A Trip to the Other Side … Walking the Blue Line
Living in Greek Cyprus, we have heard frequently about the ‘them’ and ‘they’ referring to those who occupy the Northern part of Nicosia and the island of Cyprus. This is particularly unsettling since the Academy has students from both sides of the divide (not border!). Well, after the OXI parade yesterday and a change of clothes, Marian and I made my first sojourn, her second, into Northern Nicosia.
At the divide, you go through a passport check but there is no stamping of the passport because they are not a legal country but they do make you fill out a form which they then stamp allowing you to enter.
While I was doing the processing, Marian, ever mindful of maps saw one for a walking tour of the city. There is a blue line painted on the edge of the sidewalk and sometimes in the narrower roads indicating where you are to follow to keep on the map’s journey.
It was only a few steps and you begin to realize that there is a difference here from the south side of the city - more garbage, more derelict buildings (some down right dangerous and ready to fall!), pigeons by the thousands, and but a few signs of renewal or rebirth! As I look down one alley, I see buildings which are characterized by that tired feeling which means they have no hope in life (yes, I am personifying here!) - usually coloured in a tone of grey-brown significant of death. On closer inspection I saw two little boys sitting in one of the doorways, and so, quietly approached to take a photo. Their clothes were the only spot of colour against the drab background but in that I saw a message - it is in the ‘thick darkness’ (Exodus 20) those situations in which hope seems to be virtually obliterated that there is always a glimmer that God can work miracles and he often does!
Our steps soon brought us to a stone plinth reminding us that this Venetian monument speaks to a historical conquest by the water-streeted city on the Italian coast! In fact the 11 starred walls which surround this city are of Venetian origin. Here at the obelisk there is a square where Turkish Cypriots hang out - sitting talking, watching the pigeon legions or just enjoying the spotty sunlight on the day of our visit. With the cooler weather (18º-24ºC) we find the walking much more comfortable!
Our blue line takes a jog and we find ourselves in a refurbished area which may have at one time been a beautiful garden but then was overbuilt with what we would call low income housing - almost like military barracks in orderly rows - small attached homes but now beautifully restored thanks to UN sponsorship. It is is a simple development, clean and somehow an oasis in a city which speaks another language to our eyes and ears.
As the line guides us back to the main route, we are beside an eating establishment which appears to be a fast food version of some local chain. Anyway, its busyness suggests to me that this is an acceptable establishment at which to grab a fresh circle of sesame seed encrusted bread with some local cheese. It is popped in the hot oven and emerges a minute later delicious! Shared food is one of the blessings which getting older allows you to enjoy without fear of losing out! We share this snack and are off down the street attracted by a small patisserie where some of the Turkish delicacies we enjoyed five years ago in Turkey are offered. With no currency for this side of the city, I place a Cypriot pound on the counter and ask how many pistachio squares I can receive. After a quick calculation I am told 4 and so again we share these small sweet offerings. But as we sit in the open air, Marian’s eyes catch a building across the street with four round domes and insists on exploring.
Although closed, we find it to be a museum which was the location of an ancient whirling dervish clan. Once again memories of Turkey fill our minds to fill in the gaps left by the closed museum. A few steps further along our blue line and we find ourselves at the wall again and this time see the Kyrenia gate which faces the Northern city by the same name. An ancient building has been converted into a Tourist Office but due to the time of our walk, was closed. Its structure, like so much in these ancient parts is build in different centuries as one conquering nation builds on the foundations built by predecessors. It is obvious as we look at this small building, that its location was more important than the architectural design - the square cube of a building surmounting original building from the 15th century testifies to more haste than good taste.
Our blue line guide takes us along the wall past buildings which indicate that any photos are prohibited - is this something military or special government area? The shops seem to be closing as residents throughout eastern Europe and the Middle East - we find ourselves in some strange conglomeration of the two - use Saturday as the beginning of preparations for a Sunday rest. But what is that I note ahead but smoke pouring profusely from the exhaust of Anibal’s restaurant. The cars parked nearby again signify that this is a popular place and my hunger suggests that another shared selection would be worthwhile.
On entry we see several lined up at the takeout style window and hang back waiting our turn. A waiter approaches me to ask if he can help but his command of English is so minimal that I ask if there is someone who speaks better English. In a few moments I see an older man who has been manning the grill come to the window and motion for me to step forward. Others, waiting long, seem to pull back to allow me entry to the man behind the counter. I ask if I can order a chicken shish-kebab and in return he asks what we want on it. We ask for everything meaning, salad or lettuce, parsley, onions, tomatoes, cucumber along with a piece of fresh lemon. It is ready within two minutes, and I have to confess before the orders of some of the others! Into the bag go two pitas with chicken pieces, two tubs of yogurt, two Pepsi’s and some napkins. I hand him 5 pounds and he seems satisfied.
