The Fifth Grade Classroom

When God tells you to go, you go, even if you're living in the golden years of comfort.

I loved teaching fifth grade. When I began in 2003, I put in some crazy hours that first year, but by the time the third one rolled around, I had a rhythm. But all that changed when I left for Liberia the summer of 2006.

When God tells you to stay, you stay, even if golden horizons blossom before you.

I returned from Liberia in as winter was loosing its grip in 2008. Anxious to return to the mission field I pleaded with God to hurry up the process. Here I sit, over two years later, still preparing to go. And I'm still a half a year from my departure.

Had I rushed ahead of God, I would have missed a blessing. Right now I am privileged to be a full-time fifth grade teacher once again. It is as if God is reminding me, "I remember how you loved your job. You gave it up for Me, so I am giving it back to you for a season."

I wish you could meet my fifth graders. I get to see Christ working in 20 young lives every day. I am able to lay any feeling of anxiety into the hands of Jesus, because I see how my Faithful God cares for me. I don't deserve any of this, I only have more reasons to praise the name of Jesus.

Avatar

Sunday night, my brother Jeff invited me to join some friends to see Avatar in 3D. Filled with suspense, action, emotion, and breathtaking beauty, this James Cameron production has been a big hit in the theaters. While still filled with a fair amount of violence and language, I enjoyed it for its numerous redeemable qualities.

Though his purpose is quite different, Jake Sully’s role is like a missionary to the Na’vi people of Pandora. In the avatar of a Na’vi body, Jake must understand this indigenous culture from the inside. Others had gone before him and imposed their own culture on the Na’vi. But Jake’s response was different. He wanted to learn from them. “It’s hard to fill a cup that is already full,” one of the Na’vi tell him.

Jake’s reply was, “Well, mine is empty.”

Jake has a change of heart when he learns that this “barbarian” culture has qualities that are not inferior, they are just different. He learns to love what the Na’vi love and he earns their respect.

Coming from an ethnocentric, prideful, and materialistic culture myself, I want the humility of Jake Sully as I interact with people from other cultures. I am educated, experienced, and know how to teach, but when I go I can’t rely on my strengths to accomplish God’s purposes.

John the Baptist speaks of Jesus in John 3:30. “He must become greater, I must become less.” In this way, I want to be an empty cup among the cultures I serve. If I can be empty of myself, completely dependent on Christ alone, then I have hope of sharing the good news to ears that will listen.

Official Avatar Website

The Missional Mind (Additional thoughts on Avatar)

Around the World in 33 Days

A while back I read Jules Verne's classic, Around the World In 80 days. I loved the idea of traveling to a variety of places, meeting numerous people in a multitude of contexts, and literally circumnavigate the globe. In 2006 I began a journey that ended 11 months later traveling from West to East. On February 18 I will depart again, returning 33 days later, this time going East to West.

Although traveling excites me, it is not my motivation.

My purpose in West Africa is to encourage the nationals running the ministry at the King's Arms Academy. My departure from Liberia nearly one year ago was with uncertainty and confusion. Since I have left, I have received word that my Liberian brothers and sisters have assumed all of the responsibilities to running a school and are doing a terrific job of it. I am proud of them. They need to hear that from me in person.

My purpose in Southeast Asia is more visionary in nature. From my desire to work among children and encourage educators in a variety of Southeast Asian contexts, it would most economical to be based in a central Southeast Asian location. From this side of the planet, Singapore and Chiang Mai have looked like excellent choices. However, since I have not been to either of these places, a trip to check things out, establish connections, and learn first hand is in line.

In 33 days, here's the itinerary:

February 18: Travel Day: Minneapolis, Chicago, London

February 19-21: United Kingdom

February 22: Travel Day: London, Casablanca, Monrovia

February 23-March 8: Liberia

March 9-10: Travel Days: Monrovia, Casablanca, London, Singapore

March 11-16: Singapore

March 17-21: Chiang Mai, Thailand

March 22: Travel Day: Singapore, Chicago, Minneapolis

Undetermined Location

"Hi. I'm a Missionary to, well, actually I have no idea where I'm going."

