GO Teams

Romania 2010

2010-07-22T09:35:00.001-07:00

7.17.10

Hi America -

This is Kim reporting on the happenings in Romania.

As you know, last week we worked with the village children. These are children that live in extreme poverty...and after camp was over last Saturday, we were blessed with an invitation to come visit some of these children in their homes. Last Sunday, we pulled up to their village and many of the children were already waiting for us. As we toured their homes (which these families were so proud to have us see) other children showed up. We got to tour their homes and gardens and in one home, there was a picture of me and a boy that was taken last year displayed. In another home, a picture of Dave Jones and a boy from last year was also displayed. It just showed us how much our camp and their experiences mean to them.

On a fun side note, on Sunday we all got to go to Dracula's castle. I mean, really, you can't go to Romania - Transylvania specifically - and not go see Vlad the Impailer's castle!

This week we have been working with the boys from the placement center. It has been a special week - and the boys couldn't be more fun. It has been a busy, but relatively calm week.

We have learned this trip to trust in God. It was hard at first - I mean, we have a really small team and I think we were all a little freaked out by that - but you know what...we didn't need anymore than five. Both weeks have run smoothly. One of our suitcases full of crafts and supplies was left behind in Washington...and you know what - we didn't need it! On Wednesday night, we lost all power...it came on just in time for evening worship and then once we finished, the power went back off for the night. So far, God has given us what we need and had provided an amazing camp experience.

Romania is a truly special place. God's hand is here...His blessings are evident. There is sooooooooooooo much we are learning and taking home with us...experiences, knowledge, wisdom...it has just been an inspiring time.

Sherelle and Kenny have been stretched and have grown in their experiences. They have both fit right in and have just jumped in to loving the kids. Tony, Crystal, and I have been having a blast reconnecting with kids both weeks. We are are blessed by two amazing Romanian leaders Petry and Marchel. It has been wonderful getting to know these leaders better and their teams.

I can't wait to come back next year. I have always wondered...why come to Romania? Can't I do the same thing (camp and working with kids) in America? This trip has really shown me why I am here. You just have to see it. The seeds that have been planted in past years are not only growing, but blossoming. This place is going to explode with Christ's love. There is NO WAY I'm going to miss watching the revival that is taking place here. These kids and these people are so special I couldn't imagine not coming back for years to come.

Kim

7.13.10

What a blessing this trip has been. There is so much good going on that it is almost hard to imagine.

Kim gave her testimony tonight, and what a message. It was a blessing to all those present.

Tony has a very special touch with kids and he is able to connect on a level that will impact them for the rest of there lives. I have grown to appreciate him immensely.

Sherrelle has been absolutely wonderful. Working through her fatigue and impacting many lives in the process.

Crystal has been amazing. I have been impacted on many levels by her amazing faith in what the Lord can and will do in these kids lives.

This has been a life changing experience for me. I am believing that this team has a special touch, one that is ordained by the lord. The Lord continues to be faithful in all things.

May Gods Love impact you at home in a special way.
From Romania

7.10.10

WOW!! What an AMAZING first week at camp with the village kids. Crystal reporting here to tell you the ins and outs of the end of our camp week.

All I can say is I am awe struck at the faithfulness of the Lord at this place. Last year when we were here I came to care deeply about the kids from the villages but this year I have fell deeply in love with them. At least half of the kids that came were returning from last year, some of them relationships had already been started to be built upon. There was one boy in particular that really stuck out to me last year. His name is BuBu and he is 15. Last year he was just too cool for all of us, but this year he had changed. You could see it in his face and he completely wanted to be around where we were.

I am going to try and keep this short but there is a bit to tell you so please be patient with me because I want to be sure to express to you the amazing gift that the Lord bestowed upon us this week. We found out that it had been raining everywhere in Romania except the area where we meet for camp this past week. That in itself was a blessing from God because without good weather it really puts a damper on our games and activities we have planned.

Every single one of us shared our testimony this week and it was powerful. Sherelle went around the room that we meet in and prayed over every single chair in the room. And here is the beginning of what the Holy Spirit really set out to do at camp. Thursday night, there was a group of about ten kids that met with the Romanian team that had decided they wanted to give their life to Christ. They talked to the Romanian team about the challenges in doing so. By Friday evening I am telling you for lack of better words, there was like a spiritual revival that took place upon the children. By the time the evening worship service was over, I looked over and one of the teenage boys was sobbing. Petry and I took him into the back room and prayed over him. He stated that he could not remember the last time he cried and really felt that God must be doing something in his heart because it felt like something was taking place in his heart that he couldn't understand. The Romanian team had been working with him that week, he had been raised Orthodox and never had understood the love of Jesus Christ the way that we had explained it. And asked for all of our team to continue praying for him. I adore this kid.

Upon leaving the room, there was a group of girls sobbing and Petry came over and comforted them by praying over them. Once we had them calmed down, we left the main room and there was just a row of girls crying over the hurts in their lives and we continued to pray over them. The Lord was at work you guys, that is all I can say. And it is in response to everyone's faithfulness. Please be praying that the Lord continues in His faithfulness as we anticipate the arrival of the boys from the orphanages this week. I am trusting in the Lord for great things.

We have an awesome team and I am blessed to be serving with every single one of them. They are all committed to bringing the Lord to everyone around this camp, and I cannot complain about any of their willingness to help. It is continuous, and I can say that this whole week, working along side the Romanian team, was in harmony. The Lord is good.

7.8.10

Hello to all our wonderful friends and family!

Sherelle here to give you an update on Camp of the Good Shepherd....

The children here are amazing and beautiful! The Romanian and American teams are working very well together.

I just finished sharing my testimony and pray God’s work in my life touched them. They kids did some great skits tonight and we had a blast playing water balloon volleyball. We have started to understand more and speak a little Romanian.

Ken and I where appointed name tag punchers, therefore are continuously surrounded by kids wanting to get their hole punch for the day. Ken shared last night and it was very powerful. He is enjoying getting to know them better and a helpful part of the team. I especially appreciate the espresso he makes for us.

Yesterday we had a great hike to get ice cream. It was fun to hold their hands and skip, run, and walk in this peaceful place.

Tony is having such a goodtime playing soccer, capture the flag, and cabin awards. He is so involved playing with the children and they adore him. He also did a "bad hair day" art project using the children's names as hair.

Kim is the camp first aid person and has been very busy getting ban aids and loving on the children. She also did a photo frame declapage project that turned out great.

Crystal is totally in her element! She has such a passion for these kids and has reconnected with kids she started relationships with last year.

Crystal and Tony are great team leaders. I am encouraged how our team can communicate and how well we all work together.

Thank you for making this trip possible and praying for us.

Blessing from the Romanian Go Team

7.6.10

Hello all in America,

This is Tony reporting on the "goings-on" here in Romania. Kim just finished giving her testimony--it was great. She shared about her walk with Christ and how she has come to love Him more and more. I gave my testimony last night and Ken is up tomorrow. We all are nervous before our testimonies, however we believe that it lets the children get to know us and hopefully they see the power of the Lord in each of our lives.
The weather has been a bit funny--lots of rain. We encountered such a fierce hail storm on the way to camp the other day we had to pull over. Because of the weather we have been very flexible with the games and crafts. We made the shirts today--though it was crazy with 60 kids at one time, I believe they loved it. Many of their designs are amazing, though we did have to rescue the drying shirts from the rain. We have been playing soccer, relay races, ping-pong and other games. I will be very sore tomorrow.
Ken and Sherelle are doing wonderfully. Ken is really working on his Romanian and bonding with the children. Sherelle is also bonding with the children and having a great time. They are both doing very well with all their tasks and bringing the love of the Lord to Romania. Last, Crystal is doing a great job leading the group. We are a fine-tuned oiled machine ready to change tasks, do devotion, or pray for diner at a moments notice. It was wonderful to see Crystal shine like she is. I believe she is at her element.
Before I go, I must tell you that the children are wonderful. Their smiles are heart warming and their enthusiasm for life is amazing given their circumstances. Also, I must give props the the Romanian team. What they are doing in this country with these children can only be inspired by the word of the Lord.
It is late, and my whole body hurts. God Bless all those who helped us get here, who prayed for us, and who continue to pray for us. We all look forward to the rest of camp. And you can be sure that each team member here loves and misses their families. Everyone is doing well and we are in great spirits.

