Head Covering Practice

The intricacies of culture are so much fun. (ok, yes and at times frustrating when you've just committed a cultural faux pas...)

Here are my courageous head covering professors, Yoka and Stella. They were long time missionaries in a Muslim nation and so graciously took me under their wing for "head covering lessons" last night.

I was fascinated to learn there are so many ways to do the head covering...depending on country but then also whether or not you are married!

Yoka (pictured on the right) is modeling the "married woman look" from one particular country. Apparently married women tie the knot of their scarf on top of the head. Never knew that!!

Then it was my turn.




I decided to go with another look. First I tried with a smaller lighter scarf than the one that matches my punjabi. It was much easier to tie on and it stayed on because there was less weight.

There was some debate as to whether or not my hair should show. Since I am not a Muslim it could go either way....




Wanting my outfit to "match" (oh the vanity!) I tried tying on my long red heavy scarf. It looks great in the style of India, around my neck, but a bit cumbersome on my head.

But I got it on (more or less) with the previously unknown trick of folding it tight around the bottom of my head....but it still was awkward.

Maybe when we go to our Arabic lessons this coming weekend I'll just have to suffer and not match! :)

Resting with what I know for sure

Muslims

Europe

24/7 Worship and Intercession

Mercy Minsitry to the Poor

Mobility (not staying in one place forever)

YWAM

That's what I know for sure.

Figuring out how the Lord plans to weave all of this together is an entirely different matter.

Over the years we have had many different thoughts, dreams and opinions of how all of this will walk itself out. It may happen the way we have dreamed and it may not.

Over the past 24+ hours I have gone back and re-read all of the things I had written down that I felt the Lord was saying 10 years ago. There was much prayer, fasting and talking with those closest to me back then. I needed to know what was clear at the time and what wasn't. And I compared it to what is clear right now.

And what we have landed with:

Muslims

Europe
24/7 Worship and Intercession
Mercy Minsitry to the Poor
Mobility
YWAM

That's leaves alot open ended and indicates we will be in various places over time. Not that this is an unusual thing for YWAMers.

It could mean for a bit we are with Muslims, then for a bit we are helping establish YWAM Houses of Prayer, then for a bit we teach young missionaries in a YWAM training school,m then we go on a medical outreach to Muslims...etc.

I am intrigued by the mix it could be.

And I really just want to be open to whatever God wants to do through me.

And so.....we wait for the "next step" in January.....!

The Quest for Arabic

Arabic is a pretty language to look at but trying to learn to actually read it is quite the endeavor.

I was absolutely overwhelmed at first...but now.....I'm starting to see patterns in the writing and I am noticing that it really isn't just a pretty set of squiggles and lines....

Larry and I have discovered a new fun habit in this quest for Arabic.

We have an Arabic restaurant / grocery store not far from our house. So in lieu of "going out for coffee" as we are in the habit of doing we are now "going out for tea and baklava". (ok, yes, the baklava won't kick in til after this fast).

It was an odd experience, I have to admit, being in an all Arabic environment. It was fun and.....a bit frightening.

Tacky and ignorant as it sounds I kept thinking things like "if an building gets bombed again will all these men suddenly turn and beat us up"? Or better, when we were discussing greetings in Arabic we were talking about "salaam" (meaning peace) and I started to say "Oh, yeah, like 'Shalom' in Hebrew". But I caught myself wondering if speaking Hebrew would be the wisest thing to do.

I kept thinking of Larry & my nephew and family who live in a Muslim community in Oregon and all the trouble they run into. Like the time their children came home disturbed because their young playmates (elementary school age) said they were going to kill them when they grew up.

Granted I probably am a bit paranoid but I'm just unsure of what to expect. This is a whole new world for me. Colombia was rough but at least I knew what to expect and why. Here, I'm in really unfamiliar territory.

And goodness, what must it be like to live somewhere like Saudi Arabia? How careful must one actually be??


