Spring in Nebraska

This week, we traveled to Nebraska to share with a wonderful church about HCJB Global and our role in ministry with them.  We have a long and sweet history with the Evangelical Covenant Church in Wakefield and were blessed by the congregation's enthusiasm and prayer.  Thank you for having us!  This trip held a series of new experiences for Lily including her first road trip (of over 1,000 miles), her first visit to Great Grandma's house, her first trip to the family farm, her first introduction to cows, and her first time in a tractor.  Naturally, she was quite impressed by it all.

  

On a visit to a family farm we had the chance to speak with a farmer and his wife and learn about the process of planting and harvesting.  So much about that way of life is different and foreign to those of us who haven't lived in a rural setting.  We asked all sorts of questions and they were more than willing to explain things to us.  Something that was particularly interesting was how this farmer and his brothers (who each have their own land to farm) work together to harvest crops.  Timing is critical.  It is important to gather the crops quickly at the proper time.  In order to maximize efficiency one of the brothers works out in the field driving a combine, while another makes continual trips back and forth in a semi-truck to carry the harvest to storage bins.  Another will bring fuel out to the machines in the field.  These things allow the one out in the fields to continue working without the need to leave in order to refuel or unload the crops.  Everyone had a particular job in the process that was just as valuable to the end goal of harvesting the crops.  

God has laid out a similar plan for harvesting a different type of crop.  He asks that all of His followers be involved in spreading the Gospel, but He has given each person unique roles in that process.  In the case of foreign missions, he doesn't ask that everyone go, but perhaps He has called you to still take part.  Just like a farmer needs others to work alongside him to keep him out in his fields, a missionary needs people back home to support them and keep them in their field.  By financially supporting missionaries, you enable them to continue their work of spreading the good news.  To those who have already decided to stand alongside us, or other missionaries, in this way we say thank you.  Through you, the work of missions is being done.     

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord.  See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.

James 5:7