I know it has been forever since I sent in a blog. It has been a challenge and a lot has
happened. Let me retrace the last three
weeks. Edie and I were only home from India and Thailand a few days when we left for Berlin to attend our ReachGlobal
leadership meetings. We were set up to
take a train from Amsterdam to Berlin. It was cheaper and had better connections than flying, and we thought it
would be fun. It was, but ended up being costly. We had to change trains before
entering Germany. We did not think we
had much time to get off the train with all our baggage for three weeks (in
two climates). I was in a hurry. I grabbed
two bags and Edie got one and her backpack, but I forgot mine. My computer, iPhone, headphones and some cash
and sundries stayed on the train, and haven't been seen since, at least not by
us. People all over have been praying,
but it looks like the Lord wanted someone else to have it. So that has made it
much harder for me to communicate. I am
on Edie's iPad now so I can send this. The rest of the train ride was great until we discovered the loss a
couple of hours later.
I had been dreading the team meetings and needed to pray
that the Lord would help me with my attitude.
There were so many meetings scheduled, and we were so tired after all our
travels. But as it turned out the time
was really encouraging. We had a lot of
meetings, all day every day for a week, but they were so good that we ended up
energized and refreshed. We made a lot
of connections with other leaders that may lead to future opportunities
to train. We were happy we went. Berlin was fun to explore for the very few
hours off we had. It was amazing to see
parts of the wall that are still standing.
After Berlin, Edie and I went to Athens to visit some
missionaries. The husband teaches in a
college there, and it was fun to discuss the possibilities of training in
Greece. We spent a day and a half
exploring Athens. It was something to
see where Paul preached and to imagine what it might have been like. I spoke at chapel and taught a bible
study.
One interesting little event happened that I thought I
would write about. The cook for the
school was out of town, so we helped our missionary friend cook lunch, the big
meal of the day. As the time
drew near there were set backs as usual because none of us really knew
everything we needed to in order to cook the meal.
The kitchen became chaotic as about 6 Greek ladies started scurrying
around chattering back and forth in staccato Greek. I think most of the time
they were all talking at once. It was
just like in the movies. I had to stand
back and wonder at how privileged we are to experience such things first hand in
so many places.
Edie came home from Greece and I came on to Kenya. I found the situation in Kenya to be a
mess. There is a major division taking
place and lots of turmoil. My trainees
are involved so I cancelled the training and devoted the days to working to
develop biblical attitudes and actions. I spent three days with the pastors and we made what I thought was good
progress with a lot of changed attitudes. I then met with the Bishop, who is on
the other side. We had a good meeting
during which we worked out a way forward. We decided to hold a meeting on Thursday
between him and the pastors. That was
Tuesday night. I was very
optimistic. Wednesday morning he sent me
a note canceling the meeting and reverting to his original position like we had
never met. It was so disappointing. I am waiting to meet him now, it is almost 7
and he is 2 1/2 hours late. I hope
something can be salvaged because I leave tomorrow, Friday, for home. Five years of effort may become largely
ineffective if he will not compromise.
I am sure there are many other things I could and should
write about our travels and ministry, but it is all fading together now. I will try to keep a hold of my computer next
time. Please pray for me as 5 days after I get home I am off to Colorado to
train, to Arizona to visit my Mom, and then on to Tennessee for more training. That will be the end of an amazing but tiring
three months of travel with only a couple of weeks at home in between, and somehow in that 5 days I need to get our taxes done. With jet lag and all it may be a challenge.
Al
