Jamaica Update

Because I have had several people interested in what my process of becoming a long term missionary with CSI will be like I am posting the document from CSI titled:

Becoming a Missionary with CSI Ministries, Inc.

Any applicant seeking a ministry assignment must be a committed follower (disciple) of Jesus Christ, must agree with the doctrinal statement of CSI Ministries, Inc. (hereinafter refereed to as "CSI"), and have a clear understanding that missions is God's will for his/her life.
1. Send a current resume to the office headquarters.
2. Complete an application, and return it to the office.
3. If thought necessary, administrative personnel from CSI will conduct a reference interview with the applicant's pastor.
4. Reference questionnaires will be sent to all of those listed as references in the application. A second roundof reference questionnaires will be sent to those listed by the primary references.
5. CSI will follow up with the applicant concerning the reference questionnaires either in person or by electronic means, determined by the matters that may need further explanation or discussion.
6. Applicant should schedule a visit to the home office in Muncie, Indiana, after the references have been completed and are acceptable.
7. Applicant will complete psychological testing under the direction of a Christian psychologist or psychiatrist designated by CSI.
8. Schedule a two-week visit to a field (at the discretion of the International Director).
9. Undergo a complete medical/physical evaluation by a licensed physician. This evaluation must contain all elements required by the current "Plan Administrator" for CSI's group medical/dental insurance plan.
10. Upon successful and acceptable completion of the foregoing items, the applicant will be designated as a "missionary under appointment" with CSI.
11. Newly appointed missionaries will work with the CSI administration is setting budget and target dates for departure.
12. CSI will help the appointee with putting together a ministry support team.
13. The appointee will attend a pre-field orientation at Mission Training International in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This is a three-week program, and the cost for this training will be included in the "one-time" expense portion of the budget.
14. New appointees must raise 100% of annual support, in cash and faith-promise commitments that will provide sufficient support for at least 18 months (commitments plus reserves). as well as 100% of one-time expenses before the final process of securing visas, work permits, airline tickets, etc., is initiated.
15. The appointee arrives on her/his field of service and begins serving as a CSI missionary!

As of this date I completed items one and two. I think that, Ronn Oren with CSI, has spoken to Pastor Kris about my desire to become a long term missionary to Jamaica. I may have a bit of an in here since Ronn is Kris' brother in-law and I have ministered under Kris for two years. The reference questionnaires have and are being completed by those I listed as references. So the next step I am waiting on is CSI to contact me about the references. Others who serve as missionaries with CSI have said that it took two years before they arrived in the field. For me it is still very early in this process and only God knows exactly when I will begin serving as a CSI missionary in Jamaica.

Paradise?

Allow me to tell you about an experience I had while in Jamaica. I wish that you could see what I saw, feel what I felt, and smell what I smelled. I will do my best to describe to you this experience. Come with me now and stand in the hot sunlight, narrow and shade your eyes, and look at the two long block buildings painted in worn pastel colors. Step inside and allow your eyes to adjust to the dim light. Don't breath too deep the odor is offensive, make sure your hands are empty, you will need to shew the flys away. Now brace yourself as you look at all the people lying in the small beds lined up against both walls of the narrow room. They are sick, weak and many are not mentally alert. I want to look away, fix my eyes on the floor, the ceiling or the door. Really I just want to run outside, but instead I watched as the sound of a single guitar began filling the air with music. As the voices of the visitors began to sing praises to God the people in the beds who has at first appeared to be just this side of death, came to life. They clapped their twisted and gnarled hands, some sat up and sang along. One woman even began to dance around.
Now let's muster up all that is good within us and go speak to the shrivelled up old man, lying in the bed, next to the screen door that is hanging about half open. Say hello and he will responded with a smile and introduce himself. Then he will tell you just how blessed he is that the Lord has given him one more day to live. He will tell you about what a good life he has had and how good God has been to him. He will then tell you about what he has heard as he lies there listening to the "BBC" on his small transistor radio. He says that he has heard about the financial problems in your country. He is concerned about the war in Iraq. He knows more about the Presidential candidates than I do and is concerned about the upcoming election. He then says, "I am praying for your country." There is nothing to say. All I can do is express my thanks, wipe my eyes and walk away.

the shack

I read "the shack" over the weekend and came away from reading this book with three things.
First I have a renewed appreciation for all the relationships in my life. I have the best parents who truly love and seek the best for me. I have wonderful friends who will settle for nothing less than my giving my best to God. I work with the best staff ever, I love those guys and gals. I want to love deeper and better and without fear. My prayer is "Papa - teach me to love like you do." Second I came away from reading this book by walking down the path of remembrance of all the times that the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit have met with me and brought healing and freedom to my life. How wonderful those meetings have been. I look forward to many more meetings with them. The third thing reading "the shack" did for me was to bring me to the point of awareness of the fact that I often come to God with expectation of how he should bless me, answer my prayers etc. instead of coming to Him in love with expectancy of Him giving me His very best. I recommend reading "the shack" it was a great way to spend a weekend. You can find out more about the book here www.theshackbook.com.

I'm Stuck

I'm stuck in Jamaica, my heart just will not come home.... so I am going back. I will be leaving on the 18Th for a week long trip. The purpose of this trip is to seek God and his will for my life. I'm exploring the possibility of becoming a full time missionary in Jamaica. If this is God's call for me it will be the biggest, hardest, most exciting and wonderful thing I have ever done. This trip is just step one in what is expected to be a year long journey of preparation. While I am in Jamaica, I am asking the Lord to help me grasp the vision of CSI's ministry, to help me see what role he would want me to fill and to speak to me in profound ways that will confirm beyond any doubt my next steps in life.

Jamaica

Meet Phillip Ramsook. Shake his leathery hand and know the hard labor he does to survive. Look into his eyes and see the hope and excitement of having a new home. Watch his actions as he looks on while others construct his home. He has ideas and dreams for what his new home will bring. Listen to the tone of his voice while he says, I so thankful, thank you for my home. View the increasing smile while you hand him the keys to his new home. Let him melt your heart as he did mine.
My prayer for you is that you will someday meet a Phillip Ramsook and that your life will be changed by the encounter.