We had a really fun day today! This weekend is World Cultures Weekend at our home church, Christ Fellowship. This morning we had most of our global workers at the church with tables set up around the main area and we had guest speakers to teach on certain topics, like ministering to people of different religions, cultural Christians, etc. The attendees would go to a session with a guest speaker, then they'd go to a table to hear a short presentation from one of the global workers. They had a passport book and they got a stamp from each place they visited (for example, since we are global workers to Uganda, our stamp said Uganda).
It was very exciting and we met many new people. Being our first time to share a presentation about our ministry, we weren't sure what to focus on or how to present...really we weren't sure of anything. :) We think it went well enough but one question was asked a few times that we found a bit challenging to answer. We did our best at the time. Of course, hours later I came up with a good analogy to help people understand our answer and our current situation. So, what's the question and how do we answer:
Q: What will be your job (or role, what do you bring to the ministry, what will you be doing)?
(if you haven't read my last blog, it may be helpful to read that first. just click here, read, and then come back)
A: There really isn't a specific 'job' or role. At this point, what we know is that Floyd will be helping oversee the progress made on the preparation and construction for the opening of the school and home for orphans in January, 2015. He describes it as being like a city manager. His background is in business management, and that's sort of what he'll be doing. For the most part, the first chunk of time for me will be learning how our family can function in the bush of Uganda. While I had a little experience during our 2 month trip this past summer, I have to learn to wash our clothes by hand (once I figure out where to wash them), where and how to prepare food (once I figure out where to get food), how to start and maintain a garden so that we can grow some crops for ourselves, how the kid's homeschooling is going to work, and lots of other every day things that we will just have to take time to learn. Of course, the kids and I have no desire to just be by ourselves, so we'll find every opportunity to spend time and share in the lives of the local folks. Of course, we'll get to spend lots of time with those helping me learn how to do all of these normal things. Once the school and home for orphans opens, we'll certainly want to be involved in the lives of the kids. With my education background, I'd love to be able to help with the students directly; but we really don't know exactly how it's all going to look yet.
So here's the analogy:
Let's say someone is opening a new restaurant. This person is putting everything they have on the line for the success of their business. Their 'job' doesn't have a specific title. Today they might be cooking because the chef is out. Tomorrow they might be waiting and busing tables because that's what needs to be done. One day they may be in meetings with investors or local farmers that they want to buy food from. Another day they may be fixing a broken toilet in the restroom and washing dishes. You get the idea. They don't have one job. They are completely invested and willing to do whatever needs to be done that day. Because the business is new, they may not have a full staff, so they're doing more than one job. If possible, their family is even getting involved doing any job that they can do to make the business a success. When you ask them what their job is or what they do; they'll say that they own a restaurant or they just opened a restaurant; they don't have a specific 'job'.
So, apply that analogy to our situation. We don't know exactly what we'll be doing and we can't even tell you that we're going to be great at it. What we can tell you is that we're all in because God has called us to this purpose. We know that there is a timeline of opening the school and home in January, 2015. We also know that there is a ton of work and communication and preparation and learning that needs to be done in order for this school and home to be a Christ-filled, nourishing environment for the orphans and the students that come to the school. We don't feel particularly capable, but we know that God has given each of us a strong body, a strong mind, and a willing heart to do whatever needs to be done. He will provide everything else as it is needed, whether that is a person to train us in a task, the knowledge to complete a task on our own, the physical tools to clear out some bush, the knowledge and physical means to grow crops, the tools and hands to make bricks and lay them, and so on and so on. We are stepping out in faith that because God has called us to this purpose, we go in His strength and ability, not our own. We are leaving everything behind and investing our lives to see the success of God's plan for this land in Kapeeka, Uganda.
Of course, as is often the case, God has given each of us certain giftings and experiences that will prove to be useful in beginning this ministry (like my education back ground and growing up in a somewhat rural environment, or Floyd's business skills and ability to do manual labor). I think it is no accident that all 5 of us are adventurous, enjoy being outdoors, and are willing to take on a challenging task. Also, our missions pastor, along with the team from Catalysts International, have worked with us to identify areas in which we could benefit from strategic training and preparation. Based on their findings, we have a list of things that we'll be working on in the months between now and our departure.
I can totally understand a person's desire to understand everything when they're deciding whether to give financial support. You can imagine our conversations when we're trying to figure out how to explain everything to others, when we don't even have all the answers ourselves. All we can ask is that you pray about it and, if God puts on your heart to join us, respond in obedience. Just as we are selling everything and stepping on a plane in faith that He will reveal each step along the way; we feel confident that God can and will give you the peace to join in prayer and financial support while trusting Him to bring answer to your questions in His time.
