How to Be a Teacher

For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.
Ezra 7:10

In the above verse, Ezra exhibits the four qualities that are a necessary part of being a great teacher of God’s word.

First, Ezra set his heart to become a teacher of God’s word. The Hebrew word koon is translated ‘set.’ It literally means to establish an object so it stands steadfast. The Hebrew word translated for heart is lebab and refers not only to the physical heart, but also to the innermost emotional being and soul of a person. Ezra did not have some vague wish to do something. He established the very center of his being, everything that he was, to achieve his goal. Many times people express a desire to complete a project, but they do not really possess the aptitude or inclination necessary to truly complete the project. For example, anyone who has been a student expresses the wish to complete his or her homework. But will the student put everything they are and have into completing the homework? Probably not. Now imagine a young man, about 16, who desires to buy his first car. For years he has dreamed of having his own car so he can be distinguished among his peers and be somewhat independent from his parents. At the age of 13, he began diligently working towards his goal. He mowed lawns, performed chores around the house, painted houses, worked at the local McDonald’s, anything he could think of to earn money. Finally the moment has arrived for him to buy the car. He researches various makes and models, compares and contrasts different options and finally chooses one. The young man set his heart on buying a car and for many years his entire being was focused on this one goal. In the same way, Ezra set his heart to not only study the word of the Lord, but to practice and teach it to others also. His entire life focused around these three intertwined purposes.

Not only must one devote his or her life to teach the word of God, but one must study it. The Hebrew word here literally means 'to seek.' This word immediately brings to mind a treasure hunt. Imagine a pirate finding a map to a vast store of hidden jewels, gold, silver, and other precious things. Would he not diligently study the map and the clues, and prepare himself to embark on the trip? The word of God is often referred to as precious stones and hidden treasure. The psalmist writes “Thy word I have treasured in my heart” (Psalm 119:11). Wisdom is said to be “more precious than jewels; And nothing you desire compares with her” (Proverbs 3:15). In the New Testament, Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a treasure hidden in a field and a costly pearl. The man and the merchant who discovered the treasure and the pearl sold everything they had in order to possess these valuable items (Matthew 13:44-45). Ezra “set his heart to seek the law of the Lord” because it is a hidden treasure infinitely more valuable than all the precious stones in the world combined. After all, everything material will fade away, “but the word of the Lord endures forever” (I Peter 1:25).

After determining his purpose to teach God’s word and studying it with all diligence, Ezra practiced the law of the Lord. The Hebrew word here is asah and “conveys the notion of performing an activity with a distinct purpose, a moral obligation, or a goal in view” (Strong’s). It is not enough to simply read words and agree with them; one must show obedience through doing. In the book of James, the author uses the example of someone who is without food or clothing. A man says to the person in need “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” but does nothing to help the person in need. Has he truly helped that person? No! James’ point here is that words alone mean nothing, just as faith alone is useless. James writes “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself” (2:17). If Ezra studied the law of the Lord every second of every day until he died, but never practiced what he read, he might as well have spent his life pursuing fleshly lusts. In the recent movie The Book of Eli, Denzel Washington plays a futuristic character who has the last copy of the Bible after a nuclear explosion wipes out modern civilization. He spends twenty years memorizing the text as he travels to the one remaining library on earth. Towards the end of the movie, he realizes that although he has memorized the entire text, he has failed to act on that text by obeying the truths found within. He realizes that the Bible is useless to a person if one does not do what it instructs. A critical part of being a good Bible teacher is to practice the law of the Lord as Ezra did.

Finally, after setting his heart, seeking and practicing the law of the Lord, Ezra teaches God’s statutes and ordinances to the people. The Hebrew word translated ‘to teach’ is lamad and literally means ‘to goad.’ The teacher’s responsibility is to impart knowledge and wisdom to the student in whatever way necessary for the student to learn. When training a horse, one first approaches the animal with gentleness so it may learn that your purpose is not to harm him. After gaining his trust, you may begin asking the animal to do various things. Pat Parelli, a popular horse trainer, describes the training process in the following manner: the trainer first suggests an action, then asks for it, then demands it. If you are asking the horse to move away from you, you might first point the horse in the direction you want him to move. If he does not move, you continue to point the horse in the right direction while twirling a rope or whip behind his hips. If the horse continues to stand still, you finally hit the horse with the rope until he moves. Eventually, the horse will learn to move when you first point him in a certain direction. In the same way, a teacher instructs his students. If, upon the instructor’s first gentle instructions, the student refuses to learn (by continuing to do the things he has always done), the teacher gradually becomes more firm until he goads the student into changing his habits. Ezra taught the people the word of God first by gentle instruction, then by forcing them to change their wicked ways by (in one specific instance) separating the foreigners from the holy people of God.

By setting his heart to seek, practice and teach the law of the Lord, Ezra sets a prime example for those desiring to be teachers and preachers of God’s word. Paul writes to Timothy “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth” and “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (II Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17).

Now that I have thoroughly studied Ezra 7:10, I aim to go practice and teach the word of the Lord!

