Nairobi, Africa trip

Mathare Valley Bible School

Just wanted to share a few pics of the amazing teaching trip we just took to Nairobi to work with Disciple Support Ministries. We also popped into see the Deaf Opportunity Outreach folks new office (DOOR International Offices are now located in Nairobi) and to see their new partnership with Wycliffe Bible translators as they work to translate the Bible into the world's sign languages.

We also visited Kibera Slum and I was able to see some of Pastor Daniel Ogutu's projects including the orphanage in Kiriobangi

Itec USA Field trip

We are traveling up to the Indigenous People’s Technology Center in Crystal River on November 19^th.  We will be leaving at precisely 7:45am in front of the church. ITEC was started by the son of well-known missionary/martyr Nate Saint- Steve Saint.   Steve and his team are using fascinating tools to help indigenous people reach others.  Check out www.itecusa.org for more info on the facility.  Contact the missions department at 577 7705 for more info.  Cost: $5.

Cathy Ramirez 1 year mission trip fundraiser

Cathy's team is coordinating a night to introduce herself, the mission trip and the ministry to friends and family. They will be hosting a dinner that includes samples of food from all 11 countries I'm going to.  India, Nepal, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique, Ireland, Romania and Ukraine.  In order to help raise support, they will also be having a professional photographer taking portraits and raffling off a Kindle. October 9th at Faith Fellowship on 1st Ave South.  It will be from 6pm - 8pm.  

Tickets are $10.00 and can be paid the night of the event or at https://www.adventures.org/give/donate.asp?giveto=worldrace&desc=For%20Cathy%20Ramirez&tuid=3849115

But please RSVP for planning purposes.

 

Keyboard needed

Paul and Dori Pittman are looking for a keyboard for Sarah, their daughter. If anyone has one lying around, please let us know before they head back to Costa Rica!

New Missions Mag

Check out the new CC St. Pete Missions magazine at http://calvarystp.org/pdf/missions/missions-newsletter.pdf

 

"Jesus to Muslims" Seminar at VVCC, Summerfield, FL Aug 25,27,28-also LIVESTREAM on the Web

Log-on or travel to Summerfied, FL to hear Steven Masood’s seminar.  Steven Masood is a former Muslim and has a PHD in the subject and many years of experience in being a Professor of "Comparative Religions". As a Christian who converted from Islam, he has a fascinating testimony and perspective.   Kamal is a former "Terrorist" who gives his testimony.  The seminar will be LIVESTREAMED on www.villageviewchurch.com on August 25, 27, 28th.

 

How can a God of love be a God of wrath and judgment?

When you see some you love suffering from the consequences of unwise decisions or from others, do you react with indifference or acceptance? No! In the same way, God's wrath to sin isn't a "cranky explosion, but his settled opposition to the cancer... Which is eating out the insides of the human race that he loves with His whole being."

Jesus on Anger- thought of the day

Jesus’ goal in teaching on anger was not to justify an elaborate legal system. Jesus was calling on His

followers to attack each sin at its root and to read the law not as a set of right actions but as a description of right

values.

Night of Missions Prayer and Praise

Don’t forget the night of Prayer and Praise for Missions tonight! 7pm

Passports

Passports go up from $75 to $110 by July 11^th, so I would recommend that people apply for their passport or renew as soon as possible.

Need for a missionary

Paul and Dori P. are looking for a place to park their small car after they go back to Costa Rica this summer.  If anyone has a large backyard and can accommodate them, please let me know!

Rosetta Stone

Paul and Dori Pittman in Costa Rica are looking for a used copy of the Rosetta Stone Spanish software.  Does anybody have a copy they'd give or sell at a reasonable price to them for their kids?
Let me know if you come across one.

Missions at the Airport

JAARS (Jungle Aviation and Radio Service) will be at Clearwater Airpark at 1000 Hercules Ave in Clearwater this weekend April 24-25 from 10-5:30 on Saturday and 1-5:30pm on Sunday.  Bring your whole family and ride in a missionary airplane or helicopter and talk with jungle pilots and translators.  Airplane rides: $20; Helicopter rides: $25 Call 727 504 2125

Santa Lucia, Guatemala

<<IMG00019.jpg>> P. Francisco just sent some pictures of an outreach
that they did in Santa Lucia (where we started the child sponsorship
program with Operation Rescue Child last month) and I thought I'd share
the pics with you. If you want more info on sponsoring a child through
ORC, go to http://www.rescuechild.org/

Quote from Book - Safely Home

Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward.  But properly learned, the lesson forever changes the man.