As I turn to leave with Marian, we are motioned to sit at a table and enjoy our meal. Plates are brought and cutlery. We decided that one would be enough to share and that is what I had ordered but for some reason it had multiplied - five loves and two fish come to mind! As we split it and open one Pepsi, we find a plate of french fries arrive and as we finish our wonderful Turkish meal, two desserts arrive. Hospitality is so generous here that we stand in amazement! The owner of the restaurant comes out and asks how our meal was and we are so appreciative and he informs us that he has been in this business for 45 years. As we bid adieu, I tell him that I will return!
I am reminded of how stingy I have become - always looking at the cost before giving, instead of giving unto the Lord and allowing him to bless through what is given and to in turn give and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down and overflowing shall be given unto you! Lord, forgive me! Give me an overflowing heart of giving and thankfulness so that as you have blessed me, I may bless others!
Selah.
The blue line has been waiting patiently and as we exit the restaurant, it is there running down the middle of a small road leading us into the centre of the city. As we meander through this warren nest of streets our hearts and minds are both shocked at the misery which is here but also the history which is being allowed to collapse for want of repair. We pass a newer mosque built in the shadow of ruins from some former one; past a doorway in which sits a little girl, pretty as any seen anywhere in the world. I take her picture and find out her name - what is her destiny in life? Around another corner, down a small street and there is some trickle of water running out from under that metal fence. Is it, or no, it can’t be, but it is tinged with blood. As I stop and look in through the half opened door, I see into a courtyard where the reason for the blood becomes apparent - butchering has taken place and the evening meal is going to be prepared.
Lord, I am reminded of the sacrifices of old not too far from here but which never gave forgiveness of sin. And then, to be replaced by that single sacrifice some two millennia ago - one which was sufficient to meet your righteous demands of purity, sinlessness, righteousness and holiness so that we stand forgiven through Christ today. Thank you for the reminder as we travel the blue line today!
Selah.
Here our guide has faded due to the incessant rubbing of car wheels on the paint and we wonder where we should go - ah yes, a small patch of blue in that direction, so off we go. Past more derelict buildings and a small square which opens to reveal a former church - now surrounded by barbed wire and surrendered to the decomposing effects of time. Jesus said, I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it! Lord, I am so glad that as I stand here and view this crumbling desecration of what was once a place of Christian worship, that this is not the church I am viewing but a tool of your true and vibrant body through which you continue to work in spite of the attempts to silence her and bring her down. Lord continue to build, continue to strengthen and most of all continue to give us a passion to live as we ought to live to be your Kingdom regardless of the church we attend!
Selah.
From either side of the divide in this great city, one cannot fail to see the overpowering presence of the dominating structure. It was the Church of St. Sophia, the oldest Christian church in the Middle East until it was taken over by the Ottomans and turned into a mosque with the surmounting of the church with two minarets which dwarf the rest of the church and carry flags blowing in the afternoon breeze reminding those near and far that this is Turkish Cyprus you are in. On entering, absent any footwear, one is immediately impressed with the immensity of this church and what it stood for in times past. But now, painted a stark white and all ornamentation removed the only thing attracting one’s attention is the run whose major lines seem to be oddly skewed in some misaligned direction. Somehow the east west orientation of the church has been twisted for some unknown reason. But as we walk on the deep carpets we soon come to realize that this is a mosque and must be oriented towards Mecca. The predominant lines in the carpet make sure that visitors who come to pray are facing this centre of faith. As I move past one of the gigantic pillars holding aloft the crisscrossed skeleton of arches which form the roof, I see the focal point of this mosque a brightly coloured, raised dais on which sits a white haired man and before whom are sitting three younger men. Are they students? Are they praying? One is obviously deep into the content of the Koran and I am reminded of what our Lord said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” Lord, why are so many bound by this falsehood that masquerades as truth, only being able to influence belief because of its repressive and authoritarian dominance over followers? Lord, may your Holy Spirit bring sight to eyes which are blind, minds which are numb, and ears which are deaf to the TRUTH!
Selah.
We are getting tired as our blue line guide waits patiently for our return. We stop for a refreshing drink of orange juice and water and walk through an agora (market) where shops are still open but look as if they will soon close. We eye a stand selling fresh nuts and purchase some fresh walnuts which consumes some of the Turkish money we have been given in change. How much did it cost? Does it really matter, we are enjoying ourselves!
Through some more derelict areas, past some more mosques and then to turn a corner and hear the sound of weeping. Behind the open door sits an older woman wiping her eyes with a tissue and sobbing. The scene is one of contrasts as the beautiful potted plants which adorn the small entry and the black cat which rests peacefully on the door mat seem to be enjoying the world while the lady seems not to be, at all. What is the cause of grief? A husband’s recent passing; a child’s too soon death; a marriage broken by the entry of some other interest; or just the encroaching realization that life soon passes? Teach us to number our days!
