God, Benjy and others!
- At August 15, 2017
- By Richard Fields
- In Haiti
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BY Linda Cox:
While on a mission trip to the House Of Blessings Orphanage, Francky took us to visit Au Cadet, an area which God showed him in a dream to plant a church. On Saturday, May 20, 2017, our plans were to take food to the area residents, talk with them and to provide some relief in the Name of Jesus. As we made the 2+ hours long ride over very rough Haitian roads out to this very remote beautiful area, it was clear this was a God vision because there was no sign of people, no street signs, nothing that would direct a typical traveler to wander into this area.
As we neared the village, as usual many children ran alongside the truck, but one child in particular caught ourattention. He was a beautiful little boy, whom we thought was about 9 years old. He was very thin, with a facial abnormality that was heartbreaking. As we passed out the food, this child came running up with the other boys. During our visit, we asked Francky to help us find the child’s father, Jean Benoit, so we could talk with him about his son, Benjy. We learned that Benjy was not 9, but was 16 years old; he was very slight and apparently malnourished. The father shared when Benjy was born, he looked normal, but that as he grew, his tongue grew at a much faster rate until eventually, it was far too large for his mouth. At this point, Benjy’s tongue was the size of a small orange. His tongue had sores all over it, and was turning black underneath. Benjy’s dad pleaded with us to get help for Benjy, and followed us around all morning saying, “please don’t forget, please don’t forget.” We assured him we would not forget, but none of us had any idea what we could do for this child in the unknown remote middle of a part of Haiti. Pastor Francky gave his cell number to Benjy’s dad, and asked him to call him the following week to see if we could set up a line of communication. Jean Benoit did call Pastor Francky the following Monday and again asked for help for Benjy.
None of us could get Benjy out of our minds, even after returning home. We began to call everybody we could think of – Mercy Ships, Doctors Without Borders, Operation Smile – everybody that anybody recommended. We sent out mass emails to friends who we hoped might have some connections. Benjy’s story email touched the heart of a good friend, who forwarded it to the Director of Graduate Prosthodontics at Marquette University School of Dentistry. Captivated by Benjy’s story the Director wrote directly to the President of American Dental Association, who immediately agreed to help Benjy with their international team in any way they could help.
Another email went to the Dean of the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences at the University of South Florida, who immediately wrote back saying she has a Haitian professor on staff who is very actively involved in mentoring researchers and augmenting the capacity of Haitian community members to foster health promotion and engage in disease prevention. She suggested that we contact Partners In Health International (PIH) in Haiti to see if they would accept Benjy’s case.
Though we struggled to contact someone at PIH, an email introduction was sent to John Wesley, a friend in Haiti who was willing to help us. She included a picture of Benjy, stating he is a child suffering physically and socially, contact information for Pastor Francky, and asked John to contact Pastor Francky. John’s reply was “I’m on it!”
The next morning we received a text from John Wesley that he was on his way to Benjy’s village to pick him up to take him to the hospital! We asked him to get in touch with Pastor Francky in Haiti, and coordinate with the family, and worked frantically to wire funds to him to cover costs of transportation, lodging, etc. Thus started a series of indescribably miraculous run-away events.
When John Wesley and Benjy arrived at Hôpital Universitaire de Mirebalais, we learned that they are a Partners In Health Hospital! The emergency room doctor on duty was a specialist who was immediately captivated by Benjy’s very unique situation, and took over medical case management on the spot.
Amazingly, we learned the Education and Research Director for Partners in Health, Dr. Clisbee, is also on staff at the hospital where Benjy was admitted, and was captivated by Benjy’s case. Dr. Clisbee contacted us to tell us there would be no charge for any of Benjy’s medical treatment, as the hospital is a teaching and research hospital, and there is no charge to the patients there! She oversaw all that happened with Benjy and his father while they were at the hospital, including bringing food to them. Benjy was placed on intravenous antibiotics to treat a severe raging infection in his tongue which had traveled to his mandible. He remained in the hospital for about a week on heavy duty antibiotics and John Wesley dutifully stayed with Benjy around the clock, taking care of all his needs, and also educating Benjy’s dad and serving as Benjy’s advocate throughout. After a week, Benjy was discharged with orders to remain on a liquid and very soft-food diet for 10 days and take his antibiotics. Before surgery could be performed, the severe infection had to be brought under control. John Wesley and Pastor Francky went to Benjy’s village in the middle of this time to be certain he was taking his medications and following the prescribed diet.
