So, today, I was on the tram going towards the stop Central (Cen- trAl ['A' as in apple]) in the city for Reach a Tourist. First thing, if you follow my facebook, no I did not pack the salt once again, and the flickering lights keep me to wonder why I don't. Second, I was listening to my broadway playlist on Spotify and the song 'Hello' from The Book of Mormon came on. This is my favorite song from that musical, but the irony did not hit me until we were once again on the streets. I thought nothing of us doing street evangelism until I saw a couple of Mormons doing the same thing. As soon as I saw that, the irony hit me and the song became stuck inside my head for the rest of the day.
Now, there is nothing wrong with doing street evangelism as it is very effective to get to a bunch of people in an afternoon. I only write this as I thought it was funny to hear the song and then realize we always start the conversation with "Hello!" Sometimes I had to control my laughter from the song in my head.
On a serious note, why don't more Christians do street evangelism? The main ones I see are Westboro, Hate spreaders, and people that like to shout doom and gloom too much. Why do we not have a Reach a Tourist program in like Nashville, Chattanooga, Gatlinburg, New York, etc.? These are great places to reach multiple people from around the world that come to your home city. You tell them a little bit about the beautiful natural sites in the city, the history of the city, and/or even the religious history of the city so that you can then transition it into the Gospel. I mean, we could even do that in Columbia, TN (Mule Day anyone?). It has been a great tool for me to meet people from around the globe and share that the natural wonders that we see in Zurich (Alps, hills, river, trees, etc.) are created by God and that he created us and that he loves us.
Tomorrow is the last day for Reach a Tourist. I'll give a blog post and a newsletter after that! Until then, everyone, have a nice day!
Wednesday, July 10, 2019
Tuesday, July 9, 2019
Around The World in 80 Minutes
While Reach a Tourist lasts more than 80 minutes, you can be assured that you meet people from all around the globe. Today, my group and I went around the streets of Zurich and met people from Hong Kong, Korea, Indonesia, India, China, Canada, the United States, and France. I may have forgotten a couple more countries, but needless to say, we have seen people from as far as the East is to the West.
This afternoon was more active than yesterday. People were more open to what we had to say and for what we had in our bags. I was able to talk to the couple fro Hong Kong. They were at Zwingli's church in which he started his part in the reformation. I saw him, really I heard him, take pictures with his camera using voice recognition. This was the starting point of the conversation as I had not seen anything like this. We talked about the cathedral and I asked if he knew the history behind it. He said that he didn't and when I asked if I could share some of it, he said that he would enjoy that. I started to tell of the reformation and how it played a huge role in understanding the Bible for the crowds and not just relying on the Priests to interpret. I told him that the reformation began in Zurich 500 years ago this year (yes, a year after Martin Luther). I told him that Zwingli had put his work in translating the Bible from Latin to German so that people could have their own Bible. I went on to tell a bit more of the history and what was inside the church. I say all of that because sometimes, the gospel is not just starting off with how Jesus died. Sometimes it starts as a history tour of a building that leads to more questions of why that history was needed in the first place.
We have two more days left in Reach a Tourist. I pray that every day God uses us for His glory.
This afternoon was more active than yesterday. People were more open to what we had to say and for what we had in our bags. I was able to talk to the couple fro Hong Kong. They were at Zwingli's church in which he started his part in the reformation. I saw him, really I heard him, take pictures with his camera using voice recognition. This was the starting point of the conversation as I had not seen anything like this. We talked about the cathedral and I asked if he knew the history behind it. He said that he didn't and when I asked if I could share some of it, he said that he would enjoy that. I started to tell of the reformation and how it played a huge role in understanding the Bible for the crowds and not just relying on the Priests to interpret. I told him that the reformation began in Zurich 500 years ago this year (yes, a year after Martin Luther). I told him that Zwingli had put his work in translating the Bible from Latin to German so that people could have their own Bible. I went on to tell a bit more of the history and what was inside the church. I say all of that because sometimes, the gospel is not just starting off with how Jesus died. Sometimes it starts as a history tour of a building that leads to more questions of why that history was needed in the first place.
We have two more days left in Reach a Tourist. I pray that every day God uses us for His glory.
Monday, July 8, 2019
Reach a Tourist
Today was the first Reach a Tourist meeting in Zurich. We are doing this project until Thursday. It was a bit slow today, but I think it was because of the deconstruction of the festival. Many people were not in the normal tourist spots because of the deconstruction happening in those exact spots. However, the Gospel was spread to many people from around the world. There was not a moment that wasn't ordained by the Father.
