We left the hotel this morning around 7:00 A.M., and we went to our first destination which was a police station. Here we had the opportunity to witness and tell the investigative police about the power of the Gospel and Christ Jesus; afterward we ate breakfast at the station. Then we left and went to visit a military hospital. The soldiers that were there were not available at that time so we went to our next destination and later on we returned and visited them. Our second service was at an air force base, we had a good time with the soldiers as we all worshipped God together.
Afterward we were taken on a tour of some of the planes and then we headed back to the military hospital and visited with the two soldiers that were there. We entered the hospital and there was people sitting all over the place, whether they were there for medical attention or whether they were visiting loved ones I cannot tell. However we continued through the building to another building where the military personal were at. After entering the room and Bro. Sumner talking with the first one for a few minutes Bro. Sumner turned to us and explained that the first soldier was here because he had tried to commit suicide a short time before. He had shot himself in the stomach three times with his automatic rifle, but the Lord was surely gracious unto this young man in giving him a second chance. When Bro. Sumner told us this my heart was torn with anguish as I looked upon a young man who was not even in the prime of his life who had come to the place where he thought that he had no hope, no reason for living, no purpose in life; Oh! That God would send men and women into the world to those kind of people with the message of hope and salvation.
I have peace, joy and security from God, but people who are lost have nothing to look forward to, they have no reason for their existence, no sense of belonging and they think that taking their own life will be better than continuing to live: this kind of philosophy tears my heart into pieces, opens the flood gates of my tears, and touches the innermost essence of my being as I realize the pain, misery, and hopelessness that they are experiencing and going through every single day. They wake up to apply their energy, give of themselves, and face another day for nothing. They have no future, no promise of life, and nothing for which they can enjoy: their lives are taken from them one moment at a time by ‘he who came to kill, steal, and destroy,’ and the sad thing is they do not know that there is someone who ‘came to give them life, and to give it more abundantly.’ Oh, my soul cries in overwhelming agony as I see the condition of those that are around me; I realize with great dismay that I cannot reach everyone, there are some people that will not understand me and the message I am trying to convey for Christ: this is when I cry, oh God, send forth laborers into your field, there are people that you can reach that I cannot, and there will be people that I can reach that you cannot; oh God let me know Your will and follow it completely!
The last service we went to this afternoon was very wonderful, there was a Colonel who took us to the place where the service was held and he told Bro. Sumner that God had sent us to them that afternoon, I assumed from that moment that he was a Christian. We had a wonderful service; the presence of the Lord was there in a very strong way. After Bro. Brock preached and we prayed for the soldiers the Colonel exhorted his men one of the things that I vaguely remember was the fact that he said something like this: “our amour protects us in our duty, but we have amour on the inside that makes us strong and helps us grow.” This probably is not a direct quote but it is along the same line of thought. As I listened to his speech which Bro. Sumner interpreted for us, I began thinking about how that this high ranking military official was a follower of Jesus and he believed in the Holy Spirit (Which was another thing that he included in his speech to his men), but I thought about the impact that the Gospel was having in Honduras as a man (or to put it more correctly two men: the Sumner Brothers) were simply obeying the command that Jesus gave to His disciples to preach the Gospel to every creature: all we have to do is preach, God will bring the increase.
Where we preach, God will reach,
Where we publish, God will refurbish,
All things for the glory of God.
Afterward we were taken on a tour of some of the planes and then we headed back to the military hospital and visited with the two soldiers that were there. We entered the hospital and there was people sitting all over the place, whether they were there for medical attention or whether they were visiting loved ones I cannot tell. However we continued through the building to another building where the military personal were at. After entering the room and Bro. Sumner talking with the first one for a few minutes Bro. Sumner turned to us and explained that the first soldier was here because he had tried to commit suicide a short time before. He had shot himself in the stomach three times with his automatic rifle, but the Lord was surely gracious unto this young man in giving him a second chance. When Bro. Sumner told us this my heart was torn with anguish as I looked upon a young man who was not even in the prime of his life who had come to the place where he thought that he had no hope, no reason for living, no purpose in life; Oh! That God would send men and women into the world to those kind of people with the message of hope and salvation.
I have peace, joy and security from God, but people who are lost have nothing to look forward to, they have no reason for their existence, no sense of belonging and they think that taking their own life will be better than continuing to live: this kind of philosophy tears my heart into pieces, opens the flood gates of my tears, and touches the innermost essence of my being as I realize the pain, misery, and hopelessness that they are experiencing and going through every single day. They wake up to apply their energy, give of themselves, and face another day for nothing. They have no future, no promise of life, and nothing for which they can enjoy: their lives are taken from them one moment at a time by ‘he who came to kill, steal, and destroy,’ and the sad thing is they do not know that there is someone who ‘came to give them life, and to give it more abundantly.’ Oh, my soul cries in overwhelming agony as I see the condition of those that are around me; I realize with great dismay that I cannot reach everyone, there are some people that will not understand me and the message I am trying to convey for Christ: this is when I cry, oh God, send forth laborers into your field, there are people that you can reach that I cannot, and there will be people that I can reach that you cannot; oh God let me know Your will and follow it completely!
The last service we went to this afternoon was very wonderful, there was a Colonel who took us to the place where the service was held and he told Bro. Sumner that God had sent us to them that afternoon, I assumed from that moment that he was a Christian. We had a wonderful service; the presence of the Lord was there in a very strong way. After Bro. Brock preached and we prayed for the soldiers the Colonel exhorted his men one of the things that I vaguely remember was the fact that he said something like this: “our amour protects us in our duty, but we have amour on the inside that makes us strong and helps us grow.” This probably is not a direct quote but it is along the same line of thought. As I listened to his speech which Bro. Sumner interpreted for us, I began thinking about how that this high ranking military official was a follower of Jesus and he believed in the Holy Spirit (Which was another thing that he included in his speech to his men), but I thought about the impact that the Gospel was having in Honduras as a man (or to put it more correctly two men: the Sumner Brothers) were simply obeying the command that Jesus gave to His disciples to preach the Gospel to every creature: all we have to do is preach, God will bring the increase.
Where we preach, God will reach,
Where we publish, God will refurbish,
All things for the glory of God.