Colombia

July 2010

Air travel is much easier when you can check-in online. The lines for bag drop are much shorter and move much quicker than the lines for those travelers awaiting a boarding pass. Jet Blue Airways whisked me right through the baggage drop area and sent me on my way to security. Even the lines going to departure gates were shorter than usual. The TSA agent checking boarding passes and passports was much more talkative than most I've encountered. His friendly demeanor put people at ease as he had a kind word for passengers going through his station. I had been in the baggage scan line for only a minute when another TSA agent walked up to me and opened the queue for another scanner. What a deal! Everything seemed to be in fast forward mode. That is until I arrived at the gate for a two hour wait.

My computer told me there was wireless internet available at the Orlando airport; but it lied. Numerous attempts were made to connect to the three available connections listed on my connect to page; but alas no internet. During the quest for connection, an announcement was made from the Jet Blue departure gate requesting qualified passengers to volunteer for exit row seating. My ears perked up at the sound of the voice offering more leg room on the flight. My computer was on and needed to be shut down and placed back into the computer bag before I could get to the departure desk. Hurriedly the process was begun all the while watching anxiously as several people approached the desk. One, two, three passengers standing in line, this does bode well. Finally, I'm off to the desk with only one young lady in front of me. Not knowing how many of the previous passengers were volunteering for the exit row, I confidently handed my boarding pass and passport to the gate attendant as though I expected a positive result. Much to my surprise she took the boarding pass and reissued my seat on the aisle of exit row 11.

Boarding the flight was interesting. An announcement was made for passengers needing assistance and families travelling with young children to board. No other announcement was made. Passengers began lining up as though everyone needed pre boarding assistance. I waited thinking another announcement would be forthcoming. As the line dwindled and the gate area became less and less populated, I made the determination that there would be no further announcements. Off to the end of the line I went. Upon arrival at my newly assigned exit role seat, I stowed my carry-on in the overhead bin, sat down, and waited for the passenger assigned to the middle seat next to me to arrive before buckling my seat belt. A rather large man walked down the aisle hoisting two carry-on bags. He stopped at the seat across the aisle and began placing his carry-on bags in the overhead bin where my bag was stowed. He began trying to rearrange the bags in the bin to accommodate his bags. The next thing I knew, my bag was being removed from the bin. Thinking it would be put back where it had been originally placed, I remained quiet. The Jet Blue flight attendant takes my bag and begins walking down the aisle toward the front of the aircraft. Another Jet Blue flight attendant calls out looking for the owner of the bag. As I raised my hand they informed me that my bag would be available with the rest of the luggage at the baggage claim area in Bogota. The bin which formerly held my bag was now full with someone else's bags. Although it puzzled me as to why they would remove my bag and allow this passenger to commandeer my bin space, I took the baggage claim receipt and quietly buckled my seat belt in preparation for takeoff.

The flight was uneventful and arrival in Bogota was on time. Passport control and customs went smoothly, my luggage was all intact, and Jim Berryhill was waiting for me as I exited the airport. Jim did have some interesting news for me. It seems as though July 5^th is also a holiday in Colombia. Some students are travelling and will not be in attendance the first day of class. Additionally, there has been some confusion as to whether classes for the 5^th will be at 9:00 AM or 6:30 PM. Regardless, we will be ready to embark on our study of James and Galatians.

This is the end of the rainy season in Colombia. The house where I am staying has had some repairs done and some roof leakage. The leakage is in the bedroom where I am sleeping. Jim informed me that there might be some drops of water dripping right over the head of the bed. Surely enough at 4:00 AM I awoke to the sound of dibble dop dibble dop, as Dr. Seuss would describe. Thinking the sound was outside I paid little attention until the dibble dop dibble dopped on my forehead. It wasn't much but enough for me to get out of bed and start my day studying for the possible 9:00 AM class.  

 When I first arrived in Bogota, it felt like it was a little more difficult to catch my breath. We walked across the crowded parking lot to the van and then up the stairs to the second floor of Jim and Jeanne's house but nothing strenuous enough to cause me to be out of breath. Still it was a little disconcerting until I realized that Bogota was situated in the mountains 8600 feet above sea level. Not being accustomed to the altitude, my system temporarily needed to adjust to the lower level of oxygen. It is now 6:00 AM and I can assure you the system has adjusted and breathing is back on target.

Classes which were supposed to begin at 6:30 PM did in fact begin at 9:00 AM due to a misunderstanding. The room was partly full. As expected many students had made other plans thinking there would be no class on the holiday. I'm told the number of students will be significantly larger tomorrow. The class went well. We reviewed the history of Israel from Daniel's prophecy regarding the four empires to the final separation of the church and the Jews. It took practically the whole session but it was worth the time. Afterward the local pastor in charge of the Bible Institute remarked that most teachers cover introductory information about a book of the Bible but not in the detail in which it was covered today. There will be no tests given these 2 weeks. I will be compelled to find a means by which to gauge the student's progress. Tomorrow there will be more interaction with the students. Getting them involved helps them to take ownership and responsibility for their actions.

Waking up at 6:00 AM makes for a long day. Jim needed to take the family car in for a repair today. He asked if I would like to go along. Then he explained to me that the repair shop was in a rather dangerous part of town. It didn't take long for me to make my decision. I would rather stay in the house than take the chance of something negative happening. I'm not sure what he meant by dangerous but he must have had some concerns or else he would not have mentioned the danger factor. Staying at the house gave me time to email a couple of clients that needed me to do something. As much as I would like to think business stands still while I'm gone, it does not.

