Great Word from Frank Viola

So many Christians I meet today, whether in person, on social networks, or through emails, tell me that they are living in a spiritual wilderness. They feel alone, spiritually isolated, and they don’t have too many Christian friends that they are experiencing a rich and full fellowship in Christ with.

Some of them attend a church on Sunday morning, yet still, they are living in the desert and they know it.

Some have given up on the traditional form of church altogether. And they are in serious pursuit of an expression of church that provides authentic community centered on Jesus Christ. But they cannot find such an expression in their city.

All of these people love the Lord and they love the Body of Christ, but they feel quite alone. And spiritually, they are dry and empty.

In short, they are experiencing the wilderness.

Looking back at the Old Testament pictures, Canaan was God’s goal for His people. Jerusalem was there, and that’s where God’s house was to be built.

However, God’s people had to pass through the wilderness to travel from Egypt to Canaan. They also had to traverse the wilderness to travel from Babylon to Canaan. The wilderness, then, is a divine requirement. But it’s a detour; it’s not home. How long you spend there is mostly your decision.

Let me unravel that a bit.

After the children of Israel exited the treasured city of Egypt, they quickly traveled to Mount Horeb. They then wandered in the desert for forty long years. Why? Because of their unbelief (Heb. 3:15-19; 4:1-11).

The trip should have only lasted eleven days (Deut. 1:2).

The wilderness is temporary, unless you choose to build a home there. God will eventually make a way out of the wilderness. But when that day comes, your faith will be tried. Leaving the wilderness may come at an obscenely high price. It is for this reason that many do not leave it.

I strongly believe that God’s living quarters cannot be built in the wilderness. All that happens in the wilderness is temporary. God’s goal is the Land of Promise. (I am speaking spiritually … Egypt, Babylon, the Wilderness, and Canaan are all shadows that point to spiritual realities for the Christian.)

Granted, the tabernacle of Moses was built in the wilderness. But it was a movable tent. It was highly temporal, and it was headed toward Canaan to find permanent rest.

I would now like to make several observations about the wilderness. If you happen to be living there right now, I hope this article will be of help to you.

First, God will always take care of His people in the wilderness.

He will supply them with Christ, even though it’s not their natural habitat. However, the Christ that is given to you in the wilderness is not adequate to meet all your spiritual needs. Let me explain.

When God’s people dwelt in the wilderness after leaving Egypt, God gave them water from a rock and bread from heaven. The bread was called “manna.” It was a picture of Jesus Christ, our spiritual

food (John 6:31-35, 49-51; 1 Cor. 10:1-4).

However, it didn’t take Israel long to grow weary of the manna. In the same way, you and I will eventually grow tired of the Lord that is given to us in the wilderness. And like Israel, we will be tempted to murmur against him.

There is only one kind of food given in the wilderness. And it’s not sufficient for the long haul. The manna is designed to get you and me through the wilderness experience. But we cannot live off of

it beyond that point.

By contrast, in Canaan, the fullness and the superabundance of the land are fully available to us. When we are living on the building site, the produce of the rich and good land becomes ours to enjoy. And that produce is inexhaustible.

Second, if you remain in the wilderness, you will eventually die.

Leaving the counterfeit habitats of Egypt and Babylon is not enough. If you don’t exit the wilderness, your bones will bleach in the desert.

God always brings His people out so that He might bring them in.

You can chisel that in stone.

He brought us out from there in order to bring us in, to give us the land which He had sworn to our

fathers. (Deut. 6:23 nasb)

Third, the wilderness has but one goal: to sift us, to reduce us, and to strip us down to Christ alone.

Those of us who have left Egypt and Babylon need to be emptied of a great deal of religious baggage. The wilderness experience is designed to do just that. It’s the place of religious detox.

Consider John the Baptist. He preached in the wilderness. Those who wished to hear his message had to go out into the desert to hear him. During John’s day, God was through with Judaism. He was finished with the old wineskin. The Lord raised up John the Baptist to call the people out of Judaism, the organized religion of the day.

Those who followed John in the wilderness were being stripped of everything that the old Judaism had to offer. They were dropping the religiosity of that system and coming up to ground zero. From where did Jesus Christ get His disciples? Most of them were followers of John the Baptist. Therefore, they had a wilderness experience that brought them to ground zero. That experience brought them to a “nothing situation.” Compared to the Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes, they were clean slates for the Lord Jesus to write upon. They were empty wineskins for the Lord to pour His new wine into. John the Baptist stripped them of the old, and Jesus gave them the new.

Please burn this into your mind: We cannot receive the new until we first let go of the old. Old wineskins don’t patch well. For this reason, God has never been in the business of pouring new wine into old wineskins (Matt. 9:16-17).

In addition to the Twelve, Paul of Tarsus also had a wilderness experience that brought him all the way up to zero. In fact, Paul had to climb a long way up just to get to the bottom.

Shortly after Paul’s conversion from being a racist, sectarian, self-righteous, bigoted, highly religious Pharisee to a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, God led him to an Arabian desert for three years (Gal.

1:17-18). What was he doing there? Detoxing.

Undoubtedly, he was allowing years of human religiosity to drain out of his veins. Everything that Paul knew as a zealous Pharisee bled out of him in the desert. Paul was beyond being reformed. He had to have a spiritual lobotomy. And that’s what the wilderness is for.

In that wilderness experience, God came to Paul in a way that he had never before known. He came to him in “the face of Jesus Christ” (Gal. 1:11-12; 2 Cor. 4:6). Although Paul was given his gospel by

divine revelation in the wilderness, that revelation was limited. It took five years of living in the right habitat, in an ekklesia in Antioch, Syria, for him to learn the fullness of Christ.

So Paul got unplugged in the wilderness. He was sovereignly stripped to ground zero. This experience was necessary for Paul’s apostolic ministry. Because in order for him to be a dispenser of the new wine, he had to be drained of the old.

Fourth, the wilderness is a symbol of new beginnings.

After their forty-year stay in the wilderness, Joshua led the people of God across the Jordan into the Promised Land. In Hosea’s day, God led Israel through the wilderness to woo the nation back to Himself (Hos. 2:14). After Israel had been in exile in Babylon, the prophets spoke of preparing a pathway in the wilderness so that God’s people could return home.

John the Baptist marked a new beginning for Israel by introducing God’s people to their long-awaited Messiah in the wilderness. And Paul of Tarsus began his apostolic ministry only after he spent time in an Arabian wilderness.

Leaving the wilderness always involves a cost

We have a biological drive for God’s house. We have a spiritual taste for it. We have a longing, a biological instinct, if you will, driving us to our destiny. And we will never be satisfied until we make the

decision, no matter what the cost, to be part of God’s building work.

That cost may involve the loss of friends. It may mean harassment or shunning from religious leaders. It may mean vicious and ugly rumors, slander, and gossip. It may mean walking in the steps of Abraham, who left all and headed for a city that he could not see.

It may involve selling our comfortable home and leaving our present job to relocate to another city where there are living stones who are being assembled to form God’s house. (I’ve moved in the past for this. And many of my friends have as well.)

It may involve gross misunderstanding, criticism, and perhaps thornier problems like persecution.

Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. (Heb. 13:13-14)

What is the high calling of God for you and for me? It’s to give ourselves to God’s ageless purpose, to let Him build us together with others in the way that He has always wanted. For what reason? So that He might have His house upon this earth. The words of Ezra are apt: Let the house be built! (Ezra 6:3).

