Here are the Two-weekers heading home! (Julie, Chris, Dave & Greg, the passport man)
Our Team
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
At the Antigua Airport
Here are the Two-weekers heading home! (Julie, Chris, Dave & Greg, the passport man)
The Two-weekers are home!
North Branch Wesleyan Church tee-shirts for our honorary NBWC teammates!We love you, Ronnie and Janice! Thank you for EVERYTHING!
Good-bye, Antigua!Gert will be heading out tomorrow. It was sad to leave her, but she was going to focus on her last couple of days there and enjoy herself. We thought you might enjoy this little story -- when we got to the airport in Antigua, Greg went up to check us in, and lo and behold, his itinerary said he was flying to Chicago and not Detroit! You know, you'd think that one of these days we would look at things and for things ahead of time so we could anticipate the problems! Anyway, praise God, He took care of things and Greg did get to come home with us!
Sunday, March 16, 2008
The Barbuda Wesleyan Church
Yesterday, we took Ronnie and Janice on a boat trip to Barbuda, a remote island 36km away from Antigua. There's a Wesleyan church there that they hadn't visited yet. Two of the men from the church toured us around the island. It was a beautiful day!Please pray for the continued recovery of Gert and Dave who got the "crud" that everyone else has had. And please pray that the remaining two, Greg and Chris, will be spared from it!
Friday, March 14, 2008
Sharing the News with You!
Hi everyone,
I just had the privilege of video chatting with the few remaining team members in Antigua. We made a decision about when we will share about this Mission Experience with the entire church family. Easter Sunday during the Sunday School time (9:45-10:30) the Mission Team will give a presentation and answer questions about the trip. Sunday School classes had been cancelled for Easter Sunday a few weeks ago so this is a great open time slot for the team can share. I hope you will join us then.
I also learned today that a couple of the team members flying home right now are not feeling well. Please pray for them in their travels and for their health too.
Have a blessed day,
Peter.
I just had the privilege of video chatting with the few remaining team members in Antigua. We made a decision about when we will share about this Mission Experience with the entire church family. Easter Sunday during the Sunday School time (9:45-10:30) the Mission Team will give a presentation and answer questions about the trip. Sunday School classes had been cancelled for Easter Sunday a few weeks ago so this is a great open time slot for the team can share. I hope you will join us then.
I also learned today that a couple of the team members flying home right now are not feeling well. Please pray for them in their travels and for their health too.
Have a blessed day,
Peter.
Hi everyone,
The time in Antiqua has been an awesome adventure. I have enjoyed every
bit of my time - the physical work, devotions, church services, fellowship
with my team and all the people here.
Yesterday morning we gave out bibles and candy to children and adults that walked
by or drove by. I'm so amazed by how receptive they are. Men or women driving by
would stop and ask for a bible. God is working and I love it!! We serve a powerful
and loving God and nothing is impossible for Him. I have come to truly love the
people here and I know God is going to do a mighty work in this community.
I thank Ron and Janice for there heart of ministry. They both inspire me.
GOD IS GOOD!!
Love you all,
Gert
The time in Antiqua has been an awesome adventure. I have enjoyed every
bit of my time - the physical work, devotions, church services, fellowship
with my team and all the people here.
Yesterday morning we gave out bibles and candy to children and adults that walked
by or drove by. I'm so amazed by how receptive they are. Men or women driving by
would stop and ask for a bible. God is working and I love it!! We serve a powerful
and loving God and nothing is impossible for Him. I have come to truly love the
people here and I know God is going to do a mighty work in this community.
I thank Ron and Janice for there heart of ministry. They both inspire me.
GOD IS GOOD!!
Love you all,
Gert
Hey NB Antigua VBS Team!!! Are you out there?
Ron & Janice have these dates open for a VBS team from North Branch to come to Grays Farm this summer - Aug. 20-25 - fly in on Wed. the 20th, do VBS Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday morning service, fly out on Monday. Better sign up fast! Seats are limited!
Prayer walk around the church
Before we left Grays Farm Thursday morning, and after passing out Bibles, we prayed around the church - for the community, for the children, for the church, for Brother Michael, Ron & Janice.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
My friend, Omar-William
This is Chris and I'd like to introduce you to a little boy that has captured my heart while here in Antigua. Last week when we went to King George Park to play basketball and volleyball, Greg and I held up the volleyball posts for a group of kids so they wouldn't fall over. A bunch of these neighborhood boys tried to play together, but they needed some intervention due to arguing and fighting. I jumped into the fray and helped get a game organized. Greg did the reffing. During this time, this little boy stood with a sad and pouty face and wanted to play, but was difficult to manage during the game time. After it was all over, I talked to him and asked him why he was sad and he told me he was hungry. I happened to have some trail mix in my bag so I gave him some of that and told him the nuts were the most important. (His eyes lit up when he saw the M&Ms!) He needed to eat them all. He did, and then asked for more. Some neighborhood thugs harassed him for begging. I talked to him about coming to church as well as shared Jesus' love for him. I thought that was the last I'd see him. Well, early this week, who should walk by the front of the church while we were preparing to work, but Omar-William and his brother! They were carrying their school composition books and said they had "moshed poks." Translation: messed up backpacks. Or something like that. Janice and I went out and bought them new backpacks that afternoon and put Bibles in them. When they came by the next day, we presented those packs to them and once again shared the love of Jesus for them. (the picture with Dave's blog shows us giving them the backpacks). I told Omar-William a lot of things, but I also told him I had more stuff for his pack if he comes to church on Sunday. I can't tell you how thrilled he was with that new pack! He hugged me, smiled and still had that smile on his face this morning when he walked by while we were passing out Bibles. I hope he shows up to church at Grays Farm this Sunday!Please pray for Ron and Janice, Dave and Julie, Gert, Greg and myself as we plan for the service on Sunday at Grays Farm. We are the last team members here and have promised them we will come to church on Sunday. Once we made that promise, Brother Michael has insisted we all preach and lead the service. If everyone who says they are coming to church on Sunday, actually comes to church, then it will be full. I do know we need to challenge the Grays Farm believers to see Jesus in their midst and to allow Him to work through them in order to be a light in a needy place. Again, pray for us. It seems our work is not quite done.
