Furlough Fitness Part 5 (Update, Buffets, and Roadblocks)

Updates from the Battlefield

Charity:

I am halfway through the battle. Our furlough time is moving right along. So how am I doing in my battle against the Furlough Twenty?

Let's just say...

I have LOST twenty-two pounds total since we arrived in the States!

Guest Post- By Alisa Ballou, Thailand

Are We Shortchanging Our Kids?

When we first moved to our house that we use as a ministry center and church here in Lamphun, Thailand I was worried: in front of our house is one of the busiest roads that goes through the middle of Lamphun. There’s constant city traffic just outside our front door. I love being really accessible to people, but especially at first was worried if our kids would be ok here. And then in the back, we have an alley for parking. Sometimes, thanks to the internet, it’s easy to compare with some stunning backdrops you see other kids growing up with, and worry about the life you’re giving your kids.

And then it’s easy to get discontent and worry we’re really shortchanging them. Have you ever felt that way?

How would these kids develop better if they were growing up being able to test the limits of their bodies physically? If they could have the freedom of spending free hours outside playing, building, imagining instead of mostly being inside? If they had friends who were Christian or who spoke their first language? If instead of their bare feet on concrete, they could run outside on dirt (preferably with no huge tropical insects) play in the streams (no parasites, please) and have a part of the vast world of God’s nature at their disposal?

What if?

It’s actually pretty ridiculous when I remember that after all, only a very few kids in this world get to live in the ideal world that lives in my mind! Anyway, God’s been great at reminding me of a few things.

1. Surroundings aren’t even close to being the biggest shapers of small hearts. Just recently, I was reading Oswald Chamber’s biography (Abandoned to God - favorite biography hands down). As a boy, he grew up in the glens of Scotland. Basically his life couldn’t get more idyllic as far as surroundings went. But it was when his family moved (after his father getting fired as a pastor) to dirty, claustrophobic London that his spiritual growth took off. Removed from all he’d known, (even the nation of his birth) he thrived.

2. Remember: online families have real lives too. Pictures from other people’s families are snapshots of moms / ladies capturing moments that will remind them, too, that there can be glory found in the middle of the mostly mundane. When I took our kids on a little adventure, it was great until we found out most places we walked, our feet would get swarmed by massive ants, the lovely little canal we walked along is full of little black wormy parasites, and we finally gave in to the bug bites (and Brody’s tired legs) and went home. Yes - really fun, but not what I’d imagine if I only saw the pictures online. Comparing with other’s lives is harmful. But sharing their joy with perspective brings healthy inspiration and life.

3. They get to share in an eternal perspective being lived out practically. Luke 6:20-26 shows very clearly that living eternally means not seeking out all the comfort I can find here:

“And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe uno you that laugh now! for ye shall mourns and weep. Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.”

We can show them a life not lived grasping for the satisfaction we can suck out of life on this earth. Instead of daydreaming about what I can’t ever give them practically, I can point them to the Maker of the mountains for their joy, then rejoice in His handiwork whether we’re playing in it, or loving and rejoicing in people, His greatest masterpiecesand His greatest loves. We get to remember and feel often that this earth isn’t meant to be our home. And everywhere Christ abounds, life is breathtakingly beautiful.

4. Create appetites for the riches that matter. For them to know they are astonishingly rich - simply because they have Christ(!!), His truth(!!), and His love(!!). I would love for them to grow up really understanding that they aren’t better or more deserving of practical luxuries than other people in the world, just because they’ve been given a spot at the wealthy table (#Merica). I’d love for their hearts not to be numbed by excess, or for their happiness to depend on entertainment. These things I can labor to give them.

The other morning, I’d just finished taking the boys on a little exploring adventure (the one in which we got devoured by insects). We were riding our motorbike with Justin behind me and Brody in front of me, enjoying the cool wind on our faces after being hot from exercise. We rode between two green rice fields stretching on either side. Justin shouts into the wind, “Mom, when you were 5, did you go to school with Thai language or with English language?” I laughed and told him I never even knew Thai people when I was five, and that I went to a school where they spoke English. He said, “I want to go there too.”

So a gentle nudge of his heart, helping him see the glory around him keeps me from chasing endlessly (even just in my heart) any idealized lifestyle I can dream up that will make me think that will bring the perfect happiness.

I can remember that God’s actually far, far more interested in their welfare than I am, and it is His presence within, not what surrounds us without, that brings deep and abundant joy.

I want them to know HIM. It’s living with carefree joy as His child that brings life from within that no dingy city block can squelch.

By Alisa Ballou

Posted with Blogsy

Furlough Fitness Part 4 (Getting High Tech)

Getting High Tech

"There's gotta be an app for that..."

Yes, there is a phone app for just about everything. I have a couple of apps that I use to help me with my fitness goals for furlough. Kristine does too! When I asked her what apps she uses, I was quite surprised at how different, yet how similar, our two main apps were.

I discovered she and I both use a food app and a fitness app, but the apps we chose and the reasons behind them are as different as she and I are.

