rogerthoman's posterous

Becoming Accustomed to Life in Developing Countries

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:39:57 -0700

I just wrote these words to a friend in an email:

We have now hung out in developing countries long enough to become surprisingly accustomed to a different standard of life. It's funny how you can walk into a hotel that faces bustling city streets, walk up uneven stairs, walk down semi-clean hallways, step into a room with a hard mattress for a bed with a mosquito net covering, sit on a toilet seat made of plastic or no seat at all, turn on a shower that dribbles hot water, brush your teeth with bottled water, order food that tastes exactly like last night's meal (because it is exactly the same) and then say to each other: "Wow, what a great hotel this place is... We are living in luxury this week!"

It's been an exceptional trip! We have many more reports to share, and can't wait to catch up with YOU on all that has been going on here at HOME!

Shower Head in the Aforementioned 3-Star Hotel:

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Madagascar: Hot, Sleepless, Exciting, Fulfilling

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 03:25:07 -0700

I am sitting in a hot internet café in a small town in Madagascar. Someone nearby is smoking a cigarette. As you can imagine, there are no laws here regarding such things. But hey, if I were not smelling the smoke, I would be tasting the other aromas of Africa which are often hard to describe: very musk-like at its best and very sewage-like at its worst (in the more impoverished parts of town).

I am trying to figure out what to write regarding our last two weeks at the YWAM training base in the coastal town of Tamatave. Our experiences were so rich, on the one hand, and so unique, on the other. Also, I find myself wondering what would interest folk back home in the midst of their busy lives!

We affectionately refer to this particular YWAM base as "the monastery" because of the dorm-like room situation, the cold showers, and the basic food (mostly rice and beans) prepared daily for the local students. We love it, but also enjoy "sneaking" out on the weekend for an evening dinner at a local restaurant: skewered zebu and French fried potatoes.

I wish there were some way to pull you into the heart of our experience here which was spending 10 full days pouring into the lives of 20 incredible, passionate, young, Malagasy church planters and health care workers (bush clinics). The fact is, I do not know how to make this real to you in a way that would allow you taste, touch, and feel it.

Most of these young people are born and raised in the cities of Madagascar. To go live in the bush to reach and care for others requires a complete change of lifestyle (and sacrifice) for them. What do I compare this to so that you might understand? Although their city-living is not as posh as ours, it still might compare to one of us moving to rural Mexico: no "facilities," outdoor cooking, strange food, and mat-sleeping on dirt floors. Yet they have given themselves wholeheartedly to this task, loving God passionately and serving him with total surrender by going to care for and reach people in great need.

So, what is it like to partner with this team of young people, pour into them, and get caught up in their contagious faith and commitment? For me, it's life on the edgebeing led by the Spirit, learning and teaching, finding and solving problems in strategies, exploring new ideas and tools with them, seeing them have "ah-ha" moments, and feeling part of something that is potentially very big that is changing the lives of people in the remotest parts of the world. To what might I compare this? I really don't know, but perhaps you can simply catch a taste of my own excitement.

Finally, what is it like to coach, equip, father, and mentor the phenomenal team leaders of this group? To see transformation and growth in their personal lives? To see a renewal of vision and commitment in their ministry? To see apostolic leadership develop that has the potential for changing the course (literally) of nations? What does the visa commercial say? "Priceless!"

In any case, the fulfillment and excitement keep us going through the smoke-filled cafes, the roads from hell, the mosquitoes with potential malaria in their little stingers, the food served on a dirt floor on top of banana leaves (another story), and the hot, sometimes-sleepless nights.

God has been at work, we feel privileged to be a part, and so appreciative, always, of your involvement with us.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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War-Time Wedding in the Congo

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 09:52:59 -0700

Steven, our Congolese team leader, met his wife, Angel, while they were both fleeing from their hometowns during the war of 1998. The idea was to find a village where the rebels had already passed through: pillaging, killing, raping, and decimating. Hopefully some time would pass before the rebels would return to that particular area.

On foot for several days, Steven and Angel became traveling companions and then friends as they hid out with many others in the jungle village. There was little to eat except nature’s mango trees, yet they remained there for three months where they married and began a life together in the midst of war and terror.

