This is the third part of the story of Cezi, a student from Albania who consented to share about God's work in her life, leading her to a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ and to being a student at EuNC. This is the final part. To read parts 1 and 2, scroll further down in the June section of this blog.
-- Gina
The future
For sure I know I’m going back to Italy because I want to finish my other degree in engineering. Also, my contract with the church is that for every year of scholarship I need to give a year of service to the district. For sure I’m going there after I graduate.
It’s hard to say whether I have a call for being a pastor or a missionary or something else. I have only seen myself as a person who will do anything that is needed. I have always been working in social justice. My mom has an organization for orphan kids. My desire for the future is, when I go back to Italy, I would like to connect the church with social work and social justice. The government takes care of most of the needs of the society, but I want to find a connection, especially with the immigrants. And I would like to teach. I’m thinking of doing a master’s degree in global development and social justice. Unless things change this is what I’m thinking about.
I would like to use engineering as a second job to support myself. It puts me in contact with other people outside the church.
My mom is a Christian now; she is going to church. This has been a big surprise because I always told God, “You can do anything in this world except convert my mom. She will never change.”
Two years ago she started to be so involved with the church. There were a couple of missionaries that were in the Pentecostal church and she got very close with them. They had a great influence on her. My best friends – the two friends who led me to Christ – go and visit my mom very often. It was an environment that God worked through to bring her to Him.
As for my former religion, people in that religion back home ask me to come and talk about Christianity and how we see things and explain differences in interpretation. It opened a big door. The leaders of that faith community ask me to go to coffee and reflect theologically.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Meet a student Part 2
In a previous entry, I posted the first part of a story shared with me by Cezi, a student at European Nazarene College (EuNC). Cezi is from Albania and is a strong leader on campus. I am posting her life story, as she has told it to me in her words, in three parts. Here is the second part. (To see the first part, scroll down to the previous entry.)
-- Gina
When I was 17, I went to Italy to study engineering. God opened the doors to get there to study and I got involved in the church. It’s where I met the Church of the Nazarene. I decided to become a member of the church. I became the NMI president for three to four years. I was youth leader for a year, served on the church board and worship group, everything.
Before coming to EuNC 4 years ago, I went to South Africa for Third Wave. The preacher was talking about giving to God our five breads and two fishes; give everything and not just four breads and one fish. He will change our lives and the lives of people around us.
Since I saw so much injustice, I said, “God this is my life and I’m giving my five breads and two fishes, if this is going to be helpful to other people I give you all my self.”
Oh my gosh, many times I wish I didn’t do that prayer because from that moment all my life was going down and down. I started losing everything that was security for me. Especially the last two months before coming here, in a week I lost everything. The government denied the renewal of my documents so I couldn’t finish in the university. I couldn’t work anymore. I got depressed; I didn’t have joy in serving God. I didn’t trust Him anymore. I came to the point I said, “God, I don’t want anything, I just want peace.”
I did not get even that. It was very hard for me. Then I came to the point where I said, “If I have to spend the rest of my life in this condition, that is fine; I am choosing you anyway.”
I think that is the moment where everything changed. I said to God, “Let’s make a project together.” I work with projects (laughing). “I’m willing to go in a Bible school somewhere for six months, but I don’t have anything. I’m just giving you my availability, but you have to provide.”
I wrote down the seven points that I needed:
1. Scholarship
2. That my church would agree and recognize I have a gift
3. My family would agree (my mom would have had a heart attack knowing I was leaving engineering for theology)
4. Since I was providing for my family by working, that God provide another way for them to be supported
5. Documents and a visa to go somewhere to study
6. Somebody else could take over in the church the things I was doing
7. That I wouldn’t lose all the studies I had done with the university there
On Monday I received this phone call from the education coordinator of our district, Jessica Morris.
“You know, EuNC is giving scholarships for one year and I was thinking you and Sara can go there for six months, divide the scholarship together so you can go faster with the program.”
I started crying. The next day I talked to my pastor. He said the exact words I wrote in my journal: “Me and the church support you and recognize you have a gift for this.” I was crying again.
The other point—my mom. She was like, “You should go. Since you became a Christian, you have been so perseverant in this. It is time you respond to God in the gift he is giving you.” I couldn’t believe my mom was talking like that.
Then in my team with NMI, there was one of the guys who was a new Christian but he was so passionate for mission. I helped him to develop skills so he could take my place and he did a great job and still does.
