Joan (posted by Kristin and Kent)

 Yesterday (Thursday) we met a young woman named Joan who had cerebral palsy.  She struggled to walk and had difficulty using her hands or holding her head steady or even speaking, although you could tell what she was saying if you listened carefully.  When it was her turn for a Bible study Kristin came over and helped her walk over to sit with her and visit.  The visit was good and it was clear that she was a friendly and sweet girl.  However, the most memorable moment came when Kristin asked her if she had any prayer requests and Joan responded, “I want to look like you.”  It made me want to cry hearing her talk about how she just wanted to be normal, knowing there was nothing our doctors, or any doctors, could do for her.  Later she went in to see the nurses and asked Jennifer, the nurse, why she was the way she was.  Jennifer told her it was probably from a difficult birth, but I think we all knew deep down that wasn’t the answer she was looking for.

Last night we talked several times about Joan and how we wished we could have encouraged or helped her more.  Tonight, we were about half way through the Crusade when Joan walked in and sat down three seats over from Kent.  As the sermon went on I (Kent) found my heart breaking for Joan.  I wanted so badly to tell her that she was beautiful and that God made her wonderfully and that it would all be better someday.  So I found myself sitting and crying through the end of the sermon.  As soon as we were dismissed, Kristin and I went to Joan to tell her all of the things that we wanted her to know, that she was beautiful, that God loved her and we did too, that we had thought about her and prayed for her and we were so glad to see her.  She was a truly courageous person who is living such a hard life. 

I (Kristin) was so moved by Joan.  She had to walk at least several blocks alone to get to the Crusade.  So many people had told me this week that they would come to the Crusade and they had not.  It would have been so easy for them to come and be blessed and receive God’s blessing and they didn’t.  And yet here was Joan, the one who had not been blessed and who had to go through so much just to come.  I was so touched and we both hugged her and tried to encourage her.  When we finally joined the circle of team members and local workers Kent and I just stood there and cried, wishing we could do so much more.

Joan left the clinic with all the meds we could give her and a new pair of eyeglasses and sunglasses.  She came looking for answers.  I hope she at least left with love, because our hearts and prayers certainly are with her.

Tuesday (by Kent)

Today was one of the more unique days I can remember having in Guyana.  Still no luggage, but more to come on that later.  Alton was sick this morning but is feeling better tonight, and Jessie had heat problems and came back to hotel this afternoon, and a couple of others were close to dropping as well.  We changed part of our set-up today and logistics went much smoother and we saw over 180 people today and had 1 person get baptized (which makes 4 this week).  The clinic almost came to a halt for awhile when torrential rainfall made it impossible to do most of the work for about half an hour.  All in all, it was a really good day and our team of 28 people (with several sick) was still able to do almost as much as some of our larger teams, especially with the help of some of the brethren from the Ann’s Grove church.  I got to preach tonight and shared the lesson about God restoring the 7th day that I gave at church last Sunday.  Its always exciting to me to get to preach down here, so that was fun and hopefully meaningful to the Guyanese who were there.

Two stories stood out the most to me today.  First, I was visiting with a young woman named Nalini who attends a Word of Faith congregation in the area.  She shared with me that she had lost her 11 year old son, Ronald one year ago when he was hit and killed by two cars.  Eddie was nearby and I asked him to sit with us and he was amazing and sharing with her and loving her and showing love and sympathy for her.  She shared with us how she felt like nobody down here cared, apologized, or tried to get justice for her son.  It was so powerful to me to see Eddie who has known that kind of pain thousands of miles from here, and watch him help this woman who so badly needed somebody to care and cry with and talk to.  It was all I could do to keep from crying myself for about the next half hour.  We also introduced her to the preacher at Ann’s Grove, Farosh, and he shared with her how much this is a loving and caring family, and not just a church.  I hope Nalini finds a church that can love her and listen to her.

The second story was a young man who often helps out at the church but has never become a member or been baptized.  Moy has spent many days helping Farosh, and studied with Aaron some yesterday.  Today he came to the clinic and wanted to be baptized and Farosh asked Leah and I to study with him some more and make sure he understood before he was baptized.  When Leah and I sat down and asked him why he wanted to make this committment, he simply said that he has been sitting inside of and around the clinic for the last two days and seen what we are doing and how we are doing it and it has made him want to be a part of that.  It reminded me how much our example, attitude, and service towards others can help them experience God’s love in ways that our words sometimes can’t. 

To give you an idea what everybody did today, I think that Polly worked with the kids.  Kristin, Jessie, Angie, and Becky worked in medical.  Kent, Leah, Aaron, Josh, and Roland worked in the Bible study area.  Frank worked the gate.  Eddie split time between Bible studies and helping with logistics and the gate.  Vincent was everywhere but helped mostly with water, kids, and anything else he was asked to do.  Bill directed traffic and Alton was getting healthy and is ready to get going again tomorrow.  Keep us in your prayers and remember Nalini and Moy as well.

Good news, Bad news…(posted by Kent)

Good news…we have arrived safely at our hotel in Georgetown, Guyana.  The Grand Coastal is a wonderful site for travel weary eyes.  You can see if from home at www.grandcoastal.com.  We got to the hotel 24 hours and 12 minutes after meeting at IHOP in Oklahoma City.

Bad news…Satan isn’t very creative in his attempts to thwart (that’s right, I used the word “thwart” in a missions blog) our work here in Guyana.  He has onced again used an airline to lose our luggage.  All 15 members of our team arrived with no checked luggage.  Our best guess is that its still at JFK. 

Good news…Jax Beach got here with all of the medical supplies, eye glasses, and other things that we need to start a medical clinic tomorrow and share the Gospel with people. 

Bad news…our luggage isn’t here.  If you want to help, please pray that it arrives quickly.  If you want to chip in and help with “Operation Squeeky Wheel” you can make complaints online at www.delta.com.  (I am not sure if I am kidding or not, so I guess its up to you.)

Good news…Joel is preaching right now at the Ann’s Grove Church of Christ and getting them pumped about everything God is going to do there this week.  The rest of our team is sleeping for the next several hours.

Good news sidenote…I got to sit next to Larry Jones, the founder of Feed the Children, on our first flight yesterday.  We got to talk quite a bit and it was a pretty cool experience.  I think he and I are going to do lunch sometime.

Good news for me…I am going to sleep now.  Keep us in your prayers…they have got us here safely so far and we are definitely thankful for that.

Final Score:  Good news: 5, Bad news: maybe 1.  Looks like the Good news is winning.