Interesting Facts about St. Patrick Day (a few days late)

March 17, 461 A.D., Saint Patrick, Christian missionary, bishop and apostle of Ireland, dies at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland.

Much of what is known about Patrick's legendary life comes from the Confessio, a book he wrote during his last years. Born in Great Britain, probably in Scotland, to a well-to-do Christian family of Roman citizenship, Patrick was captured and enslaved at age 16 by Irish marauders. For the next six years, he worked as a herder in Ireland, turning to a deepening religious faith for comfort. Following the counsel of a voice he heard in a dream one night, he escaped and found passage on a ship to Britain, where he was eventually reunited with his family.

According to the Confessio, in Britain Patrick had another dream, in which an individual named Victoricus gave him a letter, entitled "The Voice of the Irish." As he read it, Patrick seemed to hear the voices of Irishmen pleading him to return to their country and walk among them once more. After studying for the priesthood, Patrick was ordained a bishop. He arrived in Ireland in 433 and began preaching the Gospel, converting many thousands of Irish and building churches around the country. After 40 years of living in poverty, teaching, traveling and working tirelessly, Patrick died on March 17, 461 in Saul, where he had built his first church.

Muslim outreach

Stephen Masood is teaching a seminar on Islam and Christianity at Abundant life church at 1550 Belcher Road S. in Largo on March 13 from 9am to 1pm.  Steve is a former Pakastani Muslim with an incredible story and amazing insight into the Koran and the Bible.  For more info contact Cindy at 727 210 5433

Morocco- Sent from a friend

Christian missionaries from around the globe run an orphanage in Morocco. Instead of adopting these children and bringing them to their home countries (ranging from Holland, New Zealand, and America), these couples go to Morocco to raise Moroccan children as part of their own families until they are fully grown. These children are their children, and have gone through all the legal paperwork in Morocco to be their caretakers for life, though they cannot legally adopt them as foreigners. They all live together and are called the Village of Hope. The Navigators in New England has had a friendly relationship with this orphanage.

Yesterday, Monday March 8th, the Moroccan police came to their home and insisted that all foreigners leave. This means that the parents of these children are being forced to leave the country and leave their children behind. This is apparently not surprising with some recent changes in Moroccan politics that has ushered in a dramatic increase in hostility toward foreigners, and especially Christians. And behind all of the politics, 33 children are being left parentless, for the 2nd time in their life. After being welcomed into an adoptive family, can you imagine watching your parents being forced into police vans not knowing if you'll ever see them again?

• What can we do?
1. Pray right now for these parents and their children. Pray against feelings of abandonment these children might be experiencing, and please pray that the parents would be allowed to return to their home. Pray for the hearts of officials in Morocco to soften to the harm they are causing.
2. Village of Hope has asked to publicize their case, hoping that media and grassroots attention will help them reunite with their children. Please do so through whatever means you have. Here is their website with the official press release: http://www.voh-ainleuh.org/

Internship Opportunity

Ellyn and Tony up in Erie, PA are possibly looking for young people as interns for the summer months to organize and lead outreaches, VBS, children's ministries, etc. The position possibly comes with a small salary and free room and board for the summer.  It is a great opportunity to serve and gain experience.   If you know anyone, please get them to contact us at the office. 

HEART Institute Mini Mission trip

HUNGER EDUCATION AND RESOURCE TRAINING INSTITUTE
Purpose: H.E.A.R.T. provides missionaries and those who want to learn more about missions with hands-on application of practical and technical skills, as well as instruction from professional and experienced staff. As part of a Work Weekend Group (WWG), Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg team members typically provide maintenance and general labor to prepare the H.E.A.R.T. village for future training. There is also an alternate opportunity, the Missions Awareness Venture (MAV), which combines brief classes on various missions-related topics with hands-on lessons in the village's garden, fish farm and/or other learning areas. This mini-mission trip is a great and inexpensive way to get away and serve missionaries in a practical, hands-on manner. This trip is open to anyone with a heart to serve and learn, and either the WWG or MAV can be chosen.

