Time to think.....

December 2014

The Christmas Season always makes me think about a lot of things. Some of my South Sudanese colleagues say, “It’s not good to think too much!” Well, I recognize that sometimes thinking “too much” can lead us to despair, can allow the negative thoughts to overwhelm us, and even cause us to lose hope. But I am believing that at the end of 2014 and a new year just ahead, thinking (perhaps better – reflecting) is wise and can help us to enter 2015 with a new sense of peace and joy!

In reading Isaiah 42 this morning, the prophet shared God’s word to us: “See, the former things have taken place, the new things I declare, before they spring into being I announce them to you.” (vs. 9) In the verses before this one, he told us of the SERVANT, “my chosen one in whom I delight” – Jesus – who would “bring justice to the nations” and who would NOT become discouraged in doing this work. 

When I reflect on the injustice in the world, the disrespect and intolerance, the pain and suffering of the most vulnerable, it is easy for me to question and become discouraged. Why must this be?  But Isaiah continues: “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand.” (vs. 6)

The words of Christmas, "Immanuael - God with us," calls me to move from discouragement to the LIGHT OF HOPE!  I recognize my need to “go for a walk with the Lord every day,” to continue in this ministry here in South Sudan.  The amazing things is, God desires to take hold of my hand – to comfort, to guide, to share in this life experience.  My task is only to be faithful…..and to join Jesus on the walk every day! If you struggle with the same issues – may we commit to start this spiritual exercise in 2015 – a daily walk with the Lord!  Happy New Year!

WHO IS THE GREATEST??

Who is the greatest?

Recently I read the passage from Mark 9: 33-37 where Jesus’ disciples were caught in the midst of their argument about which of them was the greatest. Jesus knew what they were discussing – but he let them argue, and then he sat them down, confronted them about it, and went on to use this as a “teaching moment.”

“If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”  Jesus proceeded to take a little child in his arms and went on to tell his Twelve disciples, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”  Do you think these men were as confused as the leaders of our world today?  Right now I see and hear about power struggles among leaders in so many countries – not the least of which our country of service, South Sudan. The leaders certainly don’t appear to be welcoming the “little children.” Instead, they are making these vulnerable children experience more hurt, more pain, serious risk of malnutrition, and continuing insecurity.  

As one of Jesus’ followers, it would seem the CHURCH as a whole should be speaking out for the “little children.” The bitter differences of leaders throughout the world are no different than in Jesus’ day and time. But rather than quote LAWS AND RULES for his disciples to follow, he spoke of the HEART! Times haven’t changed.  Jesus spoke of being a SERVANT LEADER……not many of those around these days!

I came across an article recently about Uruguay’s President, Jose Mujica, a man who donates most of his salary to the poor and lives in a simple farm house with his wife. Most would consider him crazy….and I wouldn’t pretend to know what motivates his servant heart. But many presidents in this world could learn a thing or two from him, I dare say!

Living here, with no TV in our home and little evening entertainment, some books circulate amongst the ex-patriates living in Yei. One such book is Kate, a book about Princess Catherine from England. I just finished reading it, and it made me think about the issue of “class structure” and how we have so little control over many aspects of our lives. We cannot change where we were born. We cannot change who our parents are. We cannot change the faith into which we are raised. Others have had that control. The children in South Sudan and many other desperate parts of this world cannot change that they were born into their circumstances. But we from the US often say that hard work and determination can change those circumstances, and we can “rise above” those circumstances. Isn’t that the American Dream we from the US have grown up with? Such was the story of Princess Catherine…born into a lower class family that worked hard and dreamed of better things. I would venture to say very few become a princess, even though many a young girl may dream of it!

Here, and in many other parts of the world, rising above life’s difficult circumstances certainly requires hard work and determination. But so many forces are beyond the control of the vulnerable children. Daily survival is often their focus. I was out in a village this past week and found myself counting plastic bags from mosquito nets that had been distributed by UMCOR volunteers to individual homes. I kept thinking, “I should be doing something more important.” But thankfully I was prompted to think of the lives that will be saved as the little children and families start using these mosquito nets properly and avoid that serious case of malaria! Then my counting took on more significance……and I think my pace even picked up!  So often we think our day has more value “if we do something really important today.” Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes one these little children…..”

Thankfully there are many Aid Organizations who are trying to help in South Sudan and other desperate countries. But will the aid come in time? Will the aid reach every child?   I know I do not have answers to what seems like such serious problems in our world today. But I do believe that my response can only be to pray for those leaders who are still arguing over “WHO IS THE GREATEST?” And work in my “little circle of life” to welcome the children around me, and seek to be a servant in all that I do….whether that means counting out plastic bags from distributed mosquito nets, or examining a child who is sick, or waiting for someone who is not “keeping time.”  I think that is what Jesus is saying to me today! Thanks for listening! J

"Where is the love?"

“Where is the love????” May 2014
Some of you may remember a song from the past called “Where is the Love?” by the group, Black-Eyed Peas. Recently I heard a story from our language helper about a faithful woman in an abusive relationship here in South Sudan. The song came to my mind as I reflected on Kejia’s story.

