A journal documenting our journey to the end of the world
WRONG SIDE OF THE FENCE
October 6, 2008
Our week of meetings has come to an end so yesterday we took the kids out to see some of the sights in Thailand. After I finish writing these words I'll try to post pictures from our time with the elephants but this was priceless - petting tigers. This isn't something you could probably do in America for fear of law suits since this isn't the safest way to have fun but it does keep you alert. Like the time we watched the tiger nestle his body down low and start creeping forward. Although the cubs were only 5 months old their instincts were keen. Then I noticed the target of his affections was Jocelyn who had pulled away from the group. The keeper simply grabs the tigers tail and pulled him but it was a valuable lesson.
Another good lesson - if you want good pictures of a tiger then you need to get inside the cage! It was a blast - and no worries, all five kids still have all their body parts and I have the pictures to prove it.
October 6, 2008
Our week of meetings has come to an end so yesterday we took the kids out to see some of the sights in Thailand. After I finish writing these words I'll try to post pictures from our time with the elephants but this was priceless - petting tigers. This isn't something you could probably do in America for fear of law suits since this isn't the safest way to have fun but it does keep you alert. Like the time we watched the tiger nestle his body down low and start creeping forward. Although the cubs were only 5 months old their instincts were keen. Then I noticed the target of his affections was Jocelyn who had pulled away from the group. The keeper simply grabs the tigers tail and pulled him but it was a valuable lesson.
Another good lesson - if you want good pictures of a tiger then you need to get inside the cage! It was a blast - and no worries, all five kids still have all their body parts and I have the pictures to prove it.
CHIANG MAI, THAILAND
September 28, 2008
Our change of scenery is rather dramatic from the Sahel in Chad to the beautiful greenery of Thailand. This is our first time in Asia with the intricate woodwork in the architecture and delicious food. I just wanted to post a picture of our new surroundings as our journey continues.
September 28, 2008
Our change of scenery is rather dramatic from the Sahel in Chad to the beautiful greenery of Thailand. This is our first time in Asia with the intricate woodwork in the architecture and delicious food. I just wanted to post a picture of our new surroundings as our journey continues.
CHADIAN ZOO
August 30, 2007
My intensive arabic course ended on Friday and I feel a great relief as my brain slowly recovers. We decided to celebrate by going to the zoo with some friends and I know you are probably thinking the same thing we were: "they have a zoo in Chad." The only thing we heard is that they let you pet the lion so with limited entertainment options we decided to give it a try.
Of all the pictures I could show you I thought this one might best convey the atmosphere. The people were amazingly nice and eager to show us around. We walked through a little museum which the kids could interact with like picking up a voodoo doll with a pin sticking out of it and showing it to mommy, "Look mommy, a doll!" We didn't tell them what it was but quickly moved on. The animals were limited but the "best" part was the displays along the dirt path. This elegant display is a rotting head to a hippopotamus sitting on top of an old stove surrounded by chicken wire. It even came with the real smell of rotting flesh.
The door to an unhappy Hyena was a piece of tin nailed to a couple 2x4s that didn't fit squarely in the frame. The kids especially loved the monkeys that were tied to trees or chicken wire cages until one of them jumped at Annelise and scratched her. Mostly the monkeys just thought we had food so they would jump at us hoping to be feed.
Just thought you might like to see what a fun day looks like in our world. Oh, and I should mention that we didn't pet the lion although we were on 12 inches away with just some rebars between us
August 30, 2007
My intensive arabic course ended on Friday and I feel a great relief as my brain slowly recovers. We decided to celebrate by going to the zoo with some friends and I know you are probably thinking the same thing we were: "they have a zoo in Chad." The only thing we heard is that they let you pet the lion so with limited entertainment options we decided to give it a try.
Of all the pictures I could show you I thought this one might best convey the atmosphere. The people were amazingly nice and eager to show us around. We walked through a little museum which the kids could interact with like picking up a voodoo doll with a pin sticking out of it and showing it to mommy, "Look mommy, a doll!" We didn't tell them what it was but quickly moved on. The animals were limited but the "best" part was the displays along the dirt path. This elegant display is a rotting head to a hippopotamus sitting on top of an old stove surrounded by chicken wire. It even came with the real smell of rotting flesh.
