When God Throws Wide the Door . . .

We must choose to walk through it. 

Our home Church, Meadows Fellowship in Las Vegas, sponsors missionaries to Mexico, Scott and January Wilson. We made a weekend trip to visit them in the Baja California state of Mexico.  Our purpose was to plan short-term mission trips from our church. We thought we were along for the administration side of it.

Unexpectedly we were presented with an opportunity to conduct an eye vision clinic in Mexico just 6 weeks from then. Our first hesitation was the shortness of time; company scheduled to arrive that same week; and all the logistics involved in planning our schedule and getting a supply of eye glasses.

The very next morning, the daily Bible verse confirmed to our hearts that this was God's will. “We will show mercy  to the poor and not miss an opportunity to do acts of kindness for others, for these are the true sacrifices that delight God’s heart.”  Hebrews 13:16 (TPT)

So here we go again! Another new country, another new adventure sharing God's love with those whose hearts are hungry and seeking for love and truth.

We return to Mexico April 27 - 30th.  The trip has multiple purposes:  to show Jesus’ love to the people who come to the community outreach – in a practical way through the eye-vision clinic as well as the ministry of the Word by local believers: and to begin training local believers who have a desire to do eye vision clinics in other parts of their Nation.

We covet your prayers especially during these next few weeks as we plan and prepare.  Please agree with us that all the logistical items will fall into place – provision, resources, physical strength. Pray that all the purposes that God has for this Outreach will be fulfilled in Jesus name.

Thank you for sharing this great adventure with us. Blessings - Pat & Gary

PS - it's a beautiful area on the Coast of Mexico, with delicious seafood and tacos!

What A Year! 2018 in Review

Hi Everyone!

2 Corinthians 9:10-11 reads, "For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.

Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God." (NLT) 

This scripture has had a profound effect on Pat and I.  What are these scriptures saying?  One, that the Lord will always provide seed to the farmer and then bread to eat.  Two, it is His intention to increase your resources, and produce a great harvest of generosity in you.  Third, God wants to enrich you in every way, so that you can always be generous. 

What is the end result?  Is it for you to have more for yourself?  No, it's so people will always be thanking God because of you! 

As we look back and see what was accomplished in 2018 we are amazed!    

Here is a quick recap of what we were able to do through God's grace, your prayers and financial backing.

Children's Outreach

Unnamed Nation: While Pat, Cyndy, Sarah and I were in overseas this past September, we participated in outreaches to the tea plantation and inner-city children, as well as ministry to the local persecuted churches.  School Tutoring, Bible Classes, Sewing and Guitar Lessons are held to encourage and evangelize the area. The inventory of eyeglasses was replenished as the local team continue to do Eye Clinics independently.

Burmese Ministers

Village Preschool

Myanmar:  On-going support for Anna & Khai Pi who minister in a remote village through a preschool, church, medical & sanitation programs.  A motorcycle was bought to help with transportation.  A coffee  plantation has been started to help generate income.

Cambodian Evangelist

Cambodia: Three houses were built in for homeless villagers; 15 families were provided with water filter systems which will supply clean water for up to two years.  Support was given for anti-human trafficking in Phnom Penh, rescuing children and young women from the sex trade. Counselling and vocational training is provided. Support was given to a young Khmer pastor who is evangelizing and planting churches.

Working with others that share the love of God, financial support was given for:

•  Missionaries and Pastors in Thailand, Sri Lanka,  Guatemala, and other nations.
•  Pastoral support and a Christmas Party with food and gifts for an orphanage in Ghana.
•  Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes for children.
•  Support for the Persecuted Church in Access Restricted Nations.
•  Bibles and the Jesus Film were supplied to the underground churches in the 10-40 Window.
•  Support to churches in the United States to reach their communities for Jesus.
•  Food, medical care, housing and assistance to Jewish people in Israel.
•  Support to help end Human Trafficking in Las Vegas.
•  Salvations, healings and prophetic insight to churches we ministered at in the U.S. and worldwide.

People all over the world are 'thanking God because of you!'

It is our prayer that this coming year will be one of God's favor, blessings and abundance!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!    Gary & Pat

WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR YOU!

Looking back over the past year - our hearts simply overflow with gratitude.

