We have landed in Houston after a safe trip. Thanks for all of your prayers.
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Sunday, July 29, 2012
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Night entertainment in Managua
We had a good bus ride to Managua. Outside of unexpected construction delays, we had a fun time on the bus. We had a microphone and speaker, so we had a few game bible game shows led by Michaela. It was a lot of fun.
We got to our hotel and everyone loves the air conditioning and hot water. Our meal was great and we had a wonderful last night worship. We got commitment from all of the youth that they want to make it an annual event so we will start recruiting and planning for next July. I am so happy that they want to do this again. We had a great group and they are the leaders for next year.
We are now playing our last game of mafia. The team has changed the rules and added new players and it is accent night. Very funny.
We got to our hotel and everyone loves the air conditioning and hot water. Our meal was great and we had a wonderful last night worship. We got commitment from all of the youth that they want to make it an annual event so we will start recruiting and planning for next July. I am so happy that they want to do this again. We had a great group and they are the leaders for next year.
We are now playing our last game of mafia. The team has changed the rules and added new players and it is accent night. Very funny.
Last Sabbath with church
We are on our way to Managua after a wonderful church service.
We had a bible study as a group and then we got a chance to hear some of the songs the kids leaned during childrens ministry during the week. It was wonderful to see and hear their enthusiastic voices singing and doing the hand motions.
The local youth group then performed a funny skit. It was in Spanish and even though we couldn't understand, it was well done and got the point across. The best part is that one of the performers was Jimmy, one of the workers on the job site.
The pastor called me outside and asked if I could do him a favor and then asked if I could preach the sermon.
I have been asked his a lot over the years and have always declined because i am not a pastor nor did I have any sermons ready. Well, last year after the mission trip, God inspired me to get a sermon prepared in case I ever needed one. With Gods help and some input from Tito, I prepared on about six months ago. I had never even given a dry run ..... Until today.
I told he pastor yes and got ready. Needless to say I was a bit nervous but once I got started God took over and got me through it. It was very hot in church and I always sweat a little more when I am speaking in front of a group so I was soaked by the time we were done. God is good though.
We said goodbye to all of our new friends, ate lunch and packed up the bus for the long drive to Managua. We are staying at a hotel near the airport for our flight in the morning.
We had a bible study as a group and then we got a chance to hear some of the songs the kids leaned during childrens ministry during the week. It was wonderful to see and hear their enthusiastic voices singing and doing the hand motions.
The local youth group then performed a funny skit. It was in Spanish and even though we couldn't understand, it was well done and got the point across. The best part is that one of the performers was Jimmy, one of the workers on the job site.
The pastor called me outside and asked if I could do him a favor and then asked if I could preach the sermon.
I have been asked his a lot over the years and have always declined because i am not a pastor nor did I have any sermons ready. Well, last year after the mission trip, God inspired me to get a sermon prepared in case I ever needed one. With Gods help and some input from Tito, I prepared on about six months ago. I had never even given a dry run ..... Until today.
I told he pastor yes and got ready. Needless to say I was a bit nervous but once I got started God took over and got me through it. It was very hot in church and I always sweat a little more when I am speaking in front of a group so I was soaked by the time we were done. God is good though.
We said goodbye to all of our new friends, ate lunch and packed up the bus for the long drive to Managua. We are staying at a hotel near the airport for our flight in the morning.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Last day on the job site
Our work and children's ministry crew both completed their work successfully today. Some of the children's team came to the job site to work this morning as well.
While there, we placed prayers for the school in the wall before we poured concrete. We also gave team shirts to the Maranatha workers that were with us all week at the site, along with the bus driver.
We completed all of our walls and cleaned the building. Another group will be here next week and the last group is coming in September. We can't wait to see the final building when it is ready for children in December.
After we were done, the tarps started busting again. Cole bought a slingshot at the market and got a chance to try it out. We had a few waterfalls going and two of the team members drug me under for an unexpected shower!
For the first trip with our young people, I am very pleased. Everyone did a great job and we made he progress we needed to. For having so many (22) first time missionaries, God did great things through us.
