Venezuela - Second Monday

6:00 this morning found us loaded and ready for the eight-hour drive back to Barquisimeto.  Fernanda's father said that he thought he could make it in six or seven hours because the traffic would be less as all the tourist were still coming to Mérida.

 

However, I soon discovered what he meant by the traffic being less – there was virtually no one on the road which means he was able to travel faster without getting behind slow traffic or big trucks on those narrow, winding, mountain roads.

 

And travel fast he did.  We took most of the curves on two wheels.  Her dad is a great driver.  He never drove reckless, just fast.  After about two hours of careening around curves, I got dizzy headed and had to ask him to pull off the side of the road to let me throw up.  When we stopped, he told me to spread my legs apart and bend over from the waist, keep my head looking straight ahead with my eyes open, and slowly raise up and down.  Wow!  It worked.  After about three to four minutes we were able to go again and I was all right the rest of the trip.  Glory!

 

When we arrived at the Bible School, the Missions Office was buzzing with excitement as all the missionaries who are home on furlough arrived.  The bus came after about 30 minutes and together with two or three cars, we were all able to head up to the mountain for a retreat.

 

When we arrived at the hotel, (Click on the word hotel) our rooms were not ready so the manager asked all of us to walk up to the town plaza and wait for him to call us.  After about an hour, we all checked into our rooms and to my surprise, we had hot water.  Glory!  It was going to be a good week after all because the weather is around 50 degrees up in the mountains.

 

There are six missionary couples with their children plus two single lady missionaries.  So it is a good crowd.

 

The Missions Department did the opening address tonight in the form of an illustrated sermon.  We were all asked to go out into the parking lot.  When we were all assembled (remember it is 50 degrees), the person in charge had a 3 foot by 5 foot photo of the beach with the word Summer written across the top.  He began to speak to us about feeling the warmth of the sun, hearing the sounds of the sea gulls, sweating, and becoming real thirsty.  Suddenly he said, Hey, who is thirsty?  Several of the teenaged Missionary Kids raised their hands and the guy went over to a little six-pack cooler and brought six of them a drink.  Then he said, Who else is thirsty?  Several more people raised their hands thinking it was some kind of trick because the little cooler.  He then said, Life is not always as it appears, opened the back of a SUV and started passing out sodas to everyone.  He then preached about life on the mission field in the Summer, when everything is going great.  The time when people are being saved, churches are being planted, and life is exciting.

 

He then asked us to go to the next station.  When we arrived upstairs on an outdoor verandah, there was another poster with Autumn written on it.  There were some crackers and cheese for snack foods and the speaker began to compare life on the mission field to the Autumn.  Life is still good, the people are maturing in the Lord, a lot of the leaves are changing colors as people take on different ministries and responsibilities.  She then asked us to go to the next station - Winter.

 

At the Winter station, a table was loaded with all kinds of fruit – Apricots, strawberries, grapes, etc., and the speaker began to talk about winter on the mission field, when nothing seems to be happening, life becomes more of a walk of faith, but a missionary must continue working through the winter.

 

The last station was Spring.  A table was loaded with cut flowers for everyone.  The ladies really enjoyed making a beautiful bouquet for their hotel room.  Of course Spring is always exciting with new growth, new ideas, fresh vision, etc. 

 

 

 

Each station took about fifteen minutes each.  It was very effective and very creative.

 

We were then all instructed to go to our rooms for the night because breakfast would be at 7:30 a.m.  It is now way after 10:00 p.m. and has been a long hard day for everyone.  Good Night.

 

Dr. Rodney White

Investing in Futures, Inc.
"Coaching and Equipping the Next Generation"
PO Box 6451
Lakeland, Florida 33807

www.investinginfutures.org

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Venezuela - Second Sunday

We had a great trip Saturday to Mérida with Fernanda's Dad.  He is a great conversationalist.  The scenery was absolutely fantastic.  As the hours passed, the higher we drove into the Andes.  At every turn in the road, a different view greeted us and the air became more and more crisp.  About every thirty minutes, the flora would change as we climbed to another level.  Mr. Vielma would point out the differences and tell me the name of the various trees and bushes.  I think the most interesting bush was the Frailejon (click on the name – it is the third photo).  It lives 150 years.

