Sunday, 1-17-10 Message

I confess to having been very convicted by Pastor Joe's message on Sunbday, 1-17-10. I fear that I have, over time, become a mostly lukewarm Christian, reluctant to do little more than sit in the pew and make an annual visit to Nicaragua. I ask for prayer about the conviction as well as the conditiion. Clearly, it's difficult to share the gospel if one has allowed one's spiritual life to cool to that tepid temperature.

Portraits I've drawn from Nicaragua

Pastor Vital Pierre

Here's the second Mission Trip Video...

FBR Bluefields-Kukra Hill Mission Video

Journal Entry from February 21, 2007

Today we took a ponga boat ride up the river to Kukra Hill! What an amazing experience today has been. First, we piled all 18 of us and Pastor Vital into "the church bus", which is actual a small pick-up truck! Once we were at the dock, we took the ponga boat up the river (my first ponga boat ride ever) to Kukra Hill. Once in Kukra, Pastor Vital took us to the Mayor's office. He wanted to deliver a letter requesting a plot of land in which to build a church. As all 18 of us entered the mayor's very small office along with Vital, we were privileged to not only meet the mayor, but to be able to speak with him and ask questions. And in our presence, the mayor signed the letter granting at least 1-1/2 to 3 acres for the purpose of building God's church in Kukra Hill. As we left the office, the mayor led us directly to the land. As we walked, I was in awe as to what had just happened. At the site of the future church, the mayor answered more questions for us. Afterwards, all of us including the mayor, Pastor Vital, Joel, and Francisco (both seminary students and future pastors) joined hands, forming a circle and prayed over the land and future church that God would build, as well as all the people who would come to know the Lord because of it. This experience is one that I will never forget.

After we left there, we headed for a palm oil manufacturing plant. We were on foot until a man offered to give us a ride in his "dump truck". At seeing how high up the dump truck was, the majority of us thought "no way!" However, Cara spoke right up and said we'd love to ride in the dump truck!! And so our adventure continued... We all managed to climb up the outside ladder and into the dump truck! Several of the ladies got to ride on the inside with the driver while the rest of us held on for dear life as we headed off to the plantation!

While at the plant, we got to wear hard hats and were taken on a tour to see how the palm oil was extracted and made. We were a little late getting back to the boat dock but luckily our boat was still there waiting for us!

Now, safely back in Bluefields, we've just finished our evening devotions. I'm sunburned and exhausted but I have so much joy and peace in my heart from today's exciting journey. Tomorrow, it's back to work. So much is still yet to be completed! So for now, I'll rest. --cs

Journal Entry from February 20, 2007...

Yeah! I was able to both wash & sew today! Praise the Lord! Ps. 37:4

--pk

Journal Entry from February 20, 2007...

For someone who does not work with little children, do crafts and the last time that I sewed was a year ago...guess what I did today? All of the above and it was fun! I can also wash tile, break tile and even match colors. God certainly has a sense of humor when teaching me lessons!

--jc

Journal Entry from February 20, 2007...

It's interesting how God has brought me to another country so I can struggle through some personal, very close to my heart issues, which I truthfully am having a hard time with letting go. But, this seems to be the place to make progress because as my body works, my mind and heart are affected to listen better. I feel my attitude beginning slowly to change to more of a positive place and that is a good thing. --sa

Journal Entry from February 20, 2007...

As I reflect back on yesterday's work day (Monday), I am in awe of all the helping hands God provided for the job of digging out and sealing the pool wall. I have to admit that my only contribution (outside of supervising Wally) was to dig out about 4-5 shovel fulls of dirt! But, hey, that's 4-5 shovel fulls that someone else didn't have to dig out, right?? Anyway, to complete such a huge job in one day was truly amazing to watch! But, at the same time, I was battling on the inside with my own frustrations due to the slow progress made on the mosaic wall project. The process of breaking the tiles into small enough pieces, cutting them further with tile cutters to fit the art picture just right, and carefully cementing them on the wall only to watch them fall off time and again was a process that brought me to tears by early evening. However, what I noticed throughout the day with both projects was "unity." Everyone pulled together and helped where they could. Even Cara (who was busy with her own work) saw my frustration and took a taxi into town and found a hardware store. She picked up some epoxy to try in place of the cement and sand paper to help rough up the walls. However, neither of these things solved the problem and my work day came to close feeling exhausted emotionally and physically. So, as I stood in a cold shower (no hot water here), I took my defeated and bad attitude to the Lord in prayer. It's funny how much better I felt after turning my worries and frustrations over to God instead of trying to fix it myself...duh! I need to remember to be careful to not get so busy doing for God that I forget to include Him. --cs

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