Heading Back to Nicaragua!

It is official! I will definitely be going back to Nicaragua at least one time in the next year to help lead church building teams! From our church alone (Main Street Baptist in Oneonta, NY), we will send two teams... first a college/young adult team leaving December 26th and the second, open to anyone leaving February 14th. It is exciting to see how involved our smaller congregation is to the concept of traveling internationally to build not only buildings but relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ!

Our first team meeting will be Monday June 11th at Main Street Baptist - I am looking forward to seeing who will be part of the next building projects. It is fun to experience the excitement of the early stages of the team building process - but nothing compares to the actual on site experience in Nicaragua!

My goal is in 3-4 months to be finished the application and approval process for the field ministry position with Partnership Ministries, the short term missions "department" of Missions to the Americas. Then, I can begin the support seeking stage, then the mobilization stage will follow shortly after that! I also hope to begin language education... maybe starting here with Rosetta Stone on CD, then into an immersion program of learning and living in Central America.

My passion is to introduce as many people to the myriad of ways that God can use our ordinary talents to serve Him. If this concept interests you, let's talk!

Economic Development in Central America

On Thursday May 3rd, we ventured back up the Escondido River to El Rama, then headed west to Grenada for our free time. We stayed at the Casa de Vivaldi - a wonderful spot with fine rooms, central location and a beautiful pool! On Friday, we headed towards Volcán Mombacho, not too far from Masaya. This volcano offered a totally different experience than Volcán Masaya. This volcano is dormant and the only activity we noticed were steam shafts on our walk around the perimeter of an older crater. The hike around Volcán Mombacho uncovered many species of animals and plant life - it was noted that one one tree alone, there were more species of plants than in the entire country of England! How awesome is our God anyway!?!?


After the team left Managua on Saturday, May 5th, I was asked to tag along with Rigo & Claudia, Mike & Lesly as well as two representatives from Missions to the Americas, Aaron Palmatier and Illdefonso Ramirez. We stayed in Managua for two nights but ventured to Ciudad Sandino just outside the city limits of Managua and Chinandega to visit existing churches that Main Street had worked on. On Monday, we headed south to Jinotepe and Masaya to investigate future church building sites and economic development opportunities. It was fascinating to see the vision that God placed on Rigo's heart!

En route to Chinandega, I was the only person who could not speak Spanish... occasionally, Rigo would stop and review in English with me what they were discussing in Spanish. This just made it very plain that I need to learn the language to go to the next level of effectiveness in Central America!




As we made our way to the Costa Rica Highway along the Pacific Coast, we stopped briefly at the carpentry shop currently under construction. Rigo envisions this as an avenue for young men normally caught up in gangs to learn a trade that can legitimately earn them money to support their families. This is one aspect of Rigo's ministry that continues to boggle my mind... he is always looking for opportunities to engage himself into the lives of those he meets. But paramount in all his discussions and projects is the underlying motivations... "to introduce more people to the Good News of Jesus Christ"... he has repeated that he does not wan to run the carpentry shop or micro-manage any of his proposed endeavors... he just wants to create as many opportunities for "divine intersections" so Jesus can make a difference in the lives of as many people as possible... it is awesome to be round Rigo - his passion is infectious!

Our next destination was a small farming community outside of Jinotepe... this is where Rigo revealed to us a much larger vision! The western coastal area in Nicaragua is higher in elevation and also is influenced by the prevailing winds off the Pacific, so the weather is actually very nice and temperate, which allows for longer growing seasons. We drove off the main road down into a valley... which led us to a parcel of land that was being sold. The parcel is actually made up of two pieces of land - one, a 100 acre dairy farm complete with barns, cows, goats, pigs and chickens. Across the street is another 120 acres that could be used for crops of all sorts - oranges, papaya, mango, all sorts of other fruits and vegetables. The topsoil was almost 2 feet deep and at one spot where they had piped water from across the street there was a deep dark black soil. Most farmers in the area are not farming now as they are waiting for "the next rain", but Rigo is convinced that with irrigation, their land would produce a myriad of crops. The Dole Agricultural Engineer emerged at this pint and he was in his element... pretty cool that a job that just about broke him will now give him the expertise to venture into an opportunity that could potentially sustain his ministries throughout Nicaragua!

