eMi Intern Orientation Week or "Drinking from a Firehose"

*Update*  I have placed the option to subscribe via email; for the extreme planner in all of us.  I will post again in about two weeks with further details about my trip to Myanmar.

Greetings from Calgary, Alberta!  I apologize in advance if this 'summary' post of my orientation week with Engineering Ministries International (eMi) seems a touch scattered.  In many ways I am still reeling from the all that was shared and discussed in the past week.  I'm going to touch on the highlights of what I learned and show some pictures of the stunning Colorado landscape.

All of the interns and new staff members were placed in The Hideaway Inn and Conference Center, about 20 minutes NE of Colorado Springs.  If the ruggedness of the Canadian Shield in Ontario conveys the quiet security of God's presence, then the mountains and plains in and around Colorado Springs proclaim His majesty and vastness.  I was in mostly stunned silenced during the 80 minute drive from the airport to the Hideaway on Sunday evening.  That sense of vastness and awe set the tone for a full and humbling week.

The Rockies in Colorado Springs.

Panorama of Entrance to Retreat Centre

'Slightly' modified shot of view from the Hideaway Dining Room.  The mountain in the distance is Pikes Peak!

If I attempted to cover in detail all that was shared during the week, you would be here all night reading.  I'm going to try to convey a key idea presented from each core day of orientation (Monday - Friday) with a brief explanation or reflection now that I have had a few days to process.  Ready for a condensed fire hose?

Monday (What is the Mission of the Church)

On Monday Afternoon Gary McPhee, one of eMi's staff architects in Colorado Springs presented on What is the Role of the Church.  To convey his message, Gary spoke from Ezekiel 33:20, which states,

And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.

In this verse Gary explained 6 key actions that the church today should be doing and also explained how Christ was the perfect example in each situation.  The actions were:

1. Identification (or Incarnation) 'a man among them'
2. Restoration 'build up the wall'
3. Intercession 'stand before me'
4. Reconciliation 'in the breach'
5. Inter mediation 'for the land'
6. Redemption 'not destroy it'

The crux of Gary's talk was to share with us that Christ enables us to do the work in this world that he himself has already shown us through his life and death.  Let that sink in for a moment.  I came away overwhelmed with the clarity of the talk and convicted of my own inaction in seeking to do the Churches work in the past.

Tuesday (Culture Training)

In this part of our orientation two eMi staffers ran a day long program full of activities intended to get our minds thinking of the iceberg that is culture.  I say iceberg because when we discuss culture, the 'what' of the culture represents only 10% (or the tip of the iceberg) and the 'why' makes up the remaining 90%.  While a foreign culture may seem flat out strange to us, the eMi staffers were quick to identify that each culture clearly displays two things; the taint of sin, but also the glory of God.  They challenged us interns to respond to new cultures in a Christlike manner, not to make a judgement in the flesh but to withhold judgement with help from the Spirit.  I pray that I remember these timely and wise words when I leave for Myanmar in 3 weeks.

A small nugget that was shared on this day was looking at a young Jesus in the temple.  In that story we read how Christ was sitting, listening, talking, and asking questions of the teachers of the law.  We need to take this example when sharing Christ with other cultures.  Knowing people allows for the opportunity to share good news, and how often have I invested that time to know others before sharing the good news? Challenging words indeed.

Culture Training with Andy (electrical engineer) from eMi.

Wednesday (The other 2/3 of the Gospel)

This talk was one of my highlights of the week.  Here we were told in groups to share the gospel with one another.  After this time of sharing Wilson (the presenter) identified how our presentation of the gospel reflected a JUSTICE/INNOCENCE worldview (we were rightfully guilty of sin and through Christ's shed blood we are innocent, God's justice satisfied) and that for the majority of the world, that presentation would not hold significance in their story.  Wilson went on to share with other the other 2 predominant worldviews on this earth; HONOUR/SHAME and POWER/FEAR.  In light of those worldview's, our gospel presentation that we know and love and cling to would terrify and shame the rest of the world.  I was stunned.  How would I go about sharing the good news without knowing how to address these differences in worldview?

Wilson argued that the parable of the Prodigal Son universally addresses all three worldviews.  Challenge for you, can you see in the story how the honor/shame and power/fear paradigms are addressed in that parable?

The three worldview with respect to the Gospel.

Wilson teaching it up!

Thursday (Rock Climbing)

By this point in the week we interns were pretty zonked from all the training.  Our intern co-ordinators Vicky and Carl had wisely anticipated our needs by planning a morning of rock climbing!  It was the perfect antidote from sitting and also provided us with a valuable lesson.  Our last activity had us in groups of three, each with distinct roles.  One person was the climber but was blinded, the belay person supported the climber but couldn't speak, while the third team member gave verbal instructions to the climber on how to ascend.  As the climber, you had to trust that the instructions given would be of help, a significant step of faith when you can't see.  The parallels to our walk in faith are numerous and I appreciated the applicability of our time rock climbing to the steps we all will take in the future, listening to God's next instruction.

Intern Jesse bouldering like a boss!

Friday (Commissioning)

Our last official day of orientation was focused on meeting the US eMi team and to be 'sent out'.  John Dallman, the CEO of eMi reminded us of how the mission field is not always an easy one and spoke from Acts showing us how Paul and his companions faced many trials and stumbling blocks.  However, despite these challenges, Paul reminds us that it is through many tribulations that we must enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22).  With that reminder, the afternoon was spent having us interns give 7 minute testimonies, sharing how God had saved us and had a unique and perfect plan for us all.  Needless to say it was an emotionally draining yet uplifting day.  God works miracles in each one of us!

Starting the day off right with Worship.

The highlight of eMi's US office is the many flags that adorn the ceiling.  I loved the character and spirit of the place.

Conclusion

Like I said at the beginning, I could write all night discussing what was presented in 6 short days.  I'll close with a thought and few prayer requests.  If you asked me what was the most impactful part of the week I would have two answers.

1. The people and their obvious love for Christ.  These folks are missionaries first and technically gifted individuals second.

2. Our teaching was saturated with scripture.  Not a minute went by without references back to God's word.  It was amazing and overwhelming all at once.

I type this update to you from my new digs in Calgary, Alberta!  I have only been here three days and the city has won me over.  Things I enjoy thus far.

1. Amazing bicycle infrastructre - I plan on cycling to work until the snow flies.
2. Walking distance to a grocery store, Knox Presbyterian Church Calgary, a bank and a Subway.  What more could a guy want?
3. Apparently there is an Olive Garden in Calgary - favourite US eatery!
4. The Rockies are only a 2 hour drive away and the eMi office already has plans for a day trip to Banff.  Colour me stoked.

Prayer Requests:

• the shock to changing cities is starting to set in.  Please pray that I would get settled and find a church family to connect with soon!
• prayers for each of the interns as they start their time at their respective locations.  The interns in my small group (see photo below) represented the Africa, India, Canada and US offices.
• lastly prayers for our project team as we prepare for our trip to Myanmar.  We are exactly three weeks from departure and a furiously putting together the final details with our volunteers, applying for visas and relearning AutoCAD.

Grace and peace be with you all, with thanksgiving,

Ben

Small Group from Orientation week.

Carl (Intern Director) presenting on God's call in our final session.

Landing in Calgary on Sunday!