Travels, Thanks and Testimonies

As I look back over life contemplating my journeys. My current medical journey has enlightened me as to the extent of God's grace.

I was a young man in his twenties when I truly heard the old, old story of a Savior who came from glory. Money & good deeds couldn't buy His salvation. I ran down the aisle & accepted His gift by faith.

I was certain I was meant to be a missionary or a minister, so I embraced four years of Bible College. But I was still trying to do it my way not His way. Frustrated I drifted out of church but never too far, today I find myself back at the same church. Still not certain I could put his will for my life into words, but I feel confident I'm somewhere in the midst of His will doing what He wants me to do.

I praise God for my church family at Good News Baptist Church, their love prayers and support at this time has been a comfort and blessing. I thank him for guiding us to our new found friends at Trinity Baptist Church. Their sacrificial love, giving and prayers truly filled our lives with joy and hope.

To have a wonderful aunt and uncle just an hour's drive from the doctor is not a coincidence but another testimony of God's marvelous grace. It seems like God gave Google a picture of my Dad, listed his qualities, and added the keywords urology and robotic assisted surgery, the requirements: near special families AND sent me the result. WOW! PERFECT in every way! Praise Him each day more & more.

Off course, I cannot forget my work family. Chris Lopez & the team at MCS are phenomenal in their care and support for each member of the employee family.

Also of paramount importance is my Filipino family. The vast majority may be Catholic, but in them I see a faith I am almost envious of. It has been said, “If evangelicals had the dedication of the Mormons, the determination of the Jehovah’s Witness and the faith of the Catholics, the whole world would become evangelical converts”. I have tried my best to walk among humanity as Jesus did, ignoring culture, creed and color and my reward from this people group is “the honor of an unworthy westerner being adopted as their beloved kuya”.

We may not know what tomorrow brings, but with God each journey is orchestrated to perfection, even if there are trials along the way.  Paul the apostle said, “…We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience …” James also reminds us, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing”.

I am honored to have endured this trial, for now when others are faced with the same I can truly be there for them. Thanks be to God.

Good News Baptist Church                          Trainity Baptist Church (Austin, TX)

Austin Urology Institute                                Arise Medical Center

MCS Cayman Islands                      Cayman Islands                                 The Philippines

The dream team. Hank, Page, Evan  & Divya

Cayman Port, Hope or Hinderance

Build it and they will come. Build a concrete monstrosity of a cruise berthing facility that dwarfs George Town (and Cayman) and the volume of tourists that come will guarantee Cayman prospers and guarantee jobs for all Caymanians. Sounds like a pre-elections political speech. In theory it sounds good, but when we examine the facts, we may find our grand-children burdened with a mountain of debt, potentially ruined environment and a monument to political rhetoric.

The first fact is: Caymanian society is deeply religious. The locals are Christian, many Jamaican immigrants are Adventists and a vast majority from Asia are Catholic. They all have common beliefs such as gambling is sin and marriage is defined as one man plus one woman. The visitors will be John and his husband Bill, Mary and her wife Jill plus unmarried teen couples. Will residents abandon their values and make them feel welcome with a strong desire to return? Or will it be like when the gay cruisers visited? Protest and placards condemning them to hell? Will we build casinos for them? Will we declare a section of Seven Mile Beach as clothes optional? These choices will be necessary to keep them coming!

A valid question to ask is: What percentage of school graduates in the last 10 years expressed a desire for tourism as a career choice? Has this number been declining or is it on the rise? A quick look at our society may indicate that a very small percentage of school leavers have an interest in tourism. In the 60’s parents encouraged their kids to seek jobs abroad. In the 70’s and 80’s it was finance. In the 90’s the focus was on computer related careers, but change rocketed society into the mobile age and a young person must ask, “Do I want to slave cleaning toilets and risking my life diving OR design an app to sell for 99 cents, advertise it on the ITunes store to an audience of billions… and if only 1% buy I’ll be rich!”. Due to these choices we are forced to import workers from Jamaica and Asia.

How many under the age of 40 can share the culture of their grandparents? How many know how to cook fish rundown or make a cassava heavy cake or plat thatch basket? The truth is that society continues to blend as it was meant to.  Humans were never meant to be one culture, we were meant to be diverse.  I dare state that less than 10% under the age of 20 can raise their hand and declare, “My grandma and grandpa born in Cayman!” Instead their favorite non fast-food is ackee and salt fish, liver and onions, adobo, roast pork or tandoori chicken. As stated before this how it is meant to be. We are to evolve and diversify. A Caymanian isn’t a person who can trace his/her roots back to Columbus. A Caymanian is an individual who has made a conscious choice to make the Cayman Islands his/her home and to do all that will contribute to a better Caymanian society, and ultimately, a better citizen of planet Earth.

