Dear Friends & Family,
It was over 2 weeks ago now that I sat in an Orthopedic doctors
office. I could not believe what I was hearing. “fracture…surgery…with
a plate & screws…” I wanted to cry and break something at the same
time. “Not me! Not here! Not now!” Two weeks prior to that I was with
the young youth leaders of the Negros Oriental Churches. I was their
special guest at an outing at a local beach. I guess I wanted to show
my “perpetual youth” when I jumped on one of those thin surf boards
that skim over the water. My lack of skill & wisdom left me inagonizing pain & rolling in the sand. I should have gotten an x-ray
right away, but I refused to believe it was no more than a bad sprain.
Time proved me wrong.
Now some weeks later, surgery complete, I sit typing this letter &
looking at my foot that will be encased in a cast for 4 more weeks. My
months stay here had turned first into 2 ½ and now 5 as I heal up &
wait for the next available flight home. No matter for this place is
just as much my home now as is Florida and I am resolved to entrust
myself to the Graces of God & His purposes even in this mishap. There
is a peace and much to be learned even in a convalescing state. I am
one who likes to keep busy and at times known to be independent and
maybe a little stubborn. I am now forced to learn the benefit of
slowing down & relaying on Christ as my strength. The need of leaning
on other members of the body of Christ for help. And to listen for
Christ voice in a new dimension.
MONTEOCHA TEAM
In the mist of my mis adventure the team from Monteocha New Life
Christian Center, Gainesville, FL arrived. “Just Great” Here I am,
stayed on to greet them & help make their first trip to the Philippines
a memorable one and now in cast & on crutches not being able to do much
of anything. Thank God it’s not all about me, and His strength is made
perfect in our weaknesses. Monteocha Team came prayed up, prepared & excited. Ready spiritually, mentally & physically for the challenges of this mission field. Pastor Danden & company did their usual unbelievable job of making them feel like long lost relatives & treated them royally.
Butong, Sabahan, Amlan, San Jose, Comba, Batic, Capinadan, Tampasanon
and others are names that don’t mean much to many reading this, but
they represent the places Team Monteocha traveled to & held crusades &
church meetings. They represent hundreds of people coming to a decision
for Christ as their savior and a born again experience. Well done
faithful Monteocha Missions Team. You took a couple of weeks out of
your American life, spent a bunch of money, put up with cramped
traveling conditions for many miles & hours, a new culture, strange
foods, jet lag and language barriers. But because of your faithfulness
Heavens population is eternally changed for the better.
God’s Best & Blessings to you. In Christ Russ
