Words can not adequately express the humbling experience and privilege it was to travel to Brownsville Texas this last week to go and be a small part of the work the Lord is doing through two of his devoted servants. A team of seven of us from our church (Logos Baptist Church) got to come alongside Mr. Jack and Mrs. Iva Dean Henderson and assist their efforts in ministering to the Pastors and their wives who serve so faithfully in Mexico. These men and women serve on the front lines of the battle and give of their lives to impart the Gospel to a dark land filled with oppression and what often seems to be hopeless circumstances.
We arrived and immediately began setting up and preparing for the Pastor's Retreat that we were there to serve for. We made large grocery runs, prepped rooms, set up a room to look like a restaurant, dug holes for sewage, finished getting the chapel in working order, and various other things. We had knew we were in for a blessing just being a part, but really had no idea just a big of a blessing.
We cooked Breakfast for them and served it to their rooms each morning, Lunch after some wonderful classes they attended under the teaching of Mr. Jack Mrs. Iva Dean and some local missionaries who have partnered with the Henderson's on many occasions, and Dinner which was always accompanied by some romantic music played live by a sweet sweet man whose name was Mrs. Joe, and often times my precious Stephen as well.
The mission that Mr. Jack and Mrs. Iva Dean have for these Pastor/Wife Retreats is to pour into the lives and marriages of these who serve daily in an area that they often are never on the receiving end of refreshment and relief. They gave the ladies some money when they arrived to spend on something nice for themselves, we furnished their rooms with different little gifts and candy each day, and we tried to create an environment for them that helped them do nothing but focus on one another and Christ who brought them together and sustains them.
The last day of the retreat will be etched in my mind and heart forever! It was the day of the Vow Renewal Ceremony where they were to refresh their commitment to one another in front of those of us who committed to pray for them and hold them accountable to their vows before a Holy God. The ladies came out in their veils with their bouquets and each couple took their turn renewing their vows they made to one another. One couple had been married thirty two years, and the other thirty seven. Their gittyness and their excitement was so precious and the blessing to witness this event was even more precious! They each exchanged rings (a sweet part of the week we also got to be a part of and accompany them as they picked these out), fed each other cake and bubbly (sprite), and signed commitments alongside the couple who signed as witnesses that had been married for almost sixty one years!
After the Vow ceremony it was about time for everyone to begin packing up their cars and heading back home (over the Mexican border about 25-30 miles) and back into the battle; but before they left, Stephen, April and I sang a few songs. The husband (sparing their names just to keep them safe from any harm) of the couple who'd been married the longest began trying to sing with us, so Stephen began playing some familiar hymns and oh what a joy it was to be a part of what I fully expect Heaven to sound like one day...Amazing Grace, At Calvary, Man of Sorrows, How Great Thou Art, At the Cross, all being sung in Spanish and English. What a beautiful sound it was an unforgettable moment in my life, all I could do was smile and weep as I kept thinking of the different languages, people and nations that will proclaim His majesty and sing His praises together one day, "when we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be, when we all see Jesus we'll sing and shout the victory." So even though I may never see these precious people again here on earth, I look with excitement to the day we will be reunited in Heaven and will need to interpreter to exchange praises to our Lord and God as praise Him together.
So today, as I reflect back on all the Lord did this past week in the lives of the pastor's and wives who attended the retreat, those of us who were privileged to be a part (and gain wisdom for our marriages as well), I bring back with me a passionate desire to pray for my brothers and sisters who stand on the front lines of battle taking the Gospel to the desperate and lost of Mexico, a reignited passion and desire to love, serve, and devote myself to my own precious husband, the bonds of friendship with the team I was so honored and humbled to serve with, and hunger to do this again as soon as opportunity presents itself. The days are short, and the time of freely being able to proclaim the Gospel is quickly approaching its final days. I don't want to look back (like I already do) and see the time I wasted living life unintentionally and hoarding the message of hope so selfishly as though I have time to spare. The time is now!
A few photo snips from our trip:
Now a few light hearted moments from our trip...
We arrived and immediately began setting up and preparing for the Pastor's Retreat that we were there to serve for. We made large grocery runs, prepped rooms, set up a room to look like a restaurant, dug holes for sewage, finished getting the chapel in working order, and various other things. We had knew we were in for a blessing just being a part, but really had no idea just a big of a blessing.
We cooked Breakfast for them and served it to their rooms each morning, Lunch after some wonderful classes they attended under the teaching of Mr. Jack Mrs. Iva Dean and some local missionaries who have partnered with the Henderson's on many occasions, and Dinner which was always accompanied by some romantic music played live by a sweet sweet man whose name was Mrs. Joe, and often times my precious Stephen as well.
The mission that Mr. Jack and Mrs. Iva Dean have for these Pastor/Wife Retreats is to pour into the lives and marriages of these who serve daily in an area that they often are never on the receiving end of refreshment and relief. They gave the ladies some money when they arrived to spend on something nice for themselves, we furnished their rooms with different little gifts and candy each day, and we tried to create an environment for them that helped them do nothing but focus on one another and Christ who brought them together and sustains them.
