Missions in the midst

Hello Everyone, Below is the support letter we are sending out for a trip at the end of March.  I thought I would go ahead and post it here because you just never know who might be interested in helping out.

This spring, my two oldest and I have the opportunity and privilege of going on a short-term mission trip to the Casa de Elizabeth Orphanage in Imuris Mexico. Our church began a relationship with this orphanage about 4 years ago. Each year, the group that makes this trip comes back changed and blessed. This is the first time the three of us will be going. Right now there are approximately 75 children at the orphanage. I know that many of them will have a special place in our hearts by the time we come home. We look forward to meeting and ministering to them.

The focus of this trip is to show the love of Christ to the children and to help support the orphanage’s needs. We will be doing this by hosting a Vacation Bible School and a Youth Group program, working on some repairs/projects that they need help with and cooking some meals for them. This past year has been a tough one for the orphanage. They have lost some of their food suppliers so I know helping with meals while we are there will be greatly appreciated. We will take all the supplies with us so as to not drain their resources. If you have never had the opportunity to cook a meal for a 100 people, you are missing an adventure!

The reason we are sending this letter is because we want to share with everyone what we are doing, and also ask for your support. The first thing we really need is prayer support – for safety, funds, and effectiveness. There is a lot going on in our lives right now. This trip is an opportunity to look outside ourselves and see the needs of those around us. We also need financial support. The church has budgeted some money for this trip. Each person going is still required to raise $250. I know the economy is tough right now, but any support you could give would be very much appreciated! Thank you very much!  ————————————————————————————————————————————— Name:_______________________________ Address:____________________________________ ____ Yes, I will be praying for you ____________________________________ ____ Yes, I would like to help support you financially _____________Amount Please make checks payable to Evergreen Bible Church, place my name on the memo line and mail them to: 9600 E Mill Plain Blvd. Vancouver, WA 98664 To get more information about Casa de Elizabeth, see their website at http://www.casadeelizabeth.org/

Rubbin’ the Rabbit’s Foot of Faith

The last nine months have seen some dramatic changes in my life.  My wife has announced and pursed a divorce which will soon be final.  I have awoken from a long sleep and turned to the Lord as the only way to get through it all.  Most of those around me recognize the changes in my life.  My wife says, “Too little, too late.”  Now, at the end of it all, I struggle with the apparent unsuccessfulness of my spiritual turn.  I have had feelings of, “OK, that didn’t work, I will slack off a little.”  I suppose I have even begun to look forward to the possibility of mildly sinful behavior that I could get away with as a single guy.

I was made aware of all this last week listening to a speaker talk about maintaining integrity or wholeness through trials.   He used Job as an example(of course) of someone whose faith was an integral part of his life.  When faced with trials, Job did not dis-integrate, he stayed whole.  For those whose faith is not integral, it can be something that is a talisman, chant or ritual meant to produce good things.  We turn to it when things start going bad.  We perform the rituals more fervently, repeat the chants more loudly and rub the talisman a little harder.  And when things don’t work out, we throw away the talisman look for something else.  I really had to ask myself what I was going to do with my faith now that it appears that my devotion has not produced the desired results?  Will I remain whole in the Lord, or will I dis-integrate into the schizoid sinner I used to be?

Bringing things up to date

My employer shuts down for a Christmas break.  We get the usual paid days off and then use earned leave for the rest.  This has been the case for most of the ten years that I have been with the company.  Many years I have had projects that have taken me to work when everyone else was off.  This year I truly took the time off.  A friend gave me a trial account for World of Warcraft.  This has got to be the second most addicting on-line activity I have seen.  There is a reason it is nicknamed Warcrack.  The game is very complex and the graphics are great.  I played a lot over the break.  Now with school(for the kids), work, and divorce taking up my time, I am trying to decide how much time I can really give to this game, whether it is worth keeping up a membership.

The holidays were ok.  I really missed the things that we usually do as a couple.  Christmas is one of the most romantic snuggly times of year for me.   I think without the usual jigsaw puzzle and Warcraft, I would have gone bananas.   My wife waffled during this time, but, due to some good(?) counsel, has finally decided to own the divorce.  She announced to the kids this weekend that she would be the one moving out.  She has not given the go ahead to prepare final papers, but I do not believe she will jerk the kids around by changing her mind.

That kind of brings things up to date.  I appreciate the concern of my regular reader.