Diamonds in the Sky

Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so bright, like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are!

Every American child knows this bedtime rhyme. I have always loved the simple poetry and unpretentious descriptions of such a magnificent part of God’s creation. But I also felt the wording was a little grandiose. After all, stars don't really twinkle, and they aren't that bright (except for in cartoons like Disney's Pinocchio). And the only resemblance to a diamond was in how they lay so innocently against the black silk of the night sky.

My time in Africa has changed my view of this childhood verse completely. Far away from city lights, removed from the polluted haze that hangs over the horizon, I have truly seen the night sky as if for the first time. My friends, if you could see what I have seen in the nighttime sky for the past few months, your souls would be captivated and your breath taken away by the true magnificence of God’s creation. There is no smoggy veil between me and the stars burning billions of miles away; I can see them more clearly than I can see this screen in front of me. I cannot convey to you the depth of the awesome wonder that falls upon me as I gaze into the heavens each night, but I will try.

Stars do twinkle! I do not mean their brightness fades in and out as clouds or dust pass over them, but they flicker like the bright flame of a candle. And they are bright, much brighter than we can ever see in the States. They blaze brilliantly across the sky, millions of tiny moons burning brightly in the black material of the sky.

And oh! the moon! Her glory is more magnificent than can ever be imagined. My eyes water as I gaze upon her brightness. I cannot make out her features for the brightness of her radiance is more than I can gaze at for any length of time.

I thought I understood the second line in the poem comparing stars to diamonds. They are sort of round like some diamonds, and their color somewhat resembles that of diamonds. But gazing into the African sky with the night fully enveloping me like a cloak, I can truly grasp this illustration. Imagine, in your mind’s eye, a diamond. Do not place it in the dark against a black cloth. Instead, place it in the brilliant sunlight. What does it do? It sparkles and casts brilliant prisms around it. Not only do you see its clearness, but you see many tiny jewels of ruby, jade, amber, and sapphire sparkling across its surface. This is how stars truly appear in the night sky. There are millions and billions of miniature diamonds twinkling across the night sky.

I am brought to my knees as I consider the One who created the heavens I gaze into each night. Who but God could have created such beauty? Words fail me as I attempt to describe my awe for my God who created such wonder and glory. I am reminded that “all the heavens declare the glory of God”- my friends, what I am seeing in the night sky is a piece of God’s glory- and “since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen” (Psalm 19:1, Romans 1:20).

The Beginning is in the End

I know I haven’t written anything for a while and I’m sorry about that. We’ve been very busy here trying to get all the grades in and wind the quarter down. I am actually looking forward to going home May 9- I plan on sleeping for a week straight!!

For the past couple of weeks, an American couple has been staying at the mission. Thomas and Jill Businelle have an 8-month-old son named Titus (who is adorable, by the way). They were working with the HIM program (out of Memorial Road church of Christ in Oklahoma City) in Mozambique. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a bad time for them to go. They started a 2 year contract last November, but as soon as they arrived, they all got sick and more or less stayed sick until March. Thomas, Jill, and little Titus then spent several weeks in a hospital in Johannesburg. After healing, they came to the Chimala Mission to reflect on their experience and recuperate before returning to the States.

It seems, at the outset, that a trip such as theirs has ended in disaster. But I don’t think so (and they don’t either). Even though they were only able to stay in Africa 6 months instead of 2 years, they learned a lot about themselves, mission work, and their relationship with God. It truly has been a time of growth and maturity for all three of them.

Garry and I grew very close to Thomas and Jill during their stay at the mission. They have a lot of great ideas to improve the work here. They were also wonderful encouragers and supporters. They are leaving tomorrow, and I am sad to see them go. We really need a young, energetic couple like them to come work here in Chimala. I hope they do well in whatever ministry they pursue, but I really pray God brings them back here to Chimala.

As my time here winds down, I realize not only how much I have learned, but also how far I have to go. I am still not fluent in Swahili, though my vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation improve daily. I am also not content with the education I have. This summer, as I finish my Bachelors in Biblical Studies, I am also going to begin my Bachelors in Education, with a minor in Intercultural Studies, at Liberty University online. I am very excited to begin this new phase of my life and hope that my studies will produce much fruit for the kingdom and glory of God.

