Akiongozwa na Roho kwa Sifia Hudumia SPECIAL THANKS TO THE MANY CONTRIBUTORS FOR THIS

(Swahili for) BOOKLET

Led by the Spirit to Praise and Serve
Pastor William Nordmark
Pastor Dana Peterson
Tanzania, Africa  Pastor Tim Johnson
Pastor Norm Berg
Daily devotionals September 2‐24, 2008  Pastor Kjell Ferris
Dr. Ken Olson
Kelvin W. Miller
Karen Krafka
Gail Olson
Jude Boeser
Christopher Olson
Bev Dehn
Betty M. Tate
Dan and Jenna Rogness
Esther Olson
Mark & Peggy Olson
Sandy Thibault
Sandy Sokolik
Donna Rae Buckingham
Carly Olson Hand
Roberta Olson
Gretchen Christopherson
Donna Aasness
Michelle Wales

Compiled by:
Ken & Birdie Olson, Sandy and Bob Sokolik Esther Olson 
Judy Wolfe, Nona Nelson, Esther Olson
 
Bega Kwa Bega 
(Shoulder to shoulder) 
 
“Be the change you want to see in the world” 
Mahatma Gandhi
September 2, 2008
A Prayer Before Travel
Lutheran Book of Worship (the green hymnal) –
The Lutheran Church in America
Lord God our Father, you kept Abraham and Sarah in safety
throughout the days of their pilgrimage, you led the children of Israel
through the midst of the sea, and by a star you led the Wise Men to the
infant Jesus. Protect and guide us now in this time as we set out to
travel, make our ways safe and our homecomings joyful, and bring us
at last to our heavenly home, where you dwell in glory with your Son
and the Holy Spirit, God forever.
Corporate Confession & Forgiveness from Evangelical Lutheran
Worship “cranberry hymnal” ELCA
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in
us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive
our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteous-ness.
God who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin,
and made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved.
In the name of Jesus Chist, your sins are forgiven. Almighty God
strengthen you with power through the Holy Spirit, that Christ may
live in your hearts through faith
Amen
Kelvin W. Miller
Minister of Worship and Music
September 3, 2008
A few keys to a happy journey from The Art of Living by Wilferd
A. Peterson:
Travel courteously. Consideration for your fellow travelers and your
hosts will smooth the way through the most difficult days.
Travel gratefully. Show appreciation for the many things that are
being done by others for your enjoyment and comfort.
Travel with an open mind. Leave your prejudices at home.
Travel with curiosity. It is not how far you go, but how deeply you go
that mines the gold of experiences.
Travel patiently. It takes time to understand others, especially when
there are barriers of language and custom, keep flexible and adaptable
to all situations.
Travel with the spirit of a world citizen. You’ll discover that people
are basically much the same the world around. Be an ambassador of
good will to all people.
St. James friends and fellow travelers:
You are fortunate to be going to Tanzania. Some of you are seasoned
travelers – others are perhaps wondering if you made the right decision
to go. You must have been nudged by the Spirit of the Lord to pack
your bags and travel here.
You each have gifts and qualities that will touch the hearts of
those you travel with as well as those you meet and greet. Your
fears and reservations will be replaced with a common thread of
under-standing and joy. Will you discover it is a small world after
all?
Please extend, from their brothers and sisters in Christ at St. James,
greetings, hugs, handshakes and smiles as well as the gifts and
supplies you bring to the people who await you.
Heavenly Father, wrap your loving arms around these faith filled St.
James and friends travelers. Keep them safe & nurture them to accept
the challenges and beauty of the journey to Tanzania.
Karen Krafka
Travel humbly. Visit people and places with reverence and respect for
their traditions and ways of life.
September 4, 2008
Now there was an Ethiopian.... He had come to Jerusalem to
worship." Acts 8:27
(read Acts 8:26-38 if possible)
This story leaves us full of questions. It's a long way from Israel or
Gaza to Ethiopia by any means, especially a chariot. Where did an
Ethiopian get a scroll of the prophet Isaiah? Where did he hear of
the
God of Israel? It seems that the gospel has been in Africa a lot longer
then we have often been led to believe!
The faith and devotion of this long-ago Ethiopian is absolutely