On behalf of the group I bid farewell, much love, and the word of the Lord,
Tony

7.4.10

All of our flights went smoothly and we arrived in Bucharest around 1:30pm yesterday, arriving at camp around 8 pm. We are getting settled in and getting everything ready for crafts and games for this week. Had a bit of a problem on Friday, I forgot one of my pieces of luggage at home and we do not have it here in Romania. A very humbling experience. However, God is in contol and fortunatly, the bag I forgot had items that are easily replaced. Have a feeling that this is what camp is going to be about this week, letting God take charge of our schedule. ;) Not much more than that to report. Everyone is feeling well and are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the village kids tomorrow morning. Love you all and will be in touch soon.

6.30.10

Tonight we commissioned the Romania GO Team. They are off to Romania to serve at the Good Shepherd Camp with Heart of Hope Ministries. Before they leave for Romania on Friday I wanted to introduce you to the team.

Crystal is leading the team of 5 to Romania this year. This is her second time on this trip and is looking forward to being reuniting with the kids she got to know so well last year. Crystal has a passion for missions and enjoys working with children. Therefore she feels God has called her to Romania for this season of life. She asks that we pray for strength for her mother who will be taking care of her three children (ages 3, 9, and 12) and for her kids. Please also pray that she and Tony will lead this team the Lord’s way.

Tony is co-leading this trip with Crystal. Going on this trip last year was a life altering experience for Tony. He hopes that by returning he would be an example of God’s love for the children, “I hope the children realize that God’s love does exist and people do care—even if they have to come half way around the world to prove it.” Please pray for his and Kim’s ability to connect with the children in a way that they make a connection or at least plant a seed of hope and love for our King, and that their return would mean something to the children.

Kim went on this trip last year and couldn’t imagine not returning. She thinks about the children “ALL of the time” and is excited to see how much they’ve grown over the past year. This year Kim will be stepping out of her comfort zone and sharing her testimony, no longer being able to stay under the radar like she did last year. Please pray for Kim as she shares her testimony as she has a fear of sharing things about herself. “I absolutely love Jesus and I will talk about Him constantly, but I NEVER tell people about what kind of personal relationship I have with Him or how He even came into my life”.

Sherelle is going to Romania for the first time. Ever since she heard Debbie Marshall from Heart of Hope share about Romania she knew God wanted her to be part of what He is doing with the Romanian children. Sherelle is looking forward to loving and serving the children and the fellowship she will have with the team. Please pray for her family while she is away (husband Monty and children Quinton & Serena, Marilyn & Chris, Gavin, and Alysa). Pray that she will be an effective tool, sharing Christ’s love and good news!

Ken is looking forward to stepping out of his comfort zone and learning more about himself. Please pray that he can share the love of God with the children.

Please pray for safe travels and health for the entire team.

Cambodia 2010

2010-05-24T09:45:00.000-07:00

5.23.10

Sorry for the delay, due to internet problems at the Juniper Tree, this is our last wrap up email.

Weds morning we saw Kristalyn and Jeremy off with prayer and blessings. The rest of the team enjoyed a day of relaxing and time to process. Weds evening we joined a prayer meeting with the Juniper Tree staff and guests and prayed for the country of Thailand. It was a powerful time of prayer and singing. Several missionaries & families from Bangkok were with us (forced from their homes due to protests & riots).

Thursday was a great day of “no-schedule” allowing quiet time on the beach. Part of the team was up early and went fishing with one of the local fisherman. We were blessed with a good catch and the Juniper Tree was excited to have the fresh fish – which was promptly served up with our lunch! Thursday afternoon, we saw Denny and Anne off with prayers to Bangkok to catch early flights. That evening the remaining eight team members had an excellent Thursday evening devotion wrap up and then set ourselves to packing suitcases.

Friday morning up for an early breakfast, goodbye’s with the Juniper Tree staff and then off to Bangkok. No signs of the recent riots, everything in the city seems to be recovering from the recent trouble. There is a tremendous amount of healing and reconciliation the Thai people will need, let’s be praying for them.

Friday – good connections at the airport, lots of travel time….. :)

Thanks for all the prayers, looking forward to sharing stories and experiences with you.

Peace, Blessings,

5.19.10

Our last day in Poipet Cambodia was a party!
We stopped to take a picture at the Safe Haven School and ended up having a "ball" (literally) with the kids who live there! It was like Christmas morning - the smiles on the kids faces, their excitment and joy by having a few plastic balls and badminton sets - wow, it was awesome and tears filled our eyes.
That night the Cambodian Hope Organization gave us a wonderful goodbye party with mango sticky rice, Khmer dancing and all the smoothies we could drink. The next morning the Mayor of Poipet escorted us across the border.
We then headed to Hua Hin in Thailand - all is well there - don't believe everything you see on the t.v. The team is staying at the Juniper Tree, a simple retreat resort run by missionaries right on the beautiful, quiet, gorgeous, peaceful, God-created beach.
Today, Jeremy and I (Kristalyn) returned to Bangkok - there was smoke to the north and the highway to the airport is safe and secure and now "it" is over.
The rest of the team will be enjoying the next few days on the beach, processing what the Lord has shown us. Pray for us all as we go through this process and for continued traveling mercies. It has been an awesome trip!

5.17.10

Yesterday we saw one of the great wonders of the world - Angkor Wat - the majestic ruins of the Khmer empire and they were very majestic.
In the afternoon of the same day we saw one of the great injustices of the world - Tonle Sap - the lake that provides the life source to almost all of Cambodia through irrigation, fishing and tourism - we were some of the those tourists and though we were glad we went and saw the floating fishing villages, we were saddened....not by the condition of which people lived, but by the explotation the "rich, evil" people were invoking upon its own countrymen (see Psalm 73 and 33). Make sure you ask us about it as we all have different takes from this boat trip.
This afternoon we head back to Poipet to debrief and then to Dolphin Bay in Thailand to enjoy the beach. Pray for safe travels and solid stomachs.
Thank you for your prayers,
The Cambodia Team

5.15.10

Cambodia is beautiful and a little ugly at the same time.

The vision team headed to Phnom Pen and didn't know what to expect because we really didn't have a schedule, but every time we turned around or sat down for a meal it was a divine appointment. We met with wonderful people who are battling the evils of trafficking and saw a group of sponsored World Vision children from Mynamar (Burma), Thailand and Cambodia. Some of these kids had been trafficked themselves and seeing their joy and confidence made the whole 9 hour drive worth it!

The planning and construction team have been busy resume refining, grant-writing, and recipe testing - who knew we would be doing these random, awesome, helpful things!
They also rebuilt the green house that had blown down in the wind storm and then put up a volleyball net and posts (that will never fall down) for the kids at Safe Haven to play.

Off to sweat some more and see what the Lord has in store for us.
The Cambodia Team

ps-our stomachs and souls are great!

5.12.10

Wow lots going on here!
Right now there is a Buddhist processional drumming by....
We have seen and done so much, here is a snippet -
*a teacher with 53 students in one classroom!
*twenty students grades 1-4 sitting on a 16 x 24 tarp outside with chickens wandering by and a whiteboard.
*dining on snake fish, white gourd drink and other traditional Cambodian food with the Mayor, the Head of the Police Chief, the Provisional Mayor and other dignataries
*celebrating the success of a first pie crust
*brick making
*being in a AIDS hospice
*touring the city with the Official Planner - a burning dump where people live, but also the future of an airport and water system and hospital
*seeing lives changed by sewing classes
*teaching English and the story of Noah to 50 students
*seeing mass migration of people crossing the border to work
*the poetry in motion of scooters, tuk tuks and massive trucks on the road
*having devotions with the Cambodian staff
*bare feet and smiles
*the Lord working in all of us

Today the teams will split up, one is heading to Phnem Phen with World Vision, the Planning Team will continue to meet with officials, others will be laboring and building and others will be baking and encouraging. Lots going on and so little time to tell about! (plus, the internet is being the internet in a third world country!)
Off for more adventures....

