"Vision Casting"

As our journey nears a close, Dubai has proved to be a very fruitful visit. Much deeper than a warm shower and a beautiful city, we have been able to spend time with a man who has been living our dream for nearly 30 years.

Elder Kim (shown above) is the perfect picture of what "business as missions" looks like. He is indeed a brilliant business man who has secured contracts to supply construction materials for the US armed forces since 1990. His company today employs 700 people and is represented in 10 countries spread across the middle east and central asia.

Though thoroughly impressed by the business results, the staggering part comes next. His ultimate goal is not fueled by wealth, power, or status, but rather by the impact he can have for the Kingdom of God. Each country where he transacts business a ministry is created as well. He hires people who are like-minded to go into the numerous regions in order to grow his business, but also who are driven to share the gospel with the least reached people groups in the world.

One entity standing for both entirely business and entirely missions -- this is not a new concept, but one that is not often considered. This is my dream. For years now, I have struggled between a deep call to reach the 10/40 window, and a clear gifting and enjoyment in business. Until late last year, even I had not considered the potential of merging the two.

Now, after a successful research and return trip, the real work starts back home. My charge is to create enterprise that can not only fund ministry, but to also extend the gospel to collegues and consumers alike. Pray that I may receive wisdom to light the path, and that all glory will go to the Lord. Pray that all people in the last unreached frontier can hear the gospel proclaimed clearly, so that the Lord can return soon.

From Dubai, at the start of something big,

J~

"Dubai"

Where do I begin? Tonight has been such a treat to cap off a wonderful trip to Afghanistan. Our arrival began by meeting with Peter Chun at the airport, and then heading to eat dinner with Elder Kim. We drove through downtown Dubai, which is full of skyscrapers as far as the eye can see, and almost twice as many cranes could be spotted, which promise to bolster the skyline even further.

Though we were expecting humble kimchee to eat, we were taken to an upscale Korean restaurant where Bob and I each were able to enjoy a platter of marinated short ribs at the price of $45/plate ... elder Kim foot the bill. Kim deals in trading construction goods all over the world and his operation is housed from Dubai. Confirming his fiscal health, we gathered into his Mercedes and headed to the mission house where we are staying tonight.

This place is plush with everything from air conditioning (yes, ac is plush after being in Kabul) to memory foam mattresses. Though we have not accomplished any meaningful goals yet, this evening has served as a much needed oasis.

What we have found out so far:

• Elder Kim is the ideal contact to aid in surveying the economic climate in Dubai and the entire Middle East.


• Chun's relationship with him will be key in the growth of our ministry west.


• Mercedes can drive really fast.

Needless to say, I am very much looking forward to what tomorrow holds.

"Stay the Course"

Without breaching the subject of politics, our armed forces have done amazing things for this country. Even though I may have felt differently before coming, they indeed do need to stay the course in order to see this country's progress be sustained.

It has been somewhat of a paradigm shift for me to sit and talk with the so called "ordinary people" of Afghanistan. It cannot be said enough, they simply desire the same basic principals of life that Americans seek. Yet, after decades of oppression, many have given up hope entirely.

US forces bring stability yes, but along side that stability they bring hope. Their presence has created the opportunity for girls to attend school, women to uncover and take on identity, and economic growth to launch. If we leave too early Afghanistan will fall back into a state of constant terrorism and subject to the Talliban yet again. Pray for their freedom, and an environment that will allow choice to exist.

"Jamvar Lopis ..."

... or better known stateside as "Jennifer Lopez." It is interesting to see what American pop-culture seeps into Afghan pop-culture ... and for the conservative Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, J-Lo is that much more of an anomaly.

One of our core passions is to inject music by the Edge Band into places like Afghanistan and China (if you don't know who the edge band is just ask me). Today, we were encouraged to see a picture of how this plan could become reality (more to come later) ... and as you can tell above, we had a few laughs along the way.

"The Learning Luxury"

Compelled to reflect on my experiences with education and what has been given to me in life, I have realized that education should own a much higher value in my mind. Though my wife has dedicated her life towards teaching, I must confess my respect for the profession was ashamedly low.

Spending time at two schools in Afghanistan where students are starving to learn has changed me. The fortunate ones (predominately upper-class boys) are able to attend public school. However, there are far more children who must face life without being armed to ever raise themselves out of the despair their family has been in for generations.

