Andrea Lindquist - The World Race 2008

A few things of angst

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

So much time has passed since the last blog I wrote that I had forgotten the password to log-in. I can't help but be a bit curious to find out who will read this.

Chasm between realities: Sitting here across from a glowing pine, I think back to a year ago today. Location: London, England due to airport protests in Bangkok, Thailand. Much has happened since. Today: Indianapolis, Midwest USA. 12 months create a cognitive chasm with the help of a plane and time, and the two realities divurge with more time. The timeless memories make me into a mime with words, the latter's futility is deafening. Should I come to accept that no one will quite get the full picture what I came to know? The new people became a good pair of well-worn shoes and the old people became new again, and I speculate it may be because something was new in me. Do we start over wearing-in new pairs shoes? And seeing now that transition like this one tries to transition you into another season, place, or another thing all-encomplassing, I don't want to....season yes, place maybe, but if I assimilate with the transition then a piece dies within and if I don't, then how without alienating and isolation?

Decision: Or shall I say indecision? Too much can be said about this and so I won't knowing that it will only morph into complaints. At this point everyone has made some pretty big decisions in their lives; marriage, kids, 401K, IRAs, buying homes, etc. Desires are one thing, but acting on them are another. I desire to go to grad-school for linguistics but I also desire to function out of my missionary heart doing long-term ministry, but either can be a good decision...which is the best? When it's your life and not another's, this changes how you might give advice...it's not so simple when that one decision alters the very course of your life.

Humanity: God is teaching me the toils of man in this world, whether you find it in Vietnam, in Wisconsin or in your own life. Gosh, humanity is messy but lovely. My workplace sees people in bankruptcy, in poverty, in domestic violence shelters, and people who've come to expect disappointment from life. But they have some of the most lovely demeanors and whose graciousness puts me to shame. I hope I show them half of the kindness they show me. And that of our mortality...do we really understand the implications of believing that after we die the Lord awaits when we have given our lives over to him on Earth? I tell you what...when you watch your friend's body whither away from cancer, you think about it more. It becomes very relevant, that is, mortality and eternity. Mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice - great advice.

Heavy blog. Thanks for reading. Thoughtful feedback welcomed.

Grocery lines and need

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I've returned to Indianapolis recently to live, work and to be part of the body of believers here. I've opted out of the free ride and decided to put myself in a posture of need; need for a computer and need for a job/income I could live off of that would allow for a September (extending into October) faith-based stint in Europe. It might be laughable. In this economy? With this job market? HA

Well, I think I made God smile when He heard me say, "I cannot do this, but You can".

Americans need jobs now, but why need when you can choose not to? It's like asking: "If you're hungry and the food is set before you, why wouldn't you choose to eat it?" Let's move into a paradigm shift for a second that traverses our conditioned understanding of this world.

For example:

We need work because...

We work for what we need. Our needs met help us survive. That is good. Our paradigm gets this.

But -- We need 'need' in a relationship with God because...

We need God and to eliminate 'need' is to nullify how we relation with God. Need is at the core of our doing anything physical (speaking mostly secularly), so for those of us believers in Christ, why wouldn't we parallel this spiritually to our lives? Our paradigm does not get this.

I suspect because stating a 'core' implies a universal constant for all humans, and outside of the recognized physical ones, spiritual absolutes labelled 'core' or otherwise, does not amalgamate with the thought of this age. It comes down to this: to put your reliance [faith] in something or someone other than yourself to get what you need, is considered a number of things. These are a few -- weak, stupid, impractical, childish, thoughtless, ignorant, etc. I say again -- we don't cease to work, but we cease to strive for our own, on our own. I consider that thought of our age an incubator for hopelessness, heartlessness and ultimately faithlessness in even ones own self. But let's look at the thought of our age 'a la imagery'. We like short lines in grocery stores, at the restaurant, in traffic, as well as in our thinking. Short lines in our linear thinking is considered good. So the shorter the line (shorter the scenario) to get what you need, the better. Is this not so?

I generalize in that statement, but the overarching mindset of this nation is not in accordance with posturing ourselves as one in need. Let's not be mistaken. Too many a people have misused that posture in the name of 'need', and that posture is not what I'm referring to. Efforts must be taken, decisions must be made, the biggest of all is the decision to choose the riskier and narrower path which leads to His voice. I say to His voice, because the Lord's Spirit helps us discern a step like this from some ascetic value in our flesh that appears holy but is not for the name of Christ. However, need is not need without work and work is not work without need. We work because we need something and not always for physical attainment. And when we need, we CHOOSE the work/to work to bring fulfillment of the need. That is cyclical. This is cyclical thinking. It does not end. A relationship is cyclical -- give and take, talk and listen -- and the choice to keep it cyclical is KEY. Hopefully it remains cyclical so that it does not end like its linear counterpart. Because we're human, we're always in some kind of need. We'll always be in need of God but choosing to take the posture in right relationship with Him is the tricky part. This is all to say, the Lord provided a used laptop and a job for me. Not only a job but a job I'm excited for! This is despite the odds and opposite posture 'noising' in my ear saying, 'You don't know what could happen, why don't you think this over?' Post-world race I will still pray past that and remember that although my need doesn't stop, He never changes. That I can trust in.

The numbers video

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Brian Alonzo made this video and I'm passing it on to you. Take a minute, or four, to see.

Give me the brush

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Something I've been learning since my return to the U.S .

I've been watching Isaac a lot, my nephew, and since I love him dearly I don't mind. One day while watching him I said, "Isaac, give me the brush or I'll have to take it away from you." I recognized that voice. And you think. Who? Your mother? No.

Actually, those same words were being spoken to me from our Father in Heaven. I heard His voice through the identical verbal words that came from my mouth to Isaac. He wants to give lavishly in ways that surpass expectations but we hold onto things that may be good, but can die in our hands. When we give whatever it may be to Him, the source of life, they grow into what they should and were intended to be in our lives. Blessings instead of curses.

He said, "Extend your hands to me. Choose to give me the things I've entrusted to you for a time so that I can give back 10-fold and more fully to you. So that I don't have to take them away from you. Don't allow those gifts to decompose in your hands, because just like seeds I will plant another in that leftover 'soil' (in your life) and ask the same as I'm asking now. I desire good things for you. Trust in me. "

Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean NOT on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge HIM, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3

"God gives where He finds empty hands." St. Augustine

Fear - you on the bench?

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

What do you think of when you think of 'risk'? Risk of losing a job; risk of losing a friendship; risk of losing your life.

What do you fear? Fear of losing money; fear of losing respect; fear of losing control.

What about...risk despite losing a job; risk despite losing a friendship; risk DESPITE losing your life.

'Despite', though seemingly a common enough word, has two synonyms not commonly associated: 'against' or 'in defiance of'. Once 'risk' becomes a command, its meaning changes entirely from a noun connoting ominous prospects to a verb augmenting the view of such prospects, though they be unknown. 'Losing a job' or 'losing a friendship' or 'losing your life' are all things that understandably induce fear. Each could be interchanged in a sentence:

Risk despite [losing a job]. Risk despite [fear]. OR, risk against [fear]. Risk in defiance of [fear].

Do you see what I'm getting at? Fear is not from God. So what do we stand against when we risk against fear? Yes, you've guessed it: the devil, evil, the enemy.

Fear is everywhere. I've seen how it convolutes reality into some one dimensional shape to the point where you're seeing in black and white, and somehow you're believing in a flat Earth. You start thinking, 'God forbid I ever get on a boat for India, I'll fall right off of this planet's crust into abyss.' But if you gather up your nautical nerve, you may end up in 'America'. When I say fear, I'm not saying the Holy Spirit sense of warning for protection or cautiousness. This is the kind of fear that makes people irrational, and it makes me angry because of how it distorts one's understanding of life and life's interactions. Specifically if they are followers of Christ.

When you take a risk, you've first and foremost made a big decision. But risk unfolds consequtive decisions of unknown results, each contingent on the last, and often growing more momentous than the first. But you face fear. You choose fear or you begin the process of choosing against it, and moving toward the Lord; who is not the source of fear. Fear always chooses you and will continue trying. Maybe chooses your friends, your job, your words, your thoughts, your appetite, and each time its given permission through omission. It's a nail hammered into an early spiritual grave instead of into your spiritual flesh.

