Impressions by Dave:
On a “small world” – Diane and I try to eat each meal and connect in other ways with as many different people that speak English as we can. One breakfast we chose to sit next to two ladies from the ‘far north.’ They always seemed to be smiling. After figuring out how to pronounce their last names, I mentioned that I pray daily for a different classroom of kids whose names sound very similar to theirs and they also are from the ‘far north’ and I gave them the name of the town the kids were from. They both looked shocked and asked me where I had gotten those names. I told them that a young, committed girl from another mission organization had gone though a cross cultural training school with our family 25 years ago and we had bonded and she began supporting us, both financially and with prayer. We only see each other every five years at the Inter Mission Cooperative Outreach gathering in Canada. She does some translating work on the Bible, but mainly she works in the schools. She sends me a new list of kids by class and grade with the teacher’s name each year to pray for. They said, “What is her name?” I said, “Ruth…” One of them said, “My daughter works with her!” Needless to say we wept and rejoiced in our sovereign, personal, loving Creator.
On “attitude” – As mentioned in earlier “Impressions” there is spiritual warfare going on constantly at these types of Christian Gatherings. A recent one was a bus strike that affected our visit to Bethlehem. A number of creative problem solving strategies took place. Very few of the participants were aware of it, even though they knew they had to wait extra long to get on the bus to go to Bethlehem. However, it became very apparent when we returned to the busses after our tour of the Church of the Holy Nativity. People couldn’t find their bus or their belongings. Unbeknown to us, the busses had been changed and our belongings transferred into new busses with new drivers. Needless to say this caused considerable tension and confusion. Once on the bus and headed back to Jerusalem, one of the ladies from Australia felt led to share. She asked us to focus on times in the past when others felt tension and confusion in Bethlehem.
How did Jacob feel when he lost his wife, Rachel, at the birth of their last son, Benjamin?
How did Naomi feel when she returned with her daughter-in-law Ruth, empty handed?
How did Joseph and Mary feel when they arrived for the census and she was due to deliver a baby and there was no place to stay and it was crowded and she was tired and dirty from a long journey?
Needless to say it was a gentle reminder once again on the choices we make every day to grumble and whine like the Israelites did in the wilderness or to “in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.”
Keep “looking unto Jesus,”
Dave
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
September 10-16
How can I capture even a glimpse of what we have experienced during this world gathering of indigenous believers in Jesus? There has been incredible variety in dance and worship forms:
From youth to elders in all shapes and sizes and colors
From the quiet, serene synchronized movements of the Okinawans to the exuberant, joyful, spontaneous jumping and shouting of the Papua New Guineans
From the single man who removed his shoes because he was on holy ground and then sat cross legged on the ground, singing in his own language as tears rolled down his cheeks to the energetic, colorful and wildly entertaining Moluccans
The only commonality has been the consistent worship of Jesus, the One who values each culture and takes pleasure in the creative expression of each group or individual. It’s not the drum; it’s the heart of the drummer. It’s not the dance; it’s the heart of the dancer.
Many times I was brought to tears and humbled by the deep devotion of the indigenous peoples.
One time I was standing on the shore of the Galilee at sunrise. An elderly Navajo man was leading us in worship. All of his songs are directly from Scripture, put to the music of his people. Near the end of our time he just broke down and cried with the freedom he was experiencing to worship Creator in his ‘heart language.’
At that same service, just as the sun was rising, we watched a Native woman in her beautiful coastal regalia fall to her knees next to her canoe as she worshipped. A few minutes later she was on her face before the Lord. This woman was in the very first NAIM Trails camp that Dave led almost 20 years ago. Later during the conference she shared with David how significant his counsel had been to her as a young woman seeking her identity at that camp. Today she is married to the hereditary chief of his tribe and they both are spiritual leaders.
Still another time we witnessed 50+ people being baptized in the Jordan River – Native believers from all over the world being baptized by other Native leaders, some quietly with tears and others exuberantly with a victory cry.
The ‘God ordained’ connections have been astounding:
Mona, an aboriginal from Australia, whose story parallels the movie “Rabbit Proof Fence.” If you haven’t seen that movie, it is worth your time.
Elizabeth, a Dutch lady from WA that went to Bethany Fellowship and knows our good friends the Haases. She is interested in reconciliation. Where this connection will lead I am not sure, but I suspect it will have long-term implications.
