Life, Love, and Why: June 2010

Friday, June 25, 2010

Truly, the Good News!

Her home was tiny. Over the front door hung an ornament with a painting of Jesus and Mother Mary that says, "God bless this home." Inside, there was a small wooden bench where Cheryl and I sat. In the corner, there was an old fashion sewing machine that had obviously been used to make the curtain that was separating us from the kitchen. The curtain was made from a few rice sacs and other random cloth. I asked Cheryl (my translator) to tell the old woman that I liked the curtain. It was sort of eclectic, like something you'd buy from Urban Outfitters. Anyway, the woman just laughed at my complement.

Then Cheryl looked at me, and in nervous Filippino fashion she asked, "Let's start?" I replied, "Okay, let's pray." Cheryl translated that we were going to pray, so the old woman quickly got up to spit out her chewing tobacco that was now dripping red out the corner of her mouth. We prayed and then I asked if she woman had ever read the Bible. "Not yet," she replied. So, I started in Genesis and briefly explained about the Old Testament. I told her about Adam and Eve and how sin has broken man's relationship with God. Then I shared about the Law of Moses and blood sacrifices, which led into the New Testament and Jesus' sacrifice.

We read Ephesians 2: 8,9 that says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Afterwards, I rambled for a minute about the free gift of God and how there's nothing we can do to earn the gift. The woman looked at me like she really believed what I was saying, but she still didn't completely understand. In the middle of my rambling, she interrupted to ask Cheryl a question. Cheryl said to me, "She just has one question. She wants to know what is the free gift?"

Wow. I laughed and said, "That is a really good question!" Then I turned to Revelation chapter seven and explained the the picture of the great multitude around the throne. Eternal life with God is the free gift. In heaven, we will serve him day and night, and be sheltered by his presence. I went on to tell her about the promises of heaven like no more hunger and no more tears. The woman interrupted me again to say, "That sounds wonderful."

It does sound wonderful, doesn't it? The Good News doesn't get old. I'm continuously humbled by the Waray waray peoples' response to the Gospel. So often, I get used to the idea of God's free gift, and I forget to be amazed. In Proverbs 25: 25 Solomon writes, "Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country." In the Philippines, a bottle of cold water is hard to find, but I believe the good news of Jesus Christ is going to suffice.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

The Nothing People

The word Waray translates, "nothing." So, our team is living with and trying to evangelize the "nothing people." Ironically, the Waray have nothing. Their lives consists of about a dozen things such as, working in the rice field, washing clothes, planting and harvesting crops, cooking, drinking, gambling, chewing tobacco, playing basketball, collecting water, fishing, and possibly attending school.

In my feeble attempt to relate to the Waray, I was reminded of Philippians chapter two that teaches about the character of Christ. In verse seven, we read that Jesus left the glory of heaven and made himself nothing. Until now, I never considered how miserable this might have been. Remember, in heaven, Jesus wasn't the son of a carpenter, he wasn't betrayed by his followers, he didn't fast for forty days, he wasn't spit on by sinners, and he wasn't crucified. No, in heaven, Jesus was in perfect fellowship with God.

So, I sit and write, in what feels like the middle of no where, with sweat running down my back, and a team of people who have all left the comforts of home. Why, you ask? At home, we had electricity, running water, a bed to sleep in, and friends who can speak English. Yep, life at home is pretty much a walk in the park. Nevertheless, we're here now.

In reality, we're all just like the Waray people because we have nothing to offer God. " But he made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men." If Jesus thought I was worth becoming nothing for then I consider it a joy to become nothing for the sake of the Waray people…the nothing people.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Sing, sing, sing

The kids were waiting for us when we arrived. I guess it's because we were bringing the only food they would have that day. As I scanned the room I saw open sores and swollen stomachs. When the women that run the ministry started teaching the Bible story, all of the children sat and listened quietly. I wondered how these kids even had the energy to pay attention. Next, they reviewed all of their memory verses, which was shocking because they had learned at least a dozen verses by heart.

Afterwards they sang. But it was different then the way most kids sing. No one held back. Whether or not those children understood every word didn't matter. As I watched, I thought to myself, "God, are hearing this right now? I sure hope so because it's beautiful!" When it was time to eat there was a mad rush to get the largest dish. Then the children lined up from shortest to tallest, and the little ones were served first. As one child walked by I looked into his bowl. There was only rice and what looked like canned vegetables. That kid didn't care one bit. He looked up at me and just smiled.

On the ride back I went though my photos. As I starred at each precious face it occurred to me that this is how so many people live. But not me. I turned off my expensive camera, looked down at the nice clothes I was wearing, and realized that I was a hungry. Then I remembered that I had Kashi granola bar in my backpack. And I thought, "God, are you seeing this right now? I sure hope so because it's terrible."

A passage in Revelation, chapter seven, is what compelled me to do foreign missions. In verse nine there is a picture of a great multitude from every nation gathered around the throne and before the Lamb. Until someone from every nation, tribe, people, and language has heard and accepted the gospel, the great commission is not finished. And until the great commission is finished, children will be hungry. But Revelation 7:16 promises, "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore…For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water."

Amen.