Awesomeness & Encouragement

I had an awesome time worshipping and preaching twice yesterday; once in the capital of Lomé and the second time in an interior city. The church is mature here in Togo -not without problems-but many are firm in the Lord. Joseph and I just left a pastor’s seminar with 59 pastors present. Some were older, some middle aged, and some younger ones, too. This portion of the trip has been an encouragement of God’s work around our globe. We will go back to Lomé tomorrow after lunch. Pray - Joseph is driving!

God’s best,

Jerry

Here is a list of Jerry's previous messages in case you missed any...

Mission Accomplished...Almost
Joseph, Francesca (Joseph's wife), and I left the capitol of Lome' hours after I arrived in Togo. We drove 2½ hours northwest to an interior city called Kpalime. Well, we weren’t really in the city, but that’s the closest thing you could find on a map.... click here to read more.

A Glimpse of Togo
Pictures only.

A Glimpse of Togo (Pictures Only)

Below is in interior pastor and his wife. I asked him how the church was doing.  He said it's always full, he just wonders how many will be in heaven.

A pastor's son and I outside his mom's selling spot at the market...

All girls are princesses... 

Joseph, Francisca, and I...

Mission Accomplished...Almost

Joseph, Francesca (Joseph's wife), and I left the capitol of Lome' hours after I arrived in Togo. We drove 2½ hours northwest to an interior city called Kpalime. Well, we weren’t really in the city, but that’s the closest thing you could find on a map. The drive was encouraging as Joseph pointed out many churches led by national pastors; men who preach the word of God. I also noticed many other churches from different mission organizations – some faithful to the Word, some not known for sound doctrine. It was so different from the former part of my trip to a different African country. In that country, our 2½ hour flight into the village covered hundreds of miles; hundreds of miles where there is no light from God’s Word. 

ABWE has focused on southern Togo until recently. They have now penetrated the north, which can be a day to a day and a half drive depending on road and weather conditions.

During the early years of ministry, ABWE established a hospital in the interior in the south. This facility offers significant medical care. I believe I heard that an average of 10,000 people use the facility annually. While there is nothing routine, the doctors offer office visits, education, and many types of surgery also. The gospel is proclaimed to those using the facility. Many from different parts of the country and even other African countries use the facility and many have come to know the Lord over the years.

ABWE also trains some for ministry in one of the three Bible institutes. As a result, churches have been planted and are now led by national leadership. 

Yesterday, after the completion of a mission’s meeting, we had dinner and then a reception for a retiring missionary couple. They left a legacy of years of faithful service for missionary kids, Togo nationals, and fellow missionaries. While we always have more work to do, the gospel has effectively penetrated Togo, Africa. But, we always have another generation to reach, unsaved family and friends, and the potential for Togo church missions to reach out in other areas as well. 

During the send off for the retiring missionary last night, the doctor on call received a phone call. Three men left – four hours later they had completed five surgeries. Babies were delivered and lives were saved.

My internet connection requires me to quit in a hurry.

God's best,

Jerry

A Stark Contrast

Jimmy and Michael have arrived in Atlanta and will be flying home this evening (Wednesday). Jerry also arrived in Togo safely. He was able to send a quick, brief note with the promise that he will try to write more in the days ahead.

I'm in interior Togo with Joseph at a planning and strategy meeting with missionaries. Joseph is the only Togolese pastor present. This speaks of his competence and abilities in the Lord, as well as the progress of the gospel here. The mission organization sees themselves as second generation – they help and support the national church.

We drove two and a half hours to get to this meeting. Along the way, we stopped several times to talk with Togolese pastors. Even this is another example of the progress of spreading the gospel message in Thico, Togo. It stands in stark contrast to the beginning work I just left in another part of Africa.

Two Points of View

Today’s post will be long but I think it will be worth it. I received two emails today – from two men. No way could I post one and not the other!

Jimmy wrote:

Today is the last day in the swamp – sad goodbyes and a joyous start.

The house is about ready to move in; Kap and Chica will do that on Wednesday. This morning we went to the house and prayed. We prayed that God would protect, would give them opportunity, and a great path in the community to shine His Light. Kap’s friend from the local body was also there praying with us. He has been a great help; we will post photos soon.

The time came for the plane to arrive so we headed to the airstrip. As we drove on the strip, we could see the plane making its descent to the runway. Just in God’s time. The plane was carrying the other couple and their three kids. They were returning from some time off. We quickly off loaded supplies, loaded our stuff on the plane, and said our goodbyes. The two elders from the local body were also there to send us off.

