Hey everyone, I'm leaving again for the interior, this time for six weeks. Me and Taylor should be back around March 4 and there will be plenty of blogs to post by then. You should check out the links below. Charles created these two videos from our first trip in. They're pretty sweet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlEdR0n1K4Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxAAJtSZHJY
Friday, January 23, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Lessons from a new culture
Preparing mentally for life in a new country with a culture much different from my own, I felt that I knew what to expect. I mean I read Foreign to Familiar (those from ILC, you know what I’m talking about) and had been lectured for two months on how to handle it all. And in some ways I was prepared. I understand that being “on time” is universally subjective to the individual and that long lines and poor customer service are just a way of life. But despite these seemingly fixable hindrances that when corrected would greatly increase efficiency, I saw a trait very much foreign to contemporary Americans and the West: patience.
A rash observer would miss the fact that in spite of what looks like a stressful disaster, everyone is content as can be. In fact, most seem happier waiting to get gas for hours than the family in the SUV in the states picking up fast food at the swiftest drive-thru in town. My supervisor Charles prefaced us on the first day we prepared to run errands by saying: “If you get one thing done on your list today count it a success”. Although we were able to get more than one task each day, I saw just how and why this maxim rings true. But as days went by I began to be amazed by people’s demeanor and attitude and how through their eyes, it really wasn’t that big of a deal.
The day we left to begin our voyage to the interior, pick-up time was 4:00 A.M., changed to 5:00 A.M. and we actually left around 6:00. When we got the port where we were going to pick-up a boat to ride upstream that day, the crew was slow loading the boat. As a result, the tide dropped and the boat was stuck on the shore. Consequently, we had to wait for the tide to rise and then waves came that made the water too choppy for ride. So the first night we spent grounded, sleeping under a tin roof with thirty hammocks strung up underneath. I thought someone might be upset about this but everyone was relaxed and chill. The biggest surprise to me was how there was never a demand for entertainment or amusement. Americans, especially younger ones would be squirming, whining, complaining about nothing to do. And you know what? There was nothing to do and that was okay. The next day our boat had about twelve passengers and we sat on a dreadfully uncomfortable 2x4 plank for twelve hours in the hot sun and I didn’t hear one grievance.
After a few more days in Ditabikki I was most impressed with the children’s behavior. For instance, our tutor Ba’Jepin’s eleven year old son Melvin accompanied him as he gave Taylor and I a language lesson for two-straight hours. Melvin sat patiently, listened, and didn’t even give his dad a tug to protest his being a spectator for most the night. Throughout my time in Suriname (and especially in the interior) I’ve seen a level of patience that pervades the culture. I have begun to learn how refreshing this is. I’ve even begun to appreciate that the subjective on-time concept can be a two-way street
Undoubtedly, I value my culture and I believe promptness has more benefits than detriments, but I’ve had a new appreciation for a “hot climate culture” and I think we in the U.S. could benefit immensely in the realm of health, family, and even our relationship with the Lord if we heeded some of these principles. Sometimes we can be preoccupied and overbooked and in reality get nothing done because we miss what often really matters our relationship with God and other people. There’s a reason the Lord said: “be still and know that I am God”.
A rash observer would miss the fact that in spite of what looks like a stressful disaster, everyone is content as can be. In fact, most seem happier waiting to get gas for hours than the family in the SUV in the states picking up fast food at the swiftest drive-thru in town. My supervisor Charles prefaced us on the first day we prepared to run errands by saying: “If you get one thing done on your list today count it a success”. Although we were able to get more than one task each day, I saw just how and why this maxim rings true. But as days went by I began to be amazed by people’s demeanor and attitude and how through their eyes, it really wasn’t that big of a deal.
The day we left to begin our voyage to the interior, pick-up time was 4:00 A.M., changed to 5:00 A.M. and we actually left around 6:00. When we got the port where we were going to pick-up a boat to ride upstream that day, the crew was slow loading the boat. As a result, the tide dropped and the boat was stuck on the shore. Consequently, we had to wait for the tide to rise and then waves came that made the water too choppy for ride. So the first night we spent grounded, sleeping under a tin roof with thirty hammocks strung up underneath. I thought someone might be upset about this but everyone was relaxed and chill. The biggest surprise to me was how there was never a demand for entertainment or amusement. Americans, especially younger ones would be squirming, whining, complaining about nothing to do. And you know what? There was nothing to do and that was okay. The next day our boat had about twelve passengers and we sat on a dreadfully uncomfortable 2x4 plank for twelve hours in the hot sun and I didn’t hear one grievance.
