Ministry Archives - Page 22 of 26 - Mission to the Americas

Praying for a Car

January 11, 2009 by ecoach 1 Comment

Now that we have been here for a year, we are looking to obtain a car so that we can increase our reach and availability to churches.

Our transportation situation limits our opportunities and puts a transportation burden on the churches that what to have us come.

Up to now, we have been using a variety of means.

That means buses and taxis, or rental cars, or walking.

Diablo Rojos – Red Devils

We now have a deep appreciation for what a majority of Panamanians use to get around town.

Buses run .25 and sometimes complete a route.

There have been times when the bus driver asks the passengers if they can “cut out a loop” and take a short cut.

Here is a picture from the local newspaper about the crowds at bus terminals:

Sometimes buses have refused to stop and pick up passengers.

Just this week, four buses refused to stop to pick us up. We jumped on the 4th one when it was trapped at a traffic light.

We can certainly tell stories of the inconveniences, dangers, and journey lengths, but in print it would sound too much like complaining, rather than a description.

Simply put, our reliance on buses have limited our mobility, wasted hours of our time, and thus our availability to fulfill our calling.

Panama Taxis

Some taxis are nice, like the one pictured. Others are dangerous and falling apart.

However, many times they don’t want to take you places and if they do, we’ve been gouged a few too many times.

Rates are unpredictable, even though there is a chart, but who cares about the rules.

The largest challenge with taxis is that drivers are in control. If they don’t want to take you where you are going, they will reject you. Once you put your groceries in the trunk, they’ll charge you extra.

Try getting a taxi in a rain storm around 4.30pm. Doesn’t happen.

Rental Cars

We have rented cars when we need them for 3-4 days at a time, when we go to conferences and need to transport our gear. AVIS is our primary rental agency here and we use them as needed. It’s not cheap, but it allows us the freedom to go.

How can you pray?

We continue to praying for a car. Join us in prayer for the funds for a car.

Amazing Opportunities Before Us

December 31, 2008 by ecoach Leave a Comment

We have amazing opportunities in our ministry to teach on evangelism and the work of the Holy Spirit.

Requests for evangelism and pastor training events have come from multiple nations: Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Panama and the United States.

Through our partnership with PRMI, we can assemble teams of trained teachers to help fulfill and respond to this international demand.

We can focus on regional and local leaders who can continue the vision of igniting the church in the power of the Holy Spirit to passionately reach their corner of the world.

One person shared with me: “I kept thinking of the question you posed to us in the workshop: What if discussing your faith was a normal, everyday thing?”

We know you desire to be effective in your own faith sharing and for your church to be effective in reaching its neighbors.

Imagine that desire multiplied by thousands of pastors in all 17 countries of Latin America, who want their churches passionate about God’s call to reach the nations.

Imagine church leaders that see evangelism as a normal everyday lifestyle and can train others to see it the same way.

But this dream is beyond the reach of ordinary means. The demand for training is beyond anything we can handle alone.

Our ministry needs to grow in funding and support staff to reach this goal. Most of our travel is paid for by the organization that invites us, but not all the time. At some events, we receive generous love offerings to further our vision, but other love offerings don’t cover our expenses.

We also rely on the ongoing regular support of God’s people to fulfill this dream.

We need your help.

We need intercessory prayer. People who pray for us regularly, at least weekly. This is a vision that can only be fulfilled prayerfully as we seek God’s direction for the growth of this ministry. Join our Intercessors List if you feel led to pray for us regularly and consistently.
We need your financial support. Regular gifts of $10, $25, $100, and $500 a month through PRMI go a long way towards fulfilling this dream. You can donate online now at Support our Work. Automatic monthly contributions can be setup on your credit card. Any gift will further advance our ministry.
Donate airline Miles. We can use these to travel back to the US as needed for personal and family visits.

Prayerfully consider how you might participate in our dream to train pastors and church leaders in Latin America. We know that times are tough in the US economy, but we believe that God can use you to further our calling.

We are excited about the opportunities in front of us and are grateful for your investment in this work.

A 2nd Christmas in Panama

December 23, 2008 by ecoach 1 Comment

christmasparade I’ll be the one of the many ex-pats to admit it just doesn’t feel like Christmas.

Spending more than 3 decades, but not quite 4, in US, the Christmas season is full of carols, noisy background music, retail shopping, Christmas stories on TV, and then customs like Advent candles, caroling and Christmas eve services. Mailing of Christmas cards and writing a Christmas letter.

Of course, the cold weather, warm drinks, and the possibility of snow.

I still laugh when I hear songs like “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas” or “Outside the snow is falling and we’ll sing a chorus or two. . ”

It’s 85-90 and snow is highly unlikely. There are no chestnuts roasting on an open fire, and jack frost is no where near.

It just feels weird to see Santa in shorts during the Christmas parade.

A musical cantata:

However, Sunday night was different.

We attended “Looking for the Star” put on by Crossroads Bible Church. In a darkened theatre, I was treated to wonderful performance of costumes, and dance, story telling, carols and worship songs, done in both English and Spanish. The narrative was in Spanish, but the songs were in both languages.

The only word I had for it at the end of the night was “speechless.”

To hear the same familiar chorus well sung in both languages.

