“You have eight days to raise $379 a month,” mom said last Sunday, August 15.
“Don't say that!” I growled, pulling my hair. “That just makes me feel even more stressed out!”
“Oh no, that means that she is going to go back to work again. You are going to overwork yourself. That's what they're going to put on your tombstone- DEAD FROM OVERWORK,” my brothers said. “That might not be too bad, though. It would be a lot quieter around here without you around.”
Etc., Etc.
So that is a little picture of me and my family around my house recently.
Yes, I have been told that August 31st is my deadline to raise 100% of my funds to do the missionary work. Or else I will not be allowed to leave. You can imagine this is a tad bit stressful. However, I have prayed to put this all in God's hands. Like one of the pastors said on the radio... “God will not say, 'Well done my successful servant. Oh no. Our success or failure is in the hands of God. Our duty is to be faithful.' ” Hopefully I will be granted another extension so I can continue to attempt to raise funds... however that has not been decided yet.
I look back over the past two years that I have spent attempting to raise funds for missionary work, and I am so thankful for my journey thus far... regardless of my ultimate success or failure.
I have been trying to help another missionary friend to help a little kid in Guyana (South America) receive some free skin grafts after a terrible burn he suffered when he was only two years old. By divine appointment I ran into a woman from Detroit here in Grand Rapids whose daughter is a nurse in a burn unit. After years of searching, we may have found success praise God as this nurse may know a doctor in Detroit willing to help! What a blessing!
I have helped to inspire at least one young lady from France that I know of to become a missionary.
I was also very thankful to speak to about 100 or 150 college students one-on-one at URBANA '09 in St. Louis about missions work. Who knows if someone I spoke to may later decide to become a missionary or do some other great work for God? That is way cool exciting.
Adventures with God may send you up, down, all around, and you may have no idea where you are heading next. Still, they are never boring! I can't wait to see what the good Lord has me to do next.
More to share later on today. Right now I have to hurry off to my part-time job/volunteer work to help a young lady from Uganda with two thrift stores...
Monday, August 30, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Tears on Tuesday
I would still like to write about 'What this missionary eats,” however I'll have to postpone that for later.
This whole week there is an AME (African Methodist Episcopal) Conference in town, and I went to the Tuesday 7PM Missionary Society Meeting. I was so moved by the speakers that night I really want to share part of that experience with you.
Nearly everyone was dressed in white to symbolize holiness except for me. I was wearing yellow and green (my favorite suit) and felt nervous and out of place. The inspiring speakers quickly made me forget my discomfort at not color- matching everyone.
One speaker prayed over us near the beginning and said, “It is time for us to put away any negative sayings. No more 'I CAN'T.' No more 'I WON'T. Or “I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCSE TO DO THAT.' No. We have to put all that away.” As she prayed I felt the Lord was hitting me on the head, and telling me to rest in him. To stop looking at the number of the Amalekites (the people and conditions that are against me) and to lift my eyes to the hills (where the Lord has his holy forces waiting to grant the victory).
I believe it was Sister Carolyn Graves who went up and began to speak about the book The Color Purple by Alice Walker. She said Celie talked about her father told her “You poor, you black, and you ugly.” Celie in response wrote, “It's true that I'm poor, I'm black, and I may be ugly. And I can't cook. But I'm here!”
That caused tears to come to my eyes surprisingly quickly. I tried to blink them and wipe them away, but they continued to flow.
When I walk into a church, I can tell many people reject me on sight before I say a word. I've seen a pastor jerk away from me when his eyes fell on me and he noticed that there was one African-American person in his church. I know there are people who refuse to accept that I could possibly be a missionary because they have never seen someone who is a black and who is called to be a missionary.
I even had someone I consider a friend nearly laugh in my face when I tried to speak about how I intend to go overseas and translate Bible Stories for people who do not yet have the Scriptures in their own heart language. I believe that person cannot imagine someone poor like me, plain-spoken, and from a rather modest household could possibly have rocksolid faith to do something that big for God. How could I be the chosen one?
Well, I trust God. I know I am not a big somebody. I'm just a little someone. That's OK. I don't have to be awesome. God is awesome.
Sister Graves also told a wonderful story about a mule who fell down a minister's well which was only halfway dug out. The donkey tried to climb out, but there were men up above who kept throwing shovelfuls of dirt on his back.
The mule began to speak to himself to encourage himself to keep moving: “Shake it off, and step on up.” He shook off the dirt and put one hoof in front of the other, until slowly he made his way out of that deep hole.
It's the same thing with us.
Whenever you try to do a great work for God, there will be people all around you who will tell you to quit, stop, and go back. Don't pay no mind to what those people tell you. Some of them are just jealous. Don't sit with them. Don't reflect back on what they say. Just shake it off, and step on up. Little by little, you will eventually reach your goal.
SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP ON UP!!!
Hope this encourages you, wherever you are and whatever it is that you are facing on this day.
