My husband and I have been serving the Lord now for many years. We have both worked in various areas of the ministry, from janitor, bus driver, nursery worker, student convention nurse and banquet speaker. For five years, we served as youth directors, and then for fourteen years my husband was a pastor. Furthermore, during the time I was carrying out my duties as a pastor's wife, I also worked as a teacher and the Head Supervisor for our Christian School, as well as the administrator and billing accountant. And presently, we are completing our sixteenth year as missionaries to Honduras. If you like, you may add to that, forty years of teaching Sunday School, which I began right after graduation from high school in 1970, and have continued to this present day.
While our 38 years of full time ministry have, for us, been busy, exciting, rewarding and full of blessings, I would be less than honest if I did not tell you that we have also experienced our share of difficulties and heartaches. However, no difficulty in our past would begin to compare with the situation with which we have been dealing for the last two years, and the nagging uneasiness and underlying concern that has accompanied it.
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| These children, many of whom live in homes with no electricity or indoor plumbing, gave their pennies for months to help send Bibles to Africa. The sign they are holding says, BIBLES FOR AFRICA from the children of Honduras |
The year 2007 had been a spectacular one, full of God’s blessings. During that year, we had two mission teams from the States come to Honduras. They were both such tremendous blessings to our people and to us personally. And I believe they received a blessing, too, and developed a new depth to their burden for missions. Also, Youth and Family Camp and our very first Vacation Bible School were well attended and everyone had great fun! But more importantly, during those two weeks, we saw many make life changing decisions for the Lord. We were overjoyed when, after many years of working in the mountain communities among the Lenca, we saw their hearts begin to soften and open toward the Gospel. Finally, we were seeing Satan’s strongholds among this forgotten people group beginning to crumble! And at the same time, in our main church in La Esperanza, many of our people, including the teens and children, were developing a real heart for missions and a burden for the lost! Between the months of January and July, we saw many decisions made and over a hundred souls come to Christ!
Later, in August of that same year, Mike went to Zambia, Africa, with our son, Brandon, and the pastor of the church where we ministered for 14 years. They began a month long crusade of witnessing, training pastors, preaching in bush churches and ultimately, speaking in a conference with a crowd of over 8,000 people. In that one month’s time, they saw over 1,200 of the African people come to know Christ as their Savior. Then, just before their departure, they had the privilege of baptizing over 120 of those believers! Mike and the team came home with the glow of Heaven about them.
Two days after Mike’s arrival back in the States, we were on the road, visiting our supporting churches and sharing what God had been doing in our lives and ministry. We felt the Lord’s presence everywhere we went and saw Him at work in every church we were privileged to be in. And, it was while visiting with our supporting churches in Alaska, we received a phone call telling us of God’s answer to a major prayer request.
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| A Christian businessman and his wife donated this Ford 350 truck to the ministry in Honduras. |
However, you cannot imagine our surprise when we received a phone call telling us that someone was going to GIVE us, not one, but TWO vehicles... FREE OF CHARGE!!! One was a four-door, Ford 350, diesel. A truck with that kind of power was exactly what we needed to travel the difficult, steep mountain roads each Sunday! AND…we were also to receive, a Ford 450, flatbed truck for hauling building supplies and Mike’s well digging equipment!! We were speechless in the face of God’s miraculous provision and the generosity of His children! That year, it just seemed that every time we turned around, God kept out doing His previous blessings with something greater and even more magnificent!!!
By the end of December, we were preparing to go back to Honduras. We were missing our people terribly and “chomping at the bit” to get home and back to work. The airplane tickets were bought, and the packing was coming together nicely. All that remained was to get our routine medical checkup and then, we were heading home! But, little did we know, that at the pinnacle of our “high and dizzying mountain-top experience”, there was a roller coaster car just waiting to carry us down the other side at an alarming, heart-stopping speed and then, on to the most twisted and terrifying ride of our lives! 
It was a couple of weeks later, in January of 2008, that the doctor called and told Mike he had prostate cancer. It was at that moment that, our lives, our plans, our ministry… EVERYTHING changed! It was as if we had encountered a big detour sign… and we had no idea where it was leading us… nor did we know just how many would be arriving when we got to the end of our journey.