Finally, they headed back to Steven’s hometown of Uvira. For two more years, the fighting continued and every night they would hear gunshots and screams from those who were being killed and/or raped. They said, “Every day we lived knowing that our time might be up and that during the night we would be the ones being killed.”

Peace was finally restored in their region in 2002. Now, seven years later, it is remarkable to spend time with Steven and Angel, to see the way that God has blessed their faithfulness to Him, and to see their passion for sharing God’s message, care, and provision with others.

Women’s Lives Changed

Angel works daily with other women to help them out of poverty mindsets and to equip them to change their own lives. She described to us the way she effectively empowers women:

I begin by debating with women that I meet. I ask them, “Why do you think that I have some financial resources and you do not?” Women often see themselves as inferior to their husbands and not able to get ahead. So I have to challenge them in ways that will make them think. I have to help them see the opportunities that they have around them to make something and sell it or to learn a skill that will help them support their family. “If I can do this, then you can do it also,” I tell them. I sometimes speak strongly to them, “Yes, you are going to have to work hard, but it is worth it. If not for yourself, do it for your daughters so that you will have enough money to put them through school and they can then have a better life than yours.”

I try to provide them with training in simple sewing skills or other crafts they can make so that they can see that they are able to do small things to get ahead. I also show them that God's principles, when applied to their life, lead to success and strength.

Churches Multiplying Among the Poor

Steven’s work is equally amazing. After starting a church in 2006 he felt that his influence in this needy country was limited. He contacted us looking specifically for ways to multiply his effectiveness so that more Congolese could be reached spiritually and practically. He is now becoming a church-planting trainer, starting over a dozen churches during the past year and, with our help, is now training over 20 new church-planters. These leaders are working in bigger cities like Uvira, in smaller villages that are still reeling from the impacts of war, in prisons, and among unreached tribes (such as the Pygmy people). Wherever churches are started, ministry to needy people is part of the kingdom message that is shared: the hungry are fed, children are given school fees, widows and handicapped are helped, and generosity becomes a way of life.

YOU Are the Key To All of This

Steven and Angel, along with a host of growing leaders in the Congo, represent some of the most remarkable kingdom-minded, God-loving people we know. Yet over and over they tell us how much strength it brings them to have people come and support them from so far away. Tears streaming down Steven's face, as we departed, emphasized this. We feel so privileged to partner with them AND so aware that our partnership with them happens because YOU stand with us. We are ever so aware and appreciative of this!

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Summoned by Congo's Central Intelligence Office

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 07:10:30 -0700

We had been in the Congo for about four hours when the phone call came to one of the conference coordinators. “We want to see the visitors in our office right away.”

The message was relayed to us, “Our head intelligence officer wants to see you. We must take you to the ‘Security’ office immediately.”

We had already been through the border crossing that morning, met with the city mayor in order to fulfill proper “protocol,” and we had been assured that there were no more hoops to jump through. So, what was this about? This is a country that is still reeling from recent times of war so suspicions can still surface and/or corrupt officials can be looking for a little extra personal income.

Our Congolese team leader, Steven, was dealing with conference details so he sent us to the office with another translator. “Don’t worry,” Steven said. “This is just a formality.” OK, only a slight rise in the beating of the heart and a quick prayer.

Yet, our hearts did race just a bit more as we were ushered through the front door of a concrete building, guided by two men into a small back-room office where a very serious-looking man sat behind a small desk with a set of handcuffs sitting very conspicuously within inches of his left hand.

I have to tell you, this did not feel like just a formality.

He introduced himself through the translator and explained, in so many words, how important his office was. He compared his job with, in his own words, “the FBI.” Brooks and I were both thinking, at this point, that the FBI does not routinely haul people into their office for a chat unless there is something seriously wrong! Our heart rates increased yet another notch. Our prayer life jumped another level.

Then, a long dialogue took place between this man and our translator. We were left out of the loop since we could understand neither the French nor the Swahili that they would alternate speaking with. The man behind the desk was pointing to files on his desk, to paperwork he held in his hand, and was clearly lecturing our translator who was making notes. What was our translator writing? The list of crimes we had committed in the four hours we had been there? How many transgressions had we done?

