This little lesson helped me learn lots. In June I gave each member of our Sabbath School, which were five at the time, 300 francs, or about 75 cents Canadian. When you consider that the average pay for a full eight hours of work for a mason’s assistant is 1000 francs, it is a nice little sum having 300. I told them to do something with the money to help someone else. Of course the idea came from Jesus’ parable of the talents, and also from an Adventures in Odyssey adaptation of the parable called “The Buck Starts Here”.
I kept forgetting to ask them about their assignment, and with preparations to visit home, I completely forget, until last Sabbath. I had some varied responses, quite similar to the original story! Two boys had collaborated and given 100 francs to three different people to help them out with daily food. One boy still had his money as he really didn’t think of what he could do with only 300 francs. I encouraged him to not think too big, but simple, and we’ll see what he does in the future. Another of them gave the money also to some different friends to help them. Then the fifth was a little embarrassed. He had the money a long time, and after a while went to buy pants at the market, he only had two hundred francs and the pants cost five, so he used the 300 to complete the deal. I was disappointed, everyone snickered at his mess-up. I chided him and told him I was disappointed in what he did, but told everyone that it was a good lesson to use money we put aside for God or to help others quickly or we will be tempted to quickly spend it! I am still not sure if there is a punishment for the one delinquent.
The illustration was great and rewarding, maybe I’ll have opportunity to do a repeat in the future with new class members.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
The End of the World
There is a Christian Rock band,called “Hawk Nelson”; a few years ago they came out who a CD called, “Smile, It’s the End of the World” Not many people smile when thinking of the end of the world. It’s a paradox, the end of the world means the coming of Jesus, the end of suffering and sin! All this great controversy a matter for the history books, so to speak. But it also means a time of trouble beyond imagination, the loss of many souls to Satan’s lies, the destruction of people who’ve rejected their only hope in Jesus.
Here in Natitingou, a lot of people don’t think about the end of the world. It is a sobering thought whenever I remember that most of the people around me are lost people. I can’t judge people and I do not their heart, but I can know that many people do not Jesus as their personal Savior, and that means lost. This has been in my mind lately because a sure-fire sign of His coming is upon us, rain. Rain is not in the Bible as a sign, but nasty and weird weather is. The sky is still raining down buckets on regularly occasions here. People in their 50’s and 60’s around here cannot remember any time when rains went passed the month of October. It seems it has forever been rain until the middle of October, no rain for about two weeks, then a final downpour, and then the Heavens are closed until late March. But now it is middle November and still the rains are not letting go. Already crops of sorghum, millet, and beans, are gone, molded and water-soaked. Not a good sign for the coming year, these are staples in our area. People are bewildered, rain go away, come again in March, like you’re supposed to. With my perspective I can be confident because God’s in control, but many others don’t see it so. How does a Muslim see the disasters, what does an animist have to look forward too, how does a Catholic picture Heaven? Questions that make me want more time before the end of the world, to help these people figure it out (and me too at times, for that matter).
P.S. The day after writing this, the winds started, so that means rains are stopped. So the weather still messed us up, but at least this year it may not be too bad.
And about the toilet, it all worked out, the money is enought to cover the cost of a larger choice. I started digging the pit, and low and behold the kids continued to one meter! Great news.
Here in Natitingou, a lot of people don’t think about the end of the world. It is a sobering thought whenever I remember that most of the people around me are lost people. I can’t judge people and I do not their heart, but I can know that many people do not Jesus as their personal Savior, and that means lost. This has been in my mind lately because a sure-fire sign of His coming is upon us, rain. Rain is not in the Bible as a sign, but nasty and weird weather is. The sky is still raining down buckets on regularly occasions here. People in their 50’s and 60’s around here cannot remember any time when rains went passed the month of October. It seems it has forever been rain until the middle of October, no rain for about two weeks, then a final downpour, and then the Heavens are closed until late March. But now it is middle November and still the rains are not letting go. Already crops of sorghum, millet, and beans, are gone, molded and water-soaked. Not a good sign for the coming year, these are staples in our area. People are bewildered, rain go away, come again in March, like you’re supposed to. With my perspective I can be confident because God’s in control, but many others don’t see it so. How does a Muslim see the disasters, what does an animist have to look forward too, how does a Catholic picture Heaven? Questions that make me want more time before the end of the world, to help these people figure it out (and me too at times, for that matter).