The door to an unhappy Hyena was a piece of tin nailed to a couple 2x4s that didn't fit squarely in the frame. The kids especially loved the monkeys that were tied to trees or chicken wire cages until one of them jumped at Annelise and scratched her. Mostly the monkeys just thought we had food so they would jump at us hoping to be feed.
Just thought you might like to see what a fun day looks like in our world. Oh, and I should mention that we didn't pet the lion although we were on 12 inches away with just some rebars between us
CHADIAN ARABIC
August 17, 2008
My schedule is amazingly packed at the moment as I complete a 5-week intensive course in Chadian Arabic so I thought you might enjoying seeing a photo of our teacher and some of our friends. We have class everyday from 8:00am - Noon. The instruction time is all in French with lots of opportunities to practice.
We learn an average of 20 new words everyday. Just to put this in perspective: after three weeks we've been taught 300 new words and 75 of these words are verbs. Of course verbs change depending on the subject and time so these 75 verbs actually total 1,200 words with slight differences in sound but dramatically different meanings.
In real life we can't even begin to use all these words but it definitely helps with comprehension and I was able to buy a pair of flip-flops for Jocelyn yesterday all in Arabic.
August 17, 2008
My schedule is amazingly packed at the moment as I complete a 5-week intensive course in Chadian Arabic so I thought you might enjoying seeing a photo of our teacher and some of our friends. We have class everyday from 8:00am - Noon. The instruction time is all in French with lots of opportunities to practice.
We learn an average of 20 new words everyday. Just to put this in perspective: after three weeks we've been taught 300 new words and 75 of these words are verbs. Of course verbs change depending on the subject and time so these 75 verbs actually total 1,200 words with slight differences in sound but dramatically different meanings.
In real life we can't even begin to use all these words but it definitely helps with comprehension and I was able to buy a pair of flip-flops for Jocelyn yesterday all in Arabic.
MESSAGE OF THE CROSS
July 27, 2008
Tomorrow I will start an intensive course in Chadian Arabic. Supposedely we will be taught 20 new words everyday so that by the end of the 30 day course we will learn 600 new vocabulary words. I often put this undo pressure on myself based on the weightiness of our message and the weakness of my linquistic tongue.
This morning I read these words, "For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not withwords of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross be emptied of its power" (1 Cor. 1:17).
In fact later it says that the smart people, the descriptive authors, and the apologetic types can stay home because people don't come to know God through worldly wisdom and wise words (1 Cor. 1:20).
For me there is a freedom as I approach yet another language. A freedom that empties my pride and glorifies God by by using broken words to magnify Jesus because the power of salvation is found only in the message of the cross.
My prayer is that this would also give you freedom to share this treasure regardless of your gifting because God will mst likely choose to use you instead of the eloquent person sitting beside you.
July 27, 2008
Tomorrow I will start an intensive course in Chadian Arabic. Supposedely we will be taught 20 new words everyday so that by the end of the 30 day course we will learn 600 new vocabulary words. I often put this undo pressure on myself based on the weightiness of our message and the weakness of my linquistic tongue.
This morning I read these words, "For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not withwords of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross be emptied of its power" (1 Cor. 1:17).
In fact later it says that the smart people, the descriptive authors, and the apologetic types can stay home because people don't come to know God through worldly wisdom and wise words (1 Cor. 1:20).
For me there is a freedom as I approach yet another language. A freedom that empties my pride and glorifies God by by using broken words to magnify Jesus because the power of salvation is found only in the message of the cross.
My prayer is that this would also give you freedom to share this treasure regardless of your gifting because God will mst likely choose to use you instead of the eloquent person sitting beside you.
NEIGHBORS
July 20, 2008
Now that we have a means of internet, Insha-allah, we will be able to update this blog although only about once a week. This is a photo of our neigborhood. We are living in very nice concrete homes that belong to the Lutherans... as I was writing this we just heard rapid gun shots just down the street - talk about making your heart jump. Just like old times I called the kids inside and went to an elevated place so I could evaluate the situation. Some people were running while others looking about like myself trying to see what was going on. It seems like it was just a celebration as people like to shoot in the air at weddings.
