FACING THE END WITH JOY

          Lyli and I are back in Belize as of Tuesday, about to start our first class session of 2020 with about 20 students give or take a few, and fewer staff than we’ve had in awhile! I have been meaning to get a report off to you since the end of last month, but things have been intense lately, and I thought I would first send you a report about that, as follows: 

A Volcano chain activates in the Philippines, the U.S. and Iran spar on the verge of outright war, the deadly and highly-contagious Corona-virus spawns in China, a series of earthquakes rocks the Caribbean, the Outback burns, and EGW is declared heretic of the week by the Catholic Herald! Just a cursory account of this month’s headlines confirms that 2020 is off to a rip-roaring start! My personal landscape was under violent attack as well with the sudden and tragic death of my dear mother. 

Mom and Dad on a hike together in 2019

Yet despite the insane raging of this plagued planet and the fiends that haunt and harass it, I detect the infinite hand of our Holy Creator and Compassionate Redeemer, and under me I feel His faithful, everlasting arms. He has been, and still is, more than good to me! So to the oft queried “how are you?” with Paul (and Dad, who sent me these verses today) I aim to answer, by the grace of God, “troubled on every side, but not distressed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.” May we truly embrace the cross and the dying of our Lord Jesus as we walk day by day, that we may also truly experience the power of His resurrection! (2 Corinthians 4:6-10) Our God has conquered the grave. He is a LIVING GOD! He is my God! What unfathomable peace, what joy inexplicable! In the face of everything, I still cannot help but revel in the goodness and mercy of God. Among so many other blessings, for twenty years He allowed my family the precious gift of mom's life, such a beautiful life that reflected His love in so many ways! 

 

This last November I felt impelled to be at home for Thanksgiving. I didn’t really have a practical reason, especially since I would be in the States in January for GYC, and it would have made more sense to wait and visit my parents afterward. In retrospect, I suspect God put that strong desire in my heart. Of course, it helped that my brother and his family were planning to be home for Thanksgiving too! We had a beautiful time together. I never dreamed it would be our last with mom. 

After our visit home, we returned to Belize on December 11 to help with the family camp at MOVE, and then went to Guatemala with a group from our local church for twelve powerful days of evangelism, (see yesterday's post) and arrived back at MOVE, Sunday, the 29^th.  I was scanning my emails that evening, when I saw one from Dad with the subject “Connie’s Accident.” 

 

Dear church family,

 

Connie had a terrible fall to her head off a ladder. Please pray earnestly for her. She is on the way to Enlow. I will follow. Please do not call or visit tonight. PRAY.

 

Enloe, with its elite neurological trauma ICU, receives the direst cases from the whole region. Immediately I called my brother, sister and grandparents. Kami and Jered drove down from the northwest to be with Dad the next morning, and Lyli and I were able to join them by Wednesday evening. Mom’s sisters also came to be with us all. 

Mom’s injury resulted in severe hemorrhaging and subsequent swelling in both temporal lobes of the brain. The medical team did the best they could to manage mom’s intracranial pressure with a combination of medications and a stint in an effort to limit further brain damage. Because of the nature of the injury, surgery was not a viable option. 

Mom in the ICU after her fall from the ladder

 The next week was a blur: a painful, slow, seemingly inert blur of trips from the house to the hospital to the house and back again to the hospital, and phone calls, emails, texts, and prayers, lots of prayers. Prayers in the waiting room with friends and pastors, prayers in the hospital chapel, prayers on the phone, prayers during the anointing service, prayers outside and around the hospital with nearly 50 church members on Sabbath afternoon, prayers by myself in the dark on my bed, prayers in the ICU around mom’s bed, prayers in my head. Prayers from friends literally all around the world. Several church members reported about a special Wednesday night prayer meeting with unusually high attendance. "The room was so full, some folks were standing. We had a powerful and moving time of prayer." 

 

On Sabbath, January 4, in the midst of the outpouring of love and fervent, zealous spirit of entreaty, Dad sent out this email:

 

Dear Family and Friends: 

 

I dearly appreciate and love each one of you. Thank you so much for all your prayers, love, and support. Connie has been on full life support his week. She had her last dose of the coma-inducing medicine about noon yesterday so we should be understanding more about the real effects of her injury within the next 24 hours if not before then. I did check an hour ago, and she is not breathing on her own yet. We have faith in the power of God to raise her to us in full recovery, but must trust in our loving Father however He chooses to intervene. 

My son Jered and daughter Kami have been here and have given tremendous support. They left for home, but Kody and Lyli are here. I still remain limited with the amount of conversation, phone calls, texts and emails I can handle right now, but God is gracious and good. 

