A Namibian Thanksgiving

We spent the month of November doing all the sweet crafts and studies of Thanksgiving…Pilgrims…Indians….scripture verses of Thanksgiving to our great God…you name it..we tried to do it!  Keeping in mind that Fall begins our favorite time of decorating and celebrating! The house filled with bright Fall colors, wreaths, yummy Fall scented candles, cornucopias, our chubby little Publix pilgrims on the table & our “Tom Clark” pilgrims as well..passed down from my parents to us…The house all covered in FALL!

….Cue record scratch…….

Let’s take note of a few differences this year:

“American Thanksgiving” is not a Namibian National holiday.

There was no talk of Black Friday here in Namibia.

The date of our Thanksgiving did not signify the “start” of the Christmas shopping season.

No turkey to be found.

Lastly, IT IS NOT FALL HERE!!!!!!

Our Thanksgiving looked so different this year and we loved every minute of it.  We moved here in two suitcases per person and that did not leave room for all of our wonderful “symbols” of Thanksgiving to place around our house.  So, aside from 2 sweet little scarecrow riding goards that our Nana sent…we made it all!  Anything associated with our celebration:  turkey placemats, napkin rings, thankful garland, Indian feather headbands, a paper basket with sheets of paper inside to write our words of Thanksgiving to God on, and the list goes on…….

Making those things, enjoying that time with our kiddos while reading “The First Thanksgiving” and “Pilgrim Stories” on the Baldwin Project website (such a gift to us on the mission field), praising our great God—who is the reason for and receiver of our giving of thanks—It was WONDERFUL! 

Now, there are many “traditional” ingredients for our holidays that are not available here…pecans, canned pumpkin, cranberry sauce..to name a few.  Our sweet friends, The Stringfellows, sent a package that included all of the above and we squealed with excitement..if only a dried turkey could fit in that box..hmmm..we could reconstitute it with water & VOILA!  Or better yet…a dried Carlye & family that we could reconstitute when they get here…now were talkin’!!!! 

OK...back to the matter at hand…Thanksgiving food…as the day was fast approaching..Scott proposed an idea...what if we save those ingredients for our Christmas dinner & we eat at a restaurant for Thanksgiving.  What???  There are only a few and we eat at home--pretty much exclusively…so that would be a super treat! 

And, that’s just what it was…a super treat with a Thanksgiving twist…we took ALL of our decorations & homemade “symbols” of our Thanksgiving with us and included our sweet server in on our giving of Thanks to God!  It was a truly wonderful time!

That was followed by a trek around town to see some of our “friends” whom we pray for.  The children had also made scripture cards to give to those friends..and we were truly blessed to see God break down a “wall” in a lady we’ve been faithfully praying for when the children gave their card to her!  Now that is reason for Thanksgiving!

Scott had to teach that night in Grootfontein, so we came home for a rest time & while he was away teaching—we went to a friend’s house for a swim & some sweet fellowship! 

The day was all it was designed to be..a day filled with praise & thanksgiving..to the Great God who deserves all of our worship. For He alone can ignite such a desire in ‘pilgrims’ who want to worship Him freely that they would risk so much to have such freedom.  We offer hearts filled with thanksgiving to Him for those pioneering pilgrims, for OUR nation & for the nation He has sent us too…He is Sovereign God over all…The King of All Nations..

can I get an AMEN???

the link to the pictures: https://picasaweb.google.com/118039148947647302826/ThanksgivingInNamibia2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCP6k97_MjcjOYQ&feat=directlink  
(Also check out our picture tab we have added some other photos from our life here)

"RSJ" as an MK...his thoughts (prompted by questions)

A few months ago a missionary friend in Kenya had her precious children answer questions about their missionary life in Kenya and my children were so blessed by reading their responses!  As they (The Hansens) approach their one year mark on the field...my children asked if we could do a similar blog post!

In the 8 years prior to leaving for the foreign mission field, we watched the Lord use our oldest child as a "missionary" in so many ways.  When he surrendered his life to Christ and trusted HIM as Lord and Savior of his life in November 2009 at 7 years of age, he told his Daddy of his trust in the Lord for salvation & Lordship, then said, "Daddy, I also want you to know that I am on board with wherever God is leading you to lead our family."  At this point in our journey of faith, God had only been sending Scott for short term trips (2 weeks, 3 weeks, etc...) to Northeast India and Namibia. 

