Ellen's Beginnings

I wrote this Monday, starting at 6:51pm on the plane from Panama City to
Lima. Sorry to be so out of date in my posting.

Traveling has gone quite smoothly, as traveling goes. James
and I are on the Copa Airlines plane in Panama, waiting to head off to Lima.
Both relatively inexperienced travelers, we have succeeded so far. Between our
connecting flights in Orlando, we did have to go through security again because
we were confused as to where our gate was and went too far. But it is neat to
experience the efficiency of airports, even unecessarily. One thing that is not
neat to experience is airport prices. It was a good $9.58 chicken sub,
though.

I scared James at the Panama airport - there was a long line for
the restroom and we didn't have much time to board. But we made it; I just need
to get used to the iffiness of cell phone-less communication.

Mr. Weaver
- the coordinator for IMB REAPSouth teams in Peru - sent us readings, which I
finished up on the last flight. Their common theme was the purpose of missions
and the best way to communicate the good news we are sharing. One talked about
why using stories are more effective than linear-logic sermons. Every culture
uses stories - in daily conversations, traditions, religions - making them an
universal medium of communication. It is also easy to get excited about stories
(at least easier than getting excited about "do's" and "don'ts" or theological
jargon); they are easy to remember. If you teach like they do in many churches
in America, you are in some ways limiting the Gospel to those who can understand
your complicated terms and abstract ideas. They are no dumber than the average
American; some simply have not learned to think about belief and religion the
way we have.

And if you think about it, how did we learn to think like
that? What was our first step? Stories. Simple stories of God's work in the
world. The truth they proclaim is not limited by culture or education. Jesus
came. He died. He rose. We are free to live in his grace and love and peace
forever. What a beautiful, uncomplicated story.

Later, same
flight - 9:56pm
We are about to land in Lima. It was a delightful flight
full of a second free dinner (this time with four Oreos - the other Copa flight
just gave two), Tangled, reading more of Let the Nations Be
Glad!, and trying to say "gracias" instead of "thank you" whenever
possible. I really must appear obviously American because everyone speaks to me
in English right away, not even bothering with Spanish. I was so ready to say
"pollo por favor" when asked which meal I would like. The man asked the
just-as-white-as-me family in front of me in Spanish first, then English. So I
was ready to respond with my "impressive" bit of Spanish. The flight attendant
gets to me...

"Which would you like, miss?"

Quietly and ashamedly in English: "Chicken, please."

"And to drink?"

I became brave: "Agua, por favor."

And that, my friends, is self-enforced language
immersion at work.

"As the rain and the snow
come down from
heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and
making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread
for the eater,
is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return
to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose
for which I sent it."

Isaiah 55:10-11