My Missionary Story Part II

      Part I -  left off on Thursday, October 21, 2010 with an inexplicable restlessness with my job.  Following is what happened next: 

• Tuesday, October 26^th, approximately 7:55 AM (just before our strategic planning meeting was to begin); our company president told me that they wanted to hire the Kennewick City Manager, and in order to fill find a spot for him in the company they would need me to step down as manager (but they still valued me!). 

• Feeling hurt, but also thinking about that growing restlessness, and my words to our Lord the previous Thursday – I laid this before the Lord that evening; Googled architectural missionary, came across the HIM page, and sent a random e-mail.  Checked out a few other items that evening; and had a very restless night.

• Not able to sleep, I got up around 3 and went to the Word, picking up where I had left off the day before; I Samuel chapters 1-3. Seeking to hear something from the Lord that will ease my hurt; 3:9 “jumps” from the page, “Speak Lord, for your servant hears.”  Pondering on this a bit, reading a few more chapters, and going to back to bed.

• E-mail message in the morning from the head of HIM design department; they have been praying for an architect, they need an architect willing to travel (for he is unable to for health reasons), who has an NCARB certificate, and with senior level experience; BUT this person needs to be able to raise their own support (faith support is how I think it is phrased).  I e-mail back, and the conversation begins…

• May, 2011, Sally and I agree to fly back to Asheville, NC to meet the staff and to go through some orientation.  We leave pretty well convinced that this is the future the Lord has for us (the double rainbow, three songs in a row with strong messages about “trusting the Lord, not what we could see” – but still want about three months to pray and think about this (not wanting to make a decision based on an emotional high).

• We send our first newsletter out in August, 2011 (hoping to receive full support right away from just sending these out!).

• A request to help the Portland Rescue Mission, the first chance to actually serve the Lord through HIM on a project (a small enough project to do on the side).

• A very intense winter; particularly December… my dad’s serious downturn in health; our company’s serious downturn in work; the warning from my boss that my job is in jepordy; and a hint of some actual opportunities to serve the Lord through HIM with architecture.  1:00 AM wake up call (from the Lord) on December 23rd; a plead to hear something from Him as I read where I left off the previous day; pondering how in the world the Lord could speak to me in Numbers?  Numbers 13 jumps out; the story of the spys, the mistake of fearing the giants over trusting the Lord… “Trust the Lord, don’t fear the giants!” really jumped out.

• Eight days later, a 3:00 AM wake-up call (I’m spending nights with my dad – he needs considerable medical attention at home); Duet 1 – the spy story recapped; that Sunday, a request from a friend at church to know if I’m interested in helping a missionary in Honduras with a school expansion design… don’t fear the giants, trust the Lord… I feel pretty compelled to say yes; minutes before this request, another friend on the missionary committee shares that the church will be throwing some support our way… hmmmm, a lot to reflect on.

• The next week I’m asked to briefly share about this new missionary venture of ours at church; 3:00 AM the that Sunday morning, woken up again!  Okay Lord, how are you going to speak to me through Deut 9?  The Israelites are about to enter the land – but fear not, God is going before them… TRUST GOD!!!.  About one week later, a request from another missionary agency to help design a safehouse in Kenya… more work request from the Portland Mission, a Honduras visit (such a powerful experience), and continual up and down series of health concerns for my dad through the month of March…

That is pretty much the story up to this point.  For some reason, the Lord hasn’t provided hardly any opportunity for me to ask people for financial support (not something I want to do anyhow); mostly due to my dad’s health and secondarily due to increased ministry work all coupled with a full time job, a candy  & gift store (mostly my wife’s time); and yet some pretty clear messages to trust Him, move toward where he is pointing, don’t fear the giants.  So that is what, with God’s help, I am doing.  I am a bit surprised to still have my job, but am grateful for this financial support.  The candy store came about as a way for my wife to contribute to our support – though this is more of a long term thing (will not provide much support for a few years until we pay off the previous owners).  Curiously, a bit hectically, but eagerly moving forward…

My Missionary Story Part I

Awhile ago I was asked what “my story” was, concerning the architectural missionary direction.  Like you might expect – there were quite a few pieces to this puzzle.  But I suppose the key events leading up to last year’s decision to pursue this architectural missionary direction are the following: 

• A prayer request to the Lord back when I was about 12, letting the Lord know that I was willing to do whatever He wanted – but please don’t send me on a mission field (meaning out of the United States), especially please don’t send me to someplace like Africa.