As we loaded in to the plane we waved good-bye but Kap was not with the girls. I looked and he was driving to the air strip. He parked and waited. We taxied on to the runway and started our take off. There – not ten feet from our wing – was Kap on top of the Range Rover waving good bye. Tears filled my eyes; I began to weep. Kap and I have a special bond. You see, we grew up together since we were five. We’ve thrown rocks together, biked together, and camped together. We picked on our little siblings together. But most of all, we love the same God – the same Jesus that saves. That bond will not break. I left my friend, but only for a little while. We will meet again; either here on earth or in Heaven.

What’s next? Where do I go from here? Where do we go from here? We have seen the Lord work. God worked with the bag fees when we left KCI. He is working now as a tail wind of over 46 knots at 12,000 ft over the African savannah will help us arrive at the capital city quicker. The increased speed will enable us to see what God is doing there with other missionary partners.

My challenge as we head back to USA is this – where do you fit in? Or better yet, where can you stand out? What can you do?

We say, “I am too busy to help.” Or, “I don’t know what to do.” We use our excuses to make our life easier. We forget that we have this wonderful power in our God – in the Holy Spirit living inside of us. We can do anything; we really can. All we have to do is take the step of faith. Move and God will direct your path – whether it is in a small village in Africa or a small town in eastern Jackson County, Missouri. Shine the Light.

It’s not easy. It’s not easy talking to a Muslim about Jesus. But they know about Him already. He is written about in their book. It’s not easy to talk to your neighbor about Him – but try. Start by showing the love you have. Build relationships to show you care. Let Jesus shine through you in your conversations. Let God do the work in you.

Before I was able to post the above note, I received the following…

Kap wrote:

This morning was one I had dreaded. The last couple of days I felt myself begin to focus on it – they are leaving.

On Saturday, we finished the work; I stood with Chica in the solar room and saw all the control panels with happy green lights flashing. The house was a little power plant. We had a fan in almost every room, lights, a refrigerator, and outlets. Water was running to the right areas. There was so much to do on the house and even more after that.

These three men of faith served continuously from the early morning hours until late into the evening. Their passion to make His Name known overwhelmed me more than their impressive skill sets. Their strength and energy didn't come from the Cliff Bars that they brought; it came from the Gospel they carry around within them at all times.

I drove our vehicle to the end of the airstrip to chase away goats and children. Then I climbed on top of the roof rack to watch the small plane take off. This was the same roof rack that two of these men held onto furiously as I drove a dying woman to the hospital a couple days ago. We had been returning from a bush trip, and our car was full. We saw people carrying a woman out of a village, and these men jumped on top so she and her family could fit inside.

I have this void because the Body was here in a much fuller sense these last ten days. The men worked alongside me and national friends. They were intentional about their conduct to show the love of the Son. Their impact was evident as two national friends came to the airstrip to wish them farewell. These national friends stopped their work to say good-bye even though they shared no common language. So many people saw the Son through them, even me. As I look around our home, I see the footprint they have made. I see the work they have done. All of it reminds me of them. But it all points me to our Father. They gave, sacrificed, poured themselves out, and loved because they worship the One who gave, sacrificed, poured Himself out, and loved us.

I waved good-bye as the plane flew over top of me. Grieving, I was glad I had sunglasses.  

I returned to the house to continue finishing things for us to move in. The next job was to tile our concrete shower floor. The guys equipped me as much as they could, but as I cracked and broke tile, and had concrete goop everywhere, Chica could hear me say, "Oh, Jerry, Jerry, I need you!” I paused and thanked our Father for the Body. I gave thanks for the abundance He provided in the last days. My memories pointed me back to the Gospel just as the men had done while here. Emotion again overtook me as I thanked Him for all of the mercies…and grace…and love…and salvation He has given us.

May He continue to be glorified here - May His Name be made renown throughout the Swamp!

The End is Just the Beginning

Well, we "finished." The task set before us is complete. Jerry, Michael, and I, along with others here, have completed the lighting, wiring, power, and fans. The Sun powers it all. We have provided a haven of comfort from the heat of the day. Comfort visitors will enjoy as they talk about and find the Son. Kap, Chica, and the family will be able to rest in and enjoy their home now.

Tomorrow (Sunday) will be a good day. We will do some final cleaning and pick up a bit. But better yet, we will prayer walk through the completed house. Room by room, we will lift up the house to our Father.

