All in the family

Recently, one of my siblings wrote a blog about how we are distantly related (so many "-th" cousin, so many times removed) to some earl. The name of this earl did not mean anything to me so all the connections were of little interest to me.

But it did get me thinking about family.

Several years ago (and I'll date myself here), I started a job in a factory and one of my new coworkers, upon hearing my name, asked me jokingly (I think), if I was any relation to Bill Russell. I know very little about sports, but I did recognize the name, so I replied, "only in skin color."  That, too, was a joke, but I probably do have more in common with Bill's skin color than I do his ability to handle a ball. I'm not very dexterous when it come to handling those round things and while I can probably dribble on a ball, I'd be hard pressed to dribble with one.

Bill Russell (not my relative)

Image from:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49648716

Family, then, is more than just a name.  We, with our rather nomadic lifestyles, tend to think differently about what makes family.  In our missionary family, we are "aunt" and "uncle" to a number of missionary kids. We are commonly called aunt and uncle by Thai people.

But there is another family we belong to, and that is the family of God.  This past week, during our church meeting, we read together from Galatians 6:10: "Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone--especially to those in the family of faith."

The family of faith is awesome. I've been to many places around the world and every place I've been there have usually been some family members. I can feel "at home" even when far from home.

Dinner with Family

The significance of this family of faith is especially important in the culture here.  After our worship service last Sunday, we we're making plans on giving rides home to people from the next township over. One woman, Wari, who had come with us in the morning, said she would go home later. The reason she was staying, she said, was that she wanted to spend some time with the family.  Those were not actually her words, but that was the basic meaning of what she said.

When a person decides to follow Christ here in Thailand, it is a family matter.  To go against the religion of the ancestors is generally not well accepted, and a person who does so is often rejected by family. These days there is more tolerance than in the past, but in the region we work, the family pull is quite strong. To lose the support of family is also to lose the support of the village. Since this is the main method of socioeconomic support, people are reluctant to go against the wishes of family.  If a person does decide to follow Christ and stick with the decision it is because they have found a suitable replacement family in the family of God.

A few weeks ago we visited a man who was injured in a motorcycle a number of years ago and now has difficulty walking. He lives on the same compound with his wife's family, as is typical in Isaan, but he is currently estranged from his wife and is building a small house for himself behind the family compound. He was interested in the gospel message, and he repeated a prayer to follow Jesus, after which he let us cut the sacred strings from his wrist. Then we prayed that God would heal his legs so that he could walk normally. He received a Bible from us and was looking forward to having us visit more in the future to talk about the Bible.

Cutting Sacred String
A way of showing you're joining a new family.

But then family intervened. While they had been willing to let us come talk with this man, it was quite another thing for him to quit the family religion. It's okay to add Jesus in with the other gods on the altar, but not so okay to dispense with the other gods.  So the man's in-laws told him that if he persisted in following Jesus exclusively, he would be kicked out of the family compound. They even told him that they did not want us to pray for his healing.  Better to be crippled than Christian, they said. The man had no place place else to go. So he decided against joining the new family.

To follow Jesus is to be adopted into a new family, sometimes at the expense of the old one. Jesus said, "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace but a sword.  For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household."  (Matthew 10:34-36 ESV)

We Christians in North America do not tend to have this kind of experience, but it is very real for people in Thailand.

 It is very important, then, that the family of God be the kind of family to which one would want to belong. If our family is beset with problems and a lack of love, one will not want to risk losing their earthly family to join this new one. Instead, we should have such a love in our new family that we become the talk of the town. Jesus said, "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35 ESV) If we fail at this, all our words spent preaching the gospel become unintelligible. (1 Corinthians 13:1)

It's not always easy. There is an old rhyme that goes something like:

To live above, with saints we love--

that's glory.

To live below, with saints we know--

that's a different story.

No wonder Jesus prayed, "And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one." (John 17:11 ESV)

So, if you think about us here in Thailand, pray for our family of faith. Pray that we will be one as The Father and the Son are one.  Pray that we will be the kind of family people will want to be a part of.  It's not always easy. We've had a couple of occasions where people started spreading untrue rumors to try to sow division among us (this by people who call themselves Christian). So far, fortunately, those who have tried to divide us have only caused us to draw closer together. The enemy wants us fighting and bickering rather than loving and accepting one another. He wants us to be ugly, and not attractive.

My hope is that it may be said of us who follow Jesus what Paul wrote to Philemon: "because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints." (Philemon 1:5 ESV)

Sad

A picture is worth a thousand words. Read it and weep.

