Home Is Where The Heart Is

"Welcome Home".......was the message so genuinely expressed to us by several friends at the Tulsa International Airport. (Wish I would have been awake enough to think of snapping a picture.) Such precious friends who have endured our journey in searching for "home" over the past three years.

How do you define "home"? When asked - "Where is home?" - what is your response? Is it contained within a material structure or a geographic area? Does it refer to other humans who share the same DNA and bloodline? That seems to be the information most people are looking for when asking that question.

I remember when that information did adequately describe "home" for us. We were wrapped up in our own God honoring little world, safe and content to self describe where, what and who "home" was. Boundaries were pretty easily defined as to what we were and were not responsible for.

However, after several years of "life challenges" and spiritual maturation our definitions of many things have changed, including what, where and who home is. The previous definition still remains as part of our view of home - but it has expanded greatly to include so much more. The most critical part of our definition of home is centered around the experienced presence of the Spirit of Christ.

Wherever we sense the Spirit of Christ can, and has, become home for us. Some times that can be sensed in a group setting - such as some Believers who do not understand our language (or us theirs) but, none the less, make us feel at home in their time of worship through warm smiles, genuine hugs and authentic spirits of Christ-likeness.

We have also experienced "home" when God has crossed our paths with individuals who have decided to live their life solely for the purpose of sharing the love of Christ in ways that are appreciated and welcomed by the less fortunate ..... such as a former Jazz Musician who now serves as an "unofficial" administrator for a dozen schools in the Honduras mountains - allowing God to use her as a conduit for others to give and provide basic educational needs such as paper, pencils, books, chalkboards, chalk, etc.......including a new toilet and paint for the school building. Also, a retired nurse who was burned out on the public heath care industry and moved to a Caribbean island to retire - only to start a community health clinic in her kitchen that has now developed into a large clinic/hospital dealing with 60+ patients every day. Then there is the couple who were business professionals turned full time pastors when they decided the religious rat race was no better than the corporate one - moved to an island for early retirement and are now the developers/directors of an endeavor that supplies the only drinking water available to an entire community of indigenous people....and more dreams on the horizon!

These situations and people all became "home" for us in the time God allowed us to share life with them. We continue to remain open for whatever, wherever and whoever Christ allows us to share life with. We are praying our "home-front" will continue to expand - for that is where we have experienced true fulfillment and purpose - sharing life with Christ-minded people on a daily basis, together serving those who are less fortunate.

We hope you had some great memory making and life-enriching experiences with those who constitute "home" for you.

We pray His Peace and Love will continue to infect all you come into contact with in 2009.

Happy New Year from our "home" to yours!

- Henry & Terry McCray
(pic of our grandchildren Kyle & Kendall)

Heading Back to T-town.

Our three month missions exploration to Roatan ends tomorrow as we fly back to Tulsa for the next leg of our journey. We are not sure what God has in store for us or when that may, if ever, become totally apparent. We are continuing to learn to lay back in His hands and enjoy the journey ....... we still have too many times when we find ourselves attempting to take over and just have to sigh and say - "Sorry, Lord.....old habits die hard.....please continue your work within us in your time and place."

As we look back over this past three months it is amazing to see how Holy Spirit has used every step along the way to knock off some of our rough spots and mold us more to His image.

Our first two months were spent in Helene, Roatan, Honduras - which God primarily used to slow us down from the "rat-race" pace we have lived in the U.S. for the past 55+ years. We learned from some Godly islanders what total trust in Christ looks like. We wish we could say we achieved that - but at least we are in process. It is amazing how many things we manipulate in our own lives and ask God to bless it.

Also on Helene, we learned from the islanders how much less we can live with. Less "things", "stuff", "transportation" other than our feet. (for Henry - less food and sweets!!) We also began to enjoy less time apart, less stress, less godless distractions, less religious expectations. Less focus on "doing" and major focus on "being".

For whatever reason, we were not lead to stay or return to Helene. Instead, we sensed God's leading to attend a Spanish language Emersion School on the mainland of Helene. After three hard weeks of homework and memorization we finally graduated Spanish Kindergarten!!! :-)

More importantly we began to sense the hearts of the hispanics on the mainland. Living in such poverty they were more content, fulfilled and thankful than we have been most of our lives in the States.

After "graduation" we returned to Roatan to help in a Mission Health Clinic and a Mission group who is providing water (physically and spiritually) to the newest residents of the island. Our hearts warmed within us as we spent time with these precious people. Most have such a firm resolution to Christ, family and neighbors. We were able to experience "community" at it's purest form.

Once again, for whatever reason, doors are not open at this time to return to Roatan. So ..... we remain committed to go through any open door Christ provides. At this time that means returning to Tulsa to look for doorways of minsitry. We think that may lead to ministry with Hispanics, but will not attempt to place limitations on Holy Spirit's plan of action.

So.....we head back to the states with trepidation, fear and trembling. We do not want to squander or lose the growth we have experienced over the past three months. Translated: we do not wish to re-enter the "career race", the "horde it for security" mindset, the "less time shared" structure of most U.S. married couples, the "compartmentalized mindset" that separates all areas of our daily lives. I'm sure most of you don't deal with those problems, but it took two full months on a desolate island for Christ to cleanse us and redirect our passions and priorities.

We are trusting Holy Spirit to place us in the midst of others who are "like-hearted" and will be willing to allow us to grow with them in the journey of Christ-like living.

Therefore, our journey continues . . . want to come along?

Blessings and Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Henry & Terry