Farewell Denver….You’re a Work in Progress

The holiday season is always my favorite part of the year. This is nothing new to anyone who knows me. Regardless of age, every September (yes, you read that right, I said September) something happens inside of me and I transform into a seven-year old boy, with all the hopes and wonderment of a world filling with joy, people getting out of their routine lives for extra festivities with friends and families, the world around us changing to the purest white of whites in a marshmallow landscape: the peacefulness of the still winter air caressing itself over freshly lain flakes of snow that dance with sparkle and brightness over the barren ground. (Note: Next time it snows, take a minute to stand outside and do nothing but listen. The sound is magical.)
Then, soon around Thanksgiving, you’ll start seeing additions to lawns and adornments on homes bringing in the joyous season. People appear happier. Maybe it’s a front, hiding all the stress and panic of the season, and perhaps I’m just a hopeless optimist, but I picture everyone in a Christmas card picture of carolers keeping warm with muffs, exuberantly singing songs of our Lord Christ’s birth, under a street lamp adorned with evergreens and red bows.
Everything around us transforms. Even as I write this, computerized snowflakes fall from the top of the WordPress page. Everything around us welcomes in the best part of the year.
What happens, though, when things are not as they appear? When the picture we have in our heads is not true to form of life? The truth is that much of the joyous Christmas season is full of stress, long lines in the shops, bad traffic on the roads, disgruntled employees not satisfied with the office “holiday” party, nor their Christmas bonuses.
Tonight, while walking downtown with some friends, trying to soak up as much of this Christmas town nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains (come on people, there’s even songs designated to the Colorado Christmas!), we walked past multiple homeless men and women lying on their cardboard mats, curling up in donated coats and blankets. After we arrived at the restaurant, we were distracted by an “in-love” couple of maybe 20-year old women. (It was difficult not to notice them.)  After the restaurant we walked down the 16th Street Mall (a true landmark in downtown Denver) to see all the trees lit with strands of lights, wreaths on the shop doors, evergreen trees everywhere, and towers of buildings warmed with the bright lights of purples, reds, greens, blues, and golds.
Driving one of my friends home, I couldn’t help but wonder what he’d be doing for Christmas–if he had any place to go? Would there be a present for him under anyone’s tree?  His family lives several thousands of miles away, and I’m one of his only friends (who happens to be leaving later this week.) Does he have anyone to take him to the eye doctor? Surely he can’t ride his bike home in snow if his eyes have been dialated? Can he even afford a prescription for glasses? (He didn’t ask for any favors, by the way. He never does. And, yet, without much to his name, he remains a genuinely happy person! )
And then I think of the question that’s been coming up a lot lately: You’re leaving before Christmas? Wont that be difficult? Wont you miss your family? (Ok, so three questions.) In answer to all three questions, I give a resounding “Yes!” But, looking at the homeless person huddling next to a mailbox to cut the wind so she can get a few hours sleep, or the lost young women in the restaurant, or at the friend with no one around, how can I honestly say that I have anything “rough?!” I have a family to miss at Christmas, and I have a family who will be missing me! I have a Savior who will not wave goodbye to me as I board the planes on Saturday, but the One who tells the ocean to calm will be on that plane with me as we cross the vast waters. And I know that when I do feel a little selfish and lonely for what I’m “leaving behind” or “missing,” that I don’t have to look far. All around Ukraine there are homeless with no warm homes to decorate for Christmas, or set the table in for a family feast. There are nameless-yet-numbered children with no family memories of the holidays, no special gifts from “mommy and daddy” because they don’t have a mommy and daddy. Instead, they spend the most wonderful time of the year in an orphanage, while others are sliding down the slopes on Christmas morning with there new season lift tickets. (Please, if you do have season lift tickets, do not think I am condemning you!!! I’m not! Just don’t neglect a thankful, joyful spirit for ALL you have been blessed with!!)
There is SO much work for the kingdom that needs to happen here in Denver. There is SO much work for the kingdom that needs to happen in Lviv. I could say that my work here in Denver is done, but not only does that put an un-warrented focus on self, but it’s also just plain wrong! We have no work anywhere! Only that which Christ works through us is worth anything. As the old hymn suggests, “Not what my hands have done…”  And, for me to say that my work is done in Denver, is to assume position as God! Only He can say when our work is done, wherever He’s placed us, not us!  And we’ll know our work is done, because we’ll be standing in His presence and we’ll hear Him whisper to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
That to say, our work is NEVER done until He calls us Home! Whether we leave a city/ state/ country for a while and pick up His calling elsewhere, until we’ve seen Him face to face, our work for His Kingdom is NOT done. So, carry on servant of Christ! There’s no days off with this role of being a child and servant of God– no “vacation time,” no “sick days.” Not when millions of souls around the world need to hear of the saving work of Christ Jesus!
The Christmas lights will come down. The Christmas trees will be recycled. The presents will rip or break. Your kids will love the boxes more than the toys that came in them. You will feel the January-reflection-of-bills-enduced-depression. Keep your eyes fixed on Christ; keep them on the work of His glorious Kingdom. He came to seek and save the lost, and calls us to do the same. Do you remember what your 7th present under the tree was when you were six? No? Exactly. “All things, too, shall pass. Only that which is done for Christ will last.”
So, this Christmas season, get out of your homes, schedule in an off-night for the city around you. Go where you normally wouldn’t go. Look around. Look again. Look at ALL He’s given you! From the car you drove in, to the warm home you sleep in, to the city of hungry people NEEDING to hear about the hope that is Christ that He’s place