5.9.10

Sometimes when you hear someones life story and you know where they came from you understand them better, but sometimes you don't. How can it be that Chomno (the founder of Cambodian Hope Organization) after being thrown into a slave labor war camp, having seen friends and family tortured and killed, being threatened daily by the Khmer Rouge, almost starving to death and experiencing other atrocities that we didn't even know could be possible. How can he still have a smile on his face and joy in his heart?
That is the question we asked ourselves after we toured the Safe Haven where kids who are trafficked and abandoned have a place to call home, learn and play. That is the question we asked ourselves after we toured the Hope Transformation Center which will provide jobs, a home and hope for women who were prostitutes.
That is the question we asked ourselves after hearing Chomno's story.
And the answer to this is "We are a new creation - the old is gone the new is come" Chomno is a new man in Christ, the past is yesterday and tomorrow is hope.
Wow,
the Cambodia Go Team

ps-it's hot and humid here and fresh pineapple and coffe shakes rule!

5.8.10

Soo'sadai!!

Here we are! We made it safe and sound and who knew a 19 hour trip could fly by with so much laughter and fish porridge! Arriving in Thailand, we met up with the Sapps and headed to Cambodia in an air conditioned mini bus - I don't think any of us will take a/c for granted again! At the border we were met with an incredible and humbling reception. Three members of CHO (Cambodian Hope Organization), the District Police Chief, the City Police Chief, Minister of the Department of Interior, the Lieutenant Governor, two deputies of the mayor, the Communal Chief, the Administrator of the Mayor's Office and a Consule Member were there to meet us and gift us with flowers and a police escort to our hotel. (Don't worry it's safe here, they just wanted to honor us!) Wow! This is a testament to Dan Griswold and his faithful commitment to this community and the city of PoiPet. We are humbled and still processing all the sights, sounds and smiles we are encountering.
Off to tour the CHO Safe Haven,
The Cambodian team

Guatemala April 2010 GO Team

2010-05-11T14:45:00.000-07:00

5.1.10
Buenas dias,

Another sunny day greeted us for our last day in the village. The road seems shorter now, we know most of the bad curves and always honk around the corners knowing there might be a chicken bus on the other side.

Team is feeling well and healthy, thanks for your prayers. We started the day at the village with a slide show projected on a sheet from our hotel. Villagers loved to see pictures of themselves. That was followed by our cultural exchange of square dancing to the capable fiddle music of Charli´s talent. We observed many smiles and laughs among our audience. After a few rounds we invited a members of the watchers to join us as we grabbed new partners. It was great fun dancing with young and old and observing their shyness disappear.

Next on the schedule was planting a tree at the corner of the schoolyard in memory of Nicolas Toma, deceased village promoter. We had a small ceremony, scripture, and prayer in honor of Nicolas. The tree was a Jacaranda, a beautiful flowered tree that will be a good way to remember Nicolas and provide shade near the school.

The afternoon was a special time for villagers to show us how they cultivate and plant corn and beans. It was a good demonstration of high mountain agriculture. This was followed by an official going away ceremony of hugs and handshakes around. We prayed, laughed and had a good play with children. A few last visits with families and last walk through the village completed our visit.

Members of this community, Villa Hortencia Uno, are a delight to be with and they really do appreciate you continued prayers as they continue their hard road to sustainability.

We are now ready for breakfast this Saturday morning and anxious to get on the ´road again´to Antigua.

Dios le bendiga, your team in Guatemala (as represented by Dave)

4.30.10
Hola,

What a wonderful day taking our morning trip, one and a half hours up 15 miles of Indiana Jones style road to be welcomed by about 120 children, who were waiting for a morning of play and games, including coloring, bubble blowing, balloon animals which was a real hit with long lines in front of the Meachams who ran out of balloons. Hop scotch, jump rope, frisbee toss, and ring around the rosie were delightful to smiling faces too. We ended the morning with a large pinata filled with candy to celebrate Chuck Meachams birthday. You never saw so many kids scramble for the abundant candy.

Afternoon was a time for soccer and more games. The children are a delight and so appreciative of your attention. The five school teachers helped us organize the activities.

I (Dave) am continuing to construct a map of the village with houses, roads, trails and churches indicated for future teams.

Later this afternoon we stopped in the Agros Village of Los Angeles, to pay our respects to Nicolas Toma family (he was the Agros promoter for VH1 who passed away last mont). We prayed for the family and presented them with a quilt from CH and photographs of Nicolas. We then proceeded to the village entrance to plant a beautiful bougainvillea in memory of Nicolas, with the village leaders present. .

Another wonderful evening with no lightning storm this time. The weather has been sunny with rain only occuring at night. The pilas (sinks) in the village are now filling with good water.

Thank you for your continued prayers, we are all healthy, hasta luego, Dave & Barb
P.S. With all the activites that we do you would think that we would be loosing weight. Not the case. The food at Santa Maria Hotel is fabulous. We are being well cared for !!

4.29.10
Tues. The school children had no school on Tuesday due to a teacher training day, thus our plan to play games with the kids needed to be changed. The best plan developed to walk up the mountain to the major spring source. The walk was absolutely gorgeous with fields, peach trees, and berry bushes along the way. Both spring sources were dry, which explains why there is no water coming through the pipes to the pilas (sinks). The spring flows from May through Jan. One main lower spring runs briskly 12 months but is located below the village. The people are carrying water on the head this week.

We walked a portion of the perimeter of the property of Villa Hortencia which gave the team a good idea of the vastness of the land and the incredible altitude changes. The vista are gorgeous.

In the afternoon, the teams visited families that were on the list of malnourished children taking note of family conditions and praying especially for their health and well being. Some goats have been given to these families as milk supply for the children.

A special visit to La Esperanza allowed us to see our 25 families who appeared healthy and well. They were thrilled to see the team and extended their warm welcoming hands and hugs.

Wed. Today was a road construction day as we worked alongside the men to clear a road that will lead further up the mountain, over the other side to another town. Chuck Meacham loved powering up the mountain side in 4 wheel drive to position the truck. We formed a fireman´s chain work system interspersing villagers with us. Great fun, lots of singing, and amazement as we saw children gladly join in the work. Bob Beilke learned a new child interaction....¨child labor¨¨ as the kids tossed rocks into puddles to help with the road construction. The team is well exercised, eating well, and feeling great.

Our devotional word today was LOVE. The study inspired us to be aware of our demonstration of love at all times. The study of the Fruit of the Spirit has worked well as we see each day unfold into a glorious picture of God´s Plan for us.

Signing off from Nebaj. Tomorrow we will have an all day play day with the kids plus soccer games in the afternoon.

4.27.10
Hola,
The team had a fantastic first day in Villa Hortencia 1. The welcome from the leadership involved a short statement from each leader of good health and well being, anticipation of a good week together, and many thank yous for coming to share the week. The new president Felix Lopez is a well spoken leader who also managed during the presentations to slip out of the room to quiet the school children in the room next door. There are now 5 classrooms for the school which means 2 additional classes are being held in the ¨Community Building¨.

Three teams formed to begin the family prayer walks. My team of Charli, Chuck, Joe, and our family guide Pedro Us Gonzales met 10 families in their homes for rich prayer time. One family asked us to sing praise songs! We saw many very poor families. Several homes had the new Agros stove which directs most of the smoke out the roof. We walked by a very productive and well planted cabbage field of 400 mature cabbages. We saw many new pilas however, there has been no rain since March 5. Many of the springs are dry. At this time there is no water coming through the water system. They asked us to pray for rain....well, on the drive back to our hotel, lightening began and the windshield wipers were going. Praise the Lord. Our three teams prayed with 30 families.