I sincerely hope that this will be true in your own life.

If you are living in the wilderness right now, God will provide a way out. But it will involve a price. The question before the house is, are you willing to pay it?

Update

Dear Passionate Worshipers,

There is something in the air...I know Spring is here, but it's more than that. I am looking forward to worshipping...exalting...and magnifying Jesus.  And we anticipate doing it with friends we have not seen in a while.  We'll update some of our travel adventures but the primary focus us worship!

A REMINDER.. our worship gathering at the River is this Sunday, April 26 at 6 p.m. at our normal meeting place at the Glenn Otto Park in Troutdale. Also to clarify we will host a fourth a regional rendezvous of intercessors, prophetic people and worshipers Sunday, May 31 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. (the LAST SUNDAYS in April and May) For more information visit: May Rendezvous. The website has been updated to reflect the intent of this gathering.

I have listened to Graham Teaching' several times...I believe he has captured this "sense" of expectancy without resorting to the kind of charismatic hype we've all heard before. I have transcribed the teaching on our Website. I love this quote from the teaching:

Your intimacy with God intimidates the enemy.  Worship makes the enemy nervous.  The enemy is depressed by praise and rejoicing.  The Lord is not looking for laborers for the harvest... he said pray for the laborers, he is looking for worshipers.


Looking to make the enemy nervous....

Darrell

Remember to change our mailing address to:

Pacificministries
PO Box 1401
Port Townsend, WA 98368
Pacificministries@gmail.com
http://pacificministries.blogspot.com/

Notes from Graham's Recession BusterTeaching

Number one sign of a religious spirit is passivity.

We are bombarded with negativity, and as the church we have listened and have been impacted with so much negativity it forms our thinking.

We have underestimated the ability for a believer in partnership with the Holy Spirit to overcome any obstacle in his path.  We have borrowed thought patterns... we echo what the world proclaims around us.  We need to learn how to develop the supernatural lifestyle.  It is not about signs and wonders that is the consequence of the supernatural lifestyle.  The supernatural lifestyle is where we get to the point when we speak like God, think like God and act like God.  We are heaven's expression on earth.  We are on the earth exactly like God is in heaven.

The Lord is always getting us to see as he sees.

Moses Illustration

Moses could not have stepped into his supernatural role as a deliverer unless he saw himself as God sees him.  Exodus 7:1... see I have made you as a God to Pharaoh.  There are levels of power, influence, and productivity that will lift you above the opposition that resists you.  The Holy Spirit will turn problems into promises and creates prophecy out of passivity.


What is the keyword in this passage:
 The Year of the LORD's Favor
 1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
       because the LORD has anointed me
       to preach good news to the poor.
       He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
       to proclaim freedom for the captives
       and release from darkness for the prisoners, [a]

 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
       and the day of vengeance of our God,
       to comfort all who mourn,

 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
       to bestow on them a crown of beauty
       instead of ashes,
       the oil of gladness
       instead of mourning,
       and a garment of praise
       instead of a spirit of despair.
       They will be called oaks of righteousness,
       a planting of the LORD
       for the display of his splendor.

The keyword is: instead.

When we learn to move in the opposite spirit, we move into the heaven's economy.  We must learn to live in the expectancy of his favor.  What is favor?  It is bias ... it is prejudice.  In every conflict between you and the enemy or wicked evil, he is biased and in favor for his people.... for his beloved.

What if in every situation we encounter in this life, the Holy Spirit is training us to live underneath the favor the smile of God?  What if God wanted us not only to live in his favor, but to become favor?  This favor it is written on your heart and comes out of everything that you say and do.  You do not just act in favor but you become favor.  Jesus is the living embodiment of favor... God has put us in Christ so that we are guaranteed of his favor.  So that in a time of lack we might not just survive, but thrive because of the place we are in Christ.

Heaven is not in a recession.  God has abundance, the enemy has a budget.  What a fabulous opportunity for the Lord to teach us to become what we are designed.  This is life!

This is our moment to become a visual aid for what heaven is like.  To do violence the kingdom of darkness.  The enemy is going growth... he can no longer afford to corrupt the nations... he is running out of cash.

Why does the enemy use intimidation?  Because it's cheap.  You can send one person to affect a nation.  David and Goliath.  The whole nation is held in ransom because one man brings an intimidating message.  If ever there was a moment to invest and to give more it is now he is God refuses to be out given.  We move we live in the opposite spirit.

Intimidation effects a nation until there is one person who stepped forward and demonstrate intimacy.  Your intimacy with God intimidates the enemy.  Worship makes the enemy nervous.  The enemy is depressed by praise and rejoicing.  The Lord is not looking for laborers for the harvest... he said pray for the laborers, he is looking for worshipers.

This is the time to upgrade our worship.  Intimidation works until someone comes along and can't be intimidated, because they're too busy being fascinated by God.  Problems do not bring intimidation but intrigue because we get to see the answer God is bringing.  Jesus is the one who reveals these ways of God.  We draw all of our resources and pictures from Jesus.

What if the situation you find yourself right now is the training to help you discover the riches and provision God has for you right now.

What is the reason God made man?  Let us make came in our own image.  Let's make people... and then train them to be like us!  So that nothing overwhelms them, nothing overpowers them, they get stronger and stronger with each trial and persecution.  And then to top it all off, we will give them the Holy Spirit and put them into Jesus who is all things, and holds all things together.

The keyword in Isaiah 61 is: instead.  It is displacement.

God is so biased toward you it is unfair.  So people who look at us and are so impacted with the goodness and grace that God has for his people that they declare: It's Not Fair!

We should be living examples of what God's favor is.  That is why healing, physical and relational is what God wants us to give away as an example of his character.

When God looks at you, he sees way more than what you or anyone else can see.  Vengeance is whatever the enemy has done against you not only will God heal and restore you, but he will extract vengeance and give you a Ministry in the very area that you have suffered loss and pain from.  Whatever you are a victim in you can become an authority in.  Revenge is you can set someone else free from the very bondage you were in.  That is pay back.  What ever has become a threat will become a provision.  You can turn the tables on the enemy.

Instead means in place of... an alternative can happen.  When the enemy has a purpose, the Lord has a purpose... instead.

We get to learn to live in the instead.

Illustration: one God has a different house for you... instead.

Instead means that the father has something better.  Instead of being overwhelmed what we are now we can be overwhelmed with what Jesus is creating in us.  No weapon formed against you can prosper.

Every curse proclaimed against this God promises to turn into a blessing.  When you receive a prophetic word, it is God's promises of what he will do instead of what circumstances you encounter.  God will use the enemy to point to your provision.

What ever we are threatened, think about what's provision is coming which is part of our inheritance.  Move toward the problem and position yourself for a blessing.  Because you have the mind of Christ.

The ultimate revenge against the enemy is that what ever he imposes against us makes us stronger.  We take the very thing the enemy is using against us and turn around as the left and against him. Turned into our advantage.  This is overcoming and this is more than conquering.  David killed Goliath with his own sword.


Every evil purpose becomes a blessing.  Favor will produce vengeance.  Every curse becomes a prophecy.  Every area of defeat I will turn to victory.  Everything against you I will turn into a promise.

