Monday June 8, 2009 (AM)
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Ps. 139:23.
Thought of the Day.....
I woke, long before the roosters, this morning, with Ps 139:23 on my mind. Life in Christ is about being real. Sadly, we miss out on so much by not being what we were created to be. We need to stop hiding behind these superficial masks and be who we are in Christ.
We arrived just after dark last night, unpacked, set up camp and the team made preparation for today. Just before calling it a night, Bro. Rodney gathered the troops and went over a few details, reminding the team why they were here. He closed in prayer and in that prayer he prayed "Search every part of us and take away anything that would hinder Your work Lord." May that be each of our prayers as we start or end our day.
Looks like a three digit day here in paradise. May our Lord be glorified in it! Thanks for your prayers.
Monday (PM)
The morning went well except for the heat. It got the best of us while painting and pouring concrete. We poured several yards, which is about one-fourth of the concrete job, by noon and then gave up the ghost. It was a good stopping point.
The team is doing a great job painting in the pavilion. It is coming along nicely. After lunch the rain came. Though this cooled things down a bit, parents may not allow their children to come out for VBS. Bible school is just beginning and 50 children are here. We praise God for these and know the rain is keeping many away.
There is a family here with three little girls and all three have crossed eyes. We are trying to help them get this corrected by offering to pay the medical expenses. Pray that we can get this worked out.
Day 1 is almost in the books and we're exhausted. Such is the way of life here in Paradise. At 5PM we will make our way back to a hot meal and a cold shower, then some rest.
Thanks for your prayers,
Lewis
Tuesday June 9,2009 (AM)
Last night the power went off around 9PM. Some areas here are fighting with the power supply company so to retaliate the power was cut off. With no fans, sleeping is difficult but our main concern is having no water! This may bring a new meaning to let's go down to the river.
Welcome to paradise! God is still in control. I think we'll survive, perhaps more appreciative of what we take for granted in life. Well, we're burning daylight.
Tuesday (PM)
Praise the Lord , the electricity is back on!!
Second days usually run much smoother and today is no exception. The team has worked hard and accomplished much in spite of the heat. Tomorrow we should finish the painting at the pavilion and the concrete job that FBC Shreveport is working on at the church.
Before lunch, we stopped by the house of a young mother, Karen, that we are helping. Her husband was killed when she was 8 months pregnant and after the baby was born she didn't have enough milk to feed the baby. With your help and some special help from Kim Dillard, Wynne, AR., we are providing formula to her and another needy family here.
It's 3PM here and we are now beginning our second day of VBS and many more children are present. Yesterday went well and I pray today will also.
Bro. Rodney, Youth Pastor at FBC Pulaski spoke to the team last night. He said that in high school his football coach always said if you had any energy left after the game then you didn't give all you had on the field. He finished by saying, "I want to go home Saturday with nothing else to give."
Thanks again for your prayers and kind words. God is so gracious with us.
May many come to know Him through these efforts.
All for His glory,
Lewis
Wednesday, June 10, 2009 (AM)
The temp inside the dormie dropped to 79 degrees last night, so much for the global warming theory. The team is well and running in high gear on adrenaline today. Such happens on the third day. Praise God we are all healthy and well. Thanks for your prayers. Lewis
Wednesday (PM)
The heat index was around 115 degrees today so I guess global warming is back, or such is life 48 feet above sea level in San Marcos. The painting and the concrete are finished and this is our final day of VBS with the children at La Mountanita. 175 children are here at VBS today and they heard the gospel story. Many, many prayed to receive Christ and we will trust God with the outcome. It is a great way to end our few days here.
Tomorrow,Thursday, we will drive to Las Mercedes, a small village that borders MX. It was back in 2004 that Ely and I first visited this small village and it nearly became our last. We were nearly murdered by some men there who turned out to be remnants of the revolution which ended in 1995.
I was flattered that these guys thought that I was smart enough to be a government spy but being killed because of mistaken identity was neither on my wish or to do list. With all of that cleared up we have returned there many times since and God has accomplished much.
In the small church building, that we had planted in Las Mercedes, I stood before the believers. My heart was stirred by the look on their faces, still harden by the war and the difficulties of life there, but now they had a more tender look, a look of mercy and hope. To God be the glory!
The team will distribute food and supplies in the name of our Lord there. It was a blessing for them and us as well.
The rain has come and the temp is better now. Praise God for everything. Black beans and rice for supper! My favorite!! Another day in paradise. May God receive all glory.
Thanks for praying,
Lewis
WAKE UP! and hear the roosters! IT'S FRIDAY!!
Roosters are always a hot topic of every team who stays at the dormie. They began their day early, around 2 to 3AM normally. The hard working, electric, fans, ear plugs and ipods do their best to muffle the sound but the roosters seem to win most nights.
This week has trickled down to a slow drip. IT'S FRIDAY! An at 4a the team is slowly rising one last time here in Piedra Partida. Tempts not bad--a cool 84 and soon we'll be on the road back to the city.
God has blessed us once again with a great week, lot's of laughs, some tears and memories of a life time.
We give Him all glory, praise and honor.
Your prayers make a huge difference. Thank you!
Lewis
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