Do Not Grow Weary....

Christy and I at the FATEB Kinshasa Academy in Congo

Let us not grow weary….

I cried this morning as I watched a recent video link of soldiers randomly shooting at civilians in the province of Kasai in the DRCongo. This just happened days ago, in February 2017.  Tears came to me out of disgust, a feeling of hopelessness, anger and frustration. (See link below)

Disgust - at the cruelty of man and his ugly thirst for power, domination and taking advantage of the vulnerable.

Congo has lost 5.4 million citizens due to the effects of wars and conflicts since 1998. Enough!

 

Feeling of hopelessness - because when you have lived with and love the beautiful, courageous people of Congo who are trying to change, and not just look for the “quick fixes”, but because poverty, war and corruption place them in a vicious cycle from which it is very hard to escape, one feels hopeless at times…. (but I never remain hopeless) .

Anger - because it is the vulnerable who suffer the most.  Congo has a population of 80 million. Its median age is 17 yrs.  71% of its population lives under the poverty level. 60% of the population lives on $1.25/day. There are 13 million primary age children, but only 50% of those are able to start school at age 6.  War and mindless killings have caused so many barriers to education. Poverty, conflict & displacement, sexual violence and the high cost of education have produced an enormous need for schools, teachers and pedagogical input and training. The children are being held back… these children are the future and hope of Congo.

Frustration - for me today because organizations like TeachBeyond and many others are trying to make a difference in the educational realm in Congo, but are faced with one hurdle after another. Frustrating logistical issues such as getting the right documents in place, high costs, and procuring a visa to get into the country are keeping us from going.

A friend of mine and former missionary to the Congo encouraged me with these words last week:

  “The verse that God gave me this morning was "Have I not commanded you? [in your case, to start this work in Kinshasa]  Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."  Joshua 1:9.  What you are experiencing are the "normal" challenges of work in Congo.  They are enough to make anyone doubt whether it is possible to move forward.  It takes great courage to keep moving forward.  God will provide all that you need to accomplish His purposes through that school and through you.”

Our team of teacher at FKA

My colleague Christy and I are still hoping that on Tuesday we will be able to fly to Congo and continue the work of teacher-training and encouragement at the FATEB Kinshasa Academy. Christy is still waiting for her visa. It is stuck at the Congolese embassy in Washington DC. ( Please pray we get it by Saturday!)

The impact this little school is already having on the lives of the children, parents and other schools in its local proximity has already made our “woes and battles” worth it.  We know who wins the battle in the end, but in the meantime pray that:

Teacher training taking place at a neighboring school

“let us not become weary of doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people.... (Gal 6: 8,9)”

( Link to the video I watched (this video is disturbing):

Transitions..

I started writing this last week…

I’m sitting here in my “princess chair” this morning.  The house is empty for the first time in weeks. Amanda and David are flying back to Washington DC, Michael to Chicago, and Alex is back in school. It is snowing outside. There is something lovely, yet unsettling about the quietness of the house. I look over at my dry and droopy Christmas tree, which I don’t like to take down until the kids have left and chuckle to myself, thinking: “It is definitely time to relieve you of those ornaments, dear friend.”

This time of transition comes around every year in our house. The relishing of meaningful events of Christmas, with its fun, crazy, chaotic family togetherness, but then knowing you need to pack up that Christmas “stuff” to make room. Room for the new, that which lies ahead and yes.....some routine again.

The growing Peters Family

A "shower" for Amanda

This year the change and transition feels especially present. The other day was Amanda’s last night in our home as an “unmarried women”. Our two oldest kids sorted through boxes of their “old stuff” because this was their last time in this house before we have to move some time this spring. This was the last Christmas in our lovely home here in Holzen. What lies ahead is full of life, potential and possibilities. A new place to live, welcoming a new son-in-law, new paths and opportunities for Michael as he graduates from college in the spring, new work-related opportunities for both Phil and I…and yet at the same time lots of “unknowns”.  So I sit hear this morning, in this “in-between” time and space, this transition, pausing a little, reflecting with a lot of emotion, catching my breath and not wanting to rush "what was" away.

