Monday, September 10, 2012
Just like an old shoe.....
As I began to write this update, I found myself reflecting on the thoughts I had soon after arriving back in American Samoa. I would like to share one of my early journal entries.
“ As I sit here, eating my lunch after Sunday morning service, I feel kind of like I am on a roller coaster ride. I think back on the past couple of days since returning to American Samoa, I feel extreme joy and humbleness at God’s provisions in getting me here; I feel a great anticipation of all that He has in store in the coming months; and, yes, I also feel a bit of homesickness as I think of family and friends back in the states. Yet, while reading from a book of prayers that I received from a dear friend a few years ago, I was reminded that the God who brought me here, also watches over them and loves them even deeper than I do….what a beautiful and blessed thought!!!
Everyone keeps asking how it is to be back and here are my thoughts on that. Part of it is like slipping into one of your favorite, comfortable pair of shoes. It just fits…….like picking up where I left off with Fola, Finau and Sam, watching Tim and Rachel play in the yard, experiencing the joy of seeing Demetrius smile and hearing him say “Hi, buddy” as he reaches his little arms up for me to lift him and give him a kiss and a ride and sharing my homemade chili with Pastor, Mrs. Lucy, Sam and the new teachers all around the dinner table last night!!!
At the same time, part of it is the new pair of shoes….looks great, feels o.k., just needs to be broken in. New living quarters, new set of volunteer teachers, new schedule, Brian and Brandon being off island for their trip home to TN….coming in two weeks behind everyone else and trying to find my “spot”…..none of it bad, just different. And, just as with the new pair of shoes, there will be a few blisters along the way, but in the end God’s purpose and plan will be revealed and fulfilled and all of this will become the “familiar, comfortable pair of shoes” as well!!!”
Well, two more weeks have passed since writing that entry and wow, what God can do in just a few short days. Being back here continues to be a blessing and a challenge, but when you think about it, isn’t that how life is anyway?!! Getting to re-connect with my students from last year has truly been a blessing!! I am amazed how much they have matured over the summer. Seeing their excitement at my return has truly been such a blessing!! I feel honored to be their teacher and pray to be worthy of the calling and responsibility!! On my very first day back in the classroom, I had two students come in during break and ask me “how do you know God is real?”…..leave it to God to start things off with a bang!!! Ha,ha
Brian and Brandon have also returned to the island and it has been so great re-connecting with them and sharing stories, laughs and ministry. Things continue to be wonderful with Ethan, Julie and Mandy, our new volunteer teachers, as we all get to know each other better through teaching, serving and just daily living!!! God is very present in each of their lives!!!
Several of you have also asked if I have been able to see “J” since returning and yes, we were finally able to re-connect this past week!! It blessed my heart so much to see him and sit down and catch up on life and re-new the friendship God started last year. So, over a bag of popcorn, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, some fruit and some water, we have once again started the journey toward who God is and wants to be in his life!! Please keep us both in your prayers as this journey continues to unfold!!!
So, to each and every one of you that prays, sends cards, emails and facebook messages, gives financial support and just lets me know you are there……THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!! Thank you for playing such a large part in how God brought me back to American Samoa to continue/complete the work He began in me here last year. While my thoughts still daily drift to family and friends in the states, I take such comfort in knowing He has brought me here, He will never leave nor forsake me and He who began a good work within me will be faithful to complete it!!!! God bless you all as we walk this path hand in hand and as we serve together!!!!
Larry
Prayer Requests:
1. Please pray for continued and strengthened unity among everyone on campus and at the school.
2. Pray for all our students that they would see Christ in all of us as we teach them on a daily basis.
3. Pray for the Samoan people who we come in contact with everyday.
4. Pray for other Americans teaching and working a variety of jobs here on the island that we will be able to reach out and minister to them as well.
5. Pray for Tafuna Baptist Church as we seek to serve not only American Samoa, but all of the South Pacific.
6. Pray for the new church plant in Hawaii and for the start up of one in New Zealand.
7. Pray for the continued financial and other support needed to stay on the mission field!!!
Sunday, June 17, 2012
End of school, 8th grade graduation and VBS, VBS, VBS and oh, did I mention VBS!!!!
Wow, they say time flys when you are having fun and apparently that is so true!!! It is so hard to believe that I have been in American Samoa for over 10 months and I have spent today, packing and cleaning the house, getting ready to fly back to the states in 7 days....but, enough talk about leaving here (can you tell I am in Egypt, swimming in de Nile?!!!!)
The end of school came quick as well, but ended really great!! All my students passed, but more importantly, found they way into my heart and memories and will remain there for a long time to come!! They were all very special (some in sweeter ways than others...ha,ha...but special just the same)!! 8th grade graduation here is a pretty huge event!! I was very honored to be the keynote speaker for this years ceremonies and really didn't realize just how much those crazy 8th graders had come to mean to me until I was putting together my message and began to reflect on all the many lessons I had learned from them this year!! I pray for each one of them as they begin this new journey of life!!!
On the same night as 8th grade graduation, some of our summer missionaries arrived. Sarah Andrews had arrived a few days earlier and Bekah Shearin and Patrick Miller arrived that night. Jenn Hydrick and Brandon Haywood would arrive Sunday night along with Sam's (the nurse that lives on campus with us) mom from TX!! Let the summer ministries begin!!!
