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Dear Loved Ones:
I hope & pray this letter finds each of you doing well in all regards. I've been wanting to write for several weeks now but haven't been able due to other responsibilities.
WHY HAVE I WANTED TO WRITE?
I've wanted to write for several reasons:
- to thank you for your concern & prayers during last month's Southern California wildfires which caused my parents to evacuate (praise the Lord; they've moved back into their intact home). Prayers are needed for the hundreds of other families who suffered great loss.
- to update you on my life's happenings & how I need your prayer support. Believe it! I NEED you, & I praise our wonderful God for how He has used each of you to encourage me. Writing you reminds me of our God-given dependence on each other, & in one sense God uses it to keep me "on track" with His loving plans for my life.
- because some of you have teasingly implied that I don't write you unless I'm traveling.
Well guess what? I'm traveling! This week I'm on vacation, & I just got back yesterday from a trip to Rhode Island to visit a good college chum who was so generous to pay for my trip! I'd never been out to that part of America, so it was great to see some beautiful scenery, take a side trip to "Bwah-stun" (/Boston/, where we saw the "hahbah" /harbor/ & ate clam "chowdah" /chowder/). Most of all I enjoyed spending good time with friends & family (I have a cousin in Boston). This afternoon I leave for a road trip to Death Valley National Park with my parents! We're excited because we've never been there, either.
Thus I'm using this morning while off work (& play) to write you!
"BRUSHES WITH DEATH"
I wouldn't say I have a fear of flying, but I did notice in the last few days a kind of thought pattern that often came up during the jolting, shaking, & rumbling of our airplane as we took off & landed. Knowing that these are the more dangerous parts of
flight, I calmly thought to myself, "You know, I could die right now in an instant! Am I ready to meet my Maker?" Usually afterward I'd begin to pray, "Hi, God. Thank You for blessing me with so many things in life. Do You want me to come home now, or is there something else you want me to do here?" I'd ask, "Is my life being lived for eternal things, or just temporal?"
It reminded me of other times in life when I had similar thoughts:
- in Taiwan when getting jostled by a car squeezing past me as I rode my bike to work.
- when "playing" Human Frogger to cross a busy street in China.
- when watching the road "whoosh" by under me through the floorboards of a Nigerian bus.
How fragile & short this life is! These are sobering thoughts, to be sure, but they're not intended to be morbid. In fact, I've found that the more I'm living for eternal things (living & sharing the good news of how Jesus changes everything), the more JOY, MEANING, & EXCITEMENT my life has.
How we need to challenge each other in this, as a good brother often reminds me with Psalm 90:12 "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom"!
READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?
I recently finished reading a few books I'd like to recommend to you. Perhaps you'll find them helpful in your own specific circumstances. I especially appreciate these books because the writers wrote them not as "how-to" manuals (though they include many practical pointers); their focus is perpetually on the heart of the issue at hand, & how Jesus' work at the cross addresses that issue.
Here they are:
- "Shepherding a Child's Heart" by Tedd Tripp; about parenting. This one was so good I re-read it. It's really impacted the way I treat children & give parenting advice to my patients & their families.
- "Not Even a Hint" by Joshua Harris; about lust. It speaks candidly & directly to men & women about how God's perfect standards & His lovingkindness have met together in Jesus, how this gives us hope with regard to our sexuality.
- "When God Weeps" about why our sufferings matter to God. Joni Eareckson Tada (a quadriplegic) & Steven Estes write with striking realism & compassion, directly to the deepest practical & theological issues of suffering and pain.
- "Let the Nations Be Glad" by John Piper; about God's glory in missions. I just finished it last night, & honestly I think I need to read it a 2nd time to fully grasp it all. In it are some powerful concepts on God's own "mission-mindedness."
Now I'm reading "Biblical Preaching" by Haddon Robinson, which was recommended to me by a preaching uncle. Mainly, I'm reading it to "fill the order" better as God gives opportunities to share (in the form of sermons) what He's taught me.
By the way, I do NOT own stock in any of these books' publishing companies. Please let me know if you'd like to borrow any of them.
PRAYER REQUESTS
- wisdom in attaching to the right mission boards. Praise the Lord! I've just submitted my application to our church's mission arm Evangelical Formosan Church - Global Life Enrichment Center after some discussion with them. I will need to find a secondary mission board; I have my eye on 3 or 4 which might fit the bill (has medical work among Muslims, & has affiliation with Project MedSend -- a partner ministry with Christian Medical Dental Association that helps pay off loans while overseas on mission service).
- Urbana Mission Convention (Intervarsity Christian Fellowship) next month. I need wisdom & grace as I'll be leading a small group & hope also to communicate with different mission boards there.
- diligence & wisdom with money. More loans are coming into repayment phase, & I want to take care of them within a year to be free for overseas service.
- guidance with post-June/2004 life. I need to find a job that will allow me to serve patients holistically as well as give me enough time to study for the Internal Medicine board and Pediatrics board exams, and take some courses at a seminary & language school.
- faithfulness in day-to-day living, that I would constantly live with an eternal perspective of God's Kingdom, in the midst of work, family, & play. I praise the Lord for the chance to work last month with one particular medical student who was interested in learning to give spiritual care to patients who wanted it.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
Isn't God good? He is awesome! I thank Him for the relationship we share, & I greatly appreciate your loving support. Please let me know how you are doing, that I may pray for you also.
