Unveiling the Message from the Sermon on the Mount
Michael Ryer • January 1, 2019
The Mile of Desire… Dr. John La Noue
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus delivers the message called, “the Sermon on the Mount.” Tucked away in this message, in chapter 5:41, there is a powerful statement that takes a leap of faith to understand and practice. “If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.”
Let me tell you a story to illustrate this teaching.

A young Jewish lad was hoeing in his father’s garden when hesaw a soldier approaching. He dropped his hoe, laid down under a vine, andtried to hide. Suddenly there was a loud burst of raucous laughter from thesoldier as he shouted, “I see you Jew boy! You can’t hide from me! You know thelaw, come get my pack!”
During the Roman occupation of Israel, there was a rule that a Roman soldier could force any Jewish male to carry his pack for one mile, about 1,000 paces. Many of these people had marked a mile in each direction from where thy worked, They did NOT want to carry a Roman’s pack a foot further than they were supposed to do.
The boy got up, picked up the heavy pack, and startedtrudging behind the soldier, muttering hateful things and cursing under his breath!
At his mile marker, the boy threw the pack to the ground and ran, screaming curses in anger!
The soldier laughed and shouted, “I know where you live, Jewboy! And when I come back from this campaign, I will make you carry my pack again!”
Several months later, the Roman soldier was returning, and he saw the young man working in the field. The lad dropped his hoe, leaped to the road and started running toward the soldier! This shocked the man so much that he thought, “Ambush! Something is wrong!” He moved his shield to the front, stopped, and gripped his sword!”
The Jewish lad ran to him smiling and shouting, “You made it! I’m so glad to see you! Wow, your pack is very large now!” The soldier dropped his pack and said, “Pick it up, boy!” He replied, “Yes, sir. I have been waiting to help you.”
The stunned soldier walked cautiously beside him. The lad said, “You must have been very brave and victorious to have so much stuff you won.” He said, “Yes, I was the first to breach the wall and engage the enemy!”
“Please tell me all about it, sir, I am eager to hear your story,” the soldier began to tell about the battle and also began to relax his guard, as he told a story of heroism in battle.
When they reached the boy’s mile marker, the man told him to drop the pack. But, the young boy said, “Please sir, I am enjoying being with you and listening to you so much; may I carry it another mile?”
The stunned man said, “Ok, but let me help you.” As he slipped his arm around the heavy pack.
The boy asked him about his family and home in Italy and the soldier’s eyes moistened as his described his family. He spoke of having a son the Jewish boy’s age. As he walked and talked, he lifted more and more of the load until he was practically carrying the pack and the lad!
When the reached the second mile marker, the soldier said,“Son, you must go home. It will be dark soon and these roads are not safe.”
The lad told him he would, but only if he promised to let him carry his pack if he came back his way. The man was mystified… he asked “Son, what happened to you since I passed this way earlier?”
The boy replied, “Sir, after you came, I walked this road with a man named Jesus. He forgave my sins and taught me to forgive others who have hurt me,
He told me if a man makes me walk a mile as a duty, then I should walk the second mile as a desire. A desire to demonstrate love, a desire to give grace to another, and the desire to demonstrate Christ-likeness to help another find salvation in Him.”
The soldier said that he had heard of the man, Jesus, in Jerusalem.
Then he said, If He can do in my life what He has done inyours, I want to walk with Him also!”
When you get past the mile of duty and begin to walk the mile of desire transformation happens !
He taught me to love my enemies. To pray for them, to feed them if they are hungry, and to love others as I loved myself. Sir, He taught me that all men were created by God and love is to be the essence of all our relationships with each other!