We started off the first week with our joint VBS with Tafuna Baptist and Happy Valley Baptist. It poured the rain for days and we were not able to walk the village around the church like we wanted to, but in spite of the weather, we averaged around 85 for the week. Many nights, the children would walk to VBS in the rain!! Talk about humbling!!! The week went great and we invited the middle school students back the next week for another round of bible study and fellowship!!!
In the mornings of the next week (which was this past week), we were at a small Baptist church about 15 minutes from campus called Faleniu (think....Fa Lay New). This little church literally sits in the middle of a mormon community. On Monday morning, we passed out flyers for VBS in the village and prayed over it and for the VBS that would start on Tuesday morning!! God certainly heard our prayers and we had over 50 kids every day. We would arrive anywhere from 20-30 minutes early each morning and they would already be sitting in the church, in the little wooden pews, ready to begin!!! We all absolutely loved our time there this week......literally the sweetest kids I have ever worked with in my life. And they ranged from K all the way to 8th grade!!! And the middle school kids sing the VBS songs and do the dances as much, if not more than the little ones!!! I love it!!! On Friday, Brian came and did an evangelistic emphasis during their Bible story time (especially with the older ones) and he really poured his heart out to them, explaining who God is, what He did for us and how they can spend eternity in Heaven. Afterwards, several of the 6th, 7th and 8 graders prayed to receive Christ!!! I was privileged to speak with two young men who made that decision. One of them, was sooo excited and happy. I kept asking him was he sure and did he understand what this decision was and so on and he just kept smiling and saying yes, yes, yes!!! Please pray for this young man as he has made a decision that will not be very popular with his family and community!!! The evening bible study with the middle schoolers from our first week went really well also. At the end of it, one young man had given his heart to Christ as well!!!
As we look ahead, we will be doing some service projects in the community this week of the mornings and another VBS in the evening time!! Please continue to pray for our team of summer missionaries as the girls are working hard with VBS and the boys are working hard at their football camps and getting geared up for the big camp that will be beginning at the end of this week. They are all doing such an incredible job of building relationships and spreading the love and message of Christ with the people of American Samoa!!! And even though I may be swimming the above mentioned river, I do realize that my time here (at least for this go around) is coming to an end and my heart is so very heavy as I prepare to say goodbye next Sunday night!!! Please pray for me in this matter and that these last few days would be spent sharing His love and leaving behind His legacy!!!!
Love you all!!
Serving together,
Larry
The end of school came quick as well, but ended really great!! All my students passed, but more importantly, found they way into my heart and memories and will remain there for a long time to come!! They were all very special (some in sweeter ways than others...ha,ha...but special just the same)!! 8th grade graduation here is a pretty huge event!! I was very honored to be the keynote speaker for this years ceremonies and really didn't realize just how much those crazy 8th graders had come to mean to me until I was putting together my message and began to reflect on all the many lessons I had learned from them this year!! I pray for each one of them as they begin this new journey of life!!!
On the same night as 8th grade graduation, some of our summer missionaries arrived. Sarah Andrews had arrived a few days earlier and Bekah Shearin and Patrick Miller arrived that night. Jenn Hydrick and Brandon Haywood would arrive Sunday night along with Sam's (the nurse that lives on campus with us) mom from TX!! Let the summer ministries begin!!!
We started off the first week with our joint VBS with Tafuna Baptist and Happy Valley Baptist. It poured the rain for days and we were not able to walk the village around the church like we wanted to, but in spite of the weather, we averaged around 85 for the week. Many nights, the children would walk to VBS in the rain!! Talk about humbling!!! The week went great and we invited the middle school students back the next week for another round of bible study and fellowship!!!
In the mornings of the next week (which was this past week), we were at a small Baptist church about 15 minutes from campus called Faleniu (think....Fa Lay New). This little church literally sits in the middle of a mormon community. On Monday morning, we passed out flyers for VBS in the village and prayed over it and for the VBS that would start on Tuesday morning!! God certainly heard our prayers and we had over 50 kids every day. We would arrive anywhere from 20-30 minutes early each morning and they would already be sitting in the church, in the little wooden pews, ready to begin!!! We all absolutely loved our time there this week......literally the sweetest kids I have ever worked with in my life. And they ranged from K all the way to 8th grade!!! And the middle school kids sing the VBS songs and do the dances as much, if not more than the little ones!!! I love it!!! On Friday, Brian came and did an evangelistic emphasis during their Bible story time (especially with the older ones) and he really poured his heart out to them, explaining who God is, what He did for us and how they can spend eternity in Heaven. Afterwards, several of the 6th, 7th and 8 graders prayed to receive Christ!!! I was privileged to speak with two young men who made that decision. One of them, was sooo excited and happy. I kept asking him was he sure and did he understand what this decision was and so on and he just kept smiling and saying yes, yes, yes!!! Please pray for this young man as he has made a decision that will not be very popular with his family and community!!! The evening bible study with the middle schoolers from our first week went really well also. At the end of it, one young man had given his heart to Christ as well!!!
