real live missionaries ...?

See, I didn't consider this a mission trip at all. #1 I'm getting paid. #2 it's in the USA for crying out loud. #3, Missions is 101 ways you realize exactly how much you lack. Working as a camp counselor is one of my top ten ways to get my ego stroked. These kids have star struckedness all over their faces from the second we leaders walk in the room till the second we walk out.
However, the sunday school leader (yes the same one who needed steel-toed boots) confessed at one point in her lesson that she had asked for extra prayer. "I jest had chill-bubs (goosebumps)all over my arms when Pastor announced I'd have real live missionaries in class on Sunday. I mean, who am I to teach THEM anything?" She was referring to camp staff. We all looked at each other like, 'what?'
"Oh don't act so surprised. I mean several of ya'll are in SEMINARY, right?" Anna and I nodded, guilty of the charges, but still didn't see any need to be intimidated.

Out of a cabin of seven girls, ONE knew the story of Esther.
In my cabin of six, none knew the story of Ruth.
Most kids can't tell me the difference between the Old and New Testament. However one little boy explained it this way for me this morning:
"You know. The New Testament is in the Bible, and the Old Testament... is.. well... the other one."

When we tell the kids they must ALL participate or else in the games, at least a handful won't, just because they 'don't wanna.' We tell them their whole group will get punished and they shrug. Doesn't matter. They 'jest don't wanna.' My brain fills with long rants about how our culture has gone down the tubes into individualism and selfishness but I'll spare you at this moment.

So anyways, all that to say that while I still am getting paid and my ego stroked and don't get a stamp in my passport, I'm definately seeing huge needs here in the States. Not that I didn't before, but my brain is wrapping itself around the concept more and more. Kids don't know the difference between the Old and New TEstament. They just know there's "The Bible." HELP!

I still feel called overseas, but I also see huge needs here. So I'm praying about how God wants to use my passion for various cultures, gifts with languages, and skills in making things cross-culturally relevant alongside my burden for my own country.

One more day of camp here, then on Saturday four of us are going to run the 5K (3.1 mile) race with the town and Church. Hehe. Have never run in this kind of race before, although the pastor assures us that we can walk as well as run. Anna and I have been jogging and stretching every night since we signed up. The Pastor wants us to try and come in second place, however I hardly think three days of light jogging and stretching will do much to bring that goal into existance. :-)