P.S. The day after writing this, the winds started, so that means rains are stopped. So the weather still messed us up, but at least this year it may not be too bad.
And about the toilet, it all worked out, the money is enought to cover the cost of a larger choice. I started digging the pit, and low and behold the kids continued to one meter! Great news.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Going Forth: Perspectives
Went to a village on November 10. A friend of mine took me, I was grateful for his help. The particular
village is his mother's home village, and he has an old great-uncle there. I went to do some research.
It is really amazing the timing of our culture study. We have noticed that if we did this even a few years
later we would miss the last generation it seems that really knows the culture in its entirity. With
modernization, urbanization, and the advancement of travel, no one is staying put, families are
no longer together as they used to be, the old traditions are fading away. If the old ways of life
were being replaced by good solid Biblical living, that'd be great, but that is why we are doing
the culture study. The old ways of Satan are just being replaced by new tricks from the same
evil power, but now it is masked in media, shallow love, money, material goods, the disintegration
of every society it seems. Well back to the village, the old man agreed to show all we wanted
but at a price, so I had to pay for it, but I really want the information. Unfortunately other foreign
folk have used photos to sell, and such, so now my reputation also is that I am an exploiter, if
only the people new what the result of their sharing would be. But my friend told me that his uncle
shared much top secret info, so that was good, despite the price tag.
All this study really makes think of people's perspective, to this man, the old secrets are not to
be shared, but if he only knew of He who is more powerful and keeps no spiritual secrets to happiness.
I just finished a meaningful book called "When I Relax I Feel Guilty" The title makes its content
pretty clear. It is from a Christian perspective, there are some good quotes I thought I'd share.
"A real Christian is an odd number, anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen; talks familiarly
every day to Someone he cannot see; expects to go to heaven on the virtue of Another; empties
himselof in order to be full; admits he is wrong so he can be declared right; goes down in order to get up;
is strongest when he is weakes; riches when he is poorest and happiest when he feels the worst. He dies so he can live;
forsakes in order to have; gives away so hea can keep; sees the invisible; hears the inaudible; and knows that
which passeth knowledge." A.W. Tozer (pg 47)
"I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please, not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just
enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine. I don't want enough of Him to make love
a black man or pick beets with a migrant. I want ecstasy, not transformation; I want the warmth of the womb,
not a new birth. I want a pound of the Eternal in a paper sack. I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please."
Wiblur Rees "$3.00 Worth of God" (pg 49)
village is his mother's home village, and he has an old great-uncle there. I went to do some research.
It is really amazing the timing of our culture study. We have noticed that if we did this even a few years
later we would miss the last generation it seems that really knows the culture in its entirity. With
modernization, urbanization, and the advancement of travel, no one is staying put, families are
no longer together as they used to be, the old traditions are fading away. If the old ways of life
were being replaced by good solid Biblical living, that'd be great, but that is why we are doing
the culture study. The old ways of Satan are just being replaced by new tricks from the same
evil power, but now it is masked in media, shallow love, money, material goods, the disintegration
of every society it seems. Well back to the village, the old man agreed to show all we wanted
but at a price, so I had to pay for it, but I really want the information. Unfortunately other foreign
folk have used photos to sell, and such, so now my reputation also is that I am an exploiter, if
only the people new what the result of their sharing would be. But my friend told me that his uncle
shared much top secret info, so that was good, despite the price tag.
All this study really makes think of people's perspective, to this man, the old secrets are not to
be shared, but if he only knew of He who is more powerful and keeps no spiritual secrets to happiness.
I just finished a meaningful book called "When I Relax I Feel Guilty" The title makes its content
pretty clear. It is from a Christian perspective, there are some good quotes I thought I'd share.
"A real Christian is an odd number, anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen; talks familiarly
every day to Someone he cannot see; expects to go to heaven on the virtue of Another; empties
himselof in order to be full; admits he is wrong so he can be declared right; goes down in order to get up;
is strongest when he is weakes; riches when he is poorest and happiest when he feels the worst. He dies so he can live;
forsakes in order to have; gives away so hea can keep; sees the invisible; hears the inaudible; and knows that
which passeth knowledge." A.W. Tozer (pg 47)
"I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please, not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just
enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine. I don't want enough of Him to make love
a black man or pick beets with a migrant. I want ecstasy, not transformation; I want the warmth of the womb,
not a new birth. I want a pound of the Eternal in a paper sack. I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please."