The whole earth will one day notices the bride of Christ in all of her glory.

What if pastoral Ministry is getting people to see what the instead is?

Instead of intimidation been the rule we can come bold.  We are learning to move in the opposite spirit.

All of God's promises are yes and amen... what does that mean?  You don't have to work at getting in to that place, you have to work at staying there.  That is called: staying there... abiding.  Our role is never trying to get into a place, we must learn to stay in that place.

Husbands and wives, practice this together.  Families practice this together.  Groups of friends, practice this together.  Businesses, practice this together.  Holding people accountable to the promises and provision is the best kind of accountability.  The keyword is: instead.

Write a list of everything that is against you... keeping you from your destiny right now.  Number each one.  Defects in your personal character.  Ask the Holy Spirit to create another list of the opposite promises.

What is the prophecy over this promise?  The second list becomes your only list.  If we want to know what the Lord has for us in this season... it is on and in this list.  Promise, prophecy, and blessing will be attached to everything on the second list.

This list becomes of permission to believe in the promises of God this season.  We will become everything on the list because each item carries yes and amen.  This is the will of God for you.  As we get together with friends, we will compare what is on our list.  We will have copies of our friends list.

What's next on our list?

Dear Friends,

Dear Friends,

This month, I want to share two important calendar events, direct you a free teaching series by Graham Cooke and announce our address change.

Firstly, a reminder of our worship gathering at the River this Sunday, April 26 at 6 p.m. at our normal meeting place at the Troutdale Community Center.  Secondly, we will host a fourth a regional rendezvous of intercessors, prophetic people and worshipers Sunday, May 31 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. (the LAST SUNDAYS in April and May) For more information visit: May Rendezvous
 
Most of us have experienced the challenge of a declining global economy.  Some have experienced  job loss and pay cuts.  As I have traveled in seven different countries over the last six month's, I've seen firsthand the challenge many ministries and churches are facing in this difficult economic climate.  Yet I have felt, even as the economic news gets worse and worse, than the Lord is challenging the church to rise above this negative thinking... it could be our finest hour.  Recently, I came across Graham's teaching on this very subject.  Graham says:

This month, I am pleased to share with you my new Recession Buster series of MP3s. I recently recorded the series and felt compelled to give it away, distributing it as widely as possible. You can click this link: Graham Teaching Please consider passing the web page on to those you know who may benefit from it. We live in overwhelmingly negative times, and we need God's power and positivity to change the tide.

Finally, for the past 8 years, Carlene and I have served in a Teaching/Worship
Ministry among the body of Christ, both locally and internationally. 
If as you pray the Lord encourages you to believe Pacificministries is
worthy of your support and prayers then we trust it will be His kingdom
you are supporting, and not ours. If He leads you to support this
ministry we firmly believe your gifts of assistance will result in
glory to His name.

Because biblically there is no justification for the concept of a hired professional clergy, we make no attempt to pressure the body for anything that looks like that type of thing. As ones called, per 1 Corinthians 9: to establish and strengthen the body of Christ globally, and Galatians 6 : to teach the body of Christ principles for walking successfully with the Lord, we are very appreciative of the financial assistance from those who believe the Lord is leading them to contribute to Pacificministries expenses.  Your giving will be used to cover general living expenses, airfares, general ministry expenses, and monies spent to support the ministries and needs of others in the body. It is our desire to encourage a purification of the use of ministry monies in the body of Christ.

For purposes of encouraging integrity in the ministry, and towards financial accountability, we have a council who help us oversee all the monies received into this ministry.  We do not support any form of extravagance or wealth making from ministry monies.  We believe in living a moderate lifestyle.

We bless you in this season of the Kingdom's finest hour!

Darrell and Carlene

PLEASE MAKE A NOTE OF PACIFICMINISTRIES ADDRESS CHANGE

Pacificministries
P.O. Box 1401
Port Townsend, WA 98368


Pacificministries Itinerary

April 23-25          Northwest Gathering of Leaders in Wenatchee Washington
April 26               Worship at the River
April 27-May 5    Seoul Korea
May 7-8               Cascadia Regional Gathering in Spokane Washington
May 14-18           House Church gathering in Victoria B.C.
May 31                May Rendezvous

Dear Friends,

Dear Friends,

It's nearly been a week since Carlene, Danielle (our 28 year old daughter), and I returned from  Africa.  Our Kenyan trip concluded a season of travel to Russia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and South Korea which began last October.   Aside from accumulating frequent-flier miles, these trips have been part of God's assignment.  In each  of these beautiful countries, I have met worshipers of God serving in obscure and seemingly insignificant roles.  They are church planters among tribal people in the northern hill country of Thailand.  They are faithfully leading house churches in Russia, teaching young men and women in Bible training programs in battle torn Sri Lanka, and evangelizing among the Masai mountain villages of East Africa.

Let me summarize my travel experiences with a story of three men who serve Jesus in Eldoret, a city of some 50,000 in western Kenya.  I'll call them Peter, James, and John.  Their day job is repairing shoes in streetside stall.  Each day they take the proceeds from their business, and buy food for the children who live in the garbage dumps and streets of their city.  They are well qualified for this job because they themselves grew up as street children.  While America is wrestling with undeserved corporate bonuses, bank mergers, foreclosures, and stockmarket upsets, Peter, James, and John simply take what they have earned each day and give it away that evening.  Seems almost too simple.

We believe the Holy Spirit is effectively empowering worshipers of Jesus who serve without acclaim or promotion.  They are quietly and effectively about the Father's business.  We were privileged to bring encouragement and affirmation to the these kingdom worshipers.  

Thank you for praying and supporting us.  We look forward with great joy and optimism to what lies ahead.

Bless you,

Darrell and Carlene

Pacificministries Calendar of Events

“Let the Prophets Speak”
Date: Saturday, March 28, 2009
Time: 1PM-5PM
Location: 525 3rd Ave SW, Castle Rock, WA
Web: http://lettheprophetsspeak.events.live.com/

(Please Note the Last Sunday in April)
"Worship at the River"
Date: Sunday, April 26, 2009
Location: Troutdale Community Center
Time: 6 P.M.

Read a young Masai believer's story here
Pictures, Podcasts, and Short Video Clips Are All Posted Here
Notes From Leaders:

Dear   Br. Darrell and Carlene,
 
Thank  you for  great  work   God   has  pleased  in you.  I  am  pleased  to the  good  moment   we  had  together  during  our  open arms  international  ministries medical  camp  at  our  institution  grounds  Kambi Teso  Kamukunji Eldoret  kenya.
 
The  students still  have  a  good  memory  of  you.  We   appeal   to  you  to  continue  praying  for  this  ministry   of needy  children  , i  do  believe  God  will   give  me a wise  wisdom  in  ministering  to  this project.
 
I  look forward     hearing  from  you  soon.  Thanks  lets  be  partners  in  this  work.
 
Rev   Peter   Amwayi
Director   and   Head  of Missions
Amstevehusseyinstitution.

Hello Darrell and Carlene ,

 Hi, how are you? i hope you arrived home safely. is it? we have been praying for you. You really blessed us the day we shared in church and the people have missed you so much. we also enjoyed in Loita hills and we are now praying to go back for baptism in May.

 we are looking forward to having you again in Namuncha and looking forward to work with you.

