Invocation, Friday 13 August 2010, NSA Bahrain Chapel
Let us pray…
AWESOME LORD GOD
Thank YOU lord for the amazing opportunity we have to be here today to freely worship you.
We come here before you today as sinners in a fallen world. We live our lives often times without thought or care to those around us, or to our savior Jesus Christ. Help us lord, help us to be aware, help us to live as an example to your word, help us make this world a better place, help us to realize, help us understand, help us to be better Disciples and to actively witness as your children.
We are blessed beyond belief Lord God, the bounty you have bestowed upon us we take for granted each and every day. We come here today as an ultra privileged minority. Help us appreciate that Lord. Lord bless the gifts we give here today and put them to work where they are needed most. Let not these gifts be merely a token, Lord, and may your infinite generosity further motivate us to share our bounty on a daily basis.
Lead us Lord as we seek your WILL. Guide us on our Journey as we seek the WAY. Show us the TRUTH, and provide us discernment as we discover your perfect plan.
Lord we ask now for your spirit to fill us, and this place, as we worship you. As we read the scripture lord help us understand its meaning. We ask that you bless the chaplain today as he delivers your word to us through his message. As we sing praises to you, make your presence known. Fill us with your love, that we may leave this place and be a tangible witness to your glory.
THANK YOU God for the blessings you bestow upon us every second of every day and FORGIVE US for not constantly recognizing YOU, our creator, our Lord, Our Savior… AMEN
26 August 2010
09 August 2009
Drew's Testimony
Chaplain Porter called me at my office on Wednesday, and asked me to give a testimony in Chapel today. I may have rolled my eyes and thought "oh jeeze", what the heck am I supposed to talk about." But, after briefly stressing about it, the phone rang and I was able to stress about work stuff again, so I filed the thought away until it cropped up after planning craziness.
The truth of the matter is, my testimony, is all about how I have come to realize that God is constantly at work in all aspects of my life. I have not always been aware of this fact. For most of my life, I have lived not so blissfully unaware that His hands are always directing, molding, pushing, pulling, nudging, poking, and occasionally smacking me upside the head.
Growing up as a PK (preacher's kid), growing up deeply engrained in the church as part of the "church family" I think it was all too easy to take for granted. Because it was a part of my life, I didn't truly appreciate what it was I was constantly being exposed to. The Sermon, the Word, Jesus, God, Sunday School, Church, Wednesday Night Suppers, Session Meetings, The Church Office, the Narthex, the Fellowship Hall, the Organ, Choir Practice, Bell Choir, Youth Group. Well, I began to understand quite quickly that the World, outside the setting of Trinity Presbyterian Church, was quite different.
It probably wasn't until I was in college (when I actually started caring), that I looked back and was shocked and amazed I had actually made it through high school. My family never had any doubts that I was capable of "getting it", but as I began to notice more and more God's guiding influence on my life, certain parts of my path began to show themselves way more clearly, and it became an exciting path to follow, one that ultimately led me to where I am today.
Quickly I realized it’s not about "me" by any means. I began to become aware of the fact that I was being presented with opportunity after opportunity to SERVE.
The year 2000, God smacked me upside the head by sending me to work for a week in Honduras.
2006, this was kind of a pivotal year, as I was sent to Mississippi twice for hurricane relief, Honduras again, Graduated from College. Also pivotal in that I was not given an open door to pursue a full time opportunity to do mission work in Honduras, even though I was sure that’s what I wanted to do. Instead, I was given the opportunity to meditate on my future for nearly six months after turning down a firm Job offer prior to graduation and instead having to work full time finding a job after graduation.
I had another opportunity thrown at me... I went after it 100%. I moved to DC because I knew I'd get the Job. It was something "I" wanted. I still didn't get it. Instead I got something close, but not quite exactly what I wanted. I was encouraged to apply for this Job working for the Army. It was close to what I was looking for, but it wasn't about me. This is a recurring theme I've come to discover.
