E-mail

Wednesday, 17 February 2010 13:50

I am currently waiting on Don to call me and give me an update on the team that I can pass on to you. I will pass that on as soon as I hear from him.

I would like to share something that happened yesterday morning at the hotel though. I told you in "Divine Appointments" about the ministry team that I met on the plane from P Au P from Mission Discovery (Missiondiscovery.org). Well when I went down to eat some breakfast in the morning I spotted them all down there as well. Being the push salesperson that I am, I invited myself to join them for breakfast. The conversation that ensued was like the best small group that you can imagine. We shared deeply from our past about real hurts, finding out that 4 of the 5 people there had fathers that were alcoholic. We shared successes and failures, we laughed with each other and held each other accountable. But most of all, as brothers in Christ, we learned from each other. Each one of us left a little richer in knowledge and understanding of the human condition and of God and how forgiveness is the key that releases us all. All of this from a group of guys that 24 hours earlier had never even heard of each other. This was truly the Spirit of God at work.

I have know idea how he is going to use this group again but it seems that He has something more planned. I do know that Pastor Exante has invited me down for the revival in January of 2011. Anyone interested in going along?

One of my new friends, Maury, (who bears a striking resemblance in looks and manner to Billy Bob Thornton) made the observation that people who have a parent that is alcoholic might be uniquely qualified to go into disaster situations.
Our insulation to pain is very well developed as a defense mechanism giving us the ability to function at a high level when others might be paralyzed by the sights. And isn't it just like God to use the pain of our past to create character (sometimes hidden) that we are able to use to lift others up with in time of great need.

I have heard comments of disappointment that these missives are going to come to an end, at least while the team is in Haiti. If I can get information from them, I will be happy to pass it along to you and I do know that they have relished your prayers.

I must tell you that writing these for me has been a blessing for me past what I can tell you. I am not good at journaling. I like to write, but just get busy or quickly get out of the habit when I start again. This has forced me to process, to articulate what I have seen, what I have felt, but most importantly what God is doing. Thank you for putting up with these. I am acutely aware that email boxes get cluttered with junk very quickly and I certainly don't want to add to that.

After about four hours of cross checking and comparing lists, I believe everyone is back on the complete list. If you have not gotten 13 of these updates, please go to www.midwestestatebuyes.com where you will find a link titled creatively "Haiti Blog."

Getting to know the team:

Martha Christian;
Martha has been married to John for 22 years. They met in the Army, yes, petite little Martha was in charge of a bunch of new recruits as they came through boot camp. She currently works full time caring for a mother who has Alzheimer's and has 2 boys ages 19 and 21. She came to know the Lord in 2000 while her and her husband were stationed in the Philippines when she began attending an International Women's Bible Study group. Her function on this trip has been to serve as Dons assistant, work the pharmacy but mostly to keep Christi in line. Sorry Christi, I have to call 'em like I see 'em. She has always had a passion to reach out to desperate people. She has an incredibly warm and caring heart. Most of her mission work has been within the United States particularly in NYC with some inner city mission groups. Of all of the trips she has taken though, this trip to Haiti has been the most memorable because the contrast of the fullness of worship and the moving of the Holy Spirit to the devastation all around has been one of the most remarkable things she has ever seen.

I welcome your feedback and comments both good and bad now that I am able to respond.