Our Burden

I recently had a conversation with a girl in high school who had to cancel her mission trip to Mexico on two different occasions: the first trip was to Tijiuana due to all the gang violence as of late. The second was to Mexicali because of the Swine Flu. Her church was finally able to find of a hole in the curtain separating the US from the world in Jamaica.

I think it's great that these Christ followers are willing to relentlessly seek to do the work of the Kingdom. Even when it's inconvenient.

But why is it that we refuse to send missionaries to dangerous places?

Are we afraid of what might happen to us?

Is the risk of losing our lives to great?

I even see this at my school. They will not send students to India because of the danger. Why don't we just sign a reliability release form?

Jesus took the biggest risk. He knew He would be murdered on Calvary. He knew, yet He went. And it turned out to be the mission trip that brought Salvation to this world. His blood washed sinners clean. It is my prayer that we do not back down as Disciples. That we take off the burden of fear and put on the burden of the Cross.

Made Me Think

Last week, I was in my very last Biblical Preaching class (Biblical is a loose term) and one of the sermons opened very thoughtfully with the most sinful city in America, San Jose. It was surprising to me that it was not Las Vegas, and apparently it surprised some of my classmates who are from LV. They both in unison let out a rejoiceful, "YES! It's not Vegas!" It made me think.

Yesterday, while I was in staff meeting at church, one prayer request read, "Pray for my sister, she is recovering from surgery in Utah and is surrounded by Mormons." It was apparent that the request was for spiritual strength to get through their "evangelism." It made me think.

I've recently started reading a book titled The Reason For God. And in it, the author Tim Keller began to depict the city that he decided to plant a church in, New York. He was saying that the reason he chose this city is because of all the liberal/theologically absent thinking in the area. It made me think...

Why are so many people in our Christian culture afraid of being apart of a conversation about God? Why are so many people happy that they are "not" in a culture flooded with sin? Shouldn't we be excited at the possibility that we live in the city with the most sin in America? When I heard that statistic at the beginning of the sermon, I thought, "I want to live there." And immediately after, I heard the shouts of acclamation. During the staff meeting, I prayed for something that the requester was not thinking. I hope that lady recovering from surgery is used by God to start a revival in that lost state.

I'm not saying this to make anybody think that I understand what it means to be Christian, because I don't by any stretch of the imagination. But I am saying this to try to make myself, and hopefully somebody else as a vicarious consequence, to think about where I am in life. Where is it that God has put me to make a difference? Am I in a city that does not have a light? If so, what am I doing to make the Gospel known?

It is those cities and places that Paul had in mind when he wrote this in Romans 10,

"How shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!'"

Paul made me think. And hopefully the Gospel makes me act.

Martyrs in Iraq

Voice of the Martyrs 

Doing Missions when dying is gain.

Something Spiritual

I alluded to the fact that there were security issues with my blog being written while I was over there because the Government monitors all internet activity and it is very possible that they could read my blog and deport me, my team, and the IMB Missionaries there. So I chose to talk about things that were secondary agenda to me. Luckily, I'm back in the states where I can openly talk about my beliefs. So here is what really happened.

When I used to think of Muslims, not too many good thoughts would come to mind. I would have the usual thought of; terrorists, extremists, and the idea that they hate America. All of those views seem to be valid with what we are fed from the media. Just an example, when we were in LAX we put on our dishdashas (traditional Muslim attire) and a guy walked past us and under his breath said, "terrorists." That is not what he found out by himself. That is what the media chose for him to think.

What we are not fed and therefore not given the choice to think is what these people are truly like. Now when I think of Muslims, I think of; overly hospitable, nice, and family oriented. I think it is absurd that we go through our days and hear nothing positive about this people group. They act more like Christians than Christians do. I hate to say that, but it is true. When was the last time you gave out your number to a perfect stranger and told them to call you if you needed anything? I don't think I ever have, yet these people do it daily. I learned a lot from them. 

God is doing some amazing things in the Middle East. People are coming to the Lord in masses. There is a movement in Iraq that is so new right, they can't even number the amount of Believers. That is exciting! Who doesn't want to be apart of that?

I'm sorry to say that I cannot tell you of any tangible evidence of our mission trip. The fact is; witnessing to Islams is a slow process. The average amount of times the gospel is shared to them before they start to believe is 25. It usually ranges from a 5-7 year evangelism process. So unfortunately, we were not able to see anybody come to the Lord this trip, but I have faith that people we came into contact with will eventually be forgiven of all their sins. It is only going to take people who give up their time and make their way over to the Middle East and tell them the Good News that they have. And if God would call somebody like me, I know He will have people going over who will do a far better job than I ever will be able to. I think that God just wanted to show me what He is doing overseas because I am not very good at the whole evangelizing thing.

There is something that I feel is worth being discussed while I'm talking about my trip. It doesn't deal with interacting with the lost. It doesn't deal with smuggling Bibles into the country. It deals with the humbling act of worship. There is something that can't be described when you are able to worship the God of the Universe in a country where His name is not lifted up. Singing with my team and doing Bible studies was amazing. Not because we were good singers or teachers. Not because we had in depth theological discussions. But because God was being glorified! The trip alone was worth it because I was able to worship the Lord. 