Being selected to come here to Italy was another one of these “I want something, pursue 100%, but not quite get exactly what I'm looking for” kind of deals. Believe it or not, I wanted to go to either the Pentagon, or Korea... I was encouraged to ask for other things. Rotterdam was the first choice. People eventually talked my ear off about Italy enough that I started to pay attention, and changed my wish list at the last minute to make Livorno my number one... and I got it. Did I realize then it was a God thing? Nope.
There was a three-month assignment at McChord AFB, WA before I came to Italy in which I took a hiatus from attending church. Instead of churching it every week in an unfamiliar place, I literally felt the mountains all around calling to me every day when I first got there. I spent my weekends last summer communing with nature and had a lot of great alone time to meditate and focus on the next huge change in my life approaching way too fast, my move here to Italy. I got served with a huge slice of clarity out of that experience.
About half way through my McChord AFB assignment I again flew down to Honduras to Join my Florida church family on a week of awesome manual labor building a church in this Isolated mountain village. This trip just further solidified that continued call to serve. It really worried me that I'd get to Italy later that year and not have an outlet for that. Still not quite getting it…
But no sooner do I get on the plane and make my across the ocean do I feel this overwhelming sense of peace. This same peace that I feel whenever I work 100% for Him. It was this moment of clarity that instantly stopped my freaking out with a crystal clear voice saying, "No worries, everything is under control.”
So I was worried I wouldn't find an outlet, and my first weekend here I get roped into being a volunteer for the Club Beyond Middle School Fall Retreat. And that led to the amazing service project in Romania, and this confirming that no matter where I end up, OPPORTUNITIES present themselves. No worries!
So I know that He is totally in control! I know that He has this amazing plan for me.
I pray every day that in everything I do, may I do it to further His kingdom. If it doesn't, I probably shouldn't be doing it, and I let that happen way more than I should.
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you what path to take."
I know that his plan for me, and what I want don't always match up. And when I try to pursue something 100% that isn't part of His plan, it has a tendency to crash and burn.
1 John 3:20 "If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything"
I know that there have been some crazy times in my life, but the GOOD crazy, craziness that glorifies him, in a ministry or mission sense, can be HUGE. Every time I go on a work project or service project/mission trip, craziness is part of normal operations. In my Job, craziness is a daily occurrence! This can be an OPPORTUNITY, and I stumbled on this amazing verse that instantly brought clarity to that...
2 Corinthians 5:13 "If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. Either way, Christ's love controls us…”
So the current craziness that I'm feeling right now, about what next for me, isn't really freaking me out all that much. Stressing isn't going to change what God has planned for my life. Camp Darby has been probably the most amazing experience of my life thus far, and I really don't want it to end. But as I approach the end of my time here, I know that God has some amazing adventures planned for me wherever it is I may end up next. Pieces fall into place really fast I've come to find, and I am able to rest assured that no matter what happens, or has happened in my life thus far, weather or not I was always aware of it. He’s totally in control and knows everything.
And to sum up.... because I was having a really hard time up until I had to slam on the brakes at the 5-minute traffic light I was trying to beat. I picked up my bible sitting on the seat next to me, and it fell open to my most recent favorite psalm (Psalm 73, a really good one to read if you are freaking out by the way)... and on the note of being God's Ambassadors I read verse 28
"But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do".
Then just now, as Chaplain Porter delivered the message to us, Romans 8:38-39, in regards to our worries and the future, I can rest assured because...
“…I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow - not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below - indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
And that is my testimony for today.
The truth of the matter is, my testimony, is all about how I have come to realize that God is constantly at work in all aspects of my life. I have not always been aware of this fact. For most of my life, I have lived not so blissfully unaware that His hands are always directing, molding, pushing, pulling, nudging, poking, and occasionally smacking me upside the head.