When the Sabbath began last night I felt the special peace of God. I have given Connie over and over into God’s care and keeping. Whatever happens, I believe that she is safe in his care. That doesn’t mean I still don’t have a good cry every so often, but the sustaining grace of God is keeping our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

 I stand amazed at the outpouring of prayer for my dear wife. Sometimes I wonder what would happen if we would approach God with the same intensity for the outpouring of His Holy Spirit and eternal life for people. Here is something helpful I found about this:

 

‘Many have in a great measure failed to receive the former rain. They have not obtained all the benefits that God has thus provided for them. They expect that the lack will be supplied by the latter rain. When the richest abundance of grace shall be bestowed, they intend to open their hearts to receive it. They are making a terrible mistake. The work that God has begun in the human heart in giving His light and knowledge must be continually going forward. Every individual must realize his own necessity. The heart must be emptied of every defilement and cleansed for the indwelling of the Spirit. It was by the confession and forsaking of sin, by earnest prayer and consecration of themselves to God, that the early disciples prepared for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. The same work, only in greater degree, must be done now. Then the human agent had only to ask for the blessing, and wait for the Lord to perfect the work concerning him. It is God who began the work, and He will finish His work, making man complete in Jesus Christ. But there must be no neglect of the grace represented by the former rain. Only those who are living up to the light they have will receive greater light. Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it. (Tm 507.1). 

 

Whether Connie lives or dies, if our difficult experience can become a stimulus to each of us to seek God with similar intensity in repentance, confession, and the forsaking of sin, our sufferings will have been well worth it. 

It is our scriptural privilege that even every thought be brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. This can only come as we daily contemplate the cross and the enormity of the sacrifice the godhead made in paying a debt we could never pay, accepting it by faith daily, and giving ourselves to the revealed will of God without holding one thing back, depending on the power of the Word and the Holy Spirit to bring about the transformation of heart and mind. Our lives will then show the obedience of love to the commandments of God, which is a condition of salvation. We will come into unity with one another in a way that we have never experienced, reflecting the unity of the Father and the Son. (John 17). 

…Thank you for praying for Connie and myself for we surely need it. I am praying for each of you and beyond for each member of the Seventh-day Adventist church, including myself, that we will experience all of the above, receive the Latter Rain, finish the work of giving the three-angel’s messages, God’s last message of mercy to the world, and to be prepared to go home without one missing.

 

In the love of Christ, 

 

Pastor Larre Kostenko

 

Despite the medical team’s valiant efforts, Mom went to sleep in Jesus three days later, Tuesday morning, January 7. The next week was another long blur of arrangements for the memorial service, compiling and composing mom's Eulogy (see attached) and just helping Dad cope. Yet through it all, this theme of prayer kept appearing everywhere.

On the living room coffee table, I found Mom’s prayer list with dozens of names and needs: Bible study interests, sick members, and Adventist youth attending public school. On Mom’s nightstand I found a book titled “Daring to Ask God for More” bookmarked halfway through, and by her chair in the living room another book titled “Steps to Personal Revival: Being filled with the Holy Spirit.” Mom had been on a journey of prayer herself. Several ladies from the church remarked how much they will miss Mom praying with them on the phone.  

Mom with a couple sisters from church: full of joy and loving service

Mom greets parishioners at the Golden Feather church

 At home on the kitchen table was a stack of materials for “Seeking God’s Spirit,” the General Conference 10-days of prayer initiative, January 8-18. Mom had printed it out for the members of Dad’s two churches. She had also compiled a list of quotes about the conditions for receiving the Holy Spirit. Lyli and I read the powerful testimonies and prayed for the listed prayer requests each day. One day called for us to pray for the Spirit of supplication (Zechariah 12:10). Since then I see God answering that prayer in remarkable ways as I feel a deep need and desire to pray, both alone and with others. Today my wife and I prayed silently and aloud for nearly an hour as we drove to the airport to pick up the rest of the MOVE team, arriving from two weeks of mission conferences in Colombia and Bolivia.  

This world is winding up for the final climax. Everything is in place for the final showdown between Christ and Satan as outlined in Bible prophecy. Everything, that is, except the professed people of God. Oh yes, we see what’s coming, we believe it is coming, and we even claim to trust God to see us through, as we sit back and do nothing. Lord have mercy!  

The Spirit of Comfort and Truth, that Holy Spirit of Suplication still intercedes, interpreting our prayers with inexpressible groaning. Oh how we must make him groan sometimes! Jesus yet prays for you and me, that our faith fail not, that we would be converted, that we would strengthen the brethren! God still invites and pleads for us to find in Him our refuge, to enter into the secret chamber of the Most High, that Most Holy Place of His presence. Until we come to know that place intimately, how can we invite others to enter there, to enter into His rest? 