Thank you to all who gave – gave of your time in prayer, things to bring, and financial gifts. Our group might be finished but this is just the beginning of things to come for this region of the swamp.

For example, Kap left this morning to bring Andy and his family back to the swamp from his village. While at the village, a motorcycle accident occurred. One man was badly injured; he was in and out of consciousness and had a broken ankle and leg.

They loaded him in the back of the truck along with Andy and his family. Kap drove the man thirty minutes back to the swamp. This is the second time in as many days that he has used his vehicle as an ambulance on this road. God uses us in every aspect of our lives.

While at the hospital, Kap tried to find out about the woman we brought in last night. They could not find her.

I also met with Sog today. Today we talked about the Ten Commandments. They are the same in the Koran. He follows these and is a good young man. Today I asked him – if he became a follower, what would happen to him, especially because of his family’s positions.

He said, “They would hate me.”

 I asked, “Do you hate me?”

He said, “No,” and called me his best friend.

I then talked to him and showed him the story of Nicodemus. I shared the hope. He thought it was good but he needs more time.

It takes around forty times for this people to hear the story before they see the light. He is to be at our place of worship tomorrow. Please pray that the Father touches his life and that he sees the way, the truth, and the life.

We will leave the village on Monday for the capital. We’ll spend time at the English center and see the town. Pray for Jerry as he heads to Joseph and pray for Michael and me as we head to you. I will present about the trip at church next week. I have many stories to tell.  

Soggy Meetings

These meetings aren’t really soggy – unless it’s because the Living Water has poured out all over them.

All of my information in this area has come from text messages. I’m sorry I don’t have more details but I’m sure this will be a good story to hear in its entirety when the men return home. Some of this is my own comments and thoughts mixed in with what I’ve pieced together from multiple text messages.

Jimmy has continued to meet with Sog each day. At first, the group had some apprehensions as to why a member of such a prominent religious family was seeking Kap and Chica out specifically. The concerns were that the man might have ulterior motives for wanting to know more about the work they are doing and the stories of the Bible. The group strategized and urgently pleaded with God for discernment, as did many of us here at home. They felt peace with continuing the meetings and so Jimmy and Sog have met each day.

Wednesday’s meeting –

Sog brought a copy of Isaiah 53 with him to discuss on this day. I don’t know how he happened to have a copy of that chapter or why he chose to bring it with him. I knew from Jimmy’s comments that it is a strongly prophetic passage regarding Jesus’ crucifixion. That night I read it myself. Even if you also didn’t recognize the Scripture reference, you’re probably familiar with many of its verses. I encourage you to take a moment and read it. Few other places in the Old Testament present the Gospel message so clearly! I believe God is working in the life of this young man.

 (If you don’t have a Bible handy, hover your mouse over the reference at the beginning of this paragraph and it will appear in a pop-up.)

Thursday’s meeting –

The two men read Genesis 22. They discussed the difference between the Bible and the Koran. The Bible teaches God’s promises to Abraham passed down through Isaac while the Koran states His promises passed down through Ishmael. Jimmy asked Sog if a Christian can become a Muslim, and he answered yes. Jimmy then asked him if a Muslim can become a Christian, and he answered yes to that as well. That is already a huge step for a person of the Muslim community. Jimmy requested that they pray together. After Sog agreed, Jimmy asked him for prayer requests. Jimmy prayed for each of his requests – to grow in the knowledge of the Bible, to continue to learn English, for a future wife, and to be able to go to heaven. I encourage each of you to pray for this young man as well. May the true God open the eyes of his heart.

The Heart of a Child

Jimmy asked Kap's oldest daughter if she would like to write a letter to us, letting us know what it is like to have visitors. Below is what she wrote... (I'll warn you - I was thankful I had a box of Kleenexes closeby on my desk.)

My name is Nadia, or that is the name my friends call me here. My real name is too hard for them to say. I am 10 years old, but my birthday is next week. I will celebrate with macaroni and cheese! Our friends brought in boxes of mac-n-cheese for me as a gift. I have three sisters, and all of us are happy that our friends came to visit.

We had to get ready for them to come by cleaning up the guesthouse. It was really, really dusty and full of spiders. We swept and scrubbed and made their beds nice. Then we each made a welcome card to put on their beds. The welcome card was fun to make because we colored, put stickers on it, and then we wrote a sentence from The Book on it. We each chose our own sentence. I chose from the book of Psalms. It said,

I look up unto the hills, from where does my help come?