Growing up as a PK (preacher's kid), growing up deeply engrained in the church as part of the "church family" I think it was all too easy to take for granted. Because it was a part of my life, I didn't truly appreciate what it was I was constantly being exposed to. The Sermon, the Word, Jesus, God, Sunday School, Church, Wednesday Night Suppers, Session Meetings, The Church Office, the Narthex, the Fellowship Hall, the Organ, Choir Practice, Bell Choir, Youth Group. Well, I began to understand quite quickly that the World, outside the setting of Trinity Presbyterian Church, was quite different.
It probably wasn't until I was in college (when I actually started caring), that I looked back and was shocked and amazed I had actually made it through high school. My family never had any doubts that I was capable of "getting it", but as I began to notice more and more God's guiding influence on my life, certain parts of my path began to show themselves way more clearly, and it became an exciting path to follow, one that ultimately led me to where I am today.
Quickly I realized it’s not about "me" by any means. I began to become aware of the fact that I was being presented with opportunity after opportunity to SERVE.
The year 2000, God smacked me upside the head by sending me to work for a week in Honduras.
2006, this was kind of a pivotal year, as I was sent to Mississippi twice for hurricane relief, Honduras again, Graduated from College. Also pivotal in that I was not given an open door to pursue a full time opportunity to do mission work in Honduras, even though I was sure that’s what I wanted to do. Instead, I was given the opportunity to meditate on my future for nearly six months after turning down a firm Job offer prior to graduation and instead having to work full time finding a job after graduation.
I had another opportunity thrown at me... I went after it 100%. I moved to DC because I knew I'd get the Job. It was something "I" wanted. I still didn't get it. Instead I got something close, but not quite exactly what I wanted. I was encouraged to apply for this Job working for the Army. It was close to what I was looking for, but it wasn't about me. This is a recurring theme I've come to discover.
Being selected to come here to Italy was another one of these “I want something, pursue 100%, but not quite get exactly what I'm looking for” kind of deals. Believe it or not, I wanted to go to either the Pentagon, or Korea... I was encouraged to ask for other things. Rotterdam was the first choice. People eventually talked my ear off about Italy enough that I started to pay attention, and changed my wish list at the last minute to make Livorno my number one... and I got it. Did I realize then it was a God thing? Nope.
There was a three-month assignment at McChord AFB, WA before I came to Italy in which I took a hiatus from attending church. Instead of churching it every week in an unfamiliar place, I literally felt the mountains all around calling to me every day when I first got there. I spent my weekends last summer communing with nature and had a lot of great alone time to meditate and focus on the next huge change in my life approaching way too fast, my move here to Italy. I got served with a huge slice of clarity out of that experience.
About half way through my McChord AFB assignment I again flew down to Honduras to Join my Florida church family on a week of awesome manual labor building a church in this Isolated mountain village. This trip just further solidified that continued call to serve. It really worried me that I'd get to Italy later that year and not have an outlet for that. Still not quite getting it…
But no sooner do I get on the plane and make my across the ocean do I feel this overwhelming sense of peace. This same peace that I feel whenever I work 100% for Him. It was this moment of clarity that instantly stopped my freaking out with a crystal clear voice saying, "No worries, everything is under control.”
So I was worried I wouldn't find an outlet, and my first weekend here I get roped into being a volunteer for the Club Beyond Middle School Fall Retreat. And that led to the amazing service project in Romania, and this confirming that no matter where I end up, OPPORTUNITIES present themselves. No worries!
So I know that He is totally in control! I know that He has this amazing plan for me.
I pray every day that in everything I do, may I do it to further His kingdom. If it doesn't, I probably shouldn't be doing it, and I let that happen way more than I should.
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you what path to take."
I know that his plan for me, and what I want don't always match up. And when I try to pursue something 100% that isn't part of His plan, it has a tendency to crash and burn.
