08.03.2008 Rick and Carol Reynolds

08.03.2008 Grace Summit - Rick and Carol Reynolds from Jeff Yackley on Vimeo

Where do you start with missions but in Matthew 28?

18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. "

The last words of Jesus were to tell others about Him. Where? Everywhere! He says to GO! He doesn’t say, when you get your life sorted out… He commands us to go and make disciples, it is not an option.

Acts 1: 8 but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth. "

He gives us more direction – Jerusalem – those around us, our neighbors and coworkers… Working with Urban Vision, Haven of Rest, or Harvest Home. There are a number of places you can get involved – or even to your neighbors.

Samaria – I would liken that to going to New Orleans, or to work with the Native Americans. Several of our kids have gone on short trips. He also says to go to the ends of the earth. We felt that way in Africa.

When we were in college, we felt God was calling us to be missionaries. I was a pilot and mechanic – and we went to what was then Zaire, but has since returned to its name of the Congo. How did we do it with our kids so little?

We went for 4 years and then home for a year and then back for another 4. Anyone who has been on a mission trip, even a short-term trip – it changes your life – gives you a different perspective. It lets you see what the rest of the world lives like.

We are commanded to go. I’ll come back to that.

What am I supposed to do? What can I do?

Professions? Mechanic/Pilot. I wasn’t a pastor, although, that would be the number one job. I was a pilot. Why do you need pilots? The roads are horrible. For us, a trip to Columbus is a 2 hour drive. There you would need an all wheel drive vehicle and it would take 6-8 hours, or even overnight. Traveling was time-consuming and wore you down. The plane was faster and could take people to the hospital or even to school

Doctors

Dentist

Nurses

Dental Hygienist

Builders – one of our friends built houses, churches, hospitals…

Accountants – money is everywhere and it needs to be kept track of.

Digging wells – how important for a clean, reliable source of water.

Radio Technicians (now Computer technicians)

Back then we had a high frequency radio.

To write a letter, it took two weeks each way – now Rachel Martin tells us there are cell phones in Tandala – you have to go around the hangar to get reception – but you can get email – and it takes people to keep these things running.

You don’t have to be a pastor or evangelist.

1 Peter 4: 10 As each one has received a [special] gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 Whoever speaks, [let him speak,] as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, [let him do so] as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever.

Just as it takes all kinds of people to keep a church or a city functioning, it takes all kinds of people on the mission field. Your goal is to train natives to do what you are doing.

Each of us has talents and abilities – God wants our heart. The rest will follow. You may have talents, but are you willing? Do you have the heart? It might not be your whole life – we were called to two terms – back then. Is God calling us to something new? I don’t know. Are we willing? Are you willing?

If God wants you to do something, it is the tougher thing to tell Him no.

Carol has some things to share with you.

Rick is really humble, but one thing – the Congolese really loved Rick. They also loved Ruthie and Jeni – so I was just known as The Mama.

As we were singing the songs, more stories came to mind. There are a lot of funny things that happened. When God calls you – either to Akron, or New Mexico, or the ends of the earth, God is always with you. He won’t send you somewhere without going with you. You may leave the comfort, the air conditioning – the church services may have flies buzzing and no deodorant. One Sunday – the crowd went wild because there was a huge BOA behind the pastor. He just kept preaching.

When you are traveling – you don’t have nice plazas. You have to find the deepest part, make sure there are no snakes or eyes around (with a lookout) and you have to have TP!

Missionaries have trials just like you. They don’t have special halos. They have problems, they have difficulties. Be sure to pray for any missionaries you may know.

When I took off, we said good-bye to our families –when we got on the plane, Jeni got kicked in the mouth. We got to Chicago and there were some friends from college there. We got to England – MAF had us fly stand-by. We were bumped off for 5 days in London. You might think that was fun, but with a 4 year old and toddler…

We had to RUN THROUGH THE AIRPORT – we got on the plane – everyone was staring at us (they were holding the plane for the 4 Americans – I hate to tell you this, but Americans aren’t thought too fondly of). When we got to France – the plane was all bumpy – and we had to shield our children from the things they shouldn’t see…

But we had friends and family praying for us – we may have given up.

We landed at the airport – and the heat and humidity hit me – and we were walking down the steps – and there are soldiers with guns in our faces. “God wants us here, Carol.”

