What We've Learned So Far

     Well, we are making it through a very warm Cayman summer! Last week the heat index was 117°F. Actually, since the Cayman Islands are tropical, the concept of four seasons seems wildly inappropriate. So here’s my summary of our Cayman seasons.

     “Summer” or “Rainy Season”—May through October, characterized by muggy, warm, rainy weather, and the accompanying hordes of mosquitoes. Hurricanes—June through November—always be ready!

     “Winter” or “Dry Season”—November through April, characteristic heavy “nor'easter” winds early in the year, pleasant temperatures.

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      At the beginning of August we held an all-day prayer and fasting session in the sanctuary. During that time our recipients for the food bank arrived. We invited them up to the altar so we could pray for them. What an electric time of intercession we had! A lady with whom we have prayed about her extremely difficult situation gave me an envelope containing her tithes and offering. It read “for people in need.”

     We are learning some important lessons about ministering here in the Caribbean. The first is the necessity of living according the rhythm of the island. The flow of life here is slower, and many dreams are surrendering by necessity to “island time.” We could try to force things into being, but the result would be ministry disconnected from the very people it hopes to serve. Our role is to promote the indigenous principle—encouraging and helping our national brothers and sisters to develop their own burden for the types of ministry to which the Lord has called them.

     A related discovery is the crucial importance of ministry training. Without national workers, no ministry is possible. We are greatly encouraged by the hunger our students have to understand and apply Biblical precepts. These are the future leaders of Grand Cayman and of the many other nations represented in our church. We are also seeing the significance of modeling these precepts in front of them.

PLEASE PRAY WITH US FOR:

~~unity and transparency in the Body of Christ; a greater spiritual fervor to combat the nominal religious spirit that pervades the island; a continued emphasis on corporate and individual prayer/fasting.

~~a tearing down of occult strongholds as well as fear and superstition concerning its power in the life of believers; a practical understanding of the Holy Spirit’s work in believers’ lives.

 ~~a greater interest among men to receive Biblical training and take on leadership roles in the church.

~~training—the last two Global University courses of the year; altar and follow-up ministry; new Living Free course.

~~ongoing talks with the government about acquiring a piece of property for a Teen Challenge Center; wisdom for the next step.

~~youth outreach trip in Cayman Brac (our neighboring island).

~~our parents’ health—John’s mother is growing very weak and can no longer eat, walk or talk well. John’s father is exhausted as he valiantly takes care of his wife. Sondra’s mom went through the recent earthquake in Virginia and had severe chest pains afterward. She subsequently had surgery to insert a new heart stent inside an old one that had closed up. She is now recovering in the hospital.

~~a financial miracle. We have lost almost 20% of our support since arriving on this island.