Travel Tips

Happy New Year...!

Here comes 2011.... ready or not....the world awaits... awaits answers...!

and 

Jesus is the answer...!

Charliece and I have been discussing how we can share travel tips and travel safety ideas with you. Missionaries are by definition travelers.  Jesus gave very explicate travel instructions to His disciples as He sent them on their mission.Travel today is different but we still need to be prepared and cautious  We must be considerate of the countries in which we desire to be guests. The two of us travel, but more importantly we are involved with the comings-and-goings of a couple hundred fellow Pioneer Bible Translators Missionaries. 

Charliece is the person to whom everyone turns for answers like, "Do I need some sort of insurance if I go to Africa ?" And, "....what is a letter of invite..?" Or maybe, "...what is a visa..?"

Bill worries about who is in the air, where they are landing, 'correct flight numbers' and when are they landing.   

Sooo... here are our most important two travel tips to begin new year travel:

1. Have a specific contact person back home who has your complete itinerary.

If you are driving across the U.S., leave with your contact person - your vehicle color, the year, make and model of car, and tag number. 

If you are flying, make sure the contact person has a copy of your e-ticket. 

2. Get a passport. Keep  it renewed. Check your passport dates well before travel. Many countries require you to have more than 6 months left on your passport before they allow entry. Therefore many US Airlines will not let you board if you walk up to the gate with a passport that expires in less than 6 months. 

Summary: Make sure people back home know your schedule and make sure your passport is up to date.

We will post this to our Facebook Page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bill-and-Charliece-Fierbaugh-Missionaries/

We will keep you in the loop on our personal travels to the South Pacific Areas. Please help us out financially for our trip to Manila in March.

We will keep you in the loop with weekly travel tips.  If you or anyone you know is getting ready to do a "short term mission trip" this year.... get them on our mailing list... you could save their trip....!!!

We love you all and appreciate your financial support and cherish your prayers,

In His service,

Bill and Charliece

Manila, Philippines - Help us please..!

If you can please help us with airfare to Manila...!!

March 2010

Manila, Philippines -- is located central to much of South East Asia. PBT - We need to be there.

Matthew 28:19-20  ¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. NRSV

Praise and Honor from PBT

Pioneer Bible Translators is constructing a new building in Dallas, TX for our International Service Center. This has been a project of Prayer from the beginning.

Last night we threw a big Hot Dog Roast to honor our construction people and the many volunteers who are helping us.

Show here is our Prayer Praise Time of Thanks. We honor our guests and  praise God.

When or What...?

PBT brings light..!

When you write about an incident ... do you emphasize "When" or "What...?"

Ancient writers make it difficult for modern readers.  Which was the most important to the author - "When" or "What"...?

Ancients wrote for "What."  Sometimes, things recorded  bounce around time wise.  Where we moderns assume chronological order -- often it was not. Maybe today it depends on your worldview.

Today's reader in a developing country, perhaps exposed to the Gospel for the first time.... well, "What" may take precedence over  "When."

And, how about you...? If you grew up in the same 20th century as myself - ah ha...  I must admit ... often I  read for "When."    I mean, the Old Testament did happen in this order, didn't it...?   And, that "rise up in three days..."  Hmm.... Friday, Saturday, Sunday... or was it Saturday, Sunday, ...?  And, "What...?"  Oh yea... He arose...! The tomb is empty...!  See, see... you do it too. We moderns are linear. I want everything to fit in my day planner.

Pioneer Bible Translators - ah...they daily delve deeply into the most fascinating book.  Nothing exceeds God's Word...!!

Stop by the PBT Booth at the NMC.  Pickup my clipboard survey and mark..."When" or "What."
I will report results here.

Which does your modern eye actually read for --first?  See you at our booth... National Missionary Convention... Lexington, KY, Nov. 18-21, 2010.

Our First Date

44 years ago Charliece and I went on our first date.  We drove from Bristol, TN to Johnson City, TN for the Friday night high school football game. Tomorrow night we will drive the exact opposite route to again watch BTHS football.  The  BTHS Class of '60  is attending our 50th high school class reunion.  Don't tell Charliece that I have ordered her a maroon and white corsage from the local florist. 


But,  how can this be..?  Are we having an out of body experience..? The clock  must be skewed.  We are too young. 


This weekend the BTHS Class of '60 will live in the present time...  and weep...  and laugh...  and mourn...  and dance...!


I have performed funerals and used:
Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 NRSV
"1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance......"

Yes...


This weekend the BTHS Class of '60 will live in the present time...  and weep...  and laugh...  and mourn...  and dance...!

Ladies... Here it is ... Perfume and Perfumers - for you!

"But some of the priests took care of mixing the spices." 1 Chronicles 9:30 NIV

Perfumers were valued skilled professionals.  The climate  (dry and dusty in the Near East) caused skin to cry out for pampering.  Even some priests acquired the skill set.

Bodies beautiful...  were regularly moisturized using perfumed oils.  Even Esther probably had a "pamper me" plan. "...six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and preparations for beautifying women." Esther 2:12c NKJV

Calamus, cassia, cinnamon, bdellium, frankincense, galbanum,myrrh, nard, and saffroon were all sought after... some from distant lands.

"Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart..." Proverbs 27:9 NIV

So, here it is ladies.... your next rationalization... (not that I think you need one...) Go for it!   After putting up with we men you owe it to yourselves.

Read more details on Page 301 of the NKJV Chronological Study Bible.

Rights and Privileges - Hear..!

"Let's remember, our rights and our privileges flow from our creator and not from our member of Congress," said a political candidate recently. I could "make hay" with those words from the mouth of a politician. Ah well.... get the plank out of my own eye...!


sorry...setting aside satire...


Traveling way back to Deuteronomy 6:4, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!" These wonderful words are the basic confession of Jewish faith. They are called the Shema (the Hebrew word meaning "hear"). The words have been repeated privately and in public liturgy continuously. Traditionally they are the last words at death of many Jews.


To me.... "... The Lord our God, the Lord is one!.."  ......this is the core of my soul.  God is outside time and space. God is creator. God is one. 


Hmmm... this God is one..... thing... 
It seems to permeate Jewish, Islam, and Christian thought.


Yet division also permeates...!


Ah well... we are... again back to politics.


Keep praying brothers and sisters.