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Posted in General Articles
by Andrea Lindquist
on 5/10/2008
Have you ever felt undeserving of something?
When a huge group of people get together, labor and do what they have put their word to without complaint - for my benefit - makes me feel loved and yet undeserving. Today was the garage sale for the World Race on the church's parking lot. These people have not known me more than a full year, and yet without an ounce of doubt in my mind, they make it clear though their words and actions that they care about my overall wellbeing -- being sent and taking the next step of obedience with God.
These beautiful brothers and sisters in Christ at Trinity Church have labored tirelessly (ok, there were signs of exhaustion) by bringing whatever stuff they had to give, carrying heavy furniture, drive bulky trucks after a week of intense physical strain, tediously price, move things (and then move them again), organize, wake up at brutally early hours of the morning...you get the idea.
And I am entirely overwhelmed by their kindness. But let me clarify this word kindness. It's not because we're all exceptionally nice people naturally, rather, I truly believe that they have done what they've done out of the pure nature of God that lives in them. This has been made apparent to me and it's beautiful.
I'm beyond exhausted physically, but OH!, the Lord is putting an overwhelming expectancy for His Kingdom -- and He has begun this by showing me how it is meant to function with those children of God who I proudly call my brothers and sisters. For the first time I see the beauty of His children -- His bride.
I'm even more so undeserving of the grace I have in Christ, yet He shows me the purest love to be known -- and sometimes He does this the most strongly through His body; those I live life in the Spirit with.
Here are some of His insane provisions toward this sale:
*A man (I hadn't met) gave 1/4 of the furniture of his home -- some vintage and great quality
*A whole room was filled with things given from many at the church
*A ton of helping hands (from my house church and others who hadn't met me until that point)
*Checks were written without asking for anything in return
*More than half the furniture and clothes were sold
*Fruitful conversations *A great financial outcome
I'M SO GRATEFUL.
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Posted in General Articles
by Andrea Lindquist
on 5/3/2008
Slowly opening one lid at a time, the incandescence became brighter, begging to start anew. New voices in song rang throughout the village, filling ears and even stomachs. Getting up, she walked toward familiar laughter of friends. In their native tongue they sang, "Christ Jesus has come to save, hallelujah! He has come to set us free!" She joined them singing joyfully for this One who was praised by strange faces but familiar hearts.
..................................
Softly nudged she slowly opens a soar lid. "What's your name?" he says in the language of this area in India. "Mlechhas", she whispers throwing her eyes to the ground. "No, not 'untouchable', what is your real name?" Tears begin to swell as her lips formed what had nearly been forgotten. He told her why he was there, and at that moment she beamed with assurance saying, "It was 73 years ago that they came and I heard of Him for the first time. Jesus has remained with me since that day they asked who wanted to receive His promises. That song I kept in my heart, and it has reminded me of His promise. Not since, have I heard His name spoken here."
The man said, "You are made free in Christ's authority, no longer found dalit (outcaste/untouchable) because you are found in Him." She received this as Truth. As the midwife of the village, women preferred her over doctors because not one baby died during her deliveries over 65 years of midwifery. She declared to all the women of her village, 'your babies lived because of the hand of my God'. Before her death, the village came willingly to the feet of Christ in spiritual hunger.
How is it that we hear His name almost everyday and forget? Yet she heard it once and 73 years later was still longing for Him?
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Posted in General Articles
by Andrea Lindquist
on 4/24/2008
We were asked to write an essay called "This I Believe" about what really matters to us, as preparation for this world missions adventure called the World Race.
Growing up in Wisconsin, religion consisted of Lutherans and Catholics. God was laid on display with all the other cast iron. My parents did their darndest to get us to church the first 12 years of my life, but to no avail. Whether due to us labeling them hypocrites or them to us, heathens, we left. But the one true God did not leave.
In fact, after much time away from Sunday sermons, His presence was so 'thick' that one night an image of a small red Bible appeared in my mind. Strangely enough I knew what to do. I found the small red Bible. That was the night the Lord led me to His Word, the first time I read it and began taking it in like food. I hungered for this God I didn't know. This experience has shaped everything I could possibly talk about regarding my life.
This was the point when I began to recognize the difference between religion and God. I had so far to go in understanding, but I began to see that religion was a set of guidelines that you followed in this existence to keep the peace with the esteem of being a good person. And to be honest, I didn't care about being a good person. I cared about Truth, reality. Whatever that meant and whatever that entailed. And He entered history as a God man, came to declare the hope of man -- the reality of my Redeemer, Christ Jesus.