As we look ahead, we will be doing some service projects in the community this week of the mornings and another VBS in the evening time!! Please continue to pray for our team of summer missionaries as the girls are working hard with VBS and the boys are working hard at their football camps and getting geared up for the big camp that will be beginning at the end of this week. They are all doing such an incredible job of building relationships and spreading the love and message of Christ with the people of American Samoa!!! And even though I may be swimming the above mentioned river, I do realize that my time here (at least for this go around) is coming to an end and my heart is so very heavy as I prepare to say goodbye next Sunday night!!! Please pray for me in this matter and that these last few days would be spent sharing His love and leaving behind His legacy!!!!
Love you all!!
Serving together,
Larry
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Lessons from Easter - 2012
Happy Easter, everyone!!! I hope that all of you have had a beautiful and blessed Easter weekend as we have celebrated our living Lord!! It has been such a great one here in American Samoa. First, we had a wonderful Good Friday service at Happy Valley (the Samoan Baptist church on campus) on Friday morning. And then on Saturday evening, Tafuna Baptist (the English speaking church I attend) had our Easter service, with a powerful message and such a sweet, sweet spirit among us. Then this morning, we combined with Happy Valley once more for a sunrise service at their sanctuary!! It has most definitely been an Easter worship filled weekend and I have been reminded of many, many things including God's love for me and all those around me, His incredible sacrifice and His blessings of abundant life here and eternal life when this life is over. So, many lessons re-visited, but one of the sweetest didn't really come from any of our services, but from my little buddy Demitrius (see picture below).
As many of you know, one of the greatest joys of being here in American Samoa has been the relationships I have been able to build among the people here. One relationship that I treasure so much has been the young Samoan family that lives with us here on campus. Fola, Fianu, Tim, Rachel and Demitrius......they are such precious people and I have grown to love them as my own family!!! Well, this morning as I was coming down my steps, in the early morning darkness, on the way to sunrise service, Tim and Demitrius came out of their apartment heading the same way. Tim is around 9 years old and Demitrius will be 2 in a few months. I waited on them to catch up to me and began walking the rest of the way to the church with them.
As we was walked in the darkness, with Demitrius beside me, I simply put my hand down next to him and immediately I felt tiny, precious fingers grasping my hand. In the darkness of early morning, he was looking for some security and my hand seemed to provide just that!! I smiled as he walked on and then after a few more steps, I felt his pace slow down a little. We stopped, I looked down at him and he was standing there with arms stretched upward with such an innocent, vulnerable look that seemed to say, "I'm tired, will you carry me the rest of the way?" I smiled at him, bent over, picked him up and smiling together, we walked the remainder of the path, up the steps of the church and inside to where his father (Fola) was waiting!!
As services started and I began to reflect on Easter, my experience with Demitrius came flooding in and God reminded me that, as believers, we can have that same intimate moment with him. Just as Demitrius found the comfort of my hand during the early morning darkness, we too, have the promise of God's great hand always available to us during those "dark" times of our journeys. All we have to do is grab hold of it as Demitrius did with mine. And in those days that we simply don't have the strength, courage or ability to walk another step, he is there for us; to carry us, comfort us and protect us till we make it to that safe harbor where we can rest in Him and find the renewal we so desperately need and desire!!! Hallelujah, What a Savior!!!!!!
Finau, Tim, Rachel, Fola and Demitrius on Good Friday
As many of you know, one of the greatest joys of being here in American Samoa has been the relationships I have been able to build among the people here. One relationship that I treasure so much has been the young Samoan family that lives with us here on campus. Fola, Fianu, Tim, Rachel and Demitrius......they are such precious people and I have grown to love them as my own family!!! Well, this morning as I was coming down my steps, in the early morning darkness, on the way to sunrise service, Tim and Demitrius came out of their apartment heading the same way. Tim is around 9 years old and Demitrius will be 2 in a few months. I waited on them to catch up to me and began walking the rest of the way to the church with them.
As we was walked in the darkness, with Demitrius beside me, I simply put my hand down next to him and immediately I felt tiny, precious fingers grasping my hand. In the darkness of early morning, he was looking for some security and my hand seemed to provide just that!! I smiled as he walked on and then after a few more steps, I felt his pace slow down a little. We stopped, I looked down at him and he was standing there with arms stretched upward with such an innocent, vulnerable look that seemed to say, "I'm tired, will you carry me the rest of the way?" I smiled at him, bent over, picked him up and smiling together, we walked the remainder of the path, up the steps of the church and inside to where his father (Fola) was waiting!!
As services started and I began to reflect on Easter, my experience with Demitrius came flooding in and God reminded me that, as believers, we can have that same intimate moment with him. Just as Demitrius found the comfort of my hand during the early morning darkness, we too, have the promise of God's great hand always available to us during those "dark" times of our journeys. All we have to do is grab hold of it as Demitrius did with mine. And in those days that we simply don't have the strength, courage or ability to walk another step, he is there for us; to carry us, comfort us and protect us till we make it to that safe harbor where we can rest in Him and find the renewal we so desperately need and desire!!! Hallelujah, What a Savior!!!!!!