The last day of the retreat will be etched in my mind and heart forever! It was the day of the Vow Renewal Ceremony where they were to refresh their commitment to one another in front of those of us who committed to pray for them and hold them accountable to their vows before a Holy God. The ladies came out in their veils with their bouquets and each couple took their turn renewing their vows they made to one another. One couple had been married thirty two years, and the other thirty seven. Their gittyness and their excitement was so precious and the blessing to witness this event was even more precious! They each exchanged rings (a sweet part of the week we also got to be a part of and accompany them as they picked these out), fed each other cake and bubbly (sprite), and signed commitments alongside the couple who signed as witnesses that had been married for almost sixty one years!
After the Vow ceremony it was about time for everyone to begin packing up their cars and heading back home (over the Mexican border about 25-30 miles) and back into the battle; but before they left, Stephen, April and I sang a few songs. The husband (sparing their names just to keep them safe from any harm) of the couple who'd been married the longest began trying to sing with us, so Stephen began playing some familiar hymns and oh what a joy it was to be a part of what I fully expect Heaven to sound like one day...Amazing Grace, At Calvary, Man of Sorrows, How Great Thou Art, At the Cross, all being sung in Spanish and English. What a beautiful sound it was an unforgettable moment in my life, all I could do was smile and weep as I kept thinking of the different languages, people and nations that will proclaim His majesty and sing His praises together one day, "when we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be, when we all see Jesus we'll sing and shout the victory." So even though I may never see these precious people again here on earth, I look with excitement to the day we will be reunited in Heaven and will need to interpreter to exchange praises to our Lord and God as praise Him together.
So today, as I reflect back on all the Lord did this past week in the lives of the pastor's and wives who attended the retreat, those of us who were privileged to be a part (and gain wisdom for our marriages as well), I bring back with me a passionate desire to pray for my brothers and sisters who stand on the front lines of battle taking the Gospel to the desperate and lost of Mexico, a reignited passion and desire to love, serve, and devote myself to my own precious husband, the bonds of friendship with the team I was so honored and humbled to serve with, and hunger to do this again as soon as opportunity presents itself. The days are short, and the time of freely being able to proclaim the Gospel is quickly approaching its final days. I don't want to look back (like I already do) and see the time I wasted living life unintentionally and hoarding the message of hope so selfishly as though I have time to spare. The time is now!
A few photo snips from our trip:
The view before landing
Our ride home...no joke. That Mr. Jack, he's quite the character with lots of personality :)
This used to be a donkey barn until Mr. Jack envisioned a new purpose for it. Now it is a fully functioning kitchen, dining room to seat several, a bathroom, and a room with four bunks and a shower. When that man has a vision...hold on to your hat.
The Pavilion where the vow renewals took place, right outside the donkey barn
Stone Walk...their "Pet"
Mr. Jack's "toy box" to the right and the little archway to the left was the entrance to their sweet little nest.
Their place had such character that was so very fitting
Yes...we were in Texas
The entire property was fenced in and gated
Love this bunch of ladies...we laughed till we cried all week!
Two cultures came together and made music...such fun!
Tid bits of what we did all week...
This was one of the rooms we set up for one of the couples
Prepping the first morning for Breakfast "in bed"
This lady and her hubby can make a mean cup of joe...coffee.
Lots of love went into each meal...
and lots of help too...
Class with Mrs. Iva Dean and Mrs. Esther who was the interpreter
Love these sweet ladies!
The women weren't the only ones in the kitchen!
If you know who was on our team, I bet you can guess who was responsible for breakfast on this particular morning :)
The Brides
The happy couples
sweet moments
this couple stole my heart from day one!
Sunday School at Mr. Jack and Mrs. Iva Dean's church
"Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with their whole heart." Ps 119:2
"Pastor" as Mr. Jack called him...we all know him as "Jeff" preached a fantastic sermon from Hebrews 12 and challenged us to ask the Lord to reveal to us sins that may be keeping us from running the race unhindered by sin.
Our last day, Mr. Jack and Mrs. Iva Dean took us across the border to Mexico...a very sobering and humbling part of the trip for sure.
My love in front of the the Rio Grande river, part of the border that separates the US from Mexico
This came to represent something very sad to me...
Pictures of the border
The humbling reality of the blessing I have of being on this side of the border brought much thankfulness and humility to my heart. The people who live on the other side of this fence live in a frightening place where their lives are daily at risk...and the need for the Gospel on the other side of this fence is great! One of the very reasons Mr. Jack and Mrs. Iva Dean do what they do! Pray for the people of Mexico. Pray for the Henderson's as they minister faithfully and tirelessly.
Now a few light hearted moments from our trip...
To try and explain this picture...nope, can't do it...
I think you made your point...
Yup, that one belongs to me folks...
The faithful leaders of our trip
He's mine.
Oh the stories we could tell from this trip...
He made a friend...
He thinks I'm special...
Check out our photo bomber!
Close encounter...with a plastic gator
This trip made our marriage all the more sweeter!
hmmm...
This is what awesome looks like!
hmmm...
well...
nothing like a $2 boot shine...their boots came out better than new!
Nothing quite like observing Texas sunsets at the close of a magnificent trip!
"Watching the Rock" Mr. Jack after sharing a story of a business owner's failures and successes gave us these rocks as reminders of how we protect, manage, and care for our marriages and challenged us to do those very things.
May the Lord be honored and glorified by the work we did in Texas and may he continue to use us as tools for His Kingdom work! Praise be to His name!
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