Ministry From The Far Side

Daughters

Ministry and missions is rather interesting.  We have been involved in vocational ministry all our married life, so our girls do not know life outside church and ministry involvement.  Elissa was born when we were still associate pastors in Great Falls, while Natalie and Lauren were born while we senior pastored in Harlowton.  They've always been pastor's kids (PKs).

The day after Lauren was born, we received the first application for missions from AGWM.  We spent a year itinerating, so Lauren's first year has full of road trip after road trip, hours in a car seat.

So I was blessed to see Elissa begin more of her ministry.  She spent a week with four interns, Sara Tady, and the Darrin family in the village of Casunca.  Together with a team from a Moldovan church, they served the community, did outreach, visited homes, and labored to build the church there. 

And Elissa carried her share.  She ministered.  She did puppets.  She visited.  She translated.  She even sang in front of everyone!

I am not sure why it is easier to do some of things when your parents are not with you, but it must have been the case.  And we could not be happier.  She loves this country, loves people, and loves being a part of ministry.

Once I could truly call her a Missionary Kid.  Now I have to call her a Missionary.

Other blog

In case you don't know or have it bookmarked, I do write two more blogs, a family one and a book blog.

Here is the link to my last family post, Swim Time.

Photo Blog

Just wanted to write a short note to let you know of the photoblog I post, usually weekly.

Feel free to click here to check it out.  I'd love your feedback.

Hostages Released!

At 11 am today, Gheorghe was finally able to secure the release of our hostages---bats, wiffle balls, and frisbees.  I guess Moldova customs decided to finally let them go.

 Lesson learned?  Make sure you NEVER put any value on a package mailed overseas!  Just say $0---gifts!

AND these balls and bats are going to be GREATLY appreciated and used at all of our outreaches this year.  If you know Jeff Anderson and Rapid City First A/G, tell them thanks from Moldova.  We can not say thanks enough.

Hostages

It started out quite simple.  I only asked a great friend in Rapid City if his church could send us a few fat bats and wiffle balls for outreaches this summer.  They were gracious to oblige, throwing in a few frisbees.

Then I got the call.

"You have a package from Fedex.  Can you come to customs?"

I went on Tuesday, simply expecting to sign a few papers and get the package.  I was excited that we could even get them up to Casunca for the Day of Hope outreach this Saturday.

Then the customs guy says that I have to pay import tax of $150 to receive clearance.

$150!!!!  The stuff cost less that that!  What is he thinking?!

So they are holding them hostage at the moment.  I don't want to pay that kind of money, and I'm hoping that we can resolve for less.  If I need to pay $50, I'll do it.  How much higher do I go?  Can I get someone there to just settle for less? 

Ahhhh.  The joy of missions.

Altoids

Almost six years ago, a wonderful friend came to visit us in Moldova.  Shawn was a youth pastor in Whitefish at the time, and one of his youth was drawn for the Montana Youth STL trip, the chance to "deliver the keys" the missionary.  Of course, we had already bought the vehicle, but it was a nice reward for a youth that had helped us so much with our vehicle. 

STL (Speed The Light) is the Assemblies of God ministry challenge for the youth of our churches.  It is a way for the youth to tangibly help missions by giving toward vehicles, sound systems, etc.  We cannot express enough our appreciation to the youth, because a vehicle is absolutely crucial.  You wouldn't believe the roads this Nissan has traveled!

Their trip was also a special treat for the girls.  They were our first visitors, and the culture shock of Moldova was relaxed by having friends at our apartment.  It was so nice to show people our new country.  We didn't know much at all, nowhere near our knowledge of Moldova right now.

AND when Shawn, Justin, and Rob came to visit, they also came loaded with fun stuff!  They had a suitcase of suckers for the girls, treats for Nancy, and ALTOIDS for me.  They actually brought 3 large packs of Altoids, a treat you can't find here at all.

This photo is one of the two last tins of Altoids left in the country.  I am enjoying them slowly, usually when I'm driving out to town.  Moldovans don't like the spicy cinnamon flavor, so the only people have to fight off our our girls. (They love them!)

Six years.  And still refreshing a missionary.

Another case, another six years?

Refreshed

I am enjoying a few days outside of Moldova at our annual retreat.  It is a special treat for the kids, a chance to get out and have fun, swim, see friends.  They live for this week each year and hate to miss it.  As MKs, their circle of friends is both big globally but small locally.  They love the time with kids that understand what they are going through, life overseas, and some times with kids and youth leaders that invest in them.

Yet I find that I am also in need of a few days of relief.  It is amazing the load that I feel lifted off my shoulders when I leave Moldova.  There is a load there that is constant, more needs that I have capacity to carry.

I think that comes as one begins to CARE.  If I am indifferent to the people around me, then their struggles do not affect me much.  If I am not concerned about neighbors and fellow countrymen, then their headaches and heartaches are never even noticed.

But when I care, I feel the load.

It is good to get away for a few days, just to refresh the batteries.  It helps me to cope with the intense spiritual and physical loads in Moldova.  It refreshes my to lay the load down for a few days, to forget the cell phone and emails, listen to a great message rather than preaching. 

It helps me to come back to Moldova...and care.  This is our country now, and we care enough to want to see God bring hope and change to a hurting nation. 

We care.

Gifts

Why is it so hard to think of things you want as you get older?  As a kid, I could pour over the catalog and underline half of the toys to add to my Christmas or birthday wish list.  Now I can hardly think of a thing!

