My time with Pastor Barnes was well spent. He asked good questions and we had probing conversations. One of his greatest concerns seemed to be how the rest of the family felt about missions, and how well we would adjust to a new culture and language. Family harmony and adjustment to the culture and language are to keys to a missionary family having a successful first term on the field. They are also two areas that can shipwreck a missionary career. We talked at length about the direction of the work in the check and the plans for the future, and we learned more about each other.
Now we are going to both take a little time to pray and little it stew in a us a little. I'll also need to check in with the Missions Mobilization staff to determine if there is anything precluding us from moving forward.
So, it is all progressing slowly and methodically. I keep wishing that I would have an Epiphany or extreme burden for Czech Republic. I have a burden for those who are without Jesus Christ. The ABWE work in the Czech Republic fits my ideals and values for where to minister and the style of team.
Right now I don't have any emotional thing happening. It could be because I finally got home at about midnight last night and was up at 6am this morning without any transition time. I feel awake, but also slightly devoid of emotion.
I imagine that's why it's best to sit on it for a few days. Talk it over with Marge and the kids, and above all, pray.
Adam
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Newark "Fact Finding" Trip Day I - AM
I can't believe I'm not napping. It's nearly 9am and I've been up since 3am.
I'm on this new diet (no gluten, dairy, or vinegar), it makes for boring food, but I feel great. Alert and I can focus better. So, while I was up at 3 am, I'm still awake and alert. It's a blessing.
I got myself packed and organized yesterday. I'm very methodical about how I travel. I've streamlined as much as I can. I have a rather small suitcase. It is actually small enough for the overhead bin of most planes. The down side is that if I throw in exercise clothes and clothing in which to sleep, then I've taken up most of the suitcase already. This won't be as much of a problem during warm weather, but during cold I always pack a couple of layers. This still works well for an overnight trip as I only bring one pair of pants, one sweater (wearing them - I guess that's a good thing) and two other turtle necks (and other things obviously).
My laptop case is crammed, I always bring a number of magazines or documents that I haven't gotten to and figure hours sitting on a plane or in an airport is a perfect time to read and then toss them. I also always bring at least one fiction book, and one non-fiction. Then I have to have my Bible, notebook and journal. Until the library has a full supply of downloadable books that I can read on my handheld, then I can't slim down much there.
For my birthday, Marge bought me a new King James translation Bible. I picked a super-slimline so that it more easily fits in my laptop bag. I also bought a three ring binder that is about the same width. Now I can take notes as I read and think, and then can organize the notes for later use. So often if I journal my thoughts on Bible passages they just get buried in a stack of journals. This way I can take the notebook with me and also have a notebook with organized notes. I'm looking forward to being able to revisit the notes, not have to start over, and benefit of previous thoughts and idea.
When the alarm went up at 3am, I was up in an instant and we were on the road by 3:45am.
We drove up Interstate 131 toward Grand Rapids in mostly clear conditions. It's amazing how often Michigan doesn't plow their roads. Once we crossed into Allegan county visibility dropped down to about 50 feet and the roads became fairly treacherous. We had the road to ourselves for most of the way, so I just drove straight up the center. As we got toward Grand Rapids, the sky cleared up completely.
It's always pleasant to travel with Marge. Once at the airport we sat at Starbucks for a coffee, and I got in the security check-in line. I'm flying Delta this weekend as it was the best price. It's been good so far. I've tried to stick with Northwestern because I like their Detroit hub, but with booking travel only a week prior, the prices were fairly steep all around. Delta was the only carrier that got me in the price range for which I was hoping.
I flew out of Gerald R. Ford in Grand Rapids at 6:30am and now on three hour layover in Cincinnati. I'll read and work and walk around. When I was growing up, my dad was a United Airlines pilot. We took a major trip at least once a year, and I got used to long layovers, so this is no big deal.
Had a blessed time of prayer and study 0n the plane although I never made it past verse one of chapter one in I Corinthians. I know that I should be missing getting to go to church, but I'm digging the adventure of this trip and the time to sit quietly, think, study, meditate. I'm not sure how I'll be traveling with other people, I'm so used to traveling alone, and not talking for long hours. I do miss Marge and the children. I don't enjoy being away from them. I know I'll adjust to travelling together.
I appreciate the generosity and support that have already been shown to my family. The kindness and generosity of God's people has already paid for this trip from what I understand. It is humbling to be so supported and cared for.
Thank you all, and thanks be to God for privileging my family and me in this way. What an honor it is to serve the Lord.