Around the next corner one of the dust encrusted entries houses a young mother, pregnant with another child holding an infant of perhaps a year. I smile at the child and motion with my camera and and ask if I can take a picture. She smiles and turns to the child; I snap the picture - Madonna and child! The intricacy of her veil covering her head is what attracts my attentions - so fine, so detailed, speaking of her choice and concern for the welfare and details of life - even of the one she holds in her arms and womb! There is life in this run down, crumbling part of the city. Help me Lord to see with your eyes, hear with your ears, the cries for help which often lie behind the crumbling lives some live.
As our weariness and five hours with our guide the blue line, draw to a close, we are thankful! Thankful for the lessons the Lord has provided on this journey! May we learn never to be presumptuous with out position in life and to always give thanks for we are truly blessed!
David
Captions: Veterans in Jeeps, Three pictures of our students marching, Band of the Military, David discussing with students at the school after the parade. Mix and Match!
OXI Day …
In a few days Canadians will pause to take time to remember those who bought their peace through their involvement in various wars. With each passing year, those whom we know who fought to make peace in the Second World War are becoming more frail and some have left only their memories of battle fought and victories won.
In a sense October 28 holds a similar place in Greece and Greek Cyprus. Yesterday there was a special assembly at the Academy in which I read a brief history of the challenge from the Axis powers asking Greece to merely surrender and allow Moussilini and his Fascist troops to occupy Greece. The response was immediate and without hesitation - OXI (pronounced o-khee) which being translated means NO! Although few of us have read the history of this part of the war, it is another example of a truly inspiring response by those whose lives and livelihood are threatened. Peasants joined the war effort and trekked through mountains carrying supplies to troops who were fighting in the mountains just south of Albania. Greece succeeded in driving the Italians back into Albania and as a result, Hitler was forced to send additional troops to the southern flank when his priority was to invade Stalingrad. This delayed his planned invasion and the onset of winter resulted in his failure in that battle.
The German troops were brutal in their occupation in Greece and ended up killing 400, 000 civilians because of their complicity in fighting the Italians. When the Allies arrived, there were few shouts of joy because living had become so austere. People were paying huge sums of money for a loaf of bread or mortgaging property in order to buy olive oil to keep families alive. But Greeks and their Cypriot counterparts feel that the day they said NO was instrumental in bringing the German juggernaut to its knees.
I know that stories can become greater with age, but as I work with some of the young men of Cyprus who face 25 months of military duty after graduation, I see in them, a determination to carry on the same spirit with which their forefathers were able to bring defeat to the greatest power they could have faced. Today the ‘enemy’ is only metres away in what is referred to here as the Occupied North of Cyprus. Will they be called upon to stand for their country and fight or will centuries old grievances be laid aside in order to bring hope and a future for both Turkish and Greek Cypriots? Time will answer that question. I know that retiring UN Secretary General Koffi Annan has said this is one of his failures and hopes his successor can devote sufficient time and resources to solve this intractable problem.
All of that as background. The last couple of weeks, about 60 of the Academy students have been practicing to march in the parade which was held today, representing the Academy. They made me proud to be involved with such a fine group of individuals - staff who take the responsibility to train new students who have no experience of marching in parade and students who are willing to practice and represent their country well!
Marian and I were ushered to a covered viewing area adjacent to the dignitaries – government, military, religious leaders – and could watch, seeing the groups as they passed, all to the tune of military band. To our right, were the military personnel who were ranked below getting a seat on the raised dais so we felt privileged to be between them and the president! Fortunately, I did not make the mistake of my predecessor who showed up in jeans and a golf shirt! I always ask before any ‘occasion’ what acceptable dress is so I do not purposely offend.
There was a school dance last evening and I was impressed that most of the students dressed up and looked quite special even though it was merely a dance!
After the parade, the students returned to the school for some snacks and drinks and returned their uniforms. A job well done!
Marian and I then returned home to change and then set off on a walking tour of the Northern part of Nicosia - read Turkish occupied Cyprus! But that’s for another entry, perhaps tomorrow!
David
OXI Day …
In a few days Canadians will pause to take time to remember those who bought their peace through their involvement in various wars. With each passing year, those whom we know who fought to make peace in the Second World War are becoming more frail and some have left only their memories of battle fought and victories won.
In a sense October 28 holds a similar place in Greece and Greek Cyprus. Yesterday there was a special assembly at the Academy in which I read a brief history of the challenge from the Axis powers asking Greece to merely surrender and allow Moussilini and his Fascist troops to occupy Greece. The response was immediate and without hesitation - OXI (pronounced o-khee) which being translated means NO! Although few of us have read the history of this part of the war, it is another example of a truly inspiring response by those whose lives and livelihood are threatened. Peasants joined the war effort and trekked through mountains carrying supplies to troops who were fighting in the mountains just south of Albania. Greece succeeded in driving the Italians back into Albania and as a result, Hitler was forced to send additional troops to the southern flank when his priority was to invade Stalingrad. This delayed his planned invasion and the onset of winter resulted in his failure in that battle.
