Wednesday, July 8, 2009
SOME REFLECTIONS FROM THE DIRECTOR
THESE ARE SOME REFLECTIONS I PASSED ON TO OUR STUDENTS AS THEY ADJUST TO LIFE AT HOME
Was my experience real?
In Uganda we met a God who was larger and more real. We walked into the book of Acts and the Bible became real. We met people who had tremendous joy and hope in suffering and young people whose outlandish dreams are becoming reality. We saw that spiritual warfare is real and God is powerful in converting people before our eyes. Our faith became a very relevant commodity.
Was this just Africa? Is God different back in the USA?
Do I leave what I learned in the “African Experience Box” or do I move into a new paradigm for living?
Our paradigm entering Uganda was a predominately western/academic/ materialist worldview. We lived in a predominately spiritual culture/ worldview for 4 weeks and experienced God as the Lord of the nations and the reality of His Kingdom advancing. Now, our goal is a paradigm shift in overlaying the former grid with a new one. Not that the old paradigm should be ignored, nor to shelve the new grid but to live in the intersection of these...to see life through a new lens or grid.
Most of you (in reading your evaluations) are seeing reality correctly as; “My God has become a God of the nations, a global God.” Or “ I want to live a ‘missionary’ lifestyle.”
You also are formulating plans to integrate these concepts into action on campus. I’m impressed with the many ideas written down and thinking behind integrating social justice and our mission on campus.
One thought: make sure you are continuing to feed your soul in ways that build your new paradigm of life. Its’ important that your heart takes on the new reality that you have experienced so it just doesn’t become another idea that fades away. You must believe that what you experienced is true…not just another academic exercise. Watch that you don’t slip back into your original paradigm.
Soul action:
Set a block of two hours this week to ask God to take this experience from the head level to the soul level… to a place where you live life from. Look over your journal and pray for what to translate into your new worldview.
I give my life to Follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender…..I surrender.
Savior, He can move the mountain
My God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save
Forever, Author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus, conquered the grave Mighty to Save
Warmly
Tom Brink, Global Issues Coordinator
Was my experience real?
In Uganda we met a God who was larger and more real. We walked into the book of Acts and the Bible became real. We met people who had tremendous joy and hope in suffering and young people whose outlandish dreams are becoming reality. We saw that spiritual warfare is real and God is powerful in converting people before our eyes. Our faith became a very relevant commodity.
Was this just Africa? Is God different back in the USA?
Do I leave what I learned in the “African Experience Box” or do I move into a new paradigm for living?
Our paradigm entering Uganda was a predominately western/academic/ materialist worldview. We lived in a predominately spiritual culture/ worldview for 4 weeks and experienced God as the Lord of the nations and the reality of His Kingdom advancing. Now, our goal is a paradigm shift in overlaying the former grid with a new one. Not that the old paradigm should be ignored, nor to shelve the new grid but to live in the intersection of these...to see life through a new lens or grid.
Most of you (in reading your evaluations) are seeing reality correctly as; “My God has become a God of the nations, a global God.” Or “ I want to live a ‘missionary’ lifestyle.”
You also are formulating plans to integrate these concepts into action on campus. I’m impressed with the many ideas written down and thinking behind integrating social justice and our mission on campus.
One thought: make sure you are continuing to feed your soul in ways that build your new paradigm of life. Its’ important that your heart takes on the new reality that you have experienced so it just doesn’t become another idea that fades away. You must believe that what you experienced is true…not just another academic exercise. Watch that you don’t slip back into your original paradigm.
Soul action:
Set a block of two hours this week to ask God to take this experience from the head level to the soul level… to a place where you live life from. Look over your journal and pray for what to translate into your new worldview.
I give my life to Follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender…..I surrender.
Savior, He can move the mountain
My God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save
Forever, Author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus, conquered the grave Mighty to Save
Warmly
Tom Brink, Global Issues Coordinator
STUDENTS SPEAK OUT!
What did you learn on the Global Issues Internship that will change your future?
ALLIE: I LEARNED THAT GOD HAS A CALLING FOR ME TO WORK/HELP THE HELPLESS AND OPPRESSED.
