Today I sent in my first assignment to ICL (Institute for Children's Literature), and boy am I relieved! It was a little (1 whole week) late, but it's in, and I'm glad.
I wrote a letter of introduction to my professor, answered some personal background questions and wrote my first short story for this course.
It's called "Unpredictalbe July" and it's sad. Why, Why, Why must I write sad stories. I just start going with my thoughts and by the end of the story I'm tearing up. Just a little.
But, if you think about it, most of our favorite stories have driven us to tears, am I right? I mean, really...If something is too unrealistically happy, it makes me want to gag.
My inspiration for this story came from a 10 year old boy we met at one of the camps we spoke at this summer. He was having a terrible time one night at the campfire. Sniffling and crying and outright refusing to talk to anyone about it, he slouched over with his Hoodie hiding his face. Somehow, later that night, Jim was able to talk to him about what was bothering him. It turned out his little brother had died in a fire a few years earlier and he was struggling with with the thought that it might be his fault. Jim spent a lot of time talking and praying with this young boy as he waded through all of his emotions.
So, as sad as it may be, it's applicable and real, and that's why I wrote about it. It may seem there is not much closure the story as well. That's mostly because I was limited to 825 words...so, let's just say - it's a good first chapter.
Unpredictable July
“But, Mommm! Can I, pleeeeaase?”
Annie closed her eyes. If she had to hear her brother whine about one more thing she would scream. Jess wouldn’t give up, though. She knew that.
“Jess,” Mom replied with a touch of frustration in her voice, “I can’t let you do that. It’s too dangerous. Your father wouldn’t…” and then she trailed off and started fiddling with the dishes like she always does when she thinks about him.
Annoyed, Annie marched out of the dimly lit kitchen and onto the porch. She stepped outside and looked towards the barn, now empty and useless. When will she stop saying things like that? It’s been almost a year now since the fire and she still talks about him. Annie wished she wouldn’t.
***********************
Jess groaned as he plopped down on his bed. The model airplane that hung handicapped on one translucent string above the bed wobbled in the air as the fan turned and squeaked and blew. He hated this time of year. School would be starting in a few weeks. Maybe he could hold out a little longer.
Ever since the fire, Jess was bound to this house. It wasn’t his fault that Dad and Nick…But, Jess couldn’t think about it anymore. He just flopped over onto his stomach and drifted into a restless sleep. The setting sun still poured light into his room, but he didn’t notice.
***********************
July was the most unpredictable month of the summer. The sky was dark with clouds one moment, then a still gray matte the next. And when the sun peeked out from behind the clouds, the heat seemed to burn your skin in an instant. The air was thick and the corn was so tall that it sounded like the ocean carrying the tide in and out, in and out as the warm Iowa winds cut through the fields. Jess and Annie had spent hours that day working on the tree house until the rain started pouring down in sheets.
“I told you.” chimed Annie as she ran, pulling her jacket over her head.
“Told me what?” Jess asked. His face contorted with confusion. He tried catching up to his big sister. The rain matted his brown hair to his head and covered his eyes.
“I told you we should have put the roof on. Now we’re soaked!” Annie picked up the pace as the rain began to fall harder and with bigger, wetter drops.
“Let’s go in the barn and wait it out.” suggested Jess.
“No way,” Annie stuck out her tongue as if she had just taken a big bite out of a peanut butter and spinach sandwich with mustard. “You know I hate that barn. Mice and spiders and all that…stuff. I’m going in the house with Mom.”
Jess stopped and glanced toward the barn, while the rain pelted down drenching his already wet clothes. The wind was picking up and blowing from every direction. Jess watched as Dad, with little Nick on his shoulders, huddled under his hooded rain jacket, directed the cows and horses into the safety of the barn. The chickens and ducks squeezed into the opening of a broken slat. Jess remembered that he was grounded for a week when he rode the lawn mower and crashed it into the barn. A small grin appeared on Jess’s face. He remembered Dad trying to squelch his laughter about the whole situation.
“Get out of the rain, Jess!” Mom called from the porch door. The thunder rumbled accompanied by flashes of lightning. She gestured at him to come in. “You’re getting soaked!”
“But…” Jess wanted to help Dad and Nick, but when he turned to the barn again, Dad was just closing the door.
Jess sighed. “Ok.” He replied reluctantly. And he sulked each step of the way until he got to the door.
“Cookies!” Jess immediately perked up as he ran to the kitchen counter.
Annie rolled her eyes, “Can’t you just be patient for once? They’re still cooling.”
Crash! Crack! Boom!
“That was close.” Mom said as she peeled the freshly baked cookies off of the baking sheet.
Annie ran into the porch and stared out the window toward the barn, then Mom followed. “Yeah,” Annie said. “I could feel it!”
Jess smuggled a cookie while Annie and Mom were distracted and joined them at the porch window.
As they watched in silence, the animals began pouring out of the barn doors. Just as they had gone in, they were filing out, but more quickly this time. Jess’s heart began to beat faster, like the pounding of the hooves on the wet ground.
“Is that smoke?” Mom asked with an edge to her voice.
“It looks like it’s coming from the barn.” observed Annie, the tension growing in hers.
“Mom…” whispered Jess. His face was still, his eyes were big. “Dad and Nick are in there.”
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Did you know...
...that today is:
Who's there?
Doctor.
Doctor, who?
Arghh, how did you know?!
(Very few of you will get that.) If you don't, click here. Very popular British Dude.
- National Father-in-Law Day
- Funky Purple Ketchup Day (est. 2001)
- Comedy Day
- National Cheesecake Day
Now, I think I'm going to celebrate by:
- Emailing my Father-in-Law.
- Buying Purple Ketchup.
- Telling a joke.
(like this one)
Who's there?
Doctor.
Doctor, who?
Arghh, how did you know?!
(Very few of you will get that.) If you don't, click here. Very popular British Dude.
- And eat Cheesecake (Does Strawberry Delight count? I just made it yesterday and it has cream cheese in it).
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
I ♥ Schnitzel
Jim and I are dog lovers. But, for now, we can't have one.
Jim and I are puppet lovers, too. And we can have one of those.
So, we opted for a Puppy Puppet. And his name is Schnitzel.
We hope Schnitzel can be used in our ministry to children someday. Already he's brought smiles to the faces of little tots....and a few looks of distrust and fear (Hey, puppets can be a little scary, if you're not used to inanimate objects becoming animate).
I've been asked if Schnitzel speaks German yet...the answer is "no." But, he'll be learning right along with us. I've also been asked if he's easy to care for...the answer is "yes." No walks, no potty-training, no feeding. Easy. (Co-worker Todd Daily also mentioned these lovely benefits of having a puppet for a pet.) I've also been warned not to eat him. Don't worry about that one. I know his name is Schnitzel, but he won't be the main course anytime soon.
So, let me introduce you to the newest and cutest and furriest member of our family. Schnitzel.
Aw...they're bonding!
Group Shot!
Schnitzel gave 'em a big wet one!
He's a very happy puppy in this picture!
He set up the camera with the self timer and didn't make it into the picture in time...we're trying to train him to be faster when it comes to those things...crazy dog.
He likes to cuddle!
He loves Jim!
And he's very playful!