amazing. Whether it is Africa or our own towns and cities in the
United States, we often find God at work before we get there. It is our
responsibility to join in the work of the Spirit wherever we find the
Sprit of God at work.
You are entering an area of the world where, among poverty, illness
and strife, God is powerfully at work. The church is growing in ways it
is difficult for us to imagine. You come from an area of the world
where there is, or should be, food, health care and peace. Yet the
Christian church is, at best, holding its own. Perhaps we can take heart
in the humility of the Ethiopian who sees his need for the one who
Isaiah longed for.
A professor once said to me," Tim, do you really want to see your
church on fire for God?" I assured him that I did. He said," Hire one of
the African students to do Evangelism with and in Zion."
I pray that you have a marvelous time of learning and faith and joy
with our Christian brothers and sisters in Africa.... and enjoy watching
the Spirit at work!
Pastor Tim Johnson
Zion Lutheran Church
Esther and Nona's pastor
September 5, 2008
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a
multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without
grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to
serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various
forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very
words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength
God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus
Christ. 1 Peter 4: 8-11.
Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
What is the special gift you find yourself using on this journey?
Perhaps it is a gift you are not called on to use very often. Perhaps
your gift is not obvious to others, but still importa nt, like the gift of
prayer. Whatever it is, nurture that special gift of yours and celebrate
the gifts that your fellow pilgrims share, as well.
And what of the gifts of those you meet? Each time and place
demands different gifts and different tools. Every child of God—and
we are all the children of God—has his or her own special gifts. This
journey will test your gifts you know so well how to use in familiar
territory, maybe help you find new ones hidden somewhere in your
soul. For the speaker, the gift of hearing. For the teacher, the gift of
learning. For the helper, the gift of being helped. Jesus calls on us to
use our gifts to build the kingdom of God here on earth. And you will
find in others gifts you did not expect to find.
PRAYER
God of Grace,
You gave your son Jesus to help us learn how to more perfectly love,
to learn and grow our own gifts, not for our glory, but to build your
kingdom here on earth. May we be a blessing and be blessed as we
continue our journey. We ask this in the name of Jesus.
Amen.
Gail Olson
September 6, 2008
Romans 12: 6-8 “In his grace God has given us different gifts for
doing certain things well. So if God had given you the ability to
prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your
gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.
If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give
generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the
responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness
to others, do it gladly.”
As we journey down this road of life, we are given many
opportunities. The road turns and twists. Sometimes it is quite evident
which fork in the road we should take. Lots of times we instinctively
know the right road to take, but we opt for the easiest, the most self
serving one.
In coming to know Christ, when we realize the many blessings he has
given us, we need to remember the gifts we have. Often we have
trouble discerning these gifts. But once we say “yes” to a calling from
God, he will make it clear what your gift is in serving others. It is up
to us to use it to the best of our ability. To use the gift as God intended
us to use it.
My prayer for you all on the journey of yours is to use your gifts
wisely. Then everyone, you, the people you meet and God can rejoice
and give thanks.
Jude Boeser
September 7, 2008
Your African trip
In thinking about your trip, and the group traveling together, it struck
me that you are embarking on such a wonderful and memorable
journey. You are truly blessed to have such an opportunity, and to be