• A realization at age 27 that God had transformed my heart so that this was now a significant desire; a letter to a Middle East missionary organization (sent without a donation), and no further response.  Whereas my letter and conversations with this gal named Sally who lived 2,000 miles away led to marriage and many children; so the missionary thing seemed like either a closed door, or at least a “down the road” thing – maybe.

• Fast forward to 2005; the realization that after two attempts to pursue a different career path, the Lord wanted me in architecture; sort of reluctantly accepting a job as a staff architect at Meier, a company of about 42, with four in the architecture group (counting me).

• Ten days after being hired at Meier, my architectural boss was fired, and I was asked to take over the position (later realizing that this was really the reason Terry Meier hired me – he just never told me); accepting this position after thinking about it for two weeks – so now our group was down to three; I was the only licensed architect, and our intern architect was due with twins within a month.

• Fast forward to 2010, our group is up to 9 (10 if with a summer intern); the company is up to around 70.  Our architectural revenue had grown from around $400K to $2.2M; a very fulfilling architectural career, but a growing and inexplicable restlessness.  I think this was magnified with my mom’s death on March 4^th, of that year, but I couldn’t really put my finger on it.   
• On October 21^st, following a Rotary Club meeting, thinking about our upcoming annual Meier strategic planning meeting for the 26^th, I remember apologizing to the Lord for the restlessness, and wondering if perhaps I shouldn’t be the group manager since I didn’t really have a “vision” for the group – never really did; but not really wanting a change in position.... see Part II for the the HIM connection.

The Fernanda Chronicles

Following is an amazing story about a young lady nicknamed Fernanda, who I was fortunate to meet while in Honduras. The story is written by Dana Benscoter of True Disciples Ministries, and is fairly long - but also laced with great photos, and very much worth reading. Enjoy...

and then there was Jorje

Jorge is such a great person. He was with us throughout the whole weekend. He is sort of a lawn, garden, mechanic, and fix-it man who resides with Dana & Mirtza most of the time while they are in Honduras, and looks after their house when they are in the states.

Jorje is married, has a wife, three children (I believe), two sons in their teens, and a young daughter. We were able to briefly meet all family members. Jorje didn’t speak English, but was great at teaching Mark and me some Spanish words throughout the week. He was very fun – I sure wish I could have communicated more with him.

Jorje’s story is interesting, but unfortunately my memory may not get all of the following facts correct, but I will try. Jorje was adopted by Mirtza’s mom as a young boy, I believe he might have been a street child. As Jorje grew into his teens – he went the gang and drug culture route – and pretty much disappeared for many years. He married along the way, and had his two son’s during this dark period – but was active in drug trafficking and use. One day he showed up at Dana and Mirtza’s place out of the blue; he was very nervous, and said he had a message for Dana. They retreated to Dana’s office, and Jorje said that he was told to kill Dana from the devil. Dana prayed out loud and asked the Lord to cast the Lord bind the evil spirit and cast it out of Jorje- who shook violently, and after continued prayer, went limp. Being free from the demon’s control, he revealed to Dana that satan had been trying to kill Dana, and that he would not stop pursing this until Dana was dead. Dana noted to me that this is pretty much the case for all active Christians – but that he could also see by reflection a series of years where serious medical issues nearly took his life, and suspects this was part of the enemie’s attacks. For a short time after this excorcism Jorje did pretty well – but like with most caught up in drugs – fell back into the drug scene for another 5 or so years – disappearing from the family again.

