While in Nicaragua we saw many needs. People in Nicaragua rarely earn more than $400 per month and many only earn between$75 and $100 dollars per month. Given this reality, it can take a new church plant many years to save up enough to build their church. The church in Nicaragua is growing into new territories at an unprecedented rate. The reason is simple. Once a church as reached a membership of 120 or so, it begins to spin off sister churches in unentered areas. One such church is in need of construction. Currently the members are meeting under a tin roof, on bare dirt, with a few plastic chairs. In an area where rains are frequent you can only imagine the mud in which they must worship. These church members have great faith, however, and have already commenced to begin to dream about their new church which they hope to have in a few years.
Every week offerings are turned in from the membership towards the $3,000 they will need to build their church. Their church building will be guilt much like the one you see in these pictures, very simple but practical. The tin roofs have a long overhang which prevents the rain blowing in through their open windows. In tropical countries, this type of construction is only only much cooler but with all that steel and concrete it is secure from would-be robbers. Thanks to a generous donor, $100 was given to purchase some additional chairs for their church. Until this gift was given, often the church members stood the entire church service in order to allow their visitors to sit. But we don't want to stop here. Pray with us that we can send them the necessary funds so that they can have a secure and dry place to worship!
In Salvador (yes that is yet another entry to be written) I found this incredible young man who is a pastor. I have found many wonderful pastors and young people in all of these countries, but there are always those few that stand out among the rest.
Saul is such a genuinely caring pastor. His tender heart reaches out to his church members and young and old just love to be around him. Saul is talented with preaching and has won many souls for the kingdom of God.
Currently he is working under a plan where he attends school for 3 months per year and works the rest of the year as a pastor. With this plan, it will take him quite a few more years to finish his studies (6 or more). Saul would love to go to school full time for the next 2 years and finish up his education so that he can better serve the Lord. Saul is a humble 27 year old young man who supports his aging parents from his very meager stipend. Saul is not the type to ever ask for anything and he has no idea I am working on trying to get him through school.
But the Lord has placed a distinctive call on this young man's life and I would love to see him graduate before so many years go by so he can become a full fledged pastor. Saul will need between $500 and $1,000 a year in addition to what he can possibly make working. He plans on living off campus to save money, working hard during the school year and colporteuring in the summer.
With this addition help, Saul will be able to complete his education. I hope God can use us to make his dream a reality.
We are His hands to touch the world around us............
Friday, August 10, 2007
We Will Not Forget You!
Nicaragua: God's Surprises Are The Best
The first night of the campaign, it became apparent that we needed a new translator for one of the sites. (Franci and Joy's site). After calling all the pastors we found there simply weren't any more translators to be had.
One of our young translators named Alex (one the left) told me about a friend of his. He said "Lyndel (in the grey on the right) would do a great job but there is one potential catch. He is not an SDA, but a Baptist."
"Will he translate and not embellish what he hears? If so we need him."
So Lyndell began translating for us. At times he would stop in the middle of a sermon and stare at Franci (the young 14 year old preacher) in shock at the truth she had just preached. Adventists believed some things he had never realized were in the Bible.
Towards the end of the meetings, Lyndel came over with a big grin on his face and said, "Mom, (he had adopted me as his other Mom) I have made a decision! I must be baptized but I want you to baptize me, please?!"
I explained that I wasn't a pastor so therefore couldn't baptize him.
But on the day of his baptism, I assisted the pastor in the baptism! God had done it once again, turned our problems into our greatest blessings!
But God wasn't finished! We had come to bless others, to love them, and to tell them about a soon coming Savior. However, we found that we ourselves were blessed probably even more than the over 500 people who were baptized.
(Some of which were baptized in the most unique places!)
You see God cares about our USA young people too.
We had kids on this trip that had been raised in SDA families or were attending SDA schools but who hadn't been baptized yet. We also had kids who wanted to be re-baptized. Their reasons for it varied, but most would tell you that "I now know what I want to do! Regardless of my future career, I want to dedicate my life to telling others about the awesome God who is now my best friend!"
Cayla was my neighbor's child at an Adventist Academy where we used to teach. She had been begging me for years to take her on a mission trip. I kept telling her she had to wait till she was 13, but finally I decided to take her this year even though she is only 12.
