In preparation for resuming the challenging schedule of cross-cultural ministry (and in preparing the proposal for my Masters thesis at UNISA), I am re-reading what I would consider to be two of the most important books I’ve read on the subject of spirituality and cross-cultural work. Duane Elmer’s Cross-Cultural Servanthood is one of the most convicting and challanging books, I’ve read on the issues of serving (I mean really serving … like Jesus … not just patronizing) another culture. The other book, I finished just this morning. It’s a small volume by a South African missiology scholar named David J. Bosch entitled  A Spirituality of the Road. It’s also a challenging little book on maintaining a Biblical spirituality in the heat of cross cultural work. Yesterday, I read something from chapter 4 that brought me to a screeching squealing stop.

We so easily see our responsibility as disposed of when we have imparted the gospel to a people, established a younger church with it’s own indigenous ministry, and taught them some Western administrative machinery. In all this, the emphasis is almost entirely on one-way communication … We prescribe carefully prepared Gospel recipes. But – and this is the core of the problem – only rarely do we allow them to experience all this together with us.

The result, more often than not, is that we train parrots instead of building up people

Jesus commanded us to make disciples. Making disciples is not teaching parrots to speak or (to use a different metaphore) learning to be a puppeteer. This is true when it come to disciple-making and leadership training in any context and in any culture, but become especially vital when working cross-culturally. I still feel very much at the bottom end of the learning curve, when it comes to cross-cultural work. But this, I know … my attitude must be that of a learner. A student. A neophyte in Monoglian culture and understanding. A question asker, rather than being “the answer”.  Bosch tells of an educated and respected worker who was leaving a particular African field for Home Assignment. One of the national church leaders made this statement about him:

What a pity. He’s learned nothing while he’s been with us. He always knew.

I don’t want to always know. Particularly when it comes to leadership training, pastoral skills and the application of the Bible in Mongolia. If I “always know”, my work becomes the mere impartation of knowledge, rather than the living out of Biblical grace and community with my Mongolian brothers and sisters in Christ. A fully trained disciple or leader must be able to do more than repeat words. The Gospel has no affect until it has been internalized, contextualized and lived. Together. Love and grace must be experienced along the road together, rather than through dispassionate classroom rhetoric that’s copied and pasted into another life. Jesus is life and freedom and joy. Those are things are not understood in a classroom.  It’s on the road, together – and the proverbial “classroom” becomes daily life. Eating and drinking and laughing and crying. I suppose that’s exactly what Jesus did with His “twelve”.  It’s the pattern I’d also like to follow.

So, I am looking forward to working with Mongolian leaders and students this year. It will be a new year of challange and grace. However, my main objective is not to train parrots. I want to live and walk in grace and the Truth, and discover how to do that here with those God has called me to serve.

For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord; with ourselves as your servants, for Jesus sake

2 Corinthians 4:5

Part of the reason for silence on the blog front is probably due to busyness of schedule in recent months. We’ve found that things have been quite intense lately. Here’s a rundown of recent activity:

We are continuing our work with students at the “Grain of Wheat” student center. It has been a real blessing to see students show up for English class and cafe’, as well as guitar lessons. We are in the process now of making plans for a big start-up in the fall. We are raising money to purchase a computer, books for the library, as well as a stove so we can begin making our own pastries, cakes and other speciality items. We are going to kick things off this fall with a full program. For those who are going to the C&MA’s General Council, be sure to look for the Yak Polo/Vision for Chile booth to purchase your 2009 Yak Polo shirt – as proceeds will go toward Grain of Wheat. Friday, May 29th will be “Yak Polo Friday”, so I hope that we will see photos of all of you sporting the latest Yak Polo fashion trend!

Another new twist in our current ministry is the start of an International Church in UB. Cornerstone Church of All Nations has been officially meeting since Easter Sunday. On the first Sunday we had almost 180 people, from over 23 nations in attendance. Since then we’ve continued to see the Lord’s blessing and His hand upon the church. Last Sunday we were blessed with Dilip Kurian from the Hillsongs worship team who led worship at our church (with over 200 in attendance). We’ve already more or less outgrown the rented space we are using now. A church like this is such a need in this city. Currently I am serving as interim pastor, until we can find a pastor to take this task on full time. We are praying for God to call the right person here to take on this ministry. It’s a little strange to be “Pastor Bernie” again, but not too strange. It is a blessing to see God at work and a real need being met in our adopted hometown.

Another area of ministry for us is the discipleship of Mongolian students in UB. Right now we are finishing up the school year, and many of our students are heading home for the summer. There will be a few residual students staying in the city, but most will be departing. However, summer will still be busy for us, as we will begin making preparations for the Fall. We are going to begin working with a team of Mongolian students to start a Student Fellowship on Friday evenings which will be used to reach their peers. From this, we want to disciple and equip them to be involved with or start local churches around the city. This will be a challenge on many levels, but we’re excited about the potential we see in reaching students in Mongolia for the Kingdom of God.

