Mexico – Page 10 – WALKER HOME SERVICES

2 Prayer Requests

Over the past several weeks, I have given priority to rehabilitating my health. I continue with the biking, stretching and swimming, limiting the tennis. While at the gym, the Lord connected me to Sacha, who is a very dedicated, talented and knowledgeable therapist. She has been working with me each day, educating me about muscles and exercises I never knew existed. I’m encouraged to continue on her program as I continue to be headache free. It is so nice. Thank you for your continued prayers.

As in all things, the Lord has more than one purpose in the things He leads us in. During my many sessions with Sacha, topics would come up in which I would engage as I would sense the Spirit giving me thoughts to share. Topics about life, character, inner battles, relationships, emotions, etc. She has been through some difficult things in her young life. I was also especially pleased to meet her boy friend Alec during the sessions. I felt an extremely genuine connection with him. What a wonderful, pleasant young man. They are about to leave San Carlos, as Alec has to continue his nursing program in the US. I felt led to invite them out for lunch. We went to Jax Sacks at 1pm and had a wonderful two hour visit. As we visited, I asked Alec what he meant by “spirituality” (he had mentioned that spirituality was part of his life) which led into some interesting topics on God. At the end of about a 2 hour visit, they asked what I was going to do the rest of the day. I said I would be going to my office. They said “what do you do there?” and I mentioned I had a radio program. Their interest perked when, as they continued to inquire, I told them about the P’s. They were actually dumbfounded, really. I asked them if they would like to go see the studio and they totally wanted to. So, I brought them here and we sat on the floor till dark (7pm) as I shared our journey, showed photos of our life in the jungle, played and translated one of the radio programs, etc.

Alec has spent about a year in a church in his past. He was full of spiritual questions about God, the P’s, Jesus. They both just seemed to drink in what they were hearing as in their own words, they said it seemed like the authentic form of belief in Christ. As the time lingered, I realized Robin would be now wondering of my whereabouts (we moved temporarily to a new location here which takes about an extra 40 minutes on the bicycle to get there and now it was dark). One thing led to another and the next thing we knew, Alec and Sacha were coming to dinner at our house (well, not “our house” but Jerry’s house. The same Jerry who also has the purple house from last year. He and Leigh opened their guest suite to us since we were in need of a place to stay). The funny thing is that whenever the Lord seems to be doing things here, Jerry seems to be not far away. Alec and Sacha got on their motorcycle and I on my bicycle. As I was leading the way along the dark street, who shows up but Jerry in his car to pitch in.

To shorten this part of the email, Alec and Sacha stayed till 11pm and we continued the conversation about God, life, truth, and our different adventures and histories. I wanted to share this with you since I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is another one of those God events that you just don’t plan or foresee. Please see Alec and Sacha’s photo above after dinner at ‘our’ house. One of Alec’s questions to me what “why would I have to believe that Jesus died for my sins?” They both admire Jesus, but don’t seem to realize who He is. After quoting several of Jesus’ statements, I said to Alec, “it really all depends on what you do with Jesus”. If you would pray for them, I sense that the Lord has a wonderful journey ahead for them and that the Father is drawing them to Jesus. Maybe even missions as they were so impacted by our story. But it might be kind of nice if, along the way, they were born again. (lol)

On to the other photo and the other prayer request. Russell texted me this photo a few days ago. It is a large roof structure which will be used for an annual gathering of tribal pastors from all over Colombia and Venezuela. Many of them will be P’s. Russell invited me to attend. The conference is in June. The location is near the border of Venezuela, but not too close. He said it is a secure location protected by a military base of which the commanders there are his friends. So, this is kind of a very nice opportunity for me as the P’s would love to come to see me in person and it could be a great spiritual event for us all. I am seriously considering going and so would ask for your prayers for the Lord’s leading.

I have more news on the studio and the radio programs which are coming along nicely. I hope to send a short video soon on those topics in the days ahead.

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.”

John 6:44-45

Feeling Good

Holy cow! Do I ever feel good.

