What is different? How is it one week after having come from a world drastically different from the U.S.?
To be honest, it's NOT REALLY DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT. The shell certainly is different, and yet those minds in each of us, those "idol making factories" that reside in every human being don't change because we change continents.
Do you ever think about criticizing? complaining? stretching the truth? reacting in anger? thinking of yourself? thinking you are superior to someone who doesn't have XXXXX?
Are we going to be REAL here?
As I plan to give a trip report in my Sunday School class Sunday, I have pondered these questions AND I've looked up Scripture to help focus me. There are the "common" ones to those of us who have been raised in the church like Matthew 28:19-20 GO...... Teach...... teaching them to OBEY...... and Low I'll be with you ALWAYS......regardless of the continent.....
Are we focusing on the turtle's shell when we insist that "our world" is more comfortable? Turtles have the soft side too. BOTH are exposed! Which part of me am I going to let the world see?
I hope to add pictures to accompany the posts I've written. But that's a task for tomorrow when I'm fresher.
Will you pray for the Sunday School Report?
Thanks!
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Can't You Just Send Money?
Last night I was challenged with the question "Can't you just send money?"
Why did I grieve over that question? One of the answers is that as I told the stories, God's incredible provision for us is not what came out. What these listeners heard was "danger"!
Was there danger? I guess I'd say yes in that generally it is known that people get sick and medical attention is woefully inadequate in those two countries. We generally know about dangers of malaria from mosquito bites. We have heard our stories. THEN I lived through experiences in which I have recorded my sensing that God was providing GUARDIAN ANGELS to keep us.
AND YET, I'd be naive to not also acknowledge that I'm sure there were other times in which God stepped in that I will never know exactly how He protected us.
But the FOCUS should NEVER BE ON US.
And if it is, I have done a woefully inadequate job of painting the picture of this trip. I wanted you Dear Reader to observe the growth God is doing in me but I want you to come away with the conviction that any perceived suffering is done in His power and is working out something in me for my good and His Glory.
I am convinced that we can't do this work by throwing money at a need and hoping it works. It takes sacrifice. It takes prayer. It takes , yes, trips to renew friendships and make more.
So, if you have seen what I wanted you to see, will you drop me an email at vvickery@gmail.com?
Plane friends etc
The first part of this post seems more like notes, which in fact it really is. I had to record in "notes" throughout the time in Africa since I couldn't get on line to record my growth through Africa.
This is the next to last post I plan to record. I hope those of you who have read these will email me at vvickery@gmail.com and give me your impressions. If I can speak to some Sunday School class, or if you would like to meet James Oonyu from Uganda November 8-15, please let us know.
Contact Karen at admin@eafc.net to get on the schedule. I really, really hope you will. If so, the time I've spent on this exercise will have been time well spent.
I DO want God to be glorified through these efforts and for benefit to come in the lives of those who read them.
Plane friends
Aaron Wible from Fort Worth. Goes to Univ of Okla and wad on the plane with us from London to Dallas. His team had been in South Africa.
Melissa Owen is his mother, Cindy and Susan are his aunts. Susan is married to AW Greer, Stacey's Dad ( who was in school with our daughter Susan)
His mother and aunts went went to Prep
His mother is 54. You learn a lit on a nine plus hour flight home.
Chase is from Shreveport. Goes to Dallas Baptist but went to Louisiana Tech. On this trip he was in Sierra Leone when we were
Alfonzo and Rocio sat by me. They Are from Guadalajara, Mexico. We had fun becoming friends with our fragmented knowledge of each others' language.
These trips don't end when you leave the countries. There are opportunities to bumble with your Spanish, write on a napkin in an attempt to share the Gospel. There is sharing of information with other missionaries, a team of 12 from the University of Oklahoma. These are sharp committed young people. Their church is a part of the Antioch Movement that is worldwide, seeking to expand in the 10/40 window. I will have to look them up. This team has been in Cape Town and even worshipped yesterday in Tim Sprowson's church, His People. ( Tim's parents live in Malawi and are good friends of ours) Aaron has close family in Jackson. Chase joined our discussion and the two of them realized they too had friends in common. Chase had been 2 weeks in Sierra Leone, church planting and teaching the people to grow a plant rimona, ( I am sure I have misspelled this) supposed to be a super food for nutrition.
Once again Peggy found someone else interested in knowing more about her worm vermacomposting. I think I too could do this, will try anyway.
I have also talked with young communications majors, these young people are really a quality group.
