A NICHOLS WORTH

The Sweet Rewards of Obedience

The Sweet Rewards of Obedience

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,” Colossians 3:23

 

Last week I was aware of the Lord speaking to my heart, in a way that was both confirming and comforting.  Week after week I spend preparing lessons for children and teens, and every week it is the same struggle of trying to find the right mix of Scripture, object lesson, and fun.  On this particular Wednesday I showed a movie, which I admit is sometimes a relief as it gives me a little breather and at the same time, I know the kids will love it. But this afternoon as I sat and watched the Jesus story for children with our Bible club, the Lord impressed on my heart of how much "I loved these children", I already knew that the Lord loved them, and I have heard many people who witness our Bible club, say "the kids know you love them" but this was such a strong revelation in my spirit that afternoon. These kids had become so much more than an exercise in obedience; they now held a place in my heart that is only reachable by them. For a woman who came to Jamaica to teach women, this was a unique and special gift from the Lord. For so long I have testified that God answered my prayers for people to teach with these "little people", and have often said I have no ability to teach or reach children. In His mercy God not only kept His promise to equip me to do His work, but He gave me the added bonus of loving them individually, and confirming I am in His will as a children's worker and teacher. I know there are no mistakes or coincidences in Gods world, but I have learned that sometimes we just have to be obedient and do the next thing in front of us, to garner the rewards our precious Savior so wants to give us!

 

The ATM

My afternoon trapped in an ATM booth 

Have you ever had one of those days of great intentions? And the only thing that seemed intended for you was chaos?

We had to go into the capitol of St Mary, Port Maria to take care of some business for the truck. Harold dropped me off in the center of town as I needed to look for some Bible Club birthday presents, and I needed to order a couple of birthday cakes. Innocuous enough right? The store I shop at is called Sinclair’s Bargain center, but in Jamaica it is called “hurry hurry” I have no idea why that is as the word hurry is not in the Jamaican language. At “hurry hurry” sometimes they take VISA and sometimes they don’t.  I thought I would head them off at the pass and get some cash from the ATM. My usual ATM was closed so I went to an unfamiliar bank and stood in line eagerly awaiting my turn. It was a hot day so I could not wait to get inside, get my money, and go shopping. Finally it was my turn, I was so thankful. I stepped in and locked the door behind me and began digging in my purse for my ATM card. I finally found it and slipped it into the machine, punched in my code and waited and waited. Finally after what seemed like a long time (maybe they check your credit report) the message on the screen says that my card is not accepted at this bank. Well, ”no problem” as we have learned to say here in Jamaica, I will just hope it’s a credit card day at the store.

I zipped up my purse and unlatched the door and pulled. It wouldn’t open. I looked everywhere for a buzzer, a button, something that would unlock the door. Well in a space the size of a telephone booth you would think it would be pretty easy to find. But I could not find it. So still “no problem”, I will just wait until someone comes and slides their card through and opens the door. Well I don’t know where all the customers were that day; perhaps they knew there was a trick door at this bank. Maybe they had been trapped once also.

A voice in my head said maybe there is a “problem”. So with renewed strength and vigor I pulled and yanked and kicked at the door. In hoping to set the alarm off I even banged on the money machine. But no alarm and the door was still stuck. I finally noticed the door was frosted but there was a 4 inch clear gap at the bottom of the door.  I also remembered I had a cell phone and called Harold and said hurry and come as I am locked in the ATM booth.

It was then that I saw it! A women’s shoe was visible at the bottom of the door!! I tried bending over and knocking on the glass but the booth did not allow me and my extra pounds the space to maneuver.  .Hmmmm… I thought, I need a plan. So with re-vitalized effort I got down on my hands and knees and dipped my head to the ground and furiously banged on the door. It was difficult to get a good swing though in my position. But to her credit the woman looked down and saw me fisting the door. There was a moment of awkward silence when our eyes first met, but before to long, I began yelling that I was trapped. She calmly said “hit the buzzer”, I said “there is no buzzer”, and she said “yes there is”. About that time Harold came as I was bent over on the ground, motioning and mouthing, use your card, and bless his heart he also told me to hit the buzzer. It occurred to me that either one of them could have used their card and swiped the door to open and release me. I got up off the floor, just a tiny bit dizzy and began the search for the button all over again. There was this teeny green light next to the door, so I thought why not, take a risk, and I pushed it. The door buzzed and opened. I was so relieved to be released, even when greeted with smirks from Harold and the women. I dusted my dirty pant legs and elbows off with as much dignity as I could muster and went about my shopping. I was very pleased “hurry hurry” took credit cards that day.

