Friday, December 30, 2016

Unfinished Work

Unfinished WorkJim Ritchie, Missionary, Kenya
The Call, October-December 2016

One day as I was on rounds at Chogoria Hospital, I saw a patient sit up, gasp for breath, and collapse.

Quickly, several of us hurried over to assess him and found him to be pulseless. Dr. Juliet started chest compressions, and I ran to my office to retrieve our only and well-broken-in defibrillator. When we attached the defibrillator pads, we saw ventricular fibrillation, which is a fatal heart rhythm. We shocked him and saw a return to a more normal rhythm—not really normal, but at least not fatal. His heart rate gradually decreased and even became a ventricular tachycardia, nearly pulseless. Dr. Juliet shocked him again. Ultimately, the patient’s rhythm became normal and his breathing resumed.

However, the man didn't wake up. His primary illness was heart failure. We had done an ultrasound on his heart a couple of days prior and had seen how poorly his heart was contracting. Now, after being in a fatal rhythm that required CPR and two shocks, his already underperforming heart was pretty beat up. His pulse was barely palpable and very little blood was going to his brain. We did another ultrasound. At times, his heart didn't even produce enough pressure to open the aortic valve. I honestly didn't expect him to live even an hour or two and strongly recommended that his family transfer him to a hospital with an ICU. And, of course, we prayed.

Two days later, I was stunned to see him sitting up and talking lucidly. Amazing! He is eating and feeling better. I did not speak his language, but with our nurse interpreting, we told him that he had essentially died and, by God's grace, we had been able to revive him. Surely, this man must have some unfinished work. He collapsed during one of the few hours of the week when he was directly observed and we could intervene immediately. People who are defibrillated do not often survive the "code," and his heart is badly diseased.

That night, we left the defibrillator on the ward, which is not our usual practice. Dr. Juliet was called by the nurses later that night; they were performing chest compressions on our patient. Dr. Juliet defibrillated him again. 

During my next rounds, I called Chaplain Roy for a consult. He came with Evangelist Mbae. I explained the situation, and they engaged the man in conversation. It turned out that our patient needed to reconcile with God, so they all prayed—fervent, active prayer.

Hopefully, our patient will live on and his family will be able to afford a transfer to an ICU. But even if not, I think he has had the immeasurable gift of some days to reconcile with the King. 

I am so grateful to work in this missions hospital. This community God has placed me in at this time is a blessing. My intern colleagues are compassionate and learn skills quickly, and my chaplain colleagues are also compassionate and can engage in the Great Work freely.

Pray
PRAY: Pray for the Chogoria Hospital community. This team is called to serve others in their desperate time of need. Ask God to grant them wisdom and skills for the cases they encounter so that more may know of His great love. 

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Where Brokenness Abounds

Where Brokenness AboundsBetsy Tejeda, Missionary, Texas/Mexico Border
The Call, October-December 2016

A single mother, terrified she’s pregnant again, is already being pushed by the father to get an abortion.

A teenager, so drugged up with his friends, can barely remember what happened one night.

A 23-year-old mother of six, evicted from a tiny one-room apartment because her husband made the choice to try cocaine and got thrown in jail, has no way to pay the rent.

A woman, sobbing, deals with the fact that her oldest son is involved in drugs and gangs.

A man, so overwrought from losing his job and not being able to support his family, turns to alcohol.

A teenage girl, holding on to a secret she should never have been told, struggles in her relationship with her parents.

As a missionary in McAllen, Texas, these are just a few of the heart-wrenching stories of the people in our community. The needs are overwhelming, and the amount of brokenness that abounds is astonishing. 

What can we do? How can we help? Is there a way to help them pick up the pieces of their lives?

For a brief moment, it’s tempting to have a “ride in and save the day” mentality. But, the truth is quickly clear. We cannot be their savior. Although there are many ways we can serve this community, the problems they encounter are God-sized. The reality is that no amount of money, counseling, clothing, or food can really repair the damage done and fix the underlying issue: SIN.

Our only hope is to point them to the true Savior. Share with them about the One who can forgive their sins and give them a second chance. Direct them to the Redeemer who will give them a new beginning, even as they face the consequences of their sin. Show them love: all-encompassing, all-fulfilling, all-enveloping love. Steer them to hope, and remind them that they are loved, seen, and valued.

As I listen to their stories, I am reminded it is my story, also. I, too, came to a place of brokenness, realizing I needed a Savior. My choices were different. My consequences may not have been as public, but I needed forgiveness and a new start. Now I pray my life is a testimony to these dear ones so that they, too, can be forgiven and healed, full of hope with promising futures. In the midst of brokenness, may hope arise as we point them to the Savior.

Go
GO: Is God calling you to serve this community? A family ministries coordinator is needed at Taylor Community Center in McAllen, Texas. The coordinator will focus on families in the community and will help start programs and organize activities that foster building family relationships and encourage spending time together. Learn more here

Monday, December 26, 2016

Prayer Calendar December 25-31,2016

Coming tomorrow on The Call blog:

"A single mother, terrified she’s pregnant again, is already being pushed by the father to get an abortion."

