Okay, I'm on a roll and since I have time here goes another one.
A few years ago when the SARS epidemic was going on in China there was a trip planned by a group to go there. One of the guys going was a friend of our son, Nick Neely. Nick had been before to China and was ready to go back for another dose. Well, because of the SARS deal the group decided to cancel the trip for safety's sake. You can't blame them for that because most likely several parents were worried and concerned. Maybe some of the college kids had already dropped out before the final decision. I´m not sure. Those in charge have to make decisions sometimes that are tough calls for the good of the group.
Well, Nick decided he was going to go anyway. He had a heart for the people there and felt this was something he must do. Even amidst the SARS deal and his whole group backing out, Nick made up his mind to go to China and serve there for several weeks.
What do you call that? Stupidity, loco, insanity, foolishness, careless, faith, stubborn, bull headed.....? Or what?
Call it what you want but it takes faith to do something you feel led, maybe called to do, when everyone else around you says 'no' or 'don't go'. It takes a bit of intestinal fortitude that is uncommon in the realm of Christianity today. It requires grit.
I think Nick may be going to Uguanda this summer. He's been there once for a term of 3 months or so, and now he says it´s time to go back. I wonder how life is in Uguanda these days?
Say a prayer for Nick and his adventure to Uguanda. While you're there see if God can send us a few more like him, we could use them.
Oh yeah, Nick said it was not nearly as bad in China as the media said it was. Overkill, is that the right word?
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Fear, drugs and pigs...continued
If you have ever lived in Mexico you can appreciate the statement, ¨Only in Mexico´. Today amidst all the media superhype about the swine flu/H1N1 Kelley, Erin Brumit and I were treated to a random display of craziness. We were grabbing a bite to eat for lunch at a fast food chicken place and were done, just hanging out, catching up with each other´s lives, when along comes a teenage boy over towards the table and with great stealth he snatches up a slightly used chicken wing of mine, right off my plate.
I was a little shocked, Kelley almost laughed and Erin just sat there with an Erin grin on her face, halfway startled and about to burst out in laughter too. What did he just do? He grabbed a picked over piece of chicken off my plate and ate it right there. Did he ask? No, he just snagged it and gnawed on it. Normally people ask for food donations here, but this guy did not. What made it crazy was the fact that we are supposedly in the midst of this huge pandemic in Mexico and all the schools are closed for safety's sake. The people behind the counter all had on masks and gloves to protect them and here's this kid eating food from someone he doesn't know and without asking. Very odd, right?
Mexico is a place where you just might see about anything. If you think this story is crazy you should've seen the guy driving a truck one day down the city street holding a rope in his hand which was attached to a horse running along side him. And no, we don't live in the country, we live in a big city, over 1/2 million. Only in Mexico...
I was a little shocked, Kelley almost laughed and Erin just sat there with an Erin grin on her face, halfway startled and about to burst out in laughter too. What did he just do? He grabbed a picked over piece of chicken off my plate and ate it right there. Did he ask? No, he just snagged it and gnawed on it. Normally people ask for food donations here, but this guy did not. What made it crazy was the fact that we are supposedly in the midst of this huge pandemic in Mexico and all the schools are closed for safety's sake. The people behind the counter all had on masks and gloves to protect them and here's this kid eating food from someone he doesn't know and without asking. Very odd, right?
Mexico is a place where you just might see about anything. If you think this story is crazy you should've seen the guy driving a truck one day down the city street holding a rope in his hand which was attached to a horse running along side him. And no, we don't live in the country, we live in a big city, over 1/2 million. Only in Mexico...
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Fear, drugs, and pigs
If you have a tv or computer you have heard more than your share of the flu that is wreaking havoc in Mexico City and is making an attempt to threaten more lives outside the borders of Mexico. So what? So what is your response? Does it affect you? Does it even make you think twice about washing your hands or covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze?