Team #2 leaves bright and early tomorrow. How we will miss them! They have inspired me, just as Team #1 did, only in new and different ways. I praise the Lord for Tony and his passionate, physical work on the Grays Farm Church; for Debbie Bowman and her courage and joy in the midst of not feeling well and yet still managing to minister and share with us and the Antiguans; for Austin and his joy in working alongside the team and his openness with the Antiguan youth; for Ray and his desire to see improvements in the community and a hope for our continued connection to Grays Farm; for Andrew and his new passion to share the love of Jesus with those he meets; for Deb DeSantis and her joy in absolutely everything, even doing some of the dirtiest tasks; for Gert and her love and compassion for the people we met on a day-to-day basis. I have been so blessed by our teams! I can't wait to get back and share with all of you what a great God we have and how amazing He is that He put together the people into these teams that would serve Him for the specific tasks that were laid out for us each week. Only God could do that!
Thank you so much for having the patience to get to the end of this blog! Thanks to my kids for sharing comments and keeping up with your parents! I love you, MA&A, J&E, J&C!
Adventure!
Dave Richardson is officially the fastest man currently residing in Antigua...
- I'll finish that thought in a minute
The day started off with the team handing out Bibles to the people of Gray's Farm. It is amazing to see the hunger these people have for the Word of God. We had a number of people walk up to us asking for Bibles for themself and family members. I had a man come up to me asking for a few Bibles, only to see him 5 minutes later, opening his Bible on his front porch.
We spent the middle of the day relaxing and enjoying this beautiful island. After the beach, Curtis picked us up for a late-night deep-sea fishing trip. I set some Bibles aside for my buddy Ron, that I met on Tuesday asking if I had any Bibles aside (Ron is a security guard on the pier that I met while I was looking for the rest of the team on Tuesday. He asked me if I had a Bible and of course I had none on me, nor did the rest of the team - great missionary work eh?) Turns out that the pier we went out fishing off of was the same one that I met Ron on.
I met a fellow security guard and gave him a few Bibles for his family and again, he took it right into his office and started reading - I wouldn't recommend him as a security guard. So Ron came down I gave him a few Bibles and he continued to ask where he could go to church. I brought him over to meet with the guys that I was with (I have no clue where the churches are). It turns out that Curtis knows exactly where he lives, lives very close to him, and is picking him up for church on Sunday. I thought that whole sequence of events was pretty cool.
Long story (which is already long) short - Dave, Ronnie AND Curtis (the Antiguan native) all threw up multiple times while Ray sat down after catching a fish and thought he was going to be sick. So Greg and I stuck it out fishing while the rest of the girls - I mean guys - sat around staring into the horizon with the other 3 natives laughing at them.
*Here's the kicker - on our way home from the trip Curtis goes "I get sick every single time." Here we are thinking that this guy goes out all of the time and couldn't ever get sick. That was awesome. What a great way to end this amazing journey.
See you all at home - Love you Ma n Pa!
- I'll finish that thought in a minute
The day started off with the team handing out Bibles to the people of Gray's Farm. It is amazing to see the hunger these people have for the Word of God. We had a number of people walk up to us asking for Bibles for themself and family members. I had a man come up to me asking for a few Bibles, only to see him 5 minutes later, opening his Bible on his front porch.
We spent the middle of the day relaxing and enjoying this beautiful island. After the beach, Curtis picked us up for a late-night deep-sea fishing trip. I set some Bibles aside for my buddy Ron, that I met on Tuesday asking if I had any Bibles aside (Ron is a security guard on the pier that I met while I was looking for the rest of the team on Tuesday. He asked me if I had a Bible and of course I had none on me, nor did the rest of the team - great missionary work eh?) Turns out that the pier we went out fishing off of was the same one that I met Ron on.
I met a fellow security guard and gave him a few Bibles for his family and again, he took it right into his office and started reading - I wouldn't recommend him as a security guard. So Ron came down I gave him a few Bibles and he continued to ask where he could go to church. I brought him over to meet with the guys that I was with (I have no clue where the churches are). It turns out that Curtis knows exactly where he lives, lives very close to him, and is picking him up for church on Sunday. I thought that whole sequence of events was pretty cool.
...Dave's story continued:
So Ray, Ronnie Jones, Greg, Dave and I (the real men of the group) got on the boat and headed out into the dark ocean - w/o taking dramamine, because were men! Greg caught the first and gave his line to Dave. Dave's first cast brought in 4 fish (there are 4 hooks on the line) - he goes "I think I caught something!" haha. So he sits down, minutes later I catch Dave out of the corner of my eye jump up and knock everything near him off the bench and procede to vomit EVERYWHERE! Ray and I thought he dropped something off the boat because of how fast he moved.
Long story (which is already long) short - Dave, Ronnie AND Curtis (the Antiguan native) all threw up multiple times while Ray sat down after catching a fish and thought he was going to be sick. So Greg and I stuck it out fishing while the rest of the girls - I mean guys - sat around staring into the horizon with the other 3 natives laughing at them.