So, in December 2010, when we shared with this precious child of God, that He was indeed leading us,  as a family, to Namibia & we would move in the upcoming Summer, we had much to pray over with him when the reality of leaving all that was familiar, loved, and cherished hit him hard. 

God has been so gracious, merciful and faithful to draw him into even deeper trust & dependence on HIM alone.  He provided comfort & joy & excitement in the days leading up to the move.
 In the past 6 months there have been a few, very rare, but a few extremely hard days...days of missing home.  missing family. missing the familiar.  missing the "normal" friendships. missing our church.  missing fellowship.....God has been so faithful to his promise to "be with us" and has continued to be that sustaining "all in all" and to draw him closer and closer.  "Oh how HE loves us"!

And now.....Q & A with our oldest MK:

1.  Tell me some things you love about living in Namibia:

we have a dog, they have Djembe drums (a sort of bongo type drum)

2.  What are your favorite things to eat here?

kudu, draawors (dried boerewors--sort of a dried sausage/slim jim), biltong (another type of beef jerky), all the meats here (I'm a carnivore), fat cakes (almost like a funnel cake in taste)

3.  What do you miss most about home, living in the U.S.?

friends and family

4.  Name something you've learned since living in Namibia?

They have a meteorite here.  Oh, and Shoprite (grocery store) is the only 2 story building here.

5.  What is your town like?

very busy--it's a small town, but people are everywhere. 

6.  Do all those people live in the town?

some, but at the end of the month you shouldn't go to town because EVERY place from the "bush" and "villages"...come in to town to shop because that's when they get their money.  And it's packed in town.

7.  Tell us about people from the villages.

Those friends cook in "poike pots" (cast iron deep pots)--imagine a campfire where you are cooking around a pot with the fire under it, inside the pot could be meat, soup, stew, or Pop. 

8.  What is "Pop"? 

it's made with maize...they call it mealie meal.  They make tons of it & then use it like rice or pasta and put something else on it..like a curry, or sauce with some meat in it...it's really like a porridge. 

9.  Ok, back to the village friends...?

you might be thinking they live in brick houses. not really.  many live in "mud made hut houses", the roofs have thatch on them...I call it a "lapa roof".  Some live in houses made with homemade bricks and some live in houses made of tin...like a tin shack.

there are usually several hut houses in a "village" and they put a fence around their grouping of houses..the fences are made of sticks & wires, sometimes just straight-up wire, and some might have barbed wire. 

my dad teaches lots of pastors who live in village huts & probably have a poike pot.  He drank "kavango cool drink" in the village of one of his pastors, Pastor Kaurembi.  It is a drink that taste like mixed fruit, but it's mahangu (like maize) that is pounded out and grinded...and then they mix it with water and let it sit for a long time..sometimes they make 5 liters at a time.  Different tribes make this type drink and call it different things.  Like Ovambos call it Oshikundu. 

10.  Have you been to worship in a village?

yes.  I even got to play the "kavango drum" during worship one time.  Oh, they love to dance & sing during their worship time.  It's all in Luchazi, but they translate to english...or back to Luchazi if Daddy is preaching.  These worship times go on and on for hours...one time I thought...they told the choirs two songs a piece and they've sung waaay more than that...maybe this will be the last one so Daddy can get on with preaching the Word. (LOL from Mama)

11.  What do you like most about worship with our friends there?

it is a very very good and cool experience.  and it's very fun to listen to them singing in Luchazi...sometimes it feels like a lullaby since I don't know what they are saying...but then I think, they are singing to our God!  It's not the same as my language...but sometimes our pastor friends will translate it to Mama and she will tell us what they are singing.  They sang a really fun song about Zaccheus two weeks ago with hand motions and everything...and another time they sang about how heavy the weight of our sin is if we are carrying it...so one friend came in carrying a homemade weight (made with a bar & concrete on each end)...like he was "bearing" the weight of sin and was thankful he could give it to Jesus/Yesu!

Some of the words I've learned during them singing is "Jambe" is God.  "Tuna San Sala" is thank you.  "Yesu" is Jesus.  "Machieri" (pronounced Machedi) is fine/great/good! 

12.  What do you love about homeschooling?

we don't have any homework AT ALL!

13.  What is the weather like here?

hot during the day and sometimes in the morning, coolish cold (this time of year)

14.  What is the biggest difference in Namibia & the U.S.?

less white people

15.  What is one thing you'd like our friends and family reading this to know?

that I love them and this is what our African life is. 