 

About two hours before reaching Mérida, we stopped to visit Fernanda's aunt and cousin and had a delicious cup of tea.  About an hour later, we stopped at the home of another aunt for a delicious dinner.  This aunt came to the States with Fernanda's parents when Fernanda graduated from Southeastern.  It was good to see her again. The weather was freezing.  We were about 10,000 feet up in the Andes.

 

We finally arrived in Mérida at about 9:00 p.m.  As we rounded a curve coming into the city, the traffic was backed up all the way up the mountain.  August is holiday season for the people of Venezuela and Mérida is the Gatlinburg of Venezuela.  It took us almost an hour to get to Fernanda's house, usually a ten-minute drive.

 

Fernanda's Mom met us as we drove into the gate.  We had a good family reunion and visited for another hour before going to bed.  Fernanda's home is beautiful.  The front verandah looks out over the highest mountain peak in the Andes and the cable car that goes up to the top.  What a view.  It had rained on Friday so the tops of the mountains were covered in snow.  It was also freezing.  I slept under two blankets.

 

Today, we attended the 8:30 service of Fernanda's church.  We really had a great service.  It was good to finally see the church because Fernanda is always talking about.  The church hosts an annual Youth Conference that attracts youth from all over Venezuela.

 

After church, Fernanda's Mom treated us to a delicious lunch at a food court.  While we were eating, who should walk into the food court but Mickey Mouse, Minnie, Goofy, and Donald Duck.  Everyone went wild with excitement.  I thought, what a small world.  It was great.

 

We spent the rest of today visiting all of Fernanda's aunts.  They all own souvenir shops within a couple of blocks of each other near the zoo.  She must have a hundred aunts.  They all love her and are her biggest supporters, both financially and with their prayers.

 

I am headed to bed tonight at 10:00 because we are heading back to Barquisimeto in the morning at 6:00 a.m.  It has been a great weekend.

 

Dr. Rodney White

Investing in Futures, Inc.
"Coaching and Equipping the Next Generation"
PO Box 6451
Lakeland, Florida 33807

www.investinginfutures.org

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Venezuela - Second Saturday

Remember I told you there was nothing planned for today?  Here is the latest. 

 

Fernanda has been trying to get me to visit her parents, her hometown of Merida, and her home church (pastored by missionary Jimmy Susa) for three years but it is an eight-hour drive.  She lives way up in the Andes Mountains at about 11,000 feet.

 

Fernanda phoned Friday night to tell me that her father is on his way to Barquisimeto to purchase supplies for his store and wants Fernanda and me to go back with him Saturday.  He said he would bring us back Monday in time to go with the group of missionaries up to the mountain retreat.

 

So I am off to Merida for the weekend.  Pray for us as we travel.  (Click on the word Merida to see a little about the city)

 

Dr. Rodney White

Investing in Futures, Inc.
"Coaching and Equipping the Next Generation"
PO Box 6451
Lakeland, Florida 33807

www.investinginfutures.org

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Venezuela - Friday

Glory!  I have survived my first week in Venezuela.  My part of the World Religions course is finished.  The students have just started taking a two-hour essay exam.  They are sweating.  I am as cool as a cucumber.  In case you are inquisitive as to what a two-hour essay exam looks like, this is it:

 

Religions of the World Final Exam

 

1.         Your friend heard that you had taken a class on Religions of the World and says that

            she has heard the word Animism and wonders what it is all about.  How would you

            explain Animism to her?

 

2.         A young man in one of the churches you visit says that he feels called to India and wants to know a little about Hinduism.  How would you explain Hinduism to him?

 

3.         A new convert comes up to you and says that he has been studying Buddhism and feels like he can be a Buddhist and a Christian at the same time.  Explain what you would say to him.

 

4.         You have been asked to give a short summary of Islam in church Sunday night.  What do you

             think the average church member needs to know about Islam?

 

 

I am supposed to preach two times on Sunday but as far as I know, there is nothing going on tomorrow. 

 

The Venezuelan missionaries who are home on furlough will all meet at the Bible School on Monday and we will ride together in a bus to a hotel up in the mountains about one hour away. 

 

I will keep you posted.