Finau, Tim, Rachel, Fola and Demitrius on Good Friday
Monday, March 26, 2012
Catching up
Yes, shamefully I confess, I have not updated my blog since October!!!! What can I say.....I have not been the good blogger I intended to do. However, I hope to be back on track now, starting with this update. We shall see!!! lol
So much has happened since October that I don't think I can cover it all in this one post, but I will try and give the major highlights. I continue to enjoy my time and ministry here in American Samoa and have truly developed a deep love for the people of the South Pacific. I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that God indeed called me here for this time and place and I am so thankful to each of you for your prayers, love and support!!!
Since my last blog, we have an addition to those living on our campus. We welcomed Samantha Gase (Sam, as we know and love her) worked here as a summer missionary two years ago and has now returned as a nurse at the local hospital, but lives here in one of the campus apartments. She is one of the most "life enjoying" people I have ever met and her laugh is so contagious. She also has a love for people and is so gifted in the area of working with children. She has become family to us all!!!!
Church is still wonderful!! We are a small congregation, but everyone has such a passion for being the hands and feet of Christ to the island and indeed all the South Pacific area. We have had a few families move back to the states as their time of working in American Samoa came to an end. We miss them but know God has great plans for their lives and has others here to come and walk alongside Tafuna Baptist in it's mission.
Being away from home at Thanksgiving was kind of difficult, but we made it through just fine. The night before Thanksgiving, we had a wonderful American style meal with Turkey and ALL the trimmings. It was great!!! A few hours later was not quite so much fun!! I called over to Kim's apartment around 1:30a.m., waking her up, asking her to drive me to the ER!! I had been bitten on my lower right leg by an insect or spider a few days earlier and thought it was no big deal. But, unfortunately, it had become infected and by that time of morning, I could not walk on my leg and was getting really sick. So, we spent the wee hours of Thanksgiving at the hospital here in American Samoa, which was another story within itself!!! (let's just say that on their hopital directory sign on the wall, there is a department called....."spare parts".....yeah, it was an adventure)!!! lol Thanks to each one who prayed for me over this infection and please continue to pray. The original bite healed in about a month's time, but a new one emerged right beside of it and is just now starting to heal. I have not been able to get in the water here at all, and living on an island in the south pacific and not getting
During the final months of the first semester, Kim felt God calling her back home to the states, so when we flew home for Christmas, she did not return to American Samoa with me. I miss her very much, but rejoice with her in all that God is currently doing in her life. In the meantime, God has brought Anne Crane, one of my former summer missionaries, to American Samao to teach the classes Kim was teaching and to minister with us. Anne is a recent graduate of USC and is having a blast here in the South Pacific.
Lots of great things have been happening this second semester. I was given the opportunity to return to the states for two weeks during the end of January, first of February and attend the South Carolina Baptist Convention's collegiate ministry weekend, Converge and to visit several college campuses!!! I was there to recruit summer missionaries to come here for the month of June and help with VBS and other ministries and to recruit more teachers for Samoa Baptist Academy for the 2012/2013 school year. It was such an incredible experience and God spoke to some young people who are now either already committed to come or are praying earnestly about coming to serve here!! I also got to spend a few extra days with my family, which is always an added bonus!!!!
Since returning, relationships with my students continue to grow and I stand in awe of how God is using those relationships to open the door for ministry. We have started a middle school bible study on Tuesday afternoons, based on the movie "To Save a Life" and we offer a youth/younger children's night every Thursday from 5:30 to 6:30 where there are games/activities, music and bible lesson. We are also gearing up for several VBS/backyard bible clubs this summer and for the big, annual football camp that Brian and Brandon sponsor.
Out of everything that has happened though, I think the highlight of this semester has been the opportunity to travel to New Zealand with a mission team from Tafuna Baptist Church over our spring break week. Brian Smart, Brandon Smart, Ruth Tuato'o, Anne Crane, Samantha Gase and myself spent 9 days in Auckland, New Zealand working with the Dream Centre church and staff to minister to the Samoan/Polynesian cultures that live there. What an incredible time of seeing God move!!! We were able to conduct backyard bible clubs, block parties, coaches clinics and more. The people were incredible, their accents were amazing and New Zealand is beyond beautiful!! God allowed us to make some great connections and hopefully lay the groundwork for future ministry opportunities with the Dream Centre and for future church planting.
Many of you have asked, so what now? What is next for Larry? Well, I will tell you.....at this point, I am truly feeling God calling me to continue my time and ministry here in the South Pacific, at least for another year, maybe more. He continues to open up new doors and to involve me in things that I desire to see through and develop deeper. Brian and I continue to have many "what if" conversations and I am truly so excited at all God seems to be doing!!! Of course, for this to happen, there has to be a God sized miracle in my finances, but He has promised to provide and I am trusting Him in this. Please pray for me that I will indeed be faithful to His calling and for all that is ahead. Also, please pray for my parents and the rest of my family back in TN that He would work in their hearts and lives with this decision as well. Other prayer requests are:
1. Continued prayer for our students and for the ministry efforts aimed toward them. As I learn more of their "stories", the more I see their need for a relationship with Him.
2. For Tafuna Baptist Church as we have seen many members move off island and as we continue to seek those here on the island who need to know Him and find a place to worship where they feel at home
3. For our new church plant in Hawaii that will be starting in about 3 weeks
4. For New Zealand, all that God has in store for there and for those who He will be working through to see it accomplished.