Class was well attended tonight. There were approximately 50 in attendance. It's hard for me to read their faces to make any realistic determination as to whether they are learning or simply taking up time. Thus far they have not been too outspoken and since there are no tests it's difficult to say whether or not they are learning. Scripture discovery time has proven once again to be the favorite activity. Tonight the class was given a set of Scriptures from James and instructed to match those Scriptures to the letters of Paul. There were thirteen passages. Only three students correctly matched all thirteen passages. The remaining students correctly matched most of the passages.

Tonight James was described to the students as the skeleton upon which the remaining New Testament letters applied skin and bones. Since James was the first book written (AD 46) it appears as though he made reference to doctrines on which other authors elaborated. There are several doctrines that James addresses by reference that are fully identified by other New Testament authors. That shouldn't come as a surprise to us since the Holy Spirit inspired the authors what to write. James simply acts as a foundation for the building so that other writers can build upon it. The idea caught on in class and the students responded positively to that approach. The Scripture discovery set the stage for this insight. More than one student commented as to how that understanding opened up a new perspective for their study. The students were assigned the task of reviewing their notes to share one thing that they know now that they didn't know before attending class. Tomorrow will give me a good insight into the learning progress of the group.

Its Wednesday and we have finished the introduction and the first two chapters of James. It seems as though the students respond much better to the Scripture Discovery time than the lecture time. Actually, I can't say as I blame them. The lectures do not seem to have the coherence that I would like to see. The path the words take from me to the translator to the students seems stilted. I'm not making excuses or blaming anyone other than myself. There must be a more efficient way to do this and I'm committed to finding the right combination. The question and answer times are the second best part. It gives the students an opportunity to discuss issues they are concerned about. Perhaps more time in Scripture Discovery and Q&A will be the right combination.

Some students made positive comments about the class but you would never know they were serious by the looks on their faces as they sit at their tables. They seem bored. Yet when I ask them questions they respond positively. The Scripture Discovery tonight was the Anticipation of the Kingdom in the Old Testament and the Expectation of the Kingdom in the New Testament. The topic prompted discussion that was productive. Some students were late due to a heavy rain earlier today. The city does not drain well and a heavy rain makes some roads impassable. The students are really intrigued by the chronology of the New Testament. I promised to give them a chart with the New Testament in chronological order. I forgot to do that today and they reminded me. I asked them if they would like for me to give them a test on the chronological order as I do in other classes. They weren't too keen on that idea.

This morning Jim asked me if I would like to go to an Indian Museum in the downtown area. He was accompanying the girls that live with him and Jeanne as part of an educational opportunity. Since I haven't been out of the house in two days, I thought it was a good idea. He came back to my room a few minutes later and informed me that he would not be going but Maria would make the trip with her daughter and sister. Francisco would drive us to the Museum but it would be necessary to have a taxi bring us home; so off the three girls and I go to downtown Bogota. We arrived at the Museum where my entrance fee was free due my age. It was quite interesting. Colombia has gold, platinum, and silver mines. There were plenty of icons, trinkets, masks, and other crafts made of pure gold. One room was so filled with gold that a vault door was used to secure the room after closing hours. In that room were several security guards observing the Museum patrons. 

We hailed a taxi to return home. The driver reminded me of the Danny Devito character in the movie "Romancing the Stone." The car he drove was similar and his driving technique was almost identical. He did deliver us safely to our destination.

Despite some pretty heavy rain tonight the class was full. We have settled in on the right mix of verse by verse exposition, Scripture Discovery, and Q&A time. The students seem content with the class structure and their response indicates a match. It only took four class sessions to figure that out. Tonight I gave them an oral quiz just to make sure they absorbed last night's material. We have half of chapter four and all of chapter five to complete by Saturday morning.  I have an offer for a little sightseeing after class on Saturday by one of the pastors. His daughter speaks fluent English and the two of them want to take me to the highest peak in the mountains to view the city of Bogota. Last year he took me to a nice restaurant for lunch. He is bi-vocational.

It's raining and I can hear B. J. Thomas singing "Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head" as the droplets of water from the overhead leak gently roll down the wall, hit the ledge of the molding around the inset shelf, and ricochet onto my waiting forehead.

Friday afternoon Jim and Jeanne took me to a little restaurant just a short walk from their house. The restaurant specialized in fish. Not being a real fan of fish, I was hopeful they had plenty of tartar sauce. The dinner was ordered for me by Jim. I informed him earlier that a mild tasting fish was more to my liking. They brought out a plate of food that was nearly overflowing. The fried fish was delicious and didn't need tartar sauce at all. Rice was served in abundance with the meal. I could not finish all the food they brought. The cost of the meal was $4.50.

Class went very well tonight. The students arrived on time and we covered the material I had planned. James tells his readers to resist the devil. In order to do that you need to know who the devil is, what he can do, and what tricks he uses to deceive. Fortunately, a highly heralded new book has been released making many of those details available. The author is personally known to me and granted me permission to use his material liberally. If only that book had been translated in Spanish...

