Hi folks,
Hope that this finds you well. I have been trying to get a
copy of the pictures from the Nicaragua logging trip. I have a set of pictures
that Scotty gave me, however they do not have a particular picture that I was
hoping to obtain. The picture that I wanted was a shot of Scotty and me praying
with the men from the local village that worked with us all week. The picture
was taken with Scotty praying after going through the plan of salvation with the
men. We work hard on these trips, side by side with men who may or may not be
Christians. God uses many tools to reach the lost, sometimes even hard work
around a sawmill. We constantly remind each other on these trips that the "task"
may only be the tool that God is using to touch a heart. It is easy to get
caught up in what "we" are doing and that "we" are going to saw lumber, build a
church, or preform some other task that "we" think needs to be accomplished.
Sometimes we can get so focused on that task that we miss the very thing that
God is up too. I pray that our team kept God and His will as the reason for our
actions.
By all units of measure we had a great trip. I got even closer to
some men that I admire greatly and whose friendship I treasure. The team sawed
over 16000 board feet of lumber (enough to build 5 houses and 1 church.) and the
mill was in better shape when we left than when we arrived. We had some great
share times that allowed us to grow closer to each other and to our Lord. We did
not have any travel problems that amounted to anything. The team all came home
unharmed. Yes, by all measurements, we had a great trip, yet I just can't help
but think that the reason we were there was summed up in that prayer circle
after the work was done. Thank you for being part of God's work here and in
Nicaragua. I am blessed to be a part of two great teams, the guys that I went
with and the faithful team that supported me with your prayers and with your
generous gifts. Without you the lumber would not have been sawed and the lives,
theirs and ours, would not have been touched. I only sent letters to a few
people that God lead me too. I love you all and I hope that you realize how much
your support meant to me. Thank you so much and may God richly bless you for
your being a part of this trip.
In His Name,
Tim
