Encouragement for the Courtneys

Well John and Sue,

You're on Day 3 today.  The day I found to be OK, but after this it got hard.  I personally found it far to easy to watch TV, or play computer games till my eyes felt dry.  What I really needed was the disciplined prayer life to get me through this time.  So I was reading in the Hope Lives book yesterday (I was on day 19) and it took me through some deep times of prayer.  I encourage you strongly to spend time with the Lord.  Once I did that, the things finally started falling into place.

One of the things we did on Day 4 was to have a trading post day, where each family member could trade away one possession (had to be in good condition) in exchange for a small treat from the trading post.  However to reflect the economy in 3rd world countries a bit better, our giving had to sting a little, to get something very small.  For example:

Tim wisely traded comic books for brown sugar.  The value of the comic books was about $20, but he only got 2 tbsp. of brown sugar.

We will continue to pray for you over the next few days, and celebrate your journey.

Love, and Blessings, 

xw

more finishing thoughts

Well it's over.  At supper time after I prepared supper for my family, (which I think went above and beyond the call of duty) I ate 2 meatballs, and then late last night I ate some chocolate, so I can't say I was untarnished, I too have the stain of failure on my record.  I don't feel too bad, I don't really feel bad at all, the food didn't taste as good I thought it would, and my breakfast this morning of shreddies with brown sugar, was far from the taste sensation I thought it would be.  I am still not feeling very well, that might be part of the problem.  As the week went on, I focused more on myself and what I was going through, than I did on the plight of the rest of the world.  THough they were still in my mind. I really, believe, that much of what God is going to teach us through this, will come later, when we are ready to recieve it, when we aren't so focused on ourselves and our pain or lack of food or hunger.  It was an experience I really glad I participated in, I'm glad I made it through, and I'm glad it's over.  Will be really interesting to see if our blogs continue in the coming weeks, once we settle down and see what God really wants to show each of us, though He for sure has showed us some immediate things about ourselves.  The brutal honesty about ourselves in these blogs is quite amazing. 

I am sure of one thing, I'm not eating rice or beans or oatmeal for a while. Well maybe oatmeal, I love it, but with milk and sugar.  I think for a long time to come, I will be able to conjure up in my mind, the feeling of trying to push down a dry tortilla, with dry rice and beans in it, makes me shiver thinking about it.

way to go everyone.

 

Cheryl 

 

Truth is always strong, no matter how weak it looks; and falsehood is always weak, no matter how strong it looks.

Finishing Thoughts

Day 5 came and I limped through it.  Looking over the challenge, I managed to make it through on the restricted diet.  But with all the time I spent playing computer games,  watching TV, and keeping myself busy to avoid eating - I think I missed the most important point.

The whole idea was to draw closer to God.  To learn compassion and empathy from Him.

I think it was Day 3 or 4 when I was talking (briefly) to God, and was faced with a choice.  Draw near and spend time in prayer or go do your own thing.  It was a really obvious choice, and interestingly enough God chose to teach me through my daughter again.

I gave her back a CD I'd borrowed, she was happy to get it, and went looking for more of her CD's around the house.  I pointed out that all her CD's were likely in her room (a disaster)  and that if she wanted to find them, she should spend all that energy cleaning her room to find them.  She shrugged and said, "Nah" walking away.

As she did so, God pointed out that was what I had done as well.  She was happy to receive what I had to give her, but she didn't want to put in any work to get more.  I receive all these blessings, but when faced with the choice of disciplined prayer, or wasting time on my own I made a poor choice.

It was an ugly truth I learned through this experience.  I debated whether to share it on this blog.  For my friends who are keeping me accountable regarding my addiction to computer games, I blew it big time.

Thank you for those who prayed for me through my sickness yesterday.  I'm still sick, but now have the advantages of Canadian culture to help me get better quickly.

I really enjoyed reading the posts on the blog, they were a highlight of my week.  I loved doing life with you my church family this week. 

