THE LAST INTERRUPTION

It started as any other day… “Pat.. Pat.. Pat “

Someone was at our door at 6am needing a shoe repair… well Pat had a busy day scheduled & didn’t have time to glue & stitch this shoe so he told them to come back later in the afternoon.

Then off to make coffee (which was his morning ritual while I stayed on bed for a while yet).

As I laid there in bed trying to get a few more minutes of shut eye I could hear him out in the main room praying… His time with God was his lifeline & rock. He depended on the strength he got from The LORD for his strength for the day & this day he was gonna need it all. That Wednesday he was working with some of  the other men from the community on the road where rains had washed it out. We had been planning this for a while & he was praying for patience & strength. The Lord had been impressing on him & making a real difference in his life & attitude to give each day to him – All the interruptions- the cares- the many needs that came to our door. To meet each with joy & a servants heart because we were there to SERVE…..

                                      Simply serving .serving simply

I got up finally & we had our devotion reading time together & our pray time together- which I will forever treasure. Pat was my leader & was always able to share with me what the LORD was convicting him of & teaching him thru His Word.

Then it was off to do the work for the day … fixing the road with his neighbors. He jumped on the Gator loaded with his tools & about 3 boys . I started getting the food ready that we were going to fix for lunch. I walked to the road site & found a few ladies to cook for us – Pat was making trips down to the river loading up big rocks to use for the road. 

The last interaction with Pat was me asking if he had any extra bread so I could give to the woman cooking -2 pieces were left in the bag that he threw to me as he went past by.

  Then JESUS made that final 

                   

                                  INTERRUPTION… 

Yes Pat meet it with JOY  I’m sure of it, The day he had been living for.

 I can’t help but think of him as he was flying off the cliff 75 ft down he just flew into the arms of JESUS HIS LORD & SAVIOR ..

My world is shaken , turned upside down, a mess ..

But I have the ROCK still- the JESUS that is in control of ALL things- who holds me & cares for me. The assurance of heaven & being reunited with Pat again – whatever that really looks like.

As so many people in Haiti reached out to help me to make arrangements , to care for Pat, to get the Gator, to LOVE me, to cry with me, to LOVE me , to pray for & with me, to LOVE me… I am so grateful & blessed .

 My many Haitian friends standing along the path & road as I left- crying, praying. Those that came to the house helping me pack a few things, again praying with me, singing, CARING loving me- us. I was so blessed.

 Hearing the repeated words offered-

           Be strong- have courage- God knows

Then getting home with my family on Friday was another blessing- Beth & Phil caring & standing along side the whole way.

  I was so blessed by ALL those who helped with meals, finances, serving, singing, sharing. My GOD is so faithful- HE NEVER LEAVES YOU OR FORSAKES YOU- He cares.

 “Church “ you will never know how much you encouraged me & how thankful me & my family are for all that each of you contributed.

Now life will be forever changed for me….

 What will I do... 

               where will I live...

                             How will I manage… 

                                   how can I go on …

                                          I feel I have nothing here – physical anyway ? 

Many questions- but I TRUST & I want to PRAISE Jesus even though ‘he slays me.’

                         

                        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyUPz6_TciY

HE does have a plan not just for me BUT for each of us- It may not look like we ever envisioned or in our earthly eyes ‘how we think things should be’.

                      But it is PERFECT …. 

One of Pats favorite verses that he always reminded me of is this:

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.      Matt 6:34

So as I looked at the blog post I had just written 3 days before Pat died – It was all about thanksgiving –even in the hard stuff-

     

              WOW little did I know….

BUT I am so thankful for a husband that had a passion for JESUS, that loved me & our family & that sweet little Fenner, that wanted to tell others about Jesus & the good life living for HIM , for the step of faith we were able to make together surrendering life as we knew it to a year & 4 months we got to live in Haiti together serving – much close, sweet time that I will forever cherish.

AND I am thankful that I do have a Savior I can count on … that has my future in his hands bringing joy, tears, excitement, joy, uncertainty, trials, joy…

                AND  INTERRUPTIONS  AND JOY

These are not just words … they are truths!