Mary and Louise from the far north who know and work with our good friend, Ruth, a missionary with NCEM. Dave shares more about this in his impressions.
A medical doctor from the Six Nations Reserve that we just happened to have breakfast with. She looked at my eye and said she thinks I have shingles. The red, itchy patches and swelling are following the nerve path around my eye. That was not good news to me, but never-the-less it was good to know what I have and what to expect.
Pio and Sonja, leaders of the 6th World Christian Gathering. These people have become very special friends and are planning a trip to WA to promote their work in the Philippines.
One of the highlights was at the Garden Tomb where all 400 delegates met and held a worship service. Although this is my first World Gathering, apparently at each of the others a cross has been set up and participants were given an opportunity to leave their hurts and their losses and their pain, etc. at the foot of the cross. At this service the aboriginals from Australia did a dance without any words, all to the music of the didgeridoo, which depicted them picking up the things that had been taken from them and reclaiming them and using them to bring honor and glory to their Creator. How appropriate that at the place where Jesus was crucified and buried and rose again, that these people, who have suffered so much and lost so much, should resurrect their culture and their language and their dignity and use it to honor the One who created them in the first place.
I wish each one of you that is reading this blog could experience what we have been privileged to witness. Thank you for sharing with us and allowing us to serve Creator in this holy place. Thank you for your support, your prayers, and your encouragement. Let me close with the words from a song by Debbie Graafsma and Don Moen.
Hallelujah to the Lamb
Verse 1
“Lord I stand in the midst of a multitude
Of those from every tribe and tongue
We are Your people
Redeemed by Your blood
Purchased from death by Your love
There are no words
Good enough to thank You
There are no words to express my praise
But I will lift up my voice
And sing from my heart
With all of my strength”
Chorus 1
“Hallelujah hallelujah
Hallelujah to the Lamb
Hallellujah hallelujah
By the blood of Christ we stand
Every tongue every tribe
Every people every land
Giving glory giving honor
Giving praise unto the Lamb of God”
Verse 2
“Lord we stand by grace in Your presence
Cleansed by the blood of the Lamb
We are Your children
Called by Your name
Humbly we bow and we pray
Release Your power
To work in us and through us
‘Til we are changed to be more like You
Then all the nations will see
Your glory revealed
And worship You”
Standing by grace in His presence,
Dave and Diane
From youth to elders in all shapes and sizes and colors
From the quiet, serene synchronized movements of the Okinawans to the exuberant, joyful, spontaneous jumping and shouting of the Papua New Guineans
From the single man who removed his shoes because he was on holy ground and then sat cross legged on the ground, singing in his own language as tears rolled down his cheeks to the energetic, colorful and wildly entertaining Moluccans
The only commonality has been the consistent worship of Jesus, the One who values each culture and takes pleasure in the creative expression of each group or individual. It’s not the drum; it’s the heart of the drummer. It’s not the dance; it’s the heart of the dancer.
Many times I was brought to tears and humbled by the deep devotion of the indigenous peoples.
One time I was standing on the shore of the Galilee at sunrise. An elderly Navajo man was leading us in worship. All of his songs are directly from Scripture, put to the music of his people. Near the end of our time he just broke down and cried with the freedom he was experiencing to worship Creator in his ‘heart language.’
At that same service, just as the sun was rising, we watched a Native woman in her beautiful coastal regalia fall to her knees next to her canoe as she worshipped. A few minutes later she was on her face before the Lord. This woman was in the very first NAIM Trails camp that Dave led almost 20 years ago. Later during the conference she shared with David how significant his counsel had been to her as a young woman seeking her identity at that camp. Today she is married to the hereditary chief of his tribe and they both are spiritual leaders.
Still another time we witnessed 50+ people being baptized in the Jordan River – Native believers from all over the world being baptized by other Native leaders, some quietly with tears and others exuberantly with a victory cry.
The ‘God ordained’ connections have been astounding:
Mona, an aboriginal from Australia, whose story parallels the movie “Rabbit Proof Fence.” If you haven’t seen that movie, it is worth your time.
Elizabeth, a Dutch lady from WA that went to Bethany Fellowship and knows our good friends the Haases. She is interested in reconciliation. Where this connection will lead I am not sure, but I suspect it will have long-term implications.
