Winnipeg: A Cross Cultural Life Change

Reflecting is helpful when attempting to live an honest life. It helps to see what went good and what has gone very wrong. Like the time I destroyed my sisters Barbie doll for sport. How was I suppose to know it wasn't for blowing up with my army men. Her head can be removed AND replaced very easily. But now I see: If you mess with your sister's Barbie doll your dad will crush your favourite Hot Wheels car.

Anyway. This reflection is on Winnipeg Challenge: A Challenge to reach out to Winnipeg with the love of Christ and to grow spiritually as well. Of course when you think missions trip you automatically think, "MEXICO" or "AFRICA." Not this time. This time we thought, "CANADA." Going, I thought we would be working with mainly muslim families in the inner city, but was I ever shocked when I realized who were working alongside: the Burmese people. Who knew? Who knew that I would be shocked to discover a new culture, shocked to find their boldness in prayer, and shocked to find that God broke my heart for them.

Most of the people in the Church we worked with are refugees. There are a large number of Karen people and some Chin as well. Both are people groups from Burma.

Here's the issue: The Burma (or Myanmar) government decided the Karen people are insignificant and are raiding their villages, raping their women, and stealing their children for soldiers. The Karen people are then displaced from their homes and farms to then be refugees in Thailand. Here is a link for a video about some of this: http://www.freeburmarangers.org/

Alongside of these beautiful people, I had the privilege of reaching out to their city: Winnipeg. We did prayer walks, met people, invited them to puppets, movie night, music, climbing wall, games and even to church. We learned about Islam and Buddhism. We reached to prostitutes and homeless. Is it not ironic that we were not reaching out to the Karen people, but working with them? They have seen the love of Christ in finding themselves alive from gunfire and raiders. They have seen, therefore they show the love and character of Christ.

I was blown away by all of this. This was a refresher because I had to leave my wife at home. Though we talked every day, it was difficult to understand why she had to stay behind. She did the paper work, paid the money, everything. Then this stunned me more: About 5 or 6 years ago my wife went on a missions trip to Thailand and you'll never guess where she spent a bunch of time. She spent it with the Karen Villages that are displaced in Thailand. God stunned me. He wanted to give me an experience and a heart for the Karen and Burmese people, similar to Nadine's experience. I am still blown away by God's wisdom.

There is too much to write, but there are two main reflections I observed: 1) The irony of working WITH the Karen and Chin people and 2) God giving me a similar experience to Nadine's.

Sickness & Death: A Reflection

As I ponder bad news from last week I begin to first wonder, "What is profound that I am learning?" The answer is, "I don't know?" But, here's what I observed.

I knew my mom was going in for and waiting on results from a CAT scan. I knew my mother was not 100% in her health, but I couldn't remember a time when she was. So the news Last Monday was, in some ways, not a shock. In some ways it was a relief to know what it was. But the intensity of the illness was a shocker. It was lung cancer.

In talking with my sister about this, both of us recounted how we were in some strange way prepared for this. It was as if we knew a little before the news hit. Nevertheless tears flowed everywhere.

It was interesting being at work alone when I got the news. I was talking to my mom on the phone and it hardly was real. Reality sometimes takes a little while to hit. After her crying and wishing I wasn't 5 large provinces away, we prayed. It was in this prayer that I found strength. I found myself dwelling on the power of Christ. The reality of my one post on prayer hit me. My prayers do not hit the ceiling. They go to a God who loves to hear and answer my prayers.

The next step is waiting (yet another of my posts). Of course, I am not the one with cancer so it is not as intense, but she is my mom. I'll never forget the cry of my sister on the phone when she said, "I can't live without mom." For some, they would sense suicide or depression, but I knew it was simply deep love for our mom. Only our spouses top our connection with mom. She's mom.

We wait for a doctor's appointment and a more thorough diagnosis to better gauge how to treat this cancer.

The first person to hear this news from me was a strong lady of the faith. She in turn prayed for me and soon her husband came after she left. He came with encouragement and a reminder of this being a test of if what I preach is how I react. His gentle, sincere heart spoke to me. Of course I don't remember specifics of what he said anymore or any verse he gave me, but I remember feeling his words and prayer strengthen me.

It was after this that I wept. I felt safe with only family around. Nadine was sad she could not be there for me at that point. But after she was done work I had a chance to cry in her arms too. Grieving bad news is not bad. Its natural and extremely better than holding it in. But now what? I have grieved, so now what do I do. I stand strong in faith and hope with the love that is in me. I must shine God's light into my family.