DAY TEN

Let me begin today's report with the visits. The scenery was nothing to talk about anyway. Leaving Roswell and it's aliens behind I made my way 75 miles down to Carlsbad, another well known site famous for it's caverns. Other than that the city struggles and Erwin de Graaff reports that one of their biggest challenges is the fact that the town has a large turnover and therefore, so does the church. Many of the professionals have left and it can be challenging to infuse confidence and vision and motivation into the members who are left. Both of the churches I visited today have steel buildings that are actually very nice inside. They do run a lot of health programs in addition to evangelism, but it is very hard to get the community people to make any commitments, even to attend the health efforts. This is Erwin's first pastorate as he had been teaching up to three years ago, but he loves the pastoral work. He also has the Roswell Spanish, Saragosa Bi-lingual, and Van Horn Spanish. To make the challenge complete, he doesn't speak Spanish! Great guy, nice facility, needs an infusion of the Holy Spirit to keep the people on track to see what God can and wants to do through them. I loved the little stone sign by the corner of the church!

Now I rode anothe 325 miles to Abilene. On the way, just before I-20 I went through Pecos, TX. I actually turned around and went back to take a picture of this sign. Obviously the sign is broken and I fear the commandment they remind us of may be as well. Notice that it is sponsored by three Baptist Churches. Just a fun side note!

It was hot, no make that very hot riding in the afternoon heat to Abilene. I was so glad to get into a motel and get a shower and have air conditioning. I had not been able to make contact with Dave McLaughlin and now I found that I had a wrong email address. I did see, however, that they have prayer meeting on Wednesday nights so I went and I did find him and a few others gathered. Another very nice facility that is only six years old, but still has left them with a major debt. There was some differing opinions over the building project and they too are struggling with the mortgage. I had a chance to speak to the members tonight and I gave them a two minute version of "Holding the Ropes" and encouraged them to get into the community any way they can and then love the people in. Pr. Dave did tell me that the church is very warm and receptive to those who come and there does seem to be light at the end of the tunnel.

All of these pastors that I have visited over the past couple of days have massive districts with three or four churches spread far apart. This is hard work! Please pray that they can cast the vision for the members who must be the ones to carry on the work.

Today was just a hard, hot ride with the highlight being a road runner barely making it across before I got him. The good news was that the speed limit on I-20 for most of the way was 80! Tomorrow I'm off to Waco. Should be some interesting stories there. Good night and God bless!