So it’s 2010 already… where’s my jet pack?
We had nearly normal amounts of snow and cold. And we have all enjoyed a fair amount of snow in the boots and cold-rosy cheeks.
Our children have all been sick at least once and made all the appropriate “noises” in the process.
Emma is in 1st grade and READING and SPELLING. Do you realize how this forces us to change our parent “code?” She is a very helpful girl. Very compassionate and seems to really understand the importance of a relationship with Jesus.
Josie is getting mentally ready (as are Mommy and Daddy) for Kindergarten in the fall. Doesn’t really seem possible that our second child is old enough (or maybe that we are old enough to have a child that old) to be going to “real” school.
Addie. That girl is the typical littlest sister. She is such a bundle of fun at this stage. She’s the one who says the goofy, little made up things that melt my heart. She calls my beard (when I have one) my “pokies.” Pocahontas (yes, we realize that they TOTALLY Disneyfied the story line) has been forever immortalized in our house as “Hunkapotus.”
Sonny (the dog, for those of you new to this Mathew Meandering stuff) has rediscovered how much he hates snow deeper than 2 inches.
Tamara has not been feeling “well” as of late. She’s been to more doctors in the last couple months, than she visited in the 9.48 years we have been married, and I have been the healthy one. The ever unfolding saga of Tamara’s health has proven very complex. The Dr.’s are still trying to figure out what is going on inside. We’ve heard a number of diagnoses that it is NOT, but what it IS still eludes us. Tamara has also had a horrible time with her teeth. Ever since Addie was born, it seems that Tamara’s tooth enamel has magically disappeared. She has been in and out of the dentist’s office to attempt to keep the teeth that she has. This has been a matter of much concern for us. I’d love to fill you in on the details if you’d like to know how to pray better…
Yet another change for Tamara’s official ministry role in the Bible School, Tamara has officially transitioned out of the Database Manager’s position (that would be a praise, for those curious as to where that bit o’ info ranks in our books…) and into a “more flexible” childcare/lower desk receptionist/paper grader/mother of three. Please keep her in your prayers, as she requires massive amounts of energy to keep up with us all.
The Business Office continues to absorb the majority of my daytime hours here at the Bible School. If you had asked me 6 years ago when we were still in the training to become tribal church planters, whether or not I might ever be serving in the Business Office, I probably would have laughed out loud. You see, higher mathematics and I never really got along so well back in school. You might say I was a “bad student” in math.
Here’s where God’s ironic side shows itself. I’ve heard many people say “God really chooses His brightest and best to do His best work.” I don’t believe this to be the case. Rather, in scripture, we see apostles refer to themselves as “jars of clay,” and we see humble service from Holy Spirit empowered believers that literally changes the world.
Now, I am not trying to convince you that I am changing the world, one Excel spreadsheet at a time, but I am telling you that I truly believe the Lord wants to use each one of His children; Tamara and I, and each one of you, too, to reflect a little bit more of God’s glory wherever we are, in whatever we do, however much we feel like we know. He has given each of us a unique personality and mentality and set of gifts that enable us to serve Him just as uniquely, if we choose to let Him work through our lives.
I am trying to convince you that we are a part of seeing people who know nothing of the Word of God (or the God of the Word, for that matter.) hear it, see it, read it and live it for the first time. We get to jump into the process at the VERY beginning. We get to take some of the raw-est ingredients and be part of the preparation process to see them become partners in the task of taking the gospel of Christ where no one else goes.
Not that you doubted, but I find that a brief reminder is usually a good thing.
We are continually challenged with the need for overseas work with in New Tribes Mission. Our classmates and friends from OUR training days are now in tribes and building houses and learning culture and language, and teaching literacy. Some of them are already in the teaching process. Some of them have already gotten to share the gospel story with people groups who have NEVER EVER heard before. These are the stories that drive us, crazy sometimes, to continue serving where we are in Jackson, Michigan, USA.
Occasionally, I catch myself echoing the question we all too often hear, “So, when are you going to the mission field?” Sometimes it seems that we aren’t really missionaries. We eat the same foods “normal” people eat. We try to wear “normal” clothes. We even get to speak English all the time.
And then the emails come in, or the prayer letters, or the guest speaker (who sat next to me in class) and we hear the reminder… “You know, we’d never make it out here without a solid foundation in the Word. We live in the bush; we don’t get pastors. We are starting a church!” Without the time that they were able to spend being grounded in the Word of God, they would be stranded spiritually, even more than they are physically.
It is at those times that I am most keenly aware of why we are doing what we do. We GET to stay here and PREPARE those that head to the front lines to meet the darkness head on. I do… WE do, consider it a privilege to be on this team of trainers here in Jackson, MI. We have seen, literally hundreds of, students graduate from here with a SOLID Biblical understanding in the 3.5 years we’ve been here! In about two years we will be seeing co-workers that started their training with us. Some of them IN A TRIBE!
YOU have been a part of this with your finances and your prayers. Without you, we would NOT be able to continue this. We count on your support. We depend on your support. Thank you! For the part you have played, THANK YOU!
Joshua and Tamara Mathew says
I realize it has been 4 years since you commented. i just wanted to let you know that i appreciate the fact that you’re praying for us, AND are serving alongside us! Happy “spring”!
Ryan Kurvits says
Hey,
Sweet blog. Just wanted to say that I really appreciate what you guys do here at school. Your ministry means a lot! And your friendship is pretty amazing too 🙂