Here are a few pictures of our last day.
While there, we placed prayers for the school in the wall before we poured concrete. We also gave team shirts to the Maranatha workers that were with us all week at the site, along with the bus driver.
We completed all of our walls and cleaned the building. Another group will be here next week and the last group is coming in September. We can't wait to see the final building when it is ready for children in December.
After we were done, the tarps started busting again. Cole bought a slingshot at the market and got a chance to try it out. We had a few waterfalls going and two of the team members drug me under for an unexpected shower!
For the first trip with our young people, I am very pleased. Everyone did a great job and we made he progress we needed to. For having so many (22) first time missionaries, God did great things through us.
Here are a few pictures of our last day.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
A day without rain
We had a great day at the job site. We didn't have hardly any rain and made great progress. We got more done by 2 pm than we did all yesterday.
Today was our excursion day so we left at two and let the group walk through town. It was a nice day to do that since we had very little rathe children's ministry team had 120 kids today. That is their high for the week!
Today was our excursion day so we left at two and let the group walk through town. It was a nice day to do that since we had very little rathe children's ministry team had 120 kids today. That is their high for the week!
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Another rainy day
We had a VERY rainy day at the job site. It was pouring rain when we arrived and didn't stop till around 2 pm. That slowed up progress all day.
We started one new wall today. However, there was so much water on the floor we couldn't lay any block. Sweeping the water away didn't work so Charmaine came up with the idea to create a dam around the wall, which enabled us to lay the wall. Truly a first!
We have tarps on the roof and they tend to collect water between the rafters. So, when they get full, they can break the ropes or pop the tarp. Sometimes we poke holes just to relieve the pressure before it breaks.
Well, we had all of the above happen. Cole is our designated hole-maker. He has gotten good at throwing rocks and making holes. As you can see from the pictures, there are a lot of them. Cole decided to take a "shower" under one of the streams of water.
Around 1 in the afternoon, half of the tarp gave way soaking quite a few folks. We had to stop work till we got the pressure relieved and it was safe to work again. We fell a little behind as a result. Still made good progress though.
More to come tomorrow.
We started one new wall today. However, there was so much water on the floor we couldn't lay any block. Sweeping the water away didn't work so Charmaine came up with the idea to create a dam around the wall, which enabled us to lay the wall. Truly a first!
We have tarps on the roof and they tend to collect water between the rafters. So, when they get full, they can break the ropes or pop the tarp. Sometimes we poke holes just to relieve the pressure before it breaks.
Well, we had all of the above happen. Cole is our designated hole-maker. He has gotten good at throwing rocks and making holes. As you can see from the pictures, there are a lot of them. Cole decided to take a "shower" under one of the streams of water.
Around 1 in the afternoon, half of the tarp gave way soaking quite a few folks. We had to stop work till we got the pressure relieved and it was safe to work again. We fell a little behind as a result. Still made good progress though.
More to come tomorrow.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Halfway through the week
We have made it halfway through our work week safely. We have ten of our group that were splitting time between the construction site and the children's ministry. So this was the last day on the job site for five our team and we will have a few new people tomorrow.
We made great progress on the job site. We almost finished two of the high walls and completed one of the dividing walls. We will get all of jose done tomorrow and have two walls left.
Our children's ministry team had another 75 children today. The schools are running morning and afternoon so there are different children each day.
So far everyone is safe and doing well and are blessed by the ministry they are performing.
We made great progress on the job site. We almost finished two of the high walls and completed one of the dividing walls. We will get all of jose done tomorrow and have two walls left.
Our children's ministry team had another 75 children today. The schools are running morning and afternoon so there are different children each day.
So far everyone is safe and doing well and are blessed by the ministry they are performing.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Second construction day
We had a great day at the job site. We didn't have any rain during the day, although we had a huge thunderstorm at 3:30 this morning. The tarps held up pretty well and didn't have any issues.
We made good progress and got done with two walls and got up to the 11th course on the two walls we started from the ground up. No injuries and not a lot of heat. A very good day.