Yours truly has almost completely raised the funds that I need to go overseas to Guinea-Bissau for 2 – 3 years to translate the Bible. Right now, I am only short $376.55 a month. Is there anyone out there who can make some financial contribution and to reach this goal? My organization is telling me that unless I raise this money by the end of the month I cannot leave. If the Lord is calling you to be part of my financial team, please contact me! Blessings to you.
This whole week there is an AME (African Methodist Episcopal) Conference in town, and I went to the Tuesday 7PM Missionary Society Meeting. I was so moved by the speakers that night I really want to share part of that experience with you.
Nearly everyone was dressed in white to symbolize holiness except for me. I was wearing yellow and green (my favorite suit) and felt nervous and out of place. The inspiring speakers quickly made me forget my discomfort at not color- matching everyone.
One speaker prayed over us near the beginning and said, “It is time for us to put away any negative sayings. No more 'I CAN'T.' No more 'I WON'T. Or “I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCSE TO DO THAT.' No. We have to put all that away.” As she prayed I felt the Lord was hitting me on the head, and telling me to rest in him. To stop looking at the number of the Amalekites (the people and conditions that are against me) and to lift my eyes to the hills (where the Lord has his holy forces waiting to grant the victory).
I believe it was Sister Carolyn Graves who went up and began to speak about the book The Color Purple by Alice Walker. She said Celie talked about her father told her “You poor, you black, and you ugly.” Celie in response wrote, “It's true that I'm poor, I'm black, and I may be ugly. And I can't cook. But I'm here!”
That caused tears to come to my eyes surprisingly quickly. I tried to blink them and wipe them away, but they continued to flow.
When I walk into a church, I can tell many people reject me on sight before I say a word. I've seen a pastor jerk away from me when his eyes fell on me and he noticed that there was one African-American person in his church. I know there are people who refuse to accept that I could possibly be a missionary because they have never seen someone who is a black and who is called to be a missionary.
I even had someone I consider a friend nearly laugh in my face when I tried to speak about how I intend to go overseas and translate Bible Stories for people who do not yet have the Scriptures in their own heart language. I believe that person cannot imagine someone poor like me, plain-spoken, and from a rather modest household could possibly have rocksolid faith to do something that big for God. How could I be the chosen one?
Well, I trust God. I know I am not a big somebody. I'm just a little someone. That's OK. I don't have to be awesome. God is awesome.
Sister Graves also told a wonderful story about a mule who fell down a minister's well which was only halfway dug out. The donkey tried to climb out, but there were men up above who kept throwing shovelfuls of dirt on his back.
The mule began to speak to himself to encourage himself to keep moving: “Shake it off, and step on up.” He shook off the dirt and put one hoof in front of the other, until slowly he made his way out of that deep hole.
It's the same thing with us.
Whenever you try to do a great work for God, there will be people all around you who will tell you to quit, stop, and go back. Don't pay no mind to what those people tell you. Some of them are just jealous. Don't sit with them. Don't reflect back on what they say. Just shake it off, and step on up. Little by little, you will eventually reach your goal.
SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP ON UP!!!
Hope this encourages you, wherever you are and whatever it is that you are facing on this day.
Yours truly has almost completely raised the funds that I need to go overseas to Guinea-Bissau for 2 – 3 years to translate the Bible. Right now, I am only short $376.55 a month. Is there anyone out there who can make some financial contribution and to reach this goal? My organization is telling me that unless I raise this money by the end of the month I cannot leave. If the Lord is calling you to be part of my financial team, please contact me! Blessings to you.
Monday, August 16, 2010
My trip to Egypt (to do missions work, of course...)
Hello to Partners along this journey,
Every day this week I plan to have a new update! There is just so much to say about what I have been blessed to be able to do recently. I am just back from Detroit, where I helped feed about 300 families as part of a very blessed “Food 4 Families” project with a church there that I will be excited to share with you all in detail soon.
First though, I want to talk about something that happened a little earlier: I volunteered for a week at a local VBS which was run by First Community AME here in Grand Rapids (known as FAME for short).
The Bible story we learned about was Joseph: From Prison to Palace (http://egypt.group.com/). We had a virtual 'trip to Egypt' which allowed me to have fun by wearing my authentic African dresses every night. YAY~!
It really was a joy to work with the kids and also very good preparation for overseas missions work. And what is the best preparation to do missions work, you may ask. Well, the answer is simple: teaching! Sharing the gospel with others really involves all of the teaching skills at the basic level.
I originally thought I was only going to be helping the children at VBS do a craft where they wrote their name in hieroglyphics. Oh no, the church leadership challenged me instead and asked me to be a 'family leader' of about 10 kids for the entire time. I was happy that they had confidence that I could do a good job of the role, however at the same time I found myself thinking... it has been a while since I taught in a classroom, can I still do a good job of it all?
For the week, we learned about the story of Joseph. The very first day, after everyone wrote their name on a nametag and introduced themselves, I held up the Bible to show that this story of Joseph comes from the book of Genesis.
Immediately, one young boy about 6 or 7 said in a loud voice, “I don't like the Bible!”