My help comes from the Lord,

the maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1-2

 I chose this because living here is hard and sometimes hard things happen, but this says that the Lord is the maker of heaven and earth, so that means He has made everything and that means He is in control of everything. So we do not need to be scared, because He even controls the hard things. I hope that they like my card. I left it on the pillow with two pieces of candy.

Every day they work on our house from early in the morning. I have heard that they put in fans and lights! They are working on getting a toilet in the bathroom. Today they said they would set up our beds. I am so excited inside! I am ready to move into OUR house. We have been living in different homes for many months now, and I am tired of moving. I am so glad that they came to help. It is a big, big job to make our house ready.

During the day, my mom and I cook food for our friends. We also have washed their clothes in our water tubs. I love washing clothes because I see something dirty and then it becomes clean - from me! It's hard to wring out the water, but my hands are getting stronger. When our friends come back here, we have dinner and talk about the day. They are very kind. Sometimes we sit and sing together. They have taught us good songs and funny ones, too. One night we built a fire, roasted marshmallows, and sang songs to Our Father. The moon was very bright that night.

Another great thing about our friends coming is that they surprised us with gifts! That was exciting. I got crafts to make, lots of them! I have worked on making a doll and crocheting a baby blanket. I love it! The yarn is so beautiful and soft. I am thankful that they were so kind to me and brought me these special things. It made me feel cared for and loved. Oh, and I got my own pack of gum, too!

The only bad thing about friends coming to visit is that they have to leave. I don't like to say good-bye. I am sure that I will cry when their plane leaves the air strip. It is hard to see the plane fly away and know that our friends are on it.

Love, Nadia

A Well, Some Wire, and Wisdom

Below are the first comments I’ve received from Jerry regarding their trip…

Last Sunday afternoon we met a man, Andy, who has been a faithful follower of Jesus for years. We had a great time of conversation and prayer in the afternoon. I never cease to be amazed how our Common Denominator crosses cultural and socioeconomic boundaries.    

We are planning to visit Andy in a village where he has had a positive influence for over four years. A fellow believer helped drill a well for water in his village a couple of years ago; Andy was his “co-worker.” While the well was dug, Andy would talk to and influence others for the Lord, our living water. The village received Andy very well and invited him to come back anytime. They even provided a house and fields to plant rice in during the rainy season. We will travel to this village Friday morning, stay for a few hours, perhaps work a little, meet some people, and deepen our relationship with Andy. With open eyes, grateful hearts, and willingness to be spent serving our worthy Lord, please pray for sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. Might He have more than a Friday visit in mind? His will be done.

I also received these notes from Jimmy regarding their work on Kap & Chica’s home…

Today’s start was slow. We had a trouble shooting issue with one of the panel systems; it wasn’t regulating the power coming from the sun. We figured it out and we were off to the races.
We wired the girl’s room, playroom, and Kap and Chica’s room for DC. We also hooked up the refrigerator and freezer tonight. They will now have cold and frozen food.

Today at 3:00 – A man named Sog* came from the capital. He is twenty-two and wants to know English to better himself. He attends the English center in the capital but he was here in the swamp and wanted to go through his lesson with Kap.

We sat down on the mat and started. His lesson was on God’s Creation. I read the first three verses as he recorded my voice for him to learn English and God's creation. Kap and Michael read the other verses. Sog was very intrigued and intent on learning. His prayer is that God would give him wisdom; please pray for him.

He and I sat down for two hours and he asked me to ask him questions so he could answer in English. He is inquisitive and ready to learn – so much so that he wants to come back while we are here to talk with us.

I have not yet mentioned that his Grandfather and his uncle are the highest religious leaders here in the swamp. Please pray that the light will shine. Today was an awesome time.  

*Name has been changed

A Weak Weekend

Saturday

The first full day in the village started with nerves and dizziness; probably an inner ear problem from all of the flying.

Kap’s family is living in a different house until the work on their permanent home is complete. After baked oatmeal for breakfast, we went to their future house this morning to start the solar installation. The work went well. We were able to mount all of the DC fans in each room and set up the fan system today – God is good. Michael and Jerry sweated in the attic routing wire and mounting fans. Kap and I laid out the three system’s power boards and connection on a board mounted to the solar room wall. The job was almost complete when darkness came and the work had to stop. 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sunday

Email is unreliable in their part of the world. Their internet connection comes and goes with no consistency. The men bought a phone card and called each of their wives on Monday evening. I wrote the following post based on that conversation with Jimmy.

