Whatever You Do

By Julie Palomares

In 1981 My husband and I were young newly weds living in Cholula near the capital city of Puebla where I was keeping a promise I had made to my parents to finish college. I had left my home in the United States without my family’s blessing to marry the love of my life, Alex, whom I had met 3 years earlier on a high school Spanish trip. Except for the fact that we loved each other, we real had nothing in common nor did we own any- thing. At least both of our families were in agreement that the odds of our marriage lasting very long weren’t in our favor!

Through my college roommate my husband and I met Dottie and Ray Masson who had been missionaries to Mexico for over 25 years at that time. Jody introduced us to them while they were living in Puebla away from their original mission field, but still very in- volved helping young missionary families and many other projects. In the midst of all of of my university classes, washing clothes by hand and simply learning to survive, I had a growing desire to learn how to bake with yeast so I could make pizza! At that time pizza wasn’t easy to find in Mexico nor would we have had the money for such a luxu- ry, but I wanted us to at least be able to have something special once in a while. In one of our conversations, I told Jody about this new desire of mine. Knowing all we were going through she was also looking for ways to help us.

Dottie just happened to be a master bread maker having ministered for many years out in a very rural community where she made bread daily for her family. My friend arranged for all of us to meet at their home. Alex sat out in the living room with Ray and another friend while Dottie began my long-hoped for baking lesson in the kitchen! As Dottie went through the steps, we opened the container of flour only to find that it was full of bugs which abruptly ended our lesson. Since we didn’t have a car, I thought I’d missed my chance. To my surprise Dottie made a plan to re-schedule and even picked me up. I spent that entire day with her learning how to bake with yeast, but as the les- son came to a close I realized I had gained something far better. Whether we were dri- ving, baking or washing dishes all I could think of is, “ I need whatever it is that she has!” I didn’t realize it, but I wanted the One who was living large on the inside of her! I can still remember how loved and cared for I felt as I spent that very special time with her. Later, I found out that while I had been in the kitchen that Ray had given Alex a Spanish tract which prepared his heart to receive Jesus. Soon after that we found our- selves standing next to each other in a Spirit-filled church service singing a worship song and we giving our lives to the Lord!

When I look back on this crucial turning point in my life, I often think about how the Lord worked through Dottie and her husband Ray to prepare our hearts to receive HIm. They were always helping someone, but they took time out of their busy schedule to help a struggling young couple to do something which didn’t even seem remotely re- lated to the overwhelming needs we had. It is amazing how the Lord was able to use such a simple thing that Dottie had done for years to help me right where I was in order to get me to where we needed to go. This experience not only changed my life, but my husband’s, our family and now to date, many, many others as well! (I’m not even to re- ferring to all the times I have made every kind of bread imaginable or taught others to make it!) A few months later, Ray invited us to a Medical Caravan up in the mountains of Hidalgo, MX to serve people who needed medical attention and the gospel. That week of serving birthed a passion for missions in our hearts that is still at work in us to this very day. It is impossible to count how many people have been reached because of Dottie and Ray’s decision to help us so long ago.

How easy it is for us to look at our life’s circumstances and think, “I’m just a wife, a mom, daughter or a friend! Who am I to do something great for God or to reach people for Him?” But Oh, my friend, you are just the person that the Lord wants to work through so that together with Him you can show His love to a world in need! He wants His love to reach others through your actions, through place where you work, through your conversations and anything you can do for others no matter who you are or place in life! Everyday there are people around us needing an encouraging word or a helping hand. My friend Jody didn’t know how to make bread, but she connected me with the person who did. She had no idea how the Lord would turn the marriage everyone thought would fail into a fruitful relationship that is still growing, but He did. Even when things didn’t go as planned Dottie went above and beyond to teach me. She didn’t give up or get embarrassed when things weren’t working out. She kept doing what she knew to do with all her heart and the love she showed me as she did it is still having an impact on my life. When I make pizza, bake bread, teach the Word of God or lay hands on someone to pray for them, I have a treasure trove of people including Lynn and Bobby Crow who have done good things for me without knowing the great things God would do with it all. No one, not even Alex or myself, had any idea that the Lord would call us 26 years later to return to the country where we first met Him and become the directors of Charis Bible College Mexico where many resources are being translated into Spanish, mission projects supported and students equipped to take the Good News of the Gospel back to their place in the world!

It’s no wonder that Colossians 3:23 tells us that whatever we do, we should do it with all our heart like we are doing it for the Lord. Why? Because when we do anything for Him we are giving His love the chance to work through us to touch others. He special- izes in using every day people and our every day lives to further purposes and plans far beyond our ability to understand at the time. What are you doing today? Are you putting your heart and soul into it? Is there anyone you know to whom you can lend a helping hand? Work at even the smallest task you have to do today with love as if it were especially for Him so that He can do beyond what you could ask or think!

It is impossible to predict what He can do with us when we step out and live each day this way!