My mouth just fell open. I never imagined that someone might say or think such a thing. Someone in in high school said to my face “The only people who believe in Christianity are unintelligent and ignorant,” and I thought at the time that was just the absolute worst thing but I had never imagined someone might dismiss the Bible simply because they thought they did not like it, or even hated it?
The boy went on. “My mom and dad don't read that book,” he said proudly. “It's too long. I don't see how anybody could read it all anyways!” He crossed his arms, as if he dared me to say something different.
While I was still thinking of something to say, the beautiful young teenage girl who was assisting my group was very offended. “Look- If you aren't going to cooperate- if you don't want to be here, then you can just go home!”
The boy scratched the back of his neck and looked down at the ground, perhaps a bit embarrassed. O felt like everyone in the group was staring at me, expecting me to say something.
First I turned to my assistant, touching her lightly on the arm. “He's just saying that because he is young and doesn't know anything about the Bible. That's why he's here. We have to help him.” I also couldn't help thinking sadly that he must have heard his mother or father say something similar about the Bible to say something bad about it with so much confidence.
There was a lot of things I could have said. It is just so ironic that the boy himself did not realize his own name (Isaiah, although it was spelled different than the standard way) came out of the Bible! I could have mentioned that. Like my mother suggested afterward, I could have said with a grin “Now come on. What did the Bible ever do to you to make you not like it?” Perhaps I could have said “Don't you realize that this is Vacation BIBLE School. What we do here is learn about the Bible?”
I decided to not make a big deal out of what he said. I knew from past experience that if I said too much to correct him in front of the other kids, they might tease him and treat him like an outsider. After all, nearly all of the other kids were both older and also attended church regularly. They understood that you should respect the Bible, although they themselves might not understand all of the reasons why. I wanted to preserve the family feeling of the group.
I turned to Isaiah. “Well, this week we'll be learning about Joseph. That is a really good story that comes out of the Bible. And there are many other very good stories in the Bible too that can teach us about all sorts of things. I like the Bible! I think you will, too, if you keep learning more about it.”
Then I simply continued with the lesson. I think my teenage helper got upset with the little boy or with me because of what happened, though. After that day, she didn't come back to help me. That's OK. I ended up getting another young man in the church to help our family group out.
As for little Isaiah... he is not from around here. Seems like his grandmother drove him and his cousins to church for this VBS. I am so thankful for her witness, because perhaps his parents are not being the witness that they should be to him, if they are Christian themselves.
Isaiah enjoyed the VBS. He walked around with the Egyptian collar, Egyptian hieroglyphic nametag, and headband he made very proudly. At the end of our first day together, I was surprised when he actually pulled out a Bible and looked at it as though it might be interesting. At the end of the third day, he went even farther. He opened it and turned the pages with a thoughtful look on his face. I'm sure he was wondering why everyone else kept telling him that it is an important book.
Unfortunately, he only came the first three days. I was planning to buy him a Children's Bible and give it to him on the last day, but since he never came back afterwards I never got a chance to do that. I was disappointed that I couldn't share more with him about God, about life, about wisdom, about hey everything! However, I have to remind myself that missions work is often like that. We simply plant the seeds, and we must move on before seeing the results. We only have to trust God that he will grant the increase.
At work today, a song came on the radio which said 'Life goes on, even though the thrill of living is long gone.' Hah. If you find yourself losing a sense of the excitement and mystery of life, then volunteer and do some quiet work to help others in the Lord's name. You will find that you too are blessed more than you could have ever imagined.
Galatians 6:9 (New International Version)
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
Next blog: What this Missionary Eats (you WILL be surprised)
Every day this week I plan to have a new update! There is just so much to say about what I have been blessed to be able to do recently. I am just back from Detroit, where I helped feed about 300 families as part of a very blessed “Food 4 Families” project with a church there that I will be excited to share with you all in detail soon.
First though, I want to talk about something that happened a little earlier: I volunteered for a week at a local VBS which was run by First Community AME here in Grand Rapids (known as FAME for short).
The Bible story we learned about was Joseph: From Prison to Palace (http://egypt.group.com/). We had a virtual 'trip to Egypt' which allowed me to have fun by wearing my authentic African dresses every night. YAY~!
It really was a joy to work with the kids and also very good preparation for overseas missions work. And what is the best preparation to do missions work, you may ask. Well, the answer is simple: teaching! Sharing the gospel with others really involves all of the teaching skills at the basic level.
I originally thought I was only going to be helping the children at VBS do a craft where they wrote their name in hieroglyphics. Oh no, the church leadership challenged me instead and asked me to be a 'family leader' of about 10 kids for the entire time. I was happy that they had confidence that I could do a good job of the role, however at the same time I found myself thinking... it has been a while since I taught in a classroom, can I still do a good job of it all?
For the week, we learned about the story of Joseph. The very first day, after everyone wrote their name on a nametag and introduced themselves, I held up the Bible to show that this story of Joseph comes from the book of Genesis.
Immediately, one young boy about 6 or 7 said in a loud voice, “I don't like the Bible!”
My mouth just fell open. I never imagined that someone might say or think such a thing. Someone in in high school said to my face “The only people who believe in Christianity are unintelligent and ignorant,” and I thought at the time that was just the absolute worst thing but I had never imagined someone might dismiss the Bible simply because they thought they did not like it, or even hated it?