        We know how the story of this earth ends. But what about my story? What about yours? It is time to learn how to pray, how to wrestle with God, in deep contrition, repentance and humility.  What tragedy can outweigh that of a squandered salvation? What could merit more tears than the horrendous rip-off of trading in eternal life to hang on to our sin? If we would pray as we should we would also work and live as we should! May this year, 2020, be a year of breakthroughs, of victories, of a restored Spiritual vision apace with the times, of accelerated, unflagging labor for the salvation of everyone we know and even those we don't know yet! May we abide in Christ, the Source of peace, strength, hope, holiness and everything good and beautiful! Look up! Face the end with joy! Our redemption is near, oh so near! 

ENCUENTROS: more divine appointments

 Our twelve-day mission trip to Guatemala this last December 17-29 is nearly worthy of a book of its own. Unfortunately, I don’t have the time to write all the stories, but I am sure there is a much more interesting, beautiful and detailed account recorded in heaven. Maybe we can all read it together during the Millennium! That said, I had to share a few extra stories with you that didn’t make it into the December newsletter.  

On the afternoon of December 18, we arrived in the mountains of Los Encuentros along with a cold front of wind and rain.  The original word had been that we would be camping, but some kind soul had made arrangements with the town council at the last minute, and they conceded us the school building which was conveniently available as Guatemala’s school cycle ends in October and begins in January. Boy, were we glad for that roof over our heads as the rain continued for several days! The rain turned out to be a godsend, however, because the village water was turned off when we arrived! So we collected runoff from the tin roof for cooking, bathing and flushing the toilets. After installing our tents in one of the classrooms, and cooking dinner over an open fire in the shed next to school, we went to the Suchite residence to do a small-group worship service. 

            The next day we started door-to-door visitation. Besides the Cawich and Chavez family, Lyli and myself, we had three MOVE graduates with us: Melinda and Yuvini from Belize, and Israel from Nicaragua. Israel brought his friend José Jiminez along too. José is an exuberant Pathfinder Master Guide leader, who used his vacation time from his job with an American company to come on the mission trip.

“Isra even paid for my trip up here!” José told us later. “But he didn’t tell me until we got here that there is no money for the return trip!” 

More than once during our twelve days together he praised God for the experience he was having, which turned out to be like a big shot of spiritual vitamins! José went home with renewed faith and focus.

“I am definitely going to get more involved in mission work at my home church again!” He promised. “As soon as I get a little money saved I am going to come take the training program at MOVE, and do my six months of service. After that I want to study theology and be a missionary pastor!”  Please pray for José, that he will follow through by the grace of God! 

Left to right: Noelito, Israel, and José,
enjoying the Mountain View over Los Encuentros

José, Yuvini, Israel and Miguel were out visiting one morning when they saw a little old man struggling to drag a large wooden post down the road. Immediately they went to his aid. He wanted to help them carry the load, but was so short he could only hang from the beam, so the boys told him to just lead the way! Their small act of kindness did not go unnoticed by the neighbors. 

“You guys are different than other Christians!” A man named Manuel told the boys later that day. “Other people here who go to church will pass you on the road and not even look at you, but you guys actually care about others!” Manuel received us into his home, began Bible studies, and attended several nights of the evangelistic meetings! Manuel is next-door neighbor to the only baptized Adventist in the village, (see December newsletter, linked in my previous post) and Mr. Valeriano has promised to continue the studies.

 

“There’s going to be a big shindig at the corral and the ball field starting Sunday” the villagers warned us. Bull riding, music, dancing, drinking and carousing were all on the docket. 

Oh dear, maybe it’s not such a good idea to try to hold our meetings those nights, at least not here at the school! I thought. But then I realized, this could be a way for even more people to find out about our meetings. As it turned out, the party music cut off right before we started our first meeting and didn’t come on again until we were finished! The brothers from the church at Machaquila loaned us their sound system, and the Word of God was heard by all passers by, many of whom stopped to listen for awhile. Others told us later that they had heard the preaching clearly from the comfort of their own homes!

Adult meetings held in the government school breezeway. Interest was high!

My precious wife leads the children meetings in one of the classrooms.
Some nights there were up to 70 in attendance!