Dr. Clisbee felt Benjy needed to be evaluated due to his rare severity anomaly to determine what surgically needed to be done. She contacted a Boston colleague whose specialty is treating individuals with similar kinds of anomalies. He agreed to fly into Haiti on July 10 to see Benjy and possibly perform surgery. On July 9, John Wesley and Pastor Francky returned to Benjy’s village, picked Benjy and his dad up, and took them back to Hôpital Universitaire de Mirebalais. Early Monday morning on July 10 they saw Dr. Mixta, who felt that Benjy’s prognosis was good, and on that morning, he performed a very complex surgery, removing a large cyst from Benjy’s tongue, removing much of the infected tissue and forming a new, normal looking tongue. The doctor’s assessment was that “surgery went splendidly!”
Update on Benjy on August 10: Unfortunately, Benjy has an infection, so he is back in the hospital for a few days. His tongue is swollen, but it still has stitches in it, and the doctor said full recovery would take 6 months – so we are hopeful. Please keep Benjy and his family in your prayers. There are concerns as to how well the family can follow through on dietary requirements. Benjy is very excited to be able to go back to school this fall – he used to go to school, but the kids became frightened that his condition was contagious. It is my understanding the school asked him not to come back. His goal is to get back to school and become a great musician!
From a human perspective – this appeared to be an impossible situation. A seriously impaired child in the middle of a most remote area of Haiti with very limited communication to anywhere. A child whose last name we didn’t even know. How do you start? How do you find people who have the resources and are willing to help? How do you pay for it? Do you try to bring the child to the USA? How do you involve individuals who have the very specialized skills to address a condition that is so rare that most surgeons never see it? How do you find a person who will put life on hold to walk a family who never gets into a city, through the complex maze that we all know hospitalization and healthcare to be in the US? How is it possible to assemble this team? It was miraculous. And yet, a part of our daily lives. Together, we are a group of individuals who believe the verse “For we are God’s’ masterpiece. He created us anew in Christ Jesus SO THAT WE COULD DO THE GOOD WORKS HE PLANNED FOR US LONG AGO.” What if one cog of the wheel had missed that opportunity to jump in and do the good work that God planned for that life to contribute? How many times do we miss those opportunities that God planned for us – and is yearning for us to jump into? Our God is an awesome God. He knows our names… He knows Benjy’s name.
Disaster Relief for Sri Lanka!
- At July 11, 2017
- By Richard Fields
- In Sri Lanka
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Disaster Relief
Severe flooding brought on by monsoon rains across southwestern portions of Sri Lanka has resulted in the deaths of at least 224 people, according to the country’s Ministry of Disaster Management. More than 78 people are reported still missing.
The Church of God in Sri Lanka responded to the immense need by immediately supplying water, bed mats, and mosquito nets from reserved benevolence funds. More than 7,000 families are displaced from their homes and are living in temporary housing. This means that these families are totally dependent on outside resources for survival. They cannot work. They have no homes to return to. Everything they own was washed away. In Talgaswala tea estate areas, for example, many Church of God Believers cannot go to the estate to pluck tea for their day-to-day earnings because the tea factories are covered with water.
This is a huge crisis that cannot be solved by money alone. People will need help restoring their lives. The Church of God is working with pastors to develop situation reports and long-term response to what is a life-changing event for many..
Church of God Project Coordinator Simon Benedict, reports that additional immediate resources are needed to supply dislocated families with
women’s and men’s clothes,
sanitary items,
water,
dry rations,
medicine,
mosquito nets
bed mats,
candles and matches
The Church of God in Sri Lanka wants to help meet some of the immediate physical needs, but also help with long-term recovery. To that end, the Church of God in Sri Lanka is hoping to raise $10,000 in disaster relief for immediate and ongoing aid following the most devastating flood since 2003.
Photos of new addition at House Of Blessings
- At June 27, 2017
- By Richard Fields
- In Haiti
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Jimmy, a contractor who is giving his time to help oversee the House Of Blessings addition, has been keeping us updated with photos. Here are a few.