And then there are the basic cultural questions.

There was zippo doubt in my mind that to those Muslim men I just flat out didn't exist. Every question was directed to Larry and no one even looked at me.

That didn't surprise me (not a far jump from Latin America) but I wondered what to do if I needed to interact? What if I were in there without Larry? Do you even look at men when you talk to them? Should I pass a note? (just kidding)

Being unsure I just fell back into Latin American culture and just didn't look them in the eye. I looked past them or at my own feet....

Well. At least we have a place to truly learn and practice the culture!! :)

And boy that hummus was good.........

As For Muslim Nations....Egypt??

I am so taken with this photo of the port of Alexandria, Egypt that I had to include it.

Hail to the Rabbit Trail: I do so love the sea. I love ports and I love boats. Of all kinds. I wonder if it might be part of who God created me to be, and it may come in handy one day, but it also may harken back to the fact that my paternal Grandfather named his boat Leigh when I was born....

Ok....back to the point....

Right. Muslim Nations. As the desire to work with Muslims re-emerges...well, actually it was more like bursting forth against my will....."re-emerge" is a little too gentle....

So, as work among Muslims explodes into my heart again I have been looking at maps of North Africa and wonder-praying about which country I'd like to go to first.

Egypt keeps rising to the surface.

I'm not sure what that means, yet, if anything.

But I did have a really startling dream a few weeks back in which an Egyptian woman looked at me and said "AguaFresca". I totally freaked out in the dream as AguaFresca is what Larry & I called our desire to have a 24/7 Worship & Prayer/Mercy Ministry to Muslim Nations.

One must admit...they do have a beautiful port.....

mmmmm hmmmmm

Coming to a Decision....

(photo taken in my front yard. Coneflower was a gift from Yoka last spring. It finally bloomed!)


It's been so odd, this journey of becoming!

I have referred to it many times like a butterfly coming out of its cocoon. Pecking away then finally bursting free.

Then trying to decide which direction to fly after emerging and sunning for a while.

So, I have been sitting & sunning on my flower and now it seems we finally have a decision about which way to fly.

As we have prayed, applied to bases, looked at the desires of our hearts and the call on our lives we have decided on the following.

We think we are supposed to do it all. I guess it is a buffet.

We hope to first go to Salem in January for about 6 months.............. then to Scotland in late May................ from whence we will eventually foray into the Middle East.

Granted, we still need to hear back from the bases regarding whether or not we are accepted....but Lord willing....this is what we would like to do.

Salem would afford the opportunity to get organized again before leaving the country as well as the possibility of adoption through the YWAM Adoption Ministry up there. Not to mention a few months of Arabic Study and chances to interact with those who are ministering to Muslims not far from Salem.

Then off we could go to Europe and Muslim nations where our hearts are for long term ministry.

Although I am willing to go to any Muslim nation, and then any North African nation, lately I've really had my eye on Egypt. Just FYI... :)

So. Whew. It feels really good to have some clarity of vision and direction.

I bet it feels good for everyone reading this too! :)

Peregrinatio: Scotland

Peregrini.....the Celtic "soul-farers"....ones who traveled the world.

They journeyed as the Spirit of God guided them, out of love for God and with a desire to encounter God.

I feel like, at times, I am on a internal peregrinatio.....

And I'm starting to wonder if it is not going to lead me straight to Scotland.


When Larry & I were visiting YWAM Tyler a few months back this base in Scotland came onto our radar. A Celtic Base. A Celtic Base that wants to have 24/7 Worship and forays into the Muslim world...with a heart specifically for North Africa.

At the time, I was not quite ready to consider going out of the country. As a base point, anyway. But now? Well. I can't seem to shake it off. This place holds just about everything I have ever wanted to do with my life. God, missions, Celtic isles, Muslims. Good grief.

When we felt God nudging us back into missions I have to admit I went through more than one moment of terror. I wanted to take things very slowly and weigh each option with prayer, guidance...in great diligence.

