Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Is My Heart Burning?

This morning I began re-reading a book Kelly gave me for Christmas a couple of years ago. The book is entitled "Great Days with the Great Lives" and provides daily readings along with Scriptures that chronicles 10 great lives found in the Bible. In the introduction, the Russian Poet Boris Pasternak is quoted
"It is not revolutions and upheavals that clear the road
to new and better days, but someone's soul inspired and ablaze."

That caught my attention immediately. I'm ready for a clear road to new and better days. The past months have been frustrating as the ministry plans Sally and I had seem to have all fallen apart. We've been praying for direction, for inspiration, for 'revolutions' of ideas if I may use that term. So I could relate to the poets quote. But then I read it again and realized that what was lacking was the latter part.
To be very honest, I have been spending too much time contemplating the unaccomplished things, and the challenges at LFDS, and the difficulties with the government, etc. Considering the poets thesis, I would classify myself as having a soul that is uninspired and certainly not ablaze. That may sound harsh, but it is true. The past 12 days of not flying again has afforded me the time to do some self evaluation and soul searching. It has been a process of asking hard questions, talking to God, and waiting for answers. Which is the really hard part because I am of the personality type that likes to make things happen. But not this time, I've purposed to go slow and learn.
So what am I doing? I've realized that this is time to immerse myself in the Scriptures. In addition to reading the gospels, I enjoy listening to podcasts of great preachers. I was doing just that last evening as I was on the eliptical. The sermon was based on Jesus' words in John 15 "if my words abide in you..." As I came to the end I was evaluating the message and was about to say 'this wasn't that great' when the preacher said something that hit hard. He shared how he and his wife have a weekly lunch 'date' and that for the past 6 months that date took the form of the first 20 minutes lamenting all the challenges and problems they were facing in the church family. He shared that in the midst of that date he suddenly realized that they had not once shared scripture, but only complaints. They purposed at that moment to change. He shared a verse that really hit me. The psalmist David is in the midst of trouble but is writing about the past mercies of God. He says,

I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
from the great congregation.
As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain your mercy from me;
your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me! (Psalm 40:10-11 ESV)

What struck me was that I had been focusing on all the 'troubles' Sally and I are having and haven't recalled the great mercies and the faithfulness and the salvation God has shown toward us. Not only that, but I haven't been speaking of that faithfulness and salvation, instead just complaining. No wonder I don't have a inspired and burning soul. I know I'm not the only one that is struggling with this. I do recall those in the Scriptures who call out to God to give them a heart that burns for him, that longs for God and his word, that is ablaze with the joy that comes from being totally satisfied with and in Jesus Christ. What I've realized is that I need what only God can do through the power of the Holy Spirit through Scriptures - to transform me more towards the image of Christ. Jesus said, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life." (John 6:63 ESV)
So, as we wait to hear the news of when we can get back to flying to serve the Basotho in the mountains, I'll be trying to do better at recalling the great mercies of God and saturating my mind with the life changing, soul igniting words of Jesus Christ.
Daily by His Grace,
Larry



Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Grounded once again!

Well, it's a repeat of last year! The Lesotho gov't is 3 months behind on their flight bill payment to Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) and so we're grounded once again. The explanation given this time is that the Finance Ministry (like the Dept of the Treasury) has failed to process things to get the money transfered. This same thing happened last October and we were grounded for a month. So, no Doctor Team flights, no patient flights except for life threatening emergencies.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Incarnational Ministry in Matsaile

Justin and Korby are there! That's right, as of Monday they are now living in Matsaile village. last week was a flurry of activities as we flew three flights to get all the supplies there and things readied. Wed/Thur Mike Shutts (MAF Pilot/Mechanic) and I were flown there to install the solar and radio system. As usual, we had to haul the supplies from the airstrip to the village, a 30 minute walk. Once there, we began the work of re-assembling the antenna pole. A big thanks to Roger Clark (MAF Mechanic) who helped to build the antenna in pieces so it would fit in the airplane and then be easy to assemble at the village. With the four pieces put together, Mike and I and one of the men in the village got the pole up next to the house. Then we ran some metal straps above the block wall and under the thatch to fix it in place (the pole had a spike welded to the bottom to drive into the ground). Then it was time to hoist up the folded dipole antenna and secure the ends.
Next it was time to put up the 80 watt solar panel and do the electrical wiring. We had brought Mike's folding aluminum ladder so it made for easy access to the thatch roof. The stuff is really thick so Mike pushed through guide wires so I could then send back through the wire to secure the panel to the rafters. Then back inside again to set up the lights. Justin and Korby now have two 12 volt lights that give some great lighting.

Well, once we had the solar installed it was time to test out the HF Radio. Mike gave a call to "49" (that's the MAF base in Maseru at Mejametelana Airport) and they answered back. The radio works, but this is the time of year in the solar sun spot cycle where communication via HF radio is not ideal. We will use it during daytime hours as a means
to communicate with the guys. There is one area in the village where there is cell phone coverage. Already we have had to use that backup plan as that day the radio signals were not good.

We praise God for all the help from our support team in Johannesburg as well as the great MAF team here in Maseru. It took a lot of team work to get all the supplies to Matsaile airstrip and then to the village. Praise God for the faithful support of Southern Baptists in giving to missions to make this possible. We now have two young guys being "Jesus" to the people of Matsaile village and the 6 surrounding villages. There is no question now that the good news of the gospel will reach the Basotho there.

The guys are outfitted pretty good now. They have their solar lights as primary with headlamps, candles and kerosene lantern for backup. The rondoval has a kerosene heater that also doubles as a one burner cooker. They have as their main cooking source lpg gas to run their two burner stove and the camp fridge. It's a pretty good set up and will work well for them to have as their home and base of operations. I will be traveling there twice a month as part of our normal Lesotho Flying Doctor Services mobile health post so I will use that opportunity to meet with the guys as part of my part in mentoring them. LFDS also has the
public health team that travels there once a month to do pre-natal care and under-5s immunizations. This will give the guys some 'outside' contact apart from the radio calls. The plan right now is for daily radio/phone checks. We have had one 'hiccup' as the promised completion of their pit latrine did not come through. We will fly two more bags of cement there on
Friday (weather permitting) so it can be completed. Meanwhile, they have another pit latrine they can use.
So, please pray for Justin and Korby as they adjust to life in Matsaile village.
Pray for opportunities to share the love of Jesus with the Basotho there.
Pray for endurance as they learn to live in the village.
Pray for wisdom in the work they do there.
Will send more pics next week after I make a visit there on Tuesday. Meanwhile, I'm back to our LFDS clinic and health post doctor team visits.