Across the Sea

We have moved into our new hotel and I am quite relieved (phew) b/c I chose this place site unseen and three other people were depending on me to make a good choice. It is amazing. I will upload some photos. We are in the middle of a very green area and it's very natural feeling- we have a two story room with a big gorgeous bathroom - two tvs, free wifi, etc...And it's dirt cheap. Wow.

It's been wonderful spending the last week with missionaries. Even though we were off exploring during the day when they were in their learning tracks, we got to enjoy worship, teaching and small group times with the UWM group (United World Missions). We literally hung out with people living in Khazikstan, Timbuktu, Sczechuan Province, Belgium, Costa Rica and the good 'ol US of A. I mean....Timbuktu. That's a real place, where churches are being planted, people are getting acquainted with the one True Living God and M's (that's missionaries to you and me who live in countries with freedom of religion) are sacrificing their comfort and security to be God's hands and feet on earth.

It's pretty humbling stuff. One couple in particular, the ones in Timbuktu, Nepal really struck us. He is the recipient of 6 Dove awards (the Christian Grammy's) and had a successful and promising career in Nashville in the Christian music industry. He left all that and went out on the mission field, living with and among Nepali's for whom Jesus Christ is a foreign and altogether alien concept. One guy who lives in China said that when he finally got up the nerve to answer the question "Why are you here?" with "God sent me"- he found himself faced with a lot of very curious and interested Chinese. Who is this Jesus? And why would you leave your life in America to come here?

Missions is a value that cannot be disputed or denied among believers in the Living God. But as it was pointed out in the message today- Romans 13- we need to understand what that means 'in light of the present day.' What does that mean today? Where you are. Where you live? Why is Jesus relevant to your life, right now?

I continually had the image in my mind of a tuning fork, vibrating with the harmony of God: hope, love and peace. That is what a missionary must be- a tuning fork, a lightening rod- radiating the sound and the vision of rebirth, of life out of death, of redemption and renewal. That is what you are. What I am. No matter where we live.

We're off again tonight to the Night Bazaar- a melee of sounds and sights Thailand style. We will be visiting with a young American couple in Belgium who have amazing gifts that would equip them for coffeehouse ministry in Budapest !!!;-) Of course the incredible Paul and Mandy are our partners in crime for the next two days and they will also be with us tonight...

Blessings and Love....Sawadee Ka!!! (Thank you)....

Cameron