Today started early for most of us - although it didn't have to. Our minds were still operating on NZ time so early in the morning Gay and Gael were up drinking tea on the balcony and listening to the sounds of the rest of the area waking up.
We began the day with the Leaders of The Salvation Army in Sri Lanka: they shared their dreams and challenges and introduced us to the work of The Army here. It was fantastic to hear that despite the political and other challenges of the country at the moment there is a very positive optimism about the people and the ministry. "It is a good time to be the Leaders in Sri Lanka", said Colonel Lalzamlova the Territorial Leader.
After a tour of the Army's headquarters and a briefing on the program with our in country liaison, Major Nihal Hettiararchchi, we shared lunch with the leaders, (see photo) before the keys to the vehicle were handed to Daryl and we ventured out to but the materials and supplies we need to fulfil events in the expanding program. (Gill, Gay and Gael already have an extra days activity on Saturday when they will attend a District Women's Rally and conduct the Craft session.)
Its been a good day and all are well and happy - not even driving on Colombo roads with Daryl driving has dampened the spirits so far. But tomorrow is an early start and a three hour drive (80km) down to Hikkaduwa, the centre of the Army's Tsunami Recovery work in the South West.
Tuesday, 1 July 2008
Sunday, 29 June 2008
Arrived and Well!
We have arrived! After a trip that seemed to take much longer than it should have, the team has been united at The Salvation Army's Training College in Colombo.
Gay Roberts arrived without too many hitches: she got caught in a checkpoint for "a while" on her way in from the airport - one wonders if they knew who was in the vehicle. She had a great time in Hong Kong, even if she got a little lost a one stage - thanks to a map she received before her departure. The rest of us arrived this morning after a night in Singapore - and we were not stopped once by security.
So after a light lunch we ventured out to the shop (Arpico Supercentre) to buy a few supplies, and are now having a break before heading out for some dinner.
It was 26degrees (C) and about 80% humidity when we arrived at 8:00am this morning, so the Kiwis are noticing it at the moment.
I hope to get some photos up soon, so keep watching and thanks for your interest. If there is anything you want to ask any member of the team please feel free to leave a comment and I'll get them to respond to you - as long as we have a connection.
Gay Roberts arrived without too many hitches: she got caught in a checkpoint for "a while" on her way in from the airport - one wonders if they knew who was in the vehicle. She had a great time in Hong Kong, even if she got a little lost a one stage - thanks to a map she received before her departure. The rest of us arrived this morning after a night in Singapore - and we were not stopped once by security.
So after a light lunch we ventured out to the shop (Arpico Supercentre) to buy a few supplies, and are now having a break before heading out for some dinner.
It was 26degrees (C) and about 80% humidity when we arrived at 8:00am this morning, so the Kiwis are noticing it at the moment.
I hope to get some photos up soon, so keep watching and thanks for your interest. If there is anything you want to ask any member of the team please feel free to leave a comment and I'll get them to respond to you - as long as we have a connection.
Friday, 27 June 2008
We're Off
Saturday morning, 9:30am we'll be at Auckland airport and hopefully there will be no hicthes as we board our Singapore Airlines flight. We'll be travelling through Singapore, and after an overnight stop, courtesy of the Airline, we'll head out of Singapore and arrive in Colombo about 8:15am local time. (For those following us from New Zealand, Sri Lanka is 6.5 hours behind you.)
Our first scehduled event is on Monday morning when we'll meet The Salvation Army's leadership and have lunch together.
Hopefully soon after that we'll begin letting you know what we've done, and how the team are reacting to all the new sights, smells and sounds - watch this space!
Our first scehduled event is on Monday morning when we'll meet The Salvation Army's leadership and have lunch together.
Hopefully soon after that we'll begin letting you know what we've done, and how the team are reacting to all the new sights, smells and sounds - watch this space!
Thursday, 19 June 2008
The Schedule
The Team's schedule can be found by following this link. (Click on the Map of Sri Lanka)We'll keep you up to date as best we can via this site. We leave Saturday morning from Auckland...
