We bought a 2020 planner. By the middle of January, it was already filling up! Baseball, mission teams, youth group, preaching opportunities, teaching invitations, etc. Then, our baby would be born in the middle of April. We had planned to take some time off and be ready to jump in to our regular routines come May.
However, like many of you, we had to toss our planners to the side and completely surrender to God´s ¨new¨ plan. To be honest, Robersy and I have thanked the LORD daily for the shift in our focus. We had been busy. Too busy. And were losing focus on the call that God had placed on our lives.
I will not sugarcoat the struggle of having a baby in the middle of this crisis while on a foreign field, as well as walking through loss and grief with family and fellow missionaries. Still even through the difficulties, we have had a choice to use this unexpected ¨break¨ in our schedules to argue controversial views on masks, gloves and politics… or to live in obedience to God´s call on our lives and bring glory to HIS name.
How will we continue to serve on the mission field in the middle of a world wide pandemic? Over the last 2 months, we´ve delivered over 120 bags of food to families in need in Juan Dolio, Guayacanes, and Boca Chica through our local church. We´ve stood in awe of how God has provided through supporters, church members and even two pastors whom we had never met but who turned up to our home with over 400lbs of rice because God had led them to do so. We´ve had opportunities to encourage fellow missionaries and even visit and encourage our local pastors, while practicing social distancing. Robersy has been given opportunities to preach via video for our local church and though baseball practice is not happening over Zoom… discipleship is.
You see, when God calls us to do something, no virus or any other barrier can prevent it. We simply get creative and we teach, disciple, give, encourage, and grow. Our prayer is that when we finally emerge from this ‘coronapocalypse’ that our marriage, family and faith may be stronger than ever and that our home, church and ministry may be forever changed for HIS GLORY.
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