Stormy Times - March 2011 Issue of The House

It’s hilarious, really. This fall, we “paved” a flowerbed with concrete stones we made with some mix and a mold, as we decided we wanted to put big pots and solar lights there instead of tulips and roses. Looked just fine, we thought. Then, the bluebells decided to come out. And come out, they have, pushing sections of concrete stone out of their little way, forcing their shoots and leaves to the air and light.

I was thinking of the March issue of The House being about stormy times that deepen our roots in our faith and make us stronger – spiritually, emotionally, and psychologically. When our fall and winter has been as wet as the past months have been, Western Washington people seem to really be watching closely for any sunny day, any sign of Spring.

And the “winter months” of our spiritual journey, the stormy times, can help us, if we let them, to get more deeply into the Word; find a friend with whom to talk about our walk, if we don’t have one already; ask God to show us where we need to grow; study a book like Crazy Love, or Making All Things New; or look for ways to serve others, as Jesus taught us to do in response to His Love for us.

When my daughter, Susan, was very young, she began singing for church. I think she was two years old the first time she sang for service. One of the songs she sang was “Little Flowers Never Worry”. The words are:

“Little flowers never worry
When the wind begins to blow.
And they never, never cry
When the rain begins to fall.

Though it’s wet and oh so cold,
Soon the sun will shine again.
Then they’ll smile unto the world,
For their beauty to behold.

When the clouds begin to gather
And the storm begins to blow,
Little flowers don’t complain,
Though they’re tossing to and fro.

Oh, I guess they’ve learned the secret,
They don’t fret because they know,
If it never, never rained,
Then they’d never, never grow.

So, let it rain, let it rain, let it pour,
Let old trouble keep knock’n at my door,
If we learn the right from wrong,
It will help to make us strong.

Lord, please help us learn the secret,
Even little flowers know,
If it never, never rains
Then we’ll never, never grow.”

_Beth Bernard

As March winds blow, and April comes with showers (more rain?!!?!?), let’s ask God to help us grow deeper in our faith, put down roots in practical ways, and celebrate with Him every evidence of His Love blossoming in our hearts and lives. Keep shoving against those “stones”!

Don’t be shy! We NEED to hear from you! Please write to us and share your thoughts and experiences in walking the Walk, and especially, practical ways you are “putting down roots”.

Send your thoughts, questions, ideas, book recommendations and experiences to: hagle54@gmail.com, or Mary Hagle c/o EHA, 1405 East Burcham Street, Kelso WA 98626.

We grow as we share . . .

Mary Hagle

Editor

“The House”

The Process of Finding A Mentor

By: Steve Jones

Sometime in 2009 Pastor Nick’s message was on mentoring. He discussed how important it is for Christian brothers and sisters to have someone in their life who can help grow their relationship with Jesus Christ. As someone just returning to the church and a relationship with Jesus, I understood this importance. Finding that person to work with took longer than I had hoped.

My search for a mentor during the next year was casual at best. There are many good men at East Hills Alliance who have and display a strong faith. The relationship with a mentor is what is important to me. They must understand and appreciate each other. Each person must be patient and listen to the other.

Recently, a casual conversation with a co-worker revealed that I was a Christian. He asked some questions about speaking in tongues. When I mentioned this to Tom Hight, he suggested we meet for a Bible study. We met at East Hills on the Thursday prior to his passing. This was the only one-on-one meeting Tom and I would have. As we parted that afternoon, we stood in the cold air talking about how we should get together again. We gave brotherly hugs and parted.

The following Sunday after church service I was standing in the aisle speaking with a mother who was asking me to mentor her young son in a Scout project. As we spoke someone walked by and gave me a hip bump. I turned to see Tom looking back at me. We smiled at each other as only good friends or brothers can do. I was so excited. I knew at that moment Tom Hight was my mentor.

The news of Tom’s passing came Tuesday, and I was devastated. This was the same day I was to meet with my young Scout friend. I knew Tom would want me to continue. As I met with my young friend, I kept thinking, "What would Tom do?" "What would Tom say?" Suddenly being a good mentor had taken on great importance.

Tom’s sudden passing meant our mentoring relationship had ended before it had hardly begun. Or had it? Much of the past week has been spent thinking about Tom. He was so happy to see me return to church. Tom always listened to my stories of my Christian growth. He was always happy to see me. We spoke often about a very good friend of mine with whom Tom had worked for thirty years. He always encouraged me to be active in the church. It is now obvious to me that Tom was mentoring me all along. The importance of this is not lost on me.

Pastor Nick and Pastor Caleb have asked each us to have a mentor and to become mentors. Those of us who accept God’s challenge need to look no further for an example than the man who greeted us each Saturday and Sunday service. Tom’s father-in-law called him, "The most Godly man I know." Pastor Nick spoke of Tom as a great man and how others must step forward to fill the void. It is important for me to accept the challenges of leading and mentoring. Tom Hight wouldn’t have it any other way.

A Mentor To Lean On In Tough Times

It was through reading the book, Touchdown Alexander, the story about the Seattle Seahawk running back Shaun Alexander and his experiences as a Christian that

I first contemplated finding a mentor who could support me in my own journey with God.