Knowing you're obeying the Lord brings peace and joy because obedience is loving Him. His love returned is far greater and more powerful than imagined from the 'saved' sidelines. Who wants to be the 'starter' on this team? Are we afraid the ball will be passed to us? Don't choose fear by sitting on the sidelines. Society is driven by fear. It is a fear-induced society where no one trusts their neighbor, and that neighbor doesn't find it too hard to return the same sentiments.

Fear's principal agitator is pride. Pride inflames through fear's deceptive lies of the unknown. Unknown. I think God must hang out there. The abyss, right? No sir. The 'unknown' is what hasn't been revealed yet. However, the revelation of Truth and grace came through Jesus Christ. Let's not be confused by the characteristic of mystery that we KNOW is embodied in His deity, which leaves us to wonder at His glory. I have faith in what I know, not in what I've deducted from what I don't know about Him. So let's not be mistaken. He was made known and can be known, if we understand that we too can be known by Him. But we must also trust Him. We must know Him, be known by Him, love Who we know, and trust Who we know. Then express such love to others without fear that we'll lose something even if it's unrequitted -- pride will take its greasy hands and smear itself all over the place here if you let it.

When we trust our Savior and God as reality and the One who fulfills His promises, then what can this world rob us of? You may be naming a few things off in your head right now. More poignantly, what should we fear? In the Name above all names, we have the greatest, holiest authority in all divinity and humanity. And yet, He thought of us. How remarkable is that?! The Cambodian AIDS orphan that I held; He thought of her. The Malawian moslem who had a dream of a dove flying to his shoulder; He thought of him. It's something to awe and revere in how it's said, to fear the Lord. The latter 'fear' carries an entirely different word meaning than the 'fear' I have been contending with. Unfortunately, contention between the two has dulled and with some time amalgamated a perspective of God which charts a map for unexplored waters while on land. This evades interaction with our neighbor and ultimately with God. But to have awe, reverence and a firm understanding that He thought of YOU!

This is our strength because it's here we find our incapability to know or save ourselves without Him, and therefore we find our need for something so intimate with our Creator. We're drawn in by His light. Seeing the consequences of ourselves being independent from that gives some a contrite heart and leads to repentence. For these people, they can't help but fall to their knees and in time humility results. Another strength against fear: humility through a contrite heart. Fear can't hold onto a person who is choosing the nails in the spiritual flesh which leads to humility. Pride can't stick because its being actively eroded and redressed with the fruits of the Spirit; all which hold far more authority than pride. Hate, gossip, slander, or any other manifestation of pride will be considered undesirable and avoided at the cost of one's fullness in the Lord, witness, and expression of our love for Him to the world. When you boast in Him, you've already resolved in seeing yourself for who you are, a sinner just like the next person, but then choosing to recognize who you are in Him. You give no authority to the enemy or its fear in your life, because you are functioning instead in the authority of the Lord.

This is called freedom. No fear. No condemnation. No pretence. No hate.

Relinguishing control of the illusions in our lives to God will bring forth what He has offered and still offers. FREEDOM. Freedom to His children of faith and eternal life for everyone who believes. Freedom my friend has a lot more to do with risking than you may think. As small as baking cookies for neighbor who you haven't talked to in four years, or as large as leaving your career, the question is: is what He's saying worth the risk?

MULTUMESC ...thank you

Thu, 4 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Dear supporters, encouragers, and prayer warriors,

I could not have done this year without you.

Thank you for your devotion and love stateside that was an essential part of this trip of missions.

This isn't the last of the blogs, but I wanted to send a big THANK YOU to each of you. This is not necessarily the end of missionary life as the United States is another ministry site of great proportions, and not to mention the strong mission possibility in my future of continued work overseas, but more long-term. Where the Lord might have me in the future is not certain, but I am certain that I am a missionary at heart.

So here's a few THANK YOUs ...

U.S.A.

Thanks to so many for coming alongside me and having the same vision for His kingdom. Believing in the specific call placed on me to be sent has made all the difference, and will change the remainder of my life in so many incredible ways.

Mexico/Nicaragua

Gracias for your prayers against sickness.

Vietnam

Ca-mun for responding to updates and blogs with encouragement.

Thailand

Korp Kun Ka for remembering me at random moments of your day and praying for me.

Cambodia

Acoon for your great comments to the blogs written and feeling the pain for the Cambodians along with me.

England

Cheers to each of you trusting in the Lord right alongside us with the country swap.

Mozambique

Obrigada for praying for protection over our group. It was needed.

Swaziland

Siyabonga for considering supporting fellow squad members in need.

Malawi

Zicomo for showing grace with the lack of blogs being produced and responding so well when blogs did come.

Hungary

Kisanom for your prayers of provision. He provided in full.

Romania/Moldova

Multumesc for caring for the lives of gypsies and Moldovans a globe away from you.

*Special thanks to Angie Simmons for sending those letters of encouragement (with pics!) and for all your love over the past year*

I encourage you now, as witnesses of this loving and powerful God that we serve, that you continue be the light in this world. We all have a call. It is our responsibility to respond. It may not be a call to Thailand or outside this nation, but in daily decisions that lead us to obedience and ultimately vocation. Again, thank you. You give reason to hope in the church.

THEE awaited paintings

Fri, 29 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In the beginning of the trip I decided to paint something from each country of ministry. Each has some significance or story. But I'll be sharing an excerpt from my journal about what God was doing, next to the painting. So alas, after some leg pulling I've put this blog together.(more blogs to come to close out the trip)

Drum roll please...

Mexico: 7/8/08

"We went to a house where we sang worship, prayed and I gave a word from the Lord. He is good. He provided me with John 3:1-21 saying that Jesus makes you reborn with the Holy Spirit and gives life. I read the verses in Spanish and spoke what I was being told by God. The wife there afterwards had us pray for those in a circle who wanted to know Jesus. Each of those people prayed that Jesus would come into their hearts. Amazing. They gave us food and drink. We took of it. Those of us who think it takes years of hearing of Jesus to know Him might find this too quick, too simple. But the Gospel is simple enough to be understood by a child and the faith of a child is all He asks. It starts with a mustard seed."

Nicaragua: 8/18/08 (after the male witch encounter)

"We have a choice everyday how we are going to live our lives, what we will recognize as reality and what we're going to live for. My challenge for you is to not allow the trivial strife for comfort or whatever the vice be, lead you down a lukewarm road of complacency and ultimately death. Rise up and live for what brings life in Christ. Be a threat to what robs like a theif in the night, and overcome evil with good."

*Both Mexico and Nicaragua paintings are done in cafes*

Vietnam: 9/13/08

"Through the streets of Ho Chi Minh City sign after sign read in a language completely foriegn to me. When ordering hot tea and a plate of pineapple for breakfast I received hot tea with pineapple flavoring. Then upon ordering hot black coffee, I received iced expresso with chocolate flavoring. My last attempt was the lunch order of plain noodles with beef and the meal arrived drenched in thick sauce without beef. Maybe if I order the iced coffee next time, hot coffee will show up? In such stark contrast to Nicaragua, I suspect God is fix'n to use this time well to stretch me. Maybe to exhibit His strength instead of mine?"

*Buddhist temple across from the local Pho stand*

Cambodia: 10/7/08

"The sun is setting on another day in Phnom Penh. Most of this feels like a dream from which one day I'll awake and think, what? Think myself happy because I awoke or happy because I dreamt?...I have no answers. I have absolutely nothing but the promises God gives me. How utterly broken I am! Hear the cry of my heart Lord!"

*Angkor Wat near Siem Reap*

Thailand: 11/3/08

"Today we chopped down big branches from a tree, picked and carried papayas (apparently a cow's delight) and bananas, I learned how to make Pad Thai, and we went out into a snake ridden field/jungle to chop weeks with our machetes and sickles to clear the land for electric wire fencing. Then after dinner, we had Bible study and played cards. The mountains with the sunset and stars at night are all extraordinarily magnificant. The words don't even adequately express this beauty."

*God's a better painter than I am. Plus I don't know where my Thailand pic is.*

England: 12/18/08

"It says in Hunger for Reality, 'if we are informed, we realize that many of the young people who grow up in evangelical churches deny the faith before they are 25'. Sitting in a London Starbucks makes it easy to get comfortable and forget that the majority of people walking passed this window on Oxford street don't know the great hope and life in Christ. During this season the cafe is playing Christmas songs but they reach most ears as another familiar sound of the season, but nothing more. They all want to be great fortresses that no one can enter, but each of them acts as a wall against the other; even though they haven't laid a single brick. We are each other's great masons. What a pity this is. None of us are fortresses though, not one. Psalm 46:11"

*Big Ben*

Swaziland: 1/31/09

"Sawubona, unjani? The children are precious beyond words. Many have lost their parents to AIDS and even some themselves suffer from HIV. There are Grandmas (go-gos) and children left in this land, and most everyone else have HIV or are looking for jobs but the cost for transportation is too high to go to the places to apply. So they're stuck loafing at their homesteads. We gave shoes to kids from the care points after washing their feet and praying for them. So much need is here."