At first it didn't really bother me too much and then when I saw my friend wearing a mask at work one morning while he was outside, all by himself working I thought,"This is craziness, a bit of overkill."
I remembered the Sars semi epidemic in China a few years back and all the fear the media raised over it. I remembered the swine flu outbreak, very small, in the 70s. I remembered these because I began seeing people with masks on walking down the street or in places of business. Kind of weirded me out.
I will admit I have watched a ton of news coverage lately due to the pig flu. More than normal. I have read more than my share of internet articles too. Just curious.
But I am trying to not do the one thing that the media and the rest of the world wants, I am trying not to live by fear. I am trying to be wise and use common sense, but I am not going to resign to the fear that drives the media these days.
Anyone remember the year 2000 or what was it Y2K? Remember the overall fear and paranoia during that time? The powers that be had convinced us to be afraid and prepared, but mostly afraid. I never bought into it, maybe you didn't either. I actually did buy some extra drinking water though, about 4 gallons.
There's another crazy thing that is going on in Mexico and has for as long as we have been here, 5 years......the drug war. Many groups will not be coming to Mexico this summer because of the drug war. My guess is many more will not come because of the flu virus. Think about this, mission groups who are supposed to be on mission for God to spread the faith of the gospel, but are too afraid to go.
Maybe we should rewrite the great commission, "Go into all the world unless you git scared.."? Hum, we could rewrite some other verses as well.
At first it didn't really bother me too much and then when I saw my friend wearing a mask at work one morning while he was outside, all by himself working I thought,"This is craziness, a bit of overkill."
I remembered the Sars semi epidemic in China a few years back and all the fear the media raised over it. I remembered the swine flu outbreak, very small, in the 70s. I remembered these because I began seeing people with masks on walking down the street or in places of business. Kind of weirded me out.
I will admit I have watched a ton of news coverage lately due to the pig flu. More than normal. I have read more than my share of internet articles too. Just curious.
But I am trying to not do the one thing that the media and the rest of the world wants, I am trying not to live by fear. I am trying to be wise and use common sense, but I am not going to resign to the fear that drives the media these days.
Anyone remember the year 2000 or what was it Y2K? Remember the overall fear and paranoia during that time? The powers that be had convinced us to be afraid and prepared, but mostly afraid. I never bought into it, maybe you didn't either. I actually did buy some extra drinking water though, about 4 gallons.
There's another crazy thing that is going on in Mexico and has for as long as we have been here, 5 years......the drug war. Many groups will not be coming to Mexico this summer because of the drug war. My guess is many more will not come because of the flu virus. Think about this, mission groups who are supposed to be on mission for God to spread the faith of the gospel, but are too afraid to go.
Maybe we should rewrite the great commission, "Go into all the world unless you git scared.."? Hum, we could rewrite some other verses as well.
Monday, April 20, 2009
cHanGe
On Sunday after enjoying church service and a nice lunch with friends Kelley and I headed over to Edinburg, Texas to visit two of our girls from Matamoros who live there in the girls school/home. They had a piano recital with 28 different girls playing a song or two. It was incredible to see these young ladies from age 9 to 20 share their musical talent. One of the girls stood up to share her testimony after playing, her name is Diana. She choked back tears as she shared how God had totally changed her heart, her will, and her life for the good in the four years she had been in the school. She talked of rebellion and disobedience that she displayed towards her mom in years past, and how God had changed her to a child of God.
What was so moving for me was knowing that two of our girls were there in this same school, hearing this same message, but more than that, seeing this young lady live out her testimony. Olga and Paola both came from rough homes and both dealt with their share of rebellion, one very open, another not so open, but still there. Now they live a different way in a different home with love and God´s word to lead them. They see the change that has occured in Diana and so many other girls that live there in the school. They know that they have the opportunity to change as well, that they can do it through Christ who strengthens them.
