The Encouraging Word Blog

The Discipling of Nations

rmrudowske@lbt.org — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:39:34 GMT

The Great Commission speaks of going and while going discipling all nations. I have in my reading and personal growth focused a lot on what it means to disciple - that is to teach in a certain manner - for example at the time of Jesus a disciple was one who wanted to be just like the master he followed. In the book of Acts the earliest believers are called 'disciples' more than 30 times but Christians only two - thus showing a group who was learning to walk in the freedom of the gospel by learning to be more like their master by what He taught and how He lived.

I have not paid much attention to the 'nations' part until in my reading this week I came upon an excerpt by Dr. Kwame Bediako a prominent theologian from Ghana who departed this life in 2008. He previously wrote:

"The Great Commission, therefore, is about the discipling of nations, the conversion of the things that make people into nations - the shared and common processes of thinking; attitudes; world views; perspectives; languages; and the cultural, social and economic habits of thought, behavior, and practice. These things and the lives of the people in whom such things find expression - all of this is meant to be within the call of discipleship" (Theological Reflections 1996 p.184, emphasis mine)

When conceived of in this manner, the mission of God takes on a whole different light - much more than a call to reach individuals with a message and call for a personal commitment - this gospel has the power to get into the very fabric of a society and change and redeem those very core shared assumptions and worldviews that make a people a nation. Jesus of course demonstrates this Himself time and time again by doing things and being with folks in a manner that was not socially accepted - he was bringing to light the destructive ways of separation and class in his Jewish nation.

This gospel has the power to redeem and reclaim the very core fabric of groups of people and remake them into what God intended both for His glory in eternity and even now in our dealings with each other as human beings. That is why we do what we do - we believe it for the people here and we believe it for our own nation and some of our own cultural norms that are not the Biblical ideal. Anything less than this and our gospel is too small. Jesus specifically called us to disciple nations and I think that Dr. Bediako has struck on a key aspect of what that mission truly is.

Six Months in Botswana

rmrudowske@lbt.org — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 09:21:00 GMT

Uncooperative internet delayed this post by two days and in short sums up life here. Very rarely do things happen with the timeliness I think it should and God is using these situations to teach me patience and reliance on him. I wish I were a better student, but thankfully the Lord is patient. Sunday January 17 marked six months for us here in Botswana. True to what I told you when I was visiting churches in America before we left, we have accomplished very little in actual Bible translation work. We have, however, accomplished much in the way of building relationships and a good foundation for future work.

I have experienced here some of the most amazing highs as we take in the beauty of this place, or when we connect in some meaningful way with the people among whom we live. I have also experienced some of the most gut wrenching lows as things fell through that left me scrambling for solutions, or as I came to know how I had really blown it in a particular situation. It has been an amazing six months. One thing is sure: in the mission field your strengths are somewhat muted as you adjust to the new culture while at the same time your weaknesses are magnified. Praise be to God for my very dear and understanding wife who walks with me through these times and for my children who are getting the experience of a lifetime. God is good.

Thanks to the many of you who have partnered with us in prayer and by giving to our ministry. We have been strengthened by the Lord as a result of your prayer and He has also used your generosity to fully fund our mission work in 2009. A portion of that funding came from door offerings while we were speaking in the USA, and so it will be a challenge to remain fully funded in 2010 since we won't be coming around to speak. We trust that the Lord will provide as He always had and ask you to prayerfully consider continuing to support our ministry with your regular gifts or to begin supporting us financially as the Lord leads. We are thankful for all of you who follow our work, read about us, pray for us, and send us notes of encouragement.

Six months is in and many more months and years lie ahead. We are in awe of what the Lord has done so far and look to what lies ahead. Thanks for being partners in the journey.