The German troops were brutal in their occupation in Greece and ended up killing 400, 000 civilians because of their complicity in fighting the Italians. When the Allies arrived, there were few shouts of joy because living had become so austere. People were paying huge sums of money for a loaf of bread or mortgaging property in order to buy olive oil to keep families alive. But Greeks and their Cypriot counterparts feel that the day they said NO was instrumental in bringing the German juggernaut to its knees.
I know that stories can become greater with age, but as I work with some of the young men of Cyprus who face 25 months of military duty after graduation, I see in them, a determination to carry on the same spirit with which their forefathers were able to bring defeat to the greatest power they could have faced. Today the ‘enemy’ is only metres away in what is referred to here as the Occupied North of Cyprus. Will they be called upon to stand for their country and fight or will centuries old grievances be laid aside in order to bring hope and a future for both Turkish and Greek Cypriots? Time will answer that question. I know that retiring UN Secretary General Koffi Annan has said this is one of his failures and hopes his successor can devote sufficient time and resources to solve this intractable problem.
All of that as background. The last couple of weeks, about 60 of the Academy students have been practicing to march in the parade which was held today, representing the Academy. They made me proud to be involved with such a fine group of individuals - staff who take the responsibility to train new students who have no experience of marching in parade and students who are willing to practice and represent their country well!
Marian and I were ushered to a covered viewing area adjacent to the dignitaries – government, military, religious leaders – and could watch, seeing the groups as they passed, all to the tune of military band. To our right, were the military personnel who were ranked below getting a seat on the raised dais so we felt privileged to be between them and the president! Fortunately, I did not make the mistake of my predecessor who showed up in jeans and a golf shirt! I always ask before any ‘occasion’ what acceptable dress is so I do not purposely offend.
There was a school dance last evening and I was impressed that most of the students dressed up and looked quite special even though it was merely a dance!
After the parade, the students returned to the school for some snacks and drinks and returned their uniforms. A job well done!
Marian and I then returned home to change and then set off on a walking tour of the Northern part of Nicosia - read Turkish occupied Cyprus! But that’s for another entry, perhaps tomorrow!
David
Thankfulness …
To some of the readers of this blog, the memories of math class long gone is pleasant, while to others, one hopes that there were more interesting and challenging times! I remember before the advent of calculators or computers of any popularity, yes, and even before slide rulers, that we had booklets of tables for calculating things like logarithms and exact degrees, minutes and seconds or trigonometric ratios to several decimals using the charts included. I can just hear some of you saying, I vaguely remember doing those long calculations and never found any practical use for them! Glad to be rid of them!
Not so quickly, please! In this day and age of computer access to things never imagined, there is a program called Google Earth and if you want to download it for free, you can do something interesting. The images which you see there are from satellites circling our earth giving us a view previously reserved for military types. If you type in the following co-ordinates, you will see something new to you but familiar to me - the Academy! 35º 10’ 10.95” N and 33º 21’ 08.37 E. You will see a large red roof which is the three storey school building with a white roof in front of it which is the Primary school and another smaller red roofed building which is the library where Marian works. The black area to the left is the enclosed futsal field and the grey area beside it is the basketball court! So, you can have a heavenly perspective of where I am working!
Not far away is the place where we live located at: 35º 10’ 08.82” N x 33º 20’ 32.08” E that building with the several circles on the roof is our home here in Cyprus!
I have to be thankful to the Lord for this past week in many ways but this is the main one: I went two days without having to deal with any discipline problems!! Thank you! Now before you think the job has gotten too easy let me share a few of the things which are part of my day and in which I try to bring the love of Christ in a tangible way.
Case #1. A week ago Thursday I had to suspend a young man for a vicious angry outburst in art class. When I had the father come in to take the son home, he thanked me and appreciated the fact that I had tried to help his son. Explosive anger as I have never seen before was at the root of this misdemeanor! He was to return to school on Monday and did. As he entered the school I reminded him of the counsel which I had given him about seeking alternative ways out of the situation as he felt anger rising in his spirit. He assured me he had remembered.
Now move ahead to Wednesday and guess who is sitting in the outer office? The same young man for another outburst of foul language and refusal to listen to a teacher. As he sat in the ante-room, I sat down with him and tried to walk through the details as I had been told them. Well, I guess I had been told in correctly or my memory failed me but I observed for myself a rising anger which resulted in him trying to tear his knapsack in pieces and when that didn’t happen he threw it across the room and grabbed two handfuls of his own hair and banged his head against his knees telling me he did not want to speak with me. I left for a few minutes and returned later speaking in a very calm voice telling him his actions were unacceptable. In the meantime I had checked with the teacher involved and corrected my slight mistake in the order of events! I called the father again which gave the young man some time to cool down. As the father came into my office and we sat without the son, he said that he might as well attend the school to keep an eye on his son. Then he broke down in tears and just sobbed. To me, he had reached the end of what he could do for this young man of 14 years.
