We have arrived back to Creel at the edge of Copper Canyon after a week in Pitorreal. We had a mission team of 4 men and 8 women. We did construction on the new larger church that will be used starting August 4th. We built pews, hung sheet rock on the ceiling and closed in the roof gables. We also had Mission Bible School at four different locations.
We were working mostly with the Tarahumara Indian people and a few Mexicans. The children were beautiful, but oh so poor. We noticed that their shoes were soles crafted from car tires with homemade strings for laces. Some of the people we were serving live in caves in the side of the canyon! Sometimes you had to wait until later to cry over the circumstances. The MBS was music, puppets, crafts, Bible stories, crafts, snacks, and a take-home gift. We gave extra food to those that seemed hungry. Everyone would walk from great distances to get to us. The mothers would come and sit outside and weave baskets that they sell. The Tarahumara people are very quiet and do not look at you when you first meet them. When you turn away they are always looking at you. The smiles and eye contact would come after several days of getting to know us. We all wore name tags to help them. Some of the older children and parents have become believers. We trust we planted clear Bible stories of God´s love and care for each one of them.
We left lots of supplies and sports equipment for them. The mission church pastor Obed, and his wife, were of great help and guidance to us. The other couple are the Parsons from Claremore who helped connect us to this mission. They live in Pitorreal from March until October each year as they have for the last ten years. They show a level of Christian commitment that is not seen often. They are retired and just volunteer. We ate all our meals at the Parsons home. It was all very good.
What is Pitorreal like? It is a community of about 200 with horses and cows roaming the streets. It would rain every afternoon and stay cool at night at 7600 feet. The Copper Canyon train comes thru the middle of town in a horse shoe turn as it climbs to the west. Pitorreal is in a pine forest and looks a lot like around Durango, Colorado. The mission church has no power so Linda played on a battery powered keyboard. She could hardly see the keys when it got dark outside with thunderstorms. The men and women sit separate in the worship service. It is no big deal to have dogs sleeping under the pews. When I was leading our group in singing to the church members I could see a pig moving by the open doors! The pastor preaches in Spanish and a Tarahumara translates in into their language for those that don't understand Spanish.
We saw the rest of the team off this evening from Creel to Chihuahua on the train. They will fly to Tulsa tomorrow. We will go west on the train on Saturday to El Fuerte. Thank you for your prayers as we believe we made a small impact.
We had no notable injuries and stayed mostly well.
Jennifer you would be proud of me as I organized a soccer game in a apple orchard with the kids. I had to keep score and referee the games. They just love soccer!!
Linda can tell about cleaning out many outhouses one day!
Much more to tell all of you later, Rob and Linda
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Monday, July 16, 2007
Arrived in Chihuahua
The team has arrived in Chihuahua City late Friday night.
The train left Creel very late in the afternoon around five. The ride was enjoyable but all were ready to get off by the time we got here. The work at the mission church this past week went very well and the MBS grew from one on the first day to over 30 at the end. Both were quite successful.
Jack and Merie were very gracious hosts and made our stay quite enjoyable.
Just a note to let you know that all is well with the team.
Rob and Linda left us this morning and then we saw them again in Creel.
See ya manyana
Mike
The train left Creel very late in the afternoon around five. The ride was enjoyable but all were ready to get off by the time we got here. The work at the mission church this past week went very well and the MBS grew from one on the first day to over 30 at the end. Both were quite successful.
Jack and Merie were very gracious hosts and made our stay quite enjoyable.
Just a note to let you know that all is well with the team.
Rob and Linda left us this morning and then we saw them again in Creel.
See ya manyana
Mike
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Notes from Pitorreal
The group called this afternoon as they were returning from a sightseeing trip to Diversadero in the Copper Canyon, which is 4 times as large as our Grand Canyon. Clyde Doyle told me that everything is going extremely well in fact the anticipated rough spot, the transfers in Chihuahua, Mexico, went as smooth as glass.
The team is working in the sanctuary of the new church during the day and then doing MBS in the evenings. On Monday, the team had done all the MBS preparation work including setting up soccer field with goals and numerous outdoor activities when a sudden torrential downpour swept across the mountains. As a result, only one child and her mother were in attendance but what an event it must have been for those two as they were the group's center of attention. On Tuesday night they faired better with 27 children in attendance. Now the team is planning to run two MBS sessions on Thursday, one at the lodge and other at Pastor Obed's local church. Sounds to me like they are making a major impact for Christ in that community.
Everyone is in good health and enjoying the mountain mission in working with the Jack and Marie Parsons (their hosts), Pastor Obed and his wife (the local Methodist pastor) and the warm Tarahumaran people of Pitorreal. We can't wait to hear of their adventures and experiences as they witness for Christ in our newest mission, Pitorreal, Mexico.
Dave Wuellner
The team is working in the sanctuary of the new church during the day and then doing MBS in the evenings. On Monday, the team had done all the MBS preparation work including setting up soccer field with goals and numerous outdoor activities when a sudden torrential downpour swept across the mountains. As a result, only one child and her mother were in attendance but what an event it must have been for those two as they were the group's center of attention. On Tuesday night they faired better with 27 children in attendance. Now the team is planning to run two MBS sessions on Thursday, one at the lodge and other at Pastor Obed's local church. Sounds to me like they are making a major impact for Christ in that community.
Everyone is in good health and enjoying the mountain mission in working with the Jack and Marie Parsons (their hosts), Pastor Obed and his wife (the local Methodist pastor) and the warm Tarahumaran people of Pitorreal. We can't wait to hear of their adventures and experiences as they witness for Christ in our newest mission, Pitorreal, Mexico.
Dave Wuellner
Monday, July 09, 2007
Asbury VIM Team arrives in Pitorreal, Mexico - July 8, 2007
Well we have arrived safely with a minimum of incidents. We had one problem with passports left at home fortunately this was remedied because of the early arrival at the airport and aid of Sandy. The ten of us left and met up with the Marshalls at Chihuahua. The entire team then travelled to Pitorreal. All of our baggage made it and only a little toothpaste got confiscated by theTSA.