He writes about his pastor, who encouraged his parishioners to have a mentor, a protégé and encourager in their life. As I began to pray and ask God for help to find a mentor, He gave me a surprisingly quick answer. I knew I needed someone who was a godly example; someone I could trust. He needed to be someone that I could be honest with and respected enough to heed his advice. Tom Hight fit the criteria.

I hadn't spent any time with Tom outside of church, but every time I spoke with Tom or watched him at church, I saw a man who cared about people and was doing his best to serve God. So I approached Tom one night following a Monday Night Live meeting to see if he would be interested in joining me in this special relationship. I was a little nervous, again, not knowing him very well. As it turned out, he was so gracious and suggested we meet and get to know one another first. From that first meeting to the last (which occurred the Wednesday before he passed away) I knew God had his hand in bringing us together. In one of the most challenging years of my life, I had a mentor and friend to look to for wise counsel and support.

Little did I know that God's timing, as usual, was going to be perfect. Three months into our regular meetings, my younger brother, Craig, died of a heart attack at 38 years of age. As a family, we had celebrated his birthday earlier that very day. Craig was my only sibling. So while I grieved the loss of my brother, I tried to be there for my sister-in-law Teresa, my three nephews and niece, my parents and my own family. Thankfully, Tom was a constant support with his prayers and encouragement. He and Ann attended the memorial service down in Vancouver, where I spoke about my brother and what he meant to me.

I leaned on Tom as he kindly reminded me of God's strength and love.

I so appreciated the fact that God knew I was going to need a mentor more than ever and that Tom was willing to serve in that role for me.

There were other difficult situations I faced during the fifteen months I spent with Tom. With each one, he consistently listened, empathized, and offered words of encouragement and wisdom from the Bible. Whenever I told Tom how much I appreciated our relationship, he would say the feeling was mutual. Even though I was the one being mentored, I would ask him how his life was going and what I could pray about for him. I was honored that he trusted me enough to allow me to be a part of his life. This demonstrated how mentors are human too. Humility, when practiced in front of others, is a powerful testimony of what God can do through us.

Through my relationship with Tom I gained a deeper understanding of the verse found in James 4:10,

"Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and he will lift you up"

My respect for Tom grew as he showed his humanity and dependence on God.

I will cherish the time I had with Tom Hight as my mentor and dear friend. I am a better man and a stronger Christian for having known him. The lessons I learned I will forever remember and proudly pass on if ever asked to be a mentor to someone else someday. I hadn't anticipated gaining a friend by having a mentor, but what a wonderful and blessed byproduct of having one! I have come to believe that only when someone is willing to become a friend can he become an effective mentor. If you do not yet have a mentor in your life, I strongly encourage you to find one. I guarantee you will not regret it.

-Mike Mendenhall

A Mentor Named Tom

By: Cameron McKinney　

Tom was my Mentor. We met on Wednesdays every other week at Starbucks. We started out just getting to know one another over several weeks, sharing family backgrounds, how we met our spouses and how we came to know and follow Jesus Christ.

　　　　 He was the one I would talk to if I was having family struggles or had questions on Godly parenting. Tom was always encouraging and never had a judgmental response to anything I shared. He was an excellent example of what a godly man is and should be.

　　　　 I know when someone dies, people "come out of the woodwork" to say all kinds of good things about them even if they didn't really know them. However, with Tom, he had a way of impacting everyone　he came into contact with.　

Tom was the man I want to become. He was generous, kind and always willing to help or listen. Tom was a righteous man and full of Godly wisdom.

　　　　 There was a time when one of my children had a bit of an "error in judgment" and Tom offered some advice that most likely saved me from making a very serious parenting mistake. His advice also　preserved my child’s dignity, saving them from further humiliation, while restoring them to a place where they could have continued positive influences and be able to rebuild trust. Because　I followed Tom's Godly advice, that child felt the freedom to repent and not repeat the same unwise choices.

　　　　 　I miss Tom and can't wait to see him on the other side. Knowing he is with our precious LORD and SAVIOR brings great comfort. Yet I must confess to being envious of who he gets to keep company with, "Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses". I'm truly excited for him. I imagine him dozing off in his EZ-chair,　then waking up and the first　thing he sees is "THE SON of THE LIVING GOD, JESUS THE CHRIST" our Master and　King, surrounded by ten thousand times ten thousands of　His angels and the great cloud of witnesses. WOW!!! AWESOME!!!　 I can't wait to join him. "Soon and very soon we are going to see the King"! Amen

　

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

An Interview With George & Tricia Salas

Bio-Notes . . . Tricia Salas had her first conversion experience at about the age of ten, during the time her grandparents were taking her to church with them. At about thirteen she kind of fell away from a relationship with God. She has been coming to the Easter service at Kelso High for the last four years, and she and George had been talking with Ann Hight for about two years about marriage and parenting their son, George.

Tricia made the decision to return to her faith in Jesus this past November, and George followed in December, surrendering his life to God for the first time.

Both George and Tricia grew up in California and finished high school there. They have made Longview/Kelso their home for the last six years. George works with Steve & Cheryl Mazzuca at Grocery Outlet, grateful for the kind of employers they are, and Tricia is the manager at the Kelso Safeway Starbucks. She enjoys interacting with people, so it’s a good fit for her. They have a delightful little boy we met for the first time during this interview, named George after his father.

