I have turned off the ability to comment on all posts due to large volumes of unwanted spam from sources that are abusive in ways that defy description. The comment feature will return will the next season of The Rio Journal... or whatever flavor of blogging that we determine to be most effective for mission teams.
]]> If you wish to find me... I continue to blog about generational gaps in technology on a site called Chasing the Dragon's Tale. If you need to contact me, there is an email link in the upper right-hand column. (If you are wondering about the weird name of my blog, there is an explanation here)...and please excuse this bit of shameless promotion :)]]>
Kim and David discuss plans for new and expanded missions projects in East Tennessee during the morning training session today. Ray and Sharon Fairchild spoke of this year's successes with several medical, construction, and evangelism teams.This entry was used as a demonstration of how a blog (web log) can be used to quickly post images and stories from any computer with an Internet connection, anywhere in the world.
Today at the Tennessee Baptist Convention building in Brentwood, I will be telling church missions leaders about the Rio Journal. Although the Internet is no stranger to this group, many are not familiar with the technology that enabled team members to communicate directly from Rio during the mission trip.
We will be looking at opportunities to train mission team members to write, edit, upload pictures, etc. on a web site much like The Rio Journal. My vision for this technology is to have a TBC Missions' Team site where any team member with the right resources can publish stories and testimonials, not just for their own families, friends, and church members...but for the entire world to see what is going on in the hearts of Tennessee Baptist volunteers regardless of where God leads them to serve on the mission field.
If the apostle Paul had the tools and technology available that we have today... What would Paul have done? What do you think we should do?
Even though several of our team members had served on medical teams in Rio before, God spoke to each of us while we were there this time. Jane Scott, who made her third trip to Rio this year said, "I was once again reminded that serving God is such a fulfilling experience. To see people emotionally, physically, and spirtually in need and to meet those needs, in some way, is what God has called us to do. The blessings I receive each year make me hungry to continue serving God in what ever way He calls me. It is such a fulfilling and awarding experience." It is always amazing when you think you are going to help others, but many times feel as if you got more out of the experience than you had to give. God uses places and things He calls us to in order to teach us things we could have never learned in our ordinary, daily routine.
He spoke to more than one of our team members in Rio about continuing to find ways to meet spiritual needs in our daily lives here at home. Team member James Clark described, "This past week in Rio was both a blessing and a burden. By that I mean serving with others on our team for God’s purposes in Rio was a great blessing. But last week also reminded me of the burden we have to share the love and life changing message of Jesus Christ to others in our daily lives here in the United States. It is a burden which we should accept gladly with purpose and passion giving all the glory to God. " While God called us to go to Rio for a week and serve Him, He has called us to daily serve Him in the places He has us here at home.
We thank God for the opportuanity He gave us to go to Rio, and for the message He has intrusted us to share with people we come in contact with every day.
]]>
Today was another incredible day! When we pulled up to the church this morning we were overwhelmed with the number of people waiting in line. We later found out that the first people in line had arrived at three o´clock this morning. The eye team saw 189 people, general medicine treated 97 patients, there were 102 pediatric patients, the dental team saw 53 people and took out 77 teeth, and the pharmacy filled 525 prescriptions. There were 28 people who accepted Christ today!]]>
Just as everyday this week, God worked in many ways today. Although, several team members mentioned that they felt that today there was more of a spiritual battle going on at the clinic. Satan seemed to be working harder today than he has been all week. However, he will not defeat us! The Ruler of the Universe is the One who sent us, and we know He will win. Tomorrow is our last day at the clinic, and we are sad about that. However, pray that we will continue to be strong. Pray that we will be able to see as many patients as possible. Pray we will come in contact with those who need to hear the gospel and will sense their need. Pray that Satan will have no strongholds in Piraque! ]]>
Today was a wonderful day! When we arrived in Piraque this morning there were many people waiting to get into the clinic. By mid morning more people than we had time to see all day had come. There were many who will be back early tomorrow morning to get in. The eye team saw 190 people today, the dental team worked on 52 patients (and pulled 120 teeth), the general medicine team took care of 59 paients, the pediatric group saw 134 children, and the pharmacy filled 588 prescriptions. 31 people prayed to receive Christ!]]>