1 John 3:20 "If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything"
I know that there have been some crazy times in my life, but the GOOD crazy, craziness that glorifies him, in a ministry or mission sense, can be HUGE. Every time I go on a work project or service project/mission trip, craziness is part of normal operations. In my Job, craziness is a daily occurrence! This can be an OPPORTUNITY, and I stumbled on this amazing verse that instantly brought clarity to that...
2 Corinthians 5:13 "If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. Either way, Christ's love controls us…”
So the current craziness that I'm feeling right now, about what next for me, isn't really freaking me out all that much. Stressing isn't going to change what God has planned for my life. Camp Darby has been probably the most amazing experience of my life thus far, and I really don't want it to end. But as I approach the end of my time here, I know that God has some amazing adventures planned for me wherever it is I may end up next. Pieces fall into place really fast I've come to find, and I am able to rest assured that no matter what happens, or has happened in my life thus far, weather or not I was always aware of it. He’s totally in control and knows everything.
And to sum up.... because I was having a really hard time up until I had to slam on the brakes at the 5-minute traffic light I was trying to beat. I picked up my bible sitting on the seat next to me, and it fell open to my most recent favorite psalm (Psalm 73, a really good one to read if you are freaking out by the way)... and on the note of being God's Ambassadors I read verse 28
"But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do".
Then just now, as Chaplain Porter delivered the message to us, Romans 8:38-39, in regards to our worries and the future, I can rest assured because...
“…I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow - not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below - indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
And that is my testimony for today.
24 June 2009
In all thy ways...
"In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths"
Proverbs 3:6
"All your ways"
This is everything we do. From the moment we wake up in the morning, to the second before we fall asleep at night. This has to be an every waking moment process. Initially, it will have to be a conscious effort, but gradually, as we apply the method to every waking moment of our lives, it will become second nature.
It won't be hard to think about because it becomes ingrained in us. All activity in our lives is "all your ways" and once those ways involve Him, Acknowledging Him, enabling Him to influence our lives, becomes clearer.
"Acknowledge Him"
Weather it be an obvious act of praise or worship, attending a church service, all the way down to writing a work related email, acknowledgement at every level, in every seemingly mundane or repetitive or unconscious task can itself be an acknowledgement of the overwhelming influence He has in all aspects of our lives. Acknowledgement, giving thanks, being aware, all can be not too difficultly integrated into EVERY waking moment. The act of "Acknowledge(ing) Him" never becomes unconscious, but may become automatic and the awareness of that acknowledgement can and will have a profound impact on our lives.
"...He shall direct thy paths."
I'm not going to begin to pretend that I'm even remotely qualified to say anything about how He directs our paths. All I know is that 24/7 acknowledgement of Him does have a profound impact on what choices I have made in my life. We've all heard of the "stop and think" method of decision-making. Well safe to say that decision making, whilst acknowledging Him is bound to have an impact. Ignoring His voice in these matters not only hurts the decision makers, it hurts everyone involved. Too many times I have ignored His "direction" and it never turns out for the best. The plus side however is that not matter what choices we make, or what heartache it causes, He will never let us fall to a level we can't bounce back from. He never stops caring. Everything ultimately is for the glory of His Kingdom!
To sum up... His path is shown to us by Him through our acknowledgement of Him in all our ways!
"In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths"
Proverbs 3:6
Proverbs 3:6
"All your ways"
This is everything we do. From the moment we wake up in the morning, to the second before we fall asleep at night. This has to be an every waking moment process. Initially, it will have to be a conscious effort, but gradually, as we apply the method to every waking moment of our lives, it will become second nature.
It won't be hard to think about because it becomes ingrained in us. All activity in our lives is "all your ways" and once those ways involve Him, Acknowledging Him, enabling Him to influence our lives, becomes clearer.
