"All that is not given is lost": 2007

Saturday, December 22, 2007

"The Word Came With Power"

"The door flew open and Chalinggay burst in, running as best as a crippled old woman can. Sweating profusely, her face twisted in pain, she was bent over and clutching her stomach as if she were being stabbed repeatedly. Her body was going stiff in the jerky shakes that accompany spirit possession. 'They're killing me, they're killing me!' She screamed. 'Send them away, there're killing me!'
I was paralyzed with fear. What have I done? Oh God, now what do I do? I started to pray. Chalinggay prayed each word, right on top of mine. Then I stopped in mid-sentence.
'Chalinggay, the trouble with you is, you're not God's child. If you would repent of your sins, and ask God to make you his child, then God could protect you.' I know God had to help us in this battle.
Chalinggay didn't wait for me to pray this time; she just threw her head back and shouted up at God… instantly the shaking stopped and the pain vanished: the spirits had fled." pg 100-101

"The Word Came With Power", by Joanne Shetler and Patricia Purvis…. what an amazing book! Spiritual warfare is something you read about, something you sort of acknowledge exists, but don't really spend any time thinking about it. However when you are faced with testimonies like this you are stopped dead in your tracks.

Paul tells us "for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against …the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." So often I just read over that with the "ya, sure" attitude.

This book is all about the spiritual battle, and victory as the Bible translators go to live with the Balangao people of the Philippines. The Balangao people lived in fear of the evil spirits, a harsh reality for them as the spirits endlessly demanded sacrifices. It is so foreign for me to even think in those terms, and I think I too often just shrug off the idea of 'spiritual forces' as if they weren't important. I could hardly put this book down, the story, of the people's realization of God's power over the spirits, is just amazing!

There is always wisdom to be learned from the 'elders'; the author's adopted 'father', Ama, was such a man of wisdom. Here are just two examples of his wise teaching, quoted from the book, that meant a lot to me.

"You can't teach people something if they steadfastly refuse to ask questions. That's just a courteous way of rejecting God." pg 153

His step-by-step method to deal with conflict; "First of all, you must listen. Walk along with the other person on his trail and affirm every point you can, demonstrating to him that you understand him. Then, when he's no longer threatened, and he realizes you understand his argument, take him by the hand and lead him where you want him to go." pg 122

Well that’s all for now! That’s going on to my "Most Favorite" book list!

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

People

I must say it is a whole new world working in retail, slightly different from what I am use to, working with animals!

It has been such a neat experience so far because the number of interesting people out there is very high indeed! Not all of them have time to talk nor do all of them want to, but often I get to share a moment of their lives that leaves both of us happier because of it! I often get to hear the readers digest version of why they moved to the Yukon, or a visitors perspective of my hometown, or listen to what this grandchild or that daughter is up to. I must say that the little old ladies, or the the little old men are the most fun because they love to have a chat!

Just the other day a very nice gentleman gave me all sorts of useful advice about Kenya (his daughter lives/works there). He was very excited for my planned trip and kept emphasizing how great of an experience it will be for me and how much I will love it! Two of the ideas that he mentioned that really stuck with me were... the people there do not have verbs for describing the future, they lived in the present, and his statement - "they have nothing yet they share everything"

Now that is is getting into the Christmas season I am sure I will be running into many more rushed and frantic shoppers that won't be up for much talking, ah well, thats commercialism for you!

I found a few pics on the internet of the Gabbra people, just so you have a bit of an idea of where I am going! I have been told that it gets up to 50C... thats half way to boiling! So from -50C to +50C, should be interesting!

Monday, November 26, 2007

Kiswahili

Kevin found this site for us to learn Kiswahili... but after browsing through it I wonder if my mouth will ever be able to get the sounds right! Kevin wants to learn a few key phrases for his travels this Christmas (He and Jodi are off to Tanzania). I won't be studying Swahili when I go, I will be learning the tribal language, but languages fascinate me so I thought Kev and I could practice together!

Just listen to this phrase!!! (click on the 'Kiswahili', the title)

It means "Here is rice, fish, potatoes, and salad. I'll bring you cake later."

I just finished a great book, "Through the Gates of Splendor" by Elisabeth Elliot. For those of you who don't know the story it is basically 5 young men who cared enough, were committed enough and trusted enough to give up their lives for the sake of the gospel in Ecuador. I first heard the Reader's Digest account of this story while I was in Capernwray and since then it has been a huge inspiration for me. Elisabeth is one of my favorite authors (just after C.S Lewis) her wisdom, her life experience, her faith and her chalenging words have been such a help to me lately.

Here are a few quotes from the last few pages of the book (this is one book that I DIDN'T read the last pages first... but that is because I already knew how the story ended!)

"God is God. If He is God, He is worthy of my worship and my service. I will find rest nowhere but in His will, and that will is infinitely, immeasurably, unspeakably beyond my largest notions of what His up to."