The Work

Just a quick note to let you know of the work here in Namibia. I have 4 teaching groups in 4 different towns in Northern Namibia; Tsumeb (where I am living), Grootfontein, Rundu, and Tsintsabis. The groups in Rundu and Tsumeb are diverse in denominations from Baptist, Methodist, Full Gospel, Evangelical, Nazarene, Church of Christ and a few other house church types.

The group in Grootfontein is mostly baptist but I am prayerful that other pastors of other denominations will start to come. We spent a Sunday afternoon inviting other pastors. The group is being stretched. By the end of the night they look like they have been beaten.  It is a little funny to me to see them transform during our 2 hours together. I often chuckle and ask if they are OK. In this group there is an 18 yr old boy who is my translator. So in getting to know him I asked about his grades and what he wants to do after school-his response "Pastor". So the guy I can communicate with at this place is young (many years to come) and has the desire to be a pastor. Thank you God for that design. I have a young man that I can pour into with no preconceived ideas or heritage or habits that can impact generations to come!! God is AWESOME!!!

The group in Tsintsabis are all Pentecostals and from the bushman tribe. They have been trying to become a formal church for over 3 years but are very passive as a tribe. So they explained they have been in the "desert like the Israelites", they had been relying on an Afrikaner(a white person that is from here) to no avail. So they have asked numerous times that I help them in leadership and forming THEIR church. I have refused and put the responsibility back upon their leadership. A BIG PRAISE-God is at work among the bushmen. They have testified to reproducing what they have been taught in our times together and have proceeded in getting the church land secured into their control and have said after that is complete they will then proceed in the formal organization of their church!

Rundu was to be my safe place, that is where most of the baptist are that had asked me to come as their missionary. But as of today none have come to any of the teachings. I think they are pouting at me because I would not relent to their request for money for transportation and food. Also, I had to change the venue from a baptist church to a Nazarene.

In Tsumeb God has provided my man of peace. The diverse group gives me much optimism. There is an Afrikaner businessman that is coming also that has started a small group. This is my only in-road with the white people of Namibia so far. The term "in the desert like the Israelites" has been used by many groups and most people we have met and encountered. Pray for the Church in Tsumeb and our place in that.

All-in-all things are as to be expected from people who are being trained to think for themselves for the first time. And specifically think about the meaning of God's Word. In Rundu a few weeks ago I spoke about the importance of the Word in relation to the fall of man. How one wrong word changes the meaning of what God said. (as a drop of poison in a 55 gallon drum of water makes it all poison) And how our knowledge of what God says can help and protect us-looking to Eve's response to the serpent she didn't know what God had said. Then I got the worst question and explanation I have ever heard- a pastor speaks up and asks if Eve had committed adultery with the serpent(devil)? I asked where does it say that in the bible? They then explained that was what was being taught and preached in their region. So I think they were using that to suppress the women. I am not sure but a woman pastor was there and at the end of class she voiced her appreciation of clarifying what was biblical and not with regards to this heresy.

So my prayer request is this; pray that God will lead me in the days to come about what to teach. I have been working for a long time on the "I am" statements of God. But I am wrestling with teaching that or teaching a summary of the bible where I would go through book by book with these people. Both seem a tall task for me. I am in need of the Almighty in ways I was not aware. I am fully aware of spiritual warfare as not before. Pray that the people do not harden themselves to the work of the Holy Spirit and just go back to their old ways, this seems to be at work now. This place needs some mighty men of God to unite against and fight the evil one. They are so divided. Sorry, my heart has become more broken than I could have imagined. The lostness and hopelessness in this place has brought me to my knees to the throne of God very overwhelmed. But I am resolved to not back up nor give up the fight! God didn't make me that way.
See you on the field,
Scott

"The Real Thing"!

We love milk...my children love milk...

When we first arrived in Namibia we were purchasing "Shelf Milk" in a tetrapak.  It was milk & we were told it kept much better than any other milk we could find in one of the three grocery stores in our town.

 It was great to buy. 

We could buy a case & it would last and last. 

There was just one problem...my kiddos did NOT love the taste of it.  If it was all there was...they would be just fine..but we found out it wasn't all there was...

We found this.


We place our order with a sweet family near us on Monday or Thursday for a Tuesday or Friday Pickup.  We go to their house between 8am and 2pm..pay our N$36 per 5Liter bucket, exchange our empty bucket for a filled one...and off we go!