The HEART mini mission trip interest meeting is this weekend after all services in room C 21. 
Proposed Dates: April 16-18, 2010
Estimated Cost: $70 per weekend
Team Leaders: Gary Sanderfur, 727-366-4651 and Julie Murphy, 813-298-6935

DOOR Int'l - Special Edition

D.O.O.R. International (Deaf Opportunity Out Reach)

***** SPECIAL EDITION *****

Due to the urgent nature and timeline for these 2 needs, DOOR is sending out a "special edition" e-mail for your prayers.

1. BUILDING SITE SUPERVISOR: As many of you know, DOOR is in the process of building an amazing Deaf Bible Translation and Training Center in Nairobi Kenya which, when completed, will be able to serve 8-10 sign language translation teams simultaneously. DOOR has had the blessing of Wycliffe Associates taking responsibility for project management, which includes on-site supervision. As we move forward with this project, we will need one more site supervisor to bring this project to conclusion sometime in 2011.  Wycliffe Associates is now seeking a seasoned and experienced construction site superintendent to move to Kenya soon.

         Please PRAY that God would raise up just the right person to finish this project well!!”

1. BOREHOLE (WELL): Many of you have been praying and asking for updates regarding the need for a water source in Kenya for our new Deaf Bible Translation & Training Center. This week WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY the government of Kenya will be making a final decision on whether to grant DOOR an "institutional exemption" to allow us to drill a "borehole" (well). This is essential to the efficient operation of this vital sign language Bible translation project. 

         Please PRAY for approval of the "institutional exemption" for a "borehole" at the site.

 

THANK YOU! The DOOR team!

 

D.O.O.R. INTERNATIONAL

(Deaf Opportunity OutReach)

P.O. Box 457

Bunn, NC 27508-0457

Phone: 919-844-0062

Fax: 919-844-0220

E-mail: DOORInternational@msn.com

Web Site:

http://www.doorinternational.com

 

What Mormons Don't Tell

The Missions Dept is hosting a seminar on March 9th at 7pm on ministry to Mormons. This class is a prerequisite for anyone wanting to go on a summer missions trip to Palmyra, NY for an outreach to Mormons. See www.whatmormonsdonttell.com or go by the table in the lobby this weekend.

Patrick and Barb Lataillade from Haiti- Fundraiser concert

MARCH 28 AT 6 P.M., BAYSHORE MENNONITE CHURCH FUNDRAISER AND BENEFIT CONCERT FOR PATRICK AND BARBARA LATAILLADE, MISSIONARIES TO HAITI FOR THE PAST 28 YEARS. THE CHURCH IS LOCATED AT 3809 CHAPEL DRIVE IN SARASOTA
Several local Christian musicians will take part in the concert.  This will be a night of praise and worship as well as an opportunity to help meet the needs of the Lataillades, who were both seriously injured in the recent earthquake that shattered Haiti on January 12.  Patrick spent eighteen hours buried under the rubble of their home.  He lost his right arm and Barbara lost her right foot. Patrick was in ICU and was close to death at times.  They spent two weeks in Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami before transferring to Tallahassee for therapy and preparation for prosthetics. Patrick will need about $25,000 to receive a prosthetic arm.

Come hear their remarkable story of rescue and recovery and their vision to return to the work in Haiti. For further information call 941-776-0432  You may check for more information regarding the Lataillades by going to their blog at http://patrickbarb.blogspot.com/

Franklin Update in Kenya

Salamu !
Just a quick update from across the globe.
Thanks for praying for sunshine, especially while in Kibera. The Lord answered. It was still very sludgy but not as bad as it could have been if it were raining! Today is sunny also and mild temps. We have been so blessed. I cannot imagine how Paul was managing two bible schools and teaching! It was God's grace that kept him going. I am trying to sort through paperwork and create files for new students and eliminate old files. This is a task because some students attend both schools so their file could be in either location. I hope to finish before we leave. I take attendance and grade tests, homework, and notebooks each week. After grading everything then have to document everything in the different spreadsheets that Paul has created for each semester.