Our field director couple Dennis and Marilyn Maves have left the country for their one year home assignment. This also leaves some extra responsibilities for those of us left here in the city. I will be working some in the field office, and Renee’ will be working with the female staff members through Bible study, discipleship and prayer with them.

Renee’ also has her plate full with ‘volunteering’ (that is a mandatory volunteering!) at the kid’s school every week, as well as attending a ladies’ Bible study and helping at the Student Center and with the International Church.

I am also currently working on a graduate degree program from the University of South Africa. This is consuming time and energy, as well. However, I am enjoying the reading and writing that is involved. When I am finished I will have a recognized degree for the first time in my life. I feel that it is a necessary thing to obtain, as I desire to work more closely with higher education here in a Mongolian context. Having the proper degree is important to them in this regard.

On top of all this, Cori has brought home a new puppy. I managed to dodge the last “new puppy” bullet, as we found a home for it. When she brought this one home, I tried to be the hard-nosed Dad for as long as possible – but I went soft in the end and let her keep it. So now we have Gemma, the fluff ball. She is good for a laugh most of the time, and Cori has something to sleep with her at night – now that it’s finally stopped it’s night whining. Sadie seems to get along with it fairly well. They seem to keep each other company.

Jonathan and Cori are both finishing up their school year this month. Jonathan is having to say goodbye to a lot of friends who graduating this week. We’re all continuing to learn that this lifestyle involves saying good-bye alot. It can be hard on the kids, at times. But it is amazing to see our good God at work bringing new friends into our lives and meeting our every need.

In it all He’s been faithful. We look to Him to supply for all we need now and all that is to come.

Thanks to all of you for your prayers, support and partnership!

When the phone call came today, it wasn’t just any ordinary Saturday. It was Cori’s birthday and in less than an hour, she would have friends arriving. Not only was the pizza not finished, but I didn’t even have her cake in the oven. Never have I been so unprepared for one of my children’s birthdays. To top it all off, I just wanted to go to bed. I have somehow managed to come down with four different ailments at once (which I won’t go into). So just finishing this task would take more energy than I really had.

Ah, but that’s not all. I had promised Jonathan two weeks ago, that we would host a Christmas Open House (okay, I confess, I love it – normally). Because I’ve been sick, I haven’t been able to do any advance preparations. So that is ahead. And sometime in the next 48 hours I had to finish laundry (without a dryer, remember) and pack, while leaving a clean house for the two Mongolian girls who will be staying here with Sadie.

As soon as I heard the ring, I thought to myself, “We can’t do anything else.” The Mongolian lady started talking to Bernie about the center and water. This would be the place to tell you that after months of renovations and endless shopping trips, the UB Student Center officially opened last night. This past week had gone so well. After the initial trips when we couldn’t find anything that worked, things were falling in place, right down to the cups with sheaves of wheat and the thermoses that matched the wallpaper. Bernie and Onon and I were so pleased to see the fruit of all our weeks of work. A lovely, peaceful place was finally ready for students to come and find a quiet place to study. Then next month, when we arrive back from the US, we could start scheduling events.

We knew that the heater in the front room had been leaking, so Bernie finished what he was doing and grabbed a few towels, expecting to go wipe up some water. He never dreamed he would open the front door and walk into a sauna. The radiator, heated by scalding hot water had burst in the middle of the night and was spraying water into the room. It was literally raining in the room from the steam that would condensate on the ceiling. The walls were wet. The furniture that we spent hours shopping for and having built was wet. Everything was wet.

With the help of teammates, Dennis and Eric, Bernie and Onon spent the next couple of hours cleaning and assessing the damage. The floors that Bernie has labored so long on will have to be redone. The ceilings that Soggi had painted for us will have to be repainted. We are hopeful that the wallpaper will not have to be replaced. Bernie’s guitar is fine (Hallelujah!) but we don’t know yet about the keyboard. The new rug is wet, but should dry, as we hope will the upholstered chairs. We believe that the wood furniture will still be usuable.

So, human nature automatically calls up the question: “Why did this happen?” and even, “Why, God, did You allow this to happen?” The question is not wrong — as long as the heart believes. We have the opportunity to choose to believe that God is on His throne. He was not taken by surprised. He was not out-maneuvered by our enemy who seeks to kill, steal and destroy. He chose to trust us to trust Him. To know that He is more than able to work this for good and for the glory of His kingdom. We’re not sure how or when. We don’t even know if we will ever be able to say, “Oh, this is why God allowed that to happen.” What we do know is that by His grace we as a team give thanks – not for the mess, but for the God Who is able to triumph in spite of the mess. We give thanks for timely words from Scripture that are there before we know we will need them. And most of all, this Christmas, we give thanks because He is Immanuel, God with us – even in a sopping wet Student Center.