*Shoes of Swazi orphans*

Mozambique: 1/16/09

"The goat was slaughtered and skinned about an acre away from the center of the site here, but now we have a goat stew feast. But the well is about 3km away, making it difficult to replenish water."

"How I love you Lord, I urge my heart to say. But my mind plays the chord and I'm off on my day. How I love you God, I tell it ought not be today to know my lot and then watch it fray. How I love you Lord, I hear my heart sing. Sing about joy and sword, you've offered everything."

*Indian Ocean coast*

Malawi: 2/15/09

"We sat down and slowly a group of 5 children gathered in front of me. I began playing with them and then teaching them a hand game, in return asking them to teach me. The kids were more than thrilled. I'm learning often how to laugh at myself. At this point a group of 30-40 people congregated in front and behind Steph and I. We were trying to learn the song we learned here in Nkoatakota, but couldn't remember. I decided to sing the Mozambique song. I finished it in their language Chichewa, 'zicom Yesu' -- thank you Jesus. They wanted to hear more singing , more songs from ME!"

*Jake Livingston tree where the slave trade ended verbally*

Romania:4/7/09

"Yesterday was a good day filled with surprises. We picked up trash from the backyard area. Also, we painted the tree trunks and did various jobs around the house. It was fun to spend time with the family and to play with the kids who tell me, 'I much love Andrea'. So precious. I especially love the way they all live together and take care of one another. I love how the gypsies are people of passion."

*Baby lambs are slaughtered on Easter*

Hungary: 3/26/09

"I miss everyone and all that life there entailed. Lord please bless them and encourage them. I thank you for them. I praise You for Your loving kindness and how you've lavished me and Shanda with such extravagance! There are no words. You are good."

*Chain bridge in Budapest*

Moldova: 5/3/09

"We were in Slobozia village for a week where we stayed with Olga's family. An amazing family of Godly character. I even got to help translate when Katea went to Chisinau. I learned how to plant potatoes, beans and drank strawberry campot for the first time. That time will always be with me. 'Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the saints...the LORD delights in those who put their hope in his unfailing love'. Psalm 146"

*The blooming of red tulips of Slobozia*

Gypsy agape

Wed, 6 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I was able to witness these baptisms while in Romania. Below is from: http://gypsyoutreach.synthasite.com/updates.php

You can check out more from the John Fracker's ministry at that website, or at: http://gypsyoutreach.synthasite.com/

The Romanian Christian culture

is a hard one for the Christian youth of the country. As we have seen in so many places and churches around the world, including our own churches, religion often gets in the way of faith. The Communistic and Orthodox background here in Romania influences the religion and gives the country an extra challenge when it comes to faith. During Easter weekend we were witnesses to the challenges that religion and persecution have on one young girl.

Alex is a thirteen year old Gypsy girl growing up in Viile Tecii, Romania. She has believed in God for a few years now but has been scared to make the step of faith that comes with baptism. It is hard enough to be a young Gypsy girl in a country that does not welcome your race, but even harder to have a faith outside the religious box of Orthodox Christianity. When Alex found her faith in the salvation that comes only through Jesus, she and her family no longer attended the Orthodox Church and the teasing and harassment at school began. Alex wanted to be baptized but the church told her she was too young and she was scared this act of faith would make life even harder for her at school. Both religion and persecution were keeping her from acting on her new-found faith.

When Alex heard that two of the American girls wanted to be baptized on Easter Sunday, she finally worked up her courage to be baptized as well. Tears streamed down her face for the majority of the service because she was both excited and scared. She was excited to finally share her faith with her community and friends, but scared about the consequences it might bring to her social life. With her mother close by and her father baptizing her, Alex finally made her step of faith!

Of course, God always blesses those who step out in faith and Ferdinand's story is not a coincidence. Ferdinand is a young man who lives two houses down from Alex and her family. He has struggled with alcohol for years and his addiction has quickly been destroying his life. He is known in the community has a troubled young man, and his wife and child left him when the abuse got to be too much. Not that long ago, Ferdinand hit rock bottom when he got into a bar fight that left him in the hospital. He had made a deal with God that if he lived he would turn his life around, but after being released from the hospital he quickly went back to his same old ways.

Little did Ferdinand know that God would hold him to his promise. While Ferdinand stood across the street listening to the testimonies and watching young Alex be baptized, tears started streaming down his face. He had remembered the promise he made to God and was finally ready to give his life over to his Creator. He said that he could not explain what happened in his heart but he knew God had moved and in a moment he was changed! In that moment, Ferdinand knew that he wanted to be baptized and there was no stopping him.

I've already seen the difference that Ferdinand's faith has made in his life. One of the first days we were in the village this man came up to Katie and I with inappropriate intentions. I didn't understand what he was saying but his actions made his motives clear. As always, we blew him off and then avoided him every time we saw him outside his house. The day after Ferdinand was baptized, a few men were walking down the street at night and stopped to make a few comments in our direction. Ferdinand was outside his house and quickly came to our defense. The man who was once quick to join in the taunting was now standing up against his peers in our defense. This is just a small example of what God has done in Ferdinand's life already, but we see the evidence of his new faith in so many ways! God has completely restored him into a whole new person!

Moldova pictures

Wed, 6 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Since April 23rd, a small group and I went to Moldova and served with an extraordinary family in a village for about 8 days. Talking to youth about prayer, giving testimonies about our lives and the trip, singing at services (and even having worship practice to carry a note!), hoeing up weeds around grapevine for the elderly, planting potatoes/beans, stripping down warped walls and reconstructing a room for four children with a neglegent mother, and having solid fellowship with amazing Moldovans. We used word and deed to share the love of Christ. And had fun doing it.

We worked hard and played hard...

All in the family minus two brothers -- incredible family Moldovan Spring brought red tulips everywhere!

Planted potatoes on their land The Moldovan kids we helped

Even the bunicas (old women) from the community got involved

The last supper on May 2nd...Moldovan pizza :)

We'll always have Slobozia...home away from home

Gypsy

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I want to give Katie credit for this blog, she did a great job with the right words and pictures. Thanks Katie. I'll be getting a blog out soon. >>>>>>

>>>>>>>

In their music I feel the burdens of a downtrodden people. I hear the echoes of a history of repression and sadness, a yearning for a common home for their common culture. The Gypsies as a people group have never had a country of their own, and something in my spirit feels that, though I don't understand their language.

Historically, the Roma or Sigani (Gypsy) people came from India. Known as travelers, as vagabonds, as mysterious and outcast, Gypsies have settled in many countries, but are still able to communicate using the Gypsy language (of which there are several dialects) and feel kinship with one another. They have settled in Romania, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, other parts of Europe and other more far-flung places like America.

Seemingly wherever they go or however long they've been settled there, the Gypsy people are not considered local. Their identity is marked on their ID cards as a separate minority, not belonging. They've been prejudiced against, stereotyped and disliked.

Our ministry contact, John Fracker, is an American missionary who's gone local (married a wonderful local gal and is now raising a child in Viile Tecii). He likes to tell us one joke he's heard from the Christian Gypsies.

When we all get to heaven, we're all going to speak in one language....That language is going to be Gypsy language!

I believe that any Christian should be able to identify in some small way with the Gypsy people. Why? Because we don't belong here on this earth. This is not our home. Rather, we were created to be at home with God.

"And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. ...Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one." Heb. 11: 13, 16

"Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, ... For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight." 2 Cor. 5: 1-7

Like the Gypsies, able to feel kinship with one another no matter which country they've settled in, I've felt kinship with the church everywhere we've been on the Race this year. Whether Nicaragua, Vietnam, Burma, Swaziland, Malawi or here in Romania, we have one Spirit--the Spirit of God--that dwells within our hearts and unites us as the body of Christ on earth, the church. We as members of one family all know our home is not this earth.

"Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, *American, Gypsy or Romanian*, but Christ IS all, and IS IN all." Col. 3:11

Where is your home? Are you at home here on earth? Or does your spirit long for the heavenly home we were created to dwell in with God?

WONDER

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Wanderer >

Nomad >>

sojourner >>>

Vagabond >>>>

Gypsy >>>>>

Gypsies claim no nation and are nomads who constantly move from place to place and only call one another home. I think I can understand this nomadic life. I have been experiencing something similar for over 10 months. It ages and tires anyone, and so has an effect on the body and mind. Girls get married and pregnant around 14 years old and guys don't wait any later than their early 20's to tie the knot. This is significantly different than most of Europe.

I often wonder if the 'gypsy' inside will ever grow tame and silent?

This question saturates my thoughts lately with the trip's end nearing. sometimes I hope for it, but I hope more for what it brings and ignites from within. The 'gypsy' within is considered reckless, impractical and foolish. I've heard more than those to describe what drives my reasons to do a trip like this. While off of ministry I climb the Transylvania foothills to find solitude and on top a pasture I watch the flocks of sheep grazing. Having an escape to wander and find a way without anyone's supervision or opinion is a beautiful thing. Each hill that I climb leaves me wondering for what is beyond it.

When was the last time you've wondered in awe instead of wondered in angst?

My God causes me to wonder. I think many have either lost the wonder in God, or never thought it an important aspect of a relationship with Him. It's been said that 'we cease to wonder at what we understand'. Maybe we understand God then absolutely? I admittably do not. Whether it sounds cheesy or not, I feel exquisite when I'm set to wonder about Him. I feel loved that God would care to give me joy at the mere sense of wonder. It's connected closely with the untamed spirit that awakens me and fills me with life. Not always predictable or safe, but always sure. Because the source is unfeigned and light.

It's true that I've grown tired of sleeping every night in a sleeping bag in someone else's house, using someone else's kitchen, and wearing the same shirt and pants a few consequitive times before being washed. To name a few. But what I said in Nicaragua I still say now: "Prefiero que yo sea una vaga sino que no me haga caso un llamado y viva pasiva para toda mi vida".

*I rather I be a vagabond than ignore a call and live passively for all of my life.*

51

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Starting tomorrow there will be 51 more days left for the July 08 World Race squad. Some of us in Malawi began reading the Psalms as 'countdown with Scripture'. That quickly escaped my consciousness after Africa with travel and general busyness, but I took a peek today at Psalm 51.

=============================================================================================

It spoke loudly: (10-17)

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me....Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you...O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise....The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart."

A breakdown from my mind of the passage:

A pure heart is needed for a steadfast spirit. To sustain and remain steadfast requires a willingness rising from desire for restoration. Knowledge of sin (not restored) leads to brokenness and then restoration when it results in turning to God. Joy results when the choice is made to call out in repentance and then praise, and further choices made resulting in action toward Him spurs on willingness and back to joy, which is key to being sustained. Lastly, us sinners have gone through this and continue to, so that we can testify to those who don't know or understand -- that there exists a way, the WAY. In fact, we of the faith have chosen it, continue to choose it daily, and the WAY leads to hope everlasting in the God who keeps His promises. We may not be living in the age of ram sacrificing in the "West", but we manage to find substitutes for appeasing our guilty consciences which we often deify.

<--A good example of when I was not only imperfect in translating but more markedly very frustrated by someone who was frustrated at me -- the speaker. oops, and in front of 100+ people watching. one day out of the 300+ days I've been on this trip interacting with all kinds of situations. You can imagine how many more similar examples I have...

My point is this...Those who "teach transgressors [God's] ways" have been transgressors themselves and therefore can testify to the restoring power of His ways. We are still nonetheless imperfect, but yet perfectly made for the restoring, glorifying and perfected plans through those very same imperfections of our broken state. Thanks Psalm 51.

humor me

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

W H A T I L O V E F R O M E U R O P E

walking

walking or take public transit to where i need to go

walking with as many groceries as i can carry

......cobblestone... even tripping on it makes for a good laugh

architecture

alleyway cafes

kebab stands in front of museums

antiquities and complexes with courtyards

STONE BUILDINGS with archways

aesthetic beauty

______________ life

/ no walmarts few malls

\ recycling bins being used

/ 3 hour coffee stops in cafes possibly frequented by Oscar Wilde

\ couches facing each other not the T.V.

/ relationships before things

\ open markets with haribo gummies

/ finding marks of history everywhere

\ people who care about history, actual news, others' realities

>>>>>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------bring a blanket to the park and nap

Comforts & creativity

cookie cutter designs for dessert only

multilingual

working wood burning chimneys

bread pudding

iron balconies and squares with fountains

winding narrow streets

scarves wrapped in 15 different ways

hot tea with milk

french baguettes with brie cheese, please!

snow and mountains

A B I T O F T H E L O V E D

Like reading my two week diary

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Have you ever been provided for so extravagantly that 'thank you' does

little to express the more than altruistic kindness? And without the giver expecting a thing in return.

I have over the past two weeks experienced a whole new variety of life that I didn't think possible even though the Bible mentioned it as being realized by a healthy church with healthy members. But I hadn't seen it like this. Not like this. I have been lavished with blessings of every kind tangible and intangible, and I can hardly comprehend how it's all happened. Allow me to give you a run down of the past few days and what they entailed. Be warned, it is LOOOONG:

Wednesday, March 11th -- Arrival in Budapest, Hungary at 3:45am

-Bus rolls in the station blowing emissions into the bitter cold air. It rolls out with the station closed until 4:30am. Once the hour hit to open finally, we packed our sleeping bags away and entered the bus station fairly unscathed. I think I hear English and ask a man in the most cordial of manners, 'Sir, do you speak English?' You would have thought I defecated right there on the bench by the way he looked at me. 'Surely', I thought, 'this is going to be a long two weeks'. On top of that, Hungarian is one of the hardest languages to learn on the planet; the Finnish, German, Turkish, etc. language mix offers no recognizable loan words. Eventually Shanda and I make our way by metro and tram, carrying our 'small children' on our backs, to the hostel a few hours early. We hope and desperately email potential contacts. One in particular that her parents knew back in their Germany years we were wishing to hear back from.

Thursday, March 12th -- Art Museum visit

-I was just in Romania two days prior and now I sat in a class seat in the Spanish gallery of Budapest's Art Museum listening to topic of how art accentuates Biblical themes by our contact (Shanda's parents' aquaintence) who taught the class. Shortly after she treated us to lunch, talked ministry, and tried to figure out lodging. But it was strange how normal it felt not having plans outside the next few hours of our day. And so began the flow of blessings and the reshaping of my mind and my heart.

Friday, March 13th -- YWAM Coffee House

-Still being unsure at 8:00am as to where we were going after our 10am checkout time made our thoughts swim a bit. 8:45am we heard back. 'Meet a Hungarian named Micos on Teres Utca, he may be driving a burgundy vehicle'. Again, it wasn't odd riding in a taxi driven by some guy named Micos we just met 30 seconds ago and then trusting he's taking to the right place. We arrive safely and are once again in someone's home (Shanda's contact) that I've only met once. Conversation is fluid and after a bit I cook soup and bake brownies in our their kitchen. "Welcome, our home is your home" -- love it. They were kind enough to allow us wash AND DRY our twice worn underoos and all our filthy clothes -- that kind of thing is really exciting for me these days. Late afternoon arrived our ride to go to YWAM's coffee house ministry downtown Budapest. It was on the ride over and at the coffee house that we met some amazing men and women of Christ who wanted to know how they could help us. In fact, we didn't have to ask them. A young teacher gave us a love offering in cash after hearing our budget. Then we were invited over for late-night pancakes which turned out to actually be crepes! So friends were made immediately, and one even offered to stay at their sister's while we stay at their flat for free. "What, for real?!" We didn't realize that here in Hungary people actually asked what they meant and didn't expect a decline from an offer unless the other person really didn't need it.

Saturday, March 14th -- Tourists but not really

-We took a trip to the local Christian school where we attended praise and worship practice, then we did a tour around the city with our new friend Andras and had a great time exploring.

Sunday, March 15th -- Service and emailing

-I loved seeing familiar faces as I introduced Shanda and I to the congregation. Our original contact preached at Danube International and we were able to talk to some involved with ministries after the service. Without having to insinuate hunger, we were asked to come join a couple we met at coffee house to go to lunch and then out to coffee. It ended up being a large group lunching together in a Chinese restaurant somewhere in downtown Budapest. I absolutely love being able to share life over food, and that was only the beginning. Shanda and I returned to the place we were staying for 3 nights and attacked the emailing for our large networking job for the trips that will follow ours.

