Oh the Depths! … (November 2018 Update)
In Romans 11:33, Paul reminds us about the greatness of our God. He says, “Oh, the depths of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of our God!” In crossing the ocean by ship, this verse continued to refrain in my mind, “Oh, the depths of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of our God!” For 7 days, we were at sea with no land in sight (except at the beginning and the end of our journey). Just waves and waves of a constantly rolling, deep, deep ocean. Each day as we looked out on the ocean, we were reminded that, as deep and vast as the ocean was, the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God are far deeper and more vast than any ocean.
A Deep Appreciation for our God …
Our ocean voyage home reminded me of several things about our God. First, He is great and mightier than even the greatest waves. On our trip, we saw waves in excess of 45 feet and gale force winds. But we knew we were in His hands. Psalm 93:4 tells us that “the Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.”
Second, we were awed by the vastness and the power and the beauty of the ocean. Psalm 107:23-24 tells about merchants that went out on ships and “saw the works of the Lord; His wonderful deeds in the deep.”
Finally, I often thought, “What is man that you are mindful of him?” (Psalm 8:4). The Queen Mary 2 is a marvel of man’s ability of create something wonderful. It is one of the chief ways we know that we are made in the image and likeness of our Creator. None of the animals exhibit creativity like man. Also, we marveled at the efficiency of the crew and the planners of the trip. Everything for over 2,000 people with over 40,000 meals and concerts and lectures, etc. ran like clockwork. Man’s desire to put all things in order is another reflection of our Creator God (1 Corinthians 14:40).
A Deep Appreciation for Missionaries …
Our trip was short in comparison to biblical mariners and short in comparison to that of earlier missionaries. A few hundred years ago, it would take a ship 1-2 months to cross the Atlantic. For missionaries in the Pacific, the trip could even be longer. Early missionaries rarely had the opportunity to return home from their ministries. The trip was too long, too expensive and too dangerous to travel back to see family very often. So many left their homeland and families knowing they might never see them again.
We are greatly blessed to serve in these times. Today, missionaries are able to travel home in a few hours by plane and so missionaries today are able to see family and friends every 2-5 years. We also have the benefit of the internet so we can keep up with everything and everyone at home. There are still sacrifices for every missionary. But our trip home on the ship causes us to stand in awe of those who truly left all to spread the gospel to the world!
Time in the States ….
Because of my health issues (pulmonary artery blockage), it was not best for me to travel by air for more than 3-4 hours. So we decided to take an ocean liner home – the Queen Mary 2. It’s the only real ocean liner still operating today. Our trip was really a joy compared to being on a cramped airliner for 9+ hours. But winter crossings of the Atlantic can be difficult and our was too. For 3 days, we experienced 10 Force winds. On the Beaufort scale, this means that the winds were a little below hurricane level (about 50-60 mph) and the waves were around 45 feet. But the Queen Mary is designed, not as a cruise ship, but as a true ocean liner. So it was not that bad even though all of us had a little nausea those days.
Because of the winds (and the cold), we were not able to be outside much until the winds calmed down. It was really enjoyable when we could get outside even though it was chilly and windy. We also had a good time meeting some people on board but our time was limited to talk much because we had two small girls to take care of. Most of the people were much older, probably in their 80s. But we met some orchestra members and servers that were from Ukraine! That was a special treat!
The food on-board was excellent! Both Katya and I remarked that we have never eaten in any restaurant with as good food or selections. And we were also able to see some good concerts and dance to live bands. In short, we were definitely pampered in this trip 🙂.
A Deeper Understanding of Ministry …
While we are in the states, I am not teaching, but I still have much to do. At this moment, I am working on this update and grading papers from my last two classes while the rest of my family is enjoying the beach. I’m going to join them too but I am reminded that we never really take a vacation from ministry. I knew this was especially true when I served as a pastor. Even in those times when we were on vacation, the church and the people under my care as a shepherd were always on my mind. So while we are definitely enjoying a break from the winter in Ukraine, there are still papers to grade and classes to prepare. Ministry goes on.
Time with Family …
Even with grading papers and preparing classes, we still have been able to enjoy some time on the beach together. We planned our trip so that we could see family and friends in November in Florida before it got cold. We really needed some time on the beach to relax. From here, we will head to Ohio and then return to spend Christmas with family in Arkansas.
Our biggest regret is how little time we have to see everyone we would like to see. We are hoping to see many people in churches in Arkansas. Tentatively, we are planning on being at the Bible Church of Cabot two Sundays (December 2 and 23), at Cornerstone on December 9 and in Fayetteville on December 16. We are trying to reserve time with family in the evenings after they get back from work. So, while we would love to see and spend time with everyone, we know our time with family is most important.
After Christmas, we will pack up and head to Connecticut. There we will be seeing friends at Shepaug Valley Bible Church in Roxbury. After the New Year, we will board the Queen Mary again to head back to England. This is the last crossing for the Queen Mary until Spring because the weather gets worse in winter. We are hoping that the weather will be better than it was coming to the US but we know we are in the Lord’s hands either way.
A great blessing to be in His Service …
Many people are asking me about my health and how it affects my ministry. It is really hard to give a definitive answer since my condition (pulmonary arterial hypertension) is not currently treatable. In general, I am able to do most things like usual. But whenever I exert myself more than usual, the artery does not open up enough to give the necessary increase in oxygenated blood flow. This results in extreme shortness of breath and chest pain. Even going up a flight of stairs too fast can create serious shortness of breath so that I have to stop and rest. But, in general, I can still teach as usual as long as I am careful to rest and not over-exert myself. It is an unbelievable blessing to be able to teach and train people for ministry and I am grateful for this opportunity to do so in Ukraine. It is my prayer that I can continue for at least another 10 years. But all this is in the Lord’s hand and we will be grateful for every opportunity He gives to serve!
We are thankful for you and your prayers and support. I realize that everything I have is because of the Lord but also because of God’s people. We are blessed by you and encouraged by your love and support continually. Thank you for being faithful to us and to the Lord!
By His Grace,
Jim and Katya
Kristina and Nadia
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