Xiam

DAY 5

All morning I had a niggling about the brown sugar I bartered for, so I offered to share it with my oldest daughter.  She declined - she wanted to stick to the $1/day plan.  What a trooper.

BREAKFAST:  What a difference a tablespoon of sugar makes.  You never saw oatmeal disappear so fast.

We had an interesting discussion at small group last night about hopelessness being the root of poverty.  I keep getting a rush about finishing the challenge: "I'm gonna make it!  I'm gonna do it!  It's almost over!" and then I think, "For billions of people around the world it's NEVER over."  Then I realize that what I'm experiencing is not a thrill or a rush - it's hope.  This is what hope feels like.  This is what it feels like our help transforms into hope.  Maybe I'm getting it.

My little boy came up to me while I was working on the computer this morning: "I hungry, Daddy."  I didn't even think twice.  I got up and poured him a bowl of Corn Flakes for second breakfast, and another when he said: "Daddy, I want more, please."  I don't know if I can describe the feeling: just being able to do that, to fulfill his need with no more thought and effort than getting up and going to another room, I felt so . . . powerful.  And at the same time, just awful for the parents around the world who can't feed their children when they ask.  My heart breaks when I think of not being able to do that.

I think I got it.

LUNCH: I was excited about lunch.  I don't think of myself as person who gets excited about food, but my mouth was watering as I re-heated the rice and beans.  Nothing seemed as delicious or important as that meal at that moment.  One more to go!

I realized this afternoon that the meals have been satisfying enough.  It's in-between.  I missed my 10:30AM second cup of coffee.  Snacks.  Late night munchies.  I wasn't deprived of food this week so much as I was deprived of the ability to eat whenever I want. 

SUPPER: Xiam used so much water in the rice today I could hardly finish my portion.  As soon as the last bite went down, I let out (according to my daughter) a Hulk-like growl: "I did it!  I'm done!"

NEXT ASSIGNMENT

Date: Saturday

Timecode: 12:01AM

Subject: nachos

Thanks for sharing your stories, Riverwood.

--
Tim Webster

==============

Of course mercy is for the weak - only the strong can supply it.

Done.

Well Riverwood...I made it!
I had LOTS of people holding me accountable...especially my lovely
students... when I asked them for half a piece of gum
the response was "NO, you are doing the 5 day challenge....that would
be cheating!"
I just finished my last bowl of goodness and am feeling pretty
good...but looking forward to veggies and fruit....and using toilet
paper again!!!
haha.
This really has been an experience like none other I have done. I
hope I don't whine or complain as much...or not be thankful for what I
have...
There are so many things I have learned and Patience is one word that
comes to mind as well as Discipline.

Mandy

Mandy Jaques
Student Ministry Director
Riverwood Church Community
257 Riverton Ave.
Winnipeg, MB R2K 0N2
204-668-3181
mandy@riverwood.cc
www.riverwood.cc/epic

five day challenge thoughts

I have not been taking the challenge however I have been fasting.  During that time I had God lay a few things on my heart so I started typing them out.  They are not formed into proper sentences and chances are it won’t make a lot of sense but you asked for what our experiences were so I figured I let you know.

Why do we try to help the poor by just giving them a few dollars?  When we came to settle in Canada what was more important, becoming self sustaining or learning how to read and write? 

We go to 3^rd world countries, see the desperation and the loss of hope and start to put our western values on them.  When you live 100 miles from civilization, government jobs, or McDonalds doesn’t exist and you have seen dozens of relatives die before they reached 30 are you concerned more about getting an education or learning how to produce enough food for you and your family to survive?

I don’t understand how we help an isolated village by giving them money each and every month?  Why don’t we turn our focus to teaching them how to self sustain themselves?  Why don’t we concern ourselves with teaching the local population and generation how to farm, build shelter, or sell goods.  Why do we think we have the right to go in and start teaching anyways?  What fountain of knowledge do we push to the side assuming that the western way is the best?  I personally have never lived in the bushes of an African plane so I wouldn’t even know where to start, but I bet there are thousands out there that do.

