Travel Update 12.30.2006

There are two ways to view our world: A world that is governed by the divine hand of the creator, and a world that is free to coincidence and chance. The divine view sees every circumstance as a chance that the almighty Creator gives to experience a miracle from his providential hand. The coincidental view sees every circumstance as just another part of the long day that liew ahead. In saying this, may we implore you to look at your life through the eyes of a merciful creator, who every day is pleading with you through his creation to see his mercy and grace and eternal love.

Today was a very comfortable day. We left our host family this morning after a wonderful breakfast that Teresa Gatti spent hours preparing. After filling our gas tank for us, her husband sent us away with $25 for the road. We immediately entered into Texas and tracked down my cousin, Rebecca Rogers, and enjoyed a light lunch of soup and salad together with her family. Then we headed to Fort Worth, to visit our life-long friend Nathan Reavis and his girlfriend, Amy. On the way, Joshua spotted a "Bible Outlet" and, in curiosity, took the exit to check it out. The outlet had an 80% sale on everything in the store, and he immediately spotted one small shelf in the back of the store with New Testaments in Spanish. Joshua purchased all 15 New Testaments, earning a 90% discount, and the amount was covered by the financial blessing that the Gatti's had sent us away with this morning. Prise the Lord for that extra bit of money that will bless others with the word of God in Mexico!

When we arrived in Fort Worth, we had a problem with our motel that a host church had reserved for us -- they had not paid for it! Unfortunately, the church was not very hospitable to us, and due to their prominence and time constraints of a conference in their church, the pastor and secretary turned us away, refusing to offer us assistance. We were now in a foreign city with nowhere to go. Fortunately, our friend Nathan graciously opened his home to us, and we are sleeping in his house tonight. It was such a tremendous blessing that his roommates had left for the holidays and so there was an extra bed here! Coincidence? Absolutely not, it was a miracle from the Lord.

Here is another incident today that was obviously a miracle and divine placemnt by the creator. At the hotel, after waiting for an hour and half, we had time to talk with the receptionist behind the front desk. Her name is Mira, and she is from Nepal. Mira is a believer, and her family has shunned and disowned her for her faith. In Nepal, it is a death crime to mention faith in Jesus Christ, and she could not speak of her faith anywhere in the country for fear of her life. She attended Calvary Chapel in Nepal, and the brothers and sisters there became her family. In 2001, she had earned enough money to move to the United States, and she attended Philadelphia Biblical Seminary. She earned her degree in Biblical Studies, and in 2005, she moved to Dallas, Texas, where her Uncle, a pastor, and Aunt reside. They are the only family that she now has contact with. We shared with Mira that our home church family is a Calvary Chapel, and also shared with her the many other Calvary Chapel's around the U.S. and world, including the Calvary Chapels in russia, from which our friends Bumber and Ira moved to the United States and now atend Calvary Chapel in Evansville. She was amazed! Mira asks for prayer, that her family would come to know Jesus Christ. She is very sad for them, and wishes to see them again. We asked Mira if we could take her picture, but she did not feel comfortable with us taking her photo while in her work uniform because she feared losing her job. Please keep Mira in your prayers.