Yeah, I laughed too when I saw this picture! This is a picture of my new room. It’s about fifteen feet long and about—you guessed it—six feet wide. I’m 6’3”… Well, I suppose we all suffer for Jesus in different ways… Actually, I’ve moved the bed around, and I’m now fully able to extend my body. Much like my slumber spot, I’m still trying to fit in to Barcelona, though I’m becoming more comfortable as I’m able to stretch and extend myself past the first few days. I’m beginning to get the lay of the land, feel the ebb and flow of the city, even finding places I like to get coffee (there’s a really great hotel right in the middle of the Plaza de Catalunya, with a very peaceful “terraza”). I’m also forming a schedule, finding places to plug in, and, very important, getting to know people and making friends. It’s great and draining at the same time. I love this job!
Today also marked the first day of Ramadan, the Muslim month of prayer and fasting, in which it was believed Muhammad received the Qur’an. If you would like more information on what’s going on around the Muslim world and how you can pray for Muslims at this time, there is a daily calendar and some resources at http://www.30daysfire.net/pgs/Home.php . I’ll be praying, and I’d invite you all to pray with and for Muslims around the world this month. I was recently given a Ramadan calendar by a Muslim man at a kebab here. I asked him if it would be all right if I fasted too and he said that it was really only for Muslims, and that the people outside of the “house of Islam” shouldn’t participate. Maybe he’s got a point. I thought about the one of the Covenant’s theme verses: “I am a companion/friend to all those who fear you, to all those who keep your precepts” (Psalm 119:61). Maybe, instead of participating in Ramadan, I/we can come along side this man and others in prayer and fasting. I say this, more thinking out loud than a declaration of plans. I’m not trying to announce any plan to fast or that I’m especially holy for the fast and prayer. Just thinking out loud.Also, many of your received an urgent email about a financial crisis of mine. I want to again thank you all for your emails of support and action to give and help spur on giving. As I explained in my email, I only had $136 in my CWM account, which is different from my account here (which had enough money for September and part of October). I was able to talk to one of my supervisors (the wonderful Lana!) and we were able to get finances straightened out, and mostly, God is good, providing peace in this situation as well as financial resources. BUT, my STM account is STILL LOW, and in need of help. Please continue to give financially, and pray for even more hearts and wallets to be opened to giving as well.
I’d like to leave with this article that was sent to me by my very good friend, Mrs. Megan Kline. It gives a perspective on missions and general and Mother Teresa’s work in particular that I had not considered much before…Click here for the NY Times article.
I had just met and was talking to a Polish gal here a few days ago. She said that missions to her country had been increasing, and many groups had come to talk and share. I asked if they’d been welcomed, or even wanted. She and Fabio, who was in on the conversation too, both kinda of looked at me like, “Of course”, but then, she said something like, “Well, it was good that they played games and frisbee with the youth, but then, when they tried to talk to people (like a sermon or something) they made too many jokes and motioned too much with their hands. Polish people don’t like that stuff.”
“Oh,” I said...
I know that Mother Teresa helped, cared for, and had an influence in the salvation of many people. But I also wonder if her methods and legacy (and again, missions in general) could not stand to critiqued by a national with whom the mission is working, and, hopefully, serving in the love of Christ.
How’s does that look in Spain? More to come (I think)…
Please, also, pray for my friend G. We are very worried about him. He’s (from what I understand) clinically depressed and we fear he might be in pretty deep this time. He’s avoiding contact with us, and seems under the influence of something when we talk to him over the phone. Pray that God grabs a hold of him and shakes him fiercely, loving him and breaking him, and that G, like the prodigal son, will “come to his senses”. Pray also for us as we seek to minister to people lost, hurt, scarred, and tired of church. Pray that God would make us “shrewd as serpants and innocent as doves.”
Grace and Peace,
Nate
3 comments:
A few things:
1) How the heck did you get a Flickr badge to work on your blog? I am totally incompetent, and I realize this.
2) I feel I ought to clarify that I sent you that article because it provided an seldom-heard perspective on the modern Christian missionary enterprise. I want to be sure that you know I didn't send it to you to discourage your own work or to disparage missions in any way. So, there's that.
3) We miss you! And we're praying for you. Like, right now. :) (Did you feel the magically prayer dust descend from above?)
that picture (the first one) made me laugh. i typed up a 500 word treatise on that NY Times piece, but there's not much point in me (a westerner) pointing out the flaws in someone's argument, when what they're arguing is basically that westerners have trouble seeing indian people and places clearly.
anyway, here's a list of NY Times links to other stories on the RCC in Calcutta.
Here at NP we were invited to fast with the Islamic community too, for a day. Though I thought the sentiment was genuine, however I was skeptical at how well thought out that would be. Or I suppose how appropriate that would be for us as Christians. Is that really the best way to go about fostering relationships? I liked that you talked about that, it was very helpful. I wasn't really sure how to articulate the feeling that the issue gave me.
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