The Providence of God

Late last night, a group of Malawians was traveling from Dar-Es-Salaam back to their home country. Their route passed through the Chimala Mission. While driving through a forest between Iringa and Chimala, they came upon a roadblock of big stones across the road. A man dressed in a police uniform waved down the first car in the caravan. As the cars slowed to a stop, bandits armed with clubs and knives surrounded the three cars. The second car attempted to drive around the barricade, but ditches had been dug on either side of the road. The car dived into the ditch and wrecked. The third car took a chance and drove straight over the rock barrier. They were able to drive on to the nearest police station. The other Malawians were dragged from the remaining two cars and beaten with the clubs and knives. One man suffered a severe cut across his temple. They all suffered from multiple contusions and scrapes. The police finally arrived only to find the one car still in the ditch and the other car stolen. The victims lay bruised and beaten along the side of the road. The police ushered everyone away from the scene of the crime, telling them to leave all their passports, visas, and over 60 million kwachas (about 40,000 US dollars) behind. One Malawian, who had just returned from Texas, left behind his American visa. The injured men were dropped off at the Chimala Mission Hospital. Early this morning, hospital workers called the Malawian students attending Chimala Bible Institute. The students rushed to the hospital to meet the victims and attend to their needs. It turned out the victims were from the same village as Samuel Tambala, a first year student at CBI. Disturbed at their countrymen’s plight, the students left to report the incident to Garry Hill, CBI’s administrator. Garry saw the distress on the students’ faces, and gave them a bundt cake to calm them down. Then two girls who were attacked along with their brothers walked up. The students immediately handed over the cake and explained the police had given them neither food nor water since the attack. Garry was able to give the Malawians enough money to fill the tank of their remaining car to get across the border. There, friends would meet them and help them on their way. This event truly throws into sharp relief the need for a serious emergency fund for the mission. Garry and I have agreed to travel to Malawi before the end of the year to hold Bible studies and seminars in Samuel Tambala’s hometown, where the victims were from. There is a serious opportunity for evangelism and the growth of the Lord’s church originating from this tragedy and we intend to take full advantage of it. Praise God no one was killed before they could hear the truth of God’s word! Another providence of God is seen in Garry and my own protection from such a disastrous event. We planned this morning to travel to Iringa, through the very forest the robbery took place, to visit the American missionaries living there. We were unable to because a new tire failed to be delivered to Mbeya in time for the trip. Yesterday, we were frustrated and angry at the inefficiency of the African way of life. Today we are grateful. Not only were we able to use the money for the trip to get potential Christians safely home, we avoided unknowingly traveling through a dangerous area. Praise God for His amazing acts of kindness and compassion! I cannot wait to see what other good will become of this tragedy.

Girl on a Mission

"Therefore, gird your minds for actions, stay sober in spirit and fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Christ Jesus." I Peter 1:13

During the time this letter was written, there were a lot of things that distracted Christians from serving God. Idolatry, worldly lusts, and persecution often caused believers to turn away from and deny Jesus. Peter writes his first epistle to those Christians scattered throughout the world to encourage them to stay strong in the faith, because Satan would like nothing more than to distract them from the Christian's final goal of salvation.

This letter has become very dear to me. I have become distracted from the work at hand. I have allowed personal emotions and physical ailments come between me and my end goal of salvation in Christ. It isn't that I don't appreciate Christ's sacrifice or that I no longer want to go to heaven. But I have allowed earthly, temporal things to come between me and my heavenly goal.

No more. As Peter states in chapter 1 verse 13, I will gird my mind for action. I will constantly study God's word so I may be ready for any attack. Nobody will catch me without my sword sharpened and ready for battle!

I will also stay sober in spirit. I will not allow fleeting things or giddy emotions cloud my judgment and distract me from the purpose at hand. I must remember that my "Adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (5:8). I cannot let my guard slip, even for a second, because Satan is waiting for any opportunity to destroy me.

I will also fix my hope completely on the grace brought to me by the revelation of Jesus Christ. I will allow my thoughts to dwell on the gospel and what that means for me and my fellow man. I will allow my heart to dwell on Christ's revelation throughout the New Testament. By fixing my hope completely on Christ, nothing else will come before my sight or cloud my judgment. I will allow myself to become saturated with God's word.

In short, I will be a girl on a mission.

Does God Exist?

Chances are that you believe in God. So why am I writing this? Certainly not to convince you, because you already believe there is a God (I hope). The truth is, many Christians today believe in God but don’t know exactly why they believe in God. It is incredibly important that a Christian be able to give a solid defense for his or her faith in God, and not just say ‘because the Bible says so’ (I Peter 3:15).This blog will explain why I believe, and know, God exists. Hopefully by the end of it you will too!!

1. Evil exists.
   Everyone agrees that there is evil in the world, right? One only has to look at tragedies like the Holocaust and 9/11 to know evil exists. If evil exists in the world, it stands to reason that absolute right exists as well. Since there is absolute right, there must be someone who enforces the natural laws of what’s good and what’s evil.
2. Everyone has morals.
   Every individual in the world is born with a basic sense of what’s right and what’s wrong. Everyone knows it’s wrong to cheat, lie, steal, murder, rape, and so on.
   Who put this inherent sense of right and wrong within us? Who but God?
3. There is a moral authority.
   Since everyone has morals, it stands to reason that there is someone to enforce those morals. Otherwise, what would be the point of those inherent morals?
   Thomas Warren stated, “If the conduct of a society, individual, or specified group can come under criticism, there is a God. If there is no God, then the behavior of anyone anywhere cannot be criticized.”
4. There is a design.
   The universe and the earth and every living creature has a design. It is clear in the organization of planets in systems, systems in galaxies and galaxies throughout the universe. It is clear in everything on earth from the food chain to the water cycle to the tilt of the earth in relation to the sun. It is clear in every study of every system and every cell in the human body there is a design. A design demands a designer. It could not have happened by accident.
   Evolutionists theorized that the smaller the organism they studied, the less information and the less organization the organism would have. They have found the exact opposite to be true. Carl Sagan says of the smallest single- celled organism, “There is enough information in the paramecium to fill one hundred million pages of the Encyclopedia Britannica.”