I used to run track. One of my events was the 400-meter relay. Some of of you know I love to run - I don’t have to think much, I just put the running shoes on and go. But the success in a relay runs really depends on the transitions, the “passing of the baton” as they call it. It needs to be thought through, prepared, practiced and timed right. I never liked that part of the relay and to be honest I find that I don’t much like the present and upcoming transitions either.  It is probably because of the age I am at.  There is a lot of letting go, and the future “unknowns” don’t quite seem as exciting.  Can anyone relate?  I do realize though that they are very important. They can redefine you. They present opportunities in which we have choices. A choice of attitude, perspective, of new questions, of direction, and a choice to reaffirm the why I choose it all in the first place!

Life is not just the transition. The bigger picture tells the whole story - my story, your story … but how we go about those transitions is key! 

As I finish writing this blog, the Christmas decorations are all packed up, snow is still on the ground, and my head and heart, surrounded and held by ‘my Maker’ who created me with a purpose, are again buzzing with renewed ideas, ways to serve, a desire to communicate my passion, and a motivation to press on. There is so much still to do!

 

Wedding dress shopping!

You should have felt the energy in “David’s Bridal shop” the day Amanda and I went wedding dress shopping.  We stood there with other brides-to-be, bridesmaids, mothers, and grandmothers all buzzing around, picking out dresses, trying them on, giving input, ideas, choosing matching accessories … but really the main focus  was to please  and honor the “lady of the day”. … the future bride.

Amidst the laughter, smiles, encouraging comments, dreamy eyes, and lots and lots of female excitement in the air, the most amazing time was the moment a future bride … and in this case it was my daughter… walked shyly onto the platform full of mirrors with …. “the dress.”  She had already tried on several before, which were also beautiful, but somehow they weren’t right. All of a sudden, with this one, things were different.  People stopped what they were doing, heads turned, I caught my breath, others gave nods of approval….as the bride-to-be stood there with all eyes on her and broke into the most beautiful smile. She found THE DRESS.  Ok, this is sounding a little like a Walt Disney princess movie, but I promise you, it’s true.

It is amazing what seems to happen in a girl’s heart after she says “yes”,.. but before the wedding day.  “Yes” to the man she has hoped, dreamed, prayed for and visualized spending the rest of her life with.  Her face radiates, there is a non-stop smile on her face. Her nice character becomes even nicer J.  People and things that used to annoy just don’t seem as annoying. A very generous amount of time is  dedicated to communicating with this special man that she is in love with. Unity, things you have in common, future plans, and love is what matters! What a lovely time to be alive and enjoy!

Standing in that bridal shop on that morning I couldn’t help think of how we Christians as the body of believers represent the bride of Christ. As a follower of Christ I have given my “yes” to Him. I am actually living in anticipation of being united with him and celebrating the wedding feast with Christ as our groom who loves his bride the church more than we can even imagine. We as a church of believers are actually living in an  “engagement” period.  We are betrothed to him.  Wow!  How exciting! But is that how we feel? Are we as excited as my daughter Amanda is about her fiancé David?  Or have we been “engaged” so long that the anticipation and excitement of our first love has died away?

 As we start into this Advent season, which is a time of “anticipation”, anticipating the both the birth of Christ but also his second coming, the BIG wedding day,

I sure hope we don’t lose the “twinkle in our eyes”!

PS.  Sorry, won’t be posting any pictures of the Amanda in her dress until the big day - June 24^th!

Lessons learned from a marathon..

I'm still feeling a bit stiff and sore from the "Cotes du Rhone" marathon I just ran last Sunday, but I am also basking in the memories and the thoughts related to ones life that goes on the days after such a run. I have been running marathons off and on over the last 13  years and one of the benefits I have had is to been able to draw so many life lessons and parallels out of the running and training for them. For me the lessons have always had a spiritual dimension. They have strengthened my walk with God and with others.

Here are a few that I was reminded of this time.

 1.     Prepare

Running a marathon without any preparation is just down right stupid. Even though I had trained for and ran 9 of them before, I couldn’t just run “out of experience” I still needed to prepared for this specific one.  The more you prepare the better you do on Marathon day. Mental and physical preparation is crucial to success! 

2.     Be ready for the unexpected

The unexpected is, ….well, to be expected. No matter how much you prepare there are things that will most likely happen on that day that you had not anticipated:  rain storms, stomach "issues", leg cramps, a bad attitude or even asthma attacks. The unexpected can also be something surprisingly wonderful and can give you great source of joy…. I hadn't expected the beauty of the "Valley of Rhone" in  Provence, France nor when a women, whom I didn't know yelled out; “ You are running this for me!” This unexpected request energized and motivated me as I symbolically took on "running for those who could not!"