Abby shares about the Walk-A-Thon
- At June 27, 2017
- By Richard Fields
- In Uncategorized
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Pastor Sanjay Shares Insights!
- At May 17, 2017
- By Richard Fields
- In Siliguri
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Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Greetings! As we begin a new financial year in India (April to March), we take this opportunity to once again thank the Lord for His faithfulness and His grace, and providing our needs through His chosen ones.
I on behalf of the Council of the Church of God, and all the churches, pastors, evangelists and believers would like to say “THANK YOU” and the HHIM for all your prayers and support to make a difference in the lives of young and old, by touch and transforming life, and their final destiny.
I cherish the friendship and the partnership we have in His Kingdom, for the last 18 years.
We would like to share some stories and update you as to how the Lord is working in and through His people in the different works of work and life.
Sister R is a believer from a (M) background and working in Asia. She was given in marriage to a (M) person and the person’s only purpose of marring her was to re-convert her. Her husband tried his best, but R instead won him for Christ. They both are a mature believer and are sharing their faith with others. They have been threatened and have been thrown out of their community/locality. However, they have moved out and are continuing to share with others.
Sister R is sharing the Gospel with Women as they are available in the homes when their male members are out for work. She also runs two children ministry in two different places where all the children come from non-Christian homes. Many come seeking for prayer to her, and are healed. PRAY FOR SISTER R, her family and her ministry. Pray for the need of two teachers to help and assist her in those two places. The shelter for the kids to come together has begun in the month of February and has been stopped due to lack of funds to complete. Just the foundation has been done, the pillars and the metal roof is still to be done.
Brother B is an evangelist ministering among the (Raj) people group (one of the most difficult people group and with very few believers). He is located at the India-Bangladesh border, very close to Church of God, Lalmunirhat across the border which is divided by Singmari River. He is a young and has ministry especially among the high school and college going student, and most of them are first generation Christian. He has fellowship in two different villages and one in his town. He is also actively involved in rescuing girls and women trafficked from that area, and have thus earned love and respect from the people in the community. People often approach him for such help. There are several young people awaiting to be baptized in the coming weeks. He had to move out of his rented house as the property was sold out. Now again he has to shift as the owner wants it vacated. We have the required land at his ancestral home and need to build a Worship Center.
Brother S is from India-Bhutan border. He comes from a small tribe that is just about 7786 in number in India. He has believer from both the side of the border. We are in the process of completing the new Worship/ Community Center and will be dedicated soon. He had the opportunity to go and meet the President of India during the Republic Day (26th January 2017) representing his tribe.
Brother Bh is working among his tribe and has ministry in 3 different Tea Gardens, for which he has to travel about 200 miles on an average in a week. He is one of the evangelist who has been provided with a motorcycle from Spread the Word (STW), and that has made a great impact in his ministry. Brother Bh says; “the two-wheeler has been a blessing, which has cut down on the travel time and also gives me opportunity to visit new areas, which are far and remote and can only be accessed if one has his own mode of communication. I thank STW for their prayers and their gift of a two-wheeler”. The bike also helps transporting sick children and people in emergency, and saves precious lives.
We have started to work on the Matigara Property plan / layout. The engineer has visited the site and found the soil is suitable for 3 storied building, the sand / loose gravel that is visible on a part of the property is just about two feet deep. The site plan and the 3D Image of the proposed building is under progress. This is one of the pressing needs of the ministry keeping in view of the changing scenario in the country.
Your Co-worker in Christ,
Pastor Sanjay Daniel Murmu
Church of God
Siliguri, West Bengal, India
*********************
Prayer Concerns:
- Pray for God’s wisdom and guidance. That, we will be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit as our battle against the power and principalities of the unseen world gets intensified.
- Pray for God’s protecting as situation / atmosphere is rapidly become hostile towards the minority groups. Church services and programs being disrupted in many of the country.
- Pray for the Children ministry that is affected due to financial crunch.
- Pray for the new areas / regions we are focusing this year. Pray for the Awareness and Training Programs for Human Trafficking in the border areas of North Bengal in the coming months.
- Pray for the Small Business Loan / Soft Loan Program to strengthen the local believers and churches to slowly work towards self-sustenance.
