Archive for the 'Travel' Category

South Africa:: 30 years later

Published
by
Keith
on March 3, 2008
in Travel
. 2 Comments

Keith & KayKay and I are in Pretoria, South Africa. Pretoria is just outside Johannesburg. We are here with 33 leaders of our ministry around the world working together on building a stronger global ministry that can sustain the Great Commission in amazing ways.

We first came to South Africa 30 years ago. We had lived in Nigeria for about 9 months and traveled to the first All-Africa Staff Conference. It now has the distinction of being the only-ever All-Africa Staff conference. No other one was ever held. Jennifer turned 2 years old on the flight back from Johannesburg to Nairobi, Kenya. We celebrated on the airplane with the only cake we could find to purchase – a fruitcake! But I guess 2 year olds don’t know the difference! So we have very funny and interesting memories of our first trip to South Africa.

We have not been back in 30 years. Yesterday, Kay and I were walking around the beautiful gardens in the guesthouse where we are staying. Kay commented that the air just smells like “Africa”. There’s just something about being on the continent that we’ve not felt anywhere else we’ve lived or traveled. Whether West Africa, East Africa, or South Africa, it’s a similar feel – a “rural feel” even in a major city, the way people interact with each other, even the smells in the air.

Grammy KayWe spent Saturday visiting with friends Stefan and Marié Dell, and Kenneth, Monica and new baby Peter. Kay easily slips into Grammy-mode wherever she is. Monica thought Grammy Kay was great at reading books. Newborn Peter found Grammy Kay’s lap a great place to sleep.

I have placed some photos online. Click here to see some of the beauty we’ve found here at the Schoongezicht Guesthouse where we’re enjoying Afrikaner hospitality.

Eastern Europe. Lake Balaton.

Published
by
Keith
on January 22, 2008
in Travel
. 2 Comments

Sunset on Lake BalatonSunset on Lake Balaton

The site of the Eastern Europe Staff Conference is Tihany on beautiful Lake Balaton. The first days were foggy, but yesterday, the skies cleared and it was beautiful. The sunset was amazing. You can see the sheets of ice on the lake.

I’ve uploaded more photos. Click here to see them.

According to Wikipedia, Lake Balaton is the largest lake in Central Europe. It’s a popular tourist destination, but mainly in the summer months. That makes it a good place for a huge conference in the off-season.

Eastern Europe. Languages everywhere.

Published
by
Keith
on January 21, 2008
in Ministry and Travel
. 0 Comments

Translator boothsKay and I enjoy being in an environment where there are many languages. Overcoming the results of the tower of Babel take effort. Here at the Eastern European Staff Conference, there are translator booths where live translation takes place. Five booths: Polish, Bulgarian, Albanian, Romanian, and Russian. All speaking is done in English. Those who need translation are given FM radios and headphones. Translators do the grueling work of live translation for the many hours each day during main sessions.

Last night, we spent 2 hours in a concert of prayer. It was great. Kay and I prayed with a staff mom from Albania. She spoke good English, but preferred to pray in Albanian. This is very normal. I was never able to pray in Hausa either, so I completely understand! It’s amazing to sit in a small group of three at the foot of the throne of grace and mercy and know that God hears our prayers and understands our language.

Singing worship songs in English, Russian, Romanian, and Slavic was a challenge, but really fun.

Ahh, heaven is going to be a glorious place. I have no idea what language or languages we will speak, but I’m confident that we will all understand!

Eastern Europe. Amazing stories.

Published
by
Keith
on January 20, 2008
in Ministry and Travel
. 0 Comments

Who is an evangelist? Anyone who feels the moral responsibility to tell others about Jesus. Anyone who recognizes people are lost without Jesus, that people without God are perishing. ( first national staff member in Poland)

Kay and I are attending the Eastern Europe staff conference in Hungary. We’re in Tihany, a resort area in the summer, but a lake of ice in the winter. [Click here for a map.]

We’re hearing tremendous things. We’re hearing amazing things.

(To see the countries mentioned below, go to LonelyPlanet. Move your mouse over the name of the country on this webpage and see the country highlighted. Very helpful!)

In Romania, a student shared with his roomate. The roommate received Christ and began going around on campus sharing Christ with others. The roommate was talking with his Orthodox priest. The priest asked “How do you talk to people about Jesus?”. The student explained the basic gospel using a simple presentation. The priest went with him witnessing. He saw people coming to Christ. Seeing lives changing has transformed his preaching and ministry. Another priest asked the first priest how to share his faith. They cycle continues, one-at-a-time. This is how movements are born.

In Moldova, 5000 people were contacted through surveys. This was exciting, but how could they followup all these people? Someone suggested using text messaging. So they created 8 messages. They found Christian students who wanted to be a part. The first message begins, “Hello. My name is __. I want to tell you news that changed my life. Call me.” People would call back to hear more. One girl called back and during the conversation, she received Christ. She’s now in a bible study.

Poland is exploring a partnership with Czech Republic. The director in Czech had asked the director in Poland to send staff. The Poland director wondered, “Why are your needs more important than ours here? We have a strategic plan. We have many unreached campuses. We need our staff to do our own plan.” Then he attended the Campus Mission 2007 conference in Busan, Korea. Someone there was speaking on the principle of giving. He talked about tithing. The director for Poland began to think about giving a tithe of his staff to help reach the world, starting in Czech Republic.

