I thought for a while on why all my friends
tend to leave. We're outward focused, looking at both traditional missionaries,
as well as the InterVarsity view, of everyone
is a missionary, and it's your calling from God to minister to the people
where you are.
Someone mentioned last year that as a church we don't
just tithe our incomes, we tithe our members.
Yes the list is a lot longer, and we'll add our pastor
and his wife to the list of people who've gone overseas.
Poster Children for our missions team:
Dan and Ann: They started, they tried, I like them.
In a way, for all that Danny's done, I'd like to think that he's learned
something in all he's done. I think I'm going to give them one way tickets
out there. Seeing them probably makes me think hardest about where as
a church we spend our energies. I don't know if they'll really go, part
of me doesn't want to see them leave, and part of me doesn't know what
they'd do if they stayed.
Update - They made it out there... at last.
Update again - 4 years later, It sounds like they're on their
way back. - He's getting a masters in Public Health.
Tom and Steph - They're like the bastard children,
which we don't really claim to have, but somehow seem to still be related
to us. One of my friends doesn't think they have a brain between them,
unlike Dan and Ann. To be egalitarian in this situation, I figure that
both parties have equivalent mental capacity.
Update - after struggling for a while in the upper
midwest, they did finally make it out to a country in the Middle East.
Nancy and Tom, Well we've sent them, and they appear
on BCEC's missions list as well. So I don't know who they belong to.
Maybe Nancy belongs to us and Tom belongs to them. They're probably
one of the better couples, who might be able to use their skills for
good use.
Update they're back,
Andrew the Musical - Fluent, spent years working with
people somewhere in Africa, I guess it was Chad. Is a linguist, so he's
fluent in English, French, Arabic, and who knows what else. I imagine
he's the best person for being able to pick up languages quickly. I
think he of all people might be a good addition to work for SIL or Wycliff.
I don't know quite where he ended up.
But I do wish him well.
Andrew the Geek- We didn't really sent him, he just
kind of went on his own. But when he left, there was an announcement,
and a chance to pray for him in church. He's in seminary. and in all
senses is as much a missionary as anyone else. At least he's getting
a good solid foundation in Christian Theology, before he goes on to
create a groovy philosophy merging Eastern philosophy, with basic Christianity.
Then again, if I were to rate people, he'd probably be first on the
list of people "Most likely to be deemed heretical, and start their
own cult."
Chris - We sorta sent him, and then he came back,
and now doesn't quite know what he's doing with his life. Kinda like
some other. We didn't give him any money, but he didn't ask. I indeed
do wonder what he took from that trip. I know his heart was deepened,
and his eyes opened. But I can't help but see how he's changed, and
how it's given him a clear vision for his future. He's not the first
person who's gone on his own like this, there's been quite a few, almost
all for two years.
Update - He came back, got two more masters degrees,
and now is the most over educated English teacher in western China
Sam - He made a pact with Chris, that they'd be in
China for the turn of the century. Chris made it... I think he spent
it in the horn of Africa
Jon - Currently he hasn't figured out how he's going
to go overseas, but I can see that he might. It's good though, once
you find your and who God has made you, then you can visualize the person
God intends for you to become.
Gary - Eventually became a flight attendant. People
(especially his co-workers) mistake him for gay. Strangely enough, as
his luggage tag, he's got a bright pink laminated tag, that says "International
Trash" in 4 languages.
Rob - Not sure if he counts, because he came from
Southeast Asia, when he was in college.
Shauna - If Rob counts, her carribean roots count
too. Unfortunatley she's back to her roots.
Lois - Went, got married, "her parents love her
very much," stayed a bit longer, came back, and probably will go
again.
Deb - Went for 4 months, came back. Now is doing bible
translation.
Chris - I've heard her talk about going for years
now, and to every single country except Japan. then again Koreans don't
get along too well with the Japanese.
Beck - Went to Eastern Europe, got married. I heard
she was in England, married and probably settled.
Paul - the fobbiest white guy I ever met. Not surprisingly,
he's back in Taiwan, for a 2nd tour. This time prob for good. Speaks
Mandarin fluently, is able to point back at kids saying "Mei-guo-ren"
with "Tai-wan-ren"
Mei - Fell in love with a Latino man, South America?
Doug - He's a flyer, he spent time in England, and
no doubt short term stindts in Turkey... Hmm as a F15E pilot (a fighter-BOMBER)
I wonder where he was going during his days flying the plane. His wife
did go with him, and managed a degree from the LSE while out there.
They're back in the states now.
Kat - Leader of our world missions committee. Going
to a muslim country to teach at the international school, for expatriates,
oil barons, government officials and people who's name is Sabah. Despite
what she may want to deny, she's going overseas, she's a missionary.
On the tentmaking scale of 1-5,
she's probably closer to a type 3. But that still makes you a missionary.
Dave - hmm, in a sense I don't know him, and I wonder
if we're sending him fully supported or if he's continuing to have to
do his fund raising. Given our current financial state most of his fund
raising has got to be through individuals, rather than through organizations.
Poster boy indeed, I figure we'll see his picture on a recruiting tract
pretty soon.
Updated April 15,2008