Mary and Louise from the far north who know and work with our good friend, Ruth, a missionary with NCEM. Dave shares more about this in his impressions.
A medical doctor from the Six Nations Reserve that we just happened to have breakfast with. She looked at my eye and said she thinks I have shingles. The red, itchy patches and swelling are following the nerve path around my eye. That was not good news to me, but never-the-less it was good to know what I have and what to expect.
Pio and Sonja, leaders of the 6th World Christian Gathering. These people have become very special friends and are planning a trip to WA to promote their work in the Philippines.
One of the highlights was at the Garden Tomb where all 400 delegates met and held a worship service. Although this is my first World Gathering, apparently at each of the others a cross has been set up and participants were given an opportunity to leave their hurts and their losses and their pain, etc. at the foot of the cross. At this service the aboriginals from Australia did a dance without any words, all to the music of the didgeridoo, which depicted them picking up the things that had been taken from them and reclaiming them and using them to bring honor and glory to their Creator. How appropriate that at the place where Jesus was crucified and buried and rose again, that these people, who have suffered so much and lost so much, should resurrect their culture and their language and their dignity and use it to honor the One who created them in the first place.
I wish each one of you that is reading this blog could experience what we have been privileged to witness. Thank you for sharing with us and allowing us to serve Creator in this holy place. Thank you for your support, your prayers, and your encouragement. Let me close with the words from a song by Debbie Graafsma and Don Moen.
Hallelujah to the Lamb
Verse 1
“Lord I stand in the midst of a multitude
Of those from every tribe and tongue
We are Your people
Redeemed by Your blood
Purchased from death by Your love
There are no words
Good enough to thank You
There are no words to express my praise
But I will lift up my voice
And sing from my heart
With all of my strength”
Chorus 1
“Hallelujah hallelujah
Hallelujah to the Lamb
Hallellujah hallelujah
By the blood of Christ we stand
Every tongue every tribe
Every people every land
Giving glory giving honor
Giving praise unto the Lamb of God”
Verse 2
“Lord we stand by grace in Your presence
Cleansed by the blood of the Lamb
We are Your children
Called by Your name
Humbly we bow and we pray
Release Your power
To work in us and through us
‘Til we are changed to be more like You
Then all the nations will see
Your glory revealed
And worship You”
Standing by grace in His presence,
Dave and Diane
September 9 - Tuedsay
I had a poor night of rest. I’m getting bit by either mosquitoes or spiders near my eye and it itches like crazy and it is swelling. I don’t like it much at all. We did some internet time in the morning and then headed to Tel Aviv for a memorial service for Monte Ohia, the founder of the World Christian Gathering. He passed away unexpectedly of a heart attack in June. It was a meaningful time of remembering the legacy he has passed on. One of the highlights was when the son of one of the other ‘Vision Keepers’ got up and committed to carrying on into the next generation what Monte began. We got home late that night.
September 8 - Monday
This was another fun day. We took four of the Gathering participants (two from Hawaii and two from the Philippines) to the Old City again. Our newest role is ‘tour guide.’ Moani danced in one of the Christian believer’s shops, which was fun. We met several other early arrivals in the Old City and we all went down to the Mamilla Mall for lunch, about 15 of us – from the US, Canada, the Philippines, Israel, Hawaii, Australia. I just love the various cultures and the camaraderie there is among these indigenous believers. After several hours of just fellowshipping together we headed to Zedekiah’s Cave which is in the Muslin section of town. That was another incredible experience as the two Hawaiian delegates chanted and sang in their Native language, songs of honor and praise to Creator Jesus, followed by prayer from the Philippine delegates in their tribal language. There were three Arab young men smoking in the cave at the same time and they had their cell phone cameras going the entire time. It was obvious that we were worshipping Jesus and praying in Jesus name, yet they wanted pictures of all of us. We chatted as best we could with the language barrier and then they wanted to take us to see a painting they had discovered in the farthest recesses of the cave. It was a picture of Jesus that had been painted onto the ceiling of the cave. Interesting! One of Moani’s friends had told Moani that she felt strongly that Moani would have an opportunity to share with Muslim Arabs while she was in Israel. Neat experience.
