Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Argentina Mission Report - Donna Phillips & Kristy Tharp

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Insights: Today we are going to review two testimonies.  The first is from Donna Phillips.  I love her call to this mission trip.  She was at a ladies conference in which the speaker challenged the ladies to engage in international missions.  She willing said yes, but also said, “What do I have to offer?  I am just a grandmother who loves to cook and spoil her grandchildren.”  Claire Milstead, the missionary from Argentina, was at that conference also.  The next morning she told Donna, “You have got to come down to Argentina.  We have a lady who makes these wonderful cake toppings, but does not know how to make a cake taste good.”  Donna said right then, “I don’t know when, but I am going to Argentina.”  God used Donna on this trip to show love to this beautiful Argentine woman in a way only she could.  The key was Donna’s availability.  So often we say, I have nothing to offer God.  The truth, however, is God can use anything and anyone.  He just wants you available to say, “Yes, Lord!”  The second is from Kristy Tharp.  Her testimony really dealt with change.  Kristy grew up as a missionary kid in Spain and she speaks Spanish fluently.  So, she thought her job on this trip was to be a translator.  Little did she know our primary mission was to hold workshops on how to have a puppet ministry.  While she was in Spain she was a part of a puppet ministry team for eight years.  Kristy does not like to be in the lime light.  Now, she was the predominant figure at these workshops teaching the Argentine people how to do puppets.  Kristy, like all of us had to show flexibility in her service.  She had a plan and God altered her plan.  God says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways (Isaiah 55:8).  On a side note: before we left, one of the churches had already formed a puppet ministry team and had scheduled their first puppet practice for the Tuesday after our departure.  They were very excited to start sharing the love of Jesus to children and parents through puppets.

Questions:
  1. Are you making excuses and telling God you have no talent to offer Him?
  2. Are you flexible enough to allow God to change your plans?
Prayer: Lord, thank You that You can use anything to bring Yourself glory.  Please remind me this day how I can be used by You in order to glorify You.  Amen.

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