I was able to meet some people from New York. If you're in the states, you know that Northerners and Southerners do not get along. I was not going to let this stop me, but I almost let the mocking of my accent stop me. Y'all know how it is when you get tired the accent gets drawn out and fish becomes fiiiiiiiish. Well, I'm tired, and yes I'll be getting a lot of rest tonight, but it was uncalled for when one of them tried to imitate my accent. I am not bitter, but just a little disappointed that people still do that. I went on to help them know where to go within the city and where the cool places are to go with the old buildings. They seemed like nice people otherwise.
Tomorrow, we go back out to hopefully reach more and more tourists. Let's hope the rain holds off this week and that it stays cool enough that people want to come out and be a tourist.
God bless y'all and goodnight.
I was able to meet some people from New York. If you're in the states, you know that Northerners and Southerners do not get along. I was not going to let this stop me, but I almost let the mocking of my accent stop me. Y'all know how it is when you get tired the accent gets drawn out and fish becomes fiiiiiiiish. Well, I'm tired, and yes I'll be getting a lot of rest tonight, but it was uncalled for when one of them tried to imitate my accent. I am not bitter, but just a little disappointed that people still do that. I went on to help them know where to go within the city and where the cool places are to go with the old buildings. They seemed like nice people otherwise.
Tomorrow, we go back out to hopefully reach more and more tourists. Let's hope the rain holds off this week and that it stays cool enough that people want to come out and be a tourist.
God bless y'all and goodnight.
Do You See What I See?
On Saturday, I was invited to go to a "BBQ" again with some OMers that are either based in Zurich or live there. We totaled about eight people. It was a great time of fellowship and laughter. We all shared something from our hearts or an observation that we had made. My observation had been from my project. As I walked the streets of Hirzenbach, I saw many people with many different backgrounds. However, they all had at least one thing in common: they all wanted to be seen. I saw people of different ethnicities, genders, religious backgrounds, and cultures when I walked the streets. I saw them as people and not as the other things listed. I saw them as them. That is what everyone in this world wants is to be seen. If you have been following this blog since the beginning, then you know that my calling is to go towards the outcasts of society. Who are the outcasts? It totally depends on where you are in the world. It can be the people who are homeless, the veterans of the nation, the mentally disabled, LGBT+ people, Muslims, refugees, etc. All these people want is to be seen. Notice, there is no race in this list. I do not care what color your skin is for you are a person, and I see you. This is what Jesus did. He saw people for people and not as their job, race, etc. He also told of the judgments to come and how people needed to turn from their sins, but his first step was to see people as people. If we see people as a "disease" or as I have so eloquently have read, "a Plague", then we are no better than others who have used these types of words to kill off millions. Once we begin to demonize people and try to say that they are not people, that is when we lose the chance to spread the Gospel. We are called to love people as people, we are called to preach Gospel, but where is the line between loving and accepting? I say look to Jesus for he is the ultimate answer. Look at how he helped people, look at how he interacted with people, and look at how he carried himself in all circumstances!
I was able to put this lesson into practice on Saturday afternoon as I went into the city for a movie and then the Zuri fest. I went into the new Spider-Man movie and I saw a lot of different people, but I also saw a lot of people that just wanted to see a movie. Afterward, I went more into the city and saw well over 20,000 people on the streets who were all different. We were all having a blast listening to the music being played, watching the air show done by planes and helicopters, some were ziplining, others eating and drinking; we were all there to have a good time.
What would have happened if I had just started to make people feel like they were different? Now, yes, some people have demonstrations that set them apart from all the rest, but this is not what I am talking about. If I had just started to make a sign saying that everyone needed to turn to Christ or burn in Hell for eternity that instant, then I would not have been very successful. In fact, I would have probably set back the missionaries here a few months because I have not started a distaste for Christianity in the mouths of the people of Zurich and all of the tourists that were there as well.
So, do you see what I see? This question is not meant to be boastful by any means, but do you see the people as people? Once we can do that, we can start relationships and start talking about Jesus and his deep love for all of us.
Below are a few pictures from the festival.
I was able to put this lesson into practice on Saturday afternoon as I went into the city for a movie and then the Zuri fest. I went into the new Spider-Man movie and I saw a lot of different people, but I also saw a lot of people that just wanted to see a movie. Afterward, I went more into the city and saw well over 20,000 people on the streets who were all different. We were all having a blast listening to the music being played, watching the air show done by planes and helicopters, some were ziplining, others eating and drinking; we were all there to have a good time.
What would have happened if I had just started to make people feel like they were different? Now, yes, some people have demonstrations that set them apart from all the rest, but this is not what I am talking about. If I had just started to make a sign saying that everyone needed to turn to Christ or burn in Hell for eternity that instant, then I would not have been very successful. In fact, I would have probably set back the missionaries here a few months because I have not started a distaste for Christianity in the mouths of the people of Zurich and all of the tourists that were there as well.
