The five-member ROW team forged ahead and completed their mission with the equipment and supplies they had for work along the Caño Mánamo, a stream that branches off the Orinoco River. At 5am, the team traveled for 12 hours across Venezuela, reaching a delta by 5:30pm. They transferred their gear and supplies into a boat and headed deep into Warao Indian country.

After breakfast the next morning, they loaded their gear into the boat and traveled to several river communities where the goal for the week was to set up medical clinics and provide VBS to the children. In addition to providing basic health care, some members of the team taught the native people about the benefits of clean water. As people were being treated for everything from ringworm, TB and gasoline burns, other members of the team were busy showing the Jesus Film, handing out toys and gifts and making bracelets for the children. ROW also provided solar powered light bulbs and DVD players throughout the Orinoco Delta region.

While the ROW team was busy carrying out their mission deep in the jungles of Venezuela, Pui and I were back in the U.S. waiting for word on what was taking place. Did I mention that I don’t usually wait patiently! If you have a difficult waiting or you find yourself getting frustrated when your plans are suddenly altered, let me remind you of Romans 12:12 (Amplified):

“Rejoice and exult in hope; be steadfast and patient in suffering and tribulation; be constant in prayer.”

As Christians, we have this tremendous hope of eternity with Christ. This fact alone should produce a constant joy in our spirits that shields us from the harsh blows of life. When your course suddenly changes, remain steadfast in your faith, pray without ceasing and forge ahead!

The very next morning we were deported back to the United States. There was actually a silver lining to this sudden change of plans. My dad was desperately ill so our unexpected return home gave us time to spend with him. To see the expression on his face was worth everything in the world.

When your plans don’t work out exactly the way you had envisioned, it’s important to realize that God really is in control of your life. The key is to relinquish that control and to be obedient to His leading. We learn in Proverbs 16:9:

“In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.”

There is nothing wrong with making future plans for your life. However, we must seek the Lord and ask Him what His dreams, goals and desires are for our life. If we are earnestly trying to follow God’s will for our lives then we can be sure that the plans we make will keep us right on course with His plans for our lives.

Repeatedly Tom reminded our team that the key to sharing the gospel starts with the relationship we have with God. It also involves the relationship the Lord has with us and that we have with one another. Thank you so much Tom for making me stop and remember that time is not about time, even out there in the middle of the jungle in Venezuela. Time is also not about how much we can get accomplished in one day. Instead, time, a blessing given to us from God, is about relationships and loving people in the name of Jesus.

Regardless of where you might be today, the United States, Venezuela or some other foreign country, start your day by spending time with the Lord. When you begin your day focused upon God, you will be better equipped to venture out into the world and love others in the name of Jesus. Adopt Colossians 3:12 as your verse of scripture to meditate upon today:

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

To love others as Christ did does not come naturally for most of us. We must strive to be intentionally relational. In other words, we must deliberately choose to be longsuffering, kind, patient and loving with others.

Using solar powered DVD players, we traveled to about eight different villages. In two locations, as soon as we turned on the DVD player we witnessed the amazing power of the gospel. A man in one village and a woman in a different village both screamed at the top of their lungs as soon as they heard the name of Jesus. Each was so excited to finally hear the story of Jesus in their native language. God has created within all of His creation an innate sense that there is a Creator. It is so exciting to be able to share with people like those of the Warao tribe the name of the Creator and the name of His Son in their native language.

Since the DVD players are solar powered, they can be kept in these villages, recharged naturally by the sun and the Warao people can watch and hear about the gospel story for years to come.

Paul instructs us that our attitude should be like Christ Jesus, who came to earth and took on the form of man, lived among His creation and then was obedient unto His Father, even unto death on the cross. In Philippians 2:9-11 we read:

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

We have a simple choice, which is to accept Christ as Savior now and follow Him or be forced to proclaim the name of Jesus when He returns. His return is inevitable and it could be at any moment so choose today to follow Christ.

Speaking of stew, I participated in a mission trip to Venezuela recently with folks from Texas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia and North Carolina. Each person brought with them their own unique gifts and talents. We had a person with experience in medical sales, a medic, a CPA, retired folks and a teacher. Also on this trip were 3, Rivers of the World’s (ROW) executive administrator; Drew McIlreavy, ROW East; and me, ROW’s executive director.

We had a stew of people who came together with different talents but all with a love for the Lord and for serving His people. If you are not a part of a church, Christian fellowship, Bible study or Christian ministry somewhere, I encourage you to find a place to get plugged in with other Christians. In so doing, you will develop intimate Christian relationships that will help you grow stronger in your faith. Who knows, you may even choose to serve with these folks overseas on a mission’s trip!

We all have been given specific gifts from the Lord. It is our duty to seek to understand what our unique gifts are in order to use them for Christ. This is clearly stated in 1 Peter 4:10:

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”

Armed with the Jesus Film, copies of Finding Nemo and a movie from the Rivers of the World (ROW) web site, we planted these resources amongst family groups in this very remote tribe. We also provided the families with solar powered DVD players. My thought was, “I can barely figure out how to operate these things so I sure hope they will understand so we can really grow the gospel in this part of the world.”

