Draw from the Well

3 Reasons I Am Going to Repossess

1. Worshipping with 3000 young people is awesome!
2. Pastor Mark Driscoll is a powerful & provocative preacher who says challenging things!
3. I need to turn in my $50 for Haiti money!

Why are you going to Repossess?

Top Ten Missionary Books

Was writing to a college friend of mine (who happens to be a missionary) and for some weird reason decided to give you my top ten missionary stories.  (I have not done a top ten list in a long while!)

So here they are in no particular order.  A note:  I could have just done a top ten for China, but restrained myself!)

1. The Small Woman - Alan Burgess.  The story of Gladys Aylward, one of many versions out there.  Oh, she was a missionary to China.  Great faith!
2. Bruchko - Bruce Olson. First missions book I ever read.  Great story; don't agree with some of his methods, but he made an impact.  Missionary to South America.
3. Holy Man - Gavan Daws.  The story of Father Damien, missionary to the Hawaiian leper colony on Molokai.  Great story of servant leadership.
4. Peace Child - Don Richardson.  Amazing cultural picture of Jesus' love in a culture that held betrayal as an ideal (making Judas a hero in their culture!)  Richardson has written many books including Eternity in their Hearts(see how I snuck one more into the list!)  Missionaries to Netherlands New Guinea.
5. I Dared to Call Him Father - Bilquis Sheikh.  Wonderful story about how God revealed Himself to a Muslim woman.
6. A Chance to Die - Elisabeth Elliot.  First, Elisabeth Elliot is an amazing writer.  Second, this story is about Amy Carmichael, who started Dohnavur Fellowship in South India.  Amy was one of the original crusaders in fighting sex trafficking (before it was cool or trendy to do so.)  What I love most about this biography is it's honesty...Amy had her issues...yet God used her in spite of them.  Full on, this woman was sold out to Jesus.  One of the most convicting books I've ever read. (Amy wrote many books of her own as well.)
7. Rees Howells/Intercessor - Norman Grubb.  Not a classic missions story, but for those who might not see prayer as key and powerful...read this book and be forever changed.  Great book on intercession and the life of Rees Howells
8. Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret - Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor.  Hudson Taylor was a missionary to China.  His ideas about incarnational missions forever changed missions (for the better.)  He fiercely loved the Chinese people at a time when foreigners were greatly despised.  You will be humbled by his faith and fortitude.  All my years in China I had a quote from this book taped to my Bible reminding me never to give up loving.
9. Chasing the Dragon - Jackie Pullinger.  A missionary to the drug infested "Walled City" of Hong Kong. (It was torn down before I made it to Hong Kong.)  Again a great story of faith and service...and China.
10. The Ugly American - Eugene Burdick & William Lederer.  This book isn't Christian, nor is it a story strictly about missionaries.  And yet, it is.  It's about how the rest of the world viewed (maybe it's changed a bit) the United States.  It's dated, but some of the underlying issues of arrogance and ignorance still hold true. 

Bonus - Anti-missionary story.

When I was on the mission field, one of my roles what to help train new folk (mostly recent college graduates.)  One book I made them read was The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver.

I won't recommend you read this book - it's a difficult read, well written, but filled with tension and pain.  It is a picture of everything a missionary shouldn't do.  It's fiction, and not Christian.  It's sad.  Unfortunately, while this story is fictional, it does represent how some act on the field.  It compels me to pray for the missionaries I know, that they will be strong & faithful. 

What am I missing?  Share your favorite missions book!

All American Family

This past Saturday I got to hang with one of my college friends, whom I've known for almost 20 years.  I knew Barbara when she was a wee freshman; I got to stand with her on her wedding day; we spent a summer mission in Mexico together and backpacked in Europe together.  It's been quite a journey!

It's been fun to see her and her family figure out life and how to live their faith in practical ways.  Barbara's heart was always towards missions.  When she was young her plan was to become a doctor and run an orphanage in a poor country. 

But life often has different plans for us.  She never became a doctor (although recently she earned a Master's in Counseling from Mars Hill Grad School.)  She has never lived in a foreign country, although she married a Kiwi.  She doesn't run an orphanage....well, maybe she does...

You see, along their journey of faith, Barb and her husband Jeremy kept asking what it meant for them to be the hands and feet of Jesus.  Many years ago this meant that they started to teach Sunday School at a small Ethiopian church (the church said this was a practical need they had.)  This led to them "fostering" a young Ethiopian daughter.  They were smitten.  This led them to being open to more foster children.  Suddenly, their family of four grew to a family of seven, and surprise, another one is on the way!  (All five of the children are girls, but the one on the way is a little boy!)

They were recently interviewed on King 5 News:

I hosted the family for a BBQ this weekend.  It was so fun to meet the new little Tantrums (Barb has suffered much over this last name!)  I'm so blessed to see how my friends are changing the world in their own ways.  I'm so blessed to see how their love for Jesus is expressed through their daily lives!

News from the Field - Cambodia

Awesome stories coming from our Cambodia missions team.  Not just ONE blog, but TWO.

Here's is an except from an email I received:

I have made my own little friend. Her name is Slyrot (I am clueless as to how to spell her name - so that is the best I can do).  She is not one of the orphan children, but lives in the village.  My heart breaks because I don't think she gets the same privileges as our orphan children do (home, medical testing, clean water, etc.).  She has become my companion though - following me constantly throughout the day.  Helping me with everything I do, including putting on my shoes!  I am humbled by her joy and heart for serving me.
 
Every day many people from the village come to check out out the exciting stuff happening at the orphanage. I doubt very seriously any of them have ever seen so many white people at one time - we are quite the talk of the village, I'm sure. :)
 
My heart has been captured by these children and the people of Cambodia. It has been amazing to watch God at work every moment we are here and I'm so privileged to be a part of this team.  If you have never been on a mission trip - you have to GO!  It is life changing!!!!!!!!

Obviously, lives are getting touched all over the place!

Check out the blogs and enjoy: 

Living Water Team

Team Member - Rick

Orphan Home in Cambodia

Just found out that we support the Kong Pixay Church Orphan Home in Cambodia which has 16 children in it.  You will get to hear more details this weekend as we partner with Warm Blankets Orphan Care International!

How cool is that!