Soto Ayam and Bapak Wally

Last night I went down to Kent with Twaan. It was good, despite the mishap of getting lost and me being really angry with Twaan’s mad back seat driving skills. He was just trying to be helpful, becuase sometimes I get stressed in traffic (in an unfamiliar, borrowed car). But it had the opposite effect. Not to mention I have just been grumpy for the last 5 days, at least.

But Kent, Kent itself was wonderful. We went to see Indo people. I met Uncle Wally for the first time. We were headed for the back door, and Uncle Wally threw open the front door, calling “Tony!” We made a hard left turn, marched up the steps and straight into the arms of the most famous missionary I know. He gave me a hug, even though we hadn’t met yet. He said he feels like he already knows me, he’s heard so much from Barb (anthony’s mom). And then we went inside to join at least thirty other people eating Soto Ayam, drinking some koolaid-punch-beverage, and sitting or standing all over the house.

This is what I love about the Indo people. We were half an hour late, and Wally ignored my apology as though it had never occurred to him. People smiled and shook my hand, people hugged me and knew who I was, and some of them were excited to meet me. There was so much food, and it was still coming off the stove. There were greetings in other languages, and kisses and lots of laughter. It was like one big happy family reunion.

Except, it wasn’t just like a reunion. It was a family coming back together, even though we didn’t know half of them and some hadn’t been seen for years. This is why I miss missionaries. Because I miss having family and feeling at home in a place I’ve never been.

 

Prayer Request

Hi all.

school is going well. I just got back from yet another awesome trip to Vancouver. This one was just for two nights, which is obviously very disappointing. I always want it to be longer. But it was still AMAZING becuause my best friend flew in to visit her brother and sister in law (Twaan was the best man in their wedding) so it’s a super small world, and it was wonderful to see her.

it’s been hard coming back. I am struggling with things at my apartment. I’m also having a hard time with God/Christianity. I just feel like I am surrounded by hypocrites (myself included). It makes me want to drop this whole faith thing and move on. I’m not going to, obviously. I still love Abba and Jesus and I think that everything the Lord does is great. But I am still incredibly frustrated by the church, and all of the failures. We have lots of holy books on the shelves of my apartment and yet, I feel like none of it has impacted us.

it is driving me NUTS.

I’ve also had some roller coaster emotional days and am having a difficult time controlling my thought life. Basically, I’m exhausted and feel all over the place emotionally. I want even my internal thought life to bring glory to God, and lately, I’m pretty sure it’s falling quite short of that.

on the sunny side of the street, Twaan and one of his roommates and I have decided to get together on a regular basis and talk about spiritual stuff. We are also going to attend Prayer and Communion every Friday monring together. I’m really excited for this. I already felt better tonight after hanging out with them once. See? It’s amazing the things that God can do in one evening. Glory be.

 

Dai Jesu achoinekwa, ndaizofara naye

oh my Lord.

our gathering is beyond words.

I think almost everyone cried.

[EDIT: if you want more on this, check out the Dai Jesu page I made.]

 

I’m still here

Yes ladies and gentlemen,

sara has not left the big CO. I am still lying here, in my own sort of purgatory, awaiting my eventual, and inevitable return to Seattle.

In other news… I’ve read some more books. Last of the Mohicans: very different from the movie, but wonderful all the same. Conneticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Cout: amusing, I found Hank irritating, until the end. When I felt superbly sorry for the poor chap. I’m now reading Fresh Encounters, and Changing the Mind of Missions. The former is interesting, the latter, um, boring. Basically, I’m rereading stuff I already know. [ah the glorious beauty of having missionary/pastor parents.] Oh, I also finished Exiles which I started while at school. Let’s talk about htat one.

You know, the first three chapters, if you read that, you’ve read the book. That’s where Frost lays out all his theory on the incarnational church. (ie: not grace chapel, for my co readers) But I enjoyed the rest of the book as well, because it got into the more practical aspects of how to apply the theory to real life. There were some chapters though, where I had a hard time agreeing with Frost. Some of that was hard stuff to hear and acknowledge. But, then I thought that so many people turned away from Jesus, after saying, “Rabbi, this is difficult teaching.” Jesus didn’t run after them to make it easier. And I don’t want to be one of those people. I’m not puting Frost on the level of God, either. But it did make me think about his more heavy practical ideas. Checking clothing companies to see where they make their merchandise, for instance. I mean, that’s just plain time consuming, and I hardly buy clothes anyway… but, it’s true. I should be concerned about child labor, so, I hsould take an interest in where Gap and Target get their clothes made. Who cares if it takes up my time? I still need to be responsible in caring for God’s creation–humanity.

And I have started attending an incarnational model church. Oh, glorious day! I am actually excited to go to church again!

so yeah. that’s about it. If you want more info about incarnational church stuff, let me know. I wrote this really long message to a friend recently, to explain what I was talking about. If you want to know more, I will give you that. Heck, if I get around to it between packing and cleaning for Kelsie coming to visit… maybe I’ll just post it so you cna know what I am talking about. Also, I am here until the 17th, so… if you want to have coffee and talk about missio/incarnational church stuff, please, lets. it’s one of my favorite topics.

 

The joys of the body

I am still wearing my head scarf as I sit here in front of this screen. It’s sort of a paradox.

We went to a Russian Orthodox Church today. I think my clothes still reek of incense. I stood for a little over 2 hours. My back aches, my shoulders feel vaguely dislocated and my feet burned by the time we left. I had no idea what was being said outside of the Lord’s Prayer that was recited in English as well as an exclamation at the end. He is Risen! I didn’t know when to cross myself or when to bow. I didn’t take communion and I didn’t kiss the crucifix. I knew no one and nothing.

I loved it.

I loved the little boy who stared at us so suspiciously with buggy eyes. I loved the way they held up the scriptures, so gilded and embellished. I loved the little girl crawling up the steps with her grandfather close behind her. I loved the way that same little girl, held by her grandmother, was crossed, had her hand kissed and hten touched an icon of a saint. I loved the way they took communion, submissive and humble. I loved the way they sang throughout the entire liturgy. I loved that all ages were together. I loved that people came in late and no one chastised, they only loved. I loved that, though they knew we were not apart of their body, they did not question us or treat us as strangers. I loved the robes, black and regal and handsome. I loved the altar boys in white with gold crosses, bowing at all times and blessing the food. I loved the garments of archpriest Alexei and the way he tugged his beard and translated at the end. I loved the respect and the awe and the reverence. I loved how it felt that stepping through the door of the cathedral was a time warp to another land, another time. I loved the pain of standing there, because there was a man leaning on his cane who never uttered a word of complaint. I loved covering my head and feeling joined to the saints of old. I loved the incense and the candles and icons and the chants and the shouts and the beauty and the joy.

and I am bursting to go to Chechnya.