bulogo66000.jpg

Too Busy with the Chase


It seems like I have committed a lot of time to blog support and training for a bunch of people in recent months. Chasing the Dragon's Tale has suffered a posting drought as a result. I am taking a minute or two for myself this morning...the blogs will survive nicely without my help for a bit.

Parque-das-MissoesA late evening email from Amy Elrod, a nursing student and missions staff person serving in Rio, shocked my whining conscience back to reality. Amy was one of several staff people who hosted Belmont Mission teams in past years. I have witnessed a wonderful spirit of humble servitude as she ministers in many ways to the poor in Brazil and to the mission teams that come her way. This picture is one of several that she included in her email. I have never been to this particular spot, but sitting comfortably at my desk here in Nashville, my memory has no problem delivering the surrounding sights, sounds, and smells of this place. There are no people in this picture, but they are close by. There is little hope to be seen in this image, but I know there are people like Amy who are there with a message that gives hope and care to many.

Amy reports about this year,

"551 volunteers came to Rio, 24,522 patients came through the clinic, 36,895 prescriptions were given out and 5,559 people prayed to receive Christ and filled out decision cards to be followed up by the churches! Praise God for a great year and for all that He has done!"

I am thinking of Amy and those who minister in Rio today. If I am a little quieter, it is because I am somehow standing beside the stream in this picture consumed with wonder, questions, and hope. Blessings upon all those whose lives have been changed during this season...those who served, those who were served, and all those who remember.


Posted by Paul Chenoweth on October 30, 2007 08:30 AM |

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://forum.belmont.edu/mt/forum-tb.cgi/3856

Comments

I have been able to participate in medical missions to the cane cutters from hati who live and work in the sugar cane fields of Dominican Republic. The Photo in the post reminds me of La Romana, the town I was stationed in. We did primary medical care for the people in the "bateys" (small villages). No garbage pick up in the city, it was quite filthy. The cane villages though, were more like a poor farming community. Much cleaner. Things were much diffent, but over all I was amazed at how generally happy the people were, and friendly.
Sometimes the "scenery" shocks the people who are engaged in mission work but to the people who live there its just life. Someone who has never seen, or heard of an icecream cone usually won't desire, an icecream cone. Usually governments are the cause of these living conditions and educated people know that. To change the conditions we have to change the governments. Thats where the story seems to end. The mission trips help locals endure the suffering and knowing the lord can ignite hope.The dominican government for example is sanctioned by the U.S. for cuban related reasons I believe. So the Dominicans have a hard time marketing their cane. I believe the french buy most of it. There is talk of problems there too. Dominican republic could become the next hati. Then the children from hati and families will have no promise land. Currently the republic is the "place we will one day go" to hopeful people from hati. And to think its much like the place in your friends picture.

Its said that know one did anything about the Holocaust until they saw pictures. Pictures are powerful for sleeping americans. I have yet to see pics of the 5oo,000 thousand people killed by machete in 100 days, what country was that?

Posted by: workathomejoe | November 28, 2007 04:55 PM

Post a comment

(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)