Thursday, November 20, 2003
Sunday, August 17, 2003
Upside-Down & Rightside-Up
Upside-Down & Rightside-Up
August 17, 2003
Dear Loved Ones!
Thanks so much for your prayers & support. How so very much I needed it during my tour "down under" in New Zealand & Australia!
Indeed, there I found their seasons mixed, people walking upside down, cars on the wrong side of the road, & everyone talking in this strange accent (though they claim I was the one with the accent). Just getting into cars & crossing the street were often a confusing & even hazardous experience! (Which way do you look first?)
This letter I'm going to make uncharacteristically short (I hear sighs of relief from many of you), as I need to get to bed to start work again in the morning.
I'll stick to the items on the prayer list from the last letter.
1. Thank you for praying for the time with extended family. This was the most amazingly wonderful part of my trip, both in New Zealand & Australia. Without going into embarrassing detail, let me just say that not only was I the recipient of great love & hospitality, but I was also given the opportunity to serve & be served in the midst of a family (like all others I suppose, in their own way) that needs Christ's daily miraculous work. Continued prayer is needed & appreciated.
2. Thank you also for praying for my preaching August 10. I preached at 2 sister EFCs (Evangelical Formosan Church) in the Sydney area. The Lord clearly gave me the words to say, & even though it was a sermon I'd delivered before at different churches, He helped make the message come out with a freshness I'd not expected. (I suppose sharing the Gospel & helping the poor never are stale topics for the Christian.) I got to meet several young adults who were excited about the Gospel, & one uncle (a pastor at one of the churches) told me that the sermon was timely in that these churches are embarking on their first mission experience this December. Though I hardly consider myself a mission expert, I was blessed by the barrage of very good questions during the ~1hour sessions after each service: "What's the hardest thing you've experienced on mission?" "How do you feel when people reject you or the Gospel?" "How do you choose between trying to reach many versus trying to reach a difficult few?" "How did you know you were called to fulltime missions?" "How do you prepare for missions?" These were but a few of the questions, but they gave me a sense of great hope for these congregations. I'm sure they appreciate your prayer for continued growth in these areas.
3. Thank you for praying for my future in ministry/career. Well, it's only been 2 weeks since that request, so not much has changed as far as I can tell, although an abundance of relatives & friends seemed to think that my future ministry & career will include a wife! I'm not sure how they got that idea... Anyway, please do continue praying for this (the career, not the wife). I do have a bit of anxiety about this, as things have not cleared up too much in the last 6 months despite much footwork on my part. God is good, I know. Please pray that I'd be faithful in following Him each day. Specifically, in the next 2 weeks I will decide whether to attend a large missions conference in Urbana, Illinois this December.
4. For those of you who prayed for less long-windedness in me, Amen! You got it!
Indeed, I am so blessed to know each of you & experience God's goodness through you. Yes, our God is so good. As I begin to settle back into "normal" quieter life, I thank Him for His goodness in everything, even in such things as being able to pet a kangaroo, see beautiful landscapes, milk a cow, & bottle-feed a lamb. Even the viruses which decided to throw a farewell party in my throat have settled quite
a bit.
Praise the Lord!
Please let me know how I may pray for you, too!
By His Grace,
Sid/Steve
PS: If you're receiving this kind of letter from me for the first time, it may be kind of disorienting. If you'd like, I'd be happy to send you the 2 preceding letters from my time in Guam.
August 17, 2003
Dear Loved Ones!
Thanks so much for your prayers & support. How so very much I needed it during my tour "down under" in New Zealand & Australia!
Indeed, there I found their seasons mixed, people walking upside down, cars on the wrong side of the road, & everyone talking in this strange accent (though they claim I was the one with the accent). Just getting into cars & crossing the street were often a confusing & even hazardous experience! (Which way do you look first?)
This letter I'm going to make uncharacteristically short (I hear sighs of relief from many of you), as I need to get to bed to start work again in the morning.
I'll stick to the items on the prayer list from the last letter.
1. Thank you for praying for the time with extended family. This was the most amazingly wonderful part of my trip, both in New Zealand & Australia. Without going into embarrassing detail, let me just say that not only was I the recipient of great love & hospitality, but I was also given the opportunity to serve & be served in the midst of a family (like all others I suppose, in their own way) that needs Christ's daily miraculous work. Continued prayer is needed & appreciated.
2. Thank you also for praying for my preaching August 10. I preached at 2 sister EFCs (Evangelical Formosan Church) in the Sydney area. The Lord clearly gave me the words to say, & even though it was a sermon I'd delivered before at different churches, He helped make the message come out with a freshness I'd not expected. (I suppose sharing the Gospel & helping the poor never are stale topics for the Christian.) I got to meet several young adults who were excited about the Gospel, & one uncle (a pastor at one of the churches) told me that the sermon was timely in that these churches are embarking on their first mission experience this December. Though I hardly consider myself a mission expert, I was blessed by the barrage of very good questions during the ~1hour sessions after each service: "What's the hardest thing you've experienced on mission?" "How do you feel when people reject you or the Gospel?" "How do you choose between trying to reach many versus trying to reach a difficult few?" "How did you know you were called to fulltime missions?" "How do you prepare for missions?" These were but a few of the questions, but they gave me a sense of great hope for these congregations. I'm sure they appreciate your prayer for continued growth in these areas.
