After many hours spent waiting in Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport, my third try out of Europe was a success when I finally caught a flight home on Sunday. I met a lot of interesting characters and made a few new friends along the way, but am so thankful to finally be back. Although my journey home took a few days longer than expected, God sent so many helpful people my way that I was compelled to start making a list of all the kind things done for me. One family traveling to Italy helped me drag my two suitcases through a snowy overpass outside the airport while another man let me use his international phone to call the airline after I missed my first flight. I'm convinced a few airline personnel waived the overweight baggage fees I should have incurred and another waved me through although my carry-on bags were too heavy and too large. Not sure if I would even make it home before Christmas, my time spent in limbo Friday through Sunday was stressful and frustrating, but also worshipful as I received God's provision over and over again through many friendly and patient people.
The extra days spent in Paris allowed me to process my time in Brussels some before returning home, but I know there will be more processing necessary in the coming weeks. The experience was so different from what I expected, and my ability to adapt to those differences was certainly challenged along the way. Yet the people I met and whose stories I heard are what made that adaptation worthwhile. I'm thankful for the relationships made, for the experiences shared, and for the peek at a bigger picture of how God is at work in our world. I'm eager to share this processing time with some of you all in the coming weeks. Look for more posts to come!
12.22.2009
12.14.2009
An Arab Au Revoir
The past week has been marked with a lot of "lasts." Monday and Tuesday held my last days of English classes as I proctored exams. Our "end of the year points party" on Wednesday was the last time for me to see many of my students. Saturday morning was my last time visiting a friend who lives a few towns away and that afternoon allowed for one last time serving with a local ministry to feed hundreds of Brussels' homeless under Garde-Midi train station. Yesterday marked my last Sunday attending Arab Church, and therefore my last time seeing many of the familiar faces who have slowly become friends. We hosted the youth and their families at our house after the service to retell, through pictures, videos, and stories, what the youth have learned and done this semester. It was a wonderful time for me to recognize the ways God has worked in this group and give thanks for being able to participate in that.
What was especially gratifying was identifying what God is doing with such humble offerings. I couldn't help thinking "a little sure goes a long way." Regular youth group meetings occur every other Friday night for 3 hours. We've enjoyed two weekend retreats together, a birthday weekend, and a couple outings with smaller groups of the kids. This is not the youth group of the West End that includes a research-led structure, printed t-shirts, a clever and concise mission statement, involved leadership council, and frequently updated blog site. But they love it.
It wasn't until June that this group had consistent youth group gatherings with good biblical teaching. At least two of these kids are living with unaddressed mental, emotional, and learning disabilities. Half come from divorced families. One has a Muslim father who competes with his Christian ex-wife for their daughter's faith. Another saw her biological father one day on the metro and walked in the other direction, knowing he wouldn't want to talk to her. One brother-sister pair are missing their older sister who ran away from home a year ago and a few more have changed schools and countries so much that friends and consistent standards of learning are both hard to come by. One can't study well at home with five people in a cramped two bedroom apartment and has failed her grade level multiple times. When I step back and reflect on where these kids are coming from, I realize why they love youth group so much. Little competition exists for it to be the best part of their week.
As I watched them crowd around my computer to laugh at our slideshow of pictures and eagerly grab their parents to tell corresponding stories, I couldn't help but smile. For them, it really doesn't take much. To have something fun to look forward to every other Friday; to walk into a place where they are accepted, loved, and safe; to have teaching and games planned just for them; to be reminded that they aren't alone in trying to follow Christ as a teenager in Brussels; to be told their gifts are useful, valued, and needed in the church... these are avenues by which God is growing these young people into men and women whose identity, treasure, and joy is in Him. I can't wait to see what God does in and through them in the coming years and am so thankful to have traveled with them on a part of their journey.
What was especially gratifying was identifying what God is doing with such humble offerings. I couldn't help thinking "a little sure goes a long way." Regular youth group meetings occur every other Friday night for 3 hours. We've enjoyed two weekend retreats together, a birthday weekend, and a couple outings with smaller groups of the kids. This is not the youth group of the West End that includes a research-led structure, printed t-shirts, a clever and concise mission statement, involved leadership council, and frequently updated blog site. But they love it.
It wasn't until June that this group had consistent youth group gatherings with good biblical teaching. At least two of these kids are living with unaddressed mental, emotional, and learning disabilities. Half come from divorced families. One has a Muslim father who competes with his Christian ex-wife for their daughter's faith. Another saw her biological father one day on the metro and walked in the other direction, knowing he wouldn't want to talk to her. One brother-sister pair are missing their older sister who ran away from home a year ago and a few more have changed schools and countries so much that friends and consistent standards of learning are both hard to come by. One can't study well at home with five people in a cramped two bedroom apartment and has failed her grade level multiple times. When I step back and reflect on where these kids are coming from, I realize why they love youth group so much. Little competition exists for it to be the best part of their week.
