GOING TO BOLIVIA 6

Going To Bolivia 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5

CONTEMPLATING A BIG STEP
1991 was a turning point.

My time in All Saints as Pastor was coming an end. Although I was their longest serving pastor, I knew that the Lord was leading me to another part of the vineyard. He was giving me insights and thoughts which were related to God’s wider plan for Michelle, Elijah and I.

The next step, I sensed would probably involve me leaving Singapore. Was the Lord asking me to pursue theological studies overseas? The only other unexplored dimension was a calling to serve Him in Latin America. And that sounded like a pie-in-the-sky idea. My personal conviction of remaining in the Anglican Church had also not waned. All these thoughts were bumping into on another in my heart. Integrating them on a human level seemed an impossible task. I felt overwhelmed. Thinking about these matters was frustrating because there seemed to be no visible opportunities or clear signs to chart a new course. What on earth was He up to? It can be quite stressful to understand the Lord’s ways!

THE BIG STEP FINALLY REVEALED
I went to a Tuesday clergy meeting in May 1991, burdened by weight of figuring out the Lord’s will for myself. We met at the South Transept in St Andrew’s Cathedral. I took a seat near Bishop Moses Tay. A Caucasian man was seated on his right. He turned out to be Rev Greg Blaxland, the national director of the Anglican work in Bolivia. Sy Rogers, a counselor trained in the area of homosexual reparative therapy was the other guest. Sy was the first to share and he did an interesting presentation on homosexuality from a Christian perspective response.

Greg Blaxland’s sharing was simple, short and straight forward. He talked at length about Bolivia and its challenges. His comments about Bolivian self esteem spoke to pastoral heart. Bolivia had lost most of its wars and gave up huge tracts of land to neighboring countries. Greg closed his sharing with a Macedonian call for help. Bolivia needed trained clergy to serve as missionaries in Bolivia. He looked at us earnestly and then placed a stack of calling cards at the edge of the table. We were invited to take his card at the end of the meeting and speak to him. In all my years of attending clergy meetings, this was probably the first time someone made an appeal to the clergy to pursue a missionary calling.

Joy In My Heart
Greg’s words made my mind swirl and heart beat faster. I was overwhelmed and excited; it was as if an invitation had been extended to board the train of the Lord's eternal purpose. Although I was caught totally off guard by Blaxland's appeal I knew the door to Latin America was beginning to open ever so slowly. It was tempting to speak to Greg and take his greeting card. I felt however that it was still premature to go public; Michelle, my wife, needed to be filled in first.

The clergy meeting ended at about 11 .15 am. I wanted to leave quickly, go home and start sharing with Michelle.

I left the Cathedral with joy in my heart.

SHOULD KOREAN CHURCHES STOP ALL MISSIONARY ACTIVITIES IN
AFGHANISTAN?

FALLOUT
Press reports have not been charitable to the Korean hostages; the Korean church has also come under criticism. Questions are being asked:

Why did they expose themselves to danger?

Why did they put their nation and loved ones through so much anxiety?

Why did their government have to put up a ransom for their release (in doing so they only encouraged their captors to repeat their actions!)?

Are Korean churches competing amongst themselves over the quantity of members in missionary teams?

Were some team members not honest with their loved ones concerning their involvement in this missionary team?

Answers to these questions will no doubt provoke comments, accusations and a wide variety of opinions.

A PULLOUT?
There was one report which suggested the departure of all Korean missionaries from Afghanistan as part of a deal which was reached between the Taliban and the negotiators.

Perhaps the Korean Church needs to evaluate their mission strategies and philosophy, especially in high risk areas like Afghanistan. If necessary a temporary halt of missionary activity might be prudent at this point.

Abandoning mission work completely in these high risk areas however is a grave mistake. To do so would be to devalue the martyrdom of the two hostages. They were brave men who gave up their lives for the sake of the gospel. We cannot but obey the great commission even if it means the risk of death or the loss of life. Paul's missionary journeys were fraught with danger. Are we to expect easier treatment from the enemy?

CORRECT ERRORS IN HUMILITY AND MOVE ON
To the brethren in Korea I say: humble yourselves, do some soul searching in the light of God's word and learn from the mistakes. You will come out this experience wiser and stronger in the Lord.

And one more observation: the villains in this episode were NOT the Korean missionary team but the Taliban. They are the ones who kidnap innocent people and murder the defenceless whose only "offense" is to improve the well being of the ordinary Afghan.

The missionary impetus of the Korean Churches to reach the lost is an inspiration to all of us, especially in the Asian Church.

RE-VISTING LIBERATION THEOLOGY

BOOK REVIEW

A Theology Of Liberation, Gustavo Gutierrez Orbis books 1973; revised edition 1988

PAST BAGGAGE & LIBERATION THEOLOGY
Liberation theology, in certain circles is viewed with some suspicion. Nearly 20 years ago, a few Roman Catholic church activists in Singapore under the influence of Liberation theology, together with some left leaning sympathisers from opposition political parties were detained under the internal security act. The detainees were released gradually. A couple of months ago, The Straits Times, a Singapore newspaper, tried to interview those who were involved in this controversy, for the purpose of running a story to refresh our collective memories. There were no takers. Some wounds require a long time to heal.

And so with interest, I responded positively to the invitation, by the Professor of Missions, KimYong Hazra, Trinity Theological College, to share with some students on the topic, Liberation Theology from a Singapore Perspective.

APPRECIATING LIBERATION THEOLOGY
I met a few liberation activists in Bolivia, especially at the Maryknoll Fathers Language Institute, where I studied Spanish with my wife. The ones I got to know impressed me with their compassion for the poor. Although I don't share most of their theological assumptions, my experience in Bolivia however has helped me appreciate and respect some of the impulses which drive liberation theology.

I re-read Gustavo Gutierrez's classic, A Theology of Liberation, in preparation for my work with the students. His insights represent many years of work with the poor. The use of the Exodus event, the liberation of Israel from its oppression in Egypt, as a paradigm for liberation speaks powerfully to the Latin American situation. The other biblical idea of great interest is the reflection of salvation history as being unified through the aspirations of the oppressed. A reading of Luke's gospel provides the basis for such an assertion. Gutierrez's passion and commitment to see reality in terms of conflict between the oppressor and the oppressed is understandable given the grinding poverty which characterizes his environment. The liberation movement also arose in a context where social activists were victimised by right wing dictatorial figures, especially in the 1970's.

Gutierrez's challenge to identify with the poor is not an ivy league rumination but a prophetic meditation from the heart of pastor. His passion is understandable. I could not help but refer constantly to my experiences in Bolivia with the poor as I read his book.

WEAKNESSES OF LIBERATION THEOLOGY
Liberation theology has its flaws. Although Gutierrez tries to convey a holistic view of liberation, which includes spiritual and transcendant categories, his intentional bias toward socialism and a heavy reliance of marxist analysis/terminology make it easy for revolutionary ideologues to hijack liberation activism. And this has happened in Latin America and elsewhere.