July 20, 2008
Now that we have a means of internet, Insha-allah, we will be able to update this blog although only about once a week. This is a photo of our neigborhood. We are living in very nice concrete homes that belong to the Lutherans... as I was writing this we just heard rapid gun shots just down the street - talk about making your heart jump. Just like old times I called the kids inside and went to an elevated place so I could evaluate the situation. Some people were running while others looking about like myself trying to see what was going on. It seems like it was just a celebration as people like to shoot in the air at weddings.
AMAZING GRACE
June 27, 2008
I’ve been thinking a lot since my last update. Sometimes I wish I could read your mind as you read my words because I often live my life deep within my own thoughts while holding my tongue. The need for the cross is the very point of our insufficiency. We couldn’t be what God demanded of us. As a natural perfectionist I struggle with my imperfections, especially as I relate to God. He demands more than I can give but then he provides more than I could ask. Where I fall short of displaying God’s glory so God displays his glory through our weakness by doing what we could not (perfect obedience), bearing the punishment our failings deserved (the cross), and then helping us become what we could not be on our own. This is the meaning of the cross.
The heart of the Gospel is not a list of rules we must live up to but it is ultimately news that shouts out to the broken, “Amazing Grace - my chains are gone, I’ve been set free.” So in our freedom where will we run and how long can we keep going? This is why I picked this video because the words of the song are to a movie by the same title, “Amazing Grace.” The movie depicts William Wilberforce and his lifelong struggle to end the human slave trade in England. He endured years of failure with odds standing like iron barriers against his objective, yet still he endured. In the vastness of the freedom we have received how can we not move forward to accomplish that which seems impossible. We run to Jesus in the freedom he bought with a joy that this life is merely a seed of future grace.
We will begin packing up our bags today to move back to Chad.
June 27, 2008
I’ve been thinking a lot since my last update. Sometimes I wish I could read your mind as you read my words because I often live my life deep within my own thoughts while holding my tongue. The need for the cross is the very point of our insufficiency. We couldn’t be what God demanded of us. As a natural perfectionist I struggle with my imperfections, especially as I relate to God. He demands more than I can give but then he provides more than I could ask. Where I fall short of displaying God’s glory so God displays his glory through our weakness by doing what we could not (perfect obedience), bearing the punishment our failings deserved (the cross), and then helping us become what we could not be on our own. This is the meaning of the cross.
The heart of the Gospel is not a list of rules we must live up to but it is ultimately news that shouts out to the broken, “Amazing Grace - my chains are gone, I’ve been set free.” So in our freedom where will we run and how long can we keep going? This is why I picked this video because the words of the song are to a movie by the same title, “Amazing Grace.” The movie depicts William Wilberforce and his lifelong struggle to end the human slave trade in England. He endured years of failure with odds standing like iron barriers against his objective, yet still he endured. In the vastness of the freedom we have received how can we not move forward to accomplish that which seems impossible. We run to Jesus in the freedom he bought with a joy that this life is merely a seed of future grace.
We will begin packing up our bags today to move back to Chad.
GLORIFIED?
June 12, 2008
One of my favorite and most theologically rich quotes is, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.” Here are some basic thoughts before I share more. These thoughts are taken from John Piper’s little book called, “Dangerous Duty of Delight” and I highly recommend it.
“God is glorified not only by His glory’s being seen, but by its being rejoiced in. When those that see it delight in it, God is more glorified than if they only see it” (19). “Joy is not just a spin-off of obedience to God, but part of obedience. It seems as though people are willing to let joy be a by-product of our relationship to God, but not an essential part of it” (13). “Therefore the essence of worship is delight in God, which displays His all-satisfying value” (24).
Why do I say all this? I question if God is being glorified in my life at the moment. I’m being obedient but without joy, especially joy in God. By joy I don’t mean happy, giddy, laughing like a school-girl. I mean something rooted and satisfied in God’s sovereignty over my circumstances. I’m content with bitterness over the way things “should” be instead of pursuing joy in who God is, now, despite my circumstances. So what does this say about my life and mission. In my joylessness I’m wasting the purpose of my life to glorify God in exchange for self-pity and thus destroying any hope to call people to rejoice in what I cannot. Now I don’t know if I should be depressed in my ever-changing circumstances or depressed that I’m exchanging God’s glory for something far less valuable and real. Why is the human heart so hard to control?