Then I went to my university and asked them what would happen if I stopped. They told me that if you stop university for two years, you can restart the studies where you left off.
But God started to ask me for steps of faith. Everything was perfect, but now there was this part where I needed to make a decision. I said, “OK, God, I’m just going to accept that you are opening every door. I’ll do this and you’re going to provide the rest.”
I applied for German documents. That was a miracle. To get a German visa takes at least two months and I got it in two weeks. Every step was a miracle. I needed to have a document from the school, but the school was closed because it was August. But one morning I just decided to go and see. At the same time I arrived there, the secretary of the school was leaving for vacation and forgot something in the office. She was just there 5 minutes – the same time I came to see if I could get the document I needed.
Everything worked out. When I got all the visas, the field educational coordinator called me and said she was willing with her deputation funds to give me a two-year scholarship. It was just perfect.
During that time it was just rebuilding my relationship with God. I really didn’t believe him anymore. I was feeling guilty because I knew I should. If I would see all the things He had done in my life, I was like, “Are you stupid not trusting Him?” But I just couldn’t see it or feel it. It was just too far for me. I even told my church that although I was a leader in the church, I didn’t trust God any more. They said, “This is where we hold you.”
It was a painful process of learning, but at the same time, so rich.
-- Gina
When I was 17, I went to Italy to study engineering. God opened the doors to get there to study and I got involved in the church. It’s where I met the Church of the Nazarene. I decided to become a member of the church. I became the NMI president for three to four years. I was youth leader for a year, served on the church board and worship group, everything.
Before coming to EuNC 4 years ago, I went to South Africa for Third Wave. The preacher was talking about giving to God our five breads and two fishes; give everything and not just four breads and one fish. He will change our lives and the lives of people around us.
Since I saw so much injustice, I said, “God this is my life and I’m giving my five breads and two fishes, if this is going to be helpful to other people I give you all my self.”
Oh my gosh, many times I wish I didn’t do that prayer because from that moment all my life was going down and down. I started losing everything that was security for me. Especially the last two months before coming here, in a week I lost everything. The government denied the renewal of my documents so I couldn’t finish in the university. I couldn’t work anymore. I got depressed; I didn’t have joy in serving God. I didn’t trust Him anymore. I came to the point I said, “God, I don’t want anything, I just want peace.”
I did not get even that. It was very hard for me. Then I came to the point where I said, “If I have to spend the rest of my life in this condition, that is fine; I am choosing you anyway.”
I think that is the moment where everything changed. I said to God, “Let’s make a project together.” I work with projects (laughing). “I’m willing to go in a Bible school somewhere for six months, but I don’t have anything. I’m just giving you my availability, but you have to provide.”
I wrote down the seven points that I needed:
1. Scholarship
2. That my church would agree and recognize I have a gift
3. My family would agree (my mom would have had a heart attack knowing I was leaving engineering for theology)
4. Since I was providing for my family by working, that God provide another way for them to be supported
5. Documents and a visa to go somewhere to study
6. Somebody else could take over in the church the things I was doing
7. That I wouldn’t lose all the studies I had done with the university there
On Monday I received this phone call from the education coordinator of our district, Jessica Morris.
“You know, EuNC is giving scholarships for one year and I was thinking you and Sara can go there for six months, divide the scholarship together so you can go faster with the program.”
I started crying. The next day I talked to my pastor. He said the exact words I wrote in my journal: “Me and the church support you and recognize you have a gift for this.” I was crying again.
The other point—my mom. She was like, “You should go. Since you became a Christian, you have been so perseverant in this. It is time you respond to God in the gift he is giving you.” I couldn’t believe my mom was talking like that.
Then in my team with NMI, there was one of the guys who was a new Christian but he was so passionate for mission. I helped him to develop skills so he could take my place and he did a great job and still does.
Then I went to my university and asked them what would happen if I stopped. They told me that if you stop university for two years, you can restart the studies where you left off.
But God started to ask me for steps of faith. Everything was perfect, but now there was this part where I needed to make a decision. I said, “OK, God, I’m just going to accept that you are opening every door. I’ll do this and you’re going to provide the rest.”
I applied for German documents. That was a miracle. To get a German visa takes at least two months and I got it in two weeks. Every step was a miracle. I needed to have a document from the school, but the school was closed because it was August. But one morning I just decided to go and see. At the same time I arrived there, the secretary of the school was leaving for vacation and forgot something in the office. She was just there 5 minutes – the same time I came to see if I could get the document I needed.