3. Thank you for praying for my future in ministry/career. Well, it's only been 2 weeks since that request, so not much has changed as far as I can tell, although an abundance of relatives & friends seemed to think that my future ministry & career will include a wife! I'm not sure how they got that idea... Anyway, please do continue praying for this (the career, not the wife). I do have a bit of anxiety about this, as things have not cleared up too much in the last 6 months despite much footwork on my part. God is good, I know. Please pray that I'd be faithful in following Him each day. Specifically, in the next 2 weeks I will decide whether to attend a large missions conference in Urbana, Illinois this December.
4. For those of you who prayed for less long-windedness in me, Amen! You got it!
Indeed, I am so blessed to know each of you & experience God's goodness through you. Yes, our God is so good. As I begin to settle back into "normal" quieter life, I thank Him for His goodness in everything, even in such things as being able to pet a kangaroo, see beautiful landscapes, milk a cow, & bottle-feed a lamb. Even the viruses which decided to throw a farewell party in my throat have settled quite
a bit.
Praise the Lord!
Please let me know how I may pray for you, too!
By His Grace,
Sid/Steve
PS: If you're receiving this kind of letter from me for the first time, it may be kind of disorienting. If you'd like, I'd be happy to send you the 2 preceding letters from my time in Guam.
Sunday, August 03, 2003
When Ya Got Something Good, Ya Gotta Share It!
When Ya' Got Something Good, Ya' Gotta Share it!
August 2, 2003
Dear Loved Ones: I write to you (by hand 1st) from aboard a plane for New Zealand, & it's amazing to think that my time in Guam went by so quickly. It isn't possible to share in one letter all the neat things that've occurred in the past few weeks, but let me please share a few highlights with you.
WELL DADDY CHECKS & THE GOOD NEWS
Just over a week ago I had gotten up while it was still pitch black outside in order to see the sun rise over the ocean. I drove over to the east side of the island thinking it'd be easy to find a good place, but as the sky grew brighter & brighter I realized that I had to go further & further north in order to avoid having the horizon blocked off by some land. Every turn I made either led down some spooky-looking deserted dirt road or was part of the air force base that was off limits to non-military personnel. Finally the sky was bright as day, & I realized I'd failed to see what I wanted.
It was my day off anyway, so I decided to just keep roaming around exploring the island in my "all-terrain" Mazda Protege. (Besides, the dirt roads weren't so spooky anymore.) I drove & drove & finally came across a beautiful sandy beach, the most beautiful I'd ever seen on Guam (& that's saying a lot! The beach, I learned later, is called Ritidian Point.) Waves were crashing on the coral reef about 100 yards out, & the water over the coral was quite invitingly flat. Right then & there I wanted to tell my friend & snorkelling buddy Dr. Shepherd about what I'd found, & perhaps come back & snorkel with him there.
It was still relatively early though, so I thought I'd just take some time to drink in the beauty & thank our wonderful God for His creation. As I sat, it began to sprinkle a bit, & you know what I saw then??? A full-length rainbow – extending from the sea all the way inland!!! "Thank You, God!" I exclaimed. Lacking my high-tech 2-way pager from back home, I sped back to the clinic, cackling & chortling with excitement over what I'd seen & over how Dr. Shepherd would certainly be just as excited as I over the news.
As I raced back to clinic, I was reminded of an experience on the streets of Philadelphia related by Tony Campolo (a sociology professor & fiery spokesman for social activism in the church). He shared how he learned a deep theological truth from a homeless man who cheerfully offered him a sip of his coffee when Campolo walked by on his way to work. When Campolo asked him why he was in such a generous mood, he replied, "Well, when ya' got something good, ya' gotta share it!" Campolo was struck with new fervour to share the spiritual & material riches God bestowed on him.
You see, what made me excited as I zoomed back to clinic was the sense of God's richness to me not merely in showing me a beautiful landscape, but also in rescuing me from sin & condemnation. What wonderful news I have to share with others every day! Just the day before seeing Ritidian Point I was in clinic seeing one particular patient for a well-child check. Knowing that a child's health is greatly affected by his parents' relationship, I asked the 5-year-old's father my routine question, "How's the marriage going?" He flatly replied, "Terrible." It turned out that he & his wife had been sexually unfaithful to each other, on top of serious financial & relational problems. It was clear the man was hurting & was looking for answers, even to the point of becoming religious. Borrowing the question from one of my mentors, I asked him, "So what's your 'glue' in life? What keeps you from falling apart?" He answered, "My children & my love for my wife." After getting an OK from God, I quietly said, "It sounds like you need some better glue."
After getting his permission, we went through the basics of the Gospel message & issues of the heart, including parenting with an eye for the child's heart. We agreed that it couldn't be done without divine help, a personal relationship with God through Jesus. After the exam & the usual anticipatory guidance (to wear seatbelts, go to the dentist, etc.) we talked to God together, asking for His help. It was a beautiful day... you couldn’t SLAP the grin off my face as I thought on God's goodness. Believe it or not, there were other similar (yet not as striking) conversations with other dads in my time on Guam.
WILD PARTIES & BROTHERS IN CHRIST
Ever been to a PITY PARTY? I've been to some pretty wild & crazy ones, complete with long-faced violinists & all-you-can-use Kleenex. Some even come with flavoured pacifiers & complimentary security blankets for all guests. A party is not a true pity party, however, without decadent international cheeses. The cheese, of course, is always served with great goblets full of fine 'whine.'
