Students today in the Door Bilingual School
Despite my lack of faith, God has used me. When I dared to become a missionary in Guatemala, my measly faith could foresee no more than 25 people attending church. But God raised up a thriving church that planted churches. A vibrant Christian school was also raised up.
Then gunmen forced me to leave the country. After these robbers stole our money and our information, I realized they would be back for kidnapping. After 16 years, God moved us back to the States. I am currently teaching in a Christian school, praying and blogging — teaching others the secrets of ministry I learned in so many years “in the trenches.”
What’s the secret? God will use you. He’ll make your ministry grow — if you’ll just keep plodding on. I think I’m a plodder. I’m not an overnight sensation. Combine faith with faithfulness, and you get a potent mix! It has been enough to raise up a powerful work in Guatemala.
The great satisfaction of my life is to visit and see smiling kids still serving Jesus.
Mustard Seed Budget 
Great post! We suffer, we struggle, we don’t always understand, we feel like things are not fair…but if we keep pressing onward, God is faithful and just to help us. Everything is a learning experience, and more easily accepted once we ‘accept’ that our lives are no longer our own..but God’s, and that our only purpose in the first place is to worship and serve Him. We are His feet, and we are the carriers of His Word throughout the world!
Praise the Lord! You are eloquent! God has gifted you!
Thank you for blessing me with such kind words my brother! And you are much more gifted than me, as you go out into the dangerous places and witness for the Lord in the Spirit of truth….you physically do what I wish I could do, but am unable because of my responsibilities at home. God bless you for all you do Mr. Mustard Seed! 😉
I don’t consider myself more talented than you or anyone. Thanks for the encouraging words!
I am sorry. I did not mean to offend. I was complementing you. We all have our gifts. Everyone is better, or more talented or gifted in certain areas than others. God blesses people with different talents, we are different people. God bless you and keep doing what u r doing. 🙂
No apologies. It’s all good. Thanks for all the feedback. I appreciate you as a dear sister in the Lord!
Seeing the happy faces of the girls in the photograph says it all.
Thanks! I agree!
What an encouraging testimony for our faithful God and for all who read this to know the fruits of perseverance.
Thank you for sharing and I look forward to reading more of your posts. Thank you also for stopping by and taking time to read/like one of my posts.
May God continue to bless your ministry in all nations. I’m a plodder too and also feel at times that I lack faith, but your words have been very encouraging and made the role of ‘plodding’ seem so much lighter. Praise God for you and people like you. Amen. 🙂
Thanks for the uplifting words. They encourage me to keep going on!
Thank you so much for encouraging us to keep at it! I’m a plodder too! God bless you and your ministry!
Hi Debbie. Thanks for the uplifting words. They are like an updraft for a glider plane.
Thanks for liking my post. I’m glad I stopped over to look at your blog. Today’s post hits the spot for me. I’m definitely a plodder too and give thanks that God can use us plodders!
Praise the Lord! I wish I weren’t such a plodder, but maybe it is encouraging to many people. Maybe many of us are plodders.
Your story is a blessing and an encouragement. I agree faith plus faithfulness is a potent mix! Thanks for sharing and God bless. 🙂
Thanks for the ENCOURAGEMENT! I can soar on that comment!
Am I writing to Pastor Ashcraft? How fantastic the difference you are making in the lives of these young ladies – with God’s guidance you have had great courage and motivation. May he bless your ministry to higher heights, and always pave the way for the finances for it. LA
Hey! Thanks for the upbeat response! We all need God. It looks like your an expert at fashion. As they say in Spanish, “Animo!”
Great story. You are very brave for the kingdom.
Thanks! And you are uplifting for the kingdom! Keep it up! Let the devil discourage; we must encourage!
Thank you for sharing the “secret” and for your encouragement to keep “plodding” on!! Timely advice… May God continue to bless you and your ministry.
Hmmm, I think I was actually embarrassed of being a plodder, but apparently it has resonated with people everywhere. Maybe there is more to this than I previously realized. Thanks for the observation!
Lovely post, I enjoyed reading about your work in Guatemala, inspiring! Really great example of how we can all help others.
Thank you for a like and visit too, much appreciated! 🙂
Well, it is a pleasure to see and enjoy the talent of others! God bless!
Thanks for sharing what you have learned in the trenches. God is raising up so many of us behind you who need to know what you know!! I know I do. Having come from some dark things that the Lord delivered me from I am back out looking for others like I was – stuck in a pit of death who need to know there is Someone Who has already set them free. God is good but finding your way as a minister (not like officially but in the sense of “minister of reconciliation”) is not easy. So many people want to take you down or get jealous (that one always gets me – I think “maybe you should walk in what I had to walk in to get here! Then your jealousy would be so GONE!”), or just think you are wanting attention. I am always on the lookout for people who are willing to pour back into the rest of us. God bless you brother! So glad I found your blog (or rather God showed me your blog!) Blessings!!
May God help us. It is a cutting observation that the church is the only army that instead of healing its wounded, finishes them off. But we can make a difference. We can be what we want the church to be.