Now, you have officially been introduced to Schnitzel.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Super Fast Trucks.
Jim won free tickets to the Iowa Speedway in Newton. He played his trombone for Van & Bonnie on the 4th of July (on the air...and live even...the harmony to Silent Night) so he won some Sweet Action Tickets. Well, he thought they were more Sweet Action than I did. I'm not much into racing.
We went last Sunday afternoon, and to my surprise, it was fun! I enjoyed watching #7 pretty much walk all over rest of the drivers. He started out last and after 24 laps caught up to the front and held his place the rest of the race (which was 50 laps in all). So, it was fun to see...
...but, not so much fun to hear. So, we brought ear plugs. Go #7.
Oh, and they were trucks...not cars.
No, Jim is not trying to eat that ladies head, though every evidence from the picturs says so. He's yawning because we had to wait a whole HOUR before the race actually started...
So Bored...but, cleary making it more fun w/ our dramatic, uh...drama.
I think it's super cool that you can see the reflection of the cars in Jim's sunglasses.
And I included these pictures to prove that we actually did go to a race...and I wasn't just making up this post.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Corrie ten Boom
I usually told this story on Thursday. It makes for a nice "closer" if you will, because I find it the most powerful. Every time I have told it, I have shed at least one eety, beety tear. At least one. Especially at the very end.
The events in this story are also taken from the Christian Heros: Then and Now series and some from the book "Tramp for the Lord" by Corrie ten Boom herself.
Corrie ten Boom's Example of Forgiveness
Betsie ten Boom's Example of Trusting God
Close your eyes and imagine this: Imagine that it’s a cold winter night. It’s late. You are sick in bed with the flu. You have guests staying in your house. They are in the room beside you. But, they are not just any guests. They are hiding guests. And if they are found, they will likely be killed. You have taken care of these guests for months and you have come to love them like your own family.
Imagine an intruder has barreled through the front door. Because you are so sick, you stay in bed rather than greet him. You must keep your guests a secret, because the intruder is here to find them. If they find the guests then they will be taken away and so will you. You pray hard that you and your guests will be safe.
The intruder comes up the stairs to your room. You can hear his heavy boots stomping on each step, almost as if he was trying to scare you. The intruder is now at your bedroom door, screaming for you to get out of bed. “Don’t come too close” you say weakly, “I am sick” and you cough. You cough louder to keep him away from you. You cannot move quickly, as he demands. But you finally get out of bed. You try to put on your shoes, but the intruder pushes you out of the room before you can even tie them. Your muscles ache and your head is swimming.
The intruder yells “WHERE ARE YOU HIDING THEM!!??” You cannot tell, so you keep silent, and try not to look in the direction of the secret room.
You reach the bottom of the stairs and find your family with more strange men. The intruder was not alone. There were more. One intruder said to the other “She’s the ring leader” and he points to you. “She knows where they are hiding. Take her to the back room and see what she knows.”
You are forced to another room where you are thrown against the wall and then onto a bench. “Tell me where you are hiding them!?” He demanded.
You pray to yourself that you will not make a mistake and then you hear and loud smack and feel a sting on your cheek. The intruder has struck you on the face and pushes you closer into the wall. More questions, more silence, more striking. You can feel your lip swollen from being hit on the mouth. You pray aloud, “Jesus, help me!”
The intruder stops and stares at you. “NEVER, EVER say that name in front of me again!”
You can hear the other intruders upstairs knocking out walls and destroying furniture. They are trying to find your guests. You pray again that God would protect them and keep them hidden as you are forced out of your home into the unknown.
Open your eyes.
As you were imagining all of that happening to you, did you feel scared? Did you feel like telling the secret and giving up, so that maybe the intruder would stop hitting you? Maybe you felt brave because you were protecting your friends. Maybe you were wondering what would happen to your friends if they were found? Maybe you were wondering what you happen to you and your family when you were forced out of your home?
Those feelings, thoughts, prayers and questions are all things Corrie ten Boom experienced the night the Beje, what her home in Holland was called, was raided by the German Nazi soldiers. The Jews were the people that she was helping to hide and if they were found, they would have been sent to a work camp, called a concentration camp, where they would work until they died. Some of them were killed even before they got to the concentration camp if they weren’t healthy or strong enough to work.
It was WWII and Germany was trying to take over several countries by invading them with war planes and bombs and troops. They were trying to become the strongest nation in the world. Hitler, who was the Chancellor/President of Germany promised the country that they would have a lot of jobs and food so that they would follow him.
Hitler had a group of Nazi soldiers called the “SS” and they carried out some of the most terrible crimes against anyone that was not Aryan (light skin, blue eyes, blonde hair & tall). Hitler believed that the Aryan race was superior/more important and that getting rid of anyone who was not Aryan would make him and the country he led more powerful. And the Jews were the most hunted.
Holland, where Corrie lived, is a neighboring country of Germany and the German soldiers easily took over the country of Holland. They were soon overwhelmed by bombings and raids.
Corrie and her sister Betsie were in bed asleep when they heard the first bombs screaming down from the planes in the sky, not far from the Beje. Corrie woke up to the sound of bombs colliding with buildings. She rushed to Betsie’s room and they both went downstairs to watch from the window.
Betsie said to Corrie, “Let’s pray.” So, Corrie prayed. She prayed for her family, their safety, the safety of the other people who may be getting hurt or killed by the bombs. She also prayed for wisdom for the leaders of Holland.
When she was done, she waited for Betsie to pray. Betsie began “God, we bring before You the German pilots up in those planes dropping bombs on us right now. We pray their eyes will be opened to the evil ways of Hitler. God bless them, and let them know You are with them always.”
Corrie opened her eyes. How could her sister pray such a ridiculous prayer? She didn’t even say “Amen” to it.
Corrie and her family owned a clock shop, where they repaird broken watches and clocks. During the German Occupation (the time the Germans were in Holland), their business was booming! Many of the German soldiers would come into the shop looking for souveniers to send back home to their families. Even though the business was doing well, there were other things that were not. Since the Germans were now occupying Holland, there were rules. There was a curfew. People had to be in their homes by 10 pm. Also, any type of group meeting was forbidden. Corrie had started what was called the Triangle Club, where she would teach Dutch children and teenagers about the Bible. They were no longer able to meet. Also, everyone was given ration cards. These cards gave you permission to get a limited amount of food from the grocery store. Even radios were banned. No one was allowed to listen to or own a radio.
Corrie and her family had 2 radios in the home. A great big one and a smaller, more modern one. Corrie would have handed them both over to the Dutch police if her nephew, Peter had not spoken up.
“But, Tante Corrie!” Peter said, “You don’t have to get rid of them both. I’m sure there are a hundred places in this old house where you can hide it.”
And there were. Peter found a place beneath the floorboard of a step where it fit nice and snug. It was located right next to the piano, too. So, when they wanted to listen to the news of the war, they could play the piano to mask the sound of the radio. It was important to know what was said on the news about the war. The Germans only put out newspapers that said how wonderful it was to be a part of this new Aryan Empire. Without a radio, no one would know the truth.