If we can get a cell phone to tell me where to find the nearest Starbucks surely someone has figured out how to grow a sustainable crop in a variety of conditions. 

Generation after generation lose hope and fall victim to poverty, Satan uses that loss of hope to distract us Westerners into believing that we should feel guilty about the resources and blessings God has granted us.  Having a 7 11 down the street, being able to go out and purchase clothing, driving a car, these are not curses or extravagances that I should feel shameful for!  God blessed me with these, He loved me so much that he has chosen me to live amongst these blessing.  But it is up to me to keep them as blessings. 

My heart bleeds when I hear or see starving children in other parts of the world or in my own back yard.  In Canada we have the resources to teach others how to live and survive in this society.   I can teach someone how to get a job, how to read and write, and how to provide enough food so that they can live.  Very little of this will require any money.

What I can’t do is go to Africa and teach them how to survive in Africa.  I have no idea what it takes to live in that society, what the culture is like or even what the temperature is.  I can’t say that by having an education this person will be able to get a good job, move to a big city and provide for future generations.  I have no idea what trades are in desire to even know where to start. 

Have we ever asked a starving person, or someone whose grandfather lost hope and past that down generation to generation what they would want?  Have we asked them how we can best help them?  Have we ever asked what it would take to get them to a place where the money we could give them could be moved to the next person? 

Why do I want one child to know how to read when another one starves? 

In His Service,

Jon Billings

Prayer Request

Hey there church,

I thought today would be the easiest with the end in sight, but it's really not.  Our son has been fussy since 4am, and I reluctantly awoke only to find my throat raspy, and speaking painful.  It would be so easy right now to say "I've been airlifted to Nairobi hospital" and end this challenge.  But I'm no quitter, and I'm going on. 

I just want to sleep and lay around.  Which I've done most of the morning.  (OK, not the sleeping, but the laying around) Thanks Tim.  {{HUG}}  Sleep will come when little one goes down for his nap.

So please pray to help me to keep going.  Mom's don't get sick days in general, whether in Canada or in the third world.  So for today, I'm a sick mom in the third world grateful for my church family who is faithful in prayer and generous in support.

xw

PS.  Thanks Todd, for the coming off the fast notes.  I had already planned a slow intro back into nice foods, but it was appreciated that you posted it to bless all of us.

Don't count me out.....

Ok, so I ranted & raved yesterday that I was DONE this challenge (remember about the barking & such)….well last night, I only had two extra pieces of bread plus my rice & beans….I got up this morning, ran 5 miles on the treadmill…felt good….and for breakfast, proceeded to eat oatmeal (I added ½ an apple to it)…..SO….Don’t count me out….I brought Rice & beans for lunch and I have a newly cooked pot of rice on the stove for supper……I’m back in the game folks…..going to the finish line tonight……. *DB

 

Day 5

One of the lessons I that has been re-enforced by this experience for me is, that attitude makes a big difference. What I choose to think about and how I think about affects how I respond to the situation around me. Another one is thankfulness. I tend to focus on the negative and find reasons to complain. But I have been reminded again and again to be thankful. A bowl of plain oatmeal tastes much better with a thankful attitude.
My challenge today is to not dream to much about what I can have tomorrow and with that miss what God may have in store for me today during the last day of doing the challenge.
This morning I was reminded of a comment I heard after a retreat a few years back." If you have been with God he has changed you. You may not see the change immediately or as dramatically as you expect but don't get discouraged or give up. You can not spend time with God and not have it change you." That is my prayer about the out come of doing this challenge. That even as I move on back to a more normal routine the lessons I have learned this week will continue to make a difference in my life.