Noel is another 12-year-old that I met while telling stories in the Junior Sabbath school of the St. Louis General Conference Session in 2005. She was only 10 years old but Noel was already a missionary. She came to the Share Him booth and passed out magazines by the hour trying to inspire others to go tell the world about her Jesus! She kept asking me, "Are you sure I have to be 13 years old before I can go with you?" Since Noel was 12.5 years old I decided to surprise her with an invitation to join us on this trip! Noel was so excited she could hardly sleep.
I think Noel and Cayla will be coming on many more evangelistic trips. Their enthusiasm and hard work are contagious!
Carrie is the 9 year old daughter of a family that came with us on this trip. Carrie is a very sweet girl who is always helpful and ready to share a smile. Carrie did a couple of health talks for her Dad's meetings even though she is only 9 years old. Maybe next time, Carrie, you will co-preach a campaign?
Kiersten is a senior in academy who is mature beyond her 17 years. She is the one that many kids her own age will turn to with their problems because Kiersten genuinely cares about their pain. Kiersten was a great first time preacher who was able to make her church family feel loved.
Raelene is a very sweet girl who loves the Lord. She loves to give hugs and be a real friend. Raelene is also gifted with massage and often after hours of working on sermons, you could see her giving team members a much needed neck and shoulder massage.
There was one young lady who was struggling with her decision. Here we are after praying and talking with her. In this picture she had just said, "I do want to give my life to Jesus and be baptized!" As you can see it was an emotional time for all of us! Sometimes tears a good thing, it means incredible joy and I am sure the angels of heaven were throwing a party because of Savannah's decision!
Savannah being baptized!
As a result of Savannah's baptism, Sam, another 12-year-old who had come with his Dad (Arlain) and sister (Katie) was in the valley of decision.
But Jesus won the battle for Sam's heart and he was baptized as well in that hotel pool. (Y0u ought to hear Sam preach! God has packed a lot of dynamite into that 12-year-old!)
I can't wait to spend eternity with this awesome group of kids, teens, and adults that were a part of the team in Nicaragua! There is a difference between good kids and on-fire kids, and it is incredible to work with kids who are willing to put Jesus first in their lives! I truly think there is nothing more rewarding than working with teens, young adults,
or young-at-heart adults, in sharing the gospel! Join us next year with your friend or parent and see for yourself that there is nothing God can't do!
(To join such a mission trip go to www.sharehim.org)
Nicaragua: When God Steps In
Upon arrival in Nicaragua we saw a tent city made of poles and tarp The reisdents cooked outside over small fires and their hammocks hung inside. The pastor explained that he had been working with these people and would like to take the to the meetings.
Although funds had been given for the evangelistic campaign, his particular campaign site was unique. It was held outdoors under a tin roof inside the compound of a catholic school. This space had to be rented as well as all the chairs as this campaign would hopefully plant a church.
The adults and teens got together and prayed about this new situation
and decided to take up a collection to pay for an additional bus to pick up some of these tent people who were already receptive to the gospel.
The night arrived and people piled into the buses in record numbers.
Upon arriving at the site they were greeted by sharply dressed Pathfinders and made to feel welcome.
The young preachers at this site were just 14 and
15 years old, along with their 19 year old translator.
Night after night they preached to a crowd of about 150 people. At the end, God blessed with over 65 baptisms!
The question now remains, "When are you going to help plant a church? If kids can do it, so can you with God's help. www.sharehim.org
Nicaragua: They ARE Our Family!
During the first week I told the kids, “Guess what kids, these hotel workers get at best one day off a week, and some only one day off every 15 days. They work between 10-14 hours a day for $3.50 a day, and even in this economy that is BAD news! The owners are making thousands of dollars off us and yet the workers live in the basement of the hotel without any air-conditioning and often not even a fan. They feel inferior and are worked to death.” Tears filled several of the girls' eyes.
Later that day they brought me carefully written thank you notes for the kitchen staff, the maids, the desk workers..thanking them for specific things they appreciated. I was kept busy for the rest of our stay there translating thank-you notes.
The hotel staff couldn’t believe the notes and just smiled as they began taping the cards up on the walls or propping them on the desk.