~PrincessOuch~

thoughts, events, and updates

It happened again last week. Ok first off, I woke up to a flash of lightning and a humongous crash right above my head as the Kentucky thunderstorm tried to kill me and my roommates. So I dove into my roommates' bedroom to remind myself that we are all adults and not afraid of a little thunder and lightning (I HATE loud, sudden noises). I was then hit with dizziness thanks to the barometric pressure. My room mate - who is a Naga Indian - has a wonderful answer to all life's problems: Tea.
"Priskali, I'm stressed."
"Drink some tea."
"Priskali! This great thing happened!"
"Great! Let's make some tea!"
Therefore, we made some tea. Not just any tea, but Cardamom-flavored Arabic tea I bought at the Iraqi store the day before. I related to Priskali over our gas stove the adventure my other roommate, Tadong, and I had trying to find the store. I had called a friend for directions and he had given me very interesting instructions: "You go down Frankfurt avenue until you hit a small street, turn left until you hit a big street - its like a main road - you turn right on that street and go past a church on your right and then turn right onto Fourth street, keep going past a run-down gas station and its on your left tucked waaay back in a parking lot. If you get lost, call me."
IF?!?
However, we not only found it but made it out of down-town alive and now know where to buy excellent tea and overpriced Baklava if we ever so desire.
My friend from Cameroon, Africa came over later and we shared stories about snakes and best friends and our different personalities and in general spent a good time laughing over tea and a cinnamon roll she brought over.
We went outside and took pictures in the rain-washed campus and then received a text that our friend from Ukraine was now engaged.
Yay!
After helping her get dressed up for the french-restaurant her Fiance was taking her to, we went to the cafeteria to grab some food before I worked.
And that is when it happened.
Again.
Our other Ukrainian friend took a quick break from work to talk with us and we were all having a jolly girly time when three Seminary guys came over and talked with us (No, this isn't going to end in a Desperate Seminarian Scene, relax). One of the guys said,
"Wow. This table looks SO American!"
What?
"Dude," I said, "the only American at this table is me! She's from Cameroon (I pointed to my friend), she's from Ukraine (pointed to other friend), and she (pointed to girl down the table) is from Taiwan."
"And where are YOU from?" he asked, grinning.
"Well, technically from the US, but in my heart I'm probably from Romania." I answered, grinning.
"Wait, what do you mean, from your heart?"
"I mean I'm joking and have really good friends from Romania who I relate well to."
"But... you aren't Romanian?"
"No!"
"Really? Well, where are you from then?"
"Here...?"
"Wait, you are AMERICAN?!"
I looked at my African friend.
"YES!"
"Oh. You don't act like it at all!!"
"What do you mean?" I asked, thoroughly perplexed. "I mean, I WAS home schooled, maybe that's it."
"No. It's not just home schooled... you talk with a weird accent."
I beg your pardon?!
My manager walked by just then and I called,
"Hey Clint! Do I talk with a foreign accent?"
He had a, please-don't-ask-me-that-question look on his face and nodded. "You have a RACHEL accent."
heh?
My Ukrainian and Cameroonian friends and I had a two hour debate the other day that was glorious, and the whole thing originated from different cultural interpretations on what a pastor's role was in individual's lives, how much leadership we give him, how to draw the fine line between keeping peace and unity amongst the body and when does one stand up for personal convictions and 'clear' guidelines given by the Bible. The trouble is that, at Bible College, what most people think is 'clear' is actually a perfect topic for hammer-and-tongs debates as everyone has a vehement opinion on the subject, and obviously MY opinion is the ONLY correct one, and everybody knows just enough about the subject to be dangerous but not really an expert. However, it gives our noggins a work-out as we try to defend our position against endearing yet misguided friends who challenge them.
The beautiful thing about our particular debate was that I could see both of their viewpoints, so was a sort of moderator I guess. We weren't able to come to any conclusive end of our debate but did end in laughter and joking around, as well as walking away with some fun mental subjects to chew on for a while.
In other news, I went out and bought a book on whim. I kind of had a few moments of anxiety, spending a whopping $18 on myself. But it is Elisabeth Elliot's biography of Amy Carmichael, and looked wonderful and is turning out to be a book I'm pretty sure I'll read over and over again. So I guess it was worth the investment. I didn't know Amy went to Japan first, and that she never had any clear call to any particular country, she just heard clearly from the Lord, "GO YE." So she went, rather blindly, not even sure if the missionaries in Japan would take her, and trusted the Lord to take care of things from there. Which He of course did.
That has been incredibly comforting, as the last few months I have felt rather like a ship lost at sea. The missionary calling is still as firm and clear as ever to me, and I know that I want to work cross-culturally. However WHERE has all but disappeared. I honestly have no idea where to go or who to work with, what people group I'm preparing for or what particular ministry I will have. My room mate encourages me that this is a great place Spiritually to be, as it requires total dependence on God. But it frustrates me, as I don't feel that there's any goal to work for. I like having a something ahead of me that I know I'm moving towards - or at least knowing that I'm NOT moving towards it.
My friend pointed out that with all the incredibly draining events of the last two semesters, it is probably wise to simply acknowledge the fact that I'm emotionally and spiritually exhausted and just need time to rest. But this seems unacceptable for some reason. At the very least, entirely unadventurous. And at the very very least, strips me of any way to distract myself from current situations and facts that I don't like but simply must be or are.
So all that to say, I am going to the womens crisis pregnancy center tomorrow for several hours to volunteer with my friend in the benevolence closet to sort out messy rooms and put piles of donated things into order. I feel completely discouraged of trying to put abstract things in my own life in order, or really anything in order at this point. But hanging up maternity clothes and putting piles of diapers into their proper cubby seems like something I can handle at this point. Blast.
At this point I am truly
~Princess Ouch~

Sacrifice and Grammar

"A sacrifice to be real must cost, must hurt, must empty ourselves. The fruit of silence is prayer, the fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of faith is love, the fruit of love is service, the fruit of service is peace."

~Mother Teresa~

Its interesting for me, to come from a Bible College setting, where we are learning how to be missionaries, pastors, ministers of some kind or another, and spending hours and hours learning theory and techniques - and then to come here and see how it is actually lived out.

I've tried asking some of the pastors and missionaries here what they think of certain doctrinal disputes that are always debated back at college.

"Do you think this is more correct or that?"

The usual answer is,

"Vaii, you Americans have too much time to think! This high doctrine is not important. What is important is your relationship with Christ, and how you are living it out. Yes, doctrine helps. It is important to avoid heresy. But what truly matters, Rachel, is how are you living out what the Bible says? Are you spreading the Gospel? Are you loving God's people? What are you DOING with these disputes?"

Lots of different paradigms. Not only from a structured Bible College to front-line field work, but from America to Hungarian, Hungarian to Romanian, Romanian to Gypsy. And the thing is they are all different but all have their good points and all have their bad points. I learn a lot from each one, and pray that I can also be a Light for Christ in each one.

Talking with Silvana a lot about the different things one goes through as a missionary. I know of many missionaries who, when they go overseas, live more extravagently than when they live in the States because the dollar is worth more or whatever. I know of "Missionaries" who go with the mindset of changing the culture to fit theirs, to make 'their converts' to become cleaner, more educated, 'happier'. Then they go home and recieve recognition and praise for being on the field and 'sacrificing' so much.

However, what I see here is different. I see small changes in the Gypsies - one old woman started a Bible study and holds prayer for her friends and the Hagiu's. A few have started gardens or to raise chickens and care for their children better. One Gypsy lady even came over to the house when Silvana was gone to her home village to take care of some paperwork and bought groceries, cleaned the house and cooked for Nicu and the kids because she knew that they were too busy.