The people in Piraque are so delighted that we have come. They have welcomed us into their community. It has been wonderful to have the opportunity to give basic medical treatment and share God´s love with those we have seen so far. There have been countless moments in which someone from our team has seen God work. When one of our evangelism groups had an opportunity to led a woman to the Lord on the street yesterday, she explained to them that she had left her work and come outside just before they had come. She had not even realized why she had done that until she talked with them. God timed it exactly where she would encounter them. God never ceases to do things that amaze us. Please continue to pray that God will work through us. We saw several people today who were not open to the gospel. Many of them come from Catholic backgrounds and have a hard time grasping what we have to say to them. Please pray that God would soften their hearts. Also pray that He would help us know exactly what to say to them. We want to be available for Him to be able to use us however he chooses. ]]>
When the bus pulled up at the clinic this morning it was obvious that today was going to be busier than yesterday. We did see more people, and God definitely blessed in more ways. The eye team examined 195 people, the dental team pulled the teeth of 63 patients, in pediatric medicine there where 125 children seen, general medicine worked with 84 patients, and the pharmacy filled 427 prescriptions. 33 people made decisions for Christ today!]]>
We know that as the week goes on there will be even more patients who come to the clinic each day. Please pray that God will continue to provide opportunities for us to share Him with the people we see. The evangelism team faced opposition today from more people than yesterday, even though we saw more people come to know the Lord. Please pray that God would prepare those we talk with to hear what He has for them. Pray that any distractions or hinderances will be removed from the lives of those who need Him. More to come tomorrow...]]>
The first day of our medical clinic was wonderful. The morning started off a little slow, but the pace picked up very quickly. There were 154 sets of eyes checked, 38 dental patients seen, 70 pediatric patients, 58 patients in general medicine, and 364 prescriptions filled. Most importantly, there were 28 souls added to the Kingdom during our time today. God is so good! ]]>
We can not wait to see what He does tomorrow and the following days. Although, our trip would have been worth it just for the things that happened today! Every one is doing great. Our team is working so well together, and our time here has been tremendoous so far. Please pray that God would continue to bless us with good health. Also pray that our energy level will not drop as the week goes on and we get more tired. ]]>
Greetings from the servants of Christ Jesus in Rio.
All are well and safe.
It was a short day today. We worked only till lunch time...then had a party for the children...then a departing celebration at the new church.
For the week, 681 eye, 833 children and 576 general medicine patients were cared for. 3,702 prescriptions were filled. 408 claimed Jesus Christ as there Savior and Lord. In addition, hundreds of floride treatments were given. For many, if not all, of the children, this was the first time their teeth had ever met paste and brush.
In the coming weeks, when you see Raja and Kevin O´Brien walking the halls of Brentwood Baptist, make sure you let them know how much you appreciate their devotion to the Rio Medical Mission. As 1 John commands´...let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth´. Raja and Kevin´s ´actions´ have an enormous affect on these people. We are all overwhelmed by the out pouring of love. There is just nothing left to say!
]]>Greetings from the servants of Christ Jesus in Rio.
All are well and safe.
Today was another beautiful day!
Children, children and more children..that is all that can be said about today. They were everywhere...and they all wanted to hear the salvation story. So we just sat on the ground and told the story, time and again...they are precious in His sight!
Praise God for the good work of today...and the good things He will bring our way, tomorrow!
The team cared for 155 eye, 147 children and 112 general medicine patients. The pharmacy filled 701 prescriptions. 98+ decisions were made (the + means that decisions were made, but for one reason or another we were not able to complete a card).
These bring the total, so far, to 584 eye, 728 children and 491 general medicine patients. 3,210 prescriptions have been filled. In excess of 356 have claimed Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord!
]]>I visited the makeshift pharmacy that has been dispensing many hundreds of prescriptions each day and want you to know what that really means. First of all, imagine a cement plastered room about the size of a walk-in closet, one door direct to the outside, a small window facing a swamp, and a single light bulb in the ceiling. Next add temporary shelves all along the walls of three sides and jam them full of medications of all shapes and descriptions. Mix in three people to the space, one missionary journeyman named Jennifer (a Samford pharmacy graduate) and two assistants, who must hit the floor running each morning and remain engaged with patients long after the last doctor has made a diagnosis. The smell from the poluted water of the wetland, you just get used to after awhile. At the door is a constant crowd of moms with babies in arms, the elderly, the sick, and children...lots of children; all waiting to have their prescriptions filled...and filled with compasionate care. It is a picture that has to tug at your heart.
]]> By all means, please pray for the entire medical team. Medical care is not only improving the lives of many, but saving many from pain, suffering, and shortened lives. Today, pray particularly for Jennifer and the people who work in that little space called a pharmacy. At the pace they have been running, fatigue has to be overcome in order to remain effective. They may be hidden behind the scenes, but the work they do completely redefines pharmacy for me... I may hug my pharmacist the next time I see him. I hope that he asks me 'why?'.]]>