Wrap-up Report from Chris

Greetings all - I hope this email finds you somewhat rested and well after our return from Nicaragua. I want to personally thank each and every one of you -- team members and St. John's -- for all your tremendous and tireless efforts leading up to and during the mission trip last week. I believe that the Lord used us in a very successful trip.

• Removed 200+ diseased banana trees
• Prepared the filed for replanting
• Provided funding for new trees and labor to plant (being done tomorrow and Friday)
• Provided funding for new windows in the church (being completed Friday)
• Added lighting in the kitchen
• Provided money to support a much needed medical exam for a Verbo church parishioner
• Ran a very well attended (too well at times - up to 100 kids) Bible camp
• Ran a very successful men's Bible study
• Strengthened many and created new relationships
• Strengthened the relationship with the local school (thanks to Valley Christian School)
• Encouraged Pastor Jose and his congregation
• Witnessed to a foreign aid worker in Sta. Maria
  

And I am sure there are many more things which the Lord has not made known to us. I pray that each of you were blessed during our time in Nicaragua. I know I am, not only through all that the Lord enabled us to do on His behalf, but because of your commitment and dedication when it would have been easier to take a nap, not eat another bean, not string another bead or not hug one more child.

I hope and pray that each of you will continue to grow in your faith as a result of this trip. I ask that each of you share the good news humbly with our friends at church, that they might know how their funds were used, and that they might also consider, one day, joining us in this adventure.

Finally, please continue to pray for our friends in Santa Maria and for the future of this ministry.

In Him and for Him,
Chris

We're Back

Back safely now.  It was a awesome week.  There are a lot of fun stories to share, and a lot of great memories.  Mostly, there were a lot of blessings from our Lord.  Its not easy to go from the tremendous poverty in Nicaragua to the paved streets, comfortable homes, air conditioning (well, that's actually nice) and abundance of stuff in one day.  Its tiring physically due to all the travel, but also emotionally.  God has tremendously blessed our land.  Many times we don't realize this until we see outside of the US borders.  We are truly blessed in our country.  At the same time, our friends in Santa Maria are blessed in other ways by our Lord, many of which we probably will never understand, but I am sure they are there, for we know the Lord has a heart for the poor.  I want to especially thank this years team for the tremendous effort put forth!  We could not have done it without all of your prayers and support, and most importantly, without our Lord.  So our story ends for 2008.   I hope you will seek out a team member to hear more.  May the Lord bless you and keep you always.  May He bless the people in Santa Maria.  In Him and for Him!  Hasta lluego y Dios le bendiga.

In Miami

Chris just called. The team landed in Miami and ate lunch at Chili's -- American food! Everyone is well and happy, and happy to be on their way home. Plane from Miami is a little delayed, currently to leave at 4:15.

Resting in Granada

We arrived yesterday in Granada after about a 3 hour drive from Santa Maria. It was a nice easy trip. The Thursday activities in Santa Maria were great, although at times, we thought we would be overrun with kids. We started the day with a trip to Las Casitas, the form home of many of our friends until the mudslide in 1998. For many on the team, this was a return there, but its also a reminder of the memories that continue to haunt the people of Santa Maria. We had about 30 people in the back of a flatbed truck that we rode to and from the mountain. Then it was a quick lunch and turn around for the final day of Bible camp. Kids...lots of them! We think we topped out at around 95 kids, but it might have been more. They just kept arriving. We finished out the lessons on with the Assension story. Nathan did a great job of portraying Jesus once again, and Butch and Dick made a great burial cave. After games, crafts and a lesson explaining the story, taught by Verbo church members, we had a group picture. Try that with 100+ people. One by one, as the kids left, they were given a crown and some cookies. We were all very tired after that!

The Thursday evening prayer service began at 5 pm, and we were prayed over and thanked by our friends at Verbo. We have a very strong relationship with people in Santa Maria, and I hope we can continue to show our people at St. John's how much our ministry and partnership is valued. Its not an easy thing to show in pictures and conversation. Maybe this will one day lead you to join on a future mission team.

