Last semester at school I had the chance to read Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Life Together. It was pretty good. Today as I was walking home a piece of it came to mind.
My struggle the last several days has been loneliness. Honestly this isn't something I expected to deal with. I know many of the Americans here. I even spend quite a bit of time with them. I also have several national friends.
Bonhoeffer's book talked about community. Today I wanted to read part two of the book (I don't know of one.) In LIfe Together he encourages the reader to embrace community. He makes the claim that it will be short lived because our call is to go out alone into a world where believers are not. At that point we lose the community we have had the chance to live in the midst of.
Last Saturday I wanted so badly to call up the old gang for a game of football at Cameron Park. When I wanted to call they were probably all in bed, not to mention the fact I don't live in Waco anymore and neither do some of them. I had amazing community there. I miss the gang.
I want to read what Bonhoeffer claims is to follow the time with community. My guess is it is written about throughout the book The Cost of Discipleship. One day I will get to "reading" that one. (In school I skimmed it…twice.)
My greatest hope today is one I have mentioned before. I desire true community. I desire to find national "persons of peace" to walk the journey with. I hope relationships with the other Americans here increase so that we may be community.
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Rainy Days and Mondays...
It is a rainy day in Africa. It is still hard to believe I am here. I have been here a week now. Almost daily I have to remind myself I am here to stay. The rains are supposed to be over soon. A lady on the plane told me it might be another couple weeks. Several days have been bright and sunny but today it pours. I am glad I haven't had to be out as much today.
I have had a great opportunity to meet coworkers here. Today I am going to lunch with a lady and her son. It should be fun we are going to a place I haven't been before. My apartment is much bigger than I expected. It's nice.
In the next few days I will dive into language study full time. I watched a DVD about it last night and it predicted that in order for me to reach a conversational level it will take 1½ years studying about 30 hours a week. That sounds crazy. How in the world will I ever find that much time?
I'm not sleeping well. Not sure why yet. Still getting adjusted. Plus the bed is a bit uncomfortable and squeaks a lot!
I'm glad to be here!
I have had a great opportunity to meet coworkers here. Today I am going to lunch with a lady and her son. It should be fun we are going to a place I haven't been before. My apartment is much bigger than I expected. It's nice.
In the next few days I will dive into language study full time. I watched a DVD about it last night and it predicted that in order for me to reach a conversational level it will take 1½ years studying about 30 hours a week. That sounds crazy. How in the world will I ever find that much time?
I'm not sleeping well. Not sure why yet. Still getting adjusted. Plus the bed is a bit uncomfortable and squeaks a lot!
I'm glad to be here!
Friday, September 03, 2004
Servant Leadership...
We did something interesting to day. Two associate vice presidents of the company I am working with did the presentation. It was long and boring and repetitive but concluded with something pretty interesting.
They shared the story of John 13, which is definitely a favorite of mine. Jesus was with the disciples in the upper room. And when they had finished eating he got down on his hands and knees and washed the feet of his followers.
Jesus was an incredible leader. Sometimes those under him desired to lead Jesus in new directions but Christ stayed faithful to the course. I heard a cool quote on the West Wing once. What do you call a leader that no one follows? A man taking a walk. Jesus was a leader. I want to lead like Jesus.
I want to be willing to serve those I am working with and under and over. God is powerful enough that he has called me to serve even, "…the least of these…"
We have seen foot washings before. But these two associate vice presidents. Sat us down in chairs by twos. They took our names our soon to be homes, and a prayer request. They prayed over us and instead of washing out feet, they brushed our shoes.
They pulled out a shoe brush for each of us and cleaned our shoes. Then they allowed us to take the brush as a symbol of their commitment to continue to be our servants and prayer advocates as we go out.
Thought it was neat and I would share.
They shared the story of John 13, which is definitely a favorite of mine. Jesus was with the disciples in the upper room. And when they had finished eating he got down on his hands and knees and washed the feet of his followers.