Yuvini (far left) poses with villagers who attended the meetings and received Bibles

         

Israel had a powerful experience giving Bible studies to the most influential man in town, a well-to-do rancher and president of the town council named Mr. Cecilio. During their last study, God put it on Israel’s heart to go through the parables of the prodigal son and the lost coin. By the end of the study both the tough old rancher and his wife were in tears. Both are Christians who had fallen away from God. Their son is now a drug addict, a shame and a menace to the family. God gave Israel powerful words of comfort and courage as he prayed with the family, and when we packed up to leave, Mr. Cecilio, his treasurer and secretary all came out to thank the team, say goodbye, and invite us to return whenever we wish! 

 

ANOTHER DIVINE ENCOUNTER

 

When I arrived back at the school where we were staying after morning visitation, I saw a man standing outside the crowded classroom where Lyli was doing crafts with the kids. I approached and greeted him. His name was Rolando. Turns out he works in Belize three month periods at certain times during the year,  trying to "get ahead" in life. “I opened a clothing store here for my wife to operate while I am away. We live just up the road. My daughter was begging to come to this… I was busy, but when I got done I brought her down, but it looks like the activities are about over.” he remarked. 

I explained what we do and asked if I could visit him at home.

           “We have meetings in the evenings too, and there are videos for the kids! Y'all should come!”

           Christmas day I went to visit Rolando, but he wasn’t home. Only his pregnant wife, eight months with child. Two girls arrived on horseback with firewood. “They are going to bake bread today” she motioned to the big clay oven behind the kitchen. 

            Two days later I was walking by with Lyli on a quick trip to the store and I saw Rolando on his front porch. 

“I have to visit him while he’s home,” I told Lyli. But I had a Bible study scheduled with another family. It was nearly 4:00 pm before I got to his house.  

            “Y’all don't celebrate Christmas do you?” Rolando asked after several minutes of small talk.  

            “Well, not in the same way that most people do, but we do enjoy having special family time. Also, Christmas is a great opportunity to talk about Jesus and what He did for us in coming as a man and what that means for us today.” 

            “You’re different than the JW’s then." He observed. "You’re Sabbath keepers aren’t you?” 

            “Yes on both accounts!” I smiled and shared a couple verses with him. 

            “But your Bible says sábado. Mine just says the day of rest!” Rolando protested. 

            “Yes, some Bibles translate it that way” I agreed. “I have a Bible that says that as well, but there is a little asterisk by the phrase dia de reposo, and in the margin it says that it is equivalent to sábado. Also, the fourth commandment clarifies that God’s day of rest is the seventh day.” I turned to Exodus 20. 

 

WHICH DAY IS THE SEVENTH DAY?

 

The devil has different lies for different guys, and sometimes he has to adapt them to the language. In English people tend to think that Sunday is the Sabbath. In Spanish, people don’t really have that problem because Saturday in Spanish is sabado, or “Sabbath”!  So folks here aren't fooled about which day is Sabbath! It's a no brainer! We have learned, however, that one of the false narratives at these latitudes is that Sunday is the seventh day! The people in Los Encuentros are so ingrained in this tradition that when Lyli taught the children the days of creation and told them that God rested on the 7^th day and made it holy, and then asked “which day is the seventh day?” she was shocked by the unanimous chorus of enthusiastic voices shouting “Domingo!” Also, on this same trip, Brother Daniel Cawich and his wife Mirta studied the Bible with Verónica, an earnest seeker full of questions, one of which was: “Which day is the seventh day?” 

Now, I have seen some newer calendars, and even a Spanish Encyclopedia from 2009 that actually have the audacity to list Sunday as the seventh day of the week, but all the calendars that I saw in Los Encuentros were still of the traditional sort. Still, Rolando insisted that Sunday is the seventh day, and went to get his calendar. 

“See, Sunday is in red” he showed me, as if to prove his point. This was the first time I had ever heard of a cultural identification of the color red with the number seven, but I made no comment! I just counted the days of the week out loud for him from left to right, and what do you know, they were still in order, and sábado is the 7^th day! 

“But domingo is in red ink! Besides, people here get paid on Sabbath to end the work week and everyone keeps Sunday! Only you Adventists keep Sabbath!” Rolando insisted. 

            “Jesus and the apostles also kept the Sabbath!” I offered. “Also, remember that biblically speaking, the majority has never been the safe option! Jesus said the wide road is not the safe road!”

“If the Sabbath is so important, I will do a fast and the Lord will show me the truth!” Rolando concluded. 

             “I’m glad to hear you say that, and I know that as you pray and fast and read God’s Word with an open and sincere heart, He will give you all the right answers!” I encouraged. “It’s like it says in John 7:17: ‘If any man will do His will, He will know of the doctrine whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.’ So the most important thing is that you be willing to do God’s will whatever it may be, and then seek to know His will.” 

            “I believe in God,” Rolando said. “No one can convince me that He’s not real because He healed me!”

