July 2021 — Rosemarie Kowalski
a letter from Liz —
Dear Fellow AP Laborer,
“Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” (Philippians 1:3-6, NLT)
I can’t tell you how true these verses are for me after recently returning from Indonesia. As many of you know, Jeff and I took a trip to visit that field June 26–July 13. None of our major ministry events went as planned, yet it was really good for us to experience a little of what you all are living through.
1. The rise of COVID-19 with extreme lockdowns. Our hearts are so burdened for our AP countries that are experiencing rising infection and death rates.
2. Quarantines. Our 5-day quarantine was the shortest of all quarantines in Asia, so for those of you who have endured 14–21-day quarantines, we salute you and your children for your willingness to engage this restriction.
3. Travel requirements. Traveling is even more stressful than before. Airport requirements include not only visas but PCR tests perfectly timed to be able to fly.
4. Communication. Ministry amid lockdowns causes us to connect even more by phone and online.
5. Effect on families. Our TCKs are desperate for friends and fun.
The list could go on, but basically this is our new normal for the moment. Now more than ever we need each other. Whether you are on the field, itinerating, or stuck in the States, here are some things I feel are necessary for us to do:
1. Take initiative to check in with each other. Who are the other AP members in your town or country? Call (don’t just text or email) someone on your team. I challenge you to ask, “How can I pray for you?” and then do it.
2. Develop an AGWM team night. Play games, eat together, and celebrate your week. Worship together. Reintroduce potlucks. Clean up together. Everyone should participate. If you have TCKs in your city, take time to bless them with a special snack or other token of your love. This could lead to something wonderful. Remember to keep your groups small enough to comply with government restrictions.
3. Call your country’s pastors and leaders. Pray for them, and let them share their hearts.
4. If you can get out, prayer-walk (masked) or drive your area.
5. If you are in the States and can’t get into your country yet, look for somewhere to serve or volunteer. You are needed somewhere.
These suggestions are not new, but I wanted to remind you to do what you can to fight the emotional and mental struggle of this pandemic. Some of you cannot gather or even leave your home, and my heart goes out to you.
This month’s devotional reading is brought to you by Rosemarie Kowalski, who serves in Bandung, Indonesia. She loves art, so if you need something fun to do online, check out her offer. Last month’s response winner was Susan Ricketts.
Thanks for reading. You are never alone.
Liz
from Rosemarie Kowalski—
God and the Human Condition
Genesis. Now there’s a messy book. I’ve listened to it over and over in the past weeks, from the perfect Father who creates a world for Adam and Eve through the Egyptian embalming of Joseph. It’s a grand saga of love and loss, jealousy and revenge, faith and failings, highs and lows. I read the stories and imagine what it was like to live in those neighborhoods.
And there’s God. Right there. Not deterred or hopeless. Big enough. Wise enough. Strong enough to create a nation of His own with some pretty messed-up people.
Noah is stuck with a 100-year project, with just enough details to keep going and save humanity. He’s righteous but curses out his disrespectful kid. Oops. (I want to be more patient as God’s plans unfold. Mind you, 100 years is a long time to be working on one project. I should feel grateful when my projects take less and my kids behave.)
Abraham goes from place to place in obedience to God, hoping to find a place to stay. He may be trusting toward God, but he is scared enough of people to lie twice about his wife. (Beautiful Sarah, passed around to other men—how awful!) Abraham is so conflict-avoidant that he gives away part of the Promised Land to his nephew Lot, and his wife blames him for the disrespect in their house from her maid Hagar. He has a lot of kids by different wives. His impatience to have a son creates problems that are still going on, even though he sends his other sons away from the child of promise. (I want to trust that God has great plans that bless the world, no matter how flawed or uncertain I am.)
Jacob, grasping the heel of his brother at birth, takes advantage of others’ weaknesses, and engages in trickery for his own gain. He plays favorites but loses his most-loved wife and child. He gets a state funeral in the place of his choosing, attended by top Egyptian officials. (God, give me confidence that, in the messes I and others make, You are in control and the ending is good.)
Joseph is a capable man with 12 chapters of adventures. He rises to the top due to his integrity and because he’s good at what he does. The people around him try to destroy his reputation or just plain forget about him. Yet he keeps his heart and emotions tender. He believes the best of people, even those crazy brothers who make up their dad’s last words to keep Joseph from exacting revenge on them. He becomes the means of salvation for his whole family. (It helps to remember that not all good deeds go unpunished. Just because you’re in hot water doesn’t mean you’ve done something wrong. Forgive, move on, and keep doing what is right.)
When we fret about our own families and wonder if we’ve ruined everything by doing or saying something dumb, let’s remember how much we resemble those first families. Now, like then, God will bring good from bad circumstances and weak characters. We really can trust Him with the human condition—even yours and mine.
Where's your quiet place? Below, our little apartment where we land in the USA. The painting is our 25th anniversary gift to each other, 18 years ago. Still love it.
I am transfixed by beauty. Art makes my heart sing, words can send me into a trance, music transports me, and a well-designed space makes me gasp with delight. Inside my head, the surroundings are in constant motion: What happens if you add another brushstroke, reshape a paragraph, or move furniture around? I love my husband and four kids and four grands. I write and edit, got degrees in piano performance and other stuff, homeschooled, quilted, painted, cooked, taught music and academics, and now I get to lead a great team at an international church. Jesus said life should be abundant.
Anyone up for an online art date?