Adam
I'm on this new diet (no gluten, dairy, or vinegar), it makes for boring food, but I feel great. Alert and I can focus better. So, while I was up at 3 am, I'm still awake and alert. It's a blessing.
I got myself packed and organized yesterday. I'm very methodical about how I travel. I've streamlined as much as I can. I have a rather small suitcase. It is actually small enough for the overhead bin of most planes. The down side is that if I throw in exercise clothes and clothing in which to sleep, then I've taken up most of the suitcase already. This won't be as much of a problem during warm weather, but during cold I always pack a couple of layers. This still works well for an overnight trip as I only bring one pair of pants, one sweater (wearing them - I guess that's a good thing) and two other turtle necks (and other things obviously).
My laptop case is crammed, I always bring a number of magazines or documents that I haven't gotten to and figure hours sitting on a plane or in an airport is a perfect time to read and then toss them. I also always bring at least one fiction book, and one non-fiction. Then I have to have my Bible, notebook and journal. Until the library has a full supply of downloadable books that I can read on my handheld, then I can't slim down much there.
For my birthday, Marge bought me a new King James translation Bible. I picked a super-slimline so that it more easily fits in my laptop bag. I also bought a three ring binder that is about the same width. Now I can take notes as I read and think, and then can organize the notes for later use. So often if I journal my thoughts on Bible passages they just get buried in a stack of journals. This way I can take the notebook with me and also have a notebook with organized notes. I'm looking forward to being able to revisit the notes, not have to start over, and benefit of previous thoughts and idea.
When the alarm went up at 3am, I was up in an instant and we were on the road by 3:45am.
We drove up Interstate 131 toward Grand Rapids in mostly clear conditions. It's amazing how often Michigan doesn't plow their roads. Once we crossed into Allegan county visibility dropped down to about 50 feet and the roads became fairly treacherous. We had the road to ourselves for most of the way, so I just drove straight up the center. As we got toward Grand Rapids, the sky cleared up completely.
It's always pleasant to travel with Marge. Once at the airport we sat at Starbucks for a coffee, and I got in the security check-in line. I'm flying Delta this weekend as it was the best price. It's been good so far. I've tried to stick with Northwestern because I like their Detroit hub, but with booking travel only a week prior, the prices were fairly steep all around. Delta was the only carrier that got me in the price range for which I was hoping.
I flew out of Gerald R. Ford in Grand Rapids at 6:30am and now on three hour layover in Cincinnati. I'll read and work and walk around. When I was growing up, my dad was a United Airlines pilot. We took a major trip at least once a year, and I got used to long layovers, so this is no big deal.
Had a blessed time of prayer and study 0n the plane although I never made it past verse one of chapter one in I Corinthians. I know that I should be missing getting to go to church, but I'm digging the adventure of this trip and the time to sit quietly, think, study, meditate. I'm not sure how I'll be traveling with other people, I'm so used to traveling alone, and not talking for long hours. I do miss Marge and the children. I don't enjoy being away from them. I know I'll adjust to travelling together.
I appreciate the generosity and support that have already been shown to my family. The kindness and generosity of God's people has already paid for this trip from what I understand. It is humbling to be so supported and cared for.
Thank you all, and thanks be to God for privileging my family and me in this way. What an honor it is to serve the Lord.
Adam
Monday, February 12, 2007
Progress Update
I have been corresponding via e-mail with Pastor Ron Barnes for the past couple of weeks. Ron Barnes is an ABWE missionary involved with church planting and training in the Czech Republic. Several years ago the president of the Baptist Union in the Czech Republic invited ABWE to assist them in the work of church planting, Bible training, and leadership training in the Southern Bohemia region.
The Czech Republic is one of the more stable post-communist countries in Eastern Europe. However, 60% of adults identify themselves as atheists. It is the least evangelized country in Eastern Europe. In Southern Bohemia there is only one Baptist church which is in the city of Ceske Budejovice. There are few other Bible believing churches in the region. Pastor Barnes is currently supporting the work of the Baptist church in Ceske Budejovice, and two other church plants that will be starting up within the year. He is also coordinating work on starting a Bible Seminary in a nearby city.
I sent Pastor Barnes some information about me, our family, and our call to missions, and we corresponded a number of times via e-mail. The work in Southern Bohemia is of great interest to us, so I made arrangements for Pastor Barnes to call me via Internet phone on Saturday morning. I was on one phone and Marge and the children were on the speaker phone. We spent about two hours getting to know one another, and working to get a broader sense of the work and culture in the Southern Bohemia region of the Czech Republic. It turns out that he will be in the states for about one week, and will have the afternoon free on Sunday 18-Feb.