I’ve been going to my stretch classes, swimming and biking daily, but I went to the chiropractor on Monday and wow, did he ever crackle me around. It was SO relieving. When he cracked my neck from the side of the curve, it sounded like when you take the lid off quickly of the popcorn reaching it’s climax of popping. Then, when he was all done pushing, twisting and cranking, he wrapped a towel around my neck under the jaw and while I lay on my back relaxed, he YANKED my head and POW, it was like the finale of fireworks popping in my neck, down the spine and popped right down to my lower back. It was the weirdest feeling. I thought wow, the spine is really connected to the head! As that lower back popped, though there was a split second of shock, it was met with instant relief. I have felt SO good since and been completely headache free.

I have a feeling that if I could take a new MRI, I would see an improvement to the curve in my neck. I’m very blessed and encouraged to be feeling so well. I think it has everything to do with your prayers and God’s mercy. Today, I met a physiotherapist just by “happenstance” and have an appointment for tomorrow! I would really like to continue down this path of improvement, exercise and strengthening. Wow, does it ever make a difference in the way you feel in your day. I’m sure all the biking and exercise is a big part of this.

Dr. Michelle figures my body needs about a year of this to rehabilitate, so I’m in it for the long haul and by His mercy, hope to keep it up.

But thanks so much for your prayers. VERY much appreciated and felt. I think I was just getting used to having a slight headache all the time and only when it got bad, called it a ‘headache’.

“The LORD is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.”

MRI Results

Just a note to let you know, I spoke with two doctors following the MRI. The good news from Dr. Mike is that it is the better of the options he suspected.

For some reason, over the years, my neck has formed a curve from side to side. Dr. Mike feels it may be due to the surgery I had 20 years ago on the left side of my neck/jaw where, following the surgery, the skin tethered to the muscles resulting in a lack of flexibility and movement. Or he said it could be there was and impact injury that started it. Today, there is chronic muscle contraction on the left side of the paravertebral and trapezius muscles as they seem to be constantly reacting to a pinching pain on the bottom left side of my neck. The muscles on the left are much larger than the ones on the right. The left shoulder is also higher. Dr. Michelle said the MRI reveals a significant alignment issue – both curvature and spondylosis.

Dr. Mike suggested dry needling to relieve the muscles contracting on the left and a TENS Muscle Stimulator to begin development of the muscles on the right. He said, straightening is the goal. Dr. Michelle suggested physiotherapy and proper exercises that are symmetrical. She also said that straightening is the goal. She used the word alignment. She said to avoid twisting and one sided sports like tennis and golf (What!!!!!) lol, and to major on therapy, stretching, conditioning and swimming. She did say that I could play tennis and golf if the proportion of the good exercise outnumbered it by two or three times.

This is the wisdom and expertise of men according to the natural realm. I’m thankful for it and look forward to walking in this advice. In the supernatural realm, the Lord knows all the underlying issues, the why and the how to restore my body to the form in which He designed it to work. I’m wide open to either realm of goodness and healing and greatly appreciate your prayers. I believe that all things work together for a good purpose and that there is nothing but goodness to be acquired as He works to conform us to the image of His Son.

Thanks so much for your prayers and good words. I am undeserving to be treated so well. (if you would like to see the MRI image let me know and I can send it to you).

Well, this Saturday morning I’m going to hop on my bicycle (symmetrical) go to the gym and play a little tennis (notice the ‘little’) and then go for a swim afterward. I have not played tennis since the last migraine and I have not had a migraine since. We shall see. Tomorrow, I’m scheduled to speak at Agape church and would appreciate your prayers for the condition of my heart as well as that of my body.

Thank you,

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son”

Romans 8:28-29

Javier

This year’s mission trip to Mexico has been packed full of set-backs. We arrived loaded with plans and studio equipment so that we could get to recording P Bible lessons. Yet it seemed that every step we endeavored to take forward was met with one or more obstacles. It’s been a wonderful opportunity to learn patience and to let God have His perfect will and timing in all that we do. I will share a few of them so you get the idea, but really, this is normal life for everyone I suppose:

