Well it looks like another full day ahead. Alex just stopped by to give me the low down... it was a nice sized list. Today we'll connect with the rest of the team... we're expecting somewhere around noon or so. (Three friends of Alex's are coming to lend us a hand)
Yesterday was a great day of prayer, preparation and rest. It was a very spiritually focusing day and I feel better equipped for the week ahead - I must admit I was a little anxious (and maybe still am a little) about some of the items of agenda. I also had an opportunity to spend the afternoon with a pastor friend I met last year.
When we met Pastor Marlon last year he was very discouraged. As a missionary from Costa Rica, Marlon was finding the Belizean culture hard to break through. I always chuckle a little when guys like that ask me for advice... I think I'll make a t-shirt that says this white guy's not the brightest crayon in the box (in fact does anyone ever really use the white crayon?) It seems the struggle continues as it is still a hard culture to reach. He shared his struggles dealing with the witchcraft and other demonic practices his church families are dealing with. It's a heavy burden he bears and all I could do is help him carry it in prayer... so we shared a time of prayer together. I believe Pastor Marlon is still somewhat discouraged, or heavy burdened, so if you feel led you might help him (and the many others) carry this burden in prayer.
So the need is apparent here in Belize... let's go see what doors open today!
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
Really great evening
I don't know if I've mentioned it but I've been reading a book about prayer that's been really challenging. It's entitled "Can You Hear Me?" by Brad Jersak. It hear challenges the idea of leaving messages on God's "answering machine" in passive hope that He may hear them. Instead Jersak challenges to enter into communion with Christ and really hear from Him. While I wish I could give you a better description about the prayer time I've been blessed with over the past few days I really don't know how to explain it. I think the best explanation is to tell you about the fruit... it hasn't bothered me one bit to be up at 5 (4 am Canada time) for prayer. It's been really good to commune with Christ (sometimes I wonder why we need to go so far away from our everyday lives to experience these things).
So how does that relate to an update about Belize? Well last night I had the opportunity to visit/speak in a Spanish Church here in Orange Walk. Being a Spanish church I obviously didn't understand the things that were being said/sung. Usually I just sit with my hands in my pocket and endure till it's "my turn." However, last night I felt the Spirit calling me into a place of intimate worship and join with the people around me. I began to list the reasons why I would want to hold on to my spirit and keep in conversed within me. However, God kept nudging me to free myself to worship with the people around me. As I finally let go it's as though I could understand the things going on around me. While I still didn't understand the words being said I could understand the connection we shared in spirit. I know it sounds elementary or maybe trivial but for me it was quite overwhelming because I sensed God speaking to me very clearly. It's something I tend to avoid in my fear that I will either A. misunderstand Him or B. be challenged with something I don't want to do. When I spoke in Spanish Lookout I challenged the "B" response (the one I am often most guilty of... and I don't usually get far enough past "B" to get to "A"). I had a nice, neat message prepared (that as I held on to my notes they seemed to make less and less sense) but God seemed to challenging me to give a different message. No problem I figured there's probably only 2 or 3 people here (it was a mid-week service after all) I'll only make a fool of myself in front of a couple people. But no, the church had filled considerably as I battled with my flesh (eyes closed).
So I left it at that... I could maybe blame it on translation if it was disaster but I needed to follow what seemed to me to be the "obedient" route. It was a pretty overwhelming experience and God was certainly faithful to His promise. It was great... strangely exhausting but refreshing at the same time. It's so much easier to have predictable messages!
After the service we shared some great fellowship with the believers there and even a meal with Pastor Phillipe and his family. So it was a good day. We had a safe trip from Spanish Lookout. Some good connection with Joseph (a volunteer, young leader who has been a tremendous asset to Alex) and then an awesome worship experience at a church in Orange Walk.
Today Alex had some personal business to attend to in Belize City. I chose to stay here in Orange Walk for a time of prayer and fasting. I'm hoping to connect with a pastor friend here later on today (if I can find him... how hard could it be really?) Train begins next week and I speak in church Spanish Lookout on Sunday so I'll take some time to prepare. After last night I think I should spend some more time praying rather than reviewing my notes! Ahhh, but notes are easier!
