Hey friends and family!
Im back out on the field to serve God's Kingdom and to grow in my ministry, this time in Malaysia. As I was able to finish my courses for my Masters in Divinity (at Boston University) early, I had the opportunity to use this entire spring to plan out an exciting final project and conclusion to my degree, which I have taken full advantage of to come to Malaysia for about 2 months.
God has been leading me on a theological and spiritual journey of discovering the pivotal role that "the Land," or really the enitrety of God's creation, plays in the construction of God's promises and the Covenant Community, and that God's story of salvation-redemption is not just for humanity alone, but for the whole of God's creation. On this journey I have come to see that God's Kingdom as embodied by Jesus is at its very core a challenge to and overthrow of the "empire" of our world, whatever form it might take in each historical context, which has wreaked havoc through injustice and oppression not just to humanity, but also to the very earth on which our lives depend. There's so much more Id love to expound on about this, which I hope will come out in some of my blogs during these 2 months, but for now let it suffice to say that I've chosen to take this time to "get my hands dirty" in a very practical way of confronting the injustice and degradation that has plagued our earth's ecosystems and particularly our food systems.
What I mean is, I'll be working with an organization named Malaysia Care, which does a lot of holistic development work, and I'll be participating in their sustainable agriculture training project! So I'll be living on their farm out in the rainforest of Malaysia, sercing and working the land with them, all the while trying to develop my understanding of these sustainable practices and methodology and gain some practical skills with them. The project is geared for training, so I'll hopefully be able to meaningfully contribute to the training sessions they do with villagers from all over the area, in which they hope to equip them with skills to improve their crop yields simultaneously taking better care of their soil and ecosystem. I'm staying with my friends I worked with on the World Race here for a week, and then heading to the farm, so the work has yet to begin. Im so excited to have this opportunity to work in a local and indigenous ministry and farm, where I can hopefully become a part of this totally difference and beautiful way of life and agriculture here.
As per this being a final project for credit for my degree, I'll also be doing plenty of academic work while Im here. Ive a book list of ecological theology books and related topics to plow through (no pun intended 🙂 ) and some papers to write in reflection and response to both my work and my reading. So I'll be doing more than just farming, which would seem like strange conclusion to a Masters in Divinity degree…
Lastly, the family Im with here this week, who is incredibly dear to me, is in a monumental struggle… Peter, the father, is bed-ridden in the hospital with stage 4 cancer… Im hoping to be a presence of peace, encouragement, and strength here for Carol (the mother) and their adult children Ian and Eevon. Its an extraordinarlily complex and heavy emotional situation, but Im so glad that God has brought me at this exact moment, when I think this family needs some support more than ever. Please pray that God will bring healing, both to Peter and the family, and that I will be open to the Spirit's leading to serve and love them in every way I can.
Thanks so much for your continued support and relationships with me. I will be writing to you all again soon!
God bless always,
Tommy Shireman
