The First’s
Continue
The Land of First’s is a large territory, always filled with
new adventures, new challenges, and new blessings… if we will have the heart
and eyes to see them.
I did not choose to come to this Land of First’s. I was
thrust into this land by circumstances not of my choosing. Of late I have not
written much about this Land of First’s because I have been engulfed with so
many new challenges and blessings in this Land.
My adventure in this Land of First’s began with the death of
my wife, Marilou in September of 2011. The challenges were many and immense. In
October of 2012, I moved to Joao Pessoa, Brazil. Talk about a Land of First’s!
EVERYTHING was a first. Culture, food, language, people, church, way of life.
When I arrived, I told the folks here; “everything you don’t even think about,
is new to me.”
The church here welcomed me as best they knew how, but they
had never brought a missionary here before, and there were many times of severe
isolation and loneliness. No transportation, not knowing the language enough to
communicate effectively, no one who was a real friend who I could confide in.
This Land of First’s was overwhelming in many ways.
But God is always faithful. Over and over again, He
reassured me with the call He had put on my life when He called me here. That
call from Psalm 71: 17-21: O God,
you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others
about the wonderful things you do. Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon
me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty
miracles to all who come after me. Your righteousness, O God, reaches to
the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Who can compare with
you, O God? You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will
restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth. You will
restore me to even greater honor and comfort me once again.
And again, the word from Joshua 22:5 from The Message
version: Only this: Be vigilant in keeping the Commandment and The
Revelation that Moses the servant of GOD
laid on you: Love GOD, your God,
walk in all his ways, do what he's commanded, embrace him, serve him with
everything you are and have."
At times, people from the church would bring these verses to
me not knowing how God had already used them in my life.
In July of 2013, I encountered another First in this Land, a
growing relationship with a young woman in the church. Crizelania Pereira
became more than just a friend. And even this relationship would be tested.
The 29th of October, 2013, I was returning home from her
house, riding my bicycle, when I was struck by a motorcycle. A hit and run.
Crizelania was at the scene almost immediately to be by my side. Another first…
a severely fractured tibia. I had never had a broken bone in my life, now at
age 65, I had a broken tibia, and was heading to the trauma hospital.
This too
was full of Firsts!! The setting of the leg… I experienced pain like I had
never experienced before. I’m afraid my screams filled the halls of the
hospital that afternoon. I waited one week before having surgery to repair my
leg. From what I was told, that was a miracle, because many people wait months
for surgery. The doctor told Criz that because of my age and the severity of
the fracture, he was not sure I would walk normally again. During the next
three months, Criz, and members of the church, mostly the youth cared for me as
I was confined to bed, or after a time the bed and a wheelchair. Criz gave up
her occupation as a seamstress to oversee my care. It was an act of love that
can never be repaid.
Each day I prayed and asked the Lord to knit together my leg
in the same way he knit me together the first time in my mother’s womb, Psalm
139:15. Many were amazed at how well and how quickly my leg healed, and by
February, the doctor released me to be able to walk the isle for our wedding on
Valentine’s Day, February 14th.
The Land of First’s continues to expand before me and
challenge me and bless me. New horizons, new challenges of learning to be a
multi-lingual, multi-cultural family, the blessings of one another, and finding
the blessings of being a new family.
It is actually quite amazing how large is this Land of First’s. And how diverse is this Land of First’s.
Challenges, and blessings, difficulties and blessings all First’s in my life. I
continue to walk day by day in this Land, never quite knowing what the next “First”
will be.
‘Till next time…