Do I need to repeat about how our God is so awesome!?!?

The Church on a Hill Has a Roof!

As we ventured down the Escondido River, those of us who had returned sat there reminiscing about our February experiences... the anticipation was too much. We arrived at the Caribbean Dreams Hotel with the inviting front porch - it was like we never left! Once we ate breakfast and unpacked we headed out of town to the work site. We were welcomed by children at the top of the hill... their excitement was briefly interrupted after they examined the smaller group that emerged form the 15 passenger van... yes, they were excited, but some of their good friends from February were missing! The got over it quickly but the kids asked a lot of questions - our broken Spanish was good enough because they were so eager to re-engage with us regardless of who was missing!

Pinky (Dr. Dave... in the right photos on the right) & The Brain (Jim aka Grandpa by himself grinding away!) returned to the work site and they were truly a blessing because of the engineering challenges that faced us. Along with Pinky is the EverReady sidekick Josh (next to Dave) who would have no fear when it came to walking across beams and walls without a net or ropes - his cat-like abilities made some impossible tasks possible - that's Biblical, because it was only God that could have accomplished all that! In the right photo above, instead of the traditional "Cheese", Josh and Dave are saying the Spanish word, "Queso"... we found out that in order to get someone to smile in Nicaragua, you have them say "Whiskey"... OK, that's not Biblical, but it makes better pictures!

It was amazing how much work was accomplished by the Nicaraguans since we left in February... and from what we have heard, after we left, many Nicaraguans stayed to help finish thing up! On our last day, we had completed the full foundation for that wall. As of last Monday, the wall closest to you in the picture below was halfway completed - we finished pouring the last foundation the day we left! The shots above show the progress we made with the roof - by the time we left, all of the rafters and purlons (cross pieces to which the roofing material was screwed to)were in place and one section of the galvanized roof material was installed. A slight engineering call was made and agreed upon... the roof rafters were joined together at the same place - this gave the roof more stability and also lessened the airfoil tendency of the split roof design.

Thanks to the diplomatic engineering discussions that took place! We can't wait to see the finished product! We should hear a progress report from Rigo soon as he is in Bluefields this week! Stay tuned!

The "Bluefields 8" Returns!

This sums it all up but it will take me a few days to get it all down in writing... needless to say, our team was welcomed with open arms by our brothers and sisters in Bluefields... it was like we left and came back after a long weekend... no formalities like our first visit - back to business and back to cultivating our relationships - it was awesome.

Stay tuned for more to come, including a report from my "economic development" tour after our project - WOW, God is and continues to be up to something in Nicaragua!

And We're Off!

Hard to believe that is has been almost 2 months since we returned from Bluefields... and it is now our departure day! This trip will be unique from our recent trip in February - instead of 44 members which was combination of teens and adults, we now have 7 members - with only one young adult! There will be more Nicaraguans there than North Americans... this is a good thing as the building project is not ours... it belongs to God and the people of Bluefields!

We departed from Main Street Baptist in Oneonta at 3:15 AM to catch a 6:00 AM flight to Atlanta where we will meet up with Greg from Tulsa... we then will fly to Managua, here we will be have a 9 hour layover before we board a bus to El Rama, then have three hours to wait for our Escondido river journey to Bluefields, where we will arrive sometime Friday morning.

Our February Nicaragua trip's retrospective service Sunday night was well attended and I believe our stories and photo and video presentations were a blessing to many who attended. I pray that God continues to move in all our hearts to to encourage us to step outside our comfort zones as we examine how God can use what is left of our lives. From young children to teens to senior citizens, He has a plan... we just have to tap into it!

