Seeing God in it All

Seeing God in it All

Bethel UMC Honduras Mission Trip 2022 Devotions

Thursday, June 9, 2022

Dear Church Family & Friends, Once again this letter is dated the day we leave for Honduras.

Again it is 4:30 am. Again friends are here and have prepared a meal. They are here to wish us safe travels. Again The Honduras Mission Team wishes to say THANK YOU. This is the twentieth occasion for me to say “Thank You”! It is, I believe, the first time this thank you is written in first person.

This is a big deal. My family and friends have made this international mission possible each year for twenty years! I have gone with this team to the need for which God has led.

All twenty teams have each been different. Different people, different needs, different projects, and very different hurdles.

Riots, roadblocks, armed guards, attacks by thieves, con men, mechanical issues, sickness, delays, and yet even a pandemic.

Through each God has led and the team followed.

There have been some other constants that have made each trip possible. Without your continued prayers and financial support these trips would have never happened. Leadership from the Methodist Church, Missions in Action, and special friends that will be cherished forever have guided our steps. I have watched young people grow to adults. I have seen adults act with the innocence of children. I have seen tears, blood, smiles, fear, laughter, good signing and bad, tempers, patience, talent, forgiveness, and on and on. Through all of this I have seen the Lord. I have seen each of you. I want to tell you from the bottom of my heart — thank you!

With Your Support The Honduras Mission Team And Ron

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Thursday, June 9, 2022

A “Fair” Sheetrock Finisher “Each of you should use whatever gifts you have received to serve others as faithful stewards of God.” — 1 Peter 4:10 The year after Katrina hit the gulf coast, we took a team from the church to Biloxi to repair storm damage. We had a great team of 15 adults and 15 kids. It also included by buddy Lawrence Terry.

The first two days Lawrence and I worked with Paul Johnson rewiring a house. The third day Alan Pierce asked me to help John Per-Lee finish sheetrock. I am a fair sheetrock finisher. I have worked with very good sheetrock finishers, so I know that I am only fair.

The fourth day John shared with the team that during his private prayer time — God told him that he was not done with his giving thanks. He went through his list: Wife, Kids, etc. and told God “I think I covered everything”. God told him “You forgot about Harold”. Because on the second night John had asked God to send somebody to help finish the sheetrock.

This was a humbling experience for me. To think God could use a fair sheetrock finisher to answer a prayer. As we go out this week, remember God can use us if we are only fair. All that we need is to be ready to go.

Gracious God be with us this week and teach us to use our talents for your glory. Amen — Harold Moore

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Friday, June 10, 2022

Jesus Moves Us to Do Something O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name. — Psalm 63:1-4 My memories of Honduras include looking up and out across the horizon at beautiful blue skies with mountains, trees, and crystal blue water, making for the perfect vacation resort. The beauty alone said all is right with the world. But then someone would yell, “we need more rocks”, and I would be transported back to my purpose. I was in Honduras for a mission build. The stones supported the mortar going into the cement blocks for a new home. The home under construction was a significant upgrade for a family living in a tent made with twigs, cloth, and clay. The contrast between the horizon view and the landscape around me was stark. The total picture reminded me that the world is significantly out of balance.

The needs of the people of Honduras are numerous. However, some things we Gringos take for granted are a luxury to the Hondurans. Things like food for the bellies, clean drinking water, homes without disease-infested walls, employment opportunities, educational resources, accessible and affordable medical care, safety, and security from violence and exploitation.

You have felt the call to go across the waters to help our brothers and sisters in Honduras. So, go! Share your heart, resources, and hands in labor. Be attentive, looking for Christ in everyone. Be kind in word and deed, knowing it all matters.

Do your best to stay safe (safe with power tools and attentive to your surroundings as you navigate the countryside.) Finally,

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have fun as you share fellowship with your team and your Honduras family. Last and most importantly, remember God is with you.

The things Bethel and Missions in Action can do seem relatively small when we consider the needs of our Honduras family.

However, our calling as disciples of Jesus moves us to do something. Amen — Candy Thacker presented by Jeanette Moore

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Saturday, June 11, 2022

Don’t Worry, I Got It “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” ­— Isaiah 41:10 “Doughn’t worry… I gaot it!” For us guys, that have made this trip several times, it is a very familiar phrase. In fact it is a very happy and very warm greeting from an old dear friend. Generally the first time we know Victor is close by we try to copy his broken English and yell out “Doughn’t worry… I gaot it!”. It is a greeting that we hope is followed by the familiar sound of our friend repeating the refrain. We listen. It is then we feel as though we never left. We are home and Victor has our back and the fun can start!