So, do you see what I see? This question is not meant to be boastful by any means, but do you see the people as people? Once we can do that, we can start relationships and start talking about Jesus and his deep love for all of us.
Below are a few pictures from the festival.
Friday, July 5, 2019
Bunker Down!
So I have been sitting on this information for a while now, waiting to see when a perfect time would be to share it. Since it is still Tornado season pt. 2 (of at least 3 parts) in the South, I decided to now share this. In the Southern United States, there is a famous meteorologist named James Spann. When I lived in Alabama, he was and is the most trusted in weather mapping and tracking. When he says the words, "Bunker down!" then you know that the storm has now turned into a tornado or hurricane (depends on the part of Alabama you are in). When you are in the south, bunker down means to go to the basement of your or a neighbor's home put on the bike helmets, get to the point where it has the most distance away from the outside, and hold each other tightly until the storm passes over.
You might be wondering where I am going with this, and I am glad I have gotten your interest. Here in Switzerland, they have the South beat when it comes to "bunker down." Here, every house and every big building had to have a bomb bunker. That is until the 1990's when they no longer had to build the bunkers.
Y'all let me tell you, it is like going back in time when I walk into the bunker in the church that we work with. They have now changed it into a storage room where they hold items for different ministries. Even though they have lights and all, it is still pretty creepy being down there. The lights are motion sensor lights and sometimes they do not come on immediately as you walk into the room, so, if you know me, this creeps me out. It is a really neat experience to see a bomb shelter, made because of the Cold War (hey, Switzerland may be neutral, but they are not stupid). The one in the church is pretty big because it had to hold many people in case war broke out during the services. It has a couple of rooms and they remind me of my Grandparents' homes. With the wood paneling on the walls and the bright yellow of the blast doors. It makes it for a throwback (and if war happened and you didn't close the door, it really would be a throwback... sorry probably a bit morbid).
I find this interesting since, in the States, we do not have these except in really rare and old places. These are not really accessible to the public, that is if the public even knows that they are there. Ours are old and filled with military rations from the 1960s and have not been updated or kept up. In the case of emergency and war, Switzerland is good to go with the bunkers and the States not so much, but, besides Japan and terrorists, who is really (trying to be PC) unintelligent enough to attack the USA?
Anyways, there is an interesting factoid for my friends and family in the States! Have a wonderful July 5!
You might be wondering where I am going with this, and I am glad I have gotten your interest. Here in Switzerland, they have the South beat when it comes to "bunker down." Here, every house and every big building had to have a bomb bunker. That is until the 1990's when they no longer had to build the bunkers.
Y'all let me tell you, it is like going back in time when I walk into the bunker in the church that we work with. They have now changed it into a storage room where they hold items for different ministries. Even though they have lights and all, it is still pretty creepy being down there. The lights are motion sensor lights and sometimes they do not come on immediately as you walk into the room, so, if you know me, this creeps me out. It is a really neat experience to see a bomb shelter, made because of the Cold War (hey, Switzerland may be neutral, but they are not stupid). The one in the church is pretty big because it had to hold many people in case war broke out during the services. It has a couple of rooms and they remind me of my Grandparents' homes. With the wood paneling on the walls and the bright yellow of the blast doors. It makes it for a throwback (and if war happened and you didn't close the door, it really would be a throwback... sorry probably a bit morbid).
I find this interesting since, in the States, we do not have these except in really rare and old places. These are not really accessible to the public, that is if the public even knows that they are there. Ours are old and filled with military rations from the 1960s and have not been updated or kept up. In the case of emergency and war, Switzerland is good to go with the bunkers and the States not so much, but, besides Japan and terrorists, who is really (trying to be PC) unintelligent enough to attack the USA?
Anyways, there is an interesting factoid for my friends and family in the States! Have a wonderful July 5!
Thursday, July 4, 2019
Let Freedom Ring... Or The Doorbell That Works Too
Today, I was able to play all my Independence Day playlist on Spotify and sometimes I was able to play it at full blast. I cooked my teammates a southern lunch, sorry no cornbread 'cause no cornmeal, and had apple pie for dessert. I also wore my Tennessee flag shirt to show off the Red, White, and Blue! It has been a wonderful time and I was able to hear the freedom of my home country ring from 4000 miles away.
I was also able to hear the doorbell ring from upstairs. And of course, it was our friendly neighborhood Jehovah's Witnesses. Today was the last meeting that I will have with them here due to the fact that I will be gone away from the house for the next two weeks and then I am leaving Switzerland on the third week. We had wonderful conversations about Jesus, Hell, Evil, Love, and a lot more philosophical and theological topics. They stumped me a couple of times and I stumped them a few times, so I think that it was a good time! I hope to have more interactions like this when I get back to the states! They both were so receptible to what my ideas were and I was able to follow their ideas. They seem to be so close to real Christianity that it really hurts. They have a different Bible that adds or subtracts words from the text. I had to read from the original Greek and Hebrew for them to stop and think that maybe their Bible is wrong. Of course, this was not my goal but to only have them think deeper as to what their Bible says compared to the original texts say.