It's strange: even though I've hosted many of these pity parties, nobody else ever shows up. Thus I'm left alone, with nobody to see me in my new grey suit... made, of course, of 100% pure 'sulk.'
OK, OK, I'm taking the analogy too far. What I mean is that even in Guam for a while I had these pity parties about how I was alone & how nobody understands me. Of course, what I needed to do was repent (which I did a few times), but God showed Himself faithful in providing brothers to bless me in unique ways while on Guam. Despite having great brothers in Christ back home, I felt the truth of Proverbs 27:10b "Better is a neighbour nearby than a brother far away." Let me tell you about three of these blessed 'neighbours':
1. Nathan Wiebe is from Canada, a young youth pastor serving in the Church of God in Guam for a few years. We actually met when I "happened to get bumped" into the same scuba class as his, so we did some diving together. He seemed a friendly chap, so we went out for meals, bowled with other friends, & drove around the island together (it only takes a few hours). Most blessed to me, though, was that we could share our thoughts on ministry, women, & direction in life, as well as past experiences (quite similar actually) & struggles we were going through. Thank You, God, for Nathan, & thanks, Nathan!
2. Marcelin Charles is a Haitian-American family practice doctor I met when I sat in his Sunday School class at a local Baptist church. Our time together was actually quite brief, but I was deeply blessed when he took me out for lunch with his family after church. In our conversation I learned his story of faith & ministry (earlier he too had a sense of calling to the Arab world); his fervour for loving service to God inspired me. I was also tickled to hear of how God unfolded the romance between him & his wife Marian. Thanks, God, for Marcelin (& thank you also, Marcelin)!
3. Allen Shepherd (I mentioned him earlier) is a surgeon from Michigan who was also on short-term assignment at the Seventh-Day Adventist clinic. He served as a missionary for many years in Africa, & worked in recent years in the American Midwest, but God called him to be a full time pastor, so he's now retiring from medicine. I also enjoyed talking with him about ministry & overseas service, & he enjoyed ribbing me about my singleness. Something that impressed me about him was his easy laugh & sense of wonder as we snorkelled together & saw all kinds of life we'd never seen before. Thanks, Dr. Shepherd, & thank You, God!
God is so good, Dear Reader. I don't know if you too have the sense of deep need for brothers & sisters nearby for encouragement & reflection, but that's a need that God put into all of our hearts. I hope we all let Him show Himself faithful in providing for that need.
PRAY (er...please)!
Of course there are heaps of other things I could tell you from my time in Guam, but I think you've got enough eye-strain for one day. Please do pray for...
- time with extended family until my return to the U.S. August 16
- preaching in Sydney about missions August 10
- guidance for post-residency life (a very short 11 months to completion)
- less long-windedness in future letters (Believe me,I do try to be concise! Ha!)
Thanks so much; your support means a great deal to me. Please also let me know how I may pray for you.
Love,
Sid Steve
August 2, 2003
Dear Loved Ones: I write to you (by hand 1st) from aboard a plane for New Zealand, & it's amazing to think that my time in Guam went by so quickly. It isn't possible to share in one letter all the neat things that've occurred in the past few weeks, but let me please share a few highlights with you.
WELL DADDY CHECKS & THE GOOD NEWS
Just over a week ago I had gotten up while it was still pitch black outside in order to see the sun rise over the ocean. I drove over to the east side of the island thinking it'd be easy to find a good place, but as the sky grew brighter & brighter I realized that I had to go further & further north in order to avoid having the horizon blocked off by some land. Every turn I made either led down some spooky-looking deserted dirt road or was part of the air force base that was off limits to non-military personnel. Finally the sky was bright as day, & I realized I'd failed to see what I wanted.
It was my day off anyway, so I decided to just keep roaming around exploring the island in my "all-terrain" Mazda Protege. (Besides, the dirt roads weren't so spooky anymore.) I drove & drove & finally came across a beautiful sandy beach, the most beautiful I'd ever seen on Guam (& that's saying a lot! The beach, I learned later, is called Ritidian Point.) Waves were crashing on the coral reef about 100 yards out, & the water over the coral was quite invitingly flat. Right then & there I wanted to tell my friend & snorkelling buddy Dr. Shepherd about what I'd found, & perhaps come back & snorkel with him there.
It was still relatively early though, so I thought I'd just take some time to drink in the beauty & thank our wonderful God for His creation. As I sat, it began to sprinkle a bit, & you know what I saw then??? A full-length rainbow – extending from the sea all the way inland!!! "Thank You, God!" I exclaimed. Lacking my high-tech 2-way pager from back home, I sped back to the clinic, cackling & chortling with excitement over what I'd seen & over how Dr. Shepherd would certainly be just as excited as I over the news.
As I raced back to clinic, I was reminded of an experience on the streets of Philadelphia related by Tony Campolo (a sociology professor & fiery spokesman for social activism in the church). He shared how he learned a deep theological truth from a homeless man who cheerfully offered him a sip of his coffee when Campolo walked by on his way to work. When Campolo asked him why he was in such a generous mood, he replied, "Well, when ya' got something good, ya' gotta share it!" Campolo was struck with new fervour to share the spiritual & material riches God bestowed on him.
