Hello all, I wonder how many people are out there actually reading this so if you are just let m know with a comment when you stop in and let me know how you are doing also. I find it interesting that my life is interesting enough for people to read about but I guess it is, at least sometimes. Ok so as many of you know, or at least you do if you are reading this that I have begun a journey of 5 months to endeavor to understand a little better what it is like to live as a missionary. Now I do not imagine that in 5 month I will even get a slight taste of the full flavor of long term mission work, but I am hoping to get some crumbs from the table. In the few short years that I have had the pleasure of working with missionaries, getting to know them, and calling some of them friend I think there is a great need to have the members of the body do more to encourage them and support them through greater means than financial support. While, financial support is needed, I think most missionaries would agree with me that it is the intangibles that are much more precious to them in their ministry and their lives. It is the prayers that are sent up daily paving the way into the hearts of the lost they are reaching out to. It is the notes, letters, calls, or other forms of simple communication that they receive from those on the home front letting them know that they are really not out there doing this all by themselves. All too often I hear missionaries talk about the creeping feeling that once they set foot out the door of churches and hit the field that they are forgotten. Yes, people have signed up and often honor pledges of financial support, but in this day of EFT there is not even the monthly reminder of writing a check to get these supporters to pray for or even think about them as they wade out into the sea of Spiritual Warfare.
I often think of that opening scene in Saving Private Ryan when those brave soldiers are rushing the breaches at D-Day and how so many of them gave that last full measure of devotion to their cause and lay dying on that beach so far from home. I bring this up because that is what our missionaries are heading for and are already involved with. Have you given a thought lately to the missionaries you know or may support? They are all behind enemy lines fighting the battle for the souls of the lost, but they are also battling for their own lives in the process. The enemy is not satisfied just holding the lines that have been drawn across our world. He is as much a world dominator that has ever been seen and is intent on ravaging the entire world taking as many souls to hell with him as he can and our missionaries are not safe from his attacks.
I understand that many of us, yes me included, have never really witnessed battle in the physical or spiritual sense so it is hard to believe sometimes sitting in our homes so safe from the pain of war that is raking so much of our world. For the most part the roughest thing most of us deal with on a daily basis is hectic rush hour traffic. Even now I find myself a bit agitated because I am on a 7 hour flight from Atlanta to Fortaleza Brazil and the video system is not working nor is the promised on-board wi-fi. I mean when I sit here and think of how silly it is to be upset because some comfort item is not immediately available I am distraught. OMG I don’t have internet on my plane cruising at 30,000 feet in the air for 7 hours. The world is gonna end. Now I jest a bit because it is not that distressing to me but there are others on the plane that you would have thought that was true of them. The roughest part for me is not being able to sleep because most of the ride so far has been through moderate to heavy turbulence and I feel like I should be on a roller coaster on a gravel track and not a streamlined airplane skirting through the air at nearly 600 mph. Again, it is a bit ridiculous to think I should be upset about some bumps on a 7 hour trip to get somewhere that really not all that long ago would have taken days by boat on rougher oceans to get to.
Now don’t get me wrong I am not trying to knock all of our advancements and say that we have a plush life these days, but in a way we do and that is what makes it so much harder to relate to those that do not have the things that the “rich westerners” do. And Yes I do mean that. Even some of the poorest people living in America would be considered well to do by world standards. It is hard to see it that way as we struggle to pay our bills from week to week, but the simple fact that you may have a car, a dwelling of some sort and food on a daily basis places you in the elite status of most of the world. Stable electricity and (relatively speaking of course) uncorrupt government and police force that in general is looking out for the public good puts us so far out in front of 90% of the world that yes America is the good life that everyone wants to come have a chance for, even those it seems that cannot stand our way of life and beliefs. The few places I have been privileged enough to travel to and see firsthand the life styles and daily living situations I count myself blessed beyond measure to have what I do have. And am so thankful for everything God has graciously provided me with.
Ok sorry I will quit with the, oh I am not even sure what to call that. But over these next 5 months I hope to give you a glimpse through my experiences what it is like to live on the battlefield and among the trenches of the spiritual battle that is being waged for the lives and souls of the people of the area I am going to. I thank you for your interest and your prayers. And if you feel so inclined or led donations to support m and the Stucky’s ministry here in Brazil can be given through Community Bible Church at 9001 Q street, Omaha NE, 68046. Make contributions payable to Community Bible Church with a note that the funds are for me. Thanks again for your interest and I hop to hear back from many of you. Also if you have specific question please feel free to leave them here and I will respond as best I can to them or get the answers from the real missionaries J. Well we are about to land in a bit so I will be praying for you all. God Bless.
.JPG)
No comments:
Post a Comment