So how does that relate to an update about Belize? Well last night I had the opportunity to visit/speak in a Spanish Church here in Orange Walk. Being a Spanish church I obviously didn't understand the things that were being said/sung. Usually I just sit with my hands in my pocket and endure till it's "my turn." However, last night I felt the Spirit calling me into a place of intimate worship and join with the people around me. I began to list the reasons why I would want to hold on to my spirit and keep in conversed within me. However, God kept nudging me to free myself to worship with the people around me. As I finally let go it's as though I could understand the things going on around me. While I still didn't understand the words being said I could understand the connection we shared in spirit. I know it sounds elementary or maybe trivial but for me it was quite overwhelming because I sensed God speaking to me very clearly. It's something I tend to avoid in my fear that I will either A. misunderstand Him or B. be challenged with something I don't want to do. When I spoke in Spanish Lookout I challenged the "B" response (the one I am often most guilty of... and I don't usually get far enough past "B" to get to "A"). I had a nice, neat message prepared (that as I held on to my notes they seemed to make less and less sense) but God seemed to challenging me to give a different message. No problem I figured there's probably only 2 or 3 people here (it was a mid-week service after all) I'll only make a fool of myself in front of a couple people. But no, the church had filled considerably as I battled with my flesh (eyes closed).
So I left it at that... I could maybe blame it on translation if it was disaster but I needed to follow what seemed to me to be the "obedient" route. It was a pretty overwhelming experience and God was certainly faithful to His promise. It was great... strangely exhausting but refreshing at the same time. It's so much easier to have predictable messages!
After the service we shared some great fellowship with the believers there and even a meal with Pastor Phillipe and his family. So it was a good day. We had a safe trip from Spanish Lookout. Some good connection with Joseph (a volunteer, young leader who has been a tremendous asset to Alex) and then an awesome worship experience at a church in Orange Walk.
Today Alex had some personal business to attend to in Belize City. I chose to stay here in Orange Walk for a time of prayer and fasting. I'm hoping to connect with a pastor friend here later on today (if I can find him... how hard could it be really?) Train begins next week and I speak in church Spanish Lookout on Sunday so I'll take some time to prepare. After last night I think I should spend some more time praying rather than reviewing my notes! Ahhh, but notes are easier!
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Feeling at home?
My morning routine today wasn't much unlike my usual home routine. While in Spanish Lookout I've been staying with the Hein family. They have a beautiful family including 3 sons and 3 daughters (the youngest being just 1 day older than Janae). So this morning Angie (the youngest) and I read a "Franklin" book together. Now that resolution is made and Franklin has discovered how to conquer his fear of the dark it's time for another quick update.
Yesterday we had the opportunity to visit a few of the surrounding communities around Spanish Lookout. There we meet with a couple Spanish pastors that we will be working with and a couple of the youth from one of the churches (the other has no youth at all). It was so encouraging to see the initiative these youth were taking in their effort to reach out to the children of their community. Youth like this seem to be a rare commodity here in Belize but perhaps we'll see that change in the coming years.
The evening had a couple laughs as I had opportunity to speak to the youth at Spanish Lookout. Spanish Lookout is a lot like Winkler with palm trees and the laughs came when we had a time of worship together. I felt that same awkwardness I feel at home, should I clap when we sing or not clap. However, the two young ladies from the Spanish churches that I was mentioning came to join us at the Mennonite church and they sat with me. Without hesitation they began clapping away. I eagerly joined in and we may have stuck out a little. I warned them that we could go as far as clapping so long as it didn't lead to dancing... we had a good laugh.
Today we're off to Belmopan and Orange Walk. We'll connect with Priscilla Teichrob (another blast from the past from WBC days) who will be giving leadership to the camps in Shipyard (another mennonite community). Later tonight I'll have the opportunity to speak in one of the churches we worked with last year (in Trial Farm - just outside Orange Walk).