However, these changes are small and take a long time to sink in. And in the meanwhile, the family gets repeatedly sick from the Gypsies, who struggle with resperatory problems and other ailments due to lack of cleanliness, health education or diligence.

There is a peace and joy that comes from serving such people, but also it gets discouraging when they revert to old tribal predjudices or superstitions.

I have a few more years to make up my mind, but already the thought has been buzzing in my head; to go with a more formalized Mission Board and have the security, accountability, and care they offer - but also the regulations and restrictions. OR to step out in a more free yet 'risky' approach of missions. Not sure, still praying. Its not that one is more better than the other, because they both have huge benifits and huge drawbacks. They are just different approaches.

Anyway. I have been trying to study more diligently in the Romanian language book I bought in the States. I have officially decided that the American school system has GOT to drastically change their approach towards Grammar education!!!

Fortunately I studied some grammar, so it's not a HUUUUGE stretch for me to get the grammatical concepts the book gives, but still. VAAAAIII Capul meu!! (Oh my head!!)

I introduced Naomi to the German Futhark (old runes) and we found the Dwarfish and Elvish runes in their copy of Lord of the Rings, so while I study Romanian she studies LOTR alphabets, and she helps me with pronounciation and I help her figure out what exactly Tolkien meant. I think she has the easier job. :-) Just kidding.

Okay I'm off. Nicu and Silvana are going to Cluj to celebrate their anniversary, and Naomi and Leo and I are looking forward to having the house to ourselves. We are planning on making Chocolate Chip Cookies!!!

Please pray for Leo, because he is sick with Pnemonia, and he is on antibiotics. He doesn't feel sick, and apparently they caught it the day after he came down with it. But pray that it doesn't spread because we don't know how contagious he is/was, and the rest of us obviously don't want to get sick.

Also Silvana has had some problems with her kidneys and headaches the last few days.

Other than that, we are all doing good. The rain from over the mountains found us and the last few days have been rainy and chilly. *sigh* Mentally I'm used to extreme weather changes (it's jumped 30 degrees back and forth) since I lived on the High Plains, but physically... puh! And some allergy problems.

But I learned some words in Gypsy the other day, and I'm praying I can learn more. Although this whole 'learning two languages at once' thing is challenging. I did it before when I studied Hungarian and Romanian symultaniously, but my brain is beginning to feel like a blister. :-)

Pace Domnului cu voi. Peace of God with you!

~Princess Ouch~

Eastern Europe thoughts and pictures

The Church planting praxis that I am a part of is getting ready to start our outreach in a community that has a large Bosnian and Ukrainian population.

Since I believe God is leading me to work long-term in Eastern Europe anyway, this is pretty cool. Although we may decide to 'target' (I don't like that word) the Hispanic or Iranian people groups in that area as well. But I think we might go with the Bosnians, as there's about three times more of them than anyone else, and we know where to find them in that community.

I feel the need to post something on my blog, but am too tired to put a lot of words together that will make sense, and I have to go study for a mid-term. So I thought I would just share some cool pictures of Eastern Europe that missionaries with the IMB have taken overseas. Hope you enjoy.

Anthropological Insights for Missionaries

I am currently reading a really good book for my "Cross Cultural Evangelism" class called "Anthropological Insignts for Missionaries" by Paul G. Hiebert. Thought I would share two articles from the book I found particularly thought provoking and helpful. They are actually quotes from Missiological magazines, so that's why there's the little blurb at the end about the copyright etc.

The Viable Miossionary: Learner, Trader, Story Teller

by Donald N. Larson

As I see it, there are three roles that the missionary can develop in order to establish viability in the eyes of the national non-Christian: Learner, trader and story teller. I would first become a learner. After three months I would add another: trader. After three more months, I would add a third: story teller. After three more months, while continuing to be learner, trader and story teller, I would begin to develop other roles specified in my job description.

Let me elaborate. From his position as an outsider, the missionary must find a way to move toward the center if he hopes to influence people. Some roles will help him make this move. Others will not. His first task is to identify those which are most appropriate and effective. Then he can begin to develop ways and means of communicating his Christian experience through these roles in which he has found acceptance.

Learner

More specifically, as learner, my major emphasis is on language, the primary symbol of identification in my host community. When I try to learn it, they know that I mean business - that they are worth something to me because I make an effort to communicate on their terms. I learn a little each day and put it to use. I talk to a new person every day. I say something new every day. I gradually reach the point where I understand and am understood a little. I can learn much in three months.

I spend my mornings with a language helper (in a structured program or one that I design on my own) from which I elicit the kinds of materials that I need to talk to people in the afternoons. I show him how to drill me on these materials and then spend a good portion of the morning in practice. Then in the afternoon I go out into public places and make whatever contacts are natural with local residents, talking to them as best I can with my limited proficiency - starting the very first day. I initiate one conversation after antoher, each of which says both verbally and non-verbally, "I am a learner. Please talk with me and help me." With each conversation partner, I get a little more practice and a little more proficiency, from the first day on.

