true safety

Where are we truly safe? I think this is a fairly valid question these days especially in the wake of quite a few terrible incidents that have happened recently. I don't think we should foolishly go wherever, especially just for an adrenaline kick. But obviously, I also don't think we should just hide away in our own safe bubbles either.
We have been to and are going to many "dangerous" places. I think often what gets labeled dangerous is just the place that is getting the most media attention that year. I think the safest place of all is in God's will. Not to sound cliche or overconfident, but I think it's true. Perhaps it is the fear of the horrific that truly gets people. I think a lot more people die from car accidents or something like heart disease, than anything related to terrorism. We shouldn't necessarily be scared to go to country X, when it is much dangerous driving, even in Canada, especially after it has snowed. But please keep us in mind and in your prayers, we don't necessarily just want safety but whatever God has in mind.
With all that said, I'm still not going to throw all caution to the wind and be reckless. We do want to be safe but it's just not our first priority I guess. As I have read and am reading from accounts of great men and women, who have done truly awesome things, I am reminded again what true commitment and sacrifice is all about. We know Who is control of all things and on Him we put our trust.

New Eyes

"The true voyage of discovery lies not in seeing new landscapes but in having new eyes." W.B. Yeats

so far, so good!

After 15 flights, 7 countries, hundreds of meals from street vendors, and too many hostel rooms to count, we can say that we haven’t lost any luggage or missed any flights!! Besides the occasional sore throat and mild bout of diarrhea, we haven’t been sick either! That’s pretty amazing considering some of the street stalls we’ve eaten from!! All this is to say that God is good and all these things have happened because of Him. He most definitely is taking care of us!!
We have continued vision to keep on the track that is set before us. We feel strongly that God is guiding us in direction and timing of where we go.
~R

perspectives on life

Well today I felt like I was brought back into the old testament a bit. Not that it is was uncivilized or ancient, but just the truth of it shining through the centuries.

"You shall have no other god's before me. You shall not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.You shall not bow down to them or worship them".

Never before have those words really meant so much. We think of idols as maybe to much TV or maybe Micheal Jordan or something. Not that those can't be "idols", but true idols do exist and are used by the enemy for his purposes. Today we saw the emerald buddha, and "his" temple and worshipers. Sitting there in front of him I just felt this darkness and oppresion, and really felt the spirtual battle. In the land of Thai's there are approximately 66 million people with 95% claiming to be buddist, and seeing this devoted worship really brings it home. Our fight is not against Buddists but against the power that blinds them from seeing the truth.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

When we see the world through those perspectives, what is actually real and important is brought home.
C

one to remember

Trying to leave the mission station, where we have been the last month, has proved to be more difficult than it was getting there. Our flight was scheduled to depart at 12:50pm.  It, of course didn’t, things run on their own time in PNG.  We spent the afternoon showing our housemate the shops, and checking for our plane, back at the airport. When we actually left, it was after 5pm.  Our ride, email confirmed yet never met,  was due to pick us up around 3:30pm. We arrived at 8pm. So naturally, there was no ride for us. As we waited outside the airport in Port Morseby, we both had peace  and trust in God that it would work out.

Craig started chatting with a fellow Tau,  who had been on the same flight as us. It happened to be Independence Day weekend in PNG (it’s hard to find a hotel in port Moresby at the best of times), so all the hotel rooms were inevitably booked up. People started leaving the airport, including the flight attendants and pilots.  Tau's son came to pick him up. Craig  asked him if he could borrow his  phone for one last try at the one number we had.  After no response, they, seeing our rideless position, asked about us, and who was supposed to pick us up.  Low and behold Tau’s son happened to actually know  who the people were and where they lived.  He made some calls and waited for a call back. Seeing no other option, and having peace about the decision, we hopped  in the back of the truck and went with them to the place.

As we rode in the truck, I was just laughing to myself. Are we crazy?  Here we are in Port Morseby. We don’t know the city. We don’t know where we’re staying,   and we’re riding around with complete strangers! Yet, I knew that the Lord would provide a way for us, and indeed He did! Our acquaintance met us at the apartment and her husband took us to a very nice hotel!  Nicer even than most of the places we stayed in Australia!  AND, it had air conditioning!

It’s really amazing how you can just trust God. We had made all the arrangements before we left, but they didn’t work out.  But as we waited, and rode with perfect strangers, we both had peace and were even laughing about it individually. God is good and He is faithful!!  And all of our good Samaritans were so gracious!!

When you have prayed something through, and God has shown you that this is clearly where He wants you at this point in time, it’s truly amazing!  Now we don’t recommend just hopping in with any stranger, but if  things are in God’s will, there is no safer place to be, even then being back in Canada.  We know we are going to many places where things aren’t considered safe.  But what safer place to be then in God’s hands.  We believe that where God leads we will go, even if things aren’t as planned.    And not that we expect everything to always work out like it did this time, but even in the hard times we can trust in God.

