Preparing for Rain

This morning was an awesome service in church.  You know, one of those services where you realize the whole purpose of needing to congregate and "edify" each other in the body of Christ. Yea, all us church people were there... but I tell you the Spirit of the Lord moved.  When you have half the church at the altar and the other half in their pews praying (quite frankly there just wasn't enough room down there)... you know the Lord has come into His House to worship that day. 

The Word for the day....
Do what you have KNOWN for so long that the Lord has called you to do.  Let God worry about the overwhelming circumstances.  We were made and called to do His service and fellowship with our Creator.  We let those cares and diversions of this life drag us away from what we KNOW we should be doing.

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Anybody seen that movie "Facing The Giants"???  If you haven't, get it.  It's a football movie... so even your man will watch it. ;o)

There is a sceen in the movie where an older gentleman is conversing with the main character.  He gives this parable...

There  was a drought in the land where two farmers lived.  Everyday they both looked for rain, but none came for a long time.  One farmer went out and looked each day and went back inside in disgust.  The other farmer went out every day and prepared his fields for planting.  Who do you think was ready when the rain came???

The gentleman goes on to ask what the main character was doing to prepare for the rain for harvest?? [Yes, I know this sounds a bit weird for a football movie... but get the movie, watch it and you will understand how it applies.]

When all seems lost and we feel like giving up... we should continue preparing for the work God has placed us here for.  I don't know about you.. but in our society it sures seems much easier to quit and move on most of the time.  We have no idea what God is doing in the "background" (that we cannot see) to finish His work.  What if we quit too soon?

What if Joshua had given up on the 6th day?  What if Moses quit after the 9th plague?  What if Joseph gave up in jail in bitterness over what his own brothers had done to him?  What if David decided Goliath wasn't worth the risk?

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Nehemiah 6:9
They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, "Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed." But I prayed, "Now strengthen my hands."

Acts 14:26
From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.

Colossians 4:17
Tell Archippus: "See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord."

James 1:4
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 2:22
You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.

Lord help me to remember.... [1.Zechariah 4:6] "... Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts." 

Jan '10 Trip (Testimonies and update 2)

[Note: This is straight from the field email and usually has a lag time of a day or two.  I edit out some of the long parts and personal info. God is working in people's lives all over the World! Keep up the prayers.]

Medical Update: Since the opening of the camp on Wednesday afternoon, the team has seen at least 880 patients, 230 on the optical side and 650 on the medical side. The most common complaints have been muscular/skeletal pain, gastrointestinal problems, respiratory problems (mostly due to the way they cook over open fire inside their homes with no outlet for the smoke), optical issues, and women's health issues.


Spiritual Update: The team has had opportunity to pray with many of the patients, and 20 people have requested and received spiritual counseling after the clinics by the [local] pastors that are serving as translators.

Travel Update: So far, patients have travelled from 12 different [districts (which are like counties in the US)]. They treated one man yesterday that had walked for two days to receive treatment and expect that this travel time will only increase as the days pass during the camp.

Testimonies:
1. Dr. P treated an older lady with a huge knot on her knee. She could barely walk and had sever pain in the joint. He was able to drain the fluid, administer an injection and she walked out of the clinic pain free!

2. Dr. K treated a pregnant woman who had an infection in her uterus which was likely to end the pregnancy within a few weeks. She treated the infection and the lady should be able to complete a normal pregnancy!

3. Dr. K also treated a 28-day old baby with severe pneumonia. If untreated this would have almost certainly taken the baby's life within a week. The baby was treated and the mom was given medicine and instructions for caring for the baby. If the mother follows the instructions, the baby is likely to recover completely.

4. There was a [political situation] scheduled to begin on Sunday. We had been considering options for completing the camp, even the possibility of needing to end it Saturday and quickly bring the team [out of the area]. However, this morning the..... news indicated the [situation had resolved] and the camp can proceed as planned.

The team is doing great and none have had any major problems as of today. This is a miracle in itself since they have been eating village food for 4 days! Please continue to pray for health and strength.

