40 days: Day 2 - Hanging out at JAARS

Today we have something of a free day, although we've spent a bit of time working on some things such as pre-requisite reading for the off-road driving course tomorrow.  But, today after lunch, there was a fun little event that happened.

A brand new aircraft arrived at JAARS today.  Yesterday, it left the factory in Idaho where it was built, and arrived in North Carolina at around 1:30pm today.  About 80-100 folks showed up to see the plane arrive.

The story of this aircraft is pretty cool.  It is a Quest Kodiak, an aircraft designed for short takeoff and landing on less-than-perfect runways.  There is a two-year waiting list for these aircraft.  When an order was cancelled by a customer several weeks ago, JAARS was offered the aircraft by the manufacturer if the money could be raised in less than two weeks.  Amazingly, hundreds of thousands of dollars were raised and the aircraft, destined for Papua-New Guinea, is expected to be in use in the South Pacific by this summer.  You can read the whole story in all of its detail here.

Another cool story about this aircraft is who will fly it.  We know a pilot or two in PNG, but we're very attached to a pilot who will, Lord willing, be flying for JAARS (likely in PNG) in the near future.

Matt Stoker, while he was a student at Liberty University, became a friend of our family.  He was a part of a small group that met in our home, had some meals with us, and is one of our kids' favorite people.  Matt recently has gone through the application and evaluation process with Wycliffe and JAARS and will be going through training and partnership development over the next 20 or so months.  We are very excited for Matt and were happy to be at the airstrip today and see his chariot arrive!

Matt, about to give his mom a ride on his motorcycle.

Enjoy the pics from the arrival today.

40 Days: It Begins

Thanks to our friend Russell Darnell for all of the recent cool pictures!

40 Days.  It's kind of a thematic device used throughout the Bible for periods of time used for refinement.  Jesus was tempted for 40 days in the desert (not that Jesus needed refinement...).  It rained on Noah and his family for 40 days.  The western world widely observes the Lenten season of 40 days of spiritual preparation for Easter.  In some cultures, people wait 40 days before they bring a newborn outside of the home.  And there are many more...

So in the great tradition of 40 day refinements, we decided to do one of our own.  And we've produced a video to introduce it:

So, to elaborate of some of what is in the video, our 40 days is meant to be a time for us to do two primary things.

First, we want to focus with prayer and fasting.  Prayer is essential.  Is fasting outmoded?  How do the two connect?  What is fasting anyway, and why does it appear in the Bible?  One of the best explanations of it that I've ever heard is from Michael Oh, a missionary with Mission to the World in Japan.  I heard him give this presentation a few years ago and it is enlightening.  He addresses it in the context of cross-cultural missions, but in the process defines the general purpose of fasting quite well.

Our second point in this 40 days is to make a concerted effort to finish our partnership development.  We are at 85% of our monthly commitments and can see the end.  We want to make this 40 day period like that point in a race where you pick up the pace with a final sprint, making sure that you gave it your all and left nothing on the table.  We want to spend these 40 days working very hard, presenting more, and finishing our time in the States with a flourish.

With all of that said, here's what we've been up to so far.  Yesterday, day 1, we had a Skype meeting in the morning, wrote and sent lots of e-mail, and then headed down to Waxhaw, North Carolina to the JAARS Center.  If you want to know what JAARS is, check out their site or our blog post about JAARS from last summer.

At JAARS, we're doing an off-road driver training course on Friday.  On Saturday, we'll head to Cross Hill, SC and speak at Liberty Springs Presbyterian Church on Sunday morning.  After the Sunday morning service, we'll drive over to Hampstead, NC and visit Grace EPC Sunday evening.  On Monday, we'll head back toward Virginia.  Prayer for all of these events is welcome!

R is for Ready and Waiting....

Ready.  And waiting...

