This weekend I met 3 inspiring people. I met N***,T***, and M***. We went out for Chinese food and had a great conversation. I want to remember this afternoon!
N*** is an entrepreneur mobilizing young people to move into low income housing and to be missionaries in their own cities. He had some really cool stories. He's both visionary and encouraging. If any of you are feeling restless and not sure how to be a missionary, while, staying committed to your job, family, church..etc.., let me know and I'll connect you with his ministry. N**** said he wants to blur the line between 'missionaries' and 'lay people' in the church. I like that!
T*** has been a missionary in Africa and Pakistan for many years... her and her husband raised five kids on the field... (even before there was internet!!) Every now and then I meet hard core, old school missionaries and I can't help but wonder if our generation is just a completely different breed. She is very gentle and sweet. I wish I had longer to pick her brain.
M*** has been a missionary in Pakistan and Afghanistan for the last 33 years. He is also hard core. He referred to himself as a 'tea drinker'... meaning it's his full time job to drink tea with people, get into their lives, and share the love of Christ with them. I took it as a compliment when he called me a tea drinker.
At one point, T***, N****, M*** and I were discussing moving into slums in 'low risk' vs. 'high risk' environments. A low risk environment would be a low income neighborhood in Canada. A high risk environment would be moving into a slum in India or Africa. During this conversation, I said, "I don't understand how this works.. I know this sounds bad, but isn't sending a single, north American woman, to live in a slum in a high risk environment...isn't that a death wish for her?" To which N*** and M*** responded that one doesn't move in, until they have built enough of a relationship with the community and neighbors that they're surrounded by. Once you are "in" with them... the community becomes your protection. (This takes a while.. N***'s sister is living in a slum in Indonesia, and it took her 3 years to build enough of a relationship with the people in the slum to do that 'safely'.)The risk of danger, theft and harm, never dissipates, but when you're embraced as a part of the community, the people look after you.
This whole conversation fascinates me. I live in a completely different world than the world of the people that I had lunch with today.
I don't know too many people that are actually living out this concept of "love"...this radically and passionately...I don't know anyone right now that is testing this theory about "the community in the slum rising up to protect you..." like N***'s sister is doing right now... That takes guts for sure!
I feel so encouraged to meet 'average' folks who are putting it all on the line to serve God.
If there is anything I took away from that conversation, it's the when you give your life to God... He delivers. When I first became a Christian... I remember thinking... "I don't think I could do full time ministry"... my reason: I thought it would be too boring.
My conclusion now... the more you surrender different areas of your life to God... the more interesting your life gets!
Your blog is stinkin' awesome! I love it!
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