"Acknowledge Him"
Weather it be an obvious act of praise or worship, attending a church service, all the way down to writing a work related email, acknowledgement at every level, in every seemingly mundane or repetitive or unconscious task can itself be an acknowledgement of the overwhelming influence He has in all aspects of our lives. Acknowledgement, giving thanks, being aware, all can be not too difficultly integrated into EVERY waking moment. The act of "Acknowledge(ing) Him" never becomes unconscious, but may become automatic and the awareness of that acknowledgement can and will have a profound impact on our lives.
"...He shall direct thy paths."
I'm not going to begin to pretend that I'm even remotely qualified to say anything about how He directs our paths. All I know is that 24/7 acknowledgement of Him does have a profound impact on what choices I have made in my life. We've all heard of the "stop and think" method of decision-making. Well safe to say that decision making, whilst acknowledging Him is bound to have an impact. Ignoring His voice in these matters not only hurts the decision makers, it hurts everyone involved. Too many times I have ignored His "direction" and it never turns out for the best. The plus side however is that not matter what choices we make, or what heartache it causes, He will never let us fall to a level we can't bounce back from. He never stops caring. Everything ultimately is for the glory of His Kingdom!
To sum up... His path is shown to us by Him through our acknowledgement of Him in all our ways!
"In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths"
Proverbs 3:6
29 April 2009
Project Compassion
It is way too easy for us to forget our experiences that have profound immediate impact on our overall perception of the world. The challenge for us all is to take those experiences and allow them to effect the way we live our lives, not forgetting the immediate impact they have when we return to our world.
Project Compassion 2009 had this kind of impact on us, enough so to hopefully change our overall worldview. The opportunity we now have is to tell others about the reality of the somewhat flawed worldview most people have, or choose to have, because we are so comfortable. Most of the world does not live like we do. The reality is most of the world lives in similar or what we would call “worse” conditions than those we saw during our week in Romania.
So an immediate overall impression I had when stepping off the plane at Bergamo Airport, even before the long slow drive back to Camp Darby, was not a feeling of relief, being back in the comfortable familiar Italian surroundings. Instead I felt a strong pull to turn around, get back on the plane, and go back to Romania to continue the work we started.
We have to be careful, as we go back to our daily routines, not too forget. It is too easy! We are once again surrounded by the familiar distractions, some of which have real potential to corrupt. It can be the music we listen to, the video games we play, the web sites we surf, or the movies and TV shows we watch. Initially it has to be a conscious decision to let an experience like this change our lives. In order for it to work, we have to let it change the way we live our lives.
It can be confusing to the world looking at us from the outside. We call ourselves Christians, but exhibit our sinful nature all to obviously. Hypocrisy is something that the rest of the world views as separating them from Christians. We need to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. So we tell our friends and family how we had such an amazing experience in Romania. How we helped people, worshiped together, and learned about God. How we had intimate one on one time with Him under the stars. How it was a life changing experience. Then the familiar routine and distractions take over again, and we forget the profundity of our experience. Those people we shared with, about our week, will wonder about that double standard. We’re not any better than anyone else because we go to church or go on service projects. We are all sinners, and need to project to the world not that they are doomed, but that we are forgiven.
Another profound occurrence of the week was how quickly it became obvious that Jesus really does play a part in all this. It helped of course that we were all vividly aware of the season by traveling on Easter Sunday, and working through the Orthodox Holy Week. We did not get a chance to worship with the community we were serving in, but it was clear we were there doing the Lord’s good work, all the while discovering more about our own faith journeys. There were ample opportunities to share and talk about our experiences throughout the day and then we all got to dig even deeper in our ‘cabin time’ discussions each evening.
Not a new experience for me, but it amazed me yet again how the worries of my world disappeared, and I hope I’m not the only one. We were working that week. Hard manual labor. I’m talking moving a pile of sand eight feet high from one side of a park to another with shovels and wheelbarrows. Leveling a dirt slope choked with huge roots. Hauling massive chunks of debris, chipping old mortar off bricks, shoveling rocks, mixing mud and hay to make walls. Plowing a field with shovels because it was too difficult for the horse with an actual plow to do it… We worked.