But now I cannot help but wonder if the answer is staring me in the face and I am no longer walking in diligence but fear. Fear of stepping out and being wrong. I just don't know. Fear of finding out that all the things boiling back up in me are just me and if I follow them I will find I am not in God's will.

But, what if all the things boiling back up are God's will? And I am merely allowing fear to paralyze me?

So. With that thought......

Larry and I have decided to go ahead and apply to the YWAM Base in Scotland.

We have not heard back from Tyler nor Salem at this point and wonder if there is a reason for that. Is God wanting us to apply to Scotland (is that the reason why He showed us that base while visiting Tyler?) and so we are not hearing from any other place?

Maybe so. Maybe not. But I guess there's only one way to find out. JUST TRY.

So. We are taking the situation by the head...we are mailing our applications early next week. We will wait and pray and just see.

Yes, YWAM Paisley. It's just outside of Glasgow, Scotland....for a point of reference. Here's a picture of the base:

Pretty nice I think. :)

And, indeed, there is lots on our hearts to draw us there.
The whole Celtic thing.
The desire we have to teach young missionaries about a personal life in prayer.
Muslims.
27/7 Worship & Intercession
Just on and on and on and on......


Truly I am on an interior Peregrinatio.....

Maybe soon we'll be on a external one too.....to Scotland and North Africa!

mmmmm...How DOES this work??

Larry and I, and our friends Tom and Manon, are planning to go to the Islamic Center at the beginning of August for Arabic Lessons.

We all have a desire to work with Muslims, with YWAM, and so we figured...what better way to get started? Learn Arabic, learn some of the culture, pray in the Islamic Center to Jesus, friendship evangelism. Works for me!

The only problem is that I cannot figure out how to work this head covering thing. It just won't stay on. If I even think about moving it slides right off the back of my head.

Surely there must be a simple way that is just beyond me.
Oh us funny helpless Americans who cannot do the most basic things in other cultures! I love it. Nothing like another lesson in cross-cultural humility.

Just hope I don't destroy my witness by having a sliding head covering when classes start in a few weeks.

Maybe it's time to hunt down my friends who have lived in the Muslim world and get head covering lessons! :)

Bismillah

And the THESIS begins....

Ah. Johnson Bible College. If all goes well she will become my alma mater once again. Oh please God help me survive!

Yesterday I started the final "leg" of my Master's Degree and can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I think. Let's pray it's not a train headed my way!!

So, yes. My thesis. I started it yesterday and realize what a mammoth task I have undertaken. Yet I expect it to be fun. Since my degrees are to be in NT, Missions and Christian Spirituality I have to write on something that combines all three.

I was originally thinking suffering theology but lately i have "discovered" a part of Islam that fascinates me....Sufi Muslims. These are the mystics of Islam who believe you can obtain Union with God. They focus on the love God has for them and the love they have for God. Huh. Sounds whole lot like John of the Cross!

So I have decided to write my thesis on "Union with God: The Apostle Paul, Spanish Mystics and Sufi Muslims". My intent is to see if someone well versed in Pauline "in Christ" Theology and the Spanish Mystics theology of Union with God would be able to find appropriate "cultural bridges" or "redemptive analogies" into Sufi Islam.

We'll see. Should be fun. Hopefully not too overwhelming.

And I only have until the end of November to get it all done. AAAAAAHHHHHH.

Pray for me. :)

A Buffet or a Wal-Mart Freak Out?

For those of you who have never experienced "re-entry shock" let me begin with a story...

After Larry, Jessica and I had been in South America we came back to the USA. We were all so excited about going to Wal-Mart because of the vast array of products to which we would suddenly have access. We dreamed and planned, looking forward to the moment when our ship docked and we could get to a Wal-Mart.

The moment arrived and the unexpected happened. We got to the cereal aisle and instead of being excited we were....overwhelmed. Oh my! We were used to a choice of two cereals. Three if God were desiring to bless us far and above all we could ask or imagine. But this was insane. There was an entire row of cereals. On both sides!!!

