This past weekend I was able to spend time with the amazingly talented, surprisingly predictable, worlds most interesting man Dirk. Him and I couldn’t be more different. I love to be crazy, 6 feet if I’m lying, and constantly dance around. I act like the crazy Ninavites in the book of Jonah. Dirk, the polar opposite is very calm at every situation, a true 6’3, great at dance moves just not while waiting in line for coffee. We grew up in very different situations, Breier being a unique city boy and Dirk being a Mans man Farmer.
Learning things from Dirk comes so easy, he is constantly looking to take people by the hand (not literally) and help them. He is one of the most generous givers of his time and attention and most of all service. He is someone you want by your side. Someone holding that shield with you. One because its heavy and two because he will fight for you.
God has blessed him with such a desire to learn, which is something many people crave. But he realizes that, thats something you can just decide to do! His hunger for knowledge is very biblical. He reads and invests in the Bible often but the thing I like most is that he also learns from life experience. His life is the ultimate visual aid to help us learn and for him to teach. I know he is very humble and doesn’t need me bragging about him to feel appreciated so I’m gonna jump to the things I have learned from him.
1- I am capable of Farming
-This month I have the privilege of doing a ton of farm chores, which I love!! I am a city boy at heart but love my farm time when I can get it. I learned that I would love for my wife to have parents that own a farm so I can visit for a week here and there to get my fix in.
2- Water Buffaloes are not the 2nd most dangerous animal in Asia.
-One morning I was taking photos of the water buffaloes on the farm and Dirk filled me in that they are actually the 2nd most dangerous animal in Asia! I immediately felt much more accomplished, having touched and gotten up and close with such a dangerous animal. It wasn’t…..huge bummer. Like literally the one time he has been off about crazy facts like that. They are basically Americanized cows.
3- What fishing should actually look like
-I have fished growing up but never really learned how to do it and be successful. There is such an art about it and wow, I never learned so much. The different kind of poles and all the types of fish and bait combos. Learning what back-lashing is and then doing it over and over again.
4- To respect animals
-We needed to skin that fish that we caught for dinner, and beyond learning how to do that, which was insane for a city boy to do, I learned that Dirk loves his animals. He killed the fish before skinning it out of respect and kindness. Seems obvious to some people but it was such a little thing that he did that made a great impact on my view about farming and all that nature manly stuff.
Such a great weekend learning from my teammate and brother for life. The crazy thing is that I know I have only scratched the surface for things that I can learn from Dirk. Praying that he keeps sharing all the amazing things God has exposed him to and being a strong man for the kingdom.