able to carry the memory of your experience throughout your days.
So please drink in all the sights, sounds, smells and tastes. Reflect
from moment to moment on the grandeur of the experience. Be
thankful for all that you have and all that you have to offer.
I will leave you with a deep thought, courtesy of Jack Handey;
The memories of my family outings are still a source of strength to me.
I remember we would all pile into the car – I forgot what kind it was -
and drive and drive. I’m not sure where we would go, but I think there
were some trees there. The smell of something was strong in the air as
we played whatever game we played. I remember a bigger, older guy
we called “Dad.” We’d eat some stuff or not, and then I think we went
home. I guess some things never leave you.
Christopher Olson
September 8, 2008
Genesis 12:2-5 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless
you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I
will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will
curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. So
Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him.
Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
Abram took his wife Sarai and his brother’s son Lot, and all the
possessions that they had gathered, and the persons whom they
had acquired in Haran, and they set forth to go to the land of
Canaan.
Abraham was called to travel. God told him to leave home, family, and
the land. This took much courage and trust in God. You have decided
to leave your home for this trip (with care for flowers, pets, garden, air
conditioning, etc). You have left you family at home in Minnesota,
realizing how much you would miss them and they would miss you.
You have ventured to a far away land where you have never been with
its risks as well as its intrigue. But you have a “safety net”, you travel
with experienced human guides who have been here before, and you
anticipate a return to your home, family and land. Yet there is a sense
of adventure in this travel – a venturing into the unknown. You
anticipated some things that you have now experienced, but there have
been many surprises as well. May you, like Abraham, realize that God
has encouraged you to take this trip and that God goes with you
throughout the entire journey of your life.
Prayer: Almighty God, thank you for the blessings of life that have
enabled us to venture to Africa. Thank you for the resources of
health, money, guides, friends, safety & countless other gifts that
have enabled us to be here together. Continue to bless us with
awareness of your gifting presence. AMEN
Pastor Norm Berg, ELCA
September 9
Here be Dragons…
Exodus 3:14
I will be there; as who I am will I be there with you. (Hebrew scholar
translation of I AM WHO I AM; quoted from Quest for the Living God,
Elizabeth A Johnson)
Ancient mapmakers sometimes indicated Here be Dragons in the areas
beyond the familiar, those areas which most certainly held dark and
dangerous monsters; not unlike going to a place we have never been or
experiencing a people we have never known. Whether the unknown is
physical or spiritual, real or imagined, we may feel it is dragon-
infested.
The magnificent adventure you are on is identifying and, hopefully,
redefining some of your own dragons; replacing the phrase Here be
Dragons with God is here.
Everyone has their own “dragons” and as you interact with others and
identify the presence of God instead of dragons, you also help them
redefine theirs.
Today’s prayer is that you see God in those places and people
unknown, and that through your interaction, they also can identify our
universal loving God in their own dragon places:
Father of our Lord Jesus, we ask that your grace make us effective
signs of your presence in the world and its people. Amen.
Bev Dehn
September 10, 2008
Psalm 118:24 “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us
rejoice and be glad in it.”
Dear Lord, this morning I have come into the quietness and stillness of
your presence to begin the day, so that out of this moment I may take
with me a quiet serenity which will last me through the rough and
tumble of this day.
I have come to find WISDOM, so that today I may not make any
foolish mistakes.
I have come to find PEACE, so that nothing may worry or upset me all
through today.