We miss you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

receive greetings from the church.


Pastor Simon Koisaba

MY_LIFE_HISTOR

MY
LIFE HISTORY:
I was born on 3/5/1979 in a Maasai village .I was brought up and
cared by my parents ,at my tender age my parents feed me with milk
and fat the normal meal for the Maasai children. I grew up in a
healthy way looking after my parents animals. I was brought up in a
polygamy family of five wives my mother being the second in number.
Going to school was hard because my parents intends to make me a
herds boy but one area leader[chief] took me to school and gave my
parents restriction that anybody removing him out of school will face
the law. Today as I write these I still treasure the man who played
my role of schooling .I got my first formal education under a thorny
tree and proceed to primary school and upto secondary school.In high
school my learning was interrupted and I was being chased away of
school because of school fees.In high school I relyed to a
sympathetic friend who assisted me with books and writing materials
because I couldn’t

Afford
to have them in school.Still in high school I got saved and I was
baptized (john)ole teeka.

Till
then I never looked back and I joined Christian union (cu) in our
school and became fully committed to my calling.After high school I
transverse the Maasai-land to take the goodness to their doors-tep .I
later joined Gospel Evangelistic Ministry (GEM) as a member.
Throughout our organized mission I witnessed many souls surrendering
their lives to Jesus. My goal is to reach as many souls before the
coming of Jesus Christ.

My wish is in a
small way I can i will empower the Maasai to think prosperity and see
them move from their traditional huts without going through slums and
diseases[.john ole teeka.]

CULTURAL
FACTS ON HIV/AIDS IN MAASAI LANDThe
Maasai people do not take precaution and prevention of HIV and AIDS
and despite many of them dying from the epidemic they have continue
to share their wives as a custom and take the cause of death as a
taboo.In Maasai land effort is still needed to sensitize the
community the dangers of HIV and AIDS and prepare them for safe
parent-hood.

Culture is deep
rooted and the Maasai people should not be condemned because of their
culture because every community in Kenya and I believe even in the
entire world lives according to the dictates of their culture.Some
have already given in and are dearly paying for embaracing the new
culture.

Surprisingly the
Maasai culture is still standing the test of time perhaps that’s
what make it globally unique and locally envied by other communities
.However there are other communities that are backwards and have been
overtaken by time.Yes the Maasai culture practices remain the gratest
impediment to the fight against HIV/AIDS.

SOME
OF THESE PRACTICES ARE:

POLYGAMOUS
MARRIAGE:Like
many other African families the Maasai were plygamies they marry more
than one wife. In this community polygamy was a sign of wealth. In
simple mathematics the more the wives the more the number of animals
one will acquire from close family friends who will congratulate for
marrying ,even the number of children one would have is riches ?why?
It is these children who will go for raids and drive back large herds
of cattle’s to the family. Other men would like to marry for
pride they say furthermore who will eat all these food we have toiled
to get .These illiterate man would always brage .When HIV/AIDS
appeared on the scene of the 20^th century it threaten to
tore apart polygamy as a form of marriage.

Due to the current
social economic problems the man the sole bread winner in the Maasai
norms will at times fail to meet the daily needs of his family
include (sex).The woman who is in dare need of food and of course
(sex) will look for someone around the house to meet her needs. It is
at these point that they will likely to expose themselves to the
dangers of contracting HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted
diseases like syphilis and ghonoreah.Once a member get infected the
rest became positively vulnerable.It doesn’t matter whether the
husband or the woman .As I write these story it is full of living
testimony of families that have been invade by the scourge to a point
of remaining a mere name period.The devil has been causing harvoc
everywhere. However the Maasai
men still prefer to marry many wives and am looking at a situation
the Maasai will became loyal to their wives.It is true know
that polygamy is no longer enjoy the glamour and prestige of the
yester-years

FEMALE
CIRCUMCISION:In
the Maasai customary law every girl and boy will face a knife as we
refer it as a passage. No particular time allocated for girls to
undergo the cut referred to as Female Genital Mutilation(fgm)Girls
were cut by one circumcisor normally a woman using a normal blade
called [ORMURUNYA] in Maasai language. Circumcision in girls is just
the removal of the clitoris no one knows the origin or sees any
practical in it. The Maasai offer no explanation only that it is a
custom. Girls make a lot of noise, crying and screaming when
circumcised.

The
family of the girl will be at liberty to choose who will circumcise
their daughter at a small fee usually a ram. These practice was
outlawed by the Kenyan government under the children act of 2001.It
is taking root know and it is not likely going soon expecially in
Kenya and expecially in Maasai land,,,,, examples of myths and
perception surrounding female genital mutilation in Maasai community
are……

1The
Maasai girl fear not getting potential suitors in future because no
“sane” man as they call would dare to marry an”
adult” girl!!!

2
If a girl accidentally or deliberately get pregnant before
circumcised would always invite the wrath of other circumcised women
she will be surely flogged spat on the face besides becoming part of
the village gossips.

3If
female genital mutilation is brought to the end the Maasai believe it
is equal to the sweeping of the community most valuable tradition and
might expose them to the grate curse of their fore fathers who died
long time ago.Most girls have dropped out of school and got marriage
after undergoing female genital mutilation .Some girls tends to flee
away from their homes during circumcision period but still came back
homes since they don’t have anywhere they can find refuge.Some
girls pursue education and discard retrogressive practices

MALE
CIRCUMCISION:In
the Maasai customary law every boy MUST face a knife as a passage. In
boys the operation takes about five or less minutes during which the
boy neither uttered a sound nor seemed to move a muscles .Alot of
screaming will be heared from the crowed saying”be patient its
finished” until the five minutes are over. This is to
encourage him to be bold and strong to complete the operation. If
incase the operation went badly at the circumcision time the
consequence will be the feast will be shortened and the boy abused as
a no good and coward.

In
boys the process is symbolic it carries allot of significant though
in both sexes the ritual is symbolic.Another symbolic is that every
Maasai boy looked towards these grate day the rare privilege of
shaking a hand with an elder instead of bowing by giving a head and
other trappings that comes along for not being circumcised.

After
the age group is identified and given a common name the next step
will be of initiation. Ten years ago almost the entire age group were
circumcised by one circumciser using a single knife.Ridiculors???The
use of one knife to circumcise the entire age group of about 3,000
boys is not just risking but also barbaric. The raw blood touched by
the circumcisor using bare hands and the knife that is not sterilized
properly the result might be disastrous.

However due to the recent
sensitization currently many families are know taking their children
for better hospitals and well trained doctors.Every Maasai boy and
girl MUST be removed the lower two teeth [incisors] of the jaw to
quick way of identification of the Maasai and ears also were used as
a sign of beauty.All these marks were done by using one knife without
taking measures of HIV/AIDS

GIRL
CHILD EDUCATION:
Education is the key to success.Girl child education in Maasai land
is not in the high level compared to other tribes in Kenya.In the
Maasai community when one family is blessed with more girls potential
suitors will be streaming in all direction of the family in sort of a
wife.The young girl is then abducted to early marriage since people
will begin paying for the dowry when the girl is born and even before
the girl reaches the age of maturity shes married.

