Frank Laubach on What to Do When the Money's Gone

Missions work, like so many things, can cost a lot of money, but what can you do when you are out of funds? 

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Frank Laubach was a missionary to the Philippines starting in 1915. In the beginning it was slow going; he was mostly frustrated and unsuccessful with the harsh Muslim people he was targeting. Honestly, he did not like them. But God broke through and melted his heart toward them, and one of the changes which came after that point was a renewed focus on learning their language.

In doing so he discovered that many of the Moros could not read. As a result, they were victimized by and powerless in the hands of surrounding communities. Laubach wanted to do something for them. Using his own language-learning flash cards as a basis, he started teaching, developed a dictionary, and soon even started circulating a newspaper in the people’s language. This raised the status of their language and equipped them to better connect with and compete in the outside world. He had hit on a need.

Before long Laubach was being constantly sought by Moros to teach them to read. He started hiring assistants from among the Moros as the demand grew and grew. He set up a language and literacy program, and trained his staff to be reading teachers.

At that point, though, something terrible happened back home. Yes, it was the Great Depression. With that, his funding dried up. There was nothing to do but fire his staff and close down the program; he couldn’t afford to keep it going. Or so he thought.

He called a meeting to tell everybody the bad news.

Here’s what Laubach writes about that day in his journal:

“Kakai Dagalangit, a tall chieftain with fierce black eyes, stood up. He has 13 wives and all he has to do is look at them and they behave. He looked at me with those fierce eyes and said, ‘This campaign shall not stop. It’s our only hope.’

‘Then he looked at those teachers with his fierce eyes and said, ‘I’ll make everybody who knows how to read teach somebody else, or I’ll kill him.’

“Everybody taught. Nobody died. Everybody liked it. I did not like the motto ‘teach or die’ and so changed it to ‘Each One Teach One.’” *

What seemed to be a tragedy was a blessing in disguise. Using simple, reproducible methods that didn’t rely on money from back home made all the difference. Many more learned how to read than would have the other way. Many were able to learn in a matter of hours, and they could immediately pass on the skill to others.

The one-on-one teaching style had other advantages. It was great for building trust and sharing the gospel, too. Laubach’s methods have been used around the world to bring the blessing of literacy to millions—60 million, to date—equipping oppressed people to stand up for themselves and take care of their families and brightening the future of whole communities.

* Sorry, couldn’t find my original notes to identify the source of this exact quote, but looking online I see the story also told and with more detail in Majorie Medary’s book, Each One Teach One—Frank Laubach, Friend to Millions.

Acedia and Me Too

Caption: I haven't read this book; have you?

I've been waiting in mild anticipation for the copy of Kathleen Norris' new book - on which I'd placed a hold through my local library - to come in. Well, it finally did, but I never made it to the library to pick it up - what, all of half a mile from my house - so I lost my place in line and won't get the book. Ironically, the subject of her book is apathy.

Missed the debate last night. In fact, have not seen any of them, at least, not more than bits and pieces. I did watch the conventions earlier this year. Well, the convention of my party of choice anyway. (I meant to follow the other one as well, but with two conventions right after the Olympics, that was just too much TV for me...)

Two of my friends - avid supporters of one party's candidates - are reporting problems with their physical health due to their political zeal. Have to admit, even though it's an interesting year and I like talking about politics and trends and ideas (maybe especially with my friends who are really into it), I'm having a hard time taking this seriously and really caring about what happens or does not happen in Washington or even America. I'm just not that personally invested.

One significant benefit: It's not difficult for me to hold civil conversations about these things! I don't feel I really have anything to lose by listening, discussing, considering the various angles. And if I'm not especially interested in politics, I'm certainly interested in good conversations, and in the essential "interestingness" - and the image of God - in each person I'm talking to.

Sure, I'll vote, and I know how I'll vote. Sure, I agree that who is the next president is something that matters. But, sorry, politics is not my calling. There are just so many other domains of society, and so many ways to change the world. I feel a bit guilty but I can't get passionate about this stuff.

