First Day in Pakistan - A Whole New World

Walked across the Wagah border from India into Pakistan today.  Was a very friendly experience, different than how I thought it would be.  Actually I got way more scrutiny on the Indian side of the border (leaving the country) than on the Pakestani side.  The only moment that made my heart stop was when a solitary Pakestani soldier near the gate told me I couldn't come in.  I pointed to the Visa in my Passport, and he waved me on.  In retrospect, I think he was just acting tough for the benefit of his Indian counterpart who was literally 20 feet away (on the other side of the gate) and had already waved me through.  In any case, the entry into the country was a huge shrugger as it turned out.

After being picked up by Amos (from the radio ministry) I was taken to a pastor's home in Lahore.  [I'm going to make two stops in Pakestan - one with a short-wave radio ministry that invited me, and then with the CTKers that are led by Shahbaz John.]  After fellowship with this dear pastor, he asked if I would like to lay down and rest.  I couldn't say yes fast enough.  Was able to lay on his bed and take a cat-nap.  It was enough to get me through the rest of the day.  After we left his home, we went to join up with Edgar Pace (the leader of the radio ministry) who was leading a high-level meeting of the Presbyterian church in the area, trying to decide what to do with various properties.  The Presbyterians have been doing work in Pakestan for 150 years, and probably have the most to show for their efforts in terms of buildings.  I was able to eat a late lunch with everyone from the meeting, and then head to Faisalabad where I was supposed to teach at a 4pm service.  I did, in fact, teach in that service but we didn't arrive until after 6pm.  I don't like being late, but it seems to be par for the course in the Punjab culture.  [One service that I did in India started at 8am and I didn't get there until after noon...the people sang for four hours strait!]

Taught tonight on Intimacy with God (from Psalm 63) and felt like the church was very engaged with me.  I would guess there were 300-350 believers there tonight.  The church building I taught in is the oldest Christian church building in Faisalabad, built in 1902.  The believers renovated it in 2005.  

This is a very interesting time to be in Pakistan.  Prices of commodities have doubled in the last year, which is causing a lot of angst.  Some prices have doubled in the last 60 days.  The country does not have enough fuel to run its factories, so many are shut down and the people are out of work.  Hence there were a lot of protests in the streets today (burning tires, etc.) so we had to find ways around the congestion.  Add to that, there is a huge Muslim festival (the festival of slaughter) on the 17th and all Muslims are trying to round up animals that they can sacrifice.  So everywhere we looked there were impromptu markets for goats, cows, etc - some of them in the streets.  Finally, there was a terrorist attack yesterday in Karachi (or so I've been told) so everyone is on heightened alert.  The Taliban appears to be making inroads with the masses.  For instance, some businesses have donation jars set out to fund the Taliban.  

Tomorrow morning I will teach at the staff meeting at the radio ministry (about 20 staff), then in the afternoon do two sessions of pastor training.  Not sure yet what my Sunday (your Saturday) will bring, as I need to get ahold of Shahbaz and see what he has planned.  But I'm certain I will be teaching somewhere if not somewheres.    

I appreciate everyone's prayers for my health.  So far, I've not missed a beat, though a cold threatened to take me down for the count.  Was able to get some medicine, just enough sleep, and more than enough prayer to intercept the cold, and now I'm actually starting to feel well again.  Tonight I will get a full night's sleep in the guest house of the radio ministry, Lord willing (I did find a 6" lizard in my room that was less than comforting.)

On a personal note, I have been asking the Lord continually to reveal what he has for me on this trip.  I have often felt that CTK's development internationally is less about what we in American can teach them, but what they can teach us.  On this trip I am being even more selfish.  I'm praying, "God, what do you need to teach me?"  The the answer will probably become more clear over the months and years, than the days, but here are a few things that God has impressed upon me:

1.  I am not the man of prayer that I need to be.  As a general rule, believers around the world are people of prayer, and it shows.  One young man asked me last night after the meeting, "How many hours per day do you spend in prayer?"  Prayer is probably the biggest work area I've discovered while on this trip.  I've been pondering what it would mean for me, our church, and countless people if I became a leader in prayer.  

2.  I need to engage more with the church's denominations.  As a non-denominational pastor I've tended to remove myself from all things denominational, and secondly, maybe by virtue of the distance, come to false stereotypes about what is happening in these denominations.  What I've finding as I am interacting "up close and personal" with leaders from the Mennonite, Methodist and Presbyterian churches is that the leaders of those denominations feel trapped inside them - they are like hostages needed to be set free.  I believe that God has given me some spiritual, philosophical and organizational insights that the greater body needs, and right now I am feeling a great need to be a better steward of what God has deposited in me.

3.  I need to "up the ante" on my "people are the ministers" convictions.  I've placed a bet here, but I need to go "all in."  This is also related to 2. (above).  It has been heart-wrenching to see how the church around the world has succumbed to the "pastor is the minister" limitation.  I don't want to do the same thing, and only replace "pastor" with "directors" or "staff" or even "small group leader."  We have to place the ministry in the hands of the people!  It is our only chance of reaching the world.  This has become crystal clear to me on this trip.  

Love you all and miss you.  Lord willing will be home in two weeks - am just past the half way point for my trip!