Well done!

We've been talking a lot lately about the early church; about community, about loving one another, about reaching out in love and about our Great Big God who first loved us. Since giving the year end Faith Promise report this past weekend I've been blessed with hearing more personal testimonies and stories of what God has done in your lives or the ways in which God is speaking to your hearts regarding your time, talents and treasures. If the past 48 hours is any indication of what God is doing in our midst, it's going to be another exciting year!

Thank you for sharing your stories with me, thank you for stepping forward to volunteer your time in missions, thank you for your faithful financial support of Faith Promise, thank you for shining His light and telling His story in words AND in deeds. Well done, good and faithful servants!

God's multiplication principle

I'm a processor; the type of person who instinctively takes time to reflect, consider, evaluate or "process" experiences in order to learn from them and preserve them in my memory bank. It's been two weeks since our return from Peru. I have printed my pictures, written thank you notes, given a presentation to the congregation, worked on the trip report for the website, exchanged multiple emails with those I served alongside, shared many stories with family and friends and through it all I have taken time to let the experience sink in.

There was a time that God only used me to plant seeds and, at times, water them and have the rare opportunity to see them grow. I accepted that role and resolved to be faithful to that calling, but these past few years I have had the privilege of being used in the harvest. When I reflect upon the abundance of the harvest in Peru I am deeply humbled and awe-stuck by the power of the Holy Spirit. There is nothing more uplifting and energizing than being a worker in the harvest fields!

What phase of planting, watering, growing or harvesting does God have you working in right now? If you've not yet seen the harvest I encourage you to read and reflect on the Parable of the Talents (Mt 25:14-28) and cling to the promises of God that when we are faithful in the small things we WILL one day "share in our master's happiness" by multiplying the kingdom.

A journey´s end brings new beginnings

There is a song we used to sing as children that goes, "Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold." This was our first Work & Witness trip with Extreme Nazarene, which had us joining other Nazarenes from around the country, meeting one another for the very first time in Peru - at 1 am in the morning after a long travel day I might add. We then proceeded to room with people we had never met before and labor alongside one another for 10 days in high heat and humidity while in an unfamiliar culture. While it sounds like the makings of relationship disasters, just the opposite was true. As half the group left for Cusco yesterday morning there were hugs all around and a smattering of tears. Tonight, those of us still in Iquitos went out to dinner together and the bond of our new-found friendships was abundantly clear. We have requested one another´s email addresses from Extreme and new Facebook friends are already online. When Christ is our everything, loving one another flows naturally from that relationship. Serving alongside one another on a mission project simply adds to that bond. There is something very special that occurs when we step out in faith to answer the call to serve in unfamiliar territory; blessings abound, new spiritual insights are gained, our reliance on the Lord is made more clear, and friendships that will last an eternity are forged. Is God calling YOU to take a step of faith and serve in one of our mission projects this year? It could be in our Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria or Ends of the Earth. Thanks for taking this journey with us - hope you can join us in person next time!

Already seeing the harvest!

Over the 10 days many relationships have been made. That was the intention of the ministry project here in Iquitos. However, this impact was not limited to the villages where we did medical clinics and Jesus Film showings. Brother George was unable physically to go or stay at each site for the length of the day as the heat and humidity have been oppressive. After resting up each day he was out on the town making relationships
wherever he went. There are always street kids selling their wares and eventually they target hostels where large groups of Americanos are staying. They come to know our schedule and are at the front door as we come and go. Many of us in the group have taken Juan & Antonio under our wings and we paid the boat driver to bring them to our Jesus Film showing Saturday night at Gabriela Nuñez. Well, last night at our worship service we had 5 new souls come along with us - Juan, Antonio, another friend of theirs, Liz & Laidy. Laidy owns a t-shirt shop where George went shopping and Liz is her adult daughter. They were all introduced and welcomed by the pastor of the church and we are confident that follow up will occurr. We have been humbled and privileged to already be seeing the fruits to our labors. The best is yet to come!!!

Soli Deo Gloria!

Our final medical clinic and Jesus Film showing was in Gabriela Nuñez, a village located a 30 minute boat ride down the Itaya and up the Amazon river. The newly completed church building served as our clinic for the day. Addie & Larry Garmon´s W&W Team had completed the structure just one week earlier. In fact, Addie led a worship song & Dr Garmon gave the sermon last Sunday night at the church where we worship here in Iquitos - the same church that planted the church in Gabriela Nuñez. Yes, church planting is what this project has been all about. We treated 1283 patients in the course of 7 clinics and had nearly 300 decisions for Christ during three Jesus Film showings. These are the people that our long-term missionaries will be contacting in the weeks to come and beginning their work of strengthening and building the Kingdom in areas where the Good News of Jesus Christ, the living water, will make a profound difference.

This afternoon we will have a celebration banquet with the entire team, including the 40/40´s - the long term missionaries who will be doing the church plants. There is indeed much to celebrate. Our God is an awesome God and the anticipation of things to come fills me to overflowing with excitement and joy! While we will begin heading our separate ways tomorrow (some to Cusco, some to the jungle, some back to their studies on church planting), we are one in Christ and that is a very special and empowering thought, my friends. You have been with us as well and we thank you for your partnership along this very special journey.

To God alone be the glory!

Extreme Nazarenes

Check out the pictures and short stories being posted on Extreme Nazarene´s website on a daily basis. Our own George McHendry was asked to write an article for days 3 & 4 of our clinics. I couldn´t download any of the photos on this computer, but perhaps you´ll even see someone you know.

http://www.extremenazarene.org/ShortTermDetail.aspx?ID=5

The Privilege of Prayer

We have now completed 4 days of medical clinics and impact events. We have seen730 patients - more than the number anticipated for the full 7 days of clinics! We have had to buy additional medical supplies twice now. Last night at our worship and prayer service we had the name, age and medical condition of each and every one of these patients. I felt extremely humbled to be praying over these souls. More importantly, we have had 247 decisions for Christ. God is truly present in this place and because of your prayers mighty things are happening. Please continue to pray for both physical and spiritual healings. Onward for Christ!