I have stayed busy all day, and yet the hours creep by. Three hours til Dallas, 2 1/2 waiting in Dallas, and one hour home. But once we stop in Dallas, we are on US soil and it feels good. Going through customs can be a bit of a hassle, but all in all we feel the wind at our back by then.
Time will tell whether meaningful relationships develop from random conversations. Maybe we are to all remain passing blurring memories in each others' minds, but maybe, just maybe God has something else in mind. Especially I would love to see that with Alfonzo and Rocio.
PS. Alfonzo told me there is place on the Internet that translates for you, and sure enough I found it and have emailed him.
PSS. I only thought 2 1/2 hours, then a brief layover, and a one hour flight home.
" My ways are not your ways, says the Lord".
Now, however I am home and will continue to process this incredible experience .
This is the next to last post I plan to record. I hope those of you who have read these will email me at vvickery@gmail.com and give me your impressions. If I can speak to some Sunday School class, or if you would like to meet James Oonyu from Uganda November 8-15, please let us know.
Contact Karen at admin@eafc.net to get on the schedule. I really, really hope you will. If so, the time I've spent on this exercise will have been time well spent.
I DO want God to be glorified through these efforts and for benefit to come in the lives of those who read them.
Plane friends
Aaron Wible from Fort Worth. Goes to Univ of Okla and wad on the plane with us from London to Dallas. His team had been in South Africa.
Melissa Owen is his mother, Cindy and Susan are his aunts. Susan is married to AW Greer, Stacey's Dad ( who was in school with our daughter Susan)
His mother and aunts went went to Prep
His mother is 54. You learn a lit on a nine plus hour flight home.
Chase is from Shreveport. Goes to Dallas Baptist but went to Louisiana Tech. On this trip he was in Sierra Leone when we were
Alfonzo and Rocio sat by me. They Are from Guadalajara, Mexico. We had fun becoming friends with our fragmented knowledge of each others' language.
These trips don't end when you leave the countries. There are opportunities to bumble with your Spanish, write on a napkin in an attempt to share the Gospel. There is sharing of information with other missionaries, a team of 12 from the University of Oklahoma. These are sharp committed young people. Their church is a part of the Antioch Movement that is worldwide, seeking to expand in the 10/40 window. I will have to look them up. This team has been in Cape Town and even worshipped yesterday in Tim Sprowson's church, His People. ( Tim's parents live in Malawi and are good friends of ours) Aaron has close family in Jackson. Chase joined our discussion and the two of them realized they too had friends in common. Chase had been 2 weeks in Sierra Leone, church planting and teaching the people to grow a plant rimona, ( I am sure I have misspelled this) supposed to be a super food for nutrition.
Once again Peggy found someone else interested in knowing more about her worm vermacomposting. I think I too could do this, will try anyway.
I have also talked with young communications majors, these young people are really a quality group.
I have stayed busy all day, and yet the hours creep by. Three hours til Dallas, 2 1/2 waiting in Dallas, and one hour home. But once we stop in Dallas, we are on US soil and it feels good. Going through customs can be a bit of a hassle, but all in all we feel the wind at our back by then.
Time will tell whether meaningful relationships develop from random conversations. Maybe we are to all remain passing blurring memories in each others' minds, but maybe, just maybe God has something else in mind. Especially I would love to see that with Alfonzo and Rocio.
PS. Alfonzo told me there is place on the Internet that translates for you, and sure enough I found it and have emailed him.
PSS. I only thought 2 1/2 hours, then a brief layover, and a one hour flight home.
" My ways are not your ways, says the Lord".
Now, however I am home and will continue to process this incredible experience .
Getting to know the functions of the blog site now (smile) Can you read red?
Headed home. June 8, 2014
What fun to see Hannah, one of my roomies in Yekepa from 3 years ago who is Amani Country Director. Emmanuel picked her up from the airport yesterday afternoon, and she stayed at the guesthouse with us last night giving us a ride in her vehicle to the airport this morning but she needed Emmanuel since she doesn't think it is safe to travel alone.