Adventure-us

Ten years ago this month we finished up a week in Abbotsford, British Columbia. We were participating in an event called Spring Adventure. Little did we know that the adventure would begin after that week.

Spring Adventure was a time for us to get to know an organization called MBMS International and for them to get to know us. While there, we stayed on the campus of Columbia Bible College.

Less Adventurous

There were times for meeting in groups and some times for more adventurous activities.

One adventure we had was to hang on some cliffs.

More Adventurous

At the end of that week of evaluations and such we were invited to continue to further explore working with MBMS International.

The ten years since have been quite the adventure both for us and our organization.

The organization has changed a couple times and and with each change came a new name. The first change came shortly after we joined, to MB Mission, and more recently the name has changed again to Multiply.

As for our adventures, well, the most obvious has been the moves.  First to Canada for a few months, then back to Fresno for just over a year. Then to Thailand.  Just over a year in Bangkok, where living in a mega-city was a bit of an adventure for us country folk. After conquering the concrete jungle,  we moved to a nearby province named Chonburi seven months. That Christmas we moved just north to Chachoengsao where we lived for almost a year.  After a few months in North America, it was onto the far north of the country to Chiang Rai province for a few years. Then a few more months in North America before settling into Nong Khai in northeast Thailand for the past two years.

New places. New faces. New assignments. New languages.  New teams. New opportunities to see God at work in different circumstances. Opportunities to see churches birthed and to see people come to new life in Christ. Opportunities to have our faith challenged.

It's good that God has blessed us with a love of exploring.

We're never too old for new adventures. Abram was a young 75 years old when God told him to leave his nice home in Haran and go to a place that God said He would show them. (Genesis 12:4) He didn't have his first kid until he was 100! Imagine having to wait until you're 122 years old to watch your first kid graduate college.

Sometimes, though, we'd like there to be a little less adventure. While getting to live in different places and meeting different people can be fun, it can also be a bit wearying.  As we age, we find we don't have the energy that we used to have.

One thing we are sure of though is that the changes will keep coming.  Ten years ago, we went to Spring Adventure.  Since then there have been ten years of adventure.  In the next ten years the adventures will continue. We will meet new people and make new friends.  We will experience joys and sorrows, blessings and loss. At some point during that time we will probably officially retire (whatever that is). We will probably move at least one more time.

I thought it was hard to start over in my 50's! I hope that when I get to be 75 I will still have faith like Abraham and be willing to embark on whatever new adventures God calls me to.

Flambouyant Memories

Recently, as we were driving back from Fao Rai district, where we were teaching English and guitar, we passed a beautiful tree.  The tree goes by a couple names, royal poinciana and, very appropriately, flamboyant.

Viewed up close, the flowers are especially pretty. The white "banner" petal tends to turn more yellow as the bloom ages, giving the tree an orangeish hue as in the picture above.

Occasionally, one might see and orange-flowered variety.

The seed pods are quite large (that is my size 14 foot).  The pods can be carved as handicrafts.  They can be used as musical shakers when dry.  The seeds are very hard and are used as beads.

But what struck me today was a memory of the first time I ever saw a flamboyant tree.  In 1981, we would drive past a flamboyant tree on the way to Amani-y beach near the town of Saint Marc in Haiti.

Flambouyant Tree on the Way to Amani-y Beach

This beach was a place our team would go on occasion to take a break from working in a village above the town of Saint Marc.

Amani-y Beach

The infrastructure was not well maintained, but there were always people nearby to sell a soft drink or make lunch. Casuarina trees (Australian pine) had been planted which gave a little shade.

One of the amazing things about this beach, was that it was right on the edge of the bay.  The bay is quite deep and the water at the time was very clear.  At the north side of the beach, there is an underwater cliff and the water goes from about 2 meters deep to 25 meters or more deep.  In spite of the depth, you could still see the bottom.  I loved to snorkel over the top of the bluff.  The dark blue water in the background of the first photo is where the water depth changed.

Best thing about the beach was the pretty girl

I have no idea what condition the beach is in these days.  When we returned to Haiti about 5 years after these photos were taken, the water was already getting cloudy from the soil being washed off the mountains.  But I'm glad to have memories of the time when the water was still nice.

Not only has Haiti changed a lot in the last 40 years, we have as well.  My hope is that, instead of worsening with time, we would become better.

Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.  Ecclesiastes 7:8 (ESV)

Nothing to Say

I have nothing to say

and hugs are too far away.