Monday, March 16th -- Back to school

-Tour of the local International Christian school was the plan out of interest and to reach out to potential contacts. Jackpot. It was a virtual California gold mine, but one that gave us email addresses instead of nuggets. As enjoyable as it was, I was exhausted and decided to nap, for 5 hours. It was beautfiul.

Tuesday, March 17 -- Brinner a la Pride and Prejudice...deleightful!!!

-First sleep-in day was fabulous. Once conscious we were like Muhammad Ali, light on our toes in that inbox with a badda-bing badda-boom. Float like a butterfly and something else real lyrical, I knew we were making progress with our work there. We were lining up times to meet with interested contacts. Plus, the best part was that we had brinner and a movie planned with our new friends. Breakfast at dinner time = brinner. It was french toast, homemade apple sauce, eggs, bacon, and fruit salad followed by Knightley's version of Pride and Prej. Could you ask for much more than that?

Oh, Mr. Darcy. Good conversation and good company were blessings in themselves that you cannot go searching for, somehow it just happens without asking.

Wednesday, March 18 -- Spontaneity

-I LOVE spontaneity. Hand me a schedule and the hours on it appear more of suggestions to me. There's always enough ambiguity left in my mind for the day that I'm more than willing to switch things up last minute. If anything, I welcome that most times. We lunched with Mate at his work which was splendid. Then we hear from Andreas who asks us if we're interested to go to Calvary Chapel Bible School in Vajta to attend the conference and to get to know some of the people there. Um, sure! I'm in. Without some impending priority that requires me to refrain, and if it strikes my fancy, then giddy up. We got to worship, meet some incredible people and some MORE people interested in talking with us about teams coming! Seriously, God? You are amazing.

Thursday, March 19 -- Chugga chugga... chugga chugga... choo choo

-That morning we left early for the train. A man who we met only the day before drove us, another man met only the day prior bought our tickets, and yet another woke up early against all his nocturnal tendencies to send us off. We rushed off to the museum where Jane was giving her lesson. I felt like I was trying to be the little train that could...chugga chugga.....zzzz

Lunch and then meeting with a contact and I had enough of the bustle. Another nap was in order.

Friday, March 20 -- Caffe americano

-More great contact visits in Erd and then we went to YWAM's coffee house again. Afterwards, I was given a Hungarian gourmet lesson on how to make a special potato dish that I wish I remembered the name of. A bunch of us feasted in the wee hours of the morning on it.

Saturday, March 21 -- Vienna

-Vienna, Austria is a three hour train ride away from Budapest so we took it with Andras, Andreas and his mum who was in from Sweden. And of course Shanda and myself. Overpriced, nice architecture and clean streets but not the edge that you find in BP. It was a good day but long.

Sunday, March 22 --Calvary Chapel

-Did you know that British English pronounces oregano like we say origami? Basil is said funny too. We went to church at Calvary Chapel and then saw Andreas' mum off to Sweden with a oregano-ed chicken dish, played some oldies and called it a day after doing some emailing and spreadsheet work.

Monday, March 23 -- Goodbyes

-Dressing for salads might be one of the hardest things to find in Budapest. We had a salad for the dinner to be prepared, but no dressing. Regardless, lasagna night was wonderful. Filled with burnt almonds, nutella mustaches, make-shift tables, good conversation, laughter and a few tears... We prayed together and had fellowship and had to say goodbye. I'm horrible at goodbye. In my mind I want to pretend that it won't be long before I see them again. But often, which has been often in my life, has not been the case. I'm the one to leave and I don't see them again. In the moment I don't express sadness but only how thankful I am to have had time together. But then everyone leaves or I leave and tears still stave off my face until I realize what I no longer have. Yeah, I left, but I have not forgotten what happened and how thank you doesn't articulate enough my heart's gratitude.

Tuesday, March 24 -- I don't want to

-It was our morning of mourning the day of our departure. Yes, we packed but reluctantly. Mate and his sister Eva took us to the train station and waited with us until the train arrived and saw us off. What incredible people! Shanda and I experienced how the church should function, how we should care for one another, how we should live among one another, sharing with one another, not just our words but ourselves - the good, the bad and the ugly - and even our material possessions. I was cared for and I felt loved.

In turn I wanted to do the same for them and others.

Wednesday, March 25 -- New beginnings

-We're back in Romania and knowing what I know now, I can't forget the kindness, mercies and hospitality. I see now that I must also pass on the same to others. Shock others into thinking, "Why don't I see this anywhere else?"

Thanks to Mate, Andras, Andreas, Catherine, Austin, Jordan, Jane and Ronnie for being solid witnesses of Christ in how you live. You may never fully understand what that meant to me. Soon we'll be continents apart instead of countries, but I will continue to remember how you treated us and I will continue to care deeply for each of you.

Dre and Shanda's Excellent Adventure

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Shanda did such a phenomenal job on this blog that I've decided to use it to show yall as well. Thanks Shanda for letting me borrow your elbow grease!

Dre and Shanda's excellent adventure

Our adventure started off in Romania where we visited the city of Targu Mures and a little town outside of Bistrita, called Viile Tecii. Our time there was a success in terms of ministry set up and also a great encouragement to the two of us.

After a whirlwind 5 days we headed off to Budapest, Hungary, driving through the night and arriving at 3:30 am, which was no problem for experienced racers. We took out our sleeping bags and waited patiently for the bus station to open up.

Budapest was beautiful, surpassing all my expectations.

Our personal tour guide, Andras, showed us the sites and made sure we has a blast while doing it.

Our work... networking and finding new contacts... was done at quaint little cafes. Nothing makes work go better than mixing it with a Caramel Machiatto or a steaming cup of Earl Grey.

We had impromptu music times, sometimes spontaneous worship broke out, other times we had our own little concerts in piano stores.

We made new friends and felt like we'd known them for years.

We sat in giant wicker onions...

And in a mere two weeks we'd fallen in love with both the people and the city itself. We've left a little piece of our hearts in Budapest.

All in all, it was an excellent adventure indeed.

a whole 'nother kind of buda

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Did you know that Budapest is split into two sections of the city: Buda and Pest ?

Yes. Buda + Pest = Budapest

The Danube River divides the city into two.

Shanda and I have been scouting new ministry contacts in Romania and Hungary. Just today we realized sitting in a cafe in Budapest, that we haven't slept in the same bed for more than two nights in a row for two weeks and that two weeks ago, we were in Nkhotakota, Malawi. At that moment our lives appeared wildly unusual but wonderfully unpredictable. Our peek into April's Romanian ministries was encouraging and blessed all over the place; from being treated to lunch, getting boots 'buy one get one free' to becoming family with gypsies after one and a half days. I even found myself dancing with gypsies at the contact's wife's mom's birthday. They say that if you drink the water, you won't leave.

One thing is sure: I'm half gypsy. This might explain a lot for some of you.

Second thing is: laughter and joy have not been scarce comodities. Praise the good Lord.

<-- Shanda and I in Bistrita, Romania

We've been learning how to deal the lack of sleep and rest while trying to represent the team/ministry well. It's hard to find time with God when you're constantly on the move with no routine or schedule except the one you're trying to plan for the squad in April. But it turns out that despite some of the difficulties like needing more balance between time and working on set-up, this has been one of my enjoyable times on the race; not having a set plan, going with where God leads us yet having a concrete objective, not traveling with 31 other people, having a say in the tentative steps forward, and we're in Europe with cold weather. Did I mention it's cold and Europe?

The desert place -- nothing like Las Vegas

Tue, 3 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Note from the 'Editor':

A handful of you may have wondered, 'Well I knew she went to Mozambique, did she do anything there?' The following was written at the first chance after our time in the country. I saved it on the network and decided to finally make it into a blog. I decided not to edit or cut out the candor. But because time offers insight into God's purpose for the things that we face, I'm able to write what happens after you walk through the desert place:

As some of you know I've been in Vilanculos, Mozambique over the past two weeks working alongside a ministry who oversees an orphanage of 24 children without living parents. By the fifth day I was able to carry on a conversation in Portuguese, with the loving patience of the person speaking with me, and I even got to read John 3:16-21 in Span-guese? to about seven local Mozambiquano kids halfway through a devotional. Which was undoubtedly orquestrated by the Lord and was great!