Wiblur Rees "$3.00 Worth of God" (pg 49)
Natitingou X-Games
The X-games are the Olympics of man-powered extreme
sports, so to speak. Skateboarding, bmx biking, rollerblading, and the lot, all things that I have
tried once or twice and decided to do cross-country skiing instead, which
can be extreme when going doing a hill! Here in Natitingou, I have been working
on some new extreme sports to add to the list, some African specialities. Enjoy!
Storm Racing
Usually people talk of Storm Chasing, which was made really popular after the
release of the movie "Twister". But here in Nati I have developed storm racing,
that is trying to get away from story. Given the location of Nati in a valley,
any storm rolls over the hills from any direction and gives me the cyclist enough time
to race home or to the nearest friends house. The bigger the storm,
the bigger the challenge. Only once has rain started as I went home, but I was just coming
up the gate, so escaped in time. And yes all traffic codes are followed, as much as
possible, that is when others don't you have to bend the rules to avoid, well, collisions.
But breakneck speed on a bicycle is not too hazardous, especially when its a blue
city bike.
Mouse Trap
Yes this game, though it may not appear extreme, is a push to the limits of mind
especially. How do catch the confounded mice that live inbetween the beams and
roof of my house. At night I wake up to their gnawing on my exposed potatoes, and
I find their droppings in the most unconvienent places. So there was the small
North American mousetrap, no good. So I upgraded to the African Mouse Catcher
2000, more power, ugh, ugh. But even this smaller version of a bear trap, with teeth
and all is not match for the light mice, who eat off it and leave it unsprung. Next I tried a truce,
loosing points in the game for sure. If you eat only what I put out on a plate for you
and do not climb on my table, you'll be safe, but no go there either. So
unfortunately poison is the next bet, for the mice of course. It is sold on the market,
and is tasteless, and deadly for mice populations, so be it.
Not Mountain Biking
Here is latest in extreme biking, avoiding potholes and large bumps and rivets. While
the traditional mountain biker will try to go into holes, and fly through the air off
of large bumps, with my three speed British Bluester, that can handle holes the size
of a bottlecap (okay I exagerrate), all bumps are avoiding at great cost. It beats
many a video game, navigating the boulder and pothole ridden roads of Nati.
Growing
Recently somone asked me if this experience was a growing one. I replied with a strong yes and the
added comment that sometimes too much growing seems to be happening in my life! My spiritual
skin is being stretched and old stuff is constantly being shedded. And it is extreme, sometimes
hurts like a falling from a bmx at ten feet!
God Trusting
Unfortunately it is more popular today to think that Christianity is a boring experience, but the adventure
is always just beginning. Any normal day never remains that way. The hard part, is putting the package
of each day all in God's hands. My aunt sent me a poignant quote on this recently.
"If you have given yourself to God, to do his work, you have no need to be anxious for tomorrow. He whose
servant you are, knows the end from the beginning." Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing pg 100
That's extreme, giving your life into the hands of someone you've never seen, a leap worth taking.
sports, so to speak. Skateboarding, bmx biking, rollerblading, and the lot, all things that I have
tried once or twice and decided to do cross-country skiing instead, which
can be extreme when going doing a hill! Here in Natitingou, I have been working
on some new extreme sports to add to the list, some African specialities. Enjoy!
Storm Racing
Usually people talk of Storm Chasing, which was made really popular after the
release of the movie "Twister". But here in Nati I have developed storm racing,
that is trying to get away from story. Given the location of Nati in a valley,
any storm rolls over the hills from any direction and gives me the cyclist enough time
to race home or to the nearest friends house. The bigger the storm,
the bigger the challenge. Only once has rain started as I went home, but I was just coming
up the gate, so escaped in time. And yes all traffic codes are followed, as much as
possible, that is when others don't you have to bend the rules to avoid, well, collisions.
But breakneck speed on a bicycle is not too hazardous, especially when its a blue
city bike.
