Jumping Off the Deep End

I remember it like it was yesterday...summer Bible camp in NW Iowa. The highlight of the day was at 3 pm, when the boys could go swimming in the camp pool. After getting all sweaty from playing basketball during free time, we all looked forward to jumping in the pool...but strangely when our swimsuits were on and we walked out from the changing rooms, it didn't seem as hot out anymore. My sweaty body all of a sudden cooled in the freshening breeze. Now the thought of jumping in wasn't appealing anymore.

I would check the water temperature with my toes, only to confirm the inevitable...the water was cold. "Come on!", I would think, "How could jumping be so hard? Everyone seems to be doing it." The only solution that worked for this dilemma was to walk to the deep end, climb up on the diving board, and jump in. Sure the initial shock of the "cold" water enveloping my body was a jolt, but after getting out to walk back to the diving board, I would quickly come to the conclusion that jumping in again is definitely warmer than standing up there on the diving board in the wind.

The above is a short analogy for the following announcement.

I just jumped off the deep end linguistically.


Long story short: A church 20 miles north of Temuco is without a pastor, and the lay leader (who has been preaching) recently was told by his Doctor to take two months off from his speaking responsibilities due to his declining health. A nearby pastor has asked if I would be willing to preach for two months (AM and PM services) as the lay leader recovers and as the church continues to search for a pastor.

After a few days of thinking about the pros and cons, praying, asking advice from wise counsel, and talking it over with Kristi, I decided to forget testing the linguistic waters with my toes and walk up to the podium and jump off the deep end.

This, of course, will be one of the biggest challenges I have faced since my arrival to the field. Oh yeah, I'm scared...no doubt about it. All that runs through my mind is, "Don't say something stupid! What if I say something heretical and I don't even know it?" From the sounds of it, most missionaries I have talked to about this situation, laugh and say that a similar experience happened to them in their first few months of missionary service. It's like a rite of passage, I guess.

More information and pictures will be forthcoming, but I did want to ask for specific prayer for these upcoming weeks as I prepare, practice, and deliver the messages that the Lord will lay on my heart. This will be yet another change for the rest of the family as well (new church, new people, the trip up and back each Sunday, and possible less "Daddy time" due to increased study and translation time).

Come back to see what happens...we set our hope in God.