Emmanuel and Wintee stayed in Peggy's room, and Peggy and I bunked together again. Since we were leaving at 4:30 for the airport, it saved Emmanuel time traveling to get us so early in the morning. Why Wintee came I can only speculate. A nice bed with an attached bath? Air conditioning? Maybe missing her husband who had been at a retreat since Tuesday? Whenever Wintee was around and there was food, she always ate. She doesn't look hungry, but she seems to enjoy food whenever she gets some. We have observed that a lot in this land. I think this has been a trip in which we have lived closer to the way the native people of the country do than ever before. I hope that if any of my African friends read this that I am not offending them. We Americans don't even know how spoiled we are. We so take our creature comforts for granted. It only takes a short time outside of our culture to discover how much we DO take them for granted and what adjustments it is for us to be without them.*
Soon we will be touching down in Sierra Leone for the last time this trip. Emmanuel evaluated the trip with us last night and from his perspective it was a 9 out of 10. It will take me a bit longer to truly evaluate it. Parts are easy. We were warmly greeted and appreciated by all the people. Our ministry is raved over among all the groups we encountered, whether the owner of the guesthouse or a visitor from Togo.
*But this is a hard land, physically exhausting. The airport is one hour from Monrovia in a good vehicle and going 30 miles an hour in one the needed repair took us twice as long that first night. We were charged $10 on time for fuel to get us there, $20 for the day we missed our flight and $30 another time. Eleazar, Christian, Julia Mulbah and Emmanuel provided us with meals or partial housing cost, but there was other times we had to feed not only ourselves but our host and his friend. So even taking out the visa debacle I think this was an expensive trip.
Was it necessary? Absolutely. Franklyn has been associated with EAFC since 2008 but just now thinks he understands us. It took personal contact. I had taught Emmanuel in 2011 and talked to many while in Liberia that year about EAFC but he coordinated the trip based on friendship with me, not understanding or valuing the work. That has definitely changed. Last night he asked what were the responsibilities of a country coordinator. From that I took it that he is willing to function in that role for a while. Franklyn accepted the responsibility with pleasure.
So now, we come home happy and heavy. Happy that we have been well, accomplished what we set out to do, fond of relationships that were rekindled and new one formed, but heavy that the needs so outweigh our ability to provide. Let me add a new "h" word, hopeful that God will give us favor with more people who can give that they want to.
To Him be the glory!!!
Headed home. June 8, 2014
What fun to see Hannah, one of my roomies in Yekepa from 3 years ago who is Amani Country Director. Emmanuel picked her up from the airport yesterday afternoon, and she stayed at the guesthouse with us last night giving us a ride in her vehicle to the airport this morning but she needed Emmanuel since she doesn't think it is safe to travel alone.
Emmanuel and Wintee stayed in Peggy's room, and Peggy and I bunked together again. Since we were leaving at 4:30 for the airport, it saved Emmanuel time traveling to get us so early in the morning. Why Wintee came I can only speculate. A nice bed with an attached bath? Air conditioning? Maybe missing her husband who had been at a retreat since Tuesday? Whenever Wintee was around and there was food, she always ate. She doesn't look hungry, but she seems to enjoy food whenever she gets some. We have observed that a lot in this land. I think this has been a trip in which we have lived closer to the way the native people of the country do than ever before. I hope that if any of my African friends read this that I am not offending them. We Americans don't even know how spoiled we are. We so take our creature comforts for granted. It only takes a short time outside of our culture to discover how much we DO take them for granted and what adjustments it is for us to be without them.*
Soon we will be touching down in Sierra Leone for the last time this trip. Emmanuel evaluated the trip with us last night and from his perspective it was a 9 out of 10. It will take me a bit longer to truly evaluate it. Parts are easy. We were warmly greeted and appreciated by all the people. Our ministry is raved over among all the groups we encountered, whether the owner of the guesthouse or a visitor from Togo.
*But this is a hard land, physically exhausting. The airport is one hour from Monrovia in a good vehicle and going 30 miles an hour in one the needed repair took us twice as long that first night. We were charged $10 on time for fuel to get us there, $20 for the day we missed our flight and $30 another time. Eleazar, Christian, Julia Mulbah and Emmanuel provided us with meals or partial housing cost, but there was other times we had to feed not only ourselves but our host and his friend. So even taking out the visa debacle I think this was an expensive trip.
Was it necessary? Absolutely. Franklyn has been associated with EAFC since 2008 but just now thinks he understands us. It took personal contact. I had taught Emmanuel in 2011 and talked to many while in Liberia that year about EAFC but he coordinated the trip based on friendship with me, not understanding or valuing the work. That has definitely changed. Last night he asked what were the responsibilities of a country coordinator. From that I took it that he is willing to function in that role for a while. Franklyn accepted the responsibility with pleasure.