I have come to fine LOVE, that all through today nothing may make
me bitter or unforgiving or unkind.
I have come to begin the day with You, to continue with You, and to
end it with You, so that it will be a day which will have in it nothing to
regret.
AMEN
Betty M. Tate
September 11, 2008
In a book, “The Poisonwood Bible”, it mentions that in Africa, the
land owns the people. In the United States, I don’t believe we would
ever think of our land that way. But consider the true meaning of this
statement as you travel through this far-away continent called Africa.
The land looks different than back home in Minnesota …the color of
African soils and the varied types of trees and animals. Pay attention
to how Africans relate to their land, such as their houses that are made
from materials gathered directly from their surroundings. African feet
and hands touch the soil and water directly as they work and play.
Their “African time” is based on the natural rhythm of each day and
night much more than on the consistency of a mechanical clock.
Think of how God created the land and water that encompasses our
earth, and then, it would make sense for us to understand the African
belief that their land owns their people. Even with little or no
possessions, Tanzanians have a special way of understanding God’s
blessings in daily life. The author of a front-page article in the last
edition of the Companion News said this: “It is said that Tanzanian
people are so involved with each day, that they don’t plan for the
future, and that Americans are so busy planning for the future that they
don’t enjoy each day”.
May God’s presence in the land and people provide true opportunities
for you to see God’s blessings each day while in this special place,
Tanzania.
Dan and Jenna Rogness
(We can relate to the land you travel through and to the wonderful
Tanzania people)
September 12, 2008
All the earth shall worship You and sing of your glories. Come, see
the glorious things God has done.
Ps. 66: 4 & 5
Is this not the purpose of this fantastic trip? What a blessing to travel
with Christians who love the Lord and to see together God’s work in
this wonderful far off land. We see His marvelous works daily in our
lives here, in church, our pastors, dedicated church workers, our
families, friends, neighbors. I am sure we will feel humbled by seeing
Gods beautiful African people, their activities, their homes, their toil
and perhaps the meager way in which they live and how much they
appreciate what they have compared to the appreciation we may have
or show for the abundance in our comfortable lives.
PRAYER:
Dear heavenly Father, we ask for your leadership and guidance in all
that we say and do on this wondrous adventure. Open our eyes that we
may see clearly any need You would have us fulfill. Thanks be to God
for His amazing and everlasting love.
Esther Olson
Zion Lutheran Church, Anoka
September 13, 2008
JAMES 4:13-15
Come now you say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and
such a town and spend a year there, doing business and making
money”. Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring.
What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while
and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wishes,
we will live and do this or that”.
James lived in a more treacherous situation than we do.Modern life has
enabled us to forget about the fragility of life – that we are one breath,
one heartbeat away from our demise. We don’t like the reality that we
are mortal. We want the good life we enjoy to go on and on. We place
our trust in weather reports, airplane pilots, tour guides, vaccinations,
water purification systems, the advice of doctors, the economy
(sometimes!), and feel exempt from the dangers that lie ahead. The old
expression “the Lord willing” ought to be on each of our daily
calendars. We don’t really know what lies ahead for us, but we press
on realizing that we are secure in the will of God.
PRAYER:
Gracious God, we place our trust and faith in You. Thank you for
providing all the physical, material and human resources that give us
confidence to live out this day. But enable us to see all of these gifts
from you, the Lord of Life -our Creator, Redeemer and sanctifier –
the One in whom we ultimately place our trust.
Pastor Norm Berg, ELCA
September 14, 2008 September 15, 2008