3.     Don’t do it alone!

You don’t have to be alone, and believe me having one or two people that are running along side you whether in body or spirit is key to success!  This time I had my sister and mom along. Two of my most favorite people!  My sister Tracy trained with me. We met regularly for 8 weeks prior to the marathon. We encouraged each other during the race, especially those last 10 kilometers when we felt like quitting and pushed each other to do "just a little more". Having someone you are accountable to just helps you stick to your goal. On the marathon weekend my mom came along. She woke us up, made us coffee,  carried our bags, was there at the start and finished and lent us a supportive arm as we hobbled our way back home. Thanks mom and Tracy. We were a team!

4.     Live in the moment

Enjoy the view, breathe in the moment, you are alive….Don’t wish it away!

 

  

  5. Draw strength from your training

There comes a time in most “races” when you go beyond what you did in your training……well that is exactly why you were training.  It was for those moments.   Don’t quit. This is what you were training for!...Tracy  and I hit that moment at km 32.  Those last 10 km were just killers. Every kilometer was endless. The scenery was grayer, peoples cheers became annoying, but we knew we had it in us because we had trained!…and boy were we glad for every kilometer we had put in over the last 8 weeks.

 

6.     Take time to Celebrate!!

Isn’t it crazy that we often skip this part! We tend to underplay what we have spent so much time preparing for.  Celebrate by telling your story, taking time to process….or write a blog like I am doing. And yes we did celebrate with a nice glass of “Cotes du Rhone!”.  

"Allez, Allez!"

Hurdles

I have never liked hurdles. 

 In eighth grade I used to run track and once during a hurdle race I had a bad fall that tore up one side of my face and knocked 2 of my front teeth out. I still have some scars from it today. Not a good memory! 

A Hurdle race is tricky to run. I watched a couple of races during the Olympics, and cringed every time someone jumped, hoping no one would fall. You either confidently jump over them, or you hesitate ...and most likely will trip and fall. I usually just rather avoid them.

Coming to Congo this time has felt like a "hurdle run".  Hurdles are pretty much a norm for Africa. Some of them these past days were very concrete…like having no electricity last night or internet when I wanted to connect with my family or driving down the streets of Kinshasa dodging pot holes, broken down cars or piles of trash in the middle of the road on our way to taking my African colleague’s wife to the hospital to get a malaria treatment. Other hurdles are more mental and emotional. Mine these days were finding out that two of my colleagues were refused entry in to Congo and that I am now here alone and responsible for doing the teacher training we had planned to do together.  My initial reaction was ..and  I did, to call Phil, cry a little and tell him I want to come home. I really didn't want to be here and do this alone.

That is what I felt like doing! But a strange thing is happening tonight and I can only explain it as “Christ living in me”. I  all of a sudden have peace….yes, the one that passes all understanding that we we about in the Bible. And after reading dozens of emails, What’sApp and facebook message that came in from good friends encouraging me and saying they were praying for me. Tonight I don’t feel alone.

So I’ve decided and I am going to take those hurdles straight on with confidence and courage….because…,

“He that is in me is greater than he that is in the world”

 Yesterday morning while sitting in the Addis Ababa airport on my way to Congo. I read these verses. They came just at the right time. I Just wanted to share them with you. Maybe some of you are running a kind of hurdle race right now. Go for it!

“The Lord you God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing-

Zephaniah 3:17

Things I love about the prairies of Canada and the people who live there…

Enjoying one of the 100,000 lakes in Manitoba

Ok, so this is coming as seen through my mixed up American/European glasses, but being  immersed once again back in my Canadian "Mennonite" home has reminded me of differences and aspects that I find refreshing and very much love about Canada and Canadians. 


So here are a few of them:

Lo……ng summer days…well, it is way up there in the north.

No mountains here, but just look at the contours of those amazing prairie skies…

They value the importance of connection and belonging to a family. 
In Phil's Mennonite heritage background, everyone seems related to everyone. You just have to find the connection.

Phil and his brothers

Cousins

Jesus, church, and fellowship are important (All you Steinbach EMCers, we love you!)

Tuning into CBC while on the road

They can laugh at themselves… If you gets a chance, listen to “This is That” on Canadian CBC radio, and you will know what I am talking about.