"A teenager, so drugged up with his friends, can barely remember what happened one night."

Pray for the lost of the world, that they will find hope and healing in Jesus Christ.

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

We Prayed

We PrayedLeatha Jenkins, Missionary, Papua New Guinea
The Call, October-December 2016

We absolutely could not go to Papua New Guinea without our prayer team! No way. Let me tell you about some of the ways our people have prayed with us. 

At the beginning of 2016, nine of us agreed to meet once a month for 30 minutes of sharing and prayer. Butch and I had humbly asked these local friends to carve time out of their busy schedules to join us in prayer, specifically to seek God’s favor for our ministry in PNG: scheduling meetings, funding, health, and wisdom. 

God blessed us with His touch, again and again. As we prayed specifically, we saw specific answers, again and again. Work team travel and logistics were flawless. Funding spilled over the minimum that we hoped for. Burdens were lifted. We all shared concerns and heartaches, offering them to the Father together. Praying together strengthened us. 

Besides our monthly prayer group, there were prayer opportunities with so many of you along the way. These ranged from planned and spontaneous meetings and random moments to prayers by email, phone, or face to face. Often only two or three of us would pray. God is good, and the answered prayers are too many to count! For those situations and concerns of which we continue to hope and watch for a clear answer, I have found that praying together brings the peace that passes understanding.

The bond that develops between us as we seriously pray together will never be broken; it is eternal. Thank you, prayer partners. The community you provide is a blessing beyond measure. 

Matthew 18:18-20 (NIV): “I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth shall agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three  gather in my name, there am I with them."

Pray
Pray: Form your own prayer community for missions. Every Tuesday, through Prayer Lifeline, WGM posts new praises and requests coming from our missionary staff. Gather your prayer team together once a week and pray over these concerns for the cause of missions.

Monday, December 19, 2016

Prayer Calendar December 18-24,2016

At the beginning of 2016, nine of us agreed to meet once a month for 30 minutes of sharing and prayer. Butch and I had humbly asked these local friends to carve time out of their busy schedules to join us in prayer, specifically to seek God’s favor for our ministry in PNG: scheduling meetings, funding, health, and wisdom.

Lift up a missionary you know in prayer today.

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Living in Community

Dora Wesche, Retiree, Kenya
The Call, October-December 2016

Living in Community
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had” (Romans 15:5 NIV).

Sometimes it takes a heaping measure of grace to live on a foreign mission station. I didn’t get the hang of it in the beginning, but failure can be the back door to success.

My husband, Bob, our 1-year-old daughter, Dawn, and I first arrived in Kenya in 1967. As we faced challenges, some memories stand out, specifically in areas of obeying authority, loving your neighbor, and “keeping up with the Joneses.”

One day, Bob had come home from a long day at the hospital, and I was giving vent to a list of frustrations. As I paused for a breath, Bob, known for his one-liners, said, “You are saying you know how to run the mission better than the mission leaders.” Totally shocked, I thought it over. I was even more shocked to realize it was true–not that I could run things better than the leaders but that I thought I could.

A new missionary had arrived on the field. His ideas were different, feathers were ruffled, and there were some unflattering comments made. During a chapel service at a retreat, this strong impression came to mind: “Do you want him to accept you just as you are, with all your faults?” Well, yes; I hadn’t thought about that before. “Then accept him just as he is with all of his faults.” I applied that lesson many times in the years that followed.

One day, the door flew open; our little toddler spread her hands out wide and in great frustration asked, “WHERE is my little red wagon?” Oh! We had brought dolls and lots of games but NO red wagon. However, since a neighbor’s child had one, Dawn wanted one, too! We all needed to learn about finding contentment in what we had. 

I learned to thank God that I didn’t have to worry about running the mission, and I marveled at leaders who were exercising their gifts of administration, of which I have none.

Today, some of my dearest friends are “old” retired missionaries as well as wonderful new “young” missionaries on the field. I am eternally grateful that God brought us together. I am also coming closer to learning to be content in all things. Being a missionary brought the greatest joys of my life. I love The One who taught me how.

Act
ACT: Have your feathers been ruffled? Are you living in discontent? Do you need to repair your attitude toward your community? Take time this month to dig deeper into God’s Word and put into action His direction. Here is a good resource to get you started.

Monday, December 12, 2016

Prayer Calendar Dec. 11-17,2016

Coming tomorrow on The Call blog:

"One day, Bob had come home from a long day at the hospital, and I was giving vent to a list of frustrations. As I paused for a breath, Bob, known for his one-liners, said, “You are saying you know how to run the mission better than the mission leaders.” Totally shocked, I thought it over. I was even more shocked to realize it was true–not that I could run things better than the leaders but that I thought I could."

Pray for God's healing grace to cover a conflict situation in your life.