Dinner on the road was an experience as none of us could read the menu. Surprises were had by many upon receiving our meal. The weather is overcast with some rain each day predicted. Temperatures are very nice somewhat cool in the evenings, particularly for the ladies. We got settled into our quarters without any problems. Water is limited so we must learn some conservation.
We will attend church this afternoon. The service will have many children in it because this the end of their week of camp here. We will see many of these children in the MBS during the week. Our first project will be to repair some guttering on the clinic where we are staying so that we can colllect some rain water. Tomorrow we will start with a project at the church. All are well and we have all of our stuff "great beginnings". The local ladies are aware of our presence because there was one selling baskets on the back porch when we arrived for breakfast this morning. It appears that sales will be brisk.
We will not be able to email often as we must come into Creel to have access to the internet. We may have more reports but mostly like not.
Blessings to all Pitorreal team Rob, Linda,Judy, Clyde, Jeannie, Kaye, Paula, Nancy, Les, Stacey,Jan and Mike
Dinner on the road was an experience as none of us could read the menu. Surprises were had by many upon receiving our meal. The weather is overcast with some rain each day predicted. Temperatures are very nice somewhat cool in the evenings, particularly for the ladies. We got settled into our quarters without any problems. Water is limited so we must learn some conservation.
We will attend church this afternoon. The service will have many children in it because this the end of their week of camp here. We will see many of these children in the MBS during the week. Our first project will be to repair some guttering on the clinic where we are staying so that we can colllect some rain water. Tomorrow we will start with a project at the church. All are well and we have all of our stuff "great beginnings". The local ladies are aware of our presence because there was one selling baskets on the back porch when we arrived for breakfast this morning. It appears that sales will be brisk.
We will not be able to email often as we must come into Creel to have access to the internet. We may have more reports but mostly like not.
Blessings to all Pitorreal team Rob, Linda,Judy, Clyde, Jeannie, Kaye, Paula, Nancy, Les, Stacey,Jan and Mike
Final VIM report from Tanzania
We are in Dar! Grant dropped Marilene and Janie off at the airport and we are all settled in the catholic guest house.
John Simmons finally received his luggage (on Friday) but no word on the rest.
Clinic went well on Friday. It was sad to say good bye to everyone. We spent the rest of the evening packing. The next morning some of us brought rice and sugar to the orphanage and spent time playing with the kids.
Raymond rode with us to Dar and we spent the time eating at Spurs restaurant (i had a hamburger, some had pizza,
steak!!!!!) Then we went down the road to see the Indian Ocean! Oh, how beautiful. There were many large ships in the distance, sailboats, i saw a lighthouse across the way (i love lighthouses!) Janie kept thinking she would love to have time to scuba (she is a dive master).
We then went to Slipway, an outdoor shopping village, and made our last minute purchases for you back home. Grant thought we could be done in 1 hour, I told him there were alot of women here and we needed a little more time. He laughed at us and gave us a little more time. He had to get Marilene and Janie to the airport (they are on another
flight) and David wanted to check on the missing luggage.
The rest of the team checked into to Catholic Guest House (Hostel). Right after all of us were in our rooms and the sun had gone down, all of the electricity went out. It was pitch black in the hall, the internet, fans etc were not working. Can we handle any more fun! Well, we did and have yet another story to tell.
Some family members are worried about the London layover.
Please keep our team in your prayers for safety and security. There hasn't been any activity in a week and security is high in London. There will be more security and passport checks but we do not leave until 1pm so our team will have enough time to get thru.
Can't wait to see everyone Monday evening,
Deboria
John Simmons finally received his luggage (on Friday) but no word on the rest.
Clinic went well on Friday. It was sad to say good bye to everyone. We spent the rest of the evening packing. The next morning some of us brought rice and sugar to the orphanage and spent time playing with the kids.
Raymond rode with us to Dar and we spent the time eating at Spurs restaurant (i had a hamburger, some had pizza,
steak!!!!!) Then we went down the road to see the Indian Ocean! Oh, how beautiful. There were many large ships in the distance, sailboats, i saw a lighthouse across the way (i love lighthouses!) Janie kept thinking she would love to have time to scuba (she is a dive master).
We then went to Slipway, an outdoor shopping village, and made our last minute purchases for you back home. Grant thought we could be done in 1 hour, I told him there were alot of women here and we needed a little more time. He laughed at us and gave us a little more time. He had to get Marilene and Janie to the airport (they are on another
flight) and David wanted to check on the missing luggage.
The rest of the team checked into to Catholic Guest House (Hostel). Right after all of us were in our rooms and the sun had gone down, all of the electricity went out. It was pitch black in the hall, the internet, fans etc were not working. Can we handle any more fun! Well, we did and have yet another story to tell.
Some family members are worried about the London layover.
Please keep our team in your prayers for safety and security. There hasn't been any activity in a week and security is high in London. There will be more security and passport checks but we do not leave until 1pm so our team will have enough time to get thru.
Can't wait to see everyone Monday evening,
Deboria
Friday, July 06, 2007
Guatemala Update
Fresh off of a month of Spanish Immersion language school
in Antigua, Guatemala, I've moved down the road to
Guatemala City, and I'm anxious to see what the next month
will bring. I'm staying with Tom and Kerry Jones, who are
originally from Liberty Church in Tulsa. They've been here
three years working with Shalom Church, which is a church
reaching out to people in some of the poorest parts of
Guatemala City. On Sunday I went to church for the first
time here, and I got to meet many of the people I had been
hearing about for the past few months, such as Pastor
Alvaro and Kenneth Sese. I received a warm welcome from
both of them, and they, along with Tom Jones, have helped
me to feel very comfortable here after only a short time.
Shalom Church also has an outreach to single moms and
families that has developed into a ministry called Manos de
Amor, or Hands of Love. They have a medical clinic, dental
clinic, and pharmacy that provide services to the poor of
Guatemala targeting mothers and children. I'll be working
there, and also with some of the kids at the church (which
also has a school) during some of the afternoons. I can't
wait to see the work that God will do over the next month.
My only fear is that I could be more trouble than help.
I've learned quite a bit of Spanish over the last month,
but I'm by no means fluent. I can get around pretty well
but I just don't want to hold anyone back. For those of you
that have been looking for specific things to pray for,
this will be the first of many requests that I'm sure I'll
have in the next month.
