Ministry From The Far Side

Friends from Around the World

There are advantages and disadvantages to not living in your passport/birth country.  Disadvantages mostly have to do with time lost with family, missed opportunities for hunting (sorry, but a reality!), and missed treats (hamburgers, cheddar cheese, kettle corn, peanut butter, etc). 

But the advantages are huge.  And high on that list is the friends that we have made that we would never have met.  We now have wonderful friends that live in a couple dozen countries, people that both serve in missions and those that are in business or foreign service.  

Our first year in Moldova, we became friends with a single Dutch guy, Albert Walsweer.  Due to our partnership with Convoy of Hope and Convoy of Hope Europe, Albert began making semi-regular trips to Moldova.  We enjoyed lots of time together, and Nancy's cooking always tempted him back.

Then a couple years ago, Albert met the woman of his dreams, Doreen.  We lost the unattached Albert that could crash at our house but gained another wonderful friend. 

I am so thankful for friends from every country, taste and flavor.  Some love spicy food while others enjoy pickled herring.  Others speak 2 languages and others a half-dozen.  Some are tall, others short.  But we are blessed by the multitude of cultures and friends that we have made over the years.

I'm thankful for Albert and Doreen.

Grateful For the Big Picture

No one is meant to serve and labor alone, and I am grateful for a wonderful organization that gives both individuality and responsibility yet recognizes we are a part of a bigger picture.  I know our area is not perfect, as is our missions organization.  But I appreciate the intrinsic values that pervade our area.

I am thankful for a value on getting away and getting refreshed.  I am thankful that both husband and wife are valued, and wives are not relegated to the dinner room while the men "take care of business."  Both genders are equal in opinion and thoughts.

I am thankful that our children are valued not just with words but with deeds.  When someone comes to minister to my teen or elementary kids, they show value, an investment in MKs that speaks to me.

I am thankful for God-ordained speakers that have encouraged me in past years, all with something to say (if I was listening!).  From Dary Northrup to Jim Bradford, Michael McNamee to Byron Klaus, we have been blessed with words of encouragement.  I am thankful for the worship leaders that paid their way to help, the kids and youth workers that did the same, and for those that continue that friendship. 

I am thankful for the tiny escapes that we have had, and I never want to take it for granted.  I am grateful for places without air conditioning, for lousy shopping, for food that wasn't the greatest.  I am thankful for bugs and bad weather, unknown expenses to use a sports court and for inadequate amounts of water.  And I'm thankful that someone challenged me a while back to quit belly-aching and be grateful.

And I am thankful for the variety of leaders that God has blessed us with, both organizational and relational.  I am grateful for peers that encourage me and spur me on.  Thanks!

Thankful for our Team

At this day of Thanksgiving, I want to express my gratitude at the team that we currently have here in Moldova.  I think it was around 5 years ago that Troy and Heidi led a team from their church to Moldova, not knowing that they would later be called back to this very country. 

We are totally different personalities, a huge asset to the work here.  Our strengths can compliment each other rather than duplicate each other.  I am so grateful for Troy's dedication to learning the language, his great ability in relationships, his lack of fear getting to know strangers, his love for the local church, and his healthy ability to work out disagreements. 

I am thankful for Heidi's love of people, her ability to relate with individuals in a deep way, her never-ending joy at Moldova, her eyes to see things here as fresh and interesting, and her love for kids, especially the Home of Hope. 

Heather too has been a huge blessing, a joy to have here.   She is a trooper in the villages, never complaining about Moldova, even though there are not many (or any?) 17-year-olds left around here.  And she loves our girls.

We are grateful for the Darrins.

Thankful for my Family

It is only fitting that I dedicate this post to thankfulness.  It is early Thanksgiving morning in Moldova.  I had to get up early to get the turkey started, especially since we expect the electricity to be cut off around 10 am. 

I am so grateful for a wonderful wife and three great girls.  Next spring we will celebrate 20 years of marriage.  There were a number of years where we did not know if we would ever have kids.  In the end God provided us with three.

I am thankful for Nancy's strong will, her sharp mind, her passion for Christ, her dedication to prayer and Scripture, her patience with me, her love for ministry and missions, her spirit of hospitality, her integrity, her love for Moldova, her love for the people of this country, her leadership at the Home of Hope, her family heritage, and much more.