The children's ministry group started today. After trouble getting the church open, they had a great day with the kids. They ended up with 75 kids. They will see how the schedule works out for tomorrow.
The pastor had our worship tonight. It was very inspiring as he told about the story of how the town raised the money for their portion of the school. It was a very moving devotional.
We are looking forward to a great day tomorrow.
We made good progress and got done with two walls and got up to the 11th course on the two walls we started from the ground up. No injuries and not a lot of heat. A very good day.
The children's ministry group started today. After trouble getting the church open, they had a great day with the kids. They ended up with 75 kids. They will see how the schedule works out for tomorrow.
The pastor had our worship tonight. It was very inspiring as he told about the story of how the town raised the money for their portion of the school. It was a very moving devotional.
We are looking forward to a great day tomorrow.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
....and on the 8th day,God created tarps
I was woke up this morning to a bird chirping right outside my window at 5 am. It stopped.....and I know why. The skies opened up and rain poured out. It had done this yesterday and then stopped after an hour or so.
Well, today it didn't stop. It rained hard till 2 pm. We finally got to the job site after waiting on the bus.
We knew it was going to rain so we purchased tarps and had them shipped down in advance. The workers only had part of them up when we got there do had to get the rest of them on in the rain.
We started working in the rain. We had the toughest part of any wall, the first course. It was especially tough with water pooling and running across the floor.
Eric and Cole did an admirable job under the circumstances and got it laid after a few challenges.
As you can see from the pictures the tarps held up pretty well, but had some challenges and some holes developed. However, God is good and we made it through. The team did great today especially because most of them are first time missionaries. We got about five courses done on every wall.
We have a good routine going and will make great progress tomorrow.
Our children's ministry team for organized today and will start their work tomorrow.
Well, today it didn't stop. It rained hard till 2 pm. We finally got to the job site after waiting on the bus.
We knew it was going to rain so we purchased tarps and had them shipped down in advance. The workers only had part of them up when we got there do had to get the rest of them on in the rain.
We started working in the rain. We had the toughest part of any wall, the first course. It was especially tough with water pooling and running across the floor.
Eric and Cole did an admirable job under the circumstances and got it laid after a few challenges.
As you can see from the pictures the tarps held up pretty well, but had some challenges and some holes developed. However, God is good and we made it through. The team did great today especially because most of them are first time missionaries. We got about five courses done on every wall.
We have a good routine going and will make great progress tomorrow.
Our children's ministry team for organized today and will start their work tomorrow.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Church service in Nueva Guinea
We had a very nice bible study and church service today at the central church in town. They have been praying every morning at 5:00 in the morning for the building project we are part of. They invited us to join them. They are also baptizing 6 people next Sabbath and want us to join them!
Friday, July 20, 2012
First night worship
We made it safely to nueva guinea and are checked into the hotel. After a few issues with lights and water, we are settled in. Ernie and Renee had to move to four different rooms to get one that worked, but they are in good shape now.
We had our first meal and our worship. We are getting to know each other better and getting ready for church tomorrow.
Here is a picture of us at worship.
We had our first meal and our worship. We are getting to know each other better and getting ready for church tomorrow.
Here is a picture of us at worship.
Safely in Nicaragua
We made it safely to Nicaragua and through the airport. Everyone got their bags. Dehkontee had her bag searched but no one else had problems.
We are now on the bus and are halfway to nueva guinea.
We are now on the bus and are halfway to nueva guinea.
In the plane and on the way
Everyone made it safely to the airport and made it on the plane. Pray that we have a safe and quick flight and arrival in Managua!
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Youth mission trip to nicaragua
16 of our youth and 18 adults are leaving tomorrow to go to Nueva Guinea Nicaragua. Once there, we will help with building a school and conduct a children's ministry program. We will do our best to post on a daily basis and send pictures and updates.
Please keep the group in your prayers for safety and for God's leading on the trip.
Please keep the group in your prayers for safety and for God's leading on the trip.
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