Craig and Debbie Rayner

Debbie's Artwork for Sudanese

We have had lectures on crossing cultures, team building world view, and relationships, read books about injustices in sex, and the personal views and story of the CEO of Compassion International. As well we both had our action groups, Debbie art for Sudan, and Craig doing a photo shoot for an ice cream parlour in China. Here are a few of the results! This was the part that you sort of expect, the curriculum, but it has been run by people with a passion for the subject and practically experience that has brought much laughter and many tears. Looking at justice, also means looking at injustice, and how do you come against it., and where does mercy fall in. Even thought many of the ideas are not new the perspective is different and so shines more light and helps us both in thinking through the ideas, especially ideas of culture. We were thinking through crossing culture, changing things within cultures by replacing or giving alternatives within a cultural framework. One concept was a bit mind spinning, was that the first culture, original culture is actually the culture that was first created, so before sin entered the world. So what was in that culture was the idea of partnership with the MD, managing the planet ( trees. plants and animals): caring for each other and going to populate the earth. When looking at a culture, actually any culture will have some elements of the original culture, where these things are lacking or have been replaced or other things rule, you will find injustices. Another day in the relationship week it got even more specific as every injustice can be linked to selfishness. Or in other words one person thinking more of themselves than they should causes all the neglect and well nasty stuff in the world. It was an amazing week of looking into my own life and seeing the value I place on others and myself and my relationship with the MD. How often am I selfish? It’s a pretty humbling time!

Ice Cream Shoot

Meeting people! Yes, there are some fantastic new friends on the base here. Often lunches, and in sharing our heart for serving the people working full time in Kazakhstan, the most tremendous offers of resources, help and chat support have appeared. Most of them work in the strategic frontiers hallway, working here to support workers in the 10/40 window. They are passionate for one area of the world and have practical hands on experience. There was a set of meeting here on reaching a specific religious group who make up about half the population of Kazakhstan. Sitting in a room full of tremendous minds, really smart people who have studied the approaches and strategies in reaching people with various groups around the world and came all the way to Colorado Springs to talk to us... love it! It was awesome to sit at the feet of such leaders, and participate in how to reach out to people in Kazakhstan and other areas of the world.

Thank you so much for all of the cards I received for my birthday. It was a great day, with much promise of what is still to come. Craig.

We found a great video of Kazakhstan which we would like to share with you. The site has videos of the Silk Road. The second video, From Almaty to Shymkent, shows the area we will be working in.
http://alongthesilkroad.org/md/video/index.html

How do you define justice? Looking at the dictionary may be a help: the maintenance or administration of what is just especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments; the quality of being just, impartial, or fair. The dictionary seems to be a little restricted in grabbing hold of this word, justice, without actually using the word 'just' as part of the definition. Most of us looking at the 6 o'clock news see a lot of what is happening in the world, and can readily identify the actions of people as unjust, be it war in Darfur, a shooting in the suburbs or a robbery of the local corner store. Is it appropriate to define justice as the opposite of the what makes us angry as we watch the news each evening. Injustice is easier to see, so is justice the proper response to injustice. We could state that justice is the administration of deserved punishment. Sounds like the dictionary.

So lets step off into the dangerous waters of justice that we find in the MD's handbook. The handbook speaks often about how the MD sees himself:

• He is the Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are law and justice. A MD of faithfulness without breach or deviation, just and right is He.
• I don't think the way you think. The way you work isn't the way I work.
• BEHOLD MY Servant, Whom I uphold, My elect in Whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice and right and reveal truth to the nations.
• He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the loving-kindness of the MD.
• Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and loving-kindness and truth go before Your face.

and in teaching on justice the handbook records:

• If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, gift-wrap your best coat and make a present of it. And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life.
• But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who ill-treat you.
• 'Love the MD with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets hangs from them.

How do we define justice? We define justice in the person of the MD, and especially the son. It should be our response to injustice to do those things that bring the people concerned (both victim and perpetrator) to the son, as the son is the MD's justice?

One of our lecturers was talking about how many people see the resources of the world, using an iceberg picture to illustrate. My mind jumped to you, an essential but often unseen part of sending us to Kazakhstan. We know that good thoughts and lifting up that happens each month, week, and day, enables us to serve fully. We also wanted to say a special thanks for the financial support this year, as we visited many people and groups around the world. So many people asked how we could spend so on coming all the way to…. and we boasted in the love that gets poured out on us to be able to come and share. Because of that more people are joining us in this adventure and we are so thankful. If anyone would like to help us financially once we arrive in Kazakhstan, please see the web page for details, every gift helps!

We have our first apartment, in Almaty! Sadly a couple on our team will be leaving, and so we are taking up the lease on a fully furnished apartment. The apartment is owned by another couple who are serving outside Kazakhstan, so the rent will support more worker in the harvest field, that is so cool! We have also talked with the current renters about buying the extra appliances they have added, so we will have a freezer, and even a clothes dryer- a huge luxury! It is about 25 minute walk to school but there are also buses right outside the door. And shopping centre is only 5-10 mins away. The best news was it has a view of the Mountains from the bedroom window, a glorious thing to have beauty given to you! Thank you for all your love and thoughts.

During the last two months particularly, I have been seeking some confirmation about what role I would have when we arrive in Kazakhstan in the Y family and in the school family. I still have no firm confirmation and the needs are just huge. I do not want to step into a need without knowing that it is part of the reason we are going to serve. What is clear is that I need to get some language under my belt. I have written to the school to let them know that I am struggling with a lack of peace. Very sure of the place and the time; the what has me confused. Please be lifting up this situation, and all the details that are attached to it.

Contact Details

Phone:
Australian Phone: +61 (0)2 6100 3637 This phone number connects with my Skype account and has a messaging service.

Our E-Mail Addresses: and

Current (Kazakhstan) Postal Address:
10a Basenova St
Almaty 050060
Republic of Kazakhstan

Please ensure that any parcel that you post to us is marked as NCV (No Commercial Value.) Parcels with value are often held for ransom.

Donations

We can only do the work we do because of the people who support the vision that we have shared with them. Should you wish to support our work, please click on the appropriate nation to find details of how you can go about blessing us with finances.

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Contact details were last updated on the 18^th December, 2009.