Here are the words to “Africa” by the Paul Colman Trio:

Africa,
We smiled at you from behind the glass
Africa, And without reserve and whiter than snow
I came to change you but instead you changed me You smiled back at us
And I confess I came to frame you in a photograph And you showed me who
But you showed me why And you turned this mind around
And you turned this heart around And I see your hands reach out to God
And I see your smile how it can be So much higher than ours
So much brighter than me And your silent eyes they scream
And your silent eyes they scream Of hunger and meaning and eternal dreaming
Of hunger and meaning and eternal dreaming Africa
Africa
On return, we understand the word “neighbor” differently. I wonder if
We come with curiosity and leave with a passion we did not expect to I can be a better neighbor there and here?
have. For all we have to bring to Africa, the lessons we have to learn
far out-shadow our own contributions. We have so much yet are not The song ends with a refrain:
content.
Afrika mimi naku penda

Ken In Swahili it means, “Africa, I love you.”

My first experience in Africa certainly gave new meaning to Matthew

16:15:

“And he said unto them Go ye into all the world and preach the
gospel to every creature.”

I am not sure who benefited more!

Ken
September 16, 2008
Psalm 41:1 “Happy are they who consider the poor and needy!
The Lord will deliver them in the time of trouble.”
Many thoughts race through my mind as I sit here thinking about
going to Africa. I am excited but yet a little apprehensive. Ever
since 2006 when a group of St. James members went to Tanzania I
have thought a lot about the opportunity to travel to this foreign
land to experience a different culture and life style. I am looking
forward to walking along side our brothers and sisters in Iringa
and Idunda. I’m not sure exactly what to expect but those who
have gone before us say it was a life changing experience. It’s
reassuring to be traveling with the Olson’s who went in 2006.
They have a wealth of information and experiences that are
helpful to our group.
I’m a little apprehensive because Tanzania is a long distance away;
there are language differences; and just having had a series of shots,
there is a possibility of diseases that are unheard of in the US in this
day and age; and of course all the political and tribal unrest that is not
far from where we will be. But, even with these apprehensions, I’m
anxious and excited to be on our way.
I feel God is sending me to this far away place to open my heart and
eyes to learn from those who have far less than we do. Less
materially, but more in the understanding and knowledge of what God
really wants us to focus on in this lifetime. For those that have so little
but are a very gracious and joyful people.
Heavenly Father – Open my mind to listen and learn about joy and
living with little from a different culture so far away. Remove my
apprehension and help strengthen my faith. Teach me to be thankful
and joyful for what you have provided.
Sandy Sokolik
September 17, 2008
LUKE 24; 12-16 But Peter got up and ran from the tomb; stooping
and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went
home, amazed at what happened. Now on that same day two of
them were going to the village called Emmaus, about seven miles
from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things
that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus
himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept
from recognizing him.
It is so easy to get caught up in our lives and the agendas we create for
our lives. On this trip we’ve needed an agenda because there is so
much to see and do. In our normal days back home we likewise have
the schedules we must keep, the things we must do, and the people we
must see and communicate with. We feel a certain amount of control
and like to think that getting of our agendas will not be a good thing.
Today we are grateful for the surprises. There are animals that popped
out, unscheduled, for us to see. There are foods that we have had that
surprised us – sometimes for our pleasure and future pleasure, and
sometimes for remembrance only. There are people we’ve met whose
life experiences have opened us up to whole new ways of thinking of
things. But, even as those walking on the road to Emmaus needed to
wake up to what was really going on, so we have had surprises that
have pre-empted our plans and ideas. And we have been enriched by
the surprises.
PRAYER: As we go through our daily agendas always keep us open
to surprises. Above all, enable us to realize that throughout our
agendas and amid the surprises You are walking with us.
Amen
Pastor Norman Berg
September 18, 2008 September 19, 2008

Psalm 34:7 “The angel of the Lord camps around those who fear Delight in the details
God, and he delivers them.”
Sing with the birds
Psalm 91:11 “For he shall give his angels charge over thee to keep Laugh with the children
thee in all your ways” Psalm 34:7 “The angel of the Lord camps Dance with the sunlight
around those who fear God, and he delivers them.” Hug each other often
Delight in the details
Psalm 91:11 “For he shall give his angels charge over thee to keep Watch for the blue van
thee in all your ways” Find a choo buddy
Look for Jerry
The Bible tells me every time an angel appears to someone in all his Create inside jokes
glory, he tells them not to be afraid. Why? Because angels are huge, Delight in the details
strong, muscled beings carrying swords and weapons to protect God’s Get exhausted from the sites, smells, sounds.
children and cause them to prosper. Angels move at the sound of Write down everything
God’s word and clear the path before us to take us into inevitable Paint the sunset.
victory. Delight in the details.

My friends; There is an angel stationed at your side at this very This is the day that the Lord has made.
moment. He is there to minister to you – to provide all that you need Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
to be successful in your endeavors. If the devil sets a garrison of his
evil forces against you, you can pray to the Father and he’ll send you Hugs and kisses with love,
twelve legions of angels to ensure your victory. No matter what you Carly
are facing, you can always know that there are more that are on your
side than any army the enemy can muster.

