MissionaryDoc.com

Sunday, 25 March 2012

What?!? I thought I was working in Mexico Town. I still am and things are going well as I get more comfortable with the computer system and the flow of the office. But tonight our church, Hope Community Church, attended a service at Golgotha Romanian Baptist Church. It was a wonderful and encouraging time, and the food afterwards was delicious. Romanian is a Latin language along with Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and French. So Areli and I were trying to see how much Romanian we could understand. With my Spanish and French background, I figured I could understand about 6%, while Areli with her Spanish, Portuguese, and a little French background could understand about 15%. I guess we're continuing our multicultural experience in the Detroit area.

Sunday, 15 January 2012

Tomorrow, I start a new Job! I will be joining the team of Covenant Community Care, a Christian clinic in Detroit providing medical services to the underserved. I will be working in "Mexican Town," which seems almost ironic, but it should be a good fit. The mission statement of the ministry is:

"To show and share the love of God, as seen in the good news of Jesus Christ, by providing integrated, affordable, and quality health care to those who need it most."

This past month has been quite a trip and I am still trying to grasp how God shifted our direction a little to put us here. But we are joyful about it.

Areli and I are now living in and apartment (with a wonderful view) in Belleville, which is between Ann Arbor and Detroit, not far from Detroit Metro Airport. We are part of Hope Community Church, which was my church during my time at the University of Michigan. A lot has changed since I've been around. Last night I got lost driving around the campus trying to find my sister's apartment--even with GPS.

We're thankful for our three months in Mexico City and the past four weeks back in Michigan getting settled in. And I am absolutely looking forward to working! And earning some money, which is something I haven't done in a while.

God is good! I will fill in some of the details of God's directing us in a future post. Please pray for our adjustment.

Monday, 21 November 2011

A couple of weeks ago, Areli and I attended the medical missions conference in Louisville, Kentucky. What!? That's right. We are still in Mexico City but God opened the door for us to go for four days (see below).

I have been to this conference a few times over the years but it was Areli's first time. It is the largest medical missions conference in the world (2500 people). Check out the website for more details.

It was a filling time as well as a learning time. I got some continuing medical education credits to keep my license going. God was definitely the center of event. We left more encouraged and excited for what God has for us in the coming years.

We also got to surprise Jessica the COO of Agape in Action. We were able to keep our attendance on the down-low so she had no idea! Also, I unexpectedly ran into some old friends. Areli and I even made it into someone else's newsletter! (check it out)

Bottom line: it was worth the investment.

How did we end up deciding to go last minute? Keep reading and I'll tell you as an example of how God often leads in our lives...

Two weeks before the conference, I was running in park and listening to a missions message. Through this God planted in me the desire to go to the conference. When I got back, I told Areli about it and she wasn't convinced because of the cost. But, she had been hearing from God, during our time in Mexico that we were going to make a trip to somewhere in the U.S. How is it worth the cost of travel to go there for 4 days? But I think God is telling us to go and He will provide the money.

I did some travel agent work (which I am pretty good at). Any flights arriving near Louisville were at least $650. I was still considering using my miles or something to make it possible. I then expanded my radius and found a roundtrip flight to Chicago for $268 direct with a free checked bag. Over the years, I have made several trips from Mexico City to Chicago and paid as much as $750. Praise God for opening the door. We rented a car, booked some cheap hotels, got the missionary rate for registration at the conference, and did the whole trip for a lot less than what just the flights alone typically would have cost. Praise God for His faithfulness.

The lesson is that if God wants you to do something, He will provide.

(If you are still reading) Another special reason that I wanted to take Areli to this conference was that it was at this same place, in 2005, that God told me to marry her and that we would serve Him together. Looking back, at the many, many, many, many, many (I could keep going) things that had to take place in order for this to happen, only God could have done this. I took advantage of the special situation to propose once again. She said "yes"!

Our desire is to have the heart and mind of David and to live in reliance on God's faithfulness.

Test me, LORD, and try me,
examine my heart and my mind;
for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love
and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.

--Psalm 26:2-3

Wednesday, 9 November 2011

This week we had a lot of action at the house. The church, Iglesia Masai, has been participating with a Bible training program called Joshua Nations. This is a great two-year course of basic theology and Bible teaching. We celebrated the first graduation for those who completed the program. Areli and I joined the worship team to provide some music for the celebration.

Click here to go to YouTube to see the graduation. This is essentially uncut so feel free to skip around.

James and Yolanda, who represent Joshua Nations came down from Colorado. We also had several visitors from the Mexican state of Oaxaca. Several of them had finished their first year. We had several people staying in the house and others in the church building. Therefore, we had a very busy but good time. We learned some words in the Mixteco dialect (but I think we forgot them). We even had a game of American football. For those from Oaxaca, it was the first time they ever touched a "real" football. There was a weird silence yesterday when everyone left.

Check out the ministry of Joshua Nations. I was very encouraged by the vision and the effects of the ministry. Many countries don't have access to all of the Bible training that we do. We have known pastors in Guatemala that are untrained and some even illiterate. This can lead to incomplete, unbalanced, and sometimes even completely unbiblical teachings. God is using Joshua Nations to bring proper teaching to Christ's Church.

Monday, 31 October 2011

Yesterday, I did an urbanathlon here in Mexico City. It was supposed to be a 10K with 7 obstacles along the way. It turned out to be only a little more than 8K. Oh well. It was quite congested along most of the race and there were a lot of hills. Good time. Good exercise. Something to get up early on Sunday for. Thanks to Areli and Daniel for getting some footage:

GPS Tracing of the Race

Friday, 14 October 2011

A month ago today, we arrived in Mexico City. My concern in coming here for an extended period of time was that I could easily become unproductive--especially because unplanned visitors and events are the rule rather than the exception. Or because of having a long-term vacation mindset. Therefore, I made a list of things that I wanted to complete during my time here. Thankfully, I think I am on schedule.

Today, I finished my textbook on World Religions that is part of a course that I have been working on. Areli and I have been helping with the worship team multiple times a week. I even dusted off the trumpet. We've been spending a lot of valuable time with family and Areli has been helping her sister, who by the way is doing very well with treatment.

Today, as the pastors are away for the weekend teaching in Oaxaca, Areli and I were asked to lead worship. A brother, who has been studying in the Bible Institute here in Mexico City, preached his first sermon ever on the Apostle Paul's conversion. He then gave the account of his own conversion from a life of alcoholism and drug addiction. After the service, a sister came forward with a lady that she had invited. Claudia was having family and work problems. We asked her if she was ready to turn her life over to God. She said yes. Areli had the privilege of praying with her to receive Christ for the first time. Praise God! We pray that she would allow the Holy Spirit to continue His work in her life.

Our church, Iglesia Masai, is not perfect (as there are no perfect churches), but it is exciting to see God working through a functioning church to bring others to Him.

There are still a lot of things on the list that I would like to get done in the next 2 months, but I'm thankful for where I am. And more thankful to see that God is confirming that our time here has not been unproductive so far.

Wednesday, 21 September 2011

As expected, our last couple of weeks in Guatemala were a blur. A good blur. Overall, I want to thank God for His answered prayers. When put in our resignation with Agape, I wrote a prayer list including everything that had to happen to finish up in Guatemala and to get us and our stuff to Mexico. I am so thankful that everything happened and here we are in Mexico City.

It's amazing how much stuff we have given the fact that everything fit in an SUV and our airplane luggage. After almost a week in Mexico, we are finally getting somewhat organized. Our time so far has been enjoyable and productive. So far I have celebrated the Mexican Independence Day, played with the worship team on Sunday, did some unofficial medical consults with the church people, fixed some stuff, organized a lot of stuff, went for some runs, and advanced in Bible courses. So far so good. But my prayer request for our time in Mexico City is that we would use our time wisely and be as productive as possible.

Thank you to all of you who have supported us during our time in Guatemala and we look forward to you encouragement as we continue to serve God in Mexico City.

Sunday, 28 August 2011 (Delayed Post)

Missionary Community Church is an English-speaking church made up of mostly missionaries around Chichicastenango, Guatemala. Sunday services and the continued fellowship with other missionaries was a huge support for us while we were in Guatemala. Please check out the church website and Pastor Don Logan's blog. The following is an email that we sent out after our last church service in Guatemala.

We didn't get a chance to say anything to the church today, but some things are better written anyway.