But you want more than facts, so I will try to deliver open feedback from the heart. And though I prefer to paint my blogs with optimistic undertones, this time's depiction however won't hide the malaise and discontent I experienced. I'll try to leave you with some idea as to why. Hopefully I convey it clearly.

Fatigue hit me spiritually because I was not drawing from God's strength. I don't know how to be specific with the details leading up to this because I can't recall any specific examples. It wasn't something I realized was happening until I was bereft of all desire and found myself numb both spiritually and therefore emotionally. I can hide this sometimes well, and other times not so much.

Then my physical heath was attacked and deteriorated. By the time my fever hit almost 102 in the over 100 F degree heat of Africa, entirely absent of a/c, a roof or shade, I nearly lost all ability to care about anything. Knowing that this was happening grieved the Spirit inside me. There was a night where my body ached so bad that I wanted to cry out to God and in pain, but I knew I would have awoken the other close-by in their tents so I silenced myself. After all, I thought, what I felt was merely weakness that I could rightly deal with on my own. Again, not going to God. 'But God, how do I go to you without being able to use my voice, and among all these people?!?' Silence. God was silent. 'Why don't I feel you? Why don't I hear you? Why do I feel virtually nothing among orphans in Africa? How much more ridiculous can this be!?' I was in the desert place both spiritually and literally. There existed no reprieve and no relief. Divested of what I could and could not see, I was utterly powerless.

This is what I write currently:

Jesus knew 40 days of the desert's aridity and its cruel conditions. He grew physically weak and was therefore tempted by the devil. But looking forward right after he resisted the enemy, his public ministry commenced. What is it about suffering and trial that bring us to the pinnacle? One that we either fall off and be crushed by, or fall on and be broken. (See Luke 20:18)

I had never in my life felt as I did in the heat of Mozambique. Never had I understood Jonah's derisiveness until the season that came my first month in Africa. I knew very well that if I didn't seek the Lord for strength and help, along with asking the believers around me, I would be rendered useless. Not only would that be the case, but I would be fully aware of its futility making it magnified and functioning like a degenerative contagion. But as I sit here writing the latter part of this blog, I think you've already concluded that I did go to the Lord. This is true, but it took weeks before I went to those who I call my brothers and sisters in Christ; who I've been traveling with for nearly 7 months at that point. God never intended that we walk alone in this world. I put my pride before others. I placed my personal fortitude on a pedestal. I regarded vulnerability as unnecessary and a breech of my privacy. I trusted to the measure that I felt they could trust me. Can you relate?

But then persisted the impression on my mind that reverberated, 'I AM that I AM'.

I, I, I....I could carry on in this ephemeral life restating the unoriginal precepts of mankind -- and the infamous pronoun, 'I' that slips oily out of my mouth. And I may struggle with this for years, but at the very least there'll be a fight for what brings life. 'I AM that I AM', otherwise known from the Torah and Scripture as Yahweh/the Messiah in Jesus, who indeed re-verberates through the ages. He also re-deems, re-vives, re-stores, re-conciles and will re-surrect our very souls from the two-inch grave in which we've buried the good, the bad and the ugly of our lives.

Honestly, I didn't predict this blog even going where it did. Ha, well, there it went. Take from this what you will.

This is what I've learned from all of this. Out of the desert place we find 'I AM' (Yahweh) so that what I was can stay with the sand dunes.

A day in Malawi

Mon, 2 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Today, the 13th of February, we showed the Jesus film here in Nkotakota, Malawi on one of our Malawian friend's old stomping grounds. Our plan was to do door-to-door evangelism (or hut-to-hut?) like yesterday's agenda, but after the first homestead stop, we decided to go to a futbol match at a local high school no more than 1.5 km away. It was there that every approach I took in striking conversation with girls slightly younger than me failed, but I felt the Lord urging me to look around for those looking at me. Needless to say it didn't take long to find a curious audience. With big eyes that carried tiny bodies, I quickly saw their pasted stares on my every move. A female African netball game was going on just beyond their backs along with celebratory cheers, yet I was strangely still more intriguing. Before going on, it should be mentioned that it's not so strange for the 'azungu', or the white person, to draw attention. In fact there's no question that my glow-in-the-dark skin could be spotted and provoke the 'azungu chant' from half a kilometer away after sunset on a street completely absent of light, let alone in sun's midday. 'Azungu, azungu, azungu, hello, hello, hello' is more or less the infamous chant of the children from nearly every Malawian neighborhood. haha, sometimes out of innocent curiosity and sometimes out of taunting mockery, you have to be able to laugh at yourself.

Back in front of the netball field I had assumed the love of the game would out-win my pigment, but this was not the case. The Lord again urged me to respond and so I heeded and smiled while staying my eyes to theirs. I attempted to greet them in the traditional Chichewa way -- 'Muli bwangi...ehhh, ndili buino....kaya inu?'. They laughed, I laughed and the six of us sat on the firm ground. I reverted to an eight year old and we started playing hand games -- me teaching my mad handgame skills. 'Miss Suzie had a steamboat, the steamboat had a bell *ding,ding*'...they often bursted in roaring laughter at their friend's mistakes. I requested that they teach me the African way. The kids obliged a bit hesitantly after a young mother translated for me. Thirty seconds in we had drawn a crowd of about 20 others to watch the azungu eat humble pie from the 'African-child's-game platter'. Oh sure, I messed up but then we got to share in the laughter I suppose. :) They became more than thrilled that they had agreed to give lessons.

Now around 30 people had gathered encircling me from every side of Steph, myself and our new translating friend. Miss Suzie and her steamboat lost some steam so we transitioned sheepishly into song. First we tried to remember the hymn we had learned just recently from our Malawian contact, but with failing recollection we made up a chorus. It wasn't long after that that a whim of courage came over me. I began singing solo a song our group sang in Mozambique. 'Canimambo Yesu, Canimambo Yesu, Canimambo Yesu, alleluyah, amen', and it then praises 'thank you Jesus alleluyah amen' in Portuguese and English. But this time I ended with Chichewa, the native tongue to many in Malawi, 'Zicom Yesu' meaning yes, thank you Jesus.

No laughter. Our young mother and translator friend said, 'They want to hear more singing, more song. In English.' I thought, come again? For all of you who knew me prior to this trip, my name wasn't often associated with Fitzgerald, or really anything musical. So the fact that Africans wanted to hear ME sing was something close to a miracle in itself. Apparently it hasn't been just my walk with Christ that was being transformed but my vocal chords as well. I could hit notes now that came out no better than breathy before. Shortly after the request of the 30 some congregated, I sang with eyes shut the first verse of Amazing Grace, half-bluesy because of my half-nervousness.

Thankful that I saw smiles and heard minimal laughter, I thanked the Lord for three monumental things that happened on that grassy knoll: 1. I heard the Lord and obeyed. 2. I initiated interaction with kids which I don't really do. This makes me sound like a horrible person, but my propensity is conversation with older ages. 3. I let my voice be heard in song and somehow He drew people through the soul instead of natural understanding/language -- 'cause other than 'Zicom Yesu' I didn't sing in their language.

God always prepares me with hard times or good times, continuously giving guidance and instruction through His Spirit, in order to be obedient when the time comes to do so. I was convicted only two days prior while praying that He wanted to hear my voice more. I thought, 'how's that? Where? I speak when I think it necessary.' I then heard a worship song in my head and understood. Then two days later the opportunity arises out of being obedient to His voice. The voice from my mouth became His and His mine. Does this sound outrageous to you? Our God is living, why would we be surprised? Right before we left at 5:30pm that evening I invited the group of around 30 to 40 spectators to the Jesus Film at 7:00pm. Nearly all agreed to come.

Our story is not quite finished. The screen, generator, projector and all the fringes were set up in an open field where many gathered, some that we spoke with and some drawn by intrigue. I recognized many who appeared earlier and could hardly contain my excitement when I greeted them.

But the set-up process is carried out in African time; usually done in a movie's time before the actual movie presents itself. And sometimes excitement wears as the night draws on -- having to sit through a film you've seen several times before doesn't ignite energy even from the most caffeinated individual. And frankly I wondered if they noticed that Jesus' hair was four limbs away from cat hide, Peter's helmet hair, John the Baptist's caveman resemblance or how Mary Magdalene could have been of viking descent. But I was convicted of my judgments when it was clear almost everyone thought it was the best thing since canned ham. I began to see that it was a useful tool. In addition to that, if I'm going to invite others to ministry events, I ought to see what is good about it and trust that the Lord.