Soon, guests were arriving at Corrie’s doorstep. Many of these guests were Jews or people who worked in what was called “The Underground,” A secret organization that was opposing the war and trying to help the Jews escape. The Jews that came to Corries house needed a safe place to hide. And like Peter found a place for the radio, so Corrie and a nameless Arcitect found a place to hide the Jews in case the Beje was raided.
Corrie, Betsie and their father did everything they could to help the Jews. They secretly got more ration cards because the German soldiers were keeping more and more food away from them. They were also holding secret meetings were they would talk about the Bible and pray for their country and family members who have already been taken to concentration camps.
One day, a man came to Corries house. She didn’t recognize him and he didn’t use any of the secret words to show that he was part of the underground. But he seemed like he was in need so she listened to his story. He told her that he and his wife were hiding a Jewish Girl and that their home was raided by the German police. They arrested his wife and he heard from the underground that the police were easy to bribe and if he had the money, he could free her.
Corrie wasn’t sure she could trust him, but she put herself in his shoes. If she needed help, she would hope someone would do so, so she agreed to help him and told him to come back for the money after 5 pm. He never came back, but the German police did.
That was the night the Beje was raided. There were about 8 Jews and they hid in the secret room while Corrie, Betsie and her father were taken to a prison cell where Corrie was kept in a small cell with little to eat or drink. While at the prison, Corrie received a letter that informed her of her fathers death. The letter was from a relative. It seemed odd to Corrie that the letter inside the envelope was written very carefully and straight, but the address on the front of the envelope was written at a deep slant, pointing toward the stamp. Corrie remembered that as a way she and The Underground would often send secret messages. So, she lifted up the stamp and found written in tiny letters that "The Clocks at the Beje are safe." Corrie cried with joy. The code she read meant that the Jews she and her family hid had escaped from the Beje safely and were alright. Corrie did grieve for her father's death, but she knew that he was willing to die and did so gladly so that their Jewish friends might be safe. Later that summer, Corrie and Betsie were taken to a concentration camp.
While they were at this camp, they were forced to do labor so difficult it made them weak, sick and tired. They didn’t have meals that would keep them strong. If they ate, it was a cup of bad coffee and a piece of bread. They had to sleep in crowded bunks with hundreds of other women who barely fit into the room. Corrie and Betsies contant companion was the Bible that they shared. They were not allowed to have a Bible in the camp, and if they were caught with it, they would probably be shot by one of the guards.
When they entered the camp, Corrie put the Bible on a string around her neck and tucked it into her uniform dress, which was a thin white piece of worn cotton. The guards were searching each woman as she walked into the camp. Corrie prayed that God would help her to somehow get through the line and not be searched. When she reached the front of the line, the guard reached right passed her and searched the woman behind her. She was never even searched.
Because she had her Bible with her, she and Betsie would read verses outloud to the other women in their barracks. Hundreds of women would gather around to hear the hope that was offered by God’s word. It was amazing that they never got caught. Their bunks were infested with lice and none of the guards would come near the door. God used lice to protect Corrie and Betsie!
One night, while they were lying on their bunk, Betsie, who was very sick whispered to Corrie, “I need to tell you something…”
“What is it?” asked Corrie.
“I think I know what God wants us to do when we get out of here.”
Corrie was baffled. How could someone be thinking about the future when there hardly seemed to be one. Betsie amazed Corrie.
Betsie continued. “After the war, we must give the Germans that which they now try to take away from us: our love for Jesus.”
Corrie was again, surprised by her sister, “You mean, if we live, we’ll have to come back to Germany?”
Betsie put her arm around her sister, “Oh, Corrie,” she said, “There is so much bitterness and anger and hatred. We must tell them that God can fill their hearts with love and forgiveness.”
Corrie shuddered. Go back to Germany? Could she really do that?
Betsy continued, “This concentration camp has been used to destroy many lives and there are many other camps like it in Germany. After the war, they will not have use for them anymore and I have prayed that the Lord would give us one in Germany, that we can use to build up lives again.”
Corrie thought to herself, “No, I will return to my peaceful job as a watchmaker in Holland. I will never again set my foot across the border.”
But, Betsie went on, as if she answered Corrie’s thoughts. “The Germans are the most wounded people in the world right now. Think of the young girl guard who swore in such filthy language yesterday. She is just 17 or 18, but did you see how she was beating that poor old woman with a whip? What a job there is to do after the war.”
Amazed again by her sister’s trust in God, Corrie thought, “Only God could see in such circumstances the possibility for ministry in the future – ministry to those who even now were preparing to kill us. Most of all, in a concentration camp, to see an opportunity to bless and build up the lives of our enemies.”
Then, she asked aloud, “Do we have to live with them in Germany?”
“For awhile,” Betsie answered, “Then we will go all over the world to bring the gospel to our friends as well as our enemies.”
“All over the world?” Corrie asked, “But that will take so much money!”
“God will provide.” said Betsie. “Our father owns a cattle on a thousand hills. If we need money, all we have to do is ask him to sell a couple of cows.”
Corrie was beginning to understand. “What a privilege…to travel the world and be used by God.”
But, Betsie was asleep by then. 3 days later, she died.
Corrie did just what Betsie had dreamed. She did go back to Germany after the war ended and she was able to use an old concentration camp as a place for Germans who were affected by the war. She shared Christ’s love with them through her ministry, but she specifically showed them the forgiveness that only God could offer.
At one of her speaking engagements, Corrie spoke on forgiveness. One of the men in the audience came up to her after she was done speaking. Corrie recognized him as one of the guards from the concentration camp, who had taunted, mocked and even physically hurt Corrie. Corrie became nervous as he approached.
He said to her, “A fine message! How good it is to know that, as you say, all our sins can be forgiven!”
He must not have recognized her, but then he went on.
“You mentioned Ravensbruck in your talk. I was a guard there.”
No, she was sure he didn’t recognize her.
He continued to talk to her “But, since that time, I have become a Christian. I know God has forgiven me for the cruel things I did there, but I would like to hear it from your lips as well.” He did recognizer her. He reached his hand out. “Will you forgive me?”
It wasn’t long that Corrie stood there, without reaching out to shake his hand, but it seemed like hours. It was the most difficult thing she ever had to do. And she had to do it. It wasn’t just a commandment to God to love and forgive even your enemies, but it was a daily experience in her ministry to the Germans at the former concentration camp. Finally, she reached out her hand to his and said, “I forgive you, brother. With all my heart.”
The events in this story are also taken from the Christian Heros: Then and Now series and some from the book "Tramp for the Lord" by Corrie ten Boom herself.
Corrie ten Boom's Example of Forgiveness
Betsie ten Boom's Example of Trusting God
Close your eyes and imagine this: Imagine that it’s a cold winter night. It’s late. You are sick in bed with the flu. You have guests staying in your house. They are in the room beside you. But, they are not just any guests. They are hiding guests. And if they are found, they will likely be killed. You have taken care of these guests for months and you have come to love them like your own family.
Imagine an intruder has barreled through the front door. Because you are so sick, you stay in bed rather than greet him. You must keep your guests a secret, because the intruder is here to find them. If they find the guests then they will be taken away and so will you. You pray hard that you and your guests will be safe.