In offering some help, I suggested that we needed to have someone involved who could help modify some behaviour. I tried to explain that this did not mean the son was bad but needed some help. I will wait until Monday to see if he accepts my suggestion. If so, I have some hope that this irrational behaviour can be modified.
As I have learned more about the home, I find that the son is under very strict discipline and often blamed for things in the family of which he has no responsibility. So when he came to school on Thursday and I met him, I offered to treat him at the canteen on Monday if he could get through Thursday and Friday without any problems. He smiled and seemed appreciative. Well, we made it through Thursday without incident and when I met him this morning, I praised him and he smiled - just one more day!
As fate would have it, guess who shows up in the office mid day? Yes, he was there! But not for discipline - he had been playing futsal and had injured himself! Thankfully that was all! Off to the hospital and a cast for a week should rectify the problem! I am on the hook for a treat on Monday!
But as I work through this case, I see a young man who is intelligent and yet struggles with a family life which is beyond his control. Like the Samaritan, I trust that my words and gestures are like oil on a wounded soul!
Case #2. A teacher arrives in my office waving a discipline report on a 17 year old student - female this time! Her conduct in class had been disruptive, interfered with the learning of others, was disrespectful of authority and on top of it, just plain rude! As the VP and I sat there I asked the young lady to explain what happened. How is it that what a teacher sees as serious, students see as merely trivial and nothing to get upset over? I had been told that this young lady was quite a challenge and thought that no one could do anything to her. Well, as we talked I asked her to give me one good reason why I should not suspend her. When she could not come up with one, I showed her that I had her Mom’s phone numbers and was prepared to have her come to the school to pick her up. I was getting through when she asked in Greek what a suspension was. When explained, the tears began to flow and she knew she had met her match and I was not about to back down and was certainly not accepting of her behaviour regardless of what she thought!
I motioned for the VP to leave the room and I followed her out to leave the student to think for a few moments. We agreed that we had gotten through to her!
When I returned, I told her that I was not going to suspend her but would have her sign a suspension form that if any of those four things happened in any class the remainder of the year, she was out. After signing she thanked me! I said there was one more thing that was necessary - she had to apologize to the teacher involved.
I left the room and they did reconcile! Thank you Lord!
The next morning on entering the school, she smiled and put out her hand to shake mine and said thank you!
One of my aims in disciplining students is to have them understand that I do not dislike them but their actions. In addition once they have accepted the punishment, I tell them that the issue is over as far as I am concerned and we move on. The joy of seeing the response is worth so much! In Christ there is hope and a new way!
I share these not to bore you but to give you an insight to two small incidents in the weeks work. The easy way would be to take a rubber stamp approach to discipline but as a Christian institution, I feel compelled to take and treat each case as unique and endeavor to bring God’s grace to bear in situations which need teaching and love often more than strict discipline! So, thank you for your prayers for wisdom, I continue to trust in His faithfulness each day and it is marvelous to see how He provides it as needed!
The media lab which was purchased through donations made to Baraka International Ministries is now functional and many appreciate the teaching advantage this presents. Thank you on their behalf!
David
What does it mean – 20.7ºC?
This morning as we checked the temperature outdoors, it registered the lowest we have seen since arriving! What a welcome freshness! But coupled with that is a strange sense that we need a sweater to keep warm enough! I know that if you had a day of that temp now you would be digging out the summer wear once again while here we are donning winter wear!
As we sat on the balcony for breakfast this morning I looked to the north which is Turkish territory and we see a ridge of mountains which reach approximately 1500 metres. Over them was coming the most beautiful ridge of cumulus clouds and as we watched, they seemed to grow before our eyes. Soon they reached what must have been in excess of 5000 metres (15,000 feet) and all at once it hit me. This is what it would have been like to face a tsunami. So overwhelmingly immense that there is no place to hide or run - it is so immense that to think of escape east or west is out of the question and certainly it will encompass us at any moment!
But isn’t that an insight into two aspects of our faith? First, there will be none outside of God’s Kingdom who will escape his coming wrath however diligently they seek to run or offer excuse. God will deal with those outside His love with a vengeance reserved for them and Scripture is clear in detailing the horrendous nature of such calamity!
But in a much more positive sense, this is a picture of the great love of God which we cannot escape and in which He seeks to fold those of us who are His! What wonder! What release! What mystery!
I have been spending some time since my first trip to Cyprus in July when I was introduced to the writings of Kenneth E. Bailey, to search the depth of this man’s research. Born in the Middle East and having spent much of his adult life here in teaching and study in various countries he has become familiar with the culture and writings of this historic area. His focus for over 30 years has been the parables of Christ and most particularly those parables which are in Luke 15. I am now reading a third volume on this passage of one parable in three parts - the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son.