You see, what made me excited as I zoomed back to clinic was the sense of God's richness to me not merely in showing me a beautiful landscape, but also in rescuing me from sin & condemnation. What wonderful news I have to share with others every day! Just the day before seeing Ritidian Point I was in clinic seeing one particular patient for a well-child check. Knowing that a child's health is greatly affected by his parents' relationship, I asked the 5-year-old's father my routine question, "How's the marriage going?" He flatly replied, "Terrible." It turned out that he & his wife had been sexually unfaithful to each other, on top of serious financial & relational problems. It was clear the man was hurting & was looking for answers, even to the point of becoming religious. Borrowing the question from one of my mentors, I asked him, "So what's your 'glue' in life? What keeps you from falling apart?" He answered, "My children & my love for my wife." After getting an OK from God, I quietly said, "It sounds like you need some better glue."
After getting his permission, we went through the basics of the Gospel message & issues of the heart, including parenting with an eye for the child's heart. We agreed that it couldn't be done without divine help, a personal relationship with God through Jesus. After the exam & the usual anticipatory guidance (to wear seatbelts, go to the dentist, etc.) we talked to God together, asking for His help. It was a beautiful day... you couldn’t SLAP the grin off my face as I thought on God's goodness. Believe it or not, there were other similar (yet not as striking) conversations with other dads in my time on Guam.
WILD PARTIES & BROTHERS IN CHRIST
Ever been to a PITY PARTY? I've been to some pretty wild & crazy ones, complete with long-faced violinists & all-you-can-use Kleenex. Some even come with flavoured pacifiers & complimentary security blankets for all guests. A party is not a true pity party, however, without decadent international cheeses. The cheese, of course, is always served with great goblets full of fine 'whine.'
It's strange: even though I've hosted many of these pity parties, nobody else ever shows up. Thus I'm left alone, with nobody to see me in my new grey suit... made, of course, of 100% pure 'sulk.'
OK, OK, I'm taking the analogy too far. What I mean is that even in Guam for a while I had these pity parties about how I was alone & how nobody understands me. Of course, what I needed to do was repent (which I did a few times), but God showed Himself faithful in providing brothers to bless me in unique ways while on Guam. Despite having great brothers in Christ back home, I felt the truth of Proverbs 27:10b "Better is a neighbour nearby than a brother far away." Let me tell you about three of these blessed 'neighbours':
1. Nathan Wiebe is from Canada, a young youth pastor serving in the Church of God in Guam for a few years. We actually met when I "happened to get bumped" into the same scuba class as his, so we did some diving together. He seemed a friendly chap, so we went out for meals, bowled with other friends, & drove around the island together (it only takes a few hours). Most blessed to me, though, was that we could share our thoughts on ministry, women, & direction in life, as well as past experiences (quite similar actually) & struggles we were going through. Thank You, God, for Nathan, & thanks, Nathan!
2. Marcelin Charles is a Haitian-American family practice doctor I met when I sat in his Sunday School class at a local Baptist church. Our time together was actually quite brief, but I was deeply blessed when he took me out for lunch with his family after church. In our conversation I learned his story of faith & ministry (earlier he too had a sense of calling to the Arab world); his fervour for loving service to God inspired me. I was also tickled to hear of how God unfolded the romance between him & his wife Marian. Thanks, God, for Marcelin (& thank you also, Marcelin)!
3. Allen Shepherd (I mentioned him earlier) is a surgeon from Michigan who was also on short-term assignment at the Seventh-Day Adventist clinic. He served as a missionary for many years in Africa, & worked in recent years in the American Midwest, but God called him to be a full time pastor, so he's now retiring from medicine. I also enjoyed talking with him about ministry & overseas service, & he enjoyed ribbing me about my singleness. Something that impressed me about him was his easy laugh & sense of wonder as we snorkelled together & saw all kinds of life we'd never seen before. Thanks, Dr. Shepherd, & thank You, God!
God is so good, Dear Reader. I don't know if you too have the sense of deep need for brothers & sisters nearby for encouragement & reflection, but that's a need that God put into all of our hearts. I hope we all let Him show Himself faithful in providing for that need.
PRAY (er...please)!
Of course there are heaps of other things I could tell you from my time in Guam, but I think you've got enough eye-strain for one day. Please do pray for...
- time with extended family until my return to the U.S. August 16
- preaching in Sydney about missions August 10
- guidance for post-residency life (a very short 11 months to completion)
- less long-windedness in future letters (Believe me,I do try to be concise! Ha!)
Thanks so much; your support means a great deal to me. Please also let me know how I may pray for you.
Love,
Sid Steve
Sunday, July 13, 2003
Protein-Packed Blueberry Mornings & Outer Space Exploration
Dear Loved Ones:
"Hafa Adai" (Chamorro greetings) to all of you from Guam! I hope this letter finds your lives full of joy & meaning. Both sad & happy news from some of you have reached me since I've come to Guam; may each of you know God's joy & comfort.
At first when I thought about what I'd write in this letter, I thought I'd tell you in detail about how my luggage got lost, how I live in a small hut behind our small brick clinic, how monkeys from the surrounding jungle constantly get into our food supply, how I'm eating weird insects and fruits, how we're enduring multiple tropical storms, and how I've treated spear wounds in attempted cannibalism cases. But I finally decided against it for 2 reasons. 1st, I thought telling you about all that would be too discouraging. 2nd, I'd be totally LYING through my teeth!
