Good morning all! Blessings from the sunny D.R.
So here's the thing, last night I was awakened from deep sleep at least three times. I got up each time and walked about the dark apartment looking around; all seemed normal. It was quiet outside, the dog lay snoring in her usual spot beside our bed, the night watchman was the only one awake outside in his chair near the gate. I thought maybe it was because Laura was not with me as she was still in Canada with our daughter and brand-new grand-baby. Then I thought maybe it was the arugula I had eaten for dinner. No, I thought the third time; it was definitely God. I woke the first time with a memory of a 411 listing, and it was for God, but as I saw the listing I saw also myself looking in a mirror. So I got up and wrote it down, has to be something right?
The second time was a phrase that kept rolling through my mind, "Compassion is the outward reflection of Jesus." Nothing more, so I got up and wrote it down.
The third time I was awakened after seeing again the vision that I was given on April 8 2007. The day I knew God was telling me to go to the Mission Field. I didn't have to write this one down. This one has been emblazoned on my mind for more than 5 years now. Long before I knew I was ready to go anywhere or do anything.
The connections with all three awakenings might not seem apparent, and to me it didn't click until this morning when I finally got up in the breaking daylight (about 5:30) with thoughts of several local people I have come to know over the last 18 months. Each of them are entirely unaware of the other yet each has been placed in my path; there are no coincidences.
I met Johnny first, over a year ago, while Laura and I worked in one of the remote villages with some other Missionaries helping in a feeding program their Ministry ran. At first Johnny (who was about 11 then) appeared in the lunch room with a few of his siblings. He was one of 9 children borne to the same mother in the village however it was a certainty all the children did not have the same father. Their mother was often away from the children as her only form of income was working the streets as a prostitute. When she returned to the home in the village she would beat many of the children or neglect them entirely, so angry was she with her situation. Many Missionaries helped care for the children as best they could but without any social net or ability to involve authorities (they are Haitian and therefore have no rights in the D.R.) the children suffered greatly. Last week I was in the village and Johnny gave me a hug when he saw me. I asked him where his mother was. "Gone" was all he said. He never asked me for a thing, but I could see the hope in his eyes as he received the 75 pesos I had in my pocket. "Gracias" he said. "Dios te bendiga." He smiled at me as I drove away from the village.
I met Fabio in March of this year in downtown Sosua soon after we opened up 3 Amigos Mexican Restaurant in the heart of Sosua. Fabio is about 60 or so and was born with a club foot. Actually he only had half of his left leg as what appeared to be part of a foot protruded from where his knee ended. He walked with a large stick as a prop, wrapping his "foot" around the pole and hopping along. I saw him daily but never spoke to him until one day he spoke to me, "Dios te bendiga baron!" The first words he spoke to me, unknowing of my situation or ability to understand, "God Bless you son" came out of his mouth. My response was automatic, I stopped, turned, extended my hand to him, "Igualmente Senor" which means, "Likewise sir". He proceeded to rattle off in slurred Spanish which I understood about half about how without the ability to work he knows Dios will provide for him the same way Dios provides for the birds. I cannot do much for him so we do what we can, it cost about 50 pesos for the rice and beans with a little chicken I give him daily as I see him.
The last guy is even more strange, again in the center of Sosua at the restaurant I was visited one day by the dirtiest, almost naked man wearing only tattered jeans, no shoes or shirt. He was not old, looking to me about 25 or so, and he was not Dominican or Haitian. He was talking to himself the whole time he walked and as he entered the shop he stopped and looked around, standing in the middle of the shop very near the counter. He mumbled something in bad Spanish several times but I could not understand him. Then he tried another language which sounded like German; again I did not understand him. Finally he spoke in perfect English, calmly and politely, "Can I please have a cup of water?" At first I was stunned, but I quickly gave him a cup of water which he drank in one gulp, turned and left. Mumbling the entire way as he left. I don't know if I will ever see him again but I suspect yes.
This is what I got today: The string that connects us all is obviously the Spirit of God, inside each of us, even when we are entirely unaware. The image of myself in the mirror states clearly that the "411 of God" is in me, as I have already submitted to His Word and truths. The phrase, "Compassion is an outward reflection of Jesus" is definitive as who God has given me to help, in this Mission Field. I fully understand that I did not have to travel 6000 miles to find these unfortunate souls, I can only suspect that it has always been God's heart to extend compassion on His people and that compassion must come through His church; His body at large.
The vision of the Ministry from 2007 was fourfold at the time; first I saw a road leading to a large house protected by a gate, on the wall beside the gate were the words "North Coast Missionary Services" The second was the house itself; a two story structure with a large balcony with stairs leading to the second floor, a beautiful landscape washed in sunshine. The third was a view of the airport here in Puerto Plata, I was in a large white van picking up a team which had just arrived. The fourth was a Google page depicting a search of North Coast Missionary Services. All of these are coming to existence, some already have.
I pray that you all are called in a way that fulfills His will for your lives. Take a minute in your busy life and look outside, maybe you will see who God wants you to speak to today.
This is where I find myself today, we are building a foundation for continued Ministry to His people in the Dominican Republic. We are building a foundation for many Mission Groups to come and minister to many of these people, empowering them for success.
You can still support this Mission with your donation to help complete our project.
Please donate at the link
http://www.bridgesofhope.ca/index.php?p=Donate
Please visit our website to see the work we are doing.
http://ncmission.com/
Michael
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