| Who
did God reach through this trip? Me most of all...I was able to see
the true impact of what I am doing on children's lives. I was able to see a number of
"missionaries" doing any number of tasks, jobs and occupations - all for God's
Kingdom. I think that this trip validated me and my role in life right now.
Children...I
saw many children laugh, try again, teach another, share , be proud of what they could do
and want to learn more because I was there.
Adults...
It's funny what a bag of Sweet-n-low, Jolly Rancher candies, Turkey Gravy Mix, Ranch
Dressing Mis, strings, praise of helpful hints from a fellow teacher, encouragement as a
parent, etc. can do.
Comments
made after 1997 trip to Nepal.
From: Global
Ministries Mission Personnel Office P.O. Box 1896 Indianapolis, IN 46206 (317)635-3100 |
String
Ministry
Mission Statement
I am a Christian, serving in partnership with other Christians in
Christian and non Christian organizations, sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with the
people of the world by helping them to achieve their full God-given potential, and by
encouraging the planting, growth, development, and unity of indigenous churches.
I believe that as a strong Christian, it is my responsibility to work
together with others by helping to meet the needs of society in terms of the whole person
- physical, spiritual and intellectual. I believe that I have gifts and talents that can
further that end, however if people are hungry, fearful or lack understanding I must look to
those needs first.
I am not a "religious" person directly engaging in activities
for the sake of duplicating a particular denomination. I am a strong Christian person who
is personally committed to the teachings and commandments of Jesus Christ, the greatest of
which is summed up in the words, "Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor
as yourself." Because of this commitment, I seek to serve all people as an act of
obedience to my own faith and an expression of love that embodies the belief that it is
truly more blessed to give than receive. This is an
Interdenominational ministry.
My gifts and talents involve storytelling, storytelling with string
figures, and teaching others to make string figures. God seems to be using me to collect
and teach these figures and to then take the testimonies, stories, and figures to share
with others. Just as Jesus used many things to tell stories: - from coins, to seeds - so,
I too use many stories to share the varied aspects of the Gospel Story.
A piece of string and a thread of a story are not much.... but as Jesus
said, "And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones
because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his
reward."
My rewards have been many:.... a troubled young native man in Alaska
offering his friendship because I provided a vehicle through which he could introduce the
Gospel Story to his family...a group of Napali orphans, who stopped everything and
came running because they remembered me from eighteen months before.....a smile from a
leprosy patient because she could make a figure of a mosquito out of string...or sharing
the joy of a Thanksgiving dinner with a missionary family so far from home and bringing a
package of cranberry Jello and turkey gravy mix.
Freely adapted from the mission
statement of JVS International, of Mongolia. JVS stands for Joint Christian Services
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