SAVE THE DATE - April 22, 2007

SAVE THE DATE - April 22, 2007

We have a special presentation scheduled for this coming weekend - Back to Bluefields, a Retrospective on Sunday April 22nd at The Crossing worship service at Main Street Baptist Church, 333 Main Street, Oneonta, NY from 6-8:00 PM. There will be videos and stories from team members as well as a praise and worship service. Invite your friends and family to share our experiences!

Speaking of heading back... we are going...

GREAT NEWS!!

We now have a total of 7 folks - with 5 "veterans" from the February trip! Final travel arrangements are complete so now we can focus on bonding as a team. We will use email and maybe even Skype to conference all of us together to share our pre-trip experiences. The outpouring of love and support from those who previously went in February and are unable to make this return trip has been amazing. Our February trip's reunion meeting on March 30th at the Z's home in Oneonta just re-ignited our passion for the people in Bluefields - but we were also challenged to be the light in our own towns and villages where we live!

Six of us will leave from Albany, NY on April 26th and we will meet up with Greg from Tulsa in Atlanta. Cherith will be postponing her horse camp ministry until she gets home, so she will not travel from Bend, Oregon! Once we arrive in Managua, we will head east through Nicaragua - first by bus to El Rama, then by boat down the Escondido River to Bluefields.


We will meet up with 5-6 American volunteers from other parts of Central America and as many as 10-15 Nicaraguans to forge ahead with the project we started in February. The latest report from Mike Najjar is that e will finish the part of the building where Pastor William will live as well as maybe finish the roof on the Sanctuary - awesome!


The trip will last until Saturday May 5th... we look forward to our return to Bluefields and seeing the villagers we left just over 2 months ago!






To glorify God, of course!

Farewell to Johnny Hart

We were saddened by the news of the passing of Johnny Hart... this is from MSNBC.com...

For millions of comic strip readers, the prehistoric era was a hoot: Cavemen played baseball, ants went to school, birds rode on the back of turtles and snakes made quips. All of it was thanks to cartoonist Johnny Hart, who died Saturday at age 76 while working at his home in the nearby hamlet of Nineveh. “He had a stroke,” his wife, Bobby, said Sunday. “He died at his storyboard.”

Hart’s “B.C.” strip was launched in 1958 and eventually appeared in more than 1,300 newspapers with an audience of 100 million, according to Creators Syndicate Inc., which distributes it.

“He was generally regarded as one of the best cartoonists we’ve ever had,” Hart’s friend Mell Lazarus, creator of the “Momma” and “Miss Peach” comic strips, said from his California home. “He was totally original. ’B.C’ broke ground and led the way for a number of imitators, none of which ever came close.” Hart, who also co-created “The Wizard of Id,” won numerous awards for his work, including the National Cartoonist Society’s prestigious Reuben Award for Cartoonist of the Year and an award from the International Congress of Comics. Richard Newcombe, founder and president of Creators Syndicate said “B.C.” and “Wizard of Id” would continue. Family members have been helping produce the strips for years, and they have an extensive computer archive of Hart’s drawings to work with, he said.

After his discharge from the military in 1954, Hart worked in the art department at General Electric while selling cartoons on the side. He began reading Charles Schulz’s “Peanuts” and was inspired to start his own strip. “Caveman gags, for reasons which I still cannot explain, were an obsession in those days,” Hart told Creators. “One day, a friend jokingly suggested I create a strip revolving around prehistoric times.”

Later in his career, some of Hart’s cartoons had religious themes, a reflection of his own Christian faith. That sometimes led to controversy. A strip published on Easter in 2001 drew protests from Jewish groups and led several newspapers to drop the strip. The cartoon depicted a menorah transforming into a cross, with accompanying text quoting some of Jesus Christ’s dying words. Critics said it implied that Christianity supersedes Judaism. Hart said he intended the strip as a tribute to both faiths. “He had such an emphasis on kindness, generosity, and patience,” Newcombe said.

“B.C.” was filled with puns and sly digs at modern society. One recent strip showed an ant teacher asking her class, “Who can tell me what secondhand smoke is?” One pupil raised his hand with an answer: “A political speech made by a vice presidential candidate.”