5. For my leg, my overall health and my finances
6. For the work of Christ in the entire South Pacific region
7. And lastly that we at Samoa Baptist Academy and Tafuna Baptist Church will remain faithful to His calling and His leadership!!!!
God bless you all and thank you for your continued support as we partner together in serving Him!!!
Hope you enjoy the few pictures I have posted below!!!
Serving together,
Larry
So much has happened since October that I don't think I can cover it all in this one post, but I will try and give the major highlights. I continue to enjoy my time and ministry here in American Samoa and have truly developed a deep love for the people of the South Pacific. I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that God indeed called me here for this time and place and I am so thankful to each of you for your prayers, love and support!!!
Since my last blog, we have an addition to those living on our campus. We welcomed Samantha Gase (Sam, as we know and love her) worked here as a summer missionary two years ago and has now returned as a nurse at the local hospital, but lives here in one of the campus apartments. She is one of the most "life enjoying" people I have ever met and her laugh is so contagious. She also has a love for people and is so gifted in the area of working with children. She has become family to us all!!!!
Church is still wonderful!! We are a small congregation, but everyone has such a passion for being the hands and feet of Christ to the island and indeed all the South Pacific area. We have had a few families move back to the states as their time of working in American Samoa came to an end. We miss them but know God has great plans for their lives and has others here to come and walk alongside Tafuna Baptist in it's mission.
Being away from home at Thanksgiving was kind of difficult, but we made it through just fine. The night before Thanksgiving, we had a wonderful American style meal with Turkey and ALL the trimmings. It was great!!! A few hours later was not quite so much fun!! I called over to Kim's apartment around 1:30a.m., waking her up, asking her to drive me to the ER!! I had been bitten on my lower right leg by an insect or spider a few days earlier and thought it was no big deal. But, unfortunately, it had become infected and by that time of morning, I could not walk on my leg and was getting really sick. So, we spent the wee hours of Thanksgiving at the hospital here in American Samoa, which was another story within itself!!! (let's just say that on their hopital directory sign on the wall, there is a department called....."spare parts".....yeah, it was an adventure)!!! lol Thanks to each one who prayed for me over this infection and please continue to pray. The original bite healed in about a month's time, but a new one emerged right beside of it and is just now starting to heal. I have not been able to get in the water here at all, and living on an island in the south pacific and not getting
During the final months of the first semester, Kim felt God calling her back home to the states, so when we flew home for Christmas, she did not return to American Samoa with me. I miss her very much, but rejoice with her in all that God is currently doing in her life. In the meantime, God has brought Anne Crane, one of my former summer missionaries, to American Samao to teach the classes Kim was teaching and to minister with us. Anne is a recent graduate of USC and is having a blast here in the South Pacific.
Lots of great things have been happening this second semester. I was given the opportunity to return to the states for two weeks during the end of January, first of February and attend the South Carolina Baptist Convention's collegiate ministry weekend, Converge and to visit several college campuses!!! I was there to recruit summer missionaries to come here for the month of June and help with VBS and other ministries and to recruit more teachers for Samoa Baptist Academy for the 2012/2013 school year. It was such an incredible experience and God spoke to some young people who are now either already committed to come or are praying earnestly about coming to serve here!! I also got to spend a few extra days with my family, which is always an added bonus!!!!
Since returning, relationships with my students continue to grow and I stand in awe of how God is using those relationships to open the door for ministry. We have started a middle school bible study on Tuesday afternoons, based on the movie "To Save a Life" and we offer a youth/younger children's night every Thursday from 5:30 to 6:30 where there are games/activities, music and bible lesson. We are also gearing up for several VBS/backyard bible clubs this summer and for the big, annual football camp that Brian and Brandon sponsor.
Out of everything that has happened though, I think the highlight of this semester has been the opportunity to travel to New Zealand with a mission team from Tafuna Baptist Church over our spring break week. Brian Smart, Brandon Smart, Ruth Tuato'o, Anne Crane, Samantha Gase and myself spent 9 days in Auckland, New Zealand working with the Dream Centre church and staff to minister to the Samoan/Polynesian cultures that live there. What an incredible time of seeing God move!!! We were able to conduct backyard bible clubs, block parties, coaches clinics and more. The people were incredible, their accents were amazing and New Zealand is beyond beautiful!! God allowed us to make some great connections and hopefully lay the groundwork for future ministry opportunities with the Dream Centre and for future church planting.
Many of you have asked, so what now? What is next for Larry? Well, I will tell you.....at this point, I am truly feeling God calling me to continue my time and ministry here in the South Pacific, at least for another year, maybe more. He continues to open up new doors and to involve me in things that I desire to see through and develop deeper. Brian and I continue to have many "what if" conversations and I am truly so excited at all God seems to be doing!!! Of course, for this to happen, there has to be a God sized miracle in my finances, but He has promised to provide and I am trusting Him in this. Please pray for me that I will indeed be faithful to His calling and for all that is ahead. Also, please pray for my parents and the rest of my family back in TN that He would work in their hearts and lives with this decision as well. Other prayer requests are:
1. Continued prayer for our students and for the ministry efforts aimed toward them. As I learn more of their "stories", the more I see their need for a relationship with Him.
