Uncategorized – Page 7 – ALIVE and ACTIVE

YOU’RE INVITED

6 Comments / Uncategorized / By tjkansas

Have you ever attended a wedding reception where you didn’t know anyone in the room? Sure, you know the couple (why would you be there), but beyond them, it’s a sea of fresh faces.

You are work colleagues with the bride/groom. You want to encourage and support your friend so you accept the invitation to attend. You learn a little about your friend from the “Our Story” montage and from watching the couple interact with family and friends. After a few minutes it’s your turn to congratulate the couple, offer a few kind words, and share an inside joke. After greeting the featured couple you then reside on the social edge of this party. Any future conversation will take a certain level of effort from you. Some parties you are willing to give that effort and some parties you just don’t have it in you. Quite often though, you bump into a couple or a group who genuinely invite you into warm conversation. You relax in conversation for the duration of the party.

That’s what it feels like to be immersed in a new language.

You are on the edge of this big party. Everyone in attendance has a connection to one another and you are trying to create your connection. Thus, you look for people who will graciously accept your “start-up” connection. Sometimes you find easy dialogue and sometimes you have to push into an uncomfortable exchange of words, looks, and silence. Basically, you look for people of peace (Luke 10:6).

At my current party (if you will), I search for a small invitation. I look to others for patience with my scrunched forehead, slack pronunciation, and exaggerated hand signals. I look to others for an understanding smile. I look to others to gift me French conversation. I look for their peace. I am learning (or re-learning…again) to be more peaceful to the world. God wants us to be and accept people of peace (give/receive). How many times have I been quick to receive but frustrated to give? How many times have I been that cold person to someone who just for a moment needed a person of peace? I know this lesson, right? I’ve been on the edge before. Help me, Precious Savior, to see the world as you see it. Help me to radiate Your peace to others.

BESANÇON

4 Comments / Uncategorized / By tjkansas

I am settled in Besançon since my arrival in late August. Two weeks under the tutelage of French instructors has produced many, many translations coupled with an ongoing choppy delivery (/bone-j-air/, this is no good?). The alphabet is mostly the same but the vowel pronunciations are different between English and French. Learning the new pronunciations means breaking the patterns from decades in the English alphabet. It is frustrating. It will take time and repetition.

My host family is very welcoming. We speak French in the house with my limited speech. Charades fill the gaps and on occasion we lapse to English. I have my own room (and bed) and my own full bathroom. I ride the tram to class every weekday for a 20-minute one-way trip with all the stops.

Besançon is a beautiful city of approximately 150,000 people. It is a creative mix of history from old, old Europe (birthplace of Victor Hugo, home to La Citadelle) and modern retail and restaurant space. Fall weather has crept into the area and it is a marvelous time to be here. My step count has increased 2.5 times from Kansas.

I feel good. God comforts my frustrations with communication by creating dialogue with patient listeners. He shows me His compassion for the marginalized as I walk the streets of Besançon. He reminds me what it means to have childlike faith as I am now the “child” in a new culture and language. And daily I marvel at how I got here.

What am I doing here?

Who am I to talk with?

What does He want to reveal to me?

More to come…

LESSONS

4 Comments / Uncategorized / By tjkansas

In addition to classroom work later this month I’m also participating in an online language learning course. The first assignment is to create a short conversation in your desired language with the help of a translation website. No big deal, right? The second assignment is to then post the video for all the glorious world to see. Now there’s a big deal–sheesh! Consider yourself privileged to witness my lessons in both language and humility. Is there a skill-level zero????

You’re welcome.

p.s. The answer is ‘NO’ I do not have the words taped to the ceiling. Transcript of the attempted conversation is posted below the video.

French (English):

Bonjour (Hello)!

Ça va (How are you)?

Je m’appelle Travis (My name is Travis).

Comment est-ce que vous vous appelez (What’s your name)?

Enchanté (Nice to meet you).

Bonne journeé (Have a nice day).

Merci (Thank you)!