Jeni had her long blond hair – I was blond, sort of. They thought I was really white – they had to touch us – our hair – touching our daughters. We were odd to them. But the Lord got us through that. Two verses really helped me.

Psalm 139: 9 If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, 10 Even there Thy hand will lead me, And Thy right hand will lay hold of me

Matt. 28:20

We were surprised to see all the gates around everything. They glue glass on the top of the fence. Then you get in the house and there are geckos on the walls – Not the cute insurance gecko. One fell off and landed on ME! But then I found out they eat the mosquitoes and roaches – so I was cool with the lizards.

Your goal is not to make them American. Your goal is to make them like Christ. That is what missionaries have to remember.

We were waiting on all of our earthly possessions…

Crates, tools ($3000) – All my Tupperware that people had bought. Current Stationery. We get a message – you’ve lost everything. Everything is gone. The ship – the guys on the ship turned into pirates because they were not getting paid. They took the ship to Lebanon and no one could get it.

Job lost everything. Don’t say it to anyone else. It is not encouraging. Remember Job! We prayed – it is only THINGS. Then Rick said, MY TOOLS! It was a lot of money back then.

We prayed about it – we had to come back home and re-stock a little bit. Things aren’t important to me anymore. I can honestly say – that does not matter to me – houses and cars and furniture. It can be taken away like that, but God had to provide. Had we not had people praying for us, we may have come home.

I loved Tandala. It was an awesome place to raise children. The Congolese are a wonderful people. These kids would sell me mangoes. They were stealing them from my tree and selling them to me. They would laugh and laugh. We had to learn the tribal language. I had to get used to house-help. They were not slaves. We paid them – they loved working in our home. Swingamo made the best bread. I loved him, my girls loved him. One day he helped Ruthie – “There is a black mamba (deadly snake) in the pineapple patch.’ Swingamo went out and hacked the snake. Boy was I thankful.

I had to learn about weather – I was the air traffic controller with some of the other wives.

I remember when AIDS was just coming out. Everyone was freaking out – an AIDS patient died – they wanted to take the young man back to his village. It was a risk – everyone thought, don’t do it, Rick. Rick felt like it was so important – it meant so much to those people. We hope the gospel was spread because Rick was willing to do it.

We saw a lot of sad stories – a lot of AIDS victims. It is a horrible disease.

One highlight – the dentist who worked on my teeth was so nervous – but I trusted him. He was trained – but he was a nervous wreck doing my teeth. Even today, my dentist says – whoever did your teeth did a great job – and I tell him the story. He loved his family (he stayed with his wife, not common there…) - He loved his wife, loved his girls – same age as our girls. Our girls still write them.

If it wasn’t for the prayers, we could not have made it. One thing I want to emphasize – don’t be afraid to step out. It does not matter what age you are – young or old. You have to be willing to serve God. The whole world is open to you. Don’t be afraid for your kids – they love to travel and have adventure. The grandparents might be upset…

Young people – another profession – A TEACHER! They really need teachers. A lot of missionaries – they get teachers and you travel with the missionaries. A lot of young people go for teaching. A lot of them meet their husbands there! Think of that! Just be willing – have that willing heart. God is with you and won’t make you do something by yourself. He is with you every step of the way…

Thanks.

Rick:Whatever profession you go as, you have to learn to do that. You can’t just learn on the job. You have to become proficient.

Next, when you go – how will you be supported? Usually, you have to raise your own support. Carol and I had to go around and ask churches to help. Or individuals in the church – to pledge to support – either a small or large amount. We were really blessed – Carol’s home church – provided half the support. Others didn’t have that. You have to find others to go with you in that.

We have been sending our church tithe to support missionaries. It takes a lot of hard work. We were blessed to raise our support in 9 months to a year. Some struggle raising that support. Why? I don’t know. Then, praying for those people. We have all kinds of prayer cards on our refrigerator. How do you pray? What are you going through? Did you have a hard time at work? Did you get in an argument? Did your car break down? Did you run out of money? Whatever you are struggling with – pray for them. People are people all over the world. As you have opportunity to pray and support people – sometimes it is giving money. God doesn’t always call everyone to go overseas – but we have to do what we can.

Remember when Rachel and Pastor Selenga were here? AIDS is running rampant. That means a lot of adults get it and die. What happens to the kids? They are orphans. Families may have 4 or 5 of their own and have to take more in. How will they survive? The parents are dying.

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