I have been in awe of the insights which his experience and research have unfolded. Oh that I might have the opportunity to share some of that passion! But the end of the whole issue is that the story of the lost son places in direct contrast to the culturally anticipated response, the uniqueness, uncharacteristic nature and immensity of the love of God. Like the cloud tsunami this morning, God’s love is something from which we cannot escape to the east, to the west so let us relax and enjoy the fact that He enfolds us in His loving care today! As I recently was reading in Genesis 1:2, 3 of the Spirit’s hovering over the chaos of the initial created order, so His Spirit hovers over us today in whatever circumstances in which we find ourselves because of His divine decrees!
I can enjoy this day because He is in control and will be the needed strength in the absence of my own abilities. Thank you Lord! I know your love and your faithfulness is sufficient to face anything which you have ordained for this day!
Ps. 37:3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
settle in the land, and feed on faithfulness.
4 Then you will delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you your heart’s desire.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will make your vindication shine forth like light,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Meeting of the Bored …
As another week becomes history, we look back with definite impressions of God’s hand both leading and sustaining. For that we praise Him! But we were also faced with the opportunity to rely on the fact that God is the one who was instrumental in our being in Cyprus - read facing significant challenges which are only placed in perspective as we go back to the fact that He opened the door for our Kingdom service here.
What was prominent last Saturday? If you guessed the full moon, you are right. Its influence was strong both Friday and Monday as the number of discipline problems seemed to escalate beyond comprehension! A senior Greek Cypriot student, slaps a young Turkish Cypriot boy across the face; three young boys playing soccer decide that kicking the ball is not enough sport so resort to kicking each other - in one case where it really hurts! In trying to diffuse one situation you are confronted by a teacher who asks for five minutes of my time - facing him are three males who challenged his direct authority and skipped his class - actually didn’t wait for class because the previous class was a little late writing a test. They were sent to my office - Oh the power! Such defiance of direct instruction is not tolerated and so they will lose 2% of the terms final percentage plus, and this is what really caught their attention - they are banned from entering the futsal (smaller version of soccer played on an enclosed court)- for the remainder of the month. A parent calls upset over the arrangements for saxophone lessons and asks if I can help. It turns out the student has his whole timetable filled with courses and is trying to squeeze in some sax instruction during two breaks per day - impossible! Where is there time for life? I talk with the music teacher and ask if there is anything which can be done outside of school. This is arranged and I receive a call a couple of days later expressing appreciation!
Three meetings in the evenings this week added to the carousel that is life in Cyprus! The first was with the Alumni. My presence was precedent setting since the previous principal had not attended due to concerns over the aims of the group interpreted as we do not like the new administration and want the ‘old’ guard back. Such is politics in organizations! One member present, out of the 7, was an actress and I could just imagine that she probably attended the academy back in the 1940’s! She was a pleasant lady but seemed to live in the past!
The next night was the PTA group which is so dynamic that I am pleased to see how God is raising up so many who share our faith who are excited to be involved in helping the Academy be a better place. But there is opportunity to give guidance as they do not have any experience in working with a committee structure so guess who steps into that gap and helps them?
A meeting of the Board was held - we will not go there but start praying for November 9 when I have to go through another one. This topic is too big an issue to open in a blog!
Today the students received their interim report marks and the parents come to pick them up - whirlwind or what! The parents of the young Turkish boy who had been slapped arrive and want to talk. Honestly, this week has been so busy that I could hardly remember what they were talking about. When they brought in their son everything clicked. The reason for continued prayer is for wisdom. Notice how this unfolded.
I had dealt with the original issue on I think, Wednesday, an eon ago, and now I am asked to recall the issue for the father who was out of the country when this happened. I discuss the details of my handling the issue and in the ensuing conversation, heard him say that all through the Greek and Turkish community the incident is the gossip. Well when the Lord presents a teaching moment and the eyes to see, I walk in.
I asked how this had become known and assured him that I do not discuss such issues outside the school. So, I said, it must have been your son who shared the details. The father agreed and I urged him to talk with the son and tell him that yes, he told part of the story in saying he had been slapped by a Greek boy but that he needed to add the rest of the story which included a very sincere apology and a trip by the senior boy to take the young boy to the canteen to buy him a treat. That is the story which needs to be told and the father and mother understood!
They then invited me to visit their home in the Northern part of Cyprus on the seacoast! He is diamond wholesaler, retailer and and polisher.
Lord, thank you for the opportunity to be an agent of your peace!
Tonight with tiredness wracking my body we have been invited to go out to dinner at the home of parents whose children attend the Academy. We are happy to go and will enjoy the fellowship. Perhaps tomorrow we will go for a drive and see some more of the country.