Everything worked out. When I got all the visas, the field educational coordinator called me and said she was willing with her deputation funds to give me a two-year scholarship. It was just perfect.
During that time it was just rebuilding my relationship with God. I really didn’t believe him anymore. I was feeling guilty because I knew I should. If I would see all the things He had done in my life, I was like, “Are you stupid not trusting Him?” But I just couldn’t see it or feel it. It was just too far for me. I even told my church that although I was a leader in the church, I didn’t trust God any more. They said, “This is where we hold you.”
It was a painful process of learning, but at the same time, so rich.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Meet a student Part 1
One of the things we have treasured during our first four months serving and living at European Nazarene College is meeting and getting to know the amazing students.
These young people from across Europe have answered God's call to pursue a deeper walk with Him through theological studies, and to prepare for ministry in many forms in their home countries.
I sat down recently with a student named Cezi, from Albania, and listened to her story. I wanted to share it with you, so you would begin to get to know some of these students as we have. I am posting her story as she has told it to me, in three parts. -- Gina
Part 1
I grew up with my two parents. My father was of one religion and my mom was from another. My father was a politician during the dictatorship, but he was against the political system so he was in jail for 12 years. My mom waited for him these 12 years, so they got married when my father got out of jail.
After that the government sent them in north Albania to do hard work. For the people who get out of jail, working in the north was enforced discipline.
My parents were very good in not making us feel bad about the situation, but we started to experience discrimination when we went to school. When I was a kid, I started asking why. My parents called me Mrs. Why.
One of my questions was about God. I knew the concept of God. When I was 5, I wrote letters to God and put them in the window and different places around the house. If he was real, he would take them. Once I didn’t find my letter. I don’t know the reason. That impressed me so much. That was the first engagement with God, saying, “Oh, he is there.”
My parents couldn’t talk to me about God, because the position they were in, it would have been very dangerous for them to give me religious ideas. The dictatorship would not allow religious ideas.
We would celebrate sometimes my mom’s religion and my father’s religion, especially in 1990 when the dictatorship was over. In that period in the area where I was living, some leaders from my dad’s religion came and started giving all the answers to the questions I had that my parents couldn’t answer me.
My parents didn’t talk in terms of religion, but in terms of God. I grew up not distinguishing one religion from another. It was just God, and for me it was the same thing.
My parents told us we could choose any practice, any religion, as long as we didn’t switch one day here and one day there. When I was 7, I decided to follow my dad’s religion (it is not a Christian religion). I was so passionate. I studied and I learned to read and I learned all these prayers in the original language of the religion.
When I was 11, my father had a car accident and he died. For me that was the worst thing in the world. For me, my father was God. It was my father and then God. I got so mad at God. I told God I would not follow my father’s religion anymore.
It’s not that I denied God; I said, “You are an unjust God. You stay where you are and I can deal with my life by myself.” I didn’t want to accept the death of my father. I didn’t go to his funeral or cry. For me it was something that never happened. I kept this way for 7 or 8 months.
After the death of my father my family moved more in the middle part of Albania. New school, new friends, new place. I became very violent with people and my family. Everybody was scared of me; I just changed completely.
In my school there were these two girls. They would talk to me about Jesus. One of the things you learn when you’re of my father’s religion is that all other religions are bad, but the your faith is the only one that’s right. I had all the arguments for any kind of religion to prove they were untrue. The girls were so nice; they were so lovely and I couldn’t believe why they would be still friends with me if I was treating them so bad.
They invited me to their church. I said, OK, I’m going to go and show these Christians the truth. I was very arrogant as a kid (laughing). I got so involved with the church and the people, with the games. The people were so nice. When I went home I told my mom. My mom said, “No, you’re not going to go there anymore.”
My family was disappointed in me because I made the choice to quit my father’s religion. Now going to another religion—Christianity—that was very bad. I was afraid of disappointing the will of my father. I gave up Christianity, but God didn’t give up with me.
At the same period, when I was 11, this teacher from Canada came to teach English in our school. He was a Christian. One day he invited me and my two friends to his house, saying he wanted to open a church in the city where we were living and he needed us to give out invitations. I told him I didn’t agree with what he was doing, but I would help him because he was my friend.
I took all the hundreds of brochures and gave them out all over the place. But I never actually read one. One night I had just one of them left and I was going home. It was a very hard time because I was starting to realize the death of my father.
