Pastor's Blog

Louise & Deidra e-mailed me last night to say that the team arrived at the mission house at 11:20PM Guatemala time.  We thank God that they are there safe & sound.  Today will mark the “official” beginning of their ministry as they will build houses and do other things as the Lord directs.  Keep praying for these 23 team members, Louise, and the Fab Five. 

John King arrived back in Guatemala this past Monday and he will be a huge help to our team.  The Lord has really blessed us with some wonderful folks to work alongside GRACE Ministries with John & Laurie being two of them.

Sad news out of Indonesia regarding the explosions in the two hotels.  I immediately thought about my brother, Eddie, who travels a good bit in that part of the world and stays in similar hotels.

I am assuming that the GRACE blog will be updated daily now that Bro. Jerry’s team is there.  You can check later today and this weekend.  Unless something happens here, I will not be posting again until Monday.

I pray that all of our readers, including Sommer, will go to church this Sunday.  I look forward to joining the members of the Friendship family in Bible study and worship.  I pray that you will have a great weekend with Jesus.

After a two hour delay in Dallas, the GRACE team arrived at the Guatemala City airport at 9:45PM our time (8:45PM Guatemala time).  They will probably arrive at the mission house around 10:30 – 11:00PM Guatemala time.  Keep praying!

The computer says that our GRACE team being led by Bro. Jerry has landed safely at DFW.  They will now be there until shortly before 5:00PM when they leave for Guatemala City.  Pray for their continued safety.  I will track the next flight too and update here.  Thanks!

Pray for Gunner Law this morning as he undergoes surgery on his eye.  You can read one of yesterday’s posts to better know his situation.  Gunner is the nephew of Vicki Burnett.

Pray for Pastor Robbie Howard & me as he preaches and I participate in the funeral service for Don Loveless this morning at 10:00AM.  Pray for the Loveless family. 

In hockey they have a “line change” where the entire forward line or defensive line is changed all at once.  (Mark Mast – aren’t you impressed with my hockey knowledge?)  Today is “line change” day for GRACE Ministries.  I am writing this shortly before 4:00AM which means Bro. Johnny’s team is up and about to head for the GC airport to travel home.  Louise & the Fab Five will then hit it hard to get the mission house “turned around” and ready for the next team.  Today will be an easy day for them as the next team arrives tonight.  Bro. Jerry and his team will leave Mobile around noon.  Pray for both of these teams as they travel today.  By the way, Deidra posted two GRACE blogs last night. 

Bro. Johnny’s team helped purchase a new freezer for the mission house.  That is appreciated very much.  Two or three of their guys also worked on the generators and are actually bringing the carburetors home in order for them to be repaired.  I appreciate all this team did for GRACE Ministries this past week.

Samuel has a visa and a plane ticket!  The missions committee approved the purchase of a ticket for him so he will travel to the States on July 30 and return to Guatemala on August 31.  We are working to get him in as many places as possible during those days.  He will definitely be going to Michigan for Leah Compagner’s wedding.  It is going to be great to have Samuel here. 

Pastor Jack Bailey has returned to the blogging world.  He just needs to learn to be more honest in his blogs and to quit trying to sugarcoat everything. 

Gotta go cut grass.  Hope you have a great Thursday with Jesus. 

I have to be honest in telling you that I had some trouble going to sleep last night as I was excited for Samuel.  We serve a great God and I still stand amazed at His goodness!  Pray as we work out the details for his trip to the States.  God is good!

Carla Kyser did receive her treatment yesterday.  Keep praying for her and the others who are battling cancer.  Vera’s brother remains hospitalized. 

Bro. Jerry’s team is packed and ready to load.  They will meet at the church tomorrow morning bound for the airport.  Pray that this last day before departure will be a good one for them.  By the way, does anyone have a suitcase with wheels & a handle they could borrow?  They prefer something in a shade of blue but any color will do!  Call Bro. Jerry at 445 5414 if you can help. 

Back to last week, it is hard for me to believe that Sommer Brock is the only one who knew (or at least answered) the answer to the plug nickel question.  It is even harder for me to accept that a blonde (I mean real blonde) would know the answer.  She probably asked Cody!  Scholars such as Rex Looney, Michael Mason, Jack Ciak, & Jamie Glenn have let me down again.  Honestly, I thought Rex knew everything! 

We are on track for a regular Wednesday with the morning service and evening activities.  The 8:00PM crew will meet at Soy & Deidra’s house.  It’s great as we pull the thermostat down to about 58 and just chill! 

Speaking of thermostats, thanks to Doug Cordelle for taking the time to repair one of the ac units in the CAB yesterday.  Earl Gunter did likewise on the short bus last week.  Thank God for folks who will serve Him however and whenever.  We are blessed with a lot of folks like that! 

I pray that you will have a great Wednesday with Jesus!

Samuel Acan is coming to the USA – glory to God!  I just got word that the lady at the Embassy approved his request and granted him a visa.  I don’t know the details but do know that God answered your prayers!  Hallelujah!  They say Samuel is grinning from ear to ear and can’t stop singing!  Awesome stuff! 

I appreciate Bro. Johnny Tucker going with Samuel and Soy getting them there on time and safely.   Thanks to Louise Mason for all of her help in the application process.  Thanks to Senator Jeff Sessions office and their help.  Thanks to everyone who helped, prayed, et cetera! 

However, all of the glory goes to God!  We recognize this is a total God thing and we don’t take that for granted.  God is good and we give Him the praise!!!

Just heard from Soy again.  Bro. Johnny went inside the Embassy and they said Samuel would need an official document proving his appointment time in order to be allowed in immediately.  He doesn’t have such a document.  The good news is that the line is moving fairly quickly and Samuel is almost inside the building.  So, keep praying! 

It is 3:00PM Central Time and Soy just called to give me an update.  Samuel arrived around 1:00PM for his 1:30PM appointment only to find a line with a couple of hundred folks trying to get into the Embassy.  It is moving at a snail’s pace.  Bro. Johnny is going to try and get inside to ask if they have to remain in that line or if Samuel’s appointment puts him in a different place.  It seems everyone in line had a 1:30PM appointment.  Keep praying!  Thanks!  God is in control!

Marisa Felps left me a voice mail yesterday afternoon asking us to pray for Carla Kyser as she has an appointment with the doctor today.  She is supposed to receive another treatment but that doesn’t always happen as scheduled.  Pray!

Vera Bosarge sent a request from Colorado asking us to continue to pray for her brother, Mose.  He remains hospitalized and is losing blood internally.  David’s mother, Maxine Rogers, is home and doing well. 

The arrangements for Don Loveless are as follows:  visitation tomorrow night, 7/15, from 6:00 – 9:00PM.  The service will take place on Thursday, 7/16, at 10:00AM.  The visitation and service will take place at the Holder Wells Funeral Home in Moss Point, MS. 

Bro. Jerry’s team is in the countdown mode now as they are schedule to leave for Guatemala on Thursday, 7/16.  They will have a packing party tonight beginning at 6:00PM. 

Bro. Johnny’s team is finishing up their week of ministry so pray that they will have a strong final two days. 

Keep praying for the Fab Five (Brandon, Pam, Alisha, Soy & Deidra) as they have a little over two weeks left in their summer ministry.