Nicaragua Team's Significant Memories

Click here to read the team's most memorable and significant recollections from their trip to Nicaragua, August 1-7.

Monday Afternoon/Evening

Praise the Lord!  He held off the rain until we concluded tonight's outdoor service.  When we finished, it poured.  No problem... we are heading to the hotel to pack.

Monday Morning

This morning we were scheduled to host a program at a basketball court, but too many people were working.  So, we decided to go house to house inviting people to a 4 pm program.  As we were walking and sharing the story of Jesus with faith bracelets, we met a little boy, Jose, who actually finished the story.  

After he  shared he wanted to become a pastor, he told us that knew a boy that needed to know Jesus.  He took us to Harrrison, a 12 year old who has been on crack since he was 10 years old.  Harrison had no idea that today his life was going to change. 

After receiving Christ, Pastor Allen talked to his grandmother and on Thursday, the pastor is taking Harrison to a treatment center.  Jose is already a pastor… 

What a marvelous God!

Sunday Evangelism

This morning we turned the corner from our focus on medical clinics to evangelism on behalf of the new Foursquare Church in Maltagalpa.

When we arrived at the neighborhood park this morning, we realized we would be conducting our program under this absolutely enormous tree.  What a blessing to be in the shade while doing puppets and dramas.  In the midst of prayer, one of the team members prayed, "Lord thank you for placing us under this tree, because you are the Tree of Life." 

The church had distributed flyers several days earlier, so we walked through the neighborhood knocking on doors inviting people to the park for music and dramas.  As the music was playing, people started coming from the four corners of the park and before we knew it a crowd had gathered. We offered a program of puppets and dramas for about 30 minutes and then Pastor Allen preached a powerful message.  At the end, 40 children and youth and 10 adults circled around him to receive Christ as their Savior.  Looking at the sincerity upon some of their faces was precious.

Preparing faith bracelets for tomorrow this afternoon around a big table gave us time to share thoughts and stories as a team.  Tonight we will attend the evening service at the church, then tomorrow another open air program at a basketball court and park.

Since March, the small band of 20 plus believers at the church have visited over 1,300 homes to share Christ with them and personally invite them to attend the church.  We are honored to come alongside fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who are so committed to reaching this city with God's message of love and grace.

More to come... Your Nicaragua team.

Saturday Medical Clinics

The temporary location of the first Foursquare church in Maltagalpa, a city of around 200,000.  Between the church (which is also the pastor's residence) and two neighbors' homes, we treated and prayed for 486 people in 2 days. 

Saturday night... Lots of technical challenges with internet to communicate to friends and family, but all these children receiving balloon hats could care less.  Third clinic held today on the outer edge of Matagalpa.  Over 300 patients seen and prayed for.  Everyone healthy and amazed at God's never ending goodness.

Pictures!

Team can now send pictures! More to come.

Safe and sound in Nicaragua.  Ready to serve.

Day 1 Recap

Awakening to a beautiful morning in Maltagalpa. Even the roosters were excited to face a new day at about 4 am this morning.

Yesterday began with worship, prayer and a devotion from Acts chapter 3.  We realized a fresh that Peter and John were just ordinary people like us, but when they spoke the Name of Jesus with faith and empowered by the Holy Spirit extraordinary things took place.  We left for our assignments believing Holy Spirit could work the same miracles through us. 

In closing our morning time together, Dr. Salinas, one of our Nicaraguan doctors shared at time, that his mother was a very Godly woman.  When he was a young doctor full of confidence in science, early one morning, someone knocked on the door of his home screaming for their son was in extreme pain.  When he answered and asked how he could help them, the people said, "we are not looking for you, but your mother, we want the servant of the Lord."  After his mother prayed for the boy, he was healed of a brain tumor.  Dr. Salinas then said, "that day, I received Christ as my Savior and I have been diligent to be filled with God science ever since."  Yes, our God is a miracle working God who flows through ordinary people yielded to Him.

