First Letter from Asia
Linda’s….becoming GLOCAL story!
I believe one of the greatest gifts of global travel is the numerous hours available with limited distractions. The gift of time was handed to me, and I gladly accepted it! Hours in the air ---or waiting to be in the air—semi-solitude and silence—allowing intimacy with the Father as I reflected on my journey towards becoming GLOCAL. Repeatedly my mind was drawn to Ephesians 4: 20 and how much more than I’d ever imagined was about to happen! Our Father’s faithfulness and his ‘pampering’ continues to overwhelm me. …along with God’s wonderful sense of humour!
The whole idea of me being a globe-trotter is an interesting concept. I have no desire to ‘see the world’ unless the ‘world I see’ is in need of Jesus—with the exception of two life-long destination dreams: Mongolia and Inuvik! So when God has me off to someplace near the equator I can’t help but see the humour in it!
Bruce, on the other hand, is quite content with this itinerary! And, you guessed it—he likes the idea of seeing the world! (Just so you know, we are off to Zambia in May! )
So here we are in Asia! Specifically—Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam with tickets booked for Philippines. Twenty years ago God called Courtney, our daughter, to a life of ministry and mission when a high school girl reported on her mission trip to Belize. Court was about 8 years old and that evening in Moosomin, Saskatchewan our family began our GLOCAL focus. On Courtney’s 13th birthday we put her on a plane for her first eight week mission! It was a low-risk North American trip with the Young Continental Singers, but it was for 8 weeks! In a time before SKYPE , face book and email—8 weeks was a long time!
Several years later Court and I were attending Mission Fest alone that year—it was a memorable weekend for me. During the closing session Brother Andrew shared some of his Bible smuggling stories. You know the kind that are filled with heart pounding, mail biting….FEAR!! Full on—all in God stories of faith. It wasn’t long until the invitation for those who sensed God’s call to global ministry to stand. I knew my 17 year old daughter was standing. I knew that our lives, though incredibly close, would never be the same. God had given me almost 10 years to wrap my heart and mind around that thought, but now it was very close.
Brother Andrew and God weren’t finished with me yet as parents were asked to stand beside their children, but we were to stand only if we were willing to accept the responsibility of not running interference with God’s work. It was one of the hardest “stands” I have ever taken. GLOCAL was becoming deep and personal.
Since that day, Bruce and I have said good-bye to Courtney repeatedly, sometimes to places of questionable physical safety, where we have had to trust God for weeks on end, and sometimes to places where spiritual battles keep us on our knees.
Matt and Courtney’s commitment to Vietnam has brought us here. As a mom, this calling has been the hardest! The grieving process surprised me and I felt myself discussing these logistics with God intensely—and God graciously allowed one of my soul mates to journey the same path, at the same time. Debbie’s son, daughter-in-law and baby packed their bags for long term calling in Romania. Deb and I shared our tears…GLOCAL can be costly!
So that is how we ended up in Vietnam! Our Philippines story is a bit different, adding a GLOCAL touch that is extremely intentional. In 1993 our family moved to Alberta as the result of a farm foreclosure and the fact that Bruce was able to obtain work. Living in Alberta is a gift—but it is laced with a red neck consumerism thought. We began asking God where he wanted us to steward his money. “Where your treasure is there your heart will also be.” We wanted our hearts to be encompassing people—so we have invested in people locally and globally—because people matter to God. Globally God’s money is funneled through us to just under 20 countries…we never run out of things to pray about! The news is always personal!
GLOCAL choices make it possible to wrap our arms around 5 of our sponsored children in the Philippines. We will be celebrating Clint’s college graduation, visiting two Compassion projects, and the homes of our kids. THEN …we will build lifetime memories for all of us by spending a full day together at a nearby resort! GLOCAL can be so exciting!
GLOCAL is filled to the brim with God designed adventure and opportunity! Over the last 40 months—air travel has become almost comfortable! I have had the incredible privilege of spending time in three poverty stricken countries: hugging many children, running and playing in intense heat. I have looked deep into the eyes of their parents. I have listened to the hopes and dreams of a Haitian pastor, a Nicaraguan pastor and Villa Alta Gracia community leaders. And I have prayed! My heart has been broken and blessed at the same time.
As for my dream trip to Mongolia, Bruce and I sponsor 6 junior high boys there! I also have noticed that the Alliance church is in Mongolia…they way God does things, Mongolia might be in my future!