Then (Job's three friends) sat down with him on the ground for seven days and seven nights, yet no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great. -- Job 2:13

I have to admire Job's friends for their behavior. At least for the first week.  It could not have been very easy for them. Job was probably not a pretty sight with all his festering sores.  He was probably groaning a lot.  And wafting up from his wounds would probably be something that, to borrow a phrase from George Carlin, "could knock a buzzard off a shit wagon".

I remember the day I got a phone call from my mom, telling me my sister's husband was killed in a freak motor vehicle accident.  Since I was the sibling that lived nearest, I dropped what I was doing to make the 5 hour drive to her house.  When I got there, I don't think I said anything, I just wrapped my arms around my sister. There wasn't much use in my voicing what we would have agreed upon: "this really sucks."  It wasn't the time for platitudes.  It was the time to just be there.

The Russell clan men when Mike was a part of it

One of the disadvantages of our current vocation is that we are far from family.  There are times when we just want to be there with them.

Now my sister, who already lost one husband, is dealing with her second husband having a rare form of cancer.  Because this is not a common cancer, it is hard for doctors to give any prognosis.  No one knows how long my brother-in-law has left this side of heaven.  Whatever it is, from our perspective, it is not enough.  And while I can FaceTime my friends and relatives, it is not the same as being there.  And even when I FaceTime them, it's not like I want to say a lot.  I want to be in their presence as much as technology allows us from across the waves.  I would like just to be with my brother-in-law even at times when he hardly has strength to acknowledge me.

Precious memories with George and Family

Last week, some of our co-workers were visiting a nearby country.  While driving one night, they struck another vehicle. One of our friends was killed.  Others ended up in a small hospital with not a great standard of care.  I just wanted to be there to comfort my friends.  Not to say anything in particular. Just to be there.

Remembering good times with some who have moved on to heaven

When returning home after a long journey, I have lots of stories to tell my wife.  But when we first get back together, the most important thing to be communicated doesn't require me to say anything. Words can wait.

There are many times when no words need to be spoken—times when words might actually disrupt important communication that needs to take place.  These are the times it is hardest to be away from family and friends. So we resort to using words, even though it is not our favorite option. And sometimes we may say something awkward because it is awkward to even say anything at all at that moment.

Meanwhile, we look forward to that day of great reunion—when being separated from loved ones will no longer be an issue.  When gestures of comfort will no longer be needed, for there will be no sorrow for which to receive it.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will not exist anymore—or mourning, or crying or pain, for the former things have ceased to exist. (Revelation 21:4 NET)

Red Protection

Late last week, while I was walking along the river, I noticed a red shirt suspended from someone's fence on a hanger.



A few days later, a neighbor of ours hung a red shirt up on the fence by the gate to their property.



Then we noticed all over our village that red shirts were on display.







 


 







And, apparently, if you have no red shirt, you can use a piece of fabric.



What's going on here?  Did we miss a memo?

Turns out there is a local belief in the Isaan region regarding the Widow Spirit, known as Phee Mae My.  When an seemingly fit individual dies unexpectedly in their sleep, the Widow Spirit is suspected.  Two weeks ago, in a nearby province, it was reported in the news that in one village, 3 healthy men, aged 47, 23 and 60, all died within a week's time.  When this happened, two local men recalled strange things that happened just prior to that.  One reported seeing an unusual light in the sky at night.  Another reported having a scary vision of a tall dark-skinned person.  In other reports I've read, people have reported seeing this spirit as a beautiful young woman dressed in white.

The local name for these nocturnal deaths Lai Tai, an Isaan term which roughly translates unconscious sleep death. Technically it is considered a version of Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death Syndrome (SUNDS).

At any rate, there are several precautions that households will take to keep the men of the house from suffering the fate of Lai Tai.  The most common and obvious thing is to hang red shirts at doorways or gates to yards.  Some will put up signs saying, "there are no men here".  Villages or individuals may put up red-painted phallic objects.  People will restrict evening activities outside of the house so the widow spirit will have less opportunity to encounter men while they are out and about.

We've heard that there have been three or four people who have died in our village that has caused people of our village to be concerned about the Widow Spirit.  The red shirts we've seen in this area have been confined to a single village.  We've not seen the use of phallic objects or signs declaring that there are no men around.

The Bible also records an instance of things being painted red to avoid death at night.  The night that Israel escaped captivity to Egypt, the people painted their doorposts with blood so they would not suffer loss when God killed the firstborn of all people and animals in Egypt. We read in Exodus 12:7 and 13:

Then they shall take some of the blood (of the passover lamb) and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it...
The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt. 

Red is still able to keep us from death.  The cross was stained red by the blood of Jesus.  He was the Passover Lamb that was sacrificed for us, as we read in 1 Corinthians 5:7, "For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed."

