I forgot I've got avocadoes in my purse

We were getting ready for bed last night, and when Melissa finished brushing her teeth she said, "I forgot, I've got avocoadoes in my purse." She heads out of the room, to put the avocadoes in a place they will ripen. Now, why am I writting about avocadoes, it is just another part of our life here I wanted to share. Most every week we are given gifts from members of the Spanish-speaking church. Mainly fruit, often avocadoes, chinola (passion fruit), or mangoes when they were in season. These are great gifts from people that have very little to give. It reminds me of the widow's mite. Many of the ladies in the church that give us these gifts are caring for their children, and their children's children. I don't see how they have enough for themsevles, let alone to think to share with us. Melissa and I have been touched by the giving-spirit of many of the people here. We are blessed each time we receive these precious gifts.

Using Your Gifts on the Mission Field

When Elizabeth Vasquez signed up to go on a short-term mission trip to the Dominican Republic, she asked her friends coordinating the trip, what she should put down as skills, since she did not feel she had any skills appropriate for the mission field. Elizabeth is an Epidemiologist with a Master Degree in Public Health working in New York, completing her dissertation for her PhD.. Little did she know that she had the exact skills we have been looking for to start an outreach to local doctors on the North Coast, providing them access to professionals able to provide seminars on their field of expertise. We were able to invite the local doctors to hear Elizabeth, a Dominican-born, Spanish-speaking, health professional present information pertinent to their local practices. The physicians enjoyed a wonderful evening of professional camaraderie. While I was talking to one of the physicians, he stated, you never see even five physicians in one room together. He shared that they are rarely able to meet together and share information with one another. He said that a lot of good information was provided during the evening and he was grateful for the opportunity to meet with his colleagues. Not only, did they receive som3 great information, they had a wonderful Italian dinner to top off the evening. All of the doctors that attended are looking forward to our next gathering.