Hospital visiting

Friday is the day that our pastor takes off for himself and I am the pastor on call. Today, I had my first random hospital visit. A gentleman asked the hospital to give our church a call, and see if a pastor could come visit him. Now I have done many hospital visits, but this is the first visit where I didn't know the patient or why he was in hospital. It made me nervous thinking to myself: what if this person was on his death bed? Or had a terminal illness? What would I say? could I make a difference?

When I got there, I went cheerfully and met a new friend. His name is Jim and if you keep him in prayer that would be awesome! I soon found out that he had been there two days, been through all sorts of tests, and the doctors were still uncertain what was wrong with him. Talked a little while with him until a nurse came in to do some stuff. When I came back in Jim was ready to take a nap, which I had told him at the beginning if he needed to kick me out for a nap that was okay. I asked if I could pray with him, grabbed his hand and prayed. It was a great experience for me, to better myself on what to say or not say, how to react around hospital patients. Always learning and building my relationship with people.

A little excitement with a church plant!

My first time attending a church plant launching service was awesome. I really didn’t understand much of what was said because it was a Hmong church service. We spent about an hour singing in Hmong and having a variety of special music performances. Our senior pastor gave a short encouraging word, as well as, a few of the surrounding area Hmong pastors. Pao Ly, the president of the Southern Baptist Hmong Association, gave a wonderful message that was both in Hmong and English. He spoke on Acts 2 and encouraged us that if we focus on preaching, discipleship, prayer, and fellowship we will grow our churches! We ended the service by commissioning the First Hmong Baptist Church of Green Bay; and prayed over the pastor and his wife. 

The service lasted close to two and half hours; and it didn’t end there! We went downstairs for lots of food and fellowship. I left three and half hours from the original start of the service. I was super excited to have experienced only what God could have put together. I intend to continue to invest in the Hmong people as they meet in our church and pray for them. What a great day at church!