We had a brief rest before it was time to leave for the 24/7 service where several of the early delegates were sharing their testimonies, song, and dance before a Jewish congregation. That was another rich, inspiring time.
We had a brief rest before it was time to leave for the 24/7 service where several of the early delegates were sharing their testimonies, song, and dance before a Jewish congregation. That was another rich, inspiring time.
September 7 - Sunday
All the volunteers met at our hosts place this morning and we finished up as much as we could do on the mailing. There were about 15 of us all together. When we finished one of our new friends from Hawaii wanted to go to the Old City so Dave and I headed over there with her. We got as far as the Windmill and Dave got a call saying he was needed to go to the airport for a pick up so Moani and I went by ourselves into the market. By the time we got there some of the shops were closing up, but it was nice because it was not so crowded. Moani is such an outgoing, guileless young woman that everyone just loves her. We spent our time between four shops, both of us buying souveniors and making relationships with the shop owners. We took lots of pictures and made some fun memories!
Sunday, September 7, 2008
September 6 - Dave's Impressions
Impressions from Dave:
On Family: Jerusalem has lots of very beautiful parks of all different sizes. Every night, except Shabbat (Friday night to Saturday night), the parks are filled with individual and extended families cooking over grills, eating, playing family games, talking, and just ‘hanging out.’ They start arriving about 5:00 p.m. and many stay until 10:00 p.m. No TV. No radio. Just verbal and physical interaction with all ages. Most also have a large number of children and consider each one a blessing. Somehow in the US we have become so busy with our own age groups that we hardly have time left for total family activities. I can still remember as a little boy, playing softball and having an adult drop the ball so I could be safe and keep playing instead of being out. We may have some things to learn from the Israeli people.
On Politics: After reading the various Jerusalem newspapers that are translated into English for the last few months and comparing it to politics in the United States, I have to agree with this Israeli evaluation for both countries: “When God created man, he wanted to make him perfect. He searched for the highest virtues on earth and found three: man must be wise, honest, and a politician. When Satan heard what God was planning, he hurried to him and tried to persuade him not to make man perfect so that Satan could perform the role God had intended him for. God was convinced and agreed to compromise. He gave each man only two of the highest qualities. Ever since, if a person is honest and a politician, he isn’t wise; if he is wise and a politician, he isn’t honest, and if he is both honest and wise, he isn’t a politician.” Reuven Barkat
On Indian Time: Last Monday our leader was asked to come and share his story about the upcoming Gathering at a local Messianic Fellowship. The meeting was to last two hours. After about 45 minutes of worshipful singing, our leader was given the microphone. He shared his story and the history of the Gathering and then asked Mark, our new Navajo friend, to share his story. He opened with the best explanation of Indian time I’ve ever heard and then told his story. Then one of the Moluccans shared his story. Each presentation received applause. By the time they finished, they had talked for about 2 hours. No one fell asleep or left. The audience was totally with them the entire time. There were no power points or overheads. It was just simple story telling. When they finished, the church had a time where people could come up and share with or pray for them. That lasted another half hour. Then people were dismissed and still they stayed and talked for another half hour. All in all, we were there for about 4 hours. People’s needs were met in ways we just can’t do in our one hour time slots back home. It was a rich experience. It was an example of ‘Indian Time.’ Americans consider it rude to come late to an event. Time is the issue. Natives consider it rude to leave an event before needs are met. Relationship is the issue. This Israeli congregation listened to Mark and demonstrated their understanding of Indian Time.
Stay “flexible,”
Dave
On Family: Jerusalem has lots of very beautiful parks of all different sizes. Every night, except Shabbat (Friday night to Saturday night), the parks are filled with individual and extended families cooking over grills, eating, playing family games, talking, and just ‘hanging out.’ They start arriving about 5:00 p.m. and many stay until 10:00 p.m. No TV. No radio. Just verbal and physical interaction with all ages. Most also have a large number of children and consider each one a blessing. Somehow in the US we have become so busy with our own age groups that we hardly have time left for total family activities. I can still remember as a little boy, playing softball and having an adult drop the ball so I could be safe and keep playing instead of being out. We may have some things to learn from the Israeli people.