They don’t seem to have a lot of free time, but they do enjoy "hanging" together, and are working on developing a time of reading the Bible together. They like watching movies, and George is busy with on-line marketing. They are also trying to establish a time of praying together, and for Tricia, the experience of "talking to God all day" is new, but great. She wants to get past the "don’t have time . . . I’ll do it later" aspect of Bible study and prayer with George, but they’re definitely "working on it"!

Tricia has started reading Five Love Languages, about learning a simple way to express feelings and bring joy back into marriage, and George has been reading bits of a book about Christian persecution and the hardships of being a Christian, during his lunch break at work.

The House: As we talked about, the February issue of The House is focused on Mentoring, and particularly, the relationships that grew out of knowing and talking with Tom Hight. I know you told me that wasn’t directly true for you, but that he did influence your spiritual journey. Can you tell us more about how that’s true for you?

Tricia: I only had brief conversations with Tom when I came into Celebration Services every weekend. He was always at the back of the church, always asked me about my week, always asked about George, even when he wasn’t with me. But . . . the counseling George and I have been doing with Ann is based on the relationship she and Tom shared, and the way they raised their children.

She talked to us always about how they loved one another, and how forgiving and loving Tom was. One example she used was what she called "the gas fairy" because she would go to bed knowing she needed gas in her car, and when she got to her car to go to the church, Tom would have taken her car and filled the tank for her.

One phrase Ann repeats often sticks in my mind: "Love is kind".

An example of Tom and Ann’s parenting style was splitting responsibilities. Ann would wait for Tom to take care of the part he was responsible for when he got home from work. They respected what the other brought to their parenting relationship.

One funny story is how, when they were newly married, Ann thought it would be funny to pour water on Tom. She told me he got so mad, and she had never seen him mad. She said she was afraid he was going to leave. She said he hadn’t ever gotten that mad again, but she never threw water on him again either!

How well they lived their life together has really impressed upon me how important it is. My dad died when I was fifteen. I never had the opportunity to experience what it would have been like to have parents like Tom and Ann, but I want to base all my relationships on their example.

The House: George, you have been chiming in to agree with Tricia all along the way tonight. Do you have something to add?

George: Just that there were so many people who would say, "I need to know what to do in this situation. I think I’ll go talk to Tom. He will know the best thing to do." I want to be like him.

My Friend Dave, a Mentor

By: Nick Stumbo

As a high school student, I was pretty sure the world revolved around me. Most of us live with that delusion for awhile. (Some of us for far too long!) I would like to tell you about a mentor and friend I had at that time. His name was Dave. Dave was a boisterous, quirky twenty-something who did ministry at our church and was a local substitute teacher. Dave was single. Dave sometimes said the wrong thing and inadvertently offended people. And for some reason, Dave wanted to be my friend.

Dave would find ways to include me in just about everything he did. Dave and I performed puppet shows together for kid’s church and walked in community parades as clowns. I went car shopping with Dave and hung out with him while he ran errands. Dave introduced me to unique ethnic foods and showed up at all my basketball games to take pictures. Most of my high-school teammates thought he worked for the newspaper and were rather shocked to find out he was just there to take pictures of me.

And all along the way, Dave shared his life with me. He talked of his struggles and his joys. He told me what he thought about God and what he believed God thought about Him. At no point in this friendship can I remember Dave telling me that he was trying to mentor me, but trying or not, he did. He invited me to learn about life and faith with him. As I look back, this friendship had a more significant impact on my life than any other relationship outside of the one with my parents.

This month, we are focusing on the topic of mentoring. I know that many of you reading this article are on the lookout for a godly mentor in your life. But the thought of becoming a mentor intimidates you. You wonder if you have what it takes; if you’re close enough to God. Let me encourage you from my experience. Dave made a difference in my life, not because he was godly, but because he wanted to be godly. Dave helped me grow, not because he had it all together, but because he opened his life to God and others. Dave taught me about God and faith, not because he knew all the right answers, but because he showed me how to ask the right questions and wrestle in faith with the realities of life.

And now, I believe in you because Dave believed in me. If you will pursue God with your whole heart, faltering though your steps may be, that very journey is what God will use to touch and change the lives of others. So get on the pursuit! And invite someone to join you along the way. You never know; you just might become their mentor.

Mentoring. Walking alongside. Friendship

What is the value to us in one life lived in a side-by-side relationship with the Creator of the Universe? As I considered focusing on love for the February newsletter, something held me back. I didn’t have romantic love in mind. Certainly Hallmark and flower shops have the corner on that market, in many ways.

I was thinking instead of one of the loves Lewis discusses in The Four Loves: Friendship. We may still yet come back to the subject of love in a later issue of The House. Lewis’ is not a simple idea. Like most of his observations, there are many twists and turns and "attic rooms" to take captive our minds and imaginations. What was sticking in my mind about love is his statement about Friendship: "What have all these ’unconcerning things, matters of fact’ to do with the real question, Do you see the same truth?.

This question is the base, for Lewis, of Friendship.