*Here's the kicker - on our way home from the trip Curtis goes "I get sick every single time." Here we are thinking that this guy goes out all of the time and couldn't ever get sick. That was awesome. What a great way to end this amazing journey.
See you all at home - Love you Ma n Pa!
Team #2 - R&R day
Passing out Bibles and candy at Grays Farm. People wanted Bibles more than candy. The news spread that we were passing out Bibles and we were swarmed!
After a prayer walk around the church with Brother Michael, we gathered for the last group photo under the swingset.Hello from Antigua this is austin writing I would just like to state that this has been an awesome experience and has totally changed my view on many of the things I have such as a roof over my head ,safe runing water and electricity things many of the people here go without. The best thing about Antigua itself in my opinion would be the people here because they are verry friendly. My grama has been fealing better after a day or so of rest . I would like to thank all the people at home who have been supporting me and the team financialy and with prayer.
Winding Down
Greetings from Antigua. In many ways it seems like we have been here forever in other ways it seems as though we just arrived. I hope that this blog has not seemed too self indulgent, if it has please accept my apology on behalf of the teams. It is just that when you see the dire need before you each day and the opportunity to minister to real people with names and faces, you are excited to share the news with as many people as possible.
One Antiguan in particular has had a deep impact upon me in the past two weeks. His name is Brother Michael (in the red shirt). Brother Michael is currently filling the pastoral vacancy at Grays Farm. He was assigned to this position last summer after the prior pastor left/resigned. Now while we have been in Antigua we have experienced some flashy, bold, dynamic, powerful preaching from a number of the pastors within the Wesleyan Holiness Churches. None of these adjectives would appropriately be applied to Brother Michael. He is laid back, quiet and when you speak to him you have to listen carefully during a conversation because his sentences tend to trail off into oblivion. Brother Michael is pastoring the Grays Farm Church, a church which has a bleak future, a church which if you asked a number of people they would tell you it is on its way to extinction. Most of its attendees are women and senior citizens. A church which is smack dab in the middle of one of the poorest and most crime ridden areas of the St. Johns area. A church which lacks instruments (with the exception of a tambourine) during the worship service. A church without a designated worship leader. Certainly not a church that an aspiring pastor would covet. Yet Brother Michael, a retired teacher, has a burden for this church and the people of Grays Farm. He serves the church and its people faithfully and to me that is the key. The Lord does not call us to be flashy, He calls us to be faithful and obedient!
One Antiguan in particular has had a deep impact upon me in the past two weeks. His name is Brother Michael (in the red shirt). Brother Michael is currently filling the pastoral vacancy at Grays Farm. He was assigned to this position last summer after the prior pastor left/resigned. Now while we have been in Antigua we have experienced some flashy, bold, dynamic, powerful preaching from a number of the pastors within the Wesleyan Holiness Churches. None of these adjectives would appropriately be applied to Brother Michael. He is laid back, quiet and when you speak to him you have to listen carefully during a conversation because his sentences tend to trail off into oblivion. Brother Michael is pastoring the Grays Farm Church, a church which has a bleak future, a church which if you asked a number of people they would tell you it is on its way to extinction. Most of its attendees are women and senior citizens. A church which is smack dab in the middle of one of the poorest and most crime ridden areas of the St. Johns area. A church which lacks instruments (with the exception of a tambourine) during the worship service. A church without a designated worship leader. Certainly not a church that an aspiring pastor would covet. Yet Brother Michael, a retired teacher, has a burden for this church and the people of Grays Farm. He serves the church and its people faithfully and to me that is the key. The Lord does not call us to be flashy, He calls us to be faithful and obedient!
When we first met Brother Michael I would best describe his demeanor as wary. I don't think he knew what to make of this "missions team" from Michigan. His countenance was like someone who had been beaten down by life's experiences. Each day he would be there at Grays Farm with the team. He would occasionally interact with team members and others in the community. As the days progressed you could see a transformation take place in his soul. He became more engaged with the team members. As physical improvements to the church were completed you could sense a restored pride in what was being accomplished. He would provide a tour for church members as they dropped by the church to see what was happening. During this time my conversations with Brother Michael became more prolonged and you could tell he firmly understands who he is and what his strengths and weaknesses are. He certainly understands that he is not the most dynamic personality but he is willing to stay the course at Grays Farm and to minister to that community. During this two weeks Brother Michael has been transformed from a wary observer to my friend.
Yours in Christ
Dave
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
A short take on today
Lisa has electricity and a new paint job on her house and fence!!
Here's the swingset!!
Tuesday Ministry & Sights
fixing the hoop at King George Park. a rasta came by and said, "thanks for all you've done."
Austin's gone over the edge on this trip.
team 2 taking in the sights of English HarborTuesday, March 11, 2008
You never know how much you have until you give a cheap frisbee to some children and watch them have hours of fun. I think to myself it's just a frisbee. To think that we take so much for granted. My kids have so much more than a frisbee. I look at myself and I have so much more than a lot of these people yet I am wanting more. God has blessed me and my family with so much I have learned that life isn't about stuff but life. When John writes in chpater 10 verse 10 that God has come to give you life and life to the fullest, it becomes so clear here.
It's has been cool to see God work. Yesterday I was walking around the church "Gray's Farm", and listening to the group talk. Because our team was there, they weren't able to have their pre-school this week. Parents were upset and I can understand them having pre-schools of my own. I felt bad and started to think about the little school that impacts families around that church. I wanted to do something to give to them at the school. I thought that it would be cool if we could build a small swing set for the kids. I didn't know if we had the money to do it or if we could find tools to build it. Today we found that we can build it, we have tools coming, and the pre-school will have a small swing set in the back of the church. We serve a cool God!
