February 2011

Hey Gang!

Devotional Thought
Another month is upon us. I know January's letter wasn't sent at the beginning of the month, but it still seems like the past thirty-one days have flown by. Speaking about flying by, all kinds of snowflakes are flying around the Midwest this week. Newscasters are calling for blizzard-like conditions from Oklahoma to Michigan. As I write, I am sitting in front of our fireplace in Missouri, enjoying the refuge of the warmth inside. My heart goes out to those less fortunate who are forced to brave the weather without such effective protection. As my back sweats from the overwhelming scorch of the fire, some families huddle around electric ovens, waiting for the feeling to return to their fingers. Why is there such an imbalanced distribution of wealth in the world? Just a thought. I've often wondered and struggled with the injustices of mankind.

Each Sunday morning, I get together with some of the young men in our local youth group to read the Bible and pray before the service. We typically read through a proverb and discuss verses that seem to speak to us. This past week, we observed Proverbs 30 and the pastor's son selected verses 8 and 9 as his verses of the day.

"Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God."
Proverbs 30:8-9

Continuing on the thought of disproportionate distribution of wealth, this past Sunday, I was refreshed to talk to the guys about what really matters in life. American society tells us that materialism and consumerism are among the loftiest of goals, but this passage allowed us to be reminded that glorifying God is the ultimate target to shoot for in life. Earlier in January, I invited six of the guys over to my house for a sleepover (mom was thrilled). We stayed up eating pizza, talking in the living room, and watching a movie. It was a good time for everyone. A good majority of the conversation was related to our bucket lists (things we want to accomplish before dying). Typically materialistic items and events were listed. They wanted to own certain vehicles, go to particular places, and go skydiving. But I was humbled and proud to hear the number one item on two of boys' lists. The most anticipated achievement before dying for two of our most influential teenagers was to organize a mass week of revival in New York City. They had it all planned out to speakers, music artists, broadcasting, and promotion. It was great to see these young men infusing others with energy as they took us to the stadiums and acted out the week's activities in my living room.

This month's devotional thought is to remember what is eternally important and to live your lives accordingly. The Lord has blessed us differently, and it is hard to understand the imbalances therein, but Matthew chapter twenty-five reminds us to take however many talents He provides and use them to actively and tirelessly bring glory to His name. In the passage in Matthew, the talents were monetary, but in reality, the talents we receive from God come in many different forms. Family, friends, relationships, spiritual gifts, personalities, physical bodies, and natural aptitudes are all included. Instead of asking God why we aren't blessed like "so-and-so", we need to respond to each blessing God does choose to bestow on us and do our best at bringing Him glory with them. How do we do that? Find the answer in MATTHEW 27:35-36.

Praise
1: Part-time job landed at a factory!
God has provided a job opportunity at a local factory these past couple weeks. I have been working at a dog shampoo factory, and God has allowed me to make new friends and actually counsel some of the workers.

2: Over 25% funded!
I have continued selling football season highlight DVD's to people in the public. All of the proceeds are being sent to my mission account. In addition to this, people have been incredibly generous and faithful with their love and financial support, bringing the total to one-quarter complete!

3: Boa Nova property
One Mission Society was blessed to purchase a considerable piece of land outside the capital city of Maputo in Mozambique. This property will be the new site of the expanding mission school. It will also be used for missionary housing. This is most likely the area where I will be living when I serve my twelve month term shortly. Construction will begin this summer in hopes of completing buildings and athletic fields for the 2011/2012 school year in August.

Prayer Requests
1. Continued fund-raising opportunities
2. Construction in Boa Nova
3. Safety for travelers affected by the Midwest Wintry Blitz

Thank you again for all of your love and support!

Deus abencoe voces!
(God bless you all!)

- Phillip

January 2011

Happy January!

This is my very first monthly mission update letter. The plan is to send monthly emails to keep you up to date on what's going on in my life and how God is making Himself known to me and others.

Thank you SO much for all of your prayers and financial support as I prepare for overseas missionary service in Mozambique, Africa! I couldn't do it without you! I have been extremely humbled by this whole fund-raising process, but I am starting to realize the partnership opportunities it has created for individuals to impact lives for Christ without actually going overseas themselves. Thank you again!

This month's letter is a little unique, because I have included a rather lengthy portion below that describes some of my thoughts at the beginning of a new year. In the future, I intend to include personal prayer requests, bullet-point updates, and perhaps a short devotional thought. It won't be this long every time, I promise.

LIFE UPDATE

Training Postponed:
The update on my situation right now is that my January training for overseas missionary service has been postponed until July. Apparently, there are not enough missionaries far enough along in their funding to attend the meetings. This training is mandatory for all missionaries prior to departing for the field. I was upset when I heard the news, but this will allow me to continue raising support and preparing myself for the ministry I believe God has called me to.

Movie Production:

I want to praise God for giving me the opportunity to travel with our local varsity football team this past fall. They had a record year, finishing the season as the runner-ups at the Missouri state championship game. My purpose for traveling with the team was to record their games. At the end of the season, I produced a season highlight film that recapped the team's success. I was able to sell copies of this DVD to parents, fans, and alumni at the awards banquet last week. All of the video's proceeds are being sent to my mission account. Over $1,000 came in the night of the ceremony, and I am still filling orders for additional copies. The Lord is good and faithful!