For the past week, I've been working at Manos de Amor, the
clinic that has sprouted off from Shalom Church. In fact,
Paster Alvaro's office is at Manos de Amor - that's how
closely affiliated these organizations are. I've been
assisting with eye exams, helping with the initial test and
then doing random tasks and filling various roles within
the office. There are three men who are doing the eye
exams, and I'm mostly working with Mario, the director of
the clinic. We've been seeing about 100 patients each day -
and while some of the day is spent doing other
administrative tasks, the majority of the eight hour work
day is spent doing exams.
It's been quite challenging to adjust to some of my new
tasks, as some of the men are difficult to understand, and
I can only perform a limited set of tasks. I don't
particularly like feeling like my abilities are limited,
and it's tough to feel helpless at times, but sometimes
they have to walk me through things, mostly just because I
don't understand everything they say. Needless to say this
has been a hard adjustment for me (this should come as no
surprise to those who know me well), but it's getting
better every day. Each day I've felt more comfortable in my
surroundings, and I'm able to do a little more. All of the
people I've met have been quite receptive and very
friendly, so it's been encouraging amidst some of the
frustrations. Pastor Alvaro even said when he met me that
his biggest goal for me in the next month is that God speak
to my heart. Those were some of the most comforting words
I've heard in my 4+ weeks in Guatemala, and while it's a
tall task, I'm trying to shift my focus to listening to
God's instructions while I'm here.
I have many more stories available on my website at
ryanhuey.com, including many from my month spent in
Antigua. Thanks so much to those who have supported,
prayed, and emailed me over the past few weeks and I look
forward to writing and sharing with you again soon -
Ryan
in Antigua, Guatemala, I've moved down the road to
Guatemala City, and I'm anxious to see what the next month
will bring. I'm staying with Tom and Kerry Jones, who are
originally from Liberty Church in Tulsa. They've been here
three years working with Shalom Church, which is a church
reaching out to people in some of the poorest parts of
Guatemala City. On Sunday I went to church for the first
time here, and I got to meet many of the people I had been
hearing about for the past few months, such as Pastor
Alvaro and Kenneth Sese. I received a warm welcome from
both of them, and they, along with Tom Jones, have helped
me to feel very comfortable here after only a short time.
Shalom Church also has an outreach to single moms and
families that has developed into a ministry called Manos de
Amor, or Hands of Love. They have a medical clinic, dental
clinic, and pharmacy that provide services to the poor of
Guatemala targeting mothers and children. I'll be working
there, and also with some of the kids at the church (which
also has a school) during some of the afternoons. I can't
wait to see the work that God will do over the next month.
My only fear is that I could be more trouble than help.
I've learned quite a bit of Spanish over the last month,
but I'm by no means fluent. I can get around pretty well
but I just don't want to hold anyone back. For those of you
that have been looking for specific things to pray for,
this will be the first of many requests that I'm sure I'll
have in the next month.
For the past week, I've been working at Manos de Amor, the
clinic that has sprouted off from Shalom Church. In fact,
Paster Alvaro's office is at Manos de Amor - that's how
closely affiliated these organizations are. I've been
assisting with eye exams, helping with the initial test and
then doing random tasks and filling various roles within
the office. There are three men who are doing the eye
exams, and I'm mostly working with Mario, the director of
the clinic. We've been seeing about 100 patients each day -
and while some of the day is spent doing other
administrative tasks, the majority of the eight hour work
day is spent doing exams.
It's been quite challenging to adjust to some of my new
tasks, as some of the men are difficult to understand, and
I can only perform a limited set of tasks. I don't
particularly like feeling like my abilities are limited,
and it's tough to feel helpless at times, but sometimes
they have to walk me through things, mostly just because I
don't understand everything they say. Needless to say this
has been a hard adjustment for me (this should come as no
surprise to those who know me well), but it's getting
better every day. Each day I've felt more comfortable in my
surroundings, and I'm able to do a little more. All of the
people I've met have been quite receptive and very
friendly, so it's been encouraging amidst some of the
frustrations. Pastor Alvaro even said when he met me that
his biggest goal for me in the next month is that God speak
to my heart. Those were some of the most comforting words
I've heard in my 4+ weeks in Guatemala, and while it's a
tall task, I'm trying to shift my focus to listening to
God's instructions while I'm here.
I have many more stories available on my website at
ryanhuey.com, including many from my month spent in
Antigua. Thanks so much to those who have supported,
prayed, and emailed me over the past few weeks and I look
forward to writing and sharing with you again soon -
Ryan
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Tanzania 2007 Medical Team Report
Hello, all is well in Tanzania. Our 4th clinic day is completed. This was our busiest day yet. I guess word got around!!!
Last night (Wednesday) we attended church services with the students at the Jr. Lutheran Seminary. This gave us an opportunity to see Grant "in action". The students sang to us and played the drums. They sounded wonderful. Grant then offered us the opportunity to sing for them......we did.......and we sounded wonderful too!!!!!!
Grant took a group to St. Mary's Hospital to tour tonight. Tomorrow is our last clinic day. :( Our medicines and eyeglasses are running low (eye drops ran out days ago), the luggage hasn't shown up yet, two are
meds and one is eyeglasses and drops. BUT that hasn't kept us from
helping hundreds and hundreds of people. We love the challenge!!!!!!!
Lance brought a soccer ball to donate to the village and Brett and Conner have been on the "football" field playing with the kids. Boy are they good soccer players. The soccer ball they had before was cloth tied up with string to make a ball. How excited they were. Many brought trinkets for the sick children, they will hug onto them while receiving an injection. I hope it helped comfort them a little.
A lot of malaria, worms, abcesses, dry eyes...... some sent to the hospital for further treatment (at no expense to the patient). But still many, many happy faces after being told their baby will get better with the treatment we will give them today. What a blessing the people of Tanzania have given to all of us.
Keep up your prayers for safety, security, stamina of the team. And also, as always, keep Grant and the others here in Tanzania in your daily prayers.
