Or is it still Day VIII from week one? My days/trips have run together but it is all good!
Happy Independence Day even though it is technically over on the calendar. I thank God for the folks who have given of themselves to insure our freedoms in America. May America bless God!
It is just before midnight and the last of our three waves of team members have now arrived. Pastor Abel Garcia and his wife, Lynne, came with two others from 1st Baptist Freeport, TX and they were the first arrivals of the day. Next came Mike, Marlene, & Garrett Borja from Gulfport, MS along with several members of my immediate family (I was glad to see my wife and girls). Then Pastor Danny Sinquefield and Bret Hart arrived in the early afternoon with nine others from Faith Baptist of Bartlett, TN. Pastor Terry Rainey and Pastor Eddie Burdette have led a group of fifteen others here from Motlow Creek Baptist and Shady Grove Baptist in South Carolina. (These two are huge Clemson fans and I have already let them know that we have 8/30 circled on our calendar!)
Believe it or not, I have postponed our morning Bible study time to 8:00AM because of the late arrival by the South Carolina folks. That doesn’t happen often!
I need to go back to the first trip and let the members of the Friendship family know that the chairman of our deacons, whom I will let remain anonymous, received a traffic ticket in Guatemala Friday morning! He was bound for jail but I interceded on his behalf – he owes me! Actually, we got pulled over for a check point and they got him for not wearing a seat belt. Yes, that is a law in Guatemala.
Please pray for Josh Caldwell, youth pastor at Motlow Creek Baptist, as he has been diagnosed with cancer. It is my understanding that surgery will take place this Monday, 7/7. His mother, Laura, was to have been on this trip but obviously had to change her plans. Pray for Josh!
Also, Pastor Danny Sinquefield’s wife was taken to the hospital last night but was sent home. She recently had surgery and this episode was directly related to that surgery.
I spoke with Dr. Tony Matheu about Estuardo’s situation and the process is beginning to determine if he needs surgery. It appears that he does so please join me in praying for him. Dan Smith and his ministry are continuing to pay Estuardo and that is a good thing. Pray for Paradise Bound Ministries too as they adjust to their loss and deal with the financial issues of doing ministry.
Well, I have kitchen duty in a few hours so I had best get some rest. Thanks to the person from the first team who left me the card – sweet & kind! Pray for this team as they begin ministering this morning!