2. For Tafuna Baptist Church as we have seen many members move off island and as we continue to seek those here on the island who need to know Him and find a place to worship where they feel at home
3. For our new church plant in Hawaii that will be starting in about 3 weeks
4. For New Zealand, all that God has in store for there and for those who He will be working through to see it accomplished.
5. For my leg, my overall health and my finances
6. For the work of Christ in the entire South Pacific region
7. And lastly that we at Samoa Baptist Academy and Tafuna Baptist Church will remain faithful to His calling and His leadership!!!!
God bless you all and thank you for your continued support as we partner together in serving Him!!!
Hope you enjoy the few pictures I have posted below!!!
Serving together,
Larry
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Rejoicing, Weeping, Convicting
Wow, it's hard to believe it has been 3 weeks since my last blog. Even in a place where the way of life is slow pace and the sun sets by 7:00p.m. every night, it seems like time can still get away from you. So, I apologize for the lapse of time between posts, but thank you for your continued prayers and encouragement.
As you can tell from the title of this post, the past couple of weeks have been filled with many emotions as life here in American Samoa and back in the states continues on.
Rejoicing: There has been much to rejoice about. In my last post, I talked about how God was teaching me to trust Him and see the relationships He has been building during the "waiting" time. That has continued to happen and to even begin to deepen. One day last week, I was able to have a conversation with a student of mine about the church he attends and what he believes about Jesus/God. Over the course of our conversation, it became very clear that this young man really did not know much of anything about Jesus and just attended the church he is at because of family and friends. We talked a bit about the importance of knowing who you personally believe Jesus to be and I told him that if he wanted to talk more about it, I would very much enjoy the opportunity to do that. Please pray for this young man that God will continue to reveal Himself to him and will continue to build our relationship of trust so that I may be used to help him along this journey.
Another great time of rejoicing took place this week, as Kim and I were able to accompany Pastor Elise and Ms. Lucy to the island of Western Samoa. We were there Monday and part of Tuesday and had a great time. The island is very beautiful and there are a few more "touristy" things to do than here in American Samoa. ha,ha One hitch though.....they drive on the left hand side of the road and of course, the steering wheel is on the right side of the car. Soooo, let's just say that Kim probably said "left, left" more times in those two days than she ever has in her life!!! lol It takes some getting used to after driving on the right all of your life!!! Quite the adventure!!! But the highlight of our trip was getting to meet with one of the church plants we have on the island. We drove high into the hills outside of Apia and came to where the church is currently meeting in a small wooden structure. They are trying to build a new block building beside of it, but it has been slow going. As I will comment on more in just a moment, these people have very little, yet had prepared a meal of fresh fruits and home baked bread for us when we arrived. As we sat out in the open to eat, the flies were kind of intense, so some of the children gathered around the table with small hand held fans and kept the flies away from us and our food. Talk about being humbled!!!!!!
Later that day, we met up with them again, as Pastor Elise and Ms. Lucy had rented a van and carried many of them from the mountains down to the ocean (about a 40 minute drive) for a baptismal service!! There were seven of their members being baptized. Each of the seven came dressed in all white and made their way to the water along with Pastor Elise and their pastor. Both pastors spoke and prayed and then each of the seven shared a word of testimony of what God had done in their lives and about being transformed. Then one at a time, they would walk out into the waters and meet both pastors there and prepare to be baptized. During the entire baptismal service, the seven, plus all the people watching, sang songs of praise to God in the Samoan language!! Although I didn't understand any of it, I knew that I was in the midst of one of the most beautiful times of worship I have ever experienced. Behind me, was a young 14 year old girl whose mother, father and sister were all being baptized that day. As they started singing, this young girl sang at the top of her lungs and from the deepest parts of her heart and spirit. She was indeed praising God for what was happening in her family!!!! All those being baptized kept lifting their hands to the sky and looking upward, giving thanks to God for what He had done in their lives. One man, as soon as he was lifted from the waters by the pastors, began to dance and jump around in the water, so excited over his salvation and relationship with God and with his step of obedience in baptism!!!!
As I watched him and the others, my heart and soul rejoiced, tears filled my eyes and I also found myself convicted. When was the last time I was so joyful over my salvation and shared so openly with the world about it. I get so excited over a package from home or finally getting to skype and see my parents' faces after being here 8 weeks.....but how excited am I about being a child of God?!!!! Lord, help me to love You like these men and women and children do!!!!
As I said, there have been times of rejoicing and being convicted, but there have also been times of weeping. I have wept for these same people that I rejoiced with as they were baptized upon hearing about the conditions in which they live. They do not have running water and must catch rainwater to drink, wash with, etc. If there are months of no or little rain, they have very few options for water. The children that were so precious, playing ball and fanning the flies away from our food and bodies are also doing without an education as most of them are not able to attend school. They also have very little clothes and shoes. Each time Pastor Elise and Ms. Lucy go there, she takes a suitcase full of clothes and shoes, hygiene items, etc. This time it was children's items. The day we were there, they were wearing the t-shirts she had taken to them the day before. They were already dirty from being worn for two days. She also took snacks and candies for the children and she said it was heartbreaking and heartwarming to see them take the snacks and begin to enjoy them in a rather quick manner!! :) Each trip she leaves the suitcase she brings with a family for them to use as storage for their everyday clothes as they have no closets or any other storage options. Please pray for these families who are so giving and loving and pray for laborers that God will call out to go and minister to them.
