As recent as 30 years ago, it was virtually unheard of for prospective missionaries to take a "vision trip" to test out a location before committing to serve there for a longer term. However, for better or for worse, the relative ease of travel and the popularity of short-term missions have made the "vision trip" commonplace today.
One of our daily struggles is to find what faith means in daily life. We know that God does not expect us to make decisions without information, or blindly. We also know that the exhaustive discovery of facts and scenarios is not only impossible and impractical, but it dishonors God, the one who expects us to trust him for whatever tomorrow may hold. So, how does taking a "vision trip" fit into a life of faith? For us, we have decided it is the faithful thing to do.
Four months ago our hearts were gaining momentum for China. Two months ago we were advised to investigate an opportunity in Cambodia. Both opportunities are among the unreached, and both are in the area of the world that interests us most. Prayer and emails and advice from many counselors have not led us to a definitive conclusion. How will J's role as a physician fit into the field in China? Cambodia? What are the distinctive values and vision and philosophy of the field in China compared to Cambodia? What is the leadership like? How will our growing family (our fourth is due in May 09) fit into the field? These are just a few of the questions we thought best to have answered by visiting the field itself.
So, Dec. 12th will find J and L in Kunming, China and Dec. 15th in Phomn Penh, Cambodia. May the Lord be faithful to show us just enough to help us take the next faithful step.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Home from the GHMC
J and L spent the last 2 days at the world's largest medical mission conference, where the best part was either the conference itself OR having 2+ days away from the kids. It's a toss up.
This visit marked our third year in a row at the GHMC, and the first one without the pressure of looking for a mission organization to join. Since that decision became official last month, we spent much no time "interviewing" representatives from all sort of organizations, which made the experience much more relaxing. We enjoyed breakout sessions on human trafficking, abortion, mobilizing for medical missions, and building partnerships. We sang with 2000+ other attendees, all passionate to see medicine used in reaching the world. We enjoyed sweet fellowship with our host family, the same couple we stayed with last year. We renewed old friendships from college, and furthered new ones from church. And, we reconnected with each other, taking time to pray and talk and plan and communicate in an extended way. Praise God for the gift of my mom, who graciously and eagerly stayed with our kids, making the conference possible for us.
This visit marked our third year in a row at the GHMC, and the first one without the pressure of looking for a mission organization to join. Since that decision became official last month, we spent much no time "interviewing" representatives from all sort of organizations, which made the experience much more relaxing. We enjoyed breakout sessions on human trafficking, abortion, mobilizing for medical missions, and building partnerships. We sang with 2000+ other attendees, all passionate to see medicine used in reaching the world. We enjoyed sweet fellowship with our host family, the same couple we stayed with last year. We renewed old friendships from college, and furthered new ones from church. And, we reconnected with each other, taking time to pray and talk and plan and communicate in an extended way. Praise God for the gift of my mom, who graciously and eagerly stayed with our kids, making the conference possible for us.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
The Journey "Begins"
On October 30th we became, in the eyes of the world, “official.” After two weeks of Candidate Course, we were accepted as appointees in one of the world’s oldest mission organizations. We have the certificate to prove it. And, we have very little notion of what the future may hold.
J wonders if he and L are nuts. Almost everything about current life in America, from his job to his marriage to his kids to his security/comfort to his church is ideal. Why would a sane person risk all that to live in another culture, learn another language, make less money, and risk disease to himself and his family? Why uproot 3 small children (and a fourth due in May) from all that is familiar, including the best grandparents in the world, and put their security and their happiness at risk? Is there a sane answer?
If there is no heaven, there is no answer. If God is a figment of my imagination, there is no answer. If the Bible is full of fiction and contradiction and lies, there is no answer. If Jesus never died, there is no answer. If Jesus did not resurrect from the dead, there is no answer. But if these things are true, the answer is crystal clear. We are not nuts. To spend your life and your energies and your resources communicating to others that God is real, he created you, you rebelled against him and thus his wrath is on you, Jesus died in your place to absorb such wrath, he now lives a victor over death, and heaven lasts forever is one of the most sane things anyone can do. If this life is all there is, staying in America, becoming rich, staying safe, indulging in pleasure, and glorifying my self is the sane thing to do. Fortunately, there is something beyond this life, and we aim to increase and multiply our pleasure in that place, spreading such joy to others on the way.
Now that we are “official” we can start developing partners. Some see partnership development as code for support raising, but we mean exactly what we say. We are looking for partners, or a team, that will take to heart our mission of obtaining and spreading as much eternal joy as possible among the people of Southeast Asia. The foundation of our team will be prayer, which is the necessary tool for God to get the credit for any success in our work. If we succeed without prayer, God is robbed of glory. Since he will not allow his glory to be shared, any success we have without prayer will be shallow and temporary and fickle. Will you pray for us so that our lives and our work would be deep and permanent and founded on Christ, not us?
J wonders if he and L are nuts. Almost everything about current life in America, from his job to his marriage to his kids to his security/comfort to his church is ideal. Why would a sane person risk all that to live in another culture, learn another language, make less money, and risk disease to himself and his family? Why uproot 3 small children (and a fourth due in May) from all that is familiar, including the best grandparents in the world, and put their security and their happiness at risk? Is there a sane answer?
If there is no heaven, there is no answer. If God is a figment of my imagination, there is no answer. If the Bible is full of fiction and contradiction and lies, there is no answer. If Jesus never died, there is no answer. If Jesus did not resurrect from the dead, there is no answer. But if these things are true, the answer is crystal clear. We are not nuts. To spend your life and your energies and your resources communicating to others that God is real, he created you, you rebelled against him and thus his wrath is on you, Jesus died in your place to absorb such wrath, he now lives a victor over death, and heaven lasts forever is one of the most sane things anyone can do. If this life is all there is, staying in America, becoming rich, staying safe, indulging in pleasure, and glorifying my self is the sane thing to do. Fortunately, there is something beyond this life, and we aim to increase and multiply our pleasure in that place, spreading such joy to others on the way.
Now that we are “official” we can start developing partners. Some see partnership development as code for support raising, but we mean exactly what we say. We are looking for partners, or a team, that will take to heart our mission of obtaining and spreading as much eternal joy as possible among the people of Southeast Asia. The foundation of our team will be prayer, which is the necessary tool for God to get the credit for any success in our work. If we succeed without prayer, God is robbed of glory. Since he will not allow his glory to be shared, any success we have without prayer will be shallow and temporary and fickle. Will you pray for us so that our lives and our work would be deep and permanent and founded on Christ, not us?
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