After he graduated from Union-Endicott High School, Hart met Brant Parker, a young cartoonist who became a prime influence and eventual co-creator with Hart of “The Wizard of Id” in 1964. Hart enlisted in the Air Force and began producing cartoons for Pacific Stars and Stripes. He sold his first freelance cartoon to the Saturday Evening Post after his discharge from the military in 1954.

Many of Hart’s characters were patterned after his friends. “He was a free spirit who loved everybody, and everything,” Jack Caprio, a childhood friend and model for “Clumsy Carp” in the “B.C.” strip, told the Press & Sun-Bulletin of Binghamton. “He was never embarrassed by doing silly things.”

Besides his wife, Hart is survived by two daughters, Patti and Perri. He was a native of Endicott, about 135 miles northwest of New York City, and drew his comic strip at a studio in his home there until the day he died.

To read about others' thoughts on this awesome comic creator... http://boards.msn.com/MSNBCboards/thread.aspx?BoardID=507&ThreadID=251237&BoardsParam=HIPDelay%3d1

Good Friday and Easter - The Real Deal

We learn a lot about how Jesus affected and influenced the disciples and onlookers who followed Him during his life and time of teaching. As described in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and in the book of Acts, His life and ministry on earth changed history forever!

Jesus can relate to the despair in our lives... the night before he as crucified, he spent a lot of time praying in the Garden Of Gethsemane. He realized his fate was in the God's hands and that He must suffer the next day. In the book of Luke, chapter 22, verse 44 the Bible says he sweat blood because of his anguish. He took on all the wrath and sin for all and because of that we can experience eternal life with him, if we believe He did this for us.

The day Jesus was brutally beaten and crucified was a dark day for sure. If He was truly the Son of God, why couldn't He save Himself? Why did He have to suffer in such a way? I imagine that the disciples, especially, who spent many days with Jesus, watching Him teach and preach boldly, heal the sick and crippled and brought some back from the dead, were in such deep despair. The following couple days must have been so hard and unexplainable - they hid themselves not knowing how to proceed.

But, just as Jesus predicted, He was triumphant over death and was resurrected on the Third Day and now sits again in glory with God. When He appeared to Mary Magdalene and Mary, then the 11 disciples, he assured them to not be afraid and began with some of his most important teachings as told in Matthew 28: 18-20...

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Regardless of where you are in your spiritual journey - think about this... Jesus came down from the highest of high places to live on Earth to live a perfect example for us, then suffered and died on all of our behalf in order for us to receive this gift... to give an chance to have eternal life with God. It is up to us to accept this gift... take some time to consider where you stand.

John 3:16 is one of the most widely used and read passages, but continue on to verse 17 and as Paul Harvey says, is the rest of the story...

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

WANTED: Baseball Equipment & Musical Instruments

I just received notice from the folks serving the ministry in Bluefields Nicaragua and they have made some needs known to us. Sports and music are two activities that the children naturally were drawn to - it would be a special blessing to the villages we serve if we could respond to this need!

If you are interested in locating, donating or offering these items or can provide financial support to this effort, please let me know!

We are Chosen!

Every morning while in Bluefields, we spent time before departing for the work site reflecting on a passage of Scripture... one in particular, Ephesians 1 was presented by Mike Najjar and I am still pondering its power and meaning in my life. We were blessed last week by a guest preacher, brother Brian Young who was one of the team members with us in Bluefields. He spoke from his heart on a portion of this passage as well!

May God add His blessing to those who ponder this passage!

Ephesians 1
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

En Español:

Efesios 1
Pablo, apóstol de Cristo Jesús por la voluntad de Dios, a los santos y fieles en Cristo Jesús que están en Éfeso: Que Dios nuestro Padre y el Señor Jesucristo les concedan gracia y paz.