Our prayer: Thank you Lord for the multitude of heavenly messengers
Carly Olson “Happy birthday today” with love,
who are always around about us, guarding, guiding and protecting us
and our loved ones. We have no doubt that throughout our entire trip Grandma O. and all the Travelers
we will experience the mighty protection of your angels in a very
mighty way and they will be unhindered in their work of protecting us.

Amen

His love and mine,

Donna Rae Buckingham

September 20, 2008
Hebrews 12:1-3
1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of
witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that
so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race
marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and
perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the
cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the
throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from
sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
A Story from the Olympics:
Hours behind the runner in front of him, the last marathoner finally
entered Olympic stadium. By that time, the drama of the day’s event
was almost over and most of the spectators had gone home. This
athlete’s story, however, was still being played out.
Limping into the arena, the Tanzanian runner grimaced with every
step, his knee bleeding and bandaged from an earlier fall. His ragged
appearance immediately caught the attention of the remaining crowd,
who cheered him on to the finish line.
Later, when he was asked, “Why did you stay in the race? What made
you endure your injuries to the end?” he replied, “My country did not
send me 7,000 miles away to start the race. They sent me 7,000 miles
to finish it!”
We are called to help finish the work that God has started in Tanzania,
making disciples of all nations and loving our neighbors as ourselves.
Sometimes the road seems long and obstacles do present themselves.
But we go out with good faith, knowing that God is leading us. As we
begin our journey, let us ask for God’s blessing on all that we do.
PRAYER: Dear God, thank you for this day. Please be with all of us
as we do the work of the church and guide our thoughts and actions. In
your name we pray, Amen.
Roberta Olson
September 21, 2008
PROV: 8:11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all things that
may be desired are not to be compared to it.
Comparisons are essential in competition, in measuring growth, in
science, in recognizing things that match and a great part of the
learning process. However, our minds tend to overuse this same
thought process and it gets carried over to every area of our life.
Without ever intending to do so, we end up judging ourselves and
others. Today I will remind myself to be more aware of times when I
need to let God be the judge. Today I will practice letting some things
just be. If I look at a rose; can I look at it without thinking of one I saw
last week? Look at it without even thinking about the one next to it and
look at it in simple wonder as it is? I can create a different thought
process that I can use in balance with comparisons. I can become more
aware of each mind set so balance is obtained.
Heat of the summer resembles conflict and misunderstanding. Rain
sometimes helps but soon the humidity rises again and the comfort
level changes with it again. Once there has been a conflict, distance,
time and forgiveness help. But like the heat of the summer, the same
conflict can rise again. There will always be conflict. I thank God there
will always be forgiveness.
Donna Aasness
September 22, 2008
I have not had the opportunity to travel to Africa yet, but I hope
and trust that someday I will have the chance to visit and perhaps
even stay for awhile…. Yet, I have traveled quite a bit and have
been blessed to witness God working in Asia the past two years.
What God has really put on my heart of recent, I found summed up
recently in a book: The Next Wave: Empowering the Generation
that will Change our World:
“When young people are mobilized in large numbers, they have an
enormous synergistic capacity to bring about change in the
world.”(p14)
But as the book goes onto point out, most leaders who have
realized the potential of youth have only used them for violence
and suffering. They noted Adolf Hitler, Mao Zedong, and even
the genocide in Rwanda. Yet it is in the story of Rwanda that we
begin to see what the young people of the world are capable of if
they are mobilized with a message of forgiveness and salvation
instead of hate and despair. In 2005, only 11 years after the
genocide of almost 1 million people, Rwanda is a beacon of hope
and a story of miraculous redemption. And youth are helping
lead the way.
Paul had this to say to his young leader Timothy:
“Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be
an example for the believers in your speech, your conduct, your love,
faith, and purity.” 1 Tim 4:12
I believe with all my heart that God is calling this young
generation to be an agent for change in this world. Yet they need
to be equipped, mentored, protected, and allowed to lead.
Ask God how you can play a part in equipping the young people in
your life here in Africa and back in the US, and for the courage to do
so.
Gretchen Christopherson
September 23, 2008
Mark 1: 32, 34, 35 -…They brought unto Jesus all that were
diseased and those who were possessed with demons. And he