The intruder comes up the stairs to your room. You can hear his heavy boots stomping on each step, almost as if he was trying to scare you. The intruder is now at your bedroom door, screaming for you to get out of bed. “Don’t come too close” you say weakly, “I am sick” and you cough. You cough louder to keep him away from you. You cannot move quickly, as he demands. But you finally get out of bed. You try to put on your shoes, but the intruder pushes you out of the room before you can even tie them. Your muscles ache and your head is swimming.
The intruder yells “WHERE ARE YOU HIDING THEM!!??” You cannot tell, so you keep silent, and try not to look in the direction of the secret room.
You reach the bottom of the stairs and find your family with more strange men. The intruder was not alone. There were more. One intruder said to the other “She’s the ring leader” and he points to you. “She knows where they are hiding. Take her to the back room and see what she knows.”
You are forced to another room where you are thrown against the wall and then onto a bench. “Tell me where you are hiding them!?” He demanded.
You pray to yourself that you will not make a mistake and then you hear and loud smack and feel a sting on your cheek. The intruder has struck you on the face and pushes you closer into the wall. More questions, more silence, more striking. You can feel your lip swollen from being hit on the mouth. You pray aloud, “Jesus, help me!”
The intruder stops and stares at you. “NEVER, EVER say that name in front of me again!”
You can hear the other intruders upstairs knocking out walls and destroying furniture. They are trying to find your guests. You pray again that God would protect them and keep them hidden as you are forced out of your home into the unknown.
Open your eyes.
As you were imagining all of that happening to you, did you feel scared? Did you feel like telling the secret and giving up, so that maybe the intruder would stop hitting you? Maybe you felt brave because you were protecting your friends. Maybe you were wondering what would happen to your friends if they were found? Maybe you were wondering what you happen to you and your family when you were forced out of your home?
Those feelings, thoughts, prayers and questions are all things Corrie ten Boom experienced the night the Beje, what her home in Holland was called, was raided by the German Nazi soldiers. The Jews were the people that she was helping to hide and if they were found, they would have been sent to a work camp, called a concentration camp, where they would work until they died. Some of them were killed even before they got to the concentration camp if they weren’t healthy or strong enough to work.
It was WWII and Germany was trying to take over several countries by invading them with war planes and bombs and troops. They were trying to become the strongest nation in the world. Hitler, who was the Chancellor/President of Germany promised the country that they would have a lot of jobs and food so that they would follow him.
Hitler had a group of Nazi soldiers called the “SS” and they carried out some of the most terrible crimes against anyone that was not Aryan (light skin, blue eyes, blonde hair & tall). Hitler believed that the Aryan race was superior/more important and that getting rid of anyone who was not Aryan would make him and the country he led more powerful. And the Jews were the most hunted.
Holland, where Corrie lived, is a neighboring country of Germany and the German soldiers easily took over the country of Holland. They were soon overwhelmed by bombings and raids.
Corrie and her sister Betsie were in bed asleep when they heard the first bombs screaming down from the planes in the sky, not far from the Beje. Corrie woke up to the sound of bombs colliding with buildings. She rushed to Betsie’s room and they both went downstairs to watch from the window.
Betsie said to Corrie, “Let’s pray.” So, Corrie prayed. She prayed for her family, their safety, the safety of the other people who may be getting hurt or killed by the bombs. She also prayed for wisdom for the leaders of Holland.
When she was done, she waited for Betsie to pray. Betsie began “God, we bring before You the German pilots up in those planes dropping bombs on us right now. We pray their eyes will be opened to the evil ways of Hitler. God bless them, and let them know You are with them always.”
Corrie opened her eyes. How could her sister pray such a ridiculous prayer? She didn’t even say “Amen” to it.
Corrie and her family owned a clock shop, where they repaird broken watches and clocks. During the German Occupation (the time the Germans were in Holland), their business was booming! Many of the German soldiers would come into the shop looking for souveniers to send back home to their families. Even though the business was doing well, there were other things that were not. Since the Germans were now occupying Holland, there were rules. There was a curfew. People had to be in their homes by 10 pm. Also, any type of group meeting was forbidden. Corrie had started what was called the Triangle Club, where she would teach Dutch children and teenagers about the Bible. They were no longer able to meet. Also, everyone was given ration cards. These cards gave you permission to get a limited amount of food from the grocery store. Even radios were banned. No one was allowed to listen to or own a radio.
Corrie and her family had 2 radios in the home. A great big one and a smaller, more modern one. Corrie would have handed them both over to the Dutch police if her nephew, Peter had not spoken up.
“But, Tante Corrie!” Peter said, “You don’t have to get rid of them both. I’m sure there are a hundred places in this old house where you can hide it.”
And there were. Peter found a place beneath the floorboard of a step where it fit nice and snug. It was located right next to the piano, too. So, when they wanted to listen to the news of the war, they could play the piano to mask the sound of the radio. It was important to know what was said on the news about the war. The Germans only put out newspapers that said how wonderful it was to be a part of this new Aryan Empire. Without a radio, no one would know the truth.
Soon, guests were arriving at Corrie’s doorstep. Many of these guests were Jews or people who worked in what was called “The Underground,” A secret organization that was opposing the war and trying to help the Jews escape. The Jews that came to Corries house needed a safe place to hide. And like Peter found a place for the radio, so Corrie and a nameless Arcitect found a place to hide the Jews in case the Beje was raided.
Corrie, Betsie and their father did everything they could to help the Jews. They secretly got more ration cards because the German soldiers were keeping more and more food away from them. They were also holding secret meetings were they would talk about the Bible and pray for their country and family members who have already been taken to concentration camps.
One day, a man came to Corries house. She didn’t recognize him and he didn’t use any of the secret words to show that he was part of the underground. But he seemed like he was in need so she listened to his story. He told her that he and his wife were hiding a Jewish Girl and that their home was raided by the German police. They arrested his wife and he heard from the underground that the police were easy to bribe and if he had the money, he could free her.
Corrie wasn’t sure she could trust him, but she put herself in his shoes. If she needed help, she would hope someone would do so, so she agreed to help him and told him to come back for the money after 5 pm. He never came back, but the German police did.
That was the night the Beje was raided. There were about 8 Jews and they hid in the secret room while Corrie, Betsie and her father were taken to a prison cell where Corrie was kept in a small cell with little to eat or drink. While at the prison, Corrie received a letter that informed her of her fathers death. The letter was from a relative. It seemed odd to Corrie that the letter inside the envelope was written very carefully and straight, but the address on the front of the envelope was written at a deep slant, pointing toward the stamp. Corrie remembered that as a way she and The Underground would often send secret messages. So, she lifted up the stamp and found written in tiny letters that "The Clocks at the Beje are safe." Corrie cried with joy. The code she read meant that the Jews she and her family hid had escaped from the Beje safely and were alright. Corrie did grieve for her father's death, but she knew that he was willing to die and did so gladly so that their Jewish friends might be safe. Later that summer, Corrie and Betsie were taken to a concentration camp.
While they were at this camp, they were forced to do labor so difficult it made them weak, sick and tired. They didn’t have meals that would keep them strong. If they ate, it was a cup of bad coffee and a piece of bread. They had to sleep in crowded bunks with hundreds of other women who barely fit into the room. Corrie and Betsies contant companion was the Bible that they shared. They were not allowed to have a Bible in the camp, and if they were caught with it, they would probably be shot by one of the guards.