Then came the loss of such a true friend as Tom Hight. And on the heels of his memorial service, the Celebration Service message about Mentorship. The rapidity of it all took our breath away. But, it’s no surprise, really, where God took us. This issue of The House is about Mentoring, and most particularly, the Mentoring some of us were privileged to experience from Tom. And how he asked Lewis’ question: Do you see the same truth?

Thank you so much, those of you who were willing to share your experiences with Tom, and what it meant to be mentored by him. Yet another gift from his life: an example for us all as we follow our pastor’s invitation to ask God to show us whom we might mentor, and be mentored by.

　　　　- Mary Hagle

　

　

　

　

　

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

To Honduras and Back

Bio-Notes

. . . Pat Enbody:

Pat accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior at the age of six. She had attended a revival service in Lawrence, Kansas, with her family, and her dad asked her if she wanted to go forward and make a declaration of her faith, and she did! She attended Friends Academy High School in Haviland, Kansas, completed two years of junior college, was a beauty school instructor, and taught HeadStart. Serving other people is Pat’s favorite use of free time - especially children. "Children have been my life. I adopted eight and had three of my own. I’ve been a guardian and foster parent many times, and have always wanted to do these things. He gives us the desires of our hearts."

Latest reading material: Jesus Manifesto by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola

The House: Our focus for the January newsletter is on "walking out our faith". Pastor Nick wanted to hear more about your trip to Honduras, as it certainly represents this aspect of spiritual discipline.

Pat: I sponsor Jensy, a girl at the Children’s Village, Tegucialpita, Honduras, a part of Worldwide Heart to Heart Ministries. Jensy is fifteen now, but our relationship began two years ago. We write letters to one another faithfully, and I promised her one day I would come to see her.

The House: Many of us sponsor children in other countries. How did you come to the decision to take this trip?

Pat: As I said, I had promised Jensey one day I would visit her. And then, last January a woman who takes teams on trip for WWH2H asked me, "Have you ever thought about going to visit Jansey?"

This was WAY out of my comfort zone! I had never done anything like this. I was shocked. But, I decided this was an invitation I couldn’t pass up. I began getting my shots, getting the paperwork done, and buying my plane ticket.

The House: What kind of impact has this had on you since your return?

Pat: I am so aware of how here at home we think our happiness is in our "stuff". We think we have to be surrounded by our possessions. The children of the Children’s Village are happy to have food and shelter. Two lane roads serve as their "freeways". Mechanics come along to broken-down vehicles on a bicycle, with their tools on their backs. Every day, electricity and water is only available half the time. And yet, these are happy people. No one I met has a car. They walk to church, but the church was full at worship time. We ate with the children every day. They ate beans, rice, soup, chicken and tortillas every day, but it was good!

Mothers who can’t feed their children bring them to the orphanage and beg them to take their children, so they will be fed and clothed. These mothers come after working all day to visit their children at the orphanage, go to church with them, and mother them as best they can even though they can’t afford to keep their children with them. All of this, we take as our privilege, without considering what a privilege it is to be able to do so.

The House: You returned after 10 days there this November. What was Thanksgiving like for you this year?

Pat: This was the most thankful Thanksgiving I’ve ever experienced. When Jansey and I were introduced, she was so amazed that I came to see her that she cried. I had told her I would make the trip, but she was still touched that I was really there.

While I was there, Nora, 13, another of the teenagers there, asked if she could sing for me. She sang, "Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord," and she meant it! She has inspired me to see people through the spiritual eyes of my heart, through God’s eyes.

The House: What was the greatest reward to your faith walk from the trip?

Pat: To see the work the Lord is doing. My team had the joy of leading a 13-year-old to know Him while I was there. I got to take part in his Kingdom while here on earth. We should be excited about what we get to do to participate with God in what he is doing while we’re here.

I’m convinced these children who are being saved from starvation and death have been saved for a special purpose the Lord has in mind for them. Their faith will be strong because of their struggle to survive. It’s a privilege to get to be part of ministry at this time in my life.

In two years I lost my mother, my husband, a son, 12, and a step-son, 32. This invitation to go to Honduras and meet Jensy was in God’s timing. I had been through a lot of grief. This was like a gift from Him to bring me out of my grief and give me purpose and direction again.

The House: What would you say to the people of EHA who might be interested in having this kind of experience?

Pat: Get involved in this ministry, or another like it! Contact WWH2H at wwh2h.org to sponsor a child. Support the Byrom family in Sarajevo/Bosnia. Find out how you can help someone locally. Try to give your life away! You can’t out-give God! You will get back more than you can ever give away!

I am so grateful to the people at EHA who prayed for me. I specifically asked for prayers that I would be able to keep up physically with my team, not get sick, and have the energy to do what we went to do. It is a twelve-hour flight to get there. We stayed at the orphanage. We were with the children all day, and had meetings every night, the seven of us, to sort 18 duffel bags of gifts into packages for the children for Christmas. It was hard, but so worth it. ALL those prayers were answered in abundance! Thank you!

The House: And the future?

Pat: I’m already planning my next trip! In November, 2011, I’ll be going back to teach 12 high school girls to sew. This will be a skill they will be able to use well.