healed many that were sick with diverse diseases, and cast out
many demons;…And in the morning, rising up a great while
before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and
there prayed
There was a family on vacation, walking along the beach. The little
boy was picking up shells, broken pieces of shells. After a while the
boy saw a starfish 30 feet off shore and he loves starfish, they are his
favorite. The whole family sees the starfish and the boy getting very
excited and they cheer him on, “Go for it! Get it! It’s yours!” The boy
runs 15 feet into the mild surf, then pauses and runs back to shore. The
family cheers even more and the boy tries again, but when he is 20 feet
out he stops, obviously very frustrated and runs back. This time the
family has their hands up cheering and clapping. The boy turns back
and when he is almost to the starfish he stops. The dad asks, “what’s
wrong?” And the boy, with tears of frustration says “my hands are
filled with shells.”
Is this you? Are your hands full of shells and unable to do anything
more? Do you ever feel like life is passing you by? May you drop your
shells and pursue the things God has for you.
Prayer:
Dear God may we drop our shells in pursuit of a simple
disciplined, focused life. A life where we pursue the things God
has for us. AMEN
The above is taken from Sunday Sept 17th sermon as given by:
Pastor Kjell Ferris at Zion Lutheran Church, Anoka
Permission to use given to Esther Olson
 ON YOUR JOURNEY
Matthew 28: 18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven
and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey
everything I have commanded you and surely I am with you
always, to the very end of the age.”
In this passage of Matthew; Jesus does not suggest that we
make disciples of all nations, He commands it. It is this passage that
our Lutheran heritage tells us to baptize not just believing adults but
rather even our infants. Our Christian heritage has come largely from
the European cultures of the renaissance and unfortunately exactly
where our heritage lies many times will determine whether we are
today a Lutheran, Catholic or Reformed believer. It is in this passage
that this heritage stops. Through Christ’s authority we are to baptize all
nations. All nations is a broad inclusion of people; People of all ages.
They are to be baptized not as a symbol, but as a means of Grace!
Grace that Christ provides through every prayer of repentance and
forgiveness of others. The “buck” stops at Christ. Past Christ, the other
side from where we stand God sees us as perfect, no blemishes. It is
that Grace that we all can receive because of baptism.
It only makes sense then to do what you are doing. You have
had your children and hopefully each has been baptized and nurtured
in Christ all their lives. But now you are being witnesses to the rest of
the world. Praise God, who of you would have thought God, would
use you in such a wonderful way.
Rejoice today that you, even if indirectly are making disciples
of all nations and baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit.
May the Lord bless you today and keep Him at the forefront of
all your thoughts!
May God richly bless you.
Mark & Peggy Olson
REFLECTIONS
Philippians 4:8
A few years ago Peg and I had the opportunity to visit India in much
the same way you are doing in Africa. One of our stops was at Varanasi a
city on the Ganges River. Varanasi is the Hindu “Mecca” of the world. It is
incumbent upon every Hindu to visit Varanasi once in his or her lifetime.
You might think that a religious capital might be a very pristine place, one of
beauty and of cleanliness. It wasn’t. It had just rained and there was grime
beneath our feet. We had the feeling that this “grime” was not just mud, but
rather mud and manure. The filth was over whelming. As we walked up the
hill through the town from the Ganges River, which was full of dead cows
and bathing people, the smells became absolutely intolerable. In one
particular area a cow was feeding on a pile of garbage while five feet from its
tail someone was heating a large vat of milk (for cheese or something). The
stench was absolutely intolerable. The sites were intolerable. I still can find
myself gagging at the thought of the experience. I leaned over to one of the
Pastors on the trip and said, “I don’t know how to deal with this, I’m getting
sick.” He used the passage from Philippians to help calm me. He quoted
Philippians 4:8: Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble,
whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable
– if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put
it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
I immediately began to notice the mass entanglement of power lines
that were being used to “black market” electrical power from the power
companies. There were other things around me that I began to focus on other
than the incredible filth. It wasn’t long before I forgot that sick feeling from
the filth we had encountered.
As you travel, especially in overwhelming poverty, you may need to
recall these words of wisdom from Paul. If you do, think of God’s grace and
what you have to be thankful for. Look at the beauty of the people you
encounter, think of how you can be a witness to them.
May you keep Christ at the fore front of all your thoughts today and
may God bless you real good.
God bless your day.
Mark & Peggy Olson