Our first day of clinics started with a bit of a surprise.  Usually, we are in a church that has a decent size room and maybe one other room.  Well....since the new Foursquare church here, is a pastor's living room, we found ourselves spread out in 3 homes in a neighborhood.  Once we figured out how to function separated into three teams, we were able to treat 198 patients.

One difference we noted quite quickly was the emotion the people were exhibiting in the prayer area.  Many bared their hearts and we saw more free flowing tears than any towns we have been to before.  Such a sweet spirit moved in our midsts. 

We'll be back in the exact same locations today with great anticipation.

During dinner, which by the way at this little hotel is delicious, we were paid a wonderful compliment.  Bismarck, one of our interpreters, said, "I get so excited when the Grace Covenant teams are coming.  When I am with the teams from Grace Covenant, I go home with greater faith.  I grow with you."   What a nice ending to a day.

Blessings on your day,

The team

Day 1 - Morning

The team has settled into our hotel in Maltagalpa.  Last night the team unpacked and organized all the supplies like an army taking a beach-head.  It was incredible to watch everyone using their gifts to accomplish a major task within 2 hrs to be ready for dinner.

Our hotel name Mana del  Cielo means "Manna from Heaven."  How beautiful that the Lord would place us in such a sanctuary.  We are located in the downtown of Maltagalpa, but out our window all you see is beautiful mountains.

Yesterday we discovered that Maltagalpa means "entangled people."  It is an honor to us that we have been sent to do some "unentagling" in the Name of Jesus.

We'll host our first clinic today.  You can feel the expectation in all the first time team members as they get ready to serve the people.

Having technical challenges with sending photos.  We'll try to get that worked out so you can see us in action.

More to come...

Dios le bendiga, (God Bless You)

Your Nicaragua Team

Nicaragua Team Has Arrived Safely

The team has landed in Managua, Nicaragua.  After getting their luggage, they will begin the bus trip to Maltagalpa, where they will be staying for the week.

Nicaragua Summer Team Flight Information

Wednesday, August 1
American Airlines Flight 3532
Depart Charlotte at 5:50AM.  Arrive in Miami at 7:55AM.
American Airlines Flight 969
Depart Miami at 10:40AM.  Arrive in Managua at 11:10AM.

Tuesday, August 7
American Airlines Flight 952
Depart Managua at 2:30PM.  Arrive in Miami at 7:10PM.
American Airlines Flight 3533
Depart Miami at 10:05PM.  Arrive in Charlotte at 12:15AM (Aug. 8).

Wow Jam 2012 Detroit - Day 5/6

Wow, What a couple of days. We hit the ground running and haven't stopped till we arrived at home.

Saturday morning we arrived at the Woodbridge Community Yourh Center to setup for the days event - we already had several people waiting for us in a line for their bikes to be repaired- this was two hours before the event started. By 2 pm they were probably 30 people waiting in line. Within 1 hour I believe Abigail had checked in more than 50 bikes with another 20 in line and the line was closed. She was a trooper. On top of that Hector was fixing bikes outside the bike area for passing folks with minor assistance. All in all we estimate about 90 bikes were repaired by 8 mechanics with another 10 Angel bikes left with the community center for them to bless other with as they see fit. When finally repaired the last bike at 8 pm.

These folks are in need. Several people tried to pay us. They really appreciated the love that was shared by the entire Wow Jam event - everyone.

Best if all, 333 people were saved and 100 were baptized before they left the grounds. A special blessing was the dedication of more than 10 babies.
Halleluia What a day - there was a celebrating in heaven.
What a week. Lives were changed in Wayne and Detroit. Pleas keep the local churches/groups in your prayers as the remain there and continue to reach and minister to the needs of their communities.

We then started our drive home yesterday morning and arrived home around 10 pm last night. What a site it was to start down the NC side of the mountains on 77. Again the Lord blessed us with excellent traveling conditions. His mercies are new each day.

All glory to God!! For the Harvest of 676 souls and others seeds that were planted for future harvest.

In His service
His GCC Bike repair team.

WowJam 2012 Detroit - Day 4

Today we arrived at tomorrow’s WOW site, the Woodbridge Community Youth center 

and packed 1000 bags of groceries to give away and bless our WOW attendees.  What a joy! 