The boy went on. “My mom and dad don't read that book,” he said proudly. “It's too long. I don't see how anybody could read it all anyways!” He crossed his arms, as if he dared me to say something different.
While I was still thinking of something to say, the beautiful young teenage girl who was assisting my group was very offended. “Look- If you aren't going to cooperate- if you don't want to be here, then you can just go home!”
The boy scratched the back of his neck and looked down at the ground, perhaps a bit embarrassed. O felt like everyone in the group was staring at me, expecting me to say something.
First I turned to my assistant, touching her lightly on the arm. “He's just saying that because he is young and doesn't know anything about the Bible. That's why he's here. We have to help him.” I also couldn't help thinking sadly that he must have heard his mother or father say something similar about the Bible to say something bad about it with so much confidence.
There was a lot of things I could have said. It is just so ironic that the boy himself did not realize his own name (Isaiah, although it was spelled different than the standard way) came out of the Bible! I could have mentioned that. Like my mother suggested afterward, I could have said with a grin “Now come on. What did the Bible ever do to you to make you not like it?” Perhaps I could have said “Don't you realize that this is Vacation BIBLE School. What we do here is learn about the Bible?”
I decided to not make a big deal out of what he said. I knew from past experience that if I said too much to correct him in front of the other kids, they might tease him and treat him like an outsider. After all, nearly all of the other kids were both older and also attended church regularly. They understood that you should respect the Bible, although they themselves might not understand all of the reasons why. I wanted to preserve the family feeling of the group.
I turned to Isaiah. “Well, this week we'll be learning about Joseph. That is a really good story that comes out of the Bible. And there are many other very good stories in the Bible too that can teach us about all sorts of things. I like the Bible! I think you will, too, if you keep learning more about it.”
Then I simply continued with the lesson. I think my teenage helper got upset with the little boy or with me because of what happened, though. After that day, she didn't come back to help me. That's OK. I ended up getting another young man in the church to help our family group out.
As for little Isaiah... he is not from around here. Seems like his grandmother drove him and his cousins to church for this VBS. I am so thankful for her witness, because perhaps his parents are not being the witness that they should be to him, if they are Christian themselves.
Isaiah enjoyed the VBS. He walked around with the Egyptian collar, Egyptian hieroglyphic nametag, and headband he made very proudly. At the end of our first day together, I was surprised when he actually pulled out a Bible and looked at it as though it might be interesting. At the end of the third day, he went even farther. He opened it and turned the pages with a thoughtful look on his face. I'm sure he was wondering why everyone else kept telling him that it is an important book.
Unfortunately, he only came the first three days. I was planning to buy him a Children's Bible and give it to him on the last day, but since he never came back afterwards I never got a chance to do that. I was disappointed that I couldn't share more with him about God, about life, about wisdom, about hey everything! However, I have to remind myself that missions work is often like that. We simply plant the seeds, and we must move on before seeing the results. We only have to trust God that he will grant the increase.
At work today, a song came on the radio which said 'Life goes on, even though the thrill of living is long gone.' Hah. If you find yourself losing a sense of the excitement and mystery of life, then volunteer and do some quiet work to help others in the Lord's name. You will find that you too are blessed more than you could have ever imagined.
Galatians 6:9 (New International Version)
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
Next blog: What this Missionary Eats (you WILL be surprised)
Monday, August 9, 2010
Missionary on a Bus
Currently I am over halfway towards raising my support! That is so exciting after two years of hard labor!!! I'm scheduled to leave January 2011 for Guinea-Bissau. However, I am under a lot of stress right now as I need to raise the rest of the financial support by the end of this month or else I cannot go. Like my mom says, leave it in the Lord's hands, though. Do your best, and let God do the rest.
Actually, I am a missionary right now. Like one of my spiritual mentors Pastor Leo (of CityFellowship Church in New York) says, “Really, all Christians are called to be missionaries, because everywhere you go you have a purpose for being there and a responsibility to share God's word with those around you, whoever they are.” He is full of nugget-sized bites of wisdom like that.
So here is a page from the 'Everyday Missionary' Handbook:
Saturday morning I was riding the bus. I had to ride the bus to complete my latest newsletter. You see, I have a computer at home, but the scanner was not working so I had to go to Fed Ex Kinko's downtown to use their scanner.
I was muttering something to myself as I was trying to edit the text of my newsletter on my lap as the bus lurched through town. I'm sure I was saying something like, “How did so many typos and spelling errors appear on this paper? I don't remember putting them there.”
Across from me two beautiful ladies sat down. They were both blonde, petite, and tall enough to be models. I noticed the young woman directly across from me with the gigantic mirror sunglasses had what looked like a Wiccan or Anarchy symbol around her neck. It was handmade, of wood and string. She had obviously spent a lot of time creating it.
I put down my missionary newsletter, and blinked very hard for a couple of minutes. I felt like I should say something to her, although at the same time I hesitated to do so. Wasn't she the type of popular girl who had been a bully to me early in life and beat me up (kicks, punches) in elementary school, wouldn't speak to me in high school, and refused to acknowledge my existence in college?
