Book Summaries

In all of “Life’s Lessons”, God chooses different times to teach me, but this is one that God has taught me since a child. The 10th “Life’s Lesson” is Living With what God has Given Me.

Even though I may be a missionary and a preacher, I still must remember what the words of Christa are: “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” (Lu 12:15). I can not place my eyes upon what my hands can grasp. I must be careful to not covet big things that are not meant for me.

For me this truth goes back to my childhood. I did not grow up in a big house and have money to spare. I thank God for the way He allowed me to be raised and do not regret it at all. But I must be honest about this truth. When I became a missionary, I began to administer money that I had not administered before. I began to see that while we were on deputation that we could have went to better restaurants or bought nicer items for our house, etc. But the Lord reminded me that none of this was “real” riches. Life does not consist of these riches one posses. The money was not to look at or covet after, rather a tool to use for the Lord and the Lord’s work. Continue reading “Life’s Lessons on the Mission Field – Part X”

Luke 10:8 – “And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:”

“Life’s Lesson” #9 is eating what is put before me. Without a doubt, not accepting someone’s food is not accepting someone’s generosity. I have been put to the test more than one time, but praise the Lord I was taught manners and taught to eat what is put before me.

When we first arrived to Argentina, we were invited to eat at someone’s house. Arriving when we were supposed to arrive and being nervous, we began to talk and waited on the food. This was going to be one of our first times to eat a real Argentine “asado” (meat on the grill). We sat at the table, prayed and was served our food. I thought nothing could be negative or wrong with meat on the grill, but I found out that not everything was placed on the grill was not meat. I was served intestines along with other parts of the animal. I began to eat, but did so very slowly to avoid receiving more on my plate. I ate everything that was given to me and to this day thank the Lord that I did …. because now those 2 people that fed us are some of the strongest leaders in our church today. What would have happened if we would have said no and not eaten the food that was given to us? I believe we could have been turned off in their mind and we would not be blessed with these great leaders in our church today. Continue reading “Life’s Lessons on the Mission Field – Part IX”

I must say that this “Life’s Lesson” is one that is hard for me to learn. It is a “Life’s Lesson” that has been hard to me in every area of life, but has taken a new approach since being on the mission field. “Life’s Lesson” #8 is the lesson of patience.

Since God has made every person different and unique, patience may come easy to some whereas difficult to others. I can not blame on God that he “geared” me different from another person, rather I must learn to be more like Christ and learn to become patient.

Since my life has very much to do with serving people, I regularly meet with people at church, coffee shops, my house, in town, etc. But when I ask to meet with someone, I like to keep a schedule. Not only in Argentina, but globally, many people do not arrive exactly on time … therefore trying my patience. To wait for them and practice patience, many times makes my blood boil. Going to customs and waiting on paperwork, trying to pay bills, waiting for a phone company to fix your phone, trying to buy a simple house-hold article, etc., truly requires patience. Continue reading “Life’s Lessons on the Mission Field – Part VIII”

There is a very important “Life’s Lesson” that I have learned or am learning on the mission field and that is What is a missionary really supposed to do?

When I was 16 years old, the Lord clearly put it upon my heart to serve Him – and more specifically I felt He was directing me to the mission field. I desired to be a missionary, but did not know exactly was a missionary really was. Finally getting to college and then language school, the Lord began forming me more and more to what He would have for my life. I was very fortunate to have met a veteran missionary, Austin Gardner, who took me under his wing and began teaching me what missions really was.

When I finally arrived to Argentina in 2004, we started up and within a short amount of time the Lord sent us great young people who became pillars and leaders in the churches. I thought I was doing what a missionary really is supposed to do. I thought by leaving the United States and starting a church on foreign soil, that this was enough, but it really wasn’t what I was supposed to do. I was taught that anyone can cross a border – military, army, tourist, business men, etc … and I was no more spiritual than any of these men by simply living on foreign soil. So what was I supposed to do? Continue reading “Life’s Lessons on the Mission Field – Part VII”