I will admit that, after we got the news, it took a couple of weeks for me to get my “balance” and “get my feet back under me”. At first, all I could see looming in front of us, was the terrifying word “CANCER,” along with the overwhelming and numbing fear that that word carries. But gradually, I was able to think clearly again, and to put everything back into perspective. The same God Who had blessed us immeasurably, had saved so many souls, opened the doors so that we might reach the Lenca, and supplied us with TWO FREE TRUCKS…. THAT SAME GOD was still in control! He had a plan, and He was entrusting Mike and I with the job of helping to carry out and complete this divine plan of His! Besides, what was the worst thing that could happen??? Uhh, let's see... Mike would go to Heaven... and I....well,... I would have to lean entirely on the Heavenly Father for everything??? (Hmmm… Wouldn't be my first choice, but... I can sure think of a worse case scenario! In fact, I can think of several!)
But, just like being on a roller coaster, although the ride is a bit scary and uncertain at times, it is also exciting, exhilarating, and a real adventure! Well, that is exactly how the last two years have been for us! And, the ride is not over yet! While I still have no idea where the tracks are taking us, I am truly learning to “go with the flow” and enjoy the ride along the way!Now, as some of you know, we returned to the States in July of this year for Mike to have his six month checkup. When the doctor told us that he would need to see Mike again in three months instead of six, we decided that God must have wanted us to go ahead and stay stateside and make some long overdue visits to some of our supporting churches.
So, around mid August we left Texas. In the three months since then, we have traveled more than 8,500 miles and been in around 36 churches. Every single step of the way, we have seen God’s hand leading us! And at every twist and turn, we have been able to catch a glimpse of the reason why God wanted us in THAT particular place, at THAT particular time!
While on this journey, we have been blessed and encouraged by the kindness and generosity of so many of God’s people! However, we have also met a great number of hurting people. Many have gone through, or are presently going through, some extremely difficult circumstances. I believe that God has brought us together with these wounded and hurting individuals so that we might, not only be a listening ear and a shoulder to lean on for a time, but also, to do our best to encourage them, give them hope and lift them up in prayer. ( And, I might add, that we are still praying for them daily!)
In nearly every church we have visited, at least one person (but usually more) will ask me how we are doing… how are we handling things. The regularity of these questions reminded me of something that happened last year.
It was in February of 2009, and we were still in Del Rio, TX, at the Cancer Clinic. Mike was close to being finished with his cancer treatment and being released. We were so excited! We could, at long last, began making plans to go home! Then, one afternoon, Mike’s heart began beating unbelievably fast and very irregular. Finally, we got in the car and I drove him to the emergency room. That was followed by a night’s stay in the hospital and, the next morning, he was released. However, later that same day, we repeated the whole scenario! The only difference was, that this time, Mike ended up spending nearly a week in ICU while they monitored him and tried to determine what was causing his problem. So, now there was cancer AND a heart problem to deal with, plus... our trip home to Honduras was, once again, put on hold.
Three months later, in April, we were at the cardiologist’s office once again. The doctor was running some routine tests to make sure it was safe for Mike to return to Honduras. It was on this occasion, several people began to question me on how come we seemed to be handling set back, after set back and disappointment, after disappointment so well.
Well, below is a reprint of an update that I sent out during that time, addressing that very question. I pray that this little story will be as much of a help you as it has been for me.
Once upon a time, Jesus and a woman were going down the road on a bicycle built for two. The woman was in the front and Jesus was peddling along behind. It had been a pleasant trip, with smooth and easy routes and lots of beautiful things to see along the way. After a while, Jesus asked if He might sit up front and take the lead. "Sure!" the woman said, "I would like that." So, they traded seats and started down the road once again.
Well, even though she had a quite a bit of trouble seeing around His tall frame and broad shoulders, it was nice to have Someone else choose the route for a change. Things went quite well for a while, but then, the woman began to notice that she was having to peddle harder and, not only that, her leg muscles were really beginning to ache! "We sure are going up a steep incline. I wonder why He chose to take me this way? I would never have chosen such a difficult route!" Although she thought this, she said nothing.
