Decisions - Part 1

We are coming to the end of our first missionary journey pretty soon. With the unsure future ahead of us, we are in transition. Our first missionary assignment was as Missionary Associates. As of now, our application is at headquarters for us to become Career Missionaries. You might be asking what the difference is between the two, not much, just a slight promotion as we are now ministers. There are a lot of decisions to start making. Our approval to begin fund raising for our next term won't come until the end of October/ early November. So what do we do until then? Up until this week, that was about the only stressful decision we had in front of us. When you pray for direction for some seemingly easy decisions, God has a tendency of answering in his own way. What do you do when the answer brings more decisions to be made?

We have been on missions trips to several countries and are missionaries currently serving in Colombia. Our plan has been to return to Colombia as fully appointed Missionaries, but God has been really pushing us to keep an open mind for the plan he has for us. We were told to expect a list of countries needing missionaries when we would attend our orientation in October. Unless God changes our mind with one of those options, we are planning to return to Colombia. We did not expect the offers to arrive this week! The Director of Latin America Child Care turned our week upside down as he has emailed and called us several times. There are several positions to be filled throughout Latin America. There is one position in particular he has in mind for us. I'm almost afraid to ask God for direction with this one as I may be opening a can of worms. We try to think of it as one decision at a time, but God has a plan already in mind so the decisions are his to make.

I want all of my decisions to be what God's heart desires for me. And if I'm truly in sync with God, they aren't decisions at all, just following his path. A friend also put it, "God wants us to have the desires of our hearts!" My heart's desire is to be pleasing to God in all that I do.

If you want to know what God is directing us to do, you will have to be patient.

Miracles or normal life?

I was talking to a friend today about miracles in ministry. Why is it that when we see miracles, we are amazed at God's power? I brought this up because kids witnessing the same miracles think nothing of it. Are the children of today just not impressed by the power of God? This brought more light to one of my favorite scriptures (Matthew 18:1-4)

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

We as adults have been conditioned through the years to remove imagination from our lives. We see miracles and are in awe. A child witnessing the same miracles is not surprised. It's not that they can't see the power of God, but they didn't doubt that God would do what he said he would do. I recall reading stories as a child and years later Hollywood tried to make a movie out of the same story. I was disappointed. My imagination had no boundaries, but the adults of Hollywood were constrained. When the Bible says that a boy killed a Giant, do you imagine a young man getting lucky against a man slightly taller than his friends or can you imagine a 10-12 year old boy opposing a monster of a man, towering over all others? Kids don't try to water down the Bible, they read and imagine and BELIEVE. So when Jesus heals the sick, restores the paralyzed, raises the dead, and takes away the sins of our lives, why can't his commissioned followers do the same? They can! ...if they truly believe and follow Matthew 18:4. If Jesus says expect miracles, what should we expect? It seems so obvious, but do you really expect miracles? Kids do!

The faith of a mustard seed will move mountains. Imagine it as a child would and believe.

Until we meet again!

A friend of ours was just promoted into heaven, which motivates us to search our own lives. Brother Wilkerson lived a full life. He was always a voice of encouragement and would seek out as many opportunities to preach God's word as possible. He had the body of an elder and the heart of a teenager. Even though he was well into retirement his passion after God's own heart could never be quenched. What a powerful thing it is to be able to fulfill 2 Timothy 4:7&8.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day -- and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

I can only hope that one day my life will hold the same truth.

Often we want to mourn the passing of our family and friends. I will miss him, but I don't get sad when I think of his passing. The impact he had on my life and the lives of most people he knew brings a smile to my face every time I think of him. Besides, I know where he is and I'm a bit jealous. Not that I'm ready to stop fighting or running, but I can see the prize and it is wonderful. God calls each of us to fulfill 2 Timothy 4:7&8. Of course, how we each can fulfill it will be different and God is the only righteous Judge. Run your race, fight a good fight, and we will all be together singing the praises of our Lord and Savior.

And so, Brother Wilkerson, a pastor, a brother in Christ, and a great friend, I will miss you.

Until we meet again!

Here is Brother Wilkerson's obituary - so you can see just how amazing he was!
James R. Wilkinson was born in the small town of LaCrosse, Virginia to John and Bena Wilkinson on September 8, 1924 with humble beginnings on a large tobacco farm. He was one of ten children. Two evangelists came to town and presented the gospel to James at which time his life was transformed forever. It was on the tobacco field that James was called into full-time ministry at the age of seventeen. Shortly after he attended Bible college where he met his beloved Betty.

James and Betty Wilkinson were in ministry for over 56 years with the Assemblies of God in more 6 states. They hosted a number of tours to the Mid-East, Europe, Africa and Asia. A trip to Kenya, East Africa included presenting the Gospel message in the rural Nairobi.

After Betty's death in 2002, James continued in part-time ministry. Recently, James was privileged to participate in missions trips to Buenos Aires, Argentina/Quito and Succua, Ecuador/Santiago,Chili and the City of Refuge in Jamaica. James brought forth the Word of God to the Shuar Indians in Succua, Ecuador and folks in Conchali, Chili resulting in many salvations and lives being changed forever. During his ministry, James has seen many converts entering full-time ministry as pastors, evangelists, chaplains and missionaries.

Some of James' pastimes were ministering to people, spending time with his great grandchildren, playing Skip-bo & Scrabble and watching the news & Wheel of Fortune.

Everybody take a deep breath!

Colombia needs your prayers. South America needs your prayers. We know that in everything God has purpose and in this moment we are anxious to see what direction that will lead Colombia. If you haven't seen the news, let me give you a quick rundown of my understanding - although I would highly advise reading the news yourself since it all gets kind of confusing and lots of supposition is involved.

First of all, FARC is the leftist rebel group, the guerillas, who are known for having hundreds of kidnapping victims in the jungles. These include some very prominent people including three Americans. Their conditions are reported to be horrible and many are sick or injured and forced to exist in extreme conditions.

On Sunday night the Colombian army attacked a FARC camp and killed the #2 leader. However, apparently this attack took place a mile within the Ecuadorian border. That angered Ecuador and Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan president. At this moment Ecuador and Venezuela are sending hundreds of the troops to the border. Why? Well, they're both seemingly good buddies with the FARC. President Uribe, of Colombia, is going the route of getting international courts involved. Things are just a little bit loco around here as threats and angry rants are being thrown around as more and more evidence surfaces of governments funding and protecting the FARC.

Here is where one wonders what God is doing right now. It seems crazy to me that world leaders can be so irrational. FARC is a terrorist group. They kidnap people. They kill people. They have terrorized this country for decades. Why would anyone support them? But as more information comes out we find they have several presidential friends throughout the world to empower them. As I've talked to Colombians and Americans it seems in light of all of this conflict and impending potential of war that many are holding out for a change for the better for Colombia. Finally the world will see (hopefully) what has been going on here for years. Finally the FARC will have to be confronted one way or another. We wonder if war will come or if it is already here. We wonder if lives will be lost. Will the captives be set free? Could something so drastic lead this country back to God? Oh, to have God's panoramic view.

I write this less in worry and more in wonder of what the future holds. The tensions and expectations of something big weigh on us, but could it be that God is bringing restoration to Colombia?

Please pray for Colombia and all of the leaders of our world, especially at this point in time for the leaders throughout Latin America who seem to be making choices for the left or the right. Pray for wisdom. Pray for God to take over thier hearts, especially the ones who seem out of control on a power high and are just looking for a fight.
~Tona