After a few more days in Ditabikki I was most impressed with the children’s behavior. For instance, our tutor Ba’Jepin’s eleven year old son Melvin accompanied him as he gave Taylor and I a language lesson for two-straight hours. Melvin sat patiently, listened, and didn’t even give his dad a tug to protest his being a spectator for most the night. Throughout my time in Suriname (and especially in the interior) I’ve seen a level of patience that pervades the culture. I have begun to learn how refreshing this is. I’ve even begun to appreciate that the subjective on-time concept can be a two-way street
Undoubtedly, I value my culture and I believe promptness has more benefits than detriments, but I’ve had a new appreciation for a “hot climate culture” and I think we in the U.S. could benefit immensely in the realm of health, family, and even our relationship with the Lord if we heeded some of these principles. Sometimes we can be preoccupied and overbooked and in reality get nothing done because we miss what often really matters our relationship with God and other people. There’s a reason the Lord said: “be still and know that I am God”.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Power to trample on snakes and scorpions....
Often there is a verse/verses in the Bible that you’ll read and often wonder if that will ever have any application to your life. Then one day an event occurs and it becomes clear that there isn’t a thing in the world that could have been said better to relate to what you’ve experienced. I’ve been in Suriname for an eventful two weeks and have been blessed beyond measure.
I got back to the city Wednesday after spending a week in the interior jungle 100 miles upriver from Paramaribo. Taylor and I will be spending most of our time in a village called Diitabiki during our next 6 months here. Our supervisor Charles was with us getting us oriented before he left last night to head back to the U.S. where he is on furlough till June. Our trip to the interior consisted of taking a motor boat two days upstream to Diitabiki, staying in the village and visiting believers and other contacts he has made during his seven years there. We then flew back home on a Cessna 206 airplane. We will be flying back to Diitabiki on Saturday and will stay there until March 4. We got a taste of everything we’ll be doing in the next two years: visiting villages, building relationships, discipling, evangelism, storying etc.
We were also quickly introduced to the physical and spiritual treachery that lies there. One afternoon last week we visited a village where Charles wanted to see some Christians he knew from there. During this time there was an Aukan funeral procession. Funerals in this culture are extremely dark and demonic and we wouldn’t have gone were there not people he had to see. It was a paradoxical situation because we’re on the outside of the village talking with new believers who have forsaken paganism and witchcraft to follow Christ all the while within view is a disturbing sight: A frenzied group had grabbed a sharp machete and was grasping the razor edge tugging back and forth. There should have been blood and men with sliced hands but everyone remained unscathed. There were men who looked demon possessed convulsing and mumbling chants. I asked Charles later how they didn’t get seriously hurt and he said during that particular ceremony they fight over a machete to see who will be possessed by spirits; demons give them power to remain unharmed.
Even during this time God protected us from Satan’s power and we were in fellowship with others who had come into the truth and away from a life of fear and spiritual oppression. The next day we were in our yard cleaning up and Charles and I stumbled upon a poisonous viper in the high grass. The snake was in the spot we were about to step but Charles saw it and we backed off, got a shovel and machete and killed it. Later that night one passage came to mind which the Lord used to encourage, comfort, and strengthen our faith. Luke 10: 19 “I have given you power to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Being where I am, this particular verse was the right word at the right time and is evidence of the living and active nature of the Bible. I know there were dangers the Lord protected us from that we never knew were there but he also showed us in two situations exactly what perils he rescued us from.
I got back to the city Wednesday after spending a week in the interior jungle 100 miles upriver from Paramaribo. Taylor and I will be spending most of our time in a village called Diitabiki during our next 6 months here. Our supervisor Charles was with us getting us oriented before he left last night to head back to the U.S. where he is on furlough till June. Our trip to the interior consisted of taking a motor boat two days upstream to Diitabiki, staying in the village and visiting believers and other contacts he has made during his seven years there. We then flew back home on a Cessna 206 airplane. We will be flying back to Diitabiki on Saturday and will stay there until March 4. We got a taste of everything we’ll be doing in the next two years: visiting villages, building relationships, discipling, evangelism, storying etc.
