After listening to the news lately, it is hard not to get discouraged with the state of affairs in our country. But as we prepare to leave tomorrow for Bluefields Nicaragua, our problems are nothing compared to what our brothers and sisters in Christ experience there. They do not have deteriorating 401(k) accounts…worries about the mortgage rates…or which stimulus package is passed. Their concerns are different and more eminent – will they have enough food for their family… will their children live past age 3…is their drinking water going to make them sick, again? Our brothers and sisters in Christ embrace the concept of “daily manna” far better than I do, that is for sure. It is humbling to be in the presence of those who have nothing (compared to us) and yet they still have a strong faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 6: 25-34 has struck a chord with me lately – We pray that you are blessed, too!
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
- We have been making plans for me to attend language school in April – I must become more fluent in Spanish to better serve the ministry. The schooling and lodging will be costly and we prayed about how we might change some of our budget to accommodate. In our year end statement, we received an unexpected one-time gift that will cover, almost to the dollar all my expenses for those two months!
- I had been asked to connect with a vision trip this month with Jackson Baptist Church – this expense was unplanned and we prayed again. It will be very important to join this team while they experience in person, ministries in Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua. A couple weeks ago, we received an email from our headquarters about a contribution that was assigned to another missionaries’ account. Not kidding – that gift will cover all my expenses for extra travel and lodging for this trip!
- Both Lee Ann and I have felt peace about the coming year, despite it being very busy – and there will be extended times that we will be separated. This peace only comes from God, but we also sense the presence of our prayer partners in a big way – and for that, we thank you!
Stay tuned for more updates from the field as we offer ourselves in service to our Living Lord!
Peace,
Rick & Lee Ann
