Angels in the Basement

Maybe there was only one.

One day last week Carol tried to call me from the road. She was traveling with her brother south to take their parent’s car to the AutoTrain near Washington D.C. “You’re not going to believe what happened,” she said.

“Can I call you back?” I said. “You are not going to believe what just happened here.”

We finally reconnected an hour or so later and took turns relating our stories to one another and saying, “Whaaaat?”

Carol and her brother were in a 20 car pile-up on a highway slippery with black ice. She described a car that was spinning out of control and coming directly at them when at the last second it hit the edge of another car sending it careening like a pin ball off the road. Three hours later, the police let her drive off, both the car and its two passengers without a single scratch.

The same hour, I was walking home with the church mail and opened the door. My parents, who had decided to visit unannounced, were just inside, and as I opened the door it knocked my father, as upright and stout as a bowling pin, all the way down the cellar stairs (see photograph) where he landed on the cement floor below. I watched helplessly as he moved almost sideways in slow motion through the air. My mother screamed and I ran down the stairs to his side. Laying on his back, his head landed on a small bag of empty soda cans that acted like bubble wrap. Stunned and laying there, staring up at my poor mother, all he could say was, “I told you I wanted to stay home today!” He sat up and stood up and walked back up the stairs, completely unharmed. He is 86 years old.

We have more than 50 prayer partners praying now for our imminent trip to Africa. No one will ever convince me that the prayers of God’s people were not at work that day and that there were not angels on the highway and at least one in that basement during that same single hour. A different outcome in either one of those scenarios would have changed everything, and forever. Thank you for your prayers!

Gary.

A Shot in the Arm

And another. And another. And another.

Last week we had our consultation at the county health clinic to determine what shots we would need for the part of the world we would be visiting. Because I am a pastor with a congregation, the consultation fee was waived. That was not only painless, it felt pretty good.

Then we were given leaflets and brochures loaded with tips for safe travel. Here is one such tip, this one regarding food: “Cook It… Boil It… Peel It…or FORGET IT!”

Apparently, a main concern where we are headed is malaria. For that we will be taking some pills. A small boatload of pills. Then came the shots. Something for typhoid. A polio booster. And hepatitis shots.

The flu shots I received the following day at my family doctor. There was a call to some special number to make sure we could be given certain shots together. All clear. “You have really tough skin,” the nurse told me as she prepared to stick me. “I was involved in journalism for quite a few years,” I told her. And then the needle broke.

I had already received my tetanus shot in ‘07, so would not need one of those. How disappointing.

But there are a few more shots to go – and quite a few more pills.

And then there was the bill.

That was really the only shot that hurt.

EYES WIDE OPEN

SERVING WITH EYES WIDE OPEN by David A. Livermore was required reading by Global Partners, and nearly talked me into abandoning our plans to go to Africa. If there had not been several strong memorials over several years that made it clear this was the time, there is no way we would be going.

Livermore writes his goal in the book is to “open our eyes to existing blind spots in global missions, specifically short-term missions. I want to change the way we see and therefore do short-term missions.” (page 13) The book confirmed a number of the suspicions I have always had regarding short-term mission trips. Exaggerated testimonies from returning pastors and groups, mischaracterizations and misrepresentation of cultures, the imposition of western ideals in the name of the Gospel… I did not agree with everything in the book, but when I finished reading it was immediately resolved to recommend this book not only to everyone thinking of embarking on a short-term mission trip BUT JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, to everyone thinking of supporting someone going on a short-term missions trip. With American churches now spending as much on short-term missions trips as support for long term missionaries, I think it vital.

It is with fear and trembling we travel at the end of March. I hope and pray God will help us to direct our thoughts and so our cameras and pens to relate stories that are authentic. I may refer to other excerpts of Livemore’s book in future posts, but here is one paragraph that I am trying to internalize as an editorial guideline before we leave:

“Here’s what some African church leaders said when asked what they wanted most to say to American churches: ‘Please raise our dignity before the Christians and citizens of North America. We are not naïve, backward, and ignorant black people. Instead we are your brothers and sisters in the family of God who are seeking to be faithful to his calling in our lives.’” (page 169)

BEHIND THE NAME - PICTURE MAKING A DIFFERENCE®

With this post we begin to officially log our journey with Global Partners to points around the world.

Both Carol and I have been using our cameras and pens for most of our adult lives as a means to put bread on the table of our family. Now is our opportunity - our privilege - to use our cameras and pens to help others 'put bread' on theirs.
We chose the name, Picture Making A Difference, with a double-meaning in mind.

First, that perhaps the pictures we take will help to 'make a difference' in the places and in the lives of the people we photograph and write about.

Second, that perhaps others will be inspired to step up and 'make a difference' in the lives and places we photograph and write about.

In a few weeks, we are scheduled to be in Africa. And we hope you will visit this blog often, journey with us, and discover ways you might, Picture Making a Difference - in Zambia.

Gary 1.29.10