My Missions Trip Report

Last week I was on a missions trip to Vancouver, BC where we held a vacation Bible school (VBS) at the Chinese Tabernacle Baptist Church (CTBC). As this was my first missions trip, I wasn't sure what to expect really. I had heard stories from friends about seeing God work, but even with that, I still went into the trip pretty blind. Of the people that went, I knew 2 or 3 prior to leaving Florence. The rest I had seen or knew their names, but that was the extent of it. The first night that we were in Vancouver we really didn't notice a whole lot; since we didn't arrive until after midnight local time (which was 3 hours behind us here) and were pretty wiped out, but for the rest of the trip, I was in total culture shock. Superficially, Vancouver is pretty much like any large US city, it has its nicer homes and areas of town, and there are areas that are a bit more run down, it has its people, its attractions, etc...but when Pastor Fred Davis, who is the missionary we were there with, took us the first day to a functioning Buddhist Temple, I realized that this was unlike any other place I had been. The sheer diversity of people and religions kinda overwhelmed me. In one long row there were churches and temples form nearly every area of the world lined up. It was then that I began to understand how unusual (to me anyhow) Pastor Davis' ministry was. Whereas here, people are either Christian or not, for the most part, and ministry focuses on showing people that they need A God, there, Pastor Davis' ministry focuses on showing people that they need THE God. One who can fill the emptiness left by their native gods and their works based religions.
What really got a hold of me, though, were the people that I got to know on the trip. The children at the VBS we were holding at the church Thursday through Sunday night touched my heart. There was a diversity there that was not only related to the people, but also to the knowledge these children had. In some cases, these children were asking questions that would make my head spin, in other cases, some children seemed to have no prior knowledge of what we taught, whatsoever. As the week progressed, I got to know the people a little better, my fellow team members, Pastor and Mrs. Davis, the young adults of CTBC, and the kids that attended our VBS, and in each of these groups I learned about the experiences that they had been through prior to me meeting them, and I learned about what they were going through personally now, and what things lay ahead of them in the near future. It was an experience I don't believe I will soon forget. At least, I pray that I don't. In each of these people that I came to know, whether American or Canadian, whether child, youth, or adult, I got to see a piece of myself. Something in them that I could apply back to my own life and learn from , and I will carry that piece of them with me now. Remembering what it is that I learned from them and how it helped me in my personal walk with Christ. I would like nothing more than to go back to Vancouver and spend more time there with the people of CTBC and see what else God can teach me through their lives. Thank you very much for allowing me to go on this trip.

Well...as expected I have been entirely too busy to do any writing on this missions trip. It has been an amazing experience though. The beauty of Vancouver and its surrounding area is nearly beyond description. The VBS we held was amazing and accomplished its goal of bringing in new prospects for the church. One estimate is that two thirds of the kids there were not church memebers' children. That is awsome! I honestly can see myself coming back here in the next few years and spending some serious time helping Pastor Davis and his church. I plan on looking into this further in the coming years.

As for the poetry, I have a new set of images from which to glean enformation, so you can expect some serious nature oriented poetry in the next week or so.

Writing Binge

So, after finally breaking through the 3 month writers block I had been facing I have now swung in the completely different direction. In the past 3 days I have written 3 poems, come up with an idea for one more, and made plans for a new prose piece. With the missions trip coming up, either I'll have a lot more time to write or I'll be so wiped out I won't be able to hold a pen, so we'll just have to see. I plan on posting some stuff when I get back from the trip regardless, until then...

For the Best

As has been the norm lately, I have decided to try something very different from my usual fare of poetry (this may actually be true prose). This was brought about by a combination of very sudden inspiration and the desire to expand my style. So, let me know what you think, please.

For the Best
by: Eric Fulmer

Even as I sit here, thinking of you, I wonder...did I make the right choice? To turn away from you was in no minds my first impulse. I desired nothing more than to fan that spark that I felt between us. For I knew what you felt, and I felt it too, I believe; but my better sense told me that to walk away was the better option for the both of us. It was impossible for that time, what we wanted. I think deep down inside, we knew what would come of it. I listened to that small voice of sense from deep inside...apparently, you didn't. So, I was forced to walked away. To walk away and leave you standing there alone like a leaf to be swayed by any lone breath of wind that passes by. I am sorry. I sought only what I knew was for the best...for the both of us.

Why?! Why could you not understand that what I do and have done is all for you. Why can you not understand that it is because of my love that I did not take you up in my arms and carry you off? But you would not be dissuaded. You came rushing after me, just behind my every step as if to convince me that you belong there, and each time, you forced me to remind you that it would never work. I could not say it outright, though, for that would destroy you, so I ignored you, which may have been all the worse. I ignored the way you looked at me, I ignored the things you did to try and impress me, I ignored...(voice dies out). I know the way I treated you hurt, I could see the pain on you face each time I was forced to spurn your advances. Sometimes, I almost weakened, almost folded after looking into the depths of your eyes and seeing the tears you hid well up, almost told you it was all an act...that I did really love you, but I knew things could not be done that way. I knew that you would recover...eventually.