The village the men are in lies on the border between two very different cultures. I’ll allow them to explain that in more detail when they return home. But that cultural shift means they could walk to the southern part of their town and attend a French speaking church on Sunday morning. For those of you familiar with LJBC, the building they attended was the same size as our church but more than 400 people were in attendance. I’m sure it was quite crowded!

Kap introduced the men during the share time of their church service. He introduced Pastor Jerry first. The people oooooh-ed and aaaaah-ed; a pastor visiting was impressive. Then Kap introduced Michael and the people smiled politely. Finally, he introduced Jimmy and the people started laughing. Kap explained quietly that, in the local language, the word “jimmy” sounds like their word for “weak.” Oh well, “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).

The men will visit one of the elders from church on Friday. His name is Andy* and although he attends church in the village, he actually lives quite a long distance away. His desire is to plant a new church in his home area. On Friday, the men will help work in his rice fields. I'm sure we will hear more about Andy when the men return home.

The temperatures are much milder than the men anticipated, especially after the extreme heat of the past summer. The highs tend to be in the mid-80’s with lots of humidity. The rains still come every other day so the area is green, lush, and the rivers are flooded.

“Then will I purify the lips of the peoples,

that all of them may call on the name of the Lord

and serve him shoulder to shoulder.”

Zephaniah 3:9

*name has been changed

The Right Place at the Right Time

I have received a third update from Jimmy regarding their trip. If you missed the first two articles, you will find links to them listed in the sidebar of this webpage. The availability of their internet connection in the village is hit-and-miss. Please pray for it so Jimmy will be able to continue to testify of the work God does on their trip...

We spent the night in the SIL compound and had a good night’s rest. We started our first full day in Africa at 7:00. At the compound, we ran into a man named B before we left. Meeting him was a wonderful opportunity. He recently finished translating the New Testament into the dialect of the local population. He showed us a proof copy they had been checking before the book went to printing. Seven thousand copies have already been pre-ordered; they will actually print 14,000 copies. Seven thousand people will soon hear the words of life in their own language for the first time. Perhaps even thousands more will as recipients will read the words to those in their villages. Please pray for this opportunity!

We then drove to the English center and met D. He is Kap’s administrator – what a humble man. He took our passports and money and headed to the police station to get us stamped and checked in to the country. While he was doing that, we went and had the best omelet I think I have ever had along with fresh agave juice. D met us at breakfast; he had our passports, our converted money, and we were ready for the trip to the swamp (the nickname for the village where we are working). While eating, the missionary flight called and said the weight of our supplies was over by 250 Kg. Kap removed the tile and some back up batteries from the flight to get us under weight. He will be able to bring those things in later; we had what we need to do what we need to do.

The plane ride was great. This is the rainy season; life is everywhere. Everything that is normally barren and brown is now green and lush. The water brings life.

“Jesus answered,

‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again,

but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.

Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’”

(John 4:13-14)

Our two hour and fifteen minute flight to the swamp passed quickly with great stories and conversation with Kap. As we approached the village, his words changed to focus on the town below. He then became silent; anticipation of seeing his family again became apparent. I too looked down; we were only 2500 ft off the ground. I saw the huts, the mud brick walls, and the people waving. We approached the air strip from the north and made a pass to land with the wind. We banked hard and made the approach. We could see Chica and their children; they were all waving. We landed soft and safe on the sand runway.

We. Were. Here.

Emotion overwhelmed me; I began to cry but I held it back. We had arrived. We had arrived at the place for which my friend had totally forsaken all the luxuries of the USA; the place for which he had forsaken all excuses not to serve.

We taxied to the drop off point. Chica and the kids were waiting.

I came with a purpose – a purpose of no excuses, a purpose to live free. Free from what the USA has taught me. Our country teaches us to take care of ourselves. Do not help others. Worry about what is yours and nothing else. We are a lost nation.

I was now in the swamp – where God wanted me to be at this moment in time. While still in the plane, I began to weep uncontrollably. The others were off except Kap and we wept together. We were in the swamp together.

Thank you for your prayers for the men and the work they are doing. Click here to read more thoughts about their journey from the US to Africa: God Shows Up.

Tension & Relief

If you missed the first article from the African mission trip, you may read it by clicking here. Below is Jimmy's report of the second day of traveling...