As I watched them crowd around my computer to laugh at our slideshow of pictures and eagerly grab their parents to tell corresponding stories, I couldn't help but smile. For them, it really doesn't take much. To have something fun to look forward to every other Friday; to walk into a place where they are accepted, loved, and safe; to have teaching and games planned just for them; to be reminded that they aren't alone in trying to follow Christ as a teenager in Brussels; to be told their gifts are useful, valued, and needed in the church... these are avenues by which God is growing these young people into men and women whose identity, treasure, and joy is in Him. I can't wait to see what God does in and through them in the coming years and am so thankful to have traveled with them on a part of their journey.
12.05.2009
Adventus
In Advent we celebrate, day by day, the eager anticipation and preparation for the arrival of Jesus on earth. Advent season is full of preparations. We prepare delicious dishes for holiday get-togethers with family, friends, and coworkers. Holiday decor is pulled down from the attic, up from the basement, and strewn about the house, workplace, and church to prepare for visitors. We may bake sweet treats for our friends "just because," and we raid the local malls to find just the right gifts for everyone. At church, we light candles and sing familiar hymns as we prepare for the culminating day that celebrates the coming of the Light of the World. The growing list of preparations can become a spiritless to-do list and rob us of the Advent joy God intended for us. But when we pause from preparations and acknowledge the broken places we need Jesus to enter into, who can resist reaching out for all the life and hope God intends for us in this season?
This year, my heart has resonated strongly with the Advent cry for Jesus to come. Like those living in the 400 empty years between the last Old Testament prophet and the arrival of the Christchild, I am hopefully waiting for a word, a sign from God, anything to hear from Him and know His presence. Like Abraham and Sarah waited for a child, David waited to become king, and Jacob waited for Rachel, I too am waiting and looking for the daily fulfillment of the promises made me: His peace, strength, wisdom, justice, counsel, power, and rest, to name a few.
This Advent season, I am desperate for Jesus' coming. I am desperate for Him to come into my heart and transform the disbelief I have found there. I long for him to come and direct my mind's thinking as I contemplate next steps after Brussels. I yearn for him to come and captivate my entire being to such an extent that every step I make here is one of submissive, worshipful obedience. I want Him to come into the Arab church and create committed disciples out of our congregation. I can't wait for Him to become the center of the families represented at church. I eagerly look for Him to come and reveal Himself as loving Father and irresistible Savior to my Muslim friends here. I've never yearned for Jesus to come like I have here.
We need Jesus to come. We need Him to come and dwell in our hearts and relationships just as He came and physically dwelt among people in the dusty Middle East years ago. Our families, communities, and churches desperately need the full and abundant life His coming offers.
Jesus wants to. He longs to teach and transform us as we ask for and await His coming. For me and for you, the question is whether we are ready for Him to come. Are we ready for Him to come into the hidden, disgraceful parts of us and set up camp there? Do we expect Him to come and take control of our relationships so they more fully display His love?
Have you been anticipating His arrival? Have we prepared a place to welcome Him in?
This year, my heart has resonated strongly with the Advent cry for Jesus to come. Like those living in the 400 empty years between the last Old Testament prophet and the arrival of the Christchild, I am hopefully waiting for a word, a sign from God, anything to hear from Him and know His presence. Like Abraham and Sarah waited for a child, David waited to become king, and Jacob waited for Rachel, I too am waiting and looking for the daily fulfillment of the promises made me: His peace, strength, wisdom, justice, counsel, power, and rest, to name a few.
This Advent season, I am desperate for Jesus' coming. I am desperate for Him to come into my heart and transform the disbelief I have found there. I long for him to come and direct my mind's thinking as I contemplate next steps after Brussels. I yearn for him to come and captivate my entire being to such an extent that every step I make here is one of submissive, worshipful obedience. I want Him to come into the Arab church and create committed disciples out of our congregation. I can't wait for Him to become the center of the families represented at church. I eagerly look for Him to come and reveal Himself as loving Father and irresistible Savior to my Muslim friends here. I've never yearned for Jesus to come like I have here.
We need Jesus to come. We need Him to come and dwell in our hearts and relationships just as He came and physically dwelt among people in the dusty Middle East years ago. Our families, communities, and churches desperately need the full and abundant life His coming offers.
Jesus wants to. He longs to teach and transform us as we ask for and await His coming. For me and for you, the question is whether we are ready for Him to come. Are we ready for Him to come into the hidden, disgraceful parts of us and set up camp there? Do we expect Him to come and take control of our relationships so they more fully display His love?
Have you been anticipating His arrival? Have we prepared a place to welcome Him in?
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