LAUNCH DATE

1 Comment / Uncategorized / By tjkansas

August 22

I’ll fly out of Wichita the evening of August 22 for Basel, Switzerland. I’ll spend a few days in Basel getting used to the time zone and then continue on to Besancon, France. I’ll stay in Besancon until late October with a host family. During this time I’ll be immersed in language learning as well as enroll in a 4-week intensive French language course with the local university. At the end of October I’ll attend a conference in Portugal hosted by our organization. From there I’ll travel to Bujumbura, Burundi to secure housing and get settled, likely in early November.

Of course things can change, but there’s the plan for now.

Commissioning Prayer

This Sunday, August 5, our church family will offer a prayer as I go out. It would be awesome to have you there if you can make it. Services are 8:30AM, 9:45AM, and 11:00AM.

First MB Church

8000 W 21st N

Wichita, KS 67212

Thanks again (and again, and again) for your encouragement and prayers,

Travis Jost

Project# 0780

DETAILS

Uncategorized / By tjkansas

[original email date of July 17, 2018]

Details, details, details…I am swimming in details right now.

To God’s great glory I am 100% funded!! A big ‘thank you’ to all of you for your tireless support and encouragement. For the last several months partnership development has been my main focus. Bang the drum! Now that God has provided me with my goal I can move on to logistics and details regarding a launch date, language learning, living abroad, and navigating a different culture. And that’s where I have to surrender. It is tough to juggle the thoughts of each one of those items and I have to step back and let God deliver each item in His timing. I’ve been talking about it to you all for so long and I knew it would ultimately get here, but “oh my goodness…goodness gracious” now that it’s here there is so much more to think about (I love this audio, too dramatic????). God is in the details. God is in the big picture. God loves to see His kingdom at work in bringing the impossible to reality.

Speaking of…about 2 years ago I was asked the question, “what seems impossible to you?” My response…”living on mission full-time…without a job.” It seemed like the most absurd, distant, wacky idea for this guy to live such a life. With God’s provision and your help I’m standing on the launch pad of His reality (Isaiah 26:11).

What can’t HE do???????

Sheesh…I shake my head.

NEXT STEP

Next steps for me are to arrange for language school in eastern France. I’ll do French language emersion for approximately 8 weeks before moving on to Burundi. I’m looking at one-way flights (now there’s a wild experience) and zeroing in on a launch date (sometime in August) and I’ll keep you updated when I know more.

Travis Jost

Project# 0780

My Prayers:

1) I lift up to You, Almighty God, the details of Your plan. I will fill my part but You will guide and prompt me.

2) King of Kings, I ask to be fully present in the moments You gift me and to be Your vessel in those moments.

Roger Clemens “dramatic” return to the Yankees (click on the audio link above)

HOME

Uncategorized / By tjkansas

[original email date of June 14, 2018]

Hey, remember me. It’s been some time since I’ve updated you.

This past week I was able to close on my house which meant I had to get all my stuff out and into some new space. The problem was, I didn’t have a ‘new space.’ It’s a funny thing to pull up anchor and not know where you’ll next establish roots. Thinking back, there were a few aimless months after college where I didn’t quite know where I would settle. There was also that time the lease on my remodeled rental suddenly came calling. I’ve been here before, in transition with no landing place, and it always worked out (not without some generous friends and family). God is good, right (and you all aren’t so bad yourself)?

This transition makes me evaluate the definition of ‘home.’ The sale of my property required a few repairs (and headaches) before closing. I had to fix my home so someone else could make it their home. As I sorted through my belongings and decided what to keep and what to let go of, I was reminded of specific memories from my many decades. Is ‘home’ a physical place or is it a feeling (comfort, security, peacefulness)? The Israelites were made to wander the desert for 40 years, at ANY point did it feel like home? Most likely ‘no’ but I wonder, is ‘home’ physical, emotional, or some combination of the two?

