A blog of thanksgiving for the New Year

In the remarkable and emotionally-stirring story of the Rich young man in Mark 10, a story that left the Twelve disciples in vexed wonder; a story in which the young man who fell on his knees before Jesus genuinely desiring to know how to find eternal life, and one in which it isn’t difficult to see ourselves in place of that man, Peter said to Jesus, “we have left everything to follow you!” And to this Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mothers or fathers or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields- and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.” We all read the same gospel stories and there are those universal lessons which we all understand. But there also exists some aspects of a story: a certain phrase, a moment or reaction, a particular word that may mean more to us at a specific time in our life.

I’m confident most who read this passage see the splendid promise at the end: eternal life. It is undoubtedly the paramount promise given to us by Christ, the ultimate reward for all believers. But what precedes this promise is another, one for our life here on Earth. Jesus says we will receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers children and fields…). So as 2009 comes to a close and it marks my one-year anniversary since arriving in Suriname, I have found it the proper time to share with you from my heart about how the Lord has blessed me with “a hundred times as much in this present age”, notably, my Suriname family.

I have put much thought into writing this blog for a while because the gratitude and thankfulness has long been on my heart and mind. My supervisors (out of respect for their position of authority but not in any way an appropriate description of the relationship which is undoubtedly family-like) are absolutely awesome. They have been a blessing to Taylor and I from the very moment we met Charles a year ago on a sultry January morning in Paramaribo and Brittany five months later at our annual prayer retreat. Their three kids: Ethan, Caleb and Abigail have blessed the two “uncles” as we were given the endearing designation after we had known them no more than two days. I am thankful to God for them and all they have done for me.

When committing to be overseas in a foreign country for two years, who will be your supervisor is of critical importance to how your term will pan-out. I could write pages of all the exploits and outright adventures we’ve been through as well as awesome experiences with sharing Christ with the Aukaan people alongside Charles. But what I want to get across is how Charles has exhibited the highest virtue attained by a great leader: leading by example. I cannot recall anything he has asked us to do that he himself hasn’t done. We’ve storied together with our people group, we’ve told testimonies on the radio. He’s handed us the microphone on live radio and asked us to tell a Bible story extemporaneously. We’ve hauled a boat up a seemingly impassable rapid and camped out countless nights in the jungle with all the bumps, bruises, sore feet, oppressive heat and occasional plague-like swarms of insects. We have seen him with Brittany and the kids in the home and seen what and how Biblical, Christ-like marriage and fatherhood look like. In the interior, Charles is highly respected among the Aukaaners and our direct association with him has benefited the ministry in Ditabikii and Godoloho. Charles has challenged us in so many ways in our present lives as well as the near and far future. One day as we were doing a morning devotion Charles posed the question as to how did David’s mighty men slay giants. We pondered this for a few moments until Charles answered us saying that David himself had slain a giant. This lesson being that leadership is of upmost importance and that men will only summon the amount of courage and inspiration that their leaders are willing to display.

Brittany has been an incredible blessing to Taylor and I. She has shown an uncommon level of hospitality and thoughtfulness both in the city and the interior. While in the interior she frequently sends us out care packages with treats we love and new snacks we haven’t yet tried. In the city, we are treated to delicious homemade meals with their family. This has brought us to the obvious conclusion regarding our preferred cuisine in the city: the Shirey’s house.:) Even while in the interior Brittany would call us to see how we were doing, if we needed anything sent and for prayer specific prayer requests. She would often give us a verse she felt the Lord wanted us to hear. All this makes us feel every bit a part of the family. It makes being overseas feel surprisingly far from foreign.

Sharing about our ministry, sitting around the table both in the city and the interior has furthered my belief and gratitude that Jesus promise of a hundred times as much in this present age has been and is being fulfilled in my life. And for this I am thankful.