Hush.

Fasting is a spiritual concept I’ve been working with in my eating (and overeating) life for a year or so. I’ve known that fasting is Scriptural for a long time, but never really “got it” until I started working through an online Bible Study called “The Lord’s Table” at settingcaptivesfree.com. It’s been powerful.  If I were to say what I’ve learned  in a nutshell:

I fast because I want to remind myself that although food is good, it should never be my master. Only Jesus rules me. He and His Word are the food and drink that truly nourish and fill me.

I think this same principal applies to technology. Believe me, I love technology. I get teased about the number of times my Facebook status changes–that’s because it’s hooked up to my Twitter feed. I love to blog. I love to read blogs. I love being connected. I love it that my phone can double for my computer for most things.

HOWEVER,

I run the danger of being ruled by the connections. Of serving the technology rather than the technology serving me.

SO,

I’m leaving for vacation tomorrow. A lovely week with dear dear friends at a sweet little resort in Canada. I’m planning to swim and walk and read and knit and read and eat good food and read and journal and play cards and read Psalms and read.  And I’m going to exercise a technology fast. No Twitter, no Facebook responses, no email unless it’s for pleasure or some kind of issue that can’t wait at the office.

I fast because I want to remind myself that although technology is good, it should never be my master. Only Jesus rules me. He and His Word are the food and drink that truly nourish and fill me.

I look forward to connecting here when I return!

 

Weddings for $500

What is something you’re pretty sure you’d never see at First Trinity (right, Supreme Leader?), but which gives you a chuckle nonetheless?

 

Weddings for

 

Sunday Night Mind Dump

• I loved it when Pastor Chuck stopped the 11:15 service to pray for all the Cornerstone kids and adults at the Sawmill Creek retreat in Ohio. I had them on my mind all weekend. I know God does great things with kids when they are away and have a chance to focus on Him. Praying together felt so good.
• Could the sunshine be any more wonderful?!?!
• Singing “The Lamb” at 8:45 service, during Communion, was so powerful. The words to that song by Gerry Coleman are just a perfect word picture of everything Pastor Chuck was teaching us about Jesus yesterday.  Nancy Stuckwisch helped me remember one very meaning-laden lyric: “as wayward sheep their Shepherd kill.” How could we? And yet, He loves us so.
• Teaching Bible class was good fun. I know I say it all the time, but seriously, I just can’t think of anything that turns my crank  more than digging into the Word with others.
• I really appreciate it when the 8:45 service concludes in time to start Bible class on time (even on Communion Sundays). It’s a big effort and I really appreciate it!
• Someone asked me if I thought they could take their children to serve Friends of Night people sometime.  Concerned about is it safe and is it “too hard” for their kids to see. Good questions. Best idea is for a parent to go check it out, first. You know your kids better than anyone. I’ll say this, though: there’s all kinds of research that says when families serve together, good good stuff happens for kids. They grow spiritually and emotionally and their character is helped. Find a place to serve together!! This is one of those things that you don’t just let the church do “for you”. Go help someone with your child!!
• I’m getting some little systems together for having what I need with me on a Sunday morning. It’s all connected to my red messenger bag. Here’s what I need in the bag and why:
  • Journal/pens. Need to be able to write things down if someone tells me something, or I remember something I need to put on the “to do” list for the week. This is also where I keep notes on the sermon. I do that instead of fill out the outline. I would lose the outline, but I know where my journal is.
  • When I arrive at church, I fill the offering envelope (I keep my envelopes in my desk–I also send my pledge in by online banking, but think it is important to give as part of my worship, so I put cash (sometimes only a dollar, sometimes more) in an offering envelope and put it in the bag.
  • Some small, healthy snack. Since I was a child, I am ravenous on Sunday mornings. Weird.  Sometimes I eat it, sometimes I don’t, but it’s there.
  • A small bottle of water. I feel better when I drink more water. Running around so much on Sundays means I might not drink any if I don’t pack it in the bag.
  • My Bible and colored pencils. Need it during Bible class and in worship. Always read my Bible with colored pencils nearby. They don’t bleed through the paper but they add color. I love color (I know. Shocker).
  • Whatever prop I need for the children’s message. I love it if it fits in the bag. Sometimes it doesn’t and then it becomes one more thing for which I need to remember a location.
  • Once I open my office for the morning, I put my keys on the red ribbon keyholder that came with the bag (love this bag). This is a critical move and could mean the difference between a good day (walking out the door as soon as I’m finished with my responsibilities with a lilt in my step and a smile on my face) and a bad day (I have been known to search for my keys for an hour+ at the end of a Sunday morning. My muscles tense just thinking about it). If I do this, chances are good I will continue to return the keys to that spot for the rest of the day (back to the good day scenario).
  • Turn the sound off my phone and put it in the holder attached by caribiner to the bag. I need my phone to Tweet the sermon debrief questions during the sermon. Jason gets them from there to post them online.
  • Also have my regular camera and my flip video camera in their pouches attached to the bag. You never know when something cool needs to be documented on a Sunday morning.
  • Lip gloss in the outside pocket, just in case I get the chance to pretty up before Bible class or a children’s message.
  • Once I finish the children’s message at 8:45, I put the portable mic in my bag, too. That way, I know exactly where it is when I need it for 11:15.  When I finish with it at 11:15, it goes back in the bag and my first stop after worship is the back room to put it away.
  • If there is anything I am supposed to give to someone or say to someone,  it also goes in the bag. I have a large post-it note on the front of my journal that has reminders on it. I take a good look before I leave my office on a Sunday morning. Today it said, “Get the SCRIP stuff for Pam Stone” and “check-in with Tim about recording the sermon”.  Stuff that’s not every week or that someone asked me to do.
• Been not the best blog-poster lately. Hope to do better!