That night I went into the bedroom and that was the moment where I realized my father was gone. I couldn’t breathe because I was crying so hard and in so much pain. I had this brochure. One side was the invitation for the service and the other side was comics with the story of Jesus. At the end it said, “If you want God as your father, just ask and invite him into your life.”
That was the moment there was pain in realizing I had been stupid with God, keeping Him away from my life. But at the same time there was this acceptance with God. Let’s start over in a new way now. In that moment I realized “I have lost a god-like father and found a father-like God.”
From that moment things became very hard with my family. For one year my mom told me I couldn’t go anywhere but school and home. I couldn’t go to church or do anything. I really had a hard time with my mom. But at the end of this year, I told my mom, “This is my decision, and even if you keep me close for the rest of my life in our home, this wouldn’t change me because my faith is becoming stronger.”
I really changed from black to white in my behavior, helping my sisters and helping her with the home and everything. That impressed her so much so she said I could attend computer and English classes (at the church) since she didn’t have the money to provide these classes. So I started going to church and she allowed also my sisters to come with me.
I started teaching in the church. My two friends and I were very young. At the same time we were teaching we were also learning, because you were learning the story first yourself. We were the elders of the church, me and the other two friends.
When I look back I am glad that I did that year being home because it was just me, God and the Bible. I always told people I never changed religion, I just grew up with my relationship with God. I started with my father’s religion and this helped me a lot to learn about God and discipline; that our God is a friend but he’s also God. With that religion I learned what it means to have a God. With Christ I learned how to have this God as a friend who is closer to my life and have a more intimate relationship with Him. Also, through His Spirit to have access to his Spirit. It was a gradual growth.
These young people from across Europe have answered God's call to pursue a deeper walk with Him through theological studies, and to prepare for ministry in many forms in their home countries.
I sat down recently with a student named Cezi, from Albania, and listened to her story. I wanted to share it with you, so you would begin to get to know some of these students as we have. I am posting her story as she has told it to me, in three parts. -- Gina
Part 1
I grew up with my two parents. My father was of one religion and my mom was from another. My father was a politician during the dictatorship, but he was against the political system so he was in jail for 12 years. My mom waited for him these 12 years, so they got married when my father got out of jail.
After that the government sent them in north Albania to do hard work. For the people who get out of jail, working in the north was enforced discipline.
My parents were very good in not making us feel bad about the situation, but we started to experience discrimination when we went to school. When I was a kid, I started asking why. My parents called me Mrs. Why.
One of my questions was about God. I knew the concept of God. When I was 5, I wrote letters to God and put them in the window and different places around the house. If he was real, he would take them. Once I didn’t find my letter. I don’t know the reason. That impressed me so much. That was the first engagement with God, saying, “Oh, he is there.”
My parents couldn’t talk to me about God, because the position they were in, it would have been very dangerous for them to give me religious ideas. The dictatorship would not allow religious ideas.
We would celebrate sometimes my mom’s religion and my father’s religion, especially in 1990 when the dictatorship was over. In that period in the area where I was living, some leaders from my dad’s religion came and started giving all the answers to the questions I had that my parents couldn’t answer me.
My parents didn’t talk in terms of religion, but in terms of God. I grew up not distinguishing one religion from another. It was just God, and for me it was the same thing.
My parents told us we could choose any practice, any religion, as long as we didn’t switch one day here and one day there. When I was 7, I decided to follow my dad’s religion (it is not a Christian religion). I was so passionate. I studied and I learned to read and I learned all these prayers in the original language of the religion.
When I was 11, my father had a car accident and he died. For me that was the worst thing in the world. For me, my father was God. It was my father and then God. I got so mad at God. I told God I would not follow my father’s religion anymore.
It’s not that I denied God; I said, “You are an unjust God. You stay where you are and I can deal with my life by myself.” I didn’t want to accept the death of my father. I didn’t go to his funeral or cry. For me it was something that never happened. I kept this way for 7 or 8 months.
After the death of my father my family moved more in the middle part of Albania. New school, new friends, new place. I became very violent with people and my family. Everybody was scared of me; I just changed completely.
In my school there were these two girls. They would talk to me about Jesus. One of the things you learn when you’re of my father’s religion is that all other religions are bad, but the your faith is the only one that’s right. I had all the arguments for any kind of religion to prove they were untrue. The girls were so nice; they were so lovely and I couldn’t believe why they would be still friends with me if I was treating them so bad.