Pastor Tony
Assistant "Missionary Pastor"
It's has been cool to see God work. Yesterday I was walking around the church "Gray's Farm", and listening to the group talk. Because our team was there, they weren't able to have their pre-school this week. Parents were upset and I can understand them having pre-schools of my own. I felt bad and started to think about the little school that impacts families around that church. I wanted to do something to give to them at the school. I thought that it would be cool if we could build a small swing set for the kids. I didn't know if we had the money to do it or if we could find tools to build it. Today we found that we can build it, we have tools coming, and the pre-school will have a small swing set in the back of the church. We serve a cool God!
Pastor Tony
Assistant "Missionary Pastor"
WOW!
Wow! That's the only word that comes to mind when trying to describe my experience. God has done some amazing things in my life while on the trip and it is just incredible the transformation that has already been made in my thought process on life and my Christianity.
The day started with some painting at the church where I then left with Greg, Chris, Julie, Ron and Janice to Lisa's (a native of Antigua) house to get some various odd jobs done around her house. That was an amazing experience in itself just to see how she lives, what she lives in, and then to see how happy and blessed she is. If I had met her in the states I would have thought this lady was one of the richest women in the world and had everything! She has nothing when it comes to materials, but she feels so blessed and so happy because of the power of God in her life.
I met an amazing man on the pier today who works as a security guard and talked with him about Christianity and he immediately asked me for a Bible. Of course we had none on us, but don't worry, I'm heading back there with 20 Bibles on Thursday so he can share with his friends too.
I could go on and on about the people of Antigua and the way the have blessed my life, but I have an annoying youth pastor breathing down my neck waiting to blog.
To Ma - Thank you so much for the responses, I miss you so much, and wish you were here to take care of me (but don't worry, I have 5 other mom's in Julie, Debbie x2, Gert, and Janice all taking great care of me - you'd be proud!) I'm getting ragged on about how I'm a momma's boy, but I wouldn't have it any other way! I can't wait to get home and give you one giant hug!
To Pa - I miss you so much and I hope you've been feeling better! I've been praying everyday for you and I know you've been praying for me! Thank you for your amazing love and kindness towards me and I cannot wait to get home to see you!
Love you all!
Andrew
The day started with some painting at the church where I then left with Greg, Chris, Julie, Ron and Janice to Lisa's (a native of Antigua) house to get some various odd jobs done around her house. That was an amazing experience in itself just to see how she lives, what she lives in, and then to see how happy and blessed she is. If I had met her in the states I would have thought this lady was one of the richest women in the world and had everything! She has nothing when it comes to materials, but she feels so blessed and so happy because of the power of God in her life.
I met an amazing man on the pier today who works as a security guard and talked with him about Christianity and he immediately asked me for a Bible. Of course we had none on us, but don't worry, I'm heading back there with 20 Bibles on Thursday so he can share with his friends too.
I could go on and on about the people of Antigua and the way the have blessed my life, but I have an annoying youth pastor breathing down my neck waiting to blog.
To Ma - Thank you so much for the responses, I miss you so much, and wish you were here to take care of me (but don't worry, I have 5 other mom's in Julie, Debbie x2, Gert, and Janice all taking great care of me - you'd be proud!) I'm getting ragged on about how I'm a momma's boy, but I wouldn't have it any other way! I can't wait to get home and give you one giant hug!
To Pa - I miss you so much and I hope you've been feeling better! I've been praying everyday for you and I know you've been praying for me! Thank you for your amazing love and kindness towards me and I cannot wait to get home to see you!
Love you all!
Andrew
Bringing security & help to Lisa & Genesis
We have taken on a project to help Lisa & her baby to get electricity hooked up to her home and to put bars in her open windows for security.
The New Backyard of Grays Farm Church
Check out the newly painted bathroom!
Check out the cleaned up backyard! Three truckloads of STUFF was hauled out!
Some Pix from Sunday 3/9
Women's SS Class at Sweetes Church
Ron Jones, host missionary, preaching at Sweetes Church
Team 2 leading a couple songs during worship
Austin with the "Austin's"
the Coconut BoysMonday, March 10, 2008
Prayer request
We are asking for prayer for Debbie Bowman. She put in a full day of hard work and then came back to the apartment feeling ill with upper respiratory flu symptoms.
Please, also, pray for the rest of our team that we will remain healthy for the remainder of our stay here. There are still many things we want to accomplish while we are here.
It is so comforting to know that we can rely on you to lift us up to the Lord in prayer. Thank you for being our support and encouragement!
Please, also, pray for the rest of our team that we will remain healthy for the remainder of our stay here. There are still many things we want to accomplish while we are here.
It is so comforting to know that we can rely on you to lift us up to the Lord in prayer. Thank you for being our support and encouragement!
Team #2 - Day 4
What a day today. In our devotion tonight with the team we were asked to give one word to describe the day. Answers were; undescribable, life-changing, worship, inspirational, affirming, and others.
We worked on the church today. We started off extra early since Julie woke everyone up at 6am on accident, for some reason she thought it was 7am and thought we were late. The painting project continued on with great progress being made. The bathrooms are looking great. I was amazed to find out that this church and pre-school went on for two years without having a working bathroom.
We also tackled the job of cleaning up the yard of the church. It was overgrown and it appeared someone had cut down some overgrown trees from the neighbors yard and just left them there. We moved lots of brush and leaves, raked up broken glass, removed lots of broken concrete, dug out some stumps, and cleaned out the ditches. We originally negotiated for a guy with a dump truck to come and haul the stuff away. He originally thought it would take one load. Instead, it ended up taking three oversized loads. It was hot and we seen some huge spiders and lizards. I admit, I even screamed like a little girl once. In my defense, it was a really big lizard.