I’m so blessed to have this opportunity. God is so good to me. I can see other people as He would want me to, because He has opened the eyes of my heart.

Walking Out Our Faith

These past three months, The House has focused on the spiritual practice of Solitude; Practicing the Presence; how to "be" with God. It has been a rich experience to hear from one another as we look for words to say what it means to have a lively relationship with God, exploring what it means to be in close communion with Him.

And now, it seems the Holy Spirit is reminding us that the natural response to that experience is "walking out our faith", "putting feet to our prayers", "walking the talk", and "making new resolutions".

"All Jesus' words and actions emerge from his intimate relationship with his Father. ‘ Do you not believe,’ Jesus says, ‘that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? What I say to you I do not speak of my own accord: it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his works. You must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe it on the evidence of these works’ (John 14:10-11).

"Just as all Jesus' words and actions emerge from his communion with his Father, so all our words and actions must emerge from our communion with Jesus. ‘In all truth I tell you,’ he says, ‘whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself, and will perform even greater works. ... Whatever you ask for in my name I will do’ (John 14:12-13). It is this profound truth that reveals the relationship between the spiritual life and the life of ministry."

Henri Nouwen

There are so many amazing ways we can make our lives available to God to "perform the same works" as Jesus did! The House will share the ideas and experiences of six ways; but YOUR story, YOUR path, is as unique as our God is! What direction will He lead YOU in this new year? Please consider the challenge of participating in something from one of these six, or following as the Holy Spirit leads you to another – and write to us to share where He takes you! Remember, the word "enthusiasm" means "God in us" and/or "belief in special revelations of the Holy Spirit"!

Love INC

One great way to follow Jesus’ leading in this adventure of faith is a very practical one. The good news is – YOU are already a part of it, because you are a part of East Hills!! East Hills decided many months ago to be one of several participating local churches in something called Love INC (Love In the Name of Christ). Love INC of Cowlitz County is a network of local churches, church volunteers, and community organizations coming together to help people in need.

Through a clearinghouse, Love INC will receive requests for help, screen the requests for extent of need and legitimacy, and refer the request to a local church ministry, church volunteer, or community agency. Love INC will follow up to ensure the need was met and to offer spiritual support.

The beautiful thing about Love INC is that it isn’t just another social service agency trying to meet needs – it’s meeting needs in the Name of Jesus. The church (us!) can take its rightful place in the front of the line James was talking about when He said, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress." –James 1:27

In the next few months, you will be invited to name ways you feel equipped to help people in need; given the opportunity to use your unique gifts and talents in specific, manageable ways to serve others. Perhaps you can begin now to pray about how God wants to use the abilities and interests He gave you in very real and practical ways, so that when the question comes, you will be ready to answer!

In this issue, we will also hear from Jason Hoover and Habitat for Humanity, an opportunity to challenge yourself in a hike into the mountains with Jason, Pat Enbody’s Honduras mission trip experience, Anna Milligan’s letter from Cambodia, and Pastor Nick’s article about A.W. Tozer’s "Five Resolutions to Make and Keep".

Where will YOU walk with God this year?!? God’s Blessings on your travels! Please write and tell us about your journey!

Send your thoughts, questions, ideas, book recommendations and experiences to: hagle54@gmail.com, or Mary Hagle c/o EHA, 1405 East Burcham Street, Kelso WA 98626.

We grow as we share . . .

Mary Hagle, Editor

The House

Habitat for Humanity

A little over a year ago our church was given the opportunity to partner with other churches in the region to build a house as part of a Habitat for Humanity (HFH) project. I was asked to coordinate the volunteers with the Habitat organization. I felt there were many benefits to working with Habitat.

• People of the Longview-Kelso area see the EHA name somewhere out in the community away from the church building.
• A family in need gets help through the use of our talents
• God's will is accomplished here on earth through serving
• God's name is glorified instead of reviled
• A sense of community both inside and outside the church is created through a shared serving experience
• A person can learn how to repair or remodel a house in a non-threatening way.
• Getting to know other people in our church and outside of our church

As you can read there were many benefits working on a Habitat home. Even if a person had no experience, a warm welcome was extended and the person was made to feel that he or she was involved as much as anyone else. A typical day started around 8:30 a.m. and began with a gathering of all who were there for a quiet time/devotional followed by a review of all safety procedures. No one is asked to perform a task that is unsafe or makes a person feel uncomfortable. Afterwards the Habitat co-ordinator started describing and assigning tasks based usually on ability and experience. Inexperienced people are usually paired up with a more knowledgeable person who guides the task. Around the noon lunch time, other volunteers show up with a fantastic lunch already prepared so the workers take a break to eat but do not have to take time for food preparation or cleanup. Providing lunches is another option for volunteering for those who feel they have no construction skills. Our EHA group always had someone ready to step in and provide a great lunch. Usually the work started winding down around 3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. unless the day’s tasks were completed before that time.

The work is not always the "fun stuff". Many times there is menial work to be done, but the next big project cannot get started until the little stuff like preparation and clean up get done. But it is work that must be done. Menial work is well… menial, but many times this type of work provided for more time to interact with co-workers. Learning who had grandkids, where someone worked, or other little known facts about your co-workers can be a great menial job reliever. You find out that there is more to the someone when you spend an afternoon prepping window protection for upcoming texturing of the walls.

