Status of Flood Victims in Pakistan - The Mission Exchange

The Mission Exchange announces the August 2010 Global Issues Update:  Status of Flood Victims in Pakistan

Complex global challenges impact Great Commission activities at every level. No matter how connected and motivated you are as an individual Christ-follower, church or mission leader, you can't be an expert on everything.

The August 2010 edition of Global Issues Update addresses the Status of Flood Victims in Pakistan with Anthony, a disaster and relief expert based in Europe. Anthony has been the Director of Crisis and Relief for Frontiers International for seven years. He has a long history with disaster relief in this area of the world, having been engaged with the 2004 tsunami, the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan, as well as Iraq, Kosovo and Lebanon. He is communicating regularly with people on the ground in Pakistan and well positioned to share about this tragedy.

By some estimates as many as 20 million people in 50% of the country have been affected by monsoon rains and extensive flooding. The death toll of approximately 1,600 from the initial flooding is expected to rise exponentially in the face of food shortages and the lack of clean water. The elderly and the young are most at risk. One estimate suggests as many as 300,000 infants and young children are at risk of death in the next few weeks from dehydration and water born disease.

Response to this tragedy has been slow. The church in North America, still engaged (and rightly so) with ongoing commitments to Haiti, has yet to rise to this challenge. We hope this timely downloadable webinar resource will help you speak up on behalf of the millions of Pakistani families who have lost everything in this disaster and are more concerned about staying alive today than rebuilding for tomorrow.

Global Issues Update is a bi-monthly (6 times per year) downloadable webinar that focuses on big picture issues impacting the world of missions. Because of the urgent nature of this edition of Global Issues Update we are offering it for FREE to everyone. Please distribute this widely in your circles of influence.

Natural Disasters

Today is World Humanitarian Day. No wonder I feel overwhelmed with the devastation around our globe. Here's a little something from ReliefWeb:

Russia and Pakistan events are the two with which I feel most connected. My brother just spent two and a half weeks in Russia and told us of the widespread impact of the fires. And I have family in Pakistan, experiencing the flooding firsthand. There is potential for disaster anywhere we go. There's also potential for prayer wherever we are. Will you pray with me for our globe?

Fires in Russia - Did you know that July was the warmest month ever in Moscow, Russia, since the beginning of modern meteorological records, which is about 130 years?!

Floods in Pakistan - More than 1,600 people have been killed, while 14 million others have been displaced and affected as a result of the devastating floods in Pakistan. Yeah, it hasn't stopped raining yet. You know who's been sending aid? China, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Australia, Czech Republic, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, USA, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Ireland are among some of so many more. As of today over 400 million dollars has been given and more has been pledged (OHCA, Aug 19).

Minister Power of Ireland said today, "The floods in Pakistan are the greatest humanitarian challenge facing the world today but we should not forget that there are many other humanitarian crises which need our attention."

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May the Lord use our prayers and the hands of His people to bring aid to the victims of these disasters. Beyond this, may He use our prayers and actions to bring hope to them - hope found only in Jesus, the Calmer of the Storms.

Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, 

and the ends of the earth your possession. - Psalm 2:8

Am I a missionary?

As I've written before here, Josh and I have been asking questions of ourselves concerning our missionary call. What is it?


If I were to define missionary with a typical circular dictionary definition, I would use one sent on a mission. It seems to me that the Bible doesn't focus much on what we know of a missionary today. You know, someone who leaves there home to spread the Gospel to people who need it. Sure there are plenty of characters who fit that image, but I think the Bible focuses more on various "missions" on which Christians were sent. God called all kinds of people out of their normal routine to go on various missions, and then, they would return to their homes and routines. So is a missionary only a missionary when he or she is on a mission?

I think it's easy to get caught up in defining who a missionary is and what a missionary does. I fall into this. *guilty* I've been talking about being a missionary in training for about 5+ years now. What if I never go overseas? Did I miss my calling. Did I misunderstand my missionary call?

I felt this quote from The Missionary Call to be quite freeing and inspiring:

“As you examine your heart for evidence of a missionary call, look for a burden to fulfill the Great Commission and obey the Great Commandments that is guided by a Great Compassion.” (Sills, p.58)

So Josh and I have been doing this. We want to step away from the expectations of who a missionary is and what a missionary does. We want to examine our hearts to understand better the burden God has placed there. What are we compassionate about? What are the gifts He's given us? In what environments do we thrive?

We want these answers not just to prepare us for work overseas, but to guide us and our ministry for our entire lives. Right now we're in Minneapolis, not Africa. Our gifts weren't meant only for overseas ministry. What are they and how are we using them right now? I think that might have something to do with being one sent on a mission.

Since 2009...

My aunt got me started on the tradition of writing in a birthday journal. Since I just turned 24, it was time to write again. This is a bit of it. Since 2009...

• I've prepared to leave the country long-term and not gone.
• I've resigned from an organization and joined another.
• I've surrendered marriage and been given a husband.
• I've had many vaccinations and not needed their effect.
• I thought I was done at SIL-UND and was blessed with another summer taking literacy.
• I've said "goodbye" to my 4 siblings and gained 7 more.
• I've said "goodbye" to 2 nieces  and 1 nephew and gained 2 nieces and 6 nephews.
• I've grieved leaving my parents and gained another set.
• I've talked about moving from "home" for a mission field and seen my parents move to Alaska, a mission field.
• I've given my car and other earthly possessions away and have been given them back.
• I've taken leave from graduate school and have begun helping a husband through school.
• I've studied my identity and calling and gained a whole new set.
• I've prayed about a host family and have begun hosting my brother.
• I've prayed about a partner in ministry and have gained a partner for life.
• I've prepared for the village and moved to the city.
• I've worried about safety and have been given a protector.
• I've done pre-field counseling that turned into premarital counseling.

I've walked with the Lord.

I've seen His hand on my life.

I've been encouraged and affirmed.

I've been provided for.

I've grown.

I still love people.

I still want to be a missionary.

I still want to do Bible translation.

I just gave it all up to marry a man 

who wants to give it all back... and more!

Good thing that God does what He wants. 

His way is way better anyway!