Monday, August 13, 2012

Argentina Mission Report - Tammy Smith

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: This week the mission team that went to Argentina gave a testimony report at church.  This week’s Thoughts by Scott will be mini synopsis of each of the testimonies mixed with some of my perceptions.  William Carey once said, “Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.”  In many ways Carey’s statement is a consolidated expression of Tammy Smith’s testimony report.  She shared how the cost of the trip was going to cost around $20,000 and how we had a plan of raising $8,000.  Along the journey of raising funds Satan was at work trying to prevent this trip from occurring.  At one point Tammy was being attacked severely with doubt, frustration, and disappointment because it did not seem we were going to reach our goal.  The week in which Satan attacked the hardest was the week in which God said to Tammy (in Scott’s paraphrase), “I love you my daughter, trust me and watch me work.”  That week Tammy “ran into” two people.  The first said to her, “I have been reading your Facebook posts, how can I help.”  Tammy proceeded to tell her about items the missionaries, Grady and Claire Milstead, asked us to bring down with us.  The lady told Tammy to give her the list and she and the ladies of her church took care of every one of those items.  The ladies mother even gave a substantial check in order to cover an extra suitcase expense if we needed it.  The second person was a man that “ran into” Tammy at a gas station.  He said to her, “Last night our church voted to give you a $1,000 for your mission’s trip.”  The significance of that donation was it brought us to the $8,000 goal.  At that point, doubts, frustrations and disappointment left and Tammy boldly proceeded in faith.  God responded to the teams’ faith as well.  He said, “Watch this!” and prompted family and friends to give an additional $6,000 above the original goal.  God is great and greatly to be praised.

Questions:
  1. What was the last great thing of faith you experienced from God?
  2. What great thing are you presently expecting from God?
Prayer: Lord, thank You for stretching the mission teams’ faith.  May my faith presently be stretched as well.  Mold me into the type of person that hears from You and expects You to do great things for Your glory.  Then, Lord, please grant me the courage to follow through with what I have sensed You are doing and attempt great things for You.  Amen.

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