The end of the year already ? wow!

 

It has really been an unusual year without a doubt and in my opinion it has ended that way also.

 

 

I was reading a short article the other day about Christmas and one person asked, Do we really have to give to everyone that we are related too?  Because if I do not, I feel guilty.?  The editor stated, No, I do not believe so and I do not think you should feel guilty if you do not.

 

A few days later, I was speaking with a good friend and he asked me a similar question.

I said, I do not think that it is necessary and I also stated that being very low on funds, that pretty much answers the question for you as to what I will do.?

I am not buying hardly anything for my family this year because I cannot afford it and really do not want too.  We love each other very much and I believe that that is what is most important.

 

I was thinking about it later and the thought came to me, I know that the Bible states that it is better to give than receive, however I do not think that the Lord meant material things.

 

What I think that people should be giving is love, lots of love to their families and friends.

 

With all of the economic problems, it appears that many still cannot get rid of the materialistic ideas and sad to say that because of the TV, the whole world is becoming that way and willing to kill sometimes to get what they want.

 

The other day there was a graduation and I was invited to attend and asked to stand up with one child.  I am not really sure how to explain it, except maybe it would be similar to a God-parent.

Anyway, as a gift I gave her a Bible and a blouse that Dori picked out.  The girl was disappointed to only get that and especially upset that one of the two gifts was a Bible and this girl is an orphan.  It is the garbage on the commercials and the wanting to have what others have, that is the real problem,  I told my wife Dori that I think most of people and even those in the church seem to have forgot what the tenth commandment is.

 

Today, I went over to see David and check of him (I will write more about that in a little bit) and on the way there and on the way back to La Ceiba, I passed a house where some very poor people live.  In fact, if I had not seen people there and some clothes hanging outside I would have thought that it was an abandoned house.  Anyway they had a tree growing out front and to be in the Christmas spirit and yet being so poor, they put colored paper on the tree instead of lights.

I thought, being poor does not mean that you have to die or think negative all of the time,? they were doing what they could to enjoy what they had, even if what they have is close to nothing!

 

A few days ago I was in a bank visiting with the bank president.  A nice lady that I have known for many years, I was asking her about her retiring, she had told me a few months ago that at the end of the year she would be leaving and during the conversation we discussed a problem that she said they were having at the church she attends.

She said that some street vendors have decided to put their carts out in front of the church and sell their items there.  Which by the way, blocks the entrance to the church.

She said that they were probably going to get a lawyer because of the problem and also because the mayor did not seem interested in assisting them even though it is illegal for them to be in front of a church.

I said, Why not go and witness to them and tell them about Jesus, they will either leave or listen to you and you will have won some lost souls to the Lord.?

She said that is a really good idea, we are having a church board meeting today and I wil bring that up with the members.

I believe that the Lord gave me those words and it could be that the Lord put those people there just for that reason, to be witnessed too.

 

**Update, a couple of days after I wrote what is above, one person did accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  I hope and pray that many more do the same. AMEN!!

 

The other morning I received a phone call, which was similar to this.

?Ron, David has been in a very bad accident, he was in the van and was hit head-on by a bus.?

 

The person said that from what they had heard, David had pulled over to the side because he had three passengers with him and they wanted to stop to get something at a poperia (a very small convenience store).  They left the van and David stayed, a minute later a bus came around the corner, went over the line and smashed into the van.

The front end is so pushed in that the steering wheel is about one inch from the driver?s seat.

I asked where David was and was he alive?  They said that he was taken to the emergency room in La Ceiba, about a half hour from the accident.  So I went to the hospital to see him and he was there.  When I looked at him, he had blood on him and ankle that was swelling because it was broken and he was in lots of pain.  About then the doctor came over and said that David needed to go for X-rays, to see how bad the ankle was as well as his chest, he had a lot of pain there also.  He may have had a concussion; however they did not check it.

The next day, the results were that the ankle was almost destroyed; the doctors put a temporary cast because he said he couldn?t repair it.  They said that nothing else was broken.

 

David said when he saw the bus coming he knew that it was time to go see Jesus.

He thought he was dead for a few moments after the crash, he said he had his eyes closed for a few moments and it was so quiet and peaceful that he was looking for the angels.

About then he heard someone hitting the driver?s window and calling his name and he realized that he was still alive.  The front window was destroyed and the drivers side, so they had to take him out the side door of the van.

 

Now the best part of the accident, can an accident have a best part? well you decide.

 

I believe that when God is with us there has to be a best part.  First of all David lived, he thought he was going to die and many people who were at the accident later after David was gone asked how many people died.  Number two miracle, the bus was full of passengers and not one was even hurt.  Number three, there was a bicycle rider between the bus and David about to pass David when somehow he noticed the bus, he dropped the bike and started to run and immediately his bike was hit and destroyed.  Then the bus hit Davids van.

Number four, the people in the van with David (who went to the poperia) always, always leave their baby/little boy in the vehicle.  The man got out to leave, walked a little ways and went back, picked up the little boy, walked a little ways again toward the store and SMASH!

 

Miracle five, David told me a few days after the accident that although he did not want to be in an accident obviously, he said if his van was not there and the bus did what it did (driver went to fast and was in the wrong lane and then some) David said if he would not have been there the bus would have went down a hill and possible many of the people would have been killed and/or injured.  There may even be more miracles that I don?t even know of.

 

One sad part of course is that the van is destroyed and they will not have a vehicle to transport the children from the orphanage to school when it starts in February.

Also, please pray that God heals David?s ankle because the doctors do not know how.

If you do not remember who David is, he is the missionary that I have been working with for the last four years at the school we are constructing (very slowly this year) I pray the Lord will have more blessings for next year.

 

As another year comes to a close I want to express my deep gratitude for your prayers and helping us.  May the Lord bless you with His bountiful provision.  May you receive good health and long life to enjoy the many benefits of God.  May the Lord give you His peace and joy as you walk in obedience to His Word.  May His grace and favor be upon you as you pray for the lost.  I pray that God will give you strength and protection on your mission with Him in 2012.

    

 

 

 

 

         We hope and pray that you have a fantastic day ! all day on Christmas day!

          May you have a wonderful New Year ? all year.  Praise the Lord Jesus!!

                                                                                                         

We want to thank you for all that you have done for us over the years and especially for assisting in helping the poor here to live a better life and of course, to encourage us so that they will learn about the Word of God and positively ? Jesus!

May all the glory and praise go to our Heavenly Father ? Praise our blessed Lord!

God bless you and your family.  May the Lord be with you always.  AMEN!