“That’s wonderful! Tell me about it!”

 

ROLANDO'S SPECTACULAR EXPERIENCE

 

“I was raised an evangelical, my Dad is a pastor, but as a young man I drifted away, seeking pleasure, and became addicted to drugs and alcohol.” Rolando began. “In order not to disgrace my father’s ministry, I moved away. One day I received an injury over an altercation about a girl. I was in critical condition, and was alone in my hut, near death, when some evangelical Christians came to visit me. They asked me if I was a believer. I said yes, and they began to pray. I lost consciousness and seemed to drift up and above myself. I saw two great pillars and an open door from which poured out a cloud of white smoke. Inside I could hear the voice of singing. I lifted my foot to enter, when I remembered I had never said good-bye to my father. Suddenly I awoke, back in my bed!

‘He’s revived!’ shouted the older visitor, the pastor. 

"Oh Lord, I realized. I died but now I’m back!  At that moment I felt a warm tingling that began at my toes and rose to the top of my head and I knew that I was healed! Suddenly I saw a shining being over 12 feet tall standing in the corner of the room. 

            ‘Look, look!’ I grabbed the pastor’s arm and pointed. There’s someone here!’

            ‘There’s nobody there!’ replied the pastor emphatically, but I could see him plainly. Solemnly he lifted is arm and pointing at me said       ‘You have been healed! You now have the gift of healing and you are commissioned to take that healing to others.’” 

Rolando finished his testimony. While I don’t doubt that God in mercy saved his life, I was struck by the sudden thought it would be just like the devil to make a fellow sick to death, and then "heal" him to leave him doubly deceived! The Lord kept me silent on that point however, and I just kept listening.

            “I know I have failed to obey that call.” Rolando confessed. “For a while I was active in church, but you know the devil never sleeps and I soon became discouraged. The brethren would be so kind and pious at church, but then during the week some would gossip and backstab while others lived in sin, and I thought man, if Christ were to come at this moment they would be lost! Eventually I stopped going to church and fell back into my vices. Then one day while drunk in Poptún I was nearly killed. I knew I was failing God and I was very afraid to die. So I tried to change my life again. I no longer drink. I just work, and then home to the family and the kids. But I know I am not fulfilling God’s commission. This,” He gestured at the house and yard “is just a wimb of mine, just doing my own thing…”

            The man is under conviction. I realized. I need to say something! Lord, give me the right words! 

THE CALL

            “The fact that you feel that way is evidence that God is still calling you.” I encouraged. “He is speaking to you again today! He has plans for your life! Don’t put Him off any longer!” I urged. “Just make sure that you are willing to do all his will. His will is in His word! Study what He asks you to do in His Word! Many passages in Scripture tell us what God’s will is for our lives.” I shared 1 Thess 4:3, Matt 12:50, and Lk 8:21.  “And so, as powerful as miracles and supernatural experiences can be, by themselves they are no guarantee that we doing God's will!” I turned to Matthew 7. “This is the same passage that we talked about earlier, where Jesus warns us not to follow the crowd because the path to eternal life is narrow and only a few find it! Just a few verses later Jesus explains that not even all those who claim to be Christians and work miracles will be saved, but only the wise who build on the rock!” I read verses 21-24. “So we see that what makes the saving difference is when we listen to God’s Word and do what it says!”

            “Hey, you guys really do use the same Bible we do” Rolando tried to shift the conversation. “I remember reading these same texts you just shared.” 

            “Do you have a Bible here at home?” I asked.

            “Just a New Testament. I had a complete Bible, but it is at my sister’s house in Poptún.” 

            “I have an extra Bible here with me, I’d love for you to have it!” I offered.

            “Oh yes, absolutely.” Rolando took it gratefully. 

We said goodbye, but not before I invited him to the evening meetings again along with his wife and daughter. I was really excited when the whole family showed up that night! After the program I spoke to them for a few minutes, and gave them a Steps to Christ and a booklet of study guides called “The Faith of Jesus.” They had already left when I felt strongly that I should have given them a copy of the book “When God said Remember” by Mark Finley as well. 

            “Why don't you take it by their house tomorrow morning” Lyli suggested. The next morning when I arrived at Rolando’s house, he was already gone, but his wife sat at the counter in their clothing store with the new Bible open in front of her. Pencil in hand, she was looking up texts and answering the questions from the first Bible study in “The Faith of Jesus” booklet! Her daughter sat on the floor looking at the pictures in Steps to Christ. A customer entered right behind me, so I wasn’t able to chat, but I greeted her with a smile, handed her the Sabbath book, and left praising God! Lord, may You bring forth a rich harvest from the seeds we scattered!