Each morning they have an amazing view of [the remote mountain area] and it is a great backdrop for their prayer time. Thank the Lord for the majesty of His creation!

God is good! :o)

Yay! An Update!

Just a tiny bit of info from earlier in the week...

.............. the team is doing great....used the late morning and early afternoon to set up the clinic treatment rooms and medicine. They began seeing patients from Wednesday afternoon and [it was] estimated that both the optical and medical sides saw around 100 patients each. On Thursday, the medical side treated around 200-300 patients and the optical side made the decision to limit the number of patients to 60 per day in order to have enough supplies for the entire camp. They have treated many different kinds of medical issues, performed several minor procedures as necessary, and have been able to give spiritual counseling and pray with many of the patients. PTL!

Isn't God good???

Keep up the prayers....
James 5:15-17 (King James Version)

15And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
17Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

(Lord...Help us to have that kind of faith!)

"No News Is Good News"

Ever heard that saying??? I always disliked it so much. I am a "want to know" kind of gal. Just give me some information and I'm happy. However, after this past year's news from dear people we know and lots of sad happenings in the world, I am thinking I may like the phrase a bit more.

First:
No updates from Missionary Man. I did not really expect any. When you go where there is no electricity and potties... well... you don't really expect email. However, no news means that the team has not had a need to contact Headquarters with any bad news. So, I'll take it!

Second:
This years Christmas/End-of-the-year Letter didn't happen. "Why?” you say. Well, quite frankly every time I sat down to write the thing it was so "heavy" and "sad" that I couldn't bring myself to post it. No, we are fine. It is just that sad news from those you hold dear can really shake you sometimes and make you stop and really think through some things in life. This (I have decided) is a good thing in the end. It makes you truly contemplate and attempt to understand what you believe and why... and scrape out all those misguided understandings you stood on for so long. (See... I told you it was heavy.)

'Tis all for now. I'm a working on catching up on all this bloggy stuff, so check back. Pictures and happenings are forthcoming.

James 1 (Aw, just go on and read the whole chapter... it's really good stuff!)

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

(p.s. The last verse in the chapter always gets me! Sigh... so glad God is still working on me. ;O)

Convoy of Hope

For those of you who aren't aware of Convoy of Hope.  Here is a link to their site. 

While we tend to work with the medical arm of the missions, Convoy brings in a lot of the practical care.  Right now they are working on the needs in Haiti (including blood and food/supply drives). 

A picture from their site.

Disaster relief in Haiti

I'm posting a link to HCM's site for Haiti info updates.  We already have some people there and the first distaster team has been filled.  They are working out the logistics of getting them there.  They are working on a second team to leave out in less than a month.  If you are a healthcare provider and interested in helping, go to the website and fill out an application.  [If you have been on a trip before, you will be processed a bit faster.]  Then call HCM to be placed on their mass email list for future details.

Click here for HCM and look down to the left under "Urgent Needs" for the Haiti info.

We are still here....

(Since I have started receiving personal emails wondering if we are "o.k." from several of you guys, guess I better get on the stick and update things around here. )

Life is good. We have just been phenomenally busy! I had thought that I would have all this spare time around the holidays to update and do some things to the blog I have planned. [Yea, right.]

I am giving just a quick update today. Missionary Man is leaving this weekend for a very long trip overseas. Pray for him and the team. It will be a physically challenging trip to some rather remote places. Pray for protection and health for the team. Healing for those they will be able to treat. And, as always, God's peace and Spirit to go before them in all they do. [Call me if you would like more details.]

Also, HCM is in the midst of its annual Vision Casting. I and the kids had the privilege to spend some times with some of our team members from around the States and the locals yesterday. They are all such unique people with deep hearts. I also got volunteered to answer the phones for the morning. I have to tell you that was an experience. With Haiti in the news recently, healthcare providers and churches were calling in to volunteer and ask how they could help. What an experience to hear the concern and compassion in the voice of a doctor/nurse/layperson over people in need in another part of the world.

I have many pictures and more things to update. Since Missionary Man will be gone, perhaps I will be able to spend some evening working on the website. I want to overhaul it a bit.

New Year's Blessings to all!