And on and on it goes. Our cup runneth over and it’s only Day 1!

Sam and Kochumol

Published
by
Keith
on November 2, 2007
in Stories and Travel
. 0 Comments

Sam Varghese, of Bangalore, India, was our host. One of the amazing things about being part of a global mission organization is getting to know co-workers around the world.

Sam, Kochumol, and familyA special treat was to meet Sam’s family, wife Kochumol, and children Toby and Tony.

Sam and Kochumol are Indian and we are American. We are separated by culture and upbringing, but we share a common “culture” of bringing glory to God by introducing people to Jesus Christ. We understand and teach the basics of knowing Jesus and growing as His followers. Although we have little in common from a world perspective, we have much in common from a Kingdom perspective.

Kochumol and Sam ride their motorbikes to campus for ministry. When they speak out of their passions to see others know Christ, Kay and I resonate with them. We all serve in leadership roles, but our greatest passion is that everyone knows someone who truly follows Jesus.

Kay’s Salwar Kameez

Published
by
Keith
on November 2, 2007
in Personal and Travel
. 1 Comment

Kochumol helped Kay purchase a salwar kameez. After unsuccessfully looking around department stores and clothing kiosks, Kay purchased cloth and had a tailor make her dress. It’s a combination of loose-fitting trousers (salwar) with a long tunic or shirt (kameez). It’s accented with a long silk scarf worn around the neck and down the back. Very beautiful. It’s Kay, so of course it’s red! How do I know this stuff? Wikipedia!
Kay and KochumolKay in her salwar kameez

Improving security for our associates

Published
by
Keith
on November 2, 2007
in Ministry, Prayer Letters, Prayer Requests, Stories and Travel
. 1 Comment

Improving securityA very special opportunity presented itself while we were in Thailand. We helped our associates from the country where 41 were recently imprisoned. We talked about improving their security to help prevent any more of our associates from being sent to prison. We talked about email security, website security, and notebook computer security. We identified steps for them to take. It is a privilege to help protect our associates through helping with security precautions. These are very special people who risk much as they serve God. I am humbled to sit beside them and advise them on security issues. Please continue to pray for the 41 and their families.

Training in Thailand and India

Published
by
Keith
on November 2, 2007
in Ministry and Travel
. 0 Comments

We were in Thailand and India to help train our staff to safely use technology that connects Christians with their brothers and sisters from around the world.

With 6 meetings in 5 weeks, it was exhausting and exhilarating at the same time.

In Thailand, Keith spoke on how to align others to the mission. Kay helped women join the community of staff women around the globe. We participated in conferences for operations and HR directors from around the world.

Helping with computer skillsA second conference in Thailand involved 23 people from 8 countries in Southeast Asia. Kay excelled as a teacher. She set a high standard for the rest of us to try to meet. We taught people to use our simple tools to connect with others to share ideas and learn from one another.

Then we moved to India .

Ten staff from India and five from Asia, Africa and Europe participated. Our goal was to train the trainers who will, in turn teach this material to others. Each person learned how to build a secure, private web site for their ministry members using our Global ConneXion tools. Their members then gain access to materials and contacts with Christians from all over the world.

Michael, the director for the entire region, explained to me that staff are finding it increasingly difficult to meet students on campuses. We are working with Michael to find ways to use technology to enable staff greater connection with students for evangelism and discipleship.

Photos from India

Published
by
Keith
on October 5, 2007
in Travel
. 2 Comments

I’ve uploaded photos of our first day of training. Click here…

Paul and Lifesong from India

Published
by
Keith
on October 3, 2007
in Personal and Travel
. 0 Comments

I’m sitting in India for the first time in my life. Home to 1 billion people. We are on the outskirts of Bangalore in a small, local hotel. Looking out my window, India looks like Nigeria. Building construction is very similar. Walls around property. People walking everywhere. Cars and buses on the roads. It smells the same – kind of smoky from burning trash and auto fumes. It sounds the same – cars honking as they drive, kind of like saying “I’m here. Don’t
move over into my space.”

The sun comes up very early. I woke up at 5:18 to a bright sky and thought it was 8 am. Of course, it is 8 am in Bangkok where I woke up yesterday morning! India is 2 ½ hours different in time zones. It’s one of those countries that does a half-hour adjustment so the entire country can be on the same time zone.

I’m sitting here in the cool of the morning reading Paul’s loving letter to the Philippians and listening to Casting Crowns sing Lifesong. What a powerful combination!

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. [1:19-20]

May the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to you

For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know. I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. [1:21-23]

Let my lifesong sing to you.
Let my lifesong sing to you.
I want to sign your name
to the end of this day
Knowing that my heart was true
Let my lifesong sing to you.

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. … For it has been granted to you on behalf o Christ no only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him … [1:27-29]

Lord I give my life
a living sacrifice
To reach a world in need
To be your hands and feet.
So May the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to you.

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead. [3:10-11]

Let my lifesong sing to you.
Let my lifesong sing to you.
I want to sign your name
to the end of this day
Knowing that my heart was true
Let my lifesong sing to you.

Amen! So be it!

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