a life of obedience.
It's not all sad I don't mean to concentrate on that too much, it's mostly joy. Because knowing we are doing what God wants, is more comforting than anything, and it is also what comforts our family in our absence.
There is great honor and joy and comfort and hope and excitement and anticipation and love in knowing that we have been asked to do a small thing for God.
7/27/2006
July Update 2006
wow, a lot of stuff has happened.
First, the new newsletter is up
http://www.gimpel.tv/newsletter/newsletter3.pdf
In the interest of getting the information out, we sort of hacked up the original format to squeeze in the info.
Let's see.
So we were praying:
1 - God would bring our finances up over 70% ... we're now at 76%
2 - God would bring folks who have committed to joining us, to telling us what level they are comfortable with.... .still in progress but some folks are saying "remember when we committed months ago.. .well this is how much we'd like to give.."
3 - God would allow the training scheduling to work out. See the training we need to take is only available at certain times, and they require multiple weeks of leaving work to complete. BUT ALAS... a huge prayer was answered and now the schedules are all worked out so that we can attend the training we need, AND get to the country by our desired departure date! (Jan/Feb. 2007)
God really worked out a major issue for us. POC is a 14 week in country camp/training based on teaching you how to live in the country. My future manager needs me at the job at soon as possible to train me before he leaves in country. If I were to attend the 14 week training it would drastically lower my ability to do my job right out of the gates (I like to hit the ground running).
So now the story is... in January we'll be attending 5 weeks of training, move to PNG, live there for 6 months, and then go to the 14 week training, which will allow us not only to have more time acclimating, but create a better appreciation for the 14 week training as well as more preparation.
All in all, God moved a mighty mountain for us recently!
so now...
visas are in progress
and we're waiting for the final 24% of people to let us know what they are comfortable with committing to!
We're excited... the rubber is meeting the road and we're ready to go!!!
thank you all, and please pray:
-that our funding hits 100% by September.
-that our visas and work permits go through smoothly.
This is very exciting stuff! We're seeing God answer prayers in His incredible style!
First, the new newsletter is up
http://www.gimpel.tv/newsletter/newsletter3.pdf
In the interest of getting the information out, we sort of hacked up the original format to squeeze in the info.
Let's see.
So we were praying:
1 - God would bring our finances up over 70% ... we're now at 76%
2 - God would bring folks who have committed to joining us, to telling us what level they are comfortable with.... .still in progress but some folks are saying "remember when we committed months ago.. .well this is how much we'd like to give.."
3 - God would allow the training scheduling to work out. See the training we need to take is only available at certain times, and they require multiple weeks of leaving work to complete. BUT ALAS... a huge prayer was answered and now the schedules are all worked out so that we can attend the training we need, AND get to the country by our desired departure date! (Jan/Feb. 2007)
God really worked out a major issue for us. POC is a 14 week in country camp/training based on teaching you how to live in the country. My future manager needs me at the job at soon as possible to train me before he leaves in country. If I were to attend the 14 week training it would drastically lower my ability to do my job right out of the gates (I like to hit the ground running).
So now the story is... in January we'll be attending 5 weeks of training, move to PNG, live there for 6 months, and then go to the 14 week training, which will allow us not only to have more time acclimating, but create a better appreciation for the 14 week training as well as more preparation.
All in all, God moved a mighty mountain for us recently!
so now...
visas are in progress
and we're waiting for the final 24% of people to let us know what they are comfortable with committing to!
We're excited... the rubber is meeting the road and we're ready to go!!!
thank you all, and please pray:
-that our funding hits 100% by September.
-that our visas and work permits go through smoothly.
This is very exciting stuff! We're seeing God answer prayers in His incredible style!
7/09/2006
Exciting News
People are asking us if we're excited. The answer is yes!
Today we moved passed the 70% support line into 75% support!
That is exciting. 80% is our next milestone. We'd like to be there by the end of July. And we'd like to be at 100% by the end of August.
That's our timing, God's timing seems to be keeping in line with that, and we definitely will wait on Him.
We are going to take some family time this July, and hope to fit in some time to visit churches and friends.
We have submitted the application for the kids enrolment to school, and we have finalized the Visa application (it takes a while to get all the documentation in) and are sending it in today.
Pray that all paperwork gets to it's proper destination and is processed in a timely fashion and that things go smoothly.
It is definitely a discipline to do your paperwork thoroughly and on time, and completely. A discipline that is part of the job and that we are learning.
On a personal note, I find it ironic because I have always disliked paperwork, and now I am at a time in my life when paperwork is a huge portion of my day.
Doesn't God always work like that? Always trying to strengthen us in our weak areas (-;. As my folks used to say... "it builds character".
Today we moved passed the 70% support line into 75% support!
That is exciting. 80% is our next milestone. We'd like to be there by the end of July. And we'd like to be at 100% by the end of August.
That's our timing, God's timing seems to be keeping in line with that, and we definitely will wait on Him.
We are going to take some family time this July, and hope to fit in some time to visit churches and friends.
We have submitted the application for the kids enrolment to school, and we have finalized the Visa application (it takes a while to get all the documentation in) and are sending it in today.
Pray that all paperwork gets to it's proper destination and is processed in a timely fashion and that things go smoothly.
It is definitely a discipline to do your paperwork thoroughly and on time, and completely. A discipline that is part of the job and that we are learning.
On a personal note, I find it ironic because I have always disliked paperwork, and now I am at a time in my life when paperwork is a huge portion of my day.
Doesn't God always work like that? Always trying to strengthen us in our weak areas (-;. As my folks used to say... "it builds character".
6/02/2006
Financial and Prayer update
Today marks 67% of our financial goal!
We have begun our Visa application process and require prayer that it goes smoothly.
There is a lot of paperwork to fill out and rules and regulations to adhere to, official copies of this and that to get and such.
We do our best to make sure this all goes through smoothly, and then trust God to guide it all to the right people to get it through. As we start sending off document after document, pray for it's smooth sailing.
Thank you.
We have begun our Visa application process and require prayer that it goes smoothly.
There is a lot of paperwork to fill out and rules and regulations to adhere to, official copies of this and that to get and such.
We do our best to make sure this all goes through smoothly, and then trust God to guide it all to the right people to get it through. As we start sending off document after document, pray for it's smooth sailing.
Thank you.
5/22/2006
Progress
We are now at 60% financial partnership! Only 40% more to go! If you know of any interested parties we have yet to contact please let us know.
OUR LATEST NEWSLETTER is online at:
www.gimpel.tv/newsletter
(click on newsletter #2)
the financial data is out of date because in 2 weeks time we have had such a response that we were unable to keep up with it.
OUR LATEST NEWSLETTER is online at:
www.gimpel.tv/newsletter
(click on newsletter #2)
the financial data is out of date because in 2 weeks time we have had such a response that we were unable to keep up with it.
5/15/2006
Support, and prayer
we've finished newsletter2, a few weeks ago.
now we're compiling everyone's email addresses.
With each email we send out, we save approximately one dollar. (printing costs and mailing costs).
So in the interest of stewardship, we've taken the extra week to compile email addresses.
If you don't think we have yours, please contact me at owens@gimpel.tv
now for the big news:
51% financial partnership!!!! (as of 5/13/06) We jumped right passed 50 and went straight to 51% !!! YAH....YIPPEEE!!! (didn't want to give a search engine free advertising).
Also, for those of you who desire a more personal touch, the newsletters aren't it. The newsletters go to a wide range of people, and as such, are typically more informative and general... as is the news.
For the personal touch, look first to the blog, which while public, is more personal. And secondly we do try to keep in touch with everyone on a personal level as well.
If you have any questions, or simply want to talk, we would love to have a chat with you.
thank you for your support.
God answers prayer in incredible ways.
Here's a funny one:
I (chad) have learned throughout my life to pray for everything. I don't believe in coincidence, and I don't believe anything is too small to pray about. God is all powerful, to Him it is as hard to raise full support for missions as it is to find a good parking space. His power can handle both with relative ease. In our eyes, things are harder, and so we tend to gravitate towards only releasing the harder things to God. BUT, in my daily life I pray continually, and while I sometimes do feel silly praying for the small stuff, I definitely have seen God take those opportunities to be glorified and encourage me.
Yesterday we were with some family at the beach. I needed to find a parking spot, so I prayed "God, please find us a good parking spot." It was the kind of day where prayer would be the only way you found a convenient one. With my son not feeling so well, and a van full of family, the closer we got the better. (-;
Well I was taking my time, not being rude at all, and I paused at an intersection to let people go, but jsut as I did, a large group of people decided to cross the street and block the river of traffic coming at me, so I took the opportunity and pulled behind a big convertable with one man driving.
His bumper stickers read: "hedonist" "apes evolved from creationists" and "boycott A.A."
I thought "God, this man apparently lives his life in mockery of you."
Well, the man was looking to his left, I don't know why, because I was looking to my right, and right in front of him, a car was pulling out.
This man missed it completely, and I got a prime parking spot.
I laughed and thanked God.
Not only, did God part the waters to allow me to drive smoothly, but He gave me a perfect parking spot in a very encouraging way as if to say "there will be those that mock me, but I reward my faithful."
It seems like a small thing, but I believe when you have eyes to see, you can see God working everywhere.
now we're compiling everyone's email addresses.
With each email we send out, we save approximately one dollar. (printing costs and mailing costs).
So in the interest of stewardship, we've taken the extra week to compile email addresses.
If you don't think we have yours, please contact me at owens@gimpel.tv
now for the big news:
51% financial partnership!!!! (as of 5/13/06) We jumped right passed 50 and went straight to 51% !!! YAH....YIPPEEE!!! (didn't want to give a search engine free advertising).
Also, for those of you who desire a more personal touch, the newsletters aren't it. The newsletters go to a wide range of people, and as such, are typically more informative and general... as is the news.
For the personal touch, look first to the blog, which while public, is more personal. And secondly we do try to keep in touch with everyone on a personal level as well.
If you have any questions, or simply want to talk, we would love to have a chat with you.
thank you for your support.
God answers prayer in incredible ways.
Here's a funny one:
I (chad) have learned throughout my life to pray for everything. I don't believe in coincidence, and I don't believe anything is too small to pray about. God is all powerful, to Him it is as hard to raise full support for missions as it is to find a good parking space. His power can handle both with relative ease. In our eyes, things are harder, and so we tend to gravitate towards only releasing the harder things to God. BUT, in my daily life I pray continually, and while I sometimes do feel silly praying for the small stuff, I definitely have seen God take those opportunities to be glorified and encourage me.
Yesterday we were with some family at the beach. I needed to find a parking spot, so I prayed "God, please find us a good parking spot." It was the kind of day where prayer would be the only way you found a convenient one. With my son not feeling so well, and a van full of family, the closer we got the better. (-;
Well I was taking my time, not being rude at all, and I paused at an intersection to let people go, but jsut as I did, a large group of people decided to cross the street and block the river of traffic coming at me, so I took the opportunity and pulled behind a big convertable with one man driving.
His bumper stickers read: "hedonist" "apes evolved from creationists" and "boycott A.A."
I thought "God, this man apparently lives his life in mockery of you."
Well, the man was looking to his left, I don't know why, because I was looking to my right, and right in front of him, a car was pulling out.
This man missed it completely, and I got a prime parking spot.
I laughed and thanked God.
Not only, did God part the waters to allow me to drive smoothly, but He gave me a perfect parking spot in a very encouraging way as if to say "there will be those that mock me, but I reward my faithful."
It seems like a small thing, but I believe when you have eyes to see, you can see God working everywhere.
4/29/2006
Prayer
A team of friends went to Senegal for computer work and networking. The whole world needs this stuff!
This week has been an amazing week of answered prayer.
Inspired by Karl Bastian's childrens book "Order of the Ancient" I have taken to making a specific intercessory prayer each day for something to occur that day.
I pray many things in a day but chose to focus on only 1 thing to have answered in a short amount of time.
Monday - Lord please let our support break the 37% barrier. When I got home my wife told me we were at 39.5%
Tuesday - Lord please let the team in Senegal successfully complete their installs by Saturday ...today I got an email that they were successful.
Weds - God please help me to understand [a complex problem at work I'd been having trouble with for weeks] by 11am something clicked and I finally understood the issue.
Thurs - (I can't remember, I should journal this stuff)
Friday - God please let us get a check in the mail tomorrow. Today - for no reason AT&T sent us a check for $79.00. Admittedly I meant a new partner, but God still answered my literal prayer. I think I shall be more specific from now on (-;
And so today, is Saturday and I've saved my short term answer prayer for you the blog reader.
Lord may everyone who reads this blog today be filled with your joy and may you be glorified somehow in their lives today.
We are at 40.5%... that's almost 50%! We've been doing this PD for almost 3 months now, but honestly it's YOU who has been doing it and God.
Our second newsletter is complete and we'll be mailing in out early this week.
I will also be putting up a link for information, so please stay tuned.
This week has been an amazing week of answered prayer.
Inspired by Karl Bastian's childrens book "Order of the Ancient" I have taken to making a specific intercessory prayer each day for something to occur that day.
I pray many things in a day but chose to focus on only 1 thing to have answered in a short amount of time.
Monday - Lord please let our support break the 37% barrier. When I got home my wife told me we were at 39.5%
Tuesday - Lord please let the team in Senegal successfully complete their installs by Saturday ...today I got an email that they were successful.
Weds - God please help me to understand [a complex problem at work I'd been having trouble with for weeks] by 11am something clicked and I finally understood the issue.
Thurs - (I can't remember, I should journal this stuff)
Friday - God please let us get a check in the mail tomorrow. Today - for no reason AT&T sent us a check for $79.00. Admittedly I meant a new partner, but God still answered my literal prayer. I think I shall be more specific from now on (-;
And so today, is Saturday and I've saved my short term answer prayer for you the blog reader.
Lord may everyone who reads this blog today be filled with your joy and may you be glorified somehow in their lives today.
We are at 40.5%... that's almost 50%! We've been doing this PD for almost 3 months now, but honestly it's YOU who has been doing it and God.
Our second newsletter is complete and we'll be mailing in out early this week.
I will also be putting up a link for information, so please stay tuned.
4/18/2006
progress
We have been at 37% of our promised monthly funding for a few weeks now. We are praying that our trip to Southern California would increase this number as well as prayer partners.
We are also hoping that those who have committed to joining us will communicate at what level so we can get an accurate read of how close we are to our financial goal.
Please pray that God would advance this number towards 100%. Thank you.
4/17/2006
God Answers Prayer
We've come to rely on answered prayer.
I personally get a kick out of watching God work! This last week, our trip down to Southern California was an experience in worship and faithfulness.
Worshipfully we recognize that as men after the fall, we have to toil. It's a plain truth, and toiling without complaining and grumbling, and is a form of worship to God. It brings with it encouragement and faith building.
Praying that God would work, and then being blessed when He shows you a glimmer of what He is doing, is faith building.
This week was one moment after another of being blessed and excited by the Holy Spirit. Seeing small groups study the Bible, hearing personal testimonies, hearing sermons, seeing old friends and family, visiting churches, seeing old friends in new ministries, all these things glorify God and we have become so encouraged seeing God's hand at work!
When people study the Word, when they worship and praise, we are filled.
When you are raised in the church, the idea of going to several churches in a week can either be exciting or can seem like more of the same.
At some point in your walk, you may get the impression that you've heard it all before. Church services can become mundane. But when you find a heart of worship, which is what God has shown my family these last two years, when you find that heart, suddenly the services take on a new light. The songs you've heard a million times before, take on a new life.
