Thursday, June 15, 2006

A little humor

HEADLINES
What would be our newspaper captions if Old Testament events happened today?

Crossing of the Red Sea:
Wetlands trampled in labor strike. Pursuing environmentalists killed.

David kills Goliath:
Hate crime kills beloved champion. Psychologist questions influence of rock.

Monday, June 12, 2006

Guess who's coming to dinner?

What an incredible evening! Bruce and Jan Benson were visiting Eugene, Oregon, for one more day when I drove down from Portland on Tuesday evening. They are the couple doing translation work that I will be supporting in Peru. My parents hosted dinner for all of us on Wednesday, and we spent several hours telling stories, sharing visions, and marveling over how God has brought us together "for such a time as this".

Sometimes when I tell people I'm moving to Peru for 2 years, I share the story in terms that any non-religious person could easily buy into. There are social justice benefits to a language development work that every person can appreciate. But after Wednesday night, I haven't been able to hold it all in! I want to share with everyone what GOD is doing! I have been excited about this idea of working with the Quechua, and the reality of it is really overwhelming. As I learn more about how I can help, and the experiences and training I will receive, it reminds me of when a friend describes meeting the man they are going to marry. That perfect timing, the perfectly aligned goals and interests, the complementing strengths.

The players in this drama number in the tens of thousands (80,000 Quechua speak just one of six languages in the area), but God has been leading us together for "such a time as this". It's humbling, scary, and exciting to be part of God's grand story, but it's the call of a lifetime!