This post, without saying I guess, goes to my professors at Bryan and all the people that have helped me form my view of the Bible and the truth from it. Without you all, I would have been sucked into their closeness and missing the actual truth.
So, everyone, enjoy the rest of your Independence Day (since the majority of my readers are 7 hours behind)! Happy 4th and please be careful with the fireworks and/or gunshots tonight! Don't drink and drive or shoot.
I was also able to hear the doorbell ring from upstairs. And of course, it was our friendly neighborhood Jehovah's Witnesses. Today was the last meeting that I will have with them here due to the fact that I will be gone away from the house for the next two weeks and then I am leaving Switzerland on the third week. We had wonderful conversations about Jesus, Hell, Evil, Love, and a lot more philosophical and theological topics. They stumped me a couple of times and I stumped them a few times, so I think that it was a good time! I hope to have more interactions like this when I get back to the states! They both were so receptible to what my ideas were and I was able to follow their ideas. They seem to be so close to real Christianity that it really hurts. They have a different Bible that adds or subtracts words from the text. I had to read from the original Greek and Hebrew for them to stop and think that maybe their Bible is wrong. Of course, this was not my goal but to only have them think deeper as to what their Bible says compared to the original texts say.
This post, without saying I guess, goes to my professors at Bryan and all the people that have helped me form my view of the Bible and the truth from it. Without you all, I would have been sucked into their closeness and missing the actual truth.
So, everyone, enjoy the rest of your Independence Day (since the majority of my readers are 7 hours behind)! Happy 4th and please be careful with the fireworks and/or gunshots tonight! Don't drink and drive or shoot.
Wednesday, July 3, 2019
Thank You Shady Brook Cinemas!
Thank you to my Shady Brook family who supported me in getting to Switzerland! I thank them for giving me the opportunity to have my first job for the past three years and for me to be able to come back during breaks. I appreciate all of them and how they have trained me for life! Thank you all! If you all want to see a family-friendly movie this summer for FREE then head on over to Shady Brook Cinemas on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays for a free movie provided by Muletown businesses! When you get there, be sure to get a $2 small popcorn and a $2 small drink!! C'mon out and enjoy these movies for great fun! Check out their schedule for all movies, including the FREE summer movies, on their website http://www.shadybrookcinemas.net/ !!!
Now that this advertising is there, I truly appreciate them and cannot wait to work for them again in the Winter for my break from school. Today, I am extra appreciative for them teaching me how to pop popcorn. Yes, it sounds like a simple thing, but there are some things that you have to learn to get the perfect popcorn (which Shady Brook makes fresh by the way). Today, I had the opportunity to make the last snack for the final kids club. We decided to have a carnival theme and have the snack be watermelon and popcorn. Thank you, Lord, for the knowledge in how to pop it when it is only kernels and not microwave (Yes they have microwave popcorn here, but I wanted to make fresh popcorn. Plus, it was cheaper to do that than to buy ten boxes of microwave popcorn.).
Making the popcorn made me feel like I was back in the concession stand except without the crowds (really, everyone should work some type of customer service). The smell of fresh popcorn brought back all the memories and the feels of my hometown, Muletown, theater.
The kids club ended with a fluster of games, arts, and snacks. This was a good ending, in my opinion at least, for the kids club. The kids seemed to have fun and us, adults were able to control the crowd and possibly have some fun themselves. Here are some pictures from today! Until tomorrow, God bless!!
Now that this advertising is there, I truly appreciate them and cannot wait to work for them again in the Winter for my break from school. Today, I am extra appreciative for them teaching me how to pop popcorn. Yes, it sounds like a simple thing, but there are some things that you have to learn to get the perfect popcorn (which Shady Brook makes fresh by the way). Today, I had the opportunity to make the last snack for the final kids club. We decided to have a carnival theme and have the snack be watermelon and popcorn. Thank you, Lord, for the knowledge in how to pop it when it is only kernels and not microwave (Yes they have microwave popcorn here, but I wanted to make fresh popcorn. Plus, it was cheaper to do that than to buy ten boxes of microwave popcorn.).
Making the popcorn made me feel like I was back in the concession stand except without the crowds (really, everyone should work some type of customer service). The smell of fresh popcorn brought back all the memories and the feels of my hometown, Muletown, theater.
The kids club ended with a fluster of games, arts, and snacks. This was a good ending, in my opinion at least, for the kids club. The kids seemed to have fun and us, adults were able to control the crowd and possibly have some fun themselves. Here are some pictures from today! Until tomorrow, God bless!!
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