I suppose even now a part of me will always be a bit nervous to approach someone who reminds me of those unpleasant ugly duckling times in my life. I had to force myself to speak loudly enough to be heard. “Um, hello. Uh, what is that around your neck? I don't think I've ever seen that before.”
Unconsciously, I grabbed the small jade cross around my neck and held it up. I realized as I did this that I have perhaps never been so happy to wear a cross. I mean, it is yes just a symbol but it can be a very powerful one in situations like this. Silent witness.
The young lady sniffed at me as though everyone ought to know what it was. “It's a DREAMCATCHER. I made it myself.”
“Oh.” I said. “It really looks a lot like a star, for witchcraft. Or that anarchy symbol thingy. That's what I thought it was.” I kept thinking, why do I have to sound so stupid?
“NO, it's NOT,” said the young girl.
“Well, I just want you to know that a lot of people who see that would mistake it for something else.”
Not at all what I wanted to say, actually... that was a bit of a wimp-out.
“I didn't realize anybody might think that. It's not,” said the girl. “Just not,” she repeated, a little softer. Her friend stared at me with her mouth mainly open.
We rode in silence for about another ten minutes before my bus stop came up. I wondered if the young lady with the necklace was really telling me the truth. It looked like a clearly pagan symbol, not at all like the dreamcatchers I had seen before. Was she secretly playing with witchcraft or was she truly clueless about the powerful meaning of the symbol she wore so confidently? Maybe she just didn't realize the danger of toying with such things.
As I stood, I glanced over my should at the two young ladies again. “Hope you enjoy the rest of your day.” I said. I looked at the young lady with the sunglasses and the necklace again. “God bless you,” I said, slowly with calm power.
In response, she flashed a cold and fake smile, then shrugged her shoulders as if to say, 'go on, get out of here you crazy lady.' Well, maybe I am a bit crazy, but not in the way that she means. I love Jesus and I'm not afraid to be a Jesus freak.
I began to sing as I swung my arms and legs into action down the street. I really felt like our meeting was not by chance, there was a significance to it all. Why did she and her friend choose to sit near me in the front when they got on the bus? Why did I look up from my paper when I could have just kept my head buried in my notes the entire time ? I can't say whether I was successful or not, but I at least did plant a little seed in her heart. Sometimes people are not ready to receive a big truth in their lives yet. Also, sometimes people begin to walk with the dark side through small things that seem innocent at first.
I prayed for the two women as I walked to my destination. At the very least, it was an important reminder that some of the people who God places in my path – even here (in a part of the country perhaps a bit too addicted to not Christianity but empty ritualism of “Church”-ianity ) in West Michigan- do not know the Lord. We must never forget those who do not know the sweetness of our Jesus. Let's always remember those who have never had a chance to hear.
Let's Pray, send, or go to fulfill the Great Commission!!! The only other option is to be disobedient to the words of Jesus, when he told us, “Go ye therefore to EVERY NATION...”
Actually, I am a missionary right now. Like one of my spiritual mentors Pastor Leo (of CityFellowship Church in New York) says, “Really, all Christians are called to be missionaries, because everywhere you go you have a purpose for being there and a responsibility to share God's word with those around you, whoever they are.” He is full of nugget-sized bites of wisdom like that.
So here is a page from the 'Everyday Missionary' Handbook:
Saturday morning I was riding the bus. I had to ride the bus to complete my latest newsletter. You see, I have a computer at home, but the scanner was not working so I had to go to Fed Ex Kinko's downtown to use their scanner.
I was muttering something to myself as I was trying to edit the text of my newsletter on my lap as the bus lurched through town. I'm sure I was saying something like, “How did so many typos and spelling errors appear on this paper? I don't remember putting them there.”
Across from me two beautiful ladies sat down. They were both blonde, petite, and tall enough to be models. I noticed the young woman directly across from me with the gigantic mirror sunglasses had what looked like a Wiccan or Anarchy symbol around her neck. It was handmade, of wood and string. She had obviously spent a lot of time creating it.
I put down my missionary newsletter, and blinked very hard for a couple of minutes. I felt like I should say something to her, although at the same time I hesitated to do so. Wasn't she the type of popular girl who had been a bully to me early in life and beat me up (kicks, punches) in elementary school, wouldn't speak to me in high school, and refused to acknowledge my existence in college?
I suppose even now a part of me will always be a bit nervous to approach someone who reminds me of those unpleasant ugly duckling times in my life. I had to force myself to speak loudly enough to be heard. “Um, hello. Uh, what is that around your neck? I don't think I've ever seen that before.”
Unconsciously, I grabbed the small jade cross around my neck and held it up. I realized as I did this that I have perhaps never been so happy to wear a cross. I mean, it is yes just a symbol but it can be a very powerful one in situations like this. Silent witness.
The young lady sniffed at me as though everyone ought to know what it was. “It's a DREAMCATCHER. I made it myself.”