David
“Let us be concerned about one another… ”
“And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near. ” Hebrews 10:23, 24
Now that we have been in Cyprus for over a whole month, it is time to give some perspective on our church life so far. One is tempted to allow church attendance to drift when you are in such a new setting - no one knows you and why put forth the effort to get to know a new group of friends. But that is easily put aside as we realize that our presence here is of divine moving. It would be unthinkable not to go to church, but the bigger question is, which one?
We have previously noted the extremely international nature of this island and each church group has reasons for their invitation, all sincere and genuine, we believe. Marian has had cross church exposure more than I have because of the Bible studies to which Donna introduced her before repatriating to the US. We are so thankful for Joe and Donna’s bridging the gap of coming here so well for us!
We have attended the Greek Evangelical Church which is adjacent to the Academy, just around the corner and that service was most welcoming. The pastor is the husband of the Primary Principal and so there was that contact. In addition, there are some staff from the Academy who attend as well as parents of some our students and one Board member as well. The difficulty for us is that this service is entirely in Greek and so we get little from it even if someone translates for us.
We have attended the New Life Community Church twice and there is such a strong invitation to attend here because the service is in English and very much parallel to what we are accustomed to with the proviso that it is somewhat more charismatic. Several teachers attend here with many students and their parents as well. Many here want us to make this our church home. We are tempted!
Then we have attended a couple of Sundays at the Anglican church - smaller in size and more attached to the historical church in England. That has both positive and negative considerations. On the one hand the people are very warm and inviting and particularly like Marian’s attendance at a mid week BIble Study. This form of worship is interesting in its formality. I find it quite interesting and though provoking to read ‘collects’, prayers, Scripture, confessions, creeds … but all are done with thought and sincerity. There is something attractive about the ancient liturgy resonating with the worship of previous generations. The hymns, some new and some very familiar, are sung with some of the newer church music in a blend of ancient and modern expressions of faith. The English service has its appeal as well, but I sense that for some the ritual has become just that - detached from day to day living, but I could be mistaken. We have met some very wonderful people here and hope to make them friends! We worshiped here this morning and then stayed on for anther service later in the same church.
Nicosia International Church holds its services in St. Paul’s Anglican Church after the Anglicans have their service and leave for coffee in the nearby church hall - in a detached building. The children of the pastor attend the Academy and so we had a personal invitation. This is, as its name suggests, a very international church catering to the transient population of international students who attend local colleges and the university. Today I met people from Kenya, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Latvia, Lebanon, Ethiopia and we were new from Canada. The singing, although all choruses, some of which I had never heard, reminded me of the singing from our mission days in Nigeria some five decades ago! It was a taste of heaven in a sense because there will be those who join throughout eternity praising God from every tribe and nation! What a wonder that the Gospel is able to rise above ethnic diversity, political systems and racial prejudice to join us all in the bond of love in Christ.
Rick, the pastor, who has been through a divorce is preaching through the book of Mark and today came to chapter 10 with the issue of marriage, divorce and remarriage. I have to say that of all the church services we have attended since coming, this was the most biblical and insightful, caring and yet challenging! I had the real sense that this man had dug to the depths of this topic and shared his discoveries with a love and vulnerability seldom seen in the pulpit these days on any side of the ocean! Unfortunately, Rick is off to the States to attend a seminar for the next month and so we will not hear him preach until he returns.
As we exited the church Marian and I were separated and I found her talking with a man, George from Lebanon - a journalist, and a Christian who had lived in southern Lebanon near the Israeli border and when fighting irrupted left for Cyprus. How soon the news events which enter our lives through the media come to acquire a totally different sense when you talk with someone who was ‘there’! He has many relatives in Canada and has been denied a visa because Canada is being very careful in not allowing people to come to Canada and then claim refugee status. He was encouraged to apply as an immigrant so wants to learn more about Canada and asked if we could meet.
George and I had converged as we exited the church just as Rick was coming to the back. I guess George had been absent for some weeks and he made this comment to Rick, “When you preach my heart just …” and then he motioned with his hand over his heart as if it were jumping! The power of God through the spoken Word! Hallelujah!
Now I have been saving something for the end. Rick is one of the World Partner missionaries from the US! So, I was proud of the way in which he had handled the Word in this context! His father-in-law is Jim Rousso who has been a WEP missionary here in Cyprus for many years.
So, where will we attend? I sensed that this small group 60-100 mostly students is the place I have felt most at home and will seek God’s direction. We do feel the need as a result of my position to attend several of these churches just so that we are seen and they know we share with them.
Pray for the week ahead as I have a Board meeting as well as the seemingly endless demands of the day to day work. Pray for staff who are under a great deal of stress in trying to meet their job responsibilities. Twice this week I had to deal with staff who ended up in tears because of things that others had done to them! That is a sign of stress to me - dedication running into frustrating circumstances and feeling the inability to cope. I also had to deal with the first fight between students - young, yes, but one was a rather new student who has come out of the war situation in Lebanon and one can only imagine the scars which are imprinted in this young man’s mind. He has been unable to gain friends and so this altercation is not the basis of discipline primarily, but an opportunity to teach others about acceptance and to see if we can get him some degree of integration. Another case which ended sadly was the older student who had been here at the Academy last year and was here in Cyprus to register but was unable to stay because the father has lost so much in business that he cannot afford the tuition. Last year he had been sponsored by an Armenian group out of New York, but someone had passed along a false report of his involvement in some altercation so he was refused funding. If only the Academy had the resources on which to draw to give such students a scholarship it would be wonderful!