 

Shepherds!

Shepherds are every-week-volunteers in our Kingdom Quest (Sunday school) program. To get an idea of what cool stuff happens in Kingdom Quest, check out what Cathy Mongielo (Director of the program) wrote here.

Shepherds’ primary focus is relationships. They connect with kids in a way that models Jesus’ connection with them. I thank God for each of them–they do great work in His name every week at 10am. If you see one…say THANKS!!

 

Sunday Night Mind Dump

• Ginny Opferbeck (recently declared “cancer free”) came running towards me today, literally giggling and rubbing her hands together with glee. “I just heard Kristina’s (having great results from a stem cell transplant) good news!! Praise God!” One of the rescued rejoicing with the other. Sweet.
• Jessica helped me with the children’s message at 8:45am.  She loves that stuff.
• I love it that I have to check the bulletin to see where the children’s message is at 8:45. Sue Brese (Traditional Worship Coordinator) changes things up, regularly.
• I loved teaching the Holy Land Pilgrimage class today. Pastor Chuck is a great teammate. We were in the Beatitudes.
• Left after the children’s message at 11:15 to head for the airport. I’m in Mundelein, IL for a KINDLE Learning Event. The training team gathered tonight and it was fun telling Israel and Haiti stories (both bring me to tears quickly). Such wonderful colleagues. I learn so much from all of them.

 

Snow Shoes

This is a very wintry winter. I decided today, to embrace it. For my exercise I went snowshoeing. I bought snowshoes a couple years ago, but have only tried them once and there wasn’t much snow. Not an issue this year! Here’s how I would describe the experience:

• I went to the Brighton Golf Course. Worked great…felt like I was out in the middle of nowhere, but I could still see the 290 and felt connected to civilization should the need for civilization arise.
• It was a great workout. I think it’s because you have to pick your feet up higher than you would normally when you walk. Thought I would try for 40 minutes. Stopped at 30. Next time I’ll shoot for 35.
• Michael Buble, Josh Bales, Jeremy Camp and David Crowder went with me. Love those guys.
• You don’t make sharp turns when you snow shoe. Very gentle arcs in the snow.  It’s all smooth and round–no angles.
• The snow is so truly beautiful. So white and clean and sparkling. It made me think of Psalm 51: “Wash me and I will be whiter than snow.” Trust me, I’ve seen me. Only God could do that.

