4 cultures folles

Missionary madness!

In my opinion, the funniest conversation I’ve seen on f’book.
It occurred in response to a posted & tagged photo of a number of incumbent missionary families/singles, taken at a missionary training college some years previously (2005, maybe).

Codes:
(m) = male missionary
(f) = female missionary
(tck) = third culture kid (child of missionary)

CAMB. = serving in Cambodia
CHIL. = serving in Chile
IANT. = served in indigenous Australia/Northern Territory
NAMI. = serving in Namibia.
________________

(m) IANT.
Do the arranged marriages for our kids still stand?
They're getting frighteningly closer to the right age.

(f) NAMI.
In true arranged marriage style, they can't remember what each other looks like!

(m) CAMB.
Whatever the arranged marriages were is fine by me, I just want a lot of money to give away my daughter. When in Rome...

(m) NAMI.
remember, in africa, we price our daughters according to education levels.
For example, for a bachelor's degree, it will be a number of cows (as in Zimbabwe) for a daughter, but for an uneducated daughter, a chook will do (as in Malawi)

(m) CAMB.
Nope, here money will do just nicely.

(m) NAMI.
sure, but if your son wants MY daughter, then you pay the AFRIKAAN way MAAN.

(tck/f) CAMB.
I'm right here, dad. :P

(m) CHIL.
See, now THAT didn't happen when we commented on kids in 2005.

________________

*sniggering*

L/T.


By the way, for anyone familial wondering where I am at present, I've been in Vietnam since 26/12, hoping to be back before 05/01 next year (2013). Visiting family, adding to my motley collection of brothers (I now have 4 of them!), and confirming, among other things, the fact that NO, I am quite sure that God is NOT calling me to serve in this south-east Asian country any time soon. (And also, thanking God SO MUCH for reasonably reliable air travel, a set return date, generally cooler climates in my part of Australia, and that Sydney is nothing like HCMC!!)
:S

1 tâche impossible!

ÉPHÉSIENS 4,29-32
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,
but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs,
that it may benefit those who listen.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,
with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander,
along with every form of malice.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other,
just as in Christ God forgave you.
________________


L/T.

35 rue Lutetia (+ 3 jours)

HAB.3,17-19
Car le figuier ne fleurira pas,
La vigne ne produira rien,
Le fruit de l'olivier manquera,
Les champs ne donneront pas de nourriture;
Les brebis disparaîtront du pâturage,
Et il n'y aura plus de boeufs dans les étables.
Toutefois, je veux me réjouir en l'Éternel,
Je veux me réjouir dans le Dieu de mon salut.
L'Éternel, le Seigneur, est ma force;
Il rend mes pieds semblables à ceux des biches,
Et il me fait marcher sur mes lieux élevés.
Au chefs des chantres. Avec instruments à cordes.

________________

At the age of 12y7m, I was challenged to take Jesus seriously as Lord and Saviour. I have now reached the age of 35.

Therefore, now, in the 23rd year of the reign of King Jesus (the Son of God, Son of Man and son of Joseph & Mary - of David's line), I ponder:
What makes life worth living?

One's talents and/or gifts, of which God has bestowed so many upon me, His undeserving servant shepherdess?

One's career/relationships (or lack thereof?)

One's ability to be financially independent, or secure?

One's influence for good in the lives of other people?

One's faithful ministry serving the people of God where needs can be met by the considerate exercise of one's God-given gifts?

Or one's faithful Creator, the Sovereign Lord, who with the blood of His Son purchased men [presumably mankind: GK. anthropos] for Himself?

"..Parce que tu as du prix à Mes yeux,
Parce que tu es honoré et que Je t'aime,
Je donne des hommes à ta place,
Et des peuples pour ta vie."
ISA. 43,4

________________

Thank you to all my friends and/or family who sent me messages on my birthday. I replicate the Facebook posts from my Wall here, both as a token of appreciation and to free up visible space on that irritating f'b "timeline" of mine..

AT
[greetings card]

Happy happy birthday! =) thank you for all the wisdom you've shared with me, it's always such a joy to talk to you! =) Hope you have the loveliest day, God bless! X
AW

Happy birthday ----tia! :)
CMG

Happy birthday!!! x
DP

Happy birthday! Hope you have a great day.
ET

Happy belated birthday!
GT

Happy birthday t--- :)
GZ

Happy birthday ----tia!! :)
IH

Hope you are well. Hoping that you had a wonderful birthday! Hoping God will continue to look after you in the coming year and that he'll continue to grow your love and knowledge of him.
Love JL.

