Welcome....

The story thus far.....Mary and I have agreed with God to pursue His vision for us as missionaries. We are living in the UK and working to expand the Kingdom across all of Europe.

Ready to become part of the adventure?

Feel free to contact us at pjt@going4the1.com or mary@going4the1.com.

Monday, June 2, 2008

Amazing Journey (Part Two)

Last month found our hero returning from the wilds of Mexico, reflecting on what had been witnessed on his first missions trip. Not realising the long-term effects on his life. (If you missed it, feel free to get caught up by reading last month's newsletter at www.pmtriller.blogspot.com) 

Let's fast forward a year or two. Missions trip #2, this one to Guatemala. But rather than being just a participant, I was able to help plan this trip from the beginning...and in this case we were not going to help a pastor, but a missionary couple, a very interesting missionary couple.

Our team came to finish a church building, and construct a playground area. We also had the the opportunity to preach, share testimonies, and interact with the villagers. The team was mostly teens, many of which had never been on such a trip. But the real story here is about Mike and Rocky...tho' the "Nick has a gun" story is worth asking about.

Mike and Rocky Beene have been serving in some very remote parts of Guatemala for close to 20 years now. Rocky decided she wanted to bring the Good News to Central America. So at 18, with no big ministry backing, she finds herself in Honduras. About the same time in Texas, God is dealing with an drunk cowboy named Mike. An odd combination to say the least, but Mike finds his way into the mission field, and meets Rocky in Costa Rica. They get married, move to Guatemala, and start their ministry and their family, while living out of a pickup truck and a tent.

Over the years they built; a house, multiple churches, a clinic, a dorm, they trained pastors, started a coffee growing project, help get water to the nearby villages, had four children, cleared a road up the mountain, started a home building project, stitched machete induced wounds, and delivered babies. They started with no electricity, no running water, no phones, no house.... but overcame all these obstacles with a determination and drive that is rare in this day and age of convenience.

Have they made a difference? The answer is "Yes". But how to quantify the results may be difficult. They have literally saved lives in their clinic.They have saved souls in the churches they helped establish. They have improved living conditions by helping get clean water and by building new homes with a real floor (rather than having kids sleeping on dirt.) But I think the real proof came just last year when their daughter, Kayla (now 18), decided to follow mom and dad's footsteps. She is now a missionary in Australia.

What does all this have to do with what lies ahead for Mary and I??? To us, Mike and Rocky are an inspiration. We look at what they have done, and how God has provided, and we are encouraged.
Yes, they live a crazy life, oft-times dangerous, and not without its share of tears. No one can argue their life is not for everyone. ( Mary and I have no intention of having four more children.)
But this couple has served, and persevered....and with such joy.

We pray we can look back 20 years from now and say the same. But before we look back, we need to look ahead. Our story is just starting. Our joys, set-backs, triumphs, and challenges are still in their boxes, awaiting the day we reach Europe and start living the Adventure.

So Mexico opened my eyes to the what missionary work can do. Guatemala opened my heart... next month you'll learn what opened my spirit.

We are running on faith, but we are not running alone.