In the final analysis, it seems Cayman has nothing uniquely Caymanian to offer the tourist. Europeans have castles and cathedrals. Jamaica has Dunn’s River Falls, Lover’s Leap and the Blue Mountains. There are volcanoes, gorgeous beaches and other natural attractions in Southeast Asia. Recently concern has been raised about Cuba relaxing its communist ideals. I say don’t worry. There is a mass migration of unskilled workers from all these countries to Cayman, the US, Canada and elsewhere. Maybe they see a “writing on the wall”?

So, if we build it, will we have the revenue to pay the monstrous debt it will incur? Will tourism be a sustainable industry for the next 50 years? In the last decade the phrase “Virtual Reality” has been tossed around. Recently there was hype about Google glass… As technology continues to evolve it will be possible to “purchase a VR device at Best Buy, stop at Walmart spend 30$ for two case of beer and some snacks, and in the safety, comfort and familiarity of one’s own home, visit any country on earth”. It will also be possible to visit the country as it was in the past and imagine the future.

Sir Richard Branson is promoting space tourism as a viable industry and within 5 - 10 years trips to the moon will be common. Elton Musk is making plans for colonies on Mars within 10 – 20 years. In 25 to 50 years there will be resorts on the moon and within 100 years also on Mars.

I believe “the writing is on the wall” and with emerging technologies and alternatives sources for entertainment, tourism as it is defined today, will see a sharp decline worldwide within 50 years. Therefore, if you build it, the end result will be an unpaid monument to a dying industry.

My advice is “Leave Cayman as the islands time forgot”. The majority are looking for a simpler experience.  The cruise ship has become a “floating skyscraper” and the cruise dock a concrete jungle monstrosity. The tourist want to escape these things to a place unspoiled by human greed. Taking a boat from ship to shore invigorates the mind leaving one feeling like the explorers of the past. It becomes an adventure, not just an excuse to buy fake local souvenirs made in China.

Move over Nigeria! SnakeOil Salesmen Ahead!

We were offered a free dinner for listening to a sales presentation. We were shuttled to Wyndham Suites. They took our passports for ID & trolled social media for ways to create the perfect sales pitch.

We were introduced to salesperson Jose. They got that name from Facebook. After a tour .& excellent sales tactics I was pressured to sign up.
I played my card, "I really want to, but I have a scheduled 20000$ surgery, cant do it now". Jose responded with a 100% refund trial offer.

I said I was unsure & he said standby I'll get my manager. Knowing Dinah was from Philippines & Catholic he put us in the hands of another he introduced as Father Joe! For 103$ a month for 20 months we'd get free vacations. "Father Joe" told tales of how he lived in Philippines, taught at a famous Catholic university and lived in Amore Cavite! I played along right up to the edge and DECLINED!

The sad part is that Jose at his end replayed my truth "I know someone with prostate cancer...."! But the worst thing using some guy to pretend to be a Catholic priest! Worst than a Nigerian snake oil salesman! In all fairness I know some wonderful honest people from Nigeria, but these guys make the darker side of Nigerian society look honest.  BE AWARE!

GOD IS OUR HELP. OUR REFUGE, OR HEALER.

Faced with life's trials, I even more realize:

WE NEED SOMETHING FROM THE BIBLE TODAY!

2 Timothy 1:7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Isaiah 41:10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you! Don’t be frightened, for I am your God! I strengthen you–yes, I help you–yes, I uphold you with my saving right hand!
Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” 
Psalm 23:3-4 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
2 Corinthians 1:9 We felt we were doomed to die and saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us, for he can even raise the dead.
Psalm 138:8 The LORD will vindicate me; your love, LORD, endures forever– do not abandon the works of your hands.
Exodus 14:14 The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
Isaiah 40:29 He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Psalm 147:3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
Psalm 91:14-15 “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.
  Philippians 4:6-7 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
1 Peter 5:7 Turn all your anxiety over to God because he cares for you.
Isaiah 55:6 Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.
Psalm 50:15 Call on me in times of trouble. I will rescue you, and you will honor me.”
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Isaiah 12:2 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.”
 Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths smooth. Psalm 9:10 Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 71:5 For You are my hope; O Lord GOD, You are my confidence from my youth.  Psalm 121:3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
Jeremiah 30:17 But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,‘ declares the LORD, ‘because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.’
  2 Corinthians 4:17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
Psalm 91:11 For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
1 Peter 2:24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
Mark 5:34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.”

Jesus came to restore us to fullness in our God, but Satan has come to devour,  destroy and rob
Nah worry, Jesus won the victory, so we need not be afraid, just claim the victory that is ours & no longer live enslaved
Rise up in faith, depend on Him, stand firm for OUR GOD HEALS!

The sun has risen in the sky, God is still on His Throne! 

DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY! GIVE HIM PRAISE & THANKS!