This little conversation went on long enough that we did start to wonder where it was headed and if we were going to leave that room with our hands free or behind our back (ok, so the imagination begins to run a bit when you cannot understand the conversation and the setting is so ominous).

Our heart rates were now at the pace achieved by a good 30-minute run. Hey, who needs to exercise, just visit the Congo!

Finally, finally, the essence of this important meeting comes to light. In order for this very important man to file the very important documents, he needed $20 from each visitor so that this can be properly done. Our Congolese friends later assured us that this is not an official government fee, just one of the ways that officials find to pad their incomes.

So, yes, we were set free. Not until our translator promised he would return with copies of our passports (the “Security” office did not have a copy machine), the very important forms properly filled out (no need to take this official’s time to do it right there), additional photos of the visitors (none of us could figure out why the passport photos were not sufficient), and, of course, the requisite forty dollars.

Such is the system in the Congo and, indeed, in many African countries.

For our part, the intimidation worked quite well. We would have gladly paid forty dollars and much more just to get out of that small office, away from the “FBI agent,” and to stay clear of those handcuffs!

Thankfully, our hearts are no worse for the wear. At least I am fairly certain of this. Today, several days later as I write this, the pulse in my neck is now only partly visible. Oh, and our prayer life? Much improved still and much gratitude for all of our praying friends back home!

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Great Experiences! No Time for Writing Yet!

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:22:35 -0700

Sidenote: pictured below with me is NOT a child. This is 20-year-old David from one of the Pygmy tribes in the Congo. Yes, he is 20 years old; he is completing his high school education this year with plans to enter law school so that he can defend his own people in legal matters. His people experience a lot of prejudice here.

Hopefully Brooks will get some updates out as I have not had time, yet, to write. We have faced a few challenges in the Congo only because we have not traveled here before. But our times with leaders and in ministry to a neighboring village has been wonderfully exciting and we are seeing God at work beyond our expectations.

Will write more when I have time...

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Pray for Border Crossing

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 01:45:45 -0700

We have arrived in Bujumbura (Burundi) for a couple of days to recover from jet lag, lack of sleep, swollen feet (Brooks), and two days of sitting in airline seats. OK, it's not really as bad as it sounds, but why not play it up?

Our team leader from the Congo, Steven, will pick us up tomorrow to travel across the border into his country. This is probably our most difficult border crossing because of the instability of the country and the corruption of officials (like border patrols). Thus, our request for your specific prayers.

We are very excited to soon be re-united with our Congolese friends and to meet many new leaders there who are bearing fruit in a very troubled country.

Stay in touch! Roger

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Inline Photo attempt

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 16:32:29 -0700

Here is my article. I will write it here.

Second, to Madagascar where most of the people still live primitive lives in bush villages. One friend described life there this way: “80% of people are so isolated, living up in the mountains or deep in the bush, that they have no access to basic healthcare services. The sadness in the villages is striking. It seems as if the only times of feasting and celebration are the annual visits to the tombs to re-clothe the dead when ancestors' remains are removed from the ground, washed, put back into shrouds and carried in a long procession…”
Because of your help, we will be training church-planters and leaders who are taking hope to these villagers along with clinics that are being set up to provide basic healthcare. Where sick people used to have to walk for 2 days to receive care, often dying en route during the grueling journey; today they are able to receive care in their own villages.

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Testing posting by Email

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 16:27:24 -0700

Here is my article. I will write it here.

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Untitled

Sun, 10 May 2009 19:37:45 -0700

I am trying posting through posterous to twitter. I am doing this post with no subject line and putting the update in the message section.

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testing inline pics from gmail

Sun, 10 May 2009 19:27:44 -0700

Here we go again with lots of text and a paragraph or two, and then we will add a picture so that we can see if the inline feature does actually work and how it looks.

Here is another paragraph.
And here is another.

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testing outlook without 2003

Sun, 10 May 2009 19:13:30 -0700

Let's put this test down like this and also place an inline picture just to see what happens from there. I will add a photo here and then we will see how it looks.

What do I think about it.