Yesterday we had the opportunity to visit a few of the surrounding communities around Spanish Lookout. There we meet with a couple Spanish pastors that we will be working with and a couple of the youth from one of the churches (the other has no youth at all). It was so encouraging to see the initiative these youth were taking in their effort to reach out to the children of their community. Youth like this seem to be a rare commodity here in Belize but perhaps we'll see that change in the coming years.
The evening had a couple laughs as I had opportunity to speak to the youth at Spanish Lookout. Spanish Lookout is a lot like Winkler with palm trees and the laughs came when we had a time of worship together. I felt that same awkwardness I feel at home, should I clap when we sing or not clap. However, the two young ladies from the Spanish churches that I was mentioning came to join us at the Mennonite church and they sat with me. Without hesitation they began clapping away. I eagerly joined in and we may have stuck out a little. I warned them that we could go as far as clapping so long as it didn't lead to dancing... we had a good laugh.
Today we're off to Belmopan and Orange Walk. We'll connect with Priscilla Teichrob (another blast from the past from WBC days) who will be giving leadership to the camps in Shipyard (another mennonite community). Later tonight I'll have the opportunity to speak in one of the churches we worked with last year (in Trial Farm - just outside Orange Walk).
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
On to Spanish Lookout
Greetings again friends... We had a productive day in Belize City. The task of the day was to get some of the legistical things in order and prepare for a meeting with the Belizean board of directors (shown here - starting at the left and going around the circle is Henry Brown, Bedson Ornes, Fernando Magana, Alexander Perez and Walter Thiessen). It was a real encouragement to hear them speak of their passions and ministry. It's clear the Lord is raising up leaders to make a significant difference here in Belize.One of the great blessings was that most of these men had not met before the day began but there was a clear unity despite the diversity of the group. As they shared common concerns for the country and passions for ministry it was not hard to catch their enthusiasm.
After the meeting we drove out to Spanish Lookout to reconnect with some leaders there and speak to the youth (that's tonight). The trip brought a battle with my Salbutes to a close (they tasted good but I knew I probably shouldn't have eaten them). It seems that I got a touch of food poisioning along the way but found the system reset and I'm feeling much better. Actually I feel real good... I think I could take on the world... And that's what I shall do!!!
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Crikey! Ga-day Bloke!
No I didn't get on the plane and land up in Australia. But we're sea side in Belize City and Alex mentioned he spotted a croc just down the street. Don't worry, though I bear the name "Steve" I'm not getting any "Crocodile Hunter" ideas.
Oh... I was going to take a picture of where I slept so I could post it... That would have been good for a laugh. We arrived at the hotel to discover that it was overrun by American Missionaries... no room in the inn. We had a great conversation with them and many sounded very interested in joining us in India real soon. So I gathered info and we'll see what that amounts too...
So I spent the night with Alex in his place... It's always humbling to come to a place like this and see the sacrifices people like Alex make for ministry. He's living in a "friendly", safe but extremely small room (you can ask me later what "friendly" means but it was the thing to laugh about!)
The two of us had a good time of reconnecting and exploring what God wants for this ministry. While we discussed many encouraging things there are still many challenges ahead. Tonight we meet with potential board members and we'll see where God leads from there. According to our conversation Alex feels that Belize may be a spring board to neighboring countries like El Salvador where the harvest seems to be ripe. We'll see where that leads over the next year but for now we have our work cut out for us in Belize.
Already I have some Salbutes in my tummy and raring to go. Tomorrow it's off to Spanish Lookout to connect with and challenge the youth out there. I'll keep you posted.
Oh... I was going to take a picture of where I slept so I could post it... That would have been good for a laugh. We arrived at the hotel to discover that it was overrun by American Missionaries... no room in the inn. We had a great conversation with them and many sounded very interested in joining us in India real soon. So I gathered info and we'll see what that amounts too...
So I spent the night with Alex in his place... It's always humbling to come to a place like this and see the sacrifices people like Alex make for ministry. He's living in a "friendly", safe but extremely small room (you can ask me later what "friendly" means but it was the thing to laugh about!)
The two of us had a good time of reconnecting and exploring what God wants for this ministry. While we discussed many encouraging things there are still many challenges ahead. Tonight we meet with potential board members and we'll see where God leads from there. According to our conversation Alex feels that Belize may be a spring board to neighboring countries like El Salvador where the harvest seems to be ripe. We'll see where that leads over the next year but for now we have our work cut out for us in Belize.