I believe that He is the only source of eternal life.
I believe that we're called to fellowship within the church to walk well with God.
I believe that the day you lose everything, you find Him bringing the only love that satisfies.
I believe that religion as we know it is dead and that pure or living religion happens through the Holy Spirit and the action taken when you hear the call. This can happen within church walls and outside of them. I don't believe it is one or the other.
From 400B.C. (or whatever ancient age) to this present time, we're asking the same questions and exploring the answers -- nothing really is new under the sun. Taken from the 1950s, here's a great synopsis of what I think 'dead religion vs. living religion' looks like: http://www.thisibelieve.org/dsp_ShowEssay.php?uid=16544&newessay=False&themelist=faith,religion&yval=2&start=0
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Posted in General Articles
by Andrea Lindquist
on 4/18/2008
Laying motionless on the red dirt ground of Gainesville, Georgia, I did my best to be a good unconscious plane-wrecked victim -- for the small group activity that gauged our teamwork and communication through difficulties. Time and time again the urge to assist and come out of 'unconsciousness' to help, pulled from my very basic instincts. Literally putting my body in the hands of others and trusting them to keep me from actual brain injury, while allowing them to help me in my time of utter vulnerability, was harder for me than I allowed to show. I personally want to feel like a contributor and to have purpose, so this viewpoint was putting me out there in an unexpected way.
One big thing that came from this through listening and hearing the Lord more, was what He wanted me to learn through this. The body of Christ functions as a whole in every season of a believer's life: in the spiritually downcast, unfruitful, in abundance, in all the times we encounter. When a believer struggles, the rest of the church (Christ's body) are meant to come together in prayer and in the time of need for that believer. The body is refined in using its gifts, by simply being obedient to how we've been called to function individually and together.
Trust is hard.
Functioning well together is hard.
Wanting to serve a certain purpose when God has a different one for you, is hard.
Allowing yourself to be helped and know when you need the help from others, is hard.
And though the Cross is costly, His burden is light. I was never made to bear this world on my own strength.
I hear Him say, "'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'" and He wants me to be able to sincerely say, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."(2Corinthians12:9-10)
Sometimes it's ok to have red dirt in your hair.
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Posted in General Articles
by Andrea Lindquist
on 4/18/2008
Driving off in the Blue Kazoo to make our group moment,
the question of
our team name lingered. We pulled onto a
gravel spot off of the main
road and once out of the car, we ended up heading down to what we
pretended was the riverbed of the Chattahoochee. After walking along
its bank, the idea of writing in its sands and leaving our mark sounded
like the right thing to do. But what mark? What do we stand for?
"42...what about Pi?" "Actually, 3 times 14 is 42. From Pi's 3.14.
So we have the 42nd generation from its number..." It came so
naturally without much force from within our group dynamic, which other
than Pi's incredible meaning, that excited me the most!
So why exactly Pi? What does this stand for which then implies what we stand for?
When looking in Matthew 1, past the begetting of Biblical genealogy,
you find three mentions of 14 generations. Therefore 42 generations in
all, with the 42nd being found in Christ and His heirs; signifying an
ardent generation ready to be a part of His "kingdom come, His will be
done on Earth as it is in Heaven". To beget a holy nation eager to
"declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his
wonderful light"(1Peter2:9).
As well, Pi is a circular constant like a ring that when it is at a
diameter of ONE, its the circle's circumference equals 3.14. When we
are whole and working as the church should, we are fulfilling what the
42nd generation stands for. Lots of symbolism and I love it! I think
I know of a God that may use symbolism as well. :)
Though Pi is currently my favorite Greek letter, let us not confuse
this with my favorite kind of PIE -- that would be blueberry.
Go Team Pi!
I'm quite excited.
Check out our Team slideshow
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Posted in General Articles
by Andrea Lindquist
on 4/7/2008
Ruined.
Delivered.
Those two words above are the only words that really resound in my mind. I've deleted at least 2 paragraphs of reasonable theology as to how I might connect them to my experience at training here for World Race, and have decided to no longer use distant verse to you who want to know me and why I'm here.