Once we return home..we head into the "scullery" (crazy word for laundry/dishwashing room) with our bucket of Farm Fresh, cold shocked, full creamy goodness and fill our handy dandy milk jugs..

What's that you say???  Those don't look like milk jugs...

You are so right...They get the job done though!

Our finished product right here, goes into the refrigerator & is a cold, refreshing taste of "the real thing"...milk that my kiddos say, "Tastes like home!" 

Just thought you'd like a little look at milk fetching--in "this missionary life"!





This Missionary Life....Part 1

We came here with the "primary" directive of Scott teaching pastors in Namibia.

 If you have ever prayed over something faithfully, fervently, desperately..in a completely humble, surrendered sort of way...that would somewhat sum up our prayer life leading us here. 

At one point, I found myself praying for our safety, for protection, etc...and one day realized...of course, we want to be safe & protected...but I need to be praying for God to begin to quickly use us in the ways He intended.  For us to get busy about our FATHER'S work...If you haven't realized it yet...TIME KEEPS ON MOVING...as parents we see that more than ever before...One minute they're born..the next blink..my itty bitty boy is about to turn 9. WHAT???  (that's a whole 'nother post)

That is our fleshy measure of time..but the reality of time is this:  There are so many who do not know the Goodness, The Greatness of our Holy God.  They do not know of His Saving Grace...and for our purposes here...they only know of His saving Grace...they don't KNOW HIM!  There is no time for us to waste...the men who are "pastoring" others in the name of Jesus...don't hardly even know Him..they don't know how to study His Word to get to know Him...they get the "salvation" part...but it often stops there.  They are not taught, discipled, encouraged, held accountable...nothing.  They accept His free gift of salvation & our Savior becomes sort of a "side dish" to the other life of worship they may have led previously.  Y'all...they just don't know any better than this..it's accepted...BUT...we know..Our God is a jealous God...there is none before Him..and He does not compete with any other...HE ALONE IS GOD..HE ALONE IS WORTHY..He wants them to get to the meat of His Word...but some are just now finding out what the basic "milk" is all about...

Oh dear friends...I just gave you the background of my incredible praise...God has been more than faithful to answer our prayer of "getting to the Work He intended for us (Scott)"!

After about 2 weeks of "getting acclamated" as a family here..God began to FLING open the doors for Scott to teach.  (Proverbs 3:5-6) We trusted Him every step of the way...and He surely made each path straight.  He allowed Scott to quickly get in touch with pastors he had taught twice before, He built relationships quickly allowing him to begin study with these men.  In a very short period of time He has given Scott teaching groups in Tsumeb & 4 different towns near to us.  Scott began teaching very basics of Acts 2:42 (reference the blog name)...They are learning to study the Word, what Fellowship is, Prayer..what it is, how to pray, etc, and The Lord's supper/Communion/Eucharist..

There are between 7-20 pastors at each of these teachings..some meet during the day time in their church...under the tree.  Others meet at night in an electrically "lit" church building, one meets at night in their "church building" with no power..Scott brings 4 solar powered lanterns for them to study by.  Pray for each of these men (and a few women)...that God would increase their desire for His truth..for Him to give them understanding of His Word & who He is, for their faithfulness to Him & Him alone, and for them to multiply..not just consume...that they would be Do'ers of the Word..not just Hearers!

Scott's time, when not teaching, is spent studying the Word and in prayer, meeting with/encouraging pastors, loving on/playing with his kiddos, cherishing & encouraging his wife (such a great hubby).  He has had several opportunities to "Preach"...sort of by default, you are asked to preach here if you are teaching...God has been faithful to prepare him for those opportunities!

 He truly is worthy of our trust & faith...He will equip us all, as His children, in every way if we will just BELIEVE HIM & TRUST HIM! 

May that be so for each of us...you too...Believe Him..Trust Him...seek to know Him..as we fall more in love with God & His son...our desires for anything else will be so diminished...and so shadowed by WHO HE IS....Nothing will draw our affections the way that He will!  He is faithful & He is With Us!

The first month in pictures!

We have so much to share about our first month here--

Travel, adapting to life in a new context, ministry, family time, insects & reptiles, food we've made that "feels like home"...

We started thinkin'...let's do it in pictures...
https://picasaweb.google.com/118039148947647302826/TheFirstMonth?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCMLIg-m0kZqjtQE&feat=directlink
There is so much that is left out...but this is a great start!

Happy Father's Day!