So now, we come home happy and heavy. Happy that we have been well, accomplished what we set out to do, fond of relationships that were rekindled and new one formed, but heavy that the needs so outweigh our ability to provide. Let me add a new "h" word, hopeful that God will give us favor with more people who can give that they want to.
To Him be the glory!!!
Between generators and bullfrogs
Why ONE AM?
Electricity went off at 1 AM. So I risked mosquitoes to get cool and opened the door onto the balcony off my room. Generator roar and bullfrogs croaking from the nearby river serenaded me after that. This post was written while in a wakeful state June 7 at 1 AM.
1 AM June 7, 2014
I think I went to bed around eight last night. This trip has assaulted my creature comforts. That is why when the stewardess from Hungary let Peggy and me alone sit in first class for the short flight back to Monrovia yesterday we felt the privilege intensely . Thank you God.
Peggy and I have been trying to see if we could grasp a bit of what God had in mind by that third day in Sierra Leone. Instead of some big discipline or lesson we needed we think that God was showing is that we really have been learning how better to handle stressful circumstances with more grace. He has done the work in us. Every once in a while I think it is good to look back and see that we really are progressing in this walk of faith. It makes me then remember the verse " forgetting what is behind, I press towards the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus". Now that we have looked behind, we now fix our gaze on Jesus lest a privilege of intercession become a stumbling block to the very thing we want, more love for Him, more dependence on Him and more faith in Him.
The book, "Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus" has taken me the whole week to complete. Between busyness and no power on iPad, it has been a slow process. Probably a good slow process to have time to reflect on the story of Jesus and His love, His pursuing us In the most unlikely circumstances. We have left a copy with Franklyn and one with Emmanuel. May the knowledge they gain help them in their ministry with this dedicated group of people. May my prayers increase.
Magdaline Mulbah, our precious EAFC student who will graduate June 28 came to see us. Thankfully it was a blessing to her too. She visited so long we had to reveal our profound fatigue. (AM praying that God will cause others to share Magdaline's passion for further education so she can really become a medical doctor) Now, let me try to get back to sleep. Prepare me Father for this last day in this land we have been privileged to know. Bless the leadership of the ECOL denomination as they welcome Albert and Priscella home who have been studying in a Kenya this month. May grace and repentance be a part of the process.
Good night again!
I think I went to bed around eight last night. This trip has assaulted my creature comforts. That is why when the stewardess from Hungary let Peggy and me alone sit in first class for the short flight back to Monrovia yesterday we felt the privilege intensely . Thank you God.
Peggy and I have been trying to see if we could grasp a bit of what God had in mind by that third day in Sierra Leone. Instead of some big discipline or lesson we needed we think that God was showing is that we really have been learning how better to handle stressful circumstances with more grace. He has done the work in us. Every once in a while I think it is good to look back and see that we really are progressing in this walk of faith. It makes me then remember the verse " forgetting what is behind, I press towards the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus". Now that we have looked behind, we now fix our gaze on Jesus lest a privilege of intercession become a stumbling block to the very thing we want, more love for Him, more dependence on Him and more faith in Him.
The book, "Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus" has taken me the whole week to complete. Between busyness and no power on iPad, it has been a slow process. Probably a good slow process to have time to reflect on the story of Jesus and His love, His pursuing us In the most unlikely circumstances. We have left a copy with Franklyn and one with Emmanuel. May the knowledge they gain help them in their ministry with this dedicated group of people. May my prayers increase.
Magdaline Mulbah, our precious EAFC student who will graduate June 28 came to see us. Thankfully it was a blessing to her too. She visited so long we had to reveal our profound fatigue. (AM praying that God will cause others to share Magdaline's passion for further education so she can really become a medical doctor) Now, let me try to get back to sleep. Prepare me Father for this last day in this land we have been privileged to know. Bless the leadership of the ECOL denomination as they welcome Albert and Priscella home who have been studying in a Kenya this month. May grace and repentance be a part of the process.
Good night again!
Devotional Thought from Reading Bible while in Liberia
Devotional thoughts
Just read Nahum and Habakkuk at 5 AM and I have made notes in my Bible of all the verses that reminded me of where I am right now
Like these notes I just wrote by Hab 1:3-4
"In Liberia a second time. This is a hard land. I hear it is the second most corrupt in the world. It is hard to not throw up your hands when seeing all this."