What if I make a mistake? Usually if you are not sure of what to do you will find a foreman and ask him or her. But mistakes still happen. On our project our team worked hard in the morning to prepare and install the trusses for the roof. Our goal was to get the trusses up and complete as much of the roof sheeting as possible. Our team was pumped and making good progress. But the truss installers noticed the measurements used to keep the trusses even were starting to vary from the expected measurements. The more trusses we installed, the larger the difference between actual and expected measurements. the installation stopped and the foreman was consulted. After 15 minutes of consultations and pouring over the blueprints, it was determined that the Habitat foreman made a mistake in the laying out of the truss measurements. Our team had to pull up 12 installed trusses (about half of what was to be installed) and start over with the corrected measurements. Our team could have complained and grumped and walked out. The team was frustrated and disappointed, but we did not feel as bad as the Habitat foreman. So we applied God’s grace, tried not to show our disappointment and reset the trusses with no grumbling. After all the hard work, we still were able to set all the trusses and get the first couple of sheets of roof underlayment on top of the trusses so the next crew could easily finish the roof. So our group had a great opportunity to practice God’s grace.

We are not involved as a church with a Habitat project at this point in time, but do not let that hold you back. The local Habitat organization is currently building a house in Kelso and is continually asking for volunteers to help in the construction. There are plans for another house in Longview probably starting next spring or summer, so there are current and future opportunities for ministry through Habitat. There have been inquiries into if EHA will be involved in another build. I cannot say one way or another at this point, but there may be some from the church involved on an informal basis.

I would definitely encourage you to consider working on a Habitat project if you have any inclination or feel God’s tug on your heart. There are so many ways to be involved that anyone can find a place to contribute. Feel free to ask me if have questions about Habitat or you are interested in becoming involved somehow.

--Jason Hoover

Weekend Warriors

Our day around the city was another wet one. We seem to have brought Washington's weather over this valley for as long as we are here! It was powerful to stand on top of the city's highest building and pray for this wonderful city. As I mentioned in another post, we continue to feel a spiritual heaviness when we go to pray. I literally feel a tightness in my stomach when we pray here in public places. I am the first to admit that I don't always sense spiritual dynamics, but something is going on in the spiritual realm here. On the one hand it is very exciting to enter into this through prayer, but on the other hand, it also feels discouraging. You know how in some places, you just feel like praying? I would say Sarajevo is the opposite! If feels like some force is preventing us from prayer. Please keep praying!

We enjoyed a meal together, and then went to a movie. It's a bit of trip watching a movie in English and then seeing all the Bosnian subtitles. Oh- and they have assigned seating! Better get there early.

Today I got to preach at two of the local churches. Having each sentence translated makes the flow of a message very difficult, but it was such a tremendous honor to preach here. I feel like God was at work in the messages- I believe He can communicate in any language. The one picture here is taken from the very back of the room- yes, it is very small!

One more day to go and visit Mostar tomorrow. If you want to know what we'll be experiencing, google "stari most" bridge. We should have some good photo ops there!

It won't be long and we'll be touching down in the States again. Can't wait to see you!

Nick

Camp Ends

Yesterday was the final day of our English Camp as well as the open house program in the evening. I can't imagine a better end to our week! We were truly overwhelmed by the response. Every kid and at least one parent came back to the program. It was evident in so many ways that this week had meant a great deal not only to the kids, but also to the parents. We had numerous families asking, "When will you be back? When will you do this again? Why are you leaving?" A few parents had even gotten together and bought us gifts! This week made a deep impact here and we believe it created many, many connections with Sarajevans that the Byroms and others will be able to follow-up on.

We also gave our high school helpers some gifts to thank them for all the time they spent translating for us. You would have loved to see their reactions. They exclaimed, "This is too much! Why would you do this for us?" They were shocked that we would have gifts for them. I think they felt that we were doing them a favor by letting them work with us on their English. But we would have been lost without all their translating help. I think our team has left a lasting impression with them that we hope will lead to spiritual fruit in their lives.

Today we are off to pray our way around the city. Please pray for me if you get a chance- I have been asked to preach at two services tomorrow. Pray that God will give me the right topic and the right words to encourage the believers here. I am honored by this opportunity!

Our trip is winding down, but God is still at work! Thanks for your partnership with us-

Nick

English Camp: Day 4

The English Camp continues to go incredibly well. The kids are having so much fun, and each day we see more and more joy on their faces. It will be difficult to say good-bye tomorrow! Today we handed out free shirts with the Center's new logo on them. Hopefully this will get the name out there and people will recognize the Cultural Center as a great place to go and learn English. Thanks for supporting our team- your support enabled us to bring these shirts!

One of the best parts of the camp has been having our team interact with four Bosnian teenage girls. They have been our translators in many situations and have been a huge help. Today I wanted to invite you to be praying for them. They are Bosnian Muslims who really want to see their country have a better future. We are hoping that they will see in us a true difference that might lead them to truth. Their names are Mary, Anni, Dina, Nelly.