You've Been A Blessing-A Thank You From The Missionary

As fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, we all have different ministries and different calling and different lives. Sometimes our lives and callings are vastly different and sometimes they only vary slightly. But I believe the Lord gets glory when we all love on each other and do our best to appreciate each other. As missionaries, we travel across the world taking the gospel to the lost. Simultaneously faithful church members in the states, prayerfully and faithfully support these efforts. Through this team work so much is done for the work of Christ!

God commands us to reach the world for Christ and through Biblical missions we can do that. However so many wonderful Christians and churches don't stop at the offering basket. So many gracious people love on us missionaries with such an open heart. Many times more than we deserve. Many times when we as missionaries return from the field we are going through so much reverse culture shock, it's hard to understand. It's hard for many at home to see this fellow American who doesn't talk or act like an American and grasp what has happened to them. It is hard for many missionaries who have poured their heart and life into another culture to fulfill their calling for Christ to remember all the customs and social graces that make up the country of their birth.

This time of transition can be a bumpy one. One filled with social blunders and possible mis-intended offenses. Social blunders we use to make on our mission field in their culture we now finding ourselves tripping over in our own native country. It's confusing for all. But something that helps more than anything is kind gracious people who take the time to care on us. You will never know what small acts do for someone who is limping through culture shock in their own country.

I recently asked some missionary ladies to share with me some such blessing, so that I could brag on y'all and on the Lord. The response was large and wonderful to hear. So for all you Churches and Christians out there this is a round of applause to you!

 

Dear Pastors, Churches, Friends & Family

~Thank you supporting church who we recently received an email from. You said that you knew a lot of churches did things for their missionaries at Christmas but you wanted to remind us you were thinking of us all year. You took up a love offering and split it amongst your missionaries for a "Christmas in July" and instructed us to use it for something fun. It was a huge and very unexpected blessing! Thank You!

~Thank you sending church for cleaning the apartment we are staying in and stocked the kitchen essentials. In the table was a gift basket with snacks and grocery store gift cards.

~Thank you church we were just at recently who surprised us by wanting to buy all our kids an outfit. Actually at this church, the hugs and smiles were enough because they actually remembered us and were interested in us being there. Thank You.

~Thank you Mom for coming all the way to AR to visit your grand baby with more than a 16 hr drive. You threw me a "surprise baby shower" even though it is our 2nd girl. So many needs were met! (We sold all before moving.)

~Thank you Mother In Law for throwing My daughter a very late birthday party with family after we got Stateside so she could celebrate with you. (She didn't have big one in China.)

~Thank You Home Church for providing housing & a vehicle for us temporarily as we travel while on furlough. Huge financial blessing. Thank you!

~ Thank you friends who have tried to involve our daughter in activities and such so she can have fun. Thank you for giving her a box of toys to borrow while we're home.

~Thank You Friends who stay in contact when we are on the field by simple messages. This speaks volumes and makes me feel like I'm not forgotten.

~Thank you Supporting church who adopted us for Christmas and sent us presents this year. You didn't know we were not doing any gifts the year of 2015 because we came home on furlough and couldn't afford much. Our daughter was very, very happy!

~Thank you home church who sends "themed" packages: one was filled with everything blue (pens, winter fresh gum, mentos, etc.); another was "orange" (Reese's, Cheezits, dishcloths, jello, sticky notes, etc). Also included were color-coordinated notes including a few from the kids. This was both a blessing and an encouragement.

~Thank you church who sent a huge box of school supplies for our Christian school. This was a huge blessing!

~Thank you Wed. Evening kids class at our home church that sent a package to our little boys with handmade notes from everyone in the class.

~ We recently stayed in a missions apartement while my husband went to Mexico for two weeks. It was just me and the kids in a small room, and the church had a parsonage where the pastor's family lived. Sometimes the most encouraging things come from simple times with people. Thank You pastor & family for spending time with me and my kids. You were so sweet and humble. Thank you pastors wife for taking a lot of time out of your busy schedule to just talk with me, and for asking insightful questions that showed you cared. You may never know how much your spirit encourages missionary wives. I love spending time with people who really love the Lord, and it shows.

~ Thank you church for giving us handmade quilts for each person in the family!! We know you love and pray for us.

~Thank you assistant pastor for grilled a variety of meat for us for our family to eat on upon our arrival in the States. Thank you church family for being so understanding and sending sweet messages eagerly showing your desire to see us but allowing us to get needed rest.

~Thank you church for encouraging me to share all sides of mission work - the good and the bad. So many places I go, I feel like I'm only allowed to share the blessings. But one church in particular wanted to hear the whole story - which actually allowed me to praise God more for what He had done since it's in the hard times that He works the most.

~Thank you Senior Citizens class from our home church who sent a special just thank you card 'just because'--signed by seniors (yes we are seniors) in the group that meets once a month!

~Thank you sweet family in our church who babysat our toddler so we could have a date night!

