#FeelingBlessed

From Diane:

Gary often writes very detailed descriptions of our times in OMS training meetings. I will just give a little added perspective. One thing that we both neglected to mention in our last handful of posts about the meetings is the prayer that covered us while we were there. During and well before every meeting there is a prayer team that is doing only that and nothing else. They pray during all the meetings, walking around or sitting and covering us in prayer. Also we are able to schedule specific prayer times for our individual needs and that of our specific ministries. It is such a blessing to feel the Lord's presence during this time. That is one reason why we are so uplifted at the meeting. There is such a spiritual emphasis placed on all OMS does.

During our visit to the Dominican, I had the privilege of sitting in on two sessions of the individual prayers. It was such a blessing to participate. Since many of the attendees were Spanish speakers, there were translators there too. One of the sessions that I was in required a translator, and that flowed so well. The translator was able to speak almost simultaneously with us as we prayed. It was amazing and beautiful.

We are more grateful every time we attend an OMS function that the Lord directed us to this wonderful organization. #FeelingBlessed

A great update on what is happening in Honduras

Take a moment and read about the big picture that is being painted in Latin America with the help of your prayers and support:

https://onemissionsociety.org/blog/ecc/post/prison-cell-church-explosion

Would you be willing to consider a prayer and a show of support for their mission?

https://onemissionsociety.org/give/TheBarefoots

Sweet Surrender

This is a great question and probably represents the BIGGEST change I have seen in my dad. And in this he is teaching all of us a brand new lesson - his daughters and all of his grandchildren. Absolutely overwhelming to watch this transformation.

How have you seen the way God turns things upside down--strengths are weaknesses and weaknesses are strengths?

GARY: 

I have traditionally been very hesitant to depend on others or even accept help very readily.  Perhaps the way I was raised?  Some of you will know what I mean, - Be your own man - Step up, no one else is responsible for your success, and the like. These are not bad lessons to get from your father, but they do overlook or ignore the help that our Heavenly Father provides.  For whatever reason, my ability or proclivity not to ask for help, which I always considered a strength has been an issue that I am learning to correct.

For example, in raising support for our mission work, I have consistently resisted making the request for support.  The personnel at One Mission Society have tried to explain to me that what I am offering is a way for those who can't go, aren't led to go, or won't go to still be effective in the work for the Lord in the Great Commission of Matthew 28, "Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit."

Generally, what I have found is that most things I thought were my strengths were in fact areas of weakness that I incorrectly thought I had taken care of. 

Fortunately, as it says in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

God is faithful and He has sometimes almost miraculously provided needed funding for trips where we were making reservations and purchasing airline tickets with no clear idea of how or where the money would come from to pay the incurred expense.  Our month end balance has been less than $300.00 far more often than it has been over $2,500.00 which is about the cost for our typical trip to Honduras.  We are just grateful that God is taking care of the books and the accounting

Some Divine Protection

IF you have a single bit of doubt about how or IF your prayers for Gary and Diane are being answered, check out this response from Gary.

How has God shown His protection of you in your travels thus far? 

When we were in Costa Rica last year, we were robbed at gunpoint, so it hasn't been all roses.  Going to dinner at a restaurant with two classmates from Language School, we were stopped by two young men who demanded our money.  I didn't realize we were being robbed, so I refused and kept walking. I had Diane on my arm and I told the other two girls from our class to keep moving.  One young man ran around in front of me again and said "I said give me your money."  I responded that I had said no at which point he showed me his gun.  At the very same instant, his partner had grabbed the purse of one of the girls with us and had thrown her to the ground and she screamed.  I am not sure why, but I responded to her scream rather than the sight of the gun.  What resulted was so much better than it could have been.  The thug saw me running back, he got up and ran, and he had a gun as well.  The guy who pulled the gun on me ran up beside me, grabbed her purse where the other fellow had dropped it and then he ran off as well.  Could have been fatal errors committed here - I am only blessed that God was in control. 

The girl lost about $40.00 in cash, a NJ driver's license, and a VISA card that was cancelled in less than 20 minutes after the robbery.  She was scraped up from being thrown to the ground, but was really only shook up.  God is good, all the time!

These are the two "girls" that were mugged with us.  To the left is Caitlin (in her 30s), She was our classmate and is now making four week trips about every six weeks to Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala etc doing water supply projects, solar panel powered water delivery projects - all as part of and in support of missionary work in Latin America.  She is a civil engineer and has specialized in projects related to providing reliable sanitary drinking water to communities in poverty stricken areas of Latin America.  The other is Cathy who has gone on several mission trips with Caitlin and who is a member of her home church in New Jersey.

Hot Seat Questions START UP AGAIN!!!

As you read Gary's question today, take a moment and consider if you might take just a few quick moments and show your support for both Diane and Gary and for the kingdom work that they are doing. You won't likely find many easier or more direct ways to sponsor world missions. Your support goes directly into their account and may ONLY be used on one of their trips. Any amount at all will do so much to encourage them as they obey God and step out where He has required them.

Click here to support them!

Question: Why is being an American somehow helpful in this situation?

Gary: I am not sure if I addressed this before or not but here goes and maybe if I did, this gives a new spin.  There is a significant influence by American culture in Honduras.  When it comes to such things as, the television shows, name brands of clothing, automobiles and, restaurants and the like, the American influence is everywhere.  The people seem to have a fondness for all things American and we fall into that category.  The mere fact that two old Americans are showing an interest in these people in prison lends a sort of extra validation to what should already need no further validation.  On initial visits to the prisons, we seem to add credibility and perhaps garner more initial interest, but the materials and particularly the message carry the day in the follow up growth that has occurred in each prison that our team of volunteers is working in.

Early Indications of a prison ministry!

This is too cute not to share. I got this email from my dad a few weeks ago and we all got a big smile out of it!

Hey Girls!

You don't suppose this was my first warning about getting a call to the prison ministry do you?  They were a cute pair of inmates though!

Love,

DAD

PS:  Sorry Carrie, it appears I was called before you were yet born.  Only by a couple of months!

Freedom in Christ

As we celebrate the freedom we have in this nation this weekend on July 4th, might you consider celebrating that freedom by contributing to Gary and Diane's ministry with OMS? We are able to exercise so many freedoms in this country that we often take for granted. Freedom to worship, freedom to travel freely across this great nation, freedom to speak freely about our convictions. And with this freedom, Gary and Diane are choosing to take the message of freedom in Christ to a country and people that are desperate for it.

This isn't without cost for them. They have literally spent thousands of their own dollars, saved for what they thought was a free and easy retirement to travel to other countries and prepare eager believers to spread the gospel. This is God's desire for them and they have adopted it as their own. I am grateful for all of you who support and encourage with prayer and financial generosity.

Click here to go to their donation page.