After planting a bunch of the films and DVD players, we were traveling through the area and decided to grab a few extra copies of the films and some DVD players and make a stop at a home about a mile away from our new friends. By the time we arrived at the home and showed the family the DVD player, we discovered that they had already seen one, knew how to work it and already knew about the Jesus story! Talk about word spreading fast! This incident certainly confirmed to our team that if we take steps to spread the gospel God would affirm our efforts to serve Him.

After Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples began to fulfill the Great Commission. We read in Mark 16:20:

“Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.”

We can be sure that when we share the Word, it will not come back void. We may not see the results this side of heaven, but God will ensure that the seeds we planted will accomplish His intended purposes.

We’ll be ministering to the Warao Indians, an indigenous people that number nearly 22,000, most residing in northeastern Venezuela. Less than 200 Warao are believers in Jesus and that is where technology will play a vital role on this trip. We have brought solar powered DVD players, along with the Jesus Film, translated in Warao, their native language. The goal is to leave 10 DVD units with 10 family groups throughout the jungle, all the while planting the gospel in that part of Venezuela.

We’ll also be using a form of technology called BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) to document live the work Rivers of the World (ROW) is doing this week. I can connect the BGAN to my computer, which will enable us to send live updates and pictures from Venezuela. Keep a close eye on our web site, www.row.org, to check out our adventure among the Warao Indians.

Presenting the gospel to the Warao people and providing basic healthcare is simply being obedient to the Word of God. When Jesus sent out the 12 disciples, he instructed them to preach the Word of God and heal the sick. We read in Luke 9:6:

“So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.”

If we have accepted Christ as our Savior then we too can preach the gospel and heal people through the power and authority of Jesus. Venture out in your world today and touch somebody’s life for the honor and glory of Christ.

The doctors first gathered some history on the woman and discovered why she passed out. It seems the mother was berating her son about giving his life to Christ. She was yelling and screaming at this child so hard about accepting the love of Jesus that she fainted. I am not so sure that her method of witnessing is a good way to share the love of Christ. Perhaps if this mother was a bit gentler in her approach with her son and if she had a little more of a loving spirit the outcome would have been better.

The next time you set out to lead someone to Christ, remember the very specific instructions we have been given regarding the principle of reaping and sowing, found in Luke 6:37-38:

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

If we treat others with criticism then we cannot expect to receive kindness in return. We also cannot expect forgiveness, mercy and blessings from Jesus if we fail to extend the same courtesies to others. Dear Christian, I encourage you to remember that it is our responsibility to display the love of Christ in our words and actions while it is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict others of their need for salvation.

Some of the odd food items I’ve eaten include chitlins and termites. You just name it and I am sure I’ve had to eat it at some point in time during my travels through the years. While in Venezuela a few months ago Rafael came up to me and presented a one-inch long grub that was also an inch around. Believe me, it was very much alive. The grub, which was centered on this very beautiful piece of dirt, soon became my tasty lunch.

You can share in the fun of watching me eat the grub by checking out the video on the Rivers of the World (ROW) web site. You’ll discover the secret to eating such a creature. It’s important to first bite the grub’s head off then you can eat the rest of the specimen and smile while doing it! Situations like this are all a part of good, Christian fellowship while serving in the jungles of Venezuela. It sure makes for a good laugh and I certainly enjoy it very much!

I’d love for you to check out this video and I’d love you for to join ROW on one of the many rivers we travel on throughout the world.

The next time you find yourself complaining about what you have, or don’t have in your refrigerator, stop for a moment and think about those folks in Africa, Honduras and even in our own country who go days without any food. Now open your Bible and read 1 Timothy 6:6-8:

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”

Those who have learned to be content with little will surely be blessed with much.

ROW staff and volunteers go through the day conducting medical clinics, praying with the people, worshipping together and giving thanks to God for allowing us to share information and for providing health care to people in need. This predicable pattern is efficient, successful and certainly a lot of fun.

A few months ago we were in Venezuela traveling down the Manamo River when we came to a small gathering of very primitive huts. The operator of our boat yelled into the jungle, “Hey, we’ve got clinic, could you all use some help?” It was then that our pattern was broken and I heard something I’ve never heard before in all my travels. The leader of the small village looked back at us and said, “Well, God has been good to us. We are all healthy. Thank you for the offer but I don’t think we need a thing.”

I was simply speechless. It was hard to imagine that there were no needs in this very remote village. It was such a tremendous blessing. How about you today? Are you speechless thinking about how God has blessed you or others you know?

In order for the people of this remote jungle to have even known about God somebody had to travel to their primitive huts and present the Gospel. To be an effective witness in such a situation, a person must find common ground with the people they’re trying to reach. The next time you have an opportunity to share God’s word or simply demonstrate the love of Christ to someone, remember Paul’s approach to witnessing, found in 1 Corinthians 9:22-23:

“To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”

If we are to be successful in reaching people for Christ, we must break our typical patterns and allow Jesus to help us relate to people on their level. Using religious language in speaking with someone who has never been exposed to church will do nothing but cause frustration and confusion. Instead, let’s meet people right where they’re at in their lives.