~ Thank you brand new supporting church that sends an extra $20 along with our support cheque for any family member that has a birthday in that particular month. It's so nice that you remember our birthdays, and even though $20 doesn't sound like much, it can buy something really nice here. We know your church is new and just a few our there, we sure appreciate your love and care. Thank you also pastor for contacting us asking for some more photos because you wanted to do a PowerPoint presentation of our ministry in your church!

~ Thank you supporting church whose pastor asks us for prayer requests (between prayer letters) because the church is having a prayer and fasting day, and they want to pray for our needs.

~Thank you supporting pastor who sends us (all his missionaries) a prayer update from the church every month. It's a blessing.

~Thank you supporting churches send care packages to me, or to us as a family, at least once a year. We just got another one with a music CD that is so beautiful and encouraging. Good Music is such a solace on the mission field.

~Thank you ladies in our home church who bought rib eye steaks and all the sides to have a picnic at our house! It was so nice to put the kids to bed on time and then to keep on fellowshipping.

~Thank you supporting church who has taken such an interest in me as the missionary wife. You have been sooo involved in praying specifically for ME. Knowing you all want to know my needs as a person, not as "the wife of the missionary they support" has been a huge blessing.

~Thank you kind friends who shortly after we landed, took me shopping to help guide me through the current styles. Helped beat the straight-from-the-field-frump!

~Thank you supporting church who gave us their VBS curriculum.

~Thank you supporting church who reached out to see if we needed anything --and we found you had done the same theme the year before in your children's ministry. You sent us a box with your leftover games and hundreds of stickers, pencils, etc. for gift bags. Such a blessing!

~Thank you sweet friends who pick up right where we left off and care and love on me like I've never been away. Even when family doesn't understand me, you have all been such blessings and godly friends.

Love,

Your Missionary

 

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"They Never Told Us"

Thirty-one years ago, in a steamy apartment kitchen in Madrid, Spain, a fellow missionary wife and I were talking. She asked me about our adjustments to our new home and our experiences, and then she said something I will never forget:

“They always tell you about the millions who are waiting

for someone to share the gospel with them,

but they never tell you about the millions who couldn’t care less.”

It’s true; they never told us. (But, maybe that was best.)

Even though millions don't care, it's still our duty to share with them how Jesus Christ came to save sinners.

Here are a few observations about missions that I hope will encourage you, wherever you are in the world:

1. Mission fields are different. Pioneer missions anywhere are slogging, preparing-the-soil work. The faithful missionary plants, but he might not see a lot of sprouts—yet. “Cherry picking” works are those where former generations of missionaries have tilled, planted, fertilized, and pruned. These missionaries are the ones who preach and see a hundred souls saved in one campaign. These are the ones that have native pastors clamoring to move on to the other mission fields of the world. Years ago, it wasn’t this way, but now, it’s cherry picking time. The orchards are ripe for a large harvest. Some places are extremely hard because of false religious beliefs. There’s a lot to overcome when every house has an ancestor box or an idol shelf, and the people live in fear of the spirits. In other places—like Europe—the natives have almost completely rebelled against anything that resembles religion because of abuses in the past. Atheism is the accepted, “cool” religion.
2. God never calls missionaries to go where no one will be saved. If God called you to a place, He has at least one soul there who will respond. We might need to change our perspective a little bit: isn’t it worth spending your life spreading the gospel if one soul goes to heaven? Is the missionary who’s reaping a large harvest greater than the man or woman who’s preparing the soil and not seeing as many “results”? The Bible says the harvest is His. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase (1 Corinthians 3:7). Each part of “gospel farming” is important, but it’s ultimately God who provides the sun, rain—and the harvest. 
3. Our job is to be faithful. Period. Every field is different, every church is different, and every mission work is different. Every missionary, too, is unique. It’s an honor to be a missionary, but all we’ve done is to obey God’s call. I love how the Lord puts it into perspective: For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:26-31). Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2).
4. Whether the soil is hard or all tilled and fertile, God is working. Sometimes He lets us peek in as He does things, and sometimes we will never really see what He is doing in hearts until we get to heaven. It’s for us to trust Him to do His work. I once read about a man who stood on a street corner in Sydney, Australia, faithfully asking people if they died, did they know where they’d spend eternity. He didn’t know it, but many people came to Christ through his simple, faithful witness. (You can access the full story here.) It might be that we have no idea what kind of an impact we have for the Lord until we walk the golden streets in Glory. But God never sleeps. He’s always on the job, seeking to save the lost. It’s our job to do what we can to spread the gospel. 

Is your mission field white already to harvest? (John 4:35) Go for it! But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come (Mark 4:29). Enjoy filling your bucket with bright red cherries.

Is your mission field a pioneer work, and you are preparing the soil, planting, and watering? Look for God to bless. The Apostle Paul said, I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6).

If we’re faithful in spreading the gospel, there will be some fruit. It might not be the same percentage as the person who toils in a mature field, but there will be fruit. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty (Matthew 13:23).

These principles have greatly encouraged me through the years. I trust they’ll bless you, too. May we be found faithful!