With Elissa, I am grateful for a young woman that is growing into her own faith.  She has a wonderful love and loyalty to friends, a passion for parties, an ear for music, and skill for art, a mind for academia.  I am so thankful the Lord blessed us with this girl.

With Natalie, I am thankful for her smile, her joy, her get-up-at-6-o'clockedness, her energizer bunny energy, her backrubs (the best of the three!), her hunger for the Holy Spirit, her deep spiritual questions, her loyalty to a couple of friends, her hugs and kisses, her love of books.

With Lauren, I give thanks for her and her uniqueness.  She is so even-keeled, solid and secure.  She always has a smile (toothless at the present), tells me she loves me a hundred times a day, gives hugs and kisses at will.  She has a sharp mind, already a math whiz, a loyal friend, and a wonderful daughter.

If everything else in this world was lost, I would still have a lot in which to be thankful.

This is a photo of my wonderful wife, standing next to two new friends from the wonderful land of Finland. Nancy and I spoke at a conference on the issue of trafficking, and Nancy fell in love with all her ancestors. Walking into the room of Finns for the first time was surreal, like seeing all of Nancy's long-lost relatives.

Had one of those tough days, dealing with a church's huge disappointment. Last night, a fire started in their nearly finished church sanctuary. The roof was destroyed completely, leaving nothing but charred walls and a few remaining windows.

But as we looked at the mess, a choice was made. We can look at this disaster as the end, or look at tomorrow's sunrise as a chance to start afresh.

We will choose the latter.

Not sure how things will all play out, but we are not at a place where we must roll up our sleeves and start to work, praying and watching for God's provision and miracle-working ability.

Thought of my favorite Kipling poem, "If." His line:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

Lord, help us finish the task you have called the Church to do!

Convoy of Hope Intern Team 2009

Gray Day

I am leaving in a few minutes, but thinking of the gray day ahead.  We are about to start our full winter season, which basically means saying goodbye to the sun for the next few months.  Lots of gray, mucky, snowy, melty weather lays ahead. 

We have two more days with the team of Convoy of Hope interns.  I've been talking missions with them.  Sharing about The Making of a Leader.  Taking a trip up to Old Orhei monastery today.  Treating them to an American dinner.

I think the two scenes show a huge contrast.  The gray day is like some many days in Moldova...depressing, without hope, without Christ.  I see people without smiles, families and lives in broken pieces.

The other side is the joy found in these young believers, full of God's love and grace.  The joy of their service is like a ray of light in the midst of the gray.  And people notice it.

The Church in Moldova has such a capacity to impact this country, even if it is just the infectious spirit of joy and hope.  I hope I can show today the message of "Joy to the World, the Lord has come!" 

God knows this country needs it!  Especially on a gray day like this!

Top Ten Things I'm Learning From Ministry In Moldova

So often we think of the things we need to teach.  As a pastor, preacher, and teacher, I want to share God's Word, teach and disciple, mentor and assist.  But I realize also how much I've learned from missions and from Moldova.  I have learned:

1. Fasting--the Church here knows how to fast, often with at least one member fasting every day of the year for God's work.
2. Faith--I'd rather be a self-funded missionary, but I don't God wants that.  It would be too easy to rely on my resources rather than a position of dependence.
3. Patience--actually, I am still learning this, but it is increasing.
4. Extravagant Hospitality--my wife is an incredible hostess, but Moldovan hospitality is humbling to receive.  Crowded around a tiny table, you learn that hospitality does not need fancy dishes or gourmet cooking, but friendly hearts and God's Spirit.
5. Prayer--when it is time to pray in our church services, the people PRAY.
6. Diversity--heaven is going to be full of a lot of different people, and their idea of praise is not Hill Songs or Chris Tomlin!
7. The Church--There are a lot of great churches still.  After itinerating to hundreds of churches, I have found that there are still lots of wonderful churches out there.
8. Uniqueness--BUT Great churches are not cookie-cutters.  All those great churches are unique, never looking like each other.  Some have rock-n-roll, while others are traditional.  Some of great buildings, while others warehouses.  When they love God, worship authentically, and make the Word relevant, they are GREAT.
9. Imperfection--The Church is Imperfect everywhere.  There are still problems in the churches worldwide, and we have problems in Moldova as well. If you think God's people are perfect outside your country, think again.  But the flaws of God's people are not reason to toss out the gospel.
10. Impact--the Church is still the only lasting hope to see this nation transformed.  And it is amazing what God can do when we press on through opposition, discomfort, and pain.  God's Church is doing great things in Moldova.

