The Contentment Tree

For the last few weeks, I have been thinking a lot about Christmas. I have been nostaligic about Christmases past, excited about Charlotte's first this year, and uncertain about Christmases to come.



I have really been struggling with the materialism of the holiday. I love gifts! In fact, gift giving and receving is one of my "love languages." But, I feel gifts have become a distraction from the real "reason for the season." Just look at the Black Friday madness this last week- people trampling over one another, using waffle makers as weapons, and even using pepper spray to get stuff we don't really need. As Steven Colbert puts it, Christmas has become a "consume-icaine."



Today as I was decorating my Christmas tree,I was thinking about what Christmas will be like next year without a house full of decorations, crowded mall shopping, cyber Monday, gift-a-thons, party overload, and long to-do lists.



Then it happened. The tree fell over- fully decorated.



And we do not have one of these new fancy trees that are pre-lit and easy to assemble. No. Our's is 7 years old and cheap. You have to put every branch in its hole and put every strand of lights up. Decorating our tree takes hours. And just as I finished, I tried to move it a little and it fell. And bent the base that was already bent and repaired from last year's falling of the tree. This year, it was beyond repair. The harder I tried to fix it, the worst it got.



So I threw it in the trash.

And I put our ornaments on the tree we already had in the living room. This year, we are having what I call a "Contentment Tree." And I love it.



This Christmas, I am praying that I can learn to be content with less. For after all, it is the holiday in which we celebrate the King that was born in a barn. Now that trully is being content with less!



"What self denial! What self abasement! What self emptying! He, whom no infinitudes can hold, is contained within infant’s age, and infant’s form. Can it be, that the great ‘I AM THAT I AM’ shrinks into our flesh?" -Henry Law.

This is the reason for the season.

Money and bugs!

(bugs in the operating room- yes they are inside!)

It has been scary long since I have blogged which is kind of ironic because it is that time of year again for scary things…. Like money and bugs.

I was going to write a blog giving an update on our fund raising status and give some more specific details about our budget, but then I was looking through some pictures from our trip to CAR a few years ago and I saw them- the many pictures of the big scary bugs that live in our future hometown- and I wanted to share them with you. So I thought I would combine the two terrifying subjects: money and pictures of bugs (and other critters)!



Before we get to the gory details, first some good news- we have $27,205 in gifts and monthly commitments! We are already at 18.14% funded! And this is without some pretty big verbal commitments added in. God is good!

STM WORKING BUDGET for Josh & Lori Shinar
Language School 4 months, CAR 2 yrs
Prelim

PREFIELD
Processing fee 400
Passport 90
Photos/Document. 75
Visa Costs
Physical 0
Immunizations 500
Supp.ltr/Prayr cards 258
Prep. Allowance 225

Total 1548



METE (Missionary evangelism and training)
Travel 1333
Meals/Housing 400
Program/Material 200
AM Travel 0
AM Room/Board 0
CHE Travel 600
CHE Room/Board 1000
CHE Registration

Total 3533




TRAVEL
Air Fare 3000
Extra bags 600

Total 3600



IN-COUNTRY COSTS 4 mo lang school

Rent ($375/mo) 9000
Utilities ($95/mo) 2280
Cell Phone ($30/mo+$100) 1780
Internet ($60/mo) 1540
Transportation 2500
Hospitality/min ($100/mo)2400
Documentation 2400
Misc 1000
Mission Conf/Retreat 4000
Visit other Mission Site
STM Resupply 800

Total 27700



LANGUAGE STUDY
Language Study 20000
Travel?
Extra Bags

Total 20000




OTHER
Salary $1000/mo 28000
Child Supplement 2800
Cost of Living
Social Security (15.3%) 4710
Return Salary 2200
Return Social Security 340
Insurance-Family 19240
Return Insurance 1450
Newsletter 450
Med.Care (deductible) 1200
Misc. 300

Total 60690

RETURN COSTS
Return Air Fare 3000
Return extra baggage 400
Physical Exam 100
Reentry - Travel 500
Reentry - Other 175

Total 4175


TOTAL 2.25 YEARS 133371
Total per year 59276
Total per month 4763


(snails- gross, but also our dinner!)

We have a working webpage and our support letters are in the mail!

If you have read our blog, than you know we are going to Central African Republic (CAR) for two and a quarter years. Going wasn’t a hard decision. When it comes down to it, Jesus laid out a pretty simple religion for us- love God and love others. For us that means going to CAR. Deciding to go was easy. Paying for it however, is a real challenge.



This is the part I hate the most. I hate asking for money! When I was little and had to sell Girl Scout cookies or wrapping paper, I only sold to my parents and I never won the bike. They refused to buy 250 rolls of paper with penguins on it! I can feel the embarrassment and panic rising just thinking about going door to door to convince someone to buy sunblock! I hate it so much that Josh and I were bound and determined to pay for all of this on our own, but this was pride speaking and not God. We have come to learn that we must humble ourselves and allow God to use others as well to minister to the people of CAR for this is not “Josh and Lori’s mission.” The word “missions” actually comes from a Latin word that means “the act of sending!” We are being sent to Central African Republic by God, but also by you.

2 Corinthians 8 talks about the Macedonian churches that begged Paul for the privilege of sharing in the service to the Lord’s people. They pleaded with Paul to let them give him money for his mission! They gave as much as they were able and some even beyond their ability.

You don’t have to beg us for the privilege of giving us wads of cash, we will gladly let you support us! (In addition to large bundles of cash, we also accept checks, all major credit cards, and live animals).





In all seriousness, we know that times are hard and not many people are looking around for places to throw their extra money. We are trusting that God will provide for us and we are also trusting that He will bless your generosity. I am not talking about a “Health and Wealth” Gospel in which I con you into giving to our ministry and then promise God will bless you with even more money, a big house, or a new sports car. I think God’s blessings are far more unexpected and satisfying.