Actually, especially from the perspective of a medical resident, I'm living "the good life" out here, quite unlike what I'd expected from going to India as previously planned. I'm working as a relief physician at the quite well-equipped Guam Seventh-Day Adventist Clinic, where the staff is friendly & supportive (some of the nurses have tried to introduce me to some single women!). The other physicians are service-minded missionaries who have made me feel welcome among them. Work hours are quite light for me (40 hours a week! -- partly because of the month's holidays), so I'm looking into getting in some additional surgical or obstetric experience. Guam(the largest island in Micronesia about 3 hours by air west of the Philippines) has unbelievable sunsets & beautiful beaches with coral formations I'd never seen before. The clinic is also providing me use of a car & a small comfortable apartment.
"Inconveniences" are minimal. Upon arrival & meeting my attending physician (a Yoruba gentleman, a brother of a pharmacist I knew in Nigeria -- what a small world!), I drove past one of the many Baskins-Robbins & McDonald's over to the island's K-mart to buy some groceries & stuff for the apartment. The next morning I had my Blueberry Morning cereal, walked off to work, & then came back for lunch to find that little tropical ants had invaded my cereal box! After trying to get them out, I decided that I'd have to store all foods in the refrigerator, so that's what I did. The next morning I had my Blueberry Morning cereal again,this time fortified with MORE than the 4 grams of protein per serving as labeled! (I did try to fish out the dead ants that I could see...) Yum, yum!!!
In my extra time I've been snorkeling, meeting people, reading some good books ("Unveiling Islam" by Ergun & Emir Caner, and "Let the Nations Be Glad!" by John Piper), visiting different churches, catching up on medical studying, and visiting historical sites. And...(would you believe it?) I just got certified for basic scuba diving!!! Diving is quite popular & relatively inexpensive here, so I thought I'd go ahead & do it. I couldn't help grinning & thinking of myself as an astronaut exploring that totally different world as I followed my instructor underwater. God is totally awesome in His creativity! Fish of every imaginable shape, size, and color abound, & sea floor life is amazing too. It's incredible the variation & beauty -- I'm so glad God didn't leave creation up to me... I couldn't even THINK UP half the stuff I've seen!
Yes, God is very, very good.
I know I've just been writing a lot about "the good life" I have here, but believe me, I still need your prayers. Would you please pray for me in the following areas?
- That I would learn to find daily my complete satisfaction in our good God
- That I'd be supportive & encouraging to the medical staff here
- That I'd grow in spiritual sensitivity to make an impact for God's kingdom here
- For great grace & wisdom as I visit relatives in New Zealand and Australia early August
- For wisdom as I speak in some churches in Australia. Unlike what my funny sister Ruthie suggested (that I preach on what I'm looking for in a wife, then give an "altar call"), I'll be sharing about missions. I'd be glad to hear how I may pray for you too.
By His Grace Alone,
Sid Steve
PS: If you're wondering how the June 26-29 Mexico missions trip went, while short, it was an awesome demonstration of God's goodness. God used each ministry team (clowns, puppets, crafts, Bible teaching, and medical) in a tremendous way, & very importantly, I felt that the local church (Iglesia Jesus Pan de Vida -- Jesus the Bread of Life Church) & its young pastor (Pastor Jesse) were encouraged greatly. Please join us in prayer for their sustained growth in depth & breadth.
"Hafa Adai" (Chamorro greetings) to all of you from Guam! I hope this letter finds your lives full of joy & meaning. Both sad & happy news from some of you have reached me since I've come to Guam; may each of you know God's joy & comfort.
At first when I thought about what I'd write in this letter, I thought I'd tell you in detail about how my luggage got lost, how I live in a small hut behind our small brick clinic, how monkeys from the surrounding jungle constantly get into our food supply, how I'm eating weird insects and fruits, how we're enduring multiple tropical storms, and how I've treated spear wounds in attempted cannibalism cases. But I finally decided against it for 2 reasons. 1st, I thought telling you about all that would be too discouraging. 2nd, I'd be totally LYING through my teeth!
Actually, especially from the perspective of a medical resident, I'm living "the good life" out here, quite unlike what I'd expected from going to India as previously planned. I'm working as a relief physician at the quite well-equipped Guam Seventh-Day Adventist Clinic, where the staff is friendly & supportive (some of the nurses have tried to introduce me to some single women!). The other physicians are service-minded missionaries who have made me feel welcome among them. Work hours are quite light for me (40 hours a week! -- partly because of the month's holidays), so I'm looking into getting in some additional surgical or obstetric experience. Guam(the largest island in Micronesia about 3 hours by air west of the Philippines) has unbelievable sunsets & beautiful beaches with coral formations I'd never seen before. The clinic is also providing me use of a car & a small comfortable apartment.
"Inconveniences" are minimal. Upon arrival & meeting my attending physician (a Yoruba gentleman, a brother of a pharmacist I knew in Nigeria -- what a small world!), I drove past one of the many Baskins-Robbins & McDonald's over to the island's K-mart to buy some groceries & stuff for the apartment. The next morning I had my Blueberry Morning cereal, walked off to work, & then came back for lunch to find that little tropical ants had invaded my cereal box! After trying to get them out, I decided that I'd have to store all foods in the refrigerator, so that's what I did. The next morning I had my Blueberry Morning cereal again,this time fortified with MORE than the 4 grams of protein per serving as labeled! (I did try to fish out the dead ants that I could see...) Yum, yum!!!