Matthew 28:20 “b”
And surely I am with you always, to the end of the earth.
We in the U.S. don’t speak much about demon possession or
satanic worship or other intentional pursuits of the dark side. Usually
witchcraft or casting spells or fighting the devil himself is made light
of. Horoscopes are considered to be benign entertainment that really
don’t have much weight in how they affect our lives. But as one
travels to foreign lands the occult and effects of Satan are more open
and become more obvious.
When we were in the Dominican Republic, many of the house
cleaning staff were Haitians. We were warned that at times Haitians
would lose control and go out of their heads. Haitians practice
Voodoo, a cross between Christianity and dark African customs. They
literally would practice inviting spirits into their own being and
become possessed. This absolutely frightened me to the core.
It was sometime later that I was talking to my Pastors wife
about this situation. She told me about a little girl riding with her
father in the car. A bee flew in the window and terrified the little girl.
“Daddy, Daddy kill it, kill it, you know I am deathly allergic to bee
stings. The father reached out and grabbed the bee. The girl settled
down and the two of them drove on. After awhile, the father let the bee
out of his hand. Terrified the girl exclaimed, “It’s going to kill me. It’s
going to kill me! At that point the father held out his hand and showed
the young girl. He said, “You don’t have to worry, I have taken the bee
sting in my hand and all the bee can do now is scare you.
So remember as you travel Jesus’ words; “Surely, I am with
you always to the very end of the age.” Christ has taken the sting of
Satan himself and defeated him. He is powerless for those who
believe. All he can do is scare you.
May the presence of Christ be with you today.
In Christ,
Mark & Peggy Olson
RELATIONSHIPS
I am writing this devotion with some sadness as I cannot go along on
this trip. However, I have a unique perspective as I have traveled to
Tanzania with some members of this group before. I would go to
Africa again in a heartbeat and there is not a day that goes by that I
don’t reflect on what I learned there.
From almost the first interaction with the people, you understand that
they know something about relationships and being in community with
each other that we have forgotten. They are genuinely interested in
getting to know you, sometimes holding your hand in the process.
Everywhere we went we were asked to introduce ourselves…taking as
much time as we needed to do it. You see, time is measured much
differently there; we called it Africa Time. Relationships always came
first, even at the market. When you shop in Iringa, Tanzania, it is
almost a spiritual experience because of the relationship that is formed
over even the smallest purchase.
When I got home, I had a hard time adjusting to the distance we keep
with each other on all levels. We have forgotten how, or are unwilling
to take the time needed to be in relationships that are meaningful. Life
is so fast paced here that we hardly take notice of what is happening
around us. It was not until I spend time there that I realized what we
were missing at home. Many of you reading this may never have the
desire to go to Africa but that does not mean that you cannot benefit
from their strong desire to be in community with others.
Each morning when I get up I thank God for what I have be given and
ask what I can do to help draw people together in a common bond.
We have forgotten that we need each other to traverse this journey
called life, but they need each other to survive, building a strong
community in the process. But I think the biggest gift I learned was
unconditional love for all. You don’t have to be in Africa to do that
you can do it with every moment of your life. Is that not what God has
called all of us to do?
Sandy Thibault
Prayer: This day we ask that your love and protection be poured out
upon our travelers in Africa. We pray that all lives will be touched
with the spirit of unconditional love and that we find our relationships
to be nurturing and blessings those around us. Amen