ASHLEY: THIS IS WHAT GOD IS CALLING ME TO DO IN MY LIFE
SARAH: I LEARNED TO TRUST GOD EVEN WHEN I DON’T FEEL HIM
SIMPLY LOVING PEOPLE IS SERVICE
AMANDA: GOD IS TRULY A GLOBAL GOD, THAT HE TRIUMPHS OVER EVIL AND RESTORES THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN OPPRESSED. I HAVE COMMITTED MYSELF TO A “MISSION LIFESTYLE” I WANT EVERY AREA OF MY LIFE TO REFLECT GOD’S KINGDOM.
CAITLIN: HOW TO LIVE SIMPLY, LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY, AND TO DREAM BIG.
GABBY: MY LIFE NOW HAS A CAUSE/MISSION. I KNOW MORE OF WHO I AM AND HOW TO LOVE WITHOUT CONDITIONS
MARET: THE TRIP IS NOT OVER. SEEKING JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS IS A WAY OF LIFE, NOT JUST FOR A SHORT-TERM MISSION TRIP.
NATE: I LEARNED ABOUT SELFLESS LOVE AND SIMPLE LIFESTYLE
How did you see God work in your life and the lives of others while in Uganda?
ASHLEY: HE CHALLENGED ME SO I REALIZED THAT EVEN IF I AM WEAK IN THE FLESH, I CAN BE STRONG IN THE SPIRIT. FOR THE PEOPLE OF UGANDA I LEARNED THAT THEY MAY HAVE NOTHING, YET THEY HAVE EVERYTHING B/C THEY LIVE THEIR LIVES DEVOTED TO CHRIST.
SARAH: I FELT HIS LOVE FOR THE POOR AND SAW HIM MOVE SO CLEARLY, ESPECIALLY IN AWACH AND KALIRO.
AMANDA: GOD TAUGHT ME TO “LOVE HARD” IN ALL SITUATIONS. HE BROKE MY HEART FOR THE PEOPLE OF UGANDA. I WAS SO INSPIRED BY THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE CHILD MOTHERS WHO WERE CHILD SOLDIERS. THEIR ATTITUDE, BEHAVIOR, AND SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT IS TRULY INCREDIBLE. GOD IS RESTORING AND RECLAIMING NORTHERN UGANDA FOR HIS KINGDOM.
CAITLIN: HE IS THE GOD OF THE WORLD AND NOT JUST AMERICA. HE WANTS US TO BE A PART OF WHAT HE IS DOING AND HAS GIVEN US DREAMS AND PASSIONS TO PURSUE.
GABBY: CONVINCING MANY OF US OF A LIFE INVOLVING MISSIONARY WORK
ERIN: I SAW PEOPLE STEPPING SO FAR OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONES AND GOD REALLY USING THEM TO SPEAK TO UGANDANS ABOUT CHRIST.
MARET: SEEING HIS RESTORATION OF THE CHILD VOICE GIRLS! ITS SO BEAUTIFUL TO SEE THEM LAUGHING AND DANCING. GOD IS SO BIG. THE SAME GOD I SERVE IN THE U.S. IS THE SAME GOD WHO CASTS OUT DEMONS IN UGANDA! HIS LOVE AND MERCY IS SO BIG.
MEGAN: WE WERE ALL STRUCK WITH HOW BIG GOD IS. HE IS THE GOD OF ALL NATIONS. SEEING HIM HEALING THE NORTH, GIVING HOPE TO THOSE IN THE SOUTH, CASTING OUT DEMONS, CONVERTING PEOPLE AND ALL NATIONS PRAYING TO HIM ON PRAYER MT. I HAVE COME TO SEE HOW RELEVANT AND POWERFUL SCRIPTURE IS. GOD ANSWERS PRAYER!
ALLIE: I LEARNED THAT GOD HAS A CALLING FOR ME TO WORK/HELP THE HELPLESS AND OPPRESSED.
ASHLEY: THIS IS WHAT GOD IS CALLING ME TO DO IN MY LIFE
SARAH: I LEARNED TO TRUST GOD EVEN WHEN I DON’T FEEL HIM
SIMPLY LOVING PEOPLE IS SERVICE
AMANDA: GOD IS TRULY A GLOBAL GOD, THAT HE TRIUMPHS OVER EVIL AND RESTORES THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN OPPRESSED. I HAVE COMMITTED MYSELF TO A “MISSION LIFESTYLE” I WANT EVERY AREA OF MY LIFE TO REFLECT GOD’S KINGDOM.