 

Saturday Night in Les Cayes

Getting close to bedtime, but wanted to get a quick blog post in:

• It was a great day. They each have been so wonderful in their own way.
• Busy all over the place, today: storage room, boys’ orphanage, girls’ orphanage
• Vendor Day! We had more vendors than ever. I really struggle with the whole negotiating process. Many of them have sad stories to tell. I felt great about what I got until John Hughes told me that the man who sold me some baskets (very cool) for $20 called him over as I was walking away to say, “I will give them to you for $15 so you can tell her you got a better deal.” Nice.
• VBS!!!! Starting at 9am this morning, we had well over 150 children (we ran out of the craft we brought). Tracy did a great job of coordinating the craft, up in the balcony. We sent five children up at a time.
• One surreal moment: I was singing down in front, looked up to the balcony and John Hughes was dancing to the song, looked down in the back and so was Dan…completely because they wanted to. The Spirit was doing some crazy stuff!
• A cool cool young woman with a name that sounds like MayDay leads songs every Saturday morning for the children of the community. She is AWESOME. Wonderful crowd control. The kids really sing for her. We had some words afterwards today (with the help of a translator). We are compadres. She is doing great ministry here, with very limited resources.
• It was great fun to see Leonie singing with the children, too. She seems very re-energized this year. I’m so glad to see it.
• One hard thing today: Renee and Dan took a walk with Nora and in a home, saw a child who was unconscious and who’s face was completely bloodied from doing a “face plant” in the gravel that is all around, here. The mom used hair gel to treat the wounds, because it is all she has.
• Dinner at Nami (Chinese Restaurant in Les Cayes–always seems hilarious to write that) was a celebration. We treated Leon, Nora, Leonie, Israelson, Pastor Paul, Jean, and Luvio. The conversation and the food were great
• Tomorrow will be  a very full day, and I’m not sure I will get to post, but watch the Twitter feed. Thanks for joining in the experience, here. I am grateful for the gift of technology God has provided us this week.
• Bonne Nuit (Good Night!)

 

Friday Night in Les Cayes

Another great day in Haiti:

• We were all over the place in Les Cayes, today !
• We played with the girls…Renee brought books and had Israelson translate them, then Karen wrote the  Creole right in the books with a sharpie. And there were actual farm animals and jungle animals to put in puzzle spots in the books. So cool.
• Renee also brought cones and we brought the VBS soccer balls, so both the girls and the boys could work on their soccer skills.
• The guys finished the screen work at the boys orphanage, plus some electrical work at the girls orphanage and lots of other good work.
• Dan, Marty and John went to the hardware store. Five items for sale in the store. Not exactly Home Depot.
• Marty had the chance to visit American University with Pastor Paul. He has visions for making a connection there in years to come.
• Renee, Anne, Tracy and I went back at the knitting thing with the ladies of the church. I am so excited! I truly believe that 5-6 of them really “got it” (no small feat teaching only-Creole-speaking women to knit using almost-only English. As each woman left, we said “Pour ou” (“for you”), meaning they could take their needles and yarn with them. The smiles were unmistakable. Several women hugged and kissed us and said “Mesi anpil anpil anpil” (“thank you  lots and lots and lots”). One woman looked me in the eye, held the needles and yarn to her chest and said “I will knit at home”, in Creole. It was a promise. I am grateful that it was not yet the big good-bye.  We will see them “en eglise Dimanche” (in church on Sunday).
• One of the women, Lucien, with no English whatsoever, said, “Sue! Zammi?” (Sue! Friend?) Wi, Lucien, we are friends. She asked me to pray for her and her five children (their father is dead). I asked her to write their names in my journal. I will pray.
• The ladies were flabbergasted to find out I have no husband. They said they would pray. Couldn’t hurt.
• The dinner tonight was so delicious. I can’t begin to explain how well they take care of us here.
• Devotions in 15 minutes. We’ll be praying for our dear ones in Buffalo and Batavia and elsewhere in the US. We love you.

