Mission Accomplished

Here is a look at the "To Do" list (in no particular order) for our mission trip to Kenya:

• train 20 Kenyan pastors in the Water4 well drilling technique Status: COMPLETED
• drill two new water wells and install the Access 1.2 hand pump at each well Status: COMPLETED
• improve the physical health of the people who live in the communities around the new water wells by providing them clean drinking water Status: COMPLETED
• positively impact the Kingdom by equipping and training pastors to be better leaders, more knowledgeable theologically and capable of using water well drilling as an effective church planting tool Status: COMPLETED
• for the lives of the Crossings team to be changed as a result of this trip Status: COMPLETED AND EXCEEDED

Today we concluded our conference with the twenty Kenyan pastors. We also completed the installation of the last two pumps, both at the Eldoret Children's Rescue Centre. At the conclusion of the commissioning service that we held as the last event of the conference the Crossings team had the opportunity to go around the room and pray for each and every pastor in the room. It was an honor to be able to lift up these men in prayer as they take what they have learned and return to their homes to make both an eternal and physical difference in the lives of the people who live in those regions.

Crossings/Water4 Drill Team Front Row: Kemp Ward, David Bilodeau; Back Row: Rich DiAngelo, John Burbank, Mark Kern, Michael Milligan, Scott Schmidt, David Purcer, Phil Altes (not pictured: Kim Ward)

As with any project of this kind, introducing "new" technologies and techniques, the response level of the pastors varied. Some genuinely see this as an opportunity to bring life - physical and spiritual - to their people. The jumped into the drill training with both feet and cannot wait to get home and drill wells. Others recognize the potential impact that water wells could have on their ministry but they are somewhat reluctant - for many different reasons - to completely buy in to the process. Still others see the value of what we are doing, but they are not really drillers. They are more of the administrative types.

All in all, we know that God will be glorified and lives will be changed with each well that is drilled by these men of God.

And that's really the bottom line: for God to receive the glory. If God would have received more glory (in some manner) by us working hard but failing to complete a well, we could have lived with that outcome. Mind you, it would not be our preference, but this trip ultimately is not about us...it's all about God and his glory. In fact, when you get right down to it, this trip is not even about water. It's about how God reveals himself to his creation and extends his glory here on earth. We were just blessed enough to be a part of his plan at this moment in time in Kenya. Everyone on the team recognizes that the success of this trip really had nothing to do with us, but it was all about God showing up.

Now that all of the pastors have left to return home, tomorrow we will return to Nairobi. On Thursday we will spend the day reveling in God's creation as we take in some of the natural wonders and wildlife that Kenya has to offer. And finally, on Friday we will return to Nairobi and start our return journey back to the United States. Please pray for us as we travel home.

Thank you for your continued prayers.

Soli Deo gloria,
Michael

Weekend Wrap-up

Proverbs 16:3 reads:
     Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. (NIV)

When the first information meeting was held for this Water4/Kenya mission trip back in January, everyone involved that it would require an immense amount of prayer. Anything worth doing for the Kingdom of God typically does. So from our very first preparation meeting the entire team has devoted considerable time to praying for every aspect of this trip: the funding, the travel, the wells, the supplies, the pastors, the weather, and so on.

As is God's want, he has been incredibly faithful. He has answered our prayers in greater abundance that we could have hoped for. To date, we have completed the two new wells at Exodus Baptist Church and the Bread of Life Ministry here in Eldoret. Our team also installed an Access 1.2 hand pump on an existing well at Bread of Life. Tomorrow we will complete the installation of a pump on a new well our team dug at the Eldoret Children's Rescue Centre and put in another pump on an existing well at that location. For those of you keeping score at home: 3 completed new wells and 2 new pumps on existing open wells. That's not a bad week's work, but we know that it is all because of God's grace that we had the success that we did. A picture of the new well at the Rescue Centre is below.

