NTM

Hello to all.  I know that it has been a couple weeks, and it is not Friday, but I haven’t been able to write a news article, and I probably won’t have time if I don’t do this today, so here goes!

We concluded our two months in Georgia with a goodbye service in our sending church.  We had a great time this summer.  So many people put us up in their homes, fed us, asked about Paraguay, and committed towards partnership now and in the future.  We gained surprisingly many new friends as well as strengthened ties with old.

From there we drove to my parents house in Virginia to drop Jen and Jamen off there.  I then drove back to Rocky Mount NC.  My parents are excited about the extra time they get with Jamen.  Many in Jen’s family came down to see her and the baby as well, so there is a good family get together happening there.

Today is my last day in Rocky Mount.   I have been here trying to develope a team of a few select individuals who can serve as contact people to try to gain partner individuals and churches in this area.  ( I have also been able to see old high school friends, but that is an added bonus).  I have been able to meet with many people, and it seems that God will raise up a team in this area to help us in this capacity.

Needless to say, Jen and I are getting a little bit weary of being on the road.   While we are thankful to the Lord in what He has allowed us to accomplish, and we would not trade this time for anything, we have reached about the end of our energy.  Being on the road and living out of a suitcase, as you can well imagine, is pretty draining after 10 weeks.

Thanks to all who have made this summer possible.  We are now heading into the final leg of the trip…10 days at my parents just spending time with family.  Jamen meets his great-grandparents for the first time, and we are very excited about that.  See you soon.

We took a spur-the-moment mini-trip this week and did a loop around Florida.  Not exactly what I would recommend for a road trip when you only have 3 days and when you have a pregnant wife and a one-year old.   But that’s beside the point.  It the recommendation of several people, including our pastor, we realized the benefit of visiting a ministry in North Ft. Myers FL called ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization)

ECHO is a very unique ministry.  They are a team of Christian scientists and botanists who are concerned about the people around the world who are starving.  Especially when God has made plants that grow and give food in any environment.  They started this ministry to research what plants grow best in what locations to provide the greatest harvest and nutrition with the smallest investment. 

Today they are headquarterd in North Ft Myers where they have their "Global Garden".  At this garden they grow plants to experiment how to grow them best, test their nutritional content, and harvest seeds for their seed band.

How does this apply to us and tribal missions?  ECHO does not have any missionaries.  They exist simply to assist missionaries already overseas by sending them seeds, telling them how to grow the plants, and encourages the missionaries to save the seeds from the crop to give to the people they work with.  Once the people have seen the crop it will inspire them to plant the seeds the missionaries give them and grow them to feed their family.

In a place like Paraguay, the tribal people have been taken advantage of and exploited for years, hence they are typically closed and stand-offish towards outsiders.  However, an outreach like this could be what completely throws the door wide open for relationships.  While we would never want our ministry to become about solving world hunger, we will use whatever tool we can to bring people into a growing relationship with Christ.

We are glad we visited for a brief tour of the global gardens at ECHO and are looking forward to seeing how they play a part in planting a church in an unreached people group in Paraguay.