About 19 months ago, we crafted a "pre-field plan" that was a basic timetable of our leaving for the field.  It had entries for December, 2012 (complete studies at GIAL - DONE!) and January, 2013.  The January entry was "Depart for Language Study in France."  Well, it's February and we haven't left yet. So why are we still in Lynchburg?

We have no doubts that we are called to do this work of ethnomusicology and arts in Cameroon.
We are here, practically speaking, because we are lacking 15% of our monthly support, and we need some special gifts for one-time costs overseas.  But God owns 'the cattle on a thousand hills' - everything is His!  Knowing that God will abundantly supply when necessary, we believe we are still here for other purposes.

Lori's dad is very sick.  He has kidney failure, dementia, and is very weak.  But because we are here, we are able to help him and Lori's mom.  What a blessing!  Please pray for the Rundles in this difficult time.

Because we are here, we are able to continue to be the ambassadors for the Bibleless.  We get to share our story of how God called us, ordinary people, do to an extraordinary thing.  We get to spend time with friends and family that we would not have had time to see and encourage otherwise.

This friendly horse decided to join us in a picture as we were doing some video shooting this week.

We are beginning a 40 day push beginning Sunday, February 10, to share our story with as many people as possible, to complete our prayer and financial support, and to get the word out about what God is doing with arts in missions.  At the end of the 40 days, Friday March 22, our home church, Redeemer Presbyterian, is sponsoring a "Talent Unmasked" event to help raise the final needed amount for ourselves and for our good friends, the Grants, who will be leaving soon to serve in Spain.

The Grant family: Jamie & Rachael with Amelia, Anna, Andrew, and Abigail

Please consider praying and fasting for our family and Cameroon during the 40 days.  Also consider hosting a small get-together or dessert night with a few friends for us to share our story.  We're confident that we'll be set to go soon if we're faithful to what lies right in front of us - serving our family and being ambassadors for the bibleless in the here and now.

We are READY.  Help us go!

Q is for Questions

We are back in Virginia!  Yeah!  It is good to be near the mountains and at our home church - although we miss our Texas friends a ton.  We are working on the final 20% of monthly support before we can leave to go overseas.  And that brings us to today's blog post: the top 11 frequently asked questions - with some random, recent pictures thrown in for no particular reason.

1.  How was language school in Texas?

The school we trained at in Texas, GIAL, is a linguistics school.  But we didn't study French there.  We took courses in how to learn a language more quickly and effectively, especially in places where there are no books or formal education in the language.  Chris had courses that trained him for Arts Consulting.  We studied anthropology, literacy, sociolinguistics, and audio/video recording techniques.  The school was wonderful: lots of hard work, deep learning, and fantastic people.  We mostly miss the people - not so much the long nights of homework!  The bottom line is that we are well prepared for our long-term ministry.  We will do French language school in France beginning...soon (see question #3).

2.  If Wycliffe is translating the Bible into the hundreds of indigenous languages of Cameroon, why do you need to learn to speak French?

We need to be proficient in French because everyday life in the big cities of Cameroon happens in French.  Government and trade is all handled in French.  But while French is a national language, for most people outside the big cities, French is their second or third language, so their understanding may be quite limited.  And because most Cameroonians have an indigenous language as their mother-tongue, we seek to translate the Bible and its deep concepts into the language that people understand best.  So in summary, we need to study French so that we can navigate the practical side of life - groceries, interacting with government, etc., while at the same time promoting the translation of scripture into the multitude of indigenous languages.

Flower Girl Kristin and Ring Bearer Ben at a friend's New Year's Eve wedding.

3.  When do you leave for France?

Soon.  We presently have 81% of our monthly needed support committed.  Practically speaking, that means we need 10 people to give $100/month and one to give $50/month (or any other configuration for $1,050/month left to raise).  When we hit 90% we will apply for our student visas to France and at 100% we can go.  We are hoping to leave in April 2013.  Prayer is essential for that goal to be met!