Alabado sea Dios, Padre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, que nos ha bendecido en las regiones celestiales con toda bendición espiritual en Cristo. Dios nos escogió en él antes de la creación del mundo, para que seamos santos y sin mancha delante de él. En amor nos predestinó para ser adoptados como hijos suyos por medio de Jesucristo, según el buen propósito de su voluntad, para alabanza de su gloriosa gracia, que nos concedió en su Amado. En él tenemos la redención mediante su sangre, el perdón de nuestros pecados, conforme a las riquezas de la gracia que Dios nos dio en abundancia con toda sabiduría y entendimiento. Él nos hizo conocer el misterio de su voluntad conforme al buen propósito que de antemano estableció en Cristo, para llevarlo a cabo cuando se cumpliera el tiempo: reunir en él todas las cosas, tanto las del cielo como las de la tierra.

En Cristo también fuimos hechos herederos, pues fuimos predestinados según el plan de aquel que hace todas las cosas conforme al designio de su voluntad, a fin de que nosotros, que ya hemos puesto nuestra esperanza en Cristo, seamos para alabanza de su gloria. En él también ustedes, cuando oyeron el mensaje de la verdad, el evangelio que les trajo la salvación, y lo creyeron, fueron marcados con el sello que es el Espíritu Santo prometido. Éste garantiza nuestra herencia hasta que llegue la redención final del pueblo adquirido por Dios, para alabanza de su gloria.

Por eso yo, por mi parte, desde que me enteré de la fe que tienen en el Señor Jesús y del amor que demuestran por todos los santos, no he dejado de dar gracias por ustedes al recordarlos en mis oraciones. Pido que el Dios de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, el Padre glorioso, les dé el Espíritu de sabiduría y de revelación, para que lo conozcan mejor. Pido también que les sean iluminados los ojos del corazón para que sepan a qué esperanza él los ha llamado, cuál es la riqueza de su gloriosa herencia entre los santos, y cuán incomparable es la grandeza de su poder a favor de los que creemos. Ese poder es la fuerza grandiosa y eficaz que Dios ejerció en Cristo cuando lo resucitó de entre los muertos y lo sentó a su derecha en las regiones celestiales, muy por encima de todo gobierno y autoridad, poder y dominio, y de cualquier otro nombre que se invoque, no sólo en este mundo sino también en el venidero. Dios sometió todas las cosas al dominio de Cristo, y lo dio como cabeza de todo a la iglesia. Ésta, que es su cuerpo, es la plenitud de aquel que lo llena todo por completo.

A Church is More than a Building

¡Una iglesia es más que un edificio!

Didn't the people in Bluefields show us that! Even after a full week of work with 50+ workers, the church 'building" was not even close to completion, but 250+ villagers came to worship God under the Nicaraguan sky the Saturday night after we left. Did the lack of building matter to these folks? Apparently not! We look forward to our return in late April to share with our brothers and sisters in Christ about how God has changed our lives!

I love this passage of Paul's to the Roman church in Chapter 12...

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Supply Pipeline for Non-Profits

At a recent Red Cross Blood Drive in town, I met up with Pastor John Grenier from the Oneonta Assembly of God... our kids swam on the YMCA swim team years ago, so we caught up on how things were with both of our families - kids grow up... amazing how time flies! Anyway, I mentioned our trip to Nicaragua... the ministry going on there... the construction project and the sewing "industry" that was started amongst the women of the churches. John asked me "do you folks need any sewing machines?"... I said, plainly, "yes, we do!". Long story short, his church donated three brand new sewing machines for me to take with me in April! Is this awesome or what!?!?

The organization that donated the sewing machines offers a variety of goods to non-profit organizations is called NAEIR.

This week, we will be receiving member information about how we can tap into this resource - there is a one time lifetime membership fee - they offer all sorts of goods that can be bought for minimal shipping charges! From socks and garments to air compressors and nail guns to construction materials... take a look for yourself! If you need things, they are the source... if your organization or company has over stocks, they can offer a distribution pipeline to unload this product PLUS receive a tax deduction... it is a win-win!

NAEIR Headquarters pertinent information...
560 McClure Street
Galesburg, IL 61401

Website - http://www.naeir.org/
Phone: 800-562-0955
DONOR FAX: 309-343-0862
MEMBER FAX: 309-343-3519

This is not a pyramid... and I do
not benefit one iota from your participation!

