Devotional Reading

With my highly prized cup of coffee, I sit and think about the Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis. Its good, but it doesn't really challenge me, and I am trying to figure out why. It talks about some intense stuff like, "It is vanity to wish for a long life, an to be careless about living a good and useful life." Book One 1:4. Another one, " A humble knowledge of yourself is a surer way to God than in involved intellectual search after learning." Book One 3:4b.

I guess I am not that into the style of the book. At least in the first book, it is broken down into small exerts, but they are ramdom, on various subjects. Its good, so I am determined to get through it, but I am having a difficult time making it apply to me. Or maybe a Kempis has not convinced me that it should apply to me.

I really enjoyed reading Real Christianity by William Wilberforce and Absolute Surrender by Andrew Murray. It challenged me so much, "devotional reading has more of the character of a spiritual awakening out of cultural sleep than it has the idea of improving existing attitudes... We readily "sleep" within our culture until we travel abroad and are surprised by how differently other societies live and behave...Often this requires a renewed brokenness of spirit, a new or deepened sense of sin, or a profound reevaluation of our priorities...We may need then to "travel abroad" as the Desert Fathers did when they left the cities of men. We may need to explore as the medival mystics explored, or suffer as the Puritans suffered, in order to learn how secular their contemporary species of Christianity really was, and ours is today."

Visitors

I have been here 7 1/2 months, and I am receiving family visiters for the first time. I had no idea I would miss my family so much. Things are settling in well. I feel great here, its lonely sometimes, but I really enjoy what I do. I love helping people and sharing the love of Jesus. Can't wait to post some pictures of my family. They are the best.

Man's Best Friend

I am getting a dog. Her name is Nicky, and I think she is a coton de tulear. If you want more information on the breed, check out: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/cotondetulear.htm. I will post some pictures soon. Reasons for getting a dog: 1. I love dogs, I miss my cocker spaniel in the States. 2. I will be moving out to a little town called Nkobe in a couple of months, its rural and not the safest place in the world, she will be a watch dog.

Ramblings About Life as a Missionary

I confess that I do not faithfully read anyone's blog, and I forget that there are people who are interested in what I do as a missionary. Let me tell you upfront that being a missionary can be a "job" just like a job anywhere. Have you ever done social work in the inner cities? I have. It definetely prepared me for the work I do now, but being a missionary is a lifestyle. You can be a missionary in your own country. What makes a missionary a missionary is someone who is obedient to God and follows Him to the most uncomfortable places to share the love of God with the "least of these." If you think that I am oversimplifying this special calling, I apologize, but I can't help but notice a few things by being in Africa. Living in a developing country is uncomfortable unless you have money. Although an American missionary is not necessarily poor, they still have to learn how to live without many things. It is difficult. I can give you a whole list of reasons why this is so, but I do not need anyone's simpathy, just trying to make a point. I've learned that I don't need to have it all together to help, (this all together can be serveral things, depending on whatever idol we have propped up in our life: is this a little to forceful to write? My confession: my "all together"/idol was efficiency/progress/organization). I don't need to speak the language perfectly, I can just dive in and love people. Its uncomfortable, but at the end of the day I know that it was God, it was a miracle, I take no credit in it. Want to be a missionary. Ask yourself what is your most uncomfortable place? Once you figured that out, practice being a missionary by living there and learning to love people.

Hope in Jesus

I wish I could share with you all the wonderful things that happen when you serve God. I've met so many wonderful people, and I have done some really cool things, and I get to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the poor. Isaiah speaking about Jesus says, "Here is my servant I have chosen, the one I love in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will no snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope."
In his name the nations will put their hope. I get to see this coming to pass. Jesus answers prayers in Mozambique, and they are learning to put their hope in Him, as I do.