Day 2 started somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean; we were on the plane from Atlanta to Paris. I awoke from a short nap to find Michael and Jerry gone from their seats. I reached for my iPod to see what time it was – 1:15am central time. I had closed my eyes around 11:00pm. We were four hours into our flight; it was 8:15am Paris time. I sprung up. Well, actually it was more like I staggered up out of my seat and stretched a bit. (Code for I had to go to the bathroom. Tension...Relief) We were just two hours out of Paris.

I looked out the back door of the plane to see the sun rising over the Atlantic. God is good. He knows me and understands the worship I give and the joy I receive in the sunrise. A wonderful focus on J-man and His glory. I didn’t go back to sleep as I watched the cabin fill with light.

“The Mighty One, God, the LORD,

speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets.”

Psalm 50:1

We arrived in Paris with no issues. We were able to rest a bit with our layover. We left for Africa on time and all is well. Over the desert is a vast expanse but the power of God is there. The power of His wind is in the dunes and the mountains of sand. (I have a photo.)

“He let loose the east wind from the heavens

 and led forth the south wind by his power.”

Psalm 78:26

“He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth;

he sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.”

Psalm 135:7

“No man has power over the wind to contain it…”

Ecclesiastes 8:8

“As you do not know the path of the wind…

so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.”

Ecclesiastes 11:5

Rain fell as we flew in to the city; no lights in sight. Slowly the sparse city lights emerged out of the darkness. We arrived and walked off the plane on to the tarmac. Then the fun - and tension - really started.

We boarded a bus and rode to the concourse.

We filled out our cards.

9:00pm

We went to the authorities.

He looked at our passports and held them.

He took us around all over.

He asked many questions.

He wanted Kap’s* phone number.

No, I didn't have it.

We waited for Kap who was able to clear us through.

Sigh of relief.

All this time, one hour, we still waited on our bags.

Finally all arrived by the grace of God.

A second sigh of relief.

Now we had to take our bags thru customs. All fifteen bags went through but four were pulled to the side.

The authority asked to open them.

They asked why we were here.

God is good. The mission was named and they saw I was a "technician." They saw we were there to help. They zipped up the bag and said have a great night. A helpful spirit penetrates more barriers than the sword ever could.

10:30pm and a final sigh of relief.

We were off and headed through town. Nothing taken, nothing lost; all arrived and ready to sleep. But a cold shower waits.

“But as for me, it is good to be near God.

I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;

I will tell of all your deeds.”

Psalm 73:28

*The man we are helping. I changed his name for his protection.

Whatever Happens, God

Jimmy, Jerry, and Michael (from Strasburg Baptist Church) have left for their mission trip to Africa. Jimmy was able to email me some notes from their first day of travel. God was at work before they even left American soil. You may share this article with others; for the security of all involved, please don't post the names of the people they are visiting or the country to which they are traveling.

Jimmy wrote:

As we prepared to leave, we enveloped the trip in prayer and kissed our families good bye for the better part of two weeks. Two wonderful men of God drove us to the airport and helped us lug nine 50lb. bags into KCI Airport – three men with three bags each. When my turn came, I approached the counter with ticket and passport in hand.

“That will be $200,” said the lady behind the counter.

“Ma’am, I thought it was to be only $75 for the extra bag.” She didn’t say anything but began to punch the keyboard for what seemed like thirty minutes. I’m guessing it was really ten. Finally, she spoke.

“That will be $75.” I gladly gave her my card to pay my baggage fee.

The attendants helping Jerry and Michael approached my attendant to ask the charge. After all was done, she whispered to me. “The rule is really $75 for the second bag and $200 for the third. But we will waive the fares and honor the $75 for the third bag.”

God granted us favor in the sight of man.

We flew on to Atlanta, arrived, and transferred via subway. For those who have not been to Atlanta, it is the world’s busiest airport and one of the largest. We arrived at Terminal A and our flight into Paris was in Terminal F. The two terminals are at opposite ends of the massive complex. Fortunately, we had plenty of time and enjoyed the ride.

We arrived at Gate F03 and awaited our flight. I had my backpack and carryon. “Calling Zone 2” came over the intercom, first in French and then in English. We made it to the gate when airline personnel approached me and said, “Sir, your bag is too big. You will need to check it.”