The day went on with only a few more hiccups, the 30 minute conversation with the bakery worker trying to convince them a vanilla cake was the same as a white cake, and then coming home, and leaving again with a friend on an errand, only to realize after I locked the gate and the door, that I was standing in the street with no keys. I knew there was no alternative but to go over the fence, my friend laughed as if I couldn’t do it…actually I was hoping someone would see me scale our fence in the middle of the day, renewing their respect for me and I for myself that at 51 and slightly overweight I could still get down on my hands and knees and get up, and I could manage to scale a fence in an emergency. I climbed the fence like a professional, broke into our home, all the while, my heart joyful with the knowledge of my complete self sufficiency in dire times. I then jumped into the bus only to find out I wasn’t going anywhere, as the battery was dead.

Lasco the Rascal

 

”In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.”Matthew 18:14

 

 

 

Lasco has been attending Bible Club since its inception, first as a funny and irreverent child and now as a young man. We have always had a good relationship with him and Bible club wouldn’t be the same without his face. This month during craft time, he and another teen caused a disruption and were asked to leave. When he was leaving I pulled him aside and said "please do not come back to Bible club until you want to be here" it was a simple admonition that I have had to say before to others, but sometimes a needed reminder that we are not making them come, and therefore we should not be put in the position to be the "Bible club police"!

 I have to say my heart is always heavy when we ask the older ones to leave, as we know there is always the chance they will get angry and not return. This night I could not sleep over thinking about Lasco and praying my heart out that I had not alienated him. The next morning, I asked one of the kids on the street to tell Lasco to come see me today. Lasco came later in the afternoon and I invited him into chat on our front veranda. After a cool glass of lemonade I approached Wednesday's problem. In only a matter of minutes it was clear that the situation was a misunderstanding on both of our parts and he was not upset at all with me and everything was the same between us. He left and went back to his kite and I felt ridiculously happy, a grin plastered to my face. I wanted to tell everyone that Lasco was going to come back to Bible club.

 

I went to the Lord in a prayer of thanksgiving for making this all right, and again the Lord spoke to my inner heart with the words Teri I do not want "one of these children lost". The story of the Good shepherd, the story of the Prodigal son all came back to me with such a deeper meaning. Imagine how happy I was not to have lost Lasco, can you imagine how the Lord rejoices when just "one" is found! I am so thankful the Lord in His goodness gives me these "life applications" that increase my faith and bring joy to my soul.

 

From Teri's Corner

From Teri's Corner

 

It seems that everywhere you turn today you hear bad news, financial disasters, earthquakes, wars, crimes of the most despicable nature and the ever present stories of personal greed and corruption. In many ways Jamaica is a microcosm of everything I see on the world news. As a Christian I believe these times are evidence of the imminent return of Christ. I know that my thinking has shifted over the last couple of years into "knowing the Lord is coming soon" and believing it could be any moment" I cringe when I think about how often I glibly referred to the second coming of the Lord and talked to people about whether they were ready for His return. Unfortunately the inner awareness or surety that He is indeed coming soon had not penetrated my heart. What a wakeup call this has been for me; And as a missionary by vocation, an unpleasant and humbling admission.

 

I often hear Americans make comments about how firm we are with the children we work with, how high our expectations are. At first I was puzzled when I would hear those words, because so many people seem to identify real love with fuzzy interactions. When quietly contemplating about the critiques on my approach to teaching children, I examined myself very carefully to see if I was being to "tough" on the kids. But after much thought, I came to the conclusion that "we don’t have time" to worry about what others think about our approach to teaching, because with these youngsters  we are preparing them to fight a war against a  dark culture that denies everything that is Christian . We feel an urgent need to teach Christ in a real and meaningful way, so that none would be lost. And with that urgency comes a need to concentrate on only the most important and that is God's word and becoming obedient unto it.