There are always a few books I stash away on my Amazon wish list.  (That list really is for me to not forget the item, not actually thinking other people might look at it!)  I dream for nice Nikon cameras, but with the D300 and D700 being the price they are, those will never appear under a tree.  I do think I'd skip the next 10 Christmases if Nancy would plop a beautiful 70-200 2.8 lens (or any of the other $1000+ Nikkor lenses) next to my birthday cake--but that will not be happening in the next 20 years!

I have enough clothes.
I hate buying shoes, preferring to wear them until the sole is worn through (faster now in Moldova).
I will never have enough rifles, but in reality, I have pretty much all the caliber ranges needed.

No now I back to what I really want.  A nightly backrub from my daughters.  An early edition of The Hobbit.  Peace and quiet in the house.  Banana cream pie that adds nothing to my waistline.  One week without phonecalls or emails, but a comfortable chair and a stack of books.  Some spiritual miracles to happen in some close friends.  One chance in my life to shoot a Dall sheep.  Eight hours of sleep in a row.  A package in the mail that makes my girls giggle with delight.  A little more time with friends.

Almost all my wish list either costs nothing or is a fantasy that could never happen. 

And so I am sitting here tonight that what I have right now is contentment.  I am so content with the life God has blessed me with: three great girls and a wonderful wife.  I DO have discontentment with myself, wishing I could be a better father and husband.  I do wish for more wisdom and insight.  I wish I could retract a few words and add a few never spoken.

But I trying to learn contentment in even those things.  For in Christ, I have all I need.

 "He who has God and everything else has no more than he who has God only."  C.S. Lewis

Other Blog

Little Black Boxes

Tired

I should be heading to bed right now.  I'll be up in four hours (2:30 am) to take our guests to the airport.  At least I am not flying out too!  I CAN go home and sleep for a couple more hours hopefully.

The Home of Hope dedication was an incredible time.  We had guests and leaders from Project Rescue, AGWM, both Pentecostal and Baptist churches, friends from the U.S. Embassy, and Salvation Army.  We had families of staff, pastors, kids, and co-workers.  And we celebrated.

The women at the Home of Hope loved the party, so appreciative of all those that gave.  We ate so much food, prayed, shared, cut the ribbon, and thanked scores of individuals. 

So I am tired...but a good kind of tired.  Click here for photos of the celebration!

Sidewalk Sales

I was sitting at our Moldovan Home Depot the other day (don't get any misconceptions at what it looks like.  It is a huge covered bazaar, crammed full of tables. Each table has a myriad of stuff---plumbing items, nails, screws, electrical.  You walk until you find the piece you want to buy!)

I was actually sitting in the car while Sasha ran in to buy a couple things to fix a leaking faucet at the Home of Hope.  I was right in front of this woman as she was laying out her items to sell that day.

I rarely notice this anymore, because every market will be surrounded with people selling junk on the sidewalks.  Some of it is new junk, and a lot of old, archaic items.  Either way, it is all junk!  I have no idea what some of the stuff is, but this is a country where you can still repair your toaster!

I try to imagine a life of spending all day on the street, hoping to sell a few air fresheners, sockets, or socks. 

I can't.

But I do know a lot of people who lay their lives out on the street for the highest bidder.  They toss out their principles, morals, and integrity, hoping for some reward and return.  Our media is full of people who "sold their soul" for their moment of fame.  I've seen girls sell their character (and body) in a false notion that that some guy will then like them.  Our politics are full of men and women purchased by lobbyists and influencers.

Come to think of it, as sinners, all we possessed was a pile of used, worthless junk, a dead life.  But Christ came and bought the whole thing...including us, the owner.  He paid the ultimate price for our souls...then gave them back to us with freedom. 

God looks at our pitiful offers of value and sees a treasure, an eternal soul worth more than all the money in every bank in this entire world  To him, you are not junk.  Receive His purchase offer...and find freedom!

 

Early Morning

I love the morning, especially my mornings in Moldova.

I try to wake early, slip downstairs without waking the kids, stepping lightly on each squeaky tread.  I always let the dogs out first, hoping that I can do it without waking up Natalie.  If I can do that, I've succeeded in a major way!  I need that girl to quit waking up at 6 am so I can those few minutes of peace!

I then start the coffee, flip up the laptop and relax in the gliding rocker.  We bought that rocker 13 years ago when Elissa was born, and it is still the favorite chair in the house.  I'll read email while the coffee is brewing.  Gracie the Schnauzer usually crawls up on the couch.  I used to sit there, but she wants to snuggle so close it is uncomfortable.  I'm always feeling like I going to squash her.

I can't think until the coffee is finished.  I give thanks each morning for the friend who sent us that Caribou coffee.  Another friend once sent us a box of Starbucks (long since finished), but I'll drink anything.  Caribou is the best, and their Mahogany and Obsidian reign above all.  Today I'm enjoying Caribou Daybreak.

In the summer, Nancy will take her cup of coffee and go outside to the swing to read her Bible.  I always prefer the living room, in the comfortable chair.  Either location, I listen to the neighbors' roosters discussing their plans with each other.  I'll often hear a few sheep or goats off in the distance.  One year, the neighbor to our right had a bunch of ducks.  They quacked incessantly, but I kind of got used to it.  It probably has a good biblical authenticity to read about Jesus in the village.

I'll usually hear the Orthodox church bell ringing.  I barely notice it anymore, and have actually forgot what time it does ring!

Yes, morning is the time of day when there is peace in the world, good memories, good smells and sounds.  It is what makes life worth living, my sabbath of the morning.