Wrapping it up in Nicaragua

I have just recieved some final messages from the Nicaragua team.  Pray for safe travels as they leave for hope!

Sent at 11:23am
"Working on coming home broke but God keeps multiplying our money:)  Its really fun to watch!  So- we're giving it to everyone we can think of!  WE got to give enough money to Logos Rhemas to finish out their building, gave $ to the young engaged couple who runs the kids ministry, and the list goes on.  Everyone in our group is thoroughly enjoying giving God's resources away!  We have had a very fulling, blessed, joyful days.  It has bee an honor to serve alongside God's church here- they do amazing work and give all they have- truly humblepeople.  We are departing in 3 hours- expect texts and calls very soon.  Thank you for all your prayers and generosity!  It truly has blessed the Body of Christ in this place!  Our Father is generous and kind! See you soon!"

Just in... Part II

Hello everyone!  We are blessed wiht yet a third message from the Nicaragua team today:

"We have been taken care of very well!  The people at Logas Rhemas church are amazing servants of Jesus and such good examples of giving.Thank you all for praying!  We're in the home stretch!"

Just in...

Another mesage from the Nicaragua team:

"Buenos Dias!  We love Nicaragua :).  We had a rest day yesterday and went to a beautiful local town where we took boats out to small islands, saw a beautiful volcano, played with monkeys and parrots while enjoying Nicaraguan coffee.  KT- the islands are adorable!"

And a couple minutes later

"Today we will be teraring down a small home and moving it to another nearby location.  Pray for safety and productivity!  We have a few people with upset stomachs but nothing major- pray for quick healing.  Our spirits are high and the Holy Spirit is moving and teaching and growing all of us.  God is so very kind to us!  We are sad that our time here is drawing to an end."

Much praise and rejoicing!

News this morning from Lisa Patterson at 10:00am:

"Rejoicing this morning! Brian Funcik, Bobby's brother from Costa Rica, brought two teens from his youth group and they gave their lives to Jesus last night!! Praises!! As I typed this, Laura Lou and Hannah led Julio our bus driver to Jesus!!! It's a great morning! Emily had a bit of a stomach bug yesterday but is all better today. All else is healthy and everyone is super joyful and overflowing with love. God has done great things and we are so glad and humbled to be a part of it. Ruby is doing great- winning the hearts of Nicaraguans everywhere."
"We feel God's favor over us and so many prayers- thank you all! Everyone is being blessed by their prayer partner letters. Blessings to our DCF family and loved ones as we journey into 2012! Besos!"

Let's continue to pray for
-health
-energy and joy as they love the Nicaraguans
-that God be glorified above all else!

Happy New Year!!

News from the front

I received two texts early this evening from the Nicaragua.  It looks like the Lord is doing some amazing things down there!  Here they are:

"Good day!  We saw The Lord multiply shoes and clothes for children.  Suitcases still almost full! Abundance!"

Then later

"Lots of wonderful time with our friends at Logas Rhemas- worked last two days in two different communities that are built on garbage dumps.  Very tragic places, but God is doing great work- there is a lot of joy!  We all feel great and are enjoying Jesus' Presence in a sweet way.  Lots of praying for people, making hundreds of balloon animals, dancing, singing, handing out shoes, clothes, underpants, and much more.  Thoroughly enjoying our evening church services!  Pray for continued health, joy, and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.  this group is 100% amazing!"

Nicaraguan Safe Arrival

Hello friends and family of the Nicaragua missions team!

Good news:  I received a text message this afternoon confirming that the team was safely on the ground in Managua @ 4:52 pm.  No problem/complications thus far.

Please be praying that they receive the rest they need tonight as they hit the ground running tomorrow morning.

2011 Nicaragua team praying over luggage the night before they leave.  This is all donated items the the team will be leaving in Nicaragua to meet the very tangible need of clothing, medicine, and hygiene.

the genesis

mis·sion

  

noun Also called foreign mission

1.

a group or committee of persons sent to a foreign countryto conduct negotiations, establish relations, provide scientific and technical assistance, or the like.

2.

the business with which such a group is charged.

3.

a permanent diplomatic establishment abroad; embassy;legation.

Everything starts with a beginning. Works of art, poetry, Nascar races, revolutions, but most especially stories.  And at the heart of every good story, there is a great author.  One with imagination and creativity.  One who slowly and deliberately weaves together seemingly irrelevant pieces to unfold a masterful tapestry.

At dcf, we are a people striving to know that Author, to participate in the overarching narrative which he has been announcing since the beginning of time:  the redemption of all things to himself.

And as we seek to pursue his story over the tainted perceptions of our own, we are drawn to this word called mission.  It is the idea of intentionality in love, both near and far.  The face of missions looks not only down the street, but stares across languages, cultures, and oceans.  It is the epitome of living out God's command to take dominion of the earth, to unite as the people of God in transcendence of culture, language, and status in order to participate in his restorative work over all creation by his immense love.

However, there is a catch.  The ironic thing about missions is that we often go serve and end up being served.  We often go to teach and are actually the students.  We go to give, and end up receiving infinitely more than we ever thought.  So we enter into answering this call pursue God's kingdom in humility, realizing that in God's economy everything gets turned on its head, and that we need the people we come to serve as much, if not more so, than they need us.

This blog represents a map to track our brothers and sisters, a posting board for information, a harbor for prayer, and perhaps, more importantly, a pile of stones for us to remember how we have seen God move in our lives. Because we often forget what we should remember, and remember what we should forget.

So while this is not the first mission trip taken, the first trip to _____, the first time the people on this blog have engaged in a missional life style, or even the first blog on missions, it IS a recognition of the newness that comes with life in Emmanuel.  Let the genesis begin.