 

In Joel we read in Chapter two verses 12 "That is why the Lord says "Turn to me while there is time! Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping and mourning. And the verse which is so fitting in this culture is verse 13 where is says "Don’t tear your clothing in your grief; instead tear your hearts." The culture here is very emotional, and given to outbursts of feelings, which crusades and revivals play into. So there is a big fuss in the beginning, an emotional commitment to Christ, but there is no "tearing of hearts". I see plenty of people in dire circumstances, facing insurmountable odds, yet when the Lord delivers them from their grief; it’s as if God had never been present in their circumstances.

 

How often does God tear my heart; I am thankful to say over and over. He continues to hold me, undergird me, but allows my will to run against His, and I stumble and come crawling back into his arms. War torn, and weary, but more determined than ever to grow closer to Him. He is the true vine and I am merely a little branch who is nothing without His life giving and nurturing spirit.

 

With renewed effort, after each tear to my heart, I try to be stronger in my pursuit of righteousness so that I may effectively witness to people.  I want to know that when the people around me meet the Lord, I will have given them His message of forgiveness and warned them of the severity of sins consequences. I want to know that I did my very best in making sure that those around me are found in the book of life. How awesome it will be to know that "Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life, and how terrible to ponder   "and some to shame and everlasting contempt."Daniel 12:2-3

 

I would just end these thoughts with a word of encouragement if you are timid about telling others about Christ. Peoples very souls depend on you to open your mouth, do not wait for a perfect time, and do not worry about the outcome, but think of Gods promise in Daniel "Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who turn many to righteousness will shine like stars forever" Daniel 12:3

 

 

 

 

Getting a drivers license

I was on the road yesterday morning at 8:00am with my friend Linda. Her and I were attempting to get our Jamaican drivers license in one day? We were told (by a friend) to go to the depot (department of motor vehicles) in St Anne and not to bring any paperwork except our US drivers license. Well I knew it sounded too easy...and of course it was. The clerk at the depot told us we couldn't apply there; we had to apply in St Mary, a completely different parish forty miles in the opposite direction. She told us we were to go to the tax office in Port Maria and get an application form, then go to a Justice of the peace to get it notarized- then we were to come back to the tax office and pay the fees. At that point we could proceed to the depot and get our licenses- Well, we found a JP in Port Maria, and the only problem was he was 90 years old, pretty blind and couldn't hear well, and he wrote slower then I ever thought humanly possible. He was very nice but it took us 45 minutes to get 4 signatures and a stamp...so after this and paying our fees, off we went, so thrilled because the end was in site, it’s now close to 3:00pm. When we excitedly arrived at the depot, the gal that does the processing wanted our paperwork and then she said she would make appointments for us to come back for the exam and driving test! We were in shock, first because we were told we wouldn't have to take a written or a road test, and second because we wanted our license today! Well after a little bit of begging on our parts she went to the supervisor and he agreed to give us an oral test. Whew we thought it’s our lucky day! Well I was the first to be called into the back office with the boss, he leafed through a book and asked me to read it- then he told me to stop reading- I was thinking wow I just had to show him I could read…now I am really excited-this