Happy Birthday L---sa Cheng and Miss-l't Cheng Miss you ladies! Catch up soon!! :)
JM

Joyeux Anniversaire à vous mon cher ami.
kYC

Happy Birthday!
LkC, VT

Happy birthday :)
LZ

Happy birthday! See you on Sunday :) hope it's an excellent day.
LH

Happy Birthday T---!!!"
MLQ

Happy B'day T---!! xox
MH

Happy Bday Miss l't!
MW/H

Happy birthday. See you in Summer School, right? :)
PC

Joyeux anniversaire, Miss Cheng! xoxoxo :)
PP

Happy Birthday ----tia =)
You're an amazing person! Hope you enjoy this special day!
x
(r)BY

Happy Birthday ----tia!
RL

Happy belated birthday ----tia=)
VV

Happy Birthday! :D
VH


Happy birthday cousins!!
AL

Happy Birthday! Have an amazing day :)
CoC

Happy Birthday :)
GC


happy birthday to Miss-l't Cheng :)
AgL

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
AdL

Happy birthday! :)
AK

happy birthday! =]
BL

Happy Birthday! hope you have a great day
CS

happy birthday T---!! :)
DF

bonn anniv depuis utrecht!
JRF

Happy Birthday ~
JC

Happy bday!
JF

Happy birthday.=)
NF

happy birthday l--!
hope you have the happiest of days!! - enjoy the contentment and complete satisfaction of being in a relationship with Christ.
thanks for all the help and guidance over the past year, have learnt so much :)
PYJ

happy birthday ----tia!!!! God bless ya for being such an encouragement to us in small group and all! Have an awesome day and God bless!
RC

Happy Birthday ----tia!
TT

________________

1 THESS. 3,12-13

L/T.

3 ans célibataire et contente - merci, Seigneur!

It is now over 3 years since I began a lovely period of contentment about being single.

My first time going to France for short-term mission in 2009 was instrumental in that, and I am so incredibly thankful that France happened, and for all I have learned about myself (and the role I can play in God's plan for the nations) since then.

I wasn't always this happy about being single. But for now, I really appreciate the gift, and am glad that it has been given me to enjoy it.

"Mais, si Dieu a donné à un[e femme d'être célibataire], .. s'il l'a rendu[e] maître[sse] .. d'en prendre sa part, et de se réjouir au milieu de son travail, c'est là un don de Dieu."
~ ECC. 5,19


L/T.

4 amis, 2 jours de juin, 1 anniversaire

4 friends
Partly because of my prayer diary, partly because for His own reasons God has put this on my heart, my mind turns to the 4 people I considered my closest friends in the last 10 years:
C. Soo (married name CHIN), met 2000;
L.P.Y. MOK, met 1996;
S. KRITSOTAKIS, met 1995;
and S.L.W. CHAN, met 1990.

Perhaps because in recent years I've neglected them in person, though keeping them in prayer.

2 jours de juin, 1 joyeux anniversaire
Happy birthday, S.L.W. CHAN!
- can't get in touch with you for toffee at present;
but, until you die or ask me to stop, I will keep praying for you - probably the longest-standing friend I've ever had.
(Would insert *hugs* here, but as in the 22 years I've known you you're not the touchy-feely type, I'll settle for *pats-on-shoulder* instead!)

If by some freak of nature any out of the 4 of you stumble on this
- get in touch!
(though I know it's partly my fault for not keeping up too).

L/T.

2 morts

1 KINGS 19:4
"Il s'assit sous un genêt, et demanda la mort, en disant:
'C'est assez!
Maintenant, Éternel, prends mon âme,
car je ne suis pas meilleur que mes pères.'"

________________

le 9 mai, 2011
It has been over a year since my sister's cat, Nyara, became ill for the last time & died. She was an elegant spotted grey tabby with white evening gloves on her forepaws whom we adored, nicknaming her "The Princess" because she always looked like a princess in a ballgown, especially when sitting at a window.

le 30 avril, 2012
At the end of last month, in her 96th year, my maternal grandmother Sonia fell asleep in Christ.
She had been in a nursing home since about age 90 and just faded away in the last 2 weeks of April.
That said, being a believer, there was a big advantage
- she would have woken up without sin.

How nice it would be to wake up sinless!
We'd have all our character imperfections gone;
no way of inadvertently hurting others by our besetting sin;
no way of letting ourselves down with disappointment over how we thought or felt or behaved even though we knew better...

Sometimes, in my most depraved moments, I wish I were where my grandmother Sonia is - in perfect holiness with our Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ.

Indeed, to die is gain. Incredible gain. Elijah desired it; Paul desired it; I desire it.

But obviously, my heavenly Father has plans that involve me living. Oh well. At least, one day, sinless perfection will be mine...

;D

L/T.

1 an plus proche..

One year closer to:

* Godliness - humility - perfection in Christ
* Going to be with Christ, which is far better
* Knowing what on earth the future holds for me
* Turning triple pirouettes
(in case you think that's frivolous, remember that David, the chosen king of Israel & ancestor of our Lord & Saviour Jesus, was also the dancing type^)


The 2nd two items are only if God precisely wills it, of course.
Thankfully, the first two are in line with His Word!!


L/T.

^2 SAMUEL 6:14-16
"David dansait de toute sa force devant l'Éternel.."