“Oh.” I said. “It really looks a lot like a star, for witchcraft. Or that anarchy symbol thingy. That's what I thought it was.” I kept thinking, why do I have to sound so stupid?
“NO, it's NOT,” said the young girl.
“Well, I just want you to know that a lot of people who see that would mistake it for something else.”
Not at all what I wanted to say, actually... that was a bit of a wimp-out.
“I didn't realize anybody might think that. It's not,” said the girl. “Just not,” she repeated, a little softer. Her friend stared at me with her mouth mainly open.
We rode in silence for about another ten minutes before my bus stop came up. I wondered if the young lady with the necklace was really telling me the truth. It looked like a clearly pagan symbol, not at all like the dreamcatchers I had seen before. Was she secretly playing with witchcraft or was she truly clueless about the powerful meaning of the symbol she wore so confidently? Maybe she just didn't realize the danger of toying with such things.
As I stood, I glanced over my should at the two young ladies again. “Hope you enjoy the rest of your day.” I said. I looked at the young lady with the sunglasses and the necklace again. “God bless you,” I said, slowly with calm power.
In response, she flashed a cold and fake smile, then shrugged her shoulders as if to say, 'go on, get out of here you crazy lady.' Well, maybe I am a bit crazy, but not in the way that she means. I love Jesus and I'm not afraid to be a Jesus freak.
I began to sing as I swung my arms and legs into action down the street. I really felt like our meeting was not by chance, there was a significance to it all. Why did she and her friend choose to sit near me in the front when they got on the bus? Why did I look up from my paper when I could have just kept my head buried in my notes the entire time ? I can't say whether I was successful or not, but I at least did plant a little seed in her heart. Sometimes people are not ready to receive a big truth in their lives yet. Also, sometimes people begin to walk with the dark side through small things that seem innocent at first.
I prayed for the two women as I walked to my destination. At the very least, it was an important reminder that some of the people who God places in my path – even here (in a part of the country perhaps a bit too addicted to not Christianity but empty ritualism of “Church”-ianity ) in West Michigan- do not know the Lord. We must never forget those who do not know the sweetness of our Jesus. Let's always remember those who have never had a chance to hear.
Let's Pray, send, or go to fulfill the Great Commission!!! The only other option is to be disobedient to the words of Jesus, when he told us, “Go ye therefore to EVERY NATION...”
Friday, July 23, 2010
Cool Down with a Missionary's (mostly godly) Top Ten+ Songs for Summer 2010!
Cool Down with a Missionary's (mostly godly) Top Ten+ Songs for Summer 2010!
You can hear most of these on YouTube, although perhaps not by the original singer:
1) “And I” Mary Mary Feat. Kirk Franklin. This is my Jam!!! Just heard it recently. Total Gospel, nice jazzy/oldschool vibe. Of course a song by Kirk Franklin will be in #1. And with Mary Mary? Ya can't lose.
2) “No Looking Back” by Damita. I have gone through a lot of pain in my past. I have come a long way, but still there is farther still to go. Do you need to chill out? This song will keep you cool!
3) “Hear my prayer” by Sandra Van Opstal. Looking at a past which is filled with sometimes so much pain and brokenness, the evil one may attempt to drag you down into depression. But pain and sorrow can be a source of strength. Whenever we face pain, we should feel an increase in our hunger for God and turn to Him. Songs from URBANA '09 are practically all solid gold. Just buy the CD!
4) It's a tie, from the same CD! Classic smooth South African medley plus a dance vibe: “Hakuna Mungu Kama Wewe.” When I am down, this song never fails to encourage me: “I Have a Hope” by Tim Rathjen & Ryan Cook. From URBANA '09. Perfect song to follow #3.
5) “Take My Life/Holiness” by Micah Stampley. Reworked instant classic of one of my favorite hymns, and the only reason it's not higher is because I have heard it so many times. Live his song “War Cry” too!
6) “Sunshine Girl” by Moumoon. OK, this one only is not really gospel, it is Japanese pop (J-pop). But I like how I feel sunshine-y and bright on the inside after I listen to it, completely optimistic and hopeful.
7) “Mighty to Save” by Hillsong. One young man that I knew here in town, who played the guitar very well, died tragically in a car accident. When he led worship in his church, he loved this song. We sang it at his funeral and everybody cried buckets and buckets. This remains a very special song for me. Sometimes we forget about the wonder-working power of the Lord.
8) “From the Inside Out” by Hillsong. I want to love God more, each time I hear this song.
9) “Resurrection” by Nicol Sponberg. Ever new, ever touching. Not many songs you can listen to twenty times a day and still have a fresh experience.
10) “The Best in Me” by (Pastor) Marvin Sapp. This song is too emotional for me, that's why I can't listen to it that often. Pastor Sapp is a local gospel artist, who also makes powerful music which goes worldwide as well.
11) “Now Behold the Lamb” by Kirk Franklin. The final scene from the film entitled “The Gospel.” There is a version I have on CD without the talking on it, that's awesome. I have played it so much I feel a bit burned-out by it now, that is why it isn't a higher number.
