A friend of mine from college and seminary recently made the INTERnational news. His name is Gary Greenwood and for the last several years his life has read like a fast-paced action novel as he and his family have served God as missionaries in Venezuela.
He has sought to live out his theology by reaching the Yanomami Indians deep within the Amazonian forests. But his geographical placement coupled with his profession have landed him in a bit of hot water with the infamous Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez:
ONLINE ARTICLE 1
ONLINE ARTICLE 2
According to an L.A. Times story, Hugo Chavez has accused Gary (giggle, giggle, snicker, snicker) of being a (chuckle, chuckle, chortle, chortle) CIA SPY (BOISTEROUS, UPROARIOUS LAUGHTER!!!!). For those of us who know Gary at all, this most certainly calls the discernment prowess of the Venezuelan president into question. Serious question.
I thought Gary summed it up well:
As for the issue of U.S. intentions, Greenwood jokingly wondered why the Pentagon would launch an invasion from the dense jungle of the Amazon, where movement of troops or military vehicles would be problematic.
“Wouldn’t the Caribbean coastline make more sense?” he asked as he made his way out of the jungle from this Orinoco River port town.
Gary is no spy.
Gary has been extradited from his field, and I’m not sure where he is at now. Gary, if you’re reading this I say to you: “Good job, brother. Thank you for putting your life on the line for the sake of the Gospel. Thank you for putting your life where your beliefs are.”