At the Ixil Training Center the Agros staff presented an update on Villa Hortencia 1. Diego Bernal began by thanking Chapel Hill for the wonderful Guatemalan dinner he and Teresa had when visiting CH. There are now 10 goats and 20 sheep owned by families. Several groups of people have attented educational training for care of children and nutrition (45 families have malnutrition for children), financial planning, administration and leadership, small business training. The older school children have been on field trips to higher education centers so that they will be encouraged to continue school.

All in all, we had a fantastic first day. Sights, colors, smiles, greetings, prayer...all to God´s glory Thank you for the many prayers of support. We can feel them.

4.26.10
Buenos dias!
Yesterday we began our day in Chichicastinago, a town that hosts a regional market on Thursdays and Sundays. Sunday is the larger of the two. We began early with singing and devotions. We are studying the fruit of the Spirit. Today we examined Joy. The joy we have as Christian is different than the joy offered by the world. In Christ, we have hope and assurance of our lord´s sustaining power even through adversity. In fact the power of our joy in seen through sorrow and adversity. Our singing is improving, though to be honest we sing just a bit better in English rather than Spanish, but just a bit.

After breakfast we walked the few blocks to the market place that teemed with people. It appeared thre were more sellers than buyers. After fighting our way through the crowds, we visited the main church, Santos Tomas. The front steps were filled with people offering sacrifices and swinging incense burners. Inside the church, there were several platforms for people to burn candles or offer other sacrifices. The churches here have mixed in aspects of their Mayan religion with Catholocism. They offer sacrifices to cleanse them of evil spirits in outside of the church and in the center of the church (the center of worship in Mayan religion is in the center of the building) AND then they approach the alter of Christ.

Some of purchased items, mostly textiles. The team also purchased fruit for our trip to the Ixil, where Villa Hortencia is situated. It is not uncommon to see preschool children carrying large loads of goods and learning the family trade of selling products. Often these children were by themselves at the family booth without an adult or older child with them. In the market, we practiced saying,´No Gracias.`

After lunch we left our hotel through very narrow streets competing with other vehicles to gain lane status. The drive to Nebaj in the Ixil
(i-sheel) region took roughly 2:45 of up-down terrain. Most of the roads were paved though there were a few dirt and quite bumpy sections. The story of the drive includes many tight switch-backed turns with gradients of 15+ degrees elevation gain and loss. While we drove cautiously, this can be said for other drivers on the road that like to pass on tight blind corners. Needless to say we pray before we drive and give thanks when we arrive to our destination.

To date, all of our accommodations have been excellent. The Hotel Santa Maria is no exception. There are three main towns in the Ixil region, Nebaj, Chajul, and Cotzal. These towns form a triangle and this region has been referred to as the Ixil Triangle. However, we learned that this is a term the military used for the coordinates of this area during the long civil war in Guatemala. Therefore, the use of this term reminds the Ixil of that time. We have adopted the more cultually sensitive, Ixil region.

We have settled in at Nabej and will travel to Villa Hortencia tomorrow.
our excitement grows in anticipation of meeting the villagers. For some, it will be our first introduction to Villa Hortencia while 3 of our team were here last year.

We are safe and well. Thank you for your prayers.

4.24.10
The team has safely arrived in Chichicastenengo! The drive was eventful but not deadly, and we had lots of laughs and the landscape was beautiful. Agros presented a history of Guatemala and the Ixil. We learned that the area is no longer called the Ixil Triangle because of negative associations with the war times, but is now called the Ixil Region. Our guide, Nancy, is wonderful and we are looking forward to spending a week with her. Everyone is healthy and we thank you for your prayers!

Holy Land GO Team

2010-05-11T14:39:00.000-07:00

5.2.10

Yesterday we went to the Garden Tomb...wow! What a special spiritual time. Our guide was originally from northern England and retired in Wales, and according to Dan, "really made the resurrection come alive for us!" While we were singing in a corner of the garden with communion, a couple from Toronto joined and had communion with us - it was a sweet time. We took our time and walked around the beautiful gardens and enjoyed the meaningful experience.

Then walked around the streets of old Jerusalem again - it was such a great experience each day we spend there. Upon our return to Bethlehem, just after walking through the checkpoint part of our team met a couple of olive wood shop owners, one was a born again Christian from a Bedouin Muslim background, and the other a Palestinian Christian who invited our team to their shop for dinner that night. We went back to their shop at dinnertime and they rolled out... See More large red carpets on the floor for us to sit on, and served us nuts, wine, crackers, and pita shish kabobs. Had a great time with them, talking about reconciliation and hearing about their struggles. God is good!

4.30.10

Shari, Charlotte, Nick and Sheila are on their way home late tonight - we'll miss them. We have all had such a wonderful time together.

Early this morning Dan gave the college devotional at Bethlehem Bible College. It was translated to Arabic. It was interesting and a blessing - he did a great job.

We drove to Jericho on some very treacherous steep and wet (yes, it rained today!) roads and toured the oldest city in the world - 10,000 years old - it was soooo fascinating! On the way to Jericho we stopped about one mile from St. George's Monastery and hiked the rest of the way. It was beautiful, peaceful, and fascinating, as so much on this trip has been. Several of our team members rode donkeys back up the steep hill to the van rather than to hike up.

Saw the cave at Qumran where the dead sea scrolls were found, and the original stone ruins where they were written. It was very interesting.

Then on to the Dead Sea, which is 1385 feet below sea level! Very cool floating and rubbing mud all over ourselves! You could not sink if you tried - just don't get the water in your eyes, right Lance?

We are all pretty exhausted tonight...shared left overs in the guest house at BBC. Tomorrow morning we are going to the Garden Tomb, then spending the rest of the day walking the streets of old Jerusalem again. Stay tuned for more pics to be posted tomorrow.

4.26.10
This is a wonderful GO TEAM! We are having a blast together, and getting a lot of work done in the process!

Saturday night stayed at the Rimonon Hotel in Nazareth; then early Sunday morning several of us walked to the church of the Annunciation, which was built around the site of the old ruins of Nazareth where the angel announced to Mary that she would be giving birth to a son, Jesus.

Then drove to the city of Jenin, where we were delayed and had our passports checked over and over, and almost denied entrance through the checkpoint. We were told if we came back through that checkpoint again, we would be thoroughly searched and it would take hours. Needless to say, we didn't go back that way!

Drove through Jenin (we were told they do not see many Americans there, which was obvious by the expressions on the residents' faces as we drove by them) to the Palestinian Fair Trade Farmers Cooperative called 'Canaan'. Toured the facility and saw where they press the olives and make some of the products. Many of the products will be purchased by our team and sold in HeBrews and Festival of HOPE. We were invited to go back, and to be housed with the farmers!

After our tour we were taken to an ancient church from the 4th century, where there was a cave within the church. This cave was where lepers were quarantined, and turns out, Jesus healed the lepers in this very cave! It was really a holy moment being there, touching the walls, the floor and viewing the hole that was carved into the ceiling of the cave to lower food to the lepers. Unbelievable experience - definitely one of the highlights!

Walked around in Jenin, ate lunch (a huge spread! They just kept bringing the food!), then drove by the Mount of Transfiguration; then through Dothan, where "Joseph's pit" was. Also drove through Armageddon. Stopped by Thomas' house for a Sand and Sound meeting, then on to dinner with them in Natanya. Got back to BBC at 11:00 p.m.....exhausted, GREAT DAY!

By the way, our guide told us the story of the shepherd breaking the leg of the lamb who strays...turns out he was getting at something - we were ALWAYS running late and he had a hard time rounding us up! He also told us that Presbyterians are notoriously late on all of his tours! LOL!

Today, Monday, the Entrepreneurial Team met with folks to talk about some ideas and opportunities. Had a wonderful lunch at the home of our new friends, Shireen and Ibrahim, who Lance and Shari met on their last trip to the West Bank.

This afternoon we met with Sami Awad, founder of the Holy Land Trust. He sat down with us and really put some things into perspective about nonviolent resistance systems by the Palestinians. He feels there is hope in their mission and that amazing things have happened, but much more work to be done, and the word to spread broadly about the truth of what is happening in this part of the world.

