An offer from Eduardo that's hard to refuse.

It looks like I'll be heading to Caracas for the months of August & September.   Pastor Eduardo Mercon has asked if I would pastor his church while he takes a little sabbatical.  This has just come up in the last two weeks, and there are still a lot of details to be worked out, but everything looks like a go right now.  One of the things I like about Latin America is that you don't let details slow you down. You avoid paralysis of the analysis.  "La carga se ajusta en el camino," which loosely translated means, "don't worry about getting the load perfectly distributed when you are first packing your mule.  Let him walk the trail for awhile, and then it will be easier to see what needs to be adjusted."   Of course, that philosophy has gotten me in trouble from time to time, and so it's usually better for me to hold off on my first impulses, so I can spend time in prayer, consult with my wife, talk to people who are wise, and check with my bosses.  Having done all of that, it does seem like the Lord is giving the green light for this ministry trip.  

Having said that, there are things that make it hard to go, like having a grandchild due to be born the week before I leave,  like being separated from Arlene for two months, like knowing that people here at Lakewood Alliance will be needing pastoral care while I am gone.

So if you are the praying type, Arlene and I would appreciate your prayers.  I'll try to keep you up-to-date on how things go.