Just a Taste

rmrudowske@lbt.org — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:38:24 GMT

Before church started today. Rich & I walked behind the church to see who had gathered. There we found 3 members (two Mmas and a Rra). We went to them and greeted. The Rra then explained to the ladies who we were, were we were from and what we were doing here in Kang. Then the first statement came from the ladies "that is quite an undertaking". Then the first Q. "Can you write down our language?" A. Yes. There is already some things written in your language. Rich then walked over to his office a very short distance away and retrieved a book of hymns and a small dictionary (shakgalagari - setswana - english). Apon arriving back to us he asked the ladies (in setswana) if they could read setswana. One of the ladies indicated that she could. Rich said to her " then you can read this. This is writen in Shakgalagari." She took the Hymnbook and began to read it out loud in a soft voice. Her smile was amazing. It brought tears to my eyes. This was the first time she had ever read anything in her language. What a blessing. You see...for so long the people out here have heard that their language could not be written down or understood by others. Now that lie is being transformed and the light that this language can be written down, read and understood by others. Wow. These moments are just a taste of what is to come through the process of translating the Bible. Thanks for your prayers and support,

Maya (for Rich and the kiddos)

December Update

rmrudowske@lbt.org — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 09:07:49 GMT

Dear friends,

As we approach the third Sunday in Advent, the Sunday of Joy, we are joyful for the continuing prayer, support, and encouragement you offer as we partner together in mission to the Bakgalagari. We have been in Gaborone the last two weeks taking our remaining vacation time. It has been a very important time of reflecting, assessing, and picturing life long term in Kang. By the time we return there next week, we will have lived there three months but will have been away from there for a total of one month when we take all the business trips and this vacation put together. Those times away have been important for us as we continue to immerse ourselves in what it really looks and feels like to live in a rural village in the Kgalagari Desert.

One important thing we have realized on this trip is that we simply are not getting enough nutrition out of the food we have available to us on a daily basis in Kang. Fresh fruits and vegetables are notably absent from the selection of goods available there. These things can be grown with some effort, but the majority of the people don't because they don't have the resources to do it, OR their resources are invested in herding and not agriculture.

We noticed our first week on our vacation in Gaborone that we are able to think more clearly and assess problems with much more creative thinking then when we are in the situation in Kang. A big difference is the availability of food with better nutritional value here. Because we cannot always be making the 500km round trip required to get to a bigger town to get fruits and veggies, we have decided to try our hand at raising some of these things ourselves. We have purchased soil, simple equipment and soon plants to raise tomatoes, herbs, avocados, grapefruit, oranges, and some leafy veggies. Please pray for wisdom and success in this venture.

Our biggest needs remain related to setting up our household so that we are able to focus on ministry functions. We need to install a water storage tank to give us a reserve if the village water supply has interruptions (which it all too unfortunately does). We need to install screens on the windows so that we can leave them open at night to cool down the house so we can sleep. We need to find someone to install a water heater that we recently purchased so we can bathe and do dishes without having to boil water on a campfire or on the stove (which adds more heat to the house). We are not trying to create a posh existence by any means, but if we are clean, have slept well, and have water we can be much more effective in the ministry tasks and just as a family in our interactions with each other.

We ask you to commit these things to prayer. If you are so led, we also ask you to consider a gift to LBT to our household setup fund. We need about $3500 yet to complete the things I mentioned along with a couple other improvements to better enable us to do ministry. A gift of any size is helpful and much appreciated. For more info on how to give please see the 'Partner With Us' tab on our website www.rudowskes.com.

Looking ahead, God willing, Rich will be participating in a workshop in January to help train translators to work with us on the project. Please pray for the candidates that we have identified to partner with us in this important aspect of our ministry: Esther Batshomi, a deaconess in the Lutheran church; Golekanye Reichelt, a prominent local businesswoman in the village of Hukuntsi, and Rev. Molemelo Molemele from one of the African Independent churches. This is a good diverse group of folks 1 man, two women, speakers from the major dialects of Shekgalagari, and representing both the mainline (european based) denominations and African based denominations. Pray for the three of them and me as we meet in December, and again in early Janaury for a period of relationship building and preparation for the workshop as well as for the workshop in January.