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Building Next Door Exploded

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:01:20 -0800

We had just welcomed the Congolese leaders to Kenya and the hotel where they were to stay when the building next door exploded into a fireball. We do not know the cause of this explosion yet.

It was quite a riot on the streets and a miracle that we got out before the hotel we were in began to burn. THIS was the start of our time with these leaders who traveled for three days to be with us!

OBVIOUSLY, we appreciate your ongoing prayers for us and for this leadership team.

(This picture was taken by my phone and does not really capture the magnitude of the damage that was done by the initial explosion)

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Missionary Sending City

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 21:26:02 -0800

We have been drawn to the city of Kitale as a hub for our work in Kenya not realizing that it is destined to become a center for sending missionaries throughout Kenya and even Africa. Prophetic words have been spoken over this city to this end. Additionally, in the last few years Kenyans from Kitale have moved to many cities throughout Kenya to start churches or ministries. We have personally met some amazing Kenyans from Kitale who are being sent to do missions work in some of the most difficult countries of Africa such as Southern Sudan.

So, having learned this, we should not be surprised that the leaders we are working with have hearts to plant churches in many different regions of Kenya as well as surrounding nations. I must tell you that this is very, very gratifying.

Two of the leaders we are working with will be sent out very soon to two different cities in Kenya. Other churches are starting locally. Still another family is doing a new work in a Muslim village in the Mombasa area. And... two leaders from Uganda are visiting this week's conference with a desire to see more churches planted in their region. For this growing group of leaders, this type of activity is becoming routine. We feel privileged to be involved in what is becoming a true mission-sending base. I hope that you also feel blessed with us since you are a part of what God is doing here!

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The Sudanese Desert: Now THAT'S a Mission Field

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 21:23:00 -0800

Benjamin, a Kenyan who is ministering in Southern Sudan, shared with us his very first trip there five years ago. He was dropped off in a village by cargo plane and discovered there was not even a road in or out of this place. The desert there is so dry that when he asked for water to bathe in they brought it to him in a cup.

He immediately became severely ill from the contaminated water he drank. I must mention to you that the water in Kenya is highly contaminated by our standards so you can only imagine what this Sudanese water was like. He nearly died because this village had received no medicines for nearly two years and he had no way to get out for medical treatment until the next cargo plane flew in. He did finally make it home where he swore to his wife that he would never return to the Sudan. But, it was only a short time before he felt God stir him. He said he felt as though his body had come home, but his spirit was still with the Sudanese. He knew he had to return to do God's work there. In the past five years he has started churches and schools, and helped train pastors and new missionaries there!

So, on those days when Brooks and I think we are making sacrifices by traveling and staying in Kenya, we remind ourselves that it could be the Sudan!!!!

Men From a Sudanese Village (did I mention it's desert?)

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Trial & Error Hair Salon

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 21:19:01 -0800

The shop name speaks for itself don't you think?

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Pix of Life in Africa

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:59:32 -0800

Brooks would like to learn how to do this. I remain skeptical...

Dinner anyone?

Do you really think this place is bliss?

We might have to bring this one home...

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Prayer Bullets for the Upcoming Marathon

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:49:55 -0800

Today begins two weeks of nearly continuous, day-and-night meetings with three different groups of leaders. I am not looking for pity (although why turn it down if it's available), but I am asking for you to pray with us:

That God will encourage and equip these leaders to be fruitful in their fields.
That we will remain fresh, alert, and tuned into what the Spirit of God is doing and saying.
That the logistics of those who are traveling to be with us will go smoothly.
That we will have discernment in the strategizing that takes place with these leaders
Etc

So many thanks for all of you who are standing with us. We always, always sense the prayers and care of our friends back home and it means so much to us!

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Creatures that DO Thrive in the Heat

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 22:10:03 -0800

There ARE creatures here, living just outside our door, that really DO enjoy the heat:

I would also show you pictures of ourselves in this heat, but we would be unrecognizable!

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Brooks' Health

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 04:11:44 -0800

I appreciate a prayer for Brooks who has, we hope, only a touch of flu. Hopefully no more than a 24-hour type bug. But, health is needed and we so appreciate specific prayer on this.

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The View From Our Room

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 04:09:31 -0800

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