The following is a letter from Ed Eagan to his clients explaining his upcoming missions trip that I am posting for him...
This letter contains some very important news. Please read this in its entirety to understand it properly. When you’ve digested its contents please call me so that I know you’ve received it. I look forward to hearing your response.
Several years ago while studying the Book of Leviticus in the Old Testament, I came across the Year of Jubilee. In Chapter 25 of Leviticus we read, “And you shall count seven Sabbaths of years for yourself, seven times seven years; and the time of seven Sabbaths of years shall be to you forty-nine years. Then you shall cause the trumpet of Jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement you shall make the trumpet to sound throughout all your land. And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you; and each of you shall return to his possession, and each of you shall return to his family. That fiftieth year shall be a Jubilee to you; in it you shall neither sow nor reap what grows of its own accord, nor gather the grapes of your untended vine. For it is the Jubilee; it shall be holy to you.” (Leviticus 25:8-12)
There is also the concept of the Sabbath of the Seventh Year wherein the Lord commanded the Israelites to allow their fields and vineyards to rest for one year every seventh year. “Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather its fruit; but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to the Lord. You shall neither sow your field nor prune your vineyard. What grows of its own accord of your harvest you shall not reap, nor gather the grapes of your untended vine, for it is a year of rest for the land.” Knowing our frail human condition and lack of faith, God addressed their main concern before they could even express it. ‘And if you say, “What shall we eat in the seventh year, since we shall not sow nor gather in our produce?” Then I will command My blessing on you in the sixth year, and it will bring forth produce enough for three years. And you shall sow in the eighth year, and eat old produce until the ninth year; until its produce comes in, you shall eat of the old harvest.” (Leviticus 25:20-22)
In the Year of Jubilee, we see this concept of rest applied to many areas of life. All slaves were to be set free, all debts forgiven, all lands returned to the original owners. Can you imagine if the President were to declare 2005 as a Year of Jubilee? With no mortgages, no credit card debt, no car payments, with every form of slavery imaginable abolished and knowing that you couldn’t work for a year but that the Lord had already provided for you, what would you do? As I began to study this passage of Scripture, the Lord put it on my heart to dedicate my 50th year to Him, to set aside an entire year for service unto the Lord. I will turn 50 on October 15, 2004. I’ve made plans to serve with my family as missionaries in Honduras from September 2004 until the end of June 2005 after which time I will return to Syracuse and to my work. By now you’re probably asking yourself if I’ve lost my marbles. You’re wondering, “What about my portfolio?” “What about Ed’s career?”
Let me begin by first pointing out that as long as I have access to the Internet, I will be able to perform the vast majority of my job functions. Almost everything I do in terms of portfolio construction and monitoring is done on the web. For those of you whose portfolios are invested using the Gibson model, you’ll recall that model is designed to be re-balanced on an annual basis only. I will have re-balanced everyone’s Gibson portfolio prior to my departure with the vast majority being done in late July and early August. Those portfolios will be in good order until I return next summer. If something were to happen such that a change would be needed prior to my return, I could make that change via the Internet. My assistant Barb Neri (x250) will remain in the office as usual to respond to your service needs such as changes in address, beneficiaries, withdrawal amounts or additional investments. Evan Walker, the man in charge of the Agency where my office is housed, has been assisting me with this transition since February. He will make certain that all of your needs are met in a timely, professional manner. He is very supportive of me and of my desire to spend this year in the missionary field. He is fully licensed in every area relating to my work and is capable of performing any transaction on your behalf. This would include those of you who purchased life, health or disability insurance, annuities or long-term care contracts through me. I’ve asked Jonathan Bartholomew, a young registered representative here in the agency, to be your main contact person to handle any questions Barb can’t answer. He is intimately familiar with the Gibson model, as well as all of the insurance, annuity and mutual fund products. All non-service inquiries should be directed to Jonathan. These might include a desire to review your investments, a need to purchase additional insurance, or to start a college education fund for your children or grandchildren. I’ve chosen Jonathan because he is both bright and honest. We share the same values. Bear in mind you’ll be able to email or call me with concerns that these people have been unable to address. If a true emergency exists, I will return to Syracuse to handle any problems that cannot be satisfactorily resolved otherwise. I remain fully committed to you and my career. I am very blessed in that I love what I do and the people I work with. I don’t intend to retire from this business.