Mission Priorities
An email this morning caused me to again question what the priority of my life and ministry is! I am, and have been a minister of religion for over 20 years and I love what I do, (most of the time).
But sometimes, (only sometimes), I think that my ministry priorities and those of my church are diametrically opposed. 20+ years ago I made a covenenant with God "to live to win souls and make their salvation the first purpose of my life". You see my priority, and my passion, is the total transformation of lives - not the perpetuation of a membership group.
For me that means running 'the amazing race' of their lives with individuals. It means coming alongside a person at the place they call 'home' and, with their invitation, becoming a partner in their race - eating, arguing, crying, laughing and playing with them. As we race together I hope that they see in me a Source of energy that is exciting, risky and empowering - and as a result I am able to introduce them to the Source of life and their Creator.
I want to introduce people to Jesus and walk them through the citizenship process of the Kingdom: if in that process they choose to become members of my church - that's fantastic, I will encourage and celebrate it - but that's not my ministry priority!
The "first purpose of my life" is inviting people to be members of God's family!
But sometimes, (only sometimes), I think that my ministry priorities and those of my church are diametrically opposed. 20+ years ago I made a covenenant with God "to live to win souls and make their salvation the first purpose of my life". You see my priority, and my passion, is the total transformation of lives - not the perpetuation of a membership group.
For me that means running 'the amazing race' of their lives with individuals. It means coming alongside a person at the place they call 'home' and, with their invitation, becoming a partner in their race - eating, arguing, crying, laughing and playing with them. As we race together I hope that they see in me a Source of energy that is exciting, risky and empowering - and as a result I am able to introduce them to the Source of life and their Creator.
I want to introduce people to Jesus and walk them through the citizenship process of the Kingdom: if in that process they choose to become members of my church - that's fantastic, I will encourage and celebrate it - but that's not my ministry priority!
The "first purpose of my life" is inviting people to be members of God's family!
Thursday, 12 June 2008
New Team Members
Thanks to the generosity of a private donation we are able to afford to take four new team members with us to Sri Lanka. These individuals are experts in singing and dancing, and are especially effective with children's ministry - they will be an invaluable addition to the program.Best of all they have requested that they be counted as 'real missionaries' and so they have committed the 'rest of their lives' to Sri Lanka. They will be initially assigned to the Training College in Colombo where they will work with Cadet Officers, but they have said that they will be available to 'special' on request.
At the first team building meeting last weekend their was mixed reactions. One team member (Gay) was extremely exuberant and offered to pay for her new partner to have a change of wardrobe - whilst other team members were a little more reserved, the indications of strong bonding in the team are good.
We wish them well as they, and the rest of the team work together on their song, drama and dance routines.
Monday, 9 June 2008
How Can I Help?
When disasters strike, and images of suffering appear on our screens, people often ask, "How Can I Help?" A helpful guide and outline of the process has been prepared by the New Zealand Council for International Development.
Thursday, 5 June 2008
Sri Lanka Team
We had the privilege of hosting General Eva Burrows for Easter this year. During her time with us she was the guest at a fund raising dinner (Sri Lankan Banquet) for 70 people. A total of $900 was raised and will be used to purchase materials and resources to use, and leave, in Sri Lanka.Photo: (Left to right) Major Gay Roberts, General Eva Burrows (Rtd) Ian Scoltock, Gael Laughland, Gill Scoltock, Major Daryl Crowden.
Meeting us, and facilitating our visit in Sri Lanka are Majors Nihal & Rohini Hettiararchchi who have been friends for a long time. I grew up with these officers and have come to repect their leadership and friendship. We are in safe and competent hands.
Friday, 30 May 2008
Sri Lanka 2008
The Meeting House (The Salvation Army - Mt Albert) Mission Team are counting down to their departure for Sri Lanka on June 28.Amongst the five members of the church travelling to the Pearl of the Indian Ocean are two teachers, a nurse/community worker, and two Salvation Army officers.