Liberation theology many a time reduces salvation to improvements in economic conditions. Salvation includes regeneration, justification, sanctification. None of these basic doctrines are worked through in the Liberation hermeneutic. An exclusive reading of history through the lens of an Oppressor vs Oppressed dynamic does not represent the fullness of the Biblical narrative. Injustice is one reason and in some places maybe the primary reason for poverty. There are other reasons, cultural values being one of them, which drive poverty. Also, agitation and triumphing over injustice does not alleviate the poor from oppression instantly. There is also the challenge of wealth creation and the establishment of right structures which provide long term solutions for the poor.

EMPOWERING LOCAL LEADERSHIP
Liberation begins from within renewed hearts and spills out into the family and the society at large. This has been the strategy of evangelical and charismatic groups. Liberation, in the long run, would depend on empowered hearts set aflame for Christ. Inner liberation and dealing with oppressive structures are not contradictory but parts of a whole. This is why I identify strongly with Gutierrez's passion to empower local people. He says:

In order to for liberation to be authentic and complete, it has to be undertaken by the oppressed people themselves and so must stem from the values proper to these people.

Recieving foreign aid or assistance for long stretches of time is a recipe for a disaster. It creates a mentality of dependance and robs local communities of their God given integrity and dignity. Liberation theology brings this valuable gift of self-reliance to the table.

And surely we can say amen to this!

(the cover of the book is a photo of a sculpture done by Edilberto Merida)

SANTA CRUZ BEGIN TO STOCK UP!

6 States Go On Strike

There are 9 states in Bolivia; 6 of them began a nationwide strike today.

Folk in Santa Cruz queue up to stock up in anticipation of the strike against the government's unwillingess to cede to claims made by representatives from 6 states in the Constitutional Assembly. This is 2/3 of the country! At stake is the legitimacy of a new constitution which has yet to surface. The government is moving ahead with its plans to present a new constitution to the populace at a referendum. And leaders from the 6 states suspect that the governments porposals will be inimical to their interests.

Competing Interests

One crucial issue is the claim for autonomy on the part of Santa Cruz and the other states which possess rich deposits of natural gas and oil. These states are counting on keeping a major portion of the profits from the sales of these resources to finance projects as determined by regional leaders. The ruling party are of course hoping to use the income to help the poorer regions of the country.

Competing Visions

It's easy to understand therefore the advocacy for a strong political centre in La Paz, by the government in the new constitution. The other states, especially the more prosperous ones like Santa Cruz, as to be expected, are agitating for a constitution which recognizes a more decentralized and federal vision for Bolivia. And folk in Sucre are taking advantage of the situation to insist that they be declared the political & administrative capital of the Bolivia!

The deadline for the Assembly to present the new constitution to the people has been extended to November.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE CATHOLIC KIND

BUS
I was seated in a bus on my way home after Sunday service. The bespectacled guy next to me looked bored and clutched a bag. He did not look like a chatty sort. I sensed the need however to engage him spiritually.

Should I share the gospel with him? I asked myself.

BANG!
My thoughts were interrupted with a loud BANG! A taxi, in full flight, stopped suddenly when the traffic light in front changed from amber to red. Another taxi, following closely behind, banged the taxi which had come to a screeching halt.

The passengers in the bus, looking aghast, saw the entire incident. We had a grandstand view of the accident. The bus stopped in front of the traffic light and was adjacent to both cars, moments, before the accident. Both taxi drivers and their passengers were not hurt. Broken and splintered glass from the rear and front lights were strewn all over the road.

THE ENCOUNTER
As the bus drove off the guy next to me began to complain about irresponsable taxi drivers. He gave up cycling because taxis had come close to knocking him down. I joined in and lamented the congestion on the roads in Bolivia. I changed the subject quickly and talked about Jesus; I asked him if he was church going person. He said he was Roman Catholic and was returning from mass at a nearby catholic church. His face broke out into a smile when I identified myself as an Anglican missionary. We talked about our spiritual experiences.

I don't believe in chance encounters. Our conversation encouraged him to share an issue close to his heart: he was not baptized. And so I exhorted him to trust our Lord and shared the need for baptism. It was all so rushed but I trust that something from the Lord got through.

He stood up and smiled appreciatively at me...he had reached his destination. As he walked toward the exit, I smiled, blessed him and said, Get baptized!

CHATTING WITH JOSHUA SU
(We continue our series of interviews with prominent christian leaders from the global south...Its been a long time since we last did an interview!!)

Rev Dr Joshua Su is founder of Joshua Missions, an agency dedicated to the edification of Christ's Body. He just returned from teaching at a school of pastors in the Diocese of Ibadan North, Nigeria. He is an ordained anglican clergyman.

SO TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT JOSHUA MISSIONS?
This Mission serves in the prophetic ministry of the Word through preaching and teaching the Bible as the Word of God for today and declaring what the Spirit says through it. By so doing it seeks to call, encourage and facilitate churches, Christian organisations, Christians and Christian leaders to know and fulfill their call in Christ and build unity in Him. It also forms a network from those who join as members from these groups and persons to operate locally and internationally to strengthen each other in mutual ministry and to minister together to the wider Body of Christ and the world.


WHAT WAS THE MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE?
There are many memorable moments but my experience at my moment of personal salvation stands out. When I prayed to receive Christ into my life I was given a picture, sensation and message of His work in me. I saw in my mind's eye and felt the sensation of my heart as a black lump of lead with fire burning all around it. The message that came through this was that God was burning away my sin. An unexplainable joy filled my heart.

AND THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE YOU FACED IN MINISTRY?
The biggest challenge I experienced was the misconduct of a clergy who was assigned to pastor a ministry that I was leading as a lay leader. It made me seriously review the value of seeking ordination for myself. The resolution was the realisation that it is not the rite or the title of ordination but answering the call of God and receiving His anointing to serve that really counts.

WHO ARE SOME OF THE CHRISTIAN LEADERS IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH WHO'VE INFLUENCED YOU AND WHY?
I was born and brought up in Singapore and came to Christ and grew up in Him there. My Chinese ethnicity, living in a multi-racial Asian country with English as its chief language, receiving English education and coming to Christ with churches that were planted by the West sums up my background. I read and learn widely from many both East and West, with the English language as my medium of study. But I see no particular person except Christ as my primary influence.

WHAT IS THE PRINCIPLE CHALLENGE FACING THE SINGAPOREAN CHURCH?
Singapore Christianity and some of its leaders are playing a significant part in leading the global south. The challenge is the soundness and strength of Christianity and the quality of the leadership that these leaders and the churches in Singapore can articulate and practice. It would be wonderful if we can strongly affirm and express the faith of the Bible and the Christianity of Christ in the global south and the global south may do likewise for the worldwide Church that has tended to be preoccupied only with cultural, political, national and regional issues.

Thank You Rev Su For Agreeing To Do This Interview.

GOING TO BOLIVIA 5
FACILITATOR
The Lord uses people to facilitate His plan in our lives.