- Pray for the Leadership Team as they work together to see the Church of God Movement continue to touch and transforms lives, through its various initiatives, programs and projects.
- Pray for the Proposed Training-cum-Retreat Center at Matigara, as the work on the basis of the land / layout, plans etc is under process. This will be a project for the ministry to train its pastors and evangelists, and also a facility to be rented out on a daily basis to raise funds locally / towards self-reliance.
Pressing Needs:
- Addition $500.00 per month for Pastors & Evangelists.
- Minimum $1000.00 per month per project to run the bare minimum program in the two CDC’s.
- 10 days Church Planters Training Program: $2000.00
- Awareness Program & Training Program for Human Trafficking: $500.00 each quarter.
- $2500.00 for Self-help / Small business loan.
*********************
Personal Update:
We are doing fine as a family. Rebecca is now in the 10th Grade and Lydia in 8th Grade. Sanjukta is also doing fine and she has no health issues now except for blood sugar which too is under control. We will always remain grateful to your generous help to meet our medical needs as Sanjukta was often complaining of breathlessness. We as a family remember you all in our prayers. God willing we will be able to meet someday again.
Pray for me, as I am standing at the crossroad and have to make crucial discussion that will have a lasting impact in my personal life, family and ministry. That, the Lord will show me and lead me that I may just do the ONE THING that the Lord requires of me, and rest will follow. I will wait on the Lord.
Convey our greetings to all the who pray for us and support our ministry.
Easter Outreach:
We had an outreach program in a new areas close to Siliguri, where we screened the film, “The Path of Truth” in Bengali, where we have a children ministry done by Bro. A. S. Though the community was not willing to let them meet about 4-5 weeks back when they first went, slowly they are opening up. Young and old were there to watch the film. There was no proper facility so we screen it in front of a cow shed, had hard time keeping the temporary electrical wire intact that led to shut down of the system, we had to quit through we were through 75% of the film with several breaks, as equipment was shutting down due to overheating apart from the mosquitoes that were all around and making it difficult to sit. We will go back and show the film again.
Pastor Don’s challenge to help the children of India!
- At March 23, 2017
- By Richard Fields
- In Asia
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Dear Brother and Sister in Christ,
I trust this letter finds you well. Allow me a moment to introduce myself to you. My name is Don Carson and I serve as the Sr. Pastor of the First Church of God in St. James, Missouri. I have been blessed to serve here in St. James for just over 20 years, over twelve as the Pastor of Student Ministries and over eight as Sr. Pastor.
During my time in St. James I have had the great opportunity to travel to different parts of the world and witness the mighty movement of the Lord in third world countries. I have been blessed to travel to India, Uganda and Haiti.
My travels to India and Haiti were with a good friend of mine, Richard Fields. Richard serves as the with a missions organization called Helping Hands In Motion, Inc. HHIM works in the 10/40 window areas of India and Sri Lanka as well as the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti. HHIM’s focus is to minister to and empower and equip indigenous national leaders in these areas to minister to their people. For more information about HHIM be sure to check out their website, www.helpinghandsinmotion.org.
In efforts to suppress the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ, the newly appointed Indian government aspires to make India an all Hindu nation once again, by enforcing the anti-conversion laws that several states have in place. They are looking for ways to stop Christian organizations from sending funds into India, which are helping many oppressed and hurting people by providing: relief resources, training, education and more while sharing the message of hope and salvation to those they are ministering.
One organization India has stopped from sending funds into their country is Compassion International. Compassion has approximately 500 Children programs ministering to approximately 145,000 children and families in some of the poorest areas in the world, where they were releasing children from poverty in Jesus name. Compassion can no longer send funds to these programs to help release children from their spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty.
Persecution, trouble, a loss of hope and joy has permeated through the areas where these programs have been shut down. Leaders have seen the feelings of oppression return. Plus 25% of the children who were in the Compassion programs have now dropped out of school. It is very heartbreaking to see what is happening. We know the church will grow strong as they go through this time, but those being oppressed without the Lord will suffer. We want to help those who are ministering to the suffering and oppressed!
