"The Word at Work is a ministry that mobilizes churches and individuals to answer God's call to minister to those in need," writes Rev. Tim Tam, Director of the Amarillo, Texas-based ministry. "Through our relationships, God reveals needs and opportunities for service. As we come along side the poor, new friendships develop and doors for ministry open. As we serve, God provides the resources to supply for the needs he reveals."
WAW Wednesday: "5/2/18 -- There's a River Jordan in BZE City - did you know?"
Luke's New Life from The Word at Work on Vimeo.
Friends,
If you've been to Belize on one of our short-term mission trips, you may have heard us say, "Ministry is what happens when we're on our way to do something else." Our schedule, our agenda, our plan for serving God may tempt us to ignore the Holy Spirit's direction. Thankfully, the Spirit doesn't give up on us!
My team from 26:12 was finishing up a week of visiting clients of the Belize Hospice & Palliative Care Foundation (BH&PCF). We'd been to Orange Walk and Blue Creek and we'd just seen the last patient in Belize City. We were headed back to the office to spend time with the other volunteers. We had supplies to unload. We were hot and tired. We had a dinner reservation. We had a place to be and an agenda. But ...
Susie Mauldin & Nurse August (BH&PCF volunteers) were hopeful we would squeeze a little more time from the day and meet Luke. We would find Luke on Albert Street "hustling" to purchase food and pay his electric bill. The team was up for it -- and so we headed to downtown Belize City.
We were introduced to a young man with an infectious smile, dancing eyes, and a gentle spirit. "Hi Susie!" he said, as she approached with a plate of food and a bottle of cold juice. "Susie's like my mom," he told us. He welcomed a hug from Nurse August and the rest of us greeted him warmly. We heard his story, of how he came to lose his 2 front teeth (to robbers who beat him on Christmas Day). We listened as he spoke of the challenges he faces with paying the electric bill since his mother died. How his family struggles to care for themselves, let alone care for Luke, whose paralysis was caused by a gun-shot wound. He shared that he just recently was discharged from the hospital because of grave complications. Luke was running low on hope.
My 26:12 team included a RN, and Occupational and Physical Therapists. Their first purpose for being in Belize was to minister to physical needs - but we were on one of the busiest streets in downtown Belize City - there was no way we could examine him or carry him home. So, after a few minutes we prepared to leave. We prayed with Luke and as we said a collective Amen he smiled and said, "I want to be baptized." I admit I was caught off guard. Luke was so anxious to return to God - and he wanted to be ready! I looked at Susie and said, "I suppose you have your next assignment!" She asked Luke if he'd professed Jesus as the Savior of his life and he said yes. She said she'd see what she could do and away we went.
Yes, that's right. We walked away. We had another team to meet and ... a schedule to keep and we were going to be late ... I heard God's spirit ask, "Why wouldn't you baptize Luke right now? What's stopping you?" I kept walking...
We were almost ready to load up in the van and I simply couldn't keep quiet anymore - I blurted out to the team, "Is there a reason why we wouldn't baptize Luke right now? Today? I mean, I have a bottle of water! It seems like this is what we are supposed to do!" The team enthusiastically agreed and we headed back. In case you can't make it out in the video above - Luke says, "My soul and my heart belong to God. He made me so he's gotta take me back!" His smile says so much more, though, don't you think?
Susie and Nurse August returned the following Friday with a Bible for Luke and to make plans to to attend Sunday worship at a Church near the River Jordan (as we will always now refer to Albert Street). Luke will be reassured of how loved he is by his creator - and that the Lord's mercy and grace and everlasting life are most assuredly his.
If we are mindful, we'll see the Word at work all around us.
Mollie Swafford
#wearethewordatwork
Resources Needed
Our partners have let us know that there are resources that will further their ministry -- maybe you have a connection that will help provide them?
• LOOM TO WEAVE HANDBAGS NEEDED FOR CHRISTIAN SEWING PARTNERS OF BELIZE
• BUS NEEDED FOR TRANSPORTATION OF LEADERSHIP AND CHURCH MEMBERS AT EXODUS / FIRST STONE
• FUNDING FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING FOR BELIZE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TEAM ($2K USD)
Email Tim Tam if God is leading you to help! Thank you!!
Tim Tam
#wearethewordatwork
EDITOR'S NOTE: Speaking from my own first-hand experience - working side-by-side with Tim, Kenny and our brothers and sisters in Belize - won't you give thoughtful, prayerful consideration to supporting the efforts of Tim, the Word At Work staff and their partners? Please please fill out this Commitment Card and return it to their office!
Also, remember that you can follow The Word At Work on their Facebook page!
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