They invited me to their church. I said, OK, I’m going to go and show these Christians the truth. I was very arrogant as a kid (laughing). I got so involved with the church and the people, with the games. The people were so nice. When I went home I told my mom. My mom said, “No, you’re not going to go there anymore.”
My family was disappointed in me because I made the choice to quit my father’s religion. Now going to another religion—Christianity—that was very bad. I was afraid of disappointing the will of my father. I gave up Christianity, but God didn’t give up with me.
At the same period, when I was 11, this teacher from Canada came to teach English in our school. He was a Christian. One day he invited me and my two friends to his house, saying he wanted to open a church in the city where we were living and he needed us to give out invitations. I told him I didn’t agree with what he was doing, but I would help him because he was my friend.
I took all the hundreds of brochures and gave them out all over the place. But I never actually read one. One night I had just one of them left and I was going home. It was a very hard time because I was starting to realize the death of my father.
That night I went into the bedroom and that was the moment where I realized my father was gone. I couldn’t breathe because I was crying so hard and in so much pain. I had this brochure. One side was the invitation for the service and the other side was comics with the story of Jesus. At the end it said, “If you want God as your father, just ask and invite him into your life.”
That was the moment there was pain in realizing I had been stupid with God, keeping Him away from my life. But at the same time there was this acceptance with God. Let’s start over in a new way now. In that moment I realized “I have lost a god-like father and found a father-like God.”
From that moment things became very hard with my family. For one year my mom told me I couldn’t go anywhere but school and home. I couldn’t go to church or do anything. I really had a hard time with my mom. But at the end of this year, I told my mom, “This is my decision, and even if you keep me close for the rest of my life in our home, this wouldn’t change me because my faith is becoming stronger.”
I really changed from black to white in my behavior, helping my sisters and helping her with the home and everything. That impressed her so much so she said I could attend computer and English classes (at the church) since she didn’t have the money to provide these classes. So I started going to church and she allowed also my sisters to come with me.
I started teaching in the church. My two friends and I were very young. At the same time we were teaching we were also learning, because you were learning the story first yourself. We were the elders of the church, me and the other two friends.
When I look back I am glad that I did that year being home because it was just me, God and the Bible. I always told people I never changed religion, I just grew up with my relationship with God. I started with my father’s religion and this helped me a lot to learn about God and discipline; that our God is a friend but he’s also God. With that religion I learned what it means to have a God. With Christ I learned how to have this God as a friend who is closer to my life and have a more intimate relationship with Him. Also, through His Spirit to have access to his Spirit. It was a gradual growth.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Help wanted
You know that verse, Luke 10:2: "He told them, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.'"
I never really had personal feelings about that verse until I began working for the church. Before that, the plea for workers was an abstract idea to me. Sure, I believed Jesus when He said that the world is waiting to hear that He promises the freedom, peace and joy of being in a right relationship with God. I got it that He is calling more people to spread that message, whether in their neighborhood or across the ocean. I even wanted to be one of those people who said yes. And when we got the call, eagerly we said yes.
Agreeing to be one of those workers, I started out at the Nazarene Missions International office in Kansas City. The next three years were an exciting journey of working alongside others in providing resources for local churches that were promoting the mission.
At the same time we were constantly swamped and longing for help.
In February, Andrew and I shifted our geography a bit, following the call to Buesingen, Germany (or Switzerland, depending on which way you look at it -- it's a long story). I continue my job with Engage magazine, as well as pitching in on projects for the Eurasia Region and writing much of its regional newsletter. I love what I'm doing, but so often I feel so far behind that I'll never catch up, and find myself working long into the evenings.
A new colleague, Tiki, is shouldering a huge part of the load, and it's amazing how much we are able to accomplish together. I shudder to think what my days here would be like if she hadn't agreed to volunteer for one year. Gratitude doesn't begin to describe how I feel about her sacrifice in joining the work. Then I think about how much more we could accomplish with even two more people.
Andrew is the lone man at the EuNC campus library, where he has said a time or two that another person would be a big help. With a small campus and faculty, I'm sure the college looks around at ideas, resources and classes that could be conducted with more people, but for now remain nothing more than dreams.
These days I look at Christ's plea for more workers in a slightly different light. I see not only that the harvest is ready to be brought in, but I see workers who are so passionate about the work that they put in very long hours and take on numerous projects. It's a joy to serve, but it's a joy that's limited to too few people. With more workers, those who are already working might be able to rest a bit more, have fewer emails when they return from a vacation, and be more focused and productive with the things they're already doing.