There are many more reasons why God exists, but these are the ones that convince me the most. Have they convinced you? What other evidences of God can you think of?

Bearing Fruit in Chimala

One of the main focuses of the Chimala Bible Institute is evangelism.

Every weekend, a group of students goes out to a different village with an established congregation for the purpose of evangelism. The students go from house to house encouraging people to come to the Saturday night gospel meeting. They also hold Bible studies and invite the villagers to the Sunday morning worship service.

In January, the students visited Sumbawanga and baptized a total of ten people. In Ilemi, three people were baptized. Two people were baptized in Welu and one person in Mbuyuni. A total of eighteen people were baptized from January 7th to January 30th.

In February, three people were baptized in Vwawa and three people in Matebete. One person was baptized in Uzinje and five people were baptized in Sumbawanga. A total of fourteen people were baptized from February 4th through February 20th.

A typical Wednesday evening is likewise evangelistic. This past Wednesday, for example, the short-course teacher, Brent Smith, Garry Hill, the CBI administrator, Atupikisye Mwakyasima, a woman student at CBI, and I went down the road to visit the Chosi A congregation. Lai, a CBI instructor, preached a sermon on the oneness of baptism while Atupikisye and I taught the children. Fifteen children were present and eager to listen. Atupikisye masterfully taught the creation account in Genesis 1, thoroughly engaging the young children in her lesson. It was her first time teaching a children’s class.

It is evident the students’ work in evangelism and their application of their studies at Chimala Bible Institute is very fruitful. Continue to remember us in your prayers as the preachers and teachers of the next generation are trained at the college.

A Week in My Life

It is amazing how much my life has changed. In the States, my life consisted of work, sleep, and church on Sundays. I always worked during the weekly church meeting or devotionals and literally gathered with the saints for a maximum of 3 hours a week. Of course, I continued my own personal studies throughout the week, but I really missed Wednesday night services and Tuesday night Bible studies at the Thompson’s or the Martin’s homes. Evangelism was something I worked into my routine- showing my Christian light at work or giving an encouraging word to a resident or coworker.

My life has drastically changed since then. Now my entire life, focus, and job is about God. Working on a mission has been every bit as liberating as I imagined it would.

Three times a week, I go to a different village to teach children about the Bible. I have never taught a children’s class in my life, and I enjoy it immensely. It is amazing how little focus the church here gives to children. After all, they are the future of God’s church. My goal is to eventually teach all the children in every village I visit the entire Bible. I’m having a lot of fun creating my lesson plans and trying to find inexpensive activities for the children to do. One Sunday, I was able to bring coloring sheets for a class of 33 children. They shared the crayons and had a wonderful time coloring- an activity many of them had probably never done.

During the week, my days are spent working at CBI (Chimala Bible Institute). At 7:30 every morning, every student and faculty member meets for chapel (actually everyone at the mission meets at their respective places of work for a chapel service). I thoroughly enjoy starting off every morning singing praises and praying to my Creator and listening to one of the students or teachers give a lesson.

After chapel, I work around the school. Sometimes I perform administrative tasks like creating schedules or typing letters for Garry. Sometimes I work on organizing the library. One of my tasks has also been to tutor the students in library research. Every Wednesday morning (Wednesday being Library Day), I meet with the English students and teach them about grammar, writing skills, and research. I enjoy passing on what I’ve learned from my past English teachers to the students.

When I’m not teaching children or working at CBI, I work in my home to prepare lessons, do my own personal devotions, or just relax by crocheting or playing on my computer (I will be forever grateful to my Mom for giving me this laptop!). I also enjoy walking around the mission, taking pictures, and observing God’s wonderful creation around me.

I am glad I have this opportunity to serve God here in Chimala. I am glad my life revolves around working for God’s kingdom. I hope and pray my work may be lifted up as a pleasing aroma to Him.

The Ultimate Sacrifice

Mission trips are about sacrifice. Missionaries leave their families, their friends, most of their possessions, and they strike out to live in a foreign country for an extended period of time. Many times, the only friends they have in a foreign country is God and the Bible. It is a time of great spiritual growth for the missionary. It is a time of great sacrifice.

In John 12:1-8, Mary anoints Jesus’ feet with a pound of very costly perfume. Judas Iscariot objects to her actions. He reasons the perfume could have been sold to serve the poor. Jesus chastises Judas, saying, “Let her alone, in order that she may keep it for the day of My burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have Me” (verse 8).