We were also quickly introduced to the physical and spiritual treachery that lies there. One afternoon last week we visited a village where Charles wanted to see some Christians he knew from there. During this time there was an Aukan funeral procession. Funerals in this culture are extremely dark and demonic and we wouldn’t have gone were there not people he had to see. It was a paradoxical situation because we’re on the outside of the village talking with new believers who have forsaken paganism and witchcraft to follow Christ all the while within view is a disturbing sight: A frenzied group had grabbed a sharp machete and was grasping the razor edge tugging back and forth. There should have been blood and men with sliced hands but everyone remained unscathed. There were men who looked demon possessed convulsing and mumbling chants. I asked Charles later how they didn’t get seriously hurt and he said during that particular ceremony they fight over a machete to see who will be possessed by spirits; demons give them power to remain unharmed.
Even during this time God protected us from Satan’s power and we were in fellowship with others who had come into the truth and away from a life of fear and spiritual oppression. The next day we were in our yard cleaning up and Charles and I stumbled upon a poisonous viper in the high grass. The snake was in the spot we were about to step but Charles saw it and we backed off, got a shovel and machete and killed it. Later that night one passage came to mind which the Lord used to encourage, comfort, and strengthen our faith. Luke 10: 19 “I have given you power to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Being where I am, this particular verse was the right word at the right time and is evidence of the living and active nature of the Bible. I know there were dangers the Lord protected us from that we never knew were there but he also showed us in two situations exactly what perils he rescued us from.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
From Suriname
I'm here. I wish I had more time to write a longer blog but I'm heading out to the jungle after three days of orientation here in Paramaribo. It has been awesome since arrival, I guess you can call it the "honeymoon stage" so hopefully it lasts as long as possible. I'll have much more to write about in a week after visiting the Auken people and living in interior. We leave tommorrow morning at five A.M. and ride in a boat for three days visiting various tribes that our supervisor had helped when a flood ravaged the area seven months ago. The weather here is awesome right now, warm rain, temperatures around 80 degrees. A far cry from the frigid temps of my last two residences. keep praying for me and I'll update this thing when I get a chance.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
The uncomfortable nest
There was a time in my life when coming home brought the greatest degree of comfort and consolation. In fact, I remember being homesick and being in tears on the bus to science camp in the sixth grade. I also recall how hard it was the first time I was away from my family when I went to boy scout camp for seven days. I hope this is a surprise to you readers, but I even remember being in tears some nights when the thought of my parents being gone to Uruguay for two weeks on a mission trip in 1999 came to my mind because I would be away from them. Maybe a lot of it was due to adolescence and the emotional roller coasters one often rides during that time or maybe I just had a good family life and didn't feel the urge to get away from them.
Fast forward ten years and here I am at 23, on the eve of my departure for life in a foreign country and a completely new culture. I wouldn't have imagined even two years ago that I would be doing something like this after graduating college. The amount of time being away from home and friends and family would have been a major deterrent to me pursuing such a path. It's interesting how the Lord works things out in your life that you would never see coming or plan by yourself. As I look back over the last two and a half years when I first left home to finish my junior and senior years of college I see how my home became less like home both purposefully and incidentally.
After being home now for two weeks in a new house where I no longer even have a room to claim as my own I feel like a stranger in many ways. I have been sleeping on the floor in our living room with the other three rooms occupied by my brother, sister, and parents. The kitchen is rearranged differently so I find myself opening and closing every drawer and cabinet trying to find a spoon and bowl to eat cereal. But beyond the foreigness of the layout of the house, my mom is the humorous and influential factor making this "nest" progressively more uncomfortable.
Throughout this short break my mom has lamented the fact that I don't know where to find anything in the and how I have "made a mess of the whole house". I consider myself a pretty clean guy and if I was grading my cleanliness on the curve for people my age I'd be in the B+-A range. My mom has even confessed to being neurotic and and obsessive compulsive about cleanliness but this confession hasn't curbed her intensity. Those of you who know me willl understand this grievance: my appetite. Mom has consistently expressed her frustration with how much I eat (she may have a legitimate case) and how much she has had to spend on food since my sister and (mostly) I have been home. My best defense has been: "come on mom I'm only here for a few more days". This plea has also not aleviated the grief I've gotten.
