God's Blessing Continues

I had 2 interesting responses to my message on The Boersma Family Blessing at the Men's Bible Study at the Theater.

1.  One man in his nineties raised his hands and cried out loud "Bless Us God!"

2.  My dentist at the conclusion of my message asked me to reproduce his JESUS sign that h has had on his desk through many years of his practice.  He said, "I would like to leave each one of my family this plaque that meant so much to me".  "Some days that were difficult I could be reminded that Jesus was with me.  There were some days I could not make out the letters, but I know that the letters for JESUS where still there, just as each day Jesus was still with me but I was unaware."  His final words were "This is the best thing I can leave with all my family, "Look to Jesus"!"

Paul has started a new carving..."One Another's"  meaning we as believers ought to be connecting. 

It all started when he was in PA and a bait shop told him they will be closing because people buy all their fishing supplies on the internet.  Another bait store told him when someone comes in and asks "where are the fish biting", he says "ask the internet that is where you bought your bait".

Paul realized for him the fishing experience was not just catching fish, but stopping at the bait shop, talking with other fishermen...the connecting of the experiences they shared as fishermen.

Thus, he begin his "picking" for a "bait shop" in our garage.  At first I saw this has junk for his collection.  But now I see it as "bait".  Over time people have started collecting for him and started sharing their stories.  Some are just fishing stories, but others share their hearts with him.  One guy said "just talking with you makes me want to live better".

Then we started thinking about the "one another's" in church.  So many of us go to church sing a few songs, hear a good message and go home.  But what about the "one another's"  the connecting and knowing each other's stories...  Thanks to Pastor Joel Horne's notes and Paul's new carving I know I will learn about more about "one another".

Ukraine Trip

We are so excited....We are going to the Ukraine again.

We are leaving April 30th and returning May21st.  We will be doing a camp for disabled children and their families for a week.  Right after that we will be doing a Spiritual Retreat for those that work at the Pregnancy Centers.  We also hope to visit many friends and to speak at several churches. 

Please pray for us as we go.  If you are interested in helping the cost to send 1 family member to go to camp is 100.00 for the week.  This is tax deductible....send to Gone Fishin' Ministry, 1108 Oakhurst, Clovis, NM   88101

Thank you for your prayers!

 

Story of Challenge

Yesterday I was visiting with my friend Sandra.  She has been living in Juarez, Mexico since Christmas, helping her mom at the orphanage.  She has given up many of our necessities, hot water, regular nutrious meals, sleep (you get the picture) to love on these kids.  She has also tried to find their parents, only to find out some of the parents don't want their children. She has established reading and homework time to see the kids grades and self esteem go up.  But the story she shared that touched me the most was about young teen girls being brought to the orphanage.

She was saying that the police will bring young girls to the orphanage around midnight.  She would always tell them she didn't want them there with her kids.  But one night she was taking a shower and 5 girls came to the gate with the police and another adult let them stay the night.  She was upset.  But she learned these girls were put in jail with the crimals.  We won't even let ourselves think of what these girls went through.  She also heard the statement "No one wants these girls, this is our last place to leave them". 

God spoke to her and said, "What is your purpose?"  To bake cookies and raise money to help get these girls out of the sex trade. I have brought them to you to show them I love them, even if for a short time.

I was challenged by all this because God has been asking me to continue to pray for land near the orphange for these young girls for a half way house and for leaders there.  I shared this with my daughter and she said, people have been telling her their heart is for young girls placed in these condtitions not by choice.

Now I am ranting, but we have it so good.  We really think we sacrifice if we do something "missional when it works with our schedule or it is fun or everyone at church is doing it.  I am guilty.  What if for one month in our churches, we didn't serve coffee and donuts, didn't buy props for our church or couldn't go to the store to buy the things we think necessary.  We had to look around and make things work and be creative without spending a penny.  Many countries I have been to do this every week. And that money we don't use would  go to missions so their life could be easier for one week or maybe even eat more than 2 meals a day.

To be honest, when I am in Ukraine or Mexico to do without is not hard for me, but when I come home doing without is very frustrating.  I love the American life style.  This is a battle that I have been fighting for a month now.  Hearing Sandra's story has brought what I have been trying to push down inside me so I wouldn't have to think about it, up to center stage again.

I hear the terms missional, not a fan and radical used often by me and others...Am I up to the challenge?

Gone Fishin' Ministry

Presents

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE

Purposefully desiring to grow deeper in our relationship with the Almighty will require a decision.....

 

• To reorder ones private world .....Simplicity
• To be still......................................Silence
• To cultivate serentiy....................Solitude
• To trust in the Lord.......................Surrender

A 5 week course beginning

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

6:30 pm

1108 Oakhurst,Clovis, NM

gonefishinministry@gmail.com

575-693-4998

EXCITED

We are in the process of setting up our first blog.  Of course in typical Chini fashion we don't know what we are doing:( Our goal is to have this up and running in the next few weeks.

Some things we hope to have running are
                         devotionals about some of Paul's teachings
                         pictures of his carvings
                         pictures of places we have been
                         vidoes of his activites with TBN, International
                         vidoe at New Wine Church/Biker church

Thanks for looking at our blog and sorry to bore you while we learn.