Ten Minute Musings

A blizzard had set in. A “Nor-easter” was on its way. We headed straight for it. It has been years (about four and a half) since the boys had seen snow. Now, though, after driving for nine hours, over two through white out conditions edging Lake Erie, we have made it to New York state, up-state that is, for a little skiing. God has and continues to provide the snow.  At this point we are hoping we will actually make the last hour’s drive up to the mountain.  The boys are ready to provide the excitement as they are all amped up and geared up for this occasion.  Only now are they realizing that this is way beyond the building of snow forts and Frosty.  So, this week expect a few entries about the wonders of snowy New York and Holiday Valley.  If you think it couldn’t get any better than skiing right after a blizzard, then you need to hold on to your hats, because tonight we are staying in none other than Jamestown, New York.  Yes, you are correct, it is the one and only birthplace of none other than Lucille Ball.  Louise is out of her mind with excitement and will not let us get out of town to go skiing until she has made her rounds at the Lucy and Desi museum for the premium price of six dollars.  Do pray for us to stay out of the ER and for us to have a great time of refreshing enjoying God’s creative wonders.

No, no, no, not that list.  It is the going back to Togo list of purchases to make prior to our departure from the land of Wal*Mart.  This means we are really going back.  When the black trunks get set out and the stress level rises d.day (departure day) is less than six weeks away.  There are always many mixed feelings.  The absence of family is especially difficult, considering the holidays, virtually unbearable.  Yet, the hope of getting back to a “normal” (for us that is) life is extremely attractive, along with the warmer weather.  Of course, the decreased baggage weights is really hitting us hard, peanut butter in particular is decreasing greatly in quantity.  Although, with Lufthansa we get three extra bags taking us to a total of fifteen.  At this point I really need to consider how I’m going to get them all back to Tabligbo.  Anyway, he we are, getting ready for the return, in more ways than one.  I am finally interceding for the Togolese again in prayer.  I really struggled with that early on in our furlough.  Tanner cried this week about wanting to be back home going to school with his buddies Stephen and Matthew.  We all long for the routine and simpler, slower life of Togo.  So, in many ways our shopping in preparation for our return holds great promise for the return itself and stirs our hearts for the Togolese.  In other words, this shopping is a good thing.?   

Four years ago, we had decided that it was enough.  We were coming upon our seventh year in Togo, which was our original commitment.  Yes, there was more work to do.  Yes, we were being used effectively in a fruitful work.  Yes, things had gotten better over the course of time in Togo, but we were tired; we were beat up; and we were ready for the easier road.  So, without asking God what we should do or what He wanted us to do, we made the decision that we were going to come back to the US for good in 2006.  Upon our visit to the states that year we made our annual trek to Harding to teach in some classes and encourage students to consider missions.  God had arranged two encounters for us on that trip.  One was with missionary veteran, Fielden Allison of Kenya.  He was the missionary in residence at that time and I was teaching a class with him.  After the class, he asked me what my plans were beyond Togo.  I revealed to him the Marty planned return of 2006 to domestic ministry in the states.  At this point I must clarify that there is nothing at all wrong with that if that is what God has planned for you to do.  On the other hand, if He has called you to something else, and you are making that decision then hopefully someone will ask you the same question Fielden asked me.  ”Why?”  There was a lot to this very simple question.  Why do missionary veterans return to the states after acquiring language and cultural assimilation skills and after learning to share Jesus and mentor leaders so effectively?  Some are called to, but surely not all.  All the reasons that I had in my bag of justification melted before Fielden in an instant.   Yes, I was speechless.  I knew then what I had done and I stood rebuked.  It was for my own convenience that I wanted to come back to the states, definitely not in answer to God’s call.  Then later that day, we met with our friend Dr. Carr.  He then, in his very excitable and charismatic way, began sharing how wonderfully effective for the kingdom some African missionaries are and have been, literally touching thousands through their ministry and potentially hundreds of thousands through several generations of growth.  This was it, the moment where Louise and I were pushed over the edge and humbly brought back to the “why” of our being in Africa.  It all began with a desire to be effectively used by the Master.  Here we are, now, about to return to Africa and finish up our work in Togo and begin a new work in Rwanda.  It has been an incredible ride with God and promises to only get better.  Upon our visit to Harding this last November, we seized the opportunity to share all of this with Dr. Carr.  It was a wonderful awakening to a moment of serendipity from years ago when he, by God’s design, turned our hearts back to not only Africa for Christ, but more importantly to the acceptance of God’s will for our lives.  Little did he know.