Over thirteen years ago, Helping Hands In Motion working though our national leader, Sanjay Murmu, helped start two of these Compassion International programs. Through the efforts of these programs many children and families were helped; giving hope, joy and a future. Many people have heard about Jesus Christ, through various venues and committed their lives to Him.
Helping Hands In Motion and our National Leader desire to help these two programs keep running, on a smaller scale. Compassion International sent approximately $8,000 per month to each of these programs to minster to around 300 children in each program. At this time, we cannot afford to do this. Our goal is to send $1,000 per month to each of these two programs to keep them ministering to as many children and families they can handle with the reduced revenue – this is our short-term goal for the next twelve months.
This is where you and I come in. As Sr. Pastor of FCOG St. James, I am leading our congregation in campaign to pay for at least two months of support. We will do this through Love Offerings, VBS Offerings, fundraisers, etc. We pray that God will move mightily so that we may pay for even more.
I am writing to you to ask you to prayerfully consider leading your congregation in the same campaign. If we could get twelve churches to commit to two months or twenty four churches to one month we could keep these children in school, learning about Jesus and bringing light to darkness.
I do want to thank you for reading this letter and at least prayerfully considering this tremendous opportunity to the Salt of the Earth and the Light of the World. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at 573-265-3465 or Richard Fields at 863-255-1339. FOR SAFETY REASONS WE DO ASK THAT YOU NOT SHARE THIS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
In His Service,
Pastor Donald Carson Jr
Rev. Donald Carson Jr
Sr. Pastor, FCOG St. James Mo
Helping Hands In Motion Board Member
Impacting the world through Children!
- At March 07, 2016
- By Richard Fields
- In Haiti
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How do we make an impact on Haiti? Through Children! House Of Blessings will celebrate, this year, 30 years of ministry to children and the community with young adults leaving the House Of Blessings going into communities and making a difference.
How has this happened? How does this continue? One child at a time! This has happened and will continue because you are there to help us prayerfully, physically, mentally, spiritually and financially.
Over the years House Of Blessings philosophy has been, quality over quantity, this continues today. In the past, we have concentrated on having around 20 of children at House Of Blessings. However, now the government is applying pressure on the House Of Blessings Directors to increase the number of children raised, they want a minimum of 30 children at House Of Blessings.
To do this we must add onto the current building where the children sleep and are cared for. Plans are now finished and the building of the addition should start in June 2016… WOW – this year! Phase 1 of the structure will cost around $46,000.00. Some of you are asking: How do we get involved?
One awesome story in getting this addition started is of a working man who drives a truck and does carpentry work on the side. He recently did a job and donated the profits towards the building of the addition… he has sent us $8,000! He said use this to enable the House Of Blessing to help even more children. He has asked us to tell others about his donation and challenge others, churches, businesses, whoever and wherever to match or triple these funds.
So the challenge goes out to all of you. This hard working guy gives $8,000. What will you give towards matching or tripling this amount so we can get this addition built?
There are other ways you can get involved and we will be sharing those in some of our next messages. But for now, will you get involved? Will you send funds towards the addition? You have been part of making the House Of Blessings to be what it is today. We know you will help us as we move forward and IMPACT the lives of even more Haitian children to IMPACT Haiti as they grow and give leadership throughout Haiti and the world.
Contact Richard or Debi Fields and let them know how you will be involved, or send a check to Helping Hands In Motion and on the memo line write HOB addition matching funds.
Thank you and God Bless!
What Surprised Me Most About Haiti!
- At December 21, 2015
- By Richard Fields
- In Haiti
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It’s been over a month since I had the opportunity to spend a week serving at the House of Blessings orphanage in Haiti. Lots of people have asked me…
How was your trip to Haiti?
It’s difficult to sum up an entire week in a couple of minutes. But after stumbling through a lot of conversations and after a lot of reflection, I think I’ve been able to distill it down to two main themes
1) It was awesome!
Yes, “awesome” is an overused word that doesn’t convey a lot of meaning, but I am literally in awe of so many aspects of that week…
- I’m in awe that God provided financially for the entire team, beyond our needs and expectations so we could bless others in some unexpected ways.
- I’m in awe that 1,000 pounds of food, shoes, clothes and school supplies were donated and all 20 suitcases made it through the flight and customs.