Deboria
Last night (Wednesday) we attended church services with the students at the Jr. Lutheran Seminary. This gave us an opportunity to see Grant "in action". The students sang to us and played the drums. They sounded wonderful. Grant then offered us the opportunity to sing for them......we did.......and we sounded wonderful too!!!!!!
Grant took a group to St. Mary's Hospital to tour tonight. Tomorrow is our last clinic day. :( Our medicines and eyeglasses are running low (eye drops ran out days ago), the luggage hasn't shown up yet, two are
meds and one is eyeglasses and drops. BUT that hasn't kept us from
helping hundreds and hundreds of people. We love the challenge!!!!!!!
Lance brought a soccer ball to donate to the village and Brett and Conner have been on the "football" field playing with the kids. Boy are they good soccer players. The soccer ball they had before was cloth tied up with string to make a ball. How excited they were. Many brought trinkets for the sick children, they will hug onto them while receiving an injection. I hope it helped comfort them a little.
A lot of malaria, worms, abcesses, dry eyes...... some sent to the hospital for further treatment (at no expense to the patient). But still many, many happy faces after being told their baby will get better with the treatment we will give them today. What a blessing the people of Tanzania have given to all of us.
Keep up your prayers for safety, security, stamina of the team. And also, as always, keep Grant and the others here in Tanzania in your daily prayers.
Deboria
Happy July 4th!
Happy July 4th! We had pizza for dinner that we all appreciated very much. We also had peanut m&ms for dessert so we had an American meal to celebrate the occasion.
We spent the first of three days in a new village called Fulwe. The patients had already filled up the benches waiting for us when we arrived. We set up, listened to hymns and a short devotion, and saw patients continuously from 9-1. We broke for lunch that was cooked by the village women, most of which were evangelists' wives. We passed out our last prescription around 4, after treating 165 patients, meaning about 825 different prescriptions. The eye clinic dispensed over 170 glasses, and Deboria pulled 21 patients' teeth, with 22 more patients awaiting her arrival in the morning. Obviously, it was another busy day!
We are really seeing God move in these people. This morning, a woman going through triage asked Conner and his translator to pray for her because she wanted to become a Christian. Thank you all so much for your continued prayers and support.
Please continue to pray for our team's health and energy.
Also, the
lost luggage has still not arrived. David is improvising with a piece of cloth that he has made into a toga. The cloth is red, white, and blue, however please send your prayers his way! We love you and miss you!
-Suzanne Area
We spent the first of three days in a new village called Fulwe. The patients had already filled up the benches waiting for us when we arrived. We set up, listened to hymns and a short devotion, and saw patients continuously from 9-1. We broke for lunch that was cooked by the village women, most of which were evangelists' wives. We passed out our last prescription around 4, after treating 165 patients, meaning about 825 different prescriptions. The eye clinic dispensed over 170 glasses, and Deboria pulled 21 patients' teeth, with 22 more patients awaiting her arrival in the morning. Obviously, it was another busy day!
We are really seeing God move in these people. This morning, a woman going through triage asked Conner and his translator to pray for her because she wanted to become a Christian. Thank you all so much for your continued prayers and support.
Please continue to pray for our team's health and energy.
Also, the
lost luggage has still not arrived. David is improvising with a piece of cloth that he has made into a toga. The cloth is red, white, and blue, however please send your prayers his way! We love you and miss you!
-Suzanne Area
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Habari (hello) from Tanzania
All is great here. 2 days in the clinic. We have seen and treated over 400 people and dispensed between 2000-2500 prescriptions. The 5 missing pieces of luggage still haven't arrived. Some are medicines and some are team members personal luggage. Please pray for the luggage to arrive quickly.
Adella, a young teenage girl that was treated by our team 2 years ago came to the clinic today. She is thriving and wanted to spend time with everyone from the team. Keep your prayers coming for the health and safety of the team. Keep the weather as great as it is is now. And as always, pray for Grant and the people of Tanzania.
Lance Gill
Adella, a young teenage girl that was treated by our team 2 years ago came to the clinic today. She is thriving and wanted to spend time with everyone from the team. Keep your prayers coming for the health and safety of the team. Keep the weather as great as it is is now. And as always, pray for Grant and the people of Tanzania.
Lance Gill
Monday, July 02, 2007
Tanzania
Friday - June 29
We are here! Everyone has a great room with an awesome view. No problems with customs or immigration! Prayers are the key!! We are missing five bags - should arrive on Sunday. Thanks for the love, support & prayers. Tomorrow is exciting trip to Mkumi Game Park. Bishop Jacob Mameo is coming to dinner this evening.
Bwana Asifewe (the Lord is to be praised) Marilene
Saturday - June 30
An update from my conversation with Grant:
The team had fun visiting the game park this morning. The bus got stuck briefly but it just added to the adventure.
They saw a lot of giraffes and zebras as well as other animals. They are still awaiting the delayed luggage, so please pray that it will be delivered soon. This is some personal luggage, not medical supplies. (Shopping options are limited for those who don't have their toothbrushes:)
This afternoon the entire team accompanied Grant on a forty-five minute walk to the Catholic orphanage. He said it felt good to "stretch their legs". When they arrived, the Catholic Sisters were doing their monthly weighing of all the children. Apparently they use a scale somewhat like what you used to see in the produce section of the grocery store. Grant said they just lay the babies in the basket to weigh them, but for the older children they remove the basket and the the little kids grab the overhead chain, draw their knees up to their chest and hang on until their weight is registered. He said the kids all knew the routine well and seemed to enjoy it as they went through roll call.
I hope someone took photos of this for us!
Tomorrow morning they will go to Mhungamkola (I believe) for worship together.
Donna M
We are here! Everyone has a great room with an awesome view. No problems with customs or immigration! Prayers are the key!! We are missing five bags - should arrive on Sunday. Thanks for the love, support & prayers. Tomorrow is exciting trip to Mkumi Game Park. Bishop Jacob Mameo is coming to dinner this evening.
Bwana Asifewe (the Lord is to be praised) Marilene
Saturday - June 30
An update from my conversation with Grant:
The team had fun visiting the game park this morning. The bus got stuck briefly but it just added to the adventure.