June 12, 2008
One of my favorite and most theologically rich quotes is, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.” Here are some basic thoughts before I share more. These thoughts are taken from John Piper’s little book called, “Dangerous Duty of Delight” and I highly recommend it.
“God is glorified not only by His glory’s being seen, but by its being rejoiced in. When those that see it delight in it, God is more glorified than if they only see it” (19). “Joy is not just a spin-off of obedience to God, but part of obedience. It seems as though people are willing to let joy be a by-product of our relationship to God, but not an essential part of it” (13). “Therefore the essence of worship is delight in God, which displays His all-satisfying value” (24).
Why do I say all this? I question if God is being glorified in my life at the moment. I’m being obedient but without joy, especially joy in God. By joy I don’t mean happy, giddy, laughing like a school-girl. I mean something rooted and satisfied in God’s sovereignty over my circumstances. I’m content with bitterness over the way things “should” be instead of pursuing joy in who God is, now, despite my circumstances. So what does this say about my life and mission. In my joylessness I’m wasting the purpose of my life to glorify God in exchange for self-pity and thus destroying any hope to call people to rejoice in what I cannot. Now I don’t know if I should be depressed in my ever-changing circumstances or depressed that I’m exchanging God’s glory for something far less valuable and real. Why is the human heart so hard to control?
PLAYING IN THE RAIN (Video)
June 6, 2008
Yesterday afternoon was beautiful as a rain storm passed through and dropped the temperature remarkably. The first question after the rains start continues to be, “Can we go outside and play?” Soon the kids and adults were running around playing tag until they were covered with mud and sand. It was only once the rains stopped that they decided to come inside.
And Lane... please note that all our kids are wearing shoes to reduce your stress of our kids being attacked by parasites. Unfortunately I must also worn you that we also decided to give up on shoes as sandals prove absolutely worthless once your feet sink down into the sand. From now on they will be shoeless so please shield your eyes :)
Hope you enjoy this video. I tried to get video of all the kids.
June 6, 2008
Yesterday afternoon was beautiful as a rain storm passed through and dropped the temperature remarkably. The first question after the rains start continues to be, “Can we go outside and play?” Soon the kids and adults were running around playing tag until they were covered with mud and sand. It was only once the rains stopped that they decided to come inside.
And Lane... please note that all our kids are wearing shoes to reduce your stress of our kids being attacked by parasites. Unfortunately I must also worn you that we also decided to give up on shoes as sandals prove absolutely worthless once your feet sink down into the sand. From now on they will be shoeless so please shield your eyes :)
Hope you enjoy this video. I tried to get video of all the kids.
DESERT REDNECK
June 3, 2008
The Dawn Treader is sporting a little taste of West Virginia now. After returning home to the beauty of “Almost Heaven” I couldn’t resist bringing back just a little bit of my heritage. Trying to explain, “Ain’t Skeered” for Europeans and Africans can be a little tricky but everyone seemed to have a translation for “Are we there yet?”
My intention is to basically continue adding stickers to the truck until it gives out or gets stolen. The initial idea for the stickers arose from advise that we should put something on our truck like a logo in order to better identify the vehicle in the event we are car-jacked and with bandits roaming the wild west this is always a posibility. I played with other ideas but in the end it feels good to introduce a little redneck in the Sahel.
June 3, 2008
The Dawn Treader is sporting a little taste of West Virginia now. After returning home to the beauty of “Almost Heaven” I couldn’t resist bringing back just a little bit of my heritage. Trying to explain, “Ain’t Skeered” for Europeans and Africans can be a little tricky but everyone seemed to have a translation for “Are we there yet?”
My intention is to basically continue adding stickers to the truck until it gives out or gets stolen. The initial idea for the stickers arose from advise that we should put something on our truck like a logo in order to better identify the vehicle in the event we are car-jacked and with bandits roaming the wild west this is always a posibility. I played with other ideas but in the end it feels good to introduce a little redneck in the Sahel.
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