Kiddos in Peru 
Archive for January, 2005
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:
- Prayer
- Abundant Gospel Sowing
- Intentional Church Planting
- Word of God is Authority
- Local Leadership
- Lay Leadership
- Housechurches
- Churches Planting Churches
- Rapid Reproduction
- 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.
Keeping warm at MLC
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
Everyone said it was coming so we bought a couple sleds yesterday at Wal-Mart. Well it came! And there is a great hill right outside our quad. It’s supposed to keep snowing through the weekend too! WOOHOO!
Everyone here at MLC is on a team. There are all kinds of teams: Computer Team, Prayer Team, Worship Team, Rec Team, Facilities Team, etc. I ended up on the Childcare Team. I like kids, so it’s all good. We had our first childcare “event” tonite. 13 kids under the age of 8. I managed to get out of changing the two diapers that were fogging up the windows (phew).
We talked a lot about security today and saying goodbye to family. We talked about the grieving process. It’s hard to understand and fully appreciate the sacrifice some of these families make to serve Christ overseas. I’m one to automatically think that it’s not that big of a sacrifice and the excitement and enjoyment and blessing outweigh the costs. There are people here who probably don’t see it that way. The cost to them is potentially staggering, devastating. They are going out of obedience. And there is joy in that, but it’s hard, it’s sobering. Their courage in obedience challenges me.
Jerry Rankin (IMB President) and his wife came and talked with us today. They spent 25 years in Indonesia. Both their children were raised on the mission field and have both ended up serving in international missions. It made me feel good about this organization. I can joyfully follow a president with those credentials.
Amanda and I went to Wal-Mart before supper to stock up before the blizzard hits here. We were talking about how awesome it is to be in this atmosphere. Christ is 100% the focus here. We don’t have a choice but to confront the reality of our relationship and obedience to Him. It’s like spiritual bootcamp. It is good. We have been here one week and I feel like Amanda and I have already grown measurably closer to what the Father wants us to be.
Well, first of all I have to give a shout out to my seventh graders: Riley Roberts and Laura Shuler. If some unnamed twins would ever e-mail me, they would get a shout out too!!!
Ryan already talked about our worship service yesterday. We have been divided into small groups for worship. The purpose behind this is to help us get used to worshipping in a smaller setting. Many places we are going won’t have organized churches for us to attend.
Our worship time went really well. I enjoyed it a lot. My favorite part was when the family played the violin for us. The youngest is seven, and she has been playing the violin since she was three and a half. The Dad was a music teacher, and has played and taught the violin for years. This family is going to Brazil, and they seem really neat. They seem like the kind of family I want to have someday–close to Jesus and close to each other.
Last night, as Ryan already mentioned, we had a ceremony with all the families. We all went up to a huge map and put our pictures on the country we are going to. It was so neat. It was my favorite thing we’ve done so far. It was neat to see the families go up there together. I liked seeing the kids excited to place the picture on the map. We all also shared a prayer request when we went up front. There are some heavy burdens and requests people are dealing with. It is pretty amazing to see obedience to Christ in light of what some are dealing with.
I have missed home. Oddly enough, my brother is who I have missed most. (Sorry Mom) He is a great friend and someone I look up to a lot. Even though I miss my family and friends, I am loving being here. God is gracious. He has called us, and he will be faithful to give us the strength to follow Him.
Amanda
Things are about to get really busy for us at MLC. We have our first full week ahead of us. We’ve only been here a few days, but it feels like longer. We’ve taken in so much information, met so many people, and felt so many feelings already.
We worshiped in small group yesterday (Sunday) morning. 4 families and 3 journeyman. There are 6 children in our small group. One of the families played the violin for us. 5 of them. The dad and four kids all played at the same time. It was pretty incredible. I led in a few songs. John (Brazil) led the Bible study and prayer time.
After lunch we went to a hispanic service in Richmond. It started to snow a bit, but didn’t last long. We met a couple going to western europe.
After dinner we had the mapping ceremony. There is a wall-sized map in the lobby of the KGC. We all went through one by one and placed our picture on our country. It was awesome to see the map filling up with faces. And it was awesome to realize we were one of those faces.
The little lady is still asleep. I woke up pretty early this morning and came over to the computer lab to work on a few things. What is strange is that breakfast is served from 7-8 no matter if there is nothing until 11. Boy, this is a lot different than being retired!
Last night we watched “The Count of Monte Cristo” in our quad with the our quadmates. We projected it up on the wall.
Everyone at FPO (Field Personel Orientation) is put in a small group, usually divided up by region, for house Church. This morning is our first service. I think we are meeting in quad 5 at 9:00am. There are about 14 of us. 4 couples. 6 kiddos. I’ve been given the job of music minister because I have a guitar. Then, after lunch, several of the families and journeyman headed to spanish speaking countries are going into Richmond to attend a hispanic service.