I don't think I'm apathetic across the board - there are lots of things I care fiercely about or value highly or which can bring me to tears, even if the political process is not one of them. So that makes me ask, what am I doing with those passions? Am I being faithful to my calling, am I communicating graciously and compassionately, am I enlisting others while still holding even these things with open hands and maintaining perspective?

Seeds Bearing Fruit

The book our small group is reading suggests that truth comes to us in “seed” form, and has not done its work unless it is planted and grows to bear fruit in our life.

“What is one book, or class, or teaching that has really influenced you?” asks Lisa, one of our leaders. What are the things that put down their roots and break up the hard soil within us, penetrating our souls, then grow up to make the connection to the light and life outside of us which we so desperately need? What seeds have borne fruit in our lives?

She offered as an example the big hit of a few years back, Henry Blackaby’s Experiencing God. Everybody grumbled about the repetition and simplicity of it – remember all those fill-in-the-blank questions? – but you couldn’t come away from it without having gotten the point, which is to continually be asking, “Where is God at work and how can I be part of it?” Lisa thinks that way now.

So here’s the essay question. What is one (or more) book, or class, or teaching that has really influenced you? Particularly, I think, what has influenced your view of God, the world, and yourself?

I’m sure there are many that shape us in more ambiguous ways. I wrote last spring about the steady diet of a certain kind of children’s lit I consumed as a child, and wondered if I learned the wrong lessons about personal power and responsibility. (I never doubted I could change the world. That may be why I have a hard time being content with the mediocrity and failure that characterize so much of life between the bright spots!)

But one small thing that’s made a big difference in my life on that front is the little booklet My Heart Christ’s Home. Someone – Tim Snow, the youth pastor? – sent it home with my mom for me, after we’d visited his church. I was just 13 years old, standing on the outside of the world of faith and grace, looking in. It offered me a picture that I wanted to move toward, a picture of how friendship with God might be possible and how it could unfold. And of course seeing that seed bearing fruit in the lives of others in that church was what really made the difference.

What else? The Perspectives program, of course, a decade later; and in my late 20’s a (now out of print) mentoring program from Kingdom Building Ministries called The Laborer’s Network and featuring teaching by Tim Elmore.

What about the last decade or so? So many books, classes, sermon series, Bible studies - many of which seemed rich and meaningful. But has anything shaped me as much as these?

Monet, Money, and the Snobbery Within

Caption: Monet, "Bathers at La Grenouillère," 1869

I saw this painting at the National Gallery in London... and liked it so much I bought a postcard of it that is among the images on the wall of my bedroom.

Still, strangely enough, I felt a dash of scorn when I saw a print hanging in a hotel room in which I stayed recently. "I've seen the real thing!" I thought. Yeah, and I didn't spring for the poster - I got a postcard!

Who's to say the person who picked out the hotel "art" had not been to London, as well? Or, does it matter? Isn't art for everybody?

It's likely I would never have been most of the places I have been if I had a different kind of job. It's because the ministry account (generously endowed by my supporters) pays for plane tickets that I make it to Europe, Asia, Africa. So why do I feel superior to those who have seen less of the world? There's no room for boasting, is there?

I've also found a good bit of scorn and snobbery in my heart lately toward those who live beyond their means. So much of the news coverage about this credit crisis - and especially the soundbites coming from our political candidates - makes it sound like "ordinary Americans" have a "right" to spend money they do not have, and that it's a real hardship to have this taken away. (A friend wrote about this here.)

I turn up my nose: with no mortgage, school debt, or car payments - with good health (and, in spite of my griping about its expense and inadequacy, health insurance as well) : no, this does not affect me, at least not directly. I've never had much trouble living within my means.

The fact that my IRAs are worth less and less all the time, even though I keep putting money in them, may in fact be connected to the state of the economy... but as my practical mother points out, buying shares when things are going down - assuming they later go up - means you get more for your money. I find this some consolation!

