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This morning we had a session on Church Planting Movements. CPM’s are the main focus of the IMB’s efforts. They realize that we don’t have enough personel to get done what needs to be done. So we are focussing on training believers start churches that are healthy and rapidly reproducing.

10 Key Characteristics of CPM:

1. Prayer
2. Abundant Gospel Sowing
3. Intentional Church Planting
4. Word of God is Authority
5. Local Leadership
6. Lay Leadership
7. Housechurches
8. Churches Planting Churches
9. Rapid Reproduction
10. Strong and Healthy Churches

To find out more about CPM and hear some real life accounts of CPM across the globe and in some of the most closed countries check out www.imb.org/CPM/default.htm.

One thing that is very helpful here is the constant evaluation we are forced to make of our perspective or worldview. We have to decide why we do the things we do or feel the way we feel. One of MLC’s primary tasks is to help us to develop a biblically sound worldview. And this affects every area of our life. I’m starting to realize that I can live my life in a much more purposeful way or in such a way that better falls in line with my claimed worldview.

For example, if I believe the Bible, then I believe that it is wrong to oppress people. If I believe that oppressing people is wrong and I found out that the coffee bean industry fosters oppression of peasants in countries across the world (I don’t know that it does. It’s just an example), then I would stop buying coffee.

Or, if I realize that God wants all people to know about Him, then that will become a purpose of my life. And that would play itself out at Wal-Mart, in business, at school, etc.

Also, I think in a biblical worldview priorities are determined by God, not me. Even though I really really like to drink coffee, I stop because God’s will trumps my desires. Even though I’m nervous about sharing with people because I might lose a friend, business, or respect, I do it because it is important to God.

I guess it all comes down to who I put first: me or God.

I think the wave of infectious germs have about made their way out of my body. I woke up feeling good. I had almost forgotten what that was like. I still feel a bit woozy, but like a million bucks compared to last week. Unfortunately the germs didn’t even leave the room before they found someone else to torment. It looks like Amanda will be fighting the same battle I did last week. Hopefully she can beat it quicker.

We had our second round of shots yesterday. I really don’t like shots. The rabies one really hurt.

We just recieved out legalized documents from the Peruvian consulate (good news!). Now we’re only one step away from being legal residents in Peru.

I’ve been sick (more or less) since Sunday. It finally caught Amanda yesterday. We’ve been in bed for what seems like forever. And what’s worse, I don’t feel like I’m getting better. I’m going to get some antibiotics today. Hopefully that will help. Apparently half the campus is sick, too.

I just got sick of being sick and in bed so came over to the computer lab for a minute to check email. We have to get our second round of shots in just a few minutes.
Adios!

We met today with the regional leaders of SAM region. They talked to us a lot about culture shock, and that there is no avoiding it. And it was really interesting to hear some of their stories about how things are different there.

Once they went camping for a little getaway. It was a huge camping area and there were only a few campers out. They set up their tent in a fairly secluded area away from the other campers. About nine that night the hear a “bang bang bang”. A family is setting their tent up, literally, right next to theirs. They like to be close.

If you are the only person in a restaurant and a person comes in, they will sit right next to you. . . even though the whole place is empty. That blows my mind.

The regional leaders also encouraged us to really become friends with nationals. Learn to depend on them. I’m excited about those relationships. That’s another thing they told us. Latin Americans aren’t impressed with your busy schedule, especially if you’ve had no time for them. Completing tasks are important to us . . . building relationships is what is important to them. Hopefully that mindset will rub off on me.

I started getting sick Sunday evening. There seems to be some kind of germ going around. I guess its just a cold, but it feels pretty miserable. I spent yesterday in bed for the most part. Nurse Amanda took good care of me….bringing me meals and such. Monday morning at about 5:30AM the electricity went out. It was about 15 F outside. So here I was stranded in bed, feeling sick, with no heat! Thankfully it was turned back on within a couple of hours.

It’s early Tuesday morning and I’m trying to convince my body its not sick anymore. The verdict is still out. I just hate to miss the sessions.