Mouse Trap
Yes this game, though it may not appear extreme, is a push to the limits of mind
especially. How do catch the confounded mice that live inbetween the beams and
roof of my house. At night I wake up to their gnawing on my exposed potatoes, and
I find their droppings in the most unconvienent places. So there was the small
North American mousetrap, no good. So I upgraded to the African Mouse Catcher
2000, more power, ugh, ugh. But even this smaller version of a bear trap, with teeth
and all is not match for the light mice, who eat off it and leave it unsprung. Next I tried a truce,
loosing points in the game for sure. If you eat only what I put out on a plate for you
and do not climb on my table, you'll be safe, but no go there either. So
unfortunately poison is the next bet, for the mice of course. It is sold on the market,
and is tasteless, and deadly for mice populations, so be it.
Not Mountain Biking
Here is latest in extreme biking, avoiding potholes and large bumps and rivets. While
the traditional mountain biker will try to go into holes, and fly through the air off
of large bumps, with my three speed British Bluester, that can handle holes the size
of a bottlecap (okay I exagerrate), all bumps are avoiding at great cost. It beats
many a video game, navigating the boulder and pothole ridden roads of Nati.
Growing
Recently somone asked me if this experience was a growing one. I replied with a strong yes and the
added comment that sometimes too much growing seems to be happening in my life! My spiritual
skin is being stretched and old stuff is constantly being shedded. And it is extreme, sometimes
hurts like a falling from a bmx at ten feet!
God Trusting
Unfortunately it is more popular today to think that Christianity is a boring experience, but the adventure
is always just beginning. Any normal day never remains that way. The hard part, is putting the package
of each day all in God's hands. My aunt sent me a poignant quote on this recently.
"If you have given yourself to God, to do his work, you have no need to be anxious for tomorrow. He whose
servant you are, knows the end from the beginning." Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing pg 100
That's extreme, giving your life into the hands of someone you've never seen, a leap worth taking.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
He Wants Me
Okay my bad, the poem for this entry is on the other computer, so I will add it later. But Praise the Lord our office computer is now working. Here Suzy and I are trying to work step by step blind on our computer because of the screen using her computer as a template, tab then down nine times, then etc, etc. She prayed and somehow we were able to extend the computer screen onto the old monitor!
This first month here, has gone by quickly, full of finding a new house, moving, getting settled in, starting a routine, changing the routine, researching for the project, learning as always, starting pathfinders again! Much excitement. But it has been one of the hardest month since I have been here in Africa. I just felt very discouraged, stressers that had been in place last year, just seem worse, and I just thought I couldn’t handle it all. It has been a struggle to transition to living on my own without my comrade Manny. Though I am very grateful for my church family here and the support of the two missionaries, Uli and Suzy, I am certainly not alone! So I was really questioning, as we all do sometimes, about the decision I made to come back another term and miss another year of college study (who would have thought I could miss study!). Last week on Friday, I found time in the evening to just fall before God. Really pour out, I am learning this all. For most of my life, I have been an intellectual pray-er. Thinking to God, but not talking to Him. And at that moment, I almost didn’t have the words, but I felt the strong desire just to pray. As I knelt for a few minutes, I really felt God speak to my heart. He told me that He really just wanted me. It was simple but what I needed. I have been wanting to give all my work, my activities, offer so much to Him. But what He wants first is me, my life, my heart, all those other things He’ll put into place. It’s not easy to overcome my selfish tendencies, and discouraged attitude, but I can always know the victory was won on Calvary, and He’ll me take part in that victory today! After this praying I wrote this poem. I think it describes best what I have been trying to get across. I hope it blesses you.
"God Wants"
He wants me,
Not my time,
Not my money,
Nor my good deeds,
He wants me.
He doesn't need a missionary,
He doesn't need a pastor,
He doesn't need a one man show,
All He's ever dreamed of having,
Is me, my life, my all.
When in His loving arms I fall,
He's happy to let me know the rest,
What I can give of my time,
What I can sacrifices of my money,
What I do in His loving service.
Once my heart is to Him given,
He's ready to use me fully,
On the high seas of missions,
Into the adventures of pastoring,
Becoming a man reflecting God's glory.
It's so much clearer,
Life and all its challenges,
When I understand how it's me He wants,
Then so much more easily I can see,
That God wants me and you and everyone!