While most of the team began the drilling at the Rescue Centre on Saturday, I had the opportunity to begin three days of theological training for the twenty pastors who had just completed the well training. I wish that I could adequately convey to you the passion of these men. They serve in difficult areas of their land, places that you and I would not choose to go. Refugee camps, deserts and regions dominated by militant Muslims are just the start of the list. And yet, despite the hardships, there is nowhere else that they would rather be other than serving God right where he has placed them. Some of these men gave up far better paying careers to be obedient to God's call on their lives. One pastor serves 10 separate congregations, some of which require a day's travel to get there...because he does not own a vehicle.

Also on Saturday, I had the blessing and privilege to perform a marriage for a couple at our host pastor's church, Glory Baptist Church. Music, dancing, a bridal procession that lasted 30 minutes, praise songs and even the offering was taken. It was humbling that this couple was gracious enough to allow me a role in the start of their new life together. The entire ceremony lasted well over two hours. I'm not sure that I have fully recovered even two days later.

On Sunday, our team split up and helped to lead worship, teach and preach in five different congregations on Sunday morning. Some of our team were not expecting to share in front of an entire church, but when they were called upon to give a brief testimony, they knocked it out of the park. Experiencing the "full body" worship of the Kenyan people - clapping, jumping, dancing...everything just short of a conga line - is quite a change for most of our team. There is such exuberance and unbridled joy throughout the entire worship service. And lots, and I mean LOTS, of loud music. Our day concluded with an combined worship service of the entire team and all of the pastors.

Tomorrow we will conclude the pastor training portion of our trip. Each pastor will receive a certificate and we will have a commissioning service to wrap up our time together. Our time here has far exceeded any expectations. I guess that says as much about our small expectations as it does about the greatness of our heavenly Father.

Soli Deo gloria,
Michael

In Memory of Mark Anderson...

Most of you may not have known Mark Anderson. Mark attended Crossings Community Church with his wife Holly and their young son Luke. Unfortunately, this year Mark passed away suddenly. It was a difficult loss for his family and friends.

Mark and Holly were passionate about the work and ministry of Water4. Even Mark's untimely passing did not diminish their family's commitment to Water4 Foundation and it's mission to eradicate the world's water crisis one well at a time. At the suggestion of Crossings member (and drill team participant) Phil Altes, we decided to honor Mark, his life and support of Water4 by dedicating a new well in his memory today. With his name inscribed on the Access 1.2 hand pump, we set the pump in the well freshly dug at the Exodus Baptist Church in Eldoret, Kenya. This well will provide clean and safe water to drink to the members of the church, the children who come to school there each day, as well as the surrounding community. It will provide the church to be God's agent of healing, grace and generosity in an area of the city that desperately needs all three.

The Access 1.2 hand pump inscribed with Mark's name

Phil Altes holding the "Mark Anderson" pump along with the Kenyan members of the drill team that worked to drill the well and install the pump and the Exodus Baptist Church. The church's pastor is on the far right in red.

Needless to say, this has been a very emotional day. In addition to the well above that was completed, the other half of the Crossings/Kenya team completed their well, installed an Access 1.2 hand pump on it and still had time to cap and place another hand pump on an existing well. If the trip ended tomorrow it would be an unqualified success. The good news, is, we are only half-way done.

Water4 drilling specialist Kemp Ward demonstrates the use of the Access 1.2 hand pump

Pastor Duncan of Exodus Baptist Church tries out the new pump at his church

 Tomorrow, we will split into two separate directions. Most of the Crossings drill team, with the exception of myself and Phil Altes (at times) will begin drilling a new well at the Eldoret Children's Rescue Home. It is a ministry for children who are orphans or who have escaped from some type of abusive situation. The need there is dire. We will spend, tomorrow, Monday and Tuesday trying to dig a well and install a pump. Please pray for favorable drilling conditions (i.e., no rocks).

While they are drilling, Phil and I will be helping to lead some theology training for the pastors who have spent the past four days learning how to drill. We will be trying to cram as much knowledge as possible into a three and a half day period. Please pray that we will be strategic in our teaching.

Thank you for your continued prayers. Please do not stop. We are halfway done and some of our team are starting to wear down a little bit physically. Pray that God will renew their strength and give them the energy they need to work and minister.

