Hurry Up and Wait!

How many times do you rush to leave the house, race on the edge of the speed limit plus five, fly into wherever it is you are headed to find yourself at the back of a slow moving line?

In the United States I am submerged in the Western Cultural Mindset of "Hurry Up and Wait." My calendar is filled, chaining me to a rigid pace with very little margin. I finish the day trading my list of unfinished tasks for the latest young adult fiction novel only to drift off before finishing one page.

Yet there is a lesson God is still teaching me in this time: patience.

Waiting on His timing.

Resting in His hands.

With Singapore as my decided (yet not officially announced to the world) destination, I have massive amounts of tasks to complete. I race to be fully funded, trained, and prepared, so that I can begin my language study and integration into Southeast Asian ministry. However, I have to remind myself that these things take time. If I just hurry through this season of life, I may find a slow moving line once I reach my destination.

Can someone say, "Hurry up and wait?"

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

Jonathan N. Stone, WorldVenture Missionary

Here to Canoe

Two men were canoeing in the Boundary Water's Canoe Area. An ice cold, Canadian wind had picked up and frigged water continued to splash into their canoe as they paddled. Both were exhausted. But one man had a smile on his face while the other was smug. Finally, in the lee of an island the men took a moments break.

"How can you smile now?" the first man asked.

"Just think of the character we are building," the second man replied.

"I won't smile until our fire is blazing at our campsite."

"We didn't come up here for the destination; we came up here to canoe."

This journey to the mission field can be pretty tough. WorldVenture is having me read books, write reports, make phone calls, give presentations and budget my time. But I have to stop and think, am I doing this just to get on the mission field? What will be the point once I reach the mission field if I haven't learned something along the way?

If God was only about our destination, He would have taken us to heaven the moment of our salvation. God cares about the process. We are here to canoe. Sure, we have the destination to look forward to, but God is teaching us something while we paddle.

Time to leave the island behind. "Let's keep paddling!"

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.