Griffith Gleanings November 2015
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John 1:16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given
GRIFFITH GLEANINGS NOVEMBER 2015
Two things we celebrate this newsletter. We have just finished our studies for 2015 and we have now officially been confirmed as Global Interaction candidates for Cambodia. In September we met with some of the other families that are also preparing for the Cambodian team. We now have our sights fixed on the place where at the end of 2016 we expect to be heading. We will start to introduce some facts about Cambodia in this edition and expect to have a lot more to say after January when we return from our first visit to Siem Reap (where our team is based), as well as the nation’s capital Phnom Penh.
The Cambodian flag is the only national flag that has an image of a building – the Angkor Wat. This flag has been on our dining table for the past twelve months as we have prayed over and for the Khmer people of Cambodia and discerned God’s invitation for us to be based there as long term cross-cultural workers.
We are passionate about being a part of God’s work among the Khmer of Cambodia. With less than 2% of people identified as Christians they are one of the least-reached people that Global Interaction
focus on. Working with the team in Siem Reap we will be seeking to build communities of faith in the North West region of Cambodia. But first our focus will be learning culture and language so that we can build relationships that reflect the hope of Jesus. Our long term vision is to be helping Khmer people to follow Jesus in ways that embraces their culture.
Theravada Buddhism is Cambodia’s main religion and has been since the 13th century, except during the Khmer Rouge period. During that time, all monks were disrobed or killed and most religious scholars were murdered or fled into exile. Today the country is about 95 percent Buddhist. To most Khmer people it is part of their culture and to be Khmer is to be Buddhist.
We have plans to visit Cambodia in late December 2015 to help prepare for our transition to living there from December 2016.
Three other family units are preparing with us to join the Global Interaction team in Cambodia. It was a privilege to meet together in Melbourne in September (see the photo below). During the first half of 2016 we hope to get together again along with the Windus family who are part of the Cambodia team, whilst they are in Australia. By then we might have 10 children as part of the team that meets with us.
In addition to a couple of Tabor college subjects this past semester we have had further training through Whitley College and Global Interaction in Victoria. This training was around mission strategy and our assignments have helped us begin to understand Buddhism.
We have continued to visit different churches which has been a great way to meet people and share God’s invitation with other Aussie’s about ways they can be part of what God is doing in Cambodia. It has been encouraging to meet many people who have a heart for all people to hear the good news about a life transforming relationship with Jesus. We are eager to meet a number of other churches and groups in the next year.
Thank you to those who are supporting us on this journey in prayer. Recently a number of people have begun to also support us financially. It is both a privilege and humbling for people to financially want to pledge their support for us. Before we depart for Cambodia we are required to raise the support level for a three and a half year period to cover the financial costs of living, language learning, travel, medical costs, etc. If you would like to support us in a financial way that would greatly bless us. The Global Interaction web address below is where you can make donations or a pledge. You can begin to make contributions now, or nominate when to start payments if you would prefer. If you would rather speak to a person rather than interact with a web site call the Global Interaction office in Melbourne (03) 9819 4944 – they would be very happy to help you out. The web address for support and information is:
http://www.globalinteraction.org.au/RobDeb
Rob: A Message That Makes Sense
Duane Elmer tells a story in his book Cross-Cultural Servanthood of a monkey that tries to “help” a fish. The monkey stranded on an island in a cyclone while waiting for flood water to recede sees a fish swimming against a current. From the monkey’s perspective this creature needs assistance and out of the kindness of the monkey’s heart, he risked his own wellbeing to hang from a branch and scoops up the fish, transporting him to a sheltered place to lay the fish on dry land. After some excited activity the fish settles to what the monkey perceives is restful peace. The monkey satisfied that he has successfully helped another creature.
The story of the monkey and fish expresses a simple misunderstanding when a monkey makes assumptions from his worldview about what is helpful, but that had less than helpful consequences for the fish. This story captures the essence of a subject we have studied this year. While the content of this story seems extreme, the mistake of making incorrect assumptions about what is good from one cultural perspective for someone in a different culture is a problem that can be repeated when someone interprets another culture from their own frame of reference. This can be the case when a cross-cultural worker seeks to communicate the Gospel to people in a different culture without having an insider’s understanding of that culture to package the message in a way that makes sense to those people. A term that is used to describe the communication process of a cross-cultural worker presenting the meaning of the Gospel of Christ in a way that can be understood in a different culture is “contextualisation”. For the best example of someone gaining an insider’s understanding of a culture and communicating a message in a way that is sensitive to that culture consider the life of Jesus.
Deb: Motherhood, Mission and Multi-tasking
Well a milestone in October translates to all our children now being adults. It is such a gift being a Mum that keeps giving and is very precious to me. I hold onto the belief ‘once a Mum, always a Mum’ even when our children are adults, or when their parents work overseas. Just because our four adult children stay behind in South Australia whilst we are sent to Cambodia in December 2016, doesn’t mean I stop being a Mum. As a Mum on a mission overseas in Cambodia, it is important for me to release and surrender my adult children into Gods keeping as they are His and His care taking skills are out of this world. I am finding this season of respectful independence is finding its route as we cheer each other on in life’s adventures. Lately I have been riding my bicycle more locally as I have loaned out my car. Learning to do life more slowly and simply has been a precious asset that I need to weave more into my life, as I believe it is wholesome by preparing me for when I am living in Cambodia and everything will be more complex to achieve. I can run into a new day and the Holy Spirit gently prompts me to admit how I’ve jumped into my day with my own agenda and in my own strength instead of His. What I do on any day matters, not because of what I do, but because of what the Holy Spirit is doing in me and through me as I rely on Him. This Bible verse was significant for me when I was 17 years old and still is now as I prepare for God’s mission. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”.
Prayer Requests
• For God centred partnership development activities meeting with churches, home groups and individuals.
• That we will be responsive to God’s voice as we visit Cambodia late December 2015.
• For positive transitions for our family in the year ahead.
Praise Points
• For the privilege of what we are learning in our studies.
• The encouragement from supporters
• For good health during training and study.
http://www.globalinteraction.org.au/RobDeb