People say that going overseas is a life changing experience. I pray that it will be for me too. Right now, I'm beginning to see the importance of living with intentionality. It was so easy to walk around looking for people to talk to and give people a smile that you make eye contact with. Why don't I do that in America? I have made a promise to God that I will start to make an effort in making relationships with unbelievers. I will do that by going to Starbucks to study instead of my apartment. I will make friends in my classes that are not believers. And I will make more of a point to build the relationships with my friends that I know are not believers. It is just one way that I will be fulfilling the Great Commission in America. Hopefully this is just not one of those post-summer camp moments where you are on fire to do stuff like this. 

My prayers are going to be going strong for the IMB Missionaries we met in the Middle East. And it is my prayer that you answer the call to go make disciples. It is not a choice. There is no so called "calling" to be a missionary. It is just a matter of saying "Yes" to God, because He is asking all of His sheep. So you can say "Yes" either two ways; Go or Send.

How much longer?

I'm pretty worn out with everything. Not to mention getting on the internet was a pain. Along with me not getting able to get on AOL to check and send email really made me happy as well. I promise I was in a better mood 10 minutes ago.

I'm still having hints of fun though! This place doesn't even look like the Middle East. It is more like a rain forest than a desert. A few days ago we had a picnic with some Arab guys on a cliff overlooking the ocean. We ate with our hands and the Arabs made fun of me...I guess I wasn't doing something right. Who thought there was a technique to eating with your hands? But at the end of our meal there were about 6 camels that showed up. It was a weird juxtaposition with the camels and ocean. I'm sure you can't see that combo too many places in the world.

It has been harder to find fluent people here in Salalah. Kind of a bummer, but we are making due.

Overseas brings a lot of Spiritual Warfare that I've never experienced in the states. I'll be happy to get it all off my back soon. Even with all the warfare, it is nice to know that the S-man isn't happy with the work we are doing. Speaking of the work...it is a lot different than what I thought it was going to be. And I'm still looking to find peace with my purpose for coming.

Please pray for me and renewed strength. There is only a few more days left and I want to be able to finish strong! There is still a ton of work to be done here. It has been refreshing to see the work that was already in progress. The harvest is ready!

I'm going to go and try to find a way to email people. But in case I can't....Mom, all I want is clean clothes, a good shower, my cell phone, and food that comes out solid. Also, mom and dad....Happy Anniversary! I love you guys.

ME Update 1

My eyes are beginning to open to something so much bigger than anything you can experience on American soil. It is really hard to talk about what I want to say because of problems that come from "closed" regions, but I promise I'll have plenty to say when I get home.

I can give you a few snippets though!

The quote of the trip:
Muhammed *with Arabic accent*: You ever poop in the desert?
Kyle: ...No.
Muhammed: You should try it.
That guy is probably the funniest Arab guy I will ever meet.

The drive to the LA airport was stupid scary! The guy drove like he was half asleep or something. I think he was on some kinda of drugs. He definitely didn't know how to stay in one lane.
Driving in round abouts with 3+ lanes and little to no regard for the one or two traffic laws in place is even scarier....I thought Asians were bad drivers! They drive like experts compared to Indians.

I've never seen a chandelier bigger than the one in the Grand Mosque. The place is absolutely gorgeous.

I'm kind of bummed I haven't been able to use the squatty potty yet. My colon ran into a little problem with the food for a few days. :/ Needless to say, the Imodium has done it's job and my cheeks haven't seen porcelan for awhile.

Off roading in the desert is pretty exciting. It comes in two ways:
1. Get stuck in a Sadan in the middle of the night.
This one is fun! You get to see a man in a Dishdashda named
Muhammed running around in a panic not knowing what to do while
the Amreecas push the car out of the sand.
2. Get stuck in an Explorer during the day.
This one is fun too because Arab's on quads get to laugh at you and steal
your SUV for a good ten minutes while you are stuck in the back seat. Not to
mention he drives off after asking the owner if he was Amreecan. After hearing
a "yes", replies "Goerge Bush." Then precedes to floor it through the dunes at scary
speeds. Nevertheless....amazing!

This is all I have time for now. But don't worry mom, I think I have gotten used to the food so I shouldn't be sick anymore (yes...I did get a little sick). I should be able to update in a week or so. We are flying to a vacation spot of the region tomorrow so it should be amazing!

P.S. Sorry I didn't call before I went offroading, mom. But I think you'll understand.

Prayers Wanted!

I'm leaving for the Middle East and I would love your prayers for my team and me!

I'll try to be updating this blog once a week or so...

Uh Oh

I'm getting ready to go to the Middle East next week and I stumbled upon this from George Otis Jr.'s book The Last of the Giants: Lifting the Veil on Islam and the End Times

"Should the Church in politically or socially trying circumstances remain covert to avoid potential eradication by forces hostile to Christianity? Or would more open confrontation with prevailing spiritual ignorance and deprivation--even if it produced Christian martyrs- -be more likely to lead to evangelistic breakthroughs? Islamic fundamentalists claim that their spiritual revolution is fueled by the blood of martyrs. Is it conceivable that Christianity's failure to thrive in the Muslim world is due to the notable absence of Christian martyrs? And can the Muslim community take seriously the claims of a Church in hiding? . . .The question is not whether it is wise at times to keep worship and witness discreet, but rather how long this may continue before we are guilty of "hiding our light under a bushel. . . . The record shows that from Jerusalem and Damascus to Ephesus and Rome, the apostles were beaten, stoned, conspired against and imprisoned for their witness. Invitations were rare, and never the basis for their missions."

The part of the ME where I'm going is a pretty safe place to be. Probably safer than LA. But still...makes me think a little bit.