Today we went to a costal city with a population of about 200,000. We ate a nice lunch, enjoyed the breeze, and even went into a castle-like wall that is on the coast. The people are friendly and it is just an overall nice city.
There is a major problem. As far as we know, there is no church there. Not one believer. This thought broke my heart today. I live in a country with a church or three on every corner. Not here. How can we feel that we do enough for Christ and look out over a city that does not even have a church to worship Him and bring Him glory?
19 July 2008
18 July 2008
I Feel Like Traveling On
Right now we are traveling through the country. We do not have guaranteed interent access, so this maybe my last post until I get back home. Pray for us as we travel for safety, but also that God will give us a greater burden to see this country reached for Christ. One thing I noticed as we were riding through the countryside is the towers that proclaim the call to prayer 5 times a day. There are only a few farms in one location, but there is a tower there. Everywhere you go you see them. It's just another indication of their spiritual state.
As much as I love the US and want to be back home, I hate to leave. I know I've used this verse many times, but there is much work to be done, and few laborers.
As much as I love the US and want to be back home, I hate to leave. I know I've used this verse many times, but there is much work to be done, and few laborers.
People Are the Same Everywhere
One thing I have learned on this trip is that people are people. Profound, I know. Even though things may be incredibly different here, people are still the same. Kids say "mom" a thousand times until she acknowledges them, women love shoes and bags, men love sports, everyone seeks out friendships, etc. Even though many women here will look very different with their head coverings and all, they are still women who want to look nice and have friends - they are not people to be scared of. In the States, many times we will look from afar and not want to approach to talk or anything. I have learned that these ladies are very nice, and VERY hospitable.
We so often pray for missionaries across the world and the people they are trying to reach with the Gospel. Many times we pray not knowing really how to pray for them so we just pray rather generically. No longer are these people nameless, faceless blurs to pray for: they have faces, names, dreams, hope and desires, and are trying to please the only god they have been taught about. They sincerely believe that Islam is the true religion. I ask you to pray that God will open their eyes to the truth, to wonder what was so different about those Christians who came to teach English this summer, to plant seeds of doubt into their hearts. I have left the city I was in for 5 weeks, but God can still work in their hearts. Pray for Jihane, Asame, Mohommad, Wafa, Miriam*, and many others we were able to speak to. Pray that they will be saved and bring God unusual glory.
*names have been changed
We so often pray for missionaries across the world and the people they are trying to reach with the Gospel. Many times we pray not knowing really how to pray for them so we just pray rather generically. No longer are these people nameless, faceless blurs to pray for: they have faces, names, dreams, hope and desires, and are trying to please the only god they have been taught about. They sincerely believe that Islam is the true religion. I ask you to pray that God will open their eyes to the truth, to wonder what was so different about those Christians who came to teach English this summer, to plant seeds of doubt into their hearts. I have left the city I was in for 5 weeks, but God can still work in their hearts. Pray for Jihane, Asame, Mohommad, Wafa, Miriam*, and many others we were able to speak to. Pray that they will be saved and bring God unusual glory.
*names have been changed
Traveling -Third World Style
We left Wednesday to travel through the rest of the country. The country is beautiful. The major mode of transporation for long distances is train. The trains aren't bad at all - you can get up and move around if you wish, meet lots of new people, and there is even a guy with a beverage and snack cart if you get thirsty or hungry. The worst thing is how hot it gets. The cars are "air conditioned" - it said so on the sign with a pretty little snowflake on it. What that means is there is a tiny bit of air that blows out from below the window. When the natives here are so hot they are fanning themselves, you know it is hot. So far we've had 2 train rides each about 4 hours. We have 1 more long one, and one short one before we leave.
The other thing about going somewhere for 6 weeks is luggage. I'm a self-professed heavy packer. Wow does it get heavy after walking down the street for 10 minutes. The wonderfully amazing guys on our trip lift our suitcases onto the train, into the overhead storage, and even up stairs. I have to give credit where credit is due - they have been a HUGE blessing.
We are in a major tourist area in the country for the next few days. It's very close to the desert and therefore hot. Our hotel is close to the plaza where all the snake charmers, dancers, and fresh squeezed oranged juice booths are. We ate a late dinner on the roof. It was breezy up there, but even the breeze was very warm. We got into our hotel room and looked above the window and there was a beautiful white rectangular box that produces cool air! I think I almost cried. To get back to the hotel and go to bed with the window closed (no mosquitoes!!!) and cool air - it was amazing.
On the spiritual side of things, this is the 3rd city that we have visited here. We again see so many people who live here who do not know Christ. We were supposed to meet with a contact who is the pastor of a church, but our leader could not get in contact with him. This man pastors perhaps the largest evangelical church here we know of - about 30 people. Compared to a bustling city the ratio is not very good. Pray for this pastor and his church. They meet Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night, Friday night, AND Saturday night - wow do I feel lazy! There is a great work to be done - pray that the Lord will send more laborers into His harvest.
The other thing about going somewhere for 6 weeks is luggage. I'm a self-professed heavy packer. Wow does it get heavy after walking down the street for 10 minutes. The wonderfully amazing guys on our trip lift our suitcases onto the train, into the overhead storage, and even up stairs. I have to give credit where credit is due - they have been a HUGE blessing.