In my extra time I've been snorkeling, meeting people, reading some good books ("Unveiling Islam" by Ergun & Emir Caner, and "Let the Nations Be Glad!" by John Piper), visiting different churches, catching up on medical studying, and visiting historical sites. And...(would you believe it?) I just got certified for basic scuba diving!!! Diving is quite popular & relatively inexpensive here, so I thought I'd go ahead & do it. I couldn't help grinning & thinking of myself as an astronaut exploring that totally different world as I followed my instructor underwater. God is totally awesome in His creativity! Fish of every imaginable shape, size, and color abound, & sea floor life is amazing too. It's incredible the variation & beauty -- I'm so glad God didn't leave creation up to me... I couldn't even THINK UP half the stuff I've seen!
Yes, God is very, very good.
I know I've just been writing a lot about "the good life" I have here, but believe me, I still need your prayers. Would you please pray for me in the following areas?
- That I would learn to find daily my complete satisfaction in our good God
- That I'd be supportive & encouraging to the medical staff here
- That I'd grow in spiritual sensitivity to make an impact for God's kingdom here
- For great grace & wisdom as I visit relatives in New Zealand and Australia early August
- For wisdom as I speak in some churches in Australia. Unlike what my funny sister Ruthie suggested (that I preach on what I'm looking for in a wife, then give an "altar call"), I'll be sharing about missions. I'd be glad to hear how I may pray for you too.
By His Grace Alone,
Sid Steve
PS: If you're wondering how the June 26-29 Mexico missions trip went, while short, it was an awesome demonstration of God's goodness. God used each ministry team (clowns, puppets, crafts, Bible teaching, and medical) in a tremendous way, & very importantly, I felt that the local church (Iglesia Jesus Pan de Vida -- Jesus the Bread of Life Church) & its young pastor (Pastor Jesse) were encouraged greatly. Please join us in prayer for their sustained growth in depth & breadth.
Wednesday, June 04, 2003
India support update
June 4, 2003
Dear Loved Ones:
Greetings to all of you. I am NOT writing you from India, as many of you might rightfully expect. About 2 weeks ago I finally decided that I could no longer wait for the visa to India, & have postponed my trip there to a later, not-yet-set date. Honestly, these last 2 weeks have been a whirlwind of franticness, embarrassment, disappointment, and difficulty trusting our very good & powerful God. I waited until now to write you because I wanted to be sure of the new changes, which weren’t confirmed until today.
I was even angry at God because of all of the arrangements that I had had to make in the last several months, and the coordination between my pediatric residency program, our hospital’s overall residency-oversight office, multiple travel agents, the Southern Baptist International Mission Board, Bangalore Baptist Hospital, and the Indian Consulate. “Why are you allowing this to happen?” I repeatedly asked our Lord. “Am I not trying to serve you in a way I thought You’d confirmed?” My pride was hurt when I had to contact all these different entities & let them know I couldn’t go.
Praise the Lord, for He is very, very good! Why can I say this? I don’t pretend to know all that I’m supposed to learn out of this, but one thing I learned a few years ago was that I must always view my circumstances against the backdrop of what He did for me at the cross. If He took care of my biggest need (dying in my place for my sin), I know He is trustworthy in all other areas of life.
So what am I going to do? I hope to be able to go to India some time in the next academic year in case the Indian consulate ever OK’s my visa to volunteer in a hospital (I discovered later that I shouldn’t have mentioned the hospital service). And I’ve made certain arrangements so that I’m now doing an Internal (ie: adult) Medicine Endocrinology rotation for June, a General Pediatrics rotation in Guam (a U.S. territory in the Pacific), & immediately visiting friends & relatives in New Zealand & Australia early August.
Of course there are some definite down-sides to this new arrangement: I’ll miss the rich experience of meeting, serving, and working alongside the people of India. I’ll miss learning its culture (language, foods, way of life & thought). I’ll also miss learning how to treat the diseases endemic to that area.
God has shown me some up-sides to the change, too: I’ll get to save a bundle of money (travel is not only cheaper to Guam but also paid for by the SDA Clinic there). I won’t miss having the vivid & strange Mefloquine (the medicine used as prophylaxis against malaria endemic to India & many underdeveloped parts of the world) dreams. Guam offers a lot of beach/water activities, which I’d love to learn in my time off work in the clinic. Perhaps most important is that I am sticking around for the month of June, during which I won’t have to miss several important functions, including my new nephew Nathan’s baby dedication service, a few end-of-the-year functions for friends completing residency, and a short-term mission trip to nearby Mexico.
Thank you for all of your loving support. Since the first letter, I’ve received a lot of encouragement & even unsolicited money (I returned it) from those I know don’t have much to give. Your hearts of loving generosity & encouragement stand as a fragrant offering to our God.
Will you please continue to pray for me in the following areas? (Believe me, I need it! And please let me know how I may pray for you):
- my heart (increasing love for & trust in our good God)
- trip to Guam, daily attitude toward work (isn’t missions primarily an attitude of daily life?)
- future trip to India?