It was so exciting to praise God and worship Him in these new and old settings. WOW.
I got so energized we drove the night through to get home. I'm not a night driver, but I spent the quiet and dark hours praying and praising God.
One specific example is that, since we've grown somewhat addicted to seeing God provide (please Lord don't let me get too spoiled) I asked if He would give us one new Partner on Saturday. One day away. "God tomorrow when I wake up, will you please provide one new partner."
God did it.
How encouraging is that? How awesome is that?
I am convinced, that we need to focus our hearts into hearts of worship, and that will establish a relationship with Christ that surpasses anything that might sap our joy. And that relationship will grow and all things will spring from there. Loving others will grow, prayer lives will grow, all things will grow from that relationship which comes from a submissive heart of worship.
WOW! the Me of 2 years ago is envious of the me now. Two years ago I'd see people on fire and think "I have been a christian for 27 years now, the fire is strong but not explosive, I want to be explosive again." and now, 2 years later I am!
God we praise you and thank you for your faithfulness.
God this easter, you were victorious over death and sin. The world seeks heroes and Christ is the largest hero of them all. Beaten and bruised and conquered on Friday, with justice and strength He arose on Sunday to defeat all foes, death, sin, and prove to the world who will one day admit it, that He is GOD!
He proves to us daily that He is God.
Thank you to everyone who has been praying for us!
I personally get a kick out of watching God work! This last week, our trip down to Southern California was an experience in worship and faithfulness.
Worshipfully we recognize that as men after the fall, we have to toil. It's a plain truth, and toiling without complaining and grumbling, and is a form of worship to God. It brings with it encouragement and faith building.
Praying that God would work, and then being blessed when He shows you a glimmer of what He is doing, is faith building.
This week was one moment after another of being blessed and excited by the Holy Spirit. Seeing small groups study the Bible, hearing personal testimonies, hearing sermons, seeing old friends and family, visiting churches, seeing old friends in new ministries, all these things glorify God and we have become so encouraged seeing God's hand at work!
When people study the Word, when they worship and praise, we are filled.
When you are raised in the church, the idea of going to several churches in a week can either be exciting or can seem like more of the same.
At some point in your walk, you may get the impression that you've heard it all before. Church services can become mundane. But when you find a heart of worship, which is what God has shown my family these last two years, when you find that heart, suddenly the services take on a new light. The songs you've heard a million times before, take on a new life.
It was so exciting to praise God and worship Him in these new and old settings. WOW.
I got so energized we drove the night through to get home. I'm not a night driver, but I spent the quiet and dark hours praying and praising God.
One specific example is that, since we've grown somewhat addicted to seeing God provide (please Lord don't let me get too spoiled) I asked if He would give us one new Partner on Saturday. One day away. "God tomorrow when I wake up, will you please provide one new partner."
God did it.
How encouraging is that? How awesome is that?
I am convinced, that we need to focus our hearts into hearts of worship, and that will establish a relationship with Christ that surpasses anything that might sap our joy. And that relationship will grow and all things will spring from there. Loving others will grow, prayer lives will grow, all things will grow from that relationship which comes from a submissive heart of worship.
WOW! the Me of 2 years ago is envious of the me now. Two years ago I'd see people on fire and think "I have been a christian for 27 years now, the fire is strong but not explosive, I want to be explosive again." and now, 2 years later I am!
God we praise you and thank you for your faithfulness.
God this easter, you were victorious over death and sin. The world seeks heroes and Christ is the largest hero of them all. Beaten and bruised and conquered on Friday, with justice and strength He arose on Sunday to defeat all foes, death, sin, and prove to the world who will one day admit it, that He is GOD!
He proves to us daily that He is God.
Thank you to everyone who has been praying for us!
4/10/2006
Anatomy of Partnership Development
A large part of the appeal of Wycliffe to me is our view towards "financial support". This is more accurately called Partnership because of the equality in ownership of a ministry that God is doing. He puts different people with different abilities and hearts together to accomplish something that otherwise would be impossible. I will hopefully put more detail later, but the gist is...
you're not asking for money, you're asking for people excited who want to join, and letting them decide the level of that partnership. Will they be prayers, encourages, come visit us, help financially support us.. what?
Thus we don't go on "fund raising trips" we go out seeking to do 2 things:
1 - glorify God by telling people, anyone, what God has done in our lives
2 - find the people who desire to get involved in some way.
number 1 above, is what planted the seed in our family years ago. We pray that God would be glorified through us and that we wouldn't be an obstacle (firewall) to His glory.
so... with that said... there is a reality to the fact that you have to pray for people to talk to, they don't know us or they do, they are excited to hear us or they aren't. We don't know how long we'll have or what the topic should be, or sometimes we do.
It can definitely sound like a chore. Pack the family up, get in the car, drive to a church, speak in front of the church, find a small group, get to know them and share what is going on. It sounds energy draining, laborious even.
It isn't. The reality is, yes it is work. Since Genesis man has had to toil. But...
God is SO awesome.
He is encouraging us every step of the way. How exciting is it when you find someone who really cares about what you are saying? It blows me away when people enjoy being around us and hearing what God is doing. I am deeply honored by the people who are joining us as partners.
I find that in my heart I am uplifted... seeing God work in Southern California is great! Some churches here are really catching on fire.
I can't describe what it is to not want to do a job, but know you must, set your mind to the point of sacrificing whatever you do, all the work, to God as worship, and then aligning your heart with God's because there is no point in grumbling while doing this chore, you need to be absolutely submissive to God's heart and will.... (excuse the run-on sentence) and then, when you've put everything you have into it, and are drained, God fills you through relationships and experiences. You find His Word, you meet people you love and who love you, you receive encouragement.
This process is a process of recognizing that God meets you when you work towards Him and for Him with the right heart.
We're in the middle of the week down here, and have visited 2 churches and a small group, we've spoken 2-3 times, and are anticipating one more church visit.
That's the work part... the blessing list is huge:
-we heard an amazing sermon
-we experienced an absolutely amazing testimony from one of the vp's at pepsico
-we saw people we haven't seen in years which is always so great
-we were able to meet other missions minded folks
-we spent time in family's homes and friends homes which is always an honor and a privilege.
-we saw the power of God in this process.
Honestly, I'm the kind of guy who finds leaving the home, packing, and driving 400 miles a huge chore. Staying in other people's homes you're always worried that your kids will behave etc.
But once I got my heart and mind to the point of... this is not a chore, it is a task that you are doing because God called you to the field, you are doing this out of obedience and out of worship to God.
Once I got there, and I got there pretty quick, God showed up and changed my attitude into one of flexibility, and awe.
God works like that, always has... working for Him, when you're in that zone, that right place, is ALWAYS more filling than anything else.
To me, the fact that serving is energizing and filling and encouraging and strengthening your walk in Christ, is the most important signal that you are in God's will.
I've been in "ministry" my whole life, some jobs are really draining, others pump you up.
This job, has pumped us up, and we've only jsut begun!
Thank you to all who have been praying and reading... HI to all our new friends and readers!
Prayer:
----we would LOVE to see more people come on board as a result of this trip, we would love to find great prayer warriors and ... because we like making a task so huge only God can accomplish it and thus be glorified we are praying that within a month of this trip we'll be at 50%
Could you join us in that prayer?
I'll throw out the biggest one, we're praying for 100% by July, 2006.
Only God can accomplish this task. If He opts not to, we realize we will submit to his timing and clock, but our passion is to go in January.
you're not asking for money, you're asking for people excited who want to join, and letting them decide the level of that partnership. Will they be prayers, encourages, come visit us, help financially support us.. what?
Thus we don't go on "fund raising trips" we go out seeking to do 2 things:
1 - glorify God by telling people, anyone, what God has done in our lives
2 - find the people who desire to get involved in some way.
number 1 above, is what planted the seed in our family years ago. We pray that God would be glorified through us and that we wouldn't be an obstacle (firewall) to His glory.
so... with that said... there is a reality to the fact that you have to pray for people to talk to, they don't know us or they do, they are excited to hear us or they aren't. We don't know how long we'll have or what the topic should be, or sometimes we do.
It can definitely sound like a chore. Pack the family up, get in the car, drive to a church, speak in front of the church, find a small group, get to know them and share what is going on. It sounds energy draining, laborious even.
It isn't. The reality is, yes it is work. Since Genesis man has had to toil. But...
God is SO awesome.
He is encouraging us every step of the way. How exciting is it when you find someone who really cares about what you are saying? It blows me away when people enjoy being around us and hearing what God is doing. I am deeply honored by the people who are joining us as partners.
I find that in my heart I am uplifted... seeing God work in Southern California is great! Some churches here are really catching on fire.
I can't describe what it is to not want to do a job, but know you must, set your mind to the point of sacrificing whatever you do, all the work, to God as worship, and then aligning your heart with God's because there is no point in grumbling while doing this chore, you need to be absolutely submissive to God's heart and will.... (excuse the run-on sentence) and then, when you've put everything you have into it, and are drained, God fills you through relationships and experiences. You find His Word, you meet people you love and who love you, you receive encouragement.
This process is a process of recognizing that God meets you when you work towards Him and for Him with the right heart.
We're in the middle of the week down here, and have visited 2 churches and a small group, we've spoken 2-3 times, and are anticipating one more church visit.
That's the work part... the blessing list is huge:
-we heard an amazing sermon
-we experienced an absolutely amazing testimony from one of the vp's at pepsico
-we saw people we haven't seen in years which is always so great
-we were able to meet other missions minded folks
-we spent time in family's homes and friends homes which is always an honor and a privilege.
-we saw the power of God in this process.
Honestly, I'm the kind of guy who finds leaving the home, packing, and driving 400 miles a huge chore. Staying in other people's homes you're always worried that your kids will behave etc.
But once I got my heart and mind to the point of... this is not a chore, it is a task that you are doing because God called you to the field, you are doing this out of obedience and out of worship to God.
Once I got there, and I got there pretty quick, God showed up and changed my attitude into one of flexibility, and awe.
God works like that, always has... working for Him, when you're in that zone, that right place, is ALWAYS more filling than anything else.
To me, the fact that serving is energizing and filling and encouraging and strengthening your walk in Christ, is the most important signal that you are in God's will.
I've been in "ministry" my whole life, some jobs are really draining, others pump you up.
This job, has pumped us up, and we've only jsut begun!
Thank you to all who have been praying and reading... HI to all our new friends and readers!
Prayer:
----we would LOVE to see more people come on board as a result of this trip, we would love to find great prayer warriors and ... because we like making a task so huge only God can accomplish it and thus be glorified we are praying that within a month of this trip we'll be at 50%
Could you join us in that prayer?
I'll throw out the biggest one, we're praying for 100% by July, 2006.
Only God can accomplish this task. If He opts not to, we realize we will submit to his timing and clock, but our passion is to go in January.
4/04/2006
April 10-easter
WE will be in the Los Angeles area from April 10th through to Easter.
IF you are in the area and know of anyone who would be interested in hearing about our ministry and might be interested in partnering with us for financial and prayer support, please contact us at
email:
owens@gimpel.tv
Status:
We are at %37 of our financial support. We hope to see that number grow as we continue approaching churches for partnership, however thus far the trend is about a 25% success rate. I'm not sure if that is a good or bad rate, but it's God's plan so it's good regardless.
We anticipate hearing from many of you who are still deciding at what level you wish to partner with us financially, once we know that we will be able to get an accurate reading of how much more work we have to do.
We have been working on a second newsletter. We have also completed our ministry portfolio which is a folder containing introductory information to our family and our ministry, intended for churches and groups who may be looking to support missionaries with a shared passion.
If you know of any groups or churches who would like to hear from both or one of us, we are more than happy to come share or even to give you one of our portfolios.
We are excited to say that Bethany Church (where we were married) is the first church to partner with us financially on a monthly basis.
A few churches have declined financially supporting us in an ongoing way but are still encouraging. A few have shown no interest, and even fewer haven't liked where our organization stands theologically.
It is an interesting process, but we are confident that God will pull us through it with a stronger faith.
Prayer Requests:
--that God would move in the hearts of people and churches to partner with us
--that we would be at 100% ($3700 p/month promised committment) by June 2006
--we would be guarded against spiritual attack in the form of discouragement (or any form)
--that our kids would be protected against attack and would grow up wise in Christ.
thank you
also if you are praying for us, and happen to think of it, drop us a line, it would be very encouraging to know who is praying and who is reading the blog.
IF you are in the area and know of anyone who would be interested in hearing about our ministry and might be interested in partnering with us for financial and prayer support, please contact us at
email:
owens@gimpel.tv
Status:
We are at %37 of our financial support. We hope to see that number grow as we continue approaching churches for partnership, however thus far the trend is about a 25% success rate. I'm not sure if that is a good or bad rate, but it's God's plan so it's good regardless.
We anticipate hearing from many of you who are still deciding at what level you wish to partner with us financially, once we know that we will be able to get an accurate reading of how much more work we have to do.
We have been working on a second newsletter. We have also completed our ministry portfolio which is a folder containing introductory information to our family and our ministry, intended for churches and groups who may be looking to support missionaries with a shared passion.
If you know of any groups or churches who would like to hear from both or one of us, we are more than happy to come share or even to give you one of our portfolios.
We are excited to say that Bethany Church (where we were married) is the first church to partner with us financially on a monthly basis.
A few churches have declined financially supporting us in an ongoing way but are still encouraging. A few have shown no interest, and even fewer haven't liked where our organization stands theologically.
It is an interesting process, but we are confident that God will pull us through it with a stronger faith.
Prayer Requests:
--that God would move in the hearts of people and churches to partner with us
--that we would be at 100% ($3700 p/month promised committment) by June 2006
--we would be guarded against spiritual attack in the form of discouragement (or any form)
--that our kids would be protected against attack and would grow up wise in Christ.
thank you
also if you are praying for us, and happen to think of it, drop us a line, it would be very encouraging to know who is praying and who is reading the blog.
3/13/2006
What about Burnout?
What about burn out?
(thoughts by Chad)
I do not know how many of these thoughts I should share. They are personal and not completely matured. Yet we desire to remain sincere and open to those who support us, because the end goal is to glorify God. Sincerely voicing the thoughts and struggles are part of the missionary process. People can never truly know unless you share, and unfortunately for the reader, when I am passionate I am also verbose (well on paper anyway). Keep in mind as you read, the context, we haven't been in the field for many years and thus we consult those who have been and are encouraged. We're aware we probably represent the youthful vitality one expects from "newbies".
Reading: Romans 9,10 and 11
I see friends in professional ministry being absorbed by the frustrations of the professional side of their work. I see movies about priests that have lost their faith. Always these movies show men who once had a lively relationship with God and now are consumed with selfish desires and have lost that connection with God. I hear of missionaries who burn out and return home from the field.
This concerns me as in Romans 9:
I desire to serve God with my life. God can search my heart and know that I am a wickedly selfish man. I know that I am no good on my own. I know that I seek out selfish pursuits, but also, if I possess any wisdom at all, I know that these pursuits will not end in happiness, and the only true contentment can be found in God’s presence. On top of that I know that all of these things are temporary. My life is flying past my eyes, and the only investment worth making is in God’s eternal kingdom.