"Yes this verse seems to picture what I have seen this week. There is no justice. The stories told by Dr Wilson at the Baptist Seminary speak clearly to this. Lord, have mercy on this land"
Hab 2:2-3 spoke to me
I reminded Caitlin(my granddaughter) to memorize verse 14
We are to never lose hope. "Wait for it". " the world will be covered with the knowledge of The Lord as the waters cover the sea"
And verse 20. "The Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silent before Him"
Here is a verse I read that seems to speak of much of the poor health here
"I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters into my bones; my legs tremble beneath me. Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us.
Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, "
Have patience you say. All these wrongs will be righted
I hear the steady roar of a generator all night as I try to sleep. If only it were just the bullfrogs by the river. I cover myself with bug spray, a healthier option than malaria. I watch what I eat and drink because of cholera in this land.
Rice, rice, rice. The people are sick and stay that way because they either don't or can't get the right foods. This is a land that could grow vegetables, but the few we have gotten are masked in a sauce over rice and some kind of meat.
Indeed there is rottenness in the bones. Lord, have mercy!
Just read Nahum and Habakkuk at 5 AM and I have made notes in my Bible of all the verses that reminded me of where I am right now
Like these notes I just wrote by Hab 1:3-4
"In Liberia a second time. This is a hard land. I hear it is the second most corrupt in the world. It is hard to not throw up your hands when seeing all this."
"Yes this verse seems to picture what I have seen this week. There is no justice. The stories told by Dr Wilson at the Baptist Seminary speak clearly to this. Lord, have mercy on this land"
Hab 2:2-3 spoke to me
I reminded Caitlin(my granddaughter) to memorize verse 14
We are to never lose hope. "Wait for it". " the world will be covered with the knowledge of The Lord as the waters cover the sea"
And verse 20. "The Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silent before Him"
Here is a verse I read that seems to speak of much of the poor health here
"I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters into my bones; my legs tremble beneath me. Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us.
Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, "
Have patience you say. All these wrongs will be righted
I hear the steady roar of a generator all night as I try to sleep. If only it were just the bullfrogs by the river. I cover myself with bug spray, a healthier option than malaria. I watch what I eat and drink because of cholera in this land.
Rice, rice, rice. The people are sick and stay that way because they either don't or can't get the right foods. This is a land that could grow vegetables, but the few we have gotten are masked in a sauce over rice and some kind of meat.
Indeed there is rottenness in the bones. Lord, have mercy!
Is Togo Next?
Togo next?
William Walter Ames is from Togo. His grandfather's grandfather had the same name, given to him by his Scottish parents.
One time this present day William met a black man in the US named Ames. That man asked William if he would do a DNA test. He did and found that these men were descended from the same father and mother..
What links William Ames to me however is not human but knowing a loving God and wanting to see Him worshiped in Togo too.
But for that to happen, current work in other countries will be watered down unless we get more donors catch the vision that seems so easy for the Africans to see.
Once again the cooking stones illustration has effectively and quickly communicated why we are here. (I'll try to post a picture of that too)
At 4:30 we still wait for Emmanuel to arrive for our evaluation time. In 12 hours we will be headed for the airport.
Wintee took us to the city to try to find curios, not easy in this country. Julia sent Magdalene with lunch kavala fish, plantons with a tomato sauce and some mangos. Between food and a nap, I have been revived.
Three stones (Church, College, and EAFC) necessary to cook the food that will feed the people. The student is the pot and we are putting ingredients into him so that when cooked the right amount of time, people can be blessed through his word. Africans like this story. Does it resonate with you?
William Walter Ames is from Togo. His grandfather's grandfather had the same name, given to him by his Scottish parents.
One time this present day William met a black man in the US named Ames. That man asked William if he would do a DNA test. He did and found that these men were descended from the same father and mother..
What links William Ames to me however is not human but knowing a loving God and wanting to see Him worshiped in Togo too.
But for that to happen, current work in other countries will be watered down unless we get more donors catch the vision that seems so easy for the Africans to see.
Once again the cooking stones illustration has effectively and quickly communicated why we are here. (I'll try to post a picture of that too)
At 4:30 we still wait for Emmanuel to arrive for our evaluation time. In 12 hours we will be headed for the airport.
Wintee took us to the city to try to find curios, not easy in this country. Julia sent Magdalene with lunch kavala fish, plantons with a tomato sauce and some mangos. Between food and a nap, I have been revived.
Three stones (Church, College, and EAFC) necessary to cook the food that will feed the people. The student is the pot and we are putting ingredients into him so that when cooked the right amount of time, people can be blessed through his word. Africans like this story. Does it resonate with you?
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