When they entered the camp, Corrie put the Bible on a string around her neck and tucked it into her uniform dress, which was a thin white piece of worn cotton. The guards were searching each woman as she walked into the camp. Corrie prayed that God would help her to somehow get through the line and not be searched. When she reached the front of the line, the guard reached right passed her and searched the woman behind her. She was never even searched.
Because she had her Bible with her, she and Betsie would read verses outloud to the other women in their barracks. Hundreds of women would gather around to hear the hope that was offered by God’s word. It was amazing that they never got caught. Their bunks were infested with lice and none of the guards would come near the door. God used lice to protect Corrie and Betsie!
One night, while they were lying on their bunk, Betsie, who was very sick whispered to Corrie, “I need to tell you something…”
“What is it?” asked Corrie.
“I think I know what God wants us to do when we get out of here.”
Corrie was baffled. How could someone be thinking about the future when there hardly seemed to be one. Betsie amazed Corrie.
Betsie continued. “After the war, we must give the Germans that which they now try to take away from us: our love for Jesus.”
Corrie was again, surprised by her sister, “You mean, if we live, we’ll have to come back to Germany?”
Betsie put her arm around her sister, “Oh, Corrie,” she said, “There is so much bitterness and anger and hatred. We must tell them that God can fill their hearts with love and forgiveness.”
Corrie shuddered. Go back to Germany? Could she really do that?
Betsy continued, “This concentration camp has been used to destroy many lives and there are many other camps like it in Germany. After the war, they will not have use for them anymore and I have prayed that the Lord would give us one in Germany, that we can use to build up lives again.”
Corrie thought to herself, “No, I will return to my peaceful job as a watchmaker in Holland. I will never again set my foot across the border.”
But, Betsie went on, as if she answered Corrie’s thoughts. “The Germans are the most wounded people in the world right now. Think of the young girl guard who swore in such filthy language yesterday. She is just 17 or 18, but did you see how she was beating that poor old woman with a whip? What a job there is to do after the war.”
Amazed again by her sister’s trust in God, Corrie thought, “Only God could see in such circumstances the possibility for ministry in the future – ministry to those who even now were preparing to kill us. Most of all, in a concentration camp, to see an opportunity to bless and build up the lives of our enemies.”
Then, she asked aloud, “Do we have to live with them in Germany?”
“For awhile,” Betsie answered, “Then we will go all over the world to bring the gospel to our friends as well as our enemies.”
“All over the world?” Corrie asked, “But that will take so much money!”
“God will provide.” said Betsie. “Our father owns a cattle on a thousand hills. If we need money, all we have to do is ask him to sell a couple of cows.”
Corrie was beginning to understand. “What a privilege…to travel the world and be used by God.”
But, Betsie was asleep by then. 3 days later, she died.
Corrie did just what Betsie had dreamed. She did go back to Germany after the war ended and she was able to use an old concentration camp as a place for Germans who were affected by the war. She shared Christ’s love with them through her ministry, but she specifically showed them the forgiveness that only God could offer.
At one of her speaking engagements, Corrie spoke on forgiveness. One of the men in the audience came up to her after she was done speaking. Corrie recognized him as one of the guards from the concentration camp, who had taunted, mocked and even physically hurt Corrie. Corrie became nervous as he approached.
He said to her, “A fine message! How good it is to know that, as you say, all our sins can be forgiven!”
He must not have recognized her, but then he went on.
“You mentioned Ravensbruck in your talk. I was a guard there.”
No, she was sure he didn’t recognize her.
He continued to talk to her “But, since that time, I have become a Christian. I know God has forgiven me for the cruel things I did there, but I would like to hear it from your lips as well.” He did recognizer her. He reached his hand out. “Will you forgive me?”
It wasn’t long that Corrie stood there, without reaching out to shake his hand, but it seemed like hours. It was the most difficult thing she ever had to do. And she had to do it. It wasn’t just a commandment to God to love and forgive even your enemies, but it was a daily experience in her ministry to the Germans at the former concentration camp. Finally, she reached out her hand to his and said, “I forgive you, brother. With all my heart.”
Friday, July 11, 2008
I ♥ U & Kisses, too.
Mail Call comes twice a day at Whispering Cedars Baptist Camp. After lunch and after dinner.
The tradition goes like this: You get three pieces of mail, you kiss "The Dirty Bird."
Being the devious and romantic wife that I am (yes, you can be both at once) I decided to give Jim the Whispering Cedars Mail Call experience of his lifetime and send him three pieces of mail.
A big "I"
A big "♥"
and
A big "U."
The tradition goes like this: You get three pieces of mail, you kiss "The Dirty Bird."
Meet "The Dirty Bird."
Being the devious and romantic wife that I am (yes, you can be both at once) I decided to give Jim the Whispering Cedars Mail Call experience of his lifetime and send him three pieces of mail.
A big "I"
A big "♥"
and
A big "U."
(That's Pastor Hayes from Grand Island, NE on the right.)
Then, of course, Jim had the wonderful privilege of kissing The Dirty Bird.
As the kids were chanting "Kiss - The -Dirty - Bird!" Jim puckered up and "SMACK." I made him hold the pose long enough for the picture below. What a sport.
And again for this one...
Jimster, I really do ♥ you!
Jim The One-Hit Wonder
We had a contest at the beinning of the week. It was called a Nail-Driving contest and we had to see how fast we could drive a nail. I thought I did pretty ok with 5 seconds. Then, Jim womped on me with a one-hitter. Yeah. He drove the nail in with one swing. The funny part is that he was using Michael Lewis' hammer and he showed Michael up, too. Poor guy...got showed up with his own hammer. Being that I know next to nothing about hammers, I'd say Michael's hammer was pretty sweet. It was magnetic on the top so you didn't have to hold the nail and then bust your hand with the hammer. So, in case you're asking yourself what the point of this post is. Basically, it's to brag on Jim. Jim the One-Hit Wonder. (Oh, and for you Crestonites out there who might be reading, that's Amanda Carr in the red.)
We Were Camels
Night before last Jim and I joined the cabin leaders for the Cabin Leader Hunt...the game where the cabin leaders hide and the campers try to find them. It's a fun one.
Well, we were worth a super lot of points so we hid in a super good hiding spot. In the end, I did get found out, but Jim didn't.
Anyhoo.
Sweet 5 year old Alyssa was quite excited about the whole event. She said, "The Cabin Leaders are going to be camels!"
"Really?" I asked "How's that?"
"They are going to dress so no one can see them!"
Ahh, yes. Camo.
I've never been a Camel before, so I was up to it.
Well, we were worth a super lot of points so we hid in a super good hiding spot. In the end, I did get found out, but Jim didn't.
Anyhoo.
Sweet 5 year old Alyssa was quite excited about the whole event. She said, "The Cabin Leaders are going to be camels!"
"Really?" I asked "How's that?"
"They are going to dress so no one can see them!"
Ahh, yes. Camo.
I've never been a Camel before, so I was up to it.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Amy Carmichael
This is one of my FAVORITE missionary stories! I also gleaned much of this from the Christian Heroes: Then and Now series. Good stuff!