By 9:00 AM Saturday morning and only nine students were in the classroom. We knew attendance would be down this morning due to many of the students having to work on Saturday. It was decided that we should wait a few minutes to see if more students would arrive. By 9:20 a dozen or so students arrived giving us slightly less than half of our normal attendance. The plan was to finish James and do the introduction of Galatians. Because I felt the introduction was important, it was decided to wait until Monday when all the students would be in attendance. Rather than dismiss the class early, I took the opportunity to give them some insight into the Apostle Paul. At least five times during Paul's ministry he needed a boost from the Lord. He was reassured by a visit from Jesus Himself or an angel sent to him by Jesus. Since most people hold Paul in such high regard, they fail to see that he was simply an ordinary man that God chose to do extraordinary things. In the process of doing the work to which God called him to, he needed a dose of reassurance along the way that he was in the right place, at the right time, doing the right things. Don't we all? From there we explored five areas where God reassures us every time we open His Word. When the study was over, one lady had tears flowing down her cheeks and the rest of the class was clearly affected. It was by far the best class of the week. It is important to know that the Holy Spirit inspired the writers of Scripture to relate the good and the bad times of Bible personalities to encourage us in our times of distress. Once I was asked why I wanted to put the Apostle Paul down. My response wasn't to put down the Apostle Paul but to lift up the saints. If Paul needed reassurance, it only tells me that he faced similar difficulties as I face. Jesus doesn't appear to me physically or in dreams to reassure me, but He has given me His word to comfort and guide me. He has shown me stories like the paralytic who seemed hopeless only to have his circumstance changed in an instant. Stories of distress like the woman with the issue of blood for 12 years suddenly healed. Stories of fear like the apostles on the water straining against the oars thinking they are going to die. Stories of oppression from the world in which Jesus proclaims, "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." Finally the utmost reassurance when Jesus proclaims, "I will be with you always, even till the end of time." The class responded to the study and my cup was overflowing.

After class Jim and Jeanne took me to a steak house just around the corner from their house. It was neat to walk to a restaurant rather than take a cab or drive the car. The restaurants we eat in are small places that have maybe ten tables. The steak was tender and very tasty. It was served with fried potatoes and salad. It is not advisable for me to eat salad or fruit that has been washed in water which is not purified. A raspberry soda was offered as the drink. It was a tasty meal and much appreciated.  

A special treat was brought to the house. It was a hot sauce made with various ingredients the most unusual of which is a variety of Argentine ants. These ants aren't the small pests we see on a normal basis. They are in size up to a half inch or more long. The ants are either ground up or placed into the sauce whole. The whole ants can be detected by the crunch when bit or by the legs that seem to stick visibly in the teeth. The bottle of sauce, a guarded delicacy, was offered to me as a meal enhancement. Not being a gastronomical connoisseur, I selflessly surrendered my privileged guest status to the less advantaged.

Before class tonight Jim and Jeanne took me to a little French Café not far from their home. It was a quaint establishment with only five tables for a sitting of three. A large screen television was broadcasting a classical music concert from a venue in Europe. Jim and Jeanne ordered an iced coffee drink complete with whipped cream decorated with strands of chocolate. I ordered a vanilla latte. Accompanying the libations were small pastries filled with meat and cheese. It was a delightful experience with just the right servings to sate a modest appetite.

The class was overflowing this evening. Students who were on vacation or attending conferences last week were back in action. We began our study with a panoramic view of the life of the Apostle Paul. Since much of the first two chapters of Galatians are about Paul's background I thought it appropriate to survey his life in an attempt to understand more about the writer of our text. Upon finishing the survey a verse by verse study was initiated. There was enough time to exposit 1:1 through 2:10. Especially important was the gospel message which Paul insisted was not given him by man, but by the Lord Himself. A study of 1 Corinthians 15:1-9 was in order since that passage details that message.  The Scripture Discovery time demonstrated what Paul knew from Scripture and how the gospel message is proclaimed in the Old Testament. Even though this is not new knowledge, it is impressive when you see the verses placed in order. Many students were unaware that the gospel message was so emphatically proclaimed in the Old Testament.

It will be required this week to stay on schedule since there are only four nights to cover four and a half chapters. Learning is the most important factor in these Bible Institutes. Whether we get through all the material may be desirable but it is not the most important factor.

Today one of the students and his family took me to the highest point of Bogota. The name of the peak is Monserrate.  Bogota is approximately 8600 feet above sea level and we went approximately 1500 feet above that. The view was, impressive, the air was thin, and the steps were challenging. What steps you say. I'm glad you asked. The peak was terraced with shops, restaurants, and a huge cathedral gracing each terrace.  A double balanced tram was utilized to get to the top of the peak. The sign said that 40 was the maximum number of passengers allowed on the tram. We were packed in pretty tight and I assure you there were more than 40 aboard.  As we began our ascent we were at a reasonable angle. However, it wasn't long before it seemed we were going straight up. I quickly vanquished the thought of being overloaded and concentrated on the beauty of the countryside. Okay, you can say I'm a wimp but I've never been much for amusement rides and this seemed perilously close to one. At least I didn't close my eyes.  While on Monserrate it began to lightly rain which made the steps a bit more hazardous to walk. We ate lunch at one of the restaurants as the rain continued. Not knowing what to order, I opted to let the only other English speaking member of our party decide on what I would eat for lunch. The food was very good and very abundant. I could not eat all they put on my plate. Not wanting to offend anyone, I slowly continued eating until I was assured that it was okay to have portions not eaten. (I'm glad my Mom wasn't with me. She would have insisted that I clean my plate. We won't tell her about this). During the course of the meal, I was asked if I ever tried eating various foods and drink. When I answered in the negative, I was given a taste of each food and drink I had not partaken of in the past. There were samplings of two fruit drinks and a plantain appetizer during the meal and a favorite Colombian dessert after the meal. The bite of the dessert reminded me of my early years when my sisters would make tapioca.

It was time to leave so we walked up the steps that we had previously walked down. Now you say of course you walked up the stairs. But when you walk down the stairs you don't immediately presume you must take the same path back. Perhaps there is another route to the tram that returns you to the parking lot below. Maybe there is an elevator. No such luck. I don't know how many steps we climbed but I was glad that one family member was with us. The student's aunt who had survived two by-pass surgeries needed to take the steps slow and easy. Naturally I was sympathetic and walked slowly not wanting to get too far ahead. It was the only polite thing to do. If there is one attribute I can claim, it is that I am polite to my elders. When we reached the top of the steps the aunt was breathing heavier than normal while I surreptitiously masqueraded the heaves my lungs were engaged in trying to match the sharp pains in my thighs. For a moment no one spoke allowing me enough time to recover from the upward trek. Come on now! Stop laughing at me. We were 10,000 feet above sea level. Shouldn't I be given a break for the diminished level of oxygen at that altitude? If Denver is the mile high city, what can be said of this peak? Why I could have touched the landing gear of the planes that flew by. Maybe not that close! But hyperbole aside we were up there.