Our testimony is not what we say, it is more what we do, how we live, who we are. I have learned more about Christ by seeing the testimony of people like Martin, Christy, Carolina, Ely, Brenda, Paola, and Olga here in Mexico. I have never met a preacher who could match the testimony in words of these faithful followers of Christ.
Praise God there is hope that Christ can change lives like Diana, Paola, Olga, Juanita, and perhaps me!
Fellow follower
What was so moving for me was knowing that two of our girls were there in this same school, hearing this same message, but more than that, seeing this young lady live out her testimony. Olga and Paola both came from rough homes and both dealt with their share of rebellion, one very open, another not so open, but still there. Now they live a different way in a different home with love and God´s word to lead them. They see the change that has occured in Diana and so many other girls that live there in the school. They know that they have the opportunity to change as well, that they can do it through Christ who strengthens them.
Our testimony is not what we say, it is more what we do, how we live, who we are. I have learned more about Christ by seeing the testimony of people like Martin, Christy, Carolina, Ely, Brenda, Paola, and Olga here in Mexico. I have never met a preacher who could match the testimony in words of these faithful followers of Christ.
Praise God there is hope that Christ can change lives like Diana, Paola, Olga, Juanita, and perhaps me!
Fellow follower
Friday, April 10, 2009
Resting and sacrilege
When is it okay to rest? I mean to really do nothing but chill out, read, mess around the house putting photos up, and just be not driven. Is it okay to let your body, mind, and soul lay back and catch up with all the world has been throwing your way? Does God ever rest? Well, Jesus did, I think. Seems like he did if you read the New Testament without an American work, work, work bent. I seem to remember him snoozing once in a boat as the disciples put out to sea on the lake. I wonder how many times he did that and it was not recorded. Other times he just went away from the crowd, just left them to be alone or with just 2 or 3 disciples. Sometimes he got up early to go off alone to pray. Maybe you don't think getting up early to pray is like rest, but it can be.
So, is it okay to rest and do nothing so you can get renewed and focused again on what's important and what's just sideline stuff? Or do we have to go, go, go all the time?
So, is it okay to rest and do nothing so you can get renewed and focused again on what's important and what's just sideline stuff? Or do we have to go, go, go all the time?
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
New house
Okay, so we moved into a new house, although it's not new, just not so old as the one we used to live in, and not falling apart. It was kind of exciting to change houses because the old one was in bad shape and we had to do all the repair work. The landlord repaid us, most of the time, but little stuff we just took care of. It was exciting too because the new area we live is much calmer and quieter. The old area had a lot of drinking going on late at night. Our one set of neighbors would have a party in the street, yes, in the street, at least once a week. Sometimes it was just a few guys and a few beers, and loud music. Sometimes it was a few guys a lot of beers and louder than loud music, with lots of bass.
The new place is smaller too and that means less to clean up and less stuff to hoard away. That's good too.
And our new neighbors actually speak to each other and smile and wave at you. The old ones, not so much. Maybe one family was sort of nice, but the teenagers were a little snooty and.....
The new house feels like a home to us too. Honestly, we have never had that feeling in the almost 5 years we have lived here. We have always felt like we were just visiting, not really at home here. Maybe because of the places we lived maybe the people around us, not sure.
The new house is also close to places, like the Oxxo convenience store, the ice cream shop, the sandwich shop, two taco stands, and the internet cafe. I don't have to drive anywhere except to the preschool. It's great! Walking to stuff makes me fell more like I belong too, like it's my neighborhood.
This may seem all trivial to you, but if you've never lived in another country, spoken a foreign language, and been away from everyone you know, then it's not so trivial. It's huge.
Well, I think I'll go back to the new house. It's a nice sunny day and I need to walk, because of the tacos, and ice cream.
The new place is smaller too and that means less to clean up and less stuff to hoard away. That's good too.
And our new neighbors actually speak to each other and smile and wave at you. The old ones, not so much. Maybe one family was sort of nice, but the teenagers were a little snooty and.....
