Every year, a highlight of the Pan American Lectureship is the inspirational speeches and helpful mission information. Even better, in my mind, are the reports of what God is doing across Latin America and around the world…new resources for Hispanic families and churches, a program for strengthening churches in Brazil, amazing things in Nicaragua, new electronic resources, new medical resources to assist with medical missions.
A special benefit is the opportunity to network with others committed to missions, to learn, to catch up, and to accept new challenges. Yesterday was typical. Breakfast with the Cowans from Pueblo, Colorado (have met a lot of folks from Pueblo who have made the connection between us and our son and daughter-in-law there). Morning studies, presentations, and reports. Lunch with Bob Brown and more catching up and dreaming of the future, an afternoon conversation with Bob and Ridglae Stephens to remember and to dream, more conversations in the hotel lobby, and then after the evening sessions, a late evening dinner with Miguel and Rosa Aguilar to think about the possibilities at Baxter Institute.
The days are full. We get up with the sunrise, by about 5:30–which is now 4:30 at home in Oklahoma with the change back to standard time–thus the early blogs. The days don’t end until late, and we fall into bed exhausted (partially from the altitude at 9500 feet).
Pray that all of us here might find renewed vision and hope and resources for sharing the gospel around the world. Pray today also for our nation–God is surely at work in our world. I pray his people might never hesitate to join him in his work.