Since arriving in Bangladesh, I have found a home, a place of worship and a place of genuine fellowship at Dhaka International Christian church (DICC). Dabbling in youth ministry while I have been here has been two extremes in the two groups I have taken part in. Last year, I semi-committed to OIC (One In Christ) as a leader, but between finding my feet as a first year teacher, being sick all the time, and struggling in my God-given situation, I wasn’t very committed... Neither were half the kids. We were blessed to have a few key kids who were there almost every week and wanted to know Jesus.
This year, DICC’s youth ministry has begun to take flight. We were devastated at the loss of a few of the older, committed kids as they headed to a Christian Boarding School in India which caters for the upper years in a way that Bangladesh cannot, and I wasn’t convinced that God could work this year (I know, I’m stupid for doubting, I’m stupid for even THINKING things couldn’t work). God has proved his faithfulness!!! This year, we have restructured our youth groups. Kingdom Kids (K2) is for kids aged 6-11, Uprising is for kids aged 11-14 and Revolution is for kids aged 15-18. I am one of four leaders for the Uprising group, and I couldn’t be having more fun if I tried!
I did the maths the other night, counting back the years... This is my seventh year in Youth Ministry... And I’m sad to say that this is the first time my heart is well and truly in it. Sad thought. Most shocking to me, is the realisation that up til this year, I THOUGHT I was a committed leader... Um, not so much! Uprising has challenged me in so many ways. Our kids generally fall into one of two categories, their parents are either here as missionaries (or Christians who were willing to come here with their business), or they are from strong Muslim/Hindi background. Those who fall into the first category blow me away each week with their wisdom, insight and understanding of God. Those who fall into the second category blow me away each week at the boldness they have in choosing to seek God, despite the hardships that are a strong potentiality from their families and non-Christian friends.
Living in a strongly Islamic country surprises me sometimes. Like how I had to come to a place such as this to find kids that are truly on fire for the One True God. Turns out that the fact that I never had that ‘aha’ moment of finding God actually makes sense here. In Bangladesh, the idea of having A religion is almost as important as breathing. Here, you very rarely find agnostics or atheists. Religion - and the idea of attaining some sort of place in a further paradise - is so ingrained in life. Everyone here is working towards something... But I’ve got grace, I don’t have to do anything but believe. How refreshing! I’m not sure I could cope, living within the constraints of a religion where you’re never completely assured of your salvation, where you’re the one in charge of making sure YOU get to heaven (or the paradise-equivalent of each belief). The beauty of Christianity in this context, is that we don’t HAVE to do anything, yet CHOOSING to do something brings such joy, satisfaction and a sense of service to God.
There are days when I scream and shout at God for bringing me to Bangladesh. There are days when I feel as though I’m being punished. There are days when I can’t stop crying, and I can’t quite figure out why. There are days that I wake up and feel inadequate here. There are days that I am ready to lasso myself to the first plane I see passing overhead. But through each of those days, God has pulled me through, and he continues to give me grace, hope, love and so many other things. Each new day is a gift, and for every bad moment, there are quite a few good ones.
Thanks goes out to god, first and foremost, however, I'd liek to thank everyone who makes this journey worthwhile - the people at home who still remember, and the people here who know...
Love,
Kim xox
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Thursday, November 4, 2010
A tiny insight into this addled mind tonight...
Since arriving in Bangladesh, I have found a home, a place of worship and a place of genuine fellowship at Dhaka International Christian church (DICC). Dabbling in youth ministry while I have been here has been two extremes in the two groups I have taken part in. Last year, I semi-committed to OIC (One In Christ) as a leader, but between finding my feet as a first year teacher, being sick all the time, and struggling in my God-given situation, I wasn’t very committed... Neither were half the kids. We were blessed to have a few key kids who were there almost every week and wanted to know Jesus.
This year, DICC’s youth ministry has begun to take flight. We were devastated at the loss of a few of the older, committed kids as they headed to a Christian Boarding School in India which caters for the upper years in a way that Bangladesh cannot, and I wasn’t convinced that God could work this year (I know, I’m stupid for doubting, I’m stupid for even THINKING things couldn’t work). God has proved his faithfulness!!! This year, we have restructured our youth groups. Kingdom Kids (K2) is for kids aged 6-11, Uprising is for kids aged 11-14 and Revolution is for kids aged 15-18. I am one of four leaders for the Uprising group, and I couldn’t be having more fun if I tried!