During our time in Sri Lanka we will be conducting training programs at childrens homes, an orhpanage (pictured), schools, attending a camp for teenagers and engaged in development and support ministries in tsunami rehabilitation areas.
Look out for more information and updates.
Tuesday, 20 May 2008
God Caused the Cyclone to Punish Those That do Not Believe and Follow
During a session at High School last week my daughter was asked to discuss the big question: "Where is [the Christian's] God in Myanmar?" "Where is God in the earthquake in China?" One of the responses was that God used the cyclone as punishment and warning. (An opinion I do not share!)
It's a question asked in one form or another after every natural disaster, or whenever some one we love is diagnosed with illness, or injured in an accident. It's not a question asked only by the athiest or the 'trouble maker' who sees an opportunity to debunk Christianity and God. Although 'they' do love the opportunity.
Unless I am really strange then Jesus' Followers like me ask the question too. How can God allow that much pain and suffering? Where is God? I have my own answers, but I do wonder:
The discussions at shool did not attempt to answer the huge question of why? But some of the things that were said included the opinion that God is in the gifts of money that are given, God is in the people that respond. God is experienced in the faith, hope and love that are evident in those that give water and an outstretched hand.
The school discussion may not have satisfied all questions, (but then academics haven't got the answers either), but the overwhelming response was that in the storms of life, God is there - often through friends, family, and even strangers who make themselves available to reach out to others.
It's a question asked in one form or another after every natural disaster, or whenever some one we love is diagnosed with illness, or injured in an accident. It's not a question asked only by the athiest or the 'trouble maker' who sees an opportunity to debunk Christianity and God. Although 'they' do love the opportunity.
Unless I am really strange then Jesus' Followers like me ask the question too. How can God allow that much pain and suffering? Where is God? I have my own answers, but I do wonder:
If God is the 'creator, preserver and governor', if God is the architect of the weather, and the earth, then didn't God create the cyclone and the earthquake? Isn't God ultimately the cause of the chaos, the deaths, the injuries, the grief and pain? And if that's true then why?
The discussions at shool did not attempt to answer the huge question of why? But some of the things that were said included the opinion that God is in the gifts of money that are given, God is in the people that respond. God is experienced in the faith, hope and love that are evident in those that give water and an outstretched hand.
The school discussion may not have satisfied all questions, (but then academics haven't got the answers either), but the overwhelming response was that in the storms of life, God is there - often through friends, family, and even strangers who make themselves available to reach out to others.
Monday, 12 May 2008
Scary Relations
So you don't get on well with your neighbours? You're not really very good at making, or keeping friends? You are too shy to introduce yourself to any one, let alone a person of the opposite sex?
Don't sweat it! A British scientist just told me (via the BBC) that within the next 40 years Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be sufficiently advanced to be able to 'birth' robotic partners and friends. You will be able to design a robot that is sufficiently like you, or has the personality and physical attributes that you want in a partner. These 'humanoids' (my word not his) will be so human that they will be able to satisfy all physical (yes, even that!) and emotional needs.
And perhaps scarier still is this man's opinion that by this time humans will be so used to this interactive technology that we will not think it weird to engage in a physical relationship with these creations, so much so that we will use the phrase "some one" rather than "some thing" when we refer to them. (Interaction with a robotic dog or dinosaur is already nothing unusual for our children!)
This seems to me to be the ultimate in selfish individualism - the final solution to broken community and the ultimate catalyst for virtual community. Not too long ago it took 'a village to raise a child' soon we can leave it up to our AI partners, teachers and nannies. It makes some of the science fiction movies (such as Spielberg's AI, or Columbus' Bicentennial Man) seem not so far fetched.
Humanity is created for realtionship and community - just because we find it hard to relate; just because it's hard to live together; just because I'm shy - doesn't mean we should settle for another 'man-made' replacement. This is scary...
