Slovakia Update

The team (most of them) are now back home from the Slovakia mission trip.  Yesterday was a marathon day for heading home.  I am currently in Riga Latvia visiting our missionaries Kelly and Donna Hargan to stop in for a short stay and a chance to catch up with them and hear how their summer of camps went in Latvia.

After we finished Fusion Camp in Slovakia we came back to the city of Bratislava for a concert on Monday evening to a packed church with standing room only.  The students did a fantastic job in performing all their hard work from the past week.  It was such an encouragement to see so many family members and supporters turn out to hear the concert.

Tuesday, our team's final day was spent exploring Bratislava with many of the students who came for camp.  It was a great way for us to say goodbye to the students.  We walked through the many alleys on the cobblestone streets and hiked up to the castle that overlooks the city.  A highlight of our time was finding a piano in the city square and breaking out in a spontaneous concert to the tourist passers-by.  

Last Day of Camp

Preparations have gone really well and the students are ready to perform all their hard work over the last 7 days.  Tomorrow morning we pack up and head back to Bratislava and start setting up for the concert at the Viera Church.  Tomorrow afternoon we fine tune a couple numbers with the concert starting at 6pm.  

It's been a really great week and the students have worked hard on the music.  But even more important than that in eternal matters a good number of students have committed their lives to Christ.  I'll get a final number as camp ends but it's been a privilege to be a part of the Lord's work here in Slovakia.

Post camp activities includes the concert and a day of rest taking in some of the cultural sites around the capital city.  In the afternoon I'll have the opportunity to sit down the the Viera Church leadership to hear their vision for ongoing ministry and to see how we can continue to support and pray for them.  Wednesday the team heads home and I'll be making a stop in Riga Latvia to visit Kelly and Donna Hargan and hear how their summer camp season went.

The Last Couple Days

It's been hard to blog the last couple of days for a couple of reasons- we are super busy and the wifi is not consistent. At this stage of the camp the music is coming along just fine and the students are being challenged spiritually and physically.

Yesterday we started rehearsing with a band of students running through songs for the concert.  Truly amazing considering that many students are picking up these instruments for the first time!  Despite fighting a cold, I've been working with the vocal soloists at camp.  It's been fun coaching them- just wish I had my voice.

The day before yesterday we had our survival day in which students were split into team and set out in the surrounding area with challenges in the forest and towns.  Teams covered 12 miles in the survival journey and came back to camp for dinner that they had to prepare themselves.  The time wasn't just a physical challenge but it gave opportunities to build deeper relationships as discussions were great out on the course.

Last night was the gospel night in which students were given the opportunity to respond to the message and a prayer labyrinth that followed to wrap up the evening.  I haven't heard a report yet because it is early morning now as I write this before our team morning devotion.  Please pray for the students as a good number of them truly are seeking.  Pray also for our team and the students as a number of us are fighting colds.  Pray that the Lord would restore our health.

Fusion Fun

It's been a few days and the Fusion Camp is rolling right along.  We've reached the halfway point at camp and are making great progress for the concert that is the culmination of the Fusion Camp.  We've been learning a number of songs that range from current popular music to gospel/Christian music as well as a traditional Slovak song.

A typical day starts with breakfast, choir rehearsal, music workshop one of two, lunch, afternoon sports program (today is the Survival Challenge), the second music workshop, dinner, evening evangelistic program with music, message and small group discussions.  The day is topped off with a special event highlighting different cultures.  A couple of nights ago we had Colorado night that included cowboy hats, bandanas, line dancing, a Wild West shoutout, photo booth and beef jerky.

Many of the students come from broken homes.  Slovakia is a country who's history has included communist oppression and therefore has been atheistic over the past century.  Kids come to camp to connect to something they know and love- music.  They also get to hear about and incredible God who loves them very much.  A good number of these students have been connected to the Fusion ministry that happens throughout the year and they are challenged to invite friends to camp.

Last night we prayed specifically for a student who has been seeking truth and talking to a lot of the Christian leadership with the Fusion Ministry.  We heard this morning that she finally came to a point where she is placing her trust in Jesus Christ.  Praise God!  There are other students wrestling with issues and seeking an answer for their lives.  Many seem on the cusp of placing their trust in Christ.  Please continue praying for the camp and the students who are here.  As a matter of fact, the camp theme is "You are Here" using a map to find a reference point for where we are and where we are headed- in our relationships, families and eternity.