At the end of my first three months, I have established myself with potentially dozens of people and reached the point where I can make simple statements, ask and answer simple questions, find my way around, learning the meaning of new words on the spot, and most importantly, experience some measure of "at-homeness" in my adopted community. I cannot learn the "whole language'' in three months, but I can learn to initiate conversations, control them in a limited way and learn a litle more about the language from everyone whom I meet.

Trader

When my fourth month begins,
I add a role - that of trader,
trading experience and insight
with people of my adopted
community - seeing ourselves
more clearly as part of mankind,

not just members of different
communities or nations. I prepare for this role by periods of residence in as many other places as I can, or vicariously, through course work in anthropology and related fields. I also come equipped with a set of 8 x 10 photos illustrating a wide range of ways to be human.

During the second three months I spend mornings with my language helper learning to talk about the photos in my collection. thus I build on the language proficiency developed in the first month. I practice my description of these pictures and prepare myself as best I can to answer questions about them. Then in the afternoon I visit casually in the community, using the photos as part of my "show and tell" demonstration. I tell as much as I can about the way others live, how they make their livings, what they do for enjoyment, how they hurt, and how they struggle for survival and satisfaction.

At the end of this second phase, I establish myself not only as a learner but as one who is interested in other people and seeks to trade one bit of information for another. My language proficiency is still developing. I meet many people. Depending upon the size and complexity of the community, I establish myself as a well-known figure by this time. I become a bridge between the people of the local community and a larger world - at least symbolically.

Story Teller

When I begin my seventh month, I shift emphasis again to a new role. Now I become a story teller. I spend mornings with my language helper. Now it is to learn to tella very simple story to the people whom I meet and respond to their inquiries as best I can. The stories that I tell are based on the wanderings of the people of Israel, the coming of Christ, the formation of God's new people, the movement of the Church into all the world and ultimately, into this very community, and finally, my own story of my encounter with Christ and my walk as a Christian. During the mornings I develop these stories and practice them intensively. Then in the afternoon I go into the community, as I have been doing for months, but now to encounter a people as story teller. I am still language learner and trader, but I have added the role of story teller. I share as much of the story with as many people as I can each day.

At the end of this third phase, I have made acquaintances and friends. I have had countless experiences that I will never forget. I have left positive impressions as learner, trader and story teller. I am ready for another role, and another and another.

~From Missiology 6 (April 1978): 158-161~

Omodo

By Walter A. Trobisch

On one of my trips I worshipped in an African church where nobody knew me. After the service i talked to two boys who had also attended.

"How many brothers and sisters do you have?" I asked the first one.

"Three."

"Are they all from the same stomach?"

"Yes, my father is a Christian."

"How about you?" I addressed the other boy.

He hesitated. In his mind he was adding up. I knew immediately that he came from a polygamous family.

"We are nine," he finally said.

"Is your father a Christian?"

"No," was the typical answer, "he is a polygamist."

"Are you baptised?"

"Yes, and my brothers and sister too," He added proudly.

"And their mothers?"

"They are all three baptised, but only the first wife takes communion."

"Take me to your father."

The boy led me to a compound with many individual houses. It breathed an atmosphere of cleanliness, order and wealth. Each wife had her own house and her own kitchen. The father, a middle-aged, good-looking man, tall, fat and impressive, received me without embarrassment and with apparent joy. I found Omodo, as we shall call him, a well-educated person, wide awake and intelligent, with a sharp wit and a rare sense of humor. From the outset he made no apologies for being a polygamist, he was proud of it. Let me try to put down here the essential content of our conversation that day which lasted for several hours.

"Welcome to the hut of a poor sinner!" The words were accompanied by good-hearted laughter.

"It looks like a rich sinner," I retorted.

"The saints come very seldom to this place," he said, "they don't want to be contaminated with sin."

"But they are not afraid to receive your wives and children. I just met them in church."

"I know. I give everyone a coin for the collection plate. I guess I finance half of the church's budget. They are glad to take my money, but they don't want me."

I sat in thoughtful silence. After a while he continued, "I feel sorry for the pastor. By refusing to accept all the polygamous men in town as church members he has made his flock poor and they shall always be dependent upon subsidies from America. he has created a church of women whom he tells every Sunday that polygamy is wrong."

"Wasn't your wife heart-broken when you took a second one?"

Omodo looked at me almost with pity. "It was her happiest day," he said finally.

"Tell me how it happened."

"Well, one day after she had come home from the garden and had fetched wood and water, she was preparing the evening meal, while I sat in front of my house and watched her. Suddenly she turned to me and mocked me. She called me a 'poor man,' because I had only one wife. She pointed to our neighbor's wife who could care for her children while the other wife prepard the food."

"Poor man," Omodo repeated. "I can take much, but not that. I had to admit that she was right. She needed help. She had already picked out a second wife for me and they get along fine."

I glanced around the courtyard and saw a beautiful young woman, about 19 or 20, come out of one of the huts.

"It was a sacrifice for me," Omodo commented. "Her father demanded a very high bride price."

"Do you mean that the wife, who caused you to become a polygamist is the only one of your family who recieves communion?"