It’s really incredible how our quad has become like a big family. They really took care of me yesterday. Vance (MD) wrote me a prescription, Charlie got me some medicine, Brad and Cassie gave me some gatorade and cereal, and offered blankets (because the electricity was out). God is faithful. I think God uses his family to minister to his family. God uses his family to take care of his family.

Well, I need to give a shout out to my Dad who is a faithful reader of the online journal! He even wrote a comment! My Dad is the greatest, and I love him so much! (Dad, if you don’t know what a shout out it, just e-mail me, and I’ll explain!!!)

We had la clase de espanol last night at 7:00. Amanda and I feel ok about our language skills…..we have a long way to go, but we are definitely not starting from scratch. This is one thing that I am really excited about . . . learning spanish. I’ve always wanted to.

At 8:30 Vance, Brad, and I went to the gym to play basketball. We represented Quad 21 in several three on three matchups. And we won the last game making us the champions.* (for centuries the Bush family has held to the rule that whoever wins the last game is the champion).

We got back to the Quad and decided that a friendly game of Risk was in order. The four men from Quad 21 squared off in a contest of world domination. I was George W. (Red). Brad was John Kerry (Blue). Charlie was Ralph Nader (Green). And Vance was . . . . Black. Vance won.

We’re expecting a few more inches of snow and ice today . . .

Well, I wrote a serious “blog,” now I will update the events of the past couple of days! The big news of the day was immunizations!!! Today we got shots!!! I am a member of the medical team. (I still haven’t figured out why they put me on the medical team!) Today at the clinic, I served as a “runner.” I took people to the rooms, and I would brought the shots to the nurses. In an earlier blog Ryan gave some random facts. Well, I have some random medical facts. The staff nurses of the IMB run the medical clinics. They draw up all the shots themselves. By doing the immunizations “in-house,” it saves the IMB over $600,000 annually. Besides the army, the IMB gives the most immunizations annually on the east coast, maybe the country–20,000. Today, I got three shots, but there are two more clinics. I will have nine shots, and one immunization by pills by the third clinic!!!

The other big news is the snow! Ryan wrote that it snowed on Wednesday. It snowed again last night, but it was pretty sunny today and a lot of it melted. However, it is really supposed to snow big tomorrow and Sunday. I love the snow! It is so fun being here with all the kids because they really love it.

Lastly, I will tell you about my kickboxing class. I, Amanda Bush, have been faithfully exercising. I attended the kickboxing class in the gym, and it was so much fun. I’m sure everyone will want updates on the kickboxing, so I will be sure to give the readers what they want!

Amanda

There is so much swirling through my heart and mind right now. I am so grateful and humbled that I am getting to be a part of the International Mission Board. It is an organization truly seeking to glorfiy God. It is humbling to realize how well we are taken care of by the IMB. They provide for all of our material needs. The staff is so eager to help us and serve us, and working with them has been nothing but a pleasure.

More important than providing for our material needs, is the encouragment we have received in our personal walks with Christ. The atmosphere here in one that has enabled me to become closer to Christ. Since we arrived on the eleventh, the main emphasis has been on our personal discipleship and Christian walk. The sessions have focused on helping us grow spiritually. I was kind of worried about coming here for training because I knew that there would be many people much more spiritually mature than I am. When I feel intimadated and overhwhelmed in such a way, I shut down. That has not been the case here at all. On the contrary, I feel that I have grown leaps and bounds in such a short time. This is not a place of guilt and condemnation, but it is a place of enablement and empowerment. The staff helps us see how vital it is to meet with God daily, and they help us with the skills to follow through in that commitment.

I have also been humbled by the leadership here. As Ryan wrote earlier, Dr. Jerry Rankin, President of the IMB, served 23 years in Indonesia. Wow! It comforts me to know that the manleading us, has been where I will be. Beginnning Wednesday through today, Dr. Rankin taught from nine until noon on spiritual warfare. The sessions were very intense, butI believe it was a learning experience I will look back on numerous times in the future as Ryan and I serve in Peru. Satan seeks to devour us, but we have victory in Christ! Often times, I do not live a life of victory, but oh I want to!

Today my attitude is one of gratitude, thanksgiving, and humility…because of what the IMB represents and because God has allowed me to serve Him in this organization. Today, I desire to follow Christ with everything that I have. I want my life to be His.

Amanda