After Marge and I spoke with him on the phone, we really felt like working with the team in the Czech Republic could be an excellent fit for us. Typically the next step is to take a survey trip to meet the team there, spend time with the church members and leaders, and experience the culture. However, since Pastor Barnes is going to be in the states, I decided the best next step would be to fly out to Newark where he will be and spend the afternoon with him. We’ll share a hotel room together and then go our separate ways. Choosing a field of service and joining a missionary team is something like a marriage.
If my meeting with Pastor Barnes goes well, and we all think we should take the next step, then we will schedule a survey trip. This is all very new for me, and asking for help is not something I am accustomed to do. That said, I have already received several offers to help with travel expenses, and that help will be needed. These trips are completely outside our budget, so we are trusting God to provide, and believe He will.
Donations Accepted
Bethel Baptist Church has set up a special account for anyone who would like to donate toward our missionary expenses. This account is only temporary in that when we are officially appointed as ABWE missionaries, then we will have an account set up with them. We will be appointed as ABWE missionaries upon successful completion of Candidate Seminar.
In the meantime we will have several times when we will need to travel. I’m already starting to set up dates to go share my testimony and sing at some churches where I have family or I have been to before. I’m not officially raising support, but this gives me an opportunity to make contact, encourage people, and share with them how God has been working in our lives. We will need help with the expenses of traveling to churches, the trip this weekend, the survey trip, and travel to Candidate Seminar.
As always, please don’t feel any pressure to give money. Your prayers and friendship are most important. However, if you would like to give some money, please send it to:
ATTN: Donation for Parmenter Missions
Bethel Baptist Church
402 South Westnedge
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Keep in touch.
We would love to hear how you are doing. The best way to get in touch with us is via this e-mail link. If you would like to send us an old fashioned paper letter, I promise one of us (or several of us) will write back to you. You can write to us at Parmenter Family 1512 Bank Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49001.
Finally, let me know how we can pray for you. We want to support you with our prayers even as you are so kindly praying for us.
In Christ,
Adam Parmenter
On behalf of Marge and the kids
The Czech Republic is one of the more stable post-communist countries in Eastern Europe. However, 60% of adults identify themselves as atheists. It is the least evangelized country in Eastern Europe. In Southern Bohemia there is only one Baptist church which is in the city of Ceske Budejovice. There are few other Bible believing churches in the region. Pastor Barnes is currently supporting the work of the Baptist church in Ceske Budejovice, and two other church plants that will be starting up within the year. He is also coordinating work on starting a Bible Seminary in a nearby city.
I sent Pastor Barnes some information about me, our family, and our call to missions, and we corresponded a number of times via e-mail. The work in Southern Bohemia is of great interest to us, so I made arrangements for Pastor Barnes to call me via Internet phone on Saturday morning. I was on one phone and Marge and the children were on the speaker phone. We spent about two hours getting to know one another, and working to get a broader sense of the work and culture in the Southern Bohemia region of the Czech Republic. It turns out that he will be in the states for about one week, and will have the afternoon free on Sunday 18-Feb.
After Marge and I spoke with him on the phone, we really felt like working with the team in the Czech Republic could be an excellent fit for us. Typically the next step is to take a survey trip to meet the team there, spend time with the church members and leaders, and experience the culture. However, since Pastor Barnes is going to be in the states, I decided the best next step would be to fly out to Newark where he will be and spend the afternoon with him. We’ll share a hotel room together and then go our separate ways. Choosing a field of service and joining a missionary team is something like a marriage.
If my meeting with Pastor Barnes goes well, and we all think we should take the next step, then we will schedule a survey trip. This is all very new for me, and asking for help is not something I am accustomed to do. That said, I have already received several offers to help with travel expenses, and that help will be needed. These trips are completely outside our budget, so we are trusting God to provide, and believe He will.
Donations Accepted
Bethel Baptist Church has set up a special account for anyone who would like to donate toward our missionary expenses. This account is only temporary in that when we are officially appointed as ABWE missionaries, then we will have an account set up with them. We will be appointed as ABWE missionaries upon successful completion of Candidate Seminar.
In the meantime we will have several times when we will need to travel. I’m already starting to set up dates to go share my testimony and sing at some churches where I have family or I have been to before. I’m not officially raising support, but this gives me an opportunity to make contact, encourage people, and share with them how God has been working in our lives. We will need help with the expenses of traveling to churches, the trip this weekend, the survey trip, and travel to Candidate Seminar.
As always, please don’t feel any pressure to give money. Your prayers and friendship are most important. However, if you would like to give some money, please send it to:
ATTN: Donation for Parmenter Missions
Bethel Baptist Church
402 South Westnedge
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Keep in touch.
