Month: May 2018

ASSIGNMENT: BURUNDI

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[original email date of November 11, 2017]

Burundi it is!!  And ‘yes’, I had to look it up.

I have been listening and praying for a few weeks now about the invitation to Burundi.  Many of you have also faithfully been praying through this time of discernment for which I say ’thank you.’  I am at peace with Burundi.  Praise God for a destination to start praying into!!

What I Know

There are currently 2 Canadian families working with MB Mission who live in the capital city of Bujumbura.  I will join their team and serve alongside them.  The team serves local ministries in a variety of roles which include discipleship for church planters and administrative support, to name a few.  To start I’ll focus my time on learning the language (French and Lingala), learning the culture, and learning how to live (seems this could be important).

Challenge

Psalm 86:11—Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.

It will be a challenge (#nosnakesplease), but I believe God has something He wants to teach me in Burundi.  I am excited to see His majesty in such a foreign place to me.

Note:

I will be in Wichita at First MB Church on the morning of November 19.  It will be a short stay as my flight leaves later in the day.  I won’t have much time but would love to see you in person, if only briefly.  Training ends December 1 and I intend to be back in Wichita by mid-December.  I look forward to connecting again.

 

CHALLENGES

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[original email date of October 23, 2017]

It continues to be a time filled with challenges, but I suppose that’s part of the deal when you go through a period of transition (is that what I’m calling this?).  Our training topics are designed to challenge our thinking, to equip us with His authority, and to search our souls.  At this point I can confidently say ‘mission accomplished’ but the learning continues and will do so throughout this journey.

 

Recently, our team had a week of training on the core principles needed to “do church.”  What specifically is necessary for church?  I had a difficult time answering this question.  For one thing, I don’t know if I’ve ever thought about it before.  Second thing, my U.S. culture makes it easy for me to slip into a consumer mentality.  Only the highest quality product (sermon, worship, service opportunities) will satisfy my church experience.  I ended the week asking, “when I think of church, what items are non-negotiable and what items do I just prefer?” I really had to peel at my own experiences to define core principles.

 

Do I need a worship band?

Do I need a sermon?

Do I need free coffee in the lobby?

Do I need the Lord’s Supper?

Do I need…

 

The teaching for the week helped us identify three categories of “church authority.”

  1. New Testament Commands—things Jesus (or the apostles) commanded us to do.  Examples: pray, give, love
  2. Apostolic Practices—practiced in the early church, but not commanded.  Examples:  fasting, worship on Sunday, speaking in tongues
  3. Human Traditions—practices not mentioned in the New Testament.  Examples:  Sunday school structure, dressing up for services

Just for fun, take inventory the next time you are “doing church.”  What things are non-negotiable and what things are preferences?

Our group made verinika from scratch
October 13, just outside Williams Lake, British Columbia
October 14, just outside Williams Lake, British Columbia

FIRST SECTION OF TRAINING

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[original email date of September 17, 2017]

Introductions

Our training team of 8 people from all over the world (Austria, Canada, Germany, Ukraine, USA) met for the first time in Winnipeg in mid-August.  We spent 10 days getting to know one another and trying to form our own community.  Our housing was an abandoned warehouse refurbished to accommodate a church; Winnipeg Centre Vineyard.

Winnipeg Centre Vineyard

  We each selected a Sunday school room to serve as a bedroom and cobbled together various bedding to form our individual beds.  We cooked and shopped for our own meals.  We tried to find some kind routine to our day even though we would be there for a short period of time.


Training

Our days were filled with experiences of a new culture and new city.  We partnered with several churches in the North End of the city to experience their model of ministry.  The North End has a high population of First Nations people and we received several teaching sessions on history, traditions, ceremonies, and testimonies.  We met some very open and friendly people who blessed us with their stories.  It was a full 10 days of learning.

Mural on wall of Winnipeg Centre Vineyard

Adjustments

There were numerous adjustments as we entered the training process; new culture, new community, new routines, and new languages.  That was intentional.  This piece of training was designed to give us experiences we can reflect on when we face new and different circumstances in the future.  What do you do when faced with traditions that are not your own?  How do you react in circumstances that make you uncomfortable?  How do you find common ground with people who are different from you?  Scripture and prayer were our guideposts as we were challenged to listen, to engage, and to experience all that was presented.  Some of these items we’ll reflect on throughout our time in Canada.
 
On to Abbotsford (to paraphrase Coach Belichick)…
Travis
Preparing to jump the border in North Dakota
Stage at Winnipeg Centre Vineyard
Our dining table

THE NEXT STEP

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[original email date of July 22, 2017]

Invitation

What is God calling each of us into?  For me, I believe He wants me to explore His world and to carry His message to a region where people do not trust Jesus.  Does that sound big?  I agree, and that’s why I’m including you.  He wants me to use the skills that you (yes, you) have been developing in me over these many years.  I invite you to be a part of this journey.

This Journey

Reflecting on the meaningful experiences in my life I recognize that I was often invited into a majority of those experiences.  This is no different.  I believe God has invited me on this journey.  A journey I never imagined I’d be on, a journey with questions I can’t answer, and a journey without a formula to follow.  What.Am.I.Doing!!  When I get overwhelmed and things don’t make sense I just try to focus on getting to the ‘next step.’  I rest in being available and humble and attentive.  In His sovereignty He might have something to teach me in the journey; more so than in the destination.

How I Got Here

The short version of the story goes like this:  Over the past year there were several invitations to a ‘next step.’  For the second time I traveled with a team to Paris to support our missionaries and while there God broke my heart.  While walking in a Parisian market I said (out loud) “God, what do you want me to tell them?”  Shortly after the second trip God opened my heart to the possibility of serving His Kingdom in a new way.  Did I dare to challenge the comfort zone I lived in?  With guidance from some of you I followed the ‘next step’ of discernment and attended a retreat.  I desperately wanted a clear path (a burning bush would do it), but I did not receive it.  I did, however, receive an open path.  An open path meant filling out an application with MB Mission (a missions organization with workers all over the world).  It couldn’t hurt to answer some questions and put an experienced team in the driver seat.  My application was accepted and I was invited to an intentional time of discernment specifically with MB Mission.  During this time God revealed to me that I was not adrift in my own thoughts, but that He had ways to use me which I had never considered before.  After a few more evaluations I was invited to attend a training session.  A 15-week training session.  In Canada.  This fall.  And there I stood; at a crossroad.  Those ‘next steps’ had turned into THEE ‘next step.’  A very public and very monumental decision was right in front of me. Would I remain at my job of 20 years OR continue on with this journey.  In an act of obedience to follow His guidance I surrendered the world that I so comfortably navigated and I submitted my resignation effective this August.

What Is The ‘Next Step’

I will attend a 15-week training session with MB Mission in Canada starting mid-August.  At the end of training we will discern my assignment with the intent of placing me overseas.  That’s about all I know (have I mentioned I don’t have a lot of answers?).  Therein lies my reason for writing you.  I invite you to walk, seek answers, and explore these ‘next steps’ with me.  I’m looking for 40 committed prayer partners (please respond to this email) and $6,500 in fundraising (click here) for my time in training.  I welcome your prayers and visions and please pass them on as you feel led.  I marvel at moments in this journey where people have shared something to affirm my own thoughts and prayers.  I humbly submit to His leading in both of these areas for you.

Forever blessed to be able to call on you for something like this.  Thank you for your time and consideration.