The first day of our official workweek took a lot of planning by our team leader. There is no running to the large home improvement centers for supplies or a GPS to guide you to your site. Planning, preparation and prayer are what get you were you want to go. The location required two trips to get us all there in addition to the precious supplies and generator. And the drive in it self took an hour there, another hour back to the mission house and then one more hour to deliver the last of us. One car, a team of seven, plus the driver and supplies finally on task 3 hours later.
“Unfortunately, there seems to be far more opportunity out there than ability.... We should remember that good fortune often happens when opportunity meets with preparation.”
― Thomas Edison
We passed the “church without walls” as the drive took us deeper into the storm torn island. The dirt road that traversed through the countryside, was a glimpse of what these villages had endure with typhoon winds up to 195 MPH. But on the other hand the island was resilient and strong like those who live here.
Philippians 4:13, “I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.” (GNT)
Looking out the window on one side of the car laid the rice fields with a river, and scattered here and there were water buffalo…which served as their power in farming. Out the other side was a costal mountain ridge. As we traveled along its base and up slightly in elevation, we were treated to a beautiful view of the valley. And then suddenly as we rounded a curve in the narrow road, we came upon men working to install power lines; this area had been without power for 5 months! Carefully our driver maneuvered by the vehicles and workers in the road. Continuing on there were areas were the downed coconut palms had been drug to the side of the road, cut into boards, and then used by the locals for rebuilding. Nothing would go to waste…where tragedy struck…opportunity could be seen.
“What is the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity?
Our attitude toward it.
Every opportunity has a difficulty,
and every difficulty has an opportunity.”
J. Sidlow Baxter
“Unfortunately, there seems to be far more opportunity out there than ability.... We should remember that good fortune often happens when opportunity meets with preparation.”
― Thomas Edison
We passed the “church without walls” as the drive took us deeper into the storm torn island. The dirt road that traversed through the countryside, was a glimpse of what these villages had endure with typhoon winds up to 195 MPH. But on the other hand the island was resilient and strong like those who live here.
Philippians 4:13, “I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.” (GNT)
Looking out the window on one side of the car laid the rice fields with a river, and scattered here and there were water buffalo…which served as their power in farming. Out the other side was a costal mountain ridge. As we traveled along its base and up slightly in elevation, we were treated to a beautiful view of the valley. And then suddenly as we rounded a curve in the narrow road, we came upon men working to install power lines; this area had been without power for 5 months! Carefully our driver maneuvered by the vehicles and workers in the road. Continuing on there were areas were the downed coconut palms had been drug to the side of the road, cut into boards, and then used by the locals for rebuilding. Nothing would go to waste…where tragedy struck…opportunity could be seen.
“What is the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity?
Our attitude toward it.
Every opportunity has a difficulty,
and every difficulty has an opportunity.”
J. Sidlow Baxter
We came to one more river, crossed a bridge, turned at a “T-intersection” and there was the village where we would be working. On one side of the narrow street were homes and on the other the school. Our driver entered through a gate and then parked on the grassy grounds of the school as we took in our work site…the damage was easy to identify. Roofs were missing and trees that once provided ample shade for the students and teachers were stripped of branches, yet tender leaves were budding at an attempt to regain their stature. And then I noticed them, a swarm of children, smiling faces and hands waving…all on vacation, parents working, their daily chores completed they were ready to visit and spend time with our team. And this is where I was graced with another wonderful opportunity…wrapped in a blessing.
I need to share something with you before I go any further. I had practiced hammering nails for weeks in preparation for this mission. I am a registered nurse, chaplain, women’s and mission’s ministry leader, mom of five, and grandma of 5 with one on the way to make a wonderful half dozen. I love life, my husband, gardening and Jesus. Nowhere in my life experiences have I hammered nails on a roof! But I told Judi the coordinator for CSBDRM, that I was not afraid of hard work. To honor that and the privilege of coming I practiced daily hammering nails. I hammered until I got it down.
2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (ESV)
But you know what? I may have these ideas of who I am, the experiences that fit nicely under my belt, and the desire to do this or that…but my father in Heaven has the best plans for me and knows exactly where I belong and when to place me there.
Ephesians 1:18-20, “I ask that your minds may be opened to see his light, so that you will know what is the hope to which he has called you, how rich are the wonderful blessings he promises his people, and how very great is his power at work in us who believe. This power working in us is the same as the mighty strength which he used when he raised Christ from death and seated him at his right side in the heavenly world.” (GNT)
So…what happened next, I will forever hold dear to my heart for years to come. You see God took all of those experiences, the needs in this village and the prayer requests and said, “here you go Caprice…I am trusting you with these little hearts.”
My job for the next two days was to keep these kids busy and out from under the feet of our team. These kids, where precious, and more important God knew what the last five months had been for them and their families. So we played games, helped organize moving lumber from one building needing repair to the next and again we sang songs together. In other words the Lord was laying a different type of foundation.
But you know what? I may have these ideas of who I am, the experiences that fit nicely under my belt, and the desire to do this or that…but my father in Heaven has the best plans for me and knows exactly where I belong and when to place me there.
Ephesians 1:18-20, “I ask that your minds may be opened to see his light, so that you will know what is the hope to which he has called you, how rich are the wonderful blessings he promises his people, and how very great is his power at work in us who believe. This power working in us is the same as the mighty strength which he used when he raised Christ from death and seated him at his right side in the heavenly world.” (GNT)
So…what happened next, I will forever hold dear to my heart for years to come. You see God took all of those experiences, the needs in this village and the prayer requests and said, “here you go Caprice…I am trusting you with these little hearts.”
My job for the next two days was to keep these kids busy and out from under the feet of our team. These kids, where precious, and more important God knew what the last five months had been for them and their families. So we played games, helped organize moving lumber from one building needing repair to the next and again we sang songs together. In other words the Lord was laying a different type of foundation.
Don’t ever underestimate the good work God has started in who you are…
He takes all of you…
Your pain
Your life lessons
The skills you have been taught
All of it…and then uses…us…you and me
The only hitch…
Your heart has to be willing for the adventure!
He takes all of you…
Your pain
Your life lessons
The skills you have been taught
All of it…and then uses…us…you and me
The only hitch…
Your heart has to be willing for the adventure!
Caprice <><
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