The team is doing well as expected for an exhausting experience.  Everyone is giving their all and building relationships, leading workshops and serving those here leading this ministry.  Continue to pray for our health and energy as we are about halfway through the camp.

Getting Ready For Camp

Yesterday our team made our way out to camp to begin preparations for the students who will join us on Monday afternoon.  It's been fun getting ready for the week by joining forces with the interns serving for the summer, the Josiah Venture staff and the students who are joining us as assistants.  In all there are about 25 of us getting ready for the students to show up at the camp.

Trying to orient myself, we are located about an hour outside of Bratislava in the rolling hills of the Slovakia countryside.  There is always logistical challenges when working in facilities that are very old and challenging to hold a full music camp.  We've created space for a choir and full band and it feels tight already with those of us here now.  Can't wait to see how it all works when we add about another 60 students to the mix.

The location of the camp also means I have no cell service (if I needed it) and wifi that is spotty and inconsistent.  So my hope is to post as much as I can with photos but it will depend on the wifi signal out here.  In writing that I realize how spoiled I sound with my technology demands.  There is a balance I strive for between being on mission and keeping the church family and friends updated with what's happening on the other side of the world.

On To Slovakia

This is a little change of pace.  I have the privilege of leading a team from Faith to participate in a music camp outside of Bratislava Slovakia.  We get to work with people near and dear to us from Fort Collins as we reunite for a couple of weeks playing music and sharing the gospel with the youth of Slovakia.  Making the trip even more special is the fact that there are four young interns serving in Slovakia for the summer from Faith making our arrival a family reunion of sorts.

The plan for the next week and a half is to update the journey of this mission team as we have the opportunity to use music to minister to the youth and share the gospel of Jesus Christ with them.  Many of the countries in Easter and Central Europe have emerged from the communist oppression of the former Soviet Union.  A characteristic of communism has been that these countries are very atheistic.  The younger generations in these regions essentially have not heard about God or the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Our team is exhausted from our journey adjusting to an 8 hour time difference.  We are excited to begin our preparations as the camp starts on Monday.  I hope to post pictures as I have wifi available which at best can be a hit or miss thing.  Thanks for praying for this team and the work that lies ahead for us!

Baptized in the Caribbean

Today was a travel day as we prepare to head back to the States tomorrow and bring our mission trip to a conclusion.  There was something extra special about this trip back to Port au Prince for this team.  Four members of the team spoke with Pastor Steve about getting baptized while we are here in Haiti.  Each of the students texted their parents to see if that would be okay because on this type of occasion family usually is present at a baptism.  Each of the parents said yes under the condition that someone videos it.

Kevin Heckman, Matt Crane, Carissa Schubert and Ben Seest all were baptized this morning at a beach along the road on our way back to the city.  It was a fitting way to conclude our trip- four students motivated to live a life worthy of God's call, publicly professing their faith in front of the team "family."  God's been at work not only through the actions of this team but in the hearts of the team.  And to see students take a step of obedience and get baptized is a moment that will last a lifetime for this team.

Tomorrow we head back home and the processing will begin.  Students will be processing this whole experience- what was God showing me?  What does He want me to do about it?  How can I support the orphans and pray for Pastor Jeannot?  All of those are great questions.  Every team member that has ever come down to Haiti has had to seek and wrestle with those questions.  And from my perspective, it's one of the joys I get from my job.  I get to hear and see how God uses and challenges our people.

Last Day in Desire

Last days are always tough.  It's hard to say goodbye just when you feel like you are getting a rhythm going with the kids.  We were taking the first step in establishing a deeper relationship with the children.  A few months ago our church held a sponsorship drive trying to get all the Desire children financially sponsored for the next year.  This year is different from past years because we are facilitating individual sponsorship so that people from our congregation can build personal relationships with the kids through writing letters to kids.  And this morning we had the kids do art work so we could bring it back for the sponsors.

This was the first trip in which we were bringing messages from sponsors to kids.  We gave instructions for writing brief notes to kids so that we could have the notes translated into creole.  We also encouraged people to send a photo or two and let the kids know they were being prayed for.  We have two wonderful translators who worked very hard to translate over 70 notes to kids.  Pastor Jeannot passed out the notes from our congregation.  The reaction was awesome- it was like mail call when a person is anxiously awaiting news from a loved one far away.  As each child's name was called, they wasted no time opening the note and seeing what someone from Colorado had written them.