The day began at 10:30 AM when the trip to Monserrate began. We arrived back at Jim and Jeanne's house at 4:30 PM. It didn't allow much time to get ready for class. Much of my time during the day is spent in preparation for the evening class. You might ask, "Haven't you prepared to teach before you go on these trips?" The answer is yes but it is important to adapt the information to the particular class participants so they maximize the learning opportunity.  It is necessary to assess the general class atmosphere to determine what direction the evening session should take; what discussion best fits the circumstance; how can the class best benefit from the evening topic.

Hurriedly I dressed for the evening class, reread the Scripture passages to be covered and prepared a list of passages that supported the main theme. Now remember I am in a non English speaking country so the references need to be in Spanish. Writing Matthew or Mark or Ephesians won't work. The references must be put into Spanish (Mateo, Marcos, and Efesios). Fortunately, I have referred to these enough over the past days to be able to type the references in Spanish (not the passage, the references) and print them in a hand out format. I finished just in time to walk downstairs into the class room just minutes before class was scheduled to begin.

The class responded well to the material. There is one student who has been attending over the past several days about whom I have a concern. He is an older student who seems eager to learn but there are lingering doubts as to whether or not he really understands what a personal relationship with Christ means. Those who have spoken to him at length have registered this concern with me. Tonight afforded the perfect opportunity to discuss how Scripture views that relationship. As the class progressed, it seemed as the Lord was leading to make a strong point of the salvation process and man's inability to keep a set of rules or do enough good things to earn the right to become children of God.  It is by God's grace that we obtain His favor. But it isn't enough to know facts about God; one must fully trust God and accept His provision for our sin by placing ourselves under the authority of Jesus who died in our place for our sin. It is a gift, not something we earn or something we inherit. It is a personal decision to accept the gift that God so graciously offers. Unfortunately there are those who believe that by going to church regularly and living a moral life is sufficient. They believe they do more good things than bad so God will average everything out and they will meet the grade.

 The class is composed of students who know these things intellectually. However, it is not sufficient to know there is a God, that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He died for the sins of mankind. Satan and his demons know those things and believe they are true. But Satan and his demons are eternally lost. So too is the one who knows these things intellectually but has never realized the need to ask forgiveness of his sins, invite Jesus to come into his heart to live, and submit his life to God to be conformed to the image of Jesus. Once this occurs a person is reborn spiritually. This is the beginning of a personal relationship.  Thereafter it is God working in you to will and to do his good pleasure. From that relationship the believer becomes the workman created in Christ for good works which God prepared for the believer to perform.

After finishing the lesson, I felt compelled to offer an invitation to anyone who had not asked Christ to come into their life. The room was quiet, all heads were bowed, all eyes closed. The invitation was to pray to ask Christ to come into the life of the one praying. The instructions were to look up at me and get my attention so that we could pray together. The student I was concerned about raised his head and looked at me. I asked him if he was looking at me to receive Christ as his personal savior. He nodded yes. But when I pressed him to make sure there was no misunderstanding he said that he had done that (his words) many years ago. We closed that part of class with prayer and took a break. I told Jim to stay around because this man was going to come and talk to him. Within minutes the man came up to Jim and began a conversation. At first he talked about some computer software that Jim had mentioned to the class. Then they moved into more spiritual matters. Jim asked him about his relationship with Christ. The student reiterated that he had prayed many years ago. After he finished his conversation with Jim, he began a conversation with a student who pastors a local church. This student is very evangelistically minded. When we started class again after the break I gave the assignment for the Scripture Discovery. The topic was the role of the Holy Spirit. As the student began to do the exercise the local director of the institute went to set beside the student and helped him through the assignment. The director was unaware that this student was the one in question.  I don't know what is going on in this student's life. I don't know if he understands what a personal relationship with the Lord means. I don't know if he has truly accepted Christ as his savior. But what I do know is something is going on and God is dealing with him. It was no coincidence that the Lord impressed upon my heart the words that were spoken and the invitation that was given. It was no coincidence that I perceived that this student would approach Jim. It was no coincidence that this same student would strike up a conversation with the evangelistic pastor and it was no coincidence that the local institute director arbitrarily chose to help this student with the class assignment. God is working in his life.

Just as I felt compelled to offer the invitation to pray and receive Christ as Savior in class, I now feel compelled to offer the same invitation to anyone reading these words who either has not prayed to receive the Lord or is not positive they will spend eternity with God after death. The Bible promises that "God has given us eternal life, and the life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may come to believe in the name of the Son of God" (1 John 5:11-13). If you want to be certain of your final destination, simply recognize that you are a sinner unworthy to be in the presence of a holy God. Acknowledge your sinfulness, ask God to forgive you, and invite Jesus to come into your life. Turn away from sin and repent. Turn toward God and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth.  God is listening, waiting to welcome you into Hs family. If you are unsure of how to pray, simply say in your own words,

"Heavenly Father, I realize I am a sinner and unworthy to be in your presence. Please forgive me for my sins and make me the person you want me to be. Thank you Lord Jesus for dying on the cross in my place for my sins. I want to serve You and live my life in obedience to your commands. I ask You to come into my life right now so that I can spend eternity with You. Help me to live the remainder of my life on earth pleasing to You.  I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen."

If you were serious about your desire to ask Jesus to come into your life, he will do so. Your next step is to get into a Bible believing church so the Holy Spirit, Who came into your life the moment you believed, can lead you into all truth. If you have questions, email me or call me and I will be happy to help you in any way I can.