And yet, the overwhelming sense of peace I felt all week was enough to enable one hundred percent focus on the task at hand, and not think once about what I normally unnecessarily worry about on a daily basis. To get off the plane in Bergamo and have it all those worries come flooding back to me again was enough to make me want to turn right around and subject myself to even more wonderful hard labor, deeper exploration and meditation on my faith journey, and continue helping where help is needed.
And that’s my prayer today. That we all seek guidance and ask that we be led to where we can each do whatever labor it is God has planned for us. To not forget, in the midst of the distractions of our world, the reality that the majority of the world lives in. To not exhibit a religious façade, and instead project through our actions that as sinners, we are forgiven, acknowledging that our sin hurts God and those around us. That we strive to be more effective Christians, committing our lives to service for Him, doing His good work, in all aspects of our lives.
Project Compassion 2009 had this kind of impact on us, enough so to hopefully change our overall worldview. The opportunity we now have is to tell others about the reality of the somewhat flawed worldview most people have, or choose to have, because we are so comfortable. Most of the world does not live like we do. The reality is most of the world lives in similar or what we would call “worse” conditions than those we saw during our week in Romania.
So an immediate overall impression I had when stepping off the plane at Bergamo Airport, even before the long slow drive back to Camp Darby, was not a feeling of relief, being back in the comfortable familiar Italian surroundings. Instead I felt a strong pull to turn around, get back on the plane, and go back to Romania to continue the work we started.
We have to be careful, as we go back to our daily routines, not too forget. It is too easy! We are once again surrounded by the familiar distractions, some of which have real potential to corrupt. It can be the music we listen to, the video games we play, the web sites we surf, or the movies and TV shows we watch. Initially it has to be a conscious decision to let an experience like this change our lives. In order for it to work, we have to let it change the way we live our lives.
It can be confusing to the world looking at us from the outside. We call ourselves Christians, but exhibit our sinful nature all to obviously. Hypocrisy is something that the rest of the world views as separating them from Christians. We need to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. So we tell our friends and family how we had such an amazing experience in Romania. How we helped people, worshiped together, and learned about God. How we had intimate one on one time with Him under the stars. How it was a life changing experience. Then the familiar routine and distractions take over again, and we forget the profundity of our experience. Those people we shared with, about our week, will wonder about that double standard. We’re not any better than anyone else because we go to church or go on service projects. We are all sinners, and need to project to the world not that they are doomed, but that we are forgiven.
Another profound occurrence of the week was how quickly it became obvious that Jesus really does play a part in all this. It helped of course that we were all vividly aware of the season by traveling on Easter Sunday, and working through the Orthodox Holy Week. We did not get a chance to worship with the community we were serving in, but it was clear we were there doing the Lord’s good work, all the while discovering more about our own faith journeys. There were ample opportunities to share and talk about our experiences throughout the day and then we all got to dig even deeper in our ‘cabin time’ discussions each evening.
Not a new experience for me, but it amazed me yet again how the worries of my world disappeared, and I hope I’m not the only one. We were working that week. Hard manual labor. I’m talking moving a pile of sand eight feet high from one side of a park to another with shovels and wheelbarrows. Leveling a dirt slope choked with huge roots. Hauling massive chunks of debris, chipping old mortar off bricks, shoveling rocks, mixing mud and hay to make walls. Plowing a field with shovels because it was too difficult for the horse with an actual plow to do it… We worked.
And yet, the overwhelming sense of peace I felt all week was enough to enable one hundred percent focus on the task at hand, and not think once about what I normally unnecessarily worry about on a daily basis. To get off the plane in Bergamo and have it all those worries come flooding back to me again was enough to make me want to turn right around and subject myself to even more wonderful hard labor, deeper exploration and meditation on my faith journey, and continue helping where help is needed.