Already I have some Salbutes in my tummy and raring to go. Tomorrow it's off to Spanish Lookout to connect with and challenge the youth out there. I'll keep you posted.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Arrived in Belize
Hey everyone! This is Terri. Steve just called from Belize to say that he arrived safe and sound but doesn't have internet access to update you all. He's hoping he will tomorrow. Everything went relatively smoothly for the journey down besides a few glitches at customs over the Bible Break material and craft supplies that he brought down. Charitable status in Belize will fix that for the future, but until then, duty to bring things into Belize to leave is ridiculous! Luckily they didn't ask about the laptop that Steve took down for Alex - I can only imagine what they would have charged him for that! Check back soon for more updates.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Will My Facebook Friends Join Me?
The itinerary just gets more and more exciting... There's a couple more speaking opportunities - even one in a Spanish church. Anyone know where I can learn Spanish in 30 minutes or less? Actually I think I've got a couple days.
Just a reminder you can keep track of the steamy climate of Belize right here with the handy dandy weather link.
I'll be landing in Belize on Monday at about 3:50 our time... So don't waste any prayers on me yet.
Just a reminder you can keep track of the steamy climate of Belize right here with the handy dandy weather link.
I'll be landing in Belize on Monday at about 3:50 our time... So don't waste any prayers on me yet.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Quick overview of my itinerary
This is the week of last minute wrap ups and scrambling to get the details in order. We truly covet your prayers at the CCI office over the next couple weeks. Our year end rolls closed at the end of June and we officially begin as our own organization separate of the camp July 1st which means a lot of paper work for Terri as she sets up new bank accounts and the sort (all while I'm away which is a lot of extra work). There's a couple other critical details and you know how it goes... you always feel like you must be forgetting something...
I just spoke to Alex and he forwarded me a tentative itinerary and I figured I'd pass it along for those who are curious what we'll be up to.
June 24 - Depart for Minneapolis to catch my flight on the 25th (it's crazy to think that a silly little flight from Winnipeg to Minneapolis pretty much doubles the price... have no worries this Mennonite refuses to overpay!!!) So it's some good quality time with Mom & Dad who have graciously offered to drive me down.
June 25 - Arrive in Belize City and make an overnight there. Reconnect with Alex and spend some important time in prayer and encouragement and some of the other personal things in helping Alex get settled in the ministry.
June 26 - Meeting with staff/board members in Belize City to go over some of the organization details... hopefully there's some saveeche too! (How do you spell that?... It's food if you're wondering)
June 27 - Youth meeting in Spanish Lookout and meeting with church leaders - Looks like I get the opportunity to speak in Belizean Mennoville. Oba yo! Ack kon nicht pluet diescht?!?
June 28 - Travel cross country to Orange Walk (don't worry it's a small country... but kinda slow on bus) to speak at a church there... O/W is Alex's home town. I'm looking forward to connecting with some friends from last year and of course... the food!
June 29 - Reinforcements arrive - A team of 3 additional recruits will join us. These are friends of Alex's from SBC coming out to lend a hand this summer. Hopefully they're not to beat from the trip because FUN is on the way!
June 30- July 1 - Off to Blue Creek (Mennoville part 2) to meet with church leaders and report in church on Sunday. I wonder if they'll have Wereneki?
July 2-4 - LET'S GO! Our first training in Belmopan. I'm obviously looking forward to that. It's the kind of stuff the makes you sing in the shower... I love seeing youth "get it" and respond to a call for ministry. As it stands it should be a nice blend of Spanish and Menno youth.
July 5-6 - Couldn't figure those ones out... My schedule was in "Spanglish." God bless you Alex... I tried to read it with a Spanish accent but I couldn't make it out... I'll catch you tomorrow and you'll set me straight. It think there's a visit to Ship Yard and/or San Philippe and Blue Creek in there?
July 7-8 - Staff training, the second edition, in San Philippe. Again looking forward to that... and again it looks like a nice blend of cultures will be in attendance.