Have you ever wondered what the world would be like now if Abraham had been unwilling to offer Isaac to the Lord? Or what if Noah had decided that he wouldn't build the ark until it all made sense?
It was very exciting and we met many new people. Being our first time to share a presentation about our ministry, we weren't sure what to focus on or how to present...really we weren't sure of anything. :) We think it went well enough but one question was asked a few times that we found a bit challenging to answer. We did our best at the time. Of course, hours later I came up with a good analogy to help people understand our answer and our current situation. So, what's the question and how do we answer:
Q: What will be your job (or role, what do you bring to the ministry, what will you be doing)?
(if you haven't read my last blog, it may be helpful to read that first. just click here, read, and then come back)
A: There really isn't a specific 'job' or role. At this point, what we know is that Floyd will be helping oversee the progress made on the preparation and construction for the opening of the school and home for orphans in January, 2015. He describes it as being like a city manager. His background is in business management, and that's sort of what he'll be doing. For the most part, the first chunk of time for me will be learning how our family can function in the bush of Uganda. While I had a little experience during our 2 month trip this past summer, I have to learn to wash our clothes by hand (once I figure out where to wash them), where and how to prepare food (once I figure out where to get food), how to start and maintain a garden so that we can grow some crops for ourselves, how the kid's homeschooling is going to work, and lots of other every day things that we will just have to take time to learn. Of course, the kids and I have no desire to just be by ourselves, so we'll find every opportunity to spend time and share in the lives of the local folks. Of course, we'll get to spend lots of time with those helping me learn how to do all of these normal things. Once the school and home for orphans opens, we'll certainly want to be involved in the lives of the kids. With my education background, I'd love to be able to help with the students directly; but we really don't know exactly how it's all going to look yet.
So here's the analogy:
Let's say someone is opening a new restaurant. This person is putting everything they have on the line for the success of their business. Their 'job' doesn't have a specific title. Today they might be cooking because the chef is out. Tomorrow they might be waiting and busing tables because that's what needs to be done. One day they may be in meetings with investors or local farmers that they want to buy food from. Another day they may be fixing a broken toilet in the restroom and washing dishes. You get the idea. They don't have one job. They are completely invested and willing to do whatever needs to be done that day. Because the business is new, they may not have a full staff, so they're doing more than one job. If possible, their family is even getting involved doing any job that they can do to make the business a success. When you ask them what their job is or what they do; they'll say that they own a restaurant or they just opened a restaurant; they don't have a specific 'job'.
So, apply that analogy to our situation. We don't know exactly what we'll be doing and we can't even tell you that we're going to be great at it. What we can tell you is that we're all in because God has called us to this purpose. We know that there is a timeline of opening the school and home in January, 2015. We also know that there is a ton of work and communication and preparation and learning that needs to be done in order for this school and home to be a Christ-filled, nourishing environment for the orphans and the students that come to the school. We don't feel particularly capable, but we know that God has given each of us a strong body, a strong mind, and a willing heart to do whatever needs to be done. He will provide everything else as it is needed, whether that is a person to train us in a task, the knowledge to complete a task on our own, the physical tools to clear out some bush, the knowledge and physical means to grow crops, the tools and hands to make bricks and lay them, and so on and so on. We are stepping out in faith that because God has called us to this purpose, we go in His strength and ability, not our own. We are leaving everything behind and investing our lives to see the success of God's plan for this land in Kapeeka, Uganda.
Of course, as is often the case, God has given each of us certain giftings and experiences that will prove to be useful in beginning this ministry (like my education back ground and growing up in a somewhat rural environment, or Floyd's business skills and ability to do manual labor). I think it is no accident that all 5 of us are adventurous, enjoy being outdoors, and are willing to take on a challenging task. Also, our missions pastor, along with the team from Catalysts International, have worked with us to identify areas in which we could benefit from strategic training and preparation. Based on their findings, we have a list of things that we'll be working on in the months between now and our departure.
I can totally understand a person's desire to understand everything when they're deciding whether to give financial support. You can imagine our conversations when we're trying to figure out how to explain everything to others, when we don't even have all the answers ourselves. All we can ask is that you pray about it and, if God puts on your heart to join us, respond in obedience. Just as we are selling everything and stepping on a plane in faith that He will reveal each step along the way; we feel confident that God can and will give you the peace to join in prayer and financial support while trusting Him to bring answer to your questions in His time.
Have you ever wondered what the world would be like now if Abraham had been unwilling to offer Isaac to the Lord? Or what if Noah had decided that he wouldn't build the ark until it all made sense?
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