My personal bias is to find more writers for the harvest. I know they're out there, I just don't know who they are. And they don't yet know the adventure that they're missing. I'm praying God calls their name and that they answer. Consider praying with me.
-- Gina
I never really had personal feelings about that verse until I began working for the church. Before that, the plea for workers was an abstract idea to me. Sure, I believed Jesus when He said that the world is waiting to hear that He promises the freedom, peace and joy of being in a right relationship with God. I got it that He is calling more people to spread that message, whether in their neighborhood or across the ocean. I even wanted to be one of those people who said yes. And when we got the call, eagerly we said yes.
Agreeing to be one of those workers, I started out at the Nazarene Missions International office in Kansas City. The next three years were an exciting journey of working alongside others in providing resources for local churches that were promoting the mission.
At the same time we were constantly swamped and longing for help.
In February, Andrew and I shifted our geography a bit, following the call to Buesingen, Germany (or Switzerland, depending on which way you look at it -- it's a long story). I continue my job with Engage magazine, as well as pitching in on projects for the Eurasia Region and writing much of its regional newsletter. I love what I'm doing, but so often I feel so far behind that I'll never catch up, and find myself working long into the evenings.
A new colleague, Tiki, is shouldering a huge part of the load, and it's amazing how much we are able to accomplish together. I shudder to think what my days here would be like if she hadn't agreed to volunteer for one year. Gratitude doesn't begin to describe how I feel about her sacrifice in joining the work. Then I think about how much more we could accomplish with even two more people.
Andrew is the lone man at the EuNC campus library, where he has said a time or two that another person would be a big help. With a small campus and faculty, I'm sure the college looks around at ideas, resources and classes that could be conducted with more people, but for now remain nothing more than dreams.
These days I look at Christ's plea for more workers in a slightly different light. I see not only that the harvest is ready to be brought in, but I see workers who are so passionate about the work that they put in very long hours and take on numerous projects. It's a joy to serve, but it's a joy that's limited to too few people. With more workers, those who are already working might be able to rest a bit more, have fewer emails when they return from a vacation, and be more focused and productive with the things they're already doing.
My personal bias is to find more writers for the harvest. I know they're out there, I just don't know who they are. And they don't yet know the adventure that they're missing. I'm praying God calls their name and that they answer. Consider praying with me.
-- Gina
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Adventures in ice cream
My colleague, Tiki, and I decided that every month we would celebrate our completion of the region's monthly newsletter by walking to Schaffhausen for ice cream. This time, however, it was about 40 degrees, windy and spitting rain. So, we drove.
Huddled down in our coats and shielded by umbrellas, we strolled along the cobblestone streets of the old city to the little ice cream stand, determined to enjoy a cold dessert in spite of the wet, freezing weather.
At the ice cream shop counter, the woman who either owns or manages the shop greeted us. Tiki asked the customary, "Sprechen sie English?" When the woman said yes, we asked her what some of the different ice creams were that we were unfamiliar with.
One was called Quitte. The woman tried in her limited English to explain the look and color and texture of this fruit; we played a guessing game of trying to identify what it is called in English. We never did figure it out, but having gotten on a computer later, we realized it is not a fruit that is available in either Australia or America at all.
When we pointed to another one we couldn't translate, she showed us a picture of popped corn. Then she gave us a sample. Sure enough: buttery popcorn flavored ice cream.
In the end, I got a scoop each of macadamia nut and coconut. Tiki ordered the popcorn and a dark chocolate spiced with hot red chilis.
Just as always, I felt badly to approach one of the Swiss or German people and ask her if she would be willing to communicate with me in English. As a resident for one year in this country, I feel it would be respectful and appropriate to learn the language. However, as a one-year volunteer with a very limited budget, it is not possible for Andrew and I to take the very expensive language courses that would be required. In addition, they take about 3 months of full-time class work and studying in the evenings; that would only leave us 9 months for the work we came here to do. Therefore, volunteers who come to Busingen do not usually receive the opportunity to learn German.
Being unable to speak the language results in numerous frustrations, including navigating an unknown city, ordering food and interacting with friendly strangers who stop you on the street to chat. As a missionary to the area, it is doubly frustrating to be unable to build relationships with local people who are not fluent in English. I want so much to speak to them in their language, and have viewed the language difference as a barrier to begin building relationships. Therefore I often do not even try to begin.