One night I found the night worker, Marlon, furiously cleaning after 12 p.m. Usually around 12 pm things would slow down enough for him that he could catch a few winks. Sticking my head into the kitchen I saw dirty dishes and sticky counters.
“Marlon, do you have any dish soap?” I asked him. “Whatever do you need dish soap for? ….Oh No you don’t!" So saying Marlon gently shoved me to my room and said, "It is late! Go to bed! You are tired! You work too hard!”.
I turned around and said “Oh, so because I am from the USA and am a guest I get more tired than you? I don’t think so! You are JUST as important and valuable as me and you are tired too! So I am going to help you and clean up the kitchen!”
“No way! You are so not going to be allowed to help me! You are the guest! This is my job.”
“Ya and you work way too hard for way too little and it is about time someone helped you out! Forget it my friend, I always win these kinds of arguments.” Right then one of my 14-year-old girls stuck her head out of her door.” Mrs. Glassford, I can’t sleep. I am so excited about my meetings tonight. So many people accepted Jesus. I just can’t sleep!”
“Cool! That means you can help me clean up the kitchen!” One hour later we were finished and Marlon and us too could all go to our rooms to bed. Marlon walked us to our room as he put his arm around both of us. As I looked down on his friendly brown face his eyes filled with tears! “Honestly, I have no idea what I am going to do..what we are all going to do when your whole group leaves. You all have been so good to us! You’ve become like family! You have loved us as equals for no reason! Thank you so much!! Please don’t forget about us when you leave and keep in touch! You’ve made us feel special and this place is going to be empty without you all”. Giving him a hug we said “You are special, all of you and we love you all! And yes, you are equals with us!”
My 14-year-old helper and I exchanged glances…this was not going to be the only thing we did for these hotel workers! We were extra determined to show them Jesus because most people would rather see a sermon than hear one any day.
God worked out an amazing miracle so that we could give a mini-evangelistic campaign to the hotel workers. The managers of the hotel were not interested in loosing their workers for an hour a day for some meeting. So we worked out a deal. Directly after lunch, while their workers were in our meeting, part of our group washed the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen! When the hotel workers found out that we were going to have meetings just for them, many of them hugged us and squealed for joy!
Each day, a different teen member preached.
We gave them all Bibles and Bible study materials.
Which they treasured. (The night guard could be seen reading his materials every night.) Two of them have made decisions to study further with the idea of preparing for baptism!
One night as I was traveling to the various sites to see how the kids were doing, my SDA taxi driver was so very kind. He took 2 groups of kids every night to the meetings and they just loved him. As I talked to him he began to profusely apologize for being late that evening (he had always been ½ hour early). I told him “even the best of people run late sometimes, don’t worry. It’s no big deal! God still made sure the kids got to their sites on time.” He smiled and told me about all the car trouble he had been having. But he said “However, the devil isn’t going to win this one! So I am not discouraged.” As I talked to him, I very carefully found out how much he had spent on his car. (He was not a rich man by any means. He made about $8.00 a day with his taxi after expenses. Frankly it takes at least 12-15 dollars a day to live with a family in Nicaragua.) We talked about all kinds of things as we drove between the churches that night and when I got out I slipped him some money. The man was flabbergasted. It was painfully obvious he hadn’t planned on me giving him anything. He was embarrassed but so touched. Out of his $300 debt we were able to give him $280 of what he had spent on a new radiator, new oxygen control, new hoses and other things that he had replaced on his car.
The last night I was there he explained why this had meant so much to him. When he (Oscar) was a very young boy his father had abandoned the family. When Oscar was 25 (he is now 29 or so) he decided to look up his Dad. To his shock his Dad was wealthy, very wealthy, owning several chains of stores and hotels. When he went to look up his Dad..he was finally allowed to enter the mansion of a home. His dad said “What do you want?!” Oscar said, “I just want a Dad. Not money, just a Dad. I’ve always had this hole in my heart for a Dad. Are you my Dad?” The greedy wealthy man said “Well it is true I was with your Mom and you were the product of that but my life is much to busy for another son. Now I wish you well and no harm but I can’t be bothered with you. So out you go…hope you have a good life.”