"Yes, she told the missionary how hard it was for her to share her love for me with another woman. According to the church my wives are considered sinless because each of them only has one husband. I, the father, am the only sinner in our family. Since the Lord's supper is not given to sinners, I am excluded from it. Do you understand that, pastor?"

I was entirely confused.

"And you see," Omodo continued, "they are all praying for me that I might be saved from sin, but they don't agree from which sin I must be saved."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, the pastor prays that I may not continue to commit the sin of polygamy. My wives pray that I may not commit the sin of divorce. I wonder whose prayers are heard first."

"So your wives are afraid that you become a Christian?"

"They are afraid that I become a church member. Let's put it that way. For me there is a difference. You see they can only have intimate relations with me as long as I do not belong to the church. In the moment I would become a Church member their mariage relations with me would become sinful."

"Wouldn't you like to become a church member?"

"Pastor, don't lead me into temptation! How can I become a church member, if it means to disobey Christ? Christ forbade divorce, but not polygamy. The church forbids polygamy but demands divorce. How can I become a church member, if I want to be a Christian? For me there is only one way, to be a Christian without the church."

"Have you ever talked to your pastor about that?"

"He does not dare to talk to me, because he knows as well as I do that some of his elders have a second wife secretely. The only difference between them and me is that I am honest and they are hypocrites."

"Did a missionary ever talk to you?"

"Yes, once. I told him that with the high divorce rate in Europe, they have only a successive form of polygamy while we have a simultaneous polygamy. That did it. He never came back."

I was speechless. Omodo accompanied me back to the village. He evidently enjoyed to be seen with a pastor.

"But tell me, why did you take a third wife?" I asked him.

"I did not take her. I inherited her from my late brother, including her children. Actually my olderbrother would have been next in line. But he is an elder. He is not allowed to sin by giving security to a widow."

I looked in his eyes. "Do you want to become a Christian?"

"I am a Christian." Omodo said without smiling.

As I walked down the path, the verse came to my mind: "You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel."

What does it mean to take responsibility as a congregation for Omodo? I am sorry that I was not able to see Omodo again, because I had met him while I was on a trip. I just report to you the essence of our conversation because it contains in a nutshell the main attitudes of polygamists toward the church. It is always healthy to see ourseves with the eyes of an outsider.

I asked myself: What would I have done if I were pastor in Omodo's town?

~From Walter A. trobisch, "Congregational Responsibility for the Christian Individual," in Readings in a Missionary Anthropology II, ed. William A. Smalley (South Pasadena: William Carey Library, 1978), pp. 223-235.~

Theological Foundations

What are the theological foundations for critical contextualization? First, it affirms the priesthood of all believers. With critical contextualization, decisions are made not by the leaders for the people, but by all of the believers.

Leaders and missionaries throughout history have often felt threatened by this approach to biblical hermeneutics. Since they believe themselves better trained, they claim for themselves the exclusive right to make theological decisions. They are afriad things might get out of hand if the laity were involved in interpreting the Bible and in applying its message to their everyday lives.

What does keep matters from going astray when all are involved in the application of Scripture to the problems of life? Does not the process open the door for wild interpretations of the Bible and Christian practices? There are three checks on such excessiveness.

First, the Bible is taken as the final and difinitive authority for Christian beliefs and practices. Everyone, therefore, must begin at the same place.

Second, the priesthood of believers assumes that all the faithful have the Holy Spirit to guide them in the understanding and application of the Scriptures to their own lives. It is all too easy for leaders to accept this belief in theory, but to shy away from it in practice. To deny young believers the right to be involved in bliblical interpretation and decision making is to deny that the same Holy Spirit we know to be within us and guiding us into the truth is also within them.

Third, there is the constant check of the Church. C. Norman Kraus (1979) points out that the contextualization of the gospel is ultimately the task not of individuals and leaders, but of the church as a "discerning community." Within that community, individuals contribute according to their gifts and abilities. The pastor and missionary have a greater knowledge of the Bible and therefore should provide the exegesis of the appropriate texts within their biblical context. The people, however, understand their own culture and problems and should play an important part in determining the hermeneutical application of the Scripture to their own lives. But they must be subject to the church as a whole.

The church is not an aggregate of individuals, each seeking his or her own interpretation of the Bible. It is to be a true community of people seeking to follow Christ and serve one another. Only then will it become what Kraus calls an "authentic Christian community," a hermeneutical community that strives to understand God's message to it and bears witness to the world of what it means to be a Christian, not only in beliefs but also in life. The church as a body is a "new order." "

~Paul G. Hiebert, Anthropological Insights for Missionaries (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 1985) pp. 191-192~

