5 days, REALLY???

WOW, only 5 more days until we are loaded up on the first airplane of 4 in our trip back to the USA.  My emotions run a muck right now.  I'm sad to be leaving but thrilled to be going back home!  (NOTE: The saying of "Home is Where Your Heart is." is true for me - only my heart is in two places Uruguay and America.) 

The last few months since we decided to take furlough have passed quickly and we're thankful for that because these last few weeks we all have felt very homesick.  I guess the knowledge that we will soon be with family is a trigger.  In the same instance we are feeling homesick for our friends here - in other words we will miss them terribly! 

Last night was our final Sunday night in this ministry.  And there is really nothing remarkable to note about it.  In all ways it was like every other Sunday service, except for the brief time before the bus left to say some goodbyes.  Several people reminded me that they love us and have undertaken to pray for us during our furlough and also for where God wants us to plant our first church upon our return to Uruguay!  Each day that passes I am more and more thankful for these dear believers whom God has allowed us to minister to, and them to us.

Scott finished out the focus on missions by preaching on 1 Corinthians 3:5-8.  He encouraged people here to see that they must follow after Christ not after man!  He reminded us that some plant, some water but God is the One that gives the increase!  He will give the increase in souls, in ability, in faith, in finances, in everything! 

Our desire for ministry has been, and is, for believers to know that they are solely instruments for His use.  Teaching them and training them (discipleship at its core) to do the work of the ministry themselves so that they can carry on without us.  It is important for them to know that we are not God!  Just as we must trust God to provide for their needs so must they!  God who has no shadow of turning is able to provide for believers throughout world - NOT just in, or through, the USA!  He will support His work through His people - nationality is of no importance - their faith is!  And so, it was thrilling to have a conversation with a Uruguayan who believes that support can be gained from Uruguayan churches!!!!  PRAISE GOD and GLORY to Him, this is the concept of indigenous!!!!  God is Jehovah Jireh, not America.  Pray this Uruguayan believer's faith will not deviate but will grow and that others will understand the principal of indigenous missions.

But I digress...sort of....there is a lot to get done and I probably should get off this computer and take care of the seemingly millions of things to do, like a couple dozen suitcases that need to be packed.  Thank you all for praying for us these last few days of our first term!