Wednesday's are generally regarded as light days for student turnout. There are church services to be conducted by the pastors and church leaders. Tonight was an exception as almost the entire class was present. Each day I prepare a list of Scripture passages that relate to the passages to be covered in the teaching session. I never know how the passages will be viewed nor whether the students will see in them the point I want to emphasize. Tonight the students were able to compare the covenants and determine the conditions of each one, the parties to the covenant, and the promises made. The Scripture Discovery time was especially meaningful to one student who shared with me that he never understood the relationship between law and promise until he saw the Scripture references regarding the covenants of the Old Testament. This student speaks English and was able to convey his thoughts to me without an interpreter. Other students try to communicate with me when Jim is busy with other duties but to no avail.

We had a time of review tonight. It consisted of six questions posed in the form of an oral exam. The students responded well to the questions. Some answers were correct but not answered in the context of what we had studied. In those instances clarification was necessary. All in all the students did very well. This group is advanced compared to many students that attend other Bible Institutes where I teach. They have study Bibles and the resources necessary to read and study that are not available in other countries.

One of the pastors who speaks some English approached me last night and asked if I would share my testimony with his church on Sunday. I had used a personal illustration in the presentation that he wanted his church to hear. His church is one year old and has fifty regular attendees. He was disappointed to learn that I return home on Saturday. I write these things to you not to be braggadocios but to demonstrate the response from the students. A positive response means the trip is accomplishing the intended purpose. God is working in the lives of these students. You and I are simply an instrument in His hands. If we do something significant, it is He who put the words or thoughts or actions in place for His purpose. If the students respond to something we say or do, He prepared their minds and heart to hear what He wanted to experience. Paul says in Philippians 2:12, "For it is God who works in you both to will and do for His good pleasure." Also in 1 Corinthians 4:7 he says, "And what do you have that you did not receive?" After all, didn't He use a donkey to teach Balaam? We simply rejoice that the Creator of the all things allows us to be a part of what he is doing.

It is 5:00 AM and I am making a list of Scripture passages for tonight's class. Today they are taking me to the salt mines of Zipaquira. This is a tourist attraction similar to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky and perhaps one of the eight wonders of the world. I say perhaps because my research on the salt mines indicates that it is spoken of in this manner but not officially proclaimed. More on this when I return from the trip.

The salt mine was a most unusual and interesting trip. We descended 600 feet below the earth's surface in a productive salt mine. The mine has many caverns and tunnels winding every which way. On the side we visited was a cathedral complete Stations of the Cross, a nativity scene, statue of Mary, Michael the Archangel, and the world's largest underground cross all carved out of salt.  It was really quite fascinating. Once again the legs were forced into cruel and unusual action. Walking down wasn't bad but walking up was no picnic. I was with the Bible Institute director, Jim, and a young lady that lives with Jim and Jeanne. Wanting to make sure I was projecting the right image, I led the way. Fortunately no one in our party challenged me for the lead. If they had done so, I would have gladly stepped aside. We made it in and out with no major stops for breath or heart failure.

In order to make sure the students are tuned in, I asked six questions at the beginning of class. They answered reasonably well which was encouraging. We covered all the material I had prepared and have only chapter six remaining. We should easily finish that tomorrow night. I've already prepared the Bible Discovery for tomorrow. In the morning I will prepare my notes because a student wants to take me to lunch. Two days this week I've been entertained. Each day we have arrived back at the house in time for me to take a shower and get ready for the evening teaching session. If I don't prepare early in the morning, I won't be prepared for Friday night.

Five AM rolls around awfully early. It's just quiet enough to study without distraction. Tonight is the last night of class and I truly believe it will be the best with most impact. Don't ask me why, I just have that feeling. The student who took me to lunch today also took me Tuesday. He is a really nice man in his early to mid 50's. His wife was taken to the hospital with a heart condition on Thursday afternoon. I assumed under the circumstances that our lunch was cancelled. Not so! At 12:30 he appeared with his daughter and one of the elders in his church. Along the route to the restaurant we stopped by his office (he's bi-vocational) to pick up his son. All of us went to a downtown restaurant and enjoy chorizo and arepas. The food was delicious. We left that restaurant and searched for a place that served a very Colombian dessert. It too sent my taste buds into contentment. On the way back to Jim and Jeanne's house they stopped to buy the ingredients to make the after dinner delicacy at home. A package was presented to me for the return to the US with the promise I would share this favorite Colombian dish with Diane.

Class tonight was everything I expected. The lesson was on target, the students were anxious for the final segment of Galatians, and the teacher was anticipating an exciting response. It made for a fun-filled, emotion packed, learning sensitive class session. The students started by telling me what they learned thus far. Several students shared. Once that was complete, we began 6:1. There were several areas the students were unaware of but became aware in very short order. Scripture discovery was a perfect match for the lesson and the night festivities. The students were responding as never before. When the class ended there were friendly good wishes from the students including picture taking and lots of handshakes and hugs. Although it was difficult and lengthy, it was a powerful and productive two weeks.

One student expressed his sentiments in a way that seemed odd at first. He thanked me for taking the risk to come to Colombia. These students realize the potential danger that exists for Americans to travel to their country. This was the first comment about danger and it made me realize how fortunate I was to have students appreciating the possible peril surrounding a mission trip like this. When all is said and done I am appreciative for the students I teach, the team that sends me, and especially the God that enables and protects me.

Next up, India in August! This is your teammate signing off from Bogota, Colombia. See you soon.