My “domicile” at 1106 N Gordon was 14 years (almost) in the making. It was my home. It was my retreat. It was a space where I could recharge. Even though it was only brick, wood, shingles, drywall, carpet, and paint it was still incredibly meaningful to me. It was modest by North American standards (some might even say barren) but it was fulfilling for my comfort and security. The pattern of the streets into the neighborhood, the sounds and rhythems of the people, the comfort of knowing God revealed things to me within those four walls, and many other attributes contributed to my comfy space. It makes me sad to leave such a familiar space. Ecclesiastics 5:19 reads, “Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.”

What a gift it was! God gifted me a home. It was what I needed, when I needed it.

It is always good to hear from you. I’ll pose the question to you, how do you define ‘home?’

Travis Jost

Project# 0780

Prayer Requests:

1) Sovereign Lord, you know the timing to complete my funding pledges. You control the ‘when.’ I am obedient to your plans.

2) Lord, guide my heart through this time of transition.

3) Jesus, I pray your glory and authority on the Burundi people. When the world talks of a poor and unhappy nation I know you are present there. You bring joy and righteousness!!

Niece Ella helped me proclaim God’s goodness for 1106 N Gordon

‘MADNESS’

Uncategorized / By tjkansas

[original email date of March 15, 2018]

Hello good people,

Really important content in this email update…it’s MARCH and that means college basketball in the States. While I’m still here, I’ll enjoy it. I’ll have to research the cultural relevance of ‘March Madness’ in Burundi (should be a short search).

To test my listening skills below are my Final Four picks for the 2018 NCAA bracket. Keep in mind I’ve watched approximately 48 game-minutes of college basketball this season. IF my past history is any indication these teams are doomed in the tourney. But…what the hey:

Virginia vs Houston

Kansas vs West Virginia

Kansas over Virginia

Enjoy the games. Enjoy our culture. Enjoy one another.

Travis Jost

Project# 0780

Throwback Thursday: basketball circa 1992

TRIP REPORT

Uncategorized / By tjkansas

[original email date of February 20, 2018]

Below you will see a picture of me after 5 steps on Burundi soil. I’ll let you write the caption:)

The phrase I use to describe the trip is ‘eye-opening.’ It has been some time since I’ve been to a developing country and there were many adjustments for me. Things we take for granted here in North America (air conditioning, infastructure, technology) are not ‘givin’ there. It’s one thing to visit a location and experience the culture and it is entirely different to visit a location knowing you will be living there in the near future. I was convicted, on several occasions, of my entitlement to luxury and comfort that God has afforded me by being born into North America. To live in any space outside of that requires a change in attitude. There are attitudes and postures that I must surrender. Jesus tells us ‘anything is possible’ in Mark chapter 9. It is not impossible for me to live in Burundi; it is just different and that is part of God’s journey for me. To live cross-culturally presents so many challenges. The Lord will guide me in this adjustment (Psalm 86:11, ‘teach me your ways, O Lord…).

I did notice the differences, but I was also encouraged by the people. The families were so welcoming to me. From hosting, to feeding, to showing me around, they knew what I needed to see. The local people were ecstatic (and surprised) when they heard I would be moving to their country this year. What exactly I will DO when I get there is still open. To start I’ll focus primarily on how to BE there.

After a few days back stateside when asked how I viewed the trip I reflected to a friend the analogy of a pineapple. On the outside it is prickly, and wild, and rough. But when you cut it open and get to the middle you find a soft, and fresh, and sweet core. He will reveal to me what I need to learn about Burundi, about myself, and about Him.

Your prayer support was fierce! Thank you!

Required Africa photo (they absolutely loved having their picture taken)

TRIP

Uncategorized / By tjkansas

[original email date of January 18, 2018]

Quick Update:

Tomorrow I leave for a 17-day trip to Burundi. I will join a team of folks in Toronto and we will fly to Paris/Nairobi/Bujumbura. The trip was established with the purpose of building relationships among Christian leaders. It is a chance for all involved to listen and learn how God is moving in the world. And I get to tag along. This will be my first impression and a chance for me to see, hear, taste, and smell what life is like in Burundi. I am excited to be a part of it!

I will return in early February. I hope to have access to email (or WhatsApp/Viber) while I’m gone.

Many thanks for your support and encouragement. I look forward to telling you more once I return.