They appear to be a flower bed full of hope.

We then ate lunch and took a tour of the city and the devastation from abandonment to some degree as a result of the failure of the economy here in Detroit.  It was said to us that the city was once populated by 2.3 Million people.  It is now been reduced to just ~700,000 people – that is smaller than the city of Charlotte.  More than 30 schools have closed and more than 4500 homes have been torn down and returned to farm land.  We witnessed the despair that is plaguing the city form Center city to the outskirts. 

We all then separated into teams and distributed more “Tickets to Salvation” flyers for the WOW event tomorrow.  To see the eyes light up with some men, women and children at a homeless shelter was an incredible experience and has confirmed the mission for us tomorrow.

Please be in prayer as tomorrow's Wow event starts at 2 pm and runs through 6pm.  There will be folks there that are coming from utter despair.  Pray that we are able to truly Love them to Jesus and change their lives forever.

WowJam Detroit 2012 - Day 4 Am

Well we are off to pack groceries in the inner city Detroit location. Today's weather is Looking good and we are all looking forward to blessing Detroit.

WowJam Detroit 2012 Day3 - WOW event

PRAISE the LORD - WHAT AN INCREDIBLE DAY

PRAISE the LORD - WHAT AN INCREDIBLE DAY

First - with an 80% chance of rain and especially the idea that 1.5" of Rain was to fall during the 4 to 6 time frame - THE precise time for the WOW event.  Halleluiah - not only did the rain come and go while we were meeting together inside, God kept the clouds there to keep it cool - temps around 78-80.  GOD IS GREAT!

Stephen encourages to lay aside the things of this world that so easily entangle us and encumber us to serve.  We should lay the unnecessary things aside so we can LOVE the people who came to day........ 

Second, - we were blessed to have a local bike shop donate labor and supplies for the day along with a team made up of brothers from Cornerstone City Church(local host church) and Work of Life Church(Fontana CA).  The team repaired 30 bikes.  We were blessed to be a part of blessing with a bike we were able to supply to a woman who no longer had a car and now her daughter will be able to make it to her job.  Praise the Lord...... HE DOES IT AGAIN.. 

Finally, with more than a thousand people in attendance (man the covered the grounds) we saw 343 salvations.  I hear it now.....dancing, shouting , rejoicing in heaven...

Stephen then followed up with some fun - Pie eating........... 

Topping off the evening the entire WOW team was treated to a Jumble-ye pasta(I am sure the spelling is wrong - doesn't matter  - IT WAS GOOD), Bread pudding with sauce and so many other fixings from our caterer, Glenn Guidry and his team from New Orleans.  They had already provided us Red Beans and Rice(New Orleans Style) for lunch.

Now we head back to our hotel for some sleep is preparation for a day of Food packing and seeing Detroit.

WOW Jam Detroit 2012 - Day 3 am

The morning heavy rains have moved on but they are projecting more heavy rain around 4-5. In Stephens words we r doing this thing rain or shine, outside it inside.

We are ready to crank it up and SERVE.

WOW Jam Detroit 2012 - Day 2

SPECIAL SHOUT OUT and Praise the Lord for the blessing from two families at Grace the for the 24' trailer and Extra-cab truck.  We finally made it in at 10 pm Last night after a CARE-FULL ride from Cornelius through VA,WV, OH and finally to Dearborn, MI. God really had his hand on us.

We met briefly with Kathy Hernandez (WOWJam Director) and then went to our rooms and Passed Out for the night - with only a little snoring...... but no where near enough to keep any of us up.

This morning after a great breakfast we met with Stephen and Kathy to review our Mission for this week.  We then traveled a short distance to Cornerstone City Church fir flyer distribution to the neighbors of cornerstone Church - the site of our first Wow Jam event tomorrow.

Abigail, Hactor, Narss adn kathy distribute flyers to local homes (a mixture of occupied and abandoned/vacant  homes.