Happy Single's Awareness Day

Yeah I know. It's actually Valentine's day, but I like that nick-name better. Single's awareness day. :-) At a college that promotes matrimony and re-populating the world with conservative Southern Baptist Children like there's no tomorrow, Valentine's day is a rather interesting day. I'm a little scared to venture out of my dorm. ;-) Just kidding.
The girls on my floor have nick-named me "Lottie Moon". We've nick-named another girl Martha Stewart as she's so craft-talented and always making fun little thingy's to make people feel better. We nicknamed another girl Florence Nightengale, (sp?) as if there's any ailment - physical, emotional, mental, or otherwise - she knows what to do. Or at least she presents herself as cool calm and collected and as if she knows what to do, which a lot of times is all that's needed. Funny thing is that she complained that her character was too 'feminist' and 'out there'. We asked her what she would describe Martha and Lottie as.
Lottie is probably the most conservative out of the three, although in her time and church setting she was seen as very feminist, liberal, post-modern, and slightly heretical on a few issues. She was courting a fine gentleman who felt called to the mission field (during the 1800's I believe) but he became very interested in Evolution. She felt she could not submit herself or work on the mission field with a man who believed such 'an unbiblical doctorine.'
She ended up going to China as a single woman working as a missionary, but as she was a single woman, the man in charge of Southern Baptist missions in China restricted her ministry to simply teaching children in an already well-reached area. Frustrated, she sent a rather opinionated letter to the officials of the SBC Missions and moved herself into a more unreached interior area of China that was far more dangerous and began teaching and training others to teach.
I can't remember if she eventually resigned from the SBC or if they threatened to 'fire' her if she didn't move back to where they stationed her - orders which she refused and sent long replies of apologetics on her viewpoint to. She did not understand why if the men did not 'step up to the plate' in missions -which was often the case - why women who were willing and able to fill those needs couldn't do it. Of course the women couldn't always do it as well as the men could, and Biblically shouldn't have to of filled those needs. However the men were not responding to the call to missions and the women were.
Lottie was also passionate in her work towards raising money for missions. She spent many hours writing letters and traveling back and forth between the States asking for more workers and more money.
The Southern Baptists now have a Lottie Moon missions offering every Christmas in memory of her, and all the proceeds go towards supporting missions.
I don't know if I got all the details of Mz. Moon correct, but anyway there's my reader's digest version of Lottie Moon history.
I personally would prefer to be an Ann Judson instead of Lottie Moon, but Ann Judson isn't nearly as well known as Lottie Moon apparently, hence their first thought was to nickname me 'lottie' instead of "ann." Now if Ann spelt her name with an 'e', then we could kill two birds with one stone and I could be nick-named after BOTH Ann(e) Judson AND Anne Shirley. :-)

Anyway. Yesterday was kind of wierd. I overslept and didn't get hardly any studying done. Maitenence came unexpectedly to mess with the bunk-beds in my room-mate's and my room. She ordered lofting kits so we could experiment with rearranging our room, but apparently by "lofting kits'' they meant "Three burly men with tools and a tight schedual who had no intention spending the day playing around with different room scenario's to see where stuff would fit for the pleasure of college girls". So... that was adventuresome. Then I had to work. That was uneventful but long, although we were able to get all the closing stuff done a half-hour earlier than we usually do. (10:30 instead of 11 pm. Wootwoot!) Before we closed Florence Nightengale stopped by with her fiance and then when his back was turned, Flo asked if I could help her with assembling her fiance's valentine present. As I wasn't doing anything fun for Valentine's day I figured if I helped her my holiday spirit would feel repleat and I could then go to bed.
Well, when I got back to the dorms, she was in the middle of one of those CSI-type murder-science-psychological tv shows. I needed some down-time of just not going 90 miles per hour so watched it with her. It was interesting although I don't think I'll watch it on a regular basis.
So we then went to go assemble her valentine's present. Apparently she just really needed me to sit there and tell her the chocolate-dipped strawberries she made tasted good and looked nice the way she was arranging them. Then I helped her cut out pink hearts to put on the top of the plastic bucket. Well, the next step was to drive over to her fiance's apartment, have his one room-mate let us in quickly before their other Japanese room-mate discovered us (he doesn't like girls visiting the apartment, fiance and platonic friend or otherwise) sneak downstairs, and stick dark chocolate squares all over his bed and tape Ninja-turtle's all over the walls next to his bed - which is a bunk-bed stuck in a closet. Cool set up but you have to do gymnastics to get up into it, under the ceiling-duct, and around the fan, textbooks, and pictures of his fiance all over the place. I also watched and oohed and ahhhed as she dry-earased all over his bathroom mirror gushy valentines messages. We then heard the Japanese guy upstairs and booked it out of there, and by that time it was 12:45 am.
So I figured I had got my "college life spree'' of the month in, and can go back to being responsible and trying to get to bed by 11:30 on days I work and 10:30 on days I don't work. Not that I ever MAKE those bed-times, but I try to anyway. :-)
Okay now I have to go catch up on reading for my Ancient-Near-Eastern-History, Spiritual-Warfare, Cross-Cultural-Evangelism, and Psychology classes. And make it to a suprise party, and possibly talk to a 'friend' I've had problems with since last semester, but we'll see if all that makes it into the mix with homework.

Happy Singles Awareness/Valentines day!!

~Princess Ouch~

Religious Reformer

"The Aim, the Reproach, and the Triumph of the Religious Reformer.