Over 50 people publicly expressed their decision to live for the Lord that night. Considering this area is where Islam entered Malawi and is still heavily Islamic, it's a profound demonstration for someone. It speaks loudly from the people a desire for life and hope; something real that they don't have to earn with their own efforts. They have to harvest rice fields, rear their seven child families and tend to frequent illnesses all on their own strength. The people here know the need for rest in something outside of themselves and this world -- something eternal and that has authority.

It was a good day.

On the stop every two minute bus

Mon, 2 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Inspiration came from a ride from Salima, Malawi to Nkhotakota, Malawi. Thanks to Shanda and Tara B. for helping me keep my sanity and humoring my lyrical brilliance. Enjoy.

500 kwacha they charge
it's best that you're not too large
on the stop every two minute bus

a 14 seater van
plus 10 is a virtual sardine can
on the stop every two minute bus

the door's gap gives a breeze
and exit the back window please
on the stop every two minute bus

tapping to the mufflers poof and beat
on the sack of corn underneath your feet
on the stop every two minute bus

want a banana, nut or piece o' bread?
no one gets off but madame you're fed
on the stop every two minute bus

the journey should be a one hour ride
after three hours you're still inside
on the stop every two minute bus

Costly faith -- bold testimony

Mon, 2 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The testimony of Edward Sheko written by Eddie himself. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I did.

I was born of influential Muslim parents; I was almost killed for believing in Jesus Christ in May 1982. My grandparents were associated with Arab slave traders in Malawi. These Arabs were Muslims. Thus my grandparents were among the pioneers of Islamic religion in Malawi. Our village is Islamic and my family is a Muslim family.

From the age of 7 my Uncle began preparing me intensively for active participation in the Muslim religion, he trained me in the principles of the Islamic faith and taught me the practices of Muslim propagation. All of the training was based on refuting the claims of Christianity, by pointing to assumed errors of the Bible and it's teachings. I was instructed that there were over 50,000 errors in the Bible.

Naturally I became so committed to the anti Christian religion. In 1976 I was placed in the actual work. I joined the Islamic movement whose goal was to confuse Christians, especially in their meetings. This movement brought me into frequent contact with Christian workers, especially freelance evangelists and consequently I became skilled in presenting my arguments against Christianity and its book the Bible. Many Christians became aware of my influence and began praying for me. Though I was committed to the Islamic Faith I did the opposite of its claims. I was doing magic, witchcraft, drinking beer, smoking, involved in sexual immorality, fought with people, robbed and many others. I saw these indignities as help in my aggressive approach to Muslim propagation. It was a total (though blind) commitment.

The turning point came in 1982. My Uncle just returned from his trip to Mecca and I was invited to a Christian meeting. I proudly accepted and I was ready to fire confusing questions at these Christians about their Bible. I sat at the back row. The gospel was preached and this time I heard it differently. It was so powerful that I began paying attention and I miraculously moved forward and knelt in front of the preacher. The preacher however, did not care about me, because he thought I was there to start opposition. But, the Lord had touched me within. The word convinced me and the Spirit convicted me. I was a rebellious sinner. There and then my life was transformed and I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and the Lord on my life. I stopped fighting against God. The peace of God subdued my worries. How it happened is God's mystery.

When news of my conversion reached our Islamic village, Satan stirred the hearts of all my relatives to attack me. I was severely beaten by my uncle to the point that I fainted. The next three weeks I was again severely beaten and fainted three times by the elders led by my uncle. He was the first man to beat me. He beat me heavily with his walking stick to the point of death in his house. He then ordered that all my clothes, schoolbooks and papers be burnt. He also ordered to take me to the circumcision camp. I was already circumcised but this time it was to subject me to great pain so that I could renounce Jesus Christ, the Bible and my new found faith in Christ. They tied my hands and my feet and with a big pole carried my body to the camp. There I was tied upside down to a tree and I stayed hanging there head down, five feet above the ground, for the whole day. This was repeated for the next six days. They rubbed substances all over my body and I was brutally beaten for three weeks, fainting three times in the process. When my uncle saw that I was determined to die as a Christian, but never to live as a Muslim, he ordered for my release.

Commitment to the evangelical faith in Christ resulted in being disowned as a member of my family and my village. I was ordered to leave the village. During this time Christian brothers opened their homes to me. They took care of me spiritually, physically, paying my school fees and involved me in Christian fellowship where I was asked to share my testimony to them and other Christians. Many were convicted and challenged. In April 1984 is when I was baptized in a Baptist Church in water at a public testimony of my faith.

I am now serving the Lord as Pastor - Evangelist and pioneer worker among Muslim people in my area. The majority of the people that I work among are Muslims, the youth and prisoners in jails in the rural area. In my ministry I hold open-air meeting, conduct door to door visitation, distribute gospel tracts among the lost and reach many people with the word of God through Crusades. At the Crusades many people who are sick are being healed and delivered from the bondage of the devil. Through prayer my goal and vision is to plant churches among the Muslim villages and to serve the youth and prisoners in the jail. Please pray for me that I will fulfill God's plan to expand His kingdom. Pray for me as they are still hunting for my life. But, God our father is still protecting me. Romans 15:20 and Isaiah 54:17 are two verses that really minister to me. God is always great. I praise him for he is always faithful. I am now ready and prepared to work with those who are ready to do the mission of reaching the unreached, church planting and rural evangelism.

May God bless you as you read this testimony and pray for the expansion of the great commission of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.
In Christ - Eddie Sheko

Update

Thu, 5 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Alas, blogs from the African continent!

This will be brief. We're headed up to Malawi through Zimbabwe (shortest route) in 40 hours by a bus/van deal-io. We will arrive to the northern part in a few days working along side a ministry and pastor. We will return to South Africa Feb. 28th to head to Eastern Europe. Fly into Bucharest, Romania. That seems so far into the future even though it's a mere 21 days. But I'm excited for the unique opportunity that we'll be part of once we're there. Please pray for this stint. Health, safe travels and fruitful ministry.

Love you all. Miss you and you'll hear from me in a few weeks.

Swaziland picture blog

Wed, 4 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

So I wrote down a long something or other in my journal planning on transposing it onto here, but I think you'd rather see what it was like. Sometimes words aren't enough.

The Swazi orphans and kids of the community center we worked with, whose pastor is Pastor Gift

Grub time

Kids from all the care points and the community coming to get their feet washed by us, prayed over and new pairs of shoes!

Washing...Shanda was a scrubing rockstar

Lov'n on the kiddos

Gogo (grannies) that take care of the orphans

More than tattered clothes and distended bellies, they are human. They hush their voices because they think no one will hear, but their eyes are loud with hunger for what fills the body and soul.

We've seen glimpses of answers to both hungers with the community center and how it supports, nourishes, and offers hope.

Be a blessing

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The following text and video is from two fellow world racers who I've come to know and love. Please take a few minutes to hear them (and a few others), and if you feel lead, to send a blessing their way. :) Thanks! Much love from the Southern Hemi!

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Hello family, friends and faithful readers,

This entire year has been a year of living on faith and we are so blessed to have so many people who have believed and supported us through prayers, encouraging words, and financial gifts. We are so appreciative and can assure you that you are making a difference in the lives of many around the world. We have come to crisis point in our support account and are now in danger of having to cut our trip short and go home. Here are the details:

Support left to raise for the year: $11,227

Amount needed by March 1st: $6,840

If we do not meet this goal, we will be headed back to the States on March 1st.

Please be praying for the rest of our support to come in and if you are able, helping us to meet this goal through a monthly or one time donation. No gift is too small. To support us, click on the Support Me link to the left of this blog.

Thank you and God Bless! Stacy and Brian Alonzo

En Afrique

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Tomorrow afternoon we leave for South Africa. After about a day and a half of travel with a layover in the MIddle East, we arrive in Jo-burg. Shortly after, we go 20 hours by bus to Mozambique. We'll be doing ministry at an orphanage there for a few weeks and then head to Swaziland for a bit. A debrief of the ministries will be spent at a Safari park some time in between all this. We then finish off in Malawi in late Feb/early March. I'm excited to have this opportunity in Africa even though the mosquitos will be the size of small children. The Lord is already preparing something great. Please be praying for safety, good health and overall fruit in the ministry.

As you may be aware of, we won't have much access to internet in the bush. This being said, I will try to do my best to maintain some sort of communication with yall when I can.