4.24.10

Had amazing day yesterday! Left Bethlehem at 8am and drove through part of Jerusalem, through the Jordan Valley to the Sea of Galilee. Picniced with a Messianic Jewish community, witnessed baptisms in the Galilee, and met one of the young people who will be a part of Sound and Sand encounter, along with Evan and Mala, ...the pastor and his wife. It was a sweet time.

Then we drove to the Mount of the Beatitudes....it was breathtaking, and a spiritual moment! Then to the beach where the resurrected Jesus asked Peter "do you love me?" Amazing....

Then to Capernaum! Finished the day at the House of Light, a recovery ministry that originally began reaching out to children, and now has a fantastic prison ministry.

Crashed in a hotel in Nazareth....awaiting more adventures tomorrow! We are all having a great time!

4.23.10

Greetings from Bethlehem Bible College! Just a quick update as it is quite late and we have to be up early in the morning! Our day started with a tour of the new BBC which should be finished in just a couple weeks! 'Beautiful' can barely begin to describe this facility! We then enjoyed a talk with Alex Awad and a lecture from his brother, Bishara. Two godly men who have opened our eyes and hearts to the hopes and prayers of the Palestinian people. We had "tea" with some of the students and another visiting group from Arizona. We all love the fresh bread sold by a vendor at the gate, dipped in yogurt and spices. I forget the exact name, but it sure was delicious! Lunch was again with the students at the college. A traditional Friday meal of lentils and rice with cucumber and tomatoe salad. Soooo yummy! Then off to Christmas Lutheran Church and a special visit with Mitri Raheb. Will fill you in on that later, too much to tell. Turns out they were dedicating the Art/Photography Exhibition from the students there. Quite a treat! Then off to The Tent Resaurant where we had a feast! Seated on couches, under a huge tent, we were entertained by an Assyrien Christian group from Sweden who sang and danced through the evening. Thank goodness for the open air, for the hookah pipes were in full use. It is a common practice here, but most of us are so used to non smoking facilities in the US. Still an incredible experience! Will chat more later. Off to sleep as we are headed out early for Nazareth and the Sea of Gallilee tomorrow. Beach party and baptisms await! God bless!

4.22.10
They made it! They posted this on the Facebook page:
“We have arrived safely! It's 10:40 p.m. - we had a fantastic dinner with all kinds of delicious salads, lamb prepared two different ways, and chicken kabobs - yum! We are excited for adventures that await us tomorrow! More updates to come!”

Swaziland 2010

2010-01-19T09:06:00.000-08:00

12.28.09
After 2 long days of traveling we are excited to report that we have finally made it to the farm at 6pm thins evening. The team is in great health and even better spirits.

As I am typing this quick message to you, we have a team working on dinner dishes, another figuring out rooms, mattresses, suitcases, and still another team getting us ready for our first morning of VBS. Talk about hitting the ground running! Peter and Mary Jean are excited for us to be here along with 30-some very enthusiastic children. For Patti it was a thrill to see all the beautiful faces she remembers from 2 years ago. All older, but still healthy and thriving. For the rest of the team, it was fun to see there faces light up when the children ran to meet us as.

More updates to come. Need to sign off as there is much that still needs to get done before tomorrow. Love to you all. Thank you for your continued prayers to all of us.

12.30.09
Well here we are, just 2 full days into our VBS here at the farm and things are going great! The team is bonding nicely and the children are incredibly receptive to us being with them.

As you may know we are working from a curriculum that outlines five important ideals in knowing God better. They are: Know God, Talk to God, Love God, Share about God and finally Work for God. Along with great story time and creative crafts we are teaching them eight new songs. It has not been entirely clear whether or not they fully understood them, until this afternoon when we were with the children playing and you could hear them singing these songs. It was simply precious. We are also busy in the afternoons with a growing list of farm projects that Rich Shaw has been coordinating. I believe he is in his element. We got a lot started today, that we will finish up tomorrow and then on to something new.

The team received their official “orientation” from Peter and Mary Jean Kopp along with the farm tour yesterday. What these two people have created in this space would amaze you. Every single process is perfectly orientated and orchestrated. Each thing affects the next and so on. The idea of “self sustaining” in nearly perfected here. We learned a lot and will be anxious to share more when we return.

In other news, the weather here is very hot and humid and some of us are suffering from pesky bug bites. Nothing drastic, but mildly annoying (we were contemplating playing “connect the dots” on Emily Jacobsen’s legs). The farm is beautiful, lush and full of growing vegetables, chickens/eggs and cattle. We even had front row seats in watching 13 piglets begin born last night. Pretty cool.

That’s all for now. Time to close and get some rest. Please continue praying for the team. We love you all and know that we are having a wonderful time here in Swaziland.

1.1.10
Greetings from Swaziland! We are all doing well, very hot and a little tired, but are having a wonderful time. God is indeed at work in this beautiful part of his world. The team has been busy caring out our VBS class in the mornings and working on a wide variety of farm projects in the afternoons. For those of us tasking outside, we have to move in shifts as the heat and humidity does make it difficult to be out for more than an hour or two at a time. The children continue to enjoy having us here and Peter and Mary Jean appreciate the “extra hands’ on the farm. It is truly amazing to each and every one of us how much they have accomplished in this place.

I have asked each person on the team to put together a few sentences (Highlights) to share with all of you. I wish it could be more, but there simply are not enough hours in the day to share ALL of what they would like. So… here ya go:

Rich and Audrey: We are especially enjoying the beauty of the area and the hospitality of Peter and Mary Jean. New Years Eve was a special highlight. The children entertained us with dancing and singing. Chris and John (our ACTS hosts) made a BBQ of chicken and lamb complete with a “Bree table set up” along with a fire for roasting marshmallows which quickly became a very sticky affair.

Emily J: Working with the youngest children during VBS. Emily J has enjoyed watching the children open up a little bit more each day. It is a blessing to see their smiling faces in the morning. She as also thrilled to see all the children (mostly boys) “perform” their traditional Swazi dances last night.

Charlene: The children on the farm have been blessing her socks off! Spending New Years under the stars with this fabulous team and the Kopps watching the children dance and sing for us is a special memory that she will cherish. God is at work here.

Scott: I have been blessed to be with these children. You can see some of God’s greatest gifts in them. Pray for us that we survive the heat.

Laura: I am enjoying the children and their laughter and never ending energy and enthusiasm. The beauty of this place is overwhelming. I have also been working on a sewing project in the afternoons making book bags for the children.

Tony: I have had a moment of clarity; Psalm 116:12-14 has new meaning.

Emily W: I am really enjoying the time with the kids whether it is working in the garden or walking down to the river. I have also had some great conversations with the children. While on the river walk, one of the kids (Mukelego) asked me what I wanted to do when I grow up. I told him, “a teacher” and he said I should stay in this place to teach. It was very sweet. Thanks for your prayers.

James: The most wonderful experience with the children is that their lively activities do not show any regret regarding their past conditions. They seem to be filled with lots of hope for the future.

Patti: Hard to know where to start. I am very proud of this team. All working really hard. It is sweet to know that many of the children remember us from Chapel Hill being with them two years ago. They have asked specifically about others on that team along with what we had shared with them when we were here. How wonderful to know our work is not in vain. Too many other highlights to list. New Years Eve was one I will NEVER forget and experiencing this with my daughter leaves me filling overwhelmed. God is so good!

That’s all for now. As I am closing up, God is showing off with an incredible lighting show. There is some thunder accompanied by many of nature’s critters chiming in. Good night to all of you back home. Please continue praying for us and life here on the farm.

Love, the Swaziland Team.

1.5.10

Greetings from Swaziland.

This is our team’s final night on the farm and we are all saddened at the thought of leaving. It has been a magical time with these amazing children. The team has given 100% in everything they have done. They truly poured all of themselves into this experience, never missing an opportunity to really experience life on the farm.

