Getting to know you… getting to know all about you….

The last two days have been completely delightful! We’ve spent a lot of time hanging out with Jim and Sue de Vries. They in turn have introduced us to a number of other missionaries from different agencies, all of whom are collaborating together to fulfill God’s command to GO—not just stay, pay, and pray. Anglicans, YWAM, InterServe—all of those agencies have troops on the ground doing spiritual battle, evangelizing, be-friending, loving and being loved, friendship evangelism, tent-making evangelism, retreat center refreshing, professional massage—all different ways to build trust and be involved with the lives of both Greek Cypriots and the whole load of ex-patriates from many different countries.

Segregation rules!

Interestingly, the Greeks and ex-pats don’t mix much. Missionaries can live here for years and not be able to penetrate the emotional walls surrounding the native Cypriots, so most confine their out-reach to fellow ex-pats or do short mission trips into the surrounding countries. This is not entirely true, but more true than not with the insular Greeks who are cordially polite toward the “born again cult or evangelical lunatic fringe”. All the while these folks are inoculated against true faith by their dilute, perfunctory head nod toward Orthodoxy.

Hot war ices into cold war….

We did cross the border into northern Turkish Cyprus yesterday, crossed a UN no-man’s zone, and had passports checked by Turkish military on the other side of that 100 zone. We walked around the “old city” of Turkish Nikosia where evidence of war was all around. Condemned buildings, mortar shells craters, blasted walls that were crumbling, and signs warning of danger here and there were all common place. One border guard was helpful. He explained some of the history and how such hatred had developed between the Turks and Greeks. It’s not as bad as the hatred between Jew and Arab, but it’s getting up there on the Hate Meter. Bethyl and I were glad when we crossed back over, had our passports stamped again, and re-emerged into Greek Cyprus. The air was not as thick with suspicion, distrust, and wary tolerance of tourists.

Warming each other up....

We experienced a real warmth and kindness in the church meeting Sunday morning. A real collection of charismatics, more stayed Anglicans, and everything inbetweeen. Lots of oldsters and young black students from Africa. Some middle-agers, but not as many. No pastor; just teaching elders who have a go at the pulpit along with passing thru speakers now and again.

Doubting Thomas?

One of the teaching elders gave an interesting message this morning on “doubting Thomas.” A positive spin on old Tommy. The elder asked us to not make complete judgments based on incomplete information. He gave a story about Mavis and Mack. Mavis saw Mack’s car parked in front of a bar for a long time. She spread the word he was a heavy drinker. He ran across her in the grocery and she lectured him on the evils of alcoholism. He said nothing. That night he parked his car in front of her home and walking home, leaving it there for the night. :)
Anyway, back to Demanding Thomas….. Tommy wasn’t with the others when they saw Jesus. His delay in being with the body of brothers and sisters led to denials and doubts that in turn led to demands for proof. Jesus didn’t denounce him. He was kind. He showed him what he had asked for, nothing more or less. Tommy’s doubtful demands developed into determination: “my Lord and my God.”
Jesus was also kind to his cousin, John the Baptist, when he doubted and sent a note from prison to Jesus—“hey, bro, are you the real deal or did I miss the boat?” Jesus sent back a kind message that the lame were walking, the blind were seeing, and the dead were living. Make up your own mind based on the facts. I think of this often when I doubt and demand.
After the service we stood around over coffee and talked with Martin, a YWAM area leader, as well as Maggie and Judy from a local retreat center for worn out Christians. Wonderful words of mutual encouragement and hope. Such is the stuff of doubt deterrancy.

Our doubts dwindling as we move ahead....

One further word on that matter. Bethyl and I have been fretting off and on that we’d miss the boat and not see God’s opening and time and place for us. Like we doubted His sending or our receiving abilities. Jim de Vries mentioned that with our willing hearts and His great compassion this decision would appear to us, together, in concert, to be an unmistakable path in the woods. Not some clever little road less traveled that was covered over with leaves by a teasing will- of- the- wisp god who delights in fooling or tricking us. That was comforting.

Now for a few days of rest in Paphos…. Today we go to the other side of Cyprus to a time share resort that opened up for a few days. We’ll use part of the week with Jim and Sue and then leave it open for another missionary couple to get away and have a romantic weekend. Stay tuned…. J