Blessings

a couple of quickie updates:
1. i am so blessed by the generosity of people. -
2. i have had fellow seminary students come up and give me checks and notes with encouraging words and promises of prayer for me while on my trip - this reminds me of what a crap i am(meaning i'm humbled) - i truly love God's people
3. I have also been handed encouragement and checks from a few people at church who briefly heard of my trip - one wanted to emphasize that i need not feel like i need to stay in PNG, very kind people indeed.
4. finally, i just bought my ticket to PNG for $990.00, i was originally hoping to purchase it for $2K, then last week a mission travel agency told me it would be $3K - that was discouraging, but this is encouraging. now all i need is shots and tickets on air new guinea from aus to png :)

thank you for your prayers,
stephan

vote

i just added this sidebar thing called skribit
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as an attempt to better communicate with you my reader.
the point is for you to tell me if this post was helpful (to you understanding the purpose of this blog and trip) and what other sort of information you might find missing :)

thanks,
stephan

Effective Engagement in Short-term Missions: Doing it Right!

I purchased 3 of these books, one for me, one for the mission board at CBC, and one for my alma mater - TTU.
It was put out by the Evangelical Missiological Society in 2008. Basically it occurred to someone that since 1.6 million people from the North America go on short term mission trips every year, we should determine whether or not they're worth while, and if we are doing them right. 1.6 million - that number kinda blew my mind, when i heard that i thought, maybe we should all stay home one year and end something big like HIV, hunger, ADD - anyway... i'll keep you posted on what i'm learning from the book, and how i intend to make the most of my trip.

Thanks for reading (both of you)

Stephan

Health Pre-requisites

I thought I'd tell you about some of the health stuff involved in going to PNG

(oral) Typhoid (booster every 5 years) This is an 8-day regimen of
pills
Hepatitis A Havrix--single injection, then a booster anytime between 6-12
months
Hepatitis B Engerix-- Primary series: 3 injections--one now, another in
one month, and another in 6-12 months (at least get the first two before
you go) Tetanus/Diptheria (booster every 10 years)
Polio (booster once after primary series)
Japanese Encephalitis --3 injections at 0, 7, & 30 days
Doxycycline 100 mg one daily for prophylaxis
The Ukarumpa handbook on how to treat malaria, which will be very helpful.

$ Update

I've raise $650 so far, only $3350 more to go!

Unexpected Gift

I was sitting in class today waiting for Old Testament History to start, when a girl whom I had seen before, but did not know, walked up and handed me an envelope and said blessings on your trip to PNG. I said thank you, and waited till she walked away to open it. Inside was a check and a note, saying, "blessings brother, as you go out in joy and may you be lead in peace."
I am humbled by her generosity. thank you Amy.

Community Development

I just signed up to audit a community development class this summer, it was recommended to me by the Dr Bruces.
I though I'd list some of the objectives, this course should enhance my experience and work in PNG
btw, the course is taught by Rhonda M. McEwen, Ph.D.
(click her name its a link to her linkedin status pg)
she works in Chatt town, fun:)

Cognitive Objectives
1. Articulated biblical foundations for development, incorporated key ideas from the readings with
personal insights, and synthesized these in their own understanding of development from a
Christian perspective.
2. Examined essential skills of a Christian development practitioner and some key tools for practice.
3. Identified principles for effective Christian community development drawn from case studies, core
text and articles, and supplementary readings.