YOU in! Share a meal with lost and confused young woman. Give one of your coats (because, honestly, do we need one on our backs and three in our closet not doing what they’ve been created to do?) to a struggling person on the street.

And, have yourself a blessed little Christmas, knowing that Emmanuel is with us! And His Command is with us too.
Blessings and Peace,Adam

Time for an update, but the timing’s wrong

I realized that it’s been a month since my last post. My goal, throughout the blogging part of sharing with you all, was that I’d keep up more regularly with this than with e-mails. Clearly, e-mails are winning.

I do have a lot to update you all with, many exciting things coming around the bend very soon (!!!), but with a Quarterly newsletter in the works (coming to an inbox near you next week), I don’t want to give too much here, right now.

So, in short, stay tuned! To summarize the past month, here’s the lyrics to the song Indescribable (one of my favorites):

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation’s revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God

Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
Incomparable, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same
You are amazing God

Dear Seattle, It’s been real.

Tomorrow morning finishes off my stay in the Seattle area. Wednesday night (get ready for a lot of hyperlinks!), I flew into Seattle, with a hotel in Kent. My first visit was a meet-n-greet dinner followed by a speaking opportunity and time of prayer at Faith Presbyterian in Tacoma. Thursday, I had a free day and spent the majority of the time finding may way through the maze that is downtown Seattle. I stopped at several “touristy” places; places I hadn’t been in years…probably since I was still in training pants(!): Pike Place Market, The Space Needle, The first ever Starbucks, as well as aimlessly wandering around on foot, snapping pictures, enjoying the culture of this urban, coastal metropolis. People are literally every shade and hue you can think of: the tattoos, the hair dye…not to mention the excellent musicians on various street corners trying to earn some latte money in this typically cold and wet place. (Don’t worry, pictures will be up soon!) After I recouped a bit with a latte of my own, I headed back out, this time venturing out into one of the new wonders of the world: Ikea. Simply put, I could write an entire blog on this awesome store, but I won’t. I will say, though, that if you’ve never been, you’ve never lived.

Thursday evening, I headed to Issaquah, to meet with a great couple for dinner, at Chipotle (Chipotle is not a big deal to us from Denver, but here, where Mexican food is usually some form of Pork and Beans and Tabasco sauce, with melted American cheese, this place is a BIG thing! It’s been here for only about 1.5 years, so when I asked, “Where would you both like to go,” their response was….”Chipotle!” As always, their food rocks.

Friday morning, I met with the missions guy at Starbucks (I won’t hyperlink that…I think EVERYONE knows what that is!) near the University of Washington. He is the “go to” guy for three churches in one: CrossPoint PCA’s. Basically, it’s three congregations, each meeting in different parts of the greater Seattle area, but all one church…it’s an interesting idea!

Shortly after that, I met with the assistant pastor from Hillcrest PCA, in Seattle. (Side note: I love not knowing much about the city, or the people I’m meeting with other than we are siblings in Christ, all working toward the same goal: to glorify God and enjoy Him forever through fulfilling His great commission, helping others come to a place in their lives that they, too, can glorify God and enjoy Him forever!……but, along with not knowing the city, you get to ask the people you’re meeting with, “You know the area better than I do, where would you like to go?”) So, we went to an awesome little Thai place for lunch, sandwiched in center of a strip-mall. The local flavor you get from little, off-the-beaten-path places like this is truly enjoyable. We had a long conversation with our waiter, who told me all about his life, his side job of flipping houses (which apparently is very easy yet very difficult in Seattle), and his 14 hour days at the restaurant. (All of these meetings, by the way, were itinerating meetings…not just full of good food!)

