Monday, April 19, 2010

Big Plans for the Future


The school year is slowly coming to a close. We are making plans for some big projects down the road. Some of our upcoming projects are:

1. Vacation Bible School this Summer
2. Finding and training Sunday School teachers
3. Beginning an AWANA/Youth program in Spanish
4. Going the next few steps toward starting Caribbean Baptist Seminary.

There are some big jobs out there waiting for us. Pray for us, please. We need grace, encouragement and empowerment from God. We also could use some help from you!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Too Calm and Too Cool, & Maybe, Too Crazy


This picture eminds me of the response we get when we try to help people.

I have dealt with people with AIDS, people dying from alcohol poisoning and people losing homes and family. Some of them take the "What, Me worry?" attitude.

I spoke with a man dying from AIDS. He was pathetic looking, with legs like toothpicks. He glared at me and said, "You are just trying to wreck my fun!" Well, he didn't look like he was having all that much fun to me, sitting in his mothers house and wasting away.

Ten days later he died. A week later his older sister died of the same disease. They left behind the mother that cared for them. Someone told me that she was going to lose her government housing for allowing drug her kids to use drugs in her apartment.

Some fun.


Saturday, April 10, 2010

Working with what we have


I saw this great idea today - someone made a hanging chair out of an old shipping pallet and parachord. It is comfortable and just about free, but it does take a while to get it all put together and strung up just right.

This is a great idea, if you have tons of time. If not, you need either some people to help, or the funds to just go and buy a chair.

We have been able to get a lot done too on a tight budget. But like the project above, the less funding we have, the more time it takes to get the job done.

Our ministry is going well, but we have soooo much work to get done. Please pray with us about either getting some help or some increase in support. We need one or the other so we can get the work done in a timely manner.

Thursday, April 01, 2010

Family Pride



We flew to Pensacola this last week to have a special family time and share in an important event with our daughters.

Our daughter Bethany is getting her Masters degree in art and held her " Masters Art Show."
It was the culmination of her 6 years of college and grad school.

It was a fancy, formal and fun affair. It was fun because I heard many people say great things about her work. She even sold three paintings for $750!

Our daughter Rachel had our first grandbaby and I finally got to see and play with little 10 month old Hannah.

I had to leave to come back for our ministry, but I left Tina and the Twins behind so they could enjoy another week of family time together.

Handful of Pills


"Pastor, last night I had a handful of pills and I was about to take them and kill myself, but something stopped me."

Mike was shaking as he told his story. Mike is a Puerto Rican from New York, who moved back to the island. He came to our church after much witnessing and many invitations. My visiting in-laws also witnessed to him a few weeks ago during their visit to our church.

He said, "I remember what you said to me about the Lord and my soul. I looked at the pills in my hand and tried to take them again, but something stopped me. I saw a bright light and heard a voice saying, "Don't do it. Don’t do it!” so, I put the pills down and said, “OK, Lord, I’ll wait.”

I talked to Mike , expressed my concern for his situation, and that Sunday, presented him with a new bible during our morning service because he had attended four Sundays.

Mike came to church Sunday with a shaken and grave look about him He left with a face all aglow with happiness.

I do not know how it will turn out for Mike, but I do know that for right know, he is in a much better place than he was a month ago. And I am glad I work for the One who made it happen.