An interesting find here in this is not the Middle East - this is Dearborn/Detroit.   W e 

We returned to Cornerstone later this evening for dinner prepared by Glen Guidry, a New Orleans Chef gone wild - I mean gone WOW and our Kick-Off Rally.  What an amazing time of prayer and petition for the Cities  of Canton, Wayne and Detroit.

CONTENDING and Standing in the Gap.

Praising in anticipation for God's mighty hands.

We TRULY need your prayers for the Canton/Wayne and Detroit Wow Jam events - and beign prepared to minister to them in their despair.

WOW Jam Detroit - Day 1 - The drive

On the heals of our Belize team arriving safe and sound at home last night, our Wow Jam team has departed this morning for Detroit with trailer in tow for a nice 10-12 hour ride. We loaded all our bicycles, tools and supplies earlier this week. We met at the church and hitched the wagon and are heading north. We covet your prayers as it will be a slow ride.

Sunday, July 15 (Day 7)
This morning after breakfast, our team left for Life.net Church.  Pastor Lee's church meets at the George Price Freedom and Peace Center.  George Price is considered the founder of modern day Belize, having served the country for 40 years and securing independence from England during his time in office.

Cade (guitar), Austin (drums) and Chapman (singer) helped out with the worship team.  Pastor Lee expressed his great appreciation for our team helping out and said that worship was very dynamic and very much a God-experience this morning.  Our team sang and played "Oh How He Loves" and was very moving, with many raising their hands in praise to our Creator.

After the singing portion of the service was over, kids aged 3-10 came downstairs for children's church.  Kim Palmer led a team of youth in singing, games, crafts, story time and snacks.  Ericka one of Pastor Lee's daughters could not stop talking about how much fun she had in children's service today.

Cade (narrator), Isaac (Goliath) and Austin (David) sang in operatic style the most hilarious, and yet most exciting rendition of the classic Bible story.  Cade sang the story of how David slayed Goliath.  Kim Palmer jumped in several times to get the kids involved having them say things like "Goliath is Big", "David is small", "Oh No!"....

We had the kids assembled a shield with stickers, putting the full armor of God on a soldier.  Then Margo led the kids in playing "Simon-Says and finally we had snack time.  Before we knew it, church was over and it was time to say good-bye to the kids.

Pastor Lee invited us all to his house for lunch (peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chicken salad, watermelon, chips and sodas or water).  It was a good time for all of us to get to know Pastor Lee and his family better.  Pastor Lee and his wife shared a home-made video with all of us highlighting their marriage and kids (anniversary video).  Then we all chatted or rested.

In the afternoon we went to Maya Mopan.  This is a neighborhood not too far from Pastor Lee's church.  Mayan's live in thatched roof, primitive housing.  Today was a real eye opener for many on our team.  Many of them saw extreme poverty, but in the midst of it all they all experienced God's love and joy in the hearts of the kids to which we ministered.  Our team went door to door inviting all of the kids in the village to a mini-VBS.

About 75 kids showed up and we had an awesome time!  Austin, Mike, Kim and others made balloon hats swords, dogs and other inflatable animals.  Others on the team:   Bailey, Mikyla, Margo and some other girls from Lee's cell group painted faces.  Isaac, Chapman and Cade played ball with the kids.  Aaron made sure that we had plenty of photos of the day.  And Karen held lots of babies and talked with the locals about Christ.  Cade, Isaac, Austin and Kim performed the David and Goliath opera and received many laughs and a ton of interaction from the kids of Maya Mopan.  

Even though we were only in the Maya Mopan village for a couple of hours, our hearts were all touched deeply.  Pastor Lee explained how they had built a wooden house for a family in his church for about $6,000.  He hopes to be able to build more houses in the future in this area.  Some of the craftsman in the village brought out jewelry, bags, bowls and baskets to sell.  Many of us picked up small items to take back home to remember this trip or to bless family and friends.

Our team de-briefed and prayed this evening, prior to packing for our return to the USA.  This trip has touched the lives of not only the youth, but also the adult chaperons on the trip.  We received much more than we could ever give and we all realized that none of us will ever be the same person we were before this trip began.  Each of us will now hold a special place for Belize in our hearts and hope to return again one day, God willing.