Jessica totally lost it, verging on a panic attack and I was not far behind. So I grabbed a variety pack and we bolted for the check-out.

Since, an overwhelming array of choices always reminds all of us of the "Wal-Mart Freak Out."

Today, I am mulling over this journey back into missions. We have so many choices. YWAM Tyler. YWAM Salem. YWAM Scotland. North Africa.

And who knows what else might pop up.

We could also have gone to YWAM Ozarks or YWAM Charoltte or even YWAM Orlando had those stuck a spark.

Larry thinks that God may just be giving us a choice. Or it could be a slow journey through our hearts to the place where He does want us to be. Either way it may be He is setting up a banquet before us as we come out of the dark valley of this desert season.

Maybe it's a buffet!!!

Yet I feel more like I'm in the cereal aisle of the local Wal-Mart. I was excited to arrive but suddenly there are so many options that all I want to do is grab the variety pack and flee.

It feels like a Wal-Mart freak out.

Yet, in spite of how I feel, I know that God does have a plan. He is purposefully leading us somewhere. And so I stand in the middle of the Wal-Mart cereal aisle, glance over at the cafeteria where the buffet is and decide to trust.

And wait.

And pray.

And trust some more.

And pray some more.

And wait some more if need be.

For life with God is a journey and not a destination, truly.

So, it may not be "either or" but "yes".

First Salem, then Scotland then North Africa.

Maybe it's a journey through the buffet.

And here I sit freaking out over the cereal.........

Maintaining Balance in a Thickening Plot....

As if life had not been interesting and confusing enough....








YWAM reenters
24/7 Worship & Prayer remains
North Africa reappears

And then another YWAM Base comes onto our heart and radar. This one in Scotland.

And what would be the "draw" for us?

* They want a YWAM/IHOP mix.
* They have a focus on Muslims....especially in North Africa.
* They are a Celtic Base....literally....and Celtic Christianity is something that Larry & I have studied for years.
* And...I mentioned our dream of a 24/7 Mobile Prayer/Worship/Mercy Ministry.
* And....well...years ago we considered basing out of Europe. Spain or Norway it was then. But, why not Scotland....?

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!

My heart is coming alive and open almost faster then I can keep up with it.
Larry's too.
We feel so much like we did...oh....8 or 9 years ago. And it is unfamiliar.
And it feels sort of emotionally dangerous.

I have no idea what to think exactly and I feel excited and afraid.
Excited that maybe the things we dreamed of, in some form or other, really are on God's Heart.
And afraid because I know all too well the price we paid in reputation, finances, faith, relationships and so forth the last time we dabbled in this "dream."

What is God doing? I thought all of these things were dead.

But. Just but.

And, well, I really am unsure what God is getting at right now.

So.
We pray some more.
We wait some more.
And we learn to maintain our balance in God amidst an ever shifting season.

Cheating and Fireworks... Celebrating the 4th

We decided that since we are in America that it would be the appropriate cultural thing to do to go to a Fourth of July celebration. After all, if I were in Pakistan I'd go to their celebration! :)

So.....Larry and I headed up to a spot on a hill not too far from home, along with a bunch of other Kansas Citians....to view the fireworks.

First we were delighted to experience a beautiful sunset.















Then as the sun went down it turned really cool and I had to don my sweater. Strange strange to be on the prairies in July and have to wear a sweater!!! Ah well. Such is the stuff memories are made of!














Finally the fireworks began. We had one display really close and many, many others out across the city. It was such fun to sit and enjoy the colors and noise.















However, it seemed like something was "missing". The Fourth is a day of cooking, of feasting with loved ones. So...Larry and I "cheated" on the 40 day fast and splurged on granola bars.

Ah the bliss! :)

So....yes....as Mike always says "just push delete and keep moving." :)