Rev Ted Newing was such a person. Ted, warden of St Peter’s Hall in the early 80’s, was a lean, silver- haired Australian with an Irish background. He received my application, interviewed me extensively and pushed my papers through the various committees. His support for my application, in more ways than one, was invaluable.

Ted attended morning and evening prayers at St Peter’s diligently and shared the Eucharist with students of the hall. His Old Testament lectures helped us see the literary structures behind lengthy biblical passages. I caught him at the tail end – the last 3 years – of his ministry in Singapore.

His departure left me wondering if our paths would ever cross.

PROVIDENCE
By God’s providence our common passion for South America brought us together 7 years later!

Ted Newing returned to Singapore as General Secretary of SAMS Australia!

I will never forget his moving narration of Allan Gardiner’s (founder of the South American Mission Society) martyrdom at a clergy meeting in Singapore. The then Bishop of Singapore, Moses Tay had invited him to share with us the work of SAMS. His sharing did not appear to have had an impact on anyone, except me. One clergyman said that mission to South America was considered not practical. I suspect however that Bishop Moses gave Ted the opportunity to talk to the clergy because of an interest to develop links with South America.

I immediately cornered Ted after the meeting and we agreed to catch up over tea the next day.

REASSURANCE
We met at someone’s home over Earl Grey tea. I wasted no time in sharing with him my interest in Latin America. We knew each other and I felt safe in opening my heart to him. He listened intently. Ted Newing was the first person I spoke to at length about my sense of calling to serve in Latin America; I sounded discouraged because no one seemed to show any interest in following through with Ted’s presentation. He was however reassuring,

Not to worry, Raphael…seeds have been planted; in God’s time they will bloom, he replied.
He gave me a copy of Phyllis Thompson’s biography of Allan Gardiner and encouraged me to continue praying and to not give up on my dreams.

And true enough the seeds he planted grew into a sturdy oak tree.

O Lord, I Am Ashamed to Seek Thy Face

Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)
O Lord, I am ashamed to seek Thy Face
As tho’ I loved Thee as Thy saints love Thee:
Yet turn from those Thy lovers, look on me,
Disgrace me not with uttermost disgrace;
But pour on me ungracious, pour Thy grace
To purge my heart and bid my will go free,
Till I too taste Thy hidden Sweetness, see
Thy hidden Beauty in the holy place.

O Thou Who callest sinners to repent,
Call me Thy sinner unto penitence,
For many sins grant me the greater love:
Set me above the waterfloods, above
Devil and shifting world and fleshly sense,
Thy Mercy’s all-amazing monument.

AT THE ASCENSION!

Last Sunday I had the opportunity to celebrate the eucharist and preach at the Church Of The Ascension.

The first service was traditional and based on the Alternative Service Book which appeared in the 80's. This prayer book formed the basis for the South East Asian prayer book. Most of the folk were senior members of the church. I'm getting into the swing of preaching in English. In Bolivia I'm more animated and inductive in my sermons. In Singapore I'm sober and sound more cognitive.

The highlight was to sing the eucharistic prayers with responses from the congregation. I can't remember the last time I did this. I was a little nervous at first but the congregation was used to the chants. It was a satisfying experience.

The second service was contemporary. The worship leader, Dennis was an old friend. There was no Eucharist and so I had more time to preach. We had a short time of ministry during the service. Young people, mainly youth formed the bulk of the congregation. This is a blessing because newer churches tend to draw the youth. The more established historic churches, like the Church of the Ascension are therefore challenged to provide exciting programmes for the young.

We've managed to keep our young people because of the network of relationships, a youth leader replied when I asked him for the reasons as to the relatively large contingent of young people in the second service.

After the service, I had lunch with some of the members of the Church at a Food Court. I tried the Korean food and my new found friends, David and Phillip went for the local fare. Our conversation covered a wide range of subjects from men's ministry to some of the trends in the Singapore church.

POWER LUNCH!

I had the opportunity to have lunch at Swensens with Kenny Chee (Blogpastor), Sherman Kuek (Sherman On The Mount) & his fiancee, Emmy.

Kenny and I met Sherman for the first time. Our common love for blogging brought us together. It was great to exchange notes with one another and meet. Kenny is Pentecostal, Sherman, a Methodist, Emmy, a Baptist and I'm Anglican.

We clicked immediately. Sherman is in the midst of a doctoral thesis and lives in Seremban. He is 31 years old and could very well represent a generational change amongst younger Christian leaders. My friend, Kenny, likes to probe new ideas and enjoys meeting up with people. Emmy, a great gal, teaches linguistics at the University.

There is something spiritual about sharing our lives over a wholesome meal and a hearty conversation. We covered a wide range subjects - from monastic traditions of the church to contemporary missions.

Kenny (chinese guy) and I are on the right; Sherman and Emmy on the left

INTERCESSION AVERTS DISASTER IN SANTA CRUZ

CRISIS
Folk in Santa Cruz, Bolivia were expecting violent clashes between indigenous people and local groups at the annual independance day parade in Santa Cruz.

President Evo Morales decided to hold the parade in Santa Cruz; he invited for the first time a huge contingent of indigenous people from the highlands to participate in the annual military parade on the 6th of August. The presence of the Army and their support for the president raised the anxiety level of many. Many of his opponents in Santa Cruz viewed this as an attempt to intimidate them. Santa Cruz and the central government are at loggerheads over the question of Santa Cruz's push for autonomy. Civic leaders felt provoked and raised the temperature with their speeches.

INTERCESSION
The president is unpopular in Santa Cruz and unruly elements normally hurl insults and spew foul language at him during public meetings. Many feared violence between his followers and some of these elements in Santa Cruz.

I tracked the worsening situation through emails from friends in Bolivia and newspaper reports in the internet. My heart went out to those I had left behind. At one point I was close to tears and prayed for God's mercy to take control of the situation. Churches in Santa Cruz gathered together and began to intercede in homes and church grounds.

MERCY
The president sounded a conciliatory tone in some of his comments as indigenous people together with the Army descended onto Santa Cruz for the parade. The newspapers reported a massive turnout from the populace. There were insufficient police to manage the crowds. The atmosphere had all the makings of a disaster.

God's mercy thru the intercession of His people however averted the scuffling and chaos many expected. Trouble makers thankfully did not agitate the crowds. Some however suffered the effects of being crushed by the crowd. On the whole, the parade was peacefully held without any incidents.

Praise The Lord!

GOING TO BOLIVIA 4

FIRST MISSION CONVENTION – SEA VIEW HOTEL 1990

The Diocese of Singapore (Anglican) organized its first missionary convention at the Sea View Hotel. I was a little hesitant about going to the convention. My duties as Pastor of All Saints English Congregation together with the struggle to hold together a young family had kept me busy. I went along anyway because cross cultural missions was not far from my concerns. It was also fun to get away from the daily grind of the ministry and touch base with friends from other churches.