However, Tiki showed me a different perspective. Seeing that the ice cream shop was empty of customers, she began peppering the woman with questions about how to say "scoop" and "ice cream" and "cone" and "one please" in German. She had the woman explaining the differences between masculine and feminine, and coaching her in pronunciations of more difficult vowels.
I could tell the woman was enjoying the lesson. Tiki was asking her about her language and showed a genuine interest in getting the pronunciations right and forming a sentence. The interaction resulted in a lot of laughter and gentle correcting.
If we continue in our monthly tradition of trekking to Schaffhausen for our celebratory ice cream, I believe we could develop an ongoing relationship with the woman, as each time we try to perform a little more Swiss-German and find more commonalities to talk about with the ice cream shop lady.
I realized through watching Tiki that language doesn't have to be a barrier to relationships. It can be the open door that we walk through.
Huddled down in our coats and shielded by umbrellas, we strolled along the cobblestone streets of the old city to the little ice cream stand, determined to enjoy a cold dessert in spite of the wet, freezing weather.
At the ice cream shop counter, the woman who either owns or manages the shop greeted us. Tiki asked the customary, "Sprechen sie English?" When the woman said yes, we asked her what some of the different ice creams were that we were unfamiliar with.
One was called Quitte. The woman tried in her limited English to explain the look and color and texture of this fruit; we played a guessing game of trying to identify what it is called in English. We never did figure it out, but having gotten on a computer later, we realized it is not a fruit that is available in either Australia or America at all.
When we pointed to another one we couldn't translate, she showed us a picture of popped corn. Then she gave us a sample. Sure enough: buttery popcorn flavored ice cream.
In the end, I got a scoop each of macadamia nut and coconut. Tiki ordered the popcorn and a dark chocolate spiced with hot red chilis.
Just as always, I felt badly to approach one of the Swiss or German people and ask her if she would be willing to communicate with me in English. As a resident for one year in this country, I feel it would be respectful and appropriate to learn the language. However, as a one-year volunteer with a very limited budget, it is not possible for Andrew and I to take the very expensive language courses that would be required. In addition, they take about 3 months of full-time class work and studying in the evenings; that would only leave us 9 months for the work we came here to do. Therefore, volunteers who come to Busingen do not usually receive the opportunity to learn German.
Being unable to speak the language results in numerous frustrations, including navigating an unknown city, ordering food and interacting with friendly strangers who stop you on the street to chat. As a missionary to the area, it is doubly frustrating to be unable to build relationships with local people who are not fluent in English. I want so much to speak to them in their language, and have viewed the language difference as a barrier to begin building relationships. Therefore I often do not even try to begin.
However, Tiki showed me a different perspective. Seeing that the ice cream shop was empty of customers, she began peppering the woman with questions about how to say "scoop" and "ice cream" and "cone" and "one please" in German. She had the woman explaining the differences between masculine and feminine, and coaching her in pronunciations of more difficult vowels.
I could tell the woman was enjoying the lesson. Tiki was asking her about her language and showed a genuine interest in getting the pronunciations right and forming a sentence. The interaction resulted in a lot of laughter and gentle correcting.
If we continue in our monthly tradition of trekking to Schaffhausen for our celebratory ice cream, I believe we could develop an ongoing relationship with the woman, as each time we try to perform a little more Swiss-German and find more commonalities to talk about with the ice cream shop lady.
I realized through watching Tiki that language doesn't have to be a barrier to relationships. It can be the open door that we walk through.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Teaching Intro to New Testament
Last week, I completed my first teaching assignment, a course for first-year students titled Introduction to the New Testament. It was a very challenging, but positive and eye-opening experience!
There were four international students in my class. Pictured here from the left are Linda (Germany), Niels (the Netherlands), Keila (Argentina), and Heber (Bolivia). Each one of them brought a passion for studying God's word, insightful questions, and a unique perspective on what it means to live as Christians in the world.
The class met for two hours a day from March 26-April 21, during which time I led them through each book of the New Testament. We discussed key passages, authorship, historical background and important theological themes unique to each book and consistent throughout the NT. By far, the favorite class activity was our regular discussions. Sometimes, I would ask the students about a particular passage: what it meant to them, what concerns or questions they might have about it, etc. At other times, the students asked their own questions and often had them answered by their fellow students. I greatly enjoyed seeing each of them engaged and interacting with the Scriptures, working to understand and apply it to their lives.
