THOUGHT FOR TODAY: I once heard Larry Burkett ask the question, "Do you really believe, or do you just say you really believe?" I would ask one more question, "Or do you just think you really believe?" Sometimes we don't know for sure (Jeremiah 17:9) until we examine some hard evidence. For me, one piece of hard evidence is revealed when I wake up during the night. What's on my mind? A lost soul or some financial concern?
Since the team left we've had a lot more activity in the children's class. Some of them told Nicholas they're coming in order to get in line for a Christmas gift. Speaking of the children, they were trapped in the classroom for about 30 minutes when somebody dead bolted the door and we couldn't get it open. We nearly had to break the door down… This must be tarantula season; Cheryl has found a couple of big ones in the house the last couple of days. Mike and I trapped one and threw it over the veranda banister….. Michael is working at the rent house; his first task is putting in a drop ceiling… Today the president and vice president of the village council came to ask our cooperation in installing drainpipes for the village. I'm glad they're taking responsibility.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: I once heard Larry Burkett ask the question, "Do you really believe, or do you just say you really believe?" I would ask one more question, "Or do you just think you really believe?" Sometimes we don't know for sure (Jeremiah 17:9) until we examine some hard evidence. For me, one piece of hard evidence is revealed when I wake up during the night. What's on my mind? A lost soul or some financial concern? Sunday morning we took some friends to the airport for a noon flight. I was standing in a long line and it was about time for church to start and I asked the Lord to please get us there for the main part of the service. It seemed impossible, but we got them through all the checkpoints and on to the gate quicker than I thought. We walked into church just as the music ended and the communion, meditation and sermon were about to start.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: You don't stop worrying by trying to stop worrying; you chase away the darkness by turning on the light. The best way to turn on that source of light is to memorize Scripture. Didn't post for a couple of days; by the end of the day I was out of gas. The last of 23 team members left today; we had a wonderful week. Four doctors and support staff examined and treated 700- 800 patients in four different locations. There were education programs; improvements to the manufacturing plant; and a number of sporting events including four soccer matches, two of them official: Honduras beat the USA 4-3; and Nelson's computer students beat the gringos 5-1. Mark Bullard also fixed nearly everything that was broken around the house. Matt Pile captured many of these events on film. Before the Friday night service we made two trips up and down the highway from Rondon to Chile and brought back two busloads of people. The service started late and was very long but hopefully some seeds were planted.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: I have noticed increasingly that when I'm not busy doing something, my mind wanders. That's normal, but normal is always good. Often my thoughts become worry; other times meaningless prattle. The result is, at best, wasted time. The apostle Paul addresses the matter in Romans 8:6, “So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the spirit control your mind leads to life and peace”. We moved into our third day today with 25 guests, eight translators, and at least six extra workers; a full house to be sure. Yesterday and today we had clinics both at the mission center and in El Rondon and have seen more than 300 patients. Yesterday and today after clinic in Rondon our guys spent the next two hours playing soccer and other activities with the young men and little children of the village. Elsewhere, today Kathy Pile and Amanda Lewis gave an introductory course in literacy evangelism to Nelson’s English class. Nelson was also given special instruction so that he can teach it in the future. Dinaya Pickard and Kallie Clark did the children's program. There were only about 15 or 20 children at a time today so they were able to do one-on-one with children's crafts. Meanwhile Matt Pile was filming at various locations. Mark Bullard has continued to work on the cars; Randy Ellis and our Michael have been sealing the inside walls of the manufacturing center.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: If the extent of your ministry is based upon your own resources, you'll always stop short. The last of the 25 team members arrived yesterday. Everything went fine despite the fact that they came in on three separate days, three separate airlines. Tomorrow we start a medical clinic, including a team in a remote location, children's ministry, sports evangelism, and construction…. Today we took the team to the international church in San Pedro, and then this afternoon we had church here, including a choir led by Tom Pickard. In a group this size we were able to do four-part harmony. It was really pretty. Before the service began many of the group members walked the streets of Seis de Mayo inviting people to come. After church we played volleyball and attracted lots of kids from the village. I forgot to mention, Friday was payday. We had an extra person on the payroll getting ready for this week so I wasn't quite sure how much we would need; I pulled together all we had and it amounted to $1925. I asked Nicholas to figure up how much we would need. A little while later he came up with a big grin on his face and handed me a slip of paper with his sum total of $1924.46.