Soli Deo gloria,
Michael

Kenya Update #4

More progress today, albeit a little slower. Both wells proceeded deeper in their drilling today, but now that both have encountered a rock layer the pace of drilling has slowed considerably. The godd news is that there is water in both boreholes, so if we needed to, we could set a well at each drill site. However, we would prefer to go as deep as possible to help guard against the wells drying up in the dry season or in case of a drought.

The pastors have taken to the training in various levels of engagement. Some of the pastors - especially those who live in parts of Kenya where the water crisis is severe and fully engaged in every step of the training trying to learn as much as possible. Others are less engaged, give the techniques a try every now and then but content to let others shoulder most of the load. Still others were enthusiastic when the pace of drilling was very rapid but now that things have slowed they are far less enamored with the process. Finally, there is the group who spend most of their time on their cell phone wondering what all of the fuss is about. We have chosen to pour ourselves into those who are fully engaged while still encouraging those who have a lower level of commitment.

Last night our team discussed how God is working on us personally during this mission trip. One member said: "This is my first mission trip but you can bet that it won't be my last." To a person we are impressed with the deep sense of contentment the Kenyans share, despite the fact that as Westerners we would be appalled at the poverty and squalor where most of them live. One of the pastors from Rwanda was talking to us yesterday about how difficult it must be to raise children in the United States. There are drugs, gangs and all other types of violence, dangers and temptations. The whole time he was speaking I couldn't help but think: "At least my kids don't face the threat of genocide." It really and truly is all about perspective.

The Crossings Kenya/Water4 team (from left to right): Phil Altes, Mark Kern, John Burbank, Michael Milligan, David Purcer, Richard DiAngelo,  David Bilodeau, Scott Schmidt

Above is a picture of our team. Please continue to pray for us as we train and work alongside these incredible men. Their passion for sharing Christ with their countrymen challenges me to ask - as both a follower of Christ and a pastor - I am sowing enough seed and what do I need to do to sow more.

Soli Deo gloria,
Michael

Kenya Update #3

What a blessing today has been! We took the twenty-one pastors attending the training, split them into two teams and proceeded to start the actual drilling process at two different sites today. Of course, this being Africa, things did not go exactly as we had planned them. The local materials needed for the drilling: square tubing, steel pipes and PVC, that were to be delivered at 9am did not arrive until noon. No problem! That just provided our team with more opportunities to get to know these incredible Kenyan men, all who love the Lord whole-heartedly.

So we started drilling after lunch. Usually, that means a less than productive day. But today that was not the case. At both well sites, the drilling went very quickly. At our "Yellow" site we hit water about one meter from the surface. At the "Green" site it was about the same. Now even though we have hit water very early on in the process, we want to keep drilling. We need to make the wells deep enough so that when the dry season comes they will still have water in them. This has been an unseasonably wet year in this part of Kenya and the ground is literally saturated with water.

Below I have posted some pictures of the pastors drilling at the well site. It is such a moving experience to see these men of God grasp the significance of what it means to be able to bring water to the communities where they live and serve. It is a true game changer, in terms of physical health and eternal life.

Soli Deo gloria,
Michael

Kenya Update #2

Above you see the banner for the training seminar that Crossings is helping to sponsor and that our team is helping to lead. Our first day with the pastors included some classroom training time with the training DVD supplied by the Water4 Foundation, some sharing from the pastors and ended with a brief time of worship with the men.

I am always impressed by the level of passion that is brought to worship around the world. It is very easy to understand. When you hear these men tell their stories - whether it is a pastor who survived the genocide in Rwanda as a child by hiding under the dead bodies of his family, a pastor who has overcome the destruction and devastation of his business by mobs and gangs, or traveling for two and a half days in order to attend - you soon realize how totally dependent they are on the Lord for everything. Such total dependence warrants total devotion, even in worship.