About five years ago Jorje showed up again, and Dana was very skeptical. However, for five years now Jorje has stayed clean. A lot of the work he does around Dana and Mirtza’s house has been a way of keeping Jorje busy, active. The Lord’s presence in his life has grown. Jorje’s family lives right next to Calan school. In fact, their property is part of the church and school property. Jorje’s family act as care takers for the school as well as Dana and Mirtza’s home. Jorje is a walking a reflection of a service oriented believer – one who was in the grips of the enemy, but has been snatched back to his Savior and Lord. A very special and enjoyable man.

Waldina & Michelle's Story

As with all of the Honduras blog stories, I may miss a fact, or butcher an event – but want to share what I heard. I went to Honduras with Mark Miller. Mark, his wife Elaine, and a group from our church went to Honduras three years ago to help with a Mike Silva Crusade. As part of this Crusade, the helpers were asked to make themselves available to pray with those who might come forward at the invitation. A lady and her two daughters approached Mark & Elaine and told Mark and Elaine that she was dying with cancer, and that the Lord told her to bring her daughters to them to look after her daughters after she passed away. You see, the ladies husband had been in an industrial accident and was unable to work anymore – and support the family anymore. Mark and Elaine were taken back, and didn’t quite know what to do about this, but knew they couldn’t just leave without somehow staying in contact with the lady and her daughters. They have maintained contact, and sent money down regularly since this encounter, but have always wanted to do more.

Well, the mother did pass away about a year later. The girls, Waldina and Michelle, were left with their dad, two brothers, and maternal grandmother in the home you see in the pictures tied to this blog. A couple months after the mother died, one of her sons was murdered – hanging around the wrong people at the wrong time. About a year later the grandmother also died of a heart attack; she had taken care of raising the remaining girls and their brother. A couple months ago the second son was also murdered, similar circumstances as with the first son. So now, Waldina, Michelle, and their father are left with each other. The father is an emotionally broken man, but when we visited on a Sunday afternoon – was still planning on going to church and worshipping our Lord; not turning his back on the Lord even after having lost a wife, two sons, and a mother-in-law in about two years!

Mark, Mirtza, Alicen took the girls shopping; something he and Elaine agreed they could do while he visited this February. Mark has been very concerned about the girls and their dad. The people who won the house they live in want them to leave. Mark has solicited the help of Alicen to look in after the girls, and with her business background, to perhaps help the girls to start a small business that could help them make ends meet, keep them off the streets. Dana also agreed to help brainstorm about potential places this special family could live, and that perhaps Mark and Elaine could help support as well.

Please keep this family in your prayers; that God would help heal and strengthen the father, help the girls find a small business that they could work to help support the family; that the Lord would hold an increasingly prominent role in all of their lives.

Dana & Mirtza Benscoter - True Disciples

Just recently returned from Honduras, where I spent a week with Dana & Mirtza Benscoter, founders of True Disciples Ministry. Dana's story is fascinating, and I'm writing this from a rough memory, so some facts may be slightly off - but here goes: Dana visited Honduras nearly 30 years ago to help on a church related construction project. The night before he was to depart he had a dream that the pastor of the church he was working with came up to him and asked him to stay to help complete this project. Sure enough, the next day as Dana was packing up his tools, the pastor came up to him and... well nearly 30 years later Dana is still residing in Honduras. He went from one project to another, and eventually received on-line theological training, married Mirtza, raised three children who are all in their 20's now, and he still spends the bulk of his time in Honduras with the people he has grown to love. Dana and Mirtza were such wonderful hosts for Mark Miller and me (Mark is a designer/contractor who connected me with Dana, and joined me on this trip). Shown in the photo above is, from left to right: Mirtza, Jorje (Mirtza's brother - and whose story is worthy of a separate blog), Dana, and Alicen (a very close family friend - sort like part of the family).

From their ministry web site: "True Disicples is dedicated to helping people become friends with God. Our focus is to prepare lay ministers through a monitoring-discipleship process.

While developing Christian leadership from "new disciples," we also support existing ministries with ministerial studies and contextualized out-reach ministry strategies.

