News Letter - July 2011
Greetings brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus,
I would like to share with you about two things I’ve been learning: Faith and Fear. Two short words, but in these two words lay the fate of every believer in Christ. Faith can cause a Christian to go forward and see what God can do, or Fear can cause a believer to play it safe and stay as you are, safe and sound.
It is my blessing to have you all in one family, the body, the church of Christ! Here in Belize I have the privilege of seeing firsthand what that means to have brothers and sisters that will lift you up in prayer to a Savior who cares! Thanks to your prayers my Faith conquered my Fear!
A wise man once said “it’s not foolish to give away what you can’t keep, to gain what you can’t lose." Of course, the author was talking about life on this earth compared to a life with Christ forever .If a Christian wants to grow they must be willing to be stretched here and there. Over the past few months I learned a lot about both, conquering Fear and gaining Faith.
We had hit an impasse here at the school. We had a void between the building and the driveway and we needed about 50 or 60 yards of fill. The fill would enable us to walk on to the main floor without walking across 14 feet of 2x6 planks. Pray as I might nothing seemed to happen. Days and then weeks went by yet nothing was happening, and I found myself trying to find other ways to fill the hole. I tried to rearrange the finances, maybe, surely something could be done. Then, during my prayer time God seemed to say "Wait on Me." So, I decided to do just that.
But Fear set in and I started to lose Faith. A few days later an Amish friend named David stopped by and gave me encouragement. Then it happened. It was the end of dry season and it was bone dry and to make things worse there have been fires all over Belize. Seventy-five percent of the country was swallowed in smoke except here at BTG. Then a small brush fire that Randy, my helper, was working got away from him and it jumped to the jungle next door and started to grow fast. David and I grabbed a bucket and started in. David moved in and out, up and down, fearlessly. About 2 hours later we had it under control and an hour after that it was out. In the middle of the crisis I asked God for help and now that it was all over I was asking Him "Why?" That’s when God showed His patience and love for someone who didn’t have much of either.
To make a long story short the fire revealed a pile of stone and marl fill that has been buried for at least 20 years since the village built the first road. When I asked about the fill, the village said that I could have it! Isn’t God good. That Sunday another ministry let me use their 15 yard dump truck and their backhoe and even the truck driver donated his time. I wonder what would have happened or how long it would have took if I didn't wait on the Lord.
In Hebrews 11: 6 it tells us that ”without faith it is imposable to please Him”, and in the book of James the scriptures say “yea a man may say, thou have faith and I have works: show me faith without thy works, and I will show thee faith by my works”. Well, my Faith has grown and I pray that you will allow God to stretch you and be blessed by growing in Faith as well. It is amazing!
Rainy season is here and rain is in the forecast for the next...forever! It seems that way anyhow. Rain is definitely in the forecast for the next 10 days but maybe after that, God willing, there may be sunshine.
Things here at Bridge the Gap have been going well. Before the rain started, God supplied lots of sun and of course heat to do many projects. Praise the Lord of Hosts we poured the 46 yards of cement for the main floor shared dinning/chapel area and office/kitchen area. Then wouldn’t you know it, He also supplied the cement and block for the next phase. Praise God through whom all blessings flow!
These last few weeks have been really exciting! God provided the means to pour the last of the cement and the ring beam that the roof will sit on. Praise the Lord! All that is left is the roof, and I know that God will fulfill that need as He always does.
Thank you for your prayers, the God of Glory hears and acts. Your prayers are most important to Beate and I and we covet them! I pray that God will also continue to bless each one of you as you seek Him.
With our love,
John & Beate