PRAYER REQUEST

Job:
Naturally, with the month-long training having been postponed, I am looking for something to fill my time. I am asking God to provide a job for me during these next few months. This will allow me to raise a sizable portion of my support, which will be a great blessing!

Support:
I would like to continue lifting up my mission support. OMS requires all missionaries to be fully funded prior to leaving for the field. I would love to be at that point by July if not sooner. It would be ideal for me to depart for Africa immediately following the training period in July. I am trusting God to bring the support in His perfect timing.

Preparation:
My third request for this month is for the spiritual preparation for myself and for the people I will be working with in Mozambique. The Bible talks about the harvest being plentiful, but the workers being few (Luke 10:2). In the same way that God prepares the fields for harvest, I believe He also prepares the workers for harvesting. Ask God to soften my heart for selfless service in His name.

DEVOTIONAL: choices

I come out of the Christmas season with many questions in my head and on my heart. Up until this point in my life, most everything has been marked out for me. My immediate family has largely defined my life steps. Granted, it has been quite random at times and flexibility has pretty much become a Telfer pseudonym. I have been through double-digit moves, with more on the way. I have studied at seven different sites. I have worked jobs from daycares and factory lines to landscaping and movie production. I have visited fifteen countries and counting. I have followed my parents’ footsteps to Africa and back. I have finished high school. And I have trailed my sister through college to a Bachelor’s degree of Science in Sports Ministries and official unemployment. I have had to make decisions here and there, but for the most part, it has all been laid out for me…until now.

This Christmas I realized that life is a choice. We are all born. We will all die. The dash between the years on a person’s tombstone is where they find uniqueness. Epitaphs are bottled descriptions of life, or the lack thereof. No one wants to hear how a person died. How one lives is what’s passed on: Where they were from; what they overcame; where they went; what they studied; how they used their education; who they married; how they raised their family; and what kind of legacy they left behind. These are a few of the questions I have been challenged with recently. How will I be remembered? Will I be remembered? What do I want to leave behind? What can I do today to impact the world if I were gone tomorrow? My prayer this month is that I will make the choice to truly live.

Some people go through life in the attempt to avoid death. Unfortunately for them, death is inevitable. I believe their efforts to elude death’s certainty pervades their mind, perverts their perspective, and prevents them from taking full advantage of the opportunity of truly living. How depressing to run from a predator incapable of being out-chased! I don’t know when death will greet me, but it will. That’s enough motivation for me to take advantage of the time I have.

I believe the magic of Christmas is a choice. What if life could be seen through the lens of a child? What an adult might see as meaningless, routine tradition, a child might find as magical, wonder and excitement. In the mind of a child - a fake, energy-sucking, wire tree covered in sappy, knick-knacks is transformed into the epitome of the glories enwrapping the Christmas season of love, joy, and peace in the shape of beautified packages under an evergreen that sparkles and smiles, flowing with rows of bright, colorful lights and graced with garland. Suddenly what an adult might consider to be society’s genius marketing ploy becomes a child’s favorite time of year, because they feel loved.

I know it’s not about the packages. Children enjoy the holiday season for simple, selfish reasons of receiving gifts, eating sweets, and staying up late. But Christmas isn’t about what lies hidden beneath the wrapping paper; it’s about who lies hidden behind it. With every package comes a price and with every gift, sacrifice.

This is where the magic begins.

The Nativity. We all know what it is. Despite debate, we can picture the scene and the characters. We can hear the sheep and smell the shepherds. We see it every year. Mary and Joseph become the proud parents of Jesus in Bethlehem, the city of David. It’s familiar, but is it magical? What does the first Christmas gift, the birth of Christ, mean to you? Is it a gift? Or is it just a story? Is it even true? If so, is it a history lesson or could it be something more? What is the significance of a Savior being born unto the Jews? What was the purpose for Christ’s coming? Crucifixion? Resurrection? Forgiveness of sins? Restored communication between man and God? The gift of eternal life and salvation through faith in Christ? Absolutely!

…Is that all?

Think again about the child looking at the presents under the Christmas tree. It’s all about what’s behind the paper, inside the box. It’s all about what’s for me. Is eternal life the ultimate gift that began one evening in Israel over two thousand years ago? No.

Christmas is not about receiving at all. It’s about giving. The nativity is the greatest picture of sacrifice possible. Jesus (the Word) became flesh and made His dwelling among us (John 1:14). God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son. God is love, and love is sacrifice. With every gift, sacrifice must be made. Christmas isn’t about what lies hidden beneath the wrapping paper; it’s about who lies behind it. It isn’t about what we can get, but what we can give. The focus shouldn’t be on what the nativity gave us (eternal life), but on Who gave it, how we can respond, how we can share the story, and how we can love others like He first loved us.

What will you give Him this year? Will you take advantage of your time on earth or live trapped in the past, stuck in apathy, or frozen in fear of possibility? Will you be intentional on growing closer to God? Will you give up an addiction? Will you climb the next stair on the ladder of spiritual development through repentance, prayer, accountability, personal devotions, discipleship, and evangelism? Will you be real (living transparent lives with those around you)? Will you be purposeful in loving God, yourself, your family, and your friends?

What will you give God this year?

It’s your choice.

Have a blessed 2011!

- Phillip