A Different Kind of Celebration

Our basket-weaving training finally began today in Project Life.
We are excited to see how God will use this business to help the people!

Kristy, one of our interns teaches herself how
to make a basket.  She is pretty amazing!

It is the fourth of July and I know a huge celebration is going on back home in Wyoming.  It is probably the most difficult time for us to be away as this is the one holiday our children and grandchildren make the trek home from their various states to enjoy the big Cody parade, barbeque and fireworks.  When we are not there, they don't come home. It is moments like these one reflects on the cost of answering God's call to be a missionary.

It means missing a few celebrations.  Adjusting to a lot of inconveniences. Struggling to be understood in a language that is difficult to master. It may even mean fighting for your life in a third-world hospital because pesky mosquitos like to carry the dreaded malaria parasite.

The day I returned home from the hospital, my daughter Ruth sent me a precious email.  While sick I had prayed that God would comfort my family during this difficult time.  She reported that she found great comfort in her pastor's sermon that Sunday on "Finishing Well." He spoke of doing what God's love compels us to do as we enlarge our vision to serve Him. Particulary his sermon reflected on the life of Ed and Ruth Thompson, missionaries to Cambodia and Vietnam.  The Thompsons had an undying commitment to love people and to share the gospel. The Thompsons lost their lives during the Tet Offensive at the hands of the Vietcong.  Many people had warned them not to go to Vietnam. Yet their sacrifice resulted in the spiritual birth of over 40,000 Christians in Cambodia and even many more than that in Vietnam.  I found great comfort in the advice our daughter shared from Ed's former professor at St. Paul Bible College, "Don't doubt in the dark what God has shown you in the light."

God reminded me today to never hesitate to walk in that light.  A young man in Project Life passed away this weekend.  My illness prevented me from helping with the funeral so today Fernando, Simone and I took his family some food. As we were comforting the family, the mother spoke up and said she knew that her son had Jesus.  She knew that we had Him too and we were different.  She said she wanted Him in her life too.  With great joy we explained the plan of salvation as she and her family listened.  She bowed her head and prayed the sinner's prayer without any hesitation.  As I watched this amazing miracle blossom before my eyes I realized I was part of  a thunderous celebration going on in heaven. A fourth of July celebration of the best kind!

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:16-18