Latest News > 2004 Reports - Dick Hokanson
Latest News - 2004 Trip Reports
An Opening Flower
by Dick Hokanson
Time lapse photography is a experience to behold. To watch a flower start as a bud and open to a full flower is something to see. Each of us is like a flower bud that God wants to develop into a beautiful flower. Let me share some of these flower stories.
First, let me share about Gordy. Gordy is a retired inventor and intense man. He had debated for over a year if a missions trip to Jamaica would be a fit for him. I remember two phone calls from him about it. The first was to say he might be interested in going on a team with his wife Becky. As the months passed I hadn't received an application from him, so I reconnected with him. “I'll get back to you in a couple days,” was his reply. A few days later the phone call came. I sensed as the call began that it would be a no. As the conversation began I said, “Gordy, before you say anything can I make a comment to you? I have already spoken for your plane ticket and I need you on the team!”
Well, a conversation followed and at the end he said he would be on the team. His wife told me later that Gordy had made that phone call to tell me he decided not to go. Praise the Lord that he listened to the Holy Spirit.
That was only the beginning of his journey. At the second meeting, God prompted me to show the men on the team a plan of a chain link fence-making machine. As soon as I showed it to him, I could see in Gordy's eyes that I had hit a cord of interest. I asked, “Gordy, why don't you make it?!”
“I don't have time” was his reply. “I'm building a house now.”
“OK, make it for us next year,” I said.
Gordy came to the next meeting with the fence-making machine fabricated. He had a friend that had a new million-dollar lathe and when Gordy showed him the machine plans, the man volunteered to make it. The machine consists of a 2” piece of pipe with a control grove cut in it, a flat piece of metal in it with a crank attached to it. His friend even made it out of stainless steel!
As we got to site in Jamaica, Gordy had the knowledge to set the machine, and ironed out the bugs in it too. As the team left, the Jamaicans were cranking out fence for the neighbor next store.
This was one of the major events with the team, but seeing God in Gordy's life didn't end there. On our day to leave, Gordy was at the ticket counter when the airline attendant told him his birth certificate wasn’t a legal one and he couldn't go. Gordy is from Duluth. How is he supposed to get a birth certificate in two hours before fly out? We were told to go to the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. and they would get us one.
Oh yeah, drive from the Minneapolis Airport to the University of Minnesota campus during rush hour to find the building? Well, I guess Gordy will fly in tomorrow was my thought. A couple minutes later the agent remembered that there was a courthouse in Bloomington. But how will Gordy get there?
Our son, Tim, had brought us to the airport, and was waiting for us to check in. Tim got the car and took Gordy to 90th and York. Away they went, to find out that it was the wrong address.
Thinking on his feet, Tim called and found out that the real office was four blocks away. When they got there they saw the office didn't open till 9 a.m. We were scheduled to fly out at 10 a.m.
Back at the airport, the team was praying.
Right then, a woman that worked in the office came and Tim and Gordy told her their plight. She took them in the side door and in a few minutes Gordy had his birth certificate! Yes, he made the flight, PTL.
This is just one story of the people on our team. I could tell of Shelley and her work with many people as a physical therapist. I could also tell of our Gideons, Ken and Wilma, that gave 5,600 Bibles to the public schools in one day. There is also D.J., Betty, Jon, Martha, Sheila, Chastity, Jim, & Jacki. All have moving stories as well.
What do I say in conclusion? Thank you, God, for allowing us to be part of his mission this year in such a special place as Spring Village Jamaica.
Dick Hokanson is director of Jamaica Missions, a ministry to Jamaica headquartered in Little Falls, Minn., that partners with Project Increase.