I was not ready to hear that as this bag had all my clothes and meds for the trip. I knew checking a bag at the airplane diminished our chances of that bag actually arriving at our final destination, especially for an international flight to a remote location like ours. But the distraction of my bag allowed Jerry and Michael to pass by with the same size bags and an even larger hiking back pack. They placed their bags further down the gateway; Michael stayed with them as Jerry assisted me in unpacking the essentials. I removed a change of clothes and my personals bag – or what the lady called my makeup bag. We stuffed what we could in my backpack and Jerry handed the remainder thru the doorway to Michael.

While the man wrote my baggage claim ticket, he asked where we were going. I answered and he said, “I’ve been there. It’s a nice place; you will enjoy it.”

I turned to board the plane, leaving my bag behind for loading on the plane. As I continued down the jet way to the plane, I thought to myself, “I packed too much in that bag anyway. What I really need is in my pockets and on my shoulder. God provides my needs.” My thought concluded, “Whatever happens, God.”

I don't know how many articles the men will be able to get out - they will send as much as they can as technology and time allow. Depending on the nature of each article, I will post them here or on my Grow Barefoot blog. Articles that are more informational or more private I will post here for our local family; articles that have a message for believers everywhere I will post on the Grow Barefoot blog as it has a more international audience. Please feel free to comment on either - I'm sure the men would enjoy reading them.

I wrote the first article on the trip yesterday. You can read it here: Grow Barefoot: God Might Send Me To Africa

All It Takes is a Called, Willing Heart

Recently, our church organized and supported a “mission trip” that very few of us knew anything about. Some mission trips require a called, willing heart plus hours of preparation and hundreds of dollars. Other mission trips, however, require only a called, willing heart and a couple of phone calls.

Stacy D. recently experienced a mission trip of the latter type. She spent a week of her vacation time from work to serve at Forest Avenue Women’s Shelter. The trip didn’t require a passport, airline tickets, or immunizations.  I followed up with her after her week to hear about how it went…

Q. What circumstances led you to volunteer at Forest Avenue?

I have to fill out my vacation request in March for the year. I’ve been volunteering for our Vacation Bible School for the past three years. That far out, I guessed VBS would be the first week of June. Wrong! Now, I had a week off work that I had been planning on doing God’s work, and no work to do! I called Jimmy and he set some things in motion for me to choose from. I had been thinking of Forest Avenue several times, so when he mentioned that, I knew where I was supposed to go!

Q. What type of activities did you do there?

I helped sort donated food and put it away. They had moved their food pantry to the basement, so I helped by sorting and organizing the soups and vegetables. Now they can accurately see how much of each they have. I did some laundry – towels, sheets, and bedspreads – and started organizing their linen closet. I also organized a closet full of Bibles and other Christian literature.

Q. Can you tell about an event that impacted you greatly?

I wasn’t expecting a group of teenagers to be volunteering also. Two different youth groups – probably 75 kids total – were at Forest Avenue while I was there. One group from Texas was a choir. They would volunteer until a certain time, get cleaned up, and then go sing a concert each day! It was very encouraging to see so many teenagers doing for others.

Q. How were you changed by serving at Forest Avenue?

I got to see more of their facility, hear about how things work, and get a better idea of the items they need for donations. For instance, they have a very limited supply of washcloths, so now I can donate more specifically to their needs. I enjoyed helping out. I thought a lot about how blessed I am, and that I should take more time to help others.

Q. Is there anything else from your week that you’d like to share with our church family?

Anyone can be helpful to them at Forest Avenue. I am certainly not “trained” in a certain field and there were plenty of things that I could do. It will be more of a blessing than you would ever dream!

Thank you, Stacy, for your willingness to give of your time and effort to serve at Forest Avenue. If you are sensing the Spirit's call to serve God on a short term mission experience, please talk to Jimmy Woodall. He is always ready to help a called, willing heart.

Stories from Mission Trip to Haiti

In January, a group from LJBC, together with some from Red Bridge Baptist Church, visited the Haiti Home of Home. Kathi Woodall blogged on her personal blog of the time they were there. Below is a compilation of each of her stories.  Feel free to browse through them, each article will open in a new window so you won't lose your place...