On Politics: After reading the various Jerusalem newspapers that are translated into English for the last few months and comparing it to politics in the United States, I have to agree with this Israeli evaluation for both countries: “When God created man, he wanted to make him perfect. He searched for the highest virtues on earth and found three: man must be wise, honest, and a politician. When Satan heard what God was planning, he hurried to him and tried to persuade him not to make man perfect so that Satan could perform the role God had intended him for. God was convinced and agreed to compromise. He gave each man only two of the highest qualities. Ever since, if a person is honest and a politician, he isn’t wise; if he is wise and a politician, he isn’t honest, and if he is both honest and wise, he isn’t a politician.” Reuven Barkat
On Indian Time: Last Monday our leader was asked to come and share his story about the upcoming Gathering at a local Messianic Fellowship. The meeting was to last two hours. After about 45 minutes of worshipful singing, our leader was given the microphone. He shared his story and the history of the Gathering and then asked Mark, our new Navajo friend, to share his story. He opened with the best explanation of Indian time I’ve ever heard and then told his story. Then one of the Moluccans shared his story. Each presentation received applause. By the time they finished, they had talked for about 2 hours. No one fell asleep or left. The audience was totally with them the entire time. There were no power points or overheads. It was just simple story telling. When they finished, the church had a time where people could come up and share with or pray for them. That lasted another half hour. Then people were dismissed and still they stayed and talked for another half hour. All in all, we were there for about 4 hours. People’s needs were met in ways we just can’t do in our one hour time slots back home. It was a rich experience. It was an example of ‘Indian Time.’ Americans consider it rude to come late to an event. Time is the issue. Natives consider it rude to leave an event before needs are met. Relationship is the issue. This Israeli congregation listened to Mark and demonstrated their understanding of Indian Time.
Stay “flexible,”
Dave
September 6 - Saturday (Shabbat)
Decided this was our last chance to see the Tower of David Museum before the Gathering started, so we hiked to the Old City in the morning and spent several hours at the old fortress, enjoying the interesting portrayal of Jerusalem’s long and eventful history. It included spectacular panoramic views of the city from the citadel towers. We learned that the citadel that everyone refers to as David’s Citadel is actually a Minaret, or Muslim tower, that was mistakenly identified as part of David’s City when it was first rediscovered. David’s City is actually quite a bit farther south, but the name of the tower stuck.
In the evening we went back for the light show in the same place which was fantastic. This is a definite ‘must see’ for anyone coming to Israel. The entire history of Jerusalem is projected onto the rock walls via lights and music.
In the evening we went back for the light show in the same place which was fantastic. This is a definite ‘must see’ for anyone coming to Israel. The entire history of Jerusalem is projected onto the rock walls via lights and music.
September 5 - Friday
We did a few hours on the internet this morning and then went to help our host prepare for the Shabbat meal in the evening. There were 22 adults and 2 youngsters for the meal; 3 Aborigines from Australia, 1 Hawaiian, 1 Navajo, 5 Moluccans, 9 Israeli Jews, and 5 Americans. The mix of cultures makes for such interesting conversation. The other Americans, a young couple and their year old son, are from Seattle. Small world.
September 2-4 - Tuesday - Thursday
These days were spent working on the mailing. I did finish another small book called “The 4:8 Principle,” about focusing our thoughts on whatever is positive, based on Philippians 4:8. We also booked our train tickets from Amsterdam to Vienna. It proved to be more of a problem than I had anticipated, the details of which I will not bore you with, but thankfully our new Moluccan friends that live in the Netherlands were able to use a Dutch website to book the exact train that we wanted, for less than we would have paid otherwise. So the problem turned into a blessing. Thank you, Lord.
September 1 - Monday
While all of you were home from work on Labor Day, we were busy working on a 4000 piece mailing that will go out shortly after the World Christian Gathering. We are not complaining, we enjoy the interaction with the other volunteers.
We spent the evening at a Messianic congregational meeting where our host and two of the volunteers (a Navajo and a Moluccan) shared about the upcoming Gathering. It was an excellent presentation and it was so exciting to hear testimonies of how God is at work around the world among indigenous peoples.
We spent the evening at a Messianic congregational meeting where our host and two of the volunteers (a Navajo and a Moluccan) shared about the upcoming Gathering. It was an excellent presentation and it was so exciting to hear testimonies of how God is at work around the world among indigenous peoples.
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