1. The aim of the Religious Reformer. A Reformer is one who seeks to remove abuses which have crept into an organization or community, or one who boldly enters a field where error has held undisputed sway, and fearlessly wields amid giant powers of opposition, the weapons of truth. He aims to entirely revolutionize the minds of the community in which he labors, on that particular subject where he believes reform to be needed. A compromise between truth and error is not what he seeks, and will not satisfy him. 'The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth' is his motto. Old systems of error, however sacred on account of their antiquity, he boldly attacks. Though massive darkness has long brooded over the people, he aims to dissipate the gloom, and shed upon them brilliant rays of light. His work is a mighty one; the ond for which he labors is noble and sublime. He holds a position in advance of the community in which he resides, and the age in which he lives - hence he possesses traits of character that are peculiar, which fit him to toil and suffer for the accomplishment of his designs. 

A spirit of noble daring is his. He fears not to grapple with error, though sanctioned by age, and supported by popular favor. He scruples not, if need be, to stand alone, as the champion of truth. With undaunted intrepidy he braves the "World's dread laugh" or meets it's frown. With a  spirit of indomitable perseverance, he steadily adheres to his purpose and determinedly pursues his single object. Every obstacle thrown across his path affords a new incentive to increased activity. Every difficulty he meets, only gives new strength and inspires fresh courage. He is not to be turned aside. Having put his hand to the plough, he looks not back. 

Self sacrificing effort and benevolent labor are his. His time, talents, property, are all laid upon the alter of truth. He toils, not to achieve a name, to amass wealth, or to advance a sect. He labors for the good of others, while often he recieves only their hatred, reproach and persecution. If there is one picture on earth that reminds us, more than any other, of the meek and lowly savior, it is the spirit and conduct of the reformer, patiently suffering at the hands of those whose moral elevation he labors to effect. And here is the test by which the true and false reformer may be tried and discovered. Infidelity boasts of seeking a reform. But when did Infidelity ever inspire it's advocates with a spirit of self-denial for the good of others? Where are it's sacrifices made to benefit and elevate the human race? Did infidelity ever suffer to benefit man? Does it today go forth, as an angel of mercy, to labor, to suffer, and to bless? No, no. But the true reformer has a high purpose, a benevolent aim; he occupies holy ground, and he can suffer, unjustly suffer, to benefit his fellow-men."

~John Quincy Adams~ 

(not the president, the Baptist pastor) 

Rough draft

I have to write a biography of a 'pillar of the Southern Baptist Convention'. So I decided to write on Ann Judson, as she was an 'approved figure." Here is my rough draft of her biography. You really should do some research on her. She was a remarkable woman, not one of those obnoxious 1800's perfect ladies but rather inspiring. To my way of thinking anyway. (yeah the 1800's talk rubbed off with all that research. I needed five sources for a five page paper! YEESH!!)
So hope you enjoy:


