We told you earlier about the delay the interns were facing in their return from Costa Rica. Thanks to your prayers, they finally made it back home to Canada, albeit after two long days of travel. As David, one of those who made the trip said on his Facebook profile: "I love traveling .... but 41 h of travelling is way too much". Take a rest, David. You deserve it!
Are you ready to make an Impact on the world for Christ? Liebenzell organizes a number of short-term mission projects in many parts of the world. The name of the project? "Impact"! We'll have a team coming to Canada this summer as part of the North America 2011 Impact team. Sorry, there are no more places available, but there is still room in some of the other projects like France, Bangladesh, or Russia. Read more at the Impact website: http://www.impact-teams.de. Don't worry if you don't understand Germany. You can read the page in English (or any other language) by using Google Translate: Click here to see the Impact page in English. If you know a young person that wants to make an Impact, pass this post on to them!
We are excited this week to welcome here in Toronto the Director of the Impact program, Stephan Trick and his family. He is spending six months here to develop his language skills, learn more about Canadian culture, and prepare for the summer Impact team that will serve here and in New York.
Our guys have finished their Costa Rica project and are trying to get back to Toronto. As of 11am today, Friday morning, they were stuck at the airport in Costa Rica, because of weather. They are waiting for a flight to Houston, then Detroit, then Toronto. Thanks for praying for their patience and travelling safety.
Gregg
Outreach to refugees has occupied much of our time in recent weeks. Donna spends three days a week at Adam House helping with food preparation and deepening her relationship several of the residents. Tuesday is a busy day as she arrives early to help process the weekly donation of food from the organization "Second Harvest". This distribution service allows the residents of Adam House to have nutritious meals at very low cost. Each week brings a variety of food items and a critical work that Donna does is to handle the produce that comes in before it spoils. Much of the food is collected from food stores throughout Toronto and re-distributed to service organizations that can use the food rapidly before it spoils or reaches it's expiration date. Thus vast quantities of produce like tomatoes, onions, apples, oranges, peaches, and grapes need to be either cleaned or sorted for use by the residents. Donna has a special desire to see that the residents have lots of fresh fruits and vegetables available. Since the residents prepare their own meals from the available food supply, many don't want to do the extra work of preparing fresh vegetables, choosing instead some of the processed items that are donated. Donna does what she can to make choosing a healthy meal an easy task.
Because of Donna's frequent presence at Adam House, she is developing a close relationship with [C] a middle-aged lady and a long-time resident. It is Donna's constant prayer and desire to introduce [C] to Jesus and lead her to a personal saving relationship with Him. Because [C] has had some difficult emotional challenges in the past, she has never trusted anyone at Adam House, instead retreating into a shell of solitude. Donna has been encouraged recently by [C]'s smiles and willingness to soften towards Donna. Please pray for Donna that the Lord would soften [C]'s heart and allow Donna to share the gospel message with her.
Gregg has the privilege once a month to lead the weekly Bible Study at Adam House. In January he shared Jesus' parable about the persistent woman's pleas to the unrighteous judge in Luke 18:1-8 and then taught about prayer from Hebrews 10:19-30. The Bible Study is well attended by residents and other guests with a wide range of spiritual maturity. Although attendance is not required for residents, frequently some of the Muslim residents attend and hear of the incredible teachings of Jesus. The Tuesday evening Bible Study is always a dynamic time of praise, worship, prayer and Scripture study. Thanks for praying for this important ministry that seeks to refresh spirits through developing dynamic loving relationships while serving needy individuals in Canada.
You can participate with us. Find out how in the "How You Can Help" tab above.
I, too, stutter. There are not too many things in life that I can say that I share with royalty. Now I have one. King George VI of England had a speech impediment and so do I. That is no surprise to anyone that has met me personally. But, as it is not an attribute that one proclaims in an online profile, I suppose it is surprising to many. The recently-released movie starring Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush has brought attention to the condition of speech impediments. The King’s Speech went to the top of my “Must See” list at the moment I heard a review on the day of its release in December. Normally that means I wait several months until its release on DVD or Netflix. This time Donna and I decided to see it in the theatre. It was well worth the cost, but that is not why you should see the movie. You should see the film because it is a moving story of determination in facing personal challenges.
