Monday, March 19, 2018

Surgical Jornada

(written by Don)
Adonai hosted our second surgical jornada this last Saturday.  Dr Tom came up from Chichi.  Dr Greg and Nathan Williams, CRNA as well as several other visitors who came down from the US to help.  Dr Sherwood and his family are also serving here for a month.  

As with all of our clinic days, the morning started with prayer.  After prayer, a worship set covered the start of our day.


 The patients lined up waiting for  the final 'ok'
  Then the work in pre-op began.  Deonne is supervising IV placement.
 We operated on a total of six patients.  All of us rotated in and out except for Dr Tom.  He just kept going!  Thanks to Dr Greg and Nathan, the patients felt no pain.  Dr Luis, Dr Sherwood and I took turns as first assist.
 Diane gave instruction and encouragement to nursing staff.
 Mica and Ever did a great job prepping and running the tables!
It is lots of work to clean up and prepare for the next cases.  
But you can still have fun doing it!
 We had another worship/intersession set to end the day
 while the last case was running
 Almost there!
Everyone was exhausted but still smiling!  We have been so blessed by such a great group of nurses and staff!

Step by step, we are seeking to be faithful to what the Lord has called us to here in the valley.  We are seeking to keep our focus on Christ.  His love for the people, His desire that none would be lost. 

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things,  
and in him all things hold together.  
Col. 1:15-17

Thursday, March 15, 2018

The One True God!

Typically, the devotions for our time with the widows focuses on New Testament stories of Jesus.  Lately, I have realized that they don't know any stories from the Old Testament either - none.  

I think of the HOURS that we spent with our kids reading them stories from the Bible when they were little.  They had this foundation of Biblical knowledge that came together when they met Jesus in a real and personal way.  It gave them a more 'rounded' picture.  I want this for the widows as well.

So in February, we talked about Gideon.  I put my sweater on the ground like a fleece.  Don even acted some of it out.  He had a fake "horn, torch and clay pot" - really, a rolled up piece of paper, an 'unlit' stick and a 5-gallon bucket that he threw on the ground (it didn't break so they had to use their imaginations!!).  I wish I had photos but I was reading (and laughing) and Don was 'acting'.  I am sure the Lifegate Church team was so enthralled by our re-enactment that they didn't get any photos either!! ;)

In March, I told the story of Elijah on Mt. Carmel.  One of my very favorite stories from the Bible.  We didn't have any props although Don wanted to participate again. I just wasn't sure how to get 'fire from heaven' to look real!! ;)

The question that Elijah put forth to King Ahab was 'are you willing to put your god to the test?'  The One that answers is the One True God!

We typically don't worship Baal or any other statues but we have false gods in our lives.  The god of money, the god of education, the god of convenience, the god of success.  Anything that is set up above the One True God is an idol. Anything that we 'worship' or prioritize above the Lord is an idol. We have them.  May the Lord reveal them to us so we can put Him where He belongs.  May the widows see the One True God as we reach out to them each month and share our faith in Him.



Getting their baskets ready!



The team from First Church of the Nazarene was so willing to help with anything!



Mica buying the baskets.


Time for the devotion.


All go home with a bag of food!


This team also helped with the Goat Project by building some enclosures for the widows that are a part of the program.  If you are interested in hearing more, subscribe to our monthly newsletter here.

The story in my Spanish Children's Bible ended with "El Señor es Dios! El Señor es Dios!".  It was fun to shout this out as I ended my story so the widows would hear it but it was for me as well.  Nothing should be higher than the Lord in my life. 

Nothing. 

Period.