Missionary Memoirs ? In the mid 80s, we were living in Bakersfield, Ca. I had a good job, nice rented home, fully furnished, inground pool (that I never got to swim in), new car, company car. Things were going well. But then the oil glut came along, and I ended up being laid off. We were attending a Christian Church at the time. So I went and talked to the young pastor there, and told him I felt the LORD had something for me to do, but I did not know what. All I knew was that I would go where HE would send me. He asked, anywhere. I said, anywhere. Jamaica? Yes. He had an uncle who worked in that area, and they knew of this Church of Christ in Montego Bay that had lost the pastor. (At the time, I knew very little about Church of Christ. The pastors wife ran off with someone, and so he went to the states to start life anew. Most of their church funders were friends, social acquaintances. So when this happened, they all quit coming, leaving only a remnant. The church met on the second floor of a building. The bottom floor was a bar room. Not so bad on Sunday. But the evenings were difficult to compete with the noise below. And here they had their church sign out in front of the bar room. But they wanted us to come. So in a few months we sold all our furniture except for the baby bed (we had two children at the time.) And we moved to Jamaica. We rented a two bedroom flat in Montego Bay and lived among the Jamaicans. It was furnished, and had a hot water heater for the shower. All waiting for us when we arrived. I asked someone on the street one day, how difficult was it to find a 2 bedroom flat for rent in MoBay that was furnished. He said, very difficult. I said, what about a 2 bedroom, furnished, with a hot water heater for the shower. Impossible he said. So be it. Each Bedroom had two twin beds. So Debbie and I slept on a twin bed together, in MoBay, with no A/C. And she was pregnant also. :) Preaching at the church was difficult. We typically had 10-20 in attendance, but they were rarely the same 10-20 people. So I was having a difficult time trying to teach them, since I only got one message to share with them. But each day, I was on the street in Montego Bay. It did not take long for the locals to figure out that I was not a tourist. I met this wonderful little boy named Henry. He became my eyes and ears in MoBay. He knew everything that was going on. And he always knew where the place I was looking for was at. He was one of 8 children. I went to his home one day at the beach. A one room 12x20 building on stilts. For 10 people. Needless to say, they lived mostly outdoors. Henry had an electric personality. And the tourists would use him as a tour guide, and usually tip him at least 20 dollars. So he helped support his family. But he did not go to school. That bothered me a lot. I had all kinds of encounters on the streets of MoBay. I also went to a fishing village on the beach. I preached a service down there that was quite serene. The beach, fishing shacks, boats pulled up on the sand, nets hanging everywhere. Get the picture. A local open bible church choir came and sang for me. It was glorious. I also met this lady from Bethel Town (about 15 miles away in the mountains). She came to some meetings at the CoC. She invited me up to her village. So I went. She showed me her home up on the hill side, where she and her husband lived. She was about 55 I think. Anyway, she began telling me about the Thomas family. Oh brother Lahry, the whole district knows about the Thomas family. They are wild as the beasts. I come home with my groceries and the little boys entertain themselves by knocking the grocery bags from my arms, and pulling and tearing at my cloths. (demonic for sure). So we agreed to pray for the Thomas family. A friend of mine from California came down to visit for a week or so and preach at the church house. (in the evenings with the bar room noise below.) So I took him on a day cruise up to Bethel Town. He took up with some young people, and some how we got separated. There I was just walking down this gravel road. I happened in front of this house with a fenced yard. Obviously a large family there. Children playing in the yard, older girls hanging out laundry. Obviously, my white skin was an instant curiosity. So I spoke them, and they struck up conversation. They asked me if Id like a glass of water, and I accepted. So I sat down in the doorway that goes into the house, but I was facing the yard. Me and grandma struck up a conversation. They of course wanted to know what I was doing in their neighborhood. So I told them. As we talked on, I realized I had begun just sharing with them about the love of GOD in HIS SON. So here comes one or two out of the yard to join us. Then one or two more. In short order, they were all sitting at my feet. I knew that what was happening, was far bigger than me. Long story short, they all repented and became born again. A couple weeks later, I was walking down the street in MoBay. And I heard this shrieking cry behind me, BRO LAHRY. It was the lady from Bethel Town. Oh brother Lahry, its all over the district. What is, I asked. She said, the Thomas family got saved. (Im weeping as I share this with you.) The family I ministered too, was the Thomas family. I had no idea. But me and this precious lady had a worship service right there on the side walk. I did not expect that I would get so emotionally involved in giving this account. The thought has occurred to me, that maybe I should write more about the countless times HE has come through for me, and for others. There are so many details that go with this story, the story of little Henry. So much to share. Perhaps I need to take this on as a project. Maybe someone will read it, and a missionary will be born... :) There is no earthly reason why I have lived 71 years, and seen what I have seen, experienced such intimate and loving things with YEHOVAH and HIS children. I should have been snuffed decades ago, to make the world a better place to live. Looking back, I would have never chosen a wretch like me to do anything worthwhile. I was anything but, an iconic Christian. I was so biblically ignorant, though I did not know it at the time. Maybe stupid is a better word. Id like to tell, that I have finally arrived, and all is well, and in order. That is anything but the truth. Its still a walk of faith and hope, not in me, but in HIM. Its just a one day at a time adventure. You never know what the day will unfold. You just have to pray and hope you will be ready to respond as would YESHUA, with what HE places in our path to manage. Its not about title, position, control, or authority. Its all about HIM. That makes each day a priceless gift, be it eventful or not. In HIM, is a treasure that few ever dare to search for, much less find. HIS yoke is easy, HIS burden is light. Apart from HIM, we can do nothing. But in HIM, we can do all things, as long as those things are HIS will, at any given moment. I pray your day in the LORD is blessed.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 15:25:19 +0000
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