Missions Trips Flashbacks Blog
Mexico Church Plant Update
A letter from Pastor Lorenzo, Prince of Peace Church, Santa Isabel, Mexico
August 11, 2006
Regards for everybody, hoping that God gives you many blessings every day.
It seems so far that having small groups in homes was a great experience, but also a great learning experience, to find out the right way to make them more effective. However, i t's a wonderful way to reach people for Christ.
We continue forward to set up more small groups in homes, and to set up a very easy training course for those who want to be leaders.
Recently, we've had many robberies at the church, so I ask for your prayers. We have some plans to put another wall in the back of our church.
Thanks for believing in us, because I know that you are praying for your servant and for our church. We are doing the best we can and giving all our possible efforts for this place, for our community, and for the souls here that don't know the Lord yet.
Your brother in Christ,
Lorenzo Angel
Asia - India, Spring 2006
I wanted to send a quick update to let you know how my first line-up went. As you all know I came to Chennai, India on January 12th to start the advanced preparation work for the ships visit. My team consisting of two Germans and one Dutchie got an apartment and worked little our hearts away for 3 months. The ship finally arrived on April 11th; watching her sail into port was an unforgettable moment! I watched in awe as 350 Douloids waived their national flags in excitement. On the quayside, the Doulos was welcomed by numerous TV crews, radio stations and all sorts of media! As I gazed upon the ship I noticed 5 people wearing t-shirts with the letters N - A - O - M - I....(see picture!) I felt so special and knew all the hard work was definitely worth it! I stepped on board and was met with countless hugs and smiles! I was overcome with emotion and couldn't hold back the tears (some thing's never change!)! It was great to be back "home."
The ship stayed in Chennai for 4 weeks; which is twice as long as an average port visit...lucky me! These four weeks were very intense and a great challenge! We faced much opposition from the port authorities and from anti-Christian groups. Nevertheless, we proceeded with caution partnering with local churches and other Christian organizations. We welcomed over 100,000 people to the bookshop! The locals really maximized on their visit, bringing a picnic (meaning rice and curry!) along with them to eat on the decks of the ship. This is something we have never seen before. In addition to the bookshop visitors, we also hosted over 14,000 people for onboard programs! As for onshore ministry, by the end of the four weeks we had sent teams to 59 different churches, 173 daily ministry teams (visiting orphanages, medical camps, slums etc.), 8 teams for overnight ministry, 6 teams for two weeks of ministry away from the ship, in addition to all this, we also welcomed 80 local volunteers to work on the ship for two weeks. These by the way, were all my responsibilities! Needless to say, my multi- taking skills were definitely utilized! By God's grace it was all completed successfully.
Though these four weeks were stretching, I know that I will look back on my time in India with fond memories and will be grateful for the once in a lifetime experience! As for now, I am exhausted and trying to recuperate.Thank you for your prayers!
By the way, I wanted to keep this update brief, but there is so much that I have experienced here in India that I would love to share. It is just impossible to put it all in...so if you have questions or are interested in hearing more, please send me an email.
-Naomi
AnShan, China, 2005
The City of AnShan is in Liaoning Province, along the NE border with North Korea. It is a city of approximately 4.1 million people, who are predominately Muslim. AnShan has 20,000 deaf and 113,000 physically disabled registered with the AnShan Disabled Persons Federation. It is a mountainous region and suffers from poverty and unemployment. Coupled with the lack of adequate medical care, the deaf and disabled poor of AnShan suffer greatly. I am joining other believers to demonstrate God's love for the Deaf and Disabled Poor of AnShan, believing that blessing them is blessing the Lord.
When God called me to China in 2004, I had no idea He would call me to join Believers in AnShan to develop a ministry to AnShan's deaf and disabled. In 2005, God used two trips to China as a way to meet and forge a great friendship and partnership with Dr. Zhang Xu. Dr. Zhang is a wonderful Chinese Believer, who was paralyzed in a swimming accident and subsequently came to Christ through one of Joni Erikson Tada's books. God has given us a clear and powerful vision to develop a ministry to the Deaf and Disabled in AnShan and has miraculously provided the people to bring it about.
Currently, we have developed a high quality and low cost digital hearing aid for the deaf and have developed plans for establishing and operating a Christian Center for the Deaf and Disabled. The Center will have a state-of-the-art Hearing Clinic, a full Medical Clinic for the Disabled Poor, and a full service Occupational/Physical Therapy Clinic. We have already completed the design and are ready to produce a Mobile Hearing Clinic that will allow us to reach and service the deaf poor who live in the mountain villages that surround AnShan.
Words fail to adequately express my need and appreciation for the encouragement and prayers I've received from the Neighborhood Family. On December 15, 2005, we have been officially approved by the AnShan government agencies to operate the ministries under the "Bethesda" NGO. God is so good! Please keep me and the AnShan Family in your prayers.
-Jim Serna
Thailand 2005
For two weeks in August, my team of seventeen people from several churches, college-age to retirees, went with Footsteps Missions, to an island in Thailand named, Koh Kho Khao. There were three on our team from Neighborhood Church - Brigit Anderson, Natalie Johnson and myself. Along with the rest of our team, we helped tsunami survivors rebuild their homes, as well as a community center, did clean up work and did crafts, snacks and games with children.
As we walked along the beaches and streets, eight months after the tsunami hit on December 26, 2005, we still witnessed much devastation from the remaining foundations of buildings, toppled palm trees and make-shift memorials. And though many roads, houses, businesses and boats have now been rebuilt, there is still much more work to be done physically, emotionally and spiritually.
We worked alongside several other Christian ministries and learned how God has used the tsunami to bring the lost to Himself. It was amazing how by God's grace we would come across what seemed to be divine appointments with other missionaries at opportune moments. We got to share with the locals about Jesus and His love through words and action. We were able to hear the tragic testimonies of the locals who experienced the tsunami. They were very open with what they experienced and talking about it seemed to be therapeutic for them.
I learned from this trip that we ought to find out what God is doing and then to join Him in it. I learned that living a simpler life is better. I learned daily, quality time with the Lord makes a big difference.
If you've never been on a missions trip, let me encourage you to go on one. It's a real eye opening, life-changing and seeing-God-clearly-at-work experience! If you have a fear of lacking anything, such as money or safety, if it's God's will, He will provide whatever is needed for you to go on the trip with Him. Nowadays, there are mission trips everywhere, for short to long periods, doing almost anything for any age. If you want extra training for a mission trip, a great course to take is the Perspectives course. I highly recommend it. Mission trips are great opportunities for us to be blessed by God so we can be a blessing to others.
-Linda Saejang