Greetings from Rus Rus!
This month is shaping up to be very busy
with visits and a medical brigade coming up next week. You can look forward to a blog (or two)about
that but in the meantime:
We asked visiting couple, Joel
and Abrielle Braxton, to write a little something of their time visiting
here. They are praying about their role in
missions.
I
hear the whir of the engines, and as I gaze out the window watching the blue
and white variations in the sky I remember where the last few weeks have taken
us. We, Joel and Abrielle (a small town/big city boy from Ohio and a big
city girl from Texas) now married and equipped with skills in
aviation and general mechanics (Joel) and in nursing (Abrielle) found ourselves
deep in the virgin jungles of hon-DUR-as (as the radio announcers say).
The
hot air hit me like a blanket thrown in my face - a warm welcome due to Ohio's
cold summer. A 3+ hour bus ride, dinner on the beach, a night in the hotel, and
a 1.5 hour flight in the Cessna later we arrived in the village of Rus Rus.
Ebe-Nezer, the black lab, eagerly greeted us at the plane in her jolly way
while the chickens and monkey (Jack) waited for us to introduce ourselves. Over
the next 6 days, we watched, looked, and listened to what life and ministry is
in Rus Rus and what they want it to be. Of course, we couldn't help ourselves
from dreaming about potential realities for ourselves living among and serving
the Miskito people in the jungle.
Wes
and Denise are clearly in love with each other - affectionate and playful, they
keep their relationship fresh, enjoyable, and strong. They have to in order to
survive in this environment. Gifted with skills in hospitality and cooking,
Denise (or "neecy lou" as she is affectionately called by Wes) made
sure we were more than comfortable in their home with plenty of fantastic food.
Wes let us rest before giving us the tour and making work available when we
were ready. Joking and teasing all the way, we knew we were included. Book,
movie, and family game buffs, we all enjoyed sharing our interests, and we even
got in a few card games. Not without me going into shock over the numerous
cards overflowing from my hands and blurring together. We laughed till our
bellies and cheeks ached.
The
Wiles easily opened up about their roles, commitments, desires, dreams, and
vision for Rus Rus, the airplane, and Hospital Rus Rus.
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| Rus Rus Hospital |
There are innumerable
opportunities for ministry, but it is crucial that we are careful to seek the
Lord's wisdom in all things and ensure that we follow His leading doing His
work rather than seeking our own project dreams that may not be necessary. Much
work has been done in Rus Rus, and much is left to be done. In the last 4
years, the Wiles have practiced more Spanish, been establishing and building
relationships with the locals, repaired much of the hospital, acquired
medications and supplies, repaired a building for their own lodgings and space
for housing short-term teams, hosted several large and medium short-term teams,
repaired/maintained the airplane, provided air ambulance service, distributed
salaries to hospital employees (all locals), cared for pets (dogs, monkey, and
chickens), and hosted several "big" Christmas parties. The community
has a Catholic church with a lay minister and a protestant church with no
pastor (the hospital's head nurse, Geraldina, is helping to keep it going).
Most villagers attend one of the two weekly services, and several villagers are
eagerly seeking to know Christ more. However, there is not much spiritual
leadership, very few good role models, an occasional flaky teacher, and limited
food varieties available.
Our hearts'
desire is that wherever the Lord leads us, we may walk alongside seeking
followers of Christ in their journey so that locals can rise up to lead the
people to accept God's grace and eagerly obey His precepts. In addition to
spiritual ministry, we wish to use our skills and gifts to serve the people in
physical ways.
Our next team is coming to have a mini-clinic
with medical and dental services at the end of this month (next week and a half). Your prayers would be greatly appreciated for
all the traveling as well as for the team as they minister to the sweet folks
in the surrounding area.
On a more personal note - What
a blessing to have our son, Joshua, come home for a visit during his block
leave after returning from Afghanistan! I tried not to spoil him too much but I did
make a lot of his favorite meals. It
will be sad to send him off again. What’s
in store for him? He doesn’t know when
he will receive his next posting so for now he will be in Kentucky for the
winter. Brrrr!!!!
Joyfully In His Service,
Westley and Denise Wiles