They saw a lot of giraffes and zebras as well as other animals. They are still awaiting the delayed luggage, so please pray that it will be delivered soon. This is some personal luggage, not medical supplies. (Shopping options are limited for those who don't have their toothbrushes:)
This afternoon the entire team accompanied Grant on a forty-five minute walk to the Catholic orphanage. He said it felt good to "stretch their legs". When they arrived, the Catholic Sisters were doing their monthly weighing of all the children. Apparently they use a scale somewhat like what you used to see in the produce section of the grocery store. Grant said they just lay the babies in the basket to weigh them, but for the older children they remove the basket and the the little kids grab the overhead chain, draw their knees up to their chest and hang on until their weight is registered. He said the kids all knew the routine well and seemed to enjoy it as they went through roll call.
I hope someone took photos of this for us!
Tomorrow morning they will go to Mhungamkola (I believe) for worship together.
Donna M
Friday, June 22, 2007
Estonia Lighthouse VIM update - Thursday
Ok, so I hate to break the news to you, but this is going to be my last e-mail. Camp Gideon does not have very fast internet. But anyways here is the interesting stuff that happened to me today.
Stephen and I headed on a little adventure to the grocery store. We picked up a few things as well as a little present for Ben Dalton as he arrives tomorrow. It was really chilly this morning and a little bit rainy, but it turned out to be a very nice day.
We jumped on the tram and headed over to our last day at the Lighthouse. Today was a very special day for them because they have three students that are graduating from primary school. So pretty much all morning and afternoon we spent getting ready for a party that we put on for them. It was great and I think that it was a very special tme for them. We stayed at the Lighthouse til about 5 o cock today and headed straight into Old Town. We ate at a very good resteraunt called the Turg (You guessed it, compliments of Sergei). I got a very tasty pork roast. UMMMMM....so good!
Today was one of our friends 23rd birthday. His name is Denis but some of you might know him as Tahiti. He always keeps us laughing. So we headed over to Apteegi and it turns out that it was a surprise party. We played some very fun games and just enjoyed ourselves. We had a very good cherry cake and bread of course. I had a very fun surprise....I think some of you know a guy named Andrei. He is from Finland and is the cousin of Erkii and nephew of Artur. I met him the very first time I was here and ran into him at the party tonight. And it turns out that he is going to camp Gideon this week! I am sooooooo excited!
After the party we headed back to the church with all of our Generation 2 freinds and stopped for some Italian Ice Cream! It was amazing. We got to the church and played jungle pong for about 2 hours. (Jungle Pong is a very intense type of ping pong game played with about 5 players.) It was a very fun night. And some of you might have seen us go and pose for the webcam.
It is very late right now and I am about to head for bed. I have REALLY enjoyed writing these e-mails and hope that you have liked reading them. This has been such a great trip and there is still ONE WEEK left (for some of us)!!!!!! Thank you so much for your prayers, I am so excited to share all of my stories with you guys! I love you all and thank you so much for the continuous encouragement for me on this trip. Pray that God will do amazing things this week at Camp Gideon.
In Him,
Dave
Stephen and I headed on a little adventure to the grocery store. We picked up a few things as well as a little present for Ben Dalton as he arrives tomorrow. It was really chilly this morning and a little bit rainy, but it turned out to be a very nice day.
We jumped on the tram and headed over to our last day at the Lighthouse. Today was a very special day for them because they have three students that are graduating from primary school. So pretty much all morning and afternoon we spent getting ready for a party that we put on for them. It was great and I think that it was a very special tme for them. We stayed at the Lighthouse til about 5 o cock today and headed straight into Old Town. We ate at a very good resteraunt called the Turg (You guessed it, compliments of Sergei). I got a very tasty pork roast. UMMMMM....so good!
Today was one of our friends 23rd birthday. His name is Denis but some of you might know him as Tahiti. He always keeps us laughing. So we headed over to Apteegi and it turns out that it was a surprise party. We played some very fun games and just enjoyed ourselves. We had a very good cherry cake and bread of course. I had a very fun surprise....I think some of you know a guy named Andrei. He is from Finland and is the cousin of Erkii and nephew of Artur. I met him the very first time I was here and ran into him at the party tonight. And it turns out that he is going to camp Gideon this week! I am sooooooo excited!
After the party we headed back to the church with all of our Generation 2 freinds and stopped for some Italian Ice Cream! It was amazing. We got to the church and played jungle pong for about 2 hours. (Jungle Pong is a very intense type of ping pong game played with about 5 players.) It was a very fun night. And some of you might have seen us go and pose for the webcam.
It is very late right now and I am about to head for bed. I have REALLY enjoyed writing these e-mails and hope that you have liked reading them. This has been such a great trip and there is still ONE WEEK left (for some of us)!!!!!! Thank you so much for your prayers, I am so excited to share all of my stories with you guys! I love you all and thank you so much for the continuous encouragement for me on this trip. Pray that God will do amazing things this week at Camp Gideon.
In Him,
Dave
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Estonia Lighthouse Update, Wednesday afternoon
Hey Guys,
So today we woke up with a suprise. Stephen could not find his wallet! So he called the credit card company and put his card on hold while he began looking for it. And being the great friend that I am, I rolled over and went back to sleep for an extra 30 minutes. It turns out that it slipped into one of the action packers. But he did find it after about an hour.
We really had nothing to do this morning so we went to the Lghthouse at about 11. We had tea (my favorite) right when we got there. We discussed our plans and it sounds like Stephen and I will be going to Camp Gideon on Friday with the college kids. And guess who is driving???RACHEL!! Ya, very, just imagine a blonde American girl driving in the streets of Estonia in a huge Deisel engine astro van type monster! It will be an experience.
We had a great day of just relaxing with the kids and just getting to know them a little bit better. There are some very sad stories coming from these kids pasts. The Lighthouse is such a great place for these kids to grow in the adolesence years aswell as developing a relationship with Christ.