    Kiden had been married to Lomoro for many years and had seen her family struggle through years of war, but especially as her husband began to drink alcohol. First it happened infrequently; but then over time, he began to drink daily and far too much, such that he neglected his family and became so abusive – verbally and physically. Kiden mourned the loss of the man she had married, and the love that they had shared. She prayed fervently to God; she pleaded with Lomoro to stop drinking alcohol, often leading to more abuse; she begged her friends and church to pray.
    One day, after working hard all day – fetching water from the river, washing clothes, digging in the fields, and cooking what little food she had struggled to saved – Kiden had an idea, which she believed was from God.
    Kiden gathered 3 large bundles of dry grass and put the children to bed early. When Lomoro stumbled home after dark, after drinking with his friends, Kiden served him food and stayed quiet. Soon as he was becoming sleepy, from food and drink, Kiden lit the end of one of the bundles of grass and began to walk slowly around their compound, as if looking for something. At first, Lomoro didn’t seem to notice. But when the first bundle of grass was finished and Kiden lit the second, Lomoro watched her every move, and began to shout, “What are you doing, woman? What have you lost?” But Kiden remained quiet and kept walking around the compound, as if searching for something.
    As she lit the third bundle of grass, Lomoro had sobered up a bit and joined Kiden in her search, asking, “What is it you have lost?” Kiden turned and looked at her husband and said, “I am searching for the love that used to be in our home. It must be lost somewhere. I want to find it.”
    Lomoro was struck deeply by his wife’s words. He sat down and began to weep. He realized she was right and confessed his sin. Lomoro and Kiden sat down together and talked, really talked, for the first time in years. Kiden thanked God for helping her to find the love that had been lost! The healing began in their home, and my friend heard their testimony in church the following Sunday.
    I am reminded of the woman who had lost her coin and searched diligently to find it, and when she did, she called her friends and neighbors to come and celebrate with her! “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15: 8-10)
    I was touched by the wisdom of this woman, who listened to her heart and found a way to reach through the fog of alcohol and find “the lost love.” I know that many turn to alcohol to cover the pain of this life. And many have suffered deeply in this land – from war, disease, death, poverty, hopelessness. Many turn to alcohol. But this story reminded me once again that the hope and love found in Jesus is stronger than all the pain, and it can transform a person, a marriage, a family, a community, a country! Thank you for your prayers and support as we offer the light of Jesus in this dark world!

Something Good Takes Time!

Ita ainu? Jena ta ananas weledu fi inak! (Do you see? The baby of the pineapple is born over there!) When I first heard this phrase in Arabic, I just laughed! It seemed strange that someone would refer to the new pineapple as the "child of the pineapple.” Yet as we see from the pictures, that is indeed what is happening - a baby pineapple comes off the top of the old pineapple leaves after 2 years of patient waiting! Some plants take even longer - I was told many years ago that the avocado tree takes about 7 years to produce the first crop of fruit. Patience...waiting.....that has been a theme for this year...2014! Thankfully we were able to return to South Sudan in March, more than a month later than planned. Yet God is faithful, and we have returned to a safe place in this young country, troubled again by violence just before Christmas 2013. The negotiations continue. Nearly 1,000,000 citizens have been displaced over the past 3+ months, and thousands have been killed. News of insecurity in many places fill conversations and UN security meetings. Inadequate supplies and food for the displaced people trouble the minds of all aid organizations who attempt to help. Yet many complain. Many are critical of the way things are handled. Nothing is easy. And the rains are not helping. We get our news from several news sites online as well as the radio. Last week we were listening to BBC, and I realized once again the privilege that it is for us to be in this place at this time in the history of South Sudan. Yes, there are problems; the lack of infrastructure and governmental structure make every step slow and tedious. Understanding of disease and basic health is very low and repetition is essential. Yet there is progress....in time! I heard today again: Something GOOD takes TIME! So true. The United Methodist Church has had missionary staff (what we might call "cross-cultural workers") here on the ground in Yei since 2009 - just 5 years. At this time we on the District Team are working through the Strategic Planning process for the next 5 years! It reminds me of the birthing process - painful at times; exciting at others. But new life is the happy result! Now the challenge continues as we re-cast the vision for the future of the church in this place and work alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ to finalize the Strategic Plan - and suffer the growing pains in the process. Thankfully we are never too old to learn! It reminds me of the time we as parents invest in the lives of our children. Slow and daily steps lead to an adult life, living for Jesus and serving others. And it reminds me of the patience of our Heavenly Father as we continue to grow in faith and faithfulness - living into the mission of making disciples for the transformation of this little part of the world! I read these verses from II Corinthians 5: 17 - 20a and am challenged to realize this is the call for each of us: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he/she is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come. All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors......." The ministry of reconciliation - so needed in this time in the world. News of Ukraine and Russia; the 20 year anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda; the stabbings in a Pennsylvania school; the tribal conflicts in South Sudan; the pain in Central African Republic; the desperate situation in Syria. May we seek new life - new birth - with patience, love, and reconciliation, as Jesus' ambassadors, wherever we are! Nina bilimu tani! Rabuna kali barigu itakum! (We will meet again! God bless you all!)