Due to the extreme need among children today; our main ministry focus is to equip leadership to minister to children and youth."

Boy - one week with Dana and Mirtza, and I'm not certain I've met people so engaged in equipping other leaders and believers - they are "true disciples" of our wonderful Lord and Savior. Thank you Dana and Mirtza for showing me what a true disciple looks like.

A WHIRLWIND CHRISTMAS SEASON

A few thoughts about this Christmas Season. The birth of Christ is the reason for the season - as is often quoted. However - most people I know pack a whole bunch of activity between Black Friday and Christmas, us included. But this year was the busiest season that I can ever recall, and included some exciting HIM activity, as well as a reoccuring scriptural message that I believe the Lord was sending my way.

Bohmes Candy & Gift Shop - meant 10 am - 8 pm Mon-Sat from Black Friday through Christmas Eve. This meant Sally, and at least one of our kids or our daughter-in-law were actively manning the store, unable to help with the usual Christmas season preparation (letters, gifts, trees, cookies, etc...)



Surgery & Complications - my dad had "minor" surgery on December 6th in Seattle at the University of Washington Medical Center (about 3.5 hours away, & over the mountain pass). Complications shortly after he came home sent him back over to UWMC via flight from our local hospital on the 12th. Further complications kept him at UWMC until the 23rd - and very weakend when he returned home. I spent the 1st two weeks of December with dad in Seattle, my brother was with him the week before Christmas, I moved to his house to help nurse him back to health the week between Christmas & New Years, my sister flew and helped the 1st week of the New Year, and I moved back in until this Saturday evening. Unfortunately - further complications have back at our local hospital, where I'm with him. Please keep my dad in your prayers, this has been a very tough 6 or 7 weeks for him.

HIM ACTIVITY: Grace Clinic, the Portland Rescue Mission, and True-Disciples Ministry contacted me in one form or another for design services. Grace Clinic on the 22nd, Portland Rescue Mission on the 27th, and True-Disciples on the 1st of January. We could not meet the schedule that Grace Clinic wanted, and did not have the commercial kitchen design expertise that best suited the rescue mission (both of these determinations came after considerable discussions with clients and the North Carolina HIM staff). The
rescue mission really appreciated our Shepherd's Door design, and is looking forward to future projects through HIM - they also appreciated our honest assessment of our commercial kitchen design experience (which is decent - but not "expert"). Grace really appreciated our price range, but were in quite a hurry, and needed to pay a little more to meet their deadlines. True-Disciples is a school expansion in Honduras, and this is still potential project to expand a Christian school. True-Disciples
is coming through Mark Miller, and elder at my church (South Hills Church), who met the founder of this ministry a few years ago.

On the 23rd, I was stirred to read the Word after midnight, sensing that the Lord had something for me as I pondered my present workload diminishing at Meier, and one potential HIM project (at this point) with Grace Clinic. I was in Numbers 13, and remember thinking; "Lord - just how are you going to speak to me in Numbers?". Eight days later, at approximately 3 in the morning, now pondering the new rescue mission potential project as well as Grace Clinic, my dad needed some help, and after crawling in bed, very sleepy, I sensed that the Lord wanted me to read His word. I remember thinking, once again, how is He going to speak to me in Deuteronomy 1. Eight days later, at about 3:07 in the morning, after helping my dad once again in the wee morning hours, and nervous about being asked to speak some at church regarding our ministry with HIM, I'm reading Deut 9, and thinking - I wonder what the Lord will be teaching me tonight. In all three cases - the passages dealt with the trusting Lord, not fearing the giants in the land that He was giving them; not fearing the giants - because our God is bigger. I believe God was clearly telling me to keep pursing ministry through HIM, don't fear the giants (the support building, the lack of a regular paycheck job, not being able to help my youngest kids with college and such...); trust God - the land is good, it is what God has for me, and He will take care of all the details.

Well, there is a bunch more - but this is a pretty long blog - so I'd better close for now. My next blog will likely share more about the True-Disciples project - as details of this become clearer.