Thanks to all of you for being such an important part of our lives during our time in Guatemala. Last week, during worship, I was thinking that there are many groups of believers functioning on various different levels. In some churches there are so many problems that one struggles to believe that it is actually a group of believers. Other churches are more "functional" and better resemble the Body of Christ. We all know that there are no "perfect churches," but I think Missionary Community Church comes pretty close. This has been demonstrated to us not so much by the Sunday experience (although this has been excellent), but even more so by how the Body has responded in times of difficulty. Although most of us don't hang out on a regular basis, when there is a need, we know that we have many friends that stick closer than brothers. Who knows if this is evident to the locals, but it certainly has its impact as it allows each of us to go forward in the work that God has given us, knowing that someone always has our back.

We couldn't imagine what our time here would have been like if it weren't for you. We love you all and thank each of you for being an encouragement to us.

Logans for never deviating from the mission that God has given you: to bring unity to the missionaries around Chichicastengo.

Yorks for being our other parents away from home. And Erv for being my personal "fix it man."

Cathy and Carol for being our other mothers, prayer warriors, and constant encouragers. And for letting us play your Wii.

Streets for your joy in serving the Lord, your love for Guatemala, and desire to help the people in any way possible.

Roy for sharing with us the fruit of your labor and your desire to help.

Eman and Jess for your leadership and music ministry. And for your passion to teach the children.

Romeros for your desire to train up the pastors and young leaders of Guatemala, and for bringing us into the presence of the Lord through music. ¡Viva México! Mi querido paisano. (Areli's words)

Salazar Family for your love for and joy in serving the children and for being so friendly to us.

Jorge and Marietta for gifts of teaching and for being humble and always ready to serve.

Harveys for never giving up on the great vision that God has given you, your amazing love for Guatemala, and for serving the needy with joy. And for your constant intercession.

Andrew and Hannah for your ever encouraging smiles and words and your hard work in the Lord. And for sharing with us your delicious food.

Ron for your persistent work to meet the physical and spiritual needs of people.

Hoaks for your sacrifices and hard work and always being joyful whatever the circumstances.

Jennifer for your very practical service to the people and desire to help in any way you can.

Colleen for your servant's heart and friendliness with everybody.

Gormleys for your genuine interest in how we are doing and your kind words, and for your desire to serve God here in Guatemala.

Capeharts for caring for all of us and using all of your resources to joyfully help people in need.

Kemmel and Lisa for your untiring work in the communities, your encouraging words, and for lending us your lawn mower :) You are a great couple.

Gardners for your joyful spirits and service in the Lord.

Montgomery's for your humility and great example of a missionary family.

May God receive the glory for what He has done in showing us His love through every one of you. We may not see many of you again this side of heaven but we will find you again there. And I'm sure we'll find a chance to get together for a Missionary Community Church reunion because eternity is a long, long time :)

Tuesday, 16 August 2011

We had our "first, last" clinic today in San Bartolomé Jocotenango. That is, this is the first clinic that we will no longer do before leaving Guatemala. We were a little sad.

Things are going well with the transition in the clinics. Also, our stuff did eventually arrive in Mexico City so we have very few things to pack. We are just working on our exit plan. Our tentative date to arrive in Mexico is four weeks from today.

Monday, 1 August 2011

In 2009, we first landed in Guatemala. After more than 2 ½ years, our time is now coming to an end. Our original commitment was 2 years and we extended it to provide transition for the new incoming doctor. We were originally planning to stay until December. However, we have moved this date up as our replacement is ready to go.

On Wednesday, Dr. Lindsey Rodríguez, will join us for about a month for orientation. We will show her all of the clinic sites and introduce her to the patients. Then she will take over the reins in September. The last clinic for Areli and me is scheduled to be on September 11. We will then head to Mexico City for a few months.

We are thankful for God's timing as this will allow us to spent time with Areli's family including her sister, Abigail, as she continues her chemotherapy. This will not be an extended vacation as we plan to help with the church there and to advance on other projects that have been on hold during our time in Guatemala.

As God leads, we believe that he is then calling us back to the U.S. for a couple of years for me to have a "real job" for a while and knock off my medical school loans. Then we will be free and open to what God has for us then.

We thank you for your continual support of us and our work. We pray that God will bless you in all you do as you dedicate your lives to Him.

And yes, we are a little sad to leave Guatemala :( , but we have peace having a strong sense that this is God's timing. We have seen God work in marvelous ways regarding the agreement with house we are renting, selling and moving our stuff, and all the details of this transition.

We give all the praise to God and will continue to report His works during this next month and beyond.

México. Definition: "The Navel or Center of the Moon."