The top four reasons why you should NOT be nervous about my time in Honduras include:
- I will be monitoring your portfolio via the Internet as always.
- You can email me or call me any time with your questions.
- Barb Neri will be here to respond to your service requests as always.
- Being distant from the investment world often leads to a clearer vision.
Most of you will understand that my temporary absence from the office will not materially affect your portfolio’s performance. Some of you will wish to support me and for that I am grateful. One of the strongest demonstrations of support you can show is to remain as my clients. I have not asked nor will I ask anyone for financial support while we’re away. Why? You’ll recall the Lord promised to command His blessing upon His people during the 49th year. He has already blessed us. However there are materials such as Bibles, Sunday school study aides and hymnals that are desperately needed by the Honduran church. If you feel led by the Lord to give towards those needs, please contact Barb Neri to learn how.
For those of you who believe in prayer, we welcome your prayers. It is one thing for Karen and I to venture forth, it is quite another to take the children with us. It is a daunting prospect. I trust in these scriptures which the Holy Spirit quickened to me a couple of years ago: “For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants and my blessings on your offspring.” (Isaiah 44:3) All of us will be in need of your prayers on a daily basis.
Sincerely,
Edward W. Eagan
P.S. For those of you who are interested in learning how this has all come about, read on.
Most of you know I spent over three years of my life as a Peace Corps Volunteer serving in Paraguay, South America. I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior in Paraguay on December 19, 1979. In March 2003, I returned there after an absence of over twenty years. It was a journey filled with tears of joy and gladness. I was able to see the men and women I had labored with for so many years, many of whom are now in their late 70s. These are poor people who own almost nothing and what little they have, you wouldn’t want. Yet they have a peace and a joy that is almost non-existent in our culture. When I returned home from that trip, I knew in my heart that God wanted me to use my Year of Jubilee to labor among the poor. Since I speak and teach Spanish, it seemed natural that we go to a Latin American country. But where? My visit to Paraguay had confirmed the impression I had already received through correspondence with my friends there—the church was growing, led by a new generation of indigenous brethren. My wife, who teaches English to the Vietnamese in Syracuse, had desired to be a missionary in Southeast Asia shortly after becoming a Christian. It would be a dream come true for her if we were to labor there. The problem with Asia is that none of us speak any of the languages of those countries, which would greatly diminish our effectiveness.
In May of 2003, Karen and I went to Sarasota, Florida to celebrate our 16th wedding anniversary and to visit her side of the family. While we were there, I was able to arrange a meeting with the Pastor of the Calvary Chapel church. This is the church Karen’s Dad attends and where we have attended each time we’ve gone to Florida since 1995. At the beginning of our meeting I described my background in the Peace Corps, my study of the Year of Jubilee, my desire to dedicate my 50th year to the Lord, and my recent return trip to Paraguay confirming that desire. I asked him how would he respond to these set of facts as a Pastor of a church active in the mission field. He replied, “It’s interesting that you came in here this afternoon because just this morning I mailed a letter to forty Calvary Chapel churches in Florida telling them of a need we have in Honduras. Back in 1980, a couple which attends this church, began installing wells in a remote area of Honduras known as the Mosquito Coast. With help from brethren here and around the U.S., they have installed over 500 wells to provide pure drinking water there. They’re in their late 70s now and can no longer carry on the work. In my letter, I ask if there isn’t a family willing to move there to continue the work of Living Waters for Central America.” I asked him what we would need to do to be considered candidates for the job. Per his request, Karen and I attended the Calvary Chapel missionary conference in October of 2003. During the conference the Lord confirmed for Karen that this was His will for our family, which was an answer to prayer on my part. I traveled to Honduras this past April with Paul Benham, the elderly gentleman who started the work in 1980. He and I became quite close during the trip and I feel honored to be associated with him. He is a good man with an excellent spirit. Shortly after returning to the States, he offered us the job. We are planning to depart the U.S. for Honduras around Labor Day. We intend to stay there through June of 2005, which would encompass the kids’ school year. We plan to return home next summer.
Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26)