Worship helps me with my focus and motivation. I read the Scripture and I see God’s character and in a world where all is failing me, where many things are empty and devoid of goodness I see God shining above it all. God is so good and so Holy. And when I concentrate on that, little else matters to me. My self fades away, my soul desires to be with God’s holiness. As if I’m taking a huge drink after years of thirst, soaking in God’s holiness. It doesn’t matter where I am or what I’m doing, so long as I’m worshiping God through thought and action, and whatever I end up doing, I need to be convinced that I’m doing it to worship the goodness of God. Right now, I’m convinced the way to do that is to go to PNG and take my family. The risk is that we would be consumed by the process and lose sight of worshiping God, which would be the failure of the project. But I see no evidence that in not going that risk becomes any less. In fact, I am anxious for the opportunity to throw my life into a situation where I am stripped of my American culture and comforts and thus can measure how much I truly depend on God for all things. And continue to live a life where I am dependant upon God.
As a westerner, there is much I do not understand about dependence.
My selfish nature and Bible study already tell me what I will get out of serving God, assuming I do it correctly. But I also know that none of these rewards will be sufficient motivation to forebear the suffering that will most likely accompany any faith developing scenario. (I use the term faith-developing instead of testing on purpose). So these rewards are not what motivates me. There is a sense of duty, yes. A sense of doing what is right also. There is a sense of not losing face among those invested in our success as well. But these motivations will crack under the pressure too. The motivation that will truly uphold us during the times when we can’t take any more, will be because we are convinced of God’s grace and purpose in choosing us. And we are. God’s grace is immeasurable. The fact that He chose us is inconceivable. We are fully confident of this. Couple that with a daily dose of worshiping His goodness and Holiness and what you have are addicts for God.
Perhaps this pushes the illustration a bit extreme. A drug addict, will do anything for their next fix. But they also know when they’re getting fake stuff. It doesn’t have the same effect.
That is how we intend to let the Spirit be our rudder. When entering God’s presence and sensing even a sliver of His holiness becomes something we can no longer do we will know that there is an issue we need to work out and right before God.
We desire to be submissive to Him, so we can stay close to Him, because He is good. We are addicted to God's holiness, we breath it in as often as we can. When you remain in this state, you eyes and ears and heart maintain a sensitivity to the Spirit that helps guide.
The risk of losing sight of God's plan is the same at home as it would be in the field. The pressures are strong against you whenever you are doing what God would have you do. The cultural adaptation stress can be a huge factor. As a missionary you are more in the public eye. A spiritual failure at home can go unnoticed, but a spiritual failure in the field will not go unnoticed. Also though, the stigma that comes with a missionary returning before retiring is that perhaps they failed in their mission. It's sad but that is an assumption that some folks make "what went wrong?" Maybe nothing went wrong at all. But that is a different topic.
We refuse to disobey God's call because the risk for failure is great. The risk of embarrassment is great. Failure is simply not an option. My family has been specifically prepared for this, we have been specifically called. We have the qualities required for success both in faith, character and personality. I can give you a very convincing resume of why we are very well suited for the work before us, and odds are you already know us and are convinced of our abilities yourself (otherwise you would not be supporting us). But none of that matters. There is only one requirement God needs and that is willingness. We are obedient and willing and submissive to what God puts on our hearts. God does the rest. In fact He even accomplishes the obedience and willingness simply by means of being who He is. He is completely good, and completely Holy. We are compelled to Him. We are not relying on odds or on pedigrees, we are relying solely on God's provision. God will not fail, and thus we will cling to His coat tails the entire way.
Yes the pressures of cultural adaptation will be great. Yes the spiritual warfare will be present. Yes financial pressure will be a stress. There is a long list of reasons why we can fail. God is greater than all of them, God does not fail. We can fail, we will fail. God will prove faithful and compensate.
As partners in this ministry you have opened yourselves up for failure as well. You have committed to pray for us, and the more effective our ministry is at tearing down the strongholds of Satan, the more the people who pray for us will be under attack. Few consider this. Know that God overcomes. God is faithful.
And so, when the times come where we feel we want to give up, we will first go to God and admit it. We will ask God to shore us up, to meet us and supply. No one truly seeks to suffer, but we will not shy from it when it comes. We expect hardship, something that as Americans who have been blessed our entire lives is not something that we confront often. So when it comes, many people will wonder if we will be able to handle it or not. We don't know ourselves, but we do know that our instinctive reaction will be to plead to God for help through it. We do not ask to avoid pain, but we desire to seek God's face in the midst of it, and in the end, be more fit to glorify God.
We look forward to blogging the great stories of God proving faithful. For where the odds are their worst, when things seem impossible, those are the places that God absolutely shines without doubt. We are so anxious for those times, because it brings us all closer to God. Pray for those times for yourself and each other. Pray that this ministry would be a collective of submissive servants who live only so that God can be glorified.
Burnout is a reality. Stress can be overwhelming. Wycliffe has mandatory counciling and has good training and preparation for handling stress. We have been reading books and studying to prepare. Many practical steps have been taken to assure the full success of this ministry, but in the end, it comes down to the reality of every situation in life. How much are we going to try and handle without God? The answer is 0.00% There isn't any success to be had on our own.
---
p.s.
after re-reading this I realize that we have already undergone some spiritual attack and stress and suffering. In each instance, as a couple we immediately turned to God in prayer. In each instance, God met us there quickly and completely and so amazingly "God-like" that it was undeniably Him. The term "God-thing" applies because it is during these moments of sorrow, stress, weakness, complete humanity, that God is glorified because only He fit those jigsaw like missing pieces of the puzzle.
The story we blogged about my daughter carrying the backpack for my wife was such an example of God supplying for us when we were needing encouragement greatly.
(thoughts by Chad)
I do not know how many of these thoughts I should share. They are personal and not completely matured. Yet we desire to remain sincere and open to those who support us, because the end goal is to glorify God. Sincerely voicing the thoughts and struggles are part of the missionary process. People can never truly know unless you share, and unfortunately for the reader, when I am passionate I am also verbose (well on paper anyway). Keep in mind as you read, the context, we haven't been in the field for many years and thus we consult those who have been and are encouraged. We're aware we probably represent the youthful vitality one expects from "newbies".
Reading: Romans 9,10 and 11
I see friends in professional ministry being absorbed by the frustrations of the professional side of their work. I see movies about priests that have lost their faith. Always these movies show men who once had a lively relationship with God and now are consumed with selfish desires and have lost that connection with God. I hear of missionaries who burn out and return home from the field.
This concerns me as in Romans 9:
All those people who didn't seem interested in what God was doing actually embraced what God was doing as he straightened out their lives. 31And Israel, who seemed so interested in reading and talking about what God was doing, missed it. 32How could they miss it? Because instead of trusting God, they took over. They were absorbed in what they themselves were doing. They were so absorbed in their "God projects" that they didn't notice God right in front of them, like a huge rock in the middle of the road. And so they stumbled into him and went sprawling. 33Isaiah (again!) gives us the metaphor for pulling this together:
Careful! I've put a huge stone on the road to Mount Zion,
a stone you can't get around.
But the stone is me! If you're looking for me,
you'll find me on the way, not in the way.
I desire to serve God with my life. God can search my heart and know that I am a wickedly selfish man. I know that I am no good on my own. I know that I seek out selfish pursuits, but also, if I possess any wisdom at all, I know that these pursuits will not end in happiness, and the only true contentment can be found in God’s presence. On top of that I know that all of these things are temporary. My life is flying past my eyes, and the only investment worth making is in God’s eternal kingdom.
Worship helps me with my focus and motivation. I read the Scripture and I see God’s character and in a world where all is failing me, where many things are empty and devoid of goodness I see God shining above it all. God is so good and so Holy. And when I concentrate on that, little else matters to me. My self fades away, my soul desires to be with God’s holiness. As if I’m taking a huge drink after years of thirst, soaking in God’s holiness. It doesn’t matter where I am or what I’m doing, so long as I’m worshiping God through thought and action, and whatever I end up doing, I need to be convinced that I’m doing it to worship the goodness of God. Right now, I’m convinced the way to do that is to go to PNG and take my family. The risk is that we would be consumed by the process and lose sight of worshiping God, which would be the failure of the project. But I see no evidence that in not going that risk becomes any less. In fact, I am anxious for the opportunity to throw my life into a situation where I am stripped of my American culture and comforts and thus can measure how much I truly depend on God for all things. And continue to live a life where I am dependant upon God.
As a westerner, there is much I do not understand about dependence.
Romans 11:
4And do you remember God's answer?
I still have seven thousand who haven't quit,
Seven thousand who are loyal to the finish.
5It's the same today. There's a fiercely loyal minority still--not many, perhaps, but probably more than you think. 6They're holding on, not because of what they think they're going to get out of it, but because they're convinced of God's grace and purpose in choosing them. If they were only thinking of their own immediate self-interest, they would have left long ago.
My selfish nature and Bible study already tell me what I will get out of serving God, assuming I do it correctly. But I also know that none of these rewards will be sufficient motivation to forebear the suffering that will most likely accompany any faith developing scenario. (I use the term faith-developing instead of testing on purpose). So these rewards are not what motivates me. There is a sense of duty, yes. A sense of doing what is right also. There is a sense of not losing face among those invested in our success as well. But these motivations will crack under the pressure too. The motivation that will truly uphold us during the times when we can’t take any more, will be because we are convinced of God’s grace and purpose in choosing us. And we are. God’s grace is immeasurable. The fact that He chose us is inconceivable. We are fully confident of this. Couple that with a daily dose of worshiping His goodness and Holiness and what you have are addicts for God.
Perhaps this pushes the illustration a bit extreme. A drug addict, will do anything for their next fix. But they also know when they’re getting fake stuff. It doesn’t have the same effect.
That is how we intend to let the Spirit be our rudder. When entering God’s presence and sensing even a sliver of His holiness becomes something we can no longer do we will know that there is an issue we need to work out and right before God.
We desire to be submissive to Him, so we can stay close to Him, because He is good. We are addicted to God's holiness, we breath it in as often as we can. When you remain in this state, you eyes and ears and heart maintain a sensitivity to the Spirit that helps guide.
The risk of losing sight of God's plan is the same at home as it would be in the field. The pressures are strong against you whenever you are doing what God would have you do. The cultural adaptation stress can be a huge factor. As a missionary you are more in the public eye. A spiritual failure at home can go unnoticed, but a spiritual failure in the field will not go unnoticed. Also though, the stigma that comes with a missionary returning before retiring is that perhaps they failed in their mission. It's sad but that is an assumption that some folks make "what went wrong?" Maybe nothing went wrong at all. But that is a different topic.
We refuse to disobey God's call because the risk for failure is great. The risk of embarrassment is great. Failure is simply not an option. My family has been specifically prepared for this, we have been specifically called. We have the qualities required for success both in faith, character and personality. I can give you a very convincing resume of why we are very well suited for the work before us, and odds are you already know us and are convinced of our abilities yourself (otherwise you would not be supporting us). But none of that matters. There is only one requirement God needs and that is willingness. We are obedient and willing and submissive to what God puts on our hearts. God does the rest. In fact He even accomplishes the obedience and willingness simply by means of being who He is. He is completely good, and completely Holy. We are compelled to Him. We are not relying on odds or on pedigrees, we are relying solely on God's provision. God will not fail, and thus we will cling to His coat tails the entire way.
Yes the pressures of cultural adaptation will be great. Yes the spiritual warfare will be present. Yes financial pressure will be a stress. There is a long list of reasons why we can fail. God is greater than all of them, God does not fail. We can fail, we will fail. God will prove faithful and compensate.
As partners in this ministry you have opened yourselves up for failure as well. You have committed to pray for us, and the more effective our ministry is at tearing down the strongholds of Satan, the more the people who pray for us will be under attack. Few consider this. Know that God overcomes. God is faithful.
And so, when the times come where we feel we want to give up, we will first go to God and admit it. We will ask God to shore us up, to meet us and supply. No one truly seeks to suffer, but we will not shy from it when it comes. We expect hardship, something that as Americans who have been blessed our entire lives is not something that we confront often. So when it comes, many people will wonder if we will be able to handle it or not. We don't know ourselves, but we do know that our instinctive reaction will be to plead to God for help through it. We do not ask to avoid pain, but we desire to seek God's face in the midst of it, and in the end, be more fit to glorify God.
We look forward to blogging the great stories of God proving faithful. For where the odds are their worst, when things seem impossible, those are the places that God absolutely shines without doubt. We are so anxious for those times, because it brings us all closer to God. Pray for those times for yourself and each other. Pray that this ministry would be a collective of submissive servants who live only so that God can be glorified.
Burnout is a reality. Stress can be overwhelming. Wycliffe has mandatory counciling and has good training and preparation for handling stress. We have been reading books and studying to prepare. Many practical steps have been taken to assure the full success of this ministry, but in the end, it comes down to the reality of every situation in life. How much are we going to try and handle without God? The answer is 0.00% There isn't any success to be had on our own.
---
p.s.
after re-reading this I realize that we have already undergone some spiritual attack and stress and suffering. In each instance, as a couple we immediately turned to God in prayer. In each instance, God met us there quickly and completely and so amazingly "God-like" that it was undeniably Him. The term "God-thing" applies because it is during these moments of sorrow, stress, weakness, complete humanity, that God is glorified because only He fit those jigsaw like missing pieces of the puzzle.
The story we blogged about my daughter carrying the backpack for my wife was such an example of God supplying for us when we were needing encouragement greatly.
3/08/2006
Preparations
well, since we're not really sure at what time we'll be leaving or ready to go, we're in a mode of.... preparing. Faithfully working towards the idea that the money will come in before January '07.
we're planning to pack for a trip to a place we've never lived in.
so what do we bring?
Well first we talk to a lot of folks who live there or have lived there, and take in all their advice.
Then we look at our belongings and consider what can stay and what needs to go. Ironically we look forward to simplifying our lives, and yet have been advised to buy many things unobtainable over there. Like advil.
In the midst of this we are keeping in mind the idea of simple living. Depending on God. And balancing that with our passion to create a home environment for people.
for me personally, it seems very silly to be asking "how many computers should I bring?"
one for me, one for the wife, one for the kids, one for spare parts, one as a server...... really how many is "enough".
For my wife the question is photo albums, we're told not to bring anything we can't afford to lose at first... should something go wrong somewhere in the shipping process.
and then... we'll most likely need to move all of this stuff multiple times a year.
Managing this issue of "stuff" is a blessing to us from God because my wife and I are rather compatible in this area. Neither of us are too materialistic. Both of us have our areas of "i need this..." and each of us can be stretched and challenged enough to adapt that it makes it an adventure.
We both loved "colonial house" (a pbs special). The idea of getting away from dependence on technology, of a return to simplicity.
Now we are facing the reality of making choices... what stays, what goes, and what needs to be purchased for whatever reason to take with us?
Whatever decisions are made, we'll survive and be strengthened by any "lack" we might experience.
We also hope that it will develop a truer sense of priorities. Even if we think our priorities are right now, there is nothing like good old fashion testing your mettle.
-----Prayer Requests----
-that financial partnership reaches 100% by August 2006
-someone will be able to supply storage for our belongings that stay behind
-a partner that will pray daily for our children
-a partner that will pray daily for us
-physical conditioning to be able to handle the training camp 3 day backpacking hike.
we're planning to pack for a trip to a place we've never lived in.
so what do we bring?
Well first we talk to a lot of folks who live there or have lived there, and take in all their advice.
Then we look at our belongings and consider what can stay and what needs to go. Ironically we look forward to simplifying our lives, and yet have been advised to buy many things unobtainable over there. Like advil.
