There are many things about the Fort Worth area that endear it to people: the Stockyards, downtown, shopping malls, sports teams, and more. But for our team, the most appealing aspect of Fort Worth is its central location. This past weekend, Team Lima gathered together in the Fort Worth area for three days of fellowship, fun, and planning. The Davidsons drove in from Paris, TX, where they are currently spending time with their supporting congregation, the Lamar Avenue Church of Christ; the Yoakums made the drive from Kaufmann, TX, where the Kaufmann Church of Christ is blessed with their presence; and the rest of the team came in from Abilene, where the search for support continues.
Here are some the highlights of our time together. The girls were able to browse around Grapevine Mills while the fellas introduced the kids to the joy that is known as “Bass Pro Shop.” Tara’s parents graciously opened up their home to us for Thursday dinner, and they cooked us an amazing breakfast on Friday; these meals allowed the kids to roam around and play freely, while the adults were able to enjoy relaxed conversations. We enjoyed our second “Parents Night Out,” spending it in downtown Fort Worth; we ate at Pizzeria Uno and then moved to Starbucks, where we learned obscure facts about one another through the game “two truths and a lie” (you might want to ask Wes about “Millie” or Alison about her “real” last name).
But in the midst of the fun, we were blessed with numerous conversations and moments of reflection that centered around our future ministry in Latin America. There were moments of prayer and worship; there were numerous impromptu conversations about ministry, leadership, fund-raising, faith, personal struggles, and personal dreams. On Saturday morning, we spent several hours talking about the necessary steps that we need to take on our journey towards language school, as well as the difficult topic of timing: will we all be ready to leave at the same time? And in all of these conversations, we were reminded that it will not be because of our efforts or wisdom that the Lord’s will is carried to completion. It will only be through the infinite wisdom and timing of God that we receive our support, arrive in Costa Rica, learn Spanish, arrive in Lima, and lead people to the grace of our great God. As a team, we take comfort in Proverbs 16:9: “In their heart humans plan their course, but the Lord determines their steps.”
