My Paraguay Trip

We returned this past Saturday at 9:00 AM from our short-term mission trip to Asuncion, Paraguay. Asuncion is the capital city of Paraguay. I thought I'd be able to email more than I did because I thought there would be internet cafes, Starbucks, etc. But no. No such things there. Fast food, yes. Starbucks, no.

I was 40 years in preparation for this trip. I studied Spanish for 6 years back then because it fascinated me, came easily to me, and lit a fire in my heart. I never understood why until our latino church plant last year and my trip to Paraguay last week. Moses prepared 40 years also, on the backside of the desert, so I'm in good company. The Lord told me that He doesn't pick His fruit until it's ripe.

Just a few words now (and no pictures yet - we're still working on that). I've never experienced such power in the Spirit as there was in Paraguay. I could attribute that to God going with us or His being already there or the prayer support that so many people gave - and it's probably all of that.

The paraguayos are a very genuine/open/sincere people - no hidden agendas, very willing to share their lives and hearts with you. This is a poor country but the people are rich in things that we need.

We worked on the church building alongside the paraguayos painting, carrying bricks, and doing construction. Those were times of bonding (that's become a trite word, but that's what happened) with the guys there that God used for His purposes in opening our hearts to each other.

The worship was fantastic. I raised money to bring them 2 guitars, and they started using them right away. I was supposed to preach Wednesday night but the power of God was so strong I could only weep and cry out to God for His goodness, love and mercy.

I saw hermanos (brothers) living out the Christian life together, arm in arm, shoulder to shoulder. These guys are coming up from real poverty, and their struggle has given them strength. They are wide open to the Spirit, and receive ministry the was a baby bird receives food. Would that we had such desire and openness here in our country.

More later. Thanks for praying - couldn't have done it without you.

I'm Back

Paraguay was awesome, profound, to the max! There was love, power, hope, joy, repentance - all on a scale I have never seen.

More later, with pictures.

Two Guitars For Paraguay!

My co-workers responded to my request for help in bringing a guitar to Paraguay (I should say it was God who responded and did more than I could ask or think for) and we're taking two guitars. Someone donated a beautiful acoustic guitar, and with the money donated we were able to buy an acoustic-electric guitar, 2 hard-shell cases, extra strings, strap, cable, etc.

The hard cases are to protect the guitars, which will be with checked baggage. Pray they survive the trip and that no one between Charlotte and Asuncion takes a shine to them.

We leave this Thursday. That's close!

I'm fluent in Spanish and have been around the world but never to a Spanish-speaking country. And this is my first missions trip. I guess I'm a late bloomer.

My gift is to be able to put words together in poetry and music, but I haven't been able to do that in Spanish. Consequently, I have nothing to fall back on but the Lord. Our team is trusting Him to pour out His life through us to the church in Asuncion. We are going in weakness, depending on His strength.

I know prayers will follow (or precede and/or accompany) us, and I'm grateful for that. Life - bring us life!!! Risen life!!! Overcoming life!!! Life in the Son and in the Spirit. Life that cannot die. Eternal life - the life of the Eternal One.

To Whom Shall We Go?

"Return again now to your people,
Linger no longer with me;
No other sons can I give you,"
Thus was Naomi's sad plea.

"Intreat me no longer to leave thee
Or retrun from following thee;
For whither thou lodgest I'll lodge
And thy people my people shall be."

Thus Ruth clave to Naomi
And these words immortal spake she;
"Where thou diest I'll die and be buried;
Death only shall part me from thee."

Many of Jesus' disciples
Turned back, walked with Him no more;
Jesus asked "will you also
Go away?" and Peter said "Lord,

"To whom shall we go for thou only
Have the words of eternal life;
Of the living God Thou art the Son
And we believe that Thou art the Christ."

Lord, we never shall leave Thee,
On Thee our affections we'll stay.
To whom shall we go, for Thou only
Art the truth and the life and the way.

The Jeep

In two days I will return my Jeep to the dealer. I won a two year lease on a Jeep Wrangler - with removable top and windows. It's the biggest toy I ever had.

I wanted a Jeep all my life, and I think the Lord let me have one for two years to get that longing out of my system.

Although I'd like to keep it, I can't. It only gets 16 miles to the gallon, and as I filled it up this morning at $2.099 per I realized again one of the main reasons why it's going back where it came from.

I've enjoyed my trips to the mountains in it, riding around with the top down, 4-wheeling in last year's snowstorm, trips to bluegrass concerts with Mary, and my short hair cut which doesn't get blown around so much in the wind.

By driving with the top and windows down I felt a more immediate contact with my surroundings - the smell of new-mown grass and honeysuckle along the road, the feel of a sultry North Carolina summer evening under a full moon, the feel of a summer afternoon under a Carolina blue sky, the smell of barbeque driving past Sonny's, the smell of fresh road kill (yuck!!!!!).

I 'm looking at a great picture of me sitting in the jeep with my grandson Danny. I'm keeping Danny (and my other grands) and returning the Jeep.