When we forget the battle [audio blog]
Thoughts on the battle we’re in, and what happens when we forget about it…
Jim
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Update – Katrina and Dallas
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Here’s some more about the aftermath of Katrina.
I heard from one of our CAM missionaries in Dallas today. Dallas is where our mission headquarters is. There are now over 25,000 people in Dallas, staying in shelters. That number is expected to grow to 4 times that number over the weekend. There are 10 times that number in Texas already.
Of course churches are pitching in to help the people who need clothes and other basics. CAM missionaries are now focusing on how to help the Latins in the areas that were hit. Be sure to read my last post to find out how you can help, or visit this page at the CAM website.
The CAM family and the hurricane….
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Our thoughts and prayers have been with those in the USA who are dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It’s always hard to know what to write about these things, and hard to write about anything else. However, I got a message from CAM International today, and wanted to pass it on.
The good news is that those from CAM and related organization FAM in that area were able to move to safe locations in time, and everyone is safe. However, as you can imagine, there are people’s homes and churches that have been devestated.
Now, CAM has set up a page where you can make donations to help flood victims. I’ll give you a link to the page, which has an official statement, at the bottom of this entry.
During the next few days, a team sent by CAM will be gathering information so that we can understand how to best help those who have been hit hard by this disaster. I’ll get back to you when we hear back from Pat and the team.
We realize that you have requests coming from all directions right now, asking you to give. There are many great ways you can help, but I do encourage you to take a few moments to visit the page below, and give a little right now. I’ll do my best to let you know what your gift and prayers accomplish. Then we can see more than just the hurricane sky and people on the news – we can see people we ourselves were able to lend a hand to.
What’s with all the doctor’s visits??
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If you’ve been looking at all at our Yahoo! calendar, you’ve seen a dizzying number of doctor’s appointments. So what’s up with that, you may ask?
For example, yesterday I was in 3 doctor’s offices, and one medical lab. I left the medical lab and went right home. Why? Because Shari needed the van in order to go to her doctor’s appointment.
Next week, we already have 6 appointments, one of which I will have to reschedule. Crazy. So what’s up?
Well, first of all you need to understand my penchant for generalization. These aren’t just family doctors. We’re talking dentists, chiropractors, optometrists, and so on. Sometimes I just call them all doctors.
The other treatment is covered (well, except for $1 per visit. Go figure), but the jury is still out on how effective it will be.
So that gives you an idea why we’re burning up the roads going all over town to various medical facilities. It’s a temporary state of affairs (I hope!) – not particularly fun, but needed. Ok, I have to admit, Hannah is rather looking forward to going to the dentist next week… 😀
The Pan de Vida Team
Yesterday I took a drive down to University Drive Alliance Church to hear a presentation by their Mexico team. Here’s the story – a few days after our team left Pan de Vida, the orphanage near Querétaro, they arrived. A team of 26, they were able to complete a large amount of construction, and also run a vacation Bible school for the kids (about 80-100 of them). The picture above is of the boys’ dorm at the orphanage.
Now, I have to admit, it was absolutely a joy and a delight to hear about what God had done, and to see pictures of what they had accomplished. I was able to talk to a few of the team members, and I wish I could have talked to more. (Actually, if any of you are reading this, please give me a call and we’ll go out for a manzana. Oh yes, I know where to get them. I have connections…) It sounds like it was a great team – ready to serve, excited to see what God would do.
Of course it was wonderful to hear about Mexico and see the pictures, but also painful. Painful because I had to leave it behind, and I’m not there now! But in the mean time, it’s always great to hear from someone who’s been there.
Recently some black top was put down in the loading zone behind our local grocery store. Our living room window faces that direction, and on Saturday night I was watching while a group of skateboarders took advantage of the new surface. This may be a rare event, because I imagine the owners won’t want the back of their store to become a local hangout. However, I was tempted to go out and watch, since I do love skateboarding. But, the dishes were important too, so I kept drying them.
I got thinking about how great opportunities like this come up every day. Opportunities to get together with people who have a common interest. That’s really a big part of church planting, and missions in general.
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I was reminded of this again last night, when someone was sharing. They were talking about one
guy on the team who loved skateboarding so much he had dragged his board all the way to Mexico. Everyone thought it was pretty crazy. But then they saw this guy giving rides to the kids in Mexico, and they saw the joy on the kids’ faces, and they realized it was all worthwhile.
What do you enjoy doing? A hobby, a passion, a sport? It just may be that God can use that in ways you never imagined. It’s great to see people connecting with other cultures in creative ways. When they see the joy and love that Jesus can bring through it all, they’re changed and excited and ready for more. What a great God we serve!
What we’re reading these days
Shari was sitting on the floor with Hannah and Nathanael, reading to them. For kids that usually can’t sit still for more than 3-4 seconds, they were unusually quiet. Of course, they’ve both always enjoyed reading.
Shari was reading a book that was quite popular at the preschool where she used to work. It was written by a lady from Winnipeg and illustrated by a man from Bellville Ontario. It’s called Too Many Chickens. So if you’d like to read what the cool kids read, check it out:
As for me, I’m still working my way through some books I’ve been working on for months. Some books like to be read slowly, to give them time to absorb. Others like to be read through quickly.
One book I’m really enjoying is Crisis and Hope in Latin America, which is a sweeping survey of religion, politics and culture in Latin America from an evangelical perspective.
I’m also reading The Silmarillion
Here’s a tip from Nathanael – he really enjoyed The World God Made, by Alyce Bergey.
So there you go. That’s some of what we’re reading these days.