In the midst of this we are keeping in mind the idea of simple living. Depending on God. And balancing that with our passion to create a home environment for people.
for me personally, it seems very silly to be asking "how many computers should I bring?"
one for me, one for the wife, one for the kids, one for spare parts, one as a server...... really how many is "enough".
For my wife the question is photo albums, we're told not to bring anything we can't afford to lose at first... should something go wrong somewhere in the shipping process.
and then... we'll most likely need to move all of this stuff multiple times a year.
Managing this issue of "stuff" is a blessing to us from God because my wife and I are rather compatible in this area. Neither of us are too materialistic. Both of us have our areas of "i need this..." and each of us can be stretched and challenged enough to adapt that it makes it an adventure.
We both loved "colonial house" (a pbs special). The idea of getting away from dependence on technology, of a return to simplicity.
Now we are facing the reality of making choices... what stays, what goes, and what needs to be purchased for whatever reason to take with us?
Whatever decisions are made, we'll survive and be strengthened by any "lack" we might experience.
We also hope that it will develop a truer sense of priorities. Even if we think our priorities are right now, there is nothing like good old fashion testing your mettle.
-----Prayer Requests----
-that financial partnership reaches 100% by August 2006
-someone will be able to supply storage for our belongings that stay behind
-a partner that will pray daily for our children
-a partner that will pray daily for us
-physical conditioning to be able to handle the training camp 3 day backpacking hike.
3/06/2006
What's next
well we are working on finding the people who want to partner with us in prayer and or financially. We have spoken in a few groups, and right now see our ministry as a process of informing and discovering. Our home church is having a missions emphasis month and so we're involved in helping other missionaries where we can.
We're writing a lot of letters right now, and seeing where that leads.
We're at 23% of our goal right now, and we're hoping to be at 100% before August but that all depends on God's timing.
This part of the process is the part where there might not be as much to blog primarily because financial matters inherently involve a bit of privacy.
But we can still talk about what God is doing and what He is showing us. Right now He is showing us how wonderfully excited so many of you are about us as friends and about our joining together in ministry!
We're writing a lot of letters right now, and seeing where that leads.
We're at 23% of our goal right now, and we're hoping to be at 100% before August but that all depends on God's timing.
This part of the process is the part where there might not be as much to blog primarily because financial matters inherently involve a bit of privacy.
But we can still talk about what God is doing and what He is showing us. Right now He is showing us how wonderfully excited so many of you are about us as friends and about our joining together in ministry!
2/17/2006
Newsletter #1
We are dropping our newsletter in the mail soon. To save costs we have put it online and hope that everyone who prefers to read such things online enjoys it.
click here for our newsletter in PDF format
or go here
http://www.gimpel.tv/newsletter1
thank you!
---------------
in training camp we were told that for some folks making their newsletter was stressful for them because it is something you do together, and because it is informative as well as creative people have differing styles and facts they want to present. My wife and I actually found this process enjoyable and simple, but perhaps that is because we're an email and blogging generation. The struggle with a newsletter is to be informative, and not boring, to be interesting but not noisy. I'm no graphic artist, so please, as you read it, give us feedback.
For those who want to know we used iWorks'06 -Pages on a Mac to put it together.
__was it informative enough?
__did it catch your eye?
__would you scan this and then throw it away or would you feel you could read the whole thing?
__what could we do to improve it?
thanks for your time, email your comments to owens@gimpel.tv
thank you
click here for our newsletter in PDF format
or go here
http://www.gimpel.tv/newsletter1
thank you!
---------------
in training camp we were told that for some folks making their newsletter was stressful for them because it is something you do together, and because it is informative as well as creative people have differing styles and facts they want to present. My wife and I actually found this process enjoyable and simple, but perhaps that is because we're an email and blogging generation. The struggle with a newsletter is to be informative, and not boring, to be interesting but not noisy. I'm no graphic artist, so please, as you read it, give us feedback.
For those who want to know we used iWorks'06 -Pages on a Mac to put it together.
__was it informative enough?
__did it catch your eye?
__would you scan this and then throw it away or would you feel you could read the whole thing?
__what could we do to improve it?
thanks for your time, email your comments to owens@gimpel.tv
thank you
2/09/2006
God's Lessons
First a praise:
God your timing is wonderful, your plan is excellent, you answer prayer faithfully and powerfully! Thank you for showing yourself to my family these last few weeks.
--
I haven’t blogged much recently and the reason is because God’s been talking to my heart and teaching me things through multiple sources. I’ll try to share and be brief.
Missions is not the purpose of the Church.
Worship is.
Missions needs to have a focussed aim on glorifying God. The Church needs to have a strong understanding of what worshipping God is and then do it. As part of the Church I have spent 2 weeks learning the many ways to worship God. (please understand I do not mean singing but the true meaning of worship. These last few weeks we daily found a new way to worship God in action.)
I finally have put my finger on what has been on my heart, and here it is:
the easiest status check I know of one’s committment to worship is to ask yourself this question - “Why do you want to go to heaven?”
Honestly my first response was “because it’ll be paradise.” Not a bad answer but I realized as I contemplated it, that it was a purely selfish answer. (we can debate the good vs. bad of selfishness in another forum). Another answer came to mind “because it’s better than the other place.” Still I find that completely geared towards my own personal comfort.
Psalm 84, a psalm I’ve read nearly daily for a year now, has jsut popped out in yet another way to me:
1What a beautiful home, GOD of the Angel Armies! I’ve always longed to live in a place like this,
2Always dreamed of a room in your house,
where I could sing for joy to God–alive!
It strikes me that in heaven we’re going to be worshipping God forever. Why would we want to go to heaven if we don’t enjoy worshipping God? Why would we want to spend our eternity worshiping God if we haven’t fallen totally in love with Him, totally in awe of Him, totally filled by His presence?
Because it’ll be nice there? Because we’ll be without sin? Because we won’t have ’stress’?
I’m convinced that my life, my attitude, my inner self that no one else sees needs to be completely committed to denying my sinful self, and making choices that put God on the throne.
It’s hard, and it’ll get harder. I fail at it miserably.
I believe that until I can honestly answer the status question with “because I want to spent eternity worshiping God” that my character here on earth still needs to be worked on.
I can say today, that during my best moments, like I had in the last 2 weeks, that is my answer. But I slip up. I act in ways that do not tell others that God is God, but instead that I am God… or rather that I am the king of my own life.
I do not believe that I can change my heart manually, and so I pray that the spirit of God would influence my heart, and would strengthen me during my weak times.
That’s where I am at. Working with the Spirit to transform my life until every thought and action is one of proper worship instead of self-serving.
Our life, our ministry, and our aim as a family is to worship God through word and action and to diminish our own selves in such a way that when people look at us, they see God's glory reflected. We need your prayers to accomplish this feat, and rest assured we will also be praying for you.
God your timing is wonderful, your plan is excellent, you answer prayer faithfully and powerfully! Thank you for showing yourself to my family these last few weeks.
--
I haven’t blogged much recently and the reason is because God’s been talking to my heart and teaching me things through multiple sources. I’ll try to share and be brief.
Missions is not the purpose of the Church.
Worship is.
Missions needs to have a focussed aim on glorifying God. The Church needs to have a strong understanding of what worshipping God is and then do it. As part of the Church I have spent 2 weeks learning the many ways to worship God. (please understand I do not mean singing but the true meaning of worship. These last few weeks we daily found a new way to worship God in action.)
I finally have put my finger on what has been on my heart, and here it is:
the easiest status check I know of one’s committment to worship is to ask yourself this question - “Why do you want to go to heaven?”
Honestly my first response was “because it’ll be paradise.” Not a bad answer but I realized as I contemplated it, that it was a purely selfish answer. (we can debate the good vs. bad of selfishness in another forum). Another answer came to mind “because it’s better than the other place.” Still I find that completely geared towards my own personal comfort.
Psalm 84, a psalm I’ve read nearly daily for a year now, has jsut popped out in yet another way to me:
1What a beautiful home, GOD of the Angel Armies! I’ve always longed to live in a place like this,
2Always dreamed of a room in your house,
where I could sing for joy to God–alive!
It strikes me that in heaven we’re going to be worshipping God forever. Why would we want to go to heaven if we don’t enjoy worshipping God? Why would we want to spend our eternity worshiping God if we haven’t fallen totally in love with Him, totally in awe of Him, totally filled by His presence?
Because it’ll be nice there? Because we’ll be without sin? Because we won’t have ’stress’?
I’m convinced that my life, my attitude, my inner self that no one else sees needs to be completely committed to denying my sinful self, and making choices that put God on the throne.
It’s hard, and it’ll get harder. I fail at it miserably.
I believe that until I can honestly answer the status question with “because I want to spent eternity worshiping God” that my character here on earth still needs to be worked on.
I can say today, that during my best moments, like I had in the last 2 weeks, that is my answer. But I slip up. I act in ways that do not tell others that God is God, but instead that I am God… or rather that I am the king of my own life.
I do not believe that I can change my heart manually, and so I pray that the spirit of God would influence my heart, and would strengthen me during my weak times.
That’s where I am at. Working with the Spirit to transform my life until every thought and action is one of proper worship instead of self-serving.
Our life, our ministry, and our aim as a family is to worship God through word and action and to diminish our own selves in such a way that when people look at us, they see God's glory reflected. We need your prayers to accomplish this feat, and rest assured we will also be praying for you.
2/03/2006
The Kind of People
To give you an idea of the kind of people we're being blessed by:
Last night was our tenth wedding anniversary, and we're at training camp without a car and really no place to go.
There is a little hot tub here, and I realized the last time my wife and I had some quite time to relax and talk was 2 weeks ago, and the last time we were in a hot tub together was before kids.
another training camper offered to watch our kids... we politely declined, but later I took them up on the offer.
well, I called and asked at 8pm. "we wanted to hang out at the hot tub for a few minutes, the kids are asleep could you come stay in our room until we return."
at 8:15 there is a knock on the door.
"sure... I left a jar there, could you bring it back."
sure.. we did....
when we got to the hot tub, the "jar" was a large candle, lit and placed romantically near a nice plant. The effect of the warm wind and the candle on the leaves made it a romantic setting much more than sitting in the dark would have.
How did she get a candle there lit, and then get back to our place in time?
She remembered that another couple had said in class they bring candles wherever they go to feel at home, CALLED them, they ran the candle over and lit it while she walked to our room.
Okay WOW.
all we wanted was a few minutes to ourselves to quietly discuss what God has been doing and relax and celebrate.
What we got was blessed by two friends, and a romantic night together.. which we didn't have to plan or were not expecting.
THAT was awesome.... at the same time a preparation for PNG culture in that everyone knows what you're up to at all times.
"This is GREAT! But you know now everyone knows where we are..." --me
"yeah but if they know, they'll stay away!" --my bride.
we chuckled and had a very nice, impromptu, but wonderful evening celebrating ten years, and celebrating the fact that God is going to make the next ten years a completely different and wonderful time for us as a family.
Last night was our tenth wedding anniversary, and we're at training camp without a car and really no place to go.
There is a little hot tub here, and I realized the last time my wife and I had some quite time to relax and talk was 2 weeks ago, and the last time we were in a hot tub together was before kids.
another training camper offered to watch our kids... we politely declined, but later I took them up on the offer.
well, I called and asked at 8pm. "we wanted to hang out at the hot tub for a few minutes, the kids are asleep could you come stay in our room until we return."
at 8:15 there is a knock on the door.
"sure... I left a jar there, could you bring it back."
sure.. we did....
when we got to the hot tub, the "jar" was a large candle, lit and placed romantically near a nice plant. The effect of the warm wind and the candle on the leaves made it a romantic setting much more than sitting in the dark would have.
How did she get a candle there lit, and then get back to our place in time?
She remembered that another couple had said in class they bring candles wherever they go to feel at home, CALLED them, they ran the candle over and lit it while she walked to our room.
Okay WOW.
all we wanted was a few minutes to ourselves to quietly discuss what God has been doing and relax and celebrate.
What we got was blessed by two friends, and a romantic night together.. which we didn't have to plan or were not expecting.
THAT was awesome.... at the same time a preparation for PNG culture in that everyone knows what you're up to at all times.
"This is GREAT! But you know now everyone knows where we are..." --me
"yeah but if they know, they'll stay away!" --my bride.
we chuckled and had a very nice, impromptu, but wonderful evening celebrating ten years, and celebrating the fact that God is going to make the next ten years a completely different and wonderful time for us as a family.
night time answers
Tonight after dinner, we were heading back to our apartment, which is about half a city block away.
My wife stayed behind to read an email, and as we walked Sydney said "oh I forgot my backpack."
she said "I'll catch up."
of course I waited and when she finally came out, she had her backup, my wife's backpack, and my wife's coat.
I saw her trying to make her way towards me with this heavy load and went to help her.
She politely insisted on taking her mom's pack and jacket.
"it's heavy!" she said.
"I know, I want to carry it." I grabbed it but she wouldn't let go. In fact I got it from her and during that time she reconfigured her own pack to take both the pack and the jacket.
"Don't let it touch the ground or drag, we don't want it getting worn out or holes in it." I said.
"I won't, I figured out how to take it."
after she cleared the entire path I asked her.
"Sydney, why do you want to carry that backpack so badly?"
"because it's mommy's and I wanted to carry her load for her so she could walk here more easily."
I started to tear up as I let my daughter trudge on difficultly ahead.
All this time I've been thinking about how we can lighten our kids' loads in this missions transition and I never paused to think about it the other way around. Of course as a parent you don't willingly burden your child, but God has used them repeatedly as encouragements to us and for some reason today of all days, my daughter wanted to lighten my wife's load.
Today was a particularly tough day for my wife. At dinner time we prayed together "God please encourage my wife today, please lighten her load a little bit today." And God answered that prayer in the form of my daughter.
Seizing the moment to make a parallel I said to my daughter at the door:
"sheesh, that's heavy, I'm glad we're home and it's bed time" she said.
"You know kiddo, it's hard work to take one someone's burden, but even if you can jsut lighten their load for a short while, it could be enough to encourage them and make them happy. I'll bet you made mommy happy."
She thought about that....
not without humor though.. when mommy got home not knowing what had transpired, my daughter hopped up on mommy's lap and said with pride.
"mommy I carried your backpack and coat all the way home!"
"you did!? thank you."
"maybe you might want to give me a penny for that."
so I took out a penny and said,
"kiddo, I'll pay you a penny. What you did was a very nice thing for mommy as a favor, but if you accept this penny then it's a chore you did for money. Do you want the penny or do you want it to be a job you did for pay?"
she thought for not even a second:
"I want it to be a favor for mommy."
so I gave her the penny and said, "then it's a favor for mommy, and I'm giving you this penny because I love you."
then Calvin put his hand out, "do you love me too daddy?"
I said "yes."
he said, "then please give me two pennies, one because you love me and two because I won the race."
I laughed... before I had noticed my daughter carrying the backpack, I challenged my son to a race home, which I lost since I got wrapped up in a more important dialogue with my daughter.
I have to laugh.
Not only did God lighten my wife's load through the kindness of my daughter, He lightened my load through the comedy of my son.
My wife stayed behind to read an email, and as we walked Sydney said "oh I forgot my backpack."
she said "I'll catch up."
of course I waited and when she finally came out, she had her backup, my wife's backpack, and my wife's coat.
I saw her trying to make her way towards me with this heavy load and went to help her.
