You are a blessing!

Our time in Campbell River is running out and we leave December 28th Victoria, then for Kenya on December 31st. Fortunately (for Howard) Judy is doing all of those things necessary to make sure we are prepared to leave with all the things we will need. Howard is getting even more nervous as to whether he is really prepared to teach younger learners and is re-reading his ESL textbooks. Recently we heard from Philip, (who began and manages the Stars for Jesus Orphanage), who told us how nice the weather is (about 25 – 28 C most of the time), and how nice and green the countryside looks. That’s something to look forward to!

We finished packaging up the English library books that we collected and the last of those just went out. The picture above is of Judy taking one of the packages to the post office for mailing. A number of people have sent parcels of books or school supplies, paid for packages to be sent, or donated to some of the projects we hope to do while we are in Africa. We want you to know how thankful we are for the help. Partners make the trip so much more worthwhile and it would not be near as rewarding if we didn’t have the support of many of you. In so far as your help with our Kenyan kids is concerned, take a few minutes to read Mark 9:36-37, and see the magnitude of your involvement. This is serious stuff! Now we can hardly wait to pick the books up in Africa, build a bookshelf, and get the kids started reading, as well as read to the younger students.

We hope you have a blessed and meaningful time this Christmas, enjoying your family and friends, and considering the gift of life we have been given. We will write to you from Kenya in the New Year.

Recently, I spoke to an acquaintance in passing. "Are you excited about your upcoming trip?", he asked. "Actually, I'm apprehensive, a little scared", I replied. Trying to be well-meaning he said, "Well, that's good. You wouldn't want to be without challenges. Then God would have no room to act". Now there's nothing wrong with being spiritual, but love-work(my new word for mission) has a way of moving a person beyond simple platitudes. "I don't think we will have to worry about a lack of challenges", I said.

The picture above is of a classroom at Stema school, where I am supposed to teach English. I want you put yourself in my (Howard's) shoes for a minute. Imagine you are the teacher. There is no electricity. There may not be a blackboard. If there is, there may not be chalk. There is no chart paper, no overhead projector. There are few books. There are no toys, colored posters and pictures on the walls to encourage the kids, no aids to help illustrate or demonstrate a teaching point. There is no photocopy machine. There are few pencils or pens, no crayonsor felt pens. There is almost nothing of those things we take for granted in North America. Then consider that many of the kids have probably slept on the ground the night before and may not have started off with a much of a breakfast or supper the night before. Yes, I think there will be challenges!

Now this is not meant to be about "poor me". I hope it challenges you to see the issues that this part of the world faces and gives you some idea of how important your help is. We need your prayers, encouragement and practical help if we are going to make much of a difference at Stema. We want you to understand the nature of the task. We covet your partnership and your real involvement. Perhaps these thoughts will help you think how you can continue to be involved. Bless you for your help.

No more small thinking

Well here it is; the first in a series of letters about our upcoming trip to Kenya. By writing in this blog we hope to be able to tell our story, to describe our feelings, experiences and challenges as we prepare and go to Kenya. We want you to feel part of our trip, because we need your involvement and partnership to effect change in this place. As well, this blog will let us tell you stories of Kenyan kids and others we meet who might touch or inspire you. Our hope is that through all of this you might be encouraged to decide on a specific mission work of your own, and thereafter to live with purpose to do the work you choose. Your work might be in Africa, at home or in some other place. The place doesn’t matter. What matters is that we all move from being hearers to doers; that we make this mental exercise we know as Christianity, a matter of action.

Let me start off by telling you a little personal story. I (Howard) think about it when I get discouraged or feel let down, and it helps get me back on track. I hope it challenges you.

Not long ago I was at a bible study, where the participants were asked to choose a word or two to describe themselves. No one had much to say. I had however thought about it. I'd also thought about the Revelation story of the stone with a new name on it. I think my answer surprised the group. "I choose the word 'Courageous' to describe myself", I said. "That is the way I choose to live. I refuse to live at the level of reduced expectations."

My boldness came from thinking about the following quote in Waking the Dead by John Eldredge, who was quoting Nelson Mandela. Mandela said;

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are
powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most
frightens
us. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and
fabulous?” Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of
God. Your playing
small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened
about
shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were
born
to manifest the glory of God that is within us … And as we let our own
light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we
are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates
others."

As Eldredge points out, if living gloriously were a matter of knowing facts and having knowledge we should be the happiest, shiningest, doingest people in the world. Intellectual reasoning has not made us stronger Christians. We have lost the understanding that we can be extraordinary people, taking part in an epic struggle, and instead accepted that Christian living is an exercise in attending church and groups, learning facts, controlling sin, and speaking propositional claims to truth.

We (Judy andI) do feel inadequate most of the time, but we're determined to change that in our lives. Perhaps you want to change too. We hope our stories and writings about our trip to Kenya will help inspire you. We hope you'll comment on what we have to say.You can agree or disagree. (If "blogging" is unfamiliar to you give us a call and we'll get you connected). Perhaps through our conversation we change together and for the better.