Luke 12:28  “And if God cares so wonderfully for  flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you.  Why do you have so little faith?” (NLT)

plastic Jesus

I started reading this book. Plastic Jesus by Eric Sandras. He talks about “ the hollowness of Comfortable Christianity’. I’ve only just begun this book but I think it might explain a little of why C & I are doing this…. Leaving all things that are comfortable and familiar for the unknown. It gives an invitation to look inward. Maybe you should read it too.

 

“Wow. There is a big difference between intellectual theology and practical theology. I had been living in a spiritual suburbia with nice sidewalks and picket fences around my Christianity. In the back of my mind, I knew that God was inviting me to explore some uncharted territories with Him. I had allowed myself to be duped into thinking that the perceived safety of the predictable was more rewarding than the risk and joy of discovery. This drift had caused my faith to appear all put together on the outside. You know-do the right things… know the right people… speak the right ‘Christianese’…. Yet as my faith became more neat and tidy on the outside, on the inside it grew more and more superficial.”

 

~R

actually gone

I guess the reality of being gone is starting to sink in.  Along with that though comes the reality of being away from family and friends.  That transition is something that will be a longer one.  We are getting used to the fact that we can’t just go over and see anyone, or just call someone up.  To some extent it seems like we are just gone short term and we’ll be back soon, but in our heads we know better.  We do miss you all, but also understand that it’s the reality of what we are doing.  The new friends we have already made have been great, we have connected very well, and now it seems like we have been long time friends.  But here too, we soon have to say goodbye, and once again struggle with the reality of this trip.  Dealing with this constant uprooting will probably be one of the hardest things we will have to face.  But we would still rather have\make good friends even for a time, than to be alone by ourselves.  I guess that line that says “It’s better to have loved and lost (or separated from) than to not have loved at all” holds true.  Every time we open up to someone else there is the opportunity that we get hurt from that friendship, either through being separated from each other, or by us hurting each other.  This risk is one that must be taken however to experience life to the fullest.  We thank God for the times we have had together, and look forward to more in the future.  We also understand that having great friends isn’t everything in this life. We (everyone) are called to a higher purpose.

 Philippians 3:14  -  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus

We hope that is what we are doing, trying to build treasures in heaven where they  cannot be taken from us.  Matthew 6:19,20  and also 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 

C

R&R

 

We came here with the intentions of resting, relaxing, and preparing for the “missions” part of our trip.  And we’ve been doing just that! We’ve had time to partake in many different “worship” times. Many were not in the traditional sense of the word, but yet I felt the presence of God closer than in many more traditional services. We have been abundantly blessed by the believers here. Their faith in strong and I have been encouraged by their devotion and passion for the Lord. On Wednesday night, we were invited to the bure, which is gathering place for boys and young men, The youngest was 7 and the eldest was the leader, who is 22. They meet every day at 6 am and 6 pm. That’s dedication! They meet in a short little shack, lit only by the light of a kerosene lamp, and comforted Only by the spare pillows and cushions that could be found.

Here, I was humbled.

 

They spoke both in Fijian and English. Sharing the word of God with each other, asking for forgiveness for being late, and with deepest sincerity. They asked us to share a bit. After that, they all simultaneously prayed for us. Some in English, but mostly in Fijian.  

It was a moving experience.

 

Not a one minute prayer, but prayer at length and earnest asking the Lord to bless us and continue to guide our ways, and show us clear direction. We had just met them.

From boys so young.

 

I was humbled at their love for the Lord. They come together twice a day to praise Him and encourage one another. ….And I have a hard time spending 30 minutes with the Lord in the morning?

 

WE know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.

 

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God- Through Jesus Christ our Lord!

 

Romans 7:14-17, 24,25

~R

 

Finally!

So it really did finally happen! After much planning, packing and WAY too little sleep, we're off! It's bittersweet. I desire to go, yet it's so hard to leave. This is the life I know and love, yet I'm too curious about the rest of the planet to NOT go. But there have already been so many good things in our path. Clareview blessed us on Sunday with an amazing reception. It was so very touching to hear such high regards about yourself when you know you stumble every single day, just like everyone else. Each and every one of those words meant so much to me. To both of us. On Monday evening, we enjoyed a nice family meal together. Tuesday, we met a pastor, who just "happened" upon us. A complete stranger, but strongly encouraged us to keep going on the path we're headed. Appropriate timing as I considered if this was the right thing to do mid-flight. He wants us to share with his community when we get back. I love it when those "coincidences" happen! ~R

Beginnings (Sort of)

It is the beginning of our blogging, but it is not the start of this journey. We have been thinking about this trip for at least 2 years now. The gears began turning about February of last year. Although the time to go is fast approaching, it still feels a bit surreal to me. Maybe that's what 2 years of thinking and planning will do to a person, it makes it seem like the time will never come. But God has definitely had His hand upon us and these plans.  So if you want to journey with us, we will try our best to post regularly and keep you up to date

Craig and Ruthie