CAITLIN: HOW TO LIVE SIMPLY, LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY, AND TO DREAM BIG.
GABBY: MY LIFE NOW HAS A CAUSE/MISSION. I KNOW MORE OF WHO I AM AND HOW TO LOVE WITHOUT CONDITIONS
MARET: THE TRIP IS NOT OVER. SEEKING JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS IS A WAY OF LIFE, NOT JUST FOR A SHORT-TERM MISSION TRIP.
NATE: I LEARNED ABOUT SELFLESS LOVE AND SIMPLE LIFESTYLE
How did you see God work in your life and the lives of others while in Uganda?
ASHLEY: HE CHALLENGED ME SO I REALIZED THAT EVEN IF I AM WEAK IN THE FLESH, I CAN BE STRONG IN THE SPIRIT. FOR THE PEOPLE OF UGANDA I LEARNED THAT THEY MAY HAVE NOTHING, YET THEY HAVE EVERYTHING B/C THEY LIVE THEIR LIVES DEVOTED TO CHRIST.
SARAH: I FELT HIS LOVE FOR THE POOR AND SAW HIM MOVE SO CLEARLY, ESPECIALLY IN AWACH AND KALIRO.
AMANDA: GOD TAUGHT ME TO “LOVE HARD” IN ALL SITUATIONS. HE BROKE MY HEART FOR THE PEOPLE OF UGANDA. I WAS SO INSPIRED BY THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE CHILD MOTHERS WHO WERE CHILD SOLDIERS. THEIR ATTITUDE, BEHAVIOR, AND SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT IS TRULY INCREDIBLE. GOD IS RESTORING AND RECLAIMING NORTHERN UGANDA FOR HIS KINGDOM.
CAITLIN: HE IS THE GOD OF THE WORLD AND NOT JUST AMERICA. HE WANTS US TO BE A PART OF WHAT HE IS DOING AND HAS GIVEN US DREAMS AND PASSIONS TO PURSUE.
GABBY: CONVINCING MANY OF US OF A LIFE INVOLVING MISSIONARY WORK
ERIN: I SAW PEOPLE STEPPING SO FAR OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONES AND GOD REALLY USING THEM TO SPEAK TO UGANDANS ABOUT CHRIST.
MARET: SEEING HIS RESTORATION OF THE CHILD VOICE GIRLS! ITS SO BEAUTIFUL TO SEE THEM LAUGHING AND DANCING. GOD IS SO BIG. THE SAME GOD I SERVE IN THE U.S. IS THE SAME GOD WHO CASTS OUT DEMONS IN UGANDA! HIS LOVE AND MERCY IS SO BIG.
MEGAN: WE WERE ALL STRUCK WITH HOW BIG GOD IS. HE IS THE GOD OF ALL NATIONS. SEEING HIM HEALING THE NORTH, GIVING HOPE TO THOSE IN THE SOUTH, CASTING OUT DEMONS, CONVERTING PEOPLE AND ALL NATIONS PRAYING TO HIM ON PRAYER MT. I HAVE COME TO SEE HOW RELEVANT AND POWERFUL SCRIPTURE IS. GOD ANSWERS PRAYER!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Debriefing at Banana Village and the trip home
The team is now relaxing and debriefing at a place called Banana Village.
Its a great place of quiet and rest near the Entebbe airport.
They leave tomorrow EST at around noon for the journey home through Nairobi and London.
They will arrive at Logan at 5:10pm Tuesday night.
Please keep them in your prayers as they travel and adjust back home for the first week.
We'll have some more entries on the blog when the reports come back on Tuesday!
Its a great place of quiet and rest near the Entebbe airport.
They leave tomorrow EST at around noon for the journey home through Nairobi and London.
They will arrive at Logan at 5:10pm Tuesday night.
Please keep them in your prayers as they travel and adjust back home for the first week.
We'll have some more entries on the blog when the reports come back on Tuesday!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)