We left the Lighthouse and went to a GREAT resteraunt. Once again, compliments of Segei. It is called a "pancake" place but I think its more of a crepe type place. I got a crepe stuffed with Bacon and smoked cheese....hmm..hmm.hmmm..TASTY!! It was very good. After dinner with the entire crew, Rachel, Stephen, Emily, and I went to Apteegi (this is what we are calling the Generation 2 House) and we went to a prayer. It was very neat but difficult because after hearing an hour long prayer in Russian while standing up, you just start to notice your legs a little bit more, and then you feel the back get stiff, and then your mind starts to wonder, and before you know it, you forget that you are talking to the creator of the universe. Well maybe I can try it again sometime. Rachel and I went for a little walk around Old Town afterwords and then returned to the BMC. The guys went to pose for the webcams in our "suits" (if you get curious about suits, just ask my dad, he can explain). Lets just say that it was an experience for us, and all the people around us. Not to mention a great way to end the day.
Tomorrow is our last day at the Lighthouse so I want to ask you all to please pray that we can bring Christ's love to them tomorrow and really change some lives.
I love you guys and I am so excited to see you all. We have so many stories so we might have to have a story/dessert night at our house when we return....mom and dad, this is me asking permission???
God Bless You All,
David
So today we woke up with a suprise. Stephen could not find his wallet! So he called the credit card company and put his card on hold while he began looking for it. And being the great friend that I am, I rolled over and went back to sleep for an extra 30 minutes. It turns out that it slipped into one of the action packers. But he did find it after about an hour.
We really had nothing to do this morning so we went to the Lghthouse at about 11. We had tea (my favorite) right when we got there. We discussed our plans and it sounds like Stephen and I will be going to Camp Gideon on Friday with the college kids. And guess who is driving???RACHEL!! Ya, very, just imagine a blonde American girl driving in the streets of Estonia in a huge Deisel engine astro van type monster! It will be an experience.
We had a great day of just relaxing with the kids and just getting to know them a little bit better. There are some very sad stories coming from these kids pasts. The Lighthouse is such a great place for these kids to grow in the adolesence years aswell as developing a relationship with Christ.
We left the Lighthouse and went to a GREAT resteraunt. Once again, compliments of Segei. It is called a "pancake" place but I think its more of a crepe type place. I got a crepe stuffed with Bacon and smoked cheese....hmm..hmm.hmmm..TASTY!! It was very good. After dinner with the entire crew, Rachel, Stephen, Emily, and I went to Apteegi (this is what we are calling the Generation 2 House) and we went to a prayer. It was very neat but difficult because after hearing an hour long prayer in Russian while standing up, you just start to notice your legs a little bit more, and then you feel the back get stiff, and then your mind starts to wonder, and before you know it, you forget that you are talking to the creator of the universe. Well maybe I can try it again sometime. Rachel and I went for a little walk around Old Town afterwords and then returned to the BMC. The guys went to pose for the webcams in our "suits" (if you get curious about suits, just ask my dad, he can explain). Lets just say that it was an experience for us, and all the people around us. Not to mention a great way to end the day.
Tomorrow is our last day at the Lighthouse so I want to ask you all to please pray that we can bring Christ's love to them tomorrow and really change some lives.
I love you guys and I am so excited to see you all. We have so many stories so we might have to have a story/dessert night at our house when we return....mom and dad, this is me asking permission???
God Bless You All,
David
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Quito, Ecuador VIM Update
Two phone calls from our VIM team in Quito, Ecuador. There are some communication problems in the area so they are not able to email us. They are all doing pretty well. Please pray for one of the ladies who is fighting a little intestinal bug and two others that are dealing with colds. Due to the change in altitude, it took a couple of days for everyone to acclimate, but that is all going well now. They’ve been working very hard clearing out several acres in a fruit orchard. And, they have the opportunity to work with a large number of children in Mission Bible School. They will do three more days of MBS on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, where they had been planning on about 120 children. As of yesterday, they have been asked to expect 280 per day. God is amazing!! Thanks for your prayers. They will return Sunday late afternoon.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Estonia Lighthouse Update-Tuesday
Hello all,
Today, like yesterday was a great day. We woke up and had a very interesting Bible study. We talked mostly about the cultural differences between Bible times and our time. Very NEAT!
We headed over to the Lighthouse at about 10 o clock this morning. We were put right to work when we got there. Stephen and I have a big project this week of putting a sealing paste to seal up cracks in the windows because it gets so cold in the house during the winter. We had a delicious lunch which included soup...and a great cake! We played with the kids all afternoon and took them to McDonalds in Old Town to top of the day. Stephen and I decided that our new favorite part of the day is Tea Time. I still don’t know why, but I just look forward to it every single day.
After McDonalds the kids went home and Rachel, Emily, Stephen and I (Chris and Dustin went to Tartu today to do an interview) went to exchange some money, which actually took a really long time and then we headed back to McDonalds to meet up with some friends from Generation 2.
It is Tuesday today, which means pizza night. So Sergei took us on a really long walk to the restaurant called Rosso. It is a very modern, newer part of town. We ate very good pizza. We find that when Sergei chooses the restaurant, we can’t go wrong, plus it’s always cheap. He is pretty handy.
We actually got back to the BMC very early tonight. (7:30) So, we have just been hanging out all night. I’m craving some ice cream so I might run to the gas station next door in a minute. Everything is going great in Estonia. The only annoying thing is me and Stephen are still waiting on our own room. The people were supposed to move out on Friday, then they changed it to today, but still nothing, who knows, we might just be rooming with Dustin and Chris the whole time, which is not bad but it involves a lot of snoring.
I hope all is well with you all, remember to visit Stephen’s blog site to see pictures at www.stephenmission.blogspot.com
God Bless,
Dave
Today, like yesterday was a great day. We woke up and had a very interesting Bible study. We talked mostly about the cultural differences between Bible times and our time. Very NEAT!
We headed over to the Lighthouse at about 10 o clock this morning. We were put right to work when we got there. Stephen and I have a big project this week of putting a sealing paste to seal up cracks in the windows because it gets so cold in the house during the winter. We had a delicious lunch which included soup...and a great cake! We played with the kids all afternoon and took them to McDonalds in Old Town to top of the day. Stephen and I decided that our new favorite part of the day is Tea Time. I still don’t know why, but I just look forward to it every single day.
After McDonalds the kids went home and Rachel, Emily, Stephen and I (Chris and Dustin went to Tartu today to do an interview) went to exchange some money, which actually took a really long time and then we headed back to McDonalds to meet up with some friends from Generation 2.
