Cravings... Holy and Otherwise

I am craving rain. While half of the country is literally overflowing with it, south Texas hasn't had a drop. And I am desperate for it.

I love water. I love to drink, shower, bathe, swim, dip my toes, run my hands in it. And I love to watch it rain. In the rain I am renewed.

My parents have been gone for a few days. I'm being lazy. I'm waking up later and spending time in front of the T.V. I'm reading an autobiography and taking long baths. But, something has been strange about all of this... feeling little nervous butterflies in my stomach. And I couldn't put my finger on it. Until this morning. Ahh... My quiet time with the Lord has been postponed with all my leisurely activities. I've been doing it late (yesterday not until 2). It's not a sin issue. It's a "what's best"/"First Love" issue. Those butterflies are a craving for the Word. For Prayer.

Hmmmm...

So, please excuse me. I'm going to be alone now... well, almost.

Welcome Brandi Davis

In April of this year we welcomed another team member, Brandi Davis. She is a graduate of Manhatten Christian College and is from Wichita, Kansas. Along with all of our team members, once she gets to the field, she will be spending the first year learning the language and studying culture. After that, she will be leading in the areas of Music Outreach and Worship Development. She is a great addition to a wonderfully God-formed team and comes highly recommended. Yesterday, Angie and I got to see Brandi and meet her family. We were leaving a camp in Horton, Kansas so we drove through Wichita on the way home. Soon, you will be reading her thoughts alongside the rest of our team here, as she navigates this life of being a missionary.

bon apetite

For those of you who don't know yet, I am the pickiest eater in the entire world. When I say picky, I mean it. I like everything plain and I have alot of trouble trying new food or anything that looks different than what I am used too. I've been like this since I was little. At the age of 10, my mom had to pay me 5 bucks to try a cheeseburger. I didn't even try scrambled eggs until I was 20. For Brandon's birthday a couple years ago, I tried chinese food. Don't even get me started on the Ethiopian Restaurant we went to at Launch. That was a hard one for me.

I am making a serious effort get better about trying things. Since we moved to Indiana, I have tried about 4 new things. This is due mostly to my understanding and patient husband and his mother who is the best cook in the world. They never force me or really make me try anything. They just tell me what's in it and let me make up my mind. This approach tends to work the best. Anyways, This is a really big deal for me. Ussually, I will only try about one new thing every two years.

Why the sudden burst of adventurous eating?

If you would have asked me to consider being a missionary 5 years ago, I would have probably said no and my main reason behind that would have been that I am a picky eater. I couldn't handle the thought of new cuisine and new ingredients. One would think this would be a huge concern for me now as we plan and prepare for Italy. It's not though. Knowing this would be a hard thing for me, I began praying about it as soon as I knew we might go to Italy. I can already see God working in this area of my life. The four new foods I have tried should attest to that. I just know I can't let the fact that it's hard for me to try new food to jeopardize the call God's put on my life.

It may not be eating new food, but we all have something to overcome in order to accomplish the tasks God has set out for us. For missionaries it might be learning the language, adjusting to being away from home or differences in culture. It could also be getting over our pride and asking for God to help us no matter how trivial our issues might seem. Whatever it is we have to overcome, God can help us if we just ask him.

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood!

The summer theme for the youth group at the church we are attending right now is "Old School". The Youth Minister is taking Bible stories that a lot of the kids have heard when they were younger in sunday school, and using them in a new way to speak to where the kids are now in this current stage of life. It' a really fun concept, and the gigantic flanal boards that are used to recreate the story as it is being told is awesome!! Because this is a throw back to younger years, another thing we do is have the actual text of the Bible in each sotry read by Mr. Rogers, who makes his signautre singing entrance each evening that we have youth group. Guess who got drafted to be Mr. Rogers? That's right, me. It's pretty funny I think. I messed up the song the second time because the zipper of my cardigan got caught on my tie as I was singing and changing into my "leisure wear". So I get flustered with my zipper and start singing again a line to late, and I'm a stanza behind for the rest of the song until the music abruptly shuts off while iI'm still asking the audience if they would be my neighbor.

Well, I was talking to someone about Mr. Rogers and he was a really amazing guy. He used the medium of television to reach millions of children, and he did this because he knew that for some kids he would be the only one in their life that could treat them lovingly and be a positive influence. Fred Rogers was a shining light for a lot of lonely kids. If that's not missions I don't know what is. Did you know that the whole time Fred Rogers was getting his TV show off the ground he was enrolled in seminary and studying to be a minister as well? I thought that this was just something goofy to get a laugh out of the kids, but once I learned a little more about Mr. Rogers, I realized what an awesome impact he made in this world. I hope that I can be a shining light to the children and youth in Verona and treat them with the love, care , and respect that Fred Rogers did every weekday afternoon on PBS.

Alright I have to go. It's time to feed the fish...

Brandon

Amen!

[Below is a poem I really like by Adrian Plass. Brandi has already heard me read it when Ann and I gave our "trial" presentation at LAUNCH. It kind of reflects what it feels to me to be a missionary at times. Enjoy. -John]

"When I Became a Christian," by Adrian Plass

When I became a Christian I said, "Lord, now fill me in,
Tell me what I’ll suffer in this world of shame and sin."
He said, "Your body may be killed, and left to rot and stink,
Do you still want to follow me?" I said, "Amen! – I think.
I think Amen, Amen I think, I think I say Amen,
I’m not completely sure, can you just run through that again?
You say my body may be killed and left to rot and stink,
Well, yes, that sounds teriffic, Lord, I say Amen – I think.

"But, Lord, there must be other ways to follow you," I said,
"I really would prefer to end up dying in my bed."
"Well, yes," he said, "you could put up with sneers and scorn and spit,
Do you still want to follow me?" I said, "Amen! – a bit.
A bit Amen, Amen a bit, a bit I say Amen,
I’m not completely sure, can you just run through that again?
You say I could put up with sneers and also scorn and spit,
Well, yes, I’ve made my mind up, and I say Amen! – a bit."

Well, I sat back and thought a while, then tried a different ploy.
"Now, Lord," I said, "the Good Book says that Christians live in joy."
"That’s true," he said, "you need the joy to bear the pain and sorrow,
So do you still want to follow me?" I said, "Amen! – tomorrow.
Tomorrow, Lord, I’ll say it then, that’s when I’ll say Amen,
I need to get it clear, can I just run through that again?
You said I will need the joy, to bear the pain and sorrow,
Well, yes, I think I’ve got it straight, I’ll say, Amen – tomorrow."

He said, "Look, I’m not asking you to spend an hour with me,
A quick salvation sandwich and a cup of sanctity,
The cost is you, not half of you, but every single bit.
Now tell me, will you follow me?" I said, "Amen! – No! I quit.
I’m very sorry, Lord," I said, "I’d like to follow you,
But I don’t think religion is a manly thing to do."
He said, "Forget religion then, and think about my Son,
And tell me if you’re man enough to do what he has done.

"Are you man enough to see the need, and man enough to go,
Man enough to care for those whom no one wants to know,
Man enough to say the thing that people hate to hear,
To battle through Gethsemane in loneliness and fear.
And listen! Are you man enough to stand it at the end,
The moment of betrayal by the kisses of a friend,
Are you man enough to hold your tongue, and man enough to cry,
When the nails break your body – are you man enough to die?
Man enough to take the pain, and wear it like a crown,
Man enough to love the world and turn it upside down,
Are you man enough to follow me?, I ask you once again."
I said, "Oh Lord, I’m frightened," but I also said, "Amen."
"Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen,"
I said, "Oh Lord, I’m so frightened," but I also said, "Amen."