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: The strongest message about Christ is our testimony of what has happened in our own life; but when we are not walking by faith there's nothing much to say. Michael got the first flight out of Miami yesterday morning and arrived in San Pedro around noon, about 30 minutes before Dr. and Mrs. Green, and Nikki Collins. The Greens and Nikki spent the entire afternoon working on the pharmacy, preparing for the clinic next week. Today Reggie and Penny Buehrer arrived, their daughter Katie and her husband Brad Allison. Also the Pile family, Matt and Kathy; and their two sons Dan and Jim. Tomorrow, 12 more will be arriving…. There were demonstrations in San Pedro this morning tying up traffic through a good part of the city. It was probably close to two hours between the time I arrived in the city and when I made it to the airport. The strikes have to do with a proposal to decentralize the education system putting more financial responsibility on families.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: A number of years ago I started a newsletter to share my insights and experiences in Christian living. Since all of us have pretty much the same challenges I thought others might relate and be encouraged. I enjoyed what I was doing, but before I had gone very far, less than two years into the project, I realized I'd have to give it up or start repeating myself. As far as personal testimony, after sharing those few issues I had said about all I had to say. Yesterday we had an employee luncheon in order to, among other things, give everyone a heads-up on the teams coming this weekend. Beto had a court date for his permit to carry a firearm but made it back in time for lunch. While I was at the rent house outlining projects for those during construction, Lourdes called me over and showed me homework/exam papers for Carlos and Perla. They both made high grades including several 100%! Wow! Nicholas went to San Pedro to ride back with the wrecker when they brought the red van; they delivered it to Dennis's place. Today we are cleaning the slabs that used to be used for drying rice; they will be used as soccer fields. Several teams have already formed here to play “the team from the US”…. This morning the builder from Puerto Cortes came to further discuss the dorm; he's about finished with his current job and is ready to begin whenever we are. I called Michael at about eight o'clock this morning and he was in Chicago. Hopefully he'll arrive this evening.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: I have discovered that the more I pray the more I see the need to pray even more. The reverse is also true; the less I pray the less I see the need for it. Many of the things I'm learning about prayer follow the lines of learning theory. The medical team begins arriving this Thursday so we are very busy getting ready. We spent much of the day in San Pedro buying groceries and other supplies. I also met with Jimmy Pinnell to make sure we are straight on daily transportation for the group. The bilingual school that provides us translators is out for the summer. However, their director was kind enough to line up seven students to serve as translators next week…. I went to the insurance company to arrange for a wrecker to transport the red van from San Pedro to Campana. Hopefully we will get that done tomorrow…. About midnight a week or so ago one of the neighbors saw some suspicious characters prowling around the mission center. He immediately called Matthew who evidently called Marcos, then got on his bike and headed this way. Very shortly the two of them had run the intruders off. This confirmed that the people in the village really do try to take care of us.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Maybe a better example of hitting the mark would have been to notice the person who seemed to feel uneasy and out of place, and strike up a conversation about current events, sports, or the passing scene. One way to discern God's will for the moment is to ask yourself WWJD? Nicholas returned this morning; I wasn't expecting him until tomorrow. We met with the mayor of Rondon; their community center is well suited for clinic. We will be there the 18th and 19th…. Dennis, the mechanic a mile or so up the road, will do the repairs on the red van. …I thought Carlitos didn't know math. He missed a day’s pay of 26 lempiras while Nicholas was gone and told me without hesitation I owed him 52.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: So then, sitting in the airport waiting for the next flight, one is eating chips, drinking a Coke, and reading a racy tabloid; another, a bottle of water, some cheese balls and the daily news or maybe even something spiritual. Quite possibly we both missed it; and if we miss it, we've missed it. I started out from Tulsa yesterday morning at seven o'clock flying standby. I made it through Chicago and then Miami, and arrived in San Pedro Sula last night about seven. I consider myself blessed having made the entire trip in a single day. Cheryl started out early this morning, went through Houston and arrived in San Pedro before noon. Clearly, Continental has a more direct route to San Pedro…. Nicholas had a death in the family this week so he's with his family until Sunday. That makes Beto the driver. We went to San Pedro and back today without incident…. José Diaz called me today about the clinic in Rondon. He’s is taking the initiative; that's a good sign. I'll see him on Saturday.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: If we miss it, does it really matter if we missed it an inch or a mile? Our mission is not just to avoid doing wrong; but rather to discern and do God's will for the moment. |