VBS was a sweet success, with children singing praises to God, making fun crafts (10 Commandment windsocks, picture frames, beaded necklaces, etc.) along with sack races, water balloon tosses and never ending rounds of hugs.

In the afternoon we worked diligently to complete many projects. Here’s just a sample:

We sewed 26 book bags and new curtains for the school
We fixed half a dozen children’s beds
Fixed 6 laundry lines that were drastically sagging.
Hung 1 large chalk board and 2 bulletin boards
Repaired school computers
Weeded and planted large garden to include lettuce, tomatoes, radishes, bell peppers, spinach and cabbage
Cut and installed new shelf in kitchen cabinet
Fertilized all fruit trees on the farm
And the list goes on and on…

You would be proud of this team. We have processed much together and have grown closer because of it. God has shown His glory each and every day and we all feel blessed to have been part of this experience.

The weather changed drastically two days ago when the skies brought us lots of rain including an amazing thunderstorm (Scott captured some amazing photos!) Tomorrow we leave for Krueger and are also excited for a little R&R. We will try and get one more e-mail out before we head back home. We miss all our family and friends and are so grateful for all your continued prayers and support. Keep it up, especially tomorrow morning as we leave this precious place.

Much love to each of you…

The Swaziland Team

1.9.10

Well here we are...ready to depart the Johannesburg airport for our 16.5 hour flight to Atlanta. Yikes! James is with us also, but is headed to his destination of Liberia to be reunited with some of his family. We are excited for the adventure that lies ahead for him.

Our time in Kruger was wonderful. After 3 park drives, the team is loaded down with great memories and tons of pictures of elephants, rhinos, giraffes, hippos, lot of monkeys and impalas. It is a beautiful park (bigger than the size of Swaziland) and it was just what the team needed

We had a special dinner last night and a much needed time of debriefing this morning over flapjacks and coffee. Though we experienced this trip together, it was sweet to hear from each one as to how exactly God worked in them.

We are getting the call to start boarding the plane, so I am signing off. We will be with you soon!!

Love to you all.

Your Swaziland Team

Guatemala October 2009

2009-10-22T10:28:00.000-07:00

10.14.09
Today in the village we had a tremendous amount of rain so we could not get the entire project done that were scheduled. We had the opportunity to visit with another 10 homes today and it was a blessing to meet the families and pray with them. A few families had sick family members and sought us out to join them in asking the lord for healing. One father had a full blown case of the chicken pox and in the midst of his misery sat up and spoke with us. Living in such close proximity as they do, the rest of the family may have it soon. We did see the medical clinic in operation today. Many mothers and children (yes a few fathers too) were in a long line to have vaccinations and to have the babies weighed to confirm their health status. After we had lunch Rob was called to a medical emergency, thankfully he is a full time EMT! A man had cut himself severely and Rob managed to clean the wound out the best he could and bandage him up. This took precedence over our scheduled work activity of helping build latrines. The women were learning what it takes to work a loom and got a chance to try their hand at it. Our medical emergency left the men with time enough to see the looms in action too. The truth be known, Rob may have a future in the business!
The rains returned just as we were getting into the trucks to head back. This provided an added layer of excitement on the drive home. We made our way back to the training center to take care of some business then back to the hotel in Nabaj. All in all it was another great day. We continue to appreciate your prayers and look forward to telling tomorrow's stories.
THE GUATEMALA TEAM

10.13.09
To the Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church and all of our friends following our journey; we are so blessed to be here in Villa Hortencia with AGROS! We wish you all could be here to see the mighty hand of God at work. We were unable to get internet access until just tonight and it is a challenge to sort out which days contained which blessings…but we will try.
We did have a bit of a rough start: the first day (Saturday) we lost a camera and despite our best inspections, one of the three SUVs developed a nasty habit of LOUD squealing. (Normally this would not be a bother but in Guatemala the roads resemble Giant Slalom courses, this was definitely an issue.) The second day another camera died and the market at Chichicastenango claimed a wallet. Another SUV had to be delivered from Guatemala City and the four wheel drive needed a bit of a roadside mechanic to make it work. In spite of all this blessings abounded all the more. We have yet to drive in heavy rain and all are healthy. I can not begin to do justice to the wonderful food, home cooked with loving hands. Hospitality is out of this world, warm smiles are worn by all.
Yesterday (Sunday) soon after we arrived to our hotel and finished unpacking the vehicles the rain came down. It started at 6 PM and by 6:30 the power had gone out for the entire region. Candles were lit, a small, loud generator was heard in the background and our hosts continued cooking dinner for us. Stephanie enjoyed a very romantic candle-lit birthday dinner and surprise birthday cake with nine of her newest AGROS friends. Actually the birthday celebrations started with lunch in the hotel St Thomas when the marimba band played Happy Birthday…even the waiter joined in for a spirited rendition in Spanish!
Today is Monday and I don’t know where to start. It was our first day in Villa Hortencia. The landscapes are straight out of tour books, post cards and lush tropical gardens. This is punctuated by steep roads and every type of animal known to the region. We entered the village to an audience of perhaps a hundred of our brothers and sisters in Christ. All but a few of the elected officials (both the current ones and those who will assume their new posts next week) were present and took turns being introduced and expressing their extreme gratitude to God for all that AGROS had done for them. We then did the same. This can be a bit of a slow process because it is translated from English to Spanish and then to Kiche (key chay) or the reverse.
Then finally we split into two groups and walked through the nearby homes to visit the families and continue the work of taking images of the families. We ended by praying for each family. For those who don’t know, to pray Guatemalan style is to gather in a circle and all pray at once, out loud. Sometimes people sing or hum too. It is indeed a joyful noise to The Lord. We continually hear the villagers praise God for his mighty provision in their lives. They freely admit their many needs of enough food and health and ask for our continued prayers and support but it doesn’t seem to weigh them down.
We have much more to tell and words are insufficient. Our days are long and full of smiles, laughter and tears. Language isn’t too big of a barrier that it can’t be broken with a smile or a game. Children and adults alike want to be the first to see the image on the digital camera screens and laughter abounds afterward. But right now sleep calls us all so we bid you ¨Hasta la proxima vez¨ (until next time). We love you all, we are healthy and safe and we still need your prayers. THE GUATEMALA TEAM.

Romania 2009

2009-09-28T12:51:00.000-07:00

7.4.09
Greetings from Romania!The team has arrived safe and sound with all of our things in tact. I am so proud of our team! Everyone had such great attitudes despite long hours and a lack of sleep!We had 2 vans pick us up from the airport, Florin and Vasile drove us. We made a quick stop in Bucharest for snacks and water and also visited a local music shop to give “the band” (Mark, Dave and Tony) an opportunity to pick up a small amplifier for one of the guitars. I know the kids’ ears will be tired after being with us for a week! The long drive (6 hours) after our long flight was uneventful and we arrived safely at camp around 7pm. Debbie was here to greet us and gave us a quick tour. I couldn’t believe it, but the team stayed up for a while to look around, hang out with Florin and have a sandwich. I thought for sure everyone would be heading straight to bed. We have a team of troopers! “The band” had a chance to play some songs…the kids are going to have a FABULOUS time with the music!Well, I must be off to bed myself. Tomorrow (Sunday) we work to get the camp ready for the kids (They will arrive Monday). Thank you again for all of your prayers and support!
With Great Joy,
Jennifer