Amy Carmichael's family owned a flour mill. They were a wealthy family and, unlike children whose families did not have very much money, Amy spent her growing up years at a boarding school for girls where she learned not only reading and writing, but art and music as well.
I know what I will do,
I’ll build a great big lovely place
For little girls like you.
They only expected to help her to the nearest building, but she pointed them further along to an alley about ½ a mile down the road. Amy and her brothers shrugged and kept walking with the old woman. Soon, though people from church began to pass the
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
The Duck Walk
I never knew there was such a thing officially called "The Duck Walk."
Well, I learned about it last night during the chapel service when Jim actually DID it during his message.
Jim did The Duck Walk and I have it on video.
Sweet.
I wish I could get the video to post. If I do, it's not all of it. I didn't get the bright idea to record it until part-way through. And I think it's going to be sideways, too - Go me, I'm a terrible videographer...if any of my readers can advise me on how to make it right, let me know. Nonetheless, be challenged by the Word...and learn The Duck Walk, if you feel so inclined. Hopefully, soon I can get the video up so you can get a one-on-one Duck Walk lesson from the pro (my Hubby) himself.
Well, I learned about it last night during the chapel service when Jim actually DID it during his message.
Jim did The Duck Walk and I have it on video.
Sweet.
I wish I could get the video to post. If I do, it's not all of it. I didn't get the bright idea to record it until part-way through. And I think it's going to be sideways, too - Go me, I'm a terrible videographer...if any of my readers can advise me on how to make it right, let me know. Nonetheless, be challenged by the Word...and learn The Duck Walk, if you feel so inclined. Hopefully, soon I can get the video up so you can get a one-on-one Duck Walk lesson from the pro (my Hubby) himself.
Jim Made a Funny
We were at Pizza Hut ordering their new P'zone, which is by the way, a 4 on a scale of 1-10. The guy at the cash register rings up the bill and says, "$6.47. Is that ok?"
Jim casually replies, "If it's not, will you make it less?"
I completely cracked up, pretty much right there in the store, in front of other customers and the cashier dude. How hilarious...and a very appropriate response to his question. "Is it o.k. if I charge you x-amount?" Haha!
I thought the cashier guy would laugh with me...he did. A little. But mostly he blushed. Poor guy, I guess it's a habit to ask if the price is o.k. And it's a good question to ask. It's letting us know that if they made a mistake with the bill, we can let him know. It's a totally fine question to ask. It was Jim that made the funny.
Jim casually replies, "If it's not, will you make it less?"
I completely cracked up, pretty much right there in the store, in front of other customers and the cashier dude. How hilarious...and a very appropriate response to his question. "Is it o.k. if I charge you x-amount?" Haha!
I thought the cashier guy would laugh with me...he did. A little. But mostly he blushed. Poor guy, I guess it's a habit to ask if the price is o.k. And it's a good question to ask. It's letting us know that if they made a mistake with the bill, we can let him know. It's a totally fine question to ask. It was Jim that made the funny.
Missionary Stories - Mary Slessor
Story-Telling:
It was peachy. I accidently said "customer" when I meant to say "customs." I don't think the kids got it. One or two counselors smiled.
At the end, two Jr. boys showed me the lines upon lines of notes they took. Go them!
How about I share the story with you...
I read the Christian Heroes: Then and Now Series to get all my info, then I jotted it all down in a condensed form so that I can tell it to the kids in under 20 minutes. I actually quite like my truncated version of the story. I took some direct quotes from the book (I can't remember all of them) so, I'm going to cite the reference now, so that I don't get busted for plagiarism. And my source is "Christian Heroes: Then and Now - Mary Slessor, Benge." There. Hope that's sufficient.
From a very young age, Mary learned what it meant to never give up. When her father wasted the family’s money on alcohol, Mary, who was only 11 years old went to work in a cotton mill to help support her family. She worked hard and under difficult conditions. The cotton mill was endlessly hot, but her reward was that she was able to attend a night school the cotton mill had for young children. Working hard in the hot cotton mill was a small price to pay to learn to read and write. Mary was delighted to do it.
One Sunday afternoon, while on a walk with her friends, and not long after she began her work at the mill, she met a woman who invited them in for tea. This woman shared the truth that Jesus died on the cross for her sins and without trusting in Jesus for eternal life, Mary would spend eternity separated from God, in a place called Hell, where it was always hot. Mary’s eyes opened wide. “I don’t want to be away from God forever…” She said slowly. That night she was the only one of her friends who repented of her sins and accepted Jesus as her Savior.
The very next week at church, Mary told her pastor that she had accepted Christ as her Savior and wanted to help serve in church. He suggested teaching the younger children’s Sunday School class. Mary was eager and excited for such an opportunity.
Now that Mary was a Christian, she was thankful for the school at the mill where she was learning to read and write. Soon, she was able to read passages from the Bible! She enjoyed Missionary stories as well. Her favorite Missionary to read about was David Livingstone, a missionary explorer to Southern Africa. She frequently kept up with his work through her churches Missionary Newsletter and by reading the Newspaper.
The more Mary read about David Livingstone, the more she could see they had a lot in common. Like Mary, he was Scottish and worked in a cotton mill as a boy and Mary began to dream about being a missionary to Africa. She turned that thought out of her mind. David Livingstone was a man and a Dr. Mary was a woman, and in that culture, women didn’t do such things. She also didn’t have a skill like Dr. Livingstone. She could use the things she learned while working at the mill, but it’s not likely someone would call on her for those skills. Secretly though, Amy was hoping her brother Robert would become a missionary and she would be his faithful assistant.
With her dream in tow, Amy spent the next several months teaching Sunday School, believing that is what God wanted her to do and enjoying every minute of it and when she was 14, she heard of another chance to teach children the Bible. Her church was beginning a new ministry in the slums of Dundee, where gangs roamed around teasing and hurting others. Her pastor was uncertain of petite little Mary being in such a dangerous place. Mary convinced him that she was able to do the job and after making Mary promise not to venture into the slums alone, he agreed to her being one of the teachers.
3 weeks into this new ministry, Mary decided to go to her classroom early to prepare for her class, forgetting the promise she had made not to go there alone. As she was turning the key in the lock, she felt as if someone was standing behind her. She turned quickly to find 4 teenage boys glaring at her.
One boy reached out and tugged at her red hair and said, “So, Carrots, you’re going to teach the Bible, are you?”
“Yes, I am” said Mary, standing tall. “Would you like to come in?” She invited.
But, the boys just laughed. 2 of them grabbed her arms and the other two taunted her. One boy took a string out of his pocket with a piece of metal tied to the end of it. He began to swing it in front of her face. “Tell me you’ll go home and forget all this foolishness and we’ll let you go. Otherwise,” he sneered at her, “we’ll see how brave you really are.”
Mary’s blue eyes stared hard at the boy and then the piece of metal. She responded strongly, “Do what you want to me, but you’ll not get me to give up my Bible teaching.” She cringed inside at the thought of what might happen next.
The boy with the string held it closer to Mary’s forehead and began swinging it back and forth, closer to Mary’s face with each swing. While the other boys stood teasing Mary, the piece of metal scraped against her head cutting her. Blood trickled down her face.