That sounds a little strange. But it's been my response for the past three months. True, it has been frustrating at times, but I praise God that He has used the uncertain "where" to help me focus on the "what." At least I have a clear picture that I will be discipling and mentoring young people so that they can share Christ with the next generation.

For a month or two, I was considering ministry in the Middle East. But with all the turmoil there, Lebanon has move off the top of my list. Believe it or not, I've been thinking more about my times in Southeast Asia in 2005, 2006 and again this last September. For now it looks like I could be based in Singapore or Chiang Mai, Thailand making frequent short term trips into other Southeast Asian countries for the course of about two or three years. After that, I would re-asses the option of relocation to a specific location in this region.

Maybe, sometime very soon, my title will say something other than, "Jonathan Stone, Missionary to Undetermined Location."

A Potted Plant

In college my room was nicknamed, "The Jungle." When I moved to West Africa in 2006 I had to find homes for over 50 houseplants. My favorite season is Spring when I can be outside digging in the cool soil, getting dirt caked beneath my fingernails, so that I can transform the wasteland of a backyard into a garden paradise.

A plant in the garden thrives. It enjoys the stability of consistent light, water, and soil.

I was that type of plant for a while. My roots had penetrated deep, soaking up the consistency of routine, friends and family close at hand, and a well-paying job that I loved.

There comes a time when a plant must be moved. A sharp-bladed shovel must sever root ball from soil and transplant the garden specimen into a pot. With proper fertilization, and regular water and sunlight, the plant will do well until its new location has been identified.

I've been that potted plant for nearly three years now.

In 2006, I said goodbye to my friends and family, my car, my home, and my garden. Though I enjoyed the greenhouse of the tropics for a season, I now find myself moving from place to place in my Jeep Wrangler. It's a simple life, and for that I am thankful. I am mobile.

Yet with the roots bound against the inside of some terracotta, I look forward to a garden somewhere, sometime.

God is faithful. In a way we are all potted plants. The only garden that will really satisfy is the one we will be planted in after we hear the words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

Jonathan N. Stone, WorldVenture Missionary

Dream Big

Nathan is a life that is changed.

On a Sunday afternoon, my much-needed nap was interrupted with a "tap, tap, tap," outside my window. With my departure from Liberia quickly approaching, I did not want to take time to talk to Nathan, who sometimes talked for the pleasure of hearing his own voice. But when, with tears in his eyes, he said, "Teacher Stone, can I talk to you for a minute," I knew there was nothing more important than what Nathan had to say.

When I dream of heaven, I see kids there from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation worshiping the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I see kids that I shared Christ with standing with those they shared Christ with who brought their friends.

"I had a vision last night," Nathan began. "I was standing in a white, white place. And Jesus was there. And there were one thousand people standing behind me. I turned and asked one of them, 'why are you here?' And they said, 'because you told us.'"

There were days in Liberia I wanted to give up. I wanted to go home. There were days I was convinced I was having no impact.

But that wasn't true.

God is faithful. He used me to do His work that honors Himself. Nathan is a part of my dream. I see his face and his one thousand others standing there too. But Nathan isn't the only one I know. There are more kids. And the kids aren't just from Liberia either.

Dream big.

Cedar and Stone

My vision is to disciple and mentor children in an academic environment to share Christ with the next generation.

As I have been appointed as a WorldVenture missionary, I have been praying about where the Lord will lead me to accomplish this vision. As a well-traveled elementary school teacher, I could list quite a number of places from South America to South East Asia, Africa to Europe where I could go. So, where? Where has my heart not been drawn?

The Lord quietly laid on my heart the people of the Middle East. In a Mediterranean land of turmoil, perhaps there are children that need the love of Christ. Perhaps in the shadow of some Cedar tree, the Lord will use this Stone to bring glory to Himself.