I did the maths the other night, counting back the years... This is my seventh year in Youth Ministry... And I’m sad to say that this is the first time my heart is well and truly in it. Sad thought. Most shocking to me, is the realisation that up til this year, I THOUGHT I was a committed leader... Um, not so much! Uprising has challenged me in so many ways. Our kids generally fall into one of two categories, their parents are either here as missionaries (or Christians who were willing to come here with their business), or they are from strong Muslim/Hindi background. Those who fall into the first category blow me away each week with their wisdom, insight and understanding of God. Those who fall into the second category blow me away each week at the boldness they have in choosing to seek God, despite the hardships that are a strong potentiality from their families and non-Christian friends.
Living in a strongly Islamic country surprises me sometimes. Like how I had to come to a place such as this to find kids that are truly on fire for the One True God. Turns out that the fact that I never had that ‘aha’ moment of finding God actually makes sense here. In Bangladesh, the idea of having A religion is almost as important as breathing. Here, you very rarely find agnostics or atheists. Religion - and the idea of attaining some sort of place in a further paradise - is so ingrained in life. Everyone here is working towards something... But I’ve got grace, I don’t have to do anything but believe. How refreshing! I’m not sure I could cope, living within the constraints of a religion where you’re never completely assured of your salvation, where you’re the one in charge of making sure YOU get to heaven (or the paradise-equivalent of each belief). The beauty of Christianity in this context, is that we don’t HAVE to do anything, yet CHOOSING to do something brings such joy, satisfaction and a sense of service to God.
There are days when I scream and shout at God for bringing me to Bangladesh. There are days when I feel as though I’m being punished. There are days when I can’t stop crying, and I can’t quite figure out why. There are days that I wake up and feel inadequate here. There are days that I am ready to lasso myself to the first plane I see passing overhead. But through each of those days, God has pulled me through, and he continues to give me grace, hope, love and so many other things. Each new day is a gift, and for every bad moment, there are quite a few good ones.
Thanks goes out to god, first and foremost, however, I'd liek to thank everyone who makes this journey worthwhile - the people at home who still remember, and the people here who know...
Love,
Kim xox
This year, DICC’s youth ministry has begun to take flight. We were devastated at the loss of a few of the older, committed kids as they headed to a Christian Boarding School in India which caters for the upper years in a way that Bangladesh cannot, and I wasn’t convinced that God could work this year (I know, I’m stupid for doubting, I’m stupid for even THINKING things couldn’t work). God has proved his faithfulness!!! This year, we have restructured our youth groups. Kingdom Kids (K2) is for kids aged 6-11, Uprising is for kids aged 11-14 and Revolution is for kids aged 15-18. I am one of four leaders for the Uprising group, and I couldn’t be having more fun if I tried!
I did the maths the other night, counting back the years... This is my seventh year in Youth Ministry... And I’m sad to say that this is the first time my heart is well and truly in it. Sad thought. Most shocking to me, is the realisation that up til this year, I THOUGHT I was a committed leader... Um, not so much! Uprising has challenged me in so many ways. Our kids generally fall into one of two categories, their parents are either here as missionaries (or Christians who were willing to come here with their business), or they are from strong Muslim/Hindi background. Those who fall into the first category blow me away each week with their wisdom, insight and understanding of God. Those who fall into the second category blow me away each week at the boldness they have in choosing to seek God, despite the hardships that are a strong potentiality from their families and non-Christian friends.
Living in a strongly Islamic country surprises me sometimes. Like how I had to come to a place such as this to find kids that are truly on fire for the One True God. Turns out that the fact that I never had that ‘aha’ moment of finding God actually makes sense here. In Bangladesh, the idea of having A religion is almost as important as breathing. Here, you very rarely find agnostics or atheists. Religion - and the idea of attaining some sort of place in a further paradise - is so ingrained in life. Everyone here is working towards something... But I’ve got grace, I don’t have to do anything but believe. How refreshing! I’m not sure I could cope, living within the constraints of a religion where you’re never completely assured of your salvation, where you’re the one in charge of making sure YOU get to heaven (or the paradise-equivalent of each belief). The beauty of Christianity in this context, is that we don’t HAVE to do anything, yet CHOOSING to do something brings such joy, satisfaction and a sense of service to God.
There are days when I scream and shout at God for bringing me to Bangladesh. There are days when I feel as though I’m being punished. There are days when I can’t stop crying, and I can’t quite figure out why. There are days that I wake up and feel inadequate here. There are days that I am ready to lasso myself to the first plane I see passing overhead. But through each of those days, God has pulled me through, and he continues to give me grace, hope, love and so many other things. Each new day is a gift, and for every bad moment, there are quite a few good ones.
Thanks goes out to god, first and foremost, however, I'd liek to thank everyone who makes this journey worthwhile - the people at home who still remember, and the people here who know...
Love,
Kim xox
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