Ghana

June 2010

There are three boxes of books waiting to be packed and taken to Ghana with me. Each box weighs 24 pounds. There is a 50 pound weight limit on the airline per bag. It will take two bags to get all the books to Ghana. This is in addition to my luggage which includes a suitcase, carry-on bag, and laptop. There is no way I can manage three suitcases, a carry-on, and a laptop. The only option is to leave one box of books behind which is exactly what I chose to do. These trips present challenge after challenge. Working in an unfamiliar environment would be enough of a test for most people but there are other opportunities that surface presenting deeper and deeper challenges.

British Airways flights from Orlando to London fly into Gatwick airport. However, the British Airways flight to Ghana takes off from Heathrow airport. The transfer takes about an hour and a half start to finish. After deplaning at Gatwick, going through passport control, and reclaiming your luggage the passenger proceeds to the National Express office to procure a bus ticket to Heathrow. Upon reclaiming luggage a baggage cart is available for ease of conveying luggage to the ticket office as well as carting it to the bus. The walk from the ticket office to the bus stand is about 10 minutes. The National Express bus is similar to a Greyhound with baggage capacity underneath the passenger area. Since this is not my first time to make this transfer, it was a reasonably simple task.

Terminal Five at Heathrow is the British Airways hub. Here is where the challenge begins. There are two suitcases weighing the maximum 50 pounds each. Along with the luggage is a carry-on bag containing a change of clothing, a projector and some books. Additionally, a computer bag is draped over my shoulder. As I gathered the luggage, my eyes scanned the area looking for a baggage cart; but to no avail. Somehow this luggage must make it to the British Airways check-in counter for further transport to Ghana. Precariously placing the carry-on top of one suitcase and the computer bag atop the other suitcase, I began the walk to the terminal. This balancing act was a test of my declining stability and I passed with flying colors. Well all except that lady who tried to get out the same door I was trying to come in. One of us had to give and I decided not to blink. After all she wasn't toting the same payload. Who knows, she might have been younger than me thus required to respect her elder. Besides it would not have been wise to place too many hurdles in the way of a person whose focus was to find the first baggage cart in sight.

And find the cart I did. There were three sitting in the terminal all alone. There was an airport attendant close by whose job it was to return all stray baggage carts to the queuing line where travelers gladly pay a one pound usage charge. He was conversing with another airport employee when I whisked past the two of them and commandeered one of the carts. Mission accomplished without paying the one pound usage charge. I am grateful to the person who rented this cart and left it there for me. Or maybe I am grateful to the airport employee who was taking his morning break and left the baggage cart unattended. Whichever the case, the cart is in my possession and will continue to be in my possession until British Airways opens the baggage drop for my flight to Ghana.      

International travel is never dull. The plane was parked on the tarmac rather than the customary jet way. Three buses loaded with passengers waited in line to board. I was in the last bus. Upon arriving at my assigned seat, I discovered another passenger had taken up residence there. He was sitting in 19A and should have been in 19H. My seat was 19B. The passenger in 19B was assigned 19A. After a short discussion my seat was available. Now all I needed to do was stow my carry-on luggage. The passenger who mistakenly took my seat had taken the space overhead. The flight attendant motioned for me to follow her and the two of us looked feverishly for a space. Unfortunately there was no room in the bin. Finally, space was found in the first class section of the aircraft. While I travelled economy, my luggage enjoyed first class comfort.

As we sat on the tarmac waiting to begin the taxi to the runway, a strange sound could be heard coming from the rear of the plane. At first I thought someone was playing music or perhaps a child was being kept occupied with a toy. The sound was more of a chant and to be honest it seemed rather demonic. Thirty minutes went by, the drone continued. Finally, an announcement was made by British Airways personnel. First they apologized for the delay. Then they explained the delay and origin of the mysterious sound. A passenger in row 25 was being deported from Britain to Ghana and felt obliged to serenade all who could hear with a melodious rapture. It may have been some sort of curse or it may have been just an annoying tune designed to exact some type of retribution. Nevertheless, the melody ended shortly before the pilot guided the aircraft to the final spot in the take-off queue. I didn't have the opportunity to see the deportee and no reason was given as to the why of the deportation; just another day in international travel.

The flight arrived in Ghana thirty minutes late. The time it took to process through passport control was just right. Although it took awhile, when I exited that sector for the baggage claim area, my luggage was on the conveyor just ready for me to pick it up. Many other passengers who were ahead of me were still there when I pushed my baggage trolley past customs and into the main terminal where Dyonah Thomas was waiting to transport me to the night's lodging. Dyonah hailed a cab and off we went to the Chez Lein Hotel. My room for the night has a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and sitting room. The bedroom is air conditioned which makes for a better night's sleep.

Dyonah will pick me up at 9:30 in the morning for church. I will be preaching in a small church that Dyonah planted when he worked on his Bible College degree. The pastor of the church will be one of my students in the Bible Institute. After church we will journey 4 ½ hours to the city where the Bible Institute will be held.

The church service was interesting. The music was accompanied by a keyboard and drums. The people were friendly and sincere in their worship. Since the pastor is one of the students in the Bible Institute, his wife greeted me and acted as my interpreter. She is a nice lady with four children the eldest of which appeared to be around 14. The service concluded in about two hours. When we arrived at the church, the service was already in progress. As they ushered me to my seat, the people began to clap and cheer. Then when they formally introduced me they repeated the same. They take hospitality serious. They asked me to send their greetings to you.

We just boarded a Greyhound style bus for the trip to the teaching site. The seats recline and there is plenty of leg room. The trip has two segments. The first segment is about three hours in duration and ends at Kumasi, a major city in the middle of the country. The next segment will take us to the teaching city and our final destination. I look forward to our arrival so I can settle in to this situation.   

We arrived at the city where the institute is being conducted. It took longer than the original estimate. We left Accra at 2:00 and arrived at the city of the teaching site at 9:30. The ride was difficult despite the comfort of the bus. Ghana played in the World Cup today. The bus broadcast the match on the radio. When Ghana scored the first goal, the bus erupted. The people here consider this a very big deal.