The students and Pastors are wonderful. I am trying to build relationships with these beautiful ladies at the schools. They are very humble and such servants. They initially would not let me help with anything but then I just picked up a mop and began to work right along with them. When we went down for tea I refused to not help wash and dry the cups....they let me dry them and then help put them away. I want them to know I am not here to be served but to serve along side them. They are very curious about our ways, what we eat, how we live, etc. It is very cute.

Ray is enjoying the fellowship with the Pastors. They always bring him many questions about the teaching which is wonderful for Ray, it lets him know that they are listening and wanting to learn.
I would like to ask if you could lift up one Pastor here in prayer. His name is Samuel and he was our guide in and out of Kibera but is not able to now. He is very sick and they think he has typhoid. He is on medication and has to go get a shot everyday but is not doing well and is very weak. They take their commitment to heart and will do what ever they can to make sure they are in class. I think they would have to be in the hospital not to come. He has a family and needs a healing touch from the Lord. It would be wonderful for him to hear that people in the United States especially from our church were praying for him.

Please pray for continued good weather. Especially on Wednesdays because that is when we go into Kibera. Kibera is already wet with waste and when it rains it makes it very difficult to walk to the school....
Pray for continued good health and protection
Pray for travel mercies each Wed and Sat. The traffic is very bad and very dangerous since the Matatus are back on the roads.
Pray for me to learn the administrative functions quickly
Pray for Ray to have fresh insight into God's word as he prepares his teaching
Pray for Ray to be anointed as he teaches the students
Pray for our continued building of relationships with the Pastors and students
Pray for continued good health and protection for the Cowley's'
Pray for Pastor Samuel's healing
Tell everyone there Salamu (greetings) from Nairobi.
Love and Blessings, Lana and Ray

Last Haiti update

The DIRT team just arrived in the DR to work one final day. The photo
is of a lady in the tent village with one of the Proclaimers
www.faithcomesbyhearing.com

Haiti cont'd

I've been asked to keep people up to date on the Haiti team so here is another update!  The DIRT team finished the debris removal of a plot of land so they can place a medical tent to treat the locals.  They've asked for prayer that they might be able to local a big tent to serve for that purpose.  All is well.

Haiti

Latest word: all is well, one more day and they head to the DR to work with a hospital in the Baharona area on Friday. 

Haiti cont'd

Oh, in case you are wondering the D.I.R.T. Team  is working at the tent city located along side a collapsed hospital. In this "city" are many injured Haitians, a make shift hospital and volunteers who are there to help. The team has been helping to expand the area, clearing land and obtaining more tents. All are doing well and staying healthy.  Keep them in your prayers!

 

Haiti Team update

Brian called today from Haiti giving an update on the team. All is well,
they are enjoying the Haitian people. They said they are super friendly
and surprisingly joyous given the tragedy that has come on them. Sue
Richards forwarded this pictures of one of the team members giving a
tetanus shot after puncture wound today. The team was setting up
potable water stations for the tent city that is forming around the
Calvary Village. I am not an expert, but it looks like they might be
hurting him worse than the tetanus. The second photo is of one of the
Proclaimers being used -a Proclaimer is from www.faithcomesbyhearing.com
and is a way to get the Bible in oral form into the hands of people who
don't read so good. (uh, I mean, well).

Haiti Team

FYI: our Haiti team is on the ground and running, meeting up with Pastor Serge.  But all is well.  Cuba team is on their way home. 

Great Event-Free!

One of the podcasts I listen to regularly is Worldview Matters with Brannon Howse.  Really an amazing guy who has his pulse on what is happening in America in politics, culture, education and religion.  His objective?  To get people thinking with a biblical worldview.  I really recommend his worldview weekend seminar coming to Tampa March 21st. It is free too!  Click on the link http://www.worldviewweekend.com/upcoming.php#tampaflorida and register! Or check out his web page at http://www.worldviewtimes.com/

Haiti

Our Haiti team leaves on the 13th.  If anyone has access to 4x4 gauze pads, high blood pressure meds, asthma meds/inhalers, antiobiotics, etc, please bring them by the church.  We are sending a bunch more supplies down as well as some more water filtration kits.