When
the girl is 12years to 16years old shes claimed to be ripe and hence
is identified by suitors.The Maasai give out their daughter at a few
silver and a number of cows and blankets without realizing that their
daughter has no fixed price value.She is then booked for the ordeal
whose preparation kicks off immediately.Some girls lack motivation
and wait helplessly for the world to determine their fate.They
suffer from learned helplessness and believe that they can do
nothing to solve their problem.

Girls
have continued to suffer from child right abuse and violation of
their right.It is girls who bear the long term impact and
consequences such as dropping out of school than boys .Most girls
have no time to study at homes because of poor distribution of work
and as a result girls perform poorly as compared to boys.

“Some
parents believe educating girls is more or less like watering another
mans garden.”

SAVE
AND PROTECT CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL ABUSE:
Kenyan children remain vulnerable to rich predators!!!.Sex
exploitation is a cancer that continue to eat into the society at an
alarming rate .And unless drastic action is taken to condemned the
vice Kenya will go down in history.Moral degradation of our society
is shameful promiscuous sex has became so rampant that nearly
everyday the media highlights a case where a child has been abused
.There is a proverbial that say “a dog eats its own puppies
after birth” .It is so shamefull that even fathers are turning
against their children .It is also revealed that women and girls from
poor families will be tempted to have sex in exchange of cash[money]
.There have been various organization like NGOS [non governmental
organization]and churches that have been on the forefront fighting
against the vice. Domestic sexual abuse has led to children being
exploited and turned into goods that can be bought and sold.The vice
has emerged even into our schools whereby teachers are abusing
students they are supposed to protect.This habit continue to deny
children their right and future .In other parts of the country
children have been used to boost sex tourism. Measures must be taken
to prevent the violation of the rights of children.Some parts of the
country people use witchdoctors to get medicinal herbs as [love
portion]

For
sex and in any time they succeed the witchdoctor will get a
commission. In Kenya rape has been recognized as a weapon of war and
a crime against humanity.

CHILD
LABOUR:

Employment
of underage children has been a problem in many communities. The
Maasai community uses their children to graze herds of animals in the
forest without caring the dangers that may face them at an early
age, either by wild animals or strangers.

Recently
the Maasai in 2005 faced a rough and hostile environment that is
owned by other people and thus loosing most of their children and
animals at large because of war.

Thousands
of children in Kenya are today living in street having been driven
from their families by loss of one or both parents or the inability
of living parents to take care of their children.These little ones
are forced to fend for themselves from an early age and are denied
the right to be children.

“PROVERBS
31:8-9”Speak
up for those who don’t speak for themselves for the rights of
all who are destitute.

Speak
up and judge fairly defends the rights of the poor and needy.

ENGAGEMENT
IN MAASAI COMMUNITY:
When one is blessed with a number of girls normally the Maasai uses a
chain to engage a girl or a pat of butter.They pretend they by-pass
the girl and they fuss over the chain over her and in doing so slip
the chain on her through the head to the neck and by doing so they
will have an option of marrying her off to the man they represent.

Eventually the girl may know
whom they were talking about and she may reject him but still the
last decision maker is his father .

Some
people[men] seduce uncircumcised girls and may get pregnant the
tragedy is that her parents may then be persuaded to have her married
quickly to avoid further disgrace.Long time ago if a Maasai girl
elope with her boy friend for marriage the consequence is that she
will be brought back home by his brothers and beaten into
submission .Most girls accept their family choice.There is a
negotiation called in MAA “the beer that begets talk”
these is when the family of the boy arrives to look for the girl for
their son.After the negotiation is over the groom is supposed to
donate a heifer a bull together with the cow and calf for the family
of the girl these will give him the assurance that the couple will
produce children and so increase the family wealth.As the negotiation
was going on the age group of the boy and girl will be celebrating
the “end of the bachelors night”they sing and dance the
whole night us the two graduate from boysim and girlsim life to woman
and husband life.The following morning the girl is shaved[head]and is
dress in bridal gown of leather a profusion of beaded ornaments then
loaded with a calabash full of milk representing future
prosperity.When the girl is ready to leave to her husband home she
will be blessed by two elders who take yet another fertility symbol
of tied grass dipped on the guard full of milk and honey and anoint
her face body and feet as they spray milk from their mouth over her
face as she leaves the gate.”the text of the blessing include”
may all your clan feed on you and may your back grow wide long live
our daughter”presumably so that she can carry a lot of children
in her back.

When she leaves she
will not be allowed to look back only forward to a life of devotion
to her new husband in company of two men.The best man supervised and
sweep the path [way]or clear the way for her and if necessary carry
her over any river bed and gully on the way.The best man will ensure
no obstacle in her way so that there is no possibility of hesitation
in her progress to the groom .On arrival the girl will be given
livestock from her new family .The main stress of her in these home
is that how many children will I produce really?When she becames
pregnant she is indulged with tender loving care not being given meat
of dead animals for fear it might affect the unborn child.She is
ex-cused from heavy work like pre-dawn milking and fire wood
collection.She will be free from any sexual relation from her husband
from the start of pregnancy until the child is weaned.She will be
given less protein than usual and more carbohydrates

to
help her deliver easily.In the Maasai community when a woman is
married she is not only for her husband but for all the age group of
her husband,it is expected that when a visitor cames home of the man
the owner of the house will move and give his bed to his age mate.

DIVORCE:Refuge
[kitala]in Maasai language.The woman posibily goes back to her
fathers home.If the negotiation is not well and no reconciliation the
husband will retain the children or recouping the original bride
price plus substantial interest from his livestock.Above everything
else the Maasai wants their wife to be good ,home maker with bright
personality a happy and a good look wife.

WHO
IS A MAASAI?.The
Maasai are war like, fearless loyal, brave and colorful nomadic
tribesmen .The Maasai leaves in an area that stretches across Kenya
and Tanzania covering the whole [Maasai Mara Game reserve] one of the
wonders of the world. For along time it is true there has been school
and hospitals in Maasai land but nearly 70years of colonial rule and
attempted persuasion followed by over 25years of African rule and
attempted persuasion they failed to do much in Maasai land, the
Maasai have continued practicing their ancient rituals and
ceremonies they have continued to maintain their age set-structure
with it’s warriors as their troops and commandos of the tribal
world. The colonial were unhappy with the Maasai because they were
arrogant and stubborn to their way of life. The Maasai believe that
all cows in the world belong to them and so when they go for raids
they are reclaiming what is theirs. The pride and duty of a Maasai
moran[warrior]is to protect their father’s herd of animals.

A
MAASAI WORRIOR:The
Maasai worrior wears short shukas reaching above her knees and must
be red in colour .He must also have a Roman short sword [olalem]and
carries a stick or a knobkerrie or club.His face and long plaited
hairs are smeared with red ochre and animal fat .The moran feed on
meat blood and animals fats with herbs .They spend most of their time
in the bush eating meat and soup with a lot of herbs while making a
lot of practices incase of war or clashes.At these period of time
they became strong and very wild.When the war parties did gather
either for cattle raids or a battle it was mandatory for the Maasai
to consult the OLOIBONI[who is the master of all religion ceremonies
chief-policy ,director and teller of the future[medicine men].He will
deliver oracles on the right way to proceed with the military
exercises.He will also give instruction to the moran commanders on
rituals preparation which were deliberately complex as an assurance
against anything wrong on their way. Charms, amulets and other
artefacts of the sorcerers art were supplied in abundance .Other
symbols were applied to clubs for throwing by their left-handed moran
into the enemies lines to create terror and panic.Battle will be
proceeded with meat eating party seasons with herbal stimulants which
worked the moran in a state of trance resembling epileptic fit or
“shakes”.At these state the moran are dangerous to
himself and to others.After the feast the moran will collect their
weapons and a few heads of cows for food on their way for raids or
war.Their parents and girlfriends will spilt milk on their foreheads
as they move out.Old men will spray milk from their mouths or from
guards to the moran as they move either for raids or for war. No
Maasai Moran will leave

his brother at that time of
need. The Moran lives in manyatta a wide open leisure space with
small Maasai mud houses as they sing day and night walking about and
chatting with their girlfriends.When they graduate from moranism to
elder hood they will celebrate their elevation to junior elders and
at these stage they will chose wives and own animals.