I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.    Psm 34:1

To end I want to write what Pat most always put in his closing of his emails

                      PEACE IS IN JESUS ALONE

The love of my life...

If you don’t know HIS peace... pray to GOD & ask Him to show you.. accept Him as the LORD & KING of your life … & live for HIM !!!!!

Allow JESUS to come & INTERRUPT YOUR life –

Because you never know when it might be the LAST INTERRUPTION.

Thank you all again & May God bless each abundantly

Love cher


For anyone interested you can view Pats memorial service on youtube 
                   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwgBF99AAiI.  part 1

                        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SLGw3RwN3k. part 2

Yes we are Blessed…

 The one thing we must pray to be great at is THANKSGIVING- because it’s the only thing that makes GOD great in our lives.         Ann Volscamp

As I smell my burning tortilla chips in the oven I rush to get them out- they just needed a few more minutes but I forgot them ... 

Thanksgiving? I feel like I just wasted my precious ingredients.

As I look back over my day- Starting out early with a young man here because he has the “gripp” a cold & wondered if I could give him any meds.

 Or the pregnant mom that walked down & back up the mountain with her 2 children that had fever & coughs..could I help?

Then there was a mother who came by asking for more meds for her young child… She was here last week too. Her husband had died in Sept- her house was broken, she has nothing…  After visiting her rented home down by the river – she has a small room for her 5 children – a charcoal burner to cook with , a small pile of clothes in the corner & a few avocados. But she also has Jesus & a faith He would provide.  As I handed her a small bag of health care goodies & clothes she raised her hands toward heaven & said “Mesi Jesi- God will put it in my hand” Still having a large debt to pay from her husband’s funeral… no gardens this year to sell produce because there wasn't money to buy seed..

Thanksgiving?   ….

Or the young boy with temp 104.. . requesting his mama to come too, & finding out she is the same mama of a friend who just gave birth in her home Tues. to a 7 month preemie that weighed less than 4 lbs. 

How in this primitive area do children this little survive..

Thanksgiving? !..

Then there was the older lady that ...

 you guessed it had fever & the “gripp” .. everyone up here has it now - it’s that time of year.. Drink plenty of water .. I’ll give you eucalyptus & lemongrass leaves for tea. 

Cool mornings & hot days, dirt floors & drafty small rooms, sleeping wherever you can find a spot to lay, makes for sickness.

THANKSGIVING!!!!!!! Yes we must be thankful in all things

Open our hands- receive what God gives – AND GIVE THANKS. Our life is opened & we get JOY.              (adapted from Ann Volscamp)

Yes Thanksgiving.. In the hard times & in the good times..

When called to go to a consultation at 6 am & not knowing just what I’d find.. a mama in labor with her 9^th child & not progressing.. a house full of woman & her children . A community coming together to help when needed – get the other children off to school.. say a pray, hold a hand, laugh , pack a bag. Yes she needed to go down to the hospital..

The gator arrived the week before & needing gas – someone went in search of gas.. 

2 men carried mama up the hill to the gator & 5 others all climbed in the back of the bed.. about 4 ft wide & 5 ft long.. 

Community support & helping.. but 2 - 5 gal buckets of beans needed to be picked & shelled for school lunch the next day.  I WAS thankful for friends  to help get that job done.

About 3 hrs later a beautiful healthy baby boy was born….

Thanksgiving!!!!!  

Missing family from home .. but having a “family” to spend the day with & eat a large yummy thanksgiving meal together. The road down the mountain is very dusty to say the least & we are totally covered with dust when we arrive on the gator … 

but so thankful to have it .

These are some of the reflections of thanksgiving I’ve been pondering.. a busy day with many “needs” & not always feeling the thankfulness I SHOULD..

If you let something steal your THANKSGIVING - you let something steal your JOY & if you let something steal your joy you let something steal your STRENGTH  (Ann Volscamp)

S0....don't let ANYTHING steal your Joy!  Look to be thankful in EVERYTHING!  Even the hard stuff!