Well, Ryan and I are in the process of experiencing our first weekend at MLC! The couple in our quad that we talked about earlier, the Whites, brought a car to MLC. Last night the four of us ate in the cafeteria together. We had pizza! Then we made a trip to none other than Wal-Mart. I am trying to appreciate every trip to Wal-Mart, since I will have no such luxury in a few months!
When we came back to the quad, we played UNO with some of the kids in our quad. There a five kids in one family in our quad and two kids in another–seven total!!! We have a lot of fun with them. The kids won all the UNO games!
It has turned FREEZING here! This morning Ryan and I tried to go on a walk–not a good idea!
Well, the rest of the exciting news about weekend number one is to be continued….
There are no carbonated products served in the MLC caf.
MLC has its own wastewater system.
A quad consists of four apartment-like areas and one shared “great room” or living area.
The quads are divided up into several segments around campus, “The Americas”, “Africa”, “Asia”, etc.
We live in Africa.
MLC has a pond with fish and fishing gear you can borrow.
The Missionary Learning Center was built entirely from private donors. No church offerings.
You can eat cereal three meals a day.
There is a soccer field. (Clay Steelman “rolled” through the net the other day and busted it)
Three different fire stations respond when a fire alarm goes off.
There are three different playgrounds.
We are going to learn how to kill, defeather, cut up, and cook a real live chicken.
We are starting to settle into a routine. We have about figured out where everything is located.
Today we talked about the most important part of serving cross-culturally. Our relationship with God. Of course, this is the most important thing in all of life, but absolutely critical if we plan to be of any use in a strange and foreign place where we don’t know anyone, we can’t understand the language, and the food tastes funny. He and each other will be all Amanda and I have to lean on.
The session lasted from 9-11 and then we were supposed to spend 3.5 hours in solitude and silence. Not just being alone and being quiet for the heck of it, but to get finger on the pulse of God. What’s he saying? Maybe even begin to get our heartbeats a little closer to the rhythms of his loving, graceful heart. This was no easy task for me. Although I looked forward to it, I found it very difficult to concentrate. It didn’t feel fruitful. Maybe I’m too distracted or tired. Or maybe I’m too used to the TV or radio going. One of the greatest things I’ve realized about relating to Christ is that, like any other relationship, it can’t be programmed. Because I miss a quiet time or whatever, I don’t have to feel guilty or like I let God down. It’s about walking with God through every minute of every circumstance. The practice of the presence of God.
“I’ll make a list of God’s gracious dealings, all the things God has done that need praising, All the generous bounties of God . . . compassion lavished, love extravagant. - Isaiah 63:7
Air to breathe this morning.
The rain.
An organization committed to accomplishing what God wants.
A wife who is my best friend, who challenges me, who encourages me.
A wife to share this journey of knowing God with.
The internet.
Family who supports us.
Food to eat. Clothes to wear. Shelter.
New life in Christ.
A renewed heart and mind after I have tainted it.
Being debt free.
The ability to talk to my Creator.
Books.
Life.
Mercy. Grace. Freedom.
The opportunity to go to OBU and learn about him in classes and from his people.
Allowing me to be a part of the Geyer Springs family.
Friends like the Motes, Branscums, Johnsons, Copelands, Roes, Davids, etc., etc.
Saving me.
Growing me.
Loving me.
Ron, Barbara, Calvin, Ginger, Jessica, Ethan, Andrew, Betsy, Milo, and Sue E.
Dixie Cafe.
His Word.
Card games.
Music, specifically U2, Matt Redman, Delirious?.
Naps.
Allowing us to go to Peru to serve him.
Allowing us to serve him.
Abudant life.
Advacado. Chips and salsa. Sopapillas.
Friendship.
Snow.
The cross.
There is a couple living in our quad that is about our age. They are from Kentucky, and they are going to none other than Peru! It has been a lot of fun meeting and getting to know them. We have been exchanging stories about Peru. Their names are Brad and Cassie White, and they will be living in a village in the Andes.
Our day started at 4:00am. It wasn’t supposed to. I had originally read our itinerary as saying that our flight left Little Rock at 8:27 . . . turns out that’s when we were supposed to arrive in Cincinnati from LR. Our flight actually left at 6:20am. Yikes! We made though, after some high speed driving by Calvin.
We arrived at the Missionary Learning Center at around 2:00pm. We checked in. Moved into our quad. Took a nap.
There are several OBUians here with us: Clay Steelman, Beth Grossman, and Arwen Hays. We also just found out the AJ Kirksey will be heading to Peru in February for two years!!
Before dinner we had to be weighed in and measured by the nurses. We found out that I have to get 8 shots . . . Amanda gets 9.
There our three other couples living with us in our quad. And at least 7 kids.
In Regards to Comments
I wanted to let you all know that you can now post a comment on this without much hassle. Previously you had to fill out a bunch of info and such and create an account. Now you don’t, so try it out. Thanks!