THOUGHT FOR TODAY: You probably figured it out; the man I described who wants to help your friend is Jesus Christ. Since His death on Calvary He no longer has a physical presence here on earth. Therefore He must depend upon His body, the church, to represent Him. However many people, especially the young, are saying that when they look at the church they aren’t seeing love, compassion, faithfulness, forgiveness, mercy, sacrifice.
They’re a great group; hated to see them go. Several have a year or two left before graduation; I hope we will see them next year. The project they have started is of huge importance. They worked until after dark Friday night placing the last of 9 filtration units. PRAY: That the local leaders will take ownership with the goal of a unit in every house in Seis de Mayo.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: You probably figured it out; the man I described who wants to help your friend is Jesus Christ. Since His death on Calvary He no longer has a physical presence here on earth. Therefore He must depend upon His body, the church, to represent Him. However many people, especially the young, are saying that when they look at the church they aren’t seeing love, compassion, faithfulness, forgiveness, mercy, sacrifice. Electricity was off today and no battery for the computer. FUMC left Friday. Work team of Platt, Carl, Sam, and Mendel got most of the storage unit and upstairs office done. Heather and Sondra went to the private school in Campana. The principal offered 5 full scholarships if we can find serious minded students in the village. They and Kathy finished up a great week with preschoolers. Besides being involved in all the programs Terry found time to put together a great video which we all enjoyed. On the last day they got to see the new church. We all sang a couple of hymns; amazing acoustics! OSU has gone to Copan; we’ll hook up with them in San Pedro tomorrow and I’ll recap their final days next time.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: So, what would you think? Are they misinterpreting his desire? Has someone misrepresented him? This picture grows even more puzzling when we are told (e.g. the Barna Surveys) that 80% of young people reaching their 20’s are having this kind of response. Groups from First Methodist Tulsa and OSU are in full swing. The engineers went up the mountain this am; and pm had a meeting with the 10 households that will receive a filter unit. Their translator is pursuing a degree in chemical engineering; God is good at matchmaking. FUMC had 70 children in the am class and 70 pm. The sewing project is going well and the construction team is about ready to start on the office in the rice plant; it will be on a second floor above the storage area which they have built.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Imagine this: Suppose that for whatever the reason, you have occasion to observe a friend’s life from a distance. Presently a man comes into this friend’s life that is extremely wealthy, wealthier than Carlos Slim, Gates, Buffett, or Zuckerberg; and he has every social and business connection imaginable. Further he thinks your friend is fantastic, and would do anything and everything to protect him and make him successful. Then suppose that, as this man attempts to grow closer and develop a relationship with your friend, that friend becomes angry and abusive. In fact it becomes his/her desire to become alienated; or worse yet to ignore the one who would literally give his life for your friend. What would you think? The engineering students from OSU arrived at midday Friday and First United Methodist, Tulsa at 10pm. Yesterday I went with the FUMC group to Copan and the engineers got started with their project in the village. Today everyone went to the International church; Terry White from FUMC preached. Both days have gone very well.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Do you ever worry about money? I do; but we don’t need to. God controls all the money in the world. If we are walking according to His plan He will buy whatever we need. But come to think about it, what’s He going to buy? He owns it all anyway. Yesterday Linda, Margaret, Nickolas and I went to Price Mart for supplies for the two groups arriving today. We bought so much the next stop rejected my Visa card; that cut our shopping day short and we came home. Later on we went over to Seis to recruit families for the OSU engineers’ water purification. So far recruits are old friends—Ramona; Tonio; Nelson’s in-laws. We also stopped by the Gran Via school to confirm the Tulsa teachers on Thursday and it was locked. The teachers have been on strike this week; supposedly they will be back in class on Monday. 14 engineering students and 2 faculty arrive at noon today. Their trip to our mission center is now an official class in the school of engineering. First Methodist Tulsa arrives at 10 tonight; Jeff Kuney is on the team as translator.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: A Christian who spends his life in the comfort zone and never steps out in faith will never know for sure what he really believes about God. First thing yesterday morning I learned someone in CA is buying expensive things with my credit card. Last time that happened it was a casino in Tegus. With 30 guests headed this way we had to do some creative banking. Margaret and Linda arrived yesterday. This morning they began explaining to Norma’s sewing class about the upcoming manufacturing project. Otilia, a member of this class, is a graduate of Jennifer’s first sewing class back in 2000. A couple of the guys came to me today with some great prices they had found on laurel --- a very fine wood for the shop class. I was very interested until they said it would have to be delivered after dark. Illegal tree harvesting is very common here. PRAY: Cheryl is having to work very hard to get everything done before she flies out Friday. Please pray for her.
Beto and I went to the building supply in Cortes today and got a good price on sheet rock--$6.20 a sheet for a 4X8. Also visited Atlantic School to get translators for next week. Will need 3-4 a day and some at night. This pm I watched Alfredo cut with his new saw, 2X6’s from a cedar Flor cut near their house. I also visited with principals of Gran Via and Campana schools to set up for Tulsa teachers next week. PRAY: That Luis will get us into the rice plant before Saturday.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: I have discovered it is possible to “die to self” one week; and come back to life the next. There was an article in La Prensa last week saying that in some hospitals there are two adult patients in the same bed; one at the head and the other at the foot. There was a big soccer match yesterday- two different groups of Nelson’s students. Joel played too; his team lost 8-4. The Colorado medical team left today. It’s pretty quiet around here tonight. There are now yellow blossoms on the slopes of the Merondon alongside the lavender ones. It’s beautiful.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY:I have sometimes explained my failure to move forward as “I’m waiting on the Lord.” On 12/23/83 I wrote what I thought God said to me regarding that, “You aren’t waiting for Me-- I’m waiting for you.” While in Tulsa I had started walking an hour a day. I wondered what I would do when I got back here. Twice now I have spent an hour on the treadmill. We took Alfredo to San Pedro and bought a 1”shaft, 7 h/p motor and 14” blade to set up a saw to cut his own lumber for the class. I went to Office Depot to fax. I took a number, #49. “”Now Serving #33”, so I left and went to a place nearer downtown. They don’t fax to US; so I went back to Ofc. Depot. “Now Serving #33”. One reason: many classes have one textbook and students have to make copies—of books. We will soon have been in Honduras 12 years. I did the math; I have spent 2 ½ of those years standing in line. Last day of the clinic today. Saw 489 patients in all; 65 out in the jungle area.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: We can spend our time on vigorous activities trying to get the job done ourselves; or we can invest the time praying first and then watch Him do it. We pay our employees on the 15 and 30th. I realized in the wee hours yesterday morning that there is no February 30. Even though I forgot, God didn’t and there was enough in our account. I mentioned to Gladys and Sonia about the manufacturing project and they are very excited. They are two that can do it; Norma thinks there are 6 or 7 more. Yesterday was the first day of the clinic; 78 patients were seen. One was Oscar Chabarria. He came last time; had been mutilated in a machete attack. He holds a cloth over a metal fitting in his neck that supports a tube running down his windpipe. The doctors say it needs to be removed but in a regular ENT clinic. I told him I would share his need and ask for prayer. He is probably 30, and has a little boy, Carlitos; very nice guy. Another physician came in last night; Erin-Rose from WA.
THOUGHTS FOR TODAY: Most of my “Thoughts for the Day” are really notes to myself; reminders so I don’t always forget by tomorrow what I have learned today. For example, I journaled back in the 1970’s the need to start my days at 5am in order to get the important things done. Here we are in 2011 and except for brief periods I’m still not doing it. |