Suddenly, the boy stopped swinging the string. He motioned to the others and said, “That’s enough boys. She’s tough.” The other boys let her go and Mary quickly reached for her handkerchief and held it up to her wound.
“Now that you’ve had your fun, won’t you come in and see what this is all about?” Mary said with a smile. She didn’t understand why, but the boys, with their heads hung low, followed Mary into the classroom. Soon more than 20 children and teenagers were in the room, listening to Mary’s Bible lesson, and by the end of the day, the boy that struck Mary with the piece of metal became a Christian.
This was a lesson Mary would never forget; to stand up bravely and without fear not giving up on what she believed God wanted her to do.
******************
Several years later, Mary finally achieved her dream of becoming a missionary to Africa. Unfortunately, both of her brothers had died from illness, so she was unable to join either of them as their assistant, but she never gave up and believed firmly that God had called her to reach the people in Africa, specifically the tribe of dangerous people in Calabar, even if she had to go alone.
The people in Calabar were very cruel and unforgiving. Many of their customs were harmful to others and often included death. If a man died, his wife had to be buried alive with him.
Also, if someone died of an illness, they often called a witch doctor in to determine who caused the death by giving a number of people a poison bean ground up in water. If the person didn’t die from drinking it, (and most people did), then they were innocent. Those who did die from the poison bean drink were considered at fault for the recent death. In their culture, there were never accidents. Someone always had to be blamed.
There were many strange laws in Calabar that were punishable by death or by the pouring of very hot oil onto the offender, which often resulted in death because the wounds were left to become infected.
One time, while Mary was in her hut, preparing for the Sunday Bible lesson, she heard a woman screaming and several people chanting and calling out loudly. She went out to see what was the matter and saw a woman, tied up next to a boiling pot of hot oil. She could hear the people chanting in their language. A warrior with painted face was guarding the area from those who might want to stop the carrying out of this punishment. But, Mary was not afraid. She wanted to save this young woman’s life and teach the people about mercy, forgiveness and justice. She ran out of her hut and into the circle of chanting Africans, brought the tied up woman toward herself and yelled for them to stop. The warrior stood up to Mary with an angry expression. But, Mary remembered the day she stood up to the boys in the gang and held her place. Mary and the warrior stood staring at each other for minutes that seemed to go on for hours. The chanting and singing had died down by this time. Finally, the warrior backed down and bowed towards Mary. Mary learned that the woman was guilty of sharing her yams with another person in the tribe. And it was against their law for a woman to share food with anyone that was not their husband.
Mary had earned the respect of many of the people in Calabar, including the King of the tribe, who often sent people with disputes to her. She was able to teach the people of Calabar about God’s justice and love for them while she taught them how to live in love. The people of Calabar called Mary the “White Ma.” They had also never seen anyone with such red hair and referred to her also as the white woman with the fiery head.
Mary faced another custom without giving up. Life was not valued and if there were twin babies born, they were both left on the jungle path to starve and be eaten by animals. To the people in Calabar, it was bad luck to have twins and feeding them would bring them under a curse as well. Soon, Mary was rescuing children who would have otherwise been killed. One of the girls that Mary spared, she named Janie. Janie became one of Mary’s faithful helpers.
Mary continued to press on by sharing Christ’s love with the people in Calabar. She even went further into the jungle, which was very brave. Many men would not venture into that part of the jungle. She continued to settle disputes among people and teach them about God’s love and how to have peace with God and others. Many people back in Scotland expected Mary to die within her first year in Africa. Although, Mary did get sick at times, God would bring her back to health and she would begin right away teaching the people in Africa about God’s love. She lived in the African jungle for 39 years, much longer than any other missionary at that time had even survived in the jungle. Mary never gave up, and as a result, many people learned not to live in fear, but in peace amongst themselves and with God.
One Sunday afternoon, while on a walk with her friends, and not long after she began her work at the mill, she met a woman who invited them in for tea. This woman shared the truth that Jesus died on the cross for her sins and without trusting in Jesus for eternal life, Mary would spend eternity separated from God, in a place called Hell, where it was always hot. Mary’s eyes opened wide. “I don’t want to be away from God forever…” She said slowly. That night she was the only one of her friends who repented of her sins and accepted Jesus as her Savior.
The very next week at church, Mary told her pastor that she had accepted Christ as her Savior and wanted to help serve in church. He suggested teaching the younger children’s Sunday School class. Mary was eager and excited for such an opportunity.
Now that Mary was a Christian, she was thankful for the school at the mill where she was learning to read and write. Soon, she was able to read passages from the Bible! She enjoyed Missionary stories as well. Her favorite Missionary to read about was David Livingstone, a missionary explorer to Southern Africa. She frequently kept up with his work through her churches Missionary Newsletter and by reading the Newspaper.
The more Mary read about David Livingstone, the more she could see they had a lot in common. Like Mary, he was Scottish and worked in a cotton mill as a boy and Mary began to dream about being a missionary to Africa. She turned that thought out of her mind. David Livingstone was a man and a Dr. Mary was a woman, and in that culture, women didn’t do such things. She also didn’t have a skill like Dr. Livingstone. She could use the things she learned while working at the mill, but it’s not likely someone would call on her for those skills. Secretly though, Amy was hoping her brother Robert would become a missionary and she would be his faithful assistant.
With her dream in tow, Amy spent the next several months teaching Sunday School, believing that is what God wanted her to do and enjoying every minute of it and when she was 14, she heard of another chance to teach children the Bible. Her church was beginning a new ministry in the slums of Dundee, where gangs roamed around teasing and hurting others. Her pastor was uncertain of petite little Mary being in such a dangerous place. Mary convinced him that she was able to do the job and after making Mary promise not to venture into the slums alone, he agreed to her being one of the teachers.
3 weeks into this new ministry, Mary decided to go to her classroom early to prepare for her class, forgetting the promise she had made not to go there alone. As she was turning the key in the lock, she felt as if someone was standing behind her. She turned quickly to find 4 teenage boys glaring at her.
One boy reached out and tugged at her red hair and said, “So, Carrots, you’re going to teach the Bible, are you?”
“Yes, I am” said Mary, standing tall. “Would you like to come in?” She invited.
But, the boys just laughed. 2 of them grabbed her arms and the other two taunted her. One boy took a string out of his pocket with a piece of metal tied to the end of it. He began to swing it in front of her face. “Tell me you’ll go home and forget all this foolishness and we’ll let you go. Otherwise,” he sneered at her, “we’ll see how brave you really are.”
Mary’s blue eyes stared hard at the boy and then the piece of metal. She responded strongly, “Do what you want to me, but you’ll not get me to give up my Bible teaching.” She cringed inside at the thought of what might happen next.
The boy with the string held it closer to Mary’s forehead and began swinging it back and forth, closer to Mary’s face with each swing. While the other boys stood teasing Mary, the piece of metal scraped against her head cutting her. Blood trickled down her face.
Suddenly, the boy stopped swinging the string. He motioned to the others and said, “That’s enough boys. She’s tough.” The other boys let her go and Mary quickly reached for her handkerchief and held it up to her wound.