I also got to drive a van with a stick shift. The steering wheel was on the opposite side of the van and they drive on the left hand side of the road. How I got to the hardware store and back with out stalling out or getting in an accident was only by the grace of god.
The people of Antigua are very friendly and welcoming. The christians here are filled with the joy that only Christ can bring. They have so little, but they know they are so very blessed because they have Jesus. But even the non-christians we have met have been friendly. We got to talk to some guys working on cars up on car repair corner tonight. They were great telling us about their cars and the races. Greg was totally into it talking about flux capaciters and muffler bearings and all that other car stuff. The only thing I knew was that they were fast and I wanted to drive one.
I am so very glad that I was able to come on this trip. I have truly been blessed and this has been life changing for me. We like to hear your comments on the blog, so please send them to us.
We worked on the church today. We started off extra early since Julie woke everyone up at 6am on accident, for some reason she thought it was 7am and thought we were late. The painting project continued on with great progress being made. The bathrooms are looking great. I was amazed to find out that this church and pre-school went on for two years without having a working bathroom.
We also tackled the job of cleaning up the yard of the church. It was overgrown and it appeared someone had cut down some overgrown trees from the neighbors yard and just left them there. We moved lots of brush and leaves, raked up broken glass, removed lots of broken concrete, dug out some stumps, and cleaned out the ditches. We originally negotiated for a guy with a dump truck to come and haul the stuff away. He originally thought it would take one load. Instead, it ended up taking three oversized loads. It was hot and we seen some huge spiders and lizards. I admit, I even screamed like a little girl once. In my defense, it was a really big lizard.
I also got to drive a van with a stick shift. The steering wheel was on the opposite side of the van and they drive on the left hand side of the road. How I got to the hardware store and back with out stalling out or getting in an accident was only by the grace of god.
The people of Antigua are very friendly and welcoming. The christians here are filled with the joy that only Christ can bring. They have so little, but they know they are so very blessed because they have Jesus. But even the non-christians we have met have been friendly. We got to talk to some guys working on cars up on car repair corner tonight. They were great telling us about their cars and the races. Greg was totally into it talking about flux capaciters and muffler bearings and all that other car stuff. The only thing I knew was that they were fast and I wanted to drive one.
I am so very glad that I was able to come on this trip. I have truly been blessed and this has been life changing for me. We like to hear your comments on the blog, so please send them to us.
Two Awesome Days
Where do I begin? I have been here around eleven days, sometimes it feels like a month and sometimes it feels like we have just arrived! I have not had a chance to share with you yet so I will try to keep it short and not get too carried away!
First off I miss you all. Samantha, Ali, Randy, Mom, Dad, etc. Uncle Kieth I think about you often and your pledge to pray for everyone by name every day until we get safely back home. Thank you it is working. All of your prayers have made this trip a huge success. We could all leave today and our new Antiguan friends would be very happy with what we have accomplished.
Yesterday we were able to worship at our 3rd and 4th different church. We were at Swetes (pronounced Sweets) Wesleyan Holiness Church in the morning. We went to Sunday School where six classes were taking place at the same time in the sanctuary! Needless to say it was a little distracting. We heard a great message there. That night we went to Parham Wesleyan Holiness Church. We were late because our van ride did not show up on time, not uncommon here! We get there when we get there! The pastor commented that he arrived just ahead of us. We heard another great message by Pastor Paul Edwards who is also the District Superintendent in this district.
Today we left the duplex at our usual 7:30 a.m. ( we had our own transportation)! We were able to hire a local trucker to haul away a truck loads of brush,broken glass, chunks of cement, lizards, spiders, and any other critter that had made the churches back yard its home. Our young men of Team II were remarkable. Ray cracked the whip on Tony, Andrew, and Austin. They worked really hard, cutting down trees with Brother Mac's machete! The truck driver had no idea what he was in for. We cleaned that yard down to the grass, what there was under all that garbage. We ended up with three truck loads taken out of there.
When Team I left I thought there was no way that Team II could do as good as a job as the first gang. Well guess what, they have! We are all working great together, all pulling in the same direction to minister to the people of Gray's Farm community. These people are living in desperate situations and there are so many people that need the Lord, probably a lot like it would be inter city Flint or Detroit!
One more story then I will sign off. By the way we are having some technological difficulties uploading photos. We are hoping that we can get the photos to Pastor Peter (we miss you) and he can upload them from home.
I met a young single mom the first Sunday we were here at Church. She has a little boy, Genesis, who is as cute as they come. We immediately became friends and she has been sharing with me about her life here in Antigua. While she was in London, England having her baby her neighbors tapped into her electrical service and ran up a bill to the tune of $470.00 EC, so she has no electricity, no running water, no inside toilet, no panes of glass in her windows, and obviously no refrigerator! It is a very rough neighborhood so she has to board up her windows up at night for safety. Just two weeks ago she was awaken in the night by her neighbor screaming that a masked man was raping her! She can not come to night church unless a friend brings her because it would be dark when she got off the public bus on the way and it would not be safe for her to walk to her house from the bus stop. Greg, Gert, Debbie D., and I were in her home today because were are going to give her the money to get her electric hooked back up and Greg is going to install a yard light for her. She never complains, we prayed together before we left and she was thanking the Lord for all her blessings! She has the sweetest spirit about her. She and her son are always very neat and clean, her little house was very clean. The people here take pride in what they have, at least the Christian community does. The little children in the morning are at their bu stops in the morning with their clean uniforms on with their clean and pressed white shirts on!