- I’m in awe of how beautiful the rugged Haitian landscapes are
- I’m in awe of the staff of and kids at House of Blessings, how caring they are, how God is at work in their lives.
- I’m in awe of how well our team bonded and worked together – from 3 different churches, ages 18 to over 60.
- I’m in awe of what happened when we drove an hour to a desolate ridge where Frankie is being called to plant a church, how people came seemingly out of nowhere, and how they responded.
- I’m in awe of the glimpse we got of the beautiful bride of Christ (the church) worshiping her Lord each night, Haitians and Americans, singing, talking and praying together.
2) It was what?
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear, “Haiti?”
I think poverty, corruption, earthquake, tropical diseases, voodoo & spiritual darkness.
So, one of the most shocking things to me was we experienced very little of that…
- Haiti seems to have recovered from the 2010 earthquake. We didn’t see any rubble or buildings falling apart.
- We woke up every morning to a beautiful sunrise, the sounds of farm animals and music, people preparing meals and doing other chores
- We never heard voodoo drums beating in the distance as past teams have. Instead we saw one church up the ridge and another church down the ridge from where we were staying
- We slept each night on air mattresses in a comfortable bunk house that has fans and a modern bathroom.
I’ve found myself tell people…
“It was a lot easier than I expected.”
I’ve done some reflecting on why that is. And here’s what I’ve come up with…
- We were 90 minutes outside of Port au Prince in the mountains where there is very little government presence and very little corruption that I could see.
- While there have been lots of stories about how little money from the earthquake relief actually made it to people in need, over the last 5 years thousands of small teams of people have come to Haiti to help clear rubble and rebuild houses.
- We stayed in a Christian orphanage that has a two Christian churches nearby each also has a school, all started by Spirit-led individuals many years ago and through them God has transformed many people’s lives. The culture of area has changed dramatically
- We stayed in a comfortable bunk house built by teams of people on past missions trips.
Most people want to solve Haiti’s problems from the top down by electing a better government, reducing corruption, providing billions of dollars of aid. So far that hasn’t seemed to change much.
But what I experienced was a part of Haiti that is being transformed from the bottom up, by individuals being led by God to love and give and serve others. Through them others are coming to know and follow Christ. As God transforms the hearts of individual people, they are less corrupt, less abusive, more giving. As individuals are being changed by God, it is changing the community.
Which reminds me of one of my favorite quotes
Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have. – Margaret Mead
The LIGHT by Lisa Bultman
- At September 28, 2015
- By Richard Fields
- In Uncategorized
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It’s so funny how God happens upon us – maybe it is when our defenses are down, the outside noise stops just for brief moment and we get a glimpse, a glimpse of His heart. It still amazes me, even after all this time of my little life. For me it is often when I am still very still, not really thinking and then all of sudden I hear His voice. It’s like my little Spirit finally is in “sync” – and within a split second I “SEE” scripture not just see words on a page, it’s not ink. It lives, it breathes, it’s amazing and I wonder how I ever missed it?
Haiti does this to me. Maybe it’s being unplugged and undistracted? Maybe it’s being with others who are all waiting for Him to show up? Our trip in May was split between two places (my second homes) House of Blessing and Arcahaie with Poverty Resolutions. Sometimes mission trips can seem exclusive, you see one place, one church, one group and one goal – even within that context it is still amazing to see Him move and continue to build on foundations He already had planned. (For the record I think we are really slow in catching God’s vision – how much patience He has for us.) But this time I saw the body working together – The Church Body working together all these people from all parts of the world working together. It was like each day we found another piece of ourselves. (I jokingly said we found another body part to our Pastor – I think he changed colors! LOL) it was just so cool for lack of a better word to describe seeing scripture in the flesh – you know that glimpse. And what was cooler was knowing how many others we brought with us in Spirit; family, friends, sponsors, coworkers, old and new church members – they were part of it too – we just happen to be the “hands” for the trip delivering those gifts, prayers, medicines, love, well wishes and let’s not forget the candy! Amazing right!
But looking back – I want to see Him everywhere – to catch a glimpse of Him daily in the ordinary life I live here in the collective body He has put me in…in the sunsets, blue haired Tookie’s, gentle breezes , early mornings and hubby hugs…just a glimpse.
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