This first month here, has gone by quickly, full of finding a new house, moving, getting settled in, starting a routine, changing the routine, researching for the project, learning as always, starting pathfinders again! Much excitement. But it has been one of the hardest month since I have been here in Africa. I just felt very discouraged, stressers that had been in place last year, just seem worse, and I just thought I couldn’t handle it all. It has been a struggle to transition to living on my own without my comrade Manny. Though I am very grateful for my church family here and the support of the two missionaries, Uli and Suzy, I am certainly not alone! So I was really questioning, as we all do sometimes, about the decision I made to come back another term and miss another year of college study (who would have thought I could miss study!). Last week on Friday, I found time in the evening to just fall before God. Really pour out, I am learning this all. For most of my life, I have been an intellectual pray-er. Thinking to God, but not talking to Him. And at that moment, I almost didn’t have the words, but I felt the strong desire just to pray. As I knelt for a few minutes, I really felt God speak to my heart. He told me that He really just wanted me. It was simple but what I needed. I have been wanting to give all my work, my activities, offer so much to Him. But what He wants first is me, my life, my heart, all those other things He’ll put into place. It’s not easy to overcome my selfish tendencies, and discouraged attitude, but I can always know the victory was won on Calvary, and He’ll me take part in that victory today! After this praying I wrote this poem. I think it describes best what I have been trying to get across. I hope it blesses you.
"God Wants"
He wants me,
Not my time,
Not my money,
Nor my good deeds,
He wants me.
He doesn't need a missionary,
He doesn't need a pastor,
He doesn't need a one man show,
All He's ever dreamed of having,
Is me, my life, my all.
When in His loving arms I fall,
He's happy to let me know the rest,
What I can give of my time,
What I can sacrifices of my money,
What I do in His loving service.
Once my heart is to Him given,
He's ready to use me fully,
On the high seas of missions,
Into the adventures of pastoring,
Becoming a man reflecting God's glory.
It's so much clearer,
Life and all its challenges,
When I understand how it's me He wants,
Then so much more easily I can see,
That God wants me and you and everyone!
Affluence and the missionary
Affluence and Mission
Recently read an article in a mission’s journal Suzy gets once in a while, about the affluence ethic among missionaries, the article actually wasn’t very useful, but it did help me to know that others were dealing with the same issues I am regarding funds. The author mentioned that it was a struggle for him to go to a foreign country expecting to bring spiritual food, and he found himself half the time dealing with physical problems and issues of others. While helping others is something I like to do, I did not really anticipate the amount of stress and time I would be piling into wondering whether to help people out or not.
I had nice lesson in giving at church this past Sabbath. I recently asked a church member who is a single mom with two children to help me on Monday mornings by coming and doing laundry and some cleaning for me. She is out of work and agreed to do so. I pay a little more than the going rate because I know of her need. At church I happening to sit in the same row as her, but across the aisle. I had my tithe for three months stipend in an evenlope to put in the offering plate. I glanced across the aisle and saw the lady wrapping up some coins in paper for tithe too. I didn’t see how much but I was sure it was tithe for what I had given her that week. That small sum was all she received yet she faithfully tithed it. It was a widow with two mites experiences, and although I am glad that I did feel bad because I was showing off my wealth, it did humble me to understand and realize her sacrifice, and how blessed I am to bless others with what I have.
It was good to have that experience because what awaited me would challenge my giving compassion! In the afternoon, I stopped by the house of some friends. They had asked before I left on “furlough” to see if I could find them some money for a building project they wanted to do, a toilet to be exact. I said I would try, and in the end, my grandma gave me some money and I offered them a portion of that upon my return. Well unfortunately, I did communicate properly the exact amount, and they expected more than I had said. Well that misunderstanding aside they still had some a problem with the dimensions of the outhouse I and a friend had proposed. Since I know nothing about toilets I asked a friend to help me with the details, apparently the friends for whom the project was destined did not appreciate this leak of information, they wanted it to be between us, well a lesson learned for the future. In any case, they thought the toilet proposed was too small, they wanted a larger hole, and deeper one too. Now I and my friend had planned a toilet that would use up the money I had to give, and thus be usable, but my friends wanted a bigger toilet, which the money would not be nearly enough to finish the job. I tried to persuade them that it would be better to just build a small one (big enough already for them all), and have it done. No they wanted the big one and even if the money ran out, they’d find a way to get it done. Well it was there toilet, but it was frustrating. It’s hard when beggars become choosers. Surely these friends are not beggars, but still they asked for this, I gave them a gift and they are telling me how I should give it. Some other friends advised that I should be a bit more firm and I went back to tell them, that this was not acceptable to dictate how a gift is given. Then felt that everyone was being unfair, and was against them. They lost their mother a few years ago and thus have had a rough time added with their father who is not very healthy. But now this is growing into a martyr’s complex, they are being persecuted they believe, when I am saying that no one is perfect we all have faults and this is one for them. No one is saying they are bad people.