SEND A NUDGE, LORD
Missions, especially as a diocesan initiated project, was a new subject. Thailand, South Africa and other areas in South East Asia hogged the limelight. The presentations were lively and the long buried interest to serve in Latin America surfaced. At one of the sessions I silently prayed for some sort of nudge from the Lord concerning my interest in Latin America. I asked Him to speak through the then Bishop of Singapore, Moses Tay.

My small group, which included Bishop Moses and Rev Gerry Khoo, met about twice during the convention. At one of the meetings we were asked about our involvement or interest in Missions. I remember Gerry asking me something to the effect if I had sensed a call to serve in the mission field. I replied in the affirmative but shared that I wasn’t ready to the details. To their credit, Gerry nor the Bishop pursued the matter. At that point it was a little premature to talk about Latin America.

HE SENDS A NUDGE
As the convention came to an end, we had sung the final hymn and all that was left was for Bishop Moses to send us out with his blessing. I was seated at the last row and ready to leave.

Just before the he raised his hands for the benediction, Moses hesitated and shared something from his heart, “We’ve received calls for help from many places…even from Alaska and South America”! His words, like a bolt out of the blue, opened my eyes of faith! Had the Lord given me the nudge I was looking for? I left trying to digest my experience.

I returned home a little tired and ready to unwind from the day’s activities. I had a bath; sat down on the sofa; switched on the television. Believe it or not the first images on the screen were part of a documentary featuring Peru and Bolivia!

Although there were other priorities in my life at that point - I was in the second year of my first pastorate - the Lord had sent a signal in this mission conference of an impending change of direction in my ministry towards South America.

BOLIVIA CELEBRATES 182 YEARS OF INDEPENDANCE!

The photo on the right says it all. A poor campesina, with her baby on her right arm, struggles to hold onto to the flag in the face of strong winds. She's selling flags to alleviate her poverty. It's a stirring sight because it speaks of a poor but proud nation battling to overcome the odds.

Bolivians struggle. And its in the struggle where they find divine gifts of mercy and providence. I thank the Lord for the experience of being a part of the on-going Bolivian narrative. He has used Bolivia to change my family and I forever.

God Bless This Nation!!

Bolivia, on the 6th of August, celebrates its founding as an independant and sovereign nation. The Spanish colonizers were defeated at a decisive battle in 1825 by forces commanded by Gen Antonio Jose de Sucre. Bolivia was named after Simon Bolivar, the revolutionary hero who inspired the continent wide revolt against the Spanish empire.

Bolivia has gone through massive changes since its the founding of the republic.The most crucial being the evolution of the native indian. They were once ostracised and marginalized - a victim of others and themselves. They're now struggling to find their place in one of their own.

Evo Morales, the current president of Bolivia is the first indigenous indian to be elected in the highest office of the land. He has shaken the nation with socialist policies and has allied himself with Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez. Some sectors have benefitted from his leadership but others have not.

Here's prayer for Bolivia:

O Lord our Governor, whose glory is in all the world: We commend Bolivia to thy merciful care, that, being guided by thy Providence, the people of Bolivia may dwell secure in thy peace. Grant to the President of this nation, the congress, and to all in authority, wisdom and strength to know and to do thy will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness, and make them ever mindful of their calling to serve this people in thy fear; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

SUNDAY MEGA CHURCH ADVENTURE

I was not down to preach or celebrate at a church this weekend so I took the opportunity to attend 2 mega church services during the weekend.

LORD'S SUPPER
By a strange coincidence both services included The Lord's Supper. The preparation before the sacred meal was short, informal and dependant on the spontaneous words of the elder who presided over the elements of bread & wine. Passages of scripture were read aloud before a brief exhortation which then led to the administering of the Lord's supper.

Both churces did not have a prayer of confession neither was there a statement which excluded non baptised persons from participating. Missing also was the aura of sacrifice in the Eucharist. Aiyaaahhh...the Anglican in me cringed. It needs to be said however that I felt at home in the midst of God's people. It took both churches roughly 10 minutes to round up the Lord's supper.

PREACHING
The preaching in both churches lasted for about 40 to 45 minutes. One lady preacher used used a slick power point presentation. The male preacher from the other church flashed his scripture passages on the screen. Both messages came from sincere hearts. He, an associate pastor, sounded like the Senior Pastor in that his message came across with lots of authority.

Singapore churches have been blessed with strong local leadership. Its sometimes difficult for young Singaporean christians to fully appreciate what the Lord has done in raising the current generation of local leaders. Young christians in their 20's never experienced the trials of first generation local Singaporean pastors. It was only in the 60's that the locals began to assume major leadership positions.

MR LIM
The highlight for me however was a time of sharing with Mr Lim at a food court after one of the services. I was eating brunch - char siew pow (buns with pork filling) and teh si (tea with evaporated milk). A man bought his coffee mug and sat opposite me; he carried a small bible on his other hand. He returned my friendly smile and before long I asked him about his church affiliation. And that got us into a free wheeling discussion which lasted for about 45 minutes; we covered a range of topics from evangelism to fallen pastors.

I was surprised when Lim said that some of his non christian friends confronted him with ideas from Richard Dawkins, the atheist philosopher. I thought that Dawkins was too high brow for the average christian. Was I wrong in my assumptions? Were Lim's friends the exception? Hmnn...I wonder.

SINGAPORE'S BUSINESS CONNECTIONS WITH LATIN AMERICA

My 14 year old involvement in South America, although missionary in nature, is a reflection of the Lord bringing together the nations in more ways than one, even through business and trade deals. Doing business is certainly within God's calling for humanity. Abraham and Matthew are some examples of sucessful businessmen in the Bible. Remember the businesswoman of Proverbs 31?

Business enterprises are part of man's response to the Lord's cultural mandate given in Genesis to rule over creation and to subdue the earth. Sin may have tarnished the business dimension in the world but not obliterated its calling or place in the Lord's plan for the nations.

Singapore is building business links with Latin America.

Here are excerpts of a speech by Mr Heng Chee How, Minister of State for Trade and Industry and National Development, at the LatinAsia Biz Forum 2005 on 7 September 2005:


"Latin America is fast becoming an engine of growth for the global economy. According to the World Bank, the Latin American and Caribbean regions have the highest per capita income in the developing world. In 2004, the region registered a growth of 5.7 per cent, its highest in the last 25 years.

With the growing experience and success of Singapore companies in Latin America, more companies have ventured into the region. Singapore Technologies recently announced plans to supply cable TV signal down converters to Mexico. Banyan Tree also has plans to develop luxury resorts there. Earlier this year, Portek International, a port equipment engineering company, announced its sale of two quay cranes to Port of Ensenada in Mexico. Beyond Mexico and Brazil, our
companies are also making headway in Panama. Later on at this Forum, we will be hearing details about some recent successes in Panama by Inter Roller Engineering and Portek International.

In today’s competitive global economy, Singapore businesses must constantly seek out niches and new markets to stay relevant. Latin America is rich in resources and opportunities and we must deepen our engagement there to capitalise on these opportunities".

BOLIVIAN ECONOMY IMPROVES?

