Sunday, June 28, 2009
Mozambique update- June 21
Hey Guys! It's Emmie here. This is our last night in Beira and we have really enjoyed our time here. Yesterday we got to go swimming in the Indian ocean and have eaten all sorts of interesting things, including grilled fish (fins, teeth, and all) and lots of prawns (giant shrimp). This morning we split into two groups and went to different churches. We had a true African experience! At the church I attended, Barb gave her testimony and Jeff did the sermon. We had a great translator to help us along. At the other church Dave gave the sermon and Kelsie was even asked to name a baby that was being baptized! She named it Esparaza, which is Hope in Portuguese. After church we got to visit with the children, that was amazing for all of us. We haven't done much construction work yet, but we have definitely been building relationships with the people of Beira, which is just as, or even more, important. We have all been learning that flexibility is the theme of this missions trip. We have a great group of people here and have had so much fun! One thing we keep hearing from the people of Beira is that prayer is the most important and most effective way of strengthening and encouraging the Christian community here. Thank you so much for your prayers and please continue to keep us in them. Tomorrow morning we will be making the trip to Gorangosa, where we will stay for the next week. We may not be updating until we return to Beira because we are not sure of the internet connection there. We will talk to you when we get back to Beira! We hope you all are doing well!Emmie
Mozambique, June 22
This from Barb on the trip to Mozambique around June 20
Hey everyone,
We were up early today and went to Food for the Hungry office for Devotion. We met everybody!!!! We toured their offices and warehouse. We then left for Gorongosa. The countryside is beautiful and interesting. There will be cement houses and then there are huts just like we see in the movies. We have only seen baboons on the side of the road. We arrived in Gorongosa and are greeted by all of the Food for the Hungry Staff. Neil and I hosted Joao in Cedar Falls last winter. I saw him immediately and Neil and I got the biggest hug. We went on a tour of the area, and saw government offices and the hospital. We have been so blessed by the graciousness of the people. We are making good friends too. We have a prayer request for you. The Gorongosa region is the gathering area for people among other parts of Mozambique and bordering countries to come to see witch doctors. The Gorongosa area is the center for spiritual darkness in the country. This is a very important prayer request. We thank you for your prayers, we can feel them.
God bless you all,
Barb
Hey everyone,
We were up early today and went to Food for the Hungry office for Devotion. We met everybody!!!! We toured their offices and warehouse. We then left for Gorongosa. The countryside is beautiful and interesting. There will be cement houses and then there are huts just like we see in the movies. We have only seen baboons on the side of the road. We arrived in Gorongosa and are greeted by all of the Food for the Hungry Staff. Neil and I hosted Joao in Cedar Falls last winter. I saw him immediately and Neil and I got the biggest hug. We went on a tour of the area, and saw government offices and the hospital. We have been so blessed by the graciousness of the people. We are making good friends too. We have a prayer request for you. The Gorongosa region is the gathering area for people among other parts of Mozambique and bordering countries to come to see witch doctors. The Gorongosa area is the center for spiritual darkness in the country. This is a very important prayer request. We thank you for your prayers, we can feel them.
God bless you all,
Barb
June 28 Mozambique update
This one from Dave Bartlett:
Partners in Praying,
It is Sunday afternoon here. Our team has just returned from worshipping with two churches. We divided and preached in these two local churches and then each team ate lunch in the home of the pastor of that church. Attending church and teaching in Mozambique is a humbling and growing experience. In one church, Jeff taught on courage and in the other church I taught on the marks of Christ's church. Other team members participating in leading the services.
This trip has definitely exceeded the hopes and expectations that I had for it. God is using our team in so many important and surprising ways. We have been utilized effectively by the Food for the Hungry team and by those training pastors as a tool to show unity and the importance of God's Word. These folks have given us opportunities that I never thought we'd have during our time here.
Some of the experiences that have touched my heart and challenged my mind include:
Participating in a Communinity Development meeting with the leaders and parents in a community who expressed their hopes and dreams for their children's future. A part of the meeting helped them understand their current assets.
Yesterday we visited a prison. It was very depressing; however, for a time we could be "salt and light" for those men and women and proclaim that God is the God of the do-over and forgiveness is found in Jesus.
Yesterday we participated in a Kids Growing With Jesus Club that meets under a mango tree every Saturday afternoon. There were more than 100 children with three adults leading. We greeted the children, sang several songs, and then one little boy (1-2 years old) climbed up on my lap. I held this little boy and really quickly he feel asleep on my lap. While holding that little boy I thought about my own grandchildren and I prayed for the children of Mozambique--those with no education, orphans, kids with malaria, and those with so many other problems and struggles.