But the whole situation has definitely brought to me some great lessons. Mainly that it is good to have people participate, my friends have gotten used to getting and not working for what they get. Many foreigners come and feel bad and give handouts, and thus locals think that all white people will do the same. So I am learning to not allow my affluence to get in the way of God’s ministry. I am blessed with much, where I can I help, but I also want to help people be responsible and participate with what they ask for. Harmless as doves and wise as serpents, that’s the theme!
Recently read an article in a mission’s journal Suzy gets once in a while, about the affluence ethic among missionaries, the article actually wasn’t very useful, but it did help me to know that others were dealing with the same issues I am regarding funds. The author mentioned that it was a struggle for him to go to a foreign country expecting to bring spiritual food, and he found himself half the time dealing with physical problems and issues of others. While helping others is something I like to do, I did not really anticipate the amount of stress and time I would be piling into wondering whether to help people out or not.
I had nice lesson in giving at church this past Sabbath. I recently asked a church member who is a single mom with two children to help me on Monday mornings by coming and doing laundry and some cleaning for me. She is out of work and agreed to do so. I pay a little more than the going rate because I know of her need. At church I happening to sit in the same row as her, but across the aisle. I had my tithe for three months stipend in an evenlope to put in the offering plate. I glanced across the aisle and saw the lady wrapping up some coins in paper for tithe too. I didn’t see how much but I was sure it was tithe for what I had given her that week. That small sum was all she received yet she faithfully tithed it. It was a widow with two mites experiences, and although I am glad that I did feel bad because I was showing off my wealth, it did humble me to understand and realize her sacrifice, and how blessed I am to bless others with what I have.
It was good to have that experience because what awaited me would challenge my giving compassion! In the afternoon, I stopped by the house of some friends. They had asked before I left on “furlough” to see if I could find them some money for a building project they wanted to do, a toilet to be exact. I said I would try, and in the end, my grandma gave me some money and I offered them a portion of that upon my return. Well unfortunately, I did communicate properly the exact amount, and they expected more than I had said. Well that misunderstanding aside they still had some a problem with the dimensions of the outhouse I and a friend had proposed. Since I know nothing about toilets I asked a friend to help me with the details, apparently the friends for whom the project was destined did not appreciate this leak of information, they wanted it to be between us, well a lesson learned for the future. In any case, they thought the toilet proposed was too small, they wanted a larger hole, and deeper one too. Now I and my friend had planned a toilet that would use up the money I had to give, and thus be usable, but my friends wanted a bigger toilet, which the money would not be nearly enough to finish the job. I tried to persuade them that it would be better to just build a small one (big enough already for them all), and have it done. No they wanted the big one and even if the money ran out, they’d find a way to get it done. Well it was there toilet, but it was frustrating. It’s hard when beggars become choosers. Surely these friends are not beggars, but still they asked for this, I gave them a gift and they are telling me how I should give it. Some other friends advised that I should be a bit more firm and I went back to tell them, that this was not acceptable to dictate how a gift is given. Then felt that everyone was being unfair, and was against them. They lost their mother a few years ago and thus have had a rough time added with their father who is not very healthy. But now this is growing into a martyr’s complex, they are being persecuted they believe, when I am saying that no one is perfect we all have faults and this is one for them. No one is saying they are bad people.
But the whole situation has definitely brought to me some great lessons. Mainly that it is good to have people participate, my friends have gotten used to getting and not working for what they get. Many foreigners come and feel bad and give handouts, and thus locals think that all white people will do the same. So I am learning to not allow my affluence to get in the way of God’s ministry. I am blessed with much, where I can I help, but I also want to help people be responsible and participate with what they ask for. Harmless as doves and wise as serpents, that’s the theme!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Photos on Flickr
I had some nice entries for this week but the laptop has malfunctioned (pray for it, it is a vital part of the culture study!) and thus did not get the posts off of it. But I was able to put a few more photos on Flickr, here is the link http://www.flickr.com/photos/31454511@N08/
God bless.
God bless.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
