You went where???

I haven’t ridden a motor coach in ages. Matter of fact the last time I can recall riding one was traveling a treacherous highway that led us into an area of jungle in Central Brazil.  At one point we all disembarked from the bus even though the driver told us that the rickety bridge would support us in spite of the tires spilling over both sides of the bridge.  Now who wouldda’ thought you could drive into such an area on a coach?!!

Today I’m on a coach headed to Washington DC.  What stands out to me is the unique quietness of the day.  It’s early morning and as passengers awaken I can hear dimmed conversations amid the illumination of cell phones brought to life as a few around me check messages and social media.  Wait, I’m one of those people fooling around on their cell phones as I peck out this newsletter!

It’s a bus load of church people –homeschoolers & parents, and a bunch of missionaries going to visit the Museum of the Bible.  Can you believe this is the first time in our lives to tour anything in the Nation’s Capital?  We’ve traipsed all over the world on several continents in remote places and yet there are many close-to-home areas we’ve never seen.

As I think about unexplored territories I am again reminded of the isolated and hard to reach areas of the world where there is yet a Christian witness, let alone a church or a Bible in the languages of certain peoples.  Thankfully, by the time this letter reaches you, we will have graduated a host of newly trained missionaries who will soon spill onto the harvest fields of the world to advance the gospel to the lost.  This is a thrilling time in the history of missions for those of us with Ethnos360.

Someday I’d love to fill a motor coach with young people and take them to visit our Missionary Training Center in Missouri, or even to our Mission Retreat Center in Jersey Shore Pennsylvania.  There, we are gearing up for our summer Wayumi Expedition program designed for families, youth group leaders and high schoolers.  Time still remains to get in on the action; visit our website, wayumi.com and sign up today.  It’s a wonderful opportunity to experience missions up close. 

Now about the trip to the Museum of the Bible…

It is an enthralling experience to walk thru the replicated city of Jerusalem and to encounter those who draw you into the culture and Biblical experience of Jesus’ day.  In another area you’ll get to see fragments of scripture, documented in respect of the Bible preserved for us today.  One of the most exciting things was picking up and thumbing thru numerous Bible translations from among many of our Papua New Guinea outreaches.  …But the most striking realization was seeing a wall of more than 2,000 blank books representing the language groups of the world who have not one verse of God’s word in their own language.  Think of that!

If you haven’t yet visited the Museum of the Bible I would encourage you to visit.  It’ll not disappoint!