It is Tuesday today, which means pizza night. So Sergei took us on a really long walk to the restaurant called Rosso. It is a very modern, newer part of town. We ate very good pizza. We find that when Sergei chooses the restaurant, we can’t go wrong, plus it’s always cheap. He is pretty handy.
We actually got back to the BMC very early tonight. (7:30) So, we have just been hanging out all night. I’m craving some ice cream so I might run to the gas station next door in a minute. Everything is going great in Estonia. The only annoying thing is me and Stephen are still waiting on our own room. The people were supposed to move out on Friday, then they changed it to today, but still nothing, who knows, we might just be rooming with Dustin and Chris the whole time, which is not bad but it involves a lot of snoring.
I hope all is well with you all, remember to visit Stephen’s blog site to see pictures at www.stephenmission.blogspot.com
God Bless,
Dave
Estonia Lighthouse Update…Monday night
Hi guys!
Today was so far my favorite day in Estonia. We woke up and went straight to the Lighthouse. We spent the morning playing with the kids and getting to know them. We had a good time drinking tea and enjoying stories. We ate a little bit of lunch and then we began to teach them the puppet show. It was a lot of fun and we had some good laughs. We left about 4 o’ clock and headed to Old Town.
Stephen, me and the college students went to a little pub called St. Patricks and it was amazing! It was a fun pub and I got a great pasta dish. Then Chris and Dustin headed off to do an interview and the four of us went on to the methodist house. This was my favorite part of the day. We had a neat "small group" time and there were about 20 of us. Anton led the group and they decided to interview the "Americans". It was such a great time because we felt that they really got to know us and it was nice for them to know us better rather than just put a name with a face. We played basketball for about an hour afterwords and just got to hang out with the youth group.
Then a few of us went to get some ice cream and to the store. Then we headed back to the BMC. We also learned a few more Russian words today and got a few laughs in trying to pronounce the words.
Well I better go, it looks like Dustin and spinning all the girls on the marble floor and I want a turn. HAHA!
God Bless,
Dave
Today was so far my favorite day in Estonia. We woke up and went straight to the Lighthouse. We spent the morning playing with the kids and getting to know them. We had a good time drinking tea and enjoying stories. We ate a little bit of lunch and then we began to teach them the puppet show. It was a lot of fun and we had some good laughs. We left about 4 o’ clock and headed to Old Town.
Stephen, me and the college students went to a little pub called St. Patricks and it was amazing! It was a fun pub and I got a great pasta dish. Then Chris and Dustin headed off to do an interview and the four of us went on to the methodist house. This was my favorite part of the day. We had a neat "small group" time and there were about 20 of us. Anton led the group and they decided to interview the "Americans". It was such a great time because we felt that they really got to know us and it was nice for them to know us better rather than just put a name with a face. We played basketball for about an hour afterwords and just got to hang out with the youth group.
Then a few of us went to get some ice cream and to the store. Then we headed back to the BMC. We also learned a few more Russian words today and got a few laughs in trying to pronounce the words.
Well I better go, it looks like Dustin and spinning all the girls on the marble floor and I want a turn. HAHA!
God Bless,
Dave
Quito, Ecuador VIM Update
The team is doing great in Quito, Ecuador. They arrived safely. They have seen over 250 kids in Mission Bible School thus far. There has been a little altitude adjustment for some of the team, but they are adjusting.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Estonia Lighthouse VIM team Update Monday morning…
We have rain again today (check the current weather in Tallinn, Estonia), actually a mist this morning. I am sending this from the Lighthouse. We are getting started here with the music and art project and I am not sure what else. We had a wonderful time yesterday. Mall took us to the TV tower and it was incredible. This is where the Russian tanks and army turned back and Estonia attained their independence. We had a beautiful lunch there 21 floors up. Even in the rain, the view was spectacular.
We are learning a lot and it is hard to take all of it in at times. We attended the service yesterday at the mission center and were all introduced and welcomed. Cynthia and I knew two of the songs and sang along in English. We had a very good interpreter.
Blessings from Tallin,
Beth
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Hi everyone,
Well sorry I didn’t update yesterday...I was exhausted so I went to bed early!'
Yesterday we went to the Estonian church service at the Baltic Mission Center. It was similar to the 11:00 o’ clock sanctuary service at Asbury. There were probably about 100-200 people at the service and there was a great sermon give by Olav (spelling) and I do not want to even try to spell his last name. He is a very cool man. Stephen and I talked to him after the service and it turns out that he is a huge part of the survival of the Methodist Church in Estonia. (Mom and Dad I can’t believe you haven’t told me this!) But while the soviets were still in control of Estonia they tried to completely wipe out the church. But Olav stood for the Methodist Church here and did underground services and actually got kids to come to Sunday school on Sundays by inviting them to his house and telling people that it was a birthday party. This was one of the first times I have talked to him and he is an incredible person!
After church we met up with Mal (I’m not sure if I spelled her name correctly) and she took us to the radio\TV tower just on the outskirts of Tallinn. It is a very significant building because it is where Estonia gained their independence. The soviets wanted to destroy the tower because it was where the Estonians broadcasted all of their news. So the people of Estonia gathered on the lawns of the tower and connected hands and began singing and praying. The soviet tanks continued to charge directly at the people that were surrounding the tower, very suddenly the tanks just stopped! They turned around and went home!!!! The people continued to pray and sing while celebrating! To this day, no one knows why the tanks turned away....I’d like to think that it was a MIRACLE!!! So we went into the tower (21 stories high) and just looked at the beautiful scenery of Estonia. We actually got to eat lunch in the tower and it was delicious!!!! (rather expensive though) The building was circular with windows on all walls so we could see out over all of Tallinn!
We got back to the BMC around 3 and had a very relaxing afternoon! A few of us went to the store and picked up some food. We found a new delicious snack.....cheese sticks with marinara. It was Cynthia’s birthday so we went to an authentic Estonian restaurant! It was good food, but being with the WHOLE group was a lot of fun. We got back to the BMC around 9 o’ clock and many of us went right to bed!
It was an all around very fun day. We got a chance to really see why Estonia is such a conservative country. It was a very neat day and it was great to be able to relax for a little while. I think tomorrow we will begin our work at the Lighthouse and be able to spend time with the people there.