Mary sacrificed almost a year’s worth of wages to serve her Lord. Imagine taking almost $50,000 (the average American salary) and laying it all at the Lord’s feet. In her day, Mary had the opportunity to personally serve our Lord and Savior. Today, we have many other ways to serve God that require sacrifice. We can give to the church, to the poor, to missionaries, any cause that will advance the gospel of Christ.

But what do we do with the money God has blessed us with? Some Christians sacrifice generously to be able to give back to God. Honestly, though, many of us are like Judas Iscariot. John 12:6 says Judas was the treasurer among Jesus’ disciples and he used to steal from the money box. God has given us all a money box. Everything we earn goes into it. But we spend most of it on ourselves. We pilfer God’s blessings and throw a little back to the church to satisfy our conscience.

Do we really need new furniture? If we do, does it have to be that expensive? Is a big screen television or the latest electronic gadget necessary or do we just want it because it looks nice? Do we really need that gigantic nest egg for retirement? After all, we are “a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away” (James 4:14). We don’t even know if we will live past tomorrow! Is a cushioned retirement worth a lost soul?

Sacrifices don't have to be about material wealth. Are you in an ungodly marriage? Do you have the courage to give up your marriage for Christ? Do you tell others about Christ? Or do you only talk about Him when others bring Him up? Do you have the courage to stand up against abortion, against drugs, against peer pressure? Or do you sit back and watch it happen?

Jesus gave up everything for you. He had more wealth than any of us could dream of, but He chose to come down to this earth and sacrifice His blameless life for your sake. He who had never experienced so much as a paper cut allowed Himself to be beaten and nailed to that rugged old cross. In the end, He had no friends, none that would step forward and claim Him. It was the ultimate mission trip and He did it for you.

How much have you sacrificed for Christ today?

The Power of Water

In the States, they say the only sure things are death and taxes. Here in Tanzania, the only sure things are death and the electricity going out.

For the past few weeks, the electricity has been turning off anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours every evening. They call it a ‘rolling blackout’ (I’ve heard California has been having some recently as well). But for the past three days, the electricity has been going off anywhere from 30 minutes to seven hours. This morning when I woke up, the electricity was off so I took a cold shower. (Believe or not, this cold shower was not refreshing because the mornings are very cool). I opened all the curtains to let in the early morning light so I could see what I was doing.

Today we discovered the reason for the frequent shortage in electricity: there is not enough water to power the generators that produce electricity across the country. I have never been so affected by a shortage of water. In Colorado, we usually had restrictions on water usage in the summer, especially when it came to watering the lawns. But ‘water shortages’ in Colorado never prevented me from taking a hot shower, or reading a book, or working on my computer, or doing any other activity at night.

I consider myself a night owl. I will stay up half the night working on whatever project I want to finish. I took it for granted that I could do any activity I wanted because of electricity. The past three nights I have gone to bed early with a flashlight because the only activity I could really do was read a book. It’s not fun working on a puzzle with a flashlight. I can’t crochet holding a flashlight. And my laptop’s battery only lasts four hours so I can’t complete all my little projects. Last night, I couldn’t even read in my living room because all the bugs came flying at the only light around for miles. I have never so appreciated the preciousness of water.

In John chapter four, Jesus tells the Samaritan woman about the gift of God: living water. This water never runs out or dries up. It lasts forever. To the Samaritan woman, such a thing was desirable because she wouldn’t have to trek back and forth to the well everyday, hauling gallons of water. In fact, she would never thirst again! To me, living water is desirable because it can produce as much electricity as I need. I could have as many hot showers as I want, work on my puzzle as late into the night as I desire, crochet until my fingers fall off, and work on my laptop until my eyes burn out. Jesus’ living water is so powerful I wouldn’t even need to flip a switch or plug in my computer.

But Jesus’ living water is much better than anything electricity can do for me. Jesus’ living water provides everlasting life. In John 4:14, Jesus says, “but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” Jesus’ water is truly the fountain of youth! If one partakes of it, one will live forever, never growing old, and never witnessing the curse of spiritual death.

Eventually my laptop will die forever. My puzzle will crumble into oblivion. The pages in my books will fall out. My body will become so old and decrepit that no amount of showering, hot or cold, could revive it. But the living water I receive through Jesus Christ will allow my soul to live with Him in eternity. Nothing else above the earth, on it, or under it is that powerful.

Have you got the power today?

My First Week at the Chimala Mission in Tanzania

I have always been drawn to Africa as a mission field. This past year I was given the opportunity to visit the Chimala Mission just outside of Tanzania, East Africa. Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver was in the midst of negotiating with the New York Avenue church of Christ (the overseeing congregation of the Mission) about taking over the preaching school aspect of the Chimala Mission. The merger would take place in January 2011.

At the time of my visit I was volunteering in the hospital delivering babies. I stayed with Mary and Howell Ferguson, who work as the Stateside Coordinator for the BVBID extension schools in Chimala and the Ukraine. Howell was busy arranging the merger of the Chimala Bible College (Bear Valley’s extension school) and the Chimala School of Preaching (the original preaching school at the Mission). During his discussions, he brought up the need for a new secretary and a librarian. I turned around and said, “Well, I could do that!”

