We
trust this update finds you well. For
the four weeks of March we were visiting
churches, supporters and friends in
California. Sharing the vision of where
God is leading us and expressing thanks
for the support of the ministry. We
also spent time alone, seeking God’s
direction and vision.
Life is a vapor … how
many times have you heard that quote?
It isn’t until a loved one passes does
the truth and sting become real. Seems
like an odd way to start an update, but
I wanted to get your attention.
Martie’s last living relative in her
parent’s generation (Aunt Kitty) passed
on Sunday, April 3. We had a good visit
with her prior to our March trip and
stopped to see her upon our return.
Don’t let relationships slip by
you, time and distance can do that.
So seize every moment you can, make them
count. We can’t save anyone, but God
asks, no, He commands that we tell
people about Him and the salvation that
can be found in His Son. When the Holy
Spirit prompts you to speak, then speak.
God will give you the words. What do you
fear most? A relative saying I don’t
want to talk about it or that relative
spending an eternity in hell?
I am
certain that you are aware of the
devastation in Japan … we are not
making plans to go to Japan by the way
… and the struggles they are
having. Life is like that,
isn’t it? You go along in
life, without great concern, then
suddenly a calamity has overtaken you.
It can be an opportunity to draw close
to God or it can be your undoing. It
all depends upon where you have placed
your faith … in the Creator or in the
created. I want to encourage you to
pray that the people of Japan will place
their faith and hope in YAHWEH. In the
book, ‘The Present Future,’ Reggie
McNeal wrote: “A culture desperate
for God comes to church after every
single major crisis … they are in
search of sacred space and sacred
connections …… In the absence of the
church responding to their need they
will create their own … which the church
will then criticize.” p60
Pray
that God will raise up those with a
heart and a voice in Japan to share the
Gospel with the people of Japan. And
that He will show them that He is the
God of all comfort.
The
effects of the Tsunami were felt on the
West coast of the U.S. A small fishing
village, Crescent City, CA was
devastated when a wave cause by the
earthquake destroyed their fishing fleet
and the harbor where the boats were
moored. Doug Moyer and John Turnbull
went there as disaster relief chaplains
to bring comfort and hope to the
people. John told me one little girl
shared that she was sleeping with her
shoes on so she would be ready next
time.
Natural disasters bring us to a fresh
understanding that we are not in
control. The little girl is living, and
sleeping, in fear of what might happen.
Pray that she and the others in that
village will ‘Cast all of their cares on
Jesus, because He cares for them.’ And
how will they know unless someone tells
them. Pray that the Lord will send
laborers into the fields.
Alabama
The
Lord is moving us to strike our tents
once again. That message became clear
during our time in California. The
nature of our ministry in Haiti is
becoming clearer. We knew that we were
in Alabama only for a season. We did not
know how long it would be, but now we
have a better idea.
There
will be more on Pathfinder’s role in
Haiti in the next update.
Haiti
I am
returning to Haiti in May for two
weeks. I will be part of a team from
the Mendocino/Fort Bragg (the city in
California not the military reservation
in North Carolina) working with Thirst
No More. Thirst No More is an
international ministry that is helping
introduce better construction methods
for homes in Haiti. They have brought a
block press into Haiti that is used in
other countries to make cement blocks
that are more resilient in earthquakes.
The team from California helped them
build an orphanage last November and we
will help the build a house in May.
The
presidential elections are over and the
announcement of the winner is has been
made. We are praying that there will be
stability and solidarity in the country.
Only the Lord knows.
Please pray with us that God will make
His purpose and plan clear. That we
will have discernment and the faith
needed to travel the path He lays out
for us. If you are so inclined by the
Spirit, we do need your financial
support. For all of those who are
supporting us, thank you for saying yes
to God. We know exactly ‘Who’ it is who
provides for our needs. But He uses
people like you to do it.
God
Bless You.