Team is Assembling - Back to Bluefields!

A letter went out last week to folks that have either participated or supported trips through Partnership Ministries to ask for volunteers to return to Nicaragua... we have our first response from a former Cambodia team member, Greg Anderson, who now lives in Tulsa! Welcome aboard, Greg! We also have Jim Odell who helped Rigoberto's dream of the church in Bluefields transform from a sketch on paper to reality (Jim affectionately was known as "The Brain" who partnered with Dave Leahy, AKA "Pinky" - together they were going to take over the world!!). We also have Joel Shue, who works with our youth group and Cherith VonBerg, one of our February Bluefields team members, who will be volunteering at a horse camp in Oregon but will take a hiatus to meet us in Managua - we hope to have more updates later this week! Sounds like there is interest from Lodi, CA and maybe Haverhill, MA - we serve an awesome God!

Paul's greetings in 2 Thessalonians 2: 1-4 echoes our sentiments exactly... However, instead of the church in Thessonalica, it is the church in Bluefields that we extend this greeting to...

Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.

En español... 2 Tesalonicenses 2:1-4

Ahora bien, hermanos, en cuanto a la venida de nuestro Señor Jesucristo y a nuestra reunión con él, les pedimos que no pierdan la cabeza ni se alarmen por ciertas profecías, ni por mensajes orales o escritos supuestamente nuestros, que digan: "¡Ya llegó el día del Señor!" No se dejen engañar de ninguna manera, porque primero tiene que llegar la rebelión contra Dios y manifestarse el hombre de maldad, el destructor por naturaleza. Éste se opone y se levanta contra todo lo que lleva el nombre de Dios o es objeto de adoración, hasta el punto de adueñarse del templo de Dios y pretender ser Dios.

We shall return to Bluefields! April 26th is our tentative departure date and May 5th is our proposed return date - all pending arrangements for flights. So far, we have a small handful of positive responses and the letters just went out! We anticipate that God will provide a complete team of 15+ to make our ways from all parts of the country... we will make plans for traveling once again by air to Managua then by bus to El Rama (where the road ends!) and eventually down the Escondido River to Bluefields. We look forward to working side by side again with our brothers and sisters in Christ and to send our personal greetings to the newly formed church headed by Pastor William.

If you are reading this and want to know how to help by praying for us or financially supporting our efforts, leave a comment and I will help you make the right connections! Or, my email is missionink@gmail.com.

Actions Steps - Now What Are We Going to Do?

Individually and collectively, we must now begin to process how God will use this experience to glorify Himself. We have been blessed by our team preparations, the journey itself and also by the daily interaction with the people of Bluefields.

We all have our own story to tell... how we were affected by the trip... I pray that we continue to have the opportunities now and and in the future to share with others hat we have learned.

I also pray that God continues to influence our daily thoughts and deeds to conform our ways with His.

Maybe a little review would be good for all of us... from my February 6th entry...

What DID I learn about myself?

What DID I learn about God?

What DID I learn about the people of God, about the church, about community?

What DID I learn about how culture affects the way we live and understand the Gospel?

What DID I learn about justice, economics, poverty and politics?

What DID I learn about discipleship?

What DID I learn about a globally appropriate lifestyle?

What DID I learn about my own vocation?

Bluefields SubZero is Calling Us!

Acts 1:18 gives a simple instruction...

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Well, we have a chance to do just that. Hermano Dave Leahy has challenged us to offer the same enthusiasm and energy we freely offered in Bluefields to the Doring family just outside of Treadwell. The day we left brought the snowstorm of the decade... we all remember the harrowing travel adventure we had... this family was devastated by this storm... their main dairy barn was destroyed and many of their cows were killed. They need our help, so Hermano Dave who is their veterinarian, has asked if we have time rally and lend a hand to our neighbors! Next Saturday will be the biggest day to help - be prepared for rubble removal and dress for the cold! Maybe we can get a line like the "Bucket Brigade" to move out the mess.