was just going to be so easy! My excitement soon quelled when he started to leaf through the little book again and turned the book over and showed me what looked like painted hieroglyphics, and asked me what these "signs" meant! I was in trouble now- I couldn't get more then two right- one was a picture of a gate-fence type of thing I said it’s a gate-fence type thing and the supervisor looked so horrified that I didn't know what it was, and he emphatically stated it was a RR crossing sign. I asked him where the RR's were. I thought to myself Jamaica has no trains, so we have no crossings, and why was I supposed to recognize this sign. Well it just went down hill from there, he finally lost his patience with me when I thought a picture was of a fire station, but it was a sign of a low bridge. I told him I had never seen any of these signs in Jamaica, and he told me they were international signs! At that point I am biting my tongue, because in my neighborhood we have been left with just the poles the signs used to be attached to. I did want to share with him the latest spray painted sign I noticed on the way to get to his office. The sign was painted bright green and said “Ganja Gully Road”. If he would have only asked me about that one, I would have recognized it. Well then Linda went in and she had the same problems- she told him they may be international signs, but they sure didn't have them in Boston! Much to our mutual surprise, we both passed the test. I think the guy was feeling sorry for us. After this ordeal we breathed a sigh of relief thinking we were done. Again our bubble was burst when I heard a man call out "Mrs. Nichols". The man calling my name directed me to the parking lot and asked me where I parked my car, and without thinking I promptly blurted out, my car was at home. Seeing the look on his face made me realize the chances of getting a license were being reduced by the minute. He apparently hadn’t been briefed about the “no test, no paperwork, and no driving test policy to get a license that our friend had told us about…Quickly realizing he wanted me to take a driving test, my good friend Linda spoke right up, and said I could use her car to take the test. Once again I am beginning to get hopeful that a new shiny driver’s license is on the horizon. Until the examiner points his finger towards another area of the pot holed parking lot. The driving test in its totality is.....Driving backwards a quarter of a mile, with cement blocks on both sides and two sharp turns, all done in reverse and you can not stop the car and start again. I was still confident, after all hadn’t I already been driving here for 5 plus years, hadn’t I been a licensed driver for over 3 decades? No sooner thought then… a cement block came out of nowhere, and the man told me to start over- I did, and proceeded to run over two more blocks. I got the thumbs down- My friend though must have had ample experience reversing her car as she did it like a race car driver! I was trying to be happy for her.
Well then its back to the office and the man sits me down and says" well, I feel good I gave you two chances” but you have failed your driving test and must come back and do it again. He told me not to worry, he said woman don't know how to back their cars up- again I am biting my tongue as I am wondering how backing up for a quarter of a mile is a sign some one can or can not drive? I did say to my own credit that I had mainly driven forward during my driving years, just backed out of a driveway most of the time. Well its 5:00pm Linda got a drivers license and I didn't! Having spent over 5 years driving in Jamaica which as Harold puts it “driving is like a polite game of chicken” I have come to the conclusion the reason a lot of Jamaican drivers drive the way they do is because the only driving test they had was the same one I had. I am sure if these drivers drove in reverse we would all have a more peaceful driving experience. I have not been back to re-take the test.