 

 

 

Dr. Rodney White

Investing in Futures, Inc.
"Coaching and Equipping the Next Generation"
PO Box 6451
Lakeland, Florida 33807

www.investinginfutures.org

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It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel deal here.

Venezuela - Tuesday - Thursday

The World Religions class has been a huge success this week.  It is hard to believe that tomorrow is the last day. 

 

I think the student's favorite assignment was researching the prevalence of Animism in Venezuela.  They were quite surprised to find so much folk religions practiced in Venezuela such as Santeria, Umbanda, Maria Lionza, and other Yoruba gods.  However, Animism is still practiced by 40 percent of the people in the world.

 

I have really enjoyed being back in Venezuela.  I am staying with missionaries Ted and June Sanborn.  I stayed with them two years ago.  They are such a lovely couple. Last year they were on furlough so I stayed in the Bible School dorm. 

 

As always, Fernanda has been wonderful.  She has not only translated all my course notes but she is my translator for class, for preaching, and for every conversation.  She has such a gift.

 

The missions office has a new cook this year.  She fixes lunch for everyone in the office and we all eat together.  I think I have gained ten pounds.  I met all the office staff last year when I interviewed them. 

 

Since Bro. Samuel has resigned as the Director, he asked if I would interview the staff again this year to help them deal with change. We have had some wonderful sessions each evening after class.  God is so good.

 

Dr. Rodney White

Investing in Futures, Inc.
"Coaching and Equipping the Next Generation"
PO Box 6451
Lakeland, Florida 33807

www.investinginfutures.org

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It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel deal here.

Venezuela - Monday

I preached the chapel service for the Bible School today.  It was a mission's service and all the students from the School of Missions participated in songs and drama.  I preached in the chapel several times last year and it is always a privilege to address the students.

 

After my sermon, there were between 25-30 students who responded to the call to missions.  God is doing so much in Venezuela.

 

When I finished preaching, one of the students asked Bro. Freddy Perez, the Director, if we do the African Offering I thought them last year.  We did and had a wonderful time. 

 

My class for the School of Missions began today.  I covered the Introduction and begin talking about Animism.  The students were very interested and attentive.  It is going to be a great week.

 

Dr. Rodney White

Investing in Futures, Inc.
"Coaching and Equipping the Next Generation"
PO Box 6451
Lakeland, Florida 33807

www.investinginfutures.org

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It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel deal here.

Venezuela - Sunday

My schedule for today was to preach at a church that was pioneered by Bro. Samuel Rodríguez, the Missions Director.  He has been the Missions Director for ten years, but he and his family still attend that church.

 

Service began at 9:30 a.m.  The time of worship was wonderful.  The worship band was great, the singers were energetic, and we had a great time of worship.  Immediately after worship, three young people came up and sang a special.  They did a super job.  It was an anointed service.

 

During the worship service, Bro. Rodríguez asked me if I would take up the tithes and offering for the church using the "African Offering."  I told him that I would if the offering could wait until the end of the service.  He said sure.

 

When I was introduced, I began (as always) with O Mwari Wakanaka.  The entire church came alive.  They loved it and danced around as if they were in a worship service in Africa.

 

After I preached, I told them about receiving an offering African style (Dr. Houlihan, I also told them about your uncle and his change purse with the rubber bands.  So you cannot use that story now anywhere in Venezuela as well). 

 

The people jumped up, started dancing down the aisles, came to the front, slammed their tithes and offerings on the table, and just had a wonderful time.  It was great!

 

After the offering, I gave an altar invitation and three young men (about 25-30) years old responded.  The church rejoiced because they had been praying for these young men for years.  God is so good.

 

After that invitation, I asked anyone who was going through a difficult time or needed prayer to come forward.  There must have been 50-75 crowded around the front of the church.  For the next 30 minutes or so, we prayed for everyone at the altars.  It was a great time of allowing the Lord to meet their needs.

 

Bro. Rodríguez than called me up to the front and asked the church to pray for me.  It felt so good.  I felt so much love and compassion flowing from that congregation.

 

After the service, people came up and shook my hands and several of them even prayed for me personally.  Wow!  We had church.

 

Dr. Rodney White

Investing in Futures, Inc.
"Coaching and Equipping the Next Generation"
PO Box 6451
Lakeland, Florida 33807

www.investinginfutures.org

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