What a Father's Day! 

Our morning began with two precious children who love their Daddy, waking up ready to make "Lemon Muffins" and his coffee.  The oldest was confident in his "recipe" for Daddy's coffee..."pour some coffee grounds in here" (where the water goes) and "I think he puts a tablespoon of sugar in that same place too"!  Ummm...let's leave the coffee making to Daddy & we'll get the muffins together...

Muffins and Father's Day cards were enjoyed at the table as we prepared to go to "Sunday School"! 

Scott stayed home to prepare to "preach" tonight, as he is filling in for the missionary pastor that will return from the states in two weeks.

My heart was filled with praise just thinking of my earthly father & how thankful I am for him....

As the children & I arrived at the church, I saw a 12 year old girl sitting on the porch with her head against the wall.  She looked so very sad & alone, I just had to check on her. 

As we spoke she began to tell me of her life in a "foster home" with many other children whose father's had died.  Her father was not dead, but was not present either.  The last time she saw him was once when she was 8 years old.  The "Sunday School" children had all made Father's Day cards last week to give to their father's or to a "father figure" in their lives and she was so heartbroken she had no-one to give her card to.  In fact she didn't even bring it with her. 

I was so broken for this precious little girl...longing for a father, for someone to care for her, comfort her, lead her, listen to her, celebrate joys with her, hold her when she's hurting....a father to show her how a young lady should be treated...a father to give her an earthly picture of our heavenly father.....

Only our great God & Father could offer her the comfort that she truly needs, but He did allow some words of truth & (hopefully) comfort to flow from me....and I was so thankful for that...

I was able to tell her that it was ok to feel sad, that this is not how God designed it, that it was NOT HER FAULT that her father was not there, and that ultimately our God is THE FATHER that never fails her, never leaves her, never let's her down, never harms her, truly loves her & WANTS her...His love as Father never fades and is PERFECT! 

She was still sad to have made a card & have no one to give it to...so I told her to keep it, hang it in her room & every time she looks at her own picture--say out loud, "God made ME and God loves ME!"

We have spend time in Passport (missions focus at TCABH), and even in our family praying for children across the world without fathers, but today...there was a face...a really sad, hurting, broken-hearted face put to that prayer. 

I could not help but continue in my heart to offer praise to God for my father...my Dad, George Asbell, and for my father in law, Bob Johnson who, by God's grace, have been the father's to Scott & I that this little girl has never seen. 

Two father's who have encouraged us, loved us, cared for us, protected us....We are so truly thankful for our fathers & for their love for us. 

As our day continued we made lunch for Scott, Gary & for a voluteer that was here, Kip!  Scott, of course, is here with his babies, but Kip & Gary are serving the Lord here, and away from their children in the states...so my kiddos celebrated them as fathers too!

The night ended with Scott preaching & a humbling moment when....his daughter, after falling asleep while he was preaching, let out a loud yawn for ALL to hear!  She was soooo tired! :)

While my heart still ached for my sweet new friend without a father in her life, my heart rejoiced at the work of God in my life.

 HE has given me a husband who loves our Great God more than ANYTHING...and who loves me & loves our two children selflessly, unconditionally, and with his whole heart. 

A few years ago, there was a story written about our family (of 3 at the time) in the AJC (Atlanta newspaper) about our firstborn & his "early" start.  The title of that article was: His Father's Son.

That is the father I'm blessed to be married to....the one who desires & labors for his children to know his FATHER....King...Redeemer...Creator...THE ONE TRUE GOD.

Praise God for fathers throughout the "Body of Christ" who truly have "no greater joy than to see their children are walking in the truth"! 

Happy Father's Day to my Dad, Bob, Scott & to all the Men out there "Shepherding their children" for His Glory!

Super Sunday!

Disclaimer:  This post began as one big random account of our first week as a missionary family making our way to the "harvest field" God has led us to! Then it turned into an account only of our "Sending off Super Packed Sunday" and a bunch of thank you's!

If I say making our way...I must mention a group of people who absolutely made the moving process happen:  Our Small Group.

Saturday: From bringing breakfast & drinks, packing us, physically moving us, bringing a truck to actually do the moving, even bringing their older children to run items to "the giveaway spot"...that day happened much faster than I ever imagined & it was absolutely because of God's grace shown to us through our amazing small group faith family.