4.  What does monthly support mean?  Are people supporting you for like, a year?

Monthly support means sending a check in every month.  We plan on being in Cameroon until God calls us to do something else.  That means we need people who will commit to supporting us long-term - until we are no longer missionaries.  Some people give annually, some quarterly, some monthly.  Other people give special gifts once in a while with no regular system.  Giving is between the giver and God.  We are responsible for sharing our needs, not dictating anyone's responses.

All of the Rundle cousins at Christmas

5.  What else do you need before you go?

We do need special gifts for set up costs in France and in Cameroon for things like necessities in the kitchen when we arrive, first month's rent, shipping a few things to Cameroon, a 4-wheel drive vehicle in Cameroon, visas, costs for our Africa orientation program...  We are also still organizing our things: we have the "to go to France" pile, as well as the "ship to Cameroon," "give away," and "storage" piles.

6.  How much can you take with you?

Each of us will be taking 2 large trunks/suitcases of up to 50 lb. each (500 lbs. total), as well as our carry on and 'other bag,' ...and a musical instrument or two.  That's all we get for our year in France.  When we get to Cameroon, things that we have set aside to ship will be sent to us and should arrive in about three months.

7.  Where are you living now?

We are living with Lori's parents just outside of Lynchburg, VA.

8.  Where will you live in France and Cameroon?

In France, we'll be in the Southeast part of the country.  The closest big city is Geneva, Switzerland.  We'll also be fairly close to Lyon, France.  We are not completely set on the exact city we'll be in, but it will most likely be Chambery, France.  It is also possible that we would end up in Annecy, France.  There are some details to be worked out with language school options which will decide where we end up.

In Cameroon, we will most of the time be living in the capital city of Yaounde.  However, for a time, mostly at the beginning of our tenure, we will be living in a remote village situation someplace in Cameroon.  This will be for the purpose of culture learning.  Later on, we will be based in Yaounde and travel to different areas of the country and do our consulting to language projects that are in more remote villages.

9.  How long is your trip?

This is no trip.  This is a career.  We will be living and working in Cameroon for as long as the Lord makes it possible.  Think of us as being part of a church's staff; it's just that the church is not yet visible or functioning in many areas of Cameroon.  Our job is to contribute to making the visible church in Cameroon happen.

Noah is intense about his sledding!

10.  Will your kids go to school in France & Cameroon?  If so, where?

In France, our kids will be in French public schools.  We have mostly home-schooled in the past, but if we do that, our kids will never learn French!  Many of the schools in France have programs to teach foreign children and get them up to speed in French.  It might be a tough year for them, but they'll come out better for it!

In Cameroon, there are some variables.  When we are living in a village, we will almost certainly be home-schooling.  When we are in the city, our kids will most likely be in an international school that has been established in Yaounde for missionary kids.  It's called the Rain Forest International School and teaches grades 7-12.  The curriculum is designed to satisfy college prep requirements for both US and UK universities.

And my favorite question of all:

11.  Are you taking your kids with you overseas?

Yes!  This question makes us laugh...  I'm pretty sure we'd be strung up by our toes if we just abandoned our kids and went to Africa without them!  And in our line of work, kids are actually a huge asset.  They are true "ice-breakers" that enable us to cross cultural boundaries more easily and are really good at causing you to meet people more rapidly.

Noah, Kristin, and Ben on New Year's Eve.

P is for Prayer

Do you ever feel like there is no one listening when you pray?  Does it really mean anything at all or does it just make us feel better by going through the motions?

God commands us to pray: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." - Philippians 4:6

We do pray - and when we listen, we know he answers!

We started a prayer calendar almost two years ago, asking folks to commit to pray for our family one day of each month.  We make it a point to pray for them on their day as well.  I work hard to e-mail requests and pray for those faithful saints each day and ask how we can pray for them, and each night we pray with the kids for everyone on the list for that day.   What fun is is to see answered prayer!