I moved to the Chimala Mission Saturday, January 15^th to contribute to the work of the new Chimala Bible Institute. The school began its first day on January 17^th. What a wonderful day that was! The faculty and students are fully excited about the improvements in both the academics and the welfare of the students that will be coming. It was also wonderful to see the two different schools, now the English and Swahili Departments, worshipping together in the first ever combined chapel.

At the end of my first week, however, I finally realized just how much responsibility I have taken on. I am not only the Librarian and Administrative Assistant to Garry Hill, but I have also been designated the Dean of Women. I will furthermore be teaching a Library Research class and tutoring some of the students in English. On top of all that, I am determined to finish my Bachelors in Biblical Studies this November. I think I can do it. Not only that, but I am determined to do it. I know God will give me the strength to help these 25 men and two women graduate so they can return to their hometowns and spread the gospel throughout the land.

My First Week

I have arrived safely in Ho, Volta Region, Ghana, West Africa. Thank you everyone for your prayers and support in my preparations for this trip! I am overwhelmed with the financial support and good wishes I have received. It is rather sad, I suppose, that I should be so amazed that God has come through for me. He has really opened doors for me on this trip and I pray that He will continue to do so.

I first contacted Mr. Buamah, who works for the Municipal Education Department in the Volta Region, about 4 or 5 weeks ago. He replied quickly, saying he had found a position for me and to arrive at the end of September. He did not give me any other details, which I found disconcerting. I emailed him several questions. When he replied with the answers, he informed me that I would be an English teacher at Sonrise School.

I was very excited, because I knew the family that had started and presently run the Sonrise Primary and Secondary Schools. Sammy and Joseph Dzamesi are members of the church of Christ. Sammy preaches for the church here in Ho. In fact, he has visited the Castle Rock church of Christ a couple times, so many of you have met him. Joseph, his son, lived in LA for ten years and graduated from Pepperdine University. The 2007 missions team worked closely with Sammy and Joseph. By the end of that trip, the two had become very dear to our hearts. I had spent time especially with Joseph when we took one of our team members to the hospital in Accra, and it was he I contacted to make my living arrangements.

I bought my plane ticket and thought everything was ready for my arrival on Wednesday, September 23rd. Five days before my departure, I received an email from Joseph. It seems there had been a terrible miscommunication. Apparently, Mr. Buamah had only contacted them one time to see if they had a position for me (just after my first email). Sammy had told him to have me send a letter and my resume directly to the school, because he did not particularly remember me from 2007. But I did not receive this directive, so I did not send anything to Sammy. Sonrise was therefore unprepared for my arrival and did not have a teaching position open for me. However, Joseph was very comforting. He wrote that they had prepared a place for me to stay and not to worry about anything. The Ghanaians would take care of me.

I arrived that Wednesday and after spending a night in Accra, drove up to Sonrise Secondary School, just outside Ho. There, Joseph showed me my rooms at the girls' dormitory. My accommodations are awesome! It is so much more than I expected! I have my own room, bathroom, kitchen, and sitting room. There is even electricity, running water, and a fridge! Best of all is the fan in the bedroom. That fan has saved me from many a hot, sleepless night. I spent the next few days catching up on sleep and getting to know the girls. Dorcas, who is a Form 3 (senior) student, has been especially helpful, along with Deborah (also Form 3) and Priscilla (Form 2).

The following Monday Joseph took me to the Primary School, which is about ten minutes from the secondary school. There I met Sammy and three of the school directors: Mr. Stanley, the English Master; Emmanuel, the French Master; and an elder from the Ho church of Christ. Sammy welcomed me most cordially. He told the others that they were unprepared for my sudden arrival, but that because I was a sister in Christ, they would welcome me with open arms and do whatever they could to help me. I wanted to cry! I thanked God above for my family in Christ, who would welcome me no matter the circumstances, and never turn me away. Sammy said this several times in the following days. He often stressed that we are of the same body and blood in Christ, and because of this, I am most welcome.

I was assigned as an assistant to Mr. Stanley, who teaches the Junior Secondary students (middle school). School runs from 8 am to 3 pm, and he has at least two classes per day. Last Thursday, I taught the second half of the Form 1 class while he attended a funeral, and led a discussion in the Form 3 class while he graded papers. I really enjoy Mr. Stanley. He is an excellent teacher and a great mentor. I know I will learn a lot from him.

Emmanuel is also a man I will learn a lot from. He is a member of the church and is in the process of starting a volunteer organization. Its main purpose will be to go out to the remote villages to preach the gospel. Apparently the only time they go out to these villages is in the early summer, when Ben Fulks' missionary team from Texas comes. Emmanuel sees the pressing need to continue this work year round. I am very excited and hope to contribute the knowledge I learned at Bear Valley to the formation and running of this group. My main concern is that this does not become a 'Missionary Society' and will remain under the eldership of the church. Please pray that God will guide Emmanuel and the church in the evangelism of remote villages.

