paycheck comfort
livelihood family
food
familiarity shelter
security
consistency
friends independence
this month, we are not learning about the sacrifices the pastors of bohol make in choosing to serve the Lord with their everything (and i mean everything).
we have the honor of hearing them.
stories of sacrifices and the blessings that come from a life lived wholly for the Lord.
we share a meal. we sit casually in their homes and churches and listen as they tell us about their children. we hear testimonies of what God is doing through them and their members. we worship together. we pray together. we praise together. we visit their outreach areas and spend time with their bible study and church members.
the focus is on nothing but the pastor or pastora and his or her family. there is nothing more important in the world than their stories, their prayer requests, their hearts. the time that we share is about encouraging and supporting them and letting them know that their prayers are heard, that their dedication is acknowledged and valued, and that they make a difference.
time passes too quickly, but the time we do have is full of laughter and tears, celebration and heartache, glances and embraces, and stories of sacrifices and blessings which, when woven together, create the stories of their lives.
the following entries are just a glimpse of each of their stories…
the Spirit of the Lord God is upon me. because the Lord has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prisons to those who are bound.
– Isaiah 61:1