On Friday we helped at a medical clinic for children in the community of Machiso. We used some of the soccer balls, jump ropes, frisbees, and volleyballs we brought to entertain kids while many others were getting medical checkups. Some of the children w support are in this community. In the afternoon, we encouraged and challenged 20 pastors who were getting training. I taught them about the incredible power of God and our team together was a very strong visual image of men and women, husbands, wives and children serving Christ because of love.
Seeing this beautiful country and getting to know some of these quiet and gracious people is having a big impact on me. I'm not sure how to put that impact into words yet. But I believe that none of us will return the same as when we left. God has been so present as we have visited homes, spoken with pastors and teachers and community leaders.
Yesterday we visited the place in the river that serves as the laundramat, place to bathe and baptism. It was a beautiful day and several of us took a shower under a huge waterfall. (In modesty we did leave our pants on.)
Our team of eight seems to be getting more oneness and unity each day. Please continue to pray for our health and safety. Please pray that God will use our remaining 3 days here in Mozambique for great impact. Please pray for our families at home as they too make sacrifices for us to be here.
I also just prayed a prayer of thanks for those of you who are praying for us. Today we are on a mission in Mozambique and I hope you are on a mission in your community in the U.S.
Dave Bartlett
For the Mozambique Team
Partners in Praying,
It is Sunday afternoon here. Our team has just returned from worshipping with two churches. We divided and preached in these two local churches and then each team ate lunch in the home of the pastor of that church. Attending church and teaching in Mozambique is a humbling and growing experience. In one church, Jeff taught on courage and in the other church I taught on the marks of Christ's church. Other team members participating in leading the services.
This trip has definitely exceeded the hopes and expectations that I had for it. God is using our team in so many important and surprising ways. We have been utilized effectively by the Food for the Hungry team and by those training pastors as a tool to show unity and the importance of God's Word. These folks have given us opportunities that I never thought we'd have during our time here.
Some of the experiences that have touched my heart and challenged my mind include:
Participating in a Communinity Development meeting with the leaders and parents in a community who expressed their hopes and dreams for their children's future. A part of the meeting helped them understand their current assets.
Yesterday we visited a prison. It was very depressing; however, for a time we could be "salt and light" for those men and women and proclaim that God is the God of the do-over and forgiveness is found in Jesus.
Yesterday we participated in a Kids Growing With Jesus Club that meets under a mango tree every Saturday afternoon. There were more than 100 children with three adults leading. We greeted the children, sang several songs, and then one little boy (1-2 years old) climbed up on my lap. I held this little boy and really quickly he feel asleep on my lap. While holding that little boy I thought about my own grandchildren and I prayed for the children of Mozambique--those with no education, orphans, kids with malaria, and those with so many other problems and struggles.
On Friday we helped at a medical clinic for children in the community of Machiso. We used some of the soccer balls, jump ropes, frisbees, and volleyballs we brought to entertain kids while many others were getting medical checkups. Some of the children w support are in this community. In the afternoon, we encouraged and challenged 20 pastors who were getting training. I taught them about the incredible power of God and our team together was a very strong visual image of men and women, husbands, wives and children serving Christ because of love.
Seeing this beautiful country and getting to know some of these quiet and gracious people is having a big impact on me. I'm not sure how to put that impact into words yet. But I believe that none of us will return the same as when we left. God has been so present as we have visited homes, spoken with pastors and teachers and community leaders.
Yesterday we visited the place in the river that serves as the laundramat, place to bathe and baptism. It was a beautiful day and several of us took a shower under a huge waterfall. (In modesty we did leave our pants on.)
Our team of eight seems to be getting more oneness and unity each day. Please continue to pray for our health and safety. Please pray that God will use our remaining 3 days here in Mozambique for great impact. Please pray for our families at home as they too make sacrifices for us to be here.
I also just prayed a prayer of thanks for those of you who are praying for us. Today we are on a mission in Mozambique and I hope you are on a mission in your community in the U.S.
Dave Bartlett
For the Mozambique Team
Mozambique update- June 24
From Ben Bartlett:
Greetings from Mozambique. Thanks for your continued prayers. They are much needed for us and for the food for the hungry team and for the people here in Africa.
We had another great day today. We started the day by going to a devotion with the local food for the hungry staff. It was a great chance to share some time in worship and for them to share some more about some of their programs. This was also the time where we were able to present some of the stuff we brought to donate to the area ministries. We brought soccer balls, volleyballs and nets, jumpropes, washcloths, and lots of medical supplies. The staff was very grateful. After this time of devotion, the team split up. Neil and Kelsie had a chance to go the local hospital here in Gorongosa. The rest of us went again to the village of Nhuranga. While there, one of the local teachers showed us the plans that they had developed for the school they are hoping to build. Then we helped them clear out some weeds/shrubs in their town meeting space. The locals showed us how to use their tools - and then gave them to us to use. When they saw us trying to use their tools, they started laughing hysterically at us. It was pretty funny. Also - Dave chopped off his finger with a machette and Neil had to sew it back on.