She politely insisted on taking her mom's pack and jacket.
"it's heavy!" she said.
"I know, I want to carry it." I grabbed it but she wouldn't let go. In fact I got it from her and during that time she reconfigured her own pack to take both the pack and the jacket.
"Don't let it touch the ground or drag, we don't want it getting worn out or holes in it." I said.
"I won't, I figured out how to take it."
after she cleared the entire path I asked her.
"Sydney, why do you want to carry that backpack so badly?"
"because it's mommy's and I wanted to carry her load for her so she could walk here more easily."
I started to tear up as I let my daughter trudge on difficultly ahead.
All this time I've been thinking about how we can lighten our kids' loads in this missions transition and I never paused to think about it the other way around. Of course as a parent you don't willingly burden your child, but God has used them repeatedly as encouragements to us and for some reason today of all days, my daughter wanted to lighten my wife's load.
Today was a particularly tough day for my wife. At dinner time we prayed together "God please encourage my wife today, please lighten her load a little bit today." And God answered that prayer in the form of my daughter.
Seizing the moment to make a parallel I said to my daughter at the door:
"sheesh, that's heavy, I'm glad we're home and it's bed time" she said.
"You know kiddo, it's hard work to take one someone's burden, but even if you can jsut lighten their load for a short while, it could be enough to encourage them and make them happy. I'll bet you made mommy happy."
She thought about that....
not without humor though.. when mommy got home not knowing what had transpired, my daughter hopped up on mommy's lap and said with pride.
"mommy I carried your backpack and coat all the way home!"
"you did!? thank you."
"maybe you might want to give me a penny for that."
so I took out a penny and said,
"kiddo, I'll pay you a penny. What you did was a very nice thing for mommy as a favor, but if you accept this penny then it's a chore you did for money. Do you want the penny or do you want it to be a job you did for pay?"
she thought for not even a second:
"I want it to be a favor for mommy."
so I gave her the penny and said, "then it's a favor for mommy, and I'm giving you this penny because I love you."
then Calvin put his hand out, "do you love me too daddy?"
I said "yes."
he said, "then please give me two pennies, one because you love me and two because I won the race."
I laughed... before I had noticed my daughter carrying the backpack, I challenged my son to a race home, which I lost since I got wrapped up in a more important dialogue with my daughter.
I have to laugh.
Not only did God lighten my wife's load through the kindness of my daughter, He lightened my load through the comedy of my son.
2/02/2006
ten years
today is the last full day of training.
tomorrow is the "goodbyes" and "packing" phase of the trip.
We'll be staying in Orlando to see friends, speak to some youth, and generally relax.
It seems odd, but after two weeks of fully concentrating on ourselves, equipping ourselves, submitting ourselves to God, and filling our brains... the idea of seeing other folks and hearing about their ministries and what is exciting about their lives is very exciting to us.
We are very passionate about what we're doing, but we're also excited about what YOU are doing, so please drop us a line, we'd love to pray for you.
also!!!
my wife and I have been married ten years today.
Groundhog Day
WOOHOOO!...
excitement ensues... about the ten years not so much about the groundhog.
Prayer Requests:
-Refreshing time with friends for the next 4 days
-Health for the family as we visit and fly
-Safety in flying (although honestly we feel like we're in the safest place in the world, smack dab in the center of God's will. Would the plane truly crash while before we got to PNG? Well God is sovereign and so anything can happen.... perhaps pray as well that we can be a blessing to people while on the plane - IE kids well behaved, perhaps conversations and such)
on the plane ride over Sydney spoke for 3 hours with the lady sitting next to her about how she was going to PNG to "make bibles".
you know there is SO much to having "faith like a child"... in acclimating to new cultures, making new friends, and understanding new ideas.
Thank you, and we love you.
We are praying for you, and want to know how to pray more specifically for you
owens@gimpel.tv
tomorrow is the "goodbyes" and "packing" phase of the trip.
We'll be staying in Orlando to see friends, speak to some youth, and generally relax.
It seems odd, but after two weeks of fully concentrating on ourselves, equipping ourselves, submitting ourselves to God, and filling our brains... the idea of seeing other folks and hearing about their ministries and what is exciting about their lives is very exciting to us.
We are very passionate about what we're doing, but we're also excited about what YOU are doing, so please drop us a line, we'd love to pray for you.
also!!!
my wife and I have been married ten years today.
Groundhog Day
WOOHOOO!...
excitement ensues... about the ten years not so much about the groundhog.
Prayer Requests:
-Refreshing time with friends for the next 4 days
-Health for the family as we visit and fly
-Safety in flying (although honestly we feel like we're in the safest place in the world, smack dab in the center of God's will. Would the plane truly crash while before we got to PNG? Well God is sovereign and so anything can happen.... perhaps pray as well that we can be a blessing to people while on the plane - IE kids well behaved, perhaps conversations and such)
on the plane ride over Sydney spoke for 3 hours with the lady sitting next to her about how she was going to PNG to "make bibles".
you know there is SO much to having "faith like a child"... in acclimating to new cultures, making new friends, and understanding new ideas.
Thank you, and we love you.
We are praying for you, and want to know how to pray more specifically for you
owens@gimpel.tv
2/01/2006
history lesson weds
we heard a man speaking today who had been a missionary since 1942. He spoke on prayer and the miracles he's seen from answers to it
but he also spoke about a people who's language he worked with. They can speak, but they communicate in whistles as well. Their language has vowels, consonants and pitch relative to the words around it. The whistles were the tones that were reached when speaking, so in speaking the language the tones heard, are replicated in the whistles.
It was VERY cool to hear, and a fascinating aspect of the language, having a pitch.
Yesterday we learned of a language that has no past tense. Only present and future.
on dating this man referred to looking for a wife as "prospecting" he "struck gold" when he found her.
what a great thing to spend time in the presence of a man who has spent his life in service of God.
It was inspiring at times, humorous at others, but sincere and genuine the entire time.
I look at men like this, men who in their old age are still glorifying God, founders of Biola and missionary organizations, and I think "I would love to finish well for God like that, if I reach that age."
I see a common element of dedication to reading Scripture, prayer and fasting, and actions of service in these men and it is my model to which I strive.
Is it okay to be impatient to become the man you want to be for God? It sure is a daily process of self-denial and hard discipline.
Discipline to pray, to read, to memorize, to deny flesh. a daily thing.... something that can't be put off, because otherwise you end up with years full of wasted days.
but he also spoke about a people who's language he worked with. They can speak, but they communicate in whistles as well. Their language has vowels, consonants and pitch relative to the words around it. The whistles were the tones that were reached when speaking, so in speaking the language the tones heard, are replicated in the whistles.
It was VERY cool to hear, and a fascinating aspect of the language, having a pitch.
Yesterday we learned of a language that has no past tense. Only present and future.
on dating this man referred to looking for a wife as "prospecting" he "struck gold" when he found her.
what a great thing to spend time in the presence of a man who has spent his life in service of God.
It was inspiring at times, humorous at others, but sincere and genuine the entire time.
I look at men like this, men who in their old age are still glorifying God, founders of Biola and missionary organizations, and I think "I would love to finish well for God like that, if I reach that age."
I see a common element of dedication to reading Scripture, prayer and fasting, and actions of service in these men and it is my model to which I strive.
Is it okay to be impatient to become the man you want to be for God? It sure is a daily process of self-denial and hard discipline.
Discipline to pray, to read, to memorize, to deny flesh. a daily thing.... something that can't be put off, because otherwise you end up with years full of wasted days.
1/31/2006
Tuesday
today is “depending on God.” day…. We heard from a man who has been a member of our organization for 63 years… and he told about how God has provided for him his entire life and having money in the bank always worried him because he wanted to depend on God for everything. It was an amazing testimony.
that is the theme of our worship. The point is to learn that independence is not a virtue that God respects but it is a dependence on God and on fellow believers that brings unity and is truly worship.
The weekend was relaxing and fun.... and now we're back to work.
that is the theme of our worship. The point is to learn that independence is not a virtue that God respects but it is a dependence on God and on fellow believers that brings unity and is truly worship.
The weekend was relaxing and fun.... and now we're back to work.
1/28/2006
Saturday
today is family day....
we went to moss park and played near the water and cranes (very bold birds that like to try and eat children's noses).
we played and relaxed and enjoy resting after a long and hard week of work.
we went to moss park and played near the water and cranes (very bold birds that like to try and eat children's noses).
we played and relaxed and enjoy resting after a long and hard week of work.
1/26/2006
Thursday
Last night was interesting, as we dealt and confronted a lot of stuff and faced a lot of anxieties and fears about our future, we came to a point where either we decide to give up on our passion because it's too hard and dig a hole and hide,
or to turn to God in prayer and trust and wait on Him to meet us there.
The temptation to run and hide is very strong and we recognize that as spiritual warfare.
We are confident in our calling, and yet still that confidence can be shaken by getting inside our own heads with doubt.
So there we were.... weak. In our weakness God is proven great. We decided as a couple to turn to God and pray and ask for help and strength to withstand it all.
Weds was a tough day for many of our new friends, with illness and energy level low and being assaulted with spiritual warfare and all kinds of emotions.
After we prayed, I jsut sat it silence and waited on God.
A thought popped into my head, "tomorrow morning's worship theme will comfort you."
this morning's theme was "Worship is acknowledging God in the midst of our fear."
a tear streamed down my cheek as I marvelled once again at God's provision.
We were weak, using discipline and forcing ourselves, we took a step towards God instead of away, and HE took care of the rest.
As if He said, "you need to do work, and it will be work, but fear not, I will meet you there and carry you."
Each class today was so perfect, in that it was God reminding me over and over that each of our fears were in His hands.
It is a good place to be, totally relying on God, but it is a daily place to force yourself into, not to be taken for granted, because the enemy will take any chance he can get.
--------
We discussed written communication and blogs. We need to be very careful what we blog in that it can not be associated with our work, where we're going or the organization we're working with. In fact it needs to pertain mostly to personal thoughts and feelings rather than specifics of work. So, this blog is going to be edited soon, to comply with those regulations, but STILL is geared towards communicating with our partners, so that our relationships are upkept.
The goal of this blog is to communicate with you, so that our relationship is strengthened by an open communication. It will not be our only form of communication but it will be the most current. If you wish to be on a mailing list and have not yet filled out a form to do so, then please go here:
http://www.gimpel.tv/partner.pl
they are truly equipping us... nuts and bolts, spiritual, emotional, financial info, etc. we are being filled up and prepared for the field.
or to turn to God in prayer and trust and wait on Him to meet us there.
The temptation to run and hide is very strong and we recognize that as spiritual warfare.
We are confident in our calling, and yet still that confidence can be shaken by getting inside our own heads with doubt.
So there we were.... weak. In our weakness God is proven great. We decided as a couple to turn to God and pray and ask for help and strength to withstand it all.
Weds was a tough day for many of our new friends, with illness and energy level low and being assaulted with spiritual warfare and all kinds of emotions.
After we prayed, I jsut sat it silence and waited on God.
A thought popped into my head, "tomorrow morning's worship theme will comfort you."
this morning's theme was "Worship is acknowledging God in the midst of our fear."
a tear streamed down my cheek as I marvelled once again at God's provision.
We were weak, using discipline and forcing ourselves, we took a step towards God instead of away, and HE took care of the rest.
As if He said, "you need to do work, and it will be work, but fear not, I will meet you there and carry you."
Each class today was so perfect, in that it was God reminding me over and over that each of our fears were in His hands.
It is a good place to be, totally relying on God, but it is a daily place to force yourself into, not to be taken for granted, because the enemy will take any chance he can get.
--------
We discussed written communication and blogs. We need to be very careful what we blog in that it can not be associated with our work, where we're going or the organization we're working with. In fact it needs to pertain mostly to personal thoughts and feelings rather than specifics of work. So, this blog is going to be edited soon, to comply with those regulations, but STILL is geared towards communicating with our partners, so that our relationships are upkept.
The goal of this blog is to communicate with you, so that our relationship is strengthened by an open communication. It will not be our only form of communication but it will be the most current. If you wish to be on a mailing list and have not yet filled out a form to do so, then please go here:
http://www.gimpel.tv/partner.pl
they are truly equipping us... nuts and bolts, spiritual, emotional, financial info, etc. we are being filled up and prepared for the field.
1/25/2006
side note
a lot of folks have been sharing about something dubbed a "eureka" moment, where God finally put their life in perspective, and they received an excited spirit and a passion for God's work.
in talking with a good friend, I referred to this training camp as "hitting the motherload" which I now realize extends the "eureka moment" analogy. (or gold digger theme).
Only we don't have to dig for gold here, it's being poured on us in large (and sometimes heavy) quantities. The riches are bountiful.
The motherload refers to finding that place where you can draw on the experience of mature believers and discuss things of the Spirit with them.
For me and my friend, the search for deep "mentor" like relationships is an ongoing challenge, and yet here, there is an endless supply of excellent, loving, giving, knowledgable, and experienced believers with whom we get to spend time with daily!
in talking with a good friend, I referred to this training camp as "hitting the motherload" which I now realize extends the "eureka moment" analogy. (or gold digger theme).
Only we don't have to dig for gold here, it's being poured on us in large (and sometimes heavy) quantities. The riches are bountiful.
The motherload refers to finding that place where you can draw on the experience of mature believers and discuss things of the Spirit with them.
For me and my friend, the search for deep "mentor" like relationships is an ongoing challenge, and yet here, there is an endless supply of excellent, loving, giving, knowledgable, and experienced believers with whom we get to spend time with daily!
Weds
we didn't start with worship and my energy level reflects that.
Ever been around a christian who jsut really exudes Christ-likeness to you? Imagine spending an entire week with several of these people, mature people, young people, all strong believers, and then imagine you're discussing the thing you're most passionate about for days on end.
That's this experience.
It's emotional, exciting, tiring, energizing, and really it's a great time. It feels like a home, it feels like how the church is supposed to be. We pray for each other, we share, we learn.
Things I'm learning
-listening - I've found that I am not an active listener, and thus need to work at the discipline of putting away distractions while I listen. It was HARD to do. I kept fidgeting with paperclips and pens. When I'd realize I was doing it, I'd put them down, and then before I knew it they were in my hands again and I didn't remember picking them up.
I confess, there are so many disciplines one must take seriously that I have not.
Perhaps it is my personality, perhaps my culture, but I need to develop these disciplines to be a successful missionary and not get dragged down in spiritual warfare.
Reading the Word - who can't get better at this? I love God's Word but find that I "schedule" it and in PNG we're told that there is no ability to "schedule" a day. One must find time to worship in a daily way that is flexible to people dropping in.
Listening - caring and loving more about what others share than what I feel is important to share. I believe this discipline will be the hardest for me as I get so excited to speak WITH people that I often forget to listen TO them. God has been touching my heart that truly, what I have to say is not near as important as what God wants to tell me through other people. Even when I may disagree with them, God's glory can be shared by listening.
but the content in general is great.
they did a fun thing in culture clas
on each table was a dish with a cover on it saying "do not open"
and we were told that we were all required to eat what was under the dish.
but we would do so at the end of class.
we began to talk about cultural issues,.. etc... but people kept wondering what was under the dish.
and worried about bugs, worms, etc.
at the end, we lift the dish, it's chocolate bar.
the point was, anticipating is often much worse than involving.
