Where in the World Are We Going?"All of life is a story. . . and if life is a story, than there must be a storyteller."
There is a reason Jesus taught in parables. Story is the language of the heart. All stories borrow their power from one epic tale written by God himself. And story gives us context to discover the role we have been given to play. These stories are testimonies from those who have heard the call to World Mission and have said, "Yes, I'll go."Reluctant DonkeysIn the mission devotional book used by the teams that travel to Honduras to drill water wells, one of the readings talks about the donkey. It says that a donkey is often spoken of in belittling terms and as having undesirable traits such as stupidity or stubbornness. However, donkeys have served the human race for thousands of years and were once prized as symbols of humility, gentleness, and peace and in Bible times were regarded as especially suitable for religious purposes. "On A Mission" - Texas VeterinarianWritten by Jodi Sexton, DVM, this is the lead article from the August 2003 issue of the Texas Veterinarian. Editor's note: Each year a group of veterinarians from across the country travel to Honduras for a week of veterinary mission work. This year, four students from the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine - David Allman, Carrie Van De Wiele, Cecilia Guerrero and Rebecca Wind - participated in the trip. For more information, contact Dr. Bill Campaigne at lonstar@the-cia.net or (830) 379-3821. IT WAS LATE IN THE AFTERNOON OF MY second day in Honduras when I saw the little girl approaching. She looked about 6 years old, standing there in her dusty, tattered green dress and clutching a blue, white and red rice sack in her arms, her face quiet and solemn. A Promise to KeepClean water: we take it for granted, but so many people in the world watch their children become ill and die for lack of clean water. Louis Manz of St. Luke's, San Antonio, saw this desperate situation while working on a mission team in Honduras. A Constant LoveChildren in orphanages in Russia and Belarus have so little hope for the future. Often they are forced to leave the orphanages at age sixteen or seventeen. They are sent out into the world to fend for themselves with no family and no skills for the job market. Too many of them wind up in prostitution and the drug world - many commit suicide. Finding EinsteinTo survive in the world in which we live, it is more and more important to have an education. Many parents in impoverished countries are unable to pay the tuition needed to keep their children in school. The children all have God-given talents that need to be developed for them to become the people God created them to be. What a waste it is for all of us if even one child with exceptional gifts is unable to use those gifts for lack of an education. "Constructores de Cristo"The front lawn of the church has been turned into a study of comparison and contrast. Our beautiful stone church, with bell tower, stained glass windows, landscaped flowerbeds, and newly redone interior, is now accompanied by a shanty built of scrap lumber, cardboard, salvaged tin, tar paper, wooden pallets, and an old tire. Ministering to UgandaDo you know that the Diocese of West Texas ministers in three places in Uganda? Leon and Debbie Fillyaw and sons are based in Bundibugyo and are heavily involved in discipling clergy and lay leaders. In summertime, Christ Church, San Antonio, heads a team that works at Sisters of Charity Orphanage, Kiwanga. And the Women’s Center in Nebbi, is the largest single mission project that has ever been undertaken by the Diocese of West Texas. Teen WitnessI love people, and I will take advantage of any opportunity that is presented in order to help people and interact with them. From February 2-9, I was in Honduras on a mission trip. My first mission trip, I was also the youngest person ever to be a member of the Manos team. This created a lot of pressure on top of culture shock, fear, apprehension, nauseating malaria pills, and not knowing what to expect. I personally can say that all the positives definitely outweighed the negatives. God Provides the WordsThe Diocese of Southeast Mexico covers a vast area from the states of Veracruz and Oaxaca to the states of Yucatan and Quintana Roo. It is three times the size of the Diocese of West Texas. In many areas there are either no roads or the existing roads are in terrible condition. Most of the people live in small villages and eke out a living through farming and small businesses. West Texas formed a partnership with Southeast Mexico and sent two teams in 2003. One medical/dental team was organized by the Church of the Good Shepherd in Corpus Christi and another team offered a course in continuing education for the Mexican clergy and visited and worked with the women of six small villages. Long Term Missionary Report“Here in Oaxaca things are going well. We have been having church on Sundays, usually at 11:00 am, for a little over a year. We have an average of probably 7 or 8 but sometimes up to 17 or 18 attending. Last year I was living in the owners' apartment at the Casa Colonial. It was a lovely spot for us. There's what we would call a long porch about 15 feet wide where we could have worship, and inside a bedroom, bath, and other room that I used for an office. But the owners needed the space for themselves, so I had to move. Funds are needed for all ministriesContact: Mrs. Betty Chumney Diocese of West Texas P. O. Box 6885 San Antonio, TX 78209 Phone (210 or 888) 824-5387 Fax (210) 822-8779 e-mail: chumneyb@aol.com |