According to a financial report, Fitch Rating, the Bolivian economy has improved and is, for the forseeable future, stable. The assesment, based on Bolivia's macro economic performance last year, highlighted the growth in reserves, extra income from the oil industry and a multi lateral initiative to ease Bolivia's external debts. Hope that this report will catch the attention of foreign investors.

Take this with a pinch of salt; I've yet to see something on per capita income nor statistics on income distribution and the gross domestic product.

The president is due to give his annual state of the nation speech on the 6th of August. Perhaps we will get more information then.

ALBUM REVIEW: P.O.D TESTIFY

PAST & THE PRESENT
A couple of years ago, after a very very long period of self imposed exile, I finally returned to one of my adolescent identity markers: rock music! I wanted to understand my son's generation through their music. And so I plunged into the internet, radio and listened to some of my son's CD's. It was'nt long before I made a detour which led me to my roots as an afficionado of 60's and 70's progressive rock. I just could not help comparing the contemporary music scene with my own preferences from the past.

One of the types of music I bumped into from my son's generation was rap metal or heavy metal fusion music. Groups were putting together rap, heavy metal, pop music and hip hop. Linkin Park are probably the best secular representation of this kinda music in terms of commerce success.

CHRISTIAN METAL RAP
P.O.D, a christian heavy metal rap group, are probably one of the better bands who belong to this genre. Their latest album, Testify, is a winner!! Its a big improvement over Satellite, their other album. The music, though metal, swerves and weaves patterns which include rap, hip hop and reggae.

Some of the heavy metal songs, especially the last two, Say Hello & Mark My Words on Testify, are scorchers. The opener, Roots In Stereo fuses rock and hop. But its the following track, Lights Out, which sets the album on fire. The lyrics are not overtly christian but reflect a deep seated christian spirituality. This is a welcome change from some of the vulgarity and nihilism of secular heavy metal groups.

One of the weaknesses of P.O.D is the absence of a vocalist in the category of Robert Plant, Ian Gillan, Roger Daltrey, Chester Bennington, Steve Marriot, Bono etc.

I guess you can't have everything.

If you're a rocker, I recommend this album...buy it!!

HAS MARCOS WITT SOUNDED THE DEATH KNELL FOR TRADITIONAL HYMNODY?

WHO IS MARCOS WITT?
The explosion of contemporary evangelicalism in Latin America would not have been possible without the music and songs of Marcos Witt. He is by and large the most sucessful modern & urban Spanish speaking singer -songwriter in the evangelical Christian world. Marco Barrientos, Danilo Montero, Jesus Adrian Romero etc.. are the other big names whose songs are also flooding Christian churches. Their CDs are marketted aggressively and bought by musicians immediately when released.

THE CRITICISM
An Anglican bishop once said that Witt's songs are the reason for the demise of Spanish hymnody. There is some truth in this assertion. Marcos Witt's songs and choruses are never far from the lips of an evangelical latin christian. His tunes are catchy and the lyrics are easy to remember. Most of his songs, although latin in spirit, sounds like stuff fabricated in the States. This is not surprising because he is based in the US and Mexico. He certainly may not have intentionally wanted to curtail or extinguish the use of hymns or the more rural & pastoral latin sounding songs/ hymns but the popularity and the constant use of his music in urban churches has not helped to bring about a greater diversity of local home made spanish devotional music and songs.

A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION
His music resonates with the younger generation and in some churches totally dominate the average Sunday service. A new generation of christians have emerged in Latin America without any knowledge of songs or hymns except for the ones composed and sung by Marcos Witt and composers like him. Traditionalists and purists, if they've not passed away, shake their heads in disdain.

We use his songs and choruses during our services in Santa Cruz Bolivia because they move the heart and get the folk excited. We use what is available and most of his stuff is easily accessible. Some of his songs are gilt-edged classics. My favorite is Jesus Christ Is The Reason For My Song (Jesucristo Es El Motivo De Mi Cancion). The theology of the lyrics of this particular song is rich and the tune in some parts is not unlike some of the hymns from the past.

In conclusion, its hard to minimize the impact of Marcos Witt on contemporary urban latin american evangelicalism. My assessment of his ministry is, on the whole, positive. And perhaps he could revive, with some contemporary tunes, some of the old hymns.

CAPITAL OF BOLIVIA: LA PAZ OR SUCRE?

Day before yesterday the Singapore tele ran a story on Bolivia concerning the proposed shift of Bolivia's capital from the city of La Paz (photo on the right) to the city of Sucre. There were clips of a huge open air meeting where thousands upon thousands of folk from La Paz gathered to assert their status as capital of Bolivia. I got all excited because we hear almost nothing about Bolivia in the Singapore media.

Knowing Bolivian history might help us understand what's going on.

SUCRE vs LA PAZ

The declaration of independance from the Spanish Empire was signed and Bolivia was officially declared a nation; Sucre played an important role in this historical milestone. Since then, Sucre was recognized as the capital of Bolivia. In the ensuing years however the city of La Paz began to grow in prominence because of its expanding economy and growing political clout. It was easier to get things done in La Paz. And so La Paz began to assume the characteristics of a nation's capital. Before long, major multinational corporations, embassies, banks and all major political institutions (president's palace and congress) were encouraged or decided on their own to build infraestructure in and function from La Paz.

In an attempt to placate Sucre, La Paz was called the administrative capital of Bolivia; Sucre was referred to as the constitutional capital. Sucre has been tolerating this ambigous arrangement for many years. There is nothing ambigous however about the perception of La Paz being the capital of the country. The country is run from La Paz and just about everybody, be it a Bolivian or foreigner view La Paz as the nation's capital.

Folk in Sucre, intermittently, however kick up a row about restoring its rightful place as the only recognized capital of Bolivia. They don't want to be treated like some left over dusty relic in a musuem and are trying to reclaim their lost prestige through the constitutional assembly which has the task of redoing Bolivia's constitution.

AND THE WINNER IS...

So will Sucre get their way?

No they're not! I can't imagine the nation's major institutions be it public or private, emptying their infraestructure in La Paz and moving to Sucre. Also the people in La Paz, the Pacenos, are not ready to cede to Sucre. They, the Pacenos, came by the thousands in La Paz at a special rally, called a Cabildo, this week, to oppose Sucre's claims.

For better or worse La Paz will remain the capital of Bolivia.

RE-ENTRY BLUES

REVERSE CULTURE SHOCK

Yup..Michelle, Elijah and I are going thru the re-entry blues. I think they call it reverse culture shock. Its when natives find it hard to adjust to their home culture because they've lived elsewhere for a very long period. I guess its inevitable for us; hey we've been out of Singapore for 14 years! We've consciously and unconsciously imbibed some of the cultural patterns, customs and language of Bolivia. Returning to Singapore, in our case, once in a while, for furlough did not affect the inculturation process in Bolivia

THE STUFF WE MISS

Michelle misses creative ministries, her home, bed, friends, dogs, and daily routine in Bolivia. Elijah is still coping with the loss of his friends both in School and Church. I yearn for frontline ministery: preaching/teaching, training, planning, counselling, strategizing etc...