The house we had reserved to stay in sold. We did not know where we were going to stay and then God provided a home. We are thankful indeed.
The house He provided had not been lived in, so at the outset we got to work on the house to put it into order (i.e., install curtains, shelves, dresser, etc.)
As the Bible school was about to start, the teachers got sick and so school was postponed.
Then WE got sick!
I barely felt well and began to teach, but had no energy left over to do anything else for at least a few weeks.
The studio was filthy and required a lot of clean up, so off to work cleaning (that was fun actually). But painting and repairing took longer than expected. Every time I went to do something, it seemed I lacked something else, so off to the hardware store on my bike. When I began to set up equipment, my electrical tester revealed that the electrical system was not grounded, so on I went to track down a grounding rod and re-wire the main outlet to be used.
The carpet I bought for the studio (so as to reduce echo), was heavily creased, brand new off the roll, and wouldn’t lay flat on the floor. So I had to borrow Susan’s iron and steam iron every crease to get it to lay flat.
The paint I applied to the tables pealed off (lol).
The “better”, “more dependable” bicycle I brought down here to use broke down. I spent several hours trying to fix it (it has an internal hub gear system), but to no avail. So I dug out the old one. I began using it, but then the tire went flat on it, even after I put a liner in it! So off to the hardware store again (lol).
Then it was time to get in shape, so as to have more energy, but wham, then there was the migraine issue. So off to the doctor’s.
The MRI appointment got postponed due to maintenance. So, that added three more weeks to the MRI question which is still not answered.
I bought a new computer on the way down and a high quality interface to do the music recording since I was having so many issues with the old equipment in Canada. But the computer is not recognizing the interface, even after two days of trouble shooting with Rick connecting to my computer.

There are at least another 20 items that could be added to this list. I hope you know that I am not complaining. All these have been and are good exercises in patience and trust, and I would not be surprised if they just kept continuing. Yet through all these things, we continue to be greatly blessed by the Lord. We just keep plodding forward and have lots of things to be thankful for in the ways God has used us on this trip so far, even though we may be pushed back with each step we take. I’m reminded of Paul’s words, “We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed — always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.“

My little list cannot compare to Paul’s, but the principle is the same. I feel like we are all being prepared for things to come, most likely in the age to come. God is preparing us. I am teaching at the Bible School to prepare young people for their service to come, but God is teaching all of us in His classroom, preparing us for things to come. Great things of glorification and the entire creation awaits us.

Today, I had a list of things to repair, but in the moment in which I was going to go for supplies, something said, “No”, “Just stay put and start recording anyway”. So that is what I did. I recorded the next radio program in P. I saved the file, but now it won’t play. I’ll have to look into that tomorrow. It’s probably just some setting on my new computer. Rick should know.

I did go get the MRI on Friday, but the next available appointment with the Dr was on the following Friday (two days from now). So, I’m scheduled to take in the images to him this Friday and see what he says.

In the meantime, I asked Javier to share a little with you. Javier (I’m unclear on his background; I think it was drug addiction, then legalistic Christianity) was a total delight to have in my class. He was just so full of joy and life. Often during the class, he would raise his arms up like a hockey player who just scored as he was just pumped with the message, coming off the pages of the Bible, the message of absolute grace and power of the finished work of Christ for him and to him before he was ever born. This is likely what is in his mind as he briefly shares his experience here at the school with you in this video. Here is the video:

Thanks for your prayers and uplifting words,

Ruth

Ruth is a total delight to have in class. Sharp mind and open heart. Sadly, I was told, she was abused by a man in the recent past and is healing from that trauma. I see her flowering like the flowers behind her. She gets exited as we study through Romans together since what God has spoken there becomes so clearly seen.

Yesterday in class she said, “Now I know what you mean when you say present your heart as a blank canvass before the Lord”. That was a statement I’ve been making in the context of this class of “hermeneutics” which is “how to study the Bible”. I keep saying, “When you come to the scriptures, you have to empty your mind from your own ideas that you’ve learned in Christian culture, or modern day life. We have to always go to the origin to see what was meant then and allow that to shape our thinking and make our conclusions of the truth. I said, what if an artist wanted to paint a painting but where ever his brush strokes were, you also added your own brush strokes? The end result would probably not be what the artist had in mind. The same goes for studying the Bible. We have concepts in our minds that don’t exist in the mind of the Author.”

Today was my final class. It was a bit of a sad moment for all, but it’s truly been a great privilege to teach these hungry and respectful people. I hope to get a video of each of the rest of them. I will be around the school still as I eat lunch with them every day in the cafeteria.

Here’s Ruth’s video from this morning: