Tuesday, December 30, 2008
College Age Ministry 2009 Trip
Here we come. We are just 5 days from leaving and boy are we getting ready to go!
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Reflections on the Trip
This was my first short term missions trip. I don't count the times we spent in Singapore or London because IBM paid the bills. Our goal was to give Honduran pastors the tools they needed to pastor healthy growing churches. Another goal was to complete the playground so the kids in Orica could use it and that it would be a gathering place for the people of the city. We accomplished both goals and the rest is up to the Lord. I learned how much I needed to depend on God: for protection, spiritual impact, and a personal connection to the pastors in spite of the language barrier. God is faithful, and I am convinced that what He planted in Orica, He will perfect. Another personal lesson may not seem like a big deal to those of you who are more disciplined than I am, but I realized how easily I get distracted: cell phones, computers, iPods, agendas, important questions like what I'm going to eat tonight (that wasn't a problem in Orica...it was delicious rice, beans, corn tortillas and fruit) or where I'm going to watch the Badger basketball game. None of these things really matter, of course, but I get distracted by them anyway. Thank you for your prayers. We would not have survived without them. Be blessed.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
January 24th...good day
To our most wonderful readers,
Fred's talk yesterday on Joshua 1 went very well. He is able to sleep well again! Thank you for your prayers!!
Today is a big day for the pastor conference. Right now Steve Rodgers is teaching pastors and church leaders on biblical church discipline. He is using Matthew 15 as a guide. Most of these leaders have not even heard of these concepts. Typically if a person is caught in sin they bring it before the whole church before they go through steps of confrontation of 1 and then more. Steve is teaching restoration and gentleness. These ministry leaders are very excited about this teaching.
After Steve gets done teaching they will eat lunch and then hear another talk from Steve on Grace.
Later on tonight we are planning on a bonfire at the riverbed. This should be a fun time! :0)
There are still several things to do before we leave for Teguc tomorrow at noon. One of the things that has not been finished is the amount of sand that still needs to be shoveled from the riverbed and brought to the playground. We have about 24 hours left before we leave for Teguc. *~Please pray that God would provide man power~* The structures are all in place but we are refraining from hanging the swings since there in no sand to break the fall. The teams desire is to build a safe playground.
Encouraging news: Today Fred spoke with a pastor who is from a nearby town. He was invited by the team to attend the Pastors Conference. He told the team he was too busy to come to the conference but he showed up anyway!! This pastor is a sweet man. During a conversation with Fred today he stated that when he was invited to the conference he was discouraged and didn't know what he was going to do in ministry. Today during a prayer walk he told Fred that was re-energized and has a new passion for ministry. He was very encouraged by the conference!! Praise God!!
Fred's talk yesterday on Joshua 1 went very well. He is able to sleep well again! Thank you for your prayers!!
Today is a big day for the pastor conference. Right now Steve Rodgers is teaching pastors and church leaders on biblical church discipline. He is using Matthew 15 as a guide. Most of these leaders have not even heard of these concepts. Typically if a person is caught in sin they bring it before the whole church before they go through steps of confrontation of 1 and then more. Steve is teaching restoration and gentleness. These ministry leaders are very excited about this teaching.
After Steve gets done teaching they will eat lunch and then hear another talk from Steve on Grace.
Later on tonight we are planning on a bonfire at the riverbed. This should be a fun time! :0)
There are still several things to do before we leave for Teguc tomorrow at noon. One of the things that has not been finished is the amount of sand that still needs to be shoveled from the riverbed and brought to the playground. We have about 24 hours left before we leave for Teguc. *~Please pray that God would provide man power~* The structures are all in place but we are refraining from hanging the swings since there in no sand to break the fall. The teams desire is to build a safe playground.
Encouraging news: Today Fred spoke with a pastor who is from a nearby town. He was invited by the team to attend the Pastors Conference. He told the team he was too busy to come to the conference but he showed up anyway!! This pastor is a sweet man. During a conversation with Fred today he stated that when he was invited to the conference he was discouraged and didn't know what he was going to do in ministry. Today during a prayer walk he told Fred that was re-energized and has a new passion for ministry. He was very encouraged by the conference!! Praise God!!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Interesting day...January 23rd
Hello to the Saints,
Last night at the Alpha presentation we had about 100 people show up. It received a very positive response!! During the presentation of the Alpha video some of our leaders rallied all the kids and made some art together. (mostly finger paints) We will be bringing alot of these home to show you all. They are just beautiful!!
This morning we all went on a prayer walk again. A local pastor of a Pentecostal church asked us to come and pray with him and his ministry. As we were walking there we pasted by Alpha y Omega (the church that we partner with here in Honduras) and there was a dead body that had been dumped in front of the church. Apparently he had been murdered the night before, the man was from the next town over. We covered the body with a sheet. We were instructed not to move him until the police came, which was three hours away. This place is a dark place... The spiritual warfare is raging. *Please Pray~against the forces of evil* Fred stated that the team was reminded that we don't know how long we each have here on this earth...
We left and continued on to the Pentecostal Church and prayed with the pastor there. He had a sad story. At one time the ministry he was working with was flourishing with God's work. His partner organization who funded alot of the ministry got caught up in making money rather than transforming lives. This split the church and the partnering organization. This pastor was broken. We encircled him and prayed for him and his ministry.
The mayor that I mentioned yesterday had asked Luis (one of the guys we work with in Orica) to come and pray with him on a daily basis. Luis told the mayor he could only come on Mondays. Well, Fred and Sarah went to the mayor and prayed with him today. Sarah translated for Fred. Fred shared a couple of verses in Jeremiah with him. They prayed together that God would begin and continue working in the lives of the people in Orica.
Tonight Fred is speaking on Joshua 1 to the Alpha y Omega Church. Please be praying as Fred is preparing to speak.
Today was in the mid-80s. We don't miss the snow! :0)
Last night at the Alpha presentation we had about 100 people show up. It received a very positive response!! During the presentation of the Alpha video some of our leaders rallied all the kids and made some art together. (mostly finger paints) We will be bringing alot of these home to show you all. They are just beautiful!!
This morning we all went on a prayer walk again. A local pastor of a Pentecostal church asked us to come and pray with him and his ministry. As we were walking there we pasted by Alpha y Omega (the church that we partner with here in Honduras) and there was a dead body that had been dumped in front of the church. Apparently he had been murdered the night before, the man was from the next town over. We covered the body with a sheet. We were instructed not to move him until the police came, which was three hours away. This place is a dark place... The spiritual warfare is raging. *Please Pray~against the forces of evil* Fred stated that the team was reminded that we don't know how long we each have here on this earth...
We left and continued on to the Pentecostal Church and prayed with the pastor there. He had a sad story. At one time the ministry he was working with was flourishing with God's work. His partner organization who funded alot of the ministry got caught up in making money rather than transforming lives. This split the church and the partnering organization. This pastor was broken. We encircled him and prayed for him and his ministry.
The mayor that I mentioned yesterday had asked Luis (one of the guys we work with in Orica) to come and pray with him on a daily basis. Luis told the mayor he could only come on Mondays. Well, Fred and Sarah went to the mayor and prayed with him today. Sarah translated for Fred. Fred shared a couple of verses in Jeremiah with him. They prayed together that God would begin and continue working in the lives of the people in Orica.
Tonight Fred is speaking on Joshua 1 to the Alpha y Omega Church. Please be praying as Fred is preparing to speak.
Today was in the mid-80s. We don't miss the snow! :0)
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
January 22, 2008
To our admirable readers,
Last night Dick Hinrichs taught on evangelism for 7 hours. The talk was well received by the Pastors and people who came. The group that came to listen were men and women representing different denominations from the Orica community and the surrounding areas.
This morning the team, pastors and others from the community went on a prayer walk through the city of Orica. Fred stated, "God led us all over the city, He led us to the town square, to the wood worker, to the church, to the school yard, to the clinic, and to the police station." While they were at the school yard the group locked arms and prayed for the children and teachers in the school. Later when they were walking and praying they came along a doctor at the clinic and they prayed for him and the patients within the clinic. They went further up to the police station and prayed for justice. The mayor arrived during the prayer walk and they all prayed together. The mayor stated that he longed for transformation of this community, but the transformation had to come to each individual. Fred stated, "this trip to Honduras is WAY bigger than building a playground!"
*Please pray~
1) Tonight the Alpha tape will be played for the community. This tape has a powerful teaching about Jesus. Please pray that many people would come to see the tape and pray that people would receive Christ as their personal Savior.
2)There are 12 more dump truck loads of sand that need to be shoveled from a riverbed and hauled to the playground area. The team has some concern about the man power. Please pray that the man power would come in droves.
Last night Dick Hinrichs taught on evangelism for 7 hours. The talk was well received by the Pastors and people who came. The group that came to listen were men and women representing different denominations from the Orica community and the surrounding areas.
This morning the team, pastors and others from the community went on a prayer walk through the city of Orica. Fred stated, "God led us all over the city, He led us to the town square, to the wood worker, to the church, to the school yard, to the clinic, and to the police station." While they were at the school yard the group locked arms and prayed for the children and teachers in the school. Later when they were walking and praying they came along a doctor at the clinic and they prayed for him and the patients within the clinic. They went further up to the police station and prayed for justice. The mayor arrived during the prayer walk and they all prayed together. The mayor stated that he longed for transformation of this community, but the transformation had to come to each individual. Fred stated, "this trip to Honduras is WAY bigger than building a playground!"
*Please pray~
1) Tonight the Alpha tape will be played for the community. This tape has a powerful teaching about Jesus. Please pray that many people would come to see the tape and pray that people would receive Christ as their personal Savior.
2)There are 12 more dump truck loads of sand that need to be shoveled from a riverbed and hauled to the playground area. The team has some concern about the man power. Please pray that the man power would come in droves.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Team II - hit the ground and started running
Team II arrived safely in Tegucigalpa. The next day they took an interesting and bouncy 3 hour bus ride from Tegus to Orica.
People are coming out of the woodwork and are helping left and right with this project. Fred said there is a "blizzard of activity" one kid is going around and is just picking up trash which is "unheard of"!! The playground frame is almost erected. The swing set is up and in place it is about 25 feet long and 12-15 feet high.
Fred and Sarah met with a local pastor and got some real insight on the spiritual condition of the people he is pastoring in Orica. The pastor stated that he felt there was a "spiritual oppression" in the city. He said he could "feel it" when he left the city and then returned. Fred said this talk was very helpful. He felt like the Holy Spirit was leading him to start doing prayer walks around the community. *Please pray~ that the spiritual bondage would be broken~*
In other news, there are about 60 pastors that will be showing up for the Alpha Conference later on this week. Luis showed up today with literally a whole truck load of food for the conference.
That's all for now!! More tomorrow...
People are coming out of the woodwork and are helping left and right with this project. Fred said there is a "blizzard of activity" one kid is going around and is just picking up trash which is "unheard of"!! The playground frame is almost erected. The swing set is up and in place it is about 25 feet long and 12-15 feet high.
Fred and Sarah met with a local pastor and got some real insight on the spiritual condition of the people he is pastoring in Orica. The pastor stated that he felt there was a "spiritual oppression" in the city. He said he could "feel it" when he left the city and then returned. Fred said this talk was very helpful. He felt like the Holy Spirit was leading him to start doing prayer walks around the community. *Please pray~ that the spiritual bondage would be broken~*
In other news, there are about 60 pastors that will be showing up for the Alpha Conference later on this week. Luis showed up today with literally a whole truck load of food for the conference.
That's all for now!! More tomorrow...
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
(Team 1) UW / Blackhawk CAM Honduras Winter Mission Trip 2008
Students from the UW teamed up with College Students from Blackhawk Church to build a playground in Orica, Honduras.
I just got off the phone with Curt Staats from the Honduras team. He thanks you all for your prayers. Today has been a great day. Your prayers have been “felt by the team”. Thank you!
He stated that all the “kids” are doing well.
There have been some incredible talks between the BH students and UW students.
One story that he shared was about a girl from the UW who was raised Catholic started asking questions about the Bible. She wanted to know all about it so one whole bible study time they each talked about different books of the bible with her. He said it was incredible.
They have also celebrated a Honduran friend’s birthday. He said he hasn’t had that much fun at a birthday party since he was a little boy. They had a piñata, singing, icing fight, water balloon fight, and just plain old fun.
They have made tremendous progress on the playground. They have allowed the stuff out of customs and it will arrive tomorrow (wed.) as they are leaving. The second team leaving on Friday will be able to install the rest of the equipment. They have made several new friends from this project and many Hondurans have come to help build the playground.
Please continue to pray…
I just got off the phone with Curt Staats from the Honduras team. He thanks you all for your prayers. Today has been a great day. Your prayers have been “felt by the team”. Thank you!
He stated that all the “kids” are doing well.
There have been some incredible talks between the BH students and UW students.
One story that he shared was about a girl from the UW who was raised Catholic started asking questions about the Bible. She wanted to know all about it so one whole bible study time they each talked about different books of the bible with her. He said it was incredible.
They have also celebrated a Honduran friend’s birthday. He said he hasn’t had that much fun at a birthday party since he was a little boy. They had a piñata, singing, icing fight, water balloon fight, and just plain old fun.
They have made tremendous progress on the playground. They have allowed the stuff out of customs and it will arrive tomorrow (wed.) as they are leaving. The second team leaving on Friday will be able to install the rest of the equipment. They have made several new friends from this project and many Hondurans have come to help build the playground.
Please continue to pray…
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