Lastly, we ask you to pray for our children. They are missing home this Christmas season, the newness and novelty of being in Botswana has worn off, and they (like us) are coming to terms with the prospect of life long term in the village. They are infinitely creative and have many opportunities to learn and explore but they are also American children and miss some of the entertainment and engagement offered by going to parks, malls, and the like. Pray that none of us will be discouraged but be always mindful of the blessing we have been given to be Jesus's ambassadors in this place. It is only grounded in Him, who once walked this earth in circumstances fairly similar to the ones we live in, that we are able to live and serve and love. Hoping this note finds you all well - God's blessings to you this Christmas and into the New Year.

Much love - Rich, Maya, and the Crew

Thanksgiving Thoughts

rmrudowske@lbt.org — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:46:08 GMT

It feels very strange to think that it will be Thanksgiving Day tomorrow in America. We have lived in the south and even then it didn't feel this strange b/c there was still the requisite November gloom and cloudiness even if it was warmer. Here it is all out summer, bright sunny days and lengthening as we approach the summer solstice.

By the way - if anyone from the parliament of the Republic of Botswana is reading this, we would love to talk to you about Daylight Savings Time. Having full daylight before 5AM one month before the solstice is not very useful or helpful - maybe we can work out an alternative plan.

We will be celebrating a thanksgiving meal some time next week when we take a trip into the capital city. As you celebrate, we hope that your time with extended family is meaningful and memorable. For the many of you for whom these times are painful because familial relations are difficult and conflicted - may God give you the grace and more importantly the wisdom to rise above those arguments and routines that always drag you down, may you be able to see and discern the destructive pattern and not fall into it this year, may the path to familial peace begin with you.

And for those of you who are lonely on these holidays, we understand what you feel. We have in the past also had to miss familial gatherings for one reason or another but this year it is poignantly different for us as we know that we can't participate in extended family gatherings for a number of years yet. This is a lonely time for us and for the children who are missing fall leaves and key family member's signature baked goods. Someone wisely pointed out to me that we have our family here with us and that is true. We will work to begin healthy and memorable traditions with overseas holiday commemorations. And the Lord to whom we give thanks is with us even here, providing for us here and He is the primary focus of these times.

But we look forward with great anticipation to participating in family holiday celebrations when we are back in the States in a few years. We regret that we have not held them as important as they really are and participated more fully in them. We hope to do this better when we are back. Wherever you are and however these holidays work for you, we pray God's blessing on you as you take time to give thanks and spend time with the ones you love. We love because He first loved us. Grace and peace.

Video Blog - Kalahari Campsite

rmrudowske@lbt.org — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:03:37 GMT

Video Blog - Office and Grounds at Kang Lutheran Church

rmrudowske@lbt.org — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:01:51 GMT

Learning how to go to the Doctor

rmrudowske@lbt.org — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:08:46 GMT

Navigating the unwritten 'script' in another culture can be a challenge - such as my recent visit to the doctor. Click 'more' to read all about it.

Christmas Southern Hemisphere Style

rmrudowske@lbt.org — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:57:06 GMT

Down here south of the equator it is heating up to the height of summer while also approaching Christmas. The other day I went to the mall in the capital city and found that they have Christmas decorations out in full force! Big decorated pine trees, light cicles, Santa, reindeer, and my favorite of all two eight foot tall inflatable snowmen! I had brought along someone from Kang and so I decided to ask her if she knew what the snowman was. She had no idea. I explained to her that in the northern USA children make these out of snow. I then had to explain what snow was. And that it was cold. She thought the whole idea of playing with such a substance was absurd much less making a 'person' out of it. Not being a fan of cold weather myself, I tend to agree with her. So, among the swaying palm trees and glowering trees and plants we have light cicles, fake snow, snowmen and Santa in his full fur coat and hat while temps approach 100. It seems the northern hemisphere truly dictates the feel of Christmas. Lol! Check out a couple pics here

Elections, Employee, and Office Space

rmrudowske@lbt.org — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:21:33 GMT

Click 'More' to read our weekly summary. Thank you for your continued prayer, support, and encouragement. Rich & Maya