My heart has also wept this week for a friend from high school that has lost a 14 year old daughter in a car accident and has her husband in serious condition in ICU from the same accident. Please pray for Beth Hurley Madison and her family during this time. Her faith and trust is strong and she knows that the prayers of her family and friends and God's infinite love and mercy are what is getting her through. Life is so precious and so fragile. Let us not wastes time with petty things that do not matter, but let us show love to our family, our friends and to everyone we meet and above all else, let us show God shining through our lives!!!!
Once again, thank you for being my prayer warriors and encouragers as I travel this journey He has called me to. I love you all more than I could ever tell you and miss each of you very much!!! Listed below are some specific prayer requests that I would appreciate your lifting to the Father!!!!
Serving together,
Larry
Prayer Requests:
1. Pray continually for Beth Hurley Madison, her husband Bob and all their family during this tragic time!!
2. Pray for the people of Western Samoa...the people of the church plant there and those who need to come to know Christ.
3. Pray for the people of American Samoa that they, too, would discover the need for Christ in their lives.
4. Pray for my students, especially the young man I talked about in this blog.
5. Pray for me as there are still days of being homesick and finding my place here in a church congregation that is, for the most part, younger than me. (Still feeling a bit like the "new guy")
6. Pray for our upcoming fall festival, that God will use it to bring new famlies to Him and to our congregation.
As you can tell from the title of this post, the past couple of weeks have been filled with many emotions as life here in American Samoa and back in the states continues on.
Rejoicing: There has been much to rejoice about. In my last post, I talked about how God was teaching me to trust Him and see the relationships He has been building during the "waiting" time. That has continued to happen and to even begin to deepen. One day last week, I was able to have a conversation with a student of mine about the church he attends and what he believes about Jesus/God. Over the course of our conversation, it became very clear that this young man really did not know much of anything about Jesus and just attended the church he is at because of family and friends. We talked a bit about the importance of knowing who you personally believe Jesus to be and I told him that if he wanted to talk more about it, I would very much enjoy the opportunity to do that. Please pray for this young man that God will continue to reveal Himself to him and will continue to build our relationship of trust so that I may be used to help him along this journey.
Another great time of rejoicing took place this week, as Kim and I were able to accompany Pastor Elise and Ms. Lucy to the island of Western Samoa. We were there Monday and part of Tuesday and had a great time. The island is very beautiful and there are a few more "touristy" things to do than here in American Samoa. ha,ha One hitch though.....they drive on the left hand side of the road and of course, the steering wheel is on the right side of the car. Soooo, let's just say that Kim probably said "left, left" more times in those two days than she ever has in her life!!! lol It takes some getting used to after driving on the right all of your life!!! Quite the adventure!!! But the highlight of our trip was getting to meet with one of the church plants we have on the island. We drove high into the hills outside of Apia and came to where the church is currently meeting in a small wooden structure. They are trying to build a new block building beside of it, but it has been slow going. As I will comment on more in just a moment, these people have very little, yet had prepared a meal of fresh fruits and home baked bread for us when we arrived. As we sat out in the open to eat, the flies were kind of intense, so some of the children gathered around the table with small hand held fans and kept the flies away from us and our food. Talk about being humbled!!!!!!
Later that day, we met up with them again, as Pastor Elise and Ms. Lucy had rented a van and carried many of them from the mountains down to the ocean (about a 40 minute drive) for a baptismal service!! There were seven of their members being baptized. Each of the seven came dressed in all white and made their way to the water along with Pastor Elise and their pastor. Both pastors spoke and prayed and then each of the seven shared a word of testimony of what God had done in their lives and about being transformed. Then one at a time, they would walk out into the waters and meet both pastors there and prepare to be baptized. During the entire baptismal service, the seven, plus all the people watching, sang songs of praise to God in the Samoan language!! Although I didn't understand any of it, I knew that I was in the midst of one of the most beautiful times of worship I have ever experienced. Behind me, was a young 14 year old girl whose mother, father and sister were all being baptized that day. As they started singing, this young girl sang at the top of her lungs and from the deepest parts of her heart and spirit. She was indeed praising God for what was happening in her family!!!! All those being baptized kept lifting their hands to the sky and looking upward, giving thanks to God for what He had done in their lives. One man, as soon as he was lifted from the waters by the pastors, began to dance and jump around in the water, so excited over his salvation and relationship with God and with his step of obedience in baptism!!!!
As I watched him and the others, my heart and soul rejoiced, tears filled my eyes and I also found myself convicted. When was the last time I was so joyful over my salvation and shared so openly with the world about it. I get so excited over a package from home or finally getting to skype and see my parents' faces after being here 8 weeks.....but how excited am I about being a child of God?!!!! Lord, help me to love You like these men and women and children do!!!!
