Let's take a walk

It never ceases to amaze me that it is the little things that we forget to hold on to, but the things that wish we remembered the most.

3. 5 years ago I went on a trip of a lifetime that changed my life and challenged everything about my views and my faith. One of the last days in the beautiful city of Jerusalem, I took a picture every few steps from our housing to the church we worked. These are just a few of the sites. (Video to follow this summer)

A step out the door and to the left from the place that became our home for the 2 weeks we were there.

The stones in the walls and each step held more history than I could even fathom, but my story was being written along each step.

We continue on our walk early in the morning, long before the shops open and the Old city of Jerusalem becomes the bustling market place I imagined from reading Bible stories, but they were no longer stories.

Walking down the Via Dolorosa, we take the same steps the Christ took. Each painful step before reaching Calvary and changing the world. Each painful moment before dying for our sake.

We then stop by the only little shop open first thing in the morning. An opportunity to build a relationship as we stopped by every day during our time there to stock up on local snacks before our day of work.

Every day, my heart would break as I saw women try to sell produce. Many of them disabled in some way, but trying to provide in anyway that they possibly can.

Main gate

 Finally, we reach the opening of the Damascus Gate. Historically known as "The Gate of Victory," one can look to the side of the main gate and see the old Roman gate.




And then our walk through the newer part of the city. Where a little ways down the road was a place called "Garden Tomb." A tranquil place of prayer and reflection. Trees gave shade to harsh sun, and rocks provide a place to sit and bask in the presence of God.

                                                       

Our walk to and from the little Church in Jerusalem was roughly a mile. Everyday, God was speaking truth into our lives and leaving an imprint that none of us can forget. And one thing I knew for sure was that I was called back. 

Now I have the chance, but its only with the support and prayer from my friends and family. I can't tell you all of what I will be doing because I just don't know yet. I can't share cultural insight because as much as I have read, it still won't translate until I can put it into practice. But I can share in the excitement that God has put on my heart for this area of the world. 

Not everyone can go, so help me go for you.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*How To Support M.E.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

For cash or check please send charitable donations to Global Treasury Services. Expenses should be made payable to General Treasurer Church of the Nazarene at: 

Church of the Nazarene

 P.O. Box 843116

 Kansas City, MO 64184 

and should include the following information: 1. Amman, Jordan 2. Rebekah Musselman. 3. Mission Corps.

Donations can also be given online: Http://web.nazarene.org/goto/rmusselman and look for the MAKE A DONATION button under the picture.

Perfect love casts out all fear

I've been told that successful people write down their goals. As a business major, one of my classes had us create a "Personal Strategic Plan" and basically write down all of our strengths, weakness, words of wisdom, and goals that we hope to remember as we continue on this crazy path we call life.

I was looking up my personal Mission Statement (because I need it for another class) and this is what I had written.

My vision is to live out the great commission in every aspect of my life. Acts 1:8 states that we are called to make disciples of all nations going out into Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. As life takes me on this twisting journey, I shall prevail to continue to live out Christ’s calling on my life in building character, relationships, and leaders. In this way, I can live a full and satisfying life for the one who created me to serve and build-up His kingdom.

Still true today. Then I took a look at my goals.

Well it looks like I might get to check number 1 off my list. :) These are the 3 things that God put on my heart. These are the 3 things that, despite business and free-market getting a bad rep, I hope to be able to use my skills to work towards. God has a plan in all of this. 

I'm called to the mission-field. I was called to be in this area of study. Didn't make sense to me then and sometimes even now I question it, but God has shown me too many amazing people who, like me, are using Business as a form of ministry. (Among other acquired, God-given gifts such as teaching English)


Google search Jordan and what you'll actually find is an extremely tall and talented former basketball player... that is not what you're looking for. Find the country.

Notice the surroundings?? Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Syria. We're talking pretty much the center of the Fertile Crescent. It looks from pictures to be one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. And from what I have read, some of the nicest people.

People ask me if I am scared. And the answer is NOPE! God is calling me there and I know He has His plans. But from people who have been there, it is one of the most kind and generous countries one can visit.

Hospitality is one of the key values in the Middle East. We forget because of media that many of these people are just people with families who have jobs and trying to do right by their perception of God. Gift giving is another key value (one that I am personally terrified of because I'm awful at gifts for normal times in the US... but we'll work on that) 

The more I've learned about their culture, the more parallels to the Bible I see. My mind has read scripture in a whole new way. This is a collective society where everything is done in a "we" form so when Jesus says to reject your family and leave EVERYTHING to follow Him, I've always read it from a personal perspective. Jesus literally meant that they would lose everything. Shame and dishonor for the sake of doing what is right? The were brought into a new family. The family of God, but to take that step meant more than I could ever imagine. I saw the persecution has a physical thing from those who hated Christians. Which it was, but to hate family?