Day 5

            Last night I fell off the wagon hard, and I’m not getting back on again.  I had two bites of my rice and bean wrap and I lost my appetite.  I was miserable and grouchy all evening so I thought, what am I learning here.  I guess what I missed the most was the variety of foods we have available to us.  God has definitely blessed us with the country we live in and the abundance we enjoy.  Good luck to the rest of you out there, you are stronger than me.

 

            Cal

 

Just 24 Hours to Go!

Hey Beans’n-Ricers…with just 24 hours to go let me just encourage you each a bit.  First, I encourage you to make it end.  Whether you plan on ending this evening or ending Saturday morning…finish well!  Second, I encourage you to be careful when you do end.  How you come off a ‘fast’ is important.  You don’t want to have a huge ‘next-meal’ full of processed foods and protein.  Come off slowly.   Find foods that are easily assimilated by the body and focus on those…in smaller portions.  Fruits.  Juices.   Soups.  The types of foods you eat when you’re sick would be good for coming off this week.  Third, I encourage you to do something with all the money you didn’t use this week.  Not only did you save on food, but my guess is on toilet-paper, dishwashing water/electricity and detergent, cooking energy, gas to the grocery store, etc.  Instead of just feeling good about having a little more at the end of the week…could you give it away?  Finally, I encourage you to not move on from this experience too quickly.  Many of you might be thinking that I’ve gotten a kick out of this week…but the fact is, I’ve faced the same negative effects as you.  I’ve struggled with emotions of doubt (was this really a good idea), guilt (I made a lot of people ‘drink-the-cool-aid’ so to speak), frustration (my mind and body have not functioned well), hatred (of that bland, monotonous, boring, 2-ingredient food), pain and discomfort, and never knowing 5-days could take so long to pass.  BUT, there have been deeper learnings along the way…and I would have to say they have been more about my excess and spoiled life than anything else.  I’ve tasted a tiny bit of poverty…(only the slightest of tastes) … and I’ve hated it!  I’d like to think that my empathy has also expanded…but like so many things in life…it would be so easy to move on to a wonderful weekend of glorious food…and forget all about it.  The (true) Challenge for all of us is to ‘not-move-on’!  As we move on to a new series at church after this weekend…and the Enaleni Market and set comes down…what have we put in our lives that will keep us engaged in the battle against poverty?  Let’s not just ‘survive’ this week…let’s take everything we’ve learnt and let it mark us for life!

 

Many blessings my friends…

- Todd

 

No more TIM"S

I sure appreciated that fair trade website, Interesting that all the Robins donuts are on the list, but no Tim's.  I guess i will have to start going to Robin's. I don't drink coffee anymore, but almost everyone I know does.  And I was glad to see I could get fairtrade coffee at safeway.  I'm thinking lots about this now.  I suppose the greatest value in this experience is what we do withour knowledge starting tomorrow, when we are eating whatever we want again.  I know this exercise is not going to change who I am, it's not going to make me that much of a better person ( I need way more than 5 days), but It has opened my eyes to the plight of the vast majority of the world, it helps me to pray more specifically, it makes me so very grateful to the Lord for placing me where He has. But by the Grace of God go I, resonates in my mind.

I'm not eating my oatmeal this morning, just can't bring myself to it, will eat my beans and rice at lunch and supper and I already have my breakfast planned out for morning.

 

I'm so proud of my church and my church leaders. I'm proud for more than just this though, but I'm not proud in a way that pats us on the back, but proud in a way that I'm so grateful to be a part of this body of Christ, and am looking forward to how we grow in the future and what we can learn and how we can improve. Though hopefully not without food anymore, but hey if that's what it takes then so be it.

I have appreciated reading all the blogs, every blog has something important to bring to the mix and everyone's experience is individual. It wouldn't be like the Lord if we all experienced exactly the same thing, would it?

this day might be the easiest, the end is right in sight, hopefully it's the easiest, but who knows.

 

cheryl