WHO
IS OLOIBONI:Oloiboni
is the most influential man in Maasai land.Laibons predict and
foretell the future of their people .There was one Maasai oloiboni
called Mbatiany he had only one eye he said ”I see the end of
my children and the land. The strangers will came and kick my people
down under their feet although they may be strong warriors and
brave.”It all came to pass????That was the onset of epidemics
of small pox and rinderpest which will sweep down from the horn of
Africa and decimate both herds and people.Some time the Maasai
worship these loibons. These is how they worship”amon enkai ai
naomon onrkai” As I pray to my real God I do also pray to my
small god[oloiboni]”The loibon use a lot of curses to kill
people especially from other tribes.

DROUGHTS:
The hardest time in Maasai land is the time of droughts when there is
a lot of starvation both with animals and human being.At this period
of time their animals became weak and in many times help their
animals to wake up which is not an easy work.It was in 2005 that the
Maasai faced very rough and hostile environment that is owned by the
Kikuyu people and there was clashes between the two communities
because of water.Most of the children in school will be out to help
their parents at these time of their need. As the hardest time no
parent can be able to face the formidable challenges to get school
fees leave alone getting food for the family. Most children from poor
families will be out of school for long period of time to help their
parent’s .These is the period the government will be supplying
relief foods to some needy families. The Maasai use donkeys to carry
their lugages.

COMPILLED
AND WRITTEN BY;

JOHN
OLE TEEKA’P.O.BOX 746-00208

NAIROBI,KENYA.

teekajohn@yahoo.com
(0725-991644)

Massai Game Park

Maasai Children

Nairobi Traffic

Pictures From Kenya

Pacificministries Kenya Update 1

Just got internet so this update never got to you...just completed our mission...listen to podcasts posted on Pacmin for complete updates...Wonderful journey and will hopefully get another update out in a few days....thanks for praying!!

Kenya Podcast 1
Kenya Podcast 2
Interview with John, our Maasai Translater

Friends:

After some 25 hours of air travel and 10 hours of wandering in the Dallas and London airports, we finally arrived in Nairobi, Kenya.  Leaving the airport and on the way to Bruce and Kate Dahlman (my cousin and his wife, our hosts for the next several weeks), we noticed a large plane surrounded by Kenyan police and military guards.  The president of Iran had arrived to meet with political leaders here, and we managed to land at the same time. 
Kenya is a land of contrasts.  Within just several blocks, there are Presbyterian, Assemblies of God, Baptist, and Quaker churches, but add to these a Muslim mosque and training school.  Even as we enjoyed a Kenyan cappuccino (decaf!) at an outdoor cafe, you heard the prayers of Islamic devotees broadcast throughout the neighborhood.
Tomorrow we spend preparing for a two day adventure in the bush...a genuine "in the rough" camping trip arranged by the Masai believers.  We will meet in local homes, and show the Jesus film in a village meeting.   We've brought New Testaments and dozens of Arobies...the flying frisbee-type toy which our family has enjoyed for years. 
Sunday and Monday we will visit Masai game park.
Since we will be out of internet range over the next few days, please pray for:

Continued health and physical protection as we travel
God-arranged connections with the right leaders
Spiritual fruit among the tribal people

We received a number of very encouraging words over the last several weeks.  Themes emerged from diverse groups...but all harmonius.  A summary:

Everywhere our feet would step the Lord would be present to affect the people and the land.
You will bring Father’s love.  The countries you visit will have a home you will call your own.
Two are better than one.
It is our prayer and belief that these promises are yours as well.

Bless you!!!

Darrell, Carlene,and Dannielle

Pacificministries THIS SUDAY and Kenya Update

Dear Friends,

There are moments when life snaps into focus. If we think about it, we'll capture and reflect on them. (Think...our first moments of life in the delivery room, school graduations, weddings, and anniversaries)  Those are momentous milestones that should be acknowledged.  But other times these moments happen almost by accident and take us by surprise.

Last week, we traveled to Camp Pendleton California to bless our son Matthew, a Marine now deployed to Iraq.  Carlene put it this way:

The rain stopped long enough for us to snap this picture. One comment from a fellow
soldier brought some humor to the tearful moment. "Dahlman! Did you bring the whole family tree
here to send you off?" Click. The contrasting weather went along with the roller coaster emotions.
God in His gracious way hand brushed a rainbow in front of us as we drove down the hills of Camp Pendleton.
My heart is full of joy for the wonderful way the weekend unfolded.

Later that evening, suddenly for me that "life snap moment" happened.  When we were about to take our final picture before Matthew boarded the bus, I remembered he insisted we all stand behind him. Just as the Lord stands behind us.....and we stand behind each other.

Scripture is filled with encouragement that we are not alone.  There are references to great clouds of witnesses, angelic visitation and support, and the intercession of saints partnering with God to affect time and eternity.  Jesus surrounds us with songs of deliverance and promises to never leave or forsake us....and the rainbow, God's note to Self:

Genesis 9:16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.

On Monday, February 23rd, Carlene, our daughter Danielle, and myself will leave for Nairobi and Eldorat Kenya.  We'll work with various mission groups, churches, and medical clinics where my cousin Bruce and his wife Kate have served for 15 years. 

We'd like to invite you to surround us, and send us on this venture.  We'll meet for Worship at the River THIS SUNDAY, February 22 at 6PM  at our customary Troutdale Community Center location. (Yesssss....after nearly 3 months of not meeting!)

Let's celebrate the sometimes obscure but momentous moments of life, and remember the many who have gone before us, and those who now, stand behind us.

Blessings,

Darrell and Carlene

February Worship at the River CHANGED TO 6PM SUNDAY February 22

Friends,

A reminder we will NOT gather this second Sunday, February 8, instead, we'll meet at 6pm Sunday February 22 for this month's Worship at the River. We look forward to seeing many of you the 22nd. The following day, Carlene, our daughter Danielle, and myself will leave for Kenya. 

• This weekend, all of our children (including Calvin, our grandson) will be in California to bless our son Matt before he is deploys February 9 (Destination Iraq)
  
•  February Worship at the River CHANGED TO 6PM SUNDAY February 22
• See our Cascadia Gathering below
  
• March, we will be in Kenya for nearly 3 weeks.  Our Worship at the River for March is CANCELED, but we'll send an email regarding a Passover gathering in April.

Thanks for supporting and praying for us!

Darrell and Carlene

If you'd like to give to Pacificministries, you may use any major credit card (or Paypal) for a tax deductable donation HERE.