I hope everyone is well back home. Please post any questions or comments you may have! I will continue to post more updates including more about my everyday life. I will also post some pictures soon!

As I’m learning how to evangelize to the world around me, I find myself drawing on my experience in working with horses. There are three areas especially that come to my mind that can apply to training a horse and teaching a prospect.

When starting to work with any horse, it is vital to build a relationship with him. I get to know the horse by spending time with him and doing activities the horse is comfortable with. Things like grazing or just hanging out together help me get to know the horse and help him become comfortable with me. I also observe the animal in his natural surroundings. I watch how he interacts with other horses and how he reacts to everyday things like paper blowing across the road. These observations tell me if the horse is a skittish animal or if he is confident.

Next I begin the actual training process, which is a fancy way of saying I start to communicate with him. I put many of my observations into action. For example, watching the horse interact with other horses shows me how I can communicate with him. I also try to move each of these training sessions along at an individualized, organized pace. Some horses, like some people, learn faster than others. The pace should be tailored to fit each horse’s need. I also have a certain method I use each time I work with a horse. In illustration, I always teach a horse ‘ground manners’ (how to respect my space, stand tied, pick up his feet, etc.) before putting a saddle on.

The third thing I keep in mind when working with a horse is that it is a continuous process. As long as I train a horse, I will continue to build our relationship. Also, every session we review the things we learned the last session, work on things we didn’t understand, and, if time allows, we move on to new things (generally each session lasts 40 to 60 minutes). Another element of the continuous process is that things learned in the first session are used for higher level training. For example, part of ground manners is teaching the horse to move the front half of his body away from you with the point of a finger. Later on, I will use this movement as a stepping stone to teach the horse to ‘rock back’ on his hindquarters, plant one hind foot, and ‘spin’ on that foot (which looks really cool!).

Now I bet you are wondering what all this has to do with evangelism. Well, when you find someone to study with, you first build a relationship with him or her. This involves doing things the individual enjoys and observing his or her interactions with other people. When we sit down to study, I can build our sessions on the relationship we have. Also, I make sure that the study moves along at the right pace for the prospect in an organized manner.

Teaching a person about Christ is also a continuous process. We continue to build our relationship. We work on each point of scripture until there are no questions. And I show the person I’m studying with how to apply the things we discover in our day to day lives.

The Narrow Way

I was walking on a narrow way
I could barely see the light of day.

No friendly face could I see.
Fell voices swirled all around me.

The dark was closing all around
When at last I cried out, and fell to the ground.

Oh God, my God, I need Thee now!
Please lift me up and wipe my brow.

At first I heard no reply;
I could not understand how God could lie.

Surely this could never be!
He told me He would never forsake me

But when I had quieted my weeping
And stilled my heart from its rapid beating

I heard the faintest sigh
And it came to pass by and by

That the darkness began to lift
And the mists began to drift.

I lifted up my head
From my self-inflicted world of dread.

I could see my path marked clearly before me
All along, prayer to God on High had been key.

Our Amazing God

Have you taken a moment today to stop and look at your surroundings? Take a moment now to stop what you’re doing and look out the nearest window. If you can, step outside to physically experience nature. Take a piece of grass or a leaf and examine it thoroughly. Isn’t the intricate design on the leaf amazing? Look up at the mountains. Drink in their immense size, notice the contrast between their purple shrouds and the snow white caps. Your God created these things.

Now let’s look up into the night sky. There are a vast number of stars in the expanse of the nighttime sky. Each one of those stars is like our sun, which seems so large and bright in our sight. Some of these stars are actually much bigger than our own sun, but are so far away they only appear as tiny pricks in the sky.

Let’s see if we can put two of these stars into perspective, starting with our own sun. If the earth were a golf ball, the sun would be 15 feet in diameter. Imagine trying to find yourself on the golf ball that represents earth.

Now let’s look at the biggest star astronomers have found, Canis Majoris (Latin for Big Dog). This star is so big, we will need to take a trip to Nepal, hike up the tallest point on the surface of the earth (six miles above sea level), and stand on top of Mount Everest. Now while you’re taking a breather, pull out your golf ball and compare it to the size of the mountain you are standing on. Try finding yourself on that golf ball now! Do you feel small and insignificant yet? Canis Majoris is so big, the number of earths that could fit inside is tremendous. It is equal to the number of golf balls it would take to cover the state of Texas in a layer 22 inches deep. Now how do you feel?

Our God, the God of the heavens and the earth, created those stars. He created the Sun, and He created the Big Dog. In Psalm 33:6, the psalmist writes the following:

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
And by the breath of His mouth all their host.

God is so powerful, so large, so amazing, that He spoke the stars into existence! Can you wrap your mind around this concept? I would encourage you everyday to stop for a few seconds and look around at God’s creation. Praise Him for His marvelous works with the words of the psalmist:

Let all the earth fear the Lord;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
Psalm 33:8

A Clean Slate

It is the start of a new year, 2009. Normally, I am sad to see the previous year go; I know I will never gain that time back and I hope I have spent the year in the best way I can. As I reflect back on 2008, however, I not only shudder, but I also rejoice in the Lord for the uplifting of my soul.

