Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
Praying and Planning
Recently had our 2nd "official" meeting with one more planned before departure about 5 weeks from now. The time approaches so quickly. Much work has been done individually by team members the last few weeks to make our trip a success. Mark and Jim travelled to the DR last fall and Dan about a month ago doing advance work. Mark has spent a great deal of time in preparation for the "Crusade" and is leaving again on Feb. 2nd. This Crusade has the potential to be a tremendous event for God's people near Azua: 3 nights of music, preaching, witnessing and videos with baptisms the following days in the local river for those accepting Christ. Old-time-revival - can hardly wait to see what God has in store!
This year's team includes new members Pat Nate, Chris Robokoff, Mike Mader and Erik Asplund. Pat worships at Faith Free in Manitowoc and the others are from Christ the Rock, DePere. Chris will add a special blessing as she is a retired Spanish teacher (the first translator part of the Wisconsin team).
Returning members include Dan, Paul, Jim, Eric, Shawn, Duane, Jaimee, Mark (Wisconsin) and Sonia (Washington).
Our DR team will be similar to last year: Primarily Nataniel & Pablito with Pastors Nelson, Wilfredo, Francisco also part of the team.
Accommodations are never the same but whatever God has planned will be fine (it's always quite the experience). We will again be witnessing and preaching, showing the Jesus film, visiting the prison and schools, doing construction work and handing out food, bibles and basic living necessities. Our primary task is to fulfill the Great Commission in however the spirit leads us.
If you feel called join with us, we ask for your prayers but also accept monetary donations. The team is self-funded so all donations go directly to the ministry. Zero overhead. Contact whoever you may know on the team, leave a response on this blog or send checks to: Zion Lutheran Church, Attn. DR fund, 8378 Cty. Rd. W, Greenleaf, WI 54126.
God Bless
This year's team includes new members Pat Nate, Chris Robokoff, Mike Mader and Erik Asplund. Pat worships at Faith Free in Manitowoc and the others are from Christ the Rock, DePere. Chris will add a special blessing as she is a retired Spanish teacher (the first translator part of the Wisconsin team).
Returning members include Dan, Paul, Jim, Eric, Shawn, Duane, Jaimee, Mark (Wisconsin) and Sonia (Washington).
Our DR team will be similar to last year: Primarily Nataniel & Pablito with Pastors Nelson, Wilfredo, Francisco also part of the team.
Accommodations are never the same but whatever God has planned will be fine (it's always quite the experience). We will again be witnessing and preaching, showing the Jesus film, visiting the prison and schools, doing construction work and handing out food, bibles and basic living necessities. Our primary task is to fulfill the Great Commission in however the spirit leads us.
If you feel called join with us, we ask for your prayers but also accept monetary donations. The team is self-funded so all donations go directly to the ministry. Zero overhead. Contact whoever you may know on the team, leave a response on this blog or send checks to: Zion Lutheran Church, Attn. DR fund, 8378 Cty. Rd. W, Greenleaf, WI 54126.
God Bless
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
2011 Video Done
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Epilogue
This is the planned final blog entry for the 2011 DR mission trip. While the daily blogs detailed our travels this entry is meant to recap the trip and detail to our financial backers where our/their (God's) money was spent.
That being said, we want to be careful as not to appear to the reader that these accomplishments are an end-all and self-congratulatory. When we do that we are relegating what we have done to a "work". This team is very aware of that pitfall and is constantly on the watch. What we do is because of our love for these people and that love comes from Jesus. These "works" are a result of our faith.
Donated and member money for this year's trip helped to purchase these items:
Adult Bibles - 220
Children's Bibles - 2200
Food - 1.1 tons of rice & beans plus oil (400 family sized bags)
Gospel Tracts - 1100
Plastic Church chairs - 60
Materials for church bathroom
Concrete floor in house (labor & materials)
Foundation and concrete slab for pavilion (labor & materials)
Soap for prisoners
Money for eye surgery to restore sight in Christian girl
Money for leg prostesis (Haitian rehab boy from earthquake)
Continue and expand Haitian orphan feeding program for another year
Truck for Pastor Wilfredo
Love offerings to Nataniel, Pablito, Pablo, Genesis and Cesar.
In addition to those direct purchases the team distributed these donated items:
12 suitcases of donated clothes
Various toys and candy
900 wooden cross necklaces
I know I have said it before but it cannot be emphasized enough. THANK YOU! Your generosity in prayers and donations allowed us to be very productive in reaching those who do not know Christ and encouraging those who do.
While we had a large group in 2011 the Lord was very wise in selecting members. The various God-given gifts and personalities of the individual members formed a complete body working for His good. There was no conflict or strife; only positive attitudes working for His purpose (with a lot of fun in between).
This was truly a Christ-centered trip. So often we witnessed God at work through us and between us. It was a combination of feelings of humility and awe.
To God we give the glory. We thank Him for our (and our families) health and safety while away. We thank Him for His guidance. We thank Him for allowing us to be his hands, feet and voice. We thank Him for Grace and we thank Him for sending His son and our savior Jesus Christ to Earth to free us from sin and eternal punishment.
Amen
That being said, we want to be careful as not to appear to the reader that these accomplishments are an end-all and self-congratulatory. When we do that we are relegating what we have done to a "work". This team is very aware of that pitfall and is constantly on the watch. What we do is because of our love for these people and that love comes from Jesus. These "works" are a result of our faith.
Donated and member money for this year's trip helped to purchase these items:
Adult Bibles - 220
Children's Bibles - 2200
Food - 1.1 tons of rice & beans plus oil (400 family sized bags)
Gospel Tracts - 1100
Plastic Church chairs - 60
Materials for church bathroom
Concrete floor in house (labor & materials)
Foundation and concrete slab for pavilion (labor & materials)
Soap for prisoners
Money for eye surgery to restore sight in Christian girl
Money for leg prostesis (Haitian rehab boy from earthquake)
Continue and expand Haitian orphan feeding program for another year
Truck for Pastor Wilfredo
Love offerings to Nataniel, Pablito, Pablo, Genesis and Cesar.
In addition to those direct purchases the team distributed these donated items:
12 suitcases of donated clothes
Various toys and candy
900 wooden cross necklaces
I know I have said it before but it cannot be emphasized enough. THANK YOU! Your generosity in prayers and donations allowed us to be very productive in reaching those who do not know Christ and encouraging those who do.
While we had a large group in 2011 the Lord was very wise in selecting members. The various God-given gifts and personalities of the individual members formed a complete body working for His good. There was no conflict or strife; only positive attitudes working for His purpose (with a lot of fun in between).
This was truly a Christ-centered trip. So often we witnessed God at work through us and between us. It was a combination of feelings of humility and awe.
To God we give the glory. We thank Him for our (and our families) health and safety while away. We thank Him for His guidance. We thank Him for allowing us to be his hands, feet and voice. We thank Him for Grace and we thank Him for sending His son and our savior Jesus Christ to Earth to free us from sin and eternal punishment.
Amen
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