“Now that you’ve had your fun, won’t you come in and see what this is all about?” Mary said with a smile. She didn’t understand why, but the boys, with their heads hung low, followed Mary into the classroom. Soon more than 20 children and teenagers were in the room, listening to Mary’s Bible lesson, and by the end of the day, the boy that struck Mary with the piece of metal became a Christian.
This was a lesson Mary would never forget; to stand up bravely and without fear not giving up on what she believed God wanted her to do.
******************
Several years later, Mary finally achieved her dream of becoming a missionary to Africa. Unfortunately, both of her brothers had died from illness, so she was unable to join either of them as their assistant, but she never gave up and believed firmly that God had called her to reach the people in Africa, specifically the tribe of dangerous people in Calabar, even if she had to go alone.
The people in Calabar were very cruel and unforgiving. Many of their customs were harmful to others and often included death. If a man died, his wife had to be buried alive with him.
Also, if someone died of an illness, they often called a witch doctor in to determine who caused the death by giving a number of people a poison bean ground up in water. If the person didn’t die from drinking it, (and most people did), then they were innocent. Those who did die from the poison bean drink were considered at fault for the recent death. In their culture, there were never accidents. Someone always had to be blamed.
There were many strange laws in Calabar that were punishable by death or by the pouring of very hot oil onto the offender, which often resulted in death because the wounds were left to become infected.
One time, while Mary was in her hut, preparing for the Sunday Bible lesson, she heard a woman screaming and several people chanting and calling out loudly. She went out to see what was the matter and saw a woman, tied up next to a boiling pot of hot oil. She could hear the people chanting in their language. A warrior with painted face was guarding the area from those who might want to stop the carrying out of this punishment. But, Mary was not afraid. She wanted to save this young woman’s life and teach the people about mercy, forgiveness and justice. She ran out of her hut and into the circle of chanting Africans, brought the tied up woman toward herself and yelled for them to stop. The warrior stood up to Mary with an angry expression. But, Mary remembered the day she stood up to the boys in the gang and held her place. Mary and the warrior stood staring at each other for minutes that seemed to go on for hours. The chanting and singing had died down by this time. Finally, the warrior backed down and bowed towards Mary. Mary learned that the woman was guilty of sharing her yams with another person in the tribe. And it was against their law for a woman to share food with anyone that was not their husband.
Mary had earned the respect of many of the people in Calabar, including the King of the tribe, who often sent people with disputes to her. She was able to teach the people of Calabar about God’s justice and love for them while she taught them how to live in love. The people of Calabar called Mary the “White Ma.” They had also never seen anyone with such red hair and referred to her also as the white woman with the fiery head.
Mary faced another custom without giving up. Life was not valued and if there were twin babies born, they were both left on the jungle path to starve and be eaten by animals. To the people in Calabar, it was bad luck to have twins and feeding them would bring them under a curse as well. Soon, Mary was rescuing children who would have otherwise been killed. One of the girls that Mary spared, she named Janie. Janie became one of Mary’s faithful helpers.
Mary continued to press on by sharing Christ’s love with the people in Calabar. She even went further into the jungle, which was very brave. Many men would not venture into that part of the jungle. She continued to settle disputes among people and teach them about God’s love and how to have peace with God and others. Many people back in Scotland expected Mary to die within her first year in Africa. Although, Mary did get sick at times, God would bring her back to health and she would begin right away teaching the people in Africa about God’s love. She lived in the African jungle for 39 years, much longer than any other missionary at that time had even survived in the jungle. Mary never gave up, and as a result, many people learned not to live in fear, but in peace amongst themselves and with God.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Building Outhouses
This weeks theme is "Caution: Character Under Construction." So we're doing a lot of Construction themed things, which is really fun.
The kids were divided into teams and chose construction related team names and built a mascot out of huge legos. One team actually built a Jackhammer...very cool.
The next activity they did, they built outhouses. I don't think they will be used as such, but it's a creative idea. I wondered how many kids knew what an outhouse was, but when I saw one team painting a half moon on the door and hang a sign that said "bing used" - and that's not a typo - I figured that they knew exactly what an outhouse was.
Through the week, each team will earn points by saying verses and such and by earning points they earn pretend money to outfit their outhouse...they are having a blast with this. And so am I!
Now, the kids are swimming...in the rain. They're brave. And Jim is studying for his message tonight.
Pray, pray, pray that God would work in these kids' lives. We know God promises His word will not return void and we're praying it works in a powerful way. I'm doing the same missionary stories I did a few weeks ago at another camp. Pray also that these kids would see how God can use those who are willing and who obey Him first.
So, all this fun with building and outhouses is great, but the real purpose is bringing Christ to these kids and sharing that He payed the ultimate price for them by dying on the cross for their sins. And this is our purpose...our message. And a cockroach here and there...well, that's a small thing in light of the big picture. They still completely gross me out. But, I think I handle a little bug (a bug that I can squash) for the cause of Christ!
Eeek!
Last night was our first night here at camp. I love camp. Really, I do. But, there is one thing that I'm not too terribly fond of when it comes to the great outdoors. I don't mind bugs in general so much...just one or two specifically that give me the eebie-jeebies. That would be the dreaded earwig and the cockroach.
One of these two icky specimen happened to be one that I saw last night.
*GASP* was about all I could say. Jim turned to see what I was frantically pointing at.
"On the wall, on the wall, on the wall," was all I was able to manage.
He started chasing the fast little bugger around and I started screaming at the prospect of him running into my purse, which was dangerously close to him. If I was a cockroach, I'd think it was a pretty good hiding place, so I wouldn't blame him really.
Well, he avoided the purse and kept skittering around Jim's feet. My feet were firmly planted on the bed, which was a safe 2 feet from the ground the cockroach was dancing around on. He seemed to be laughing at Jim for missing him almost EVERY time he tried!
Finally, the bug had a slow moment and Jim caught him. I felt sick to my stomach and nearly lost my lunch...blegh.
BUT, I'm not expecting the rest of the week to be so eventful...at least in the area of bugs.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
I ♥ Camp
Another week of camp on the way!
Next week we'll be at Whispering Cedars Baptist Camp in Nebraska...
We'll be working w/ Jr. Boys and Girls so I've changed my line up as far as Missionary Stories to include men like Hudson Taylor and Jim Elliot.
Pray for us as we seek to clearly present the gospel and teach the campers what it means to live a life of faith from the book of James. Jim is teaching in the evening and giving a short lesson in the morning as follow up to my stories. Pray for him as he has lots to do!
Thank you for your prayers! We're looking forward to a super great week ahead and can't wait to see what God does!
Next week we'll be at Whispering Cedars Baptist Camp in Nebraska...
We'll be working w/ Jr. Boys and Girls so I've changed my line up as far as Missionary Stories to include men like Hudson Taylor and Jim Elliot.
Pray for us as we seek to clearly present the gospel and teach the campers what it means to live a life of faith from the book of James. Jim is teaching in the evening and giving a short lesson in the morning as follow up to my stories. Pray for him as he has lots to do!
Thank you for your prayers! We're looking forward to a super great week ahead and can't wait to see what God does!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Faith...
"Many people are willing to believe regarding those things that seem
probable to them. Faith has nothing to do with probabilities.
probable to them. Faith has nothing to do with probabilities.
The province of faith begins where probabilities cease and sight and sense fail."
-Geoge Müller
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