MARK AND LAURA WIMBERLEY

I met Mark and Laura my first day in Cesis.  They took us to one of the best restaurants in Latvia (my opinion) for dinner.  Mark was a high school basketball coach and Laura a school teacher in Athens, Texas.  God called them to take a year off to do mission work in Latvia.  That was almost four years ago and they are still here.  Mark and Laura are doing incredible things for the Lord in a very difficult place to work.  God wants to do something in this little town and Mark and Laura are a big part of his plans.  Even if they left tomorrow (which I seriously doubt), they have already done enough to make a difference.

Mark and Laura are just regular folks.  Four years ago they were going to church at First Baptist Church, Athens, taking their annual mission trip with the church, and minding their own business.  And then God got a hold of them.  They have no special traits or talents that would set them apart.  Mark knows basketball ... and Laura knows teaching.  That's it.  How many people could say that?  I know how to do this one thing.  That's all you need to serve God.  Mark and Laura are making a HUGE difference in God's Kingdom work for one and only one reason (and it has nothing to do with talent or abilities):  they are obedient.  That's it. 

I know Mark and Laura's pastor, Kyle.  He's a great guy.  He's been at First Baptist Athens for about seventeen years.  For seventeen years he's been preaching that God calls people.  For seventeen years he's been telling folks that God wants to use them all over the world.  Mark and Laura got the message.  First Athens is one of the greatest "on-fire-for-missions" churches in Texas.  Mark and Laura are proof of that. 

I don't think there are any other Americans in Cesis.  Mark and Laura left their four sons, two of them in College, in America.  Laura cries every time she has to say goodbye.  And yet, there they are ... working tirelessly for God in a far away place.  We need to pray for them. 

God doesn't call everyone to cross the ocean.  Although, I imagine he calls a lot of people who say "no."  For that reason alone we should applaud Mark and Laura (even though they would "turn red" if they read this) ... and pray for them.  And in the spirit of their sacrifice ... go across the street and help someone in Jesus' name ... that would be a good start.

You can read more about Mark and Laura here -- http://fbcrlatvia.banes.name/?page_id=1035
You can read Mark and Laura's Blog here -- http://www.cesislatvia.blogspot.com/
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