Teaching was an incredible challenge. Not only because it was my first experience, but because of the responsibility of teaching the Bible. Always in my mind was the admonition of James 3:1, which says "Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." Never have I been more thankful for my own teachers - at Southern Nazarene University, MidAmerica Nazarene University and Nazarene Theological Seminary - whose careful guidance and shaping of my life contributed profoundly to the success of my first teaching assignment.
For about a week toward the end of the session, I was sick. Fortunately, I never missed a class and was able to keep teaching. Following the end of the course, I participated in an evaluation with the academic dean in which I was able to share ideas for improving the curriculum. At the end of this evaluation, I was asked to teach the class again to a new group of students in November: an opportunity I readily accepted with excitement.
Finally, a word about the students in my class.
I am so proud of them, even as I have admiration for them. They did everything without complaining or arguing. Indeed, they tackled the study of the New Testament with passion! Their discussion, assignments and tests reflec
ted a hunger and growing appreciation for the word of God. They were teachable without expecting to be spoon-fed. They asked tough questions, yet allowed the word of God to speak to them. They were patient with their teacher as we all learned together!Each student at EuNC is very special to me. As I get to know them, I grow to love them. They are an amazing group of young people! EuNC has an important role to play, raising up servant leaders who participate in the work of God throughout the world. Please keep the school, the students, the faculty and staff in your prayers!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Bible study
Andrew and I have joined an adult Bible study through our church here in Busingen. It meets on Monday evenings at various families' homes.
Coming from the United States, this is probably our first time to be part of a group like this -- very international. One member is originally from the Middle East, others are Swiss or German, one person is from the Ukraine and another couple is from the U.K. Along with one other person, we're the only Americans.
One thing I really enjoy about this is being able to spend time in the homes of families who are from Switzerland. It's nice to get off campus a bit, see new faces and get to know people from other cultures in the context of one thing we all have in common -- our love for God and our desire to know Him better through reading His letters to us, the Bible.
This week we began a study of the New Testament book by James. The group really digs into it -- it took us about 90 minutes to go through nine verses. Until you begin to hear the insights of others, you don't realize that two or three paragraphs can be so richly loaded with numerous ideas, implications and truths. I learned so much from everyone.
One of the main promises of the beginning of James 1 is that when we go through a difficult time, we don't experience it alone. God is close, going through it with us, giving us His strength, wisdom and patience. The chapter also promises that God is eager to help; there's no "I told you so," heavy sighs of annoyance or reluctance. God can't wait to jump in and get involved.
Much of our time here in Europe has been full of the joy of new experiences, the beauty of a peaceful rural village and the fun of meeting wonderful new people. Adjusting to a new culture and country also comes with stresses, strains, frustration and longing for the familiarity of family and friends back home.
It was good to be reminded that anything difficult we experience here -- which is not difficult at all compared to what millions of other believers around the world must face -- is only going to make us stronger and draw us closer to God.
Coming from the United States, this is probably our first time to be part of a group like this -- very international. One member is originally from the Middle East, others are Swiss or German, one person is from the Ukraine and another couple is from the U.K. Along with one other person, we're the only Americans.
One thing I really enjoy about this is being able to spend time in the homes of families who are from Switzerland. It's nice to get off campus a bit, see new faces and get to know people from other cultures in the context of one thing we all have in common -- our love for God and our desire to know Him better through reading His letters to us, the Bible.
This week we began a study of the New Testament book by James. The group really digs into it -- it took us about 90 minutes to go through nine verses. Until you begin to hear the insights of others, you don't realize that two or three paragraphs can be so richly loaded with numerous ideas, implications and truths. I learned so much from everyone.
One of the main promises of the beginning of James 1 is that when we go through a difficult time, we don't experience it alone. God is close, going through it with us, giving us His strength, wisdom and patience. The chapter also promises that God is eager to help; there's no "I told you so," heavy sighs of annoyance or reluctance. God can't wait to jump in and get involved.
Much of our time here in Europe has been full of the joy of new experiences, the beauty of a peaceful rural village and the fun of meeting wonderful new people. Adjusting to a new culture and country also comes with stresses, strains, frustration and longing for the familiarity of family and friends back home.
It was good to be reminded that anything difficult we experience here -- which is not difficult at all compared to what millions of other believers around the world must face -- is only going to make us stronger and draw us closer to God.
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