Pray for us we can not get every body's electricity turned back on but we can share with, wave to, visit with anybody that comes by the Church while we are working on it. It is heart breaking to see the conditions that these people are living in.
In closing, keep praying because the devil rears his ugly head every so often. This lets us know we are doing what God wants us to do. Keep our missionary hosts, Janice and Ron, in your prayers. They are wonderful people and are great hosts.
Learning to Serve,
Julie
(PS The beaches are beautiful! )
First off I miss you all. Samantha, Ali, Randy, Mom, Dad, etc. Uncle Kieth I think about you often and your pledge to pray for everyone by name every day until we get safely back home. Thank you it is working. All of your prayers have made this trip a huge success. We could all leave today and our new Antiguan friends would be very happy with what we have accomplished.
Yesterday we were able to worship at our 3rd and 4th different church. We were at Swetes (pronounced Sweets) Wesleyan Holiness Church in the morning. We went to Sunday School where six classes were taking place at the same time in the sanctuary! Needless to say it was a little distracting. We heard a great message there. That night we went to Parham Wesleyan Holiness Church. We were late because our van ride did not show up on time, not uncommon here! We get there when we get there! The pastor commented that he arrived just ahead of us. We heard another great message by Pastor Paul Edwards who is also the District Superintendent in this district.
Today we left the duplex at our usual 7:30 a.m. ( we had our own transportation)! We were able to hire a local trucker to haul away a truck loads of brush,broken glass, chunks of cement, lizards, spiders, and any other critter that had made the churches back yard its home. Our young men of Team II were remarkable. Ray cracked the whip on Tony, Andrew, and Austin. They worked really hard, cutting down trees with Brother Mac's machete! The truck driver had no idea what he was in for. We cleaned that yard down to the grass, what there was under all that garbage. We ended up with three truck loads taken out of there.
When Team I left I thought there was no way that Team II could do as good as a job as the first gang. Well guess what, they have! We are all working great together, all pulling in the same direction to minister to the people of Gray's Farm community. These people are living in desperate situations and there are so many people that need the Lord, probably a lot like it would be inter city Flint or Detroit!
One more story then I will sign off. By the way we are having some technological difficulties uploading photos. We are hoping that we can get the photos to Pastor Peter (we miss you) and he can upload them from home.
I met a young single mom the first Sunday we were here at Church. She has a little boy, Genesis, who is as cute as they come. We immediately became friends and she has been sharing with me about her life here in Antigua. While she was in London, England having her baby her neighbors tapped into her electrical service and ran up a bill to the tune of $470.00 EC, so she has no electricity, no running water, no inside toilet, no panes of glass in her windows, and obviously no refrigerator! It is a very rough neighborhood so she has to board up her windows up at night for safety. Just two weeks ago she was awaken in the night by her neighbor screaming that a masked man was raping her! She can not come to night church unless a friend brings her because it would be dark when she got off the public bus on the way and it would not be safe for her to walk to her house from the bus stop. Greg, Gert, Debbie D., and I were in her home today because were are going to give her the money to get her electric hooked back up and Greg is going to install a yard light for her. She never complains, we prayed together before we left and she was thanking the Lord for all her blessings! She has the sweetest spirit about her. She and her son are always very neat and clean, her little house was very clean. The people here take pride in what they have, at least the Christian community does. The little children in the morning are at their bu stops in the morning with their clean uniforms on with their clean and pressed white shirts on!
Pray for us we can not get every body's electricity turned back on but we can share with, wave to, visit with anybody that comes by the Church while we are working on it. It is heart breaking to see the conditions that these people are living in.
In closing, keep praying because the devil rears his ugly head every so often. This lets us know we are doing what God wants us to do. Keep our missionary hosts, Janice and Ron, in your prayers. They are wonderful people and are great hosts.
Learning to Serve,
Julie
(PS The beaches are beautiful! )
Sunday, March 9, 2008
week 2 Sunday AM
Hello to all those who are reading this, and as they would say here in Antigua "blessings". I will let the rest of the team relate their own impressions from today, so I will not try to quote them in this short greeting.
We attended Sweets Church today and Rev Ronnie Jones lit them up! Great message, but your week two team bombed when we tried to do some music. I only say that because their music was so good; not that ours was so bad. You would love to hear their quartet do "Days of Elijah". I would really like to see Ron Jones bring a missions team to us from Antigua! You would be as blessed and encouraged as we are.
This trip has already made an impact on my life. Dave, better known here as Chaplin Dave, continues to challenge the team everyday with some very insightful scripture and questions. It was very good to see him and Chris share their personal testimonies in front of 200 plus people this morning. Most of us would agree that they both need to do more public speaking.
I am impressed with the very personal moments I have observed in how everyone has stepped into different but vital ministry roles. There are some who are immediately drawn to the people here, some are drawn to the tasks at hand and some are drawn to other things that they will tell you about.
I cannot explain how much your comments on this blog mean to us. It is like living in a very remote area and getting a letter from home. Please do not be afraid to comment! We look at them like Pastor Tony looks at Dr Pepper after a week without one.
Missing Passport Man,
Greg
We attended Sweets Church today and Rev Ronnie Jones lit them up! Great message, but your week two team bombed when we tried to do some music. I only say that because their music was so good; not that ours was so bad. You would love to hear their quartet do "Days of Elijah". I would really like to see Ron Jones bring a missions team to us from Antigua! You would be as blessed and encouraged as we are.