So why ruined? Why delivered? Do I really believe who Jesus Christ says He is? Do I believe He's alive and actually moves in our daily lives like a father interacts with his child? These are some questions we have to ask ourselves if we'd like to get beyond religious conceptions. As you've probably guessed, we've asked ourselves them here at training as well.
THEE answer is 'yes', so being ruined delivers me in full to Him. Now since I've said 'yes', that changes everything. No doubt I mess up and will continue. But it is no doubt that He is life. That is why I'm going to places starting July '08 to bring what gives life.
Alright, since I'm generally not very good at taking myself our of theology and into the heart of God, I'm just going to throw myself our there with this.
Here's a bit from my heart = a poem. I'm no Emily Dickenson, but take it for what it is.
"Lamb of God, continue Your fire over me until it fully pleases you. Until I a made perfect in Christ, a creation by the hands of the Potter, refined for glory for He is good. Holy is the Lamb who was slain, Your blood calls the Father's children home. The Messiah's blood covers me, washes me. Restores the nations. Oh God Almighty, may You bring Your children to repentence.
Christ, to You be the glory!"
(p.s.-- To all my WR folks of July '08. I really appreciate each of you so much. Gosh, you guys are quality. Holla to my brothers and sisters! Y'all are encouragements.)
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Posted in General Articles
by Andrea Lindquist
on 3/22/2008
Located in Eastern Europe, Romania borders the Ukraine to the North and Moldova to the East. The Danube river passes through this nation-state and empties into the Black Sea that harbors some of its Southern part.
This country used to be made up of three principalities; Transylvania, Wallachia, and Moldavia. In modern times, because of close historic ties to Moldova, Romania has tried to bring unity to the two -- but agreements have not been made. The two countries have traveled down different paths politically, leaving divisions to be worked out. But overall, the two take interest in each other congenially.
Romania was proclaimed a republic and remained under the USSR's control until the late 1950s. It wasn't until the coup in 1989 (lasting a week) that they could overthrow the Communist regime, in what they call the Romanian Revolution. Post-1989, the nation-state made political/economic reforms and eventually joined the EU on January 1, 2007. So this means Euros my friends.
Euro is the currency! The exchange rate of the U.S. dollar to the Euro has become increasingly bleak due to economic shortcomings West of the Atlantic. As of today it is; U.S. dollar 1.00 - 1.54 Euro.
Two pieces of architecture worth finding is the Bran Castle, known as Dracula's Castle, and Voronet Monastery. Stephen the Great erected the latter in Cura Humorului, Moldavia in 1488.
Romania has four seasons and is mountainous. Also, football (soccer) is a big deal!
The Ethnic minorities are Hungarians at 6.6% and the Roma (or Gypsies) at 2.46%.
Romanian is largely the language spoken throughout the country. Next would be Hungarian and then Rroma. Romanian interestingly enough is an Eastern Romance language as opposed to Western; which would include French, Spanish and Portuguese. Italian is the closest family member of the Western, to Romanian.
Ok, so let's take a brief look at the language. (Unfortunately, I don't have all the appropriate accent marks)
*limba romāna*
Buna dimineata! = Good morning!
Boo-na deemee-neh-atah
Imi pare bine! = Nice to meet you!
ee-mee par-eh bee-neh
Da = Yes
Nu = No
Ce faci? = How are you?
cheh fa-chee
Pa = Bye
If you're interested in learning more Romanian, like pronunciation, check this site out:
http://www.romanianlessons.com
Once more, the majority of the information was from Wikipedia.
I'm glad to hear your responses about this being helpful.
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Posted in General Articles
by Andrea Lindquist
on 3/16/2008
Once called Siam, Thailand is the only southeast nation never to have
been colonized by a European nation; however they have been influenced
by and lost land from the West.
Thai currency is the baht. Though fluctuation occurs, it's around 33 baht to one US dollar.
The Thai calendar is based off of an Eastern version of the Buddhist
era, making it 543 our Western Gregorian calendar. The year AD 2008 is
called 2551 BE in Thailand.
Thailand has officially 75 provinces and unofficially 76 with Bangkok being provincial (and the capital).
In September, when we are prospected to be there, the climate will be
in transition from rainy and warm to dry and cool -- depending on the
area. If we're on the isthmus at all, we can be guaranteed hot and
humid conditions.
