Day 3: "Spend yourself"

It's Waldemar's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HON. I make his card since I never get away alone. We've done our usual stroll through the drugstore the day before. I show him cards I would get him if he wanted to pay for them. He likes a few, and we're happy.

The morning sessions start at 9am.  By then it feels to us like half the day is gone. We're early risers. The sun's hot and the sprinklers on every lawn boost the humidity.

On campus, I run into a few fellows I know from seminary. Though I don't know many of our peers, I've met many of the leaders during studies. It's fun to see them outside the classroom.

We'll be divided by world regions for the rest of the week. The motto for our Asia Pacific group is, "Spend yourself!" Today we meet our area leaders and coworkers. Each area director gives us an overview of their area and who lives there. It's obvious that they love the people they work with. There's a lot of wise-cracking and laughter.

W and I make a lunchtime birthday dash for 1/2 of 1/2 Brand Names. I've purchased most of my clothes there since attending seminary. The chain of stores resells returns and sale-ends from Nordstrom and other major retailers. In the past, I've found my Italian boots ($10), a mother-of-the-groom dress ($40), and a Furla handbag ($10). Today I find PJs for $9 and Ralph Lauren sandals for $16. W finds a white Columbia travel shirt for $12.

We rush back after lunch to hear insights on handling stress and culture shock, and how to keep ourselves on track spiritually. The presenters are career missionaries who know firsthand how devastating and shocking it is to move far from home and become part of another people group.

As they run down the list of stressors, I can identify with each one. These are the reasons I've not yet felt the stir of "the great adventure." We learned about these during my PhD studies and I listened to members of my cohort talk about them. I'm not looking forward to experiencing them myself:

• cultural adjustments in language, how needs are met, adapting to expectations, food, and lifestyles
• human stressors, including leaving family behind and working with others
• organizational adjustments, including job satisfaction, policies, differing leadership styles, and filling out reports
• physical challenges of a new climate, illness, aging, and weariness
• psychological stressors of depression, a sense of failure, boredom, or mid-life changes
• support - raising funds, housing, retirement planning, and having to do many tasks that were handled by others at home
• spiritual stressors

One team leader talks about the importance of loving God with all our hearts (Lk. 10:27), of guarding our hearts (Prov. 4:23), and deflecting the arrows that seek to destroy the heart (Ps. 91:1-5). We are encouraged to have a strong devotional life as the foundation for service to others. We're also told that we'll need friends to talk privately with because we'll be in full view.

"People will watch you over time. ... You're building your own reputation - good or bad."

W and I have supper with Paul and Sandy. Paul was in my cohort and is working on his dissertation. He administrates a big area, so he's had to put off the work time and again. I assure him there IS life after a doctorate. (But I remember what hard work it was, and what discipline and perseverance it took to finish the thing!) Paul's in the process. He and W hit it off and I love his wife Sandy, whom I've heard a lot about, but never met before today.

W and I scoot back to the campus for two hours of 3-minute presentations. Each unit (single or couple) has three minutes to tell the audience where they are going and why. One after another, we go on stage to present our dreams for the future.

W reads the script we worked on last night. At some point, I'll have to start speaking. Tonight, W does a good job while I stand beside him.

We're home by 9, in time to catch up on our writing before we get to sleep. These days are long but interesting. Tomorrow, breakfast, lunch, and supper are booked with friends and colleagues. I look forward to it. And a good night's rest.

Read more:

*Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest. Ecclesiastes 11:4 NLT

*Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Psalm 111:1 NLT

*Teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. Colossians 3:16 NLT

Moravian Prayer: Almighty Savior, you bless us with your infinite love. May we always sing your praises with our voices, minds, and hearts. Amen.

Day 1: The sled perched on the hilltop

I see our missionary journey as a sled, perched on the hilltop, ready to tilt into motion. (I must have been born in Winnipeg to feel that metaphor.)

We begin the day, sitting in front of young people who are wondering aloud: "Don't you sometimes think, 'Am I enough for this? Will everything I try fail?'" One gal admits, "I had nightmares last night about crashing when we go to ..." Hundreds of us sitting at the chapel during the first lectures of pre-field orientation can relate.

The director of AG World Missions, Greg Mundis, shares principles for missionaries. These include keeping healthy spirits, bodies, minds, and emotions; planting indigenous churches with teams and local partnerships; proclaiming Good News holistically, within the cultures and world views of the people to whom we're sent ... all of it EMPOWERED by the Spirit.

W's life and missions timeline

Then the Communications Director, Randy Hurst, speaks about AGWM's mission of Reaching, Planting, Training, and Touching the world. "You're not a missionary if you're not sharing the gospel. It may only take 2-3 people to make a church... Call it what you will, a group, a gathering. You should be disciplining or mentoring someone. We do not evangelize in a vacuum. Remember, even the stoniest ground has been prepared by the Spirit of God."

He reminds us that the Spirit has gone before us, will go with us, and will be there after we leave. We pray together for the Spirit's power to rest on this large group of missionaries and associates. It's a moving moment for W and me. We trust that God's power and direction will continue to be clear to us.

My life and missions timeline

The Missionary Associates meet together to cover some logistics before lunch. Jennifer Pulley is a hoot. I don't know how she can make the overview interesting, but she does.

Over lunch, we meet others going to our region. One couple has planted churches and pastored: they're our age and are excited about going to Tonga. During a breakout session, we hear stories from young people going to SE Asia. Everyone takes colored markers, a blank sheet of paper, and draws a timeline of their calling. Then we talk about why we're sitting together, using our sketches as media.

Finally, we sit in on a session about MKs (missionary kids). The presentation is funny and engaging. The realization hits me like a blow again. Our grandkids will meet us online rather than in person. They will grow up far away unless their parents come into missions near us.

Verlon and Melodee Fosner; Troy Jones; Jeffery
Portmann; Chris Corbett (@NCU, formerly
children's prof at NU); W and I, Dave
Cole, and Craig Gorc

God gives us a special supper treat at Bambu, a Vietnamese restaurant: we meet with the NWMN cohort who is finishing their coursework at the seminary this week. We love these men and women and trust them as ministry partners and coworkers. Dave Cole pauses when most have left to offer a prophetic encouragement, a word from God dispelling our fears and questions. "You've been prepared for this time by everything you've done. God is in it so don't be afraid."

"Just what we needed," W and I say to each other on the way home. Dave's words match the confirmation of the whole day. This is the right time and we have a sure calling to do this.

Our homework tonight is designing a 3-minute presentation calling others into partnership. (Giving is a delightful and godly privilege: we'll serve on behalf of those who support God's mission through us.)

Lucky us to have supported others in the past! Lucky us to be going! Lucky you to be sending us! What joy we have in working together as servants of the King.

Read more:

*But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.  1 Chronicles 29:14 (NKJV)

*Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday sun. Psalm 37:4-6 NKJV

*Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. 1 Peter 4:10 NLT

Moravian Prayer: Lord of all wisdom, you have given us many gifts; gifts we should offer to others in service and in love. Help us to be your good stewards always. Amen.