The point made by one of the seasoned missionaries about offending other cultures in reference to the "pushy American" syndrome was well put:
-the pushy american refers to the impatient and demaning american tourist who is either insensitive to other cultures or doesn't care. As missionaries we're going to other cultures in love and are trying to be sensitive. We will make mistakes but if you approach each situation in love, you will do well.
Some folks were sharing their different takes on how to handle food situations in as much as not wanting to eat something and how it may offend hosts.
A humorous take was from one of the students:
"Well my friend found that if he invited a guest to places he was invited, in most cultures the "GUEST" is the guest of honor and will be given the "best" part of the food, even if he himself doesn't think it the "best" and can then opt to say "well I brought this person, and they are MY guest, so I will pass this onto them to honor them." and has humorously gotten out of eating odd things.
That was pretty funny.
It is so very interesting to me to watch us all voice what we know to be real and sometimes petty, concerns (will I have to eat bugs) and yet simultaneously be able to trust God for providing for us in impossible ways. You can virtually see the faith of people overcoming the humanity in the class.
By that I mean, someone will voice something and then start to realize "well God can handle that" and they will become calm knowing that others have the same concerns, and see real ways to deal with it, or even hear stories of miraculous ways God took care of that for someone else.
In some ways it's one big encouraging support group.
Ever been around a christian who jsut really exudes Christ-likeness to you? Imagine spending an entire week with several of these people, mature people, young people, all strong believers, and then imagine you're discussing the thing you're most passionate about for days on end.
That's this experience.
It's emotional, exciting, tiring, energizing, and really it's a great time. It feels like a home, it feels like how the church is supposed to be. We pray for each other, we share, we learn.
Things I'm learning
-listening - I've found that I am not an active listener, and thus need to work at the discipline of putting away distractions while I listen. It was HARD to do. I kept fidgeting with paperclips and pens. When I'd realize I was doing it, I'd put them down, and then before I knew it they were in my hands again and I didn't remember picking them up.
I confess, there are so many disciplines one must take seriously that I have not.
Perhaps it is my personality, perhaps my culture, but I need to develop these disciplines to be a successful missionary and not get dragged down in spiritual warfare.
Reading the Word - who can't get better at this? I love God's Word but find that I "schedule" it and in PNG we're told that there is no ability to "schedule" a day. One must find time to worship in a daily way that is flexible to people dropping in.
Listening - caring and loving more about what others share than what I feel is important to share. I believe this discipline will be the hardest for me as I get so excited to speak WITH people that I often forget to listen TO them. God has been touching my heart that truly, what I have to say is not near as important as what God wants to tell me through other people. Even when I may disagree with them, God's glory can be shared by listening.
but the content in general is great.
they did a fun thing in culture clas
on each table was a dish with a cover on it saying "do not open"
and we were told that we were all required to eat what was under the dish.
but we would do so at the end of class.
we began to talk about cultural issues,.. etc... but people kept wondering what was under the dish.
and worried about bugs, worms, etc.
at the end, we lift the dish, it's chocolate bar.
the point was, anticipating is often much worse than involving.
The point made by one of the seasoned missionaries about offending other cultures in reference to the "pushy American" syndrome was well put:
-the pushy american refers to the impatient and demaning american tourist who is either insensitive to other cultures or doesn't care. As missionaries we're going to other cultures in love and are trying to be sensitive. We will make mistakes but if you approach each situation in love, you will do well.
Some folks were sharing their different takes on how to handle food situations in as much as not wanting to eat something and how it may offend hosts.
A humorous take was from one of the students:
"Well my friend found that if he invited a guest to places he was invited, in most cultures the "GUEST" is the guest of honor and will be given the "best" part of the food, even if he himself doesn't think it the "best" and can then opt to say "well I brought this person, and they are MY guest, so I will pass this onto them to honor them." and has humorously gotten out of eating odd things.
That was pretty funny.
It is so very interesting to me to watch us all voice what we know to be real and sometimes petty, concerns (will I have to eat bugs) and yet simultaneously be able to trust God for providing for us in impossible ways. You can virtually see the faith of people overcoming the humanity in the class.
By that I mean, someone will voice something and then start to realize "well God can handle that" and they will become calm knowing that others have the same concerns, and see real ways to deal with it, or even hear stories of miraculous ways God took care of that for someone else.
In some ways it's one big encouraging support group.
1/24/2006
Tuesday
we get going at 7am, eat, get kids to class, worship starts the day the right way
then we go to class, where we hear how the day is different from every other day during announcements.
we have 5 or 10 minutes between each class but it's nice since the teachers do the rotating instead of the students,
there are about 28 students and 32 kids.
today I mentioned to someone "the kids make friends so fast here, two days and they've got 4 best friends"
the reply was "yup that's wycliffe mk's for you."
that was the first time someone called my kids MK's and it had a mixed feeling to it, awkward, at first but we're starting to get a feeling of "we belong". Truly the staff here are the type who love you instantly and are honestly rather invigored by our presence. It is mostly older members volunteering here in the US who have been on the field for a while, and still desire to serve.
One older gentleman named Bud, who is one of Calvin's teachers (5 teachers for preschool) said "I teach here because it's boring at home." he used to be a teacher/principal in some tough gang areas. You know someone loves kids and teaching when during their break, they venture into the game room to see what the kids are doing and "be around" them.
classes over we meet with whatever STAFF that day, a PA or whatever... during meals and daytime personally kendal and I try to rotate who we sit and talk with, to get to know old and new members alike, and we've found quite a few people with PNG ties or aims. We've gotten a lot of our questions answered that way as well, well.. same questions different perspectives... all great.
Tomorrow is "chapel" for the entire Wycliffe campus, and we're told it is the most attended chapel because everyone loves to hear our 3 minute testimonies. It really excites them to hear the "new" members and what they have to say.
Kendal and I gave our 3 (6 total) minute testimony on day 1, wanting to get it over with, and be able to focus on others. We went first, and really you can say a lot about what God is doing during those 3 minutes.
It is interesting to me, having been at conferences before and going through the standard "getting to know you" drills, that never quite work. Here, we all share for 3 minutes, we all repeat the correct pronunciation of the names, and we all really bond during that 3 minutes as tears are shed and laughs burst out. We already feel very close as a body both to the other members and to the staff. We are trying to get to know them more deeply as we can.
WE learn a ton of stuff, not only technical about how Wycliffe works, but the spiritual preparation side of it as well, communication skills, survival skills (interpersonal relationships) etc.
The pace is faster than I remember back at Biola. It is much like drinking straight from a firehose, but the great thing is they recognize that and equip us with tools for reference later. Also they use what seems to be an effective building block method so as we understand, we progress. Personally I'm finding myself very interested and engaged.
You can jsut tell when material and teaching is honed and when it is poor, and this place is honed (training camp #24).
(it rhymed.. didja notice)
We spoke with a couple who were at PNG for 36 years and the Calvin loved to hear how to say "4 and a half" in Tok Pisin. (pidgin).
We were able to socialize tonight for a bit with a gal from PNG , Maggie, and a couple 1 month married, and we played "Settlers" (a board game). Maggie had announced it once and got a big excited shout, so we invited her over to teach a "newbie" course on it and had quite a lot of fun. She kept saying to me "you are a Geoff Russell Jr." whatever that meant.
It was in reference to my strategy thoughts and plain orneryness I think.
The game was a lot of fun, socially, and that says something because I won't like a game if I don't like the people playing it and these were good people.
The kids are doing very well, Calvin is adapting to a pre-school schedule of 7:45am - lunch - 3:30pm splendidly, and even voluntarily takes naps.
For now that's the pace. It sort of "flash rained" here.
It was a praise as well or a blessing because we visited a doctor here on campus that understood going into the field and so he knew PNG and knew what to prepare us and ask us about, as compared to our home doctor who looked at us like we were crazy when we mentioned PNG.
God is stretching us in many ways right now, and as you probably know, that invigorates and exhausts you.
The campus is great, it's exciting to see so many people after the same purpose, some living here on furlough, some visiting family, many in training, some staff and workers.
Everyone here treats us so warmly. It's not a creepy "we want your business" kind of welcome but more of a "we're united in serving the one true God." warm.
then we go to class, where we hear how the day is different from every other day during announcements.
we have 5 or 10 minutes between each class but it's nice since the teachers do the rotating instead of the students,
there are about 28 students and 32 kids.
today I mentioned to someone "the kids make friends so fast here, two days and they've got 4 best friends"
the reply was "yup that's wycliffe mk's for you."
that was the first time someone called my kids MK's and it had a mixed feeling to it, awkward, at first but we're starting to get a feeling of "we belong". Truly the staff here are the type who love you instantly and are honestly rather invigored by our presence. It is mostly older members volunteering here in the US who have been on the field for a while, and still desire to serve.
One older gentleman named Bud, who is one of Calvin's teachers (5 teachers for preschool) said "I teach here because it's boring at home." he used to be a teacher/principal in some tough gang areas. You know someone loves kids and teaching when during their break, they venture into the game room to see what the kids are doing and "be around" them.
classes over we meet with whatever STAFF that day, a PA or whatever... during meals and daytime personally kendal and I try to rotate who we sit and talk with, to get to know old and new members alike, and we've found quite a few people with PNG ties or aims. We've gotten a lot of our questions answered that way as well, well.. same questions different perspectives... all great.
Tomorrow is "chapel" for the entire Wycliffe campus, and we're told it is the most attended chapel because everyone loves to hear our 3 minute testimonies. It really excites them to hear the "new" members and what they have to say.
Kendal and I gave our 3 (6 total) minute testimony on day 1, wanting to get it over with, and be able to focus on others. We went first, and really you can say a lot about what God is doing during those 3 minutes.
It is interesting to me, having been at conferences before and going through the standard "getting to know you" drills, that never quite work. Here, we all share for 3 minutes, we all repeat the correct pronunciation of the names, and we all really bond during that 3 minutes as tears are shed and laughs burst out. We already feel very close as a body both to the other members and to the staff. We are trying to get to know them more deeply as we can.
WE learn a ton of stuff, not only technical about how Wycliffe works, but the spiritual preparation side of it as well, communication skills, survival skills (interpersonal relationships) etc.
The pace is faster than I remember back at Biola. It is much like drinking straight from a firehose, but the great thing is they recognize that and equip us with tools for reference later. Also they use what seems to be an effective building block method so as we understand, we progress. Personally I'm finding myself very interested and engaged.
You can jsut tell when material and teaching is honed and when it is poor, and this place is honed (training camp #24).
(it rhymed.. didja notice)
We spoke with a couple who were at PNG for 36 years and the Calvin loved to hear how to say "4 and a half" in Tok Pisin. (pidgin).
We were able to socialize tonight for a bit with a gal from PNG , Maggie, and a couple 1 month married, and we played "Settlers" (a board game). Maggie had announced it once and got a big excited shout, so we invited her over to teach a "newbie" course on it and had quite a lot of fun. She kept saying to me "you are a Geoff Russell Jr." whatever that meant.
It was in reference to my strategy thoughts and plain orneryness I think.
The game was a lot of fun, socially, and that says something because I won't like a game if I don't like the people playing it and these were good people.
The kids are doing very well, Calvin is adapting to a pre-school schedule of 7:45am - lunch - 3:30pm splendidly, and even voluntarily takes naps.
For now that's the pace. It sort of "flash rained" here.
It was a praise as well or a blessing because we visited a doctor here on campus that understood going into the field and so he knew PNG and knew what to prepare us and ask us about, as compared to our home doctor who looked at us like we were crazy when we mentioned PNG.
God is stretching us in many ways right now, and as you probably know, that invigorates and exhausts you.
The campus is great, it's exciting to see so many people after the same purpose, some living here on furlough, some visiting family, many in training, some staff and workers.
Everyone here treats us so warmly. It's not a creepy "we want your business" kind of welcome but more of a "we're united in serving the one true God." warm.
1/23/2006
Monday
as an I.T. member heading to PNG, I ran into another IT guy about 15 years my senior. Great guy.
right after dinner another new member found me and asked me to get her laptop on the network via wireless.
well I was rushed, so I got her (new to her) laptop online via cable in 2 minutes, but could not get her IEEE1394 wireless connection to work.
I could not figure it out... all I was thinking was "AH! I gotta get back to my apartment!" I had a ton of homework to do (part of this GREAT training camp is drinking from the informational firehose)
meanwhile the biography of the Wycliffe founder is ringing in my ears "..he never seemed in a rush."
so I'm trying not to seem in a rush, when the other IT guy came in and said "this laptop doesn't have a wireless"
I pointed at the ieee1394 interface and he said "isn't 1394 firewire?"
I FELT SO STUPID.
GOD was humbling me there.
Great first impression I thought.
So I accepted my lesson and humbly said, "you're right, good catch, two brains are better than one."
this guy, he's applying to PNG, we'll most likely be co-workers.
rushing, forever created a first technical impression on a co-worker of "oops"... but he didn't take it that way because he's a humble guy.
Lesson learned... PATIENCE and PRIORITIES.
it was a mistake I could have never made if I spent even a single minute focussing on the issue at hand.
Today we learned so much, and met so many incredible servants of God.
But that lesson will stick with me for a while because it isn't like me to make stupid small mistakes. (even if I could partially blame windows for making a firewire connection a network interface).
This parallels something we learned in class today.
We need to remember NOT to view our assignment as our ministry and hurry on our way there.
What we're doing now, meeting people, sharing our passion for God and His call, talking to folks, praying with folks, THAT is our current ministry. We do not want to view this ministry of partnership discovery as a means to an end, but rather a ministry all in itself that will never end.
We strongly desire to have a widespread group of people praying for us. We do not want to "give up" like the statistics say, and while we are passionate this will not happen, we are not so naive as to believe we can accomplish anything alone.
We need you, and we all need God.
right after dinner another new member found me and asked me to get her laptop on the network via wireless.
well I was rushed, so I got her (new to her) laptop online via cable in 2 minutes, but could not get her IEEE1394 wireless connection to work.
I could not figure it out... all I was thinking was "AH! I gotta get back to my apartment!" I had a ton of homework to do (part of this GREAT training camp is drinking from the informational firehose)
meanwhile the biography of the Wycliffe founder is ringing in my ears "..he never seemed in a rush."
so I'm trying not to seem in a rush, when the other IT guy came in and said "this laptop doesn't have a wireless"
I pointed at the ieee1394 interface and he said "isn't 1394 firewire?"
I FELT SO STUPID.
GOD was humbling me there.
Great first impression I thought.
So I accepted my lesson and humbly said, "you're right, good catch, two brains are better than one."
this guy, he's applying to PNG, we'll most likely be co-workers.
rushing, forever created a first technical impression on a co-worker of "oops"... but he didn't take it that way because he's a humble guy.
Lesson learned... PATIENCE and PRIORITIES.
it was a mistake I could have never made if I spent even a single minute focussing on the issue at hand.
Today we learned so much, and met so many incredible servants of God.
But that lesson will stick with me for a while because it isn't like me to make stupid small mistakes. (even if I could partially blame windows for making a firewire connection a network interface).
This parallels something we learned in class today.
We need to remember NOT to view our assignment as our ministry and hurry on our way there.
What we're doing now, meeting people, sharing our passion for God and His call, talking to folks, praying with folks, THAT is our current ministry. We do not want to view this ministry of partnership discovery as a means to an end, but rather a ministry all in itself that will never end.
We strongly desire to have a widespread group of people praying for us. We do not want to "give up" like the statistics say, and while we are passionate this will not happen, we are not so naive as to believe we can accomplish anything alone.
We need you, and we all need God.
