One of the most spiritual moving and physically exhausting opportunities we have to share the love of Christ during a week of brigades is the concrete floor ministry. Sometime during the week, a group of four or five team members are given the chance to turn a dirt floor home infested with disease and foul odors into a concrete living space that provides a family with a simple but effective improvement to their living conditions.
The pictures and video that follow are of this week's concrete floor projects. A family of four lives in the first room and a family of five lives in the second living area. Take a close look at their living conditions and then thank God for what He has given you.
Karianne Pohlman Kreger
This year’s team is wonderful!!! My trip this time has been so different from the last. I left my comfort zone in the dental area today for the first time. I spent part of my day in the children’s ministry. We washed the lice from their hair and made them look so handsome and pretty. I found myself trying to clean their faces with the dampness on the towel after the wash just to get them a little cleaner. Then, I was able to sit with Pastor Don in Evangelism and I now realize the real reason we are here and it has nothing to do with teeth. It was amazing to see how God places the perfect person each day in evangelism for the people that are going to here the good news each day. The perfect person with the perfect testimony, only God could plan for. I am so grateful that I am on this trip with this team and with the leaders we have. Hearts are changing in the Hondurans, hearts are changing in the Americans and once again my heart is changing. It’s going by way to fast again!!!
Chrissy Mancini
Hi. My name is Chrissy. Last week was the first time leaving the US. Go figure—I fit right in. I am seeing the works done in God’s kingdom all over the place. There is a lot that the Hondurans are teaching me. I have seen many people invite Jesus into their hearts, combed lice out of hair, singing a lot, played soccer, and poured a concrete floor for a home. I think Hondurans are just like us, they feel the same things and they love Christ just like me. Maybe even better because they are not distracted by worldly stuff. In closing, better is one day in your courts (Lord) than a thousand elsewhere.
Mike Unti here again
Once again Beverly has amazed me in how God has moved her out of her comfort zone and allowed her to give anesthetic AND clean teeth today. I am so humbled by her boldness. Sola Deo Gloria!!! (translate that one Evy)
Summer George
“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you.” Phil 1:3
How I thank You Lord for allowing me the privilege of seeing Your people of CGEFC living out God’s will this week in Honduras. To see my brothers and sisters serving with passion is truly humbling. I am honored to see their relationship with You deepen and take root. As we return to Your will for our lives to serve in Cary, may our passion and hearts continue to be softened to winning souls for the Lord in our richly blessed neighborhoods of Ilinois. Amen.
You may be wondering why God sent me to serve the Lord in Honduras. Am I deeply touched by God’s people in this nation? Without a doubt.I was honored to lead souls to the Lord on Monday while serving in Evangelism at the Brigade. Praise the Lord!
Seeing physical vision restored, extreme dental care provided, basic medical needs met, and cleaning the hair of the most beautiful children has brought much joy, but do you know what? None of these things are everlasting. But you know what is? Seeing souls won for eternity. There is truly nothing like experiencing the honor of God using our meek inadequate ways to reap the harvest, yet He chooses to.
This is why I have this prayer for our body at CGEFC. A soul won for Christ looks exactly the same in Honduras as it does in Cary. We’re all packaged a little differently, but God truly designed each of us in His own image.
I look forward to returning to my earthly residence of Cary, as this is where He has called Rick and I to service. It is an honor to serve with team from Cary and watch them grow deeper in love for our merciful Creator. I am proud to be in a leadership role with Rick. I am humbly thankful for your support and essential prayers.
Pastor Don here. I am sitting here working on tonight’s blog while I watch my team members playing cards and pushing drugs. Where did I go wrong? Actually the team had some down time tonight and they are helping get the pharmacy ready for tomorrow’s brigade while others are playing cribbage and sharing life stories. The accounts that follow are written by team members and provide insight into what God is doing in our lives this week. More stories will be posted Thursday night.
My name is Courtney Garvin.What God has been doing in my life the past couple days has been amazing. He has taught me to completely trust in what his plans are for me. Which is taking me outside my comfort zone by working in Evangelism Thursday.
Hi, I'm Carolyn Tollberg
These past few days in Honduras have been a real eye-opener to me. It’s one thing to hear about all the stories and see all the pictures, but it’s an entirely different experience to see Honduras and its people with my own eyes. Seeing the people and having the ability to interact with them has affected me so much, and the reactions I’ve seen as a result of our work has astonished me. It’s incredible how patient, open, and grateful people in Honduras are, and it’s hard for me to react to such characteristics because I don’t experience such reactions in America on a daily basis. Looking at all of this made me realize that because of their conditions, some people find it easier to follow God when they have nothing else, and while the opposite can be true as well, one thing remains the same: God loves the people in Honduras, as well as the people in America and the rest of the world as well.