 

Thursday afternoon in Les Cayes

Wednesday afternoon in Les Cayes:

• We are all back here, the whole team and will be here for the remainder of the trip.
• What a trip it was! If you were following the tweets (look to your right on this blog), you know some of it. Turns out Pastor Chuck, Pastor Allen, John Hughes and Dan Gietz, when they left for the island on Tuesday, got to the dock, got ferried out to the boat they were to take (VERY crowded)–Allen actually got carried out to the boat!–they sat on the boat for 2 hours before leaving because of no gaz.  Finally got going and got to the island in time for the revival.
• The stories of church that night were phenomenal. It sounds like the singing, the praying, Pastor Allen’s preaching…the place was rocking (like for three hours, rocking)!
• The guys were given a home to stay in (the owner slept somewhere else) that night and very very well taken care of. Any worries about food on the island were for nothing. They ate well and safely. The island people were so proud to have them there.
• The next morning, there was some frustration for the guys when they found out the original church plan is not to be. The bricks are here (THANKS to everyone who gave!!!!), but because the cement posts are crooked and would have to be taken down, and because the church is growing (Thank You, Jesus), they decided to expand the church. This meant that Dan and John were not able to really do much in terms of building. Hard.
• In the meantime, the rest of us were trying to get to the island. We were told a boat had been hired and that we were to meet them at the pier at 7am. Early rise! We got there at 7 and waited 4 hours and found out no gas. Back to the orphanage to wait and hope for gas. We got the word after lunch that gas had been found and we could ride on the Abaka Bay boat (the place we stayed last night). Be at the pier at 3:00pm, sharp. Got to the pier, waited and waited. Finally got on the boat about 4:45pm. We had a sunset cruise to Ile A Vache.
• One story from the pier. Marty ended up talking to a young man named Abi, a student of the environment (Marty works in the environment) who’s birthday was the same day as Marty’s!!! God’s provides these appointments in Haiti, I am convinced of it.
• We climbed  the hill in the dusk –one surreal moment: I walked by two boys on a horse, in the dark, and as I passed by, one said, “Sue?” Only in God’s world could I be on a small island in the Caribbean and have a little boy know my name.  Something about it is so sweet, I cannot contain myself about it.
• They were waiting for us in the church. Only one lantern for light (no gas for generators). We did our skit with people shining flashlights on us. Pastor Paul preached on it when we left and when we heard him tell us about it, it was so fun that the message came through, in the dark, in cramped quarters. God’s Word is alive!
• I think we should try this “free prayer” thing the Haitians do…it’s kind of like ‘ready, set, go!’ and everyone starts praying out loud–and I mean loud–all at once. I kept thinking it must be how God hears all the millions of prayers coming His way in heaven.
• We came down the hill in the dark and had a moonlight boat ride to Abaka Bay. This is a beautiful resort where rich people come for vacation. It was lovely. And so bizarre to be there having the kind of dinner and sleeping quarters we had. It made us possible to spend time on the island, though.  And they had gas.
• This morning we went back to Ile A Vache to see the church in the daylight. I expected to be disappointed at what we found there, but the opposite was true. They were working SOOO hard on the church. So much progress was being made. And THEY were doing it!!! As Renee put it, “Look what they could accomplish with just the PROMISE of help from us!”
• Marty ran into three agronomist (forestry) students there, one who spoke English well and they loved asking him questions and talking together. Another divine appointment.
• Renee was able to give Pastor Bouloute the papers with the names of all who gave bricks for the church. What a moment.
• CC is the most popular person on Ile A Vache. They love here there. She brought a photo album of pictures from last year to present to Pastor Bouloute.  What a thoughtful gift. They rarely, rarely get photos here.
• Back to Abaka Bay for lunch and a few had a swim at the beautiful beach there. Then back to Les Cayes.
• We saw a loud and angry crowd at a gas station on our way back to the orphanage. I am thankful we had the gas to get back to Les Cayes. Please pray that Pastor Paul, his musicians and interpreters can find some, too.
• As always in Haiti, we plan and prepare and then God does His thing. It’s always good.

Thank you for your prayers. I feel privileged to share the news with you. We talk of all of you at home so much. An amazing part of being a Christian is that we can be connected, even when we are not. God doesn’t know the boundary of time or space. We love you. We thank God for you.