And that’s my prayer today. That we all seek guidance and ask that we be led to where we can each do whatever labor it is God has planned for us. To not forget, in the midst of the distractions of our world, the reality that the majority of the world lives in. To not exhibit a religious façade, and instead project through our actions that as sinners, we are forgiven, acknowledging that our sin hurts God and those around us. That we strive to be more effective Christians, committing our lives to service for Him, doing His good work, in all aspects of our lives.
17 November 2008
Honduras 2008 : A Message to FPC Brandon
Another year, another amazing, life changing, experience in Honduras.Writing about the mission trip, from Italy, almost four months later, and trying to think of something profound to say, is difficult. I kept putting it off thinking something would come to me while driving, running, something, but nothing did!
What I can say about Honduras, is that once again, the members of this congregation dug deep, with unfailing generosity, to support this mission.
The only part I can speak for, is the Construction side of things. Others were involved with the Medical and Educational portions of the mission venture, but the real work had to be done by us select few who were up to it… Joke.
The tangible items, cinderblocks, sand, and cement mix, all created the final result, the building of a new pair of multipurpose rooms extending from the back of the Church in Puente Jalan. In order to accomplish this part of the mission, you the congregation supported the fundraiser (something else I wasn’t able to attend), where these items were auctioned off. What a cool idea that was! The mission team members who were on the construction team, including myself, hauled, mixed, lifted, and ultimately, with the help of the local expert, and the addition of lots of sweat, used the supplies to get the job done!
What we witnessed as the job was getting done, was the sincere appreciation of the local community for what it was we were doing. The pastor himself was out there every single day sweating right along side us as the building slowly went up. The ladies of the church prepared (hot) coffee for us each afternoon, which believe it or not, was quite refreshing despite the temperature.
The children of Puente Jalan were ever present, offering encouragement from the sidelines as they watched us work. Always smiling, and talking to us, despite the obvious language barrier, sometimes getting in the way, and providing entertainment during break time.
Something I notice every time I go to Honduras is how happy the children are, despite the conditions, which by cushy American standards seem so inhospitable. But the kids make due with what they have, finding joy in the simple things, like a ball! Imagine that.
On the last day, we were able to look back on the progress we had made. What began, as a pile of cinderblocks, had turned into 8ft walls, complete with door and window openings. The pastor and the mason were sure they could have the entire project finished in the next week. The next week?! I know that no matter how much help First Pres Brandon gets whenever a new building goes up… there’s no way an entire project will be done in two weeks! Even if our preacher is out there every day helping, like El Pastor in Puente Jalan.
The final night of worship and dedication, the entire town showed up, more kids than adults it seemed. The service lasted for way more than an hour, despite being a Presbyterian church. People were crying, either because they were going to miss us, or because of what we had done for them. It seemed like such a small sacrifice for us, to take a week out of our busy lives, fork over a thousand dollars for an airline ticket, and play construction worker for a week. But to the people of Puente Jalan, it was HUGE!
I had the opportunity to talk to a few people while I was down there, and ask about other mission teams that had come to work this summer, not just in the town we ere in, but nationwide. There were actually not that many, far fewer than previous years, and the reason given had to do with the economic crisis.
Economic Crisis? Where? In the United States? A Third World Country, Honduras, isn’t being visited by as many mission teams, because of the Economic Crisis, in the United States.
I just don’t get it.
But I am thrilled beyond belief that this congregation, despite our “hardships” still manages to be so strong in mission. Honduras, Heffier Project, Habitat, Pearlington, Food Pantry, I am Hope Café… All these missions, plus the other amazing work this church does, speaks volumes for the great things that can be accomplished when Jesus gets involved.
No matter what, know the people in Honduras are forever grateful for all the help we provide them. Weather or not we show up every year, they will always remember this year, and they’ll remember who helped them expand their building for their growing congregation.
So keep up the good work Brandon, and from Italy, Arrivederci!
God Bless,
Andrew Maul
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