With tears in his eyes Oscar said "I just wanted a Dad! Is that so bad?! I truly wasn’t after money but knowing he had so much and he wouldn’t even give me time, my heart hurt deeply. And here…you hardly know me and you give me $280?! It isn’t about money, it’s about belonging.
You all have felt like family to me and you have no idea what it means to me! You have NO idea how wonderful it feels for perfect strangers to care about me when some of my own family don't give me the time of day! Thanks for showing me what Jesus is like!”
At that, we both cried. His family is now a part of mine. They are my brother, sister-in-law, and nieces and I don’t plan to ever lose contact with them.
Your overseas family is waiting for you to come, but how will you meet them if you don't go on a mission trip? They will be part of your family now and you can enjoy eternity with them in heaven! (For more information on how you can participate in a mission trip like this one go to www.sharehim.org)Nicaragua: The Adventure Begins
Arriving in
Somehow, the hotel management had lost the list of room mates for the Share Him group that would be arriving the next morning.
So Marlon, the night worker, and I worked on the combination of who could room with whom. The rule had been, that the hotel would not allow more than 3 people in a room and they preferred only 2. Their motivation of course was that for each person over 2 people in a room, they could only charge 10 dollars a night per person and they wanted to make as much money as possible. Well, thank the Lord, we were able to put up to 5 people in a room (as the rooms were huge) and save some money for other needs in the country. Marlon was exceedingly patient and such a kind man to work with. Some 2 hours later, the account was settled, the rooms decided upon, and meal times arranged.
The next day the group began arriving till the small hotel was filled with 59 teens, young adults, and young-at-heart evangelists from the USA.
Nicaraguan people are warm and friendly and it seems that the weather tried to also be warm and friendly. The first full day they were in
The ten students from Southern went down to Chinandega, a city some 2 hours from where we were in
These Southern students were hard workers! Their smiles lit up their churches!
Some people may be able to fool adults but kids know when they are loved!
Night after night, they preached their hearts out!
Their genuine love for the Lord just shone from their faces!
Southern, we'll take students like this any day! They are responsible, serious, genuine, but also know how to have a great time! (To all you guys, you were awesome!)
The teens in the group in
The computer programs were new to them and the learning curve steep. We hunkered down in the main guy’s room (which had 5 beds and a great air conditioner) and began work understanding the sermons, editing them, learning how to use Sermon Synchronizer (a program whereby what you see on your computer screen is in English and what comes out of the projector is in Spanish) etc.
These kids would hit the road running with three sermons between Friday night and Sabbath night.
For the next 16 days there would be no break..as there were meetings every night. Most of the adults in the group came as mentors and helpers not as speakers, so it was up to the kids to understand their computer equipment, practice their sermons, greet the people, and take care of their own logistics at their sites.
However, I have discovered that when you treat kids like you trust them, and give them the privilege of working with God they will rarely disappoint you. I never had to make sure the kids were practicing their sermons.
We worked in groups for 5-6 hours a day on their sermons, in addition to a daily worship and prayer session. The stamina and the seriousness with which there kids faced their work every day was heart warming.
The group began to meld into a cohesive group and one could often see little knots of tosseled haired kids praying in a group for people coming to their meetings, praying that God would use them and would make them empty vessels so that they could be filled up by the presence of God, or asking God to help them make the truths clear that night.
The kid’s attitude was great. When one kid said “Wow we get rice and beans today and I like it! Another kid said “Good thing you like it…I do too! I bet tomorrow we will get some variety and eat beans with rice and that will be good too!”.
I actually had to insist at times that kids take a break and go swimming in the pool or just do something fun or some would practice their sermons 10 times a day. When computers crashed, or the electricity went off, the kids kept on preaching from paper notes and they came in more pumped than ever saying things like, “well there must have really been people at my site that needed to hear about the Lord tonight! The devil was mad as hops but God will win this one too!” Shy kids were heard saying “I can’t believe it but when I got upfront to preach all my fear just left me. I love it! I don’t have to wait till I’m 18 or 30 God can use me and I am only 12 (or 15, or 17) !”
(If you have a projector or laptop that you would let a teen borrow to do evangelism, just email me. Your equipment can be winning souls for Jesus!)
