Edified and Multiplied
“And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, ‘Why stand ye here all the day idle?’ They say unto him, ‘Because no man hath hired us.’ He saith unto them, ‘Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.’” Matthew 20:6-7
Our family is only three weeks into the labor God has called us to do. Yet, those three weeks have only continued to prove to us we can trust the Lord who promised, “Whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.” We can trust Jesus—entirely and without negotiation. He doesn’t need our opinion or counsel on what our job duties should entail or how our compensation should be delivered. He knows His servants well, and they can trust Him in all things.
As I look back on the past three weeks, three confirmations of God’s faithfulness stand out.
First, the churches here in Honduras are growing in grace. It is impossible to work alongside the local ministers without being blessed by their callings and humbled by their labor. Where we might be tempted to pass by on the other side of the road, these dear brothers rush in to provide help in time of need. As we become more familiar with each of the churches, the impact of these men of God who have embraced the message of the gospel of the Body of Christ is undeniable. On the human side of things, what happens here over the next several decades will be the story of these local ministers more than anyone else. It is our pleasure to come and hold up their hands.
Through their leadership, the young people here are also growing, with young couples receiving a vision of Godly homes, overcoming, and restoration. In each location, we can see young men who are providing important strength to the assembly and are preparing to guide their families into generational transformation. There is no greater joy than watching people become new creatures in Christ, and we get to be eyewitnesses to the metamorphosis.
Second, we have seen God’s faithfulness in our children’s transition to living in a new country. As parents of seven with ages ranging from five to fifteen, we were prepared for a wide range of possible reactions. But God is already working among them in ways we could never deserve. We have watched the young ones quickly cope with practical changes like no longer having a bathtub or getting a high-and-tight haircut from a barber with a straight razor. And we have watched each of the children developing and renewing friendships that cross potential barriers of language and culture. As they dance together in the Holy Ghost, they already have more in common than the world could ever imagine.
Finally, we were blessed to host a couple of angels from Jacksonville, Florida, only a few days after our arrival. Bro. Leland and Sis. Andrea Anderson sacrificed their time to come to Honduras to assist in our relocation. Little did we know how important their help would be. They had asked us to prepare a “to do” list for them, but God had bigger help in mind. As they arrived, our entire water system was malfunctioning, with minimal hot water, significant pressure problems, and unexpected water use that nearly burned up our pump. Within just a few hours, Bro. Leland diagnosed a problem we didn’t know we had. He located an external water leak, and, by fixing it, simultaneously solved the pressure, temperature, and volume issues we had been experiencing. Thank you, Lord, for the Body of Christ!
So, like the truck in the picture at the top of the page, we find ourselves feeling a little overwhelmed. God is truly good all the time, and His mercy endures forever. “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.” (Psalms 68:19)