Life is simpler in Bolivia. Choices are limited, be it the food, products and transportation. In Singapore, the malls sort of makes one wander all over the place. There many types of toothpaste, an incredible variety of food in the various food courts and consumer products in every nook and corner. Eating and shopping is less complicated and cheaper on the pocket in Bolivia.

I personally miss the Bolivian mass media. The talk shows and local press are a mixture of silliness, drama, irresponsibility, fearless investigative reporting etc. Evo Morales and his Vice President say things which would make us gasp at times. Yeah.. never a dull moment in Bolivia. Well, its a little different in Singapore; the mass media here is relatively sedate but also a little sensationalist at times, especially the afternoon edition newspaper.

GETTING BACK INTO THE SWING
Its not that Bolivia is better than Singapore or vice versa. We are grateful for the incredible prosperity and efficiency of Singapore; and with time we'll probably get back into the swing of things. This however in no way obliterates the need to manage and work through the issues related the reverse culture shock. In fact this post is part of my therapy!

Living overseas has its pluses. We learned a new language, Spanish; And so we speak to each other in Spanish in the underground trains or when we dont want to embarrass ourselves in front of others. Folk in Bolivia greet one another with a hearty hug and a kiss on the cheek. In Singapore a handshake is about where we're at in terms of a warm greeting.

There are of course a hundred little matters which cause us our heads to swirl.

Its all part of the re-entry blues!

GOING TO BOLIVIA 3

click here to Going To Bolivia 1

click here to Going To Bolivia 2


SOUTH AMERICA AND SOMA

After graduating from seminary I was sent to work as a parish worker at the Church Of The Epiphany. I jokingly asked my wife Michelle if she was open to the idea of going to the Amazon, South America. She laughed and said I was crazy. I was later ordained deacon and served in St Andrew’s Cathedral. The Singapore diocese in those days was a hub for Holy Spirit driven renewal and missions was beginning to assert itself.

The diocese organized a worldwide mission consultation for SOMA (Sharing Of Ministries Abroad) leaders. SOMA is an Anglican body which sends teams to dioceses and parishes. Their focus is mainly on bringing renewal to groups and individuals open to the work of the Holy Spirit.

I can’t remember if the SOMA leaders met in the Cathedral or at Peninsula Hotel. It was a real blessing for me to meet up with experienced Christian leaders from all over the globe – the US, Britain, Australia etc…

DISCOURAGEMENT

I heard they were looking for suitable candidates for short term mission teams to do some work in South America. And so I plucked up my courage and approached the American clergyman in charge. After exchanging some pleasantries, I expressed my interest to be part of a team he was putting together.

He looked me over and asked how long I had been in renewal.

The next question stumped me, do you have any Spanish.

I don’t speak any Spanish, I answered.

He sounded a little dismissive and short, We can’t use you, sorry…

It was like pouring cold water over my youthful enthusiasm.

God's calling on a person always involves experiences of discouragement and that day was certainly one of them. Discouragements reveal our vulnerabilities and shortcomings. Its a blow to the pride to figure out we don't really have what it takes to serve Him. And that's where the learning curve really begins: God's ability thru our inability.

DEATH OF A BOLIVIAN FRIEND

This morning we recieved news of a friend's death from cancer. I opened my email account to retrieve information and was not prepared for an email informing us of her sudden passing away. Michelle and I, knew a couple of days ago, of her struggle against an aggressive form of cancer.

She was young mother of two children: one is a teenager and the other is about 10 years old. Before our trip to Singapore, Michelle and I prayed for her to be healed of a tumor. She appeared to be on the path of recovery. The Lord had other plans; His sovereignty will always prevail. We grieve the loss of our friend. Her family were some of the first people we got to know in Bolivia nearly 14 years ago. She was active in intercession and danced with Michelle.

Her healing and complete restoration is now assured, albeit on the other side of eternity. She is now safely in His arms. He saved her from pain and anguish. Her parents were by her side right to the end.

Pray for her two daughters.

SINGAPORE: A LAYERED CAKE!

A GROWING POPULATION
We've been here now for 3 weeks; one of our challenges is adapting to a high density environment. Singapore is 2400 times smaller than Bolivia but has a population of 4 million (close to half the population of Bolivia).

Singapore, in expanding its market and capacity for consumption, is planning to increase its population to 6 million. Many foreigners have been invited to work here; professionals are encouraged to make Singapore their home.

High rise living provides the necessary housing for the growing population. The vast majority of Singaporeans live together in multi storey apartment blocks called flats. Condominiums are an alternative for those with greater financial resources.

SPACE: A COMMODITY
Kudos to the average Singaporean's ability to live in such close proximity. Its hard to believe however that this high density living does not come with a cost. Sooner or later people want more room for all sorts of reasons; some have emigrated to larger countries - Australia or the US. A friend once told me that he left Singapore for the sake of his children. They needed breathing space, he said.

Space is a valuable commodity, especially at this moment in Singapore when property prices have gone through the roof. Travelling in the underground trains, especially during peak hours, is an exercise in finding and guarding space, be it sitting on a seat or standing.

Folk here maintain boundaries, share limited space and learn to work and live together. Its like being part of a layered cake!

Welcome to Singapore!

CELEBRATING ONE YEAR OF BLOGGING!

The BOLIVIAN BEAT came into being a year ago.

Yup.. today I celebrate one year of blogging. My first post was a review of a conference on evangelism.

Friends...the Lord has used blogging to change my life. Its great therapy also...putting down thoughts in words. Its helpful to see your perspectives in a literary medium.

Blogpastor challenged me to blog and my friend from All Saints, Vincent helped me find this site.

May The Lord Grant Me Another Year As A Blogger!!

GOING TO BOLIVIA 2

Check out "Going to Bolivia1"..click here

GETTING BAPTISED IN THE SPIRIT
I left the Navy, determined to study in the university and pursue my dreams outside of Singapore. As I laid these plans before the Lord I sensed Him moving me in a different direction - toward full time ministry. It was a time of testing, especially when a chance to work overseas in a well paying job surfaced. Under conviction I rejected the offer, much to the annoyance of the personnel manager and made preparations to serve the Lord full time.

In the midst of all this I was suddenly and sovereignly baptised in the Holy Spirit without knowing it. One day I went to window in my home, sensed a strange language in my heart and begin to verbalize a language I had never heard before. I did not know what was happening until I read books by Dennis Bennet and others. I had discovered a new found love for Jesus, a thirst for the scriptures and a boldness to serve the Lord.

CLERGY OR MISSIONARY?

One of the challenges I faced from the beginning was to reconcile my call as an ordained clergyman as well as a growing desire to serve in the mission field. My ordination interview, to say the least, left me intimidated. Its not everyday that one is put under the spotlight and questioned in a room full of saintly looking men with clerical collars. One of them told me it was difficult to envisage me in seminary due to a lack of funds. To this day I don't know what drove me to reply, Well that's all right I'll join Operation Mobilization. I left, feeling both relieved and curious as to the outcome of the meeting.