As I said, there have been times of rejoicing and being convicted, but there have also been times of weeping. I have wept for these same people that I rejoiced with as they were baptized upon hearing about the conditions in which they live. They do not have running water and must catch rainwater to drink, wash with, etc. If there are months of no or little rain, they have very few options for water. The children that were so precious, playing ball and fanning the flies away from our food and bodies are also doing without an education as most of them are not able to attend school. They also have very little clothes and shoes. Each time Pastor Elise and Ms. Lucy go there, she takes a suitcase full of clothes and shoes, hygiene items, etc. This time it was children's items. The day we were there, they were wearing the t-shirts she had taken to them the day before. They were already dirty from being worn for two days. She also took snacks and candies for the children and she said it was heartbreaking and heartwarming to see them take the snacks and begin to enjoy them in a rather quick manner!! :) Each trip she leaves the suitcase she brings with a family for them to use as storage for their everyday clothes as they have no closets or any other storage options. Please pray for these families who are so giving and loving and pray for laborers that God will call out to go and minister to them.
My heart has also wept this week for a friend from high school that has lost a 14 year old daughter in a car accident and has her husband in serious condition in ICU from the same accident. Please pray for Beth Hurley Madison and her family during this time. Her faith and trust is strong and she knows that the prayers of her family and friends and God's infinite love and mercy are what is getting her through. Life is so precious and so fragile. Let us not wastes time with petty things that do not matter, but let us show love to our family, our friends and to everyone we meet and above all else, let us show God shining through our lives!!!!
Once again, thank you for being my prayer warriors and encouragers as I travel this journey He has called me to. I love you all more than I could ever tell you and miss each of you very much!!! Listed below are some specific prayer requests that I would appreciate your lifting to the Father!!!!
Serving together,
Larry
Prayer Requests:
1. Pray continually for Beth Hurley Madison, her husband Bob and all their family during this tragic time!!
2. Pray for the people of Western Samoa...the people of the church plant there and those who need to come to know Christ.
3. Pray for the people of American Samoa that they, too, would discover the need for Christ in their lives.
4. Pray for my students, especially the young man I talked about in this blog.
5. Pray for me as there are still days of being homesick and finding my place here in a church congregation that is, for the most part, younger than me. (Still feeling a bit like the "new guy")
6. Pray for our upcoming fall festival, that God will use it to bring new famlies to Him and to our congregation.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Connections
As the weeks have started going by, I realize that my ideas of what would happen here are far different from what reality is!!! I envisioned coming here and jumping right into community and children's ministry activities, planning and implementing, etc. etc. You know me, Mr. "must be doing something"!!! ha ha Well, God is so totally thrown me into a different way of life!!! Brian has been so very busy since I arrived with pastoring the church, being vice principal at the school, teaching some of my classes till I arrived, teaching at the local high school for his brother till he arrives in mid September!! So, he and I have really not had much time to sit down and discuss ministry plans and such!! So, teaching has pretty much been it. At first, I was getting a little frustrated by not being able to "jump right in", but slowly but surely God is showing me that I need to slow down, I need to take advantage of this time to rest and enjoy learning a new culture and that the time spent "just teaching" is not in vain!!!
Each day, I can sense my relationships with many of my students beginning to deepen, as well as relationships with others in our church and community!! Some of my students are starting to hang out in my room during breaks and after school, which affords the opportunity for some great conversations. I am learning that several of our students are Mormon, but their parents want them to attend Samoa Baptist Academy because of our academic reputation!! How's that for God working?!!! I am praying that the relationships I build during my "waiting" time, will be the very vehicle He uses for future ministry!!!
Please pray for all our students, but especially those that need His light to penetrate their lives. Kim has these same students for language arts and is also building great relationships with them!! Pray that God will continue to allow us these incredible opportunities!!!! Kim has and continues to be such a blessing in my life....we are having a blast getting to know each other, hang out and laugh a lot!!! But of course, what else would you expect from the daughter of Tim and Suzanne Tomlinson!!! ha,ha Also, please pray for Kim and I as there are days of homesickness, being tired and still adjusting to this way of life!!! (forgot to mention in my earlier posts that it gets dark here between 6:30 and 7:00p.m. EVERY NIGHT OF THE YEAR and sunrise is right around 6:00a.m.!! So, by 8:00p.m., you feel like you should be inside and ready for bed....and some nights we are!!! ha,ha) Thanks so much for your partnership and your prayers!!!!
Each day, I can sense my relationships with many of my students beginning to deepen, as well as relationships with others in our church and community!! Some of my students are starting to hang out in my room during breaks and after school, which affords the opportunity for some great conversations. I am learning that several of our students are Mormon, but their parents want them to attend Samoa Baptist Academy because of our academic reputation!! How's that for God working?!!! I am praying that the relationships I build during my "waiting" time, will be the very vehicle He uses for future ministry!!!
Please pray for all our students, but especially those that need His light to penetrate their lives. Kim has these same students for language arts and is also building great relationships with them!! Pray that God will continue to allow us these incredible opportunities!!!! Kim has and continues to be such a blessing in my life....we are having a blast getting to know each other, hang out and laugh a lot!!! But of course, what else would you expect from the daughter of Tim and Suzanne Tomlinson!!! ha,ha Also, please pray for Kim and I as there are days of homesickness, being tired and still adjusting to this way of life!!! (forgot to mention in my earlier posts that it gets dark here between 6:30 and 7:00p.m. EVERY NIGHT OF THE YEAR and sunrise is right around 6:00a.m.!! So, by 8:00p.m., you feel like you should be inside and ready for bed....and some nights we are!!! ha,ha) Thanks so much for your partnership and your prayers!!!!
Beach at last
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