All this to say that what I've taken from all this is that its the right time to go. Don't get me wrong I have had an awesome time with the family and wouldn't trade this short break for anything. But I realize that whether my parents have consciously or subconsciously tried to encourage me to move out I have made the realization that living on my own away from home is the right thing. Despite some of the annoyance that it brings, I've given to thought to how unhealthy it would be if the converse were true and home was too welcoming and comfortable. The likely consequence would be that I might be hesitant to do something like the Journeyman program. So I guess I have to say thanks to mom for indirectly inspiring me to pursue a path outside the four walls I'm in right now.
Fast forward ten years and here I am at 23, on the eve of my departure for life in a foreign country and a completely new culture. I wouldn't have imagined even two years ago that I would be doing something like this after graduating college. The amount of time being away from home and friends and family would have been a major deterrent to me pursuing such a path. It's interesting how the Lord works things out in your life that you would never see coming or plan by yourself. As I look back over the last two and a half years when I first left home to finish my junior and senior years of college I see how my home became less like home both purposefully and incidentally.
After being home now for two weeks in a new house where I no longer even have a room to claim as my own I feel like a stranger in many ways. I have been sleeping on the floor in our living room with the other three rooms occupied by my brother, sister, and parents. The kitchen is rearranged differently so I find myself opening and closing every drawer and cabinet trying to find a spoon and bowl to eat cereal. But beyond the foreigness of the layout of the house, my mom is the humorous and influential factor making this "nest" progressively more uncomfortable.
Throughout this short break my mom has lamented the fact that I don't know where to find anything in the and how I have "made a mess of the whole house". I consider myself a pretty clean guy and if I was grading my cleanliness on the curve for people my age I'd be in the B+-A range. My mom has even confessed to being neurotic and and obsessive compulsive about cleanliness but this confession hasn't curbed her intensity. Those of you who know me willl understand this grievance: my appetite. Mom has consistently expressed her frustration with how much I eat (she may have a legitimate case) and how much she has had to spend on food since my sister and (mostly) I have been home. My best defense has been: "come on mom I'm only here for a few more days". This plea has also not aleviated the grief I've gotten.
All this to say that what I've taken from all this is that its the right time to go. Don't get me wrong I have had an awesome time with the family and wouldn't trade this short break for anything. But I realize that whether my parents have consciously or subconsciously tried to encourage me to move out I have made the realization that living on my own away from home is the right thing. Despite some of the annoyance that it brings, I've given to thought to how unhealthy it would be if the converse were true and home was too welcoming and comfortable. The likely consequence would be that I might be hesitant to do something like the Journeyman program. So I guess I have to say thanks to mom for indirectly inspiring me to pursue a path outside the four walls I'm in right now.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
"Where O death is your victory?"
This last week has been a refreshing time for me. Except for being in a new house, Christmas has remained similiar to previous family Christmases. This Christmas has a special significance because I will be leaving for two years and this time next year will find me in Suriname minus my family. I have given signficant thought to what I want to say to each member of my family to let them know I love them and all they mean to me. This brings me to my Grandpa, Robert Cotton.
My Grandpa is 81 years old and in failing health. Earlier this week he was admitted to the hospital where he is currently staying. As is true for most people venturing into their eighth decade of life, he has a number of bodily ailments which put him in persistent pain most days. When asked how he's doing, his favorite response laced with a touch of humor is: "I'm doing no good". Unlike the rest of the family, every year has seen him grow progressively imobile, sick and helpless. He's spending this Christmas lying on a hospital bed in a drug induced sleep.
I understand that my Grandpa's days are on this planet are short and I have faced the reality that he may not be alive when I get back in two years. While visiting Grandpa in the hospital yesterday and seeing him breathing laboriously, pale and incoherent I was faced with the inevitability of my own death and the disheartening end we will all one day experience. Later I went home and was reading I Corinthians 15 and the Lord spoke as he always does through his word.