July 9-11 - Back to Minneapolis to connect with Grace Youth. It's a bit of a grad celebration (Cory's first 4 year group). It should be some good, meaningful and memorable times... Youth sleep at those things right??? Hey, I've got years of camp conditioning... I can easy out last them!
A major blessing is Alex should have a computer in Belize. I hope this means frequent updates. However, as I've discovered in attempting to communicate with Alex over the past couple months, quality Internet connections are hard to find at times. I'll do my best to keep you posted.
I just spoke to Alex and he forwarded me a tentative itinerary and I figured I'd pass it along for those who are curious what we'll be up to.
June 24 - Depart for Minneapolis to catch my flight on the 25th (it's crazy to think that a silly little flight from Winnipeg to Minneapolis pretty much doubles the price... have no worries this Mennonite refuses to overpay!!!) So it's some good quality time with Mom & Dad who have graciously offered to drive me down.
June 25 - Arrive in Belize City and make an overnight there. Reconnect with Alex and spend some important time in prayer and encouragement and some of the other personal things in helping Alex get settled in the ministry.
June 26 - Meeting with staff/board members in Belize City to go over some of the organization details... hopefully there's some saveeche too! (How do you spell that?... It's food if you're wondering)
June 27 - Youth meeting in Spanish Lookout and meeting with church leaders - Looks like I get the opportunity to speak in Belizean Mennoville. Oba yo! Ack kon nicht pluet diescht?!?
June 28 - Travel cross country to Orange Walk (don't worry it's a small country... but kinda slow on bus) to speak at a church there... O/W is Alex's home town. I'm looking forward to connecting with some friends from last year and of course... the food!
June 29 - Reinforcements arrive - A team of 3 additional recruits will join us. These are friends of Alex's from SBC coming out to lend a hand this summer. Hopefully they're not to beat from the trip because FUN is on the way!
June 30- July 1 - Off to Blue Creek (Mennoville part 2) to meet with church leaders and report in church on Sunday. I wonder if they'll have Wereneki?
July 2-4 - LET'S GO! Our first training in Belmopan. I'm obviously looking forward to that. It's the kind of stuff the makes you sing in the shower... I love seeing youth "get it" and respond to a call for ministry. As it stands it should be a nice blend of Spanish and Menno youth.
July 5-6 - Couldn't figure those ones out... My schedule was in "Spanglish." God bless you Alex... I tried to read it with a Spanish accent but I couldn't make it out... I'll catch you tomorrow and you'll set me straight. It think there's a visit to Ship Yard and/or San Philippe and Blue Creek in there?
July 7-8 - Staff training, the second edition, in San Philippe. Again looking forward to that... and again it looks like a nice blend of cultures will be in attendance.
July 9-11 - Back to Minneapolis to connect with Grace Youth. It's a bit of a grad celebration (Cory's first 4 year group). It should be some good, meaningful and memorable times... Youth sleep at those things right??? Hey, I've got years of camp conditioning... I can easy out last them!
A major blessing is Alex should have a computer in Belize. I hope this means frequent updates. However, as I've discovered in attempting to communicate with Alex over the past couple months, quality Internet connections are hard to find at times. I'll do my best to keep you posted.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
The Countdown Is On
Before I get too deep into updates and that sort of thing I want to thank you for coming to my blog. It means so much to me. That's why I'm trying to include a few functional tools for you right here like... the weather - you'll even be able to check up on the weather in Belize while I'm there. Look for more exciting features in the future.
Once again the count down is on for my international departure. On June 24 I will be off again to work with my good friend and co-worker Alexander Perez in
Belize (now, considering the picture on the right I wonder if I could negotiate changing the camping season to January - then you could all come too right!?!) While Belize is marked with incredible beauty, as shown here, there is certainly some big tasks ahead and some deep ugliness to overcome (things that I've shared before like drugs, sex, crime, brokenness, suicide, etc., etc.) Again, it is our calling to bring hope to children and in doing so we pray the future of Belize will be as beautiful as the landscape.
