You're receiving this newsletter because you are subscribed to the Baptist Medical & Dental Mission International E-newsletter mailing list. Not interested anymore? Unsubscribe Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your browser. Baptist Medical & Dental Mission International exists under the Lordship of Jesus Christ to evangelize the lost, to disciple the saved, and to minister to the needs of the poor.   With a traveling companion and the power of the Holy Spirit...      Our mission team was conducting a medical clinic in the village of El Higueral, but missionaries Darrel Johnson and Dwyndl Nelms hoped a few of us could spend a day evangelizing in the neighboring village of San Lucas. No evangelical church exists in the region, but Pastor Ernesto (the national pastor from the village of Israel, some forty miles away) has ridden his motorcycle twice per week to San Lucas to conduct Bible studies.      Leaving the village of El Higueral early one morning, Dwyndl shifted his tough little truck into four-wheel-drive, and we navigated the rugged road to San Lucas, which lies tucked at the base of the San Cristobal volcano in Nicaragua. Bobby Young and I, accompanied by our trustworthy Nicaraguan translators, piled out of the pickup and watched it drive away. I realized that my tie to the outside world left among the swirling dust of the departing missionary. Looking down at my sandaled feet, my thoughts drifted back two millennia, as I imagined Paul walking the trails of forgotten lands, with no more than a traveling companion and the power of the Holy Spirit accompanying him.      One elderly couple we visited magnificently illustrated the reality of a Bible truth – God’s promise to provide for the needs of His children. The gentleman, whose lined face told stories of decades of long existence, said, “We thought the world had forgotten us.  But God never has. Here you are, bringing medicine and aid for our bodies and the comfort of brothers-in-Christ to our souls.”      Who, I ask, was sent to help whom? His words of deep trust and understanding penetrated my heart. It was all I could do to stop my tears from staining the hard-packed dirt beneath the thatch roof. He never doubted God’s provisions and easily drew the connection between God’s hand of Providence and our BMDMI mission team.      How remarkable that there would be no gospel seed sowing in San Lucas if there was no BMDMI in Nicaragua. I have been to Pastor Ernesto’s home village of Israel, where he pastors a strong, vibrant church.  I have experienced firsthand the church’s remarkable influence in the community. Without BMDMI’s first foray into Israel, followed by subsequent teams, and without Darrel and Cathey Johnson’s many Sunday trips from Managua to lead in worship, there would be no thriving church there today. There would be no pastor who has grown so mightily in the Lord that he inconveniences himself twice per week to go for Jesus into the villages of El Higueral and San Lucas.      As a result, souls have been saved, Satan’s bastions of strength have been weakened, and the mighty gospel is penetrating minds and hearts. Pray for Darrel, Dwyndl, Pastor Ernesto and future teams, that they will enjoy the high and holy privilege of being the instruments through which God rescues the perishing.   Story by: Todd Ragsdale   The National Conference is just around the corner... have you registered yet? NATIONAL CONFERENCE November 6-7, 2009 Petal, MS   Published: October 5, 2009 In this issue: Traveling Companion     "None of BMDMI's mission work would be possible without the personal involvement and generous financial support of folks like you who believe in this Mission. If you would like to make a gift to BMDMI click, DONATE. Or, if you are interested in serving on a BMDMI short-term mission team click, TEAMS for more information. Rest assured - BMDMI is a quality organization of great integrity; CharityNavigator.org ranks BMDMI in the top 1% of effective and efficient charities!" For a donation to the Pastor' Christmas Fund, we have an assortment of Ornaments for you to choose from this year! Baptist Medical & Dental Mission International 11 Plaza Drive | Hattiesburg | Mississippi | 39402 (601) 544-3586 | www.bmdmi.org Links to SUBSCRIBE or Unsubscribe to this E-newsletter.