They continued on at length and then, she noticed that they were turning off of the well traveled, paved road. "Now why are we goin this direction?" she thought. "It's obvious that very few ever travel this road... IF you can really call this narrow trail a "road!" They were making their way up a very narrow dirt road, one that was full of rocks, deep ruts and pot holes. She was being bumped and jostled with every turn of the wheels, and the strain on her muscles seemed nearly unbearable. She kept trying to see where they were headed, but it was useless, and she got no clues from the little bit of passing scenery that she could see. Finally, when she thought she could not stand it another minute, she spoke up. "This road is very steep and really rough!"
"Yes, it is a difficult road to travel," Jesus said, "But, you trust me, don't you?"
"Well, of course, I trust you," she answered breathlessly, and was that, perhaps, a slight edge of irritation He heard in her voice? She continued to huff and puff along, with sweat running down her face and her leg muscles crying out for relief.
They, very slowly and with much difficulty, continued up the steep and rocky trail for several more minutes. Then she spoke again, "But, If you don't mind me asking, are you sure you know where we're going? This way is hard and I really don't like this road very much! Besides, I'm tired, my legs hurt and, actually, I'm not having fun anymore. On top of everything else, I especially don't like it when I can't see what's ahead!"
"I know," Jesus answered, "but, you said that you trusted me. I can clearly see the way ahead, and I know exactly where we're going... so there's nothing to worry about.
You just trust me and KEEP ON PEDDLING!"
Many of you have asked how Mike's cancer is doing. Well, we are asking for your prayers, because his next scan is scheduled for November 9. That's this Tuesday. We "feel" that he is doing better because some of the symptoms and problems he was having at the time of his last checkup in July have lessened considerably. Also, his PSA is slowly (very slowly) going down. In addition to the 3-D, color doppler sonogram that Dr. Bard will do, Mike is also scheduled for an MRI. So in answer to your question... we should know exactly how he's doing by the time we leave the doctor's office on Tuesday.
Of course, we have been praying for complete healing... but we have also been praying that the Lord would have His perfect will in our lives. We learned a long time ago that, it's Not about Us! We are not here to build our kingdom... but HIS! It's ALL about Him!! We must remember, we are just tools in His hands... and, have you ever heard of "tools" telling the "hands" what to do???
If Mike gets a good report, we will PRAISE THE LORD and begin to make our plans to return home! We miss our sweet people... and, according to the calls we get from home, they miss us too. And even though the work is going on, we are still needed back in Honduras.
And... what if he doesn't get a good report? Well... we will still PRAISE THE LORD! You see, so many prayers have gone up for Mike that, no matter what happens, there can be no doubt that it is God's perfect will for our lives! And how on earth can you argue with that????
After 46 years as a Christian ,and 36 years in the ministry, I hope and pray that we have finally learned to stay focused on Him, and not on whatever difficulties we may be facing at the time. I have learned that I can safely trust in my Father's leading. And, I have also learned that, if it is in His will, He can, and will, safely carry us through any (and I DO mean ANY!) situation!
So, Dear Reader, if you are going through a difficult or painful situation or, as the little story above intimated, a "rough or steep stretch of road on the highway of life", this is my advice to you:
No matter who you are, no matter your status or situation, whether you are rich/poor, smart/illiterate, Jew/Gentile, healthy/ill, believer/non-believer, American/or not, life's "road", at best, is a continual uphill struggle, strewn with obstacles, detours, pitfalls and danger! And without Jesus Christ to guide and help you, whether you realize it or not, you are lost, and alone on a very difficult and dangerous journey that will, ultimately, end in your destruction! Furthermore, my friend, unless you accept Jesus as your personal Savior, you will always be alone, with no one to help you, and no one to show you the way! Why anyone would choose to "go it" alone, when they have a Heavenly Father that loves them and is ready and waiting to help them, is beyond me!!!
(For more information, please click the tab above entitled "How You Can KNOW You Are Going To Heaven!")
I GUARANTEE (and what's more, GOD guarantees!) that when we reach our destination,
the view from the top WILL be worth it all!
So, God bless until next time. And remember…
JUST TRUST HIM AND KEEP PEDDLING!!!!
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