BEYOND THE OPEN DOOR

Poli and Pastor Javier are on the left and Lloyd has his arm around Moises. They are packed and ready to start the trip. Poli and Moises accompanied them part of the way.

Beyond the open door

is a new and fresh anointing,

hear the Spirit calling you to go.

Walk on through the door,

for the Lord will go before you,

to a greater place than you have been before.

(Author Unknown)

Three thousand miles over rough and winding roads. Continuous rain made driving a challenge. The trip into Mexico February 2007 with Spanish Bibles was anything but easy.

Lloyd and Pastor Javier drove through several states in Mexico including Tamaulipas, Vera Cruz, Tabasco and Chiapas before entering the country of Guatamala. There they had to exchange their pesos into the currency of Guatamala and apply for another official registration sticker for the van. Everywhere they went the people turned their faces away from them, as if they were extremely shy. Of Mayan descent, it may be that one of Guatamala’s beliefs is that they must not make eye contact with strangers.

Chili cayotes for sale in Guatamala. The children turned their faces away from the strangers.

The land in Guatamala was very poor and mountainous. Corn was planted on terraced hillsides that were almost too steep to climb. And there was a different kind of vegetable called a chili cayote. These enormous melon or squash like vegetables were grown in abundance and sold along the roads.

At one of the churches in Guatamala a tiny elderly woman said she wanted to pray for Lloyd and Javier before they left. She insisted they get on their knees and she prayed earnestly and fervently for them. Later, exiting Guatamala was as difficult as entering the country had been. They were required to show all their papers and pay additional fees at the border.  The situation was so tense at one point that they were beginning to be concerned. But they had the blessing of the Lord on them, their papers were cleared and they were allowed to cross back into Mexico.  It was a difficult time but worth the effort to know they were able to leave many Spanish Bibles and thousands of gospel tracts in that country.

The entire trip took nine days. There are sure to be lasting results from the many Spanish Bibles that were distributed to churches along the way. And many new doors were opened for us to minister south of the border.

“I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.”  Revelation 3:8

LITTLE YELLOW JEEP

If you want to let your light shine, drive a yellow Jeep!  

That’s what we learned to say after several years of driving throughout Mexico in a 1980 something two door yellow Jeep Wrangler. We didn’t think a bright colored vehicle was appropriate for us, especially when Jeeps weren’t all the rage at that time. But we needed a stick shift four wheel drive vehicle we could tow behind our motorhome without special equipment. The Jeep seemed what we needed, but there weren’t many used Jeeps for sale in our area. We had others helping us in our search but time was running short. It was almost time for us to load up and head for Mexico.

When a car dealership called with the news that they had a Jeep for sale in excellent condition, we jumped at the chance to see it.  “There’s only one thing,” he said.  “It’s yellow.”  We both said, “No way!  We’re not driving around in a bright yellow Jeep!”  But it was the only choice we had.  At the last minute we bought the yellow Jeep, hooked it up behind our vehicle that was loaded with Spanish Bibles and we headed down the road.

Fording the Rio Grande River in the Jeep.

It wasn’t long before we realized that the Lord had a plan for the little yellow Jeep. When we drove across the border and into Mexico, it drew lots of attention. When we drove into a colonia with Bibles, blankets, food and other necessities, the people saw us and began to recognize our vehicle. More than once we’d be driving slowly through town and someone would run out and knock on the back of the Jeep to get our attention.  Usually it meant someone in their family was sick and needed prayer.  The yellow Jeep was our calling card.

Sizing each other up, each loaded with cargo.

The trusty little vehicle carried Spanish Bibles to many states in Mexico. Once we forded the Rio Grande River at a low spot because there was no bridge.  We’d heard there was a small town across the river, and in those days we made sure to visit every town we could find across the border. Many times the bright and cheery vehicle broke the ice for us in new areas.  People were curious and we stood out and were different.  So the very reason we didn’t think yellow was right for us was the very reason that it could be used by the Lord.

The little yellow Jeep eventually wore out and had to be replaced. There have been two more Jeeps since those early years, but we’ll always remember those days when people.would greet us and say, “We saw you coming way down the road and we knew your Jeep!”

The Jeep took us where there were no roads.

We’re convinced that the Lord has a sense of humor and of course He knew all along exactly what we needed to help us get started.  These days there are Jeeps of every color being driven everywhere by people of every age.  Now we are proud to say that we once drove a brightly colored little yellow Jeep!

“Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16