I LOVE America

by Mark (after having been in the U.S. for a week)

I’m always happy to return to the U.S. after a couple of weeks in another country. I love exposing ministry partners to what God is doing via the JESUS Film in other parts of the world, but as Dorothy would say, “There’ no place like home”.

So, on Wednesday October 6th, when I began my trek to Lake Geneva, WI for our JESUS Film Executive Briefing Conference, I was thrilled to be heading home. As our enormous 747 approached Chicago’s O’Hare, I saw Lake Michigan, Lakeshore Dr., the course of the Chicago Marathon to be held that weekend, and the Sears Tower (or whatever it’s called now), I thought to myself, I love America!

I landed @ 12:35, got my bag, was through customs by 1:10, and was in my buddy’s rental car by 1:20…BAM! I love America…
We arrived @ the resort by 3:00pm, and I was training 14 volunteers to represent the Jesus Film (we call these folks, Ambassadors) by 5pm. Having been awake for 27 hours, and thoroughly exhausted, I called it a night and went to bed…sorta.

By 4am my body was done sleeping, so I got up to have some time with Jesus. The gym opened @ 6am, so my pal and I went over to get a workout I before a day full of meetings. State-of-the-art exercise equipment, English-speaking staff, A/C, and a clean locker room…Man, do I love America!

The scratchy throat and stuffy head didn’t feel right, but nothing was going to put a damper on my time in the States! The leaves were changing, the air was crisp, I was with my homies…other than Leslie being with me, what could be better than this?!

By 3pm, my throat traversed scratchy to downright sore, and my stuffy head moved from an annoyance to a pressure packed head full of snot that made me sound as though I was pinching my nose closed when trying to speak. I went to bed…till Saturday morning…

Our ministry in India was the theme of Saturday morning prayer time. The 50 of us gathered for prayer, over the requests brought from our Indian brothers, felt very small as we heard story after story of the challenges they face in reaching 1.3 billion souls for Christ. The joy with which they speak, even in the face of all manner of trial and persecution, is truly a testimony of the goodness of God. I love America, and I love that Americans can – and have! – come alongside our South Asian staff both prayerfully and financially.

The rest of the conference was profoundly powerful and relentlessly refreshing for all of us. The Lord raised up millions for His work in South Asia. I stood in awe at the kind generosity of our Spirit-filled ministry partners as they continue to give selflessly, even in these challenging economic times. God is good, regardless the circumstances!

From the Jesus Film conference I flew to OC, rented a car (so weird!), and drove out to Joe’s concert in Murrieta, CA. The 100-voice, all male chorale was rehearsing when I arrived. As I entered the church auditorium, my eyes welled as I heard all four parts harmonize “How Can I Keep From Singing Your Praise”. Joe gave me a big ol’ exaggerated wink and smile. Oh please, Lord, I don’t want to weep in front of all these young men, I thought as I fought back the happy tears of seeing/hearing my son for the first time in 3 months!

The boys descended the bleachers to go pray before their concert. Joe was one of the last, as he’s one of the tallest in the top row. “I have no greater joy than to hear of my children walking in the Truth” (3 John 4) is my most favored verse in all of Holy Scripture. It encompasses joy, discipleship, and the Gospel in one succinct verse of Scripture. And it’s what has made my heart tick for the past 20 years, because it’s the Great Commission of Matt. 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age’”.

Needless to say, the concert was incredible. Joe and I went to dinner (Mexican!) before we headed to his house on the campus of California Baptist University. After excellent conversation with my first born, I slept in the living room of their house. Joe made sure I had the ‘good’ mattress and a clean sheet, and his comforter – which totally blessed me to know that he wanted me to be comfortable in his house.

Monday through Thursday was spent seeing family and friends and picking up stuff we need for the winter (yeah, it gets cold and wet!) in Fiesole. What a joy to be ‘home’ for a few days!

It’s only been 12 weeks since we said goodbye to all that is familiar. Seems like an eternity. Things are so different here. Not bad, just different. And I’d hasten to say, uncomfortable… One long-term staff guys used the analogy of a paper cut when referring to all the micro-challenges in Italy: one doesn’t hurt that much, but when you get a hundred in a day, they all add up to…uncomfortable…

Sometimes I have to force myself to remember why we're here: God's specific call!

Not complaining…just sayin…I love America!