Jesus was an incredible leader. Sometimes those under him desired to lead Jesus in new directions but Christ stayed faithful to the course. I heard a cool quote on the West Wing once. What do you call a leader that no one follows? A man taking a walk. Jesus was a leader. I want to lead like Jesus.
I want to be willing to serve those I am working with and under and over. God is powerful enough that he has called me to serve even, "…the least of these…"
We have seen foot washings before. But these two associate vice presidents. Sat us down in chairs by twos. They took our names our soon to be homes, and a prayer request. They prayed over us and instead of washing out feet, they brushed our shoes.
They pulled out a shoe brush for each of us and cleaned our shoes. Then they allowed us to take the brush as a symbol of their commitment to continue to be our servants and prayer advocates as we go out.
Thought it was neat and I would share.
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Africa...
Excitement to get overseas changes almost daily. Many days I am scared to death. I can't believe I have let myself get into this. "This ain't a two month trip overseas!" I tell myself. I am anxious about being so far away from family and friends and all that I know and love.
I got to visit with Mark this past weekend. It was great. His life is right on track with all of his hopes and dreams and I love it. I just want to be here to watch it happen. I shared something with Mark that I had once shared with my mom and am even coming to greater understanding of now.
All the people that work with our group overseas refer to one another as family. They are all uncles and aunts. They begin to treasure the value of community and recognize the need and desire for it in all people's lives.
This realization has helped me clarify my relationships with people in Waco. They were and always will be my family. We laughed together, played together, cried together (sometimes me more than others), prayed together, shared holidays and special events. We traveled together and worked together. We grew closer to Christ together. My relationships with my family in Waco taught me more about what it means to be a child of God. The girls and my boys (who I miss dearly) have changed my life. They have challenged me to be a better follower of Christ and a better family member to my biological family.
However, on days like today I am ready to go. I got to meet a lady from the country I am heading to today. It was exciting. We talked about the city and the people and the food. It left me encouraged and inspired to get there and get to work.
My prayer is that God will grant me community overseas. It may be with nationals or Americans like me. I only hope that I can be blessed by them the same way I have been in the states.
This sounds rather selfish as I read the prayer, but I hope to be the same thing to others. A girl shared something the other day that challenged me. She said, "I'm not going overseas to 'save' anyone. I am going in obedience to God because he wants to work in my life. My belief is that people will see Jesus as I continue to be transformed." What words of wisdom…she's pretty hot too!
I got to visit with Mark this past weekend. It was great. His life is right on track with all of his hopes and dreams and I love it. I just want to be here to watch it happen. I shared something with Mark that I had once shared with my mom and am even coming to greater understanding of now.
All the people that work with our group overseas refer to one another as family. They are all uncles and aunts. They begin to treasure the value of community and recognize the need and desire for it in all people's lives.
This realization has helped me clarify my relationships with people in Waco. They were and always will be my family. We laughed together, played together, cried together (sometimes me more than others), prayed together, shared holidays and special events. We traveled together and worked together. We grew closer to Christ together. My relationships with my family in Waco taught me more about what it means to be a child of God. The girls and my boys (who I miss dearly) have changed my life. They have challenged me to be a better follower of Christ and a better family member to my biological family.
However, on days like today I am ready to go. I got to meet a lady from the country I am heading to today. It was exciting. We talked about the city and the people and the food. It left me encouraged and inspired to get there and get to work.
My prayer is that God will grant me community overseas. It may be with nationals or Americans like me. I only hope that I can be blessed by them the same way I have been in the states.
This sounds rather selfish as I read the prayer, but I hope to be the same thing to others. A girl shared something the other day that challenged me. She said, "I'm not going overseas to 'save' anyone. I am going in obedience to God because he wants to work in my life. My belief is that people will see Jesus as I continue to be transformed." What words of wisdom…she's pretty hot too!
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
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