Following church, we had a dinner for all church members. Pasta, chicken and rice all around! People then said goodbye for the evening, and we went about packing, resting, and preparing for the next day departure.

Breakfast was served on Friday morning, beans, fruit, bread and scrambled eggs with ham...our typical morning feast. It was then on to packing, taking down mosquito nets, closing up the cots, sweeping the floors and final good-byes. After a prayer, we were off, leaving behind great friends and partners in ministry.

Our afternoon in Granada was nice and relaxing. Some swimming, some shopping and some walking. Ron found a great shop for leather goods. Add a few more belts to his collection. We ate dinner at a steakhouse behind the cathedral after stopping at another church to listen to their choir performing a free concert of typical Nicaraguan songs.

Its early this morning, Saturday, and we are catching up on news through the tv and internet. Things we don't even think of in Santa Maria. Today some are headed to see Volcan Masaya, and others are going to the market in Masaya. We'll head to Managua around 2 pm where we will say goodbye to Pastor Jose and his family. Another successful time in Santa Maria, praise God!

Many thanks for your continued prayers! We know we would be lost with out them and the Lord's guidance. We look forward to being with you all again soon.

Wednesday -- The Crucifixion!

Another great day. More than 80 kids at Bible camp; Butch's men's class is very popular as well. Today was Paul's second missionary journey, visiting "cities" via signs on trees.

The lesson for Bible camp today was the crucifixion. Nathan Rudolph played Jesus and was crucified along with a crown of "thorns" and "blood" running down his face, and thunder (Pastor Rolando banging on a flatbed truck). I hope Chris got video of this.

Thursday is the last day of camp (The Resurrection), and a trip to the mountain to see the site of Las Casitas and the volcano shrine and memorials.

Tuesday

Very good day. Had about 80 kids for the Bible camp. Theme was Jesus Walks on Water. Speaking of water ... a thunderstorm blew through that was the worst they've seen down there. The lightning was so sharp that it was frightening. The kind that makes you move away from windows and poles. Everyone is fine, though.

Butch led an excellent men's study about Paul's first and second missionary trips. They moved around the outside of the church building, stopping for lessons at the different "cities" (signs on trees) that he had posted. Very effective.

The banana trees are all down. Hot, heavy work.

Thanks for your continued prayers; all is going well.

News from Nicaragua -- End of Day 2

The team called in. It's very hot (not news, really). Rained today as well (not news either).

OK, starting from arrival. The flight from Miami was 2 hours late as you know, but it was still light when they arrived in the village. Great!! But a half hour later, the electricity went out. Fortunately, Chris had already set up the cots and hung the mosquito nets, so all that was left was to actually make up the beds. And eat. And wash up. And shower. Oh well.

Sunday was church in the morning, then free time to visit through the village. Sunday night was a special church service that is basically a praise/worship/dance thing that you really have to see to get it. The church members are really not supposed to dance, *except* at this service. They play loud, booming music, and they clear out the benches and everyone dances and waves their arms and jumps up and down "in the spirit." We all jumped in last year, and the team did this year too. They all think we are a riot.

Pastor Jose and the donas in the kitchen still get up at 4 AM. Chris doesn't know what can be done about that, but the roosters and dogs start about then too, and it's light by 5 AM anyway.

Today was the first Bible camp, scheduled for 2 PM. It started raining at noon, and everyone was really worried that camp would have to be indoors. But the rain stopped at 1:30, and outdoor camp was on! God is SO good. There were about 50-60 kids by the time it got rolling -- a really lot for 9 people to handle.

Butch Bodenheimer led Men's Bible study and had about 8 men from the village, plus the translator Eric, and Pastor Jose. Very encouraging.

Work project -- this year to remove about a half acre of diseased banana trees and plant a more lucrative crop. The first row of trees came down; will finish tomorrow (?), and plant on Wednesday.

Everyone is healthy and enthusiastic. Pray for continued good health, electricity, relief from the heat, rain only at night, continued good attendance at Bible camp and men's study. Bless you all!