My Tasks and Objectives
I am certain that God is using Alex in tremendous ways to impact Belize (you really have to meet him if you haven't already). My primary task is to encourage and support him in developing this ministry. As many of you know from experience it is so hard to take those first steps (in developing a new ministry or any other task for that matter) and it's so much easier when you can take them walking with someone else. Alex has had to make a lot of hard decisions on his own and I hope that I can give him that support and encouragement he needs to make it through a difficult summer.
Some other tasks on the agenda... It sounds like I've got a lot of meetings and speaking engagements planned. Everything from meeting with potential board members to meeting with future ministry partners. Though it may not be the major content of my reporting when I return it's still a very important to the proper organization of the ministry.
Probably the task I am most excited for is leadership training. During the first week of July I will be a part of 2 leadership development retreats. I wish I could give you more details about this particular task but that will have to wait (it's been a little hard communicating with Alex in Belize as the technology there is leaving some things to be desired).
That should fill up the 2 weeks pretty good... I'll do my best to keep this blog updated with details of these tasks as they unfold.
How you can pray
While it may seem cliche and somewhat routine to pray for safety I'll ask anyway. You certainly hear a number of stories of the things that could and do happen in some of the communities we will spend time in. Fortunately we didn't experience any really situations where we felt our safety was in jeopardy. However, I don't think that was so much because of the absence of danger but more because of God's protection and the answers to your prayers. Please keep our safety in mind and in your prayers.
Please pray for good connections. Certainly our goal is for Belize to find some level of self-sufficiency so that the ministry can spill over the boarders into neighboring countries like Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico and beyond. To do this we need the people and the resources for the task. We hope to find as much of this in Belize as possible.
Certainly pray for Alex and that I can be an encouragement to him. What a big task he has. And when you walk alone for the first while it means you often have to do a lot of the task you do not like or you may not be gifted to do. I know these things really drain a person of their energy. Please pray that I can strengthen him and also pray that the people he needs would come to walk with him.
Please pray for the leaders we will train - that they would catch a vision for this ministry and that they would contribute faithfully and sacrificially to the ministry of their churches.
You can also pray for our team. There will be 5 others that will plug in during the course of the summer. Many of these are friends of Alex from college and other places. Pray that they will be effective in what they do and that they will be unified for the task ahead.
I encourage you to also pray for Terri as I'm away. It seems there's a good reason why God invented moms and dads - because kids always get into trouble at the same time... We're so blessed to have awesome support all around us in raising our kids but you know how it is - it's nice when you can tell your kids to go to daddy when they have the distinct aroma of... ha, ha, ha
And whatever the Holy Spirit leads you to pray for...
I hope to update one more time before I leave so don't be a stranger!
Once again the count down is on for my international departure. On June 24 I will be off again to work with my good friend and co-worker Alexander Perez in
Belize (now, considering the picture on the right I wonder if I could negotiate changing the camping season to January - then you could all come too right!?!) While Belize is marked with incredible beauty, as shown here, there is certainly some big tasks ahead and some deep ugliness to overcome (things that I've shared before like drugs, sex, crime, brokenness, suicide, etc., etc.) Again, it is our calling to bring hope to children and in doing so we pray the future of Belize will be as beautiful as the landscape.My Tasks and Objectives
I am certain that God is using Alex in tremendous ways to impact Belize (you really have to meet him if you haven't already). My primary task is to encourage and support him in developing this ministry. As many of you know from experience it is so hard to take those first steps (in developing a new ministry or any other task for that matter) and it's so much easier when you can take them walking with someone else. Alex has had to make a lot of hard decisions on his own and I hope that I can give him that support and encouragement he needs to make it through a difficult summer.
Some other tasks on the agenda... It sounds like I've got a lot of meetings and speaking engagements planned. Everything from meeting with potential board members to meeting with future ministry partners. Though it may not be the major content of my reporting when I return it's still a very important to the proper organization of the ministry.
Probably the task I am most excited for is leadership training. During the first week of July I will be a part of 2 leadership development retreats. I wish I could give you more details about this particular task but that will have to wait (it's been a little hard communicating with Alex in Belize as the technology there is leaving some things to be desired).