Last night, I returned to downtown Seattle, but this time for the specific purpose to get some shipyard, ports, and boardwalk pictures. I got quite a few! The real fun happened strolling back to my car, and a homeless lady started following me, asking if she could “see” my camera: my baby. I didn’t let her see my baby, by the way.

Today, after being completely exhausted, I laid low, sticking to Kent. Kent is very familiar to me, since my aunt and uncle used to live here. Driving around, I was filled with memories on top of memories, driving past the Target (I know, strange) that my uncle and I would go to when we’d run out of something during my stay, or the Top foods where we stock-piled groceries in their minivan as we prepared to go to the coast for a week. Then I drove past the little natural grocer that my aunt took me to because they had the best Banana ice cream in all the world. It’s amazing how your mind will forget little things like that over the decade, and then, all of a sudden: BAM! Your GPS tells you to go the wrong way, and mid-yell at the machine, your eyes gaze across parking lot after parking lot of childhood memories.

I did, however, return to Ikea tonight, as a great friend in South Carolina texted me, “Adam, have you eaten at Ikea yet?” I shamefully had to reply, “No…but I will…right now!” Yes, as I’ve said, Ikea is great, and the restaurant holds its own with their Swedish meatballs and Lingonberry sauce. Mmmmm.

Tomorrow I head to Covenant Presbyterian in Issaquah, where I will be speaking a bit during the morning service. I don’t think I’ll make it back to the hotel by noon (the checkout time), so I’ll head to the airport after church. I fly out late tomorrow afternoon, and head to Phoenix, AZ, for a very quick change-of-planes, and then I should be back in Denver just before midnight.

So, stay tuned! My next update will be from back in Denver, and I plan to include a lot of pictures! Stay suspenseful!

89%!

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As you can correctly assume by the title of this blog, I am now at 89% in monthly support (and climbing)! Praise the LORD!

What does 89% look like, you may ask…well, it looks something like this:

I found out last week, after talking and consulting with my team leader, that my monthly support budget was set higher than it needed to be, which resulted in knocking out about $500/month. Then, while we waited to hear back from the home office on the new budget, we talked about potential departure dates, etc.

The next morning, the confirmation from the home office in Lawrenceville came through, and God provided abundantly above and beyond what we (my team leader and I) asked for! Not only did they approve the reduction of $500/month, but, because there is another line item that is percentage of the overall monthly budget, going down $500/month also resulted in that going down about $100/month!  So, I quickly went from needing about$950/month, down to needing a little more than $400/month!

Soon after all of this, I received another confirmation from a wonderful family I had met along the way, during my May travels, which had now taken me down to needing only $350/month to go, before I can move to Ukraine!  WOW!

I’m now writing to you from beautiful, green, majestic Seattle. I arrived here on Wednesday, after an overly-long lay-over in Salt Lake City, around 2pm pacific time. With only about 4 hours sleep under my belt from the night before, and about 7 hours travel time (I know, 7 hours from Denver to Seattle! I’ve flown from New Jersey to Poland in that same amount of time!), I finally arrived. Luggage completely in tact (you may remember my other traveling blogs and joys of United Airlines playing dodge ball, and testing their throwing arms with my bags), and a mix up at the rental car counter when they mistakenly rented out their last economy car even though I had reserved one (which resulted in a free upgrade! Bonus!), I was on the road to my hotel in Kent, to stop, clean up, gather what I needed, and then headed down to Faith Presbyterian in Tacoma to meet with their Wednesday night Prayer &Devotion group.

Walking into Faith, I was reminded of summers with my aunt and uncle who were members there. The sweetness of reflecting on worshipping brought a joy and peace to me, looking forward to worshipping again with my uncle in Heaven.

Yesterday, I had more of a free day, only with a dinner meeting with some family friends (a truly sweet, joyful couple), and spent the day taking in some sites that I hadn’t seen in probably 15-20 years.

Today is a busy day, as I’m writing this post in between meetings with various churches throughout the Seattle area. Please pray for the meetings I’ve already had, and for the ones I yet to have, that God will richly bless them, and my remaining 11% will come in soon! I’m eager (okay, VERY, VERY eager) to get to L’viv, and am hoping for a late-September departure date.

Upon my return to Denver late Sunday night, a whole new set of things start happening: finishing up my visa application, proceeding with pre-departure paperwork, meeting with my friend and attorney who will assist me finalizing my living will, power of attorney, etc., and Lord willing, finishing up any last remaining monthly support.

Well, time to head out again!

Thank you for your support, love, and lifting me before our Father’s throne!