12) “Imagine Me” by Kirk Franklin. Actually, this is probably one of the best gospel song written during my lifetime. Why #12 here? Well, again it is probably such an emotional song for me. It can bring you to tears, also make you overflow with joy when you think of how far the Lord has brought you, brought us to unbelievable victory through his undying, unbelievable, ever amazing grace.
You can hear most of these on YouTube, although perhaps not by the original singer:
1) “And I” Mary Mary Feat. Kirk Franklin. This is my Jam!!! Just heard it recently. Total Gospel, nice jazzy/oldschool vibe. Of course a song by Kirk Franklin will be in #1. And with Mary Mary? Ya can't lose.
2) “No Looking Back” by Damita. I have gone through a lot of pain in my past. I have come a long way, but still there is farther still to go. Do you need to chill out? This song will keep you cool!
3) “Hear my prayer” by Sandra Van Opstal. Looking at a past which is filled with sometimes so much pain and brokenness, the evil one may attempt to drag you down into depression. But pain and sorrow can be a source of strength. Whenever we face pain, we should feel an increase in our hunger for God and turn to Him. Songs from URBANA '09 are practically all solid gold. Just buy the CD!
4) It's a tie, from the same CD! Classic smooth South African medley plus a dance vibe: “Hakuna Mungu Kama Wewe.” When I am down, this song never fails to encourage me: “I Have a Hope” by Tim Rathjen & Ryan Cook. From URBANA '09. Perfect song to follow #3.
5) “Take My Life/Holiness” by Micah Stampley. Reworked instant classic of one of my favorite hymns, and the only reason it's not higher is because I have heard it so many times. Live his song “War Cry” too!
6) “Sunshine Girl” by Moumoon. OK, this one only is not really gospel, it is Japanese pop (J-pop). But I like how I feel sunshine-y and bright on the inside after I listen to it, completely optimistic and hopeful.
7) “Mighty to Save” by Hillsong. One young man that I knew here in town, who played the guitar very well, died tragically in a car accident. When he led worship in his church, he loved this song. We sang it at his funeral and everybody cried buckets and buckets. This remains a very special song for me. Sometimes we forget about the wonder-working power of the Lord.
8) “From the Inside Out” by Hillsong. I want to love God more, each time I hear this song.
9) “Resurrection” by Nicol Sponberg. Ever new, ever touching. Not many songs you can listen to twenty times a day and still have a fresh experience.
10) “The Best in Me” by (Pastor) Marvin Sapp. This song is too emotional for me, that's why I can't listen to it that often. Pastor Sapp is a local gospel artist, who also makes powerful music which goes worldwide as well.
11) “Now Behold the Lamb” by Kirk Franklin. The final scene from the film entitled “The Gospel.” There is a version I have on CD without the talking on it, that's awesome. I have played it so much I feel a bit burned-out by it now, that is why it isn't a higher number.
12) “Imagine Me” by Kirk Franklin. Actually, this is probably one of the best gospel song written during my lifetime. Why #12 here? Well, again it is probably such an emotional song for me. It can bring you to tears, also make you overflow with joy when you think of how far the Lord has brought you, brought us to unbelievable victory through his undying, unbelievable, ever amazing grace.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Sadness and Surprises
Dear Prayer Warriors,
Thank you for continuing to lift me up in prayer.
July 13 is always the most sorrowful day on the calendar for me. My beloved grandmother Momma Nell died on that date 2005. Also, my cousin who died in Germany as a result of wounds he sustained in Iraq passed away on that exact date one year later.
I like to take a retreat at that time if I can. This year I went to the Franciscan Life Process Center in Lowell (http://www.lifeprocesscenter.org/) for one day. There is a wonderful nature trail there. I could relax while watching the butterflies, and I even got to see a mother turkey in the blackberry bushes! It was very funny, actually.
The momma turkey saw me and with a lot of noise and wing-flapping ran off into the trees. She anxiously looked back to see if I would follow. I just watched her though. Then to my surprise, her little chick came out of the bushes onto the path to stare at me. It wasn't really afraid, however it did decide it would be a good idea to hide. However, it was too young to know what it was doing.
It walked directly into the path, sat down with its backside showing, then buried its face in some leaves. Um, everybody can still see you there, silly little turkey! Hee hee.
The following day, the Japanese Ambassador visited town and I was able to give him a copy of my self-published poetry book. (Yes, I write haiku and sometimes longer poems every now and then).
On Friday, I had a college friend visit town all the way from Denver, Colorado because she was attending a family reunion. I suppose this has been a week of unexpected blessings. God has really managed to distract me from the normal sadness and stress of this time.
July 25 I am planning a visit to speak at a Detroit church. Also there is a prospective African-American recruit who I hope to meet there who may also be interested in becoming a missionary.
Well, I am continuing to do all I can to raise the needed support. My deadline to raise the support was supposed to be July 31, however I have been given a grace period to at least August. Please continue to pray for an increase in my monthly support. If you have any suggestions for me, let me know.
May everyone who reads this be greatly blessed!
God's peace,
Neesy E.
Thank you for continuing to lift me up in prayer.