The Baby Experience

We had an awesome experience happen, and although it started out as a terrifying event, it quickly turned into a picture of God using all things to bring Himself Glory! This story began with an emergency phone call early one morning. Our friend Judy said to hurry and come as there was a baby choking by her house. Harold and I grabbed car keys and rushed up the hill, (really a dirt path) where we were met by a large naked women running down the road towards our bus. In her arms she held a little baby who had blood running out of its nose and its mouth. Neighbors had lined the street crying and screaming, I hurriedly jumped out and ran to get the baby. My attempts to exam the baby to see if her air way was blocked, was fruitless as the woman evaded my attempts, and promptly jumped into our bus. And like a planned trip, people fell into line to board the bus. We had the baby's young mother, the mother’s three year old daughter and our friend Judy who had called us about the choking baby. If it wasn’t such a gut wrenching circumstance, I may have been prompted to laugh at the scene, especially when Judy climbed in the bus in nothing but her pajamas. Keep in mind we don’t know the woman holding the baby, but we did know the babies mother because she tragically lost another baby last year. We soon figured out the naked woman was the grandmother of the baby. After we were all in the bus, everyone continued screaming and crying and it was very unnerving. Harold, being all about business, took off like a rocket and it was about that point I figured we would all die in a fiery car crash- but once I was able to open my eyes again, and find something to hold onto, we began to try and get everyone settled down. We then were able to start praying in earnest. During our prayers the baby started making little awful noises and then began to make weird coughing sounds. It was all I could do not to vomit as I was so scared that this little one would not make it to the hospital alive. While worrying about myself vomiting, the three year old in the backseat took it upon herself to do it for me. Upon arriving at the hospital I was anticipating the usual chaotic scene, knowing full well that Jamaican’s can wait hours to be seen in the government hospitals. But as Harold raced up and screeched to a stop at the emergency area we were met with a wonderful vision. Matron Hines, who we have worked closely with, was coming out of the hospital to go home. Once we saw her we knew that things were already getting better. We called to her and said “come quick we have a baby in severe distress”, she began to run towards the bus and in the process flung her purse to a total stranger, she then grabbed the baby by its ankles and ran it to the treatment rooms- no waiting, no registering etc, a miracle in itself! I followed behind and stood right outside where they were treating little Brianna, doctors and nurses raced from all areas of the hospital to save this baby. It turned out the baby had swallowed a pencil sharpener shaped like a heart and it was lodged in the babies wind pipe. Matron Hines (Head nurse) came to me after a while and said “they were transporting this baby for immediate surgery”. A second miracle took place, when an ambulance was empty and waiting outside. They loaded the baby and took off.
Meanwhile we still have everyone in our vehicle when Matron came over and talked with us, she told us they knew where the object was lodged but the baby needed to be anesthetized for them to remove it. But the most beautiful thing she said was, "right in the beginning I sent one of my nurses to go to the corner and begin to pray for this child's healing" she said we have to rely on the Great Physician!” We were so humbled about how God to this point had provided everything. The next thing she said that was amazing was that all the trauma doctors and nurses were there at Port Maria Hospital, and they normally aren't. WOW---
Now the fun begins- The adrenaline is subsiding and we begin to think in the moment, and take stock of our situation. We realized this mother and grandmother need to go to the other hospital where the baby has been taken. The hospital is another hour away. We knew everyone would be hungry soon, and we realized the bus was all but empty of Gas. It was then I realized that I had my bed room slippers on, a torn pair of shorts, left by a member of a building team, and a shirt with so much paint on it; I could be an ad for Sherman Williams. We both had uncombed hair, unbrushed teeth, and Harold’s outfit mirrored my own style, we had no wallets, no purse, and no phones! Now how in the world are we going to take care of all these people? Nurse Hines was still standing at the car window and was laughing at our personal inventory, and reached into her pocket and gave us a wad of money!. Now there was money to feed everyone and to leave taxi fare for them to get home, knowing full well they all would want to stay late. The problem is we still had a naked grandma, and a mother with no shoes. The little girl continued vomiting everywhere as she was so traumatized. When we finally arrived at the other hospital, Harold gave the babies mother his shoes, and the grandmother his shirt- now she is walking around in a Buffalo Bill’s shirt and nothing. I ran inside and found paper towels to clean up the little girl, and we had just decided to leave my shorts with grandma ---as I figured if we went straight home, no one would catch me in my underwear… I was saved from that experience when grandma found a towel in the bus! We all then tromped off to find the surgery unit- We were a sight to behold and believe me people were staring! When we found the surgical unit we were met with good news that the doctors had retrieved the pencil sharpener, and the baby was doing fine. The baby would need to spend a couple of days in the hospital for them to monitor her, but the doctors gave her a positive prognosis.
Somehow during this whole time of confusion Harold and I were able to share about the Lord, We explained the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as well as encouraging them to be thankful for what God had done to this point- I suggested to Gene and Arlene that they should call a mutual friend, and go to her church. Both said they were going to re-dedicate their lives to the Lord and turn to Him.
I know people say those things a lot in the heat of an emergency and most of the time as soon as the pressure is off they go right back to their old lifestyle- But in this case God used this to draw them. The baby was okay and the immediate Sunday after, Gene called Yvette. She said Ms Teri said I should go to church with you. So Gene, Arlene and the children went to church. Arlene and Gene went to the alter that first Sunday, and gave their lives to the Lord. They have continued to attend church and testify to the community about God’s provision for them ever since. We are encouraged! We are grateful, and we are honored to be able to serve such an awesome God. We are struck by the fact that we are able to share in His joy as He brings His people unto Himself.
A side note to this story- it is two months later and I just received word that Arlene and Gene stopped attending church. Please pray for them, pray they would be reminded of God’s faithful provision for their lives and they would listen as we encourage them to serve the Lord.
“From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more” (John 6:66)
Pray that Gene and Arlene will not just lie back and bask in the experience of God revealing Himself to them, but to get up and serve Him.
To God Be the Glory!