GUYS in WV

The GUYS at Community Crossing in WV.

Following are photos from the projects they worked on while there January 26-29. Please pray for the families whose homes were improved (or at least started). 

GUYS in WV

Representatives from the G.U.Y.S. group headed to West Virginia today to work with Community Crossing.While there, the group will be helping a single mother with home repair.  This mother had an indoor fire that did quite a bit of damage in her house.  After the fire, her husband left her and the kids. She has been unable to get any repairs completed until this time. 

Pray for the team for safety in their work and travel.

Pray for the family that they will see Jesus in the team helping in her house.

Pray for Community Crossing that they will be able to provide for the needy families in McDowell County, WV. 

I don't know if we will get updates from the team - cell phone service is very spotty up there as limited internet service - if any. 

Help Get Bibles in West Africa

Do you want to help with creating bibles for people groups who have never had the Word of God in their languages? 

Paul and Grace Closius, missionaries supported by SOJ, went to Ghana a couple of years ago and worked with the Ghana Institute of Linguistics, Literacy and Bible Translation (GILLBT). GILLBT has requested that the Closius' coworker and good friend, John Sidsaya, go to South Africa to receive specialized training in Desk Top Publishing of Bibles.  

This opportunity is an answer to prayer for Mr. Sidsaya and the GILLBT.

 He has received a majority of the funds for his trip and training through Ghanian Churches and other sources, but still needs about $600 for training.  He knows God will provide. 

{John Sidsaya (right), Kaakyi translator, gives Matthew Donkor (left) a finished copy of the Gospel of Mark.}

John Sidsaya states:  

“I would appreciate prayer for wisdom and funds for further training in Desk Top Publishing Specialization.  There are still numerous projects in West Africa - representing more than a million people - that need Bibles and New Testaments typeset.  They often struggle to get visas to travel to the US or England to have their work typeset there. My training would help reduce this kind of frustration and expense on translation projects. “

If you are willing to contribute to this training, any amount is not small, you can send your tax deductible donation to:

Wycliffe Bible Translators,

PO Box 628200, Orlando, FL-32862-8200, 

With a note: “for John Sidsaya training, Ghana.”

Belize - Wednesday

We started the day with no water. Apparently the water company will randomly turn off the water for unknown periods of time ... the longest being 100 hours. Today was only about 4. Thankfully. Then we headed to the Bell's house for one last visit.  

Singing 'Amazing Grace' on the front porch to Mr. Bell. 

The Bell family. 

The team and the family. 

Being interviewed for Plus TV 

To see the story and/or read the transcript, click here

Ms Yolanda being interviewed on the steps of her new home. 

This is where we surprised her with the news that installing her electricity was covered. 

Ready to begin the trek home.

Craig hanging out of a moving bus. 

Local Post Office

Belize from the air.

Shannon and Kurt had a bit too much time together. 

A tired Lissa and always happy Alexa.

Eric looking forward to seeing his family. 

Part of our welcoming committee ... I know one person who was very glad to see that smiling face. 

We are home. 

Back to our comforts. 

Back to our beds. 

Back to consistently running water. 

No flying, biting bugs. 

Lower humidity and temperatures. 

But

We have all been changed. 

In our hearts.

In our relationships.

In the way we look at our very Americanness.

We spent a week with people in extreme poverty.

Caught in a cycle that is nearly impossible to break. 

Often without the strength or will to do the work even when help is there.

That is all of us. 

We all have areas and times of extreme poverty.

Maybe not materially or financially. 

But often spiritually, emotionally, mentally. 

And we don't have the strength or will to do the work even when help is there.

A final prayer is this:

That we all muster the little strength we have when we are poverty stricken

Hold out an open hand

and graciously accept the blessings that others freely provide. 

And that we draw strength from friends to help give us the will to do the work 

to break the cycle of poverty in our hearts and souls. 

Good Night. 

Amen.

Belize - Tuesday

No pictures today ... I have to go pack.

Today was the official 'fun day.'

We went to Placencia on the southern coast of Belize - a 3 hour bus ride - for some time in the sun and sand.  We had the sand, but the sun was trying to hide. There was a good breeze and it was a bit chilly. However, not too chilly for some of us to go snorkling at a nearby reef. There were 10 in a boat with no waivers to sign, no pretrip safety lecture, just a driver who had some gear that had questionable cleanliness.  But there were lots of starfish, a few sea urchins, some fish and coral to see. And the water was warmer than the air so it felt good swimming in the salty ocean.

Others stayed back and relaxed, shopped and visited. Several youth from the church joined us on the trip which guaranteed the bus ride was anything but quiet or boring.  Mrs Bell and the kids joined us on the trip. This was the first time she had ever been to this beach and her sister happened to live nearby. They had a chance to visit some - something that they don't often get to do. Another blessing!

The rodes in Belize are not too wide and there are lots of speed bumps to keep drivers from going too fast. There are also a lot of people walking, riding bikes, and just hanging out on the roadsides. There are no streetlights so when the sun goes down, it is nearly impossible to see people. We witnessed the danger of this tonight when we came up on an accident between a bicycle rider and a bus. We prayed in the bus for the gentleman's family ... we are pretty sure he did not survive.

After dinner, Eduardo delivered our wood carvings - they are BEAUTIFUL!!! The fact that he made these creations in less than a week and made two penguins - an animal he had never seen - shows his incredible talent.

Tomorrow morning, we will be stopping by the Bell family's house to be interviewed by the local news. Before they can move into their house, a power line has to be moved and electricity wired to the house. This would cost about $400 USD (800 Belize).  Mrs Bell only makes $100/month. It would take her a long time to save the money needed to have the work done so she can move into her house. As a team, we donated the funds to the mission for them to have the electricity installed and the power line moved. The family will find out about this during the interview tomorrow.

Prayers:

Team: safe travel tomorrow as we fly home

Mr. Bell: healing, freedom from pain

Mrs Bell: rest, peace

Bicyclist: comfort for his family as they grieve

Bus Driver: comfort and peace following this tragic accident

Oasis Mission and Mt Hope Church: God's blessings on them and clear direction for what he wants them to do.

Belize - Monday

Good Night (as they say here ... not as a way of saying good bye, but as a greeting)

Today the team split into several groups.

Kurt, Shannon, Eddie, and Chelsea went to a house to help put on a roof. Did I mention that it was raining? Again. They still did some work on that house.

Eric went out on foot to the surrounding villages and made 1 to 1 visits with local folks. He had bibles to distribute and prayed with several families.

Chris, Lissa, and Bill stayed at the base to help around here. Chris continued working the mobile library organizing and sorting. Lissa and Bill put linoleum on tables in the classrooms. The linoleum makes it easier to clean. 

We also helped undecorate from Christmas. Then a few went to visit Mr. Bell and was interviewed by LOVE radio - the interview was on the 12:30 news that most Belizians listen to every day. They all heard about God's work happening in Cayo district!

The remaining folks went up the road to a village to paint a new barber shop and used clothing store the mission built to help generate income. The barbershop also needed a girder put under the floor.  While some were priming the building (in the rain), others were raising the building, installing the joist, and securing the floor. The building was moving and shifting while being painted. Amazingly - none of them returned wearing too much paint!

Cleaning up after supper. We have meal set-up and clean-up divided so we all have duties on different days.

There is a basket ball hoop set up by the house. As a gift to the mission, Kurt made a backboard and Shannon and Becky are painting it. Pictures of the completed project to follow when it is up.

And we once again made a trip to get ... ice cream!!!

Gary and Lissa after eating their ice cream.

Alexa, Becky and Craig - happy after the yummy treat.

Chelsea, Chris, Bobby and Eddie still digging in (and it is CHEAP! Two scoops for $1 USD)

Ron and Linda with Elbia. Our hosts here in Belize.

Prayer Requests:

Mr. Bell - for pain control. He has been out of his pain medication since last Thursday and has not received more yet. He has been in tremendous pain.