This year of trials truly began for me in the fall of 2007, when I was a sophomore at Colorado State University. I had just transferred from my dream college in Cheyenne, Wyoming after becoming discouraged with my fellow classmates. As the fall progressed, I became more and more depressed until I was no longer attending classes. The only thing getting me out of bed everyday was the necessity to go care for my horse. Otherwise I stayed holed up in my apartment, doing little more than eating and sleeping. Some may look down on me for my apparent laziness, but at the time I could see no reason for my purpose on earth.

That year ended with my mother and father splitting up. As the long painful process of separation began, my stress and anxiety rose. I decided to take a semester off in order to work and start up classes again in the fall of 2008. My plan back fired when I became severely ill after working only 3 days helping to open a Chipotle. By the time I was well enough to work, I had forgotten all the things I had learned. I was not cut out to work in such a high stress environment under normal circumstances; in my stressed out, highly anxious, depressed state, the job only made me worse. After a minor breakdown at work and a major breakdown several days later, my mother insisted I come home, something I did with relief.

For three months I was worthless. I had just enough energy daily to get out of bed, shower, dress, ride my horse, come home, and sleep some more. But I resolved that I would soon recover and find a purpose for my life. I believe the weekly event that helped me find my purpose was my Tuesday night Bible study. During these studies with people I had known all my life (Mikey and Terry Martin and Kevin Baldwin; also Bob Brown, a new character), the Word refreshed me and renewed the passion for the Lord I had found the previous summer on a mission trip to Ghana, Africa. I began to get an inkling of the purpose I had been searching for.

In March 2008, I secured a job at Murdoch’s Ranch and Home Supply, where I worked all summer. As the summer wore on, a sense of urgency took hold of me. It took me awhile to figure out what I needed to fulfill the sense of purpose within me, but I finally decided that I needed to become a worker for the Lord. As the prophet says in Jeremiah 20:9,

But if I say, ‘I will not remember Him
Or speak anymore in His name,’
Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire
Shut up in my bones;
And I am weary of holding it in,
And I cannot endure it.

I determined that I would be a missionary to the people of Ghana. However, I knew I was not quite ready. As Paul writes in II Timothy 2:15 I needed to “be diligent to present [my]self approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” In order to teach the word to the people of Ghana, I also needed to “be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction” (II Timothy 4:2). I decided to go to school to devote myself to the Word completely. At the end of July 2008, I applied to Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver, where I am currently a student.

Well on my way to recovering from the dark days, something else happened that I would not have thought possible for someone like me. I found a kindred spirit in a fellow student, peer, and friend. My now-boyfriend, Quinton, has a similar vision to mine: to reach the lost of the world, no matter the sacrifice. I could not tell you what the future holds for us, but I pray that whatever our relationship becomes, it will be for the glory of the Lord and the furthering of His kingdom.

Now, on January 20, 2009, I look back over the past year and marvel at the hand of God that is clearly evident in my life. To sum up, I began the year depressed, discouraged, and without hope. As the year wore on, I placed my hope in the Lord, and as He promises in Isaiah 40:31, I began walking and did not become weary, so I ran and did not grow tired. Soon I will be lifted up on wings like an eagle as I introduce the lost to my Lord Jesus Christ.

Balance Act

Have you ever watched a tightrope walker? Isn't it amazing how they can walk that thin cable, using only the pole in their hands to keep their balance?

Living the Christian life is often a balancing act. Not only must we put God before all else in our lives (which really isn't about balancing at all), we must balance elements in our Christian walk. Two important elements are truth and spirit.

In the general Christian world today, there are two basic groups. I like to call them the Traditionalist Scholars and the Spirit Warriors. The Traditionalist Scholars know their Bible. You say one word, such as baptism, and BAM! they quote every verse that contains the word baptism. They also love arguing to show how much they know.

On the other hand, the Spirit Warriors are full of a fiery passion for Christ. They are not afraid to proclaim His name to strangers. But they have no Bible knowledge. They don't know the contents of God's Word. They often teach false things simply because they don't know any better.

Each of these elements can be dangerous by themselves. Christ commends the church at Ephesus in Revelation 2:2 for their perserverance, but condemns them in verse 4 for their lack of love. How can you win people to the Gospel of Christ if you are only interested in winning an argument? We must have a genuine love for people's souls if we are to win them to Christ.

We should also concern ourselves with the daily renewing of our minds (II Corinthians 4:16). This means digging into God's word and placing His words in our hearts, so that we can "be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with great patience and instruction" (II Timothy 4:2). How can we win people to Christ if we don't know how to get there ourselves? In Psalm 119:11, the writer says "Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against you." We must know what God wants of us so we can use our love for Christ to win the lost to Him.

It would be so ideal if we could morph the Traditionalist Scholars with the Spirit Warriors and come up with the true Christian: one who knows God's Word and has the passion and love for Christ to pass the truth on to the lost.