God Bless and I will do my best to update tomorrow,
In Him,
David
We are learning a lot and it is hard to take all of it in at times. We attended the service yesterday at the mission center and were all introduced and welcomed. Cynthia and I knew two of the songs and sang along in English. We had a very good interpreter.
Blessings from Tallin,
Beth
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi everyone,
Well sorry I didn’t update yesterday...I was exhausted so I went to bed early!'
Yesterday we went to the Estonian church service at the Baltic Mission Center. It was similar to the 11:00 o’ clock sanctuary service at Asbury. There were probably about 100-200 people at the service and there was a great sermon give by Olav (spelling) and I do not want to even try to spell his last name. He is a very cool man. Stephen and I talked to him after the service and it turns out that he is a huge part of the survival of the Methodist Church in Estonia. (Mom and Dad I can’t believe you haven’t told me this!) But while the soviets were still in control of Estonia they tried to completely wipe out the church. But Olav stood for the Methodist Church here and did underground services and actually got kids to come to Sunday school on Sundays by inviting them to his house and telling people that it was a birthday party. This was one of the first times I have talked to him and he is an incredible person!
After church we met up with Mal (I’m not sure if I spelled her name correctly) and she took us to the radio\TV tower just on the outskirts of Tallinn. It is a very significant building because it is where Estonia gained their independence. The soviets wanted to destroy the tower because it was where the Estonians broadcasted all of their news. So the people of Estonia gathered on the lawns of the tower and connected hands and began singing and praying. The soviet tanks continued to charge directly at the people that were surrounding the tower, very suddenly the tanks just stopped! They turned around and went home!!!! The people continued to pray and sing while celebrating! To this day, no one knows why the tanks turned away....I’d like to think that it was a MIRACLE!!! So we went into the tower (21 stories high) and just looked at the beautiful scenery of Estonia. We actually got to eat lunch in the tower and it was delicious!!!! (rather expensive though) The building was circular with windows on all walls so we could see out over all of Tallinn!
We got back to the BMC around 3 and had a very relaxing afternoon! A few of us went to the store and picked up some food. We found a new delicious snack.....cheese sticks with marinara. It was Cynthia’s birthday so we went to an authentic Estonian restaurant! It was good food, but being with the WHOLE group was a lot of fun. We got back to the BMC around 9 o’ clock and many of us went right to bed!
It was an all around very fun day. We got a chance to really see why Estonia is such a conservative country. It was a very neat day and it was great to be able to relax for a little while. I think tomorrow we will begin our work at the Lighthouse and be able to spend time with the people there.
God Bless and I will do my best to update tomorrow,
In Him,
David
Caspian Team Sunday morning update
Everyone has arrived safely. They had a good first day in Baku...Went to church, saw the Foxworths, did some touring, had a nice dinner. They were off to bed early. Leaving for Ginga early Monday morning Baku time for 5 hour drive. Looking forward to seeing all their friends there and doing their work. I'll keep you updated as I hear from them.
Claudia
Claudia
Update from Beth & David
We had a great time today at the Open Air Museum. It is a center depicting historical lifestyle of Estonia. We saw Estonian folk dancing and our group participated. I have it on video. We had lunch there and then returned to Old Town for more sight seeing and shopping at the market on the square. Tomorrow we will attend church at the Baltic Center and Mall tells us we will have lunch in the TV tower. We had another beautiful weather day and have had a great time getting to know each other and Mall. I will try to get some pictures sent when the ones in the know return to the center. We are headed to dinner now. We have eaten our way through the city and certainly have enjoyed it.Blessings,
Beth McCalman
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Hello everyone,
TODAY HAS BEEN GREAT!!!!!
This morning we got to sleep in till 10 a.m! It was very nice to get well rested. We went to the Estonia outdoor museum today and it was a PERFECT day to be outside. The museum was great....we learned a lot about the old Estonian culture and even got to dance as part of a skit that the people put on. (Yes the girl I danced with was very pretty!) We had a delicious lunch at the museum that consisted of soup, veggies, potatos, and a pork roast.We spent a lot of the day in Old Town, Tallinn where there was beautiful weather. We walked up to Toompea, the upper city, and looked out over all of Tallinn. We also went to a coffee shop and just relaxed for about an hour. We had a great time!!!
Last night we went to a great worship service at the Generation2 building. The music was great as well as a great message from Anton*, a good friend from last year. We played basketball for a couple hours after the service. On the way home we had to stop for ice cream at the American Embassy...aka McDonalds. We saw a man skiing, yes skiing, down the streets of Old Town in a womens bathing suit. It was a beautiful sight....NOT!!! We got a pretty good laugh of it though. We stayed up really late,or I guess you could say early, and played Jungle Pong with a new friend we met from Illinois named Jason, very cool guy.Tonight we plan on eating at the grocery store and plan to lay low. I'm sure that Stephen and I will try to meet up with the college students and hopefully hang out with the Generation 2 youth group.
If you would like to hear more about the trip and see a few pictures (don't worry the half naked skiing man will not be shown) then Stephen Pittman has created a blog for this trip. The website is http://www.blogger.com/www.stephenmission.blogspot.com You can comment on the trip at this website or I would love for you to e-mail me. I miss you all and have some great stories already...and I have only been gone 3 days!!!!!
God Bless,
David Read
Friday, June 15, 2007
Estonia Lighthouse Update, Friday morning
I am mailing from the Lighthouse. We made it to Tallin yesterday afternoon with no complications. Our flights were all on time and smooth. We were able to spend a couple of hours walking around Stockholm while on our layover there. We rode the bullet train into town. All of our luggage arrived with us which was definitely a relief. We were met at the airport by Mall and the college team and they got us to the mission center and helped us get into our rooms. The kids walked us to the bank to exchange currency and took us to the buffet they have found. Very good food. We all slept well and have toured the Lighthouse this morning and had some lunch here. Some of us are preparing to tour the city. It was rainy and cool when we arrived and cloudy and windy this morning, but has turned into a beautiful afternoon. We will write more later.
Blessings,
Beth McCalman
Blessings,
Beth McCalman
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