July 13 is always the most sorrowful day on the calendar for me. My beloved grandmother Momma Nell died on that date 2005. Also, my cousin who died in Germany as a result of wounds he sustained in Iraq passed away on that exact date one year later.
I like to take a retreat at that time if I can. This year I went to the Franciscan Life Process Center in Lowell (http://www.lifeprocesscenter.org/) for one day. There is a wonderful nature trail there. I could relax while watching the butterflies, and I even got to see a mother turkey in the blackberry bushes! It was very funny, actually.
The momma turkey saw me and with a lot of noise and wing-flapping ran off into the trees. She anxiously looked back to see if I would follow. I just watched her though. Then to my surprise, her little chick came out of the bushes onto the path to stare at me. It wasn't really afraid, however it did decide it would be a good idea to hide. However, it was too young to know what it was doing.
It walked directly into the path, sat down with its backside showing, then buried its face in some leaves. Um, everybody can still see you there, silly little turkey! Hee hee.
The following day, the Japanese Ambassador visited town and I was able to give him a copy of my self-published poetry book. (Yes, I write haiku and sometimes longer poems every now and then).
On Friday, I had a college friend visit town all the way from Denver, Colorado because she was attending a family reunion. I suppose this has been a week of unexpected blessings. God has really managed to distract me from the normal sadness and stress of this time.
July 25 I am planning a visit to speak at a Detroit church. Also there is a prospective African-American recruit who I hope to meet there who may also be interested in becoming a missionary.
Well, I am continuing to do all I can to raise the needed support. My deadline to raise the support was supposed to be July 31, however I have been given a grace period to at least August. Please continue to pray for an increase in my monthly support. If you have any suggestions for me, let me know.
May everyone who reads this be greatly blessed!
God's peace,
Neesy E.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
I'm an African-American Missionary, headed Overseas Y'all
Hello out there,
You can call me Neesy. I am a Christian missionary who is preparing to go overseas for the next two and a half or three years. Right now, there are several locations we are considering. I hope to go to Guinea-Bisseau in West Africa.
You may be wondering why I would want to give up years of my life to do the hard work of translating 50 to 70 Bible Stories into the language of a people group who don't have the Scriptures yet. (And to do it all for free on top of that, too!)
Well, let me tell you my story. When I was born, my mother was only 18 years old and she had just graduated from high school a few months ago! Of course, she was a bit too young to really know how to raise a child.
I'm very thankful that I grew up in the house of her mother and father, my maternal grandparents, who helped to raise me. I am also blessed because I come from a very large family. My mother is the youngest of fourteen children, and all of my aunt and uncles (except for two) live in the same town here in Michigan. My mom and I really needed a lot of help growing up, and all of these relatives pitched in to help raise me.
All of this made a big impression on me growing up. I knew from a young age that my ability to go to school, the food I ate, and the clothes of my back all existed because many other people had sacrificed for me. I had a burning desire to help other people the same way that I had been helped.
Despite many struggles with due to money problem and a difficult home environment at times due to my alcoholic father, I studied hard and was able to go to Amherst College in Massachusetts. I spent my junior year abroad studying Japanese in the AKP Program at Doshisha University in Kyoto. I enjoyed Japan and returned to Japan for the next three years to teach English in the small city of Kumano.
I was there when the tragedy of 9/11 happened. My response to that act of terrorism was to do something for world peace. Together with about twenty other colleagues who were teaching English in Japan, I went to Vietnam in 2001 and 2002 to do volunteer work. As America had gone to war with Vietnam in the past, I wanted to be a part of the healing process for that nation.
My students got involved. They made Christmas cards and donated clothes, toys, and books, pens, and paper. In Vietnam, we gave away these items at one-day clinics we set up in the countryside, orphanages, hospitals, schools, a nursing home, and even a leprosy village. To my surprise, one of the most popular things that we gave away in Vietnam were the pens!
I got involved with this work for my students, but I discovered the one who was the most changed by this experience was me. It changed my life. I truly realized how many needs there are in so-called Third World country. Still, I felt there was a great need for someone to do even more. I wanted to do more to help people not just for a short time with material things but also for eternity... only I did not know how I could do that.
In 2003, I moved back to Michigan. My grandmother began to be very sickly. I became one of her main caretakers. For the last two years of her life, I spent a lot of time caring for her.
When she passed away, I again felt the Lord was calling me to do something worldwide to help other people in the same way that she had helped me. That's when a good friend of mine from college recommended that I consider becoming a missionary.
After spending two years praying and making sure that this was truly what God wanted me to do with my life, I decided that I would become a missionary. So that is how I came to where I am today.
However, I am very much in need of prayer and monthly financial support. Can you pray for me? Please send me a message to tell me that you can do so. Are you able to send me a financial gift? Then please contact me and I can give you more information about how you can support me. My deadline to raise 100% of my monthly support is by the end of August. Please help me to go and give God's word to those who do not understand it well because they cannot hear it in their own language.
Thank you for reading this little message. I pray that you will be blessed. God's peace to you, wherever you are.
Neesy
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