GRADUATION DAY IN COLONIA UNION / A MOUNTAIN TOP EXPERIENCE
Yesterday afternoon, scores of children, many of whom our partners sponsor got their diplomas moving them to the next grade of their education process. We were so proud of the kids and their accomplishment and their smiles filled their faces as they walked up onto the makeshift stage to receive their diploma. We missed last Fridays ceremony at the other school in the colonia, as we hunkered down in another colonia at a graduation ceremony when a big storm trapped us there for quite a while. The kids were all dressed up for the event and a few were awarded bicycles when their number was selected from a random drawing. Paula and Ruthy had prepared enough gift bags so that each student went home with a diploma and a gift. Graduation balloons and gift filled baskets were also given by some proud parents.
As far as the mountain top experience goes, have you ever really been there? Has there been a time when you just basked in the good things of God and never wanted things to change? You wanted to stay on the mountain top didn't you? Well I have to ask, how long did it last? How long were you allowed to stay there before some fiery trail came your way? I heard some one speaking about the mountain top. Have you ever been lets say on Pikes Peak in Colorado? What was it like? I remember the spectacular views of life below the mountain top. It was green and alive the further down you looked, the prettier it was. But on top, it was cold, you could even say freezing. There was no vegetation around, it was barren of any significant life, I found myself not being able to breath because of the thin air. I could only enjoy it for a little while and then I needed, no, I wanted to go back down. Back down where life is, with all it's trails, and challenges, and air, oh I how loved to take a deep breath when I came down. There were flowers, and trees and animals.
We can't survive on the mountain, and neither could Moses. We have to go back down where the people are. Those lost and hurting people that only you and I can reach. They have spent their whole life in the deep valleys of life and they need to have that once in a lifetime mountain top experience with God and we are the tour guides. We had a tour guide on the train as we climbed Pike Peak. He pointed out certain things of interest along the way, but when we got to the top, He was now where to be found. He just cut us loose to enjoy our own personal experience on the mountain top, and when we boarded the train to head back down he was there again talking us through the decent to the valley. That's the discipleship we need to engage in. We need to talk to people about the life changing experience that Jesus Christ can bring, take them to the mountain top and then walk through life with them, showing them the great things of God along the way.
As far as the mountain top experience goes, have you ever really been there? Has there been a time when you just basked in the good things of God and never wanted things to change? You wanted to stay on the mountain top didn't you? Well I have to ask, how long did it last? How long were you allowed to stay there before some fiery trail came your way? I heard some one speaking about the mountain top. Have you ever been lets say on Pikes Peak in Colorado? What was it like? I remember the spectacular views of life below the mountain top. It was green and alive the further down you looked, the prettier it was. But on top, it was cold, you could even say freezing. There was no vegetation around, it was barren of any significant life, I found myself not being able to breath because of the thin air. I could only enjoy it for a little while and then I needed, no, I wanted to go back down. Back down where life is, with all it's trails, and challenges, and air, oh I how loved to take a deep breath when I came down. There were flowers, and trees and animals.
We can't survive on the mountain, and neither could Moses. We have to go back down where the people are. Those lost and hurting people that only you and I can reach. They have spent their whole life in the deep valleys of life and they need to have that once in a lifetime mountain top experience with God and we are the tour guides. We had a tour guide on the train as we climbed Pike Peak. He pointed out certain things of interest along the way, but when we got to the top, He was now where to be found. He just cut us loose to enjoy our own personal experience on the mountain top, and when we boarded the train to head back down he was there again talking us through the decent to the valley. That's the discipleship we need to engage in. We need to talk to people about the life changing experience that Jesus Christ can bring, take them to the mountain top and then walk through life with them, showing them the great things of God along the way.
GREAT SERVANTS, GREAT BIG STORM
Well, I was right, Carmelo, Tommy and Zacharias had the roof on the Community Center by the time we arrived. It is awesome and will provide shade for everyone at our outreaches. We went to Mimis ceremony at school and a huge storm rolled in right after Mimi got her diploma.We all ran into the classroom and had to wait about an hour.
FOURTH OF JULY IN TEXAS???
For the last several years, we had taken our annual sabbatical in July, to visit family, friends, churches and to get a little break from the summer heat in Texas and Mexico. We had celebrated the fourth of July with the Wells', Shongs and Elizandos at the Elizandos annual fourth of July picnic and awesome fireworks display. Well this year we will miss the party and miss our friends as well and will spend the day over in Mexico because today many of the children you sponsor for school are graduating, and we want to be there.
I planned on going to Mexico early this morning to put the metal roofing on the Community Center, but we slept in, so we texted Carmelo and asked to wait to put the roof on until next week. Well any of you that know Carmelo, know that he loves to serve and said that they already had it half done by the time we contacted him. I can't wait to see and experience the cool shade that this will supply for our outreaches. I wanted to wait because my old legs and knees are hurting from building the porch the last few days, but a brother came for rice and beans last night and we prayed for strength and healing for all of us in ministry, that are getting a little old and this stinking flesh gets weary and aches and pains fill our joints. I feel great today and the knees don't hurt, and Paulas' pain in her back is better as well.
In closing, HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY to all and don't forget to remember those that gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and independence. The best and really all sufficient sacrifice was Jesus Christ and the freedom He gives is much more liberating, so PRAISE HIM!!!!
I planned on going to Mexico early this morning to put the metal roofing on the Community Center, but we slept in, so we texted Carmelo and asked to wait to put the roof on until next week. Well any of you that know Carmelo, know that he loves to serve and said that they already had it half done by the time we contacted him. I can't wait to see and experience the cool shade that this will supply for our outreaches. I wanted to wait because my old legs and knees are hurting from building the porch the last few days, but a brother came for rice and beans last night and we prayed for strength and healing for all of us in ministry, that are getting a little old and this stinking flesh gets weary and aches and pains fill our joints. I feel great today and the knees don't hurt, and Paulas' pain in her back is better as well.
In closing, HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY to all and don't forget to remember those that gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and independence. The best and really all sufficient sacrifice was Jesus Christ and the freedom He gives is much more liberating, so PRAISE HIM!!!!
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