The new house feels like a home to us too. Honestly, we have never had that feeling in the almost 5 years we have lived here. We have always felt like we were just visiting, not really at home here. Maybe because of the places we lived maybe the people around us, not sure.
The new house is also close to places, like the Oxxo convenience store, the ice cream shop, the sandwich shop, two taco stands, and the internet cafe. I don't have to drive anywhere except to the preschool. It's great! Walking to stuff makes me fell more like I belong too, like it's my neighborhood.
This may seem all trivial to you, but if you've never lived in another country, spoken a foreign language, and been away from everyone you know, then it's not so trivial. It's huge.
Well, I think I'll go back to the new house. It's a nice sunny day and I need to walk, because of the tacos, and ice cream.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Of living and dying well
Everything seems to change when we hear some really sad news. One moment we are lost in our own lives, what we are going to do that day, what we are going to eat for lunch, what clothes we will wear that day, and then BOOM! We receive some tragic news, like the loss of a life of a young person. Then all of a sudden our preoccupation with our daily stuff seems to fade away quickly.
Sometimes I know I put too much emphasis on stuff that doesn't matter so much. Like just recently, as we prepared to move into a different house we uncovered tons of stuff we had no use for and had not seen for quiet some time. Things, stuff....junk. I cannot tell you how many pieces of junk that I threw away, gave away, placed out in front of our house so that the early morning collectors of stuff would pick it up. At one point I got a little angry at myself for having so much stuff that I did not need. So I got rid of even more, and I'm not finished yet.
The young person who died in an accident this past Sunday was serving as a short term missionary in South Africa. She was described by those who served alongside her as a person who lived a life of love. She loved her team members, her family back home, and especially the people of South Africa. She was giving up a year of her life to serve and love people in Africa. She never knew that she would give up her life on this earth to serve there.
This Sunday our youth pastor Rusty shared a powerful illustration of how we should give over all our stuff and all of our relationships to the Lord and let him do as he pleases with them. At one point Rusty began tossing his stuff onto the ground in front of the stage. He chunked his wallet, watch, cell phone, and even shoes and belt. I was scared the shirt was coming off too.
In the end the Lord doesn't really want our stuff, He wants us, our very lives, plans, dreams, everything.
The young person who died in Africa gave her all. Tragically she died when a tire blew out and a car rolled over. She died doing what she loved to do, serving people and loving them. She very well could have died in the United States just merely existing in life like so many do. Praise God she lived and died with purpose.
Sometimes I know I put too much emphasis on stuff that doesn't matter so much. Like just recently, as we prepared to move into a different house we uncovered tons of stuff we had no use for and had not seen for quiet some time. Things, stuff....junk. I cannot tell you how many pieces of junk that I threw away, gave away, placed out in front of our house so that the early morning collectors of stuff would pick it up. At one point I got a little angry at myself for having so much stuff that I did not need. So I got rid of even more, and I'm not finished yet.
The young person who died in an accident this past Sunday was serving as a short term missionary in South Africa. She was described by those who served alongside her as a person who lived a life of love. She loved her team members, her family back home, and especially the people of South Africa. She was giving up a year of her life to serve and love people in Africa. She never knew that she would give up her life on this earth to serve there.
This Sunday our youth pastor Rusty shared a powerful illustration of how we should give over all our stuff and all of our relationships to the Lord and let him do as he pleases with them. At one point Rusty began tossing his stuff onto the ground in front of the stage. He chunked his wallet, watch, cell phone, and even shoes and belt. I was scared the shirt was coming off too.
In the end the Lord doesn't really want our stuff, He wants us, our very lives, plans, dreams, everything.
The young person who died in Africa gave her all. Tragically she died when a tire blew out and a car rolled over. She died doing what she loved to do, serving people and loving them. She very well could have died in the United States just merely existing in life like so many do. Praise God she lived and died with purpose.
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