Because Jesus has been sacrificed for us,  we need not fear death. By his resurrection from the dead, Jesus has conquered death.

⁵¹But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! ⁵²It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. ⁵³For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.
⁵⁴Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.
⁵⁵O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?"
     1 Corinthians 15:51-55 (NLT)

We who know Jesus also do not need fear the Widow Spirit or any other spirit.  For to those who believe in Jesus, He gives His spirit, which is greater than all others.

² This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God.  ³ But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here. 
⁴ But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. 
     1 John 4:2-4 (NLT)

We have authority over the spirits.  We do not need to be afraid of them.  We do not need red shirts to scare them away. We can go out at night without being afraid that we might inadvertently lead some demon back to our house.

¹⁹Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.  ²⁰But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.
     Luke 10:19-20 (NLT)

Praise be to God, because Jesus is enough...
     ...enough to free us from the power of death
     ...enough so that we need not fear the spirits.

Unconventional

I have an awesome wife.

On New Year's Day, I asked her if she wanted to go check out some swamps, and she agreed.

So off we went.  Our first stop was Huai Ngeum Noi (ห้วยหงีมน้อย)--and no, that's not as easy to pronounce as it looks.  At this time of year, Huai Ngeum Noi is covered with pink water lilies.  Pink water lilies (Nymphaea pubescens) are native to south and Southeast Asia.  It's not unusual to see ponds covered with these water lilies.

Pink Water Lillies in Huai Nguem Noi

After a while, we left Huai Nguem Noi to head to another swamp.  Along the way we had to pause to let some water buffalo pass.

Water Buffalo on the road

Eventually we got to Huai Plaeo Ngueak (ห้วยเปลวเงือก), which means something like "Mermaid Fire Swamp).  This reservoir is quite shallow--if there are any mermaids in it, they must hibernate in the mud during the dry season.

The first thing we noticed were the swaths of yellow flowers all over the pond.

Huai Plaeo Ngueak

These yellow swaths were from the mosaic flower-an aquatic plant in the evening primrose family (Onagraceae). Like most plants in the evening primrose family, the mosaic flowers have four petals.  But it's the leaves of this plant that have a very special character.

Mosaic plant (Ludwigia sedioides - กระจับแก้ว

Mosaic plants curving through the swamp

The mosaic flowers are just one of many flowers growing in Huai Plaeo Ngueak.  The mix of the blossoms and leaves can be quite pretty.

Variety of flowers

Perhaps one of the showiest flowers in the pond is the water snowflake.  If has a beautiful bloom and cute, heart-shaped leaves.

Water Snowflake (Nymphoides indica - บัวบา)

Another interesting flower is on a plant in the Gratiola genus in the plantain (Plantaginaceae) family.  I first thought it was a kind of monkey-flower.  These plants were once classified in the same plant family as monkey flowers (Scrophulariaceae), but with recent genetic studies, they have been reclassified.

Gratiola sp.

Golden bladderwort (Utricularia aurea) is a carnivorous flower.  A non-vegetarian vegetable, so to speak.  They are widely scattered throughout Thailand, but seldom in great numbers.

Golden bladderwort (Utricularia aurea  - สาหร่ายข้าวเหนียว)

There were some other flowers present in the lake as well.  But we left the water and looked on or near the shore at some of the other things blooming.  At the edge of the high water line were lots of pinkish/purple flowers. (The camera makes the flowers seem less blue than the eye sees them.) These are what is known as straits rhododendron (Melastoma malabathricum - โคลงเคลง).  These showy flowers are not related to the rhododendrons we know of in North America.

Straits Rhododendron (Melastoma malabathricum - โคลงเคลง)

A little higher up from the lake was a very fragrant shrub.  I don't know what the name of this plant is, but it appears to be something in the mint family (Lamiaceae).

Sage-like plant

A little higher, on a dry, sandy, knoll, we found these pretty morning-glory-like flowers that somehow manage to thrive in a not very lush environment.

Yellow morning glory-like flowers

As we walked back to our car from the knoll with the yellow morning glories, we were escorted part of the way by a clipper.

Clipper Butterfly

And so we started our year with a reminder of the creative genius of our God.  The diversity of things that one can find on a small piece of real estate is amazing.

You make springs pour water into the ravines,
  so streams gush down from the mountains. 
They provide water for all the animals,
  and the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
The birds nest beside the streams
  and sing among the branches of the trees.
You send rain on the mountains from your heavenly home,
  and you fill the earth with the fruit of your labor.
You cause grass to grow for the livestock
  and plants for people to use.
Psalm 104:10-14