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Our team will then branch out to rural areas surrounding the city, where healthcare access is limited. We've chosen this time frame to avoid the rainy season and make travel easier for both our volunteers and the local communities we'll serve. The exact locations within Bujumbura and the surrounding regions will be finalized closer to the event date. We're working closely with local authorities to identify the areas of greatest need. Services Offered At the Medical Camp Burundi, we're bringing a wide range of essential healthcare services to underserved communities. Our team of volunteer doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals will provide general check-ups, vaccinations, and basic treatments for common illnesses. We'll also offer specialized services like dental care, eye exams, and women's health screenings. Mental health support will be a key component of our camp, with counselors available to provide much-needed psychological care. Additionally, we'll be running health education workshops to empower communities with knowledge about preventive care and healthy living practices. Lastly, we'll distribute essential medications and medical supplies to those who need them most, ensuring that the impact of our camp extends beyond the duration of our stay. Targeted Communities Our Medical Camp Burundi aims to reach the most vulnerable and underserved populations in and around Bujumbura. We're focusing on rural communities where access to healthcare is severely limited. These areas often lack basic medical facilities and struggle with issues like malnutrition, waterborne diseases, and preventable illnesses. We're also targeting urban slums in Bujumbura, where overcrowding and poor sanitation lead to numerous health challenges. Special attention will be given to children, pregnant women, and the elderly, who are often the most affected by lack of healthcare access. 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Volunteering isn't just about giving - it's also about personal growth. You'll gain unique experiences, develop new skills, and form lasting friendships. Plus, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you've made a real difference in people's lives. Donations and Supplies Needed Can't join us in person? You can still play a vital role in our Medical Camp Burundi through donations and supplies. Financial contributions are always welcome. Your money will go towards purchasing medical equipment, medications, and supplies. It will also help cover logistical costs like transportation and accommodation for our volunteer team. We also need donations of medical supplies. Things like bandages, syringes, gloves, and basic medications are always in high demand. Even small contributions can make a big difference. Non-medical items are needed too. We're looking for donations of hygiene products, reading glasses, and educational materials. These items can significantly improve quality of life for many in the communities we serve. Every donation, big or small, brings us closer to our goal of providing essential healthcare to those who need it most. Your support can literally save lives. The Impact of Compassionate Care The power of compassionate care goes beyond immediate medical treatment. Let's explore the lasting impact our Medical Camp Burundi can have on individuals and communities. Stories from Past Camps Our previous medical camps have left lasting impressions on both the communities we've served and our volunteers. These stories showcase the real impact of our work. Take Maria, a young mother from a rural village. She'd been struggling with an undiagnosed condition for years. At our camp, she finally received proper care and medication. Now, she's healthy and able to care for her family. Then there's John, a volunteer nurse from the US. He was deeply moved by the gratitude of the people he helped. 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We also work to build capacity within local healthcare systems. By partnering with local health workers and sharing knowledge, we help strengthen the community's ability to address health issues independently. Lastly, our camps often spark interest in healthcare careers among local youth. This can lead to more healthcare professionals serving their own communities in the future, creating a sustainable cycle of improved health care. Through these efforts, we're not just providing temporary relief, but contributing to lasting change in Burundi's healthcare landscape.
Blake Johnes had not seen his daughter in three years.
A Permanent Endowment to Serve Children, Families, and the Gospel—Forever In a world where needs never stop, we must build solutions that never run dry. That’s the heart behind the John LaNoue Sr. Forever Fund , a permanent endowment hosted by HighGround Advisors and stewarded by Amigos Internacionales . This fund protects its principal forever and uses investment income to fuel long-term impact through water, education, health, and Gospel-centered outreach. This is more than a donation. It’s a legacy. And it’s needed now more than ever.
One Surgery. One Child. A Lifetime Transformed 15% of Ugandan children will require surgical care before age 18. Only a fraction ever receive it . Rural children are hit hardest : over 80% of cases are in remote villages. Almost half of surgical needs remain unmet . Cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) is common. These children suffer feeding challenges, risk of aspiration, chronic ear infections, and speech delay . Malnutrition is rampant : up to 68% of infants with CL/P in Uganda are undernourished; many remain ineligible for surgery due to frail health Untreated consequences : ongoing pain, family isolation, lifelong stigma, lost chances, and even school dropout . Yet the solution exists. Simple, safe surgery can restore wholeness. But time, resources, and access—especially in remote regions—are missing.
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