Troy - Eric met his sister today. He was shot 9 times on New Year's Eve and had surgery today to remove a bullet from his head. Pray for healing. 

Eli Kramer - Tuesday is her 7th birthday and her Mommy will miss it. :-(  (Happy Birthday Doodlebug! I love you)

Ron and Linda - as they prepare for school to resume next week and another team arriving.

Belize - Sunday

Happy New Year's Day 2012

Today was a restful day. We went to Xunantunich - an ancient Mayan site. While the rest of the team climbed to the top of the temple and were amazed by the views, I (Chris) wandered around the base of the temple ruin and was amazed by watching a family of balck howler monkeys in the tree tops. There was even a baby with them.

Lunch was at a small restaurant run by a Chinese family. Fried chicken and fried rice (or french fries). Then we returned to the compound and had FOB time (as Craig dubbed it - flat on back time) 

There was a worship service tonight ... it started at 6:30 and ended about 9. Lots of music, drama, a few videos and Conda gave the message - on Ezekial and the valley of dry bones. Wonder what would happen if the services at SOJ started alsting that long? Pastor Ed wouldn't have to worry about being 'too enthusiastic!' 

Tomorrow is a holiday for the country, but we have work to do. Please feel free to comment on the blog. The comments are shared with the team and we really enjoy hearing from friends and family.

Pray

- safety tomorrow as the team splits to go do various projects

- to see God in small and large ways ... and to remember his wondersfor more than 3 days after we return home.

- for the families we will be working with tomorrow.

Belize - Saturday - New Year's Eve!!!

Happy New Year's!

We agreed it was a bit odd ringing in the new year in shorts after dedicating the house, pushing a bus out of mud, swimming, worshipping and watching 'Courageous' under a thatched roof church that has only 1 wall. But that is how we spent New Year's Eve in Belize. 

Dedicating the Bell's new house and giving them the keys. (Who needs Ty Pennington?)

Yolanda and the children with the cross we gave them. The cross was made by Lynne Lerch for the family and is the first thing you see when you open the door to the house. The team signed the back of the cross for them. It is inscribed with "As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."  They had tears in their eyes when we presented it to them. (Thank you Lynne!)

The team and the fmaily with the completed house.

Worshipping on the capital steps Friday evening.

Giving goodie bags to the kids. Kurt loved showing them how to use Pez dispensers.

Walking to the river where the ring was lost and miraculously found.

Pushing a bus out of the mud. Yes - you read that right. We were taken on an outing to Rio Frio caves very close to the border with Guatemala.  We traveled a dirt road for over an hour in the mission's school bus. There were two different check points with armed guards. At the final check point, we had to have excorts to go to a cave to protect us from bandits.  As we were bouncing down the road, the bus got stuck in the mud. We tried pushing. We gathered and prayed. We walked the Beliezian 'two minutes' to an amazing cave. (More like 20 minutes)  Rio Frio Cave is a huge cavern with a sandy beach area, and incredible formations. It was awe-inspiring.

We walked back to the bus ... in the squishy mud ... after watching a line of carpenter ants taking leaves to their home. When we got back to the bus, it took people pushing on the side and front and we (with lots of help from God) were able to get the bus out of the mud. It was in deep! Another way God has shown his mighty power on this trip.

We were then taken to an area of hte river with natural pools. It is like Johnson's Shut-In's in Missouri. Natural waterslides, pools to jump into and swim around in them.  Tonight we had worship with the church to pray out 2011 and pray in 2012. Youth drama, singing, testimonies and prayer. 

Scott and Kelly left today and they have made it home safely. They are already missed. (especially Scott by Chris)

Here are a few personal messages from team members:

Bill: Kathi, are you out there? Can you at least say hi in the comments?

Kurt and Shannon: Connie/Mom - we love you and miss you.

Becky: Brandyn - I love you. xoxo

Eddie: Joyce - I love you!

The Team: We love our SOJ family! And miss you. Happy New Year!

Prayer Requests:

Team: continued safety. a few have colds - healing, homesickness

Bells: that they have a peaceful first night in their new house.