This trip has already made an impact on my life. Dave, better known here as Chaplin Dave, continues to challenge the team everyday with some very insightful scripture and questions. It was very good to see him and Chris share their personal testimonies in front of 200 plus people this morning. Most of us would agree that they both need to do more public speaking.
I am impressed with the very personal moments I have observed in how everyone has stepped into different but vital ministry roles. There are some who are immediately drawn to the people here, some are drawn to the tasks at hand and some are drawn to other things that they will tell you about.
I cannot explain how much your comments on this blog mean to us. It is like living in a very remote area and getting a letter from home. Please do not be afraid to comment! We look at them like Pastor Tony looks at Dr Pepper after a week without one.
Missing Passport Man,
Greg
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Re: PS To Frank
Just wanted you to know Julie and I used your bathroom stalls today. Flushingly good job, Frank!
PPS We are missing our personal papparazzi. However, we are trying our best to duplicate your creativity. How are we doing?
PPPS We broke your record for photos in one day. We reached 500 if you allow for the EC conversion!!!
PPS We are missing our personal papparazzi. However, we are trying our best to duplicate your creativity. How are we doing?
PPPS We broke your record for photos in one day. We reached 500 if you allow for the EC conversion!!!
Saturday's Youth Crusade
Hi everyone!
This morning we were thrilled to minister to almost thirty (!) children ranging in age from 3 to 18 years old. We sang songs, performed puppet skits, painted t-shirts, played water balloon games and a few other fun activities. We ended the morning with cookies, punch, treat bags, and testimonies from Andrew and Austin. It was so much fun! It is hard to describe the emotions that are felt when you see the excitement on the children's faces. It is both humbling and rewarding to know that what we are doing is making a difference in someone's day and, hopefully, their life.
Afterwards, we took the youth to King George Park where we had a lot of fun competing in basketball and volleyball. The day was very warm (okay, it was downright hot!!) but Pastor Tony, Andrew, Ray, Austin, and Dave still came out the winners in the final round. Not bad for some North American sunburned, white boys!
We ended the day enjoying some of the beautiful sites on the island.
Even though you are not physically here with us, we feel your prayers and your love...
Gert and Debbie D.
This morning we were thrilled to minister to almost thirty (!) children ranging in age from 3 to 18 years old. We sang songs, performed puppet skits, painted t-shirts, played water balloon games and a few other fun activities. We ended the morning with cookies, punch, treat bags, and testimonies from Andrew and Austin. It was so much fun! It is hard to describe the emotions that are felt when you see the excitement on the children's faces. It is both humbling and rewarding to know that what we are doing is making a difference in someone's day and, hopefully, their life.
Afterwards, we took the youth to King George Park where we had a lot of fun competing in basketball and volleyball. The day was very warm (okay, it was downright hot!!) but Pastor Tony, Andrew, Ray, Austin, and Dave still came out the winners in the final round. Not bad for some North American sunburned, white boys!
We ended the day enjoying some of the beautiful sites on the island.
Even though you are not physically here with us, we feel your prayers and your love...
Gert and Debbie D.
Friday, March 7, 2008
A correction by Chris
My last entry said farewell to Team #1, but I included Dave and Julie in that! They're still here, and not on their way home! I'm still very inspired by their leadership and gifts being exhibited on the team and I'm glad they're still with us for the 2nd week!
Team #2 did make it and have had a long day - especially because they went straight from the airport to the Wesleyan social event of the year - a cricket game! We were there to greet them! How good to see them! They were able to meet some of our new friends.
More posts later....!
Team #2 did make it and have had a long day - especially because they went straight from the airport to the Wesleyan social event of the year - a cricket game! We were there to greet them! How good to see them! They were able to meet some of our new friends.
More posts later....!
Anticipating our new arrivals!
This is Chris writing:
We've said "good-bye" to Team #1 and now we anxiously await Team #2's arrival tonight at 8:00. We're getting ready to head to a cricket game with the Wesleyan churches in a few minutes.
We will miss our great team from last week. They have all been such a blessing to me with their new fervor and passion for Jesus and His work in Antigua, the world and now on home to North Branch. I have been so inspired by these people - Dave's leadership as our chaplain; Julie's amazing hunger to go out and meet people and chat with them and she does it so easily!; Frank's amazing growth in Jesus, his hunger for more of Him and his amazing pictures; Dennis' passion AND compassion for the people of Antigua and his hometown church; Larry's desire to do more for Jesus and his passion to share the Good News; Tom's continual smile and love for being here on this trip and his desire to go home and keep loving his kids and family; Nicole's amazing leadership and love for the children we've met; Peter's passion and call to preach the Word and his love for the pastors of this area. Farewell, missionaries, week one!
We've said "good-bye" to Team #1 and now we anxiously await Team #2's arrival tonight at 8:00. We're getting ready to head to a cricket game with the Wesleyan churches in a few minutes.
We will miss our great team from last week. They have all been such a blessing to me with their new fervor and passion for Jesus and His work in Antigua, the world and now on home to North Branch. I have been so inspired by these people - Dave's leadership as our chaplain; Julie's amazing hunger to go out and meet people and chat with them and she does it so easily!; Frank's amazing growth in Jesus, his hunger for more of Him and his amazing pictures; Dennis' passion AND compassion for the people of Antigua and his hometown church; Larry's desire to do more for Jesus and his passion to share the Good News; Tom's continual smile and love for being here on this trip and his desire to go home and keep loving his kids and family; Nicole's amazing leadership and love for the children we've met; Peter's passion and call to preach the Word and his love for the pastors of this area. Farewell, missionaries, week one!
Going and Coming
Pastor Peter here. I have the pleasure of entering the final blog entry for week 1.
