Man! I’m so proud of my kids!
Lord willing, in less than a year, our kids will be leaving behind, for the first time ever, everything that is most familiar… for the first time: Their friends, their church, their neighourhood, and the nearby Sobeys, Tim Horton’s and Dairy Queen where we’re comfortable with them walking unaccompanied. They haven’t got a clue, but they’re totally leaning into the curve! Continue reading
It wasn’t always easy to keep our plan from the kids, but it was necessary.
Although Liz & I have mentally been “in process” for over a year now, our kids found out about our “new adventure” on December 31, 2013… New Year’s Eve.
Why we waited? …to maintain a tight reign on who knew about our plan until it was announced to our church family at MissionPoint. We didn’t want any other churches or groups to know about it first and then have it filter back to our home church second hand… via social media or in conversation.
At the same time, it wouldn’t be fair for our kids to find out only on January 5th, at the same time as everyone else. So, for a couple of reasons, we decided to tell them on New Year’s Eve:
Given the fact that we are a homeschooling family and therefore together nearly all the time, it wasn’t easy to be discreet about our plans… but thankfully it worked.
It was important to us to root the plan in the Word of God, so after our New Year’s Eve company had left, I opened the Bible to Joshua chapter 1 (the passage that began this process) and read verses 1-9: highlighting the following:
God would be with Joshua, wherever he went (v.9)I also gave each of the kids their own personal travel journal inscribed as follows:
“Sophie / Dominic / Timo … Here is a place to write down your thoughts, questions and yes, perhaps even your fears, concerning the next great adventure that God is about to take our family on. Write them down and you will see that God will answer your questions, honor your thoughts and calm every fear. He’ll do it because he loves you and wants to do something incredible both in and through your life.
Love, Mom & Dad”
We then let them know that within a year or so, we would be moving to France, possibly for as long as 2 years, to replace Bro. & Sis. Brochu as missionaries, under the AIM program. Following our discussion, we prayed together as a family.
They were very surprised, but also very, very excited. There were a barrage of questions, some of which we didn’t yet have answers for (including…. “Can we get a dog?”).
They were quite excited about the idea that they may need to be involved in music in the church after the Brochu’s leave, 
because they both look after music (our kids have varying degrees of piano skills, Dominic is learning guitar already and Timo dreams of playing drums).
Two things sum up well their reaction.
Without question, we believe that the Lord has been preparing the hearts and desires of our kids in the same way that he’s been preparing us. They are now… #AIMkids.
Other posts on how patience has played a key role in the process to date:
Patience is a Virtue
Controlled Burn
If you consider our upcoming time in France as an engagement, then it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to say that we first started dating in 2005.
In 2003 I began my Master’s Degree in French Linguistics at the Université de Moncton, in Moncton, New Brunswick. In the context of these studies I found my self at a linguistics colloquium in the city of Tours, France, located about 1 hour from Châtellerault. At that time, missionary Steve Schobert was living in Tours, but looking after the work in Châtellerault. We connected and I was able to join him for a service on Sunday. At that time, they were meeting in the large, downtown home of Sis. Cécile LeDay, a former Catholic nun whom God had filled with the Holy Ghost and revealed himself in his fullness.
In early summer, 2006, we were in Belgium to spend some time with Liz’s family. We wanted, though, to take a few days of family vacation, just the 5 of us so we packed up a rental car and headed to western France. Surviving the traffic on the highway that surrounds Paris was our first major accomplishment! We soon made our way to Châtellerault where we spent a couple of nights in a 15th century castle… the Château-de-la-Motte, located just outside the city. The Brochu’s, back from deputation, met us at the Château and we followed them to church. The church was still meeting in the home of Cécile LeDay (where this picture of Bro. Brochu was taken), but they were in the process of purchasing a larger building, just on the outskirts of town (You can read more about that visit here).
Once a small manufacturing facility, this building was strategically located on a very busy national road and benefitted from an acre of land, an office area a small production area and large equipment hangar. Having been damaged by fire, it would take time and work to bring back to a useable condition, it was key because the hangar area allowed a large space for future growth.
Although there would be other trips to Europe between 2006 and 2008, none brought us into contact with our churches in France. A new door would begin to open up in the summer of 2008 however, for it was then that we met Bro. & Sis. John Nowacki for the first time. They were on deputation and came through our city. We were able to share a couple of meals together (the one pictured is with retired missionaries to Pakistan, Bro. Ron & Joy Hanscom). Bro. Nowacki asked me, for the first time, about the possibility of coming to France to teach in their Bible School the following summer.