Buddhism of Theravada is the number one practiced religion, which means
"the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient teaching"; the oldest
surviving Buddhist School. Second is Islam and the smaller religious
groups are Christianity, Hinduism and there's also a small Jewish
community. Thais identity in their culture through the beliefs of
Buddhism of Theravada, syncretizing regional beliefs and resulting with
forms of animism and ancestor worship. In southern parts, Islam is
more prevalent. Thais have a sense of deep respect for
ancestors/elders and overall Thais show great hospitality, but there
exists a deep rooted sense of social hierarchy.
We have now entered one of my favorite parts -- Language and cultural
nuances. Greeting is called the 'wai'. The youngest person greeting
greets first saying, "Sawat-dee-khrap"(when spoken from male) or
"Sawat-de-kha"(when spoken by female) with their hands pressed
together, fingertips pointing upwards as the head is bowed to touch
their face to the hands. 'Wai' is a linguistic form of showing
respect.
Taboos in Thailand include touching someone's head or pointing with the
feet, as the head is considered the most sacred and the foot the
dirtiest part of the body. Stepping over someone, or over food, is
considered insulting. Also, books and other documents are the most
revered of secular objects - so do not slide a book across a table or
place it on the
floor. Like a Bible.
Thai, Chinese and English are spoken. Thai is a tonal language, so
'mai' can be used to ask a question but also in negation depending on
the tone used. To convey politeness at the end of a sentence and after
questions, you should say 'ka'. "Sa-baay-dee-reuu?" means 'how are
you?'
If you're interested in learning more, a really good site is: http://www.thai-language.com/id/801644
Despite feeling all my college professors frowning upon me with
disapproval from afar, the other info was taken from Wikipedia. I'm
planning on doing this with every country we will be sent to before
departure.
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Posted in General Articles
by Andrea Lindquist
on 3/16/2008
WE KNOW THE TENTATIVE ROUTE!
I was immediately excited. However for those who know me, I don't show my excitement regularly. This time when I opened the post marked "July 2008 Race Route Announcement" after coming from work, I did a little screaming and jumping -- and I'm not a jumper. Maybe a clapper or hand waver, but it takes a lot to get me to jump over something. Needless to say, my roommates were disappointed they missed that moment.
So here it is (note: this is subject to change) --
July - Central America - Mexico (Palenque)
August - Central America - Guatemala/Nicaragua September - South East Asia - Thailand
October - South East Asia - Cambodia
November - South East Asia - Vietnam December - Southern Africa - South Africa
January - Southern Africa - Swaziland/Mozambique
February - Southern Africa - Swaziland/ Mozambique March - Eastern Europe - Romania
April - Eastern Europe - Moldova
May - Eastern Europe - Ukraine
Soon after, I began looking up basic phrases in each country's national language, or lingua franca. I consider it super important to put effort forth toward learning at least a little bit of each before leaving, because I know how much it means to the people. Granted I won't be fluent in Thai by any means before I leave, but it makes a difference.
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Posted in General Articles
by Andrea Lindquist
on 3/9/2008
The Holy Spirit is indeed on the move. I couldn't help but be moved after reading about how God is using worship music to reach Vietnam from Seth Barnes blog. A once hostile communist country resistant to anything spiritual (let alone Christ-centered), is now having their doors opened ajar to hear the Word of God through song. The thirst for Him is great, for only He can satisfy -- ears are being attuned to hear and eyes opened to understand. He moves even in places that are seemingly barren and dry spiritually. "...whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life". John 4:14
This is a promise. He does not say that those that hunger and thirst for Him will go without. "'Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him'."John7:38 and "when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth."John16:13 If we believe that He is a LIVING God then our faith is found manifest in Him, the King of Kings, and what should we fear? Just as He told Isaiah, He also says to us, "'My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever', says the Lord".Isaiah 59:21
He is a God who is worthy to be desired -- worthy is the Lamb who was slain. If we do not hunger daily for Him, how are we keeping the covenant with Him in taking of the daily bread; that we know to be in Christ alone? If we do not take of the Lord daily then how can we be taught and hear clearly the Spirit that sprang up in you initially from thirst?
We are now in a sonship with God "for he lives with you and will be in you"(John14:17). I suppose I'd like to gently admonish the saints by saying that though this is an age of ideologies, self-actualization and psychological self-improvement, we have been called out of this world into His kingdom. The Spirit lives and works in us, it does not work for us.
I am no exception of this reminder.
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."
2 Timothy1:7
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