This morning it was -10, just about 100 degree difference from Bluefields... this and next weekend will be better, but bundle up anyway!

Interested? Can you give a couple hours? Give Dave a call! May God Bless your efforts to lend a helping hand to this neighbor in need!


Short and sweet... the need is there... no airfare required... no malaria medication... no amoebas... and when you are done a warm shower awaits and you can be home sleeping with your favorite pillow!

The Children's Programs

Matthew 25: 40 states...

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' "

The children of Bluefields are about at the bottom of the list when it comes to earthly status or importance, but Jesus tells us that this perception could be not further from the truth. Amongst all the hard work on the church building, we dedicated three afternoons to serve the children. The real blessing came as a result of giving of our time and talents! One thing is for sure, kids are kids, no matter where you go or whatever circumstance they come from. Their laughter, enthusiasm and desire to play and interact with us will remain in our hearts for a long time! The only sad faces we noticed were on our last day as we said our "goodbyes" - and that was not exclusive to the children.

In the valley just below our work site was a rodeo with grandstands - to Rigo, this was a perfect opportunity to introduce himself to the owner. Along with Dave Leahy, a veterinarian back home, Rigo offered to have Dave check out his stable of horses... all were AOK per Dr. Leahy! Rigo then asked if it would be OK to use the rodeo for three days for the children's programs during the week. Not a problem, he said, so there e had a wonderful setting - in the shade from the intense Nicaraguan sun!

Led by Pastor William, Lesly and Carla, our teams began with music and interactive songs with the kids to prepare them for the Bible lesson. The music filled the valley and seemed to call children from all over - each day's total was different, but there ere no less than 90 and as many as 200 in attendance. The Bible lesson were taught by the use of puppets, or titares en español - the common chant by the kids in anticipation would be "¡titares! ¡titares! ¡titares!". Between Pastor William's musical talents and Lesly's zeal to reach these children, the program was a complete success! The team members would act out their parts once prompted by Lesly with a tap on the shoulder... all this was behind a "stage curtain" made of a bed sheet. It was fun to watch the "behind the scenes" action and to hear the excitement of the children as the Bible lesson unfolded.

After the puppets' third or fourth return to sing, the children began the craft of the day - day one was a paper plate Noah's Ark. Day 2's craft was vests made from Kraft paper shopping bags and day 3's was a salvation bracelet made out of string and colored beads signifying how Jesus is the savior of the world.

On the third of the children's programs was a special treat - we presented every child with a "grab bag"of treats... including toothbrushes (thanks for Butler Gum for their donation of over 200 pairs of toothbrushes), graph paper notebooks (special thanks to MeadWestvaco for this kind donation - some of the kids used them as autograph books... it as fun!) to crayons, pencils and stuffed animals - all very simple gifts, but it meant a lot to the kids!

I will leave you today with more photos and the lyrics from a song that caps off our experiences with the people we met in Bluefields. The song is In My Life, made famous by The Beatles, then so beautifully sung by Selah - it was re-composed with the song, If We Never Meet Again, by Albert Brumley...

In My Life/If We Never Meet Again
In My Life (John Lennon, Paul McCartney)
If We Never Meet Again (Albert E. Brumley)

There are places I remember

All my life, though some have changed

Some forever and not for better

Some are gone and some remain
All these places have their moments

With people and friends I still can recall

Some are dead and some are living

But in my life, I loved them all
But of all these friends and loved ones

There is no one compares with you

And these memories lose their meaning

When I think of love as something new
Though I know I'll never lose affection

For people and friends that went before

I know I'll often stop and think about them

But in my life I loved you more
Soon we'll come to the end of life's journey

And perhaps we'll never meet anymore

Till we gather in heaven's bright city

Far away on that beautiful shore
If we never meet again this side of heaven

As we struggle through this world and its strife

There's another meeting place somewhere in heaven

By the beautiful river of life
Where the charming roses bloom forever

And separations come no more

If we never meet again this side of heaven

I will meet you on that beautiful shore