I was in France for the purpose of teaching at the Bible School, and that for 3 weeks during the month of July, but, having become familiar with the church at Châtellerault through the years, I desired to go with Bro. Brochu and spend a Sunday there. Since he was traveling back anyway, to look after the services, I went with him and got to attend church in the new building. What a thrill to have seen the growth and the jump to the new building. At that time they had managed to make repairs to the office area, which is where the 15 or so people were meeting (July is a heavy travel time in France, so numbers were low that Sunday, but the presence of God was wonderful). Work had already begun on the small production area which would be the more permanent sanctuary and they had a Sunday School room as well.
Incidentally, another Atlantic District pastor was there that summer, ministering in the week-long seminar: Rev. David Ferrell of Calvary Tabernacle in Perth-Andover, NB.
During this second time back to the French Bible School, I was only there for two weeks and did not make it down to Châtellerault. During this trip, I was able to share the time with another Atlantic District minister, Rev. Daniel Desroches who soon fell in love with the people and the work there… and the feeling was mutual as they fell in love with him as well. Here, Bro. Desroches is pictured with the Nowackis, Bro. Nowacki’s mother, sister and brother-in-law.
This would be my last time in France until the summer of 2012 when God did major surgery on my heart and set a new direction in my sights.
As you can see… our connection to the church in France is not an overnight thing, but God slowly and steadily planted seeds in my heart and, with time and patience, watered them until they began to bear fruit. In fact… one could argue that it goes back even further than all this… Liz & I spent 2 days, during our honeymoon, in the city of Tours… where we later met Steve Schobert in 2005… but that is for another post.
This was the beginning of my journal entry yesterday:
“Got the call this afternoon from Bro. Poitras letting us know that our AIM application had been approved.”
While speaking with him on the phone yesterday afternoon, I was of course very glad at the news. As the day progressed, however, it occurred to me that the full weight of what that meant was really only beginning to dawn on me.
We fill out application forms all the time, and often have them approved by people we have never, nor will ever, see. The acceptance letter is seen as the natural and expected next step: a “given” as opposed to something that is contingent on a number of factors. It occurred to me however, that – at least in the case of an AIM application – an expression of acceptance is a great deal more.
An expression of confidence: Our AIM application was deliberated by…
These five men do more than simply check off items on a list. They attempt to read between the lines and make decisions that are in the best interest of the applicant, the missionaries concerned and the national church. This of course over and above the confidence already expressed by my pastor and district superintendent as well as the others who have encouraged us along the way.
A Definite Next Step: There are certain Line in the Sand moments, when something feels very, very real. It’s easy to say “We’re in the process of…” doing this or that, but when an application has been accepted for a project of this nature, the trajectory is set and it becomes only a matter of time. Other things or secondary processes that depended on this one, can begin to be engaged. We’re one step closer to the dream.
A Transfer of Anointing/Authority/Responsibility: As I sat in Bible Study, listening to my pastor’s message – as he talked about gatekeepers in and for the local church and for the city, I couldn’t help but utter a prayer for the cities in which we will be working (Paris and Châtellerault)… asking that God would give gatekeepers in those cities as well: people who would be key in opening up relationships and opportunities, that the Kingdom of God be advanced there.
Lord, like Ananias of Damascus in Acts chapter 9, bring me into contact with, your chosen vessel(s) … those who will, in turn, bear your name to their villages in western France and beyond.
I am, to a greater degree, feeling a responsibility for those communities. To some degree, it is like the passing of a mantle I suppose… and I accept.
Lord, just give me Châtellerault and her surroundings and let me win victories for you… let me be a vessel that brings honour to my master.
These are just a couple of things that a letter of acceptance of acceptance can produce, when we apply ourselves to the right things.
You could say that a controlled burn is using fire to fight fire, and though that may sound counter-intuitive, it is effective.
According to Wikipedia, a controlled burn is also known as a hazard-reduction burn and is used in the areas of forestry management, farming, prairie restoration etc. In the case of forestry management it would essentially look like this: Forestry management staff target an area with many dead or dying trees and, during the cooler months, purposefully set it on fire. Their intention is to burn, in a controlled setting, a swath of land which would pose an ever greater risk, were it to occur during hot summer months where stronger wind would spread the fire further and faster. It also means reducing the risk of this particular area catching fire while other forest fires are also raging, limiting available fire-fighting personnel to all fires.
