Again in the vein of thankfulness, let me give God my love and appreciation for opportunities to serve Him near and far. As a small town guy from rural West Tennessee, there was a time that I would have never dreamed that God would give me opportunities to serve him in so many places and in such unique ways. Here I am, a common man who is just trying to be obedient to my heavenly Father and seeing so many amazing sights and meeting so many interesting people along the way. How did I find myself to be living and serving in Brno, Czech Republic? God has a plan and He is unveiling it as I move along through it.
I have been blessed to serve Him in Romania, Tunisia, Brazil, Slovakia and Czech Republic. As a bonus, as of this writing, I have also been able to visit (sometimes briefly) Holland, Argentina, Germany, Hungary, Ukraine, and today… Dawn and I will take an overnight trip to Austria. I have been blessed to see some amazing places. I cannot tell you how much that God has expanded my mind and view of the world through these journeys. He has given me a better perspective of ministry, missions, and how He relates to the peoples of the world… and how I relate to them.
Yes, I give thanks for these “fringe benefits” of service as an imb missionary. I also give thanks for the pleasant and not so pleasant experiences of dealing with new cultures and new nationalities. To be quite honest, as an American, it is not always easy relating to people in places foreign to me. However, through the spiritual connection of believers, we always seem to find people who will welcome us and work with us for the good of the Work of the Lord. So, for this and for the precious souls whom God has given me to minister to, I give thanks. Through my feeble attempts, I serve and witness the power of God change lives. Thank you Lord for this opportunity to serve… whether it be near or far, You are my sustainer and helper… amen.
