Our Sunday worship service here consisted of us playing for about 45 minutes and then we all went to this gorgeous valley by a river for a picnic. We played football, frisbee, badminton... talked about life, love, God... Now that was church!!! We went there last year and it seemed even more beautiful this time. What a great community here...
This morning I woke up at 4:30am from the muslim call to prayer (call comes over the loudspeaker every morning all throughout the city). I found myself praying for my community back home which happen to be in the middle of our weekly worship gathering (it was 6:30pm back home on Sunday night). I miss you all and look forward to seeing you when I get home.
I ended up going for a jog this morning about 5:45... I got to see a great sunrise and the weather was awesome... a slight chill and no humidity...
After breakfast we climbed this mountain near where we are staying... Mt. Sulimon... I will post some pics of it. This place is so beautiful. Once you get to the top you can see over the entire city in one direction. On another you can oversee neighboring Uzbekestan. In another direction it overlooks a valley and another mountainside covered with rolling hills, green grass, and goats... It is seriously something from a postcard... only better...
Every once in a while in life I think people have what I have heard refered to as "holy moments"... A time where something so "deep" is occurring that you can't avoid thinking there is more to life than just what we can see or explain. I feel as though I have had a few of these since I've been in Kyrgyzstan. Two occured today... one was while we were on the mountain this morning. I walked off by myself and really was just being quiet. I found myself offering my worries, hopes, fears, and dreams to a God that seemed somehow closer than He had been in a while. I fealt an overwhelming peace... I told Jon, it was if God were saying... "I know you are confused... I know things don't always make sense... rest in me.... I am God".
Another moment came this afternoon while we were visiting an orphanage here. There is a lady in this city who has started an orphanage and has 10 children there. She has already adopted 4 of them and in the process of adopting the others. The moment came from an overwhelming sense that what this lady was doing was simply "right". She sensed a wrong in this world and was compassionate and compelled to fix it. In her home, there was love in the air. It was almost as if you could breathe it... I am moved to bring her mission to our community back home and look for ways for us to help her. Thank you God for allowing us to see your goodness... thank you for moving in this world...
I needed these 2 moments today. Especially the first one as I found out later today that my dog has died since I've been away from home. I know dogs are not people but if you know me... I love this dog... she was my close friend for 11 years... I know my mom is upset too so I am praying for her... I hear she was with her at the vet when she died. Perhaps that was just as overwhelming a moment for her as I have had. I think those holy moments prolly come not just in "good" times but in anytime where we just feel "alive". I am not sure what happens when animals die... I knw the Bible talks of a new heaven and a new earth... Maybe they'll be around... I am sure when I get home there will be a tribute to "Honeybear" as she was as good a dog as there has ever been..
We also found out that Jon's brother-in-law passed away last night. I have heard his last few moments here were relatively peaceful... for that we are thankful... He told me that he had a very similar "moment" on the mountain today... I am thankful that our God is compassionate and knows of every need that we have... meeting them in ways I am sure we don't even completely understand... It brings great peace resting in "God being God..."
Tomorrow I am going to not ramble and just post some pictures... I know there are some people checking this to get a look at what their family is doing... so if that is you I am sorry to slow you down with my ramblings... things are going great... We have all been overwhelmed by our time here. I will try and get some shots up of everyone...
As far as these "moments" are concerned, I am convinced we don't spend enough time just "being" in our culture back home... I know there is work to be done but life is meant to be lived... I don't think we can live if we don't even know where we are. I pray each of us finds time to reflect and figure out where we are... it might after all, aide us in where we are going...
Love and peace,
-Jason
3 comments:
Sorry about Honey, Jason. Kind of bizarre the way that whole thing happened. Tell Jon I'm really sorry about Katie's brother as well. That must be impossible for him being so far away. Keep your posts coming, I look for them every morning. I need my k-stan fix. It's exciting to hear about the goings-on there.
bro...so sorry to hear about honey as well.
what an inspiring post - i think you are on to something with it for sure. and dont stop rambling - God is speaking through you in your rambles. continually praying for all of you..
Hey bro,
Sorry about your dawg, that totally sucks.
Thanks for the updates. God seems to be moving on you and your crew. Tha is so rad.
I think sometimes we have to get away from our "norms" in life...Its refreshing and causes such clear thinking to take place.
Peace
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