From: Tony

Sent: Monday, April 17, 2006 12:49 PM

To: Prayer Team

Subject: FWD: The son of a Carpenter

Prayer Team,

Those of you that know me really well know that I can be thick headed at times. It often takes a 2x4 to the head, for me to see (or realize) something that God has been trying to tell me all along. So please pray that God continues to utilize a well placed 2x4, in order to keep me headed in the right direction. Specifically pray that Kristy and I will find the exact place that God wants us to serve within the children's ministry. Also, I have never taught before so I am nervous, excited and anticipating the coming year. So prayer is needed so that I will serve your children well.


Many of you have asked about our trip and wanted to know "how it went". The answer to that question is different for each and every person that participated. Here is an email that I sent to Scott after our trip. This email was sent to him as a summary of what this trip meant to me. By no means is this a detailed email of all the areas I was touched, but simply one aspect of the trip that I pray, I will carry with me for some time.


Tony

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From: Tony

Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 10:46 AM

To: 'Scott'

Subject: The son of a Carpenter


[******** edited for security]



I imagine that the son of a carpenter would have access to a 2x4, I know that my Jesus truly does. The reason I say this is, the image of Jesus, my Lord, my God, walking around with a 2x4 came to me while sleeping on our last night here in **********. Yes, once again, God was working on my heart during the night. I have been blessed two other times, with God's 2x4 during the night. It means a great deal to me for my Lord to love "me" enough to work on my heart, while I am sleeping. Just think about that for a minute. While, we as man, are at our most vulnerable time... sleeping. When we could easily be overtaken physically, or when satin could fill our thoughts..... God is not only watching over me, but He is really working on me. Giving me not only the blessing of loving me without end, but giving me His eyes to see through.


As hard as I tried during this mission trip, to not have preconceived expectations. They happened anyway. I had expectations that my personality and my ability along with the activity I was doing, would allow me to connect with someone from our target group quickly and effectively. The first four days pasted by, and although I was able to make new friends and build relationships. My heart never fully opened up. I have a big heart, an easy target for the ********** people to see and connect with. But... nothing, no heart felt connection. I began to worry over the lack of this connection about mid-week. And quite honestly, I was troubled because during the long trip over here, my heart was bursting at the seams many times when I would imagine the things "I" could accomplish while running through my game plan.


Then on day five, here it comes.... He used a little girl named **********, to hit me with the 2x4. It was the last day of our camp and although there was a lot of excitement in the air, I was still questioning God as to why my plan did not work. And wouldn't you know it, as soon as you start to question God's plan, he reveals just a little more of His master plan to you. Yes, His plans are not always man's plans. Because any plan that man creates, is created with flaws built-in. No matter how hard we try, we can not create anything that is perfect.


********** is a short ********** girl even by ********** standards. When I first noticed her, she "looked" to be around ten years old. Along with a few other new faces, she had not been to the camp all this week, and only showed up on the last day with her uncle (one of the ********** coaches). My heart seamed to immediately connect with this small ********** girl. Although she looked to be around ten, after a couple of conversations, and some language barriers, I found out she was fourteen. Although she was only fourteen and short, that did not hinder her ball handling ability. She could have beaten me in a one-on-one match in basketball. As with most ********** people I meet this week, ********** has a smile that leaves a wonderful (and deep) impression on your heart.


I can now look back and see that God's plan was unfolding all week. And now I know, I was simply blinded by my plan. Often His plans are clearly not our plans, but His alone... In no way could we begin to understand His plan (as a whole), but it is wonderful to see a small piece of His plan unfold. I pray that God will give me the discernment to know, it is ok to be still. "Be still, and know that I am God" Psalms 46:10a. In other words, "be still" and let His plan unfold. All this week, we have been working with late teen and early twenty year old kids. Not once did I feel the connection that I felt with this ten year old "looking" ********** girl. I believe God was using this smaller than normal ********** girl as an affirmation that Kristy (my wife) and I do indeed need to work in the children's ministry this coming year at church... God's Plan... HE takes me to the other side of the world to give "me" affirmation on an issue back home.




Tony