• To you for your loving support demonstrated through prayer, giving and words of encouragement.
• To the Lord for the amazing opportunities He has given us to share His love with the nations

Please take time to look through some of our 2018 Journal posts - the faces of the people you have helped through your support will capture your heart - and say more than words ever can.

HOLIDAY GIFT-GIVING IDEAS

This Christmas we are excited to present three specific outreach areas that we personally work with:

• Each one is a grass-roots volunteer-based outreach to "the least of these"
• All specified donations will go directly to ministry outreaches
• Please review the flyer below, and consider making a donation in honor of someone you love

Remember that you can support Greater Works at no extra cost to you 

- by shopping at Smile.Amazon.com and choose Greater Works Unlimited as your charity

The easiest way to do this is:

1. log into your Amazon account as usual.
2.  then click on this link and follow it through to support Greater Works Unlimited.

May your Thanksgiving be blessed with the richness of our Lord's presence.

With Love and Gratitude - Gary and Pat

Departures and Road Conditions

DISCLAIMER: Due to travelling, and sketchy internet, journal updates are not posted in real time.

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Our second Sunday here found us saying farewell to Sarah and Cyndy.

Typical of the unpredictable vagaries of overseas nations, their scheduled flight was moved forward, which required them to head to the airport immediately after participating in the worship service.

Worship 

Tears brimmed in many eyes as they prayed a blessing over their journey home. Hugs were given and received with hopeful promises of a return trip. 

Thankfully traffic was reasonable so Megha and I were able to drop them at the airport and be back at church to catch the end of Gary's message and prayer time.

Sharing the Word

As they made their way homeward, we piled in the mini van for the 2 hour drive to another town, where I was privileged to share a message titled "Joy in the Journey".  I shared how focusing our hearts and lives on our relationship with Jesus equips us to minister to others from a pure, joyful stream. Our service for Jesus should flow from love - rather than duty.

Plans for our first weekend of ministry and eye clinic outreach in a nearby the hill city had been derailed by heavy rains which caused mudslides in several areas.    The main road into the hills was blocked.  Even when it was partially cleared, with some detours, the normally 3 hour drive was taking a precarious 7+ hours. 

Sadly we cancelled plans for this trip, regrouped and held an afternoon service in another town. The main route was also closed by a mudslide. The alternate route was bone-jarringly rough, and added about 30 minutes to the 2 hour drive.

By our second Sunday here the main road was mostly cleared  and passable with some careful maneuvering.  Check out the photos below for the residual mess and harrowing view down to the Teesta River.

Successful mission outreach requires extreme flexibility and a can-do attitude.  Remembering at all times that God has gone before us and He is not surprised. 

This truth applies to your life today. Wherever you find yourself, unexpected events in your life are opportunities to see God's powerful hand at work .

The Journey Continues ... Pat

Barely passable even after the mudslide was cleared

Railroad crossing

Worship at Village Church

Home Again...Jiggety Jig

Well,  for now it's really just two of us home - and approaching coherent function after a couple days of sleep. Tuesday (9/24) late afternoon found us safely home - Sarah to Nevada, and Cyndy to Montana (and promptly whisked off to Sweet Peaks for homecoming ice cream - nothing beats back jet lag like a solid split scoop of Berry Cobbler and Apple a la Mode - really!).

As our time in overseas flew by, seasons shifted in the USA. (At least in Montana. Las Vegas just cooled off enough to allow for a morning walk as late as 7:30 AM.) Shades of impending autumn are everywhere: aerial views of snow dust the shady side of mountain tops, the Benson's field of corn stands tall and ready for harvest, golden leaves swirl in the wake of passing cars - and the  heated car seat was dandy during my Friday morning drive to work (which, by the way, is not at ALL like the driving overseas!).