- time with family & friends in Australia & New Zealand
- life beyond residency (God willing, to be completed June 2004)
Thankfully Yours,
Sid
Dear Loved Ones:
Greetings to all of you. I am NOT writing you from India, as many of you might rightfully expect. About 2 weeks ago I finally decided that I could no longer wait for the visa to India, & have postponed my trip there to a later, not-yet-set date. Honestly, these last 2 weeks have been a whirlwind of franticness, embarrassment, disappointment, and difficulty trusting our very good & powerful God. I waited until now to write you because I wanted to be sure of the new changes, which weren’t confirmed until today.
I was even angry at God because of all of the arrangements that I had had to make in the last several months, and the coordination between my pediatric residency program, our hospital’s overall residency-oversight office, multiple travel agents, the Southern Baptist International Mission Board, Bangalore Baptist Hospital, and the Indian Consulate. “Why are you allowing this to happen?” I repeatedly asked our Lord. “Am I not trying to serve you in a way I thought You’d confirmed?” My pride was hurt when I had to contact all these different entities & let them know I couldn’t go.
Praise the Lord, for He is very, very good! Why can I say this? I don’t pretend to know all that I’m supposed to learn out of this, but one thing I learned a few years ago was that I must always view my circumstances against the backdrop of what He did for me at the cross. If He took care of my biggest need (dying in my place for my sin), I know He is trustworthy in all other areas of life.
So what am I going to do? I hope to be able to go to India some time in the next academic year in case the Indian consulate ever OK’s my visa to volunteer in a hospital (I discovered later that I shouldn’t have mentioned the hospital service). And I’ve made certain arrangements so that I’m now doing an Internal (ie: adult) Medicine Endocrinology rotation for June, a General Pediatrics rotation in Guam (a U.S. territory in the Pacific), & immediately visiting friends & relatives in New Zealand & Australia early August.
Of course there are some definite down-sides to this new arrangement: I’ll miss the rich experience of meeting, serving, and working alongside the people of India. I’ll miss learning its culture (language, foods, way of life & thought). I’ll also miss learning how to treat the diseases endemic to that area.
God has shown me some up-sides to the change, too: I’ll get to save a bundle of money (travel is not only cheaper to Guam but also paid for by the SDA Clinic there). I won’t miss having the vivid & strange Mefloquine (the medicine used as prophylaxis against malaria endemic to India & many underdeveloped parts of the world) dreams. Guam offers a lot of beach/water activities, which I’d love to learn in my time off work in the clinic. Perhaps most important is that I am sticking around for the month of June, during which I won’t have to miss several important functions, including my new nephew Nathan’s baby dedication service, a few end-of-the-year functions for friends completing residency, and a short-term mission trip to nearby Mexico.
Thank you for all of your loving support. Since the first letter, I’ve received a lot of encouragement & even unsolicited money (I returned it) from those I know don’t have much to give. Your hearts of loving generosity & encouragement stand as a fragrant offering to our God.
Will you please continue to pray for me in the following areas? (Believe me, I need it! And please let me know how I may pray for you):
- my heart (increasing love for & trust in our good God)
- trip to Guam, daily attitude toward work (isn’t missions primarily an attitude of daily life?)
- future trip to India?
- time with family & friends in Australia & New Zealand
- life beyond residency (God willing, to be completed June 2004)
Thankfully Yours,
Sid
Monday, May 05, 2003
Sid's going to India, & he needs your help!
Happy Belated Easter to All!
Recently I’ve been reading & studying the Bible in more depth, as I’m currently co-teaching a study on the Old Testament at church. What amazes me is that God’s plan of love & reconciliation with humankind was thought up not yesterday, not 200 years ago, & not even 2000 years ago when Jesus came on the scene (though it was accomplished there at the cross). Our heavenly Fathers’ plan for saving you & me from our sin & separation from Him was planned & gradually unfolded ever since the very beginning!
It boggles my mind to see how every single part of the history -- from God’s dealings with Adam & Eve in Eden to Israel’s return from captivity in Babylon -- points to Jesus, the One who lived a perfect life (because you & I can’t) & died a horrible death (so we wouldn’t have to). It’s a plan no human could possibly manufacture on their own! And He didn’t stop there – He rose from the dead!
How great is His love for you & me!
This great news is what I’m hoping to live out & share this coming June when I go to serve as a pediatric resident at the Bangalore Baptist Hospital in India June 4-30. It’ll be my first time to that great country, & the more I think of it, the more excited & nervous I get!
Would you please join me in prayer to our awesome God for this important trip?
With Gratitude, Sidney Wu
May 5, 2003
India facts:
- Population: ~1 billion! (soon to surpass China!)
- Area: ~3 million square km (>1/3 the size of the United States)
- Languages: Hindi & English, plus a multitude of local tongues
- Religions: Hindu 80%, Muslim 14%, Christian 2.4%, Buddhist, <1%
- Literacy: 52% (male 66%, female 38%)
- Gross Domestic Product per capita: $1,800 (vs. United States $33,900)
Please pray for…
- enjoyment of perpetual closeness with God (my sinful tendencies tend to follow me wherever I travel)
- humility & sensitivity to this vastly different culture (I’ve never been to India before!)
- wisdom to pick up & use medical knowledge quickly (there’s a lot to learn!)
- camaraderie with colleagues in Bangalore
- travel safety & health
- guidance to know where God wants me in the future, and with which mission board
Please let me know how I may pray for you, too!
PO Box 541, Patton, CA 92369 sidneywu@yahoo.com
[minus graphics, map]
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