Being with these men challenges me spiritually. While I may be far more educated than many of them, I cannot say that I always share the same reckless faith in God. Phrases from the Bible such as: "Cast your cares on Jesus" and "Rejoice in the Lord always" or "My grace is sufficient to meet all your needs" take on an added dimension of depth.

Speaking of depth, we start our actual drilling on Tuesday. Pray that God will be honored and glorified by all that we say and do.

Soli Deo gloria,
Michael

Roatan Update #2

Day started early with a wake up call from a dog fight and roosters crowing and the sun in our faces.  We left early for school and when we arrived (15 min early) kids were already there anxiously waiting to come in.  We started the day with prayer, pledge of allegiance, pledge to the Bible and pledge to the Christian flag and the kids recited (by memory) Luke 2:1-6.  We were  paired with a child to help with math, english and tomorrow (pray for us--science).  The kids were precious and captured our hearts.  The afternoon was spent at the girls home where we were able to share scripture on how beautiful they are in the eyes of God and precious treasures to Him.  Great games and activities to go along.  We came back to Deborah's for dinner and some friends of hers on the island for a time of worship, prayer and fellowship.  During our devotion times, the ladies are sharing their stories.  It's amazing to see how God is touching everyone through their different encounters with the people and just the extra effort it takes to live in a third world country.

Please pray for the group tomorrow--this will be our first day of a FULL day and evening of ministry which is Deborah's typical day.

 
Pam Millington

Kenya Update #1

Well, the journey has finally ended. We arrived in Eldoret this morning just before 8:00am local time. For the most part our journey was uneventful...that is until the last leg of the journey. I had a camcorder and the power cords to my iPhone and MacBook stolen from a suitcase. It's only stuff but it is frustrating, nonetheless. For the most part the only real issue we are facing is sleepiness. I think most of us are already acclimated to the change in time zone, but the four hours of sleep we got last night just wasn't enough.

We have just had our first meet-and-greet with the 20 plus pastors who will be attending the training. These men are true servants who have a passion for serving God in every part of their everyday routines. They are truly inspirational. We are excited about our opportunity to get to to know them, to teach them and to learn from them this week. We will begin our drill training this afternoon.

Please pray for the Kenyan pastors who are still making their way to Eldoret from some very remote (and dangerous) regions of Kenya. In case any of you are wondering, our team was not yet in Nairobi when the Anglican church there was bombed on Sunday. We are all safe and now very far away from any potential danger.

Thanks for all the prayers. Keep 'em coming.

Soli Deo gloria,
Michael

Roatan Update #1

As I mentioned in my previous post, we have two adult mission trips going on simultaneously. Here is the first update from Pam Millington's team in Roatan.

Dear All,

Just wanted you to know that we arrived safely.  Our day started with a call from Glenda's husband that she was sick and unable to join us on the trip.  Please pray for her healing.

Our planes were late leaving both OKC and Houston because of weight distibution challenges.  They kicked two people off the OKC flight.  Fortunately not from our group.  All the luggage and tubs made it safely, even the glass items arrived intact.

We have a sudden onset heavy rainstorm to welcome us.  Already after just a couple of hours we have island hair.  We're settled in at Deborah's, unpacked--new bunkhouse is incredible and great for groups.  Just got back from the grocery store.  

We appreciate your prayers for the people we will encounter.  More later.

Love,  Pam

We're on our way...

Well, we've checked our bags, received our boarding passes, made it through security - relatively unscathed - and now we are ready to go. Our journey to Kenya will last approximately 29 hours, so our team will probably be a little...gamey, shall we say...by the time we arrive.

I would like for everyone to pray specifically for one of our team members, Mark Kern. Mark's mother-in-law, who had been ill for an extended period of time, passed away on Thursday. They had her funeral yesterday and now Mark is sitting across from me at Will Rogers World Airport waiting to board our flight. Mark and his wife Sandy have been preparing for this eventuality and they both believe that Mark should continue with his plans on this trip. But understandably, Mark has a heavy heart. He wants to be a support to his dear wife as she grieves.