Michelle and I did English speaking practice with two of them tonight. They are so great- we would love to bring them home with us as exchange students! Not going to happen, but we really connected well with them.

Tomorrow is the big day- connecting with parents in the evening will be very crucial for the Byroms and Eikosts. Please continue to pray for us!

Nick

English Camp: Day 3

We have successfully reached the mid-week point of the English Camp! Everything continues to go very well, and every single kid continues to come back. Each day, they seem more connected and open to us. It is such a joy to watch them get a little more animated each day.

We see a big part of our trip being our opportunity to encourage people here. Tonight, we "forced" Mark and Debbie to go out on a date while we hung out with their girls. Before you get too impressed with this 'sacrifice', you should realize that we spent the night playing card games and eating donuts! Their girls are great and we were glad to give Mark and Debbie a break from us. :-)

A big prayer request right now is the Friday night program. We are inviting all of the kids back with their parents to perform their drama and sing some of the songs. This is a new approach for the Byroms, so be praying that families feel compelled to come back. We are hopeful that this will lead to many, many open doors for future ministry.

Thanks for being a part of the team with us-

Nick

Why We Pray

One of the common themes we are running across in our time here, whether we are talking to missionaries or to local believers, is that this is a very difficult place for the gospel to advance. People are very unresponsive to the message of Jesus. While this issue prevails across much of modern Europe, Sarajevo is the first city with which I have had personal connection. I would like to share with you what I am sensing from God concerning this city.

From my perspective, the issue in this city is NOT a lack of missionaries. As I have said elsewhere, we've met as many missionaries as believers. There are Christ-followers on the University campus, Christ-followers working in the city, Christ-followers working with the poor. All report the same experience: little to no response. The issue in this city is NOT a lack of a clear message. The pastors here are passionate preachers of God's word, and they handle Scripture accurately and in ways accessible to anyone. The issue in this city is NOT a lack of passion. The believers here are crying out for their city. They want to see God change this city with the love of Christ. The worship is powerful. And these passionate people are making repeated, creative attempts to reach people. Yet the result is the same: little to no response.

From my perspective, the issue in this city is almost entirely spiritual. For whatever reason, Darkness has a grip on this city and for whatever reason the Light has not YET penetrated. And I know of only one way to enter into a spiritual battle: PRAYER. We could easily give more money, send more people, or offer more ideas and encouragement. But none of these are lacking. What is lacking is a true move of God's Spirit in the hearts and minds of the Bosnian people.

So, may I plead with you? Become a prayer warrior for Bosnia. If you give money, give as much prayer. Our money is needed, but until the spiritual battle is won, it will continue to have little return on our investment. How can you pray?
1)Pray that spiritual darkness and oppression in this city will lift.
2)Pray that the enemy will have no power to hold people in bondage and oppression.
3)Pray that hearts and eyes would be opened to the love of Jesus.
4)Pray that God would miraculously and supernaturally be revealing Himself.
5)Pray for spiritual breakthrough.
6)Pray that God would empower and strengthen His people here.
And finally...
7)Pray that the LIGHT of CHRIST would shine in this city and that God would win the victory!

May God convince each one of us deeply that prayer is not the prelude to the work, but that prayer in and of itself is the work we have been called to do.

Blessings-
Nick

Kid's Camp: Day 2

The second day of our English speaking camp went very well. The kids came back excited and with seeming anticipation for the fun they knew they would have. Everything has gone so smoothly and it really feels like everyone, kids, adults, and helpers alike, are all having a great week. So far, our energy levels are good and we are staying healthy. You can be praying for Jocelyn, Mark and Debbie's second daughter. She came down with something today and has felt rotten all day.

I will add another post of a spiritual perspective in a moment, but for now I thought you might like to see some of the fun moments of today!

1)The hokey pokey is popular here in Bosnia, too.

2) The kids work on their surfing drama.

3) Mark Byrom having a little too much fun.

4) Surfin' Sam. I do not know this man.

5) The river flowing through the middle of Sarajevo, swollen with rain that just won't stop. Ah, feels like home.

Thanks for all of your prayers! We can feel them-
Nick

Kid's Camp: Day 1

Today was the beginning of our long-anticipated English Camp for kids. We ended up having 19 kids show up today, which was a great size of group to work with. We divided them up into two groups for most of the day and rotated them through music, drama, crafts, and recreation. Everything seemed to go SO well- we are off to a great start. The kids seem interested, attentive, and enjoying themselves. They have been encouraged to invite friends, so we'll see how many show up tomorrow! Here's what the team had to say about today:

Michelle: My highlight was seeing how excited the kids got when Surfer Sam came into the room. (played by Nick in a long, blond wig.)

Mike: I was moved out of my comfort zone and had a great time with the kids today.

Caleb: I am the youngest member of the team. Still. Ha, ha, ha! It's exciting to be carrying the presence of God into this dark place. Our connection with the kids was capital.

Bob: The rain is wet here. But kids love playing games at the Center.

Chris: I enjoyed our high school helpers, who enjoyed the crafts as much as the kids did! (We have three Bosnians helping us.)

Jason: Just call me the little drummer boy. (Jason played a tupperware tub for acoustics during music time.) It was also fun to see some escargot in their natural habitat.