Victor is the ”Maestro”, the headman, and the leader of the construction project we will be working. He generally has a couple of villagers to aide him and of course our team of “Gringos”. One of the reasons we like him so much is that he gives us room to do things, to make a mistake. Many of his ilk would never let us try. As is often done, we sometimes get ahead of ourselves. We can’t quite do it correctly or as good as the Hondurans. “Doughn’t worry…I gaot it!” comes out along with some teaching and understanding.

We often make fun of him when we find a shortcoming of his. I often suspect this, though, is just another teaching moment.

It is funny how many more “teaching moments” there are as I get older. He seems a little closer. I had two fathers like this. One is no longer with me but the other reminds me on a regular basis “Doughtn’t worry…I gaot it!”

Dear Lord I know you are there. It is a great comfort to understand you are in charge. Thank you for reminding me when I forget. Amen — Ron Beavers

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Sunday, June 12, 2022

What Joy “. . . But joy comes in the morning.” Psalms 30:5 We may have left some worries back at home, but a new day came on June 9, when you got on that plane and you had no option but let God be in control. That’s where the joy starts.

I’m happy to see my Honduras friends and family. But my joy just about explodes when I get to sing with these children.

What joy did this day bring you? Please share it with the group.

Father God: Thank you for the joy we experienced today. Remind us to share the joy of your love and grace with others. Amen

— Carol Meyers

Monday, June 13, 2022

We Have Hope Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 Every day we wake up with faith. Faith that the world is still turning and that we will be able to complete the tasks we have planned for the day.

But on this trip faith is expanded. We have hope but the future is unknown. We have faith in the unseen. Each year we meet new people; have new surprises and new challenges. Keep the faith that God is in charge and going before you to prepare the way.

Prayer: Lord Jesus let the little children come to us and through us to you. Go before us, guide us, and let us meet our challenges with your love and Grace. Amen — Catherine Johnson

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

We are a WE Do not forsake your friend and your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away. Proverbs 27:10 In the above Proverb, we are implored to seek assistance from neighbors that are close over family that are far away. This might be for practical reasons only. It might just be that if you need help, often it is friends that come to your rescue before relatives, for convenience sake if nothing else. But maybe …

As Jesus was dying on the cross, he declared his best friend to be the son of his mother and his mother to be the mother of his best friend.

Earlier he had already declared that all who obey his heavenly Father are His mother, and brother and His sister.

We are in a land where we are not citizens. But together we are a WE. We are a family. Lots of us do so much together for each other, to each other, and with each other. We need to remember that we are implored to take advantage of each other, hold each other accountable, and to do good to each other, bearing with one another in love. One of Jesus’ last requests from His Father was for the unity of believers. And in so praying, together with what he taught, we are encouraged to continue in our mission to meet the needs of those around us, in Honduras, in Stockbridge, in Georgia, and wherever.

We are all family of some sort or another. We are all part of the human family, descendants of Noah, and some of us are also part of the family of believers. And as the apostle Paul tells us in I Timothy 5:8, “if anyone [fails to provide for his family, he] is worse than an unbeliever.”

Dear Jesus, please help us meet the needs of those around us, even and especially when it creates a need in our own lives, for which we have to rely on you. Help us relate to each other as family and help us provide for each other as your followers. Amen.

— Lance Brooking

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Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Speak Up, Claim Your Inheritance Read Numbers 26 and Numbers 27:1-11 I love reading rare and obscure stories of the Bible. Oftentimes, we are drawn to the familiar stories that have been taught over and over. There are stories that are new — almost never preached or taught. They are hidden in the text. Perhaps, we overlook them because they are not easy or feel-good stories.

This is the case with Numbers 27 verses 1 through 11. Zelophehad had no sons. Rather, he was blessed with five daughters — Mahlah, Noah, Hogiah, Milcah and Tirzah. Zelophehad died with no sons.

In Jewish culture, inheritance was passed from one generation to another generation through male heirs. It was the custom. It was understood. Yet, his daughters were courageous to Speak Up. The daughters of Zelophehad raised the question, “why should the name of our father be taken away from his clan because he had no sons?” These five courageous women had the ability to speak up and challenge a system that was unjust and limited. They were seeking a more excellent way.

I think this is exactly what God is calling us to do — Speak Up and Seek a More Excellent Way. When we speak up, we can be like the daughters of Zelophehad. Declare, “Give to us a possession among our father’s brothers”. In other words, they demanded their inheritance. What inheritance is waiting for you?

Lord help us to see how we can use our lives to make a difference for others and You. Amen — Rori Blakeney presented by Ron Beavers

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God is Here with Us

Thank you Bethel UMC for being with us in spirit.