Please pray for Mark, Sandy and their entire family during this time. Please continue to pray for our team and our trip. Here are some specific requests for this portion of our journey:

1. Safe and uneventful travel
2. For all of our bags to arrive in Nairobi safely and at the same time that we do
3. No problems in customs in Kenya and no duties/tariffs to be paid
4. Quick recovery from any effects of jet lag
5. The families of the team members who remain in Oklahoma as we go.

 Thanks for praying and for following the blog. You can also follow me on Twitter: @mkhoops

Soli Deo gloria,
Michael

The harvest is plentiful...

Do you ever feel like there just aren't enough hours in the day? Have you ever thought: "Maybe if there were two of me, then I could get everything done that needs to be accomplished," only to realize that even with two of you, some tasks would go unfinished. Rest assured, you are not alone.

There has been a lot of that same feeling going around the Missions/Outreach ministry here at Crossings Community Church. There is just so much going on, so many opportunities to serve others and to share the love of Christ, that it is all we can do to keep up. Believe me, this is not a complaint. We would rather have a ton of activity than to be sitting around wondering how God can use us.

For example, here is what has been going on just in September: we have kicked off two after school programs through our Bridging the Gap ministry (BTG) to Oklahoma City urban schools. On Mondays, Crossings volunteers lead the Kids Bible Club at Stanley Hupfeld Academy. We currently have over 50 students in the 2nd - 5th grades who attend this program. At the Crossings Community Center on Thursday we have students from John Marshall Mid-High School who attend The Club at Crossings and The Basketball Club. Typically, we have around 40 students in the 6th - 12th grade who participate each week.

In the midst of these opportunities, all of the behind the scenes prep work for our annual Christmas backpack distribution efforts is also going on. It takes a considerable amount of man hours to prepare the 1800+ backpacks that Crossings members will adopt, fill with Christmas presents and then return so that we can bless the precious children at three of our BTG schools.

And if all this were not enough, Crossings will also be sending two teams on short-term mission trips this weekend. Pam Millington will be leading a team of nine women to Roatan, Honduras for a week to work with our missionary Deborah Hunnicutt. While the team is in Roatan they will assist Deborah's ministry at the school she has started, work with at-risk young women who have escaped human trafficking and be "guest teachers" in Deborah's English classes. The Roatan team leaves on Saturday, September 29 and returns on October 6.

On the same day that Pam Millington's team leaves for Roatan, I will be taking a team of eight men to Eldoret, Kenya to work with the Water4 Foundation to train pastors in the Water4 well drilling/installation techniques. In addition to the technical training, we will also be providing the pastors with some theological training and equipping them to use water well drilling as a church planting strategy. Our team will return on October 14.

In these few paragraphs I have mentioned five ministries/projects that are currently being undertaken by the Missions/Outreach ministry and I have barely mentioned the Community Center and Clinic and the non-stop ministry that occurs there at 2208 W. Hefner Rd. It would literally make your head spin. I do not share all of this with you so that we will feel good about ourselves or for you to pat us on the back. I want you to know so that you will be praying for us, the entire Missions/Outreach team: Pam Millington, Steve Turner, Don Peslis, CJ Roe, Lindsey Rodman and myself. Pray that we will focus on the tasks that matter the most to the Kingdom and reflect the most of God's glory.

There is always something going on at Crossings, not just in missions, but in every ministry. Over the next two weeks I will try to keep everyone updated about the two mission trips and share with you and daily prayer needs. I hope that you will make them a matter of prayer.

To God be the glory,
Michael Milligan

Honduras trip wrap-up

Well, in case you were wondering, we all made it back safely. I apologize if I left anyone hanging in suspense for the past nine days.

A quick recap: we ended up seeing 640 patients in four days of clinics, for an average of 160 patients per day. That's a busy week. Our team endured several illnesses, two IVs being given to team members, and the flooding of our medical equipment. Our team also built (from start to finish) a new house for a Honduran family in the village of Rio Lindo and continued the work on the infant/toddler housing at the orphanage operated by Pan-American Health Services. We worked hard, we prayed hard and - for those young enough to do so - we played hard.

