Pastor Olegs asked one of us to speak about our trip to the States and the upcoming summer plans. Laura did a great job, so I decided to pass it on here:
[Presented by Laura Wimberley to Cesis Baptist Draudze - May 11, 2008]
It is great to be back, especially to be here with our Latvian family whom we love and feel such a part of. We are still dealing with time change. It seems that one of us is sleeping or not sleeping at all times of the day and night. This morning at 2:30 my eyes were wide open, and words were whirling in my head. Sometimes we are asked to speak, and I do not feel that there is anything I need to say. Then others, it feels like God is saying, “I want you to speak, and this is what I want you to say.” This morning at 2:30 was one of those times.
Yesterday, we went walking around the town and saw many friends. We met a girl on the sidewalk who was excited about what God is doing in her life. She invited us to a meeting and we went and enjoyed some great Christian music and it was so encouraging to see how God was working in the lives of the people there. They were from another church and did things a little differently, but that’s ok. We all love and serve the same God. So many times, I have the feeling that we are standing on the edge of something more wonderful than we can imagine. That God has chosen to do a work here.
It was hard to leave home this time. We had a good time there and just wished we could stay longer. When it was time to leave tears were shed. We miss family and friends and church and the familiar. But God sent us here and we knew it was the only place we belong now. People say, “Why do you come?” That is not the question to ask. The question is, “Why has God sent us?” Why are we here? Why do people feel God calling them to give their money to support this ministry? Why are people led to pray daily for Cesis? Why has God called Chase Bowers to come back and bring his family? Why do groups of Americans come here every summer? Why has he sent you one of the best pastors Latvia has to offer? There can be only one answer: God has a vision for Cesis! He wants to do something big here! And the thing is: You are a huge part of it! We need you! We cannot do it alone. We have events planned beginning the first of June. We need your help. We have begun a prison ministry. We need you to be a part of it. We hope to begin a mid week Bible study and prayer meeting. We need you to be there and invite others. We need teachers. It doesn’t matter if you never taught before. God will lead you.
We need helpers for vacation Bible school. One person has already volunteered to take 2 hours off from her job to help, we need more like her – youth, adults, men, women willing to say yes.
When God called Mark and me to Cesis, we could have said:
"We need to work a few more years first."
"We want to wait till the boys marry and leave home."
"I can’t speak to people. I have panic attacks."
"We want to stay and take care of the older members of our family." Mark’s 90 year old aunt is in the hospital now. When we left, we wondered if we would ever see her again.
There were so many reasons to wait or say let someone else go.
But God wanted to hear only one answer, “Yes, I’ll do it.”
I know God is asking something from everyone of you. Will you say, “Yes”? He has said yes to you so many times:
Yes, I’ll heal you.
Yes, I’ll answer your prayer.
Yes, I’ll bless you.
Yes, I’ll love you.
Yes. I’ll die for you.
Say yes to him. Let’s see what God wants to do in our lives and the lives of the people of Cesis. You will never regret following his lead. It is one of the greatest things you will ever experience. Don’t be afraid, trust him. Say YES.
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