Eight years makes quite a difference.  Just think of the changes that have been made in our lives over the course of the last eight years.   Take my sons, for instance.  Almost eight years ago, on our first furlough, it snowed.  An attempt was made at Frosty construction.  It was a bold effort that lasted  almost fifteen minutes.  Then as the cold set it, dreams of the warmth of  Togo began to overcome their sense of excitement and drove them back to the warmer climes of the great indoors.  Today, as they were finishing up their Bible study, things got a little crazy.  God called the study early on account of snow.  Would he be slighted by their desire to romp in the beauty of the first snow?  Of course not.  They threw on the clothes and out they went.  Snow angels were created.  This was  a first.  They are used to making sand angels on the shores of the Atlantic in Africa.  This, though, was the real deal and didn’t get up in your swimsuit and make you itch like the sandy versions.  Then, they knew that Frosty must be dealt with in order to finally get some closure from their first failed attempt.  Here you see Frosty with his Texas Rangers hat.  Their season, regrettably, fared about as well as he will when it hits 50 on Saturday.  After this they went about constructing fortifications for the great snow ball war.  The impressive thing is that they did all of this with only two inches of snow.  Just think how well they’ll do with a foot.  There are many musings available from this such as second chances; appreciating and taking advantage of the here and now; and doing a lot with very little.  The one, though, that creates the deepest pondering for myself is the wondrous extremes of their lives as missionaries from Africa and the desire God has to bless them, filling any and all possible voids.

So much is said about this. Many books are written. Arguments regularly break out. Opinions are vigorously stated. Recently, I was talking with my Dad about what I understood the Bible to say. He gave his opinion, rather quietly for such a strong retired military commander. He softly said, “I believe these are the end times. I’m over seventy now, I know they are the end times for me.” Well put, I thought. Whereas he wasn’t aware of God’s plan for the “collective” end times, he was aware of his own dwindling number of days. If you saw, as well, how he lived; you would realize that he is living out those days for Jesus. He spends most of his day singing. He praises God no matter what he is doing. The other parts of it he spends rereading God’s love letter to him and serving others as an expression of his love for God.

Although most of us aren’t in our seventies,  we would all do will to live out each day from that “end time” perspective.

For a month, since October 31st until November the 28th, we were on the road. We drove over 3,400 miles, had many adventures, learned how to eat out for less than $20, cried when we paid $3.09 per gallon (for 32 gallons), and rejoiced when we pulled into the driveway in Morrisville, Virginia.  What a wonderful trip it was, and we are so glad it is over.  We thought that this furlough might be a tough one, but what we didn’t realize is that this furlough (now to be known as the furlong, which is the opposite of furshort) was actually going to be comprised of several furloughs along the way.  No wonder many mission organizations no longer call them furloughs anyway.  That moniker has been replaced with home assignment for understandable reasons.  Yet, here they are, the road warriors.  Just look at these go with the flow fellow travelers all sacked out on the road and content.  They have now been away from Togo for seven months.  They have missed their dog, their friends, their Africa, but not the four hour church services on hard benches.  As well, we haven’t been anywhere long enough to sink any roots.  Yet, they know contentment.  Whether it’s Togo, Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, or even (should I say it …) Texas (aarrgghh), they have learned to be content.  They have had to be visitors in over fifteen different churches.  They have had to weather the social storms of trying to make friends wherever they go.  They have had to put more clothes on their bodies than any other time in almost six years.  Have they complained? No.  What an example my sons are to me, for not only have they been content, they have had a good time along the way.  Isn’t it fun when God touches your children in such a way that they live out the word right before your very eyes.  Philippians 4:11-13.