The teaching site is in the city of Sunyani. It is the central part of the country. I am staying at the Hotel Yanana. The hotel is nice but the shower this morning was chilly, no hot water, and the water pressure was weak. Breakfast was brought to my room promptly at 8:00. It consisted of a fried egg, toast, coffee, and a salad complete with two types of dressing. I am not quite accustomed to having salad for breakfast but it wasn't bad. We left for the training site later than usual due to the students returning from their homes over the weekend. The roads in Sunyhani are of two kinds, moderate and maddening. The moderate roads are paved for the most part while the maddening roads are simply dirt with plenty of ruts. There are but a few moderate roads and the maddening roads contain some ruts that are deeper than others. We found one of those deep ruts on the way to class. The rocks that surround the rut punctured the gas tank causing gas to stream out of the car. The driver was able to somehow fix the problem and we were back on our way in about twenty minutes. The worst part of the misfortune was that we had taken the wrong road. A U Turn was necessary to correct our path. The directions for arrival at the teaching site are to go to the middle of nowhere and turn left. The location is purposely remote to discourage the students from attempting to go anywhere during the week. Otherwise, they might go into town for lunch and be delayed returning for class.

The teaching facility is similar to a campground. It is called the Eden Retreat Center. There are several buildings used for housing the students and five stalls for bathroom facilities. Livestock roams around the grounds continuously. The classroom is an open air building approximately 100' by 60'. It has a tin roof and is supported by wooden beams coming out from a knee wall comprised of concrete blocks stacked four high. The floor is partly concrete but mostly beaten down dirt. The livestock has complete access anytime they so choose to meander about.  

Today is the first day of class. The 45 students have had local teachers for three courses and I am the first of the American teachers. The class size diminished from 45 to 30. They must have heard I was coming and decided to skip this session. Actually, this institute was combined with a leadership training conference. The participants in the conference were not part of the Bible Institute. The students that remain are inquisitive and desirous of learning. We stayed after class today to answer questions that because of time couldn't be answered previously. These students do not have access to research material and learning resources that are plentiful in America. Some of the information in class has been background information that helps clarify certain passages of Scripture. Especially interesting to them was the geography of Israel, the Sea of Galilee, and the Dead Sea. They also were intrigued by the difference in Jewish time and Roman time. We were discussing John 19:14 where Jesus is being interrogated by Pilate. The passage says it was the 6^th hour. I asked someone to read the passage. One of the students stood and read the passage which was translated "it was noon." We had just covered Matthew and Mark and discovered that Jesus was on the cross the 3^rd hour and darkness fell over the land from the 6^th to the 9^th hour. I asked the question, "If Mark says that Jesus was on the cross at the 3^rd hour (9:00 AM), how could he have been with Pilate at noon?" When they understood the difference between Roman time and Jewish time the passage made perfect sense to them. The 6^th hour John was referring to was 6:00 AM. It was no coincidence that the student who read the passage was using a translation that confused the two times. It made the point in a way that could not have been made otherwise.

This morning there was a knock on my door at 6:45. I was shaving when I heard the knock. There is a window looking out into the corridor. As I peeked through the curtain I saw a woman standing there. Thinking she had the wrong room, I opened the door to find Moses, the local Bible Institute director standing alongside his wife. He wanted to welcome me to the area and apologized for not being able to see me sooner. Actually, we saw each other on Sunday night when I arrived in Sunyani but it was so late and I was so tired I didn't remember him. Moses voice is distinct. It reminds me of the trumpet player of old, Louis Armstrong. Whereas I didn't remember his face, the voice was familiar. He has planted 28 churches over the past 10 years in the central and northern regions of Ghana. I felt bad as I stood there talking to Moses and his wife in my pajamas.

Today was the first test. It went pretty well. Two students answered all the questions correctly while only a few missed more than three questions. Part of the missed questions can be attributed to a communication problem. Some students understand English better than others. We covered quite a bit of material today and the students were anxious for the day to end. Despite the weariness, several students approached me to express their gratitude for the teaching they are receiving. These students are hungry for the meat of the gospel message. It is sometimes hard to imagine the simplicity we take for granted being of such benefit. But make no mistake about it; these students appreciate the opportunity to deepen their understanding of Scripture.  

The rooster from Liberia a few trips back must have relatives here in Ghana. We have cock-a-doodle-doing going on much of the day. The banty (short for bantam) fowl struts and clucks just outside the teaching area but in clear earshot of the podium. He has a friend who helps him in his role of disruption. A spotted goat wandered into the classroom complete with bahing and bleating. I slowly walked after him to shoo him out of the area but he kept going around in circles. Finally he exited the classroom and resumed his bleating somewhere else. Perhaps I should learn to play the harmonica and lead him out via Barney Fife and the loaded goat. My new website says I have taught in many different venues including cattle stalls. That is true but there were no cattle in the stalls when I was teaching. Between the bleating and doodling, I wander whether I am teaching spotted goats to befriend banty roosters.

No one received a perfect score on the test today but overall the students did well. When we took the morning break, the leaders in the class ask everyone to remain in the teaching area. They discussed something that had occurred earlier that morning. I couldn't understand what they were saying because they spoke in the official language of Ghana, Twere (pronounced tree). There was no way for me to identify the problem. All I know is that it prompted discussion that lasted 25 minutes and took up some of my class time. It also put a damper on this morning's class. Maybe I'll inquire later as to what was the cause of such a delay.

