Ps 119:24 Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors. ESV
This verse has taken on such a powerful meaning to me in the last month. I have a tendency to always be looking ahead and asking God what’s next. There is nothing wrong with looking ahead, but you need to use the things that the Lord has done in our past to help you aim at what the Lord has in our future.
Fiji in 2019 was an epic journey. Peggy and I spent six weeks in the islands leading two different teams. Our first team was a youth group from Atascadero, California led by my good friend Wendell. On the trip, his students were stretched out of their comfort zones like no other, learning a witnessing system called Evangelism Explosion. They gained insight into how to ask very pointed questions about faith and the future without being judgmental or condescending. In their first day of door-to-door evangelism, they saw 31 first-time salvations.
Like the disciples in Jesus’ time, they returned rejoicing that evening.
We also spent a few afternoons doing school programs where the team shared dances and songs. The Fijian kids ate it up, laughing and dancing right along with the team. After each program, we were given time to just be with the kids and to watch our students run and play. Seeing them love on these kids was a true sight to behold. Each evening was spent recounting the day and all that God had done.
Every day was a new experience and the things that God did through them was life changing.
On our last day we sat down and debriefed the week. Almost all of them said I don’t want to leave. I feel like God is using me like never before. How do I maintain this when I get home? This is one of the big reasons we talk about what’s next. What does God want to do with me when I get home? We teach them that it’s not about the trip but about what God wants for them over a lifetime of service and obedience. One of the young men on this team is now in West Africa serving at Basecamp in the Ivory Coast. Learning about and doing missions for the next year. His ultimate goal is to be used by God where He wants him to be. And it all started on a mission trip!
Our second team was our medical team. For the past 17 years we have partnered with Medical Ministries International out of Fresno, California. Tom and Nancy Stoeckel are great friends and a true inspiration to me personally. One of the main things we do is give away eye glasses. For a Fijian, it’s about a month’s salary to purchase a pair. And that’s assuming they can get from the village where they live into one of the main towns where there might be a doctor.
To solve that we take the doctors to them.
We have given away thousands of pairs of glasses, all donated by people like you. In most churches where I share the story about the effectiveness of glasses opening villages to the gospel, people want to get involved and donate their used glasses. MMI takes them and grades and cleans them, packages them for travel and off to Fiji and other parts of the world they go.
Time after time I’ve seen villages previously closed to the Fijian Pastors swing wide the door of hospitality when we offer this service free of charge.
Over and over I’ve seen people who have not been able to read for many years receive the gift of sight through a donated pair of glasses. And more importantly they receive the life giving word of God. Jesus is preached and many receive him as their Lord and Savior.
So far we have helped plant 25 churches and seen a great harvest of souls.
This June we will be returning to Fiji with two teams again.
One evangelism team and one medical team.
These two teams will run side by side this year. Something we haven’t done in many years. I’m confident that the Lord has something great in store for us. Would you pray about being a part? Come with me and experience it for yourself. The harvest is great but the workers are few. I need you. You can also help by donating your old glasses or sending a contribution to help with the new church plant we will be a part of this summer. I’m confident the Lord will move you to do something. Don’t hesitate, be a part of answering the prayers of workers in Fiji by Praying, Giving and Going.
Until All Have Heard,
Steve