"For since death came through a man, the ressurection of the dead came through a man, the ressurection of the dead also comes through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."v.21-22
Chapter 15 is so powerful in that the Apostle Paul gives two drastic realities regarding Jesus' resurrection from the dead. There's no middle ground. If resurrection from the dead is untrue then:
My Grandpa is 81 years old and in failing health. Earlier this week he was admitted to the hospital where he is currently staying. As is true for most people venturing into their eighth decade of life, he has a number of bodily ailments which put him in persistent pain most days. When asked how he's doing, his favorite response laced with a touch of humor is: "I'm doing no good". Unlike the rest of the family, every year has seen him grow progressively imobile, sick and helpless. He's spending this Christmas lying on a hospital bed in a drug induced sleep.
I understand that my Grandpa's days are on this planet are short and I have faced the reality that he may not be alive when I get back in two years. While visiting Grandpa in the hospital yesterday and seeing him breathing laboriously, pale and incoherent I was faced with the inevitability of my own death and the disheartening end we will all one day experience. Later I went home and was reading I Corinthians 15 and the Lord spoke as he always does through his word.
"For since death came through a man, the ressurection of the dead came through a man, the ressurection of the dead also comes through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."v.21-22
Chapter 15 is so powerful in that the Apostle Paul gives two drastic realities regarding Jesus' resurrection from the dead. There's no middle ground. If resurrection from the dead is untrue then:
- our preaching and faith are useless. v.14
- we are false witnesses about God. v.15
- Christ has not been raised from the dead. v. 16,13
- your faith is futile
- you are sitll in your sins. v.17
- those already died who believed in Christ are lost v.18
- We are to be pitied more than all men. v.19
But CHRIST HAS BEEN RAISED and as it says in v. 26 "The last enemy to be destroyed is death."
My Grandpa is a believer and I find comfort as do all Christians do in the promise of eternal life to those who put their faith in the Son. I don't know how many days my Grandpa has left on this earth any more than I have knowledge of my own. I do know that man was not created to die and therefore he can never find any solace or peace about it apart from faith in Jesus. In him we have hope that will not disappoint.
As I celebrate Christmas I hope to better grasp the magnitude of that serene night over 2,000 years ago when our only hope for salvation came to Earth in the form of baby Jesus. And 33 years late what was written would be fulfilled:
"Where O death is your victory? Where O death is your sting?"
"Death has been swallowed up in victory!"
I'm going to visit Grandpa in a few hours and I hope he is conscious so I can read him a letter I wrote to him with the intention of giving it to him before I left on January 5th. Please pray for him and my remaining days we will spend together.
Friday, December 19, 2008
I am currently the epitome of a rogue blogger commiting the sin of omission by failing to create new posts. But I have no excuse now since training is over and I'm home and there is high speed internet and its snowing outside and my ankle is sprained so I can't run. I'm reflecting on my two months of missionary training and I'd have to say that the most meaningful aspect of training at the ILC in Virginia was the growing brotherhood with my field partner Taylor. I've learned from experience that a solid, true, and genuine friend is a rarity. Me and T had been looking at similiar jobs at candidate conference in July when we met and had decided to do the Extreme team in Peru. We put Suriname as our third choice together so that if by chance our first and second went through we would be partners since that job required it. I didn't expect our first and second choices to fall through but they did and I know now that it was all part of the Lord's plan. The Suriname job description was similiar to our first choice but Extreme team was not a partner job. After getting a reality check from those who have done similiar assignments describing the isolation and loneliness that comes with living in the interior for weeks or months at a time I was further comforted that I was not going to be going solo. I know that the Lord is always with us as believers and he is all we need but I also know he created us to be in fellowship with others. Our common refrain during the last nine weeks came from Proverbs: "as iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another". This was very much the case for us. We had a consistent prayer time every night and we had a recap of the day expressing our concerns, requests, joys, frustrations etc. We had an open honest accountability time once a week that actually became a highlight for me. I know that every person genuinely desires to be truthful and transparency with others. As it says in John 8:32 "the truth will set you free". I learned a lot about myself and how easily I become distracted by various relationships and lose focus. I was encouraged because Taylor always listened and gave me guidance and encouraged me to stay focused on the objective we have: sharing Christ with others. If I didn't have a brother in the Lord to sharpen me, I don't think I'd be broken but I would be much more dull. All that serious stuff aside, it was a fun just hanging out, playing sports, hanging on trees over the river, playing disc golf in the snow with glow sticks etc. Now our departure is just over two weeks away and the next twenty two months are gonna be a mix of trials, joys, sickness, adventure but through all that I'm glad to being sharing it with a friend who has become a brother.
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