I'm so grateful for all your support and love.

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Church. Church. Church.

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Passing the sign that read, "Save today", I pull into the parking lot like I do every Sunday. I couldn't find a spot right away because it seemed that everyone decided to come at the same time. Fortunately, one kind man waved me in. As I approach the entrance, old Mr. Foster was there greeting those walking in He greets me about every other time I end up coming in. Good ol' Foster's smile always inspires me to give a little to the box that sits right near the entrance. Usually I only spend 40-50 minutes there, and usually I hear the same songs humming off the walls. I come because my 'cupboards' are near empty and I need to fill 'em back up. Sometimes I see other people that I know and do some small chat out of courtesy, but really I hope to spend as little time there as possible. In and out, I say. But you can be sure I'll grab some of the coffee and donuts on the way out. Once it's all done, I wait patiently in line to leave -- as many are in a hurry to scurry off to whatever afternoon errand they have. I extend my hand and I'm off to the parking lot again. "How is it that one saves?", I asked myself driving home. I looked down at my grocery list and sigh in relief that I was done with all the shopping for the rest of the week.

Oh wait, did you think I was writing about going to church? No one feels like that about church, do they? Is there something wrong with being able to transpose 'going to the grocery store' with 'going to church'?

The Lord says [in Isaiah 29:13]:

      "These people come near to me with their mouth
       and honor me with their lips,
       but their hearts are far from me.
       Their worship of me
       is made up only of rules taught by men.

Despite popular belief, church is the body of believers. Going every Sunday is so that they can be encouraged by one another, be spurred on in the faith, and hopefully desire God more. The building itself functions as a place where they can meet. Desire for Him is what separates a trip to the grocery store from a place to worship God.

Let's do an experiment right now. Say church, church, church, church, church....(for 20 seconds)

Keep going.

Did that repetition help your understanding of the word? Did it gain or lose meaning? Can repetition in church attendance help nourish our relationship with God? Of course it can. Can repetition in church attendance help nourish our relationship with God without desiring Him? ....

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
Luke 10:26-28

A video Merry Christmas

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

....and Feliz Navidad

Thinking about you.

Twelfth day of Christmas

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

1 hard sleeping mat

2 pairs of pants

3 cups of tea

4 pounds in my pocket

5 cold toilet seats

6 hours of sleep

7 rooms filled with people

8 emails unsent

9 dirty tea towels

10 minutes of daylight

11 cut out cookies

12 tracts to hand out

Sometimes living arrangements can become overwhelming, but having an arrangment at all is a blessing.

Speaker's Corner in London

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

People have always searched out venues to be heard. Platforms for monologues draw us. So, do we know why?

To be, or not to be--that is the question:

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune

Or to take arms against a sea of troubles...

In my opinion, Shakespeare took the platform in the character of Hamlet to ask more than the question, 'to be or not to be'. He also tried to answer the question. But really, many are taking up venues all over the globe to answer 'how to be'. One of those is called Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park, London. Every Sunday until the sun sets people gather from all over to

debate, dialogue, listen and learn. OH, to be heard. Not only that, but to point another's thoughts in a new direction. If only we could profess that inner manifesto and have it catch some ears!

The general point of Speaker's Corner seems to be just for monologuing, but what I saw off the ladders would say, 'on the contrary dear watson'. Strong views on Communism, Islam, Socialism, Philosophy and Christianity all being voiced in the same place at the same time. On the foreground you'll find people in discussion with each other or refuting the elevated soapboxer. I can say that I loved going to Speaker's Corner to get to know what people think about the important stuff. Too many hide behind the fluff and never say, 'enough of that crap, I want to know what others think about what this life is for'. And although many go to heckle and see if they can develop the best argument (if only this time), others want to fight the fluff and figure out their own thoughts.

For the second time around, 'why does the freedom of monologue, and overall verbage, draw us in?' Maybe it's what we talk about that matters. So, goodbye fluffy weather, celebrities, bad service at the restaurant, etc. If you come to Speaker's Corner without an opinion, go home and return when you have one. There are no rules for forming arguments, no class division, no formalities that hinder impromptu. Nothing is being sold here and few things present to attract the eye. Just outdoor conversation and human interaction. I think what brings people there also brings people to cafes and pubs.

"Although many of its regular speakers are non-mainstream, Speakers' Corner was frequented by Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, George Orwell and William Morris. Its existence is frequently upheld as a demonstration of free speech, as anyone can turn up unannounced and talk on almost any subject, though they are likely to be heckled by regulars."(wikipedia)

What do we think is so important to say for others to know? We know that what we talk about is important to us. That which affects/effects us in daily life matters to us so we talk about it. But that which can help us when things affect/effect us is much more important. But really, when it comes down to it, we want to know what makes us tick and what can help us when we just don't have the answers.

What can help us?

Candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Sometimes it's great fun to take off your wellies (English boots) and throw on green and red elf shoes. Tis' the season from the girls of team Pi. (Thanks Pamela for doing these videos) Cheers to the four main food groups!

It's worth it if I can get these videos to squeeze a chuckle out of ya. Enjoy!

Happy Christmas!

So what's new Mr. Magoo?

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

"Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before..."

I was reminded this week that this is how we humans are. How are we different from those 3,000 years ago? What is new under the sun? We have the same questions, make the same mistakes, and make the same excuses. Time has given us 'space' to manipulate the world around us and be effected by the results, but elements of history repeat because our design remains the same.

"Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs, and what does he gain, since he toils for the wind?" So where exists the purpose right? "For who knows what is good for a man in life, during the few meaningless days he passes through like a shadow? Who can tell him what will happen under the sun after he is gone?" Knowledge passes away and time deems itself irrelevant, so where does that leave us? I remember the first time I read those italicized words for the first time about five years ago, written by a well-known king in the history of Israel. King Solomon of Israel, King David's oldest son, wrote Ecclesiastes in 945 B.C. and rose to his throne in around 967 B.C. The Kingdom extended from the Euphrates River in the north all the way to Egypt. People from all over would traveled to hear what Solomon had to say and to even hear the songs about God and love that he composed. His wisdom was known to be directly gifted from God and fascinating to even the Queen of Sheba.

(Those italicized sentences come from the Bible's Old Testament in Ecclesiastes 3:15, 5:15 and 6:12.)

I remember being relieved that a King who reigned over a notoriously powerful country at the time around 2,000 years ago, would have similar questioning thoughts about the world I found myself in. I admired how Solomon didn't leave the grandeur and his endless wealth unevaluated, but rather saw it for what it was and wasn't. It brought merriment, but not real fulfillment. I admired how he didn't disillusion himself with empty words and empty comfort, though he tried that for a time. Even more, I admired his humility in the conclusion that he arrived to:

"Remember Him-before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well, and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it...." (Eccl.12:13-14) So, I gather this: Don't think your bigger than you think you are or smaller than you wish you could keep yourself, and remember that our bodies may be only returning to the dust, but the very thought that makes us wonder at this comes from something we can't see that also wishes to find and return home. Who or what could this be? I'll get to that in a second. (Stay with me. This time of night provokes me to rant but rest assured. I'll try to restrain myself.)

So since I like parallels and imagery, I quick want to look at the word humility. The word humility derives itself from the Proto-IndoEuropean 'humi' which means 'on the ground' or like Latin's humus meaning 'earth, soil'. Maybe even a relative to our delectable Mediterranean dip. :) This being said, when we recognize that 'the dust returns to the ground it came from' in regards to our mortality, we'll have to take the same 'lowly' posture in humility to recognize that that second something which brings to mind returning home, will mean taking a different position than you've ever taken before. From a place that is a bit uncomfortable and maybe unfamiliar. And it impresses me that such a king had done just that, and before Who? (you've probably already guessed it) -- God.

The Lord has been teaching me about humility lately. How can something like intelligence be so useful yet so useless? How can it aid me and hinder me sometimes at the same time? How can I give Him the glory with it instead of my own?

Man, humility is not a painless process.

Ok, let's bring it back for a sec...

Maybe something new under the sun would be to admit that I got nothing new to offer, then why am I here?

Maybe something is being offered to me instead.

After reading Ecclesiastes, other Scripture, literature, anything worth a peek, I realized that that something who compels me to search also put a path out before me to know Him. Although I've experienced some of the low and high positions, that many have experienced before me, I made the decision to follow Jesus Christ because I'm convinced of who He said He was and is.