1/22/2006
Sunday
training camp, Orlando, Florida
Sunday
this morning we began with worship, and then we each were given 3 minutes to say how God brought us to the point we're at.
How incredible God is that He leads us all on different paths to the same point of humbled obedience to His calling!
The interesting thing was that no matter how different the stories, we still all had a very common bond.
32 kids, 28 adults.
The facility is very nice. The task of learning before us is pretty large as we are discovering, there are a lot of things we need to understand so that we can answer all of your questions.
If you have a question please email us at
chad@gimpel.tv
and we'll ask it while we're here.
Thank you for praying for us while we're here. Health is good, energy is good. Please pray that it keeps up.
Sunday
this morning we began with worship, and then we each were given 3 minutes to say how God brought us to the point we're at.
How incredible God is that He leads us all on different paths to the same point of humbled obedience to His calling!
The interesting thing was that no matter how different the stories, we still all had a very common bond.
32 kids, 28 adults.
The facility is very nice. The task of learning before us is pretty large as we are discovering, there are a lot of things we need to understand so that we can answer all of your questions.
If you have a question please email us at
chad@gimpel.tv
and we'll ask it while we're here.
Thank you for praying for us while we're here. Health is good, energy is good. Please pray that it keeps up.
1/20/2006
Training Begins
We have arrived in Orlando, Florida. You can see a google satellite pic of where we are here. (we're the arc shaped building)
We're right across from the Campus Crusade building.
The flight was good, getting into our apartment was not wrinkle free, but still we're here, in our apartment, on the Wycliffe campus.
The place is rather nice, and I am told that missionaries on furlough live here at times.
We're adapting a "go with the flow" mentality here, trying to give God some breathing room to change our plans and show us what He wants to.
He already has blessed us in so many ways, two ways in the past day or so:
1 - ran into an acquaintance from PNG as our first (and only thus far) visitor 'Maggie'. We ran into her as we were hunting for our apartment.
2 - some friends were able to bless us with tickets to Disneyworld and another park (don't tell the kids yet it's a surprise), at no expense to us, and even more than that, free use of a car!
3 - we were asked to talk to a youth group while we were here!
God's timing is great!
God is faithful.
they are words that have been said before, but the truth of them is growing in strength with each passing day.
Saturday - today, we're able to adjust to the time schedule, walk the campus, handle a few check-in details and for the most part are not in any large rush.
Sunday -Friday the training schedule begins. 7am-6pm is the regiment, but it's a regiment we look forward to.
We're right across from the Campus Crusade building.
The flight was good, getting into our apartment was not wrinkle free, but still we're here, in our apartment, on the Wycliffe campus.
The place is rather nice, and I am told that missionaries on furlough live here at times.
We're adapting a "go with the flow" mentality here, trying to give God some breathing room to change our plans and show us what He wants to.
He already has blessed us in so many ways, two ways in the past day or so:
1 - ran into an acquaintance from PNG as our first (and only thus far) visitor 'Maggie'. We ran into her as we were hunting for our apartment.
2 - some friends were able to bless us with tickets to Disneyworld and another park (don't tell the kids yet it's a surprise), at no expense to us, and even more than that, free use of a car!
3 - we were asked to talk to a youth group while we were here!
God's timing is great!
God is faithful.
they are words that have been said before, but the truth of them is growing in strength with each passing day.
Saturday - today, we're able to adjust to the time schedule, walk the campus, handle a few check-in details and for the most part are not in any large rush.
Sunday -Friday the training schedule begins. 7am-6pm is the regiment, but it's a regiment we look forward to.
1/16/2006
Partnership
This is a very sensitive area, one that I am very new to, and I've hesitated in blogging this because the topic makes me a little too vulnerable and may be more than folks are ready to read. But I've dedicated myself to this blog being about the process of becoming a missionary and for that purpose this is an area I need to discuss.
As an American male, sole income provider, changing into a submissive no-income provider.
That is one way to look at it, and was the first hurdle for me.
I will not be "earning" an income. This was a hard one, easier for my wife than for me because she has been dependent on me for a while.
Questions like "well, what is my contribution to this family now?" or "how am I to judge the value of my skills without an income associated?"
I got over the first hurdle by submitting that part of Faith is believing in God to supply.
Hurdle #2 - income - learning to not see money as "income" so much as a tangible way people would joining the ministry. And learning that it isn't "our" ministry as in my family's but "our" ministry in that God is joining all the different folks to do something and money and prayer are a huge part of it.
I have never been the type who has wanted to make people have to sacrifice. I don't like to sit in the nice "dad" chair at other people's homes, I don't like to be the topic of conversation because it means we're not talking about someone else. I don't like to have folks get up to fill my glass. It isn't a pride in self-sufficience, but a recognition that I do not make it my aim in life to make others serve me. I prefer to be the server. I also realize that there are different skills that folks have.
-I find sacrificial giving tough
-I find going ... not as tough
-I find praying ..not so tough.
So when people give us money, I see that as the toughest thing to do and am overwhelmed and honored by it. I in fact at first feel bad because I know that these people have made a decision to go -without- something in order to do this. This is a hard hurdle to overcome, the feeling that you are putting someone else out.
I'm excited to share that while this is a process, my Bible Study today helped me to clear that hurdle. This is a huge hurdle for me. Getting a check from a friend, made me feel honored, overwhelmed, sick to my stomach, excited, and guilty... months ago.
I feel like I get to do God's work, and not foot the bill. We get to see exciting places, do what we see as our dream job, while other people do all the "work" and sacrifice to make our dreams come true. That is how it seemed at first. I've never felt that this going was a sacrifice, not yet, I probably won't until I'm there sacrificing. From the time God put it on our hearts I've felt there is simply nothing else I'd rather be doing.
So I write this to share with you our excitement as we go through this metamorphosis of mind and heart. Our minds have told us, God will provide partners and it'll be exciting to see who they are. But today my heart finally kicked in when I read this:
It's that GREAT? I have always read this as "focus on God and He will meet your needs." But today I read this as "others, when they give money to this ministry, and make it THEIR ministry, they are focussing on God and that I (chad) shouldn't worry about what they might be sacrificing, because God is going to bless them, God is going to supply for them."
How awkward I was before today that someone felt that we... were important enough to sacrifice for... and yet honored at the same time... but that we were the cause of this sacrifice. And now I see that isn't the case at all. God is the cause, and the reason and will receive the Glory and is the catalyst and the provider, and the insurer, and the receiver.
To be honest, it is hard for me to take a compliment. And I see compliments in everything people do. An invitation to dinner says "we want to be around you." This honors me. Being asked to be in a wedding party, being asked into a home, being given a gift, being paid a verbal compliment. All of these things surprise me, and make me feel unworthy and yet so appreciative. So appreciative that there are no words or actions to communicate it.
I now have a new hurdle (-; removing myself as the perceived object of the giving. I have to confess, to feel guilt or honor for receiving a gift is pride based. I have wrongfully put myself in the center of a ministry that doesn't belong to me. It's God's. For that same reason taking a compliment now is praise to God not to me, receiving a check, is money given to God, not to me. I don't feel it's wrong to be elated about a compliment or a gift but I do believe the right thing to do is to give that glory to God.
At the same time, though, the wonderful thing is that the Spirit is working through personal relationships. The reason you are giving of your prayers and gifts to this ministry is because of the relationship God has inspired between us. The fabric of His plan is magnificent in that you can simultaneously give to God and to us and to yourself and your family and to the "church".
There is no counterfeit for a Gift from God a "God Thing". It is amazing how one action can be so far reaching and so personal.
You ever get those goosebumps when God unveils a tiny part of His plan to you?
WOW! I mean wow.
Wow #1 - God has something planned... and it's big. He's amassing people together to accomplish it, and it is not because of us, or in spite of us, it is simply all God bringing all of us together! Wow. WOW.
Wow #2 - We are joining together not because of common interests or goals which we have, but because God's Spirit is speaking to our hearts, and combining us to unification for the Glory of God. WOW! I mean is that not exactly what it talks about in Ephesians 4:13?
This is a sensitive subject, and presents many hurdles for people, but I can tell you right now even as I write this, my soul is so excited and jazzed, GLORY to God,.. shout it out right now...
God is great... His plan is outside of my comprehension. He has spoken to my heart today and shown me that He is at work through you.
Thank you so much.
I suppose I can summarize this entire entry as:
I see the process of partnershpi in two ways based on the Scripture quoted above: 1 – God will provide for my family, don’t worry just focus on Him be willing and God will be glorified. But ALSO, 2 – do not feel guilt for those that sacrificially give to this ministry, because sacrificing for God is good, and He will provide for them as well as for us.
In a way giving means we(the going, the giving, the sending, the praying) are becoming partners in relying on God to supply our needs, and in watching for the Glory He will be given.
As an American male, sole income provider, changing into a submissive no-income provider.
That is one way to look at it, and was the first hurdle for me.
I will not be "earning" an income. This was a hard one, easier for my wife than for me because she has been dependent on me for a while.
Questions like "well, what is my contribution to this family now?" or "how am I to judge the value of my skills without an income associated?"
I got over the first hurdle by submitting that part of Faith is believing in God to supply.
Hurdle #2 - income - learning to not see money as "income" so much as a tangible way people would joining the ministry. And learning that it isn't "our" ministry as in my family's but "our" ministry in that God is joining all the different folks to do something and money and prayer are a huge part of it.
I have never been the type who has wanted to make people have to sacrifice. I don't like to sit in the nice "dad" chair at other people's homes, I don't like to be the topic of conversation because it means we're not talking about someone else. I don't like to have folks get up to fill my glass. It isn't a pride in self-sufficience, but a recognition that I do not make it my aim in life to make others serve me. I prefer to be the server. I also realize that there are different skills that folks have.
-I find sacrificial giving tough
-I find going ... not as tough
-I find praying ..not so tough.
So when people give us money, I see that as the toughest thing to do and am overwhelmed and honored by it. I in fact at first feel bad because I know that these people have made a decision to go -without- something in order to do this. This is a hard hurdle to overcome, the feeling that you are putting someone else out.
I'm excited to share that while this is a process, my Bible Study today helped me to clear that hurdle. This is a huge hurdle for me. Getting a check from a friend, made me feel honored, overwhelmed, sick to my stomach, excited, and guilty... months ago.
I feel like I get to do God's work, and not foot the bill. We get to see exciting places, do what we see as our dream job, while other people do all the "work" and sacrifice to make our dreams come true. That is how it seemed at first. I've never felt that this going was a sacrifice, not yet, I probably won't until I'm there sacrificing. From the time God put it on our hearts I've felt there is simply nothing else I'd rather be doing.
So I write this to share with you our excitement as we go through this metamorphosis of mind and heart. Our minds have told us, God will provide partners and it'll be exciting to see who they are. But today my heart finally kicked in when I read this:
Matt 6:24 (the Message)
24"You can't worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you'll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can't worship God and Money both.
25"If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. 26Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.
27"Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? 28All this time and money wasted on fashion--do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, 29but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best--dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.
30"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers--most of which are never even seen--don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? 31What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. 32People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. 33Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
34"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
It's that GREAT? I have always read this as "focus on God and He will meet your needs." But today I read this as "others, when they give money to this ministry, and make it THEIR ministry, they are focussing on God and that I (chad) shouldn't worry about what they might be sacrificing, because God is going to bless them, God is going to supply for them."
How awkward I was before today that someone felt that we... were important enough to sacrifice for... and yet honored at the same time... but that we were the cause of this sacrifice. And now I see that isn't the case at all. God is the cause, and the reason and will receive the Glory and is the catalyst and the provider, and the insurer, and the receiver.
To be honest, it is hard for me to take a compliment. And I see compliments in everything people do. An invitation to dinner says "we want to be around you." This honors me. Being asked to be in a wedding party, being asked into a home, being given a gift, being paid a verbal compliment. All of these things surprise me, and make me feel unworthy and yet so appreciative. So appreciative that there are no words or actions to communicate it.
I now have a new hurdle (-; removing myself as the perceived object of the giving. I have to confess, to feel guilt or honor for receiving a gift is pride based. I have wrongfully put myself in the center of a ministry that doesn't belong to me. It's God's. For that same reason taking a compliment now is praise to God not to me, receiving a check, is money given to God, not to me. I don't feel it's wrong to be elated about a compliment or a gift but I do believe the right thing to do is to give that glory to God.
At the same time, though, the wonderful thing is that the Spirit is working through personal relationships. The reason you are giving of your prayers and gifts to this ministry is because of the relationship God has inspired between us. The fabric of His plan is magnificent in that you can simultaneously give to God and to us and to yourself and your family and to the "church".
There is no counterfeit for a Gift from God a "God Thing". It is amazing how one action can be so far reaching and so personal.
You ever get those goosebumps when God unveils a tiny part of His plan to you?
WOW! I mean wow.
Wow #1 - God has something planned... and it's big. He's amassing people together to accomplish it, and it is not because of us, or in spite of us, it is simply all God bringing all of us together! Wow. WOW.
Wow #2 - We are joining together not because of common interests or goals which we have, but because God's Spirit is speaking to our hearts, and combining us to unification for the Glory of God. WOW! I mean is that not exactly what it talks about in Ephesians 4:13?
This is a sensitive subject, and presents many hurdles for people, but I can tell you right now even as I write this, my soul is so excited and jazzed, GLORY to God,.. shout it out right now...
God is great... His plan is outside of my comprehension. He has spoken to my heart today and shown me that He is at work through you.
Thank you so much.
I suppose I can summarize this entire entry as:
I see the process of partnershpi in two ways based on the Scripture quoted above: 1 – God will provide for my family, don’t worry just focus on Him be willing and God will be glorified. But ALSO, 2 – do not feel guilt for those that sacrificially give to this ministry, because sacrificing for God is good, and He will provide for them as well as for us.
In a way giving means we(the going, the giving, the sending, the praying) are becoming partners in relying on God to supply our needs, and in watching for the Glory He will be given.
Training Time
well we're pretty revved up about Wycliffe training in Orlande for the next few weeks.
We're leaving this friday and won't be back until Feb 8th.
My son has a fever today, so pray specifically:
-health : it seems one of us always gets sick when we travel, sickness will throw a monkey wrench in the works as both me and my wife need to attend a lot of training (from what I understand the schedule is very busy). We also need to take physicals to get membership finalized and can't do that if we're sick.
-patience and low stress: although the kids are great travellers, there is always a bit of extra stress when you're trying to navigate airports and security stations, shuttles and schedules.
the purpose is to go through the Wycliffe training, and really understand the semantics of relocating your family as well as the specifics about partnership development etc.
We walk into the training, with a lot of questions and we hope to have them answered before we get home.
If any of you have detailed questions for us we'd be glad to ask them while we're there, email us at:
owens@gimpel.tv
thanks for praying!
We're leaving this friday and won't be back until Feb 8th.
My son has a fever today, so pray specifically:
-health : it seems one of us always gets sick when we travel, sickness will throw a monkey wrench in the works as both me and my wife need to attend a lot of training (from what I understand the schedule is very busy). We also need to take physicals to get membership finalized and can't do that if we're sick.
-patience and low stress: although the kids are great travellers, there is always a bit of extra stress when you're trying to navigate airports and security stations, shuttles and schedules.
the purpose is to go through the Wycliffe training, and really understand the semantics of relocating your family as well as the specifics about partnership development etc.
We walk into the training, with a lot of questions and we hope to have them answered before we get home.