For the first time since I have been on staff at Crossings, we intentionally recruited families to take part on an international short-term mission trip. Out of our team, we had at least six families (meaning at least one parent and one child) participate, including two entire families. It was an amazing opportunity to observe the parents and children serve, worship and grow as a family unit. It created shared memories and experiences that I think will serve as landmarks on their spiritual pilgrimage. I am already looking forward to our next family mission trip.

As a reader of this blog, you may not have ever joined one of our short-term mission trips. Maybe you have served locally in one of our many missions opportunities but you've never taken that next step to move from local to global. It's possible that you have participated in mission trips before but you have yet to find a local service opportunity right here at home. Whatever your case may be, I encourage you to visit the missions page on the Crossings website http://crossingsokc.org/missions/ and pray about where you can serve. Our faith in Christ and our devotion to the Father should make acts of service a non-negotiable part of our daily life.

So, what's next? There are still three short-term mission trips scheduled for the remainder of this year. At the end of September we have two trips: 1) a women's trip to work with Crossings missionary Deborah Hunnicutt on the island of Roatan and 2) a water well trip to Kenya with Water4 to train pastors in the drilling technique and to the pastors with some basic theological training. Our final trip of 2012 will be to India in late October, working with Helping Hands in Motion and National Fellowship. Please be in prayer for all of these remaining trips as we continue to prepare and plan for how God will use us to fulfill the Great Commission.

Soli Deo gloria.

Michael

News from Honduras

Thank you to all who have been praying. They are working...please do not cease.

Deanna is feeling better, but it seems that stomach issues have decided to run through the group on our last full day in Honduras. Several of our team have been battling queasy stomachs. Please pray for settled stomachs as we return home to the United States.

Thursday was another incredible day of ministry. Our clinic team went to Canchias and served from within the Heart to Honduras compound. Our medical providers included two Honduran doctors who joined our team for the day and the clinic saw 180 patients, many of whom were entire families of six, seven and even nine members. They worked as long as they could and saw as many patients as possible, but sadly we ended up having to turn some people away at the end of the day. Fortunately, the Heart to Honduras clinic operates on a fairly regular basis, so the people shouldn't do without treatment entirely, as was the case on Wednesday in the village of Santa Fe.

Of course, while the docs are seeing patients and healing the sick, our HEY Team of childrens ministers keep the kiddos engaged with crafts, Bible songs and games. Below are some pictures of the clinic happenings in Canchias.

Meanwhile, our two construction teams were also hard at it. Our Rio Lindo team finished the house for the family of five. On Friday, (today) our team had a chance to go and pray over the house, pray with the family and dedicate the structure before we headed to San Pedro Sula. While it may not look

like much to you and me, but to this family it was like winning the Powerball jackpot. They don't have to worry about living in a home infested with snakes, spiders and scorpions. They will no longer stress and wonder whether or not their floor will be washed away in the next heavy rain. This new house will mean a healthier future for their children. It was awesome and breathtaking to have even a small part in being used by God to bring this much joy to someone's life. Yes, I do love my job!

At the orphanage, we moved more forms and poured more concrete. I have more and more admiration and respect for those who perform this type of back breaking work each and every day. I'm not sure how it happened, but I ended up being one of the people on the top of the scaffold - along with Mitch McGinnis, an 18 year old - pour concrete into the forms. I think I will be walking hunched over for at least a week.

It has been an amazing week. Please keep praying as we travel home tomorrow. Our first flight departs at 8:18am OKC time and we arrive at about 5:00pm. We are anxious to see our families and share with you how this experience has changed our lives for the better.

Soli Deo gloria.

Michael

PLEASE PRAY

Thank you to everyone of you who has faithfully prayed for our team while we are in Honduras. We have felt your prayers covering us at every turn. I am asking you to say a special prayer right now for my wife Deanna.

For the past day or so Deanna has been battling an upset and queasy stomach. Today it has gotten the best of her. She is running a fever and is very weak. We are starting her on Cipro and will be giving her an IV soon. Please pray for her healing and that she will be strengthened. We are scheduled to leave our hotel tomorrow, relocate in San Pedro Sula and depart for home early on Saturday morning.