Blessings and Peace,

Adam

Little Psalm, HUGE Command

Praise the LORD, all you nations;

extol him, all you peoples.

For great is his love toward us,

and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.

Praise the LORD.

-Psalm 117

I did my undergrad work as an English Major, and for some reason, during that time, a loathsome relationship grew between the standard “Who, What, Where, How and Why” organization of a letter/announcement/ invitation/ etc., and me. They are all important in any of those correspondences, don’t get me wrong, but I think it takes the creativity our of writing; it takes the voice away from the writer.

The writer of this Psalm, though, creatively used this standard tool to get the point across, yet he did it in such a creative way, one can’t help but be amazing from both a writer’s perspective and from the perspective of being a child of the King.

Simply put, here is the What: Praise the Lord

the who: All you nations

another What: Extol Him

another who: All you peoples

the Why: For great is His Love toward us, and His faithfulness endures forever

the How: Praise the Lord!

Case closed. It doesn’t get simpler than that! It’s pretty clear what we are to do, who is to do it, why we are to do it, how we will accomplish it.

The word ‘praise’ comes from Old English, Old French, and Late Latin (as you probably know, my undergrad also included a minor in linguistics, but I wont bore you with the IPA or too much of the etymology, though it is interesting!), and simply means to glorify, to value, to prize, to love, to show worth, to commend, to celebrate, and, as of later English terms would go, to give props.

The word ‘extol,’ too, refers to all of the above definitions, with the addition of ‘making high,’ and ‘lifting up.’ It is also synonymous with ‘belaud’ which means ‘to praise greatly.’ (Though, as a linguist, I must point out that no two words can be 100% synonymous, other wise one would cancel out the other eventually…but that’s another discussion.)

So, when the writer of this very short Psalm tell us three times to ‘Praise the Lord,’ ‘Extol Him,’ and again to ‘Praise the Lord,’ he means it! The whole earth is commanded to praise the Lord, glorify the Lord, value the Lord, prize the Lord, love the Lord, show the Lord’s worth, commend the Lord, celebrate the Lord, make high the Lord, lift up the Lord, praise the Lord greatly, and, yes, even give props to the Lord!

Why are we supposed to do this? Because, as the two verses say, “for GREAT is His LOVE toward us, and His FAITHFULNESS endures FOREVER!”

Who is to do this? EVERYONE! Every tribe, tongue, and nation is commanded to do this! Wow! What a day that will be we He hears the choir of the nations bow down, worship Him, saying, “You are worthy, OUR Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” (Revelation 4.11)

But in this filthy, sinful world, how will this ever be done? What about those who have never heard? Let me draw you over to Romans 10.14-15:

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

The Cobblestones of Missionary Life

(Well worn bricks at New York’s Liberty Park train station, which is no longer in operation. 1000′s walked these bricks coming from Ellis Island, after coming from all over the world to the nation of liberty.)

What do you think of when your see this picture?

While checking out a friend’s pictures on Facebook, I saw this picture of brick paved streets, which, in turn, reminded me of cobblestone streets, which, resulted in me thinking of L’viv (as if I didn’t do enough of this already!). It’s been said that a picture is worth a thousand words, but, even though my undergrad is in creative writing, to me a picture is worth a thousand thoughts!

So, I started thinking about, first of all how beautiful cobblestone streets are–the way the sunlight bounces off each uneven paver, like a creek babbles over shallow river rock, the elegance they add to a culture, like a pearl necklace enhances a woman’s natural beauty. Of course, along with the beauty and simple elegance they radiate, they also are useful for heightening one’s level of caution: how they walk on them, how they drive on them, and, if it’s rainy, what kind of sole you’d wear to insure your steadiness.

We know cobblestone streets aren’t the best for driving on, but that probably means just the opposite for people. In fact, researchers from the Oregon Research Institute are proving it’s true. Their studies show that people who walk on cobblestone streets enjoy significant improvement in balance, measures of mobility and blood pressure.  The stones seemed to serve as a vast community of massage therapists for the feet.  The surprising result was that the study lasted only 16 weeks. Now, if we weren’t talking physical benefits to cobblestones, but spiritual benefits, what would that looks like? Significant improvement in your walk? Your measure of mobility for the Kingdom?

“Where are you going with this, Adam?” you may ask. Trust me, stay with me here. It may be a bit bumpy, but so are cobblestones!

My “road to Ukraine,” as I’ve termed my itinerating life, is full of cobblestones. With each step I take I meet a new, beautiful, unique paver. Sometimes the pavers are easy, sometimes they aren’t. But, to get from the starting location anywhere, you have to go down some road, some trail, some pathway to get where you’re going. In unchartered territories, maps are helpful, but without any sense of familiarity, you know that God alone is moving you down the road, wrapping you in His guidance, His care, and His love and mercy.