It was a bit of a surprise when my vicar informed me of the decision to accept me as a provisional candidate for the ordained ministry. The finances were soughted out when someone gave a hefty donation to St Peter's Hall (the place where anglican ordinands were trained).

VISIONS
In seminary my interest in Latin America did not dissipate. We were all caught up with the charismatic renewal in those days; I remember having two visions or pictures in the screen of my mind: one was of Jesus holding the globe with His bloodied hands; the other was of blood flowing, from His gigantic and bloodied feet, onto dry desert. The blood changed the dusty desert into beautiful green pastures and springs. I shared these two pictures with a very mature Christian lady; she did not blink an eyelid when saying that they probably indicated a missionary call. Her sharing cum discerment began to resonate in my heart.

BOB JEPSEN HEALING EVANGELISTIC CAMPAIGN

I mentioned the impending Jepsen campaign in one of my previous posts. Here is a picture of the campaign. Click here for the full story and more photos.

From 19 - 23 June the Anglican Church in Santa Cruz put together an evangelistic campaign and a seminar on healing for pastors and church workers/leaders. This is an exciting time in the life of the church because these activities were organised entirely by Revd Federico Bascunan and the local leadership.

Pray for effective follow up and for the Holy Spirit to further anoint and bless God's people to go and share the gospel in His Power.

PRAISE THE LORD!!

BOOK REVIEW

POPE BENEDICT XVI, JESUS OF NAZARETH

I picked up this book at Miami airport and began reading it on a plane 34 000 above sea level on my way back to Singapore. It was, literally, a heavenly experience!

This is an outstanding work. Pope Benedict when he was Cardinal Ratzinger gave the impression of being a dry theologian and an inquisitorial figure. His writings as Pope however have shown the warmer side of his faith. His first encyclical was on Love. It was a simple look at the several levels of love and less scholarly when compared to the works of John Paul 2.

BIBLICAL THEOLOGY AT ITS BEST
Benedict calls this book, "My personal search for the face of the Lord". His personal search, not based on mystical experiences, is firmly centred on the Christ. He finds Christ in Scriptures,using the redemptive historical method as an expression of his personal faith. It surely is an irony, for Protestants anyway, to find a Pope who knows how to plunge and extract the deep riches of Christ from the Bible. Several passages are read in the light of other passages which shed greater light on Christ - this is biblical theology at its best.

One of the highlights is his masterful defense of the traditional view of the Apostle John's authorship of the gospel of John. He dialogues with those who deny John's authorship and uses their insights to put forward his argument. He reads Christ into OT themes and brings alive NT in interesting new ways.

A LACK OF PERSONAL DETAILS
The only weakness in the book is the absence of biographical details of a personal encounter with Christ as he read the scriptures. How did his readings of scripture bring Christ into his life and change him? No answers are given. We'll probably have to wait for Benedict's personal biography (or maybe information concerning his conversion is out there somewhere...can someone enlighten me)

This is a great book and I heartily recommend it.

1st SUNDAY SERVICE IN SINGAPORE


A FRIENDLY WELCOME
We are staying at an apartment in the west of Singapore: a place called Holland Village; so of we went to the nearest Anglican church - the parish of St James. We bumped into a few old friends, Khairon and Revd William Chee. After the service a young lady, Denise, walked up to my wife and spoke a little spanish; she worked in Youth With A Mission and has heart for Latin America.

Canon Terry Wong, vicar of the church and his wife Jennifer were very hospitable; they took us for lunch after the service and made us feel at home. Jennifer, medical doctor, is a very friendly person with an uncanny ability to make you feel at home. Canon James Wong, the Archdeacon from the diocese of Mauritius was also at the service. He is a friendly guy who speaks French, Creole and English. He is on sabbatical in Singapore.

TYPE OF SERVICE
The service was a non traditional mattins. Contemporary Praise & Worship coupled with prayers from the prayer book formed the basic format of the service. Most of the services in the diocese of Singapore would more or less resemble the one we experienced at St James. Although the music had no latin rythmns and some of the songs were not familiar, we felt at home. Terry spoke on the Christian In The Public Square. Some of his comments concerning unkown missionaries engaged in education and church development at the turn of the century in Singapore, spoke to me. We sometimes tend to forget that our work here and now would not have been possible if it was not for the extraordinary and sacrificial efforts of early missionaries.

After service we had lunch with Terry, Jennifer and Archdeacon James. The fellowship was priceless as we shared notes on what was going on in our lives; It was great to be back with the brethren in Singapore!!

GOING TO BOLIVIA 1!

WAH SO FAR!
I begin a series of posts on the circumstances surrounding my journey in response to God's call to serve in Bolivia, South America. After 14 years of ministry in Bolivia, I sense its time, with the benefit of hindsight, to tell our story.

One more than one occasion, people, be they from Singapore or Bolivia, look dumbfounded when told we are serving in Bolivia as missionaries from Singapore.

Some Singaporeans say, "Wah so far ah...".

Some Bolivians say, "Wow.. you've come a long way"

And so I hope that these posts, of which, this is the first, will provide a context for those who've supported us all these years.

LICENSED DIOCESAN MISSIONER
In 1993, Michelle, Elijah and I packed our bags, uprooted ourselves and went to Bolivia with the full support of the diocese of Singapore. I was licensed as a Diocesan Missionary. Bishop Moses Tay called the clergy together to pray for us during the Synod service, a week before our departure. I especially remember Canon Alan Cole's prophecy of how my family and I would rediscover God's presence in the ordinary moments of life in Latin America. Alan was right, doing long term missions is impossible without the graces necessary to find the Lord in the seemingly ordinary components of music, politics etc of a foreign culture.

The events and circumstances leading up to this decision more than 14 years ago have never been told in its entirety. And so...

ONLY GLIMPSES
The story begins...believe it or not with a schoolboy enthusiasm of the Amazon jungle. The Amazon was to me a massive, under explored region of jungles, lakes, rivers and all sorts of creepy crawlies, wild animals; it spoke of adventure and mystery. The Amazon through its tributaries runs through Bolivia not unlike the highways of a modern 1st world city. Going there was a silly adolescent dream. A part of my inner wiring was already pointing toward South America.

I received Christ when I was 14 years old after reading the Bible - a gift from my mother for my confirmation. At the age of 17 I went to see a lecturer at the Singapore Bible College about the possiblity of studying theology with a sense that my future lay in the Lord's hand to serve Him. He wisely told me to work out my faith in the world. I joined the Navy several months later; my personal walk with the Lord was not consistent and I backslided on more than one occasion.

After six years, my contract with the Navy ran out; I came to the conclusion that it was time to make a U turn in my life and return to the Lord. It was a significant point in my life...

HELLO SINGAPORE!

Yup we're back.

The flights from LA to Korea and then Korea to Singapore were ardous but welcome cuz we're on our way back to our 2nd home.