Pacificministries
PO Box 1351
Fairview, OR 97024
Pacificministries@gmail.com
http://pacificministries.blogspot.com/

Also:


A Rendezvous of Prophetic Intercessors who are hearing from God about what he is doing and planning to do in the Cascadia region.

Saturday February 21, 2009
Castle Rock, Washington

Date:  2/21/09
Time: 11:00 A.M.
Location: Castle Rock, WA [map]
525 3rd Avenue SW
Castle Rock, WA 98611
(at the Castle Rock Full Gospel Church)
Purpose
Many of you reading this purpose statement have some history and relationships with key cities in the Northwest. May of us have been praying and contending for the Northwest for decades. In the last decade many of us have been meeting those who have the same heart. Your hosts, Darrell (Gresham), Dave (Southwest Washington) and Mark (Astoria) feel it's time we "rendezvoused" ...much as the pioneer explorers did early in our territories' history.
Rendezvous is the Anglicization of the French word Rendez-vous meaning "appointment".  "Rendezvous" was the name used for the annual meeting of mountain men and fur buyers during the fur trade era, where trappers would exchange beaver skins for supplies and goods they wanted. These events occurred between the early 1820s and the 1840s.
We believe God is calling us to a divine appointment....where we freely exchange and encourage one another. We are looking forward being able to gather with you as we seek the Lord!



Cascadia Rendezvous of Prophetic Intercessors
The gathering would focus on three simple elements:
Worship
What do we HEAR God Saying?
What do we SEE God Doing?
This is not meant to be a "Y'all come" event.  It is primarily for prophetic intercessors who are hearing from God about what he is doing and planning to do in our region.
There is no cost, but a collection will be taken to defray the costs of the facility rental.  No child care provided.
Your rendezvous hosts are:
Darrell Dahlman (Pacificministries)
David Bodine (Next Reformation Network)
Mark Acuna (Antiochhouse)

As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God

As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God

By Matthew Parris, from The Times Online



Before Christmas I returned, after 45 years, to the country that as a
boy I knew as Nyasaland. Today it's Malawi, and The Times Christmas
Appeal includes a small British charity working there. Pump Aid helps
rural communities to install a simple pump, letting people keep their
village wells sealed and clean. I went to see this work.



It inspired me, renewing my flagging faith in development charities.
But travelling in Malawi refreshed another belief, too: one I've been
trying to banish all my life, but an observation I've been unable to
avoid since my African childhood. It confounds my ideological beliefs,
stubbornly refuses to fit my world view, and has embarrassed my growing
belief that there is no God.



Now a confirmed atheist, I've become convinced of the enormous
contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa: sharply
distinct from the work of secular NGOs, government projects and
international aid efforts. These alone will not do. Education and
training alone will not do. In Africa Christianity changes people's
hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The
change is good.



I used to avoid this truth by applauding - as you can - the practical
work of mission churches in Africa. It's a pity, I would say, that
salvation is part of the package, but Christians black and white,
working in Africa, do heal the sick, do teach people to read and write;
and only the severest kind of secularist could see a mission hospital
or school and say the world would be better without it. I would allow
that if faith was needed to motivate missionaries to help, then, fine:
but what counted was the help, not the faith.



But this doesn't fit the facts. Faith does more than support the
missionary; it is also transferred to his flock. This is the effect
that matters so immensely, and which I cannot help observing.



First, then, the observation. We had friends who were missionaries, and
as a child I stayed often with them; I also stayed, alone with my
little brother, in a traditional rural African village. In the city we
had working for us Africans who had converted and were strong
believers. The Christians were always different. Far from having cowed
or confined its converts, their faith appeared to have liberated and
relaxed them. There was a liveliness, a curiosity, an engagement with
the world - a directness in their dealings with others - that seemed to
be missing in traditional African life. They stood tall.



At 24, travelling by land across the continent reinforced this
impression. From Algiers to Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon and the Central
African Republic, then right through the Congo to Rwanda, Tanzania and
Kenya, four student friends and I drove our old Land Rover to Nairobi.

We slept under the stars, so it was important as we reached the more
populated and lawless parts of the sub-Sahara that every day we find
somewhere safe by nightfall. Often near a mission.



Whenever we entered a territory worked by missionaries, we had to
acknowledge that something changed in the faces of the people we passed
and spoke to: something in their eyes, the way they approached you
direct, man-to-man, without looking down or away. They had not become
more deferential towards strangers - in some ways less so - but more
open.



This time in Malawi it was the same. I met no missionaries. You do not
encounter missionaries in the lobbies of expensive hotels discussing
development strategy documents, as you do with the big NGOs. But
instead I noticed that a handful of the most impressive African members
of the Pump Aid team (largely from Zimbabwe) were, privately, strong
Christians. “Privately” because the charity is entirely secular and I
never heard any of its team so much as mention religion while working
in the villages. But I picked up the Christian references in our
conversations. One, I saw, was studying a devotional textbook in the
car. One, on Sunday, went off to church at dawn for a two-hour service.



It would suit me to believe that their honesty, diligence and optimism
in their work was unconnected with personal faith. Their work was
secular, but surely affected by what they were. What they were was, in
turn, influenced by a conception of man's place in the Universe that
Christianity had taught.



There's long been a fashion among Western academic sociologists for
placing tribal value systems within a ring fence, beyond critiques
founded in our own culture: “theirs” and therefore best for “them”;
authentic and of intrinsically equal worth to ours.



I don't follow this. I observe that tribal belief is no more peaceable
than ours; and that it suppresses individuality. People think
collectively; first in terms of the community, extended family and
tribe. This rural-traditional mindset feeds into the “big man” and
gangster politics of the African city: the exaggerated respect for a
swaggering leader, and the (literal) inability to understand the whole
idea of loyal opposition.



Anxiety - fear of evil spirits, of ancestors, of nature and the wild,
of a tribal hierarchy, of quite everyday things - strikes deep into the
whole structure of rural African thought. Every man has his place and,
call it fear or respect, a great weight grinds down the individual
spirit, stunting curiosity. People won't take the initiative, won't
take things into their own hands or on their own shoulders.



How can I, as someone with a foot in both camps, explain? When the
philosophical tourist moves from one world view to another he finds -
at the very moment of passing into the new - that he loses the language
to describe the landscape to the old. But let me try an example: the
answer given by Sir Edmund Hillary to the question: Why climb the
mountain? “Because it's there,” he said.



To the rural African mind, this is an explanation of why one would not
climb the mountain. It's... well, there. Just there. Why interfere?
Nothing to be done about it, or with it. Hillary's further explanation
- that nobody else had climbed it - would stand as a second reason for
passivity.



Christianity, post-Reformation and post-Luther, with its teaching of a
direct, personal, two-way link between the individual and God,
unmediated by the collective, and unsubordinate to any other human
being, smashes straight through the philosphical/spiritual framework
I've just described. It offers something to hold on to to those anxious
to cast off a crushing tribal groupthink. That is why and how it
liberates.



Those who want Africa to walk tall amid 21st-century global competition
must not kid themselves that providing the material means or even the
knowhow that accompanies what we call development will make the change.
A whole belief system must first be supplanted.



And I'm afraid it has to be supplanted by another. Removing Christian
evangelism from the African equation may leave the continent at the
mercy of a malign fusion of Nike, the witch doctor, the mobile phone
and the machete.