In the afternoon, I (Ben B) had a chance to go visit my sponsored child. This was an amazing experience. It was so good to meet the kid I have been seeing pictures of. It was also sad - my child's father and mother are both dead, and he lives with his grandma, who has no males in her household to help her. The grandma was very thankful for our support and very glad that we could visit. At one point she said something like this, "I never expected God to provide a brother to help me raise Mauricio." I found this to be an amazing statement. She sees me as a brother and a partner in her doing her job of raising her grandson.
There is still much need in the village of Machico (the village where my sponsord child lives.) According to the food for the hungry staff, there are 205 kids registered to be supported in this village, but only 67 sponsors. But God is definitely at work here. We see him working in amazing ways every day. On the way home from the village, Kelsie's chicken pooped on my jacket. Unfortunately, I have come down with a bad case of criptosporosis.
2 of the details in this email may not be entirely true.
Again - thanks for the prayers. See you all in about a week.
Sincerely ,
Ben B. and the Mozambique team
Greetings from Mozambique. Thanks for your continued prayers. They are much needed for us and for the food for the hungry team and for the people here in Africa.
We had another great day today. We started the day by going to a devotion with the local food for the hungry staff. It was a great chance to share some time in worship and for them to share some more about some of their programs. This was also the time where we were able to present some of the stuff we brought to donate to the area ministries. We brought soccer balls, volleyballs and nets, jumpropes, washcloths, and lots of medical supplies. The staff was very grateful. After this time of devotion, the team split up. Neil and Kelsie had a chance to go the local hospital here in Gorongosa. The rest of us went again to the village of Nhuranga. While there, one of the local teachers showed us the plans that they had developed for the school they are hoping to build. Then we helped them clear out some weeds/shrubs in their town meeting space. The locals showed us how to use their tools - and then gave them to us to use. When they saw us trying to use their tools, they started laughing hysterically at us. It was pretty funny. Also - Dave chopped off his finger with a machette and Neil had to sew it back on.
In the afternoon, I (Ben B) had a chance to go visit my sponsored child. This was an amazing experience. It was so good to meet the kid I have been seeing pictures of. It was also sad - my child's father and mother are both dead, and he lives with his grandma, who has no males in her household to help her. The grandma was very thankful for our support and very glad that we could visit. At one point she said something like this, "I never expected God to provide a brother to help me raise Mauricio." I found this to be an amazing statement. She sees me as a brother and a partner in her doing her job of raising her grandson.
There is still much need in the village of Machico (the village where my sponsord child lives.) According to the food for the hungry staff, there are 205 kids registered to be supported in this village, but only 67 sponsors. But God is definitely at work here. We see him working in amazing ways every day. On the way home from the village, Kelsie's chicken pooped on my jacket. Unfortunately, I have come down with a bad case of criptosporosis.
2 of the details in this email may not be entirely true.
Again - thanks for the prayers. See you all in about a week.
Sincerely ,
Ben B. and the Mozambique team
Happy Independence Day- June 25
From Neil McMahon:
Howdy folks, Today is Moz's Independence Day, celebrating Their independence from Portugal. No one is working, there are hundreds of people just out walking along the road. It is a day for partys sometimes late into the night, sometimes drinking a potent corn based "nipa". It is like moz moonshine. And since no one is working, we took the opportunity to go to the Gorongosa National Park, about an hour drive form here. It is a game park that is being repopulated as it was decimated during the civil war to provide both armies with food. This area was the center of most of the fighting. We were able to enjoy oodles of monkeys on the road, int the trees, most staring at us. The wart hogs and the deer and birds of many flavors kept us entertained. The lions, elephants,and zebras kept well hidden, much to the dismay of our hosts.
Our sponsored children visits have really been a highlight. To see and talk with the child that we have prayed for and sent money to support makes it a whole new level of real. The FH staff have been great and they have loved these visits too as it gives them more credibility with the villages, and it also makes the program more real and personal.
It is a good thing that we knew going into this that this was a relationship building visit mainly since the amount of work we will actually get done on the school rooms is negligible. They are still in the planning phase for the most part. However, the time spent with the great folks here and the time building trust and respect for each other has and will be invaluable.
Last night we were without electricity for a while. With absolutely no light pollution (except Emmie's torch that she had a difficult time turning off)), the stars were unbelievable! The milky way was not just a streak but with areas of lighter and darker. God's creation is amazing!