We are trying to end class at 12:00 on Friday. Dyonah made arrangements for me to fly back to Accra rather than take the 5 hour bus ride. In order to make the flight we must end class early. That means making sure all the material is covered. The class has already asked me about end-time events. I told them we would cover those events when we studied Revelation. Everywhere I go whether domestic or foreign that question is asked. People just want to know what Scripture says.

We have covered two of Paul's prison letters in our chronological study of the New Testament. That means we still have 10 books remaining to cover in a day and a half. I think this is manageable. But I must give Revelation adequate time or they will not be happy.

This is the rainy season and strangely enough it rains every day after 6:00 PM. These are not small showers. It sounds like the tin roof is caving in.  The heavy rain lasts for about 20 minutes then the lighter rain takes its place. Only one day did the rain start prior to 6:00 PM. That day the rain was so hard I had to stop teach due to the noise of the rain crashing against the tin roof of the teaching facility.

Brian and his son Andrew are here ministering with Dyonah. They are primarily working with the local leaders on worship. They were here but a few days when Brian became terribly ill. He was hospitalized for several days and had a number of tests run trying to determine the problem. He was in excruciating pain. Fortunately they were able to diagnose the problem and treat him successfully. His bill from the hospital for several days of intense testing and treatment was $120.00.

The father son team is from Atlanta. Andrew attends the First Baptist Church of Snellville and Brian attends another Baptist church. Since the discharge from the hospital, the two have ministered in several local communities. The three of us had lunch together today and exchanged mission experiences. We will travel together tomorrow to the airport for my flight back to Accra while Brian and Andrew travel the same distance by bus. They will return home next Thursday.

You can tell the class is nearing the end of the week. The students are lethargic and anxious to complete the course. They give mixed signals. During class it seems like they are listless and distant. Yet when class is over they are telling me how much they have learned. When I ask them to share in class what they learned from the previous class, they come up with quite a list. Tomorrow they will demonstrate to Moses what they have learned during the week.

There is a set of conga drums in the classroom. Yesterday I learned that one of the students is quite proficient with the instrument. So, I instructed him to make music. At first the students laughed but I told him to keep going. Before long the music called to the students and they began dancing to the beat of the drums. They really enjoyed the time we spent experimenting. Tomorrow when they start to recite rapid fire style what they learned to Moses, the drums will be utilized to add a little rhythm to the proceedings.

The drums didn't turn out so well in the rapid fire session, so I stopped them and took over the proceedings myself. We probably should have rehearsed the drum part. But the recitation of what the students learned made a distinct impression on Moses. The students made a list of all they learned so that nothing would be left out. They rose from their chairs and shouted out their new found knowledge with pride and excitement. Amid laughter and enthusiasm they continued until I finally had to end the session. This was the highlight of the week as the students discover just what they have accomplished during the Bible Institute. As a teacher, I can say that it is gratifying to see the fruit of your labor. Moses has requested that I return next year to be the keynote speaker at a conference he is having for an association of 28 churches. The date coincides with the planned trip to Israel that Larry and I are hosting next March.

We ended the class with the study of Revelation. As we progressed through the judgments leading up to the Second Coming, the level of enthusiasm spiked. When I began to talk about the skies opening and Jesus appearing on the white horse leading His armies the excitement began to hit a high point. Then the declaration of the name King of kings and Lord of lords evoked a spirited response. But when we came to the New Jerusalem and the thrill of knowing the place of our final destination the applause of the students began and was climaxed with the uttering of "Come Lord Jesus" in the expectation of His glorious return.

Victory is always sweet. The excitement revolving around the World Cup was apparent throughout Ghana. There is a difference between temporary victories and ultimate victory even when the enthusiasm for the temporary seems to outweigh the ultimate. It's hard to imagine eternal bliss but for one moment it seemed to be real. What a day it will be when the temporary ceases and the eternal becomes the now. Yes, "Come, Lord Jesus!"

Trying to leave the teaching site proved more difficult than I would have expected. The students wanted to have their picture taken with me. Some were content to have other students in the picture with them while others wanted the picture to be with me only. Every time we said this is the last picture, another student would jump in the scene for just one more picture. It was flattering but time was not on our side. There was a plane to catch for me and a bus to catch for Brian and Andrew and a two hour car ride to the airport and bus station. Aside from that the hotel was preparing lunch and Brian and Andrew had to check out. Finally, we were on our way leaving behind grateful students vigorously waving goodbye.

The trip to Kumasi to catch the flight to Accra took about two hours. Ben, Andrew, a musical keyboard, and I shared the back seat. Brian offered to ride in the back but I opted for the rear passenger window seat. After all, Brian had enough aggravation with his hospital stay. The car was an economy car with no A/C. With windows down, the driver began a trip that by any description was frightening. Travelling at speeds unknown, the taxi zoomed past pedestrians walking in the road, livestock roaming about, and pot holes waiting to devour the wheels of the subcompact vehicle. Brian and Andrew suggested we sponsor the taxi operator as a driver for NASCAR. By the time we arrived at the airport my shirt was soaked with perspiration and my nerves were on high alert. But we arrived safe if not sound.   

Finishing the teaching session allowed me time to reach Accra for a Friday departure rather than a Saturday departure. I'm sitting in the airport at Accra finishing this report. I have mixed emotions about this trip. I feel like the teaching could have been better but at the same time the students responded so positively to the teaching.  Perhaps I just better leave the results to God and not worry about it any further. There is just something about giving your best and I'm not sure that was accomplished this trip. July is fast approaching and Colombia is on the horizon. A new day means a new beginning. Preparation needs to be enhanced in order to give my best. Pray for me and with me that the time remaining will be used to maximize the effort so that there is no question about the results. Your prayers and encouragement are important to me. Without you as my teammates there would be no ministry. If I haven't thanked you recently, let me do it now!

THANKS FOR BEING ON THE TEAM!

God Bless,

Tony