One of my dear friends, Chrissy, prays each month on the 26th.  This past month she sent me a message telling me she kept noticing the clock at :26 that day.  Her husband, Chuck, asked what made that number special (other than her birthday is on a 26th) and she said it is the day she prays for our family. He suggested that this may be God's way of reminding her to pray for us more often right then.  Last month was when we moved from Texas, took finals, wrote final papers and said goodbye to dear friends.  It was a high-stress time.  Monday before our moving day, I was starting to be very stressed.  Tuesday I was calm and peaceful.  Why?  There wasn't a good reason that I knew of.  But that was the day that Chrisssy wrote and said that EVERY hour she was awake she saw the clock at :26 and prayed for us.

God is good - all the time.  And he answers prayers - even prayers for peace in moving.

Please pray!  Ask God to bring to mind who and what and just do it.  You will be blessed beyond measure to see God work.

Thanks for reading.  Jusqu'à la semaine prochaine!

P.S.  I heard from a friend that for Lent in 2012, she decided to give up waiting.  Every time she was in a position to wait (traffic, grocery line, etc.), she prayed instead.  Sounds like a good idea for a New Year's resolution...

Christmas CD!

We'd like to interrupt our regular posts to bring you a fun offer from the Gassler family.  We have been so privileged to study with a group of extremely talented musicians this year.  As we closed our studies and each of us plans on heading to the overseas mission field, we thought it would be fun to put together some Christmas music on a CD.  We are using all of the proceeds from this to cover some of our setup expenses as we head to the field in the Spring.  Check out these samples:









If you order by 11:00 pm on Thursday, December 13th, we'll have it in the mail in time for Christmas.  We will be traveling from the 14th until the 18th, so order early to assure an arrival before Christmas!

We are asking for a $10 donation for each CD.  You can pay via PayPal below.  All proceeds will be forwarded to Wycliffe Bible Translators to be used for our overseas setup expenses.  If you would like to buy 5 or more to give as gifts, e-mail us at clgassler@yahoo.com and we'll discuss a quantity rate.

Logos Christmas CD

On the CD, you will hear Matt & Laura, who will be heading to South Asia in January.  They have performed for some time as a duo under the name Gentle Revolutions.  They were so kind to invite a few of us to record with them.  Matt was the workhorse on this project, doing most of the recording as well as the editing and mixing.  Matt is an outstanding guitarist and Laura is a fantastic vocalist.  Trevor and Sarah Schuh will be serving in South America beginning this Spring.  Trevor and Sarah are both great pianists and can also be heard doing vocals on the CD.  Several others helped out by contributing their special talents, including our three kids and one of the Schuhs' daughters reading scripture and singing.  I was happy to contribute the percussion and even trombone on a couple of songs.

Track List:
1. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
2. A Child is Born
3. What Child is This
4. Silent Night
5. Christmas Time is Here
6. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
7. Grown Up Christmas List
8. Happy Christmas (War is Over)
9. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting)
10. O come, O come
11. Emmanuel
12. Winter Snow
13. The Christmas Story

We hope the songs on this CD will bring you and your family joy for many Christmas seasons to come as well as being a reminder to pray for all of us as we head abroad to facilitate Bible translation through our ministries in the arts.

O is for ONLY....

Only....
What a wistful word!

Only 2 weeks left in Dallas,
only 9 days of classes,
only one more time to see my friend.

Only 25% of monthly budget left to raise,
only 4 new prayer partners,
only 2 times to speak about our work this month.

Only one chance to say I love you,
only one first impression,
only one more time at home.

Only ~
What a sweet word.

Only one way to heaven.
Only by faith.
Only by forgiveness.
Only one baptism.
Only one life to give.
Only Love.

Only.

Praying that our "onlys" would glorify God and not man.  Praying that our hearts and minds would not be so caught up in the future that we forget about what is in front of us and living now.  Praying the reality of eternity would guide our steps as we seek God's will.
Please pray with us and for us.

Only in Jesus's name.

Noah, Kristin, and Ben work on their gingerbread house this week.

Sunset over Joe Pool Lake from MK trail near our house.