I love The Message’s version of 2 Cor. 9:8-11:

God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it,

“He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out.”

This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.

God gives to us extravagantly so that we can give recklessly to others so that all can give praise to God. And in the end, we are all wealthy!

Did you know that most missionaries get more of their support from individuals rater than from churches or organizations? We need to raise 80% of $150,000 before we can begin language school and go to CAR. While any gift is appreciated, having regular steady donations (monthly donations), even in small amounts would help us budget and help us focus on the work God has called us to rather than money.

If you did not get a support letter and want one, let us know! Send your address to lorishinar@gmail.com

Please don’t make us sell smencils door to door

Costco

Costco

This blog is going to take a short detour from the series of blogs on the most common questions asked by you to talk about a monumental event on our journey to Central African Republic- my most recent trip to Costco.

I pulled into the Costco gas area, got out, put my membership card in the reader and it said, “Your membership has expired. Please see an associate inside the store to renew.” After I got in my car with the empty gas tank, I realized this was a first- the first thing we would not renew because we probably won’t be here a whole year.

Slowly we are letting go of our American ways to prepare for a life abroad. We will no longer buy our paper towels in bulk and once in CAR we will no longer be buying paper towels or any other disposable items. Did you know most missionaries take plastic ziplock bags with them to their country of service and wash and reuse them over and over?! I am beginning to realize that we are moving from a life of overabundance and convenience to a life of just enough and work to live.

We won’t be shopping here…

We will be shopping here…

We won’t buy our gas here…

We will buy it here…


Life is about to get interesting!

Africa: questions about the "country"

Who is the president of Africa? What is the capital of Africa? What do they speak in Africa?

Yes, these are real questions! I have been asked these many times!

If you read these questions and thought to yourself, “Yeah, who is the president?” Than this blog is for you.

First of all Africa is a continent, not a country! There are 47 countries in Africa (53 if you count the independent island nations of Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, Madagascar, the Comoros, the Seychelles, and Mauritius). Wait, as of July 9th there are 48/ 54 countries (Southern Sudan just became its own country- The Republic of South Sudan)! We are going to the Central African Republic (CAR)!



Each country has its own government. There are muli-party democracies in which political parties control the government, some countries have equal power between the executive and legislative branches, there are parliaments, some governments are run by the military, and yes there are presidential systems. CAR is a presidential Republic and François Bozizé is elected president of the country. There is also a Prime Minister of the Parliament that is chosen by the president. The Prime Minister is Faustin-Archange Touadéra.


President Bozizé


Prime Minister Touadéra

Now that you know Africa is comprised of many countries, there are also many capitals for those countries! Bangui is the capital of CAR!

And every country speaks a different language, usually MANY languages. French and Sango are the official languages of CAR, but there are 70 other languages spoken in CAR! We will be learning French, Sango, and Fulfulde!

So now you know that Africa is not a country and that every African country is very diverse. Now you will not be like the lady that once told me her necklace was from Africa and when I asked what country, she looked at me like I was stupid and slowly repeated, “Africa.” :)

An on"going" question

So this next question may not be the most popular one, but I have been asked it more than once, and I consider it rather amusing- “Where will you go to the bathroom?”


Well, probably somewhere out here


Maybe next to this guy

Definitely here


But usually here

(Not this actual one, but you get the point.)

Halo or Horns?

More answers to your questions….

“Wow, you are going to Africa! That is great! I could never do that.”

Okay, so that is not a question, but it is by far the most popular response we get when we tell people what we are doing. To be honest, it is this response that makes me hesitant to tell people about becoming missionaries. It makes me so uncomfortable. Non Christians look at me like I am a weird religious do-gooder and Christians look at me like I have a halo above my head.



This makes me uncomfortable because I am neither of these. In fact, I am far from it! To be honest, I am a terrible person. I am prone to negativity and laziness. I care too much about material things. I find gossip enthralling. I overeat when I am stressed. I am bad at keeping up relationships. I am horribly impatient. I am very judgmental. And this is just the beginning of a very long list. Trust me; there is a greater chance of seeing horns than a halo!


But for some reason, God has a plan for me in Africa. He is funny that way. He often uses scum buckets like me to do cool things. Take for example these losers that the Bible talks about:
• Jacob- put goatskin on his arms to deceive his dying father and steal from his brother! Yet God used him to father the tribes of Israel (God’s chosen people)
• Moses- had such a temper that he smashed the tablets that were written by God and he made the people drink them! Yet God used him to lead the Israelites out of slavery.
• Noah- got drunk and exposed himself to his kids! Yet God used him to build a big boat to save humanity and animals.
• Paul- was the most notorious Christian killer! Yet God used him to spread Christianity around the world.
• And it wasn’t just the men! The three women named in Jesus’ genealogy- Tamar- seduced her father-in-law, Rahab- was a hooker, and Bathsheba- although married, gave into a lustful affair!
• God even used an ass- literally an ass as in a donkey- to get His plan accomplished!



So if God can use liars, anger management attendees, drunken exhibitionists, murderers, seducers, prostitutes, adulterers, and asses, I guess he can use Josh and I and you too!

So to answer your question or um comment, yes it is great!

Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don't see many of "the brightest and the best" among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. Isn't it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these "nobodies" to expose the hollow pretensions of the "somebodies"? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. That's why we have the saying, "If you're going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God." (1 Corinthians 1:26-31).


And yes you can because He can!

Here's a word you can take to heart and depend on: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. I'm proof—Public Sinner Number One—of someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy. And now he shows me off—evidence of his endless patience—to those who are right on the edge of trusting him forever. (1 Timothy 1:15-19 The Message)