Our Friend Stephen

Our Friend Stephen...what a really nice guy! Really, he was the first 'friend' that I made in the town of Dangriga. The first time I met him was outside the 'Price is Right' chinese grocery store. The store is next to the canal flowing out to the ocean. Parking for the store is right in front of the canal. This is where Stephen spent the majority of his day.

It's funny, I clearly remember him telling me his full name when we met, but all I could remember was the name Stephen. He said that it was his 'Christian' name and that his friends called him Stephen. So we were to call him Stephen. He considered us his friend.

I made a point of asking him what his beliefs were...did he believe in God. Oh yes, he believed in God. He was Catholic growing up, but now he considered himself 'Rasta'. I didn't know then and I barely know now exactly what that meant. We did agree that you needed to have God in your life; that knowing God was what was really important.

I saw him about once a week, sometimes more. I always took the time to chat with him about his work, his health, and how his spiritual life was...was he listening to God.

Once he asked for some medicine and a band-aid...he had a NASTY cut on the bottom of his foot that should have had a few stitches and he, for the most part, walked barefoot. I went right back in the store and bought him some neosporin cream and some bandaids. I told him to keep it clean as he could and every night he needed to wash it, put on the medicine and a bandaid.

It healed after a time .... I don't know how, really. God had to be in it.

Other times we would help him with bottles of water, money for rent, lunch or whatever. We had a friend in Stephen and we were willing to love on him and invest in him. The one time that he finally agreed to come to our church, which was very close to where he worked, he ditched us. I guess it just wasn't to be on that day. Next time I saw him I told him that it was okay, maybe another time.

For a few weeks in October, we weren't seeing Stephen. Our 1st thoughts were that he just wasn't working that day that we were in town. We didn't make it into town very many times for several weeks. Then I came back to Ohio, intending to be here for 3 weeks but staying for 7 1/2 weeks!!

Then the news came in an e-mail. Stephen had died. I was simply shattered... unbelievable...

As I read the e-mail I did learn that our friend, Darin knew Stephen also. But knew him as 'Sutherland', Stephens last name. He, too, had invited him to church once and he went!!! Yippee! And even better, found out that he was at the hospital during his brief illness and went to see him and PRAY WITH HIM! Even tho I cried for the loss of Stephen, I was comforted to know that Stephen had prayed to have Jesus as his Lord and Savior.

I will see Stephen or Rodwell Sutherland as he was known to his family, in Heaven. His teeth won't be horribly rotten, his liver will function perfectly and his hair, well, it may still be in dreadlocks pulled back in a pony tail... but he will be my friend.

Stephen was 29 years old. Please pray for his parents, brother Clive and his sisters as they will daily face the loss of their son and brother.

Blessings to you who are reading this...you too, are a friend! Becki

How Hard is it to Help?

You know, sometimes we take things for granted. Especially if we are "up front" people. If we are used to being in front of people, speaking, singing, or doing whatever it is that we do, we may forget that we cannot do what we do without others "behind the scenes" doing what they do.

Why is this on my mind? Because this week I switched roles. We had 2 visiting teachers come to Belize to train the pastors here. The first taught a class on worship, something I could not have done - and he did great. The second taught from many years of experience in 6 different come back churches - and he did great. I could not have done that either. And, on top of bringing their experience and expertise and willingness, they taught very intensive courses. Each finished an entire course in 2 very long days!

They were tired.
The pastor/students were tired.
And in the background, running around working on details, I was tired. I did not do intensely difficult work. I made sure things were ready on time. I helped with techie stuff, made copies, stapled, graded papers, developed spread sheets and took care of little items like missing pens and the rollbook.

Then why oh why, I am SO tired after only 4 days of that?!

I think 2 reasons stand out.

1) This is not what I normally do, so it was, in some ways, more stressful to me.
2) This also pointed out quite clearly to me that there is A LOT of work that goes on behind the scenes...!

On day one, I started early and finished late.
On day two, I started early and finished late.
On day three, I ....well, I think you get the idea.
By day four, I had trouble starting, but still had to be going very early.

This week has reminded me that all of us who do our "up front" thing
owe a huge debt to those who do the behind the scenes thing!

It is their gift of service that makes things work for us - and for all who benefit from their efforts.

The up front person is blessed, the hearers or audience or congregation is blessed. And I believe that when things go well, the behind the scenes person is blessed too because their special gift puts joy in their own hearts when they see everyone else accomplishing what they need to do or enjoying themselves.

So....let me say a very heartfelt "Thank you!" to all those who help make everyone else look good by their behind the scenes service.

And, if you all don't mind, let me be sure to express this, with you all as witnesses to my wife, Becki, my own behind the scenes worker. Honey I could not do a great deal of what I do without you doing all that you do.
"Thank you!" ( and I love you!)

Grateful

Ray