Amazing!!

I have taken many mission trips in my life and all of them have been amazing experiences. I have always gone expecting to see the hand of God move and change lives. Sometimes that happens in grand style and sometimes it happens on a smaller scale. Each trip is different in it's own way, and has it's own unique qualities.

I have to say that this trip has indeed been different. Different in a good way. One of the major differences has been the level of preparation from the host church. Rosemont Baptist Church has been working for months preparing for our visit. Major & minor details have been discussed and planned with the finest precision.

Another visible difference is that they have been praying and asking the Lord to show up in a major way. Well, He has answered their (and our) prayer. We have seen His Hand move right in front of our eyes. We have seen so many people come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior that we are humbled by His might and presence. Children and adults. Our students, and adults, have been so bold and willing to share their faith with the people of Montrose. It has been so inspiring. It has been so awesome to see the Lord change people's lives.

Our team has done an amazing job. They have worked harder than any other group I've ever been with. We have had the ability to diversify our skills and minister on a whole new level. Everything from computer skills to parenting classes have been offered. We have had the opportunity to invest in people in a very different, yet practical way.

At the same time the Lord has allowed us to be blessed in many different ways. Ways that have made the logistics of our trip flow very smoothly. Everything from allowing us to stay in a hotel that has an incredible staff. They have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help us in so many ways. Everything from using their commercial washers & dryers to launder our shirts and t-shirts multiple times this week, to completely rearranging their schedules to accommodate ours. They have made arrangements to have breakfast ready at 4:30 A.M. tomorrow morning so the kids can fix themselves a to-go box to eat on the bus. I have never seen a hotel staff work with such a personal and giving spirit.

We have also had some very giving bus drivers. Our schedule is very complicated and demanding. Rex & Jeff have taken it all in stride and done it with such joy and willingness. They can't say enough good about our kids and how wonderful they are. Even though I already knew it, it makes my heart swell with pride to hear them talk so favorably about them.

I praise the Lord with my whole heart for allowing me to be part of such an amazing group of people. Our students are the finest anywhere, and there are simply no words to adequately describe our adults and the way they work so tirelessly to serve the Lord and to invest in our students.

I am reminded of Paul's writing when he said "I thank my God in all my remembrances of you, remembering you constantly in prayer. We recall, in the presence of God our Father, your work of faith, labor of love and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."

Thank you so much for your prayers. We are not done yet. Tonight we will be hosting Family FunFest, our closing celebration for VBS, and the plan of salvation will be presented to the parents. Pray that the Spirit is strong and that people will hear the message of salvation and will accept it!

Until then,
Buck