Journal Entry from Sunday, February 18, 2007

If Sunday was supposed to be a day of rest, then we all blew it! The Festival was held on Sunday and everyone participated. The morning service was spent going into the surrounding barrios to speak to people and shepherd them. The evening service was a time for music, sharing of stories, and a lesson. Bluefields is a place that grabs your heart. --Unknown

Journal Entry from February 17, 2007...

February 17, 2007 (Saturday) -- Today was our first full day of work. One of the goals this week was to dig out around the pool wall and to seal it with a heavy plastic. For the past two years, we've painted and then repainted the murals on the wall at the top of the seating area because of the heavy rainfalls experienced in Bluefields during their rainy season. The ground gets so saturated that the water actually seeps through the cracks and onto the side where the murals are. This is what is causing all the damage to the murals, not the mention the many cracks that continue to get worse. So, the guys came up with a way to (hopefully) seal and divert the water away from the wall. They first dug down about two feet (to the bottom of the wall) and sealed it with a heavy duty plastic. Then they laid a pipe (with tiny holes drilled in it) from one end to the other for the purpose of funneling the water out and away from the pool wall. This was a job that they thought would take all week, but through Christ and everyone working together, it was completed in only one day! Praise God!!! Karen was inspired to call it "Drainage in a day"! --cs

Journal Entry from February 16, 2007...

The following are journal entries made by our team members throughout our time in Nicaragua: February 16, 2007 -- God is good! We arrived safely in Bluefields this morning! Our trip here was long, but with Cara as a traveling companion, we never got bored! Other than some serious turbulence at times, everything else was pretty uneventful. However, shortly after we arrived in Bluefields, we were told that some of our luggage would not reach us until the following morning. So 12 out of 18 of us (myself included) didn't have a change of clothes and/or some bathroom items. However, considering where we are and how little the people of Nicaragua have, I am reminded that this is only a small inconvenience and nothing more. I believe that God teaches us in the midst of these moments... it's just so good to be here! --cs

Welcome to our Missions Blog page!

March 2007 Newsletter Frank Seinturier, Beth Wilson, Patty Keisling, Josh Dutcher, June Chandler, Karen Dutcher, Dan Dutcher, Ivanna, Stephanie Treen, Linda Reifschneider, Wally Rice, Robbin Treen, Mary Beachler, Mark Davison, Connie Seinturier, Cara Keisling, Sean Arnold, Pat Gopperton. The Team Travels to Bluefields: The team and all the supporters gathered in prayer on the church lawn prior to departure. Expectations were high as was energy and anticipation as we boarded the bus and headed to LAX for departure on this mission trip adventure. Travel team member Mark Davison survived a harrowing experience the night prior to departure having awakened to an intruder in his home at 2:00 am seeking "two cups of blood." Mark prayed and shared the gospel, getting the person outside his home, and called the police. Thankfully Mark was unhurt and still able to go on the trip. We arrived in Bluefields after flying all night and changing planes in El Salvador and Managua, where we were greeted by Pastor Vital Pierre, whom Linda has dubbed a modern day Nehemiah. Luggage and supplies caught up with us the next day, but we began work in earnest, almost immediately, finding that we would accomplish so very much more than we had planned. Here is a short list of the work that we completed for the Glory of God in Bluefields: Drainage in a day -- installing a drainage system to protect a retaining wall from erosion; the Fiesta, an all day carnival to attract families to Bethel; two mosaic tile projects; teacher training; guitar/music lessons; the construction of a gazebo foundation for weddings and other celebrations; sewing costumes for children's plays; music lessons; outreach to law enforcement; electrical, plumbing/shower repair plus a myriad of other handyman projects, water purification research, laundry and meals. Witnessing in the Barrios: The practice of the congreation at Bethel on Sunday morning is to go into the surrounding barrios or neighborhoods and witness to the people. Many of us were anxious at this suggestion, but were so proud to be able to stretch outside of our comfort zones to participate. What a powerful testimony to God's power, to be able to share the gospel and gifts of scripture to people in a country far away from home in a language not our own. With the help of interpreters from Bethel, we were able to share scripture and pray for the people that live in Bluefields. In many ways it was some of the most important work we were able to be a part of there. The Hope of a new Church in Kukra Hill: One of the most unexpected, yet astounding, events of the trip was a ponga boat ride up the Rama River about 30 miles to a village called Kukra Hill. There, Pastor Vital took us to meet the Alcalde (Mayor) to present a document requesting a land grant to build a new church. We entered the Alcalde's office without an appointment where Pastor Vital presented a letter requesting the land. The Alcalde signed the letter in our presence and then escorted us on a tour of the village, taking us out to see the site where the Church would one day stand. We all joined hands and prayed over the future site of the next Bethel Church. It was by far one of the most powerful experiences for the whole team. It was further proof of the vision that drives Pastor Vital. He took 18 American Missionaries to visit the Mayor of Kukra Hill to illustrate momentum and level of support to establish a new church, a church that will materially aid in providing some of the many needs of the residents. In our presence the Mayor committed his support to the land grant by signing the document and promising to present it to the city council the following week. Affirmation by the council action would allow construction to begin soon. We also went to visit the temporary site of the Kukra Hill church and spent some time with the pastor and other staff for this new extension of Bethel.