Prayer and Praise for Missions

Join us this Tuesday the 9th for a night of prayer and praise with Andy and and Gen Falleur from CC Ottawa, 7pm, in the main auditorium.  Invite a friend!

Haiti supplies

In addition to the filters we've sent down to Hait so far, here are some of the supplies that we've purchased and sent down as well.  Looks like we'll have a team or two traveling down in the next two weeks. 

Haiti

Many have been calling in and asking about our response to Haiti.  We have sent supplies down for orphans with some contacts of ours and 5 cases of water filtration systems.  Enough to help about a village.  Amy left today to help with surgeries, and Vic Floener is on standby to go help with rescue work.  Curt, from CC Sarasota is on the ground and has been reporting.  Here is his latest email post:

Haiti has very little resources of its own, with its people being its biggest
asset. If we go in and build for them, cook for them, take care of them, all
we will do is put them out of work and create yet another “welfare” system,
dependant on the good ole USA. And these people want to do things for
themselves as most of them are hard working if given the chance.

As far as construction teams, get them the supplies, a couple of supervisors
and hire the locals, let them rebuild for themselves and help pump up their
economy! Most of what I saw will have to be completely bull dozed and
rebuilt. I’m no expert but I think they’ll have to evacuate everyone in PAP
and start over, the same with other areas that have been devastated like PAP.

What they need is supplies and we need the money to get the supplies to
them. It costs at least $1500 for one person to go in and stay for 7-10 days.
That money would be better put to use to purchase supplies for them and
allows us all to be better stewards of what God has given us.

If you plan on just going anyway, then consider the following: make sure
you have a plan, not a just go and see what happens. Haiti was an unsafe
place to visit before the quake, and it is only getting worse. You must team
up with a church/ministry that was already in place before the quake hit and
one that is a good steward of God’s things, you don’t want someone taking
what you do and using it for personal gain! You can only do a distribution for
two hours max and then you are mobbed and have to get out and then it is
unwise to go back to the same area over and over again as they figure that
out. Even the military is struggling with distribution and they have big guns!!

We will need people to go in and help. This will be a long term project. They
will need help both financially and physically for a long time. Due to the
number of people that can safely go in and be affective, think about splitting
your team up into several smaller teams. As many, many want to come in; it
will be easier if we all work together a couple from here and a couple from
there

Thoughts on Proverbs

I was talking with Andy Falleur at our bootcamp, and just like the year previously, he mentioned that reading through Proverbs was a part of his regular devotional time. So, since there are 31 days in a typical month and 31 proverbs, I thought I'd read one a day. Solomon, history's wisest man wrote them so I am hoping something will rub off.

I have some thoughts I thought I'd share for someone seeking truth. Maybe you ask: "How do I get faith ?" Proverbs 2 has a partial answer: In Proverbs 1:7 it says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge... By definition, wisdom is the correct application of available knowledge and the New Testament tells us in Romans 10 that faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of God. So, getting to know the Bible is such a wise step for a truth seeker! But, this doesn't happen by osmosis. Proverbs 2 lays it out:

1 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, (It needs to be something valued to you, store up has the idea of treasuring)

2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, (it is something you need to pay attention to and observe, not casually try to take in. Then you need to APPLY it)

3 and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, (ask God for insight, especially when reading the Word)

4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, (pursue it as this is by far the greatest gift you could ever receive and has ETERNAL consequences... so you owe it to yourself to pursue it as treasure)

5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. (result- a guarantee that you will find the knowledge of God)

And the promises of someone who finds the knowledge of God are in Verse 7 and following

v7 -He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,

8 for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.

9 Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. (you get right thinking, dysfunctional thinking is rooted out)

10 For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

11 Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.

12 Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse,

First night of the DOC

Tonight was the first night of the Downtown Outreach Center led by Gabe Graham. They will be meeting Friday nights at 7pm. If you are interested in serving, helping out, or inviting someone, contact Gabe or show up at 221 2nd ave. N in St. Pete.