Our school provides this opportunity, and the children come ready to bear the sacrifice and responsibility to learn. They bring a hunger for class and studying that I have never seen in my experience. They get it -- they understand the impact of education far more than I ever had.

Finaly I have come to this: Education is supreme. It is the provider of opportunity, hope, progress, truth, love, peace, the list is endless -- basically everything that is good is learned. We don't come pre-packaged with anything good ... it must come to us from OUTSIDE of us.

I can only hope that we can continue to find a way to increase capacity, build more schools, and bring more hope to Afghanistan and beyond. It IS important. Pray that God will continue to move in this way as we move west, and that workers will rise up to lead the charge on the front lines.

"Mush the Bounty Hunter"

I was struggling to find a way to pay for the trip here. Fortunatelly, the reward for this capture should help cover the costs.

"I Left My Heart in Bagram"

With our days packed full it can sometimes be difficult to draw out one highlight. However, today was most certainly an exception. We were able to travel to a village near Bagram to spend some time with children who represent the lowest rung of poverty in Afghanistan. In spite of a clear language barrier, it was a great joy to share His love by bringing gifts in the form of school supplies and food.

Reality came clear in their midst regarding the weight of our calling. The odds are set against each one from birth. They will be raised into a religion that has deceived generation after generation, and provides no hope for redemption or a relationship with God. They will be brought up in a culture that assigns a lower value to women and teaches an intrinsic hatred for people who follow the true God. They will not be given the luxery of choice. They will face death if they seek the truth and turn from Islam.

Yet, I can stand on the certainty that God's love is offered to them freely just as it was offered to me. Not because anything we have done, but freely given through the price paid on the cross. Our impact is great for the Kingdom, however more workers are needed. Bankers, doctors, students, engineers, electricians, office managers, retirees, contractors, namely normal people are the ones who make this happen. When my last chapter is writen, I will consider even my small role in this movement to be what really mattered in life.

"Why I'm Here"

You tend to form a picture in your mind without any experience to back it up about what life looks like in Afghanistan. Too an extent the grim painting I had in my mind was correct. However, I was humbled yet again by the individuals that make up a country that has been victim to hurt for so many years.

Behind every insurgent, every suicide bomber, there are thousands of individuals who are desire the same things from life as you and I. They do not have the chance to take for granted things like security, economy, freedom, or even a pursuit for real truth. However, many of them carry an unswerving hope for a better future.

This reality, the one based on more than just assumptions, is what has provoked a middle-class banker from southern Indiana to leave the comforts of home for the mountains of Afghanistan. If something as simple as creating jobs or providing education can serve as the conduit for truth and hope (namely the gospel), then I am ashamed to have waited this long.

I cannot speak to what comes next -- but I know for sure, my life is best spent paving a way for the gospel in places where it is not known.

"The Endless Journey"

Yesterday (which I am lumping everything from Friday forward as one day) has been one of the longest days ever. We left Evansville at 5:30 pm on Friday looking forward to 31 hours of airplane bliss: Evansville, Detroit, Amsterdam, Dubai, Kabul. I can say with certainty, I am pleased to not be sitting on an airplane at the moment.



We spent Saturday night in the Dubai airport, which was actually quite nice. To recharge the batteries, people were sprawled out on the floor everywhere imaginable. These guys even brought their pajamas ... just kidding of course.



Upon arriving in Kabul, it was nice to head to the place we are staying for some relaxation, fellowship, and food. We are staying in a guest house that was established to house medical teams as they came for aid in Kabul. It will serve as a nice refuge to come home in the evenings to debrief and relax.


Our goal over the next week is quite simple to state, but conversly difficult to pull off. It is very clear that Kabul has been a victim of war for several years. The effect of this has left a city behind with very little infrastructure in place, and a vast majority of it's population strugling on the bottom rung of poverty. We want to create jobs that will in turn create hope.

We plan to accomplish this through the creation of several enterprises ranging from a tailor shop to a school. The current trip will lend itself primarily to a research and return effort, however we hope to be able to reinstate our tailor shop before leaving. More to come on this in later posts.


My hope is that you will pray for the Lord to grant us His wisdom. I very much want to begin the process of putting things in place to further the Kingdom of God, but I want them to be His design rather than my own. As I spend time with Chun, I want to be able to partner closely with his vision of taking the gospel "back to Jerusalem."

Until next time ...