I am so much more to learn.  My prayer is still, "Teach me, O God."

I Have a To-Dream list, not a To-Do List

It is amazing how sweet the early morning can be.  It is only about 6:30 am, so I actually feel like I slept in!  Since the clock change last week, I keep waking up earlier than that, so feeling so rested today.

I slipped out of the hotel room this morning (we are all in Romania at our team retreat), walked to the hotel restaurant, and starting enjoying wi-fi and a cup of coffee.  My journal and a book are next to me. 

Early mornings are like a fresh start.  The slate is clean, the to-do list is fresh, and the mind is clear from the mental sticky notes that accumulate with every cell call and email.  I can understand Psalm 23--the still waters and the green pastures.  All is right with my soul.

One of the things I'm beginning to learn is there is never an end to the needs and to the opportunities in Moldova.  I see the girls and children at the Home of Hope and I think about the countless that we have not yet found.  I see the drunk staggering down the street and my heart wonders why he is so desperate for one more drink, whether the turn is weather will make this the last day of his life.  I see the kids in the field, spending all day watching a bunch of sheep, and wonder if they will ever have someone talk to them about God's purpose and vision for their lives.

The day slowly pulls and tugs at my peace.  The mind is continually thinking about the needs.  I have big dreams to reach the kids, the women, and the needy.  But each morning gives me a fresh start, a fresh moment to turn a new page, start a new to-dream list.  What kind of dreams is God going to give today? 

It's early morning.  God-time.  Time to dream and start it all over again.

Time Has Stood Still Once Again

I don't know the actual physics of it, but these photos show you that time runs at a different stream here in Moldova.  About 2 1/2 weeks ago, we finally installed a new oven in our kitchen. The old one was running on barely one burner, thus we finally sprung for a new one.  With our house being a "hotel" hosting someone most of the time, AND with a wife that is a master chef, we decided to get a little bigger one than before.

So a friend hooked it up, got it wired in....and the glass shattered.  They had turned it on to test it, and with about 5 minutes of heat, the supposedly-tempered glass went everywhere.

We have a guarantee, right?  That should ensure a replacement quick, correct?

NO.  I have called, visited, cajoled, been irritated, argued, discussed, pressed, and pleaded for 3 weeks.  And last week I was PROMISED that the man would be out today to repair.  Today.  Today. 

I assumed that meant "at this present time, before the strike of midnight."  Apparently Today can stretch into 5 days, thus the miracle of time-warping.  What I once thought was 24 hours can miraculously turn into 120 hours.

So if you are struggling with getting enough done Today, just move to Moldova and work with service support.  You'll have plenty of time!  (because that 120 hours is still growing...and the oven is still in pieces.)

Interesting People

Life is full of interesting people.  I am continually amazed at the interesting people I meet, wishing I had a few more hours or days with them to get to know them and their stories. 

The photos below are of two sisters, both still living in Baraboi, a village not far from Mihaileni.  I was there with the church last week (and a team of Convoy of Hope interns).  The interns are spending a month in the area, working with the churches, doing compassion work, food distribution, and health care issues.  On this day, we were helping the church give some food care packages to about 150 people, the most needy in the area. 

While there, I spent time talking with these two sisters.  They were so thankful for the help, appreciative that the church would care for them.

We talked about life, their other sisters (still 2 more), and about Christ.  Yet I walked away with questions.

What has their life been like?
What are their greatest memories?  Had they ever been married?  Kids? 
What was life like here 50 years ago?  Where they ever afraid of the "evil" Americans, like Americans were afraid of the "evil" Russians?

Did she ever hear much about Jesus during her life?  Has life been good or hard?

Perhaps I'm just curious, but I'm intrigued by people.  Their faces speak volumes to me, questions that remain unanswered. 

And if their stories are interesting to God, they are interesting to me.  After all, they are His children too.