God is our Ebenezer...our rock of help. Thank you for praying.

Soli Deo gloria.


Michael
Sent from my iPhone

Photos from Honduras

Well, while I've got you here, I thought I would share some pictures from Honduras with you.

More Updates from Honduras

Okay, the numbers are in for Tuesday and Wednesday.

On Tuesday - the Day of the Deluge - our clinic saw 143 patients. Today, in the remote mountain village of Santa Fe (really, there's a village in Honduras by that name) our clinic medical providers saw 159 patients. Needless to say, it has been a busy week. But, it has not been all about the medical clinic.

Each day when the medical clinic sets up shop, we provide activities for the children who come to the clinic. Our HEY Team, (because that is how the children address the workers: "Hey!" "Hey!"), do crafts, sing Bible songs, tell Bible stories, play musical chairs and simply love these children unconditionally. It is often thankless duty but one that is preformed with great passion and love for the children. Our clinic process would not go as smoothly without the key servant volunteers.

The other ministry team is our construction team, which is actually divided into two groups. One group has been working each day at the orphanage run by Pan-American Health Services and is helping to build a new facility where the babies and toddlers will live. It's pouring concrete walls the old fashion way - shoveling lots of sand and gravel, using wheel-barrows and buckets to pour the concrete. I spent the day working on this site today and I can assure you that I will feel it tomorrow morning.

The other construction project is building a 14 ft X 20 ft one room home for a family in the village of Rio Lindo. This family of five purchased a meager home and soon discovered that it was infested with snacks, scorpions and spiders. Certainly not a fit place to raise a family with three children under the age of five. We have the opportunity to change their lives by building a simple structure. What's more, members of their church family are contributing a considerable amount of sweat equity in the process, so this has been a meaningful event for their entire congregation.

Pictures are coming in the next update.

Soli Deo gloria.

Michael

WOW! How can I describe the events of Tuesday? The word humdinger doesn't do all that transpired justice. But through all of the high and lows of the days events and activities, it was a blessing.

Let's begin at the beginning.

Monday night was a torrential downpour. The hardest rain I have ever experienced over a prolonged amount of time. The weather wasn't severe, no tornadoes or hail or anything like that but the rain was coming down in buckets. Massive raindrops about the size of oranges. The rain washed out roads and knocked out the electricity and WiFi at our hotel...(yes, we are suffering for Jesus in Central America.) So what is the significance of this rainstorm?

In order to save ourselves some time setting up on Tuesday morning for the clinic, after we were done with our clinic at the orphanage on Monday, we decided to deliver all of the totes with ALL of our medical supplies to the site of our Tuesday clinic. Little did we know that the church - Iglesia Ebenezer - would flood.

Fortunately, one church member was concerned about the state of our supplies and went to the church to check on things. When Jessica arrived, at 12:30am on Tuesday, she saw our totes floating on almost three feet of water. Jessica rallied her pastor and the other church members and they worked ALL NIGHT to get the building cleaned and salvage what meds and supplies could be saved for us to use in our clinic.

To be honest, many churches would have thrown in the towel, but not the members of Iglesia Ebenezer. The were tireless in their efforts and their selfless acts were an inspiration to our team. We were only a few minutes late opening for clinic, and while we are having to do without some meds, much of what we brought was saved.

Following a full day of work - including construction teams at two additional locations - we returned to Iglesia Ebenezer to join them for worship. That was also a rich blessing. We didn't understand everything that was said or sung, but our hearts were joined in worship of our Lord Jesus Christ. We were blessed to have the privilege of worshiping with them, experiencing a worship style that is unique to their culture. The word Ebenezer means "Stone of Help" and on Tuesday, the Lord fulfilled His promise to be all of that and more.

Soli Deo gloria.

Michael

A QUICK UPDATE

A thousand apologies for not posting any updates. A combination of a busy schedule, losing electricity due to a severe storm and spotty internet have conspired against me.