To hear carols and choruses that have been missing for the last two Christmas seasons.

To feel like Christmas is coming.

To hear a choir and orchestration that I’ve never experienced before.

To see the exaltation of Jesus Christ as the true star of Christmas.

Christmas is here.

I realize that I miss some of the trappings of Christmas.

I miss some of the traditions that support the ambiance of the season.

But I’m glad I was reminded Sunday night not only of what I miss, but of the Child, for whom we are living in this country and working among this people.

The proclamation of His forgiveness freely available is what propels us to work here.

Because of this Child’s birth, we left our nets. Because of His birth, we have given all.

Merry Christmas friends.

(parade photo courtesy of Panama-Guide.com)

Prayer for our Time in Nicaragua

December 16, 2008 by ecoach Leave a Comment

Here is how you can pray for our time in Nicaragua:

Pray for the teachers as we finalize the teaching schedule — that we focus on what the Nicaraguans need; that we are guided in making handouts, that the technology works.
Pray for safe travel for all, and for Susan & Lydia staying alone in Managua the first night. Pray for us to be able to sleep at night and to feel the presence of Jesus there.
Pray for us to really connect with all the new North American Young Life staff as well as renew our love & connections with the Nicaraguans.
Pray for our physical health prior to & during the trip, especially Chris with his allergies.
Pray for unity among our team; that we model team ministry in a way that delights Jesus and that we can offer this as a gift to them. This was one of the big ways we impacted them before and I pray that any attempted attacks of the enemy on our love & unity would not even be allowed to get close.
Pray for the Nicaraguans to be open to learning a new style of prayer/healing ministry; that there will be no offense. The PRMI style is very different from what they may be used to.
Finally, pray for God to heal people in significant, measurable and powerful ways!!

Caimito Children’s Congress

December 15, 2008 by ecoach 1 Comment

Brenda and I finished our workshop at the 1st Children’s Ministry congress for the area of La Camima.

This congress was an outgrowth of the Teaching Children’s Workers in Arraijan in July of this year.

Because of common issues lack of finances and accessible transportation not every one can come to a leadership conference like the one in January which was about 2 hours outside of the city, or the one in July that was about 30 minutes away from the city.

As Brenda and I were praying this morning, it dawned on us that nearly all the attended arrived by foot, or by taxi. In the very small parking lot (which is plot of land), it was just our car, and the car for the other speaker.

Meet Raquel

One of those attendees, however, Raquel, was inspired to organize one for her local area. She managed to gather about 40-50 men and women from approximately 10-15 different churches. I am unaware of the final count.

Raquel is the children’s pastor of this little church. She’s been investing in that church for 12 years, and now some of her students from 12 years ago are now sending their children to Raquel to participate in the Children’s ministry.

In spite of the lack of resources and difficult access to training, se has perserved and their church of about 50 members is currently ministering to about 200 kids on a weekly basis. The church has already added a children’s classroom building, but already it is overflowing (see the video).

When we first met Raquel and Christian to plan this meeting, we heard their heart for this area. We heard stories of at-risk kids, and then we heard about the hardships and challenges of ministering in that environment. We heard their heart about training other children’s workers who couldn’t get to these conferences so far away. She approached Brenda and I about doing something for them in their little area.

Getting to the Congress

Though we rented a car, at times we felt like a 4×4 was more suitable for the road conditions. Heavy construction equipment from a local mine has destroyed what may have been a road. Potholes, washouts, missing pavement marked this road once we left the developed area.

The area would be considered rural. Google maps doesn’t do well out there. I tried embeding one, but the embed didn’t work.

The Children’s Leadership Workshop

Brenda did a 2 hour workshop on creativity for creating crafts and object lessons.

In this country where more than 1/3 live on under $100 a month, money to buy craft ideas is not easy to spend. It’s not as if you can go to Wal-Mart or a Michael’s.

Instead, Brenda helps children’s workers use stuff that is already in a house: toilet roll tubes, styrofoam trays, egg cartons. This particular lesson was on creativity — how to find the ideas and how to brainstorm. Almost as close to costing $0.00 as you can get.

For example: Brenda made this scene out of paper towel tubes, paper towels, a cut up toilet roll tube, some rubber bands and some shredded paper. I think the total cost may hae been under $1.00 for the yellow paper.

I gave a 1 hour lecture in “heavy” Spanish on getting and maintaining a vision for Children’s ministry. It was a challenge to prepare that in Spanish, and I was grateful to have gotten it done. This makes the 5th workshop I have given entirely in Spanish. I’m growing in confidence and I’m told growing in fluency.

How do you keep a vision for ministry even when kids rebel, when there are no resources?

How do you perservere in your vision when the going gets tough?

I focused on getting filled again with the Holy Spirit, praying for your vision, and recruiting others to pray for you and serve with you. It may seem basic to some of us, but these things always serve as a good reminder to refresh the weary.

Our video

Finally, I’ve put together a brief video that I hope will give you a feel for what we did.

To do a workshop like this, we have to rent a car for the weekend. Continue to pray that we’ll receive more workshop opportunities as well as funds to pay for our expenses. To advance our work in Latin America, see directions at Donate Online to Support our Work