He has returned to Iran where someone, presumably a family member has paid for his tuition at a school of 3,000 where he will be taught in Arabic. As he left he said, “I am afraid. I do not know Arabic very well and so wonder how much I will be able to learn. Besides, I am a Christian and that makes me more afraid in that setting.” Tears come to our eyes over the helpless situations which face so many in this region. May God grant us the resources to be able to meet the needs which are so prevalent.
I want to end on a positive note and thank all those who have contributed to Baraka International Ministries. I have used some of the funds to meet some very basic needs at the Academy. So far I have purchased the following:
2 DVD’s of King Lear for English classes
2 Literary Kits to help students retain their detailed grammar knowledge
a set of 7 DVD’s for our Bible classes from Focus on the Family
a new printer and Wifi connection so staff have a computer system to access the internet and do some lesson preparation
2 DVD players and a new projector so that the DVD’s can be shown to classes.
There will be more in the days ahead as I try to ascertain the most critical areas which need support. So, we thank God for YOUR partnership in the Gospel as it manifests itself in this very practical way. I could not believe the appreciation of staff when they saw that they could now use a computer and a reliable printer and access the internet from the staff room! Such small advances are gratifying personally but it is only as you have shared your resources! Thank you, may you experience His blessing!
David - The BOSS (see Marian’s next Cyprus letter!)
A Walking Tour of Part of Old Nicosia …
I have posted all of the pictures in order but since I do not understand how Blogger puts them up on the web, I can not be sure that they are in the order that I will discuss. So, happy hunting to see what I am talking about.
One picture shows me at the desk in the office where I spend a considerable time each and every day! I do see a slight slow down in demands for my time and I actually have some time to do the reports which I need to get done.
As Marian and I walked the city we only visited a small area of the old city due to the heat and our tiredness!! One picture should have a bougainvilla which has decided to use a nearby tree as its trellis - I thought the contrast in colours and methodology spoke volumes. It is just like us too infrequently isn't it? Our independency gets the better of us and we struggle on valiantly while others would be most excited to have the opportunity to help us out.
A few pictures depict the Famagusta Gate of Venetian origins (14th century). The thing that caught my attention was this old door which is clad in strips of heavy metal. It seems as if they added this for some degree of protection and each strip is individually bolted to the wooden back of the door.
The church in some of the pictures is the oldest church in Nicosia and was built by the daughter of the last queen of the Byzantine Empire in the twelfth century. Now you need to get someone who is an historian to actually see if the 'facts' that we were told actually align with history or have some of the dates been smudged? Anyway, it is a beautiful church for its antiquity and its colourful icons which are housed there. There is one picture taken outside which has several arches in it - can you find all six? The one with an arched door and darkish interior I call Invitation because it was such a mysterious encounter - the welcoming door and the dark interior of the church which had this spectre of gold glimmering as if to say, Come and see!
We did enter and saw the intricacies of the icon wall which separates the worshippers from the activity of the priest in their services. You can see many small icons and extremely detailed carving on this wall which is under the central dome. Not very high by today's standards but for that time, quite interesting!
The painting of icons is a very refined task and only after extensive training is one allowed to do painting of such precious treasures. Like the Jewish scribes, their work must adhere to the accuracy of timelessness and must not distort or alter anything of this representation which has preceded such icons in the past. One can be amazed at the diligence and detail in such artisanship, but ultimately one has to question why so much effort is put into something which I can only describe as idolatrous - the image of some one from the pages of history who we remember but also kiss and worship. Seems to be contrary to my reading of the Word!
There is a picture of the statue of the first Cypriot Archbishop Markarios which is larger than life depicting the role that he has in this culture and which his successors still hold. Marian mentioned the current election process now underway here as we speak.
The last picture is our shared meal - I am finding that these types go well with both of us. We get more variety and smaller portions. The salad is delicious - the greens are rugola (at least that is what the menu says!) and is sprinkled with balsamic vinegar and a little oil and then adorned with sundried tomatoes and pine nuts and then graciously crowned with the shavings of parmesan cheese and a sprinkling of oregano and pepper. The taste is exquisite and is a meal in and of itself! But when shared, the lasagna adds that needed carbohydrate which the body craves after so much walking and sweating!
Well the pictures tell more than my words so I hope this small tour of such a small part of the city gives you a little more contact with our lives here.
Thank you for taking the time to read and then to pray for us!
David