Sunday was a day that had so much packed into it..it was wonderfully amazing!  It began with the baptism of our son, who gave his life to Christ in November of 2009.  (I will post his testimony soon)
He wanted to truly show "the church & all the world" that he is a Christ-follower & I believe that absolutely happened that day.  He asked his Daddy to baptize him & had family, friends & faith family all there to witness that act of obedience & encourage him in his walk with our great, merciful Savior!  I praise God for His gift of salvation in our son & brother in Christ!

The day continued with a super special small group time with our family & friends joining us in studying, commissioning, encouraging...and...Praising our Great God for who He is!

A very humble THANK YOU to RD Self, our small group leader, for sharpening, loving, teaching & encouraging us in the Word...and most importantly for his love for God and passion for His glory to be made known in & through His people! 

This day ended with a fellowship lunch served & provided by (have I mentioned them before) OUR SMALL GROUP!  We had such an amazing time of loving, laughing, eating, praying, saying goodbye & rejoicing in the goodness of God! 

A second humble thank you to our parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, sister, brother, neice, Nan-Nan, Big Sis Sarah, teachers/Sisters from MLES, and precious sisters & brothers in Christ who shared that day with us..you gave us an eternal gift of love & sweet memories along with a sustaining joy that reminds us of the "body" of Christ we will spend eternity with!  We love y'all to the "Son" and back!

That day is forever etched in our hearts and we Thank & Praise God for His Church!

Just Post Something!

It's Tori.  It's May. It's 9 days away.

 I'm busy. I'm excited. I'm happy. I'm sad. I'm overwhelmed. I'm filled with peace. I'm spinning in circles. I'm laser focused. I'm making lists. I'm losing lists. I'm in awe. I'm humbled. I'm shepherding. I'm failing. I'm clinging to new mercies. I'm crying. I'm laughing. I'm loving. I'm packing. I'm driving. I'm meeting. I'm sorting. I'm repacking. I'm counting. I'm calling. I'm emailing. I'm not calling back. I'm forgetting to email back. I'm hoping. I'm praying. I'm wondering. I'm resting. I'm depending.

I'm nothing without HIM. I can do nothing without HIM.

He's my God. He Himself is my peace. His is the way-maker. He is my comfort. He is my strength. He is preparing hearts. He is calling people to Himself. He is worthy of my obedience. He is our Father. He is our provider. He is my Savior. He is the God of order. He is my joy. He bears my burdens. He makes our path straight. He leads me. He is healer. He is the true Shepherd. He is my sheild. He is my deliverer. He is my righteousness. He is my God and King.

I have so many "posts" written in my head, but no time to actually post them to the blog.  As I shared this with a friend the other day, she said, "Just Post Something!" She wanted to know what was going on...what daily life is like right now, how preparations are going...etc...So here is my feeble attempt at "Just Posting Something!"

We are in the last week of school.  We will move out this week. We have much to do and want to enjoy every single moment as we do it.  Cherishing & looking ahead with eager anticipation of what we will see God doing first hand in the hearts & lives of His people in Namibia. 

So much certainty & so much unknown. It's stretching each of us.

What we do know and are confident of is this: that he who began a good work in us (and those we are going to) will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)

He's not leaving. Not Forsaking. Not abandoning. No... He is with us.  His presence. His peace. Grace. Mercy. It's His work and He will continue it, and complete it.

Praise God it's not up to me. Praise God it's not up to us. I surrender. Walking in Blind obedience (I have a whole post on this coming one day)...Faith...may it please Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Go Time

Our date is set, May 30^th 2011.   Yes it is soon.  Yes we have a lot to do.  And yes we are ready!

Tori wanted me to explain this name “chiseling a church” by Acts 2 ⁴² And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.  This was the verse I took to Namibia in 2010.  This was the verse that God had put on my heart for the pastor’s of Namibia in 2009.  And so we spent the week learning the 4 components of verse 42.  We learned how to study the bible.  We learned why we need fellowship.  We learned what the “Lord’s Supper” means.  And we learned how to pray.  This was their first time to be taught these things. Oh how God’s word ignited our flame of faith!

So why did we chose “chiseling a church”? Chiseling infers that the project is already begun, but not involving completion.  Chiseling conjures up a picture:  A man;  The man must utilize and manipulate  an instrument upon the object to get the outcome he sees in his mind;  Long hours are required;  Pain is a constant state;  And sacrifice is not negotiable.  The instrument:  2 simple tools, one tool for molding and the other for force.  The object:  crude and unadorned, not knowing what it can or will become.  Ultimately it is straight forward and basic.   That will be our approach in Namibia:  we will take the 2 tools that God has given, His Word and His Spirit, and spend time with the object, the pastors of Namibia. 