They take their shoes off at the front door... ( so all that snow stays out).
Sorry, no picture of this one.

Can't miss going to the MCC thrift store in Steinbach!

 
They have great thrift- and used- book stores!

My favorite!

Wholesome, healthy, homemade food around the table: farmer sausage, vrenike, and rhubarb desserts and pies! (Well, not everything can be healthy J) 

 
 Summer outdoor festivals

Ballet in the park (Winnipeg)

 







They apologize even when there is no reason to.... just because they are nice… I’ve even seen buses  say “SORRY” because they were out of service.

Ev's beautiful garden

Their gardens and their lawns are beautiful and keep them busy all summer long (which is only 3 months).

We very much enjoyed visiting the new Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg

They are very politically correct…unlike us Americans.

They welcome foreigners, without building walls ;-)

They think that their US neighbors down south have really gone nuts this last little while.

And I think most of all I love that they have “welcomed me home”...me, the sometimes outspoken, blunt, mixed up Euro-American with a first-nations background,  when I show up every other year for a much too briefvisit.

Thank you Canada.  I can’t wait to be back! .....in the summer!

Cheering each other on!

The reformers wall in Geneva, Switzerland

I stood in front of the Reformers’ Wall in Geneva and tears started rolling down my face. I was somewhat surprised by my emotional reaction while facing these imposing five-meter tall, stern-faced stone men who looked as if they were guarding the city of Geneva: Theodore Beza, Willam Farel, John Knox and of course John Calvin .  

Standing there I had a mix of feelings, but mostly ones of awe, respect and great gratitude towards these “saints of old” and the sacrifice and determination they showed hundreds of years ago. They lived out their conviction and provided freedom for their religious beliefs.

 Perhaps it is because of growing up in France as a child of missionaries, where I so often felt skepticism from others towards my “American, protestant” identity.  I remember one day, in my 7^th grade French history class, being asked to get up from my desk, while the teacher pointed me out as a “live example” of a heretic. Or the feeling of being looked at funny when asked what my father’s job was, and I had to answer that he was a pastor, and upon seeing their perplexed faces had to explain that a pastor was a kind of priest, but for the protestants. This of course made no sense to them, since priest were not allowed to get married nor have children, so imagine the category that put me in as a child of a protestant priest. 

So there I stood in June of 2016,…..well aware of today’s current events themes:  refugees fleeing dysfunctional economic systems, people being killed because of their different status or color, others choosing to exit systems that seems imposed on them.  I realized, to a small extent, the importance such people played in making way for the freedoms of today. I also stood there feeling a degree of shame at how today I take the freedom they worked so hard for for granted.

These men stood there like the “great cloud of witnesses” mentioned in Heb.12:1,  and we could add to them so many others who have gone before us and paved the way for the work that we do today.  Of course I couldn’t help but think of the reason I was in Geneva on that very day - to take part in the board meetings of the Leman International Academy, a small Christian bilingual school I had helped “birth” five years ago.  It occurred to me that even in 2016 in Europe, we have to keep fighting hard to keep a school with Christian value-based education an option for families in the Geneva area.  This also applies to other projects that have not been birthed without a struggle.

Alex raised over $1000 running  in the Freiheitslauf, 2016

Those who know me know that I love to run.  Running for a purpose and a goal is something that motivates me, but I have learned that it can’t be done without a price, effort, time and perseverance, nor without people who encourage and believe in what you are doing…..kind of like the “great cloud of witnesses”. 

Some of you are those people for me and it has been great to reconnect with many of you this summer.
 

The city of Geneva doubled in population during the days the protestants were persecuted for their faith. It was known as a “city of refuge”. It kept this “refuge” status and extended it to all sorts of people being persecuted for their differences in 1951, through the Geneva convention on political asylum.

Tammy and Tracy running the race!

So, standing before the Reformers’ Wall on that day, I was encouraged  and motivated to keep running the races set before me: there in Geneva with the little Leman International Academy, but also in my personal walk with God, in my marriage with Phil, my relationships with my kids and family, with my dear friends and the many other “races” set before me. 

Most of us hardly have a day that goes by when we are not on either side of the race: either as the runner who needs encouragement, or as the one who is doing the cheering on …. sometimes we might even have to do both at the same time. 

Keep it up! We need each other!

Hebrews 12:1 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders … and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

Local refugees ran in the Freiheitslauf with us!