Similarly, during the first fifteen months of our preparation to go on the mission field, we made a pointed effort to control the spread of information about our plan. Here’s how we did it.
- In the six days after God had spoken to me (this happened while I was on-site in the country), I mentioned it only to the two missionaries. They had both, at various times, expressed either an interest in having me take part in the the work or simply mentioned that they could easily see me fitting in to the work. At this point I simply expressed that I felt God had spoken something and there was a possibility. I mentioned that as I left France that particular time, it was unlike previous times and I asked them to be in prayer.
- In the two months following my return to Canada, I mentioned it to three people: my current pastor and two previous pastors who had played a great role of mentorship in my life. I wanted their input and their prayer support but I didn’t present it as a “done deal.”
- In the third month following my return, I began discussing it with my wife (my Patience is a Virtue post describes why I waited this long to talk to her about it) and a couple of months after that, she mentioned it to one person.
- In the seventh month after my return, three members of my district leadership became aware as the question of future ministry came up during my interview for Ministerial Ordination. Two other close minister friends also became aware during the same time period… and this is where things stayed until four months after that, when – by virtue of my application to Global Missions‘ A.I.M. Program – staff in St. Louis became aware.
This was definitely a slow-burn situation. For almost a year, there were only a dozen people who were aware of what God was slowly maturing in our life. We knew that it was wise to seek counsel from those with more experience in ministry so we engaged some key voices in our life.
As to the delay… call it our attempt at self-preservation. Perhaps I was afraid of hastily making a grandiose statement about what I felt to be the call of God which would prove, in the end, to not be the case. Either way, one thing is sure… having only limited involvement by others allowed us to keenly distill and discern the will of God for our family. We know that we have heard from the Lord and are not simply seeking to do what others expect… We think of this as hazard reduction… or a controlled burn.
What do you see as the benefits to limiting the spread of info before it’s time?
Rest assured, no one wants your brief time in missions to be a nightmare. Everyone who applies for a short term missions experience, expects that things will go well; that it will be a positive and spiritually fulfilling experience. Most times, this is the case, however there are also scenarios where an experience can go bad.
Here are eight reasons that things can go wrong.
- Lack of sufficient language skills: You could feel like you’re spending a disproportionate amount of time on language and not enough making what you perceive to be a “real” contribution to the mission field.
- Insufficient cultural knowledge: Can make it difficult to understand the actions / reactions of others, or to be understood yourself. Even if the language spoken is the same as your own… the culture can be very different.
- Personality clashes: Both you and the missionary you are going to work with are both (are you ready for it?)… human, and different personality types can rub the wrong way. They are possible to overcome but if your time frame on the field is short, it may be difficult.
- Withdrawal: A very common behaviour, when we feel the least bit uncomfortable with people or situations, is to withdraw… overtly or secretly. In the context of short term missions, withdrawal only compounds any frustration that you may already be dealing with. Don’t withdraw!
- Lack of clarity concerning what is expected of you and or what you expect of your experience. It’s important to have as much dialogue as possible with your missionary, either before heading to the field, or, at the very least… at the beginning of your AIM term.
- Lack of flexibility can usher in frustration (for you AND your missionary). You may go to the field with certain expectations and find your job description changed upon arrival. Within reason, this should not be a problem… be flexible. Remember, the LORD knew of the change long before you applied or arrived and has equipped you. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your heart (Ecclesiastes 9.10)… you’ll be a blessing.
- Impatience can be a major source of frustration. Your short term missions experience doesn’t only begin when you arrive on the field… it begins the moment God calls you, you inquire and you apply… If you’re not patient, the process will be a source of frustration before you even get to the field… flavouring the entire process.
- An unteachable spirit: Remember… the missionary you work with, has most likely been on the field much longer than you. They know the people, the church, the culture and the language. In all likelihood, they do know better than you what is needed in a given context. They may ask for and consider your advice, but ultimately they make the final call (as they will likely be on the field long after your AIM term has ended and need to live with the consequences of all decisions.) Don’t be offended if they don’t follow your advice to the letter.
The danger of an AIM term gone bad is that it could endanger a very real call that God has placed on your life. Discouragement with a particular STM experience could keep you from pursuing other missions experiences down the road, or even ministry altogether.
Guard yourself against these eight pitfalls and your time in missions will be rich and fulfilling. One of the biggest things that will help you firm up all of these areas is a good dose of patience. Two posts that discuss the value of patience are:
What other pitfalls that I’ve missed? Can you think of some?
AIM Long 