If any of you have detailed questions for us we'd be glad to ask them while we're there, email us at:
owens@gimpel.tv
thanks for praying!
12/29/2005
Christmas New Years and Upcoming Training
Merry Christmas!
and Happy New Year!
this season has been very enjoyable for us as a family. We have not rushed around, and everyone has been so well behaved. We are really enjoying our kids! They are at an age and a character right now where they are a joy for us to be around and celebrate with (well they always have been). They seem so very excited about Christmas and yet we never really heard any "I want" or "I need". They were not interested in writing a list or making gift requests. Well Sydney wanted a turtle but changed her mind. We're not sure why she wanted a turtle (-;
We got through the main sickness, everyone was pretty sick the week leading up to Christmas but we were cured in the nick of time.
at the end of January we are flying across the country to Florida where we will be for 2.5 weeks of training and hopefully a few moments of family time as we'll all 4 be together.
Our prayers for that time are :
1 - we understand specifics and fill in the blanks we have regarding the process of getting to PNG.
2 - as many details as possible can be handled during this time.
3 - that the Holy Spirit would fill and encourage us as we're there.
hope everyone has a good new year! What an exciting year this is going to be!
and Happy New Year!
this season has been very enjoyable for us as a family. We have not rushed around, and everyone has been so well behaved. We are really enjoying our kids! They are at an age and a character right now where they are a joy for us to be around and celebrate with (well they always have been). They seem so very excited about Christmas and yet we never really heard any "I want" or "I need". They were not interested in writing a list or making gift requests. Well Sydney wanted a turtle but changed her mind. We're not sure why she wanted a turtle (-;
We got through the main sickness, everyone was pretty sick the week leading up to Christmas but we were cured in the nick of time.
at the end of January we are flying across the country to Florida where we will be for 2.5 weeks of training and hopefully a few moments of family time as we'll all 4 be together.
Our prayers for that time are :
1 - we understand specifics and fill in the blanks we have regarding the process of getting to PNG.
2 - as many details as possible can be handled during this time.
3 - that the Holy Spirit would fill and encourage us as we're there.
hope everyone has a good new year! What an exciting year this is going to be!
12/13/2005
End of Perspectives
Tonight's speaker was good. In fact the last two were great! There is so much I would like to express but he did tell us that we don't want to "uncork" at people because we're so excited after the class.
Both my wife and I have such respect and love for senders/mobilizers/intercessors. We have been so honored by you and so in awe of how God is glorified.
Often we hear "I respect your faith to go" or "I wish I could go" as if somehow the going is the more highly esteemed part of the ministry. We both feel we are in no way more valuable than any other member of the church participating in missions simply because we "go". Going takes so long (an average of 5-7 years to get into the field) AND 50% of overseas goer's come back before 5 years and never go again. So really if anyone has a "bad" name it would be goer's (-;
But tonight the speaker really touched on our heart and our excitement for this ministry. To paraphrase him does injustice, perhaps I can post a sound clip in the near future
"If you do the math in the most liberal sense, less than 1% of the church can be goer's. If more people went we'd be so disorganized we'd be falling all over ourselves. So what about that other 99%? Missions is a call to ALL believers, and while it isn't the only part of being a christian, it is A part. I challenge everyone here to think about how they can answer the great commission in their own context."
he shared several stories that were so cool. One that touched me.
They were moving from Denver to Washington, and a member of their church said,
"I don't have a lot of money to send you, but God gave you the ability to go and do this thing, and He gave me a strong back. I manage a professional moving company, and I would like to handle your move to Washington."
What an amazing God we serve. He's positioned us, brought us up and uses us to serve Him. When He calls us to obey, He rarely lets us see the details of the future (lets be honest, if He did, we might be terrified until we take baby steps to build the trust), but when we step out in obedience, He often uses exactly what He's already given us to serve Him.
My wife and I are able and willing and custom tailored to go, and to go to PNG.
Some of you are custom tailored to do something else, perhaps its to join us, to encourage us, to prayer for us, to support us, to become a part of this team to go out there and get the Gospel translated.
In my head, I imagine the day I would get to work on that first computer as full time missionary and I get pumped up.
I want to dedicate myself to making technology a help to the work of God instead of a hindrance. I don't want anyone with the talents of doing translation work, or teaching or taking care of youth/children to ever despair because of a failed computer. I want them to know they can call on me to fix it.
My wife wants them to be confident that their education is in good hands, and they will learn about God and learn to read His Word.
This is the passion on our hearts, and we need to combine that passion with your passion. What is your passion?
Please feel free to write us
owens@gimpel.tv
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog and we will be updating it again soon.
Both my wife and I have such respect and love for senders/mobilizers/intercessors. We have been so honored by you and so in awe of how God is glorified.
Often we hear "I respect your faith to go" or "I wish I could go" as if somehow the going is the more highly esteemed part of the ministry. We both feel we are in no way more valuable than any other member of the church participating in missions simply because we "go". Going takes so long (an average of 5-7 years to get into the field) AND 50% of overseas goer's come back before 5 years and never go again. So really if anyone has a "bad" name it would be goer's (-;
But tonight the speaker really touched on our heart and our excitement for this ministry. To paraphrase him does injustice, perhaps I can post a sound clip in the near future
"If you do the math in the most liberal sense, less than 1% of the church can be goer's. If more people went we'd be so disorganized we'd be falling all over ourselves. So what about that other 99%? Missions is a call to ALL believers, and while it isn't the only part of being a christian, it is A part. I challenge everyone here to think about how they can answer the great commission in their own context."
he shared several stories that were so cool. One that touched me.
They were moving from Denver to Washington, and a member of their church said,
"I don't have a lot of money to send you, but God gave you the ability to go and do this thing, and He gave me a strong back. I manage a professional moving company, and I would like to handle your move to Washington."
What an amazing God we serve. He's positioned us, brought us up and uses us to serve Him. When He calls us to obey, He rarely lets us see the details of the future (lets be honest, if He did, we might be terrified until we take baby steps to build the trust), but when we step out in obedience, He often uses exactly what He's already given us to serve Him.
My wife and I are able and willing and custom tailored to go, and to go to PNG.
Some of you are custom tailored to do something else, perhaps its to join us, to encourage us, to prayer for us, to support us, to become a part of this team to go out there and get the Gospel translated.
In my head, I imagine the day I would get to work on that first computer as full time missionary and I get pumped up.
I want to dedicate myself to making technology a help to the work of God instead of a hindrance. I don't want anyone with the talents of doing translation work, or teaching or taking care of youth/children to ever despair because of a failed computer. I want them to know they can call on me to fix it.
My wife wants them to be confident that their education is in good hands, and they will learn about God and learn to read His Word.
This is the passion on our hearts, and we need to combine that passion with your passion. What is your passion?
Please feel free to write us
owens@gimpel.tv
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog and we will be updating it again soon.
12/07/2005
Dec. 7th
It has been a month since updating this blog, and we've made significant progress. First and foremost, we've received our unofficial assignment which is PNG working at the computer center! Wycliffe didn't pitch other places to us, in fact felt confident this was the right place to send us. What an exciting confirmation that God is calling us there!
what next?: Training is in January.
We have a letter we're wanting to send out to folks to tell them about what we're doing and giving a general update, it's coming hopefully in the next few days. We need to construct our mailing list and it is taking us some time to accomplish in the midst of all the holiday busy-ness and work schedules, and all the other things that eat up time.
We need to begin medical preparations which means doctor visits and physicals and shots etc. Our kids seem to be pretty good with shots so that's not a major issue.
-------
Perspectives... only 1 more week to go.
Did you know that a lot of missionaries have taken this course throughout the years?
Last night the speaker was very supportive of the perspectives course, he called it a major tool of God.
Rich Lederer (not sure of the spelling of his last name).
Texan, spent 13 years in Mongolia, is now in iraq. 57.
He was very much a straight shooter who really was passionate about our goal being the kingdom of God. The topic was contextualization, which basically means that when we teach people about Jesus, we're careful not to destroy their culture and bring in "our" culture. Let a born again muslim still pray in mosques, knowing they are praying to God now. Otherwise you remove them from the very culture they can be effective for Christ in.
He said a lot of good things, and shared a lot of good stories.
One thing he did was confirm that he was listening to the call of the Holy Spirit and following it.
He didn't address how that process worked for him but he told a few stories.
One of which stands out to me. For me, once you respond to God's calling, you start to see Him working in certain terms.
4 weeks ago, Rich began reading the "Camel Training Method". He became convinced that we would see no movement in Iraq for Christ until the strongman was bound, until we fought against the principalities in place in that area.
He was in the family room and his daughters were there and his wife, and he was working on his laptop when his daughter let out a gasp. There was a 4" long scorpion on the floor near his daughter. While he was searching for something to kill it with, his daughter reached out and said "daddy do you want me to ...." and then killed it.
After it calmed down he sat back down and said.. "family, look what I jsut typed into my system."
God works, God talks to us. This to them was a confirmation their move to Iraq was the right one, and that their decision to bind Satan out there was the right one and an encouragement that God has given then the authority to be bold and be victorious!
A lot of my life I have wanted God to talk to me, tell me what to do, and make it not confusing but to be clear. It doesn't jsut happen, you don't wait around to hear God, you seek Him out. You seek God in the scriptures, in prayer. You respond.
Another thing he said was he often hears the concept "we have to earn the right to be heard." This is a cultural sensitivity that has been taught to preparing missionaries for decades. Don't simply preach, earn the right to be heard.
He confronted that concept. He said, "Jesus earned the right to be heard, we need to go forward boldly." He re-iterated that we shouldn't be insensitive, but we should also not be timid and pass up opportunities.
I tell you last night as this man spoke, I felt like I was in the presence of the shadow of Paul. This man was enthusiastic, bold, encouraging, accurate, and every thing he said rang with wonderful truth and conviction. He was very focussed on shaping the church movement up.
You know I'm not so sure God has called us to go and do anything spectacular like what this man has done, but I'm sure God has called us. We don't know what we're going to end up doing, but we know our passion and we know what God has told us to do and that's what we're doing.
God has called us to this work in PNG. He has confirmed it multiple times. It is where He wants us for whatever reason, and we do not do this thing to further our career, or appear to have achieved some holiness that others lack. We do this thing because our Father has called us to it, and we can't ignore it. It isn't a glamorous thing we go to do, it is a very very simple thing.
Our focus is not on spreading "christianity as a culture" but on furthering the kingdom of God that all would worship Him in spirit and in truth.
I write this because I want to make sure that no one ever looks at us and says, "I wish I had __________ that Kendal and Chad have." or "I could never do what they're doing." You can. Never say of us "you're doing a great thing." We possess no special thing of ourselves that enable us to do this thing, it's completely from God.
How to Pray:
- one of the things we were reminded of this week was that a typical quality of the larger church movements was ... primarily.... extraordinary prayer. One director said to his board "if you're not going to pray every day... EVERY day over this, resign now." That's the type of mentality, the dedication of prayer that is going to be required to fight against the strongman. So...
-pray that as we build our address list, we find the people who are excited about what we're doing. That God would show us the people and the churches that would support us in prayer and financially and be excited to join our ministry with theirs to reach and support the translation work in PNG.
We know that God has prepared their hearts, we want to find them... and then join our small part of this ministry with theirs to become a team.
what next?: Training is in January.
We have a letter we're wanting to send out to folks to tell them about what we're doing and giving a general update, it's coming hopefully in the next few days. We need to construct our mailing list and it is taking us some time to accomplish in the midst of all the holiday busy-ness and work schedules, and all the other things that eat up time.
We need to begin medical preparations which means doctor visits and physicals and shots etc. Our kids seem to be pretty good with shots so that's not a major issue.
-------
Perspectives... only 1 more week to go.
Did you know that a lot of missionaries have taken this course throughout the years?
Last night the speaker was very supportive of the perspectives course, he called it a major tool of God.
Rich Lederer (not sure of the spelling of his last name).
Texan, spent 13 years in Mongolia, is now in iraq. 57.
He was very much a straight shooter who really was passionate about our goal being the kingdom of God. The topic was contextualization, which basically means that when we teach people about Jesus, we're careful not to destroy their culture and bring in "our" culture. Let a born again muslim still pray in mosques, knowing they are praying to God now. Otherwise you remove them from the very culture they can be effective for Christ in.
He said a lot of good things, and shared a lot of good stories.
One thing he did was confirm that he was listening to the call of the Holy Spirit and following it.
He didn't address how that process worked for him but he told a few stories.
One of which stands out to me. For me, once you respond to God's calling, you start to see Him working in certain terms.
4 weeks ago, Rich began reading the "Camel Training Method". He became convinced that we would see no movement in Iraq for Christ until the strongman was bound, until we fought against the principalities in place in that area.
He was in the family room and his daughters were there and his wife, and he was working on his laptop when his daughter let out a gasp. There was a 4" long scorpion on the floor near his daughter. While he was searching for something to kill it with, his daughter reached out and said "daddy do you want me to ...." and then killed it.
After it calmed down he sat back down and said.. "family, look what I jsut typed into my system."
Luke 10:19 - I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
God works, God talks to us. This to them was a confirmation their move to Iraq was the right one, and that their decision to bind Satan out there was the right one and an encouragement that God has given then the authority to be bold and be victorious!
A lot of my life I have wanted God to talk to me, tell me what to do, and make it not confusing but to be clear. It doesn't jsut happen, you don't wait around to hear God, you seek Him out. You seek God in the scriptures, in prayer. You respond.
Another thing he said was he often hears the concept "we have to earn the right to be heard." This is a cultural sensitivity that has been taught to preparing missionaries for decades. Don't simply preach, earn the right to be heard.
He confronted that concept. He said, "Jesus earned the right to be heard, we need to go forward boldly." He re-iterated that we shouldn't be insensitive, but we should also not be timid and pass up opportunities.
I tell you last night as this man spoke, I felt like I was in the presence of the shadow of Paul. This man was enthusiastic, bold, encouraging, accurate, and every thing he said rang with wonderful truth and conviction. He was very focussed on shaping the church movement up.
You know I'm not so sure God has called us to go and do anything spectacular like what this man has done, but I'm sure God has called us. We don't know what we're going to end up doing, but we know our passion and we know what God has told us to do and that's what we're doing.
God has called us to this work in PNG. He has confirmed it multiple times. It is where He wants us for whatever reason, and we do not do this thing to further our career, or appear to have achieved some holiness that others lack. We do this thing because our Father has called us to it, and we can't ignore it. It isn't a glamorous thing we go to do, it is a very very simple thing.
Our focus is not on spreading "christianity as a culture" but on furthering the kingdom of God that all would worship Him in spirit and in truth.
I write this because I want to make sure that no one ever looks at us and says, "I wish I had __________ that Kendal and Chad have." or "I could never do what they're doing." You can. Never say of us "you're doing a great thing." We possess no special thing of ourselves that enable us to do this thing, it's completely from God.
How to Pray:
- one of the things we were reminded of this week was that a typical quality of the larger church movements was ... primarily.... extraordinary prayer. One director said to his board "if you're not going to pray every day... EVERY day over this, resign now." That's the type of mentality, the dedication of prayer that is going to be required to fight against the strongman. So...
-pray that as we build our address list, we find the people who are excited about what we're doing. That God would show us the people and the churches that would support us in prayer and financially and be excited to join our ministry with theirs to reach and support the translation work in PNG.
We know that God has prepared their hearts, we want to find them... and then join our small part of this ministry with theirs to become a team.
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