"God is the God of history, and He is at work continuously, mysteriously, accomplishing His eternal purposes in us, through us, for us, and in spite of us."

"It is not the level of our spirituality that we can depend on. It is God and nothing less than God, for the work is God's and the call is God's and everything is summoned by Him and to His purposes, the whole scene, the whole mess the whole package - our bravery, our weakness.

Now I have to go and find another book to start!

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Acceptance

Yay!
So today I finally received my official acceptance letter!

I have been officially welcomed to the AIM family as a full term missionary with them! It seems more of a formality because so far the thought of not going hasn't really entered my mind, it just seems like it is suppose to happen so it will.

I have lots of preparation to go through as I work towards the departure date, and I am feeling strongly that I have a huge need for growth in SO many areas!

Last week I started meetings with a mentor from my church. We will be working through a book/program called "Timothy in Preparation", so that is exciting for me! There is always so much to learn from people who have 'been there done that', and I need all the help I can get!

Right now I think the most daunting task for me is the 'support raising'. Well the vaccination part will be rough as well, since I HATE needles! But being a part of a Christian organization gives me the responsibility of raising my personal support. I need to seek friends who are committed to me and my vision to help meet my support needs. I think the biggest need I will have is prayer support, Prayer is a powerful and essential part of God's work through us.

I have had a few people asking if/how they can support me. Here's how...

You can contact me to let me know you are and will continue to pray for me...
letting me know this is a huge encouragement!
my e-mail is louet_3@hotmail.com

You can send a one time gift, or monthly support to AIM.
Send a check payable to AIM, and put in a separate note saying that it is for me.
Or you can contact them to set up a monthly automatic withdrawal from your bank.

Africa Inland Mission Int.
1641 Victoria Park Ave.
Scarborough, ON M1R1P8

1-877-407-6077 (toll free)

http://www.aimint.org/can/

"That man is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot loose"

~ Jim Elliot ~ (my hero)

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

My Utmost for His Highest

Oswald Chambers had been a big inspiration to me for the past few years and todays devo was about prayer as the key.

"The key to the missionary's difficult task is in the hand of God, and that key is prayer,
not work - that is, not work as the word is commonly used today,
which often results in the shifting of our focus away from God."

I know that many times I don't really grasp how vital prayer is for my relationship with God. Its so easy to be oblivious to the small everyday evidences of His care. Prayer isn't the means of getting something, it is our connection to God Almighty.

"Prayer isn't to move God our way, but to move us God's way".

Coincidence?

Hey,

Coincidences; I don't believe they just happen randomly and for no reason. I also believe that God was using them to get my attention. I have heard of people "hearing from God", and often wondered why He didn't 'talk' to me... but now I think I am just not a very good listener!

I can't really pinpoint a time that my vision started to form, the idea of wanting to work with children in crisis in Africa. Since last October I could not get away from the feeling that I had to go, I had to do something to start in that direction. And God brought people, sermons, events, book and films into my life to make it impossible to ignore that ‘call’. But for me personally there were more than a few sticking points that I had to get past, things that were standing between me and Him, things that I was not willing to let go of. Someone asked me... "What do you spend most of your time, money and thoughts on? That is what you treasure". Well for me that was an easy one to answer - horses. That was just one of the points I had to fight past. But luckily we aren’t in this alone, “In Him I can do all things”, and I know I wouldn’t have made it past that point without help.

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it." (Matt 13:44-46)

Oct 8, 2006 - Following through with actions is often a hard thing, and when it came to the decision of selling my horse (who had been at the top of my priority list for quite some time) it was a hard one. I can't say that I 'went in joy' to sell him, and even as I thought about advertising him I still had many questioning thoughts such as "I won't sell him UNLESS he gets a good home and I get what I was asking for him”. However, in obedience, I did begin to advertise him.

This spring I decided to apply for Africa Inland Mission's (AIM) Training in Ministry Outreach (TIMO) program. It is a two year program of training, discipleship, mentorship and preparation for long term missions overseas. The different teams go to work under a missionary couple in different areas of Africa and live/work with a people group, learn their language, learn their culture, and share the good news of Jesus Christ.

June 7, 2007 another one of those coincidences happened... I finally get all of my application papers sent out and out of the blue I get a call - someone wants to buy my horse. Not only did it turn out to be a great home, but they offered more than I had asked for when they found out about my Africa plans. And for those of you who have never sold a horse before let me inform you; horse selling is NEVER that easy!

So that leaves me here and now... back home in the Yukon for the winter, looking for a job, getting to know my home church again, and trying my best to get the list of 'must do's' done before my departure date in April.

So I guess you could say I don't believe in chance coincidences. A friend of mine made up his own word for describing those times... Godincidences. Through them God has led me to training for overseas missions, and after these next two years are up He is the only one who knows what direction my life will take!