The Missionary

Webster's II New College Dictionary defines a missionary as "One sent on a mission, esp. one sent to do religious or charitable work in a territory or foreign country."  I would like to add a developed definition to this one:
~one who leaves the comfort of his or her own family for the comfort of others who dearly love you and support you in bad times.
~one who has no promise of sufficient financial support to find the thrill of a Heavenly Father who knows the needs unknown to others, and supplies miraculously.
~one who knows what it is to grieve alone, but knows the depths of comfort from the Holy Spirit.
~one who rejoices at all missionary enterprises when they have joy, and one who has a deep interest in everyone everywhere.
~one who does not embrace the value system of the world-money and possessions do not hold much interest to him.
~one who knows that those who do not understand the true meaning of missions will often say cruel and cutting things, but a missionary will remember the core issue and ignore the barbs.
~after being in the presence of a true missionary, I always recognize a different 'heartbeat' in him than most people carry. The missionary's interest in sincerely in individuals.
~missionaries and their children are often 'different.' Perhaps this is sometimes  because they have seen and heard what the average man does not see and hear while they go about their work.
~a missionary who understands his mission recognizes that after all is said and done, Jesus told us to say, "I am an unprofitable servant." Real missionaries do not need to be treated special.
~missionaries know the depths of discouragement that few people feel, and they know the highest joys that are reserved for those who give themselves completely to the mission of God.
Just a few thoughts. May God bless you! Have a wonderful week! Please pray for Lower Brule.

This Week :)

Storm moving in as we drove

This week at Lower Brule started last Monday, as Ray and I drove out in the evening to pick up the trash thrown in the yard, mow the grass and trim it up. We were pleased when we found the yard partly mowed, and we were able to finish the job and trim the yard neatly by dark. We were able to visit some people, also. Throughout the rest of the week, we were preparing the bus to take out and leave at a friend's house where it would be safe during the week, thus diminishing the cost of the fuel that we had been spending to take it or our van back and forth on Sundays. We still need to put some signs on the bus, but we can get that done quite easily. We had decided that we would take Thursday through Saturday for a few days to 'go apart and rest awhile,' and we left the bus near Lower Brule and drove on over to the Black Hills to camp and refresh. We had a wonderful time, and enjoyed God's beauty.

Camping and resting

   Ray and I seldom 'sit alone' on Sunday mornings, but this morning was one of those times. We had a good time praying together, and we sat down together and read some doctrinal statements. We feel that it is very important that we adhere to our doctrine, as a deviance in small points can greatly change our destination. I read the following quote while leisurely reading a book, and I thought it was an interesting one: "...if you don't use heaven as a continual referendum for your ideas you'll find earth a continual recall to your ambitions." ~This Side of Paradise, Francis Scott Fitzgerald

Part of the group today

We had a larger than usual group of children in Sunday School today, though we have had that many before. The children are so precious, and they love to sing and hear the Bible story. Today we told about Peter and John being miraculously released from prison by an angel. They wore their Bible verse home on their arm: "With God all things are possible."  They went home happy and we went home happy-tired. :)

Thank you for your interest in Lower Brule Wesley Chapel. Please pray for the people of Lower Brule.