We will have our eyes fixed on our Lord and Savior and ask that you would be in prayer for us.  As we and the people of Namibia live out the 4 pillars of Acts 2:42, just as that early Chiseled Church did long ago.

See you on the field

Scott

What's New

It has been some time since I have written, and much has occurred in the Johnson family since our return from India in July of 2010.  I need to tell the “rest of the story” from our Namibia, Africa trip in May of 2010.  At the conclusion of the week of teaching, the pastors went around saying a special “thank you” to me, as I stated.  But I left out that they also stated that they would be “praying for God to send me as their missionary” and boldly asked me if I would come.  And after months of prayer we are going to be moving to Namibia, Africa.   I would love to tell each one of you the specific details and feeling’s that have occurred during this process.  But, for your time’s sake I will give it to you in 2 points.  First,  as soon as the pastors uttered the words to me I began searching my memory of scripture to see if it would point me to “no”.  A couple of verses kept coming to mind over and over, they are:

1.       James 2 ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?

2.       Matthew 7 ⁹ Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?

So what about when they are asking for the bread of life?   

And secondly, we all are always asking about God’s will in our life and for Him to give us direction.  What if God is giving us this direction by asking us.  Such as:  Will you host a bible study?; Will you teach a class?;  Will you stay late and help clean the bathrooms at church?;  Will you come and distribute food every Saturday?.........  Our first Sunday back this was shown to me.  A friend asked for prayer in a decision,  she was asked to teach a backyard bible club every week that had lost its teacher.  I immediately thought she needed not to pray but just say “YES”.  I refrained from speaking this thought because then my answer to those pastors should have been an immediate “YES”.   There is no need to pray about your answer again.  You have already been asking God to make your path,  so when it comes as obvious and discernable as someone asking you to do “work”.  Let us say “YES”!

-What will you be doing?  I am going to train pastor’s (2 Timothy 2:2).  We are not going under a sending organization, nor creating a new organization.  We are going alongside our friends Gary and Elizabeth Wilkins to work. 

-How long will you be there?  Don’t know exactly but 1 to 3 years is the plan.  We are going to equip and then leave them to do the work.

Other updates:  I was able to go and spend time with Ted Lindwall in Dallas, Texas, in December.   I got to teach in a missionary training that he has been doing among the Hispanic population there. And got to attend his Spanish mission church he started some 9 months ago.   Also, I got some great time of discipleship from Ted.   

I just returned from 3 weeks in Northeast India with my friend AK.   We got to go and speak at 2 conferences.  The first was the Monsang Naga Baptist Association silver Jubilee celebration.  Some 1000 to 1500 people were in attendance for the 3 day conference.   I attached the first 2 pictures from this meeting.  The first picture (click on picture tab) is of AK, the general secretary of the Monsang NBCA, a government official, and of course myself.  As you see there is a monument to mark the event.  And as you see my name is on it.  This was most humbling to see.  I found out that I was the first American missionary to come to this village.  In 1924 an American missionary brought the Gospel to their state.  Rev. William Pettigrew trained some local people who then taught  4 young Monsangs who accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ and then told their tribesmen until in the 1960’s all of the Monsang villages became Christians!  The plan that Jesus gave and the plan that Paul followed still works today!  I have seen it. 

The other was the Garo Baptist Convention 137^th annual conference.  It was attended by up to 150,000.  That’s right 150 thousand.  This was like Woodstock for Jesus.  Everyone was camping in a rice patty, there were stores set up selling books, selling groceries, cell phone minutes, baked goods, restaurants, and even a police station.  The attached photos represent the event.  It was most encouraging to behold. 

I do have a few prayer requests:

-For the Monsang and Garo people of India.  They both live in very militant areas with influence into all of the middle east and Asia. 

-For Hispanic work in America.  In Dallas alone there are over 1 million Hispanics with very little Christian work being done in our own backyard.

-For my family as they prepare to leave what they know (family, friends, and culture)

-For God’s provision and timing for our travel expenses and moving expenses  to Africa

-For the Holy Spirit to begin calling and preparing the people of Namibia that He wants us to meet, tell, and teach.

-For the Holy Spirit to prepare us for the influence He is granting us in Namibia

See you on the field,

Scott,  Tori, Robert Scott, and Peanut