Sunday was a long day of travel but we arrived safely and with ALL of our luggage. A minor miracle that we praise God for! We got ourselves situated in our rooms at Las Glorias and ended the day meeting as a team in the pitch black - first power outage - praying for God to do amazing things through our team.

Monday our entire team went to work at the orphanage eun by Pan-American Health Services. Our clinic team saw 115 patients ranging in age from 2 months all the way to 90 years young. We conservatively estimate four perscriptions per person which means our pharmacy crew filled 460 prescriptions in a single day. Not too shabby.

Our construction team worked - and is still working on - pouring the concrete to build the walls of a new building at the orphanage. It is hot, hard work but we are able to do it with joy, knowing these precious children will benefit.

Please continue to pray for our team. We have a few who are battling minor stomach issues due to the change in diet, but all in all we are doing well.

More to come this evening.

Soli Deo gloria.


Michael
Sent from my iPhone

PATIENCE IN THE AIRPORT

As we await the next leg of our journey - the flight from Houston to San Pedro Sula - I am amazed at the shared behavior of travelers. It's all hurry up and wait.

When the plane lands, everyone rushes to gather their bags from the overhead compartment, only to wait while they "crosscheck the doors for arrival." Then the passengers race to baggage claim, and stand around waiting for their bags to be slowly loaded onto the carousel. And at the gate...mercy! It seems as if everyone crowds around the gate even if they are not eligible to pre-board, thus causing a massive bottle-neck that slows the boarding process to a glacial pace.

It can be that way in our relationship with Christ. We can become so consumed with the end product - our spiritual growth, our mission, the development of our gifts - that we miss the benefits of the process. We miss the blessings that come from walking with Jesus because we tend to run ahead of him.

Out in front of Jesus can be a precarious place to be. Usually, it means that we are relying on our own strength, rather than being dependent on the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The end result is usually not very pretty. We tend to crash and burn.

So as I sit on the plane waiting to depart the gate, my prayer for our team is that we will embrace the pace of life in Honduras. That we will be just as intentional about enjoying the process of our projects as well as the end result. That we would be patient enough to allow the Holy Spirit room to work in the middle of our schedules.

Soli Deo gloria.


Michael
Sent from my iPhone

This time tomorrow our team will be in Honduras. Months of planning, numerous meetings, hours of prayer and a seemingly endless line of totes to fill with supplies...and it all comes down to this.

Please be praying for us as we travel tomorrow. Ask the Holy Spirit to remind us that we are ALWAYS to be ambassadors for Christ. Whether we find ourselves in the world's slowest TSA line or our bags end up in Regina, Saskatchawan, we should always point others to the Savior.

But while you're praying please keep in mind that we would like to travel with minimal delays, arrive with all of our luggage, clear customs easily and make it to Pena Blanca safely. For a God as great and mighty as our God that's really not too much to ask.

Soli Deo gloria.


Michael
Sent from my iPhone

Honduras Trip - July 2012

Only three days until we leave on our next trip to Pena Blanca, Honduras. Once again the trip will be a mixture of medical clinics, childrens ministry activities and construction projects.

I invite you to be praying for our entire team of 28 adults, teens and children as we make our way to Honduras early Sunday morning. (How early, you ask? Try a 4:15am check-in time at the United ticket counter. Yeah, the team loves me for that one.) Here is a list of items you can be praying about as we make our final preparations to leave:

1. That God will use each of us to reveal Himself and His glory to the people we meet, whether in the airport, on the plane and while we are in Honduras.
2. God will prepare the hearts of the people we encounter to receive His unconditional love and mercy.
3. Safe travel to Honduras, in Honduras and for our journey home next Saturday.
4. That all of our supplies will arrive when we do in Honduras and there will be no problems or delays in customs.
5. Flexible and willing spirits of the team members; that we would each make ourselves available to be used in whatever manner God chooses.
6. Transformed lives - ours and the people we meet.

Feel free to bookmark this blogsite. It will be updated frequently during our trip.

Thanks for your prayers. We will need them.

Soli Deo gloria!

Michael