7.6.09
What a great start to camp! Because we arrived on Saturday, we were able to have a relaxed beginning, with plenty of time to prepare our craft and games, unpack, and recover from the long journey. We spent Sunday resting, making beds and cleaning cabins, sorting craft materials and in quiet time; preparing our hearts and minds to work with the kids. It was great having the extra time.Today (Monday) the children arrived by carload, often after traveling several hours to get here. Once they were all here, we jumped right in to craft, games dinner and evening worship. The kids are warm and inviting. They are so excited to be here at camp! Once cabin assignments had been given, I walked a cabin group down to their cabin and introduced myself along the way. Two of the boys were brothers. They were 10 and 11 years old, both being no bigger than Will, my 8 year old. Small in stature and dressed in their sisters’ hand me downs (a flower and ruffle blouse with sparkly gold shoes), they were thrilled to be there. They could hardly contain themselves long enough to tell me their names!“The Band” was great (Tony, Dave and Mark). The kids clapped and sang along with the music and clearly our “band” was a success. Of course we don’t have a set of drums for Tony, but the 3 men put their heads together and created a drum set out of a 5 gallon bucket, cowbell, tambourine and cymbal. I can’t even believe Tony can play the thing let alone play it well! Once Florin (camp staff) got a hold of what these guys were doing, he too went to work building a bass drum. “The Band” didn’t even know it, but Florin was using 2x4’s, bongo drums, and levers to create this contraption. We are ALL amazed that the drums are so good and even more grateful for Florin’s thought fullness and willingness to give.We did, however, have to do lice checks and unfortunately there were 8 girls (with long hair) who had severe lice. One of the girls I was helping had the lice so bad that it extended clear out to the ends of the strands of hair and live bugs were hopping off of her. WOW! It was intense helping her de-louse. She required 2 lice kits, shampoos and we cut her hair. (She requested the haircut). As you can imagine, I am sitting here typing in the evening, just before bed with the sense that things are crawling all over me. I’m hoping for a good night’s sleep!! It is a shame to know that she will go home and end up with the same problem within a few weeks.The children we are working with this week are living at the extreme poverty level, experiencing 3rd world living conditions. Camp is THE BEST part of the year!I’m looking forward to telling you more stories!
With Joy,
Jennifer

7.9.09

Things are going so well here at camp. Everyone has fallen in love with the kids. The activities are fun and the Romanian volunteers are a joy to work with. I thought it might be nice to hear a little about how each team member is doing.Jennifer’s beauty shop is open. Not only has she given a haircut earlier in the week, but now has the reputation for braiding hair among all of the girls. Her popularity has soared and long lists have developed for this new fashionable hairstyle.The doctor is in. Dr Kirsten delivers medical aid daily in the form of band aids, anti-biotic ointment and Tylenol. On a more serious note, there is a boy here with 3rd degree burns all over his leg. I’m not kidding…the whole top layer of skin is gone. His accident was 2 weeks ago and he is still in a lot of pain. On the one hand I can’t believe he is even here. The risk for infection is enormous! But on the other hand, knowing the community he comes from, perhaps it is better that he is here, where he can be watched. Kirsten’s tender touch definitely found its purpose here.Crystal shared her testimony the other night which was AMAZING. She was brutally honest and her audience soaked her in. As it turns out, some of the adult Romanian leaders were dealing with some of the same issues in their youth and Crystal’s testimony had a powerful impact on that community. She has even been invited to “speak” during one of the Romanian small group sessions. Crystal is obviously well-loved here…she even received a proposal!Heather is craft queen! She has a gift for the organization and implementation. You should have seen her out there with the masks, and it is no small project. She is our team anchor. She has such a good attitude and has the ability to draw ALL of us in. Heather has been a particular blessing to me for her insight and support.Mark has been playing the guitar and leading music in the evenings, but what we are all so taken back with is his ability to play soccer. He dives for balls! The Romanian team leader, Petri, told us in our team meeting that Mark doesn’t play like an American!! He is seriously good at the game and incredible with the ball. Who knew!Dave also leads music in the evenings as well as a multitude of other fun activities with the kids. The games have been a huge success. Dave has such energy that the kids just gravitate to him. Rarely do you see him with out the kids around.Kim is our support dynamo. She is in on everything – always helping out. For me, I got to see a new side of Kim. I’ve always been with Kim in formal settings like classes or meetings where she is quiet and reserved. Not so now! I see that Kim is funny, energetic and just SO MUCH fun! Crystal, Kim and I stay up late every night laughing hysterically. Rob, I will be tired when I get home!Tony has achieved stardom here in Romania. Although he is now a movie star, he hasn’t let it go to his head…too much! We’ll keep you posted on where to find his latest film. He did give his testimony tonight and did a great job. Again, brutally honest. It is amazing how quiet the room gets when someone shares from the heart. I have such respect for Tony being willing to get up there and speak it. He did a great job.Here are some of the highlights of our activities:

Walking up to the “store” for ice-cream.

Having a sunny day on the day we did masks!

Our testimonies

Seeing Mark play soccer

Watching Tony play a home-spun drum set

Playing human foos ball

Crafts have been fun this year

Playing in the river (Crystal and Tony got dunked!)

Here’s an interesting side note, a Moldovan girl is here at camp this year. Heart of hope never takes children outside of its program (let alone from another country) but she is here because she has family here. As you can see, the team is happy and healthy and we are so thankful for your prayers.

Many Blessings,

Jennifer

7.13.09

We have had a couple of exciting days around here at camp. With the last set of kids gone and in preparation for the next, we have had the opportunity for some sight seeing and a chance to take a breath and relax to prepare for the older boys from placement centers….or so we thought!What really happened is rain, and lots of it. It is true that we were able to get out. We had a wonderful evening in Sibiu, enjoying the sights and exquisite dining. It was the quintessential European experience – quaint and charming. I think I can safely say for us all that it was a lovely evening. And then it rained. We have had rain off and on through out the week, but I think the building up of water over time took its toll so that by the time big rain storms rolled through on Saturday night, the water had no place to go. On Sunday morning we left the camp for church, but we surely noticed how high the river was and how fast it was running.I’ll insert here a little bit about church. It was so wonderful to worship with our Romanian brothers and sisters in Christ. Florin took us to his church, which is very small…about 25 members. It was so much fun to see Mark get up and play the guitar with the Romanian worship team. He is an amazing musician. The American team was introduced and Tony spoke a greeting to the church. It was a great experience for the team and I’m sure each of us will have a lot to say about it when we return. You should have heard the choir! Amazing!Back to camp- when we return from our afternoon out on Sunday, the river was raging. The gentlemen, Tony, Mark and Dave came back early to help fill sand backs and pump water. The river was so high it almost breached the walls. It took out several trees along the banks and washed out most of the road. In fact, the boys when they come will have to be dropped off down the road and walk the rest of the way up. (This will be interesting when it is time for us to leave with all of our luggage!) I was actually a little worried, and I knew if it got any higher we would have to cancel camp for the boys or at least delay it. It was quite powerful to watch the torrent of raging water.On a lighter note, while the men returned to camp early to help with the flooding problem, the ladies remained in town with Debbie. We stopped for lunch and a few groceries to prepare dinner for the men. We (the ladies) we thinking that the men were working so hard, getting cold, wet and muddy. Digging trenches and filling sand bags…. We knew they would be exhausted! So we pull into camp, prepared to make them a meal and give them a break – and there they are – all huddled around the BBQ! Iulian had decided to have a BBQ for us – Romanian style. He set up a giant umbrella to keep us out of the rain and executed a feast of monumental proportions. How American of us, to think, “Hurry back, they will be stressed out over this big problem that we must fix.” And how Romanian of them, “The river is bigger than me, there’s nothing I can do, so let’s enjoy the moment.” Surely we learned a lesson from this…The water is receding. It is still very dangerous because it is like having rapids in your back yard. We will have to make sure the boys stay out. Now we have to deal with the aftermath. For example, one of the outhouses was full and needed to be “drained” yuck! And the well has been contaminated so we can’t drink the water until it can be tested. (For all of you who worry about us, have no fear! Debbie is bringing bottled water.) And then there are smaller issues like a muddy, wet play field. But…it is sunshine today! We checked the weather and the forecast has predicted sun for the next week. Our spirits are up and we are really looking forward to our week ahead with the boys. The new Romanian volunteers have come and we are enjoying the opportunity to make new friends.Please continue to keep us in your prayers. Our team is doing great. Everyone is happy, healthy and helpful. We would be grateful if you would pray for the weather, water and for the incoming children.

