A BOX OF SUNSETS

Concord, Australia
Sally was already busy at the computer and Ed sat at the other end of the table with paperwork spread around him administrating the wind-up of the mission when I joined them this morning.
"Did you ask God for mangoes for breakfast today?" Ed asked. Ed knows my habit of prayer before I leave the bedroom.
"I was thinking how wonderful it would be to have a fruit salad with mango in it," I replied. I also knew there was no way we were going shopping today. Too many details had to be addressed. Gray skies and pattering rain confirmed our plan to stay in and tie up loose ends.
"The doorbell rang this morning and someone left a crate of mangoes," Sally said indicating the breakfast bar.
Twelve mangoes were nestled in a blue cardboard crate, each in their own slot to protect them from the jostling that could cause bruising. They were packed by the Harvest Company in Queensland, Australia.
I thought, "A box of sunsets!" The mangoes flesh blushed from warm gold to honey orange!
I never dreamed of having my own mango for breakfast, but I had two! I inhaled the sweet fragrance before biting into the perfectly ripe fruit that tastes likes perfume—a heavenly gift from our heavenly Father through a special anonymous earthly messenger.
Thinking back, God often sends us "fruit" signs when a mission is underway or on the verge of completion. Thank you Lord for a tangible affirmation of the choice fruit Your Spirit produced on this Australia mission. Special thanks to the many we worked shoulder to shoulder with to bring in the 2010 harvest. Most of all, praise, glory, adoration and love to our Jesus Christ, His Father, and our Beloved Holy Spirit. We taste of God's goodness, release an aroma of life, and enjoy the fruit of the Spirit in increasing measure within our souls, because the Father gave us the Son, Who sent us the Holy Spirit.
December 1, 2010


Australia 2010 Team Name
Team Base, Concord
I sent an email from the sheep farm in Temora to Lori at Mission Control, Wading River, NY and signed it as "The Soon-to-be-named Team." Sally, Tim, Ed and I knew it was time to get down to the nitty-gritty. Every Bridge for Peace missionary team has a name. We believe God gives the name, and by the Holy Spirit, we discern it. The field team reviews the Word sent from Mission Control, our notes while in the field, prophetic words, dreams, visions, messages at different venues, the attention-grabbing events and synthesize them into a name. It takes courage to undertake the process!
We begin with nominations. All agreed a central message from the Lord was "harvest", appearing throughout the mission in various ways. Most nominated names had a harvest theme. To give you an idea, I'll share a random sample of suggested names.
"Harvest Labourers"—we all liked the Australian spin in the spelling of "Labourers". Other possibilities that ran—"Down Under Harvesters," "Holy Harvest," and "Harvest of the Great Southland of the Holy Spirit." (In some circles, Australia is known as the Great Southland of the Holy Spirit.) Nominations close, followed by several rounds of voting to determine the final choice.
The joy of remembering specific blessings God gave us during the mission escalated into hilarity as we drank of the New Wine of the Spirit! How great it was to serve together, how intense was my happiness, thinking of the faithfulness of the Home Team intercessors and the bonds God has forged. How grateful I am that joy is our charism, our special gift from the Holy Spirit, a God-given characteristic of Bridge for Peace. We are serious about the choice of our Team Name, and had solemn moments of reverent reflection considering what God did, but in the end we blended nominations and "Itinerant Harvest Reapers" was birthed with laughter.
An itinerant worker goes from place to place to assist with seasonal work, oftentimes bringing in the harvest. We met farmers who were working sixteen hour days reaping wheat, oats and other grains in Temora. Bridge for Peace inside and outside teams have been itinerating, going from place to place, joining with those who labor day in and day out in their own areas to bring in what is ripe, what is ready in the spiritual realm. We've covered hundreds of kilometers, ministered in city and country, according to the Holy Spirit's roster.
The "Itinerant Harvest Reapers" are on the move, the harvest is ripe. By day and by night, infused with God's supernatural power, the "Itinerant Harvest Reapers" continue to work by His Light.
November 21, 2010