During my first day back to work, my thoughts often pinged back to our travels and the varied contrasts (still forgetting I can safely drink water that comes from the tap) and unrealities of being back home (what day is it again?). Wondering where Sarah's thoughts were drifting on the heels of her first mission journey, I texted a few queries - sort of a mini post-trip interview:

Cyndy: So, Sarah...
Sarah: So, Cyndy...
C: Now that you're home, any reflective thoughts on last couple weeks overseas? About people you met? Ministry participated in? Stretching?
S: Just how awesome it was, how much I got to experience. I've been thinking about how the entire trip was out of my comfort zone - going to places and eating foods that are completely different than what I am used to. And praying for people is not something I do on a regular basis at church so that’s different for me. The whole thing was stretching me and I loved every part of it even though it’s not exactly comfortable. The people really helped me feel comfortable
C: Sweet. So, feeling all that love-iness, how will your experiences on this trip affect or influence your future ministry/outreach interactions, including where you currently volunteer with children and your church's worship team?
S: I think time will really tell. I can’t really tell how the experiences will affect me but my best guess is more openness to what God has for me and what He wants me to do for the people around me.
C: Definitely a worthwhile reason for taking this trip! My key personal takeaway was along the same lines - to step up and step in to the next things Jesus has been nudging me toward.
S: I think we can call that a wrap -
C: And y’all come back now! The journey continues....and we'll leave you today with a few street views from our travels.

Morning walk to school

Out for a morning stroll

Hard work hauling bricks

Historic church, with
present day home in background

Taxi at the airport

Residential Street

Vignettes From a Rooftop

Early morning views from the rooftop where we enjoy our quiet time, provide an insight into daily life of the residents.

Many of the homes are modest 1 or 2 room concrete structures with tin roofs extending over a portion of the yard used as an outdoor room.  This serviceable space is used for personal hygiene, cutting vegetables, dish washing, laundry and escaping the heat of the day. 

We discreetly observe and marvel at the myriad of life stories playing out before us:

• Neighbors unlock the front gates to their yard and stop to greet each other. 
• A wandering cow is lead into the yard for milking and feeding.
• Three ladies dressed in well-worn, once-colorful saris chat as they walk to their place of service as house maids. (Another bicycles past with her chunni scarf streaming behind)
• A father taking a early morning walk with his toddler balances his older son's bicycle.
• A pair of men in sweat pants and white sneakers chat animatedly on their morning walk. 
• A young boy skips alongside his mother, twirling the market bags. 
• Bells and chanting from Hindu worshippers mingle with birdsong greeting the dawn. 

There is a coolness and peace at dawn that dissipates as the sun rises and the pace of daily life takes over. 

May your day start and end with the blessing of Heaven's peace.     The Journey Continues ~ Pat

Modest Family Home

View to the West

Looking Southeast 

Tiger Hill Sunrise and Mount Kanchenjunga

If you are ever asked, “Would you want to get up at 1:00 AM to go view the sun rise up from behind the Himalayas?”, for pity’s sake, just say YES!  

We did get to sleep in - until 3:00 AM - to catch a 3:30 AM taxi from our hotel in Darjeeling for a 45ish minute drive up to the Tiger Hill lookout point. Official sunrise isn’t until 5ish AM, but we were glad the taxi was early, as a fair number of other folks kicking around in shoulder season thought this was a worthwhile outing. Tremendously clear skies prevailed the past couple days - which a local vendor informed us were the first in about a month - so we had clear views to the mountain peaks, as opposed to more commonly being obscured by clouds.

Mount Kanchenjunga is the third highest mountain in the world, after Mount Everest and K-2. Regional lore has it that this as where the yeti hangs out - except he’s actually thought to be a demon instead of the shy furry fellow portrayed in Western films. Knowing Who is the true God over all creation, we never gave the yeti a second thought, but just unreservedly took in the best  light show ever - starting with the brightest stars shining out from a deep blue velvet sky and morphing on through to full sunup  highlighting craggy snow-capped details of not only Kanchenjunga but also Everest and K-2. 
Words truly cannot express the overwhelming awe and thankfulness in the midst of this glorious unfolding of a new day’s beginning - a visible metaphor for hope and mercy, new every morning. But perhaps these pictures can replace a few thousand words (and you can click here for a random time-lapse video).

From Tiger Hill: Mt. Kanchenjunga on right, plus tiny Everest and K-2 to left

Morning crowd at Tiger Hill lookout

Looking from Darjeeling walking trail

View over rooftops along Darjeeling walking trail

Today we head back down to the plains to gear up for another full weekend, with Saturday Community Development Centre outreach bookended by Friday and Sunday meetings.
(Y’all come back now!)
-Cyndy