Nick: Teaching kids drama is difficult in English, and even more challenging when the kids speak Bosnian. But it is very satisfying to watch the kids have fun with us. Fun is a universal language. So is love.

Laura (Mark Byrom's daughter): My favorite part was EVERYTHING!

Take 4 minutes here and enjoy our day in a Slideshow.

Keep us in your prayers- tomorrow night we will begin taking turns at the cultural center as Bosnians come in to practice their English. The three guys go tomorrow night. (Jason, Mike, and Caleb)

Peace-
Nick

The Global Body

Yesterday was a time for us to visit some of the local Bosnian churches. In the morning, our group split into two and participated at two different locations. Michelle and I visited a church in the East part of the city that Mark and Debbie Byrom attend regularly. Caleb and Mike also join us. I had the privilege of preaching a "mini sermon" before the real sermon. Evidently, they do this every week. My message was 7 and 1/2 minutes long, and that's with translation. I know, most of you are shocked by this. Mike and Caleb helped Mark teach Sunday School for the older kids. All I know is that there were bagpipes involved.

Bob, Chris, and Jason attended a church in the West part of town that Mark and Kathy Eikost regularly attend. Jason played on the worship team and Bob was given an opportunity to share about our team. He took the opportunity to also share his testimony. Way to go, Bob!

In the evening, our whole group attended the Malta church, which is where the guys are staying in a dorm. This is a very hip church- they've made some worship CDs and have audio/visual equipment on par with churches 5 and 10 times their size. We enjoyed worshiping with them even in Bosnian. Jason played guitar (again) and Caleb helped out on drums. All 7 of us wore headphones to hear the sermon translated in real time. I didn't want to take a picture mid-sermon, but we were quite a sight.

The churches averaged 25-30 people, and that's being generous. Almost half of the attendance was foreign missionaries. It is stunning to think that we may have met half of all the believers in Sarajevo. The messages were all very powerful. God is definitely at work in these churches and in the hearts of these pastors, but for some reason they are making very little progress into this city. But I was very encouraged by their passion and their words of encouragement to live out our faith. I think in a city like this, the Bosnian believers are very aware that preaching the gospel won't be enough- the gospel must be seen in action!

Be praying for these churches! They are such a minority, but they are truly believing God for big things. In this place, 1 out of every 4,000 people are believers. Pray for Pastor Slavko, Pastor Zelko, and Pastor Sasha. They need our help!

Blessings-
Nick

Seeing the City, Catching God's Heart

We spent our first full day in Sarajevo taking a brief tour of the city and enjoying some local cuisine. The cevapi (small veal sausages in pita bread with creamy butter) is really excellent! A young couple from one of the local churches gave us a tour. They are both native Sarajevans (is that a word?) and have some unique perspective having lived in the city during the years of war and siege. (1992-1995) Unfortunately, we seemed to have brought the rain to Bosnia with us. We had our umbrellas up off and on all day. We stood on the spot where World War I began, visited a local mosque, and walked through numerous markets.

We also went up to the Cultural Center and saw the progress there. The place looks great- they have completely renovated it and are now opening it up to the public. The location is truly amazing- the street below is more like a courtyard. When we walked through yesterday, there were hundreds of people milling about at cafes, drinking coffee, and watching soccer. We canvased this area, as well as several other areas within walking distance, handing out fliers for the English Camp. Even though we spoke different languages, most people seemed very open to receiving the information. Please continue to pray for more registrations to the Camp!

As our team spends time around this great city, we are beginning to sense God's incredible love for this people. It is a very religious culture, with mosques, cathedrals, synagogues, and churches dotting the landscape. But for most, religion has actually become something that keeps them distant from God. Religion and culture are tied together, so to be Bosnian is to be Muslim, regardless of actual heart belief. Pray that God will continue to break through this barrier so that people can discover His true love for them.

Peace-
Nick

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On the Ground

We are in SARAJEVO!

Our lengthy 22.5 hour trip over here went off without a hitch and we are enjoying our first full day here in the capital of Bosnia.

Mark Byrom met us at the airport and ferried all of us and our bags to the various places where we are staying. After everyone was settled, we met up at the Byroms for a little Bosnian pizza and orientation. It was rather humorous to look around the room as Mark shared some material with us, because various team members kept nodding off. Pillows were thrown and legs kicked in order to keep everyone conscious. Most of us had been up over 28 hours at that point and fighting off sleep was a real challenge. But these mean missionaries forced us to stay awake until 9 PM so that we would be sure to get a full night's sleep.

I have to hand it to the Byroms- they are wise! After being forced to stay up until 9, I slept a full night. We'll get together with the rest of the team in a bit and hopefully their experience was the same. Today will be spent getting a feel for the city, visiting the cultural center, and then passing out advertisements for the English Camp tonight in old downtown Sarajevo.

Please continue to pray for group health. Also, pray for great responsiveness to the English Camp invitations. This is the first time the Bosnian team has done an English Camp in Sarajevo, and so it has been more challenging to get people interested. Pray that we could shine the Light of Christ in this place. Finally, pray that we would be a great encouragement to the Bosnian Team here.


Blessings!
Nick

(All the pictures are from Mark and Debbie Byrom's balcony)