Settling in normally takes about 2 weeks:

- coping with the jet lag is tiresome as our inner clocks try to differentiate between day and night; our bodies reel & sweat profusely from the humidity;

- new oils and spices roil our stomachs;

- walking with the masses in stations and malls hurries you along;

- finding the nearest hawker centre, bank and train stations, from where we live, involves lots of walking & observing;

- we look to the right and left more than once when we cross roads cuz Singaporeans drive on the right.

and dozens of other stuff...

Yup we're back!!

On your right is a view of the Singapore skyline.

BACK TO THE FUTURE

SOAKING UP YOSEMITE

- Flying From Bolivia Thru The US To Singapore -

We normally take a break in Southern California and spend some time with my sister, Rebecca and her husband, Jim during our long journey from Bolivia to Singapore. Staying with them for a couple of days is a welcome rest in between long and tiring flights.

This time around they took us to a popular tourist destination, Yosemite. And so of we went to this protected natural reserve. It was a fascinating experience: the incredible sights & panoramic view. A half day tour of the place was the highlight; Bill Fontane, a seasoned guide was driver as well as tour guide; he gave us a running commentary of Yosemite's history, the fauna, flowers, sequioa trees, the various mountains, landscapes and waterfalls. Bill's voice sounded like something behind those TV wildlife documentaries from the 60's. He is very eloquent in his commentaries and explanations; Yosemite, coloured by his insights, comes alive. Its quite obvious that the man loves his job.

The stars at night provide a stunning perfomance for those willing to lift their heads to gaze at the sky.

God has shed his grace on thee, America.

Tonight we continue our journey from Los Angeles to Dallas; and then its the big one: a 14 hour flight from Dallas to Korea; we then endure a further 5 hours from Seoul to Singapore.

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!

We are preparing for our trip back to S'pore.

These are busy moments for us: packing, saying our goodbyes, buying souveniers, writing notes, doing our budgets, balancing our accounts, briefing house sitters, fixing iron grills to windows, closing our internet and phone accounts, paying all outstanding bills, packing our bags etc..

And we will probably remember to do something important on the day before the flight!

Friends, we fly this Thursday morning and will spend some time with my sister in California before leaving for Singapore.

SHOULD MISSIONARIES GET INVOLVED IN DISSIDENT POLITICS?

Probably not...but read on..there might be exceptions..

DISSENT AS PART OF LEGISLATIVE PROCESS

Some governments are not too enthusiastic about any kind of dissent, not even from their own citizens. In cases like this...missionaries should know their place and guard their testimony.

On the other end of the spectrum are countries where freedom of speech and assembly are commonplace. In such circumstances there might be a place for missionaries to help the national church put forward its case against impending legislation or a movement which is clearly at odds with biblical principles.

BOLIVIAN CASE STUDY: CHURCH LED DISSENT

A couple of years ago, the Bolivian congress, under the influence of liberal minded elements from outside the country, were about to pass a bill that would liberalize sexual activity amongst young people and promote the gay, lesbian, transgendered agenda. The christian church reacted strongly, especially in Santa Cruz; marches were organized; forums were organized; discussion groups sprung up.

A town hall meeting was organized to discuss the bill. Close to 700 people signed up to speak (they had 2 minutes each or maybe less) at a local indoor stadium. Christians were mobilized to attend and speak against the proposed bill. We joined in heartily. It was a noisy and non violent meeting where everyone were given a chance to speak up.

We also participated in a massive signature campaign against the impending legislation. Many christian groups, including the anglican church marched joyously in the streets expressing their disagreement to the bill. I was also interviewed by a local TV station.

BUILDING A MATURE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP

The carnival like atmosphere made the experience a positive one. The congress finally decided to shelve the bill thanks to peaceful Christian activism. Some missionaries, in helping this movement, were not passive observers but active participants, albeit in a supportive role, against this undesirable legislation.

The case cited above however is a little unusual and does NOT represent the norm.

I would argue instead for missionaries to evangelise and disciple a solid national leadership committed to the overall well being of the nation; a leadership mature enough to facilitate, when the situation calls for it, peaceful and creative dissent.

SHOULD MISSIONARIES AVOID POLITICS DURING CONVERSATIONS?

GENERATING HEAT

Conversations, especially during informal occasions, tend to veer into politics. Bolivians are a chatty lot...and sooner or later missionaries will be expected to make some sort of a comment.

The present government has broached some issues with provocative statements and bold policies; yup...there's a lot to talk about these days!

Evo Morales, the Bolivian president, recently, severely criticised the judiciary and accused supreme court judges of corruption. He stirred a hornets nest. Lawyers and judges are going on a one day strike. Corruption, however is rife in the judicial system. Is it any wonder that the president's statements resonate amongst the populace? Political discussions can sometimes get quite heated when folk begin to take sides.

DISCRETION & WISDOM

I try to keep a respectful silence until someone asks me for my opinion; there have been times however when I get into the fray and say my piece. I've learned to exercise self control, avoid vitriolic comments, stay close to the facts, try not to take sides, respect the current government and to also express a christian viewpoint whenever necessary. If a particular government policy or action collides with the christian faith, then I respond clearly and firmly without rancor. People expect nothing less from their christian leaders.

A degree of discretion is important because I represent the church and being a foreigner forces me to not be impulsive or incite folk against the elected government. We are called to honor the emperor and pray for governing authorities. A missionary is not a smart-ass-know-it-all but a foreigner, an invited guest, whose task is to bless the nation through his work in the church. He or she, especially if they are new missionaries, should listen intelligently and understand social issues & customs before trying to venture an opinion.

AN OPPORTUNITY

On a personal level, I have generally not avoided conversations over difficult social issues. I've been here for 14 years and people expect me to not only have certain convictions but to also share them. Its a welcome challenge because these informal times provide opportunities to not only listen to people's fears & opinions but to also react compassionately to what's going in the nation.

Yup...missionaries should be wise, be it as a listener or a contributor in any conversation.

BRRRRRRRR....

A Cold Winter In Santa Cruz!

Temperatures have dropped dramatically in Santa Cruz; we are experiencing a very cold winter. At night it can get as low as 14% celsius; this is a dramatic change because temperatures hover between 25 to 30%. In some areas its even dropped to 9%.

The weather in Santa Cruz is normally humid and hot; folk here are normally very lightly clothed. We rushed for our mothballed wollens as the cold began to descend upon us suddenly about 2 weeks ago.

The photo on the top is a half way home for those abandoned and without decent housing; they're wrapped in blankets under the vigilance of a security guard. A warm place with blankets and some hot food is a matter of life and death for the homeless in Santa Cruz.

ELIJAH GRADUATES2

Elijah's graduation was a once in a life time experience for us; he's our only son.

The first item on the programme resembled a wedding service: parents walking down the aisle with their graduating son or daughter.

Michelle accompanied Elijah {the girls were accompanied by their dads and the boys were with their mums}. Words of encouragement, prepared by the parents were read out as the graduating students entered the auditorium with their parents.

Elijah recieved his diplomas from one of the directors of the school board.

The prinicpal's message, songs, prayers made it an unforgettable night. A reception with light snacks for family
and friends was held after the ceremony.