The main prayer request is for unity on the team and staying focused. At this time in a multi week trip, tiredness, differentness, etc can be not so fun anymore. It is at this time that we will need to rely on God's strength, not just ours. It is at this time, heart change can be accelerated. We are doing great as a team, and want to keep it that way, so pray! Dr Albertino and I will be screening A LOT of primary school kids tomorrow.
Thanks for your partnership, for the team, neil
PS - Dave's finger and Ben are doing well (except Moz is almost out of chicken.)
Howdy folks, Today is Moz's Independence Day, celebrating Their independence from Portugal. No one is working, there are hundreds of people just out walking along the road. It is a day for partys sometimes late into the night, sometimes drinking a potent corn based "nipa". It is like moz moonshine. And since no one is working, we took the opportunity to go to the Gorongosa National Park, about an hour drive form here. It is a game park that is being repopulated as it was decimated during the civil war to provide both armies with food. This area was the center of most of the fighting. We were able to enjoy oodles of monkeys on the road, int the trees, most staring at us. The wart hogs and the deer and birds of many flavors kept us entertained. The lions, elephants,and zebras kept well hidden, much to the dismay of our hosts.
Our sponsored children visits have really been a highlight. To see and talk with the child that we have prayed for and sent money to support makes it a whole new level of real. The FH staff have been great and they have loved these visits too as it gives them more credibility with the villages, and it also makes the program more real and personal.
It is a good thing that we knew going into this that this was a relationship building visit mainly since the amount of work we will actually get done on the school rooms is negligible. They are still in the planning phase for the most part. However, the time spent with the great folks here and the time building trust and respect for each other has and will be invaluable.
Last night we were without electricity for a while. With absolutely no light pollution (except Emmie's torch that she had a difficult time turning off)), the stars were unbelievable! The milky way was not just a streak but with areas of lighter and darker. God's creation is amazing!
The main prayer request is for unity on the team and staying focused. At this time in a multi week trip, tiredness, differentness, etc can be not so fun anymore. It is at this time that we will need to rely on God's strength, not just ours. It is at this time, heart change can be accelerated. We are doing great as a team, and want to keep it that way, so pray! Dr Albertino and I will be screening A LOT of primary school kids tomorrow.
Thanks for your partnership, for the team, neil
PS - Dave's finger and Ben are doing well (except Moz is almost out of chicken.)
Friday, June 26, 2009
Tornado Recovery
Becky Bartlett helped coordinate a missional outreach last weekend in Parkersburg. Here's a little summary of the weekend:
As an ongoing piece of our commitment to helping Parkersburg recover from the devastating tornado a year ago, teams from Orchard Hill served meals to clean-up volunteers June 11-14. The RCA partnered with RISE ministries to bring over 250 high school volunteers to the area for a weekend of service. Orchard pulled the Chuckwagon (mobile kitchen) out there and also used the Aplington Middle School kitchen to prepare all the meals for the hungry workers.
Over 100 volunteers helped us prepare, cook, and serve the meals. The student volunteers helped at over 30 sites in the community- the city ball fields, along with many homes of families who still needed recovery help. It was a productive weekend and we were honored to take part in ongoing efforts in Parkersburg. A big thanks to Jeff & Kelly Kramer and Ted & Linda Hamer who spearheaded the Chuckwagon crew!!
As an ongoing piece of our commitment to helping Parkersburg recover from the devastating tornado a year ago, teams from Orchard Hill served meals to clean-up volunteers June 11-14. The RCA partnered with RISE ministries to bring over 250 high school volunteers to the area for a weekend of service. Orchard pulled the Chuckwagon (mobile kitchen) out there and also used the Aplington Middle School kitchen to prepare all the meals for the hungry workers.
Over 100 volunteers helped us prepare, cook, and serve the meals. The student volunteers helped at over 30 sites in the community- the city ball fields, along with many homes of families who still needed recovery help. It was a productive weekend and we were honored to take part in ongoing efforts in Parkersburg. A big thanks to Jeff & Kelly Kramer and Ted & Linda Hamer who spearheaded the Chuckwagon crew!!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Wild about the Child
Wildwood Hills Ranch Camp is WILD about the CHILD! Kris Hoskinson and her daughter, Addelyn, myself and our kids, Sara and Nathan, traveled 2 1/2 hours south near St. Charles, IA, to Wildwood Hills today. Ranchers were fully engaged by the time we arrived in their 4 rotations...horseback riding, lake activities, team building on the log, and the art center. What a great camp! And the staff are my heroes! They are amazing with the ranchers...firm, fun, and all about sharing the love of Jesus in word and deed with the 80 kids who were there from the Cedar Valley this week. God is so very good through Wildwood Hills Ranch, and I know this camp will have a bigtime impact on the lives of so many kids as they experience the unconditional love of God and others.
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