Hi, I'm Kajsa Schirle
Being in Honduras these past couple days have been such a contrast to life at home. And it’s not the location, the food, or the clean water supply.It’s the people and the work. My heart is filled with love for my teammates and for the Honduran people. The work is meaningful in a way completely unfamiliar to me, though I work in the service industry at home. At my job, the customer tells me what they need and I give it to them: a simple transaction. Here they come and wait in line, sometimes for hours, to see me. I don’t know Spanish. I’m not a medical professional. It has awakened in me a desperate hunger to serve, and a deep despair at how little I can do. There is so much work to be done, so much love to give, and not enough time left!
Mike Unti here.
It has been a wonderful and uplifting experience watching the spiritual maturity of this group and I am especially proud of my daughter Beverly who has stepped out of her comfort zone and work and pray with God’s eyes.I am so thankful to God.
I'm Briana Leyba
Ok…so first of all God is absolutely amazing!!!! He has taught me so much in these past couple of days. I know how to love deeper, speak more openly, and I am stronger. I have been so selfish and God has truly humbled my heart! He has challenged me in ways I never could have imagined and I can’t wait to continue to be His hands and glorify his holy name! The Honduran people are such wonderful spirits and it has been a blessing getting to know them and help with their needs. Keep it coming Jesus!!!!
"Better late than never", I always say. Actually I can't remember the last time I had to say that but in this case, it is absolutely the best that we finally did arrive in Honduras. all be it a day late. Our trip from Atlanta to Tegucigalpa was uneventful. As an added perk for missing our Saturday flight, ten of the fifteen of us flying Delta got to fly FIRST CLASS. In other words of the twelve first class seats available, ten were filled by passengers who will likely never fly first class again barring another act of God.
Our team of 32 did a marvelous job today. I couldn't be prouder. Where else can you bring together people from three different states, partner them together in a foreign country with more than twenty foreign translators and a church of foreign volunteers and have the day go like a finely tuned machined with everyone getting along?
I have asked this week's team to focus on being the hands of Jesus. We sometimes forget how significant the role is that our hands play in serving Christ and changing lives. Perhaps this week as we think about being the hands of Jesus, you might consider how God wants to use your hands to bring Jesus to the people in your life. Let the pictures that follow demonstrate what it means to be the hands of Jesus.
Well, we're here!! Of course who "we" are and where "here" is depends on who you are talking to. If "we" means the part of the team that flew Continental Airlines, then "here" is Honduras. If "we" is the part of the team flying Delta Airlines, then "here" does NOT mean Honduras.
As many of you are aware, a torrential rain storm went through the Chicagoland area early Saturday morning as our Honduras missions team was headed to the airport. We all made it to the airport without incident, but then the excitement began. Our team of 8 travelers who were flying on Continental Airlines, made it to Houston and then on to Tegucigalpa without a hitch. However, God had other plans for the 15 Delta Airline travelers.
As we were approaching our departing gate, an announcement came over the PA system informing us that Delta had a plane for us to board but NO pilot. Seems our pilot, due to flooding roads, had not given himself enough time to get to the airport.
Our plane was scheduled to leave at 6am but the pilot didn't arrive until after 7am. Then as we were preparing to take off, we were informed that all southbound planes were grounded do to weather conditions. Finally, an hour and a half later we left for Atlanta to try and catch a connecting flight to Tegucigalpa. Needless to say, we didn't make the connecting flight. So "we", the 15 Delta Airline travelers are "here" in Atlanta, GA, staying at the Clarion Hotel.
Don't ever say God doesn't have a sense of humor. As we were walking past one of the conference rooms at the hotel, we saw the following sign:
God, you got that right!
We are booked on the Sunday morning Delta flight to Tegucigalpa. Lord willing we will be reunited with the rest of our team by early afternoon.
Keep praying everyone. The week is young.
Friday, July 23, 2010
CARY GROVE EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH MISSIONS TEAM
WORLD GOSPEL OUTREACH
TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS
JULY 24-31, 2010
Pastor Don Erickson, Pastor Rick George, Summer George, Nate Hammer, Wayne Pohlman, Kari Pohlman, Bob Polston, Paula Polston, Bethany Tollberg, Carolyn Tollberg, Patty Cadrecha, Cathleen Cadrecha, Mike Unti, Bev Unti, Laurie Stock, Shawnee Fitzgerald, Kajsa Schirle, Steve Tichy, Pam Middleton, Sandi Masterson, Tina Bryant, Joanna Kelley, and James Kelley.
Saturday, July 24 Prayer Request
Pray for safety as we travel and that all the luggage arrives at Tegucigalpa on time. Our team is traveling on two different airlines so pray that there are no major complications. Pray that the Holy Spirit will be preparing hearts to hear the gospel. Pray for the building of new relationships as we partner with a church from Arizona.