Don't sweat it! A British scientist just told me (via the BBC) that within the next 40 years Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be sufficiently advanced to be able to 'birth' robotic partners and friends. You will be able to design a robot that is sufficiently like you, or has the personality and physical attributes that you want in a partner. These 'humanoids' (my word not his) will be so human that they will be able to satisfy all physical (yes, even that!) and emotional needs.
And perhaps scarier still is this man's opinion that by this time humans will be so used to this interactive technology that we will not think it weird to engage in a physical relationship with these creations, so much so that we will use the phrase "some one" rather than "some thing" when we refer to them. (Interaction with a robotic dog or dinosaur is already nothing unusual for our children!)
This seems to me to be the ultimate in selfish individualism - the final solution to broken community and the ultimate catalyst for virtual community. Not too long ago it took 'a village to raise a child' soon we can leave it up to our AI partners, teachers and nannies. It makes some of the science fiction movies (such as Spielberg's AI, or Columbus' Bicentennial Man) seem not so far fetched.Humanity is created for realtionship and community - just because we find it hard to relate; just because it's hard to live together; just because I'm shy - doesn't mean we should settle for another 'man-made' replacement. This is scary...
Monday, 5 May 2008
LESSONS FROM THE RED SHIELD APPEAL
People want to tell their story! I am humbled by how many times complete strangers told me their stories as they gave a donation. Some of the stories were pretty intimate too.
Whilst I am happy to be available to hear the stories, and thrilled that people still esteem the Sallies enough to know they can trust us, it also means that there are a lot of lonely people out there who just need someone to listen. They didn't want much, just a few minutes of our time, and a non-judgemental listener.
Once it was family, community, church that cared and listened, today, more often than not we pay professionals (psychologists, counsellors, life coaches) to do the same thing. Whilst I have nothing against these professionals, I think that if we need to reclaimed the importance of family (and friends).
One Story:
As I stood in my flouro yellow high viz Red Shield vest, my bucket silent but pleasantly weighty, I pretended not to watch and listen as a man, pointing in my direction knelt down to his two young boys. As he dug in his pocket for his wallet, and fished out two notes, he spoke to them about their grandpa.
"That guy is from the Salvation Army", he said. "Do you remember I told you your grandpa was in the war? Well he was hurt real bad, and it was a Sallie man that picked him up and carried him to a hospital where he was saved. The Sallies did amazing things for people in the war".
With big eyes and timid smiles the boys came to me, placed their donation in my bucket and taking a little Red Shield "thank you" sticker from me they walked away proudly wearing their stickers on their shirts.
I don't really like making those first moves to set up the collection point (especially when it’s wet and cold). But people like that, and the opportunity to listen make it worth while.
Whilst I am happy to be available to hear the stories, and thrilled that people still esteem the Sallies enough to know they can trust us, it also means that there are a lot of lonely people out there who just need someone to listen. They didn't want much, just a few minutes of our time, and a non-judgemental listener.
Once it was family, community, church that cared and listened, today, more often than not we pay professionals (psychologists, counsellors, life coaches) to do the same thing. Whilst I have nothing against these professionals, I think that if we need to reclaimed the importance of family (and friends).
One Story:
As I stood in my flouro yellow high viz Red Shield vest, my bucket silent but pleasantly weighty, I pretended not to watch and listen as a man, pointing in my direction knelt down to his two young boys. As he dug in his pocket for his wallet, and fished out two notes, he spoke to them about their grandpa.
"That guy is from the Salvation Army", he said. "Do you remember I told you your grandpa was in the war? Well he was hurt real bad, and it was a Sallie man that picked him up and carried him to a hospital where he was saved. The Sallies did amazing things for people in the war".
With big eyes and timid smiles the boys came to me, placed their donation in my bucket and taking a little Red Shield "thank you" sticker from me they walked away proudly wearing their stickers on their shirts.
I don't really like making those first moves to set up the collection point (especially when it’s wet and cold). But people like that, and the opportunity to listen make it worth while.
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