The Internal Struggle
Clip: If we were equals, I wouldn't be here. I would be home with my wife and no one would give a damn."
How do you face struggles? Prince Albert (soon-to-be King George VI) fought with all his royal might to avoid dealing with his problem. Yet it was his sense of duty, his personal calling, and a loving wife that forced him out of his royal shell and into the office of a commoner to face his struggle and seek a solution. His cry, “If we were equals, I wouldn’t be here. I would be home with my wife and no one would give a damn,” points to a familiar bunker for those of us with public struggles. We seek a cave to hide in, an easy way out. We establish enough of an ordinary life-- a wife, a family, a job and a lifestyle that protects our secret—so we don’t have to face the issue. The comfortable life becomes our bunker, and there inside we try live our lives. Nobody gives a damn and we like that.
For many, life in the protective bunker works. But what happens when life beckons? Some call it fate; some, a calling. For others, it is a duty. It was Prince Albert’s sense of duty—to his family, to his country, to royalty itself—that caused him to face his struggle head on. In the film, the contrast with the way his brother faced his princely duty was striking. Older brother David – Prince of Wales and later King Edward VIII—chose personal comfort over duty and abdicated the throne. Albert on the other hand, sought a solution to his struggle well before he knew that he would someday be king. That makes the storyline of The King’s Speech inspirational.
My bunker was an engineering job. I was comfortably successful and happy at home with my wife and children. Then, the call came. What was I to do about it? The call came from none other than God Himself and that is not an easy call to ignore. I imagine I could have hidden my call a lot easier than a Crown Prince of England could hide his, but still, it was a call. Does knowledge of the struggles we face cause us to ignore a call on our life? Sadly, I’m afraid that too often it does. Too many opportunities in life are lost because we choose to stay in our bunker and refuse to leave.
My calling was to enter into full-time missionary service. That meant public speaking, knocking on doors, learning a new language, meeting lots of new people. There were plenty of good reasons—excuses—to decline. No one would have blamed me for staying home with my wife. No one would have given a damn. Yet because I stepped out of my bunker and went through the open door laid before me, my life is richer in experiences I never would have otherwise enjoyed. And I have God, and my wife, to thank for moving me out.
If only overcoming the internal struggle would make the rest easy. One of the film’s many strong points is revealing the harsh reality of carrying out the difficult task of change. When the king is just hours away from his coronation, his frustration reaches a breaking point. “Listen to me!”, he shouts. His tutor’s response, “Listen to you? By what right?” touches the fundamental question for which many of those who struggle with stammering seek an answer. In other words, “Why should I waste my time listening to you?”
Why is it that those who are not fluent in their mannerisms-- not among the “beautiful people”-- need to give evidence of their right to be heard? There is a clear bias in our culture to promote those who can clearly articulate their ideas in public. Without exception, in my professional experience, there came a point when every one of my employers asked me about my stuttering. Most wanted to understand it and help me be successful. There were a few notable exceptions, however. Christians ministries are far from exempt at pre-judging their own. By the time I had reached the mission field, I had already learned to ignore judgmental pastors and mission leaders, learn from the mature ones and follow the path God had laid out for me. A key to success for those who struggle with speech impediments centers on the correct answer to the question “Why should I listen to you.” In the words of the King George character in “The King’s Speech,” the answer was poignant: “Because I have a voice!”.
It is time for the world to hear your voice. You have something important to say. King George VI knew his voice would cause a nation to succeed or fail in its ability to confidently face a foreign adversary. For those of us with less-than-kingly responsibilities, our voices, too, have something important to say. God has given each of us a uniqueness that deserves attention. No one else has your perspective nor your gifts. Take time out to watch “The King’s Speech” then let your voice be heard.
-Gregg Hanchett worked 10 years in the US paper industry and later served 12 years in Spain as a missionary. He currently lives in South Carolina, once again serving the paper industry. You can reach him at hanch6@gmail.com .
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