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Finding Community, Making Real Connections

Nathan Vitatoe, Advance Volunteer
The Call, October-December 2016

Finding Community, Making Real Connections
I walked through the door, and I was immediately met with the delicious aroma of good food lingering in the air. Bright tables and chairs were coupled with the familiar sound of rapid conversations in Spanish. I had stopped by a local Mexican restaurant to see if they would be interested in having me volunteer once a week to teach an English as a Second Language class before they opened for the day. 

When my family and I first stepped back onto U.S. soil after serving North African immigrants in Spain for two years, I wasn’t sure how God was going to use us for cross-cultural ministry. However, we felt His presence and a peace about the decision to return and focus on bi-vocational ministry in WGM’s Advance Volunteer Network. The Lord has continued to expand our heart for the pilgrims of the world, this time in our own backyard of southern Ohio. There is a benefit to ministering to Spanish speakers in their own language, but many opportunities exist in communities all across our country in English. Your church might already have an outreach to immigrants that you could join. 

One of the main lessons that the Lord has taught me through working with immigrants in Europe and the U.S. is that in order to build a relationship where we can share the hope we have in Jesus, the connections that we make have to be genuine. This valuable principle of authenticity in ministry has stuck with my wife, Kenzie, and me as we approach every new ministry opportunity. Even as we began to plan for our vision trip to Spain, we utilized as a team the booklet Before You Pack Your Bag, Prepare Your Heart by Cindy Judge, which was very helpful to us.  

As travelers of the gospel, we demonstrate our love for Spanish-speaking immigrants through genuine friendship and an interest in helping prepare them for day-to-day life. Our Hispanic friends can feel isolated, both linguistically and culturally. The friendships that we have developed have opened doors to share the most important aspect of our lives, our faith and hope in Jesus Christ our Savior. 

Community isn’t something we necessarily create; it’s something that we find as we naturally connect with others. We just need to take the step—without expecting anything in return—when the Holy Spirit urges us to share the love of Christ.

Act
ACT: Talk to your church missions department or pastoral staff about ways you can champion outreach to the pilgrims in your area or join an established ministry. It will be a personally stretching but rewarding experience.

Monday, December 5, 2016

Prayer Calendar Dec. 4-10,2016

Coming tomorrow on The Call blog:

I walked through the door, and I was immediately met with the delicious aroma of good food lingering in the air. Bright tables and chairs were coupled with the familiar sound of rapid conversations in Spanish. I had stopped by a local Mexican restaurant to see if they would be interested in having me volunteer once a week to teach an English as a Second Language class before they opened for the day. 

Ask God to help you reach out with His love to someone who needs Him today. 

Friday, December 2, 2016

God's Influence Showcased

Erin Curtis, Volunteer, with Bob Margaron, Missionary, The Center
The Call, October-December 2016

God's Influence Showcased
As a community outreach, The Center is catalyzing powerful shifts in the lives of people in Stockton, California. Evidence of God’s transforming power is touching many individuals and slowly replacing the brokenness of the multigenerational gang lifestyle. Recently, The Center held a special event that showcased God’s influence: the wedding of Ernesto “Daniel” and Becca De LaRosa, two community members who met at The Center as children.

Daniel and Becca met in 1997 as elementary students. Bob Margaron, director of The Center, fondly remembers Becca running up to him one day with tears streaming down her cheeks, saying, “Daniel won’t quit picking on me.” Knowing this to be uncharacteristic for Daniel, who was generally quiet and gentle-spirited, Bob asked, “Do you think he likes you?” Becca ran away, yelling, “Eww!” Little could anyone predict how Bob’s comment would foreshadow future events. 

Both Daniel and Becca came from broken households, and each family knew hardship and heartache well. Daniel grew up in a single-parent home, and Becca’s father was incarcerated for much of her childhood. Becca married a man in the Marine Corps and become a mother of two but left her husband and returned to Stockton after he became abusive. Daniel had remained unmarried and was working steadily. When Becca returned, they reconnected and moved in together. He embraced her two children as his own, and together they had a baby. 

As He grew their household, God also moved in Daniel and Becca’s hearts, burdening them with the desire to honor Him by being married. They sought Bob out. He agreed to officiate the wedding and walked with them through premarital counseling for three months. The couple also agreed to abstain from sex until they were married legally. 

Becca dreamed of marrying Daniel in the place where they’d met, so the Margarons joyfully opened The Center’s facilities for the wedding. The De LaRosas have been a testimony in Stockton. Together, they stood in front of the kids at The Center and spoke about their experience. At the wedding, friends and family witnessed their passion for glorifying God as they stepped away from sin and into His design for their lives. Bob hopes that those who see the De LaRosas will see “that God will be with them through any of their situations and that He carries them through.” 

Pray
PRAY: Pray for the missionary and volunteer staff who give selflessly to provide the children of this community stability and safety. Pray that Jesus will be lifted up and glorified in all the ongoing activities—Bible club, special events, tutoring, etc.—at The Center.