I am as susceptible to foolishness as anybody, so why should I look down on those who find themselves overextended, financially?

How easy it is to find our priorities and perspective askew. Today I'm meditating on Jesus' sermon on the mount. He says...

Matthew 6:24-34 (New International Version)

24"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

Do Not Worry

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life^[a]?

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Road Trip Report

Entering Glenwood Canyon, I was momentarily startled to realize the river was flowing West, not East or South - but we'd crossed the continental divide a while back.

S. and I were prepared to be nonplussed by the "fall colors," as around here this consists primarily of aspen trees going from green, to gold. What's the big deal about that? Well, it was beautiful anyway, even to a couple of snobs who grew up on the coasts. In some places (as in this photo) there were other kinds of foliage as well, hence more color.

I spoke Sunday night at a church in Glenwood Springs (Perspectives Lesson 6 - missions history). We spent the night with friends, enjoyed a leisurely morning, and then drove back across the passes and into the mountains further North - the Fraser Valley - where I spoke at another church on Monday night.

That part of the state seems to be the worst hit by the pine beetle infestation, now a major concern in Colorado. Acres of forest land, though still glowing with swaths of those golden aspens, were also covered with dead, brown pines. Many have been taken out, but it could be a dangerous year for lightening strikes and forest fires.

Next up, a trip south to Pueblo, where I teach the same material on October 12.
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September Reading and Re-reading

Huntingtower, by John Buchan - 1922 novel about a retired grocer who gets sucked into adventure; romantic in the old-fashioned sense of the word. You can get the text-version online here. The Scots dialect was tough reading in places, but it was fun.

Ruby Slippers: How the Soul of a Woman Brings Her Home, by Jonalyn Grace Fincher - I wrote a bit about this Christian non-fiction book about what really constitutes masculinity and femininity (and what just gets in the way) here. I found this really balanced, helpful - and freeing.

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, by Alexander McCall Smith - My book club is reading this "cosy" novel - set in Botswana, Africa - for an October 11 meeting (want to come? ladies only). As I picked it up I realized I had started, previously, with the second book, and hadn't read this one at all. This one may be the best.

Passage, by Connie Willis - Novel about a social scientist exploring - at great personal risk, as it happens - what really underlies "near death experiences." Bit disturbing. Well done though. Think I still like her shorter works better.

Point Me to Skies: The Amazing Story of Joan Wales, by Roger Clements - Another biography of a missionary woman in China - this one a teammate of some members of the Broomfield clan, whose matriarch was dear Amelia, HT's kid sister. A pretty good read, but maybe not stellar. And, darn it, the brand-new copy I borrowed still had a split spine by the time I returned it; Monarch Press needs to work on their production standards.

Orson Scott Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show - Science fiction short stories, some by OSC (a favorite writer), others by his students and friends, basically- worth the read.

Intercessory Prayer: How God Can Use Your Prayers to Move Heaven and Earth, by Dutch Sheets - My small group is reading this. It is a bit too long and heady for a group of our sort (our motto: "No homework!") so we're looking for some ways to pick up the pace. I've enjoyed the book - it's challenged my assumptions and habits - but it is getting a bit repetitive at this point.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, by J.K. Rowling - I do like HP. And this one may be my favorite; can't decide! Do you have a favorite?

On The Road with the Archangel, by Fredrick Buechner - one of my favorite books, ever. I could read Buechner all day long. This one is not deep, or challenging, just a beautifully written recount of the story of Tobit, from the Bible (Apocrypha). Buechner has a new book of essays and reflections out, and I placed a hold at the library for it.

Previous posts on this topic: Reading

Corneal Reshaping - Post #4: Take Two

My dream about vision-correction-while-you-sleep continues. Picked up my new, better-than-ever nighttime lenses this afternoon.

If all goes well... I'll have 20/20 daytime vision (or close) within the week.