Ann Hasseltine Judson was an incredibly remarkable woman. She was the first American woman to serve as a foreign Missionary, and the first of three wives to the well-loved missionary, Adoniram Judson. Her courage, wisdom, and unbreakable faith made her well loved and admired by all who knew her; king and peasant, neighbor or foreigner, Christian or pagan.
Ann was born in Bradford, Massachusetts, on December 22, 1789. The youngest of four daughters, the sprightly girl with bouncy curls was nick-named ‘Nancy’ grew up relishing her role as ‘the life of the party’ in her small school and quickly became a ring-leader in the youngsters’ quest for adventuresome happiness. However, as she grew older, she found herself becoming more and more discontent with her life, although she could find no reason for her unhappiness and hid it from her family and friends. She possessed an impressive intellect and quick wit, did well in school, was well-loved socially, and was living in a picturesque colonial New England home with her beloved family. However, by the time she was sixteen, a serious soul-searching was taking place in the youngest Hasseltine’s heart and mind. After much thought, journaling, and reading books the principle of her school gave her, she finally realized the meaning of a relationship with Christ and committed herself to Him. Through her devotion to her faith, Ann’s father came to Christ, and the family became members at the local Congregational church.
After Ann graduated from the small academy, she opened a few small schools in the area and began to cultivate teaching skills that would become invaluable to her later in life on the Mission field. She was entirely devoted to God and to teaching others about His ways, and so slowly the Lord opened Ms. Hasseltine’s heart to the rather sudden opportunity He would bring to her at age twenty, in the form of a young man named Adoniram.
Unlike most couples of the time, Adoniram and Ann did not have a formal time of courtship, nor did they adhere to the modest propriety of the time. One day four young men zealous for the mission field came to the little New England church and passionately spoke of the urgent need for missionaries in the Orient. They quickly captivated the attention of the church, and after the service they were invited to the Hasseltine home for dinner. The young speaker Adoniram, who had spoken so vehemently in the Church, was nearly speechless all night. Ann, who had been intrigued by the young man, was slightly confused by this behavior. She later discovered that he was struck dumb by her beauty, and was composing a love poem to her in his head all evening. After he had left, she was very surprised to receive a letter from him, asking that she forsake home, family, comfort and safety to join him on the mission field as his wife.
At first she sent him a cold reply flatly refusing him. Her friends and family were all relieved, for the situation was as preposterous as it was sudden. However, her older sister Abigail and young friend Harriet were not so convinced, and with their encouragement and much prayer Ann was able to find peace in accepting the young missionary’s proposal. On the fifth of February, Ann became Mrs. Judson, and on the eighteenth of February the young couple sailed with their friends the Newells. Mrs. Newell was none other than Ann’s friend Harriet, who had also received a proposal from the young man Samuel.
Their journey to find their ministry was not easy, as the East India Company chased them out of Calcutta. William Cary invited them to visit him in Serampore, and between discussions on the doctrine of the Baptist faith, told Adoniram and Ann about his son Felix, who lived in Rangoon, Burma. The Newells and the Judsons parted for different mission fields, and while they sailed Adoniram confessed he was troubled by issues in Scripture that the Baptist doctrine seemed to answer more accurately, rather than the Congregationalist doctrine by which the two had been raised. Ann was horrified, as the variances in doctrine did not seem to be as large an issue as did the fact that, should they ‘convert,’ Ann felt they would be deserting their family and church members who were supporting them in sacrifice, and turning traitor to their Missionary cause. “Even if you become a Baptist, I will not!” She declared vehemently. Her husband patiently guided her through his thought process and the scripture he was reading, and by the time they reached land the two were baptized into the Baptist church.
Their arrival at Felix Cary’s home was disappointing, as the young man seemed to have abandoned his missionary zeal in exchange for a governmental life. He was not as encouraging or helpful as the young couple had hoped, although he did enough to establish them firmly in Burma for their future ministry. The two began their tedious studies in language, which was made all the more difficult as their teachers did not speak English; Felix Carey usually away for business. Ann wrote that Burmese language was as tangled as ‘a bad knitter’s skein of wool’. However they made progress in their language study, and before long the two were writing tracts and beginning friendships with the local people. The ministry was slow and agonizing to begin, as the people were stubborn in their superstitions and the local officials were none too keen on the idea of peasants learning foreign ideas and leaving the old ways. The local population of Buddhist monks were especially intimidating, and often their language teacher had to ‘disappear’ from time to time to escape persecution for simply teaching them the language. However they perservered, and after a New England printer and his wife moved in, they began distributing tracts, translating and printing a Bible, and starting a family. However, their little baby Roger died before he was a year old, and after that Ann’s battle with various jungle diseases began. It became so bad at one point that a doctor declared if she did not return home for two years, she would die within a few months. Ann declared she would rather die than be separated from her husband, and her husband declared he would rather be separated from her for two years than have her die! In the end Adoniram won, and Mrs Judson became the first missionary wife on furlough.
Her time in America was far from simple rest and idleness. While there, she spoke at Churches, urged the American Baptist Union to a more organized state to better support Missions in Burma, wrote articles, a Biography and missionary work in Burma, and inspired many to pursue God’s call on their lives as missionaries. When she returned in full health two years later, she brought a young couple ready for mission work with her.
However, by that time war was breaking out between England and Burma. The Judsons were invited to the Capitol, Ava, by the king. When they arrived, however, they found themselves out of favor and in danger. The other missionaries in Rangoon were captured by the British and sent to safety, but Adoniram and his friend Dr. Price were soon thrown into a death prison with several other foreigners. Thus began Ann’s monumental task for what she is most known for – the intricate, ingenious dance she played with various Burmese court officials, governors, political powers, and most importantly, their wives. For it was through her clever charm and a healthy dose of divine intervention that she captured the heart of Burmese women married to influential men, and was thus able to save the life of not only her husband but the other men in prison. While she was thus engaged, she gave birth to a little girl named Maria. However, the heavy strain, horrible living conditions, and constant intrigue finally broke her health, and by the time Adoniram was released from prison, Ann was on death’s door. Their friend and fellow missionary, Dr. Price, was able to bring her back to health for a short time. But finally, on October 24th, 1826, she died at the age of thirty-seven. Adoniram was away with a British officer on an exploration errand she had urged him to participate in before throwing himself back into the Missionary life. She was living near to a British camp, and so was looked after by British physicians and a nurse during her last illness, but the battle was too much and in the evening went home to her beloved Jesus.
Mrs. Judson’s loyalty to her husband, vibrant faith, and heroic actions have made her an inspiration to generations of missionaries journeying to the field. Although her time was short, it was productive and fundamental to her husband’s establishment of his notorious ministry.

Bibliography:

Hartley, Cicil B. The Three Mrs. Judsons, the Celebrated Female Missionaries. Revised edition. New York United States Book Company, 1863.
Morrow, Honore Willsie. Splendor of God. Crosset and Dunlap Publishers, New York., 1929.
Tucker, Ruth A. From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya. Second Edition. Zondervan, 1983, 2004
Hubbard, Ethel Daniels. Ann of Ava. Friendship press, New York, 1941
Bailey, Faith Coxe. Adoniram Judson, America’s First Foreign Missionary. The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, 1955.