That should fill up the 2 weeks pretty good... I'll do my best to keep this blog updated with details of these tasks as they unfold.
How you can pray
While it may seem cliche and somewhat routine to pray for safety I'll ask anyway. You certainly hear a number of stories of the things that could and do happen in some of the communities we will spend time in. Fortunately we didn't experience any really situations where we felt our safety was in jeopardy. However, I don't think that was so much because of the absence of danger but more because of God's protection and the answers to your prayers. Please keep our safety in mind and in your prayers.
Please pray for good connections. Certainly our goal is for Belize to find some level of self-sufficiency so that the ministry can spill over the boarders into neighboring countries like Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico and beyond. To do this we need the people and the resources for the task. We hope to find as much of this in Belize as possible.
Certainly pray for Alex and that I can be an encouragement to him. What a big task he has. And when you walk alone for the first while it means you often have to do a lot of the task you do not like or you may not be gifted to do. I know these things really drain a person of their energy. Please pray that I can strengthen him and also pray that the people he needs would come to walk with him.
Please pray for the leaders we will train - that they would catch a vision for this ministry and that they would contribute faithfully and sacrificially to the ministry of their churches.
You can also pray for our team. There will be 5 others that will plug in during the course of the summer. Many of these are friends of Alex from college and other places. Pray that they will be effective in what they do and that they will be unified for the task ahead.
I encourage you to also pray for Terri as I'm away. It seems there's a good reason why God invented moms and dads - because kids always get into trouble at the same time... We're so blessed to have awesome support all around us in raising our kids but you know how it is - it's nice when you can tell your kids to go to daddy when they have the distinct aroma of... ha, ha, ha
And whatever the Holy Spirit leads you to pray for...
I hope to update one more time before I leave so don't be a stranger!
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Quick update
Hey everyone,
Here's a little update from life here at CCI. To put it simply I've compiled a list of pros and cons:
Pros:
There are too many pros to list
Cons:
We can't keep up with the pros
So with that I'm asking you to please pray for this ministry. Each day I sit and look at all that God is doing and I wonder, "How come people aren't pounding down the door begging to get involved with this?" I guess to many when we share of the things that are happening it's just faceless numbers that they hear about - for us they are our friends and "family."
Here's a little update from life here at CCI. To put it simply I've compiled a list of pros and cons:
Pros:
There are too many pros to list
Cons:
We can't keep up with the pros
So with that I'm asking you to please pray for this ministry. Each day I sit and look at all that God is doing and I wonder, "How come people aren't pounding down the door begging to get involved with this?" I guess to many when we share of the things that are happening it's just faceless numbers that they hear about - for us they are our friends and "family."
With that we're working on a couple new campaigns for fundraising. #1 The adopt a village program. We're hoping to break down the project in thousands of little pieces putting faces to numbers and invite people to sponsor a little piece of the project. It's going to be a TON of work but hopefully people can get excited about a $35/month project like this. The short and sweet of it is each village project will partner with a church to train 5 leaders, host camps for 50 campers, sponsor follow-up programs, outreach programs to the families of campers at Easter and Christmas as well as support the churches efforts to replicate this program in the neighboring village. The way the project is unfolding we're pretty confident that churches should reproduce themselves once every 6 or so years. There I go again, a faceless statistic - but just imagine what if our church doubled in size every 6 or 7 years... that would make a real difference to Winkler. Imagine this, there's thousands of vibrant churches just waiting to put this into action. GIVE ME A LOUD SPEAKER MORE PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR ABOUT THIS. But alas, I preach to the choir - all you wonderful people who already care for and support this ministry... Please pray for us... it's so incredibly discouraging to see these opportunities slip by on a daily basis.
Project #2 - it's not big potatoes but it's potatoes none the less... The Kids 4 Kids project. I visited another church this Sunday to get the project rolling there. Basically Sunday Schools are collecting to send kids to camp. We provide them with cool little change collection boxes and they set out a period of time to collect for and kids send kids to camp. It's been really neat to see the excitement this project has been received with. To date about 600-700 campers have been sponsored to go to camp. It's a good start - please pray that we can reach our goal to have 20 churches doing this project by year end.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)