We would love to hear how you are doing. The best way to get in touch with us is via this e-mail link. If you would like to send us an old fashioned paper letter, I promise one of us (or several of us) will write back to you. You can write to us at Parmenter Family 1512 Bank Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49001.
Finally, let me know how we can pray for you. We want to support you with our prayers even as you are so kindly praying for us.
In Christ,
Adam Parmenter
On behalf of Marge and the kids
Friday, February 9, 2007
Czech Republic
I've been corresponding with the missionary who is the country coordinator for the Czech Republic. He is getting a new work going there in the Southern Bohemia (a region of the Czech republic). There is only one Baptist church in Southern Bohemia.
ABWE reports that in a survey 60% of adults identified themselves as atheists. ABWE was invited in to work in Southern Bohemia to train national believers as maturing believers, leaders, and church planters.
I've been reading a little about Bohemia and learning what I can. Marge and I are very interested, and are scheduled to have a phone conversation with Pastor Ron Barnes who is the team leader/country coordinator in the Czech Republic.
Pray that if this is the best place for us to serve the Lord that God will clearly draw our family to the work there.
Adam
ABWE reports that in a survey 60% of adults identified themselves as atheists. ABWE was invited in to work in Southern Bohemia to train national believers as maturing believers, leaders, and church planters.
I've been reading a little about Bohemia and learning what I can. Marge and I are very interested, and are scheduled to have a phone conversation with Pastor Ron Barnes who is the team leader/country coordinator in the Czech Republic.
Pray that if this is the best place for us to serve the Lord that God will clearly draw our family to the work there.
Adam
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Boy Is It Cold!
It's been wind chill of up to 20 below the last several days here in balmy Kalamazoo, Michigan. Marge and I are finishing up an assignment called "Grey Areas". It's a tape series about dealing with life style issues to which scripture does not make a definitive statement.
Obviously, this will be an issue requiring maturity on our part as we join with a team of missionaries who are from various background in a culture that is foreign to our own.
After that we will be studying up for our doctrinal oral exam. We also are supposed to review a book that is designed for study with new Christian. They would like us to go through it with a new Christian. We are going to go through it as a family first, and then think through who else we could study it with.
The other preparation work is financial. We are looking at our debt, which is small by most standards. If we sold our house today, we would likely pay it all off. We aren't waiting or that, so last night we sat down and planned out our savings and checking cash flow, tax returns, and some reimbursements that we'll be getting and what we'll be able to put toward debt.
We've cut out things like home internet access, and video rentals. We are also checking with each other before we spend any money not on the list. That's no fun. However, the cool thing is that we are planning on building up a small cash reserve. We haven't had that so that unexpected expenses always turn into credit card debt.
We'll shortly be developing a missions wish list, because there are certain items that we'll never be able to afford. We're discovering that there are people that want to help out. Things like a projector and lap top for Presentations at churches. The lap top will also help with studies, etc. It feels funny asking for gifts. I want to earn everything on my own, but I know that part of the way others participate in our missions journey is by giving. So, I'm learning how to receive.
By, the way, I'm setting up a missions newsletter. If you would like to receive it, please click this link, send me an e-mail, and request being added to the e-mail newsletter.
Adam
Obviously, this will be an issue requiring maturity on our part as we join with a team of missionaries who are from various background in a culture that is foreign to our own.
After that we will be studying up for our doctrinal oral exam. We also are supposed to review a book that is designed for study with new Christian. They would like us to go through it with a new Christian. We are going to go through it as a family first, and then think through who else we could study it with.
The other preparation work is financial. We are looking at our debt, which is small by most standards. If we sold our house today, we would likely pay it all off. We aren't waiting or that, so last night we sat down and planned out our savings and checking cash flow, tax returns, and some reimbursements that we'll be getting and what we'll be able to put toward debt.
We've cut out things like home internet access, and video rentals. We are also checking with each other before we spend any money not on the list. That's no fun. However, the cool thing is that we are planning on building up a small cash reserve. We haven't had that so that unexpected expenses always turn into credit card debt.
We'll shortly be developing a missions wish list, because there are certain items that we'll never be able to afford. We're discovering that there are people that want to help out. Things like a projector and lap top for Presentations at churches. The lap top will also help with studies, etc. It feels funny asking for gifts. I want to earn everything on my own, but I know that part of the way others participate in our missions journey is by giving. So, I'm learning how to receive.
By, the way, I'm setting up a missions newsletter. If you would like to receive it, please click this link, send me an e-mail, and request being added to the e-mail newsletter.
Adam
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