---

Pacificministries Worship at the River CHANGE TO Sunday Feb. 22

Dear Friends,

As Carlene and I were preparing the November dinner
for our Worship at the River gathering, we were sensing a change was ahead for
us, but we were not certain how it would look, nor exactly what we should
say.  Last year was prophesied to be a “gateway” season, where many were
entering into new things.  We sensed that was true for us, but did not
have the language to express what we felt. If you have been following our
journey, you are aware of the word the Lord spoke to us about "living with
constant change."

Since the November dinner, we have needed to move most
of our belongings to Port Townsend as Carlene has been given primary
responsibility to care for her mother’s businesses and arrange for
her mothers personal care. 

• Our December “Worship at the River” needed to be canceled due to the
  snow. 
• Our January worship needed to be canceled because of our Korea assignment.
  (full report with podcasts HERE)
• In February, all of our children (including Calvin, our grandson) will be in California to bless
  our son Matt before he is deploys February 9 (Destination unknown at
  this time). February Worship at the River CHANGED TO 6PM
  SUNDAY February 22
• March, we will be in Kenya for nearly 3 weeks.  Our Worship at the River for March is CANCELED
  

So, the things that we were feeling, but unable to put
into words, are being written on the calendar for us. 

We cherish each of you dearly, and we believe that the
Lord will allow us to gather several times a year to Worship again together and
we will send you those dates as soon as we know them. 

So, here is what we know for today:

1. Carlene
   and I are officially moving to Port Townsend.  We will keep our condo
   in Gresham
   for the next 6-8 months.

   2.   We are still very
        dependent on your love, your prayers and your financial support. 

         
For the time being, you may send financial support to: Pacificministries PO
BOX 1351 Fairview OR 97030 Or go to Pacificministries.blogspot.com
and use our Paypal account.

3. We want to encourage YOU to initiate gatherings in your home of friends (actually family) from Worship at the
   River. 

4. We want to be with you to Worship at the River.  We will keep in close email contact with you.

5. Our itinerary:
   

 
    February 5-9      
         In Los Angeles for Family Gathering to see Matthew Deployed

    February 22    Sunday 6pm Worship at the River at the Troutdale Community Center

    February 24-March 10  Kenya Africa to visit and serve with Dr. Bruce and Kate Dahlman (my first
        cousin is a medical director and Kate is a nurse)

Thank you, and bless you for your continued love, prayers, and financial
support!

Darrell and Carlene

Pictures from the Mountain Property in Korea

Rejoice with us!!

Dear Friends,

I am rejoicing.  A many of you may know, I literally lost our passports, along with other resources a few months ago.  I have always "prided myself" (dangerous words) on carefully accounting for essential travel stuff, which, if you lose, creates at the least great inconvenience, and at most leaves you stranded. 

These past weeks in the Northwest we have experienced delays and displacements in our lives in record snow, ice, wind (75 mph in the Colombia Gorge a few days ago), cold, and flooding. Yesterday, after a wonderful 9 days of ministry in Korea, I boarded the last leg of my journey. Finally, the end was in sight. I was headed to Port Townsend after a 20 hour flight from Korea via Japan, San Francisco, and Portland  Just a simple 30 minute flight to Seattle. As we approached the city, the pilot mentioned we may have a problem. (I hate when pilots say that) "We've got some fog here, we can't see to land...minimum is 1/8 of a mile visibility. We'll circle and see what happens."  Well, we circled, and circled....for almost 2 hours before running low on fuel and flying back to Portland. 

As I stood in line with several hundred other travelers waiting to re-book and for the fog to clear, CNN was broadcasting the inauguration of Obama.  I had this conversation with the Lord:

ME: Well Lord, I've lost important stuff...now there's fog...(talk about fog as a metaphor), massive change in our nation's leadership......I'm tired...where are you in all of this?

LORD: You are learning to live in days of change and unexpected delays. Trust Me. I am your Resource, Protector, and Guide.

ME: Yea...easier to preach it than to live it.

LORD:  Wait....Trust....especially in the things  you cannot see.

ME:  OK

Now, I know that doesn't sound like much of a spiritual conversation. I was tired but trying to be grateful, even rejoicing in the trial....trying to keep a good attitude amongst many disgruntled passengers.

At 1pm, I was seated on the first of just a few planes to finally press through the fog and land in Seattle.  I reunited with Carlene who picked me up in Bremerton, and within 3 minutes of entering the house, found our missing passports and other items.  Yea God.

There is this wonderful story in Luke 15 that Jesus told about a women who lost, and then found a coin.

And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.'

So, rejoice with me, especially in the things we cannot see.  In the middle of change, delays, falling financial markets, weird weather, disappointment with yourself, frustration at our disruption of plans...trust, wait, and rejoice.  I am convinced we are learning to discern the birth pangs which foretell the end of this age.  I agree with Rick Warren's prayer at the Inauguration:

Almighty God, our father, everything we see and everything we can't see
exists because of you alone. It all comes from you, it all belongs to
you. It all exists for your glory. History is your story...

Hmmm..everything we can't see
exists because of you alone. It all comes from you, it all belongs to
you. 

I say, Amen.

I'll post a detailed longer (12 min) audio podcast as Korea January 2009.


Bless you as you rejoice,

Darrell and Carlene

Korea January 2009

Dear Friends and Family,




It's Friday morning I'm sitting in a Korean coffee shop where the temperature has hovered between 5-20 degrees over the past 5 days, and a fresh blanket of snow has covered the city of Seoul. The big floating and sticky kind of snowflakes. The city does not pause much...buses, taxis, and busy commuters set their heads against the blowing snow...and plow forward.



This country, known for it's tenacity and endurance against opposition is a testimony to the spiritual DNA God has given this land. I'm on assignment here, speaking to smaller and larger groups of leaders, churches, and mission groups. It's been pretty non-stop, and this morning is really the first hour I've had to post an update. I arrived one week ago after losing my passport (got a new one in Seattle in a record 6 hours) and literally flying over the flood from Portland to Seattle (as I5 was closed) to catch my overseas flight.



In a word, it was worth the effort. I'll visit 4 cities in these 8 days here, and, as always, the Korean people have received me with grace.



There are many reasons why I believe this trip was difficult with all the problems and delays. Suffice to say this as been our life the past months during Thailand airport closures, record snow and rain....and lost passports. I believe we are learning to live and prosper with constant change. We are learning to trust Holy Spirit as our Friend, Counselor, and Guide. I have, like many of you, been drawn to study the Book of Revelation with a fresh approach. As Mike Bickle as said, if you are a worshipper, intercessor, or prophetic person, you are pretty much guaranteed job security for eternity. Wow. (I'd encourage you to catch some of their teaching at ihop.org)



Carlene is finally recovering after weeks of a nasty cough, and I'll return Tuesday to help care for her Mother. I'll do a podcast later today and hope to post it at http://pacificministries.blogspot.com in a day or so.





Bless you and thank your for praying for us.



Darrell

Despite Floods...Lost Passports.....I'm off to Korea

Friends....

I'm in Seattle...the only way around the flood is to fly over it..(which is what I and many others from Portland did...)
For those out of the loop...I tried to summarize last few days in a 10 min audio report attached to this email...thanks for thinking and praying...what a wild adventure.

Darrell