Thank you again for your prayers,

Jennifer

7.18.09

I am sorry it took me a few days to get back in the saddle of updates. Although we have internet at camp, it is slower than slow and when days are long, using the internet fell to the bottom of the list. Now that we have safely arrived in Bucharest, I am spoiled by free time and fast internet – not to mention the peace and quiet to think! Of course having the older boys from the placement centers is for me, the highlight of the trip each and every year. They are a part of my heart and soul. The week with them is hectic and crazy. With such high energy all around coupled with their intense needs, they keep us running! The crafts and games were a complete success (I can’t even begin to tell you how many pieces of embroidery thread I cut!) and once again testimonies were solid, transparent, humbling and even raw. I am so proud of the team for their willingness to remain open and share even the painful things with these kids.We managed to get the kids out and walked up the road to a nearby bed and breakfast for ice cream. What a fun treat! One of the things that amazed us was the boys’ sincere sense of hospitality. It was difficult to accept gifts of candy and drinks from boys who had nothing. What little money they had they worked for themselves and shared with us. It is a tender thing to have little Ionut purchase a bottle of fruit punch and ask for cups from the attendant. He wanted to share his drink with his friends from the States. Romanians are extremely hospitable by nature and that hospitality is even revealed in their youngest.Crystal was amazing to watch. Her ability to get right out there and connect with the boys…and in deep ways! She spent quality time with them and invested herself. She was honest and sincere and the boys loved her for it. God has graciously gifted her with a pastors’ heart; it will be fun to watch her gift grow in the future.For those of you who know Dave, you also know of his ability to take command of the kids and get them rolling with laughter. Not only did he bless us with his music, but with his humor too. He was sick with a bad cold for the last part of the week and thank goodness for the miraculous healing for our weekend in Bucharest. I’m sure he is thankful too!Heather is an amazingly consistent friend and partner. I cannot express enough how she graciously handled each of us (and our idiosyncrasies!) She has the patience of a saint. She also managed the crafts and kept us organized. Calling her a hard-worker is an understatement and I fear it wouldn’t bring her the proper credit she deserves. She literally kept us running smoothly as a team. Can you believe she managed to do this even while under the weather with a bad cold? She had an unfortunate 24 hours or so with a tough cold…she felt guilty for going to bed! But she had us so organized that “relieving her of duty” for a time so she could rest was no problem. What a champ!Well…it’s tough to write about myself, but I did find that I was able to connect with the boys in a way I hadn’t done before. Several of the older boys have been at camp with me for the last 4 years and now face the truth that they will soon be moving on. With that in both of our minds, I think we were willing to say more. I am sad to say goodbye. I am heart broken to know the truth about what the very near future brings them. They are all so bright, full of energy and life…it is such a waste to send them out into nothing. Pray for their employability and for hope.Kim brings us fun and laughter. We all so much enjoy the fun she brings to our team! I don’t think I ever saw her this week without holding hands with at least one boy. Her gift to help was ever present and we all knew we could count on her. She was solid in her ministry to the team and warm and caring to all of the boys.Kirsten was an incredible minister to the boys. Even when the rest of the team was taking a break, I knew I could find Kirsten either a) outside playing (or cuddling) with the boys or b) working hard in camp cleaning and organizing. She is a power dynamo who does not stop…but do not question her priorities because she would drop everything on a dime to spend time with a boy in need of her attention. I personally did not know Kirsten well before this trip; truthfully, she surprised me in how much she offered of herself to the boys. I feel like I should take lessons!Mark did a fabulous job with his testimony. He was willing to get up and speak his mind and heart in all humility. I am proud of Mark for this giant leap of faith. If you do not know Mark well, I encourage you to take the time. He is a spiritual giant walking among us. He is a man of encouragement and the boys learned that about him too.Tony – All I can say is please come back to Romania! He is the perfect roll model for these boys. Again he gave his testimony, but this time he took it even further, revealing parts of him self I didn’t expect and demonstrated true transparency to these boys. I love the fact that all of the boys look up to him. Many of them shared very personal things with Tony and he spent hours in deep conversation with several of them. I know for a fact that the boys he spoke with feel ministered to. It has been an honor to be a part of his journey.So, friends and families of this team, we are coming to the end of our trip. We will enjoy the day in Bucharest tomorrow, first with prayer, debriefing and quiet time, then with sightseeing and fun. I will be sending the team home to you as I prepare myself to head toward Moldova. It has been pure joy to lead this team and I am excited to hear about their homecomings. Receive them with open arms and open ears; I am sure that each one of them have many stories to share about their experience here in Romania with orphans and the community poor. This will be my final e-mail regarding the Romania trip since it is only hours before we begin to pack for home (or elsewhere…)Thank you for your prayers and support, it is true that things like this cannot be done without a home team!

With Joy and Peace,

Jennifer

Guatemala April 2009

2009-09-28T10:48:00.000-07:00

4.20.09
We are in Nabaj, after a wonderful drive up and down and around many corners. Our accommodations are wonderful in a new hotel (hotel Boxbolandia), complete with outdoor pool and slides. The weather has been wonderful with clear blue skies and temperatures in the 70´s. Team members are doing very well with many good laughs and great interactions with the local people. Today we are excited about our signing ceremony with the village. It will be our first visit to the village and anticipation is high. We will report to you this evening of the various events.We are surrounded by beautiful wooded hills, a lady is herding her two cows down a hillside in back of our hotel, she has to pull hard on the neck of one, they are white with black spots. The air is clear, fresh, and cool, temps. in the day have been in 70´s at night in low 50´s. We now have clear blue skies, better than the smoke filled valleys from our drive, caused by farmers burning corn stalks. Many farmers are now planting because spring rains will come in May. We have been blessed so far with only one minor delay by an overheated transmission which was cured by a short rest stop after many miles on an uphill climb. God is good.
Peace / blessings,
Dave / Team

4.21.09
WOW, triple wow is how to describe our first meeting with the village of Hortencia Uno (Hortencia means hydrangia, the same flowers growing on the edges of the village). We began the day with devotions and singing, a great breakfast, then on to the village, a 1 and 1/2 hour drive over the roughest road you can imagine. When we arrived at the village many were there to meet us show us the way to the community hall and in a short time we were surrounded by many children. We spent the rest of the morning going to individual houses to meet families, pray with them, and take a photo so that we may know who´s who. Some families are as large as 10. Most have a kitchen building with a smoldering fire, a bed room house, and a sweat house. Except for the sweat house made of adobe brick, the other two buildings are made of flat boards nailed to a rough framework, covered by a corrugated tin roof. There are many slits for air to pass through the walls, which make it a cool evening at this elevation of 7050 feet.All the families were so gracious to us, sharing the names of their children who were often smiling and giggling. We will visit more homes this morning and do some work on the water supply this afternoon. Our team ladies will receive a lesson in weaving. Both men and women weave in this village. The textiles are absolutely beautiful. Some homes have looms in them for the weaving.In the afternoon we experienced a 3 hour ceremony for the signing of the agreement between the village and Chapel Hill that commits us to a five year sponsorship. The ceremony began with a singing of the national anthem (all five or more verses were sung) and a pledge of allegiance to the flag held by two beautiful young girls. About 170 were in attendance many sitting on the grass of the soccer field next to the school. Many speeches were given by various committee leaders, after a welcoming by the mayor and the president of the Agros committee. We sang several praise songs to them in Spanish, and with Jeremy´s guitar, they wanted more, so we extended our song list to great applause. It took us about 30 minutes to complete the signing of 5 sets of papers, many of the people did not write so they put their inked thumb print on the signature line.After a presentation of the banner from us to the village, all who wished were asked to sign on the 10 foot banner which is written in three languages indicating the partnership between sponsors ¨¨Working & Walking Together¨´ We were then invited to a wonderful dinner of marinated steak, rice, black beans, and sodas, with the village leaders and three school teachers. It was a wonderful moment to remember...great fellowship and sharing of common interests. The village is very hilly, with two churches, and tall hills surrounding the area. We are experiencing a light rain this morning, and will now make our long trek up, up, up to the village.

Peace and blessings, & thanks for your prayers,

Dave & VH1 Team