Heart Vision in Haiti 
My expectation of the sights of Port-au-Prince and Haiti in general seemed inconsequential compared to the stories experienced travelers kept telling me before my arrival. I've stepped over bodies in the streets of Hell's Kitchen, New York. I've stood in the gas chambers of Dachau concentration camp. I've cleaned out hovels of the homeless that defy understanding. So as I heard tell of the conditions in Haiti, I kept thinking...click here to read more

Thank You Too Much

"One of them when he saw he was healed came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus feet and thanked him" (Luke 17:15-16). I have been reminded several times today of the power of a grateful heart...click here to read more

 

Blessing

I'm convinced God doesn't want to just meet our needs, just barely get by. He wants to bless us from the depths of His infinite riches. Yet another odd lesson to ponder in one of the poorest countries on earth...click here to read more

 

Divine Inconvenience

We arrived in Haiti around 9:00am this past Tuesday; none of our group's checked luggage, however, did. After some searching on the computer, a lady at the airport told us all of our bags should be on the next flight, arriving around 12:00. OK, well, it's not the best situation, but we settled in, sitting on the baggage claim for a long wait. Our wait caused us to miss our mission flight into the mountains...click here to read more

 

And a Little Child Shall Lead Them

This morning in Haiti we attended a Haitian church. Everyone got dressed in their Sunday best and waited to make the half-mile walk to the church.  Mommy's foot was injured so her and Poppy rode the four-wheeler to church. Poppy told us we could go ahead and leave, they would be driving separately.

Uh, excuse me?  You want us to take off walking through the streets of a third world village, having no idea where we are going or how to get there?...click here to read more

 

Cleaning Off the Dirt

On Sunday of my time here in Haiti, a few of us visited the home of one of the families who come to the milk clinic at the orphanage. Amy is a newborn whose mother died in childbirth. Her aunt and grandfather have been walking eight miles to bring her to the milk clinic to receive clothing and infant formula. The precious baby weighs less than five pounds...click here to read more

 

Getting the Work Done

Although I’m home from Haiti now, I am still thinking about my trip.  I’ve known Jennifer, or Mommy as she’s called at the orphanage, for years but this was my first time to go visit her there in Haiti.  I’ve heard her stories and imagined her conditions for years, all the while trying to fathom how she is able to do what she does.  In recent conversations and especially while observing her on the trip, I figured it out. In the answer are some lessons for us all...click here to read more

 

 

Another Chance to get it Right

Alisa, a house resident, wrote the following on the Rivera House Facebook page.  The Rivera House is part of the ministry of Mark and Dana West, missionaries we support in Nashville, TN. I was touched by her words and asked permission to share them with you…

I wanted to share with you some personal thoughts and feelings that myself and Penni have been sharing with each other.  A lot has been going on with us lately, changes are going on around us, and in us every day.  We are very excited about the fact that we are working hard to step into leadership roles in the Theotherapy world.  Theotherapy has become one of the very most important things in our lives, to see ourselves changing, growing and healing has been a little overwhelming sometimes...but not in a bad way at all!  You see...Penni and I are used to moving backwards.  We are familiar with drug addiction, unhealthy relationships, low self esteem, anger, self hatred, fear...lots and lots of fear....and the feeling of being alone.  So to see our lives turning around, to be able to enjoy our lives clean and sober, to see relationships being restored, to be able to love ourselves...and you....well...it takes our breath sometimes!  We are like little girls on Christmas morning a lot of the time. It is so hard to put into words what we are feeling, what we sit and talk about. The fact that it is going on with both of us at the same time makes all of this that more special and amazing. We realize too that this also is a gift from God.  Penni and I have become the very best of friends and to have a true and loving friend to share all of this with has been an unexpected blessing...for both of us.  We are so excited about the new feelings we are experiencing, we are not in the least confused about where and Who this comes from. We see and feel every day the love that God has for us...I am 40 yrs old and have never "felt" this.  I knew in my head that He loved me, because people told me He did...and I believed it, but to "feel" it…that is brand new for the both of us.  It bounces around inside of us and we have contemplated shouting it from the roof of the Rivera House!!!  We know that none of what is going on now is an accident.  It is by design, from a loving and gracious Heavenly Father that we are here in a place where we are able to get rid of the hurt and pain that has held us prisoner for so long, so that He might be able to start filling those empty places with love, hope, joy, peace and so much more that I can't even put a name to.  Dr. Mario Rivera has said that the only necessary ingredient for healing is unconditional love, we were designed for that, and have spent our entire lives searching for it...but we have been looking in the wrong places...until now!!  We have found it!! We are soaking it up, grabbing at it with both hands, and God does not disappoint. I thank Him for all that He has given me and all that He wants for me...and I thank him for Penni and all of the loving people He has placed in my life...and I thank Him for another chance to get it right...to do right.  ....Alisa