As I write, our friends on week 2 are beginning their day of travel. I want to be sure everyone who is keeping up with this blog prays for them today and throughout the coming week. Traveling today are:
Ray Megie
Tony Parsons
Debbie Bowman
Austin Bowman
Andrew Hable
They will join those who are here already:
Greg Shaw
Chris Shaw
Debi Desantis
Gert Zyrowski
Julie Richardson
Dave Richardson
And don't forget our great Missionary Hosts:
Ron & Janice Jones
What a team! What a week they are going to experience.
Ron has asked me this week, "Aren't you proud of your people?" My answer has easily been, "Yes". (But then, I have been proud of all the people of NBWC since God first brought us together.) Have I been proud of how Team 1 has conducted themselves, cared for one another, and fulled engaged in the ministry here? Absolutely. We have been a great team together. I pray God will bless the church we have served; Grays Farm Wesleyan Holiness Church.
Perhaps the greatest personal lesson for me this week has been the renewing of my calling to preach & teach God's word. I love discovering and sharing God's truth. What I have seen in the ministers in Antigua is a certainty and authority to share God's word. God has used them to encourage me in this. Pray for me.
I am so appreciative of Ron & Janice Jones. They have been fantastic to us and for us. By the time I get home it will be 9 days that I've been away from Sarah, William & Kate--I've never left them that long. I miss them deeply. Being here has helped me appreciate the commitment missionaries make in leaving family and their homes to serve God in other countries. I'll be home Saturday (we leave today but have an overnight layover in New Jersey). Ron & Janice will be home...sometime. Pray for them.
Thanks for supporting our team this week. We've loved your comments and loved knowing that so many of you are looking on with excitement and praying for us daily. It means a great deal. Keep it up next week.
Bye for now,
Peter.
As I write, our friends on week 2 are beginning their day of travel. I want to be sure everyone who is keeping up with this blog prays for them today and throughout the coming week. Traveling today are:
Ray Megie
Tony Parsons
Debbie Bowman
Austin Bowman
Andrew Hable
They will join those who are here already:
Greg Shaw
Chris Shaw
Debi Desantis
Gert Zyrowski
Julie Richardson
Dave Richardson
And don't forget our great Missionary Hosts:
Ron & Janice Jones
What a team! What a week they are going to experience.
Ron has asked me this week, "Aren't you proud of your people?" My answer has easily been, "Yes". (But then, I have been proud of all the people of NBWC since God first brought us together.) Have I been proud of how Team 1 has conducted themselves, cared for one another, and fulled engaged in the ministry here? Absolutely. We have been a great team together. I pray God will bless the church we have served; Grays Farm Wesleyan Holiness Church.
Perhaps the greatest personal lesson for me this week has been the renewing of my calling to preach & teach God's word. I love discovering and sharing God's truth. What I have seen in the ministers in Antigua is a certainty and authority to share God's word. God has used them to encourage me in this. Pray for me.
I am so appreciative of Ron & Janice Jones. They have been fantastic to us and for us. By the time I get home it will be 9 days that I've been away from Sarah, William & Kate--I've never left them that long. I miss them deeply. Being here has helped me appreciate the commitment missionaries make in leaving family and their homes to serve God in other countries. I'll be home Saturday (we leave today but have an overnight layover in New Jersey). Ron & Janice will be home...sometime. Pray for them.
Thanks for supporting our team this week. We've loved your comments and loved knowing that so many of you are looking on with excitement and praying for us daily. It means a great deal. Keep it up next week.
Bye for now,
Peter.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
One more Arrival
Debi Desantis arrived safely last night (Wednesday). She'll be staying through all of next week with Team 2.
Working & Worshipping
High reach Dennis.
Larry with a nice touch.
Looking so much better in just 3 days.
Frank and his 1st assistant on Bathroom duty
Worshipping together under a tent in the middle of town.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Blessed Adventure
At the beginning it has been a blessed adventure. The signs of direction from God to strive forwarded toward this mission trip have been strong and pure. The people that back me in prayer, support and guidance, along with the encouragement from my fellow team members has be awesome. As a great leader told me, our God DOES awesome things for us. I've had the pleasure to meet many fantastic people here in Antigua. The children are full of passion, passion in Christ, passion of fellowship (to go that extremely), passion to prosper in there lives. Even the children we see on the street love the attention that we give them, if it's only a picture with there friends. But as I see our mission's the children are the ones in need of somebody to go that extra mile to bring Christ into their family's home. During this week we are here, I've seen the young Wesleyan men starting to pray for and canvasing for the people of Gray's Farm Community. The repairs of the church is minor compared to the need for God in the community. As another great leader in our group stated, God is already here, we didn't bring him down here, that we are here as guides to help people understand God, and guides there souls to God when ever possible. Remember its all about our God, we have these problems in every city, even ours, but if we can save one more soul it's worth it.
The biggest thing that has happen for me here is how much closer I've became with God, He has taken me on this journey to have the people and ministers of Antigua to bring me closer to my father God. I pray with all my heart that the people in the Kingdom can fine Jesus in the way that I have and strive to prosper with Jesus our lord as time goes on. I want to thank my supporters, friends and family for the greatest gift of my life.
In Christ
Frank
The biggest thing that has happen for me here is how much closer I've became with God, He has taken me on this journey to have the people and ministers of Antigua to bring me closer to my father God. I pray with all my heart that the people in the Kingdom can fine Jesus in the way that I have and strive to prosper with Jesus our lord as time goes on. I want to thank my supporters, friends and family for the greatest gift of my life.
In Christ
Frank
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