We are in a major tourist area in the country for the next few days. It's very close to the desert and therefore hot. Our hotel is close to the plaza where all the snake charmers, dancers, and fresh squeezed oranged juice booths are. We ate a late dinner on the roof. It was breezy up there, but even the breeze was very warm. We got into our hotel room and looked above the window and there was a beautiful white rectangular box that produces cool air! I think I almost cried. To get back to the hotel and go to bed with the window closed (no mosquitoes!!!) and cool air - it was amazing.
On the spiritual side of things, this is the 3rd city that we have visited here. We again see so many people who live here who do not know Christ. We were supposed to meet with a contact who is the pastor of a church, but our leader could not get in contact with him. This man pastors perhaps the largest evangelical church here we know of - about 30 people. Compared to a bustling city the ratio is not very good. Pray for this pastor and his church. They meet Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night, Friday night, AND Saturday night - wow do I feel lazy! There is a great work to be done - pray that the Lord will send more laborers into His harvest.
14 July 2008
Eating Food That Looks Back At You
I have a confession. I am truly, utterly, an American. When I eat meat, it looks nothing like the animal it used to be. I go to the store and buy it in nice and neat packages, and most of the time, the bones are even taken out! What a priviledged life I have led!
Well Friday we took a trip to the beach with three sisters. They brought everything we would need for a nice, typically native lunch. They even brought a small gas tank so we could have hot tea and cook the food! We sat down at the table and uncovered the food. Through the steam eyes began to appear; not of the people sitting around the table, but eyes of the fish that had been cooked! There were many whole fish sitting atop vegetables. I have no problem eating meat, but when it's staring back at you - that's unnerving!
The only other thing was that even though I was careful not to eat the bones, it was still crunchy. Maybe it was because I was eating skins, scales, and all. Other than that, it tasted good. Afterwards we had watermelon, so it helped to replace the memory of picking off the sides of helpless fish to eat.
I guess I have just had a very sheltered life, never having to look into the eyes of something I eat. It's just something I'll have to learn to deal with.
Well Friday we took a trip to the beach with three sisters. They brought everything we would need for a nice, typically native lunch. They even brought a small gas tank so we could have hot tea and cook the food! We sat down at the table and uncovered the food. Through the steam eyes began to appear; not of the people sitting around the table, but eyes of the fish that had been cooked! There were many whole fish sitting atop vegetables. I have no problem eating meat, but when it's staring back at you - that's unnerving!
The only other thing was that even though I was careful not to eat the bones, it was still crunchy. Maybe it was because I was eating skins, scales, and all. Other than that, it tasted good. Afterwards we had watermelon, so it helped to replace the memory of picking off the sides of helpless fish to eat.
I guess I have just had a very sheltered life, never having to look into the eyes of something I eat. It's just something I'll have to learn to deal with.
10 July 2008
Worship in North Africa
I have had the opportunity to attend 2 different churches here in North Africa. They are not "traditional" churches in the least. They are house churches. People do not come to the churches here to be seen, or heard, or to look pious. They come because they love the Lord. While the singing goes on, many people close their eyes. They are singing to their Lord and Savior. I just got this overall impression of true worship. They don't care what they sound like or who is listening.
Many of the natives here give up much when they become Christians, of course come do not, it just depends. One lady I was sitting next to spoke English. She was actually visiting her family here, because she lives in Canada now and her 27 year old son was visiting with her. She appologized to us because she was wearing a sleeveless dress. She told her parents she and her son were going to the beach and did not tell them she was going to church. She had to sneak out of her parents house to go to church. She did not do it for glory; she did it for love for God.
People worship here because they love the Lord. They do not expect any glory from singing well; they sing from their heart. Never before have I had the chance to see people who possibly gave up so much sing to the Lord.
Many of the natives here give up much when they become Christians, of course come do not, it just depends. One lady I was sitting next to spoke English. She was actually visiting her family here, because she lives in Canada now and her 27 year old son was visiting with her. She appologized to us because she was wearing a sleeveless dress. She told her parents she and her son were going to the beach and did not tell them she was going to church. She had to sneak out of her parents house to go to church. She did not do it for glory; she did it for love for God.
People worship here because they love the Lord. They do not expect any glory from singing well; they sing from their heart. Never before have I had the chance to see people who possibly gave up so much sing to the Lord.
09 July 2008
Super Spiritual...or not
As a fellow intern said, sometimes we think that just because we're on the mission field and doing "missionary work" we become this super spiritual person. Well...it doesn't. Never before have I truly seen the need for a strong walk with the Lord. It's funny, but living here, in the States, or whichever continent you choose, it's still a battle just to do the simple things. The difference is that here we are so busy doing missionary work, sometimes it's easy to neglect the one thing I need most, spiritual food and drink. Isn't it funny that the easiest thing to do can also be the hardest? It's not hard to read your Bible everyday, but it is difficult to set aside that time dedicated to the Lord and nothing and no one else. Going to the mission field does not make you a "super spiritual" person. No matter where you live you still have your ups and downs. God has shown me a lot of areas I need to work on: having a strong walk with the Lord is number one.
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