But this opened then my eyes to Acts where it said they shared everything and everyone was without need. Sharing and community. And 2000 years later, these are still the values that they hold on to. Christian, Muslim, Jew--They are still people. They are collective to their respective groups. They are collectively lost. They are collectively misunderstood. 

A friend of mine spent a good amount of time in a creative access country last summer and he made this point: fear is the biggest motivator to not follow the Lord. Nothing is safe. Nowhere is safe. Only a life following the Lord's will is "safe." 

Perfect love casts out fear. And perfect Love only comes from the One who is Love.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*How To Support M.E.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

For cash or check please send charitable donations to Global Treasury Services. Expenses should be made payable to General Treasurer Church of the Nazarene at: 

Church of the Nazarene

 P.O. Box 843116

 Kansas City, MO 64184 

and should include the following information: 1. Amman, Jordan 2. Rebekah Musselman. 3. Mission Corps.

Donations can also be given online: Http://web.nazarene.org/goto/rmusselman and look for the MAKE A DONATION button under the picture.

Ask and You shall receive.

There is one thing that I hate doing above all things.

Ask me to sing or speak in front of a group of people-- no problem.

Ask me to kill a spider.--No big deal.

Ask me to eat something I've never seen before--its gone.

Ask me to ask for money---I choke.

Maybe it is a pride thing, maybe it's fear of rejection, maybe it is understanding that times are hard for a lot of people to give. I have always been taught to do things myself, but this is one time that I cannot. This is God's will and so He will come through.

I have about the first $1,000, but there is still 12,000 to go and only a few months. Please, prayerfully consider sponsoring me over the next year. At least half of my goal is necessary before being able to purchase the plane ticket. We are hoping that I am able to leave in August so that only leave a few short months.

The cost (13,000) includes housing and food for each month (each about 400 for 12 months), flight to and from field (1600), visa costs $300, and other ministry expenses and utilities.

Donations including things to sell or raffle, airfare miles, or sponsoring a specific need would be much appreciated. I am also planning on working full time while home and wish to meet with people individually to talk more about the assignment as I learn more about what it means to serve in Jordan.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*How To Support M.E.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

For cash or check please send charitable donations to Global Treasury Services. Expenses should be made payable to General Treasurer Church of the Nazarene at: 

Church of the Nazarene

 P.O. Box 843116

 Kansas City, MO 64184 

and should include the following information: 1. Amman, Jordan 2. Rebekah Musselman. 3. Mission Corps.

Donations can also be given online at Http://web.nazarene.org/goto/rmusselman and look for the MAKE A DONATION button under the picture. 

Whom then shall go for Us?

Many of you know that I have had the privileged to work in the MIA (Missions in Action) for Olivet. It has always been one of my strongest desires for every Christian to go on a cultural experience; to see the world from a different perspective. And here is why:

These are the results from pre and post trip surveys that we have student's fill out before leaving on their 1 week experience in a new culture. See any differences? 

Not everyone is called to go, but we are called to "be [God's] witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). 

These students walk into the room and many of them act as if all the knowledge during training is just common knowledge, and yes much of it is basic information, but after returning many of them start to realize the impact that the trip had on them. Its not while you're in the presence of a new experience that you see how God is shaping your life, but after the experience has passed and God allows that change to come through. 

There have been many blogs about saving money for your trip and using it to help your community. I honestly believe that there is a place for that. But I also believe that people are sent, not just to help the community that they are going to, but to bring back a new insight into the lives of Christians from around the world. How can we say we love our brothers and sisters without knowing them? 

Having read many of the pre/post trip forms for myself, I saw the students who left change their hearts from "Never serving in short or long-term missions" to being completely open to the Spirit of the Lord. Often, these promptings need to be in a place where God is allowed to open our eyes to what He is trying to do in our lives. 

This isn't to say that everyone called to long-term missions in a foreign country, but we often get so complacent in our own culture that is hard to see God moving until we can take a step back. 

My goals for Jordan are simple. I want Him to move me as He feels lead. I also feel He is leading me to be a voice for His people there. Lack of understanding is our biggest undoing. Closed dialogue has made it nearly impossible for us to know how to handle or view Middle East. So continue to pray for M.E. as we continue on this journey. God is doing some awesome things.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*How To Support M.E.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

For cash or check please send charitable donations to Global Treasury Services. Expenses should be made payable to General Treasurer Church of the Nazarene at: 

Church of the Nazarene

 P.O. Box 843116

 Kansas City, MO 64184 

and should include the following information: 1. Amman, Jordan 2. Rebekah Musselman. 3. Mission Corps.

Donations can also be given online at Http://web.nazarene.org/goto/rmusselman and look for the MAKE A DONATION button under the picture.

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