Here I am, almost to the end of the “road.”  It’s been a great road, looking back at what each experience way crossing over, and meeting 75% of my cobblestones! I’ve been told that the last 25% is the hardest to walk, and, as it is right now, I sense that. I’m blinded to see the last 25% of cobblestones. I know they are there though, because, above any metaphor one could use to describe raising support and meeting with supporters, I know that our God is there! He is with me in these last weeks, as He was in the weeks leading up to my first cross-cultural mission trip. He was there in my second mission journey, and the third, and the fourth, and the fifth, and the sixth. I know He is with me in this, the seventh, and even though this journey is the largest so far (three years!!!), I know nothing is too small for Him; nothing is too large for Him.

Sunday night, Independence Day, as I tried to watch whatever fireworks I could with my family, he allowed the clouds to come forth and He alone allowed those same clouds to fill with thunder and lightning, releasing a LOT of rain! I honestly could not see the fireworks. But, I did see His handiwork in the loud thunder and bright, crashing lightning. His presence was felt even closer that night, to me, than He had felt in a while–almost as if He were right there enjoying the night with me, saying, “Check these fireworks out!” That’s my God! The same God that told Noah to build an ark even though Noah’s friends and neighbors thought he was nuts; The same God who covenanted Himself with Abraham, because He knew Abraham could not keep the covenant himself; The same God who parted the Red Sea in an instant; The same God who made the valley of the dry bones shake and turn into a valley of living people; The same God who sent forth His Son, so that we would have eternal life with Him; The same God who promises that He will always be with us; The same God who is now seated on high–yes, that is my God, and He is right there with me on this cobbled road, pointing ahead of our pathway, saying, “Adam, this is where I’m sending you. Have faith.”

So, while I still don’t know when I’ll reach that mile-marker “100%,” I know that in the mean time I’m walking this road with my God, and there’s nothing sweeter than that!

When I do get to that mile-marker, and purchase the plane ticket, and fly to Ukraine to begin three years of work for His kingdom, I know that the “road” will not stop, but a new road will begin, and He will, as promised, be right there with me, as He is with you, on whatever road He is walking you down right now.

Brothers and sisters, I thank each one of you are let’s me know on a regular basis that are are praying! I do feel that! I also thank each and every one of you who has responded sacrificially, and is walking along this road with me through your financial giving! I know that you will all be going with me on the new road, the road IN Ukraine, and for that I’m very thankful!

Thank you for running the race with me! May we never grow weary!

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength. Even youths shall faint and grow weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” -Isaiah 40.28-31

Waiting on the Lord with you,

Adam

But God…

This phrase, “But God,” chills my bones. It silences my tongue. It strikes my heart with awe. Looking back over the past 15 months raising support, this phrase comes through even louder with new perspectives. I’ve tried my best to raise 100% by now, and I’m not there yet. But you know something? If God were not in my support raising, I would still be at 0%. But God, who is rich in mercy, is pleased to have me at 70% in monthly support! Yes, praise Him! Praise Him for His unfailing goodness! Praise Him for the work He is calling me to, and the same work He is calling you to too! Praise Him for raising 100% of my one-time need and 70% of my monthly need through you, using you, challenging you, and equipping you with faith in Him!

This phrase, “But God,”comes from my favorite passage, Ephesians 2.1-10. You will find it below, first in Ukrainian, then in English.

Ефесяни 2:1-10

І вас, що мертві були через ваші провини й гріхи, в яких ви колись проживали за звичаєм віку цього, за волею князя, що панує в повітрі, духа, що працює тепер у неслухняних, між якими й усі ми проживали колись у пожадливостях нашого тіла, як чинили волю тіла й думок, і з природи були дітьми гніву, як і інші, Бог же, багатий на милосердя, через Свою превелику любов, що нею Він нас полюбив, і нас, що мертві були через прогріхи, оживив разом із Христом, спасені ви благодаттю, і разом із Ним воскресив, і разом із Ним посадив на небесних місцях у Христі Ісусі, щоб у наступних віках показати безмірне багатство благодаті Своєї в добрості до нас у Христі Ісусі. Бо спасені ви благодаттю через віру, а це не від вас, то дар Божий, не від діл, щоб ніхто не хвалився. Бо ми Його твориво, створені в Христі Ісусі на добрі діла, які Бог наперед приготував, щоб ми в них перебували.

Ephesians 2:1-10

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,  not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.