But before we arrived in Desire this afternoon we encountered heavy rain that was washing out the road we were taking to Desire.  We decided to check on another route to Desire to see if it was passable.  Because of the deforestation in Haiti, when rain falls in the mountains, the stream beds carry the run off water creating flash floods and washing away road beds in many instances.  Thankfully the other route to Desire hadn't experienced as much rain and the roads were easily passable.  There was one moment I thought our trip earlier in the morning might be our last of the entire trip preventing us from saying goodbye formally.  So praise God for His provision.  Our afternoon time was a bit abbreviated but we got to see the kids receive their letters and say goodbye.

Tomorrow we head back to the Port au Prince area and we will have a stop off at a beach for a couple of hours to take a dip in the beautiful Caribbean waters.

Sunday

Today was a great day all around up in Desire.  We started the day worshipping with the people of the Desire church.  I love the time of worshipping in Haiti.  Not only is it such a different cultural experience, it shows me time after time how big the God of the universe is. The language may be different but the devotion, praise and prayers all go to the same God and there is something special about experiencing that.  Tonight in our debrief worship came up as the highlight of the day.  I have to agree because for me, Sunday is always my favorite day.

Pastor Jeannot asked us if we could stay in Desire for the entire day following the service because his wife and the mamas we're going to prepare for us a lunch that included fish and goat.  It was an honor for us to have the women of Desire provide us with a fantastic meal.

It truly was a day of hanging out and enjoying the company of the children and staff of Desire as we anxiously awaited lunch.  Pastor Jeannot said his wife prepared a special fish dish for my wife Marci as a small token of appreciation for the time he spent in Colorado with us back in March.  Marci loved the fish, and knowing the work and care going into the preparation made it all the more special.

Immediately following church there was an impromptu hike up the nearby mountain that presented a couple challenges like no water and an abundance of cactus.  Our team's feet were attended to well by the children who worked quickly to remove any prickly spines that attached themselves to the feet or other body parts of team members.

On a day with high temperatures hanging out at Desire, it was fitting to spend the Sabbath with those we came to love and be with and truly enjoy one another's company and good food!

Praise God for a day to devote to Him!

Great Day in Desire- hey that rhymes (I should use it in a rap)

So the last time I was down here in Haiti was March with a Spring Break team.  We have our high school student team here this time and it was so fun to see the Desire kids respond to this new team- many having come for one or both of the previous last two years.  One student shared her highlight of the day being that the kids remembered her name from last year.  Think about that for a minute- that is no small, insignificant thing.  When you come to Haiti, you come and make friends, good friends.  The kind that when you spend a handful of days, the impression you leave is that you cared enough to come in the first place and 52 weeks later they really remember you as if you were here just last week.

We come to minister for the week and many times we get a surprise when it's us who are being ministered to by these precious orphan children.

We have caught up on our sleep and and just spent our first full day in Desire teaching baseball, sharing a Bible story and making puppets for a craft (oh, and rapping on the bus).  I've been here with many teams over the years and one thing is certain, one or two of our activities don't go as planned.  In fact, there are times when they flat out bomb.  Well today was an exception to that reality.  It doesn't mean it won't happen tomorrow or the next day.  It just means that everything executed well with this team and it was fun to celebrate that together tonight.  Tomorrow we get to worship in Desire as Pastor Steve is going to give a message.

The team is doing well and having a lot of fun together and more importantly serving well in Desire.  Enjoy the photos!

Student Team Headed to Haiti

This morning our Student ministry team heads to Haiti for a week of ministry, rekindling relationships, starting new relationships and having a load of fun with the Desire kids.

Pray for our safe journey of three flights with arrival in Port au Prince tomorrow morning and a long bus ride to Gonaives before getting up to see the kids in Desire Friday afternoon.  Pray that the students bond well with each other and the unity of Christ is evident among the team.

We are so excited and count it a privilege and blessing to be able to spend time with the kids we've grown to know and love!

Student Team Headed to Haiti

This morning our Student ministry team heads to Haiti for a week of ministry, rekindling relationships, starting new relationships and having a load of fun with the Desire kids.

Pray for our safe journey of three flights with arrival in Port au Prince tomorrow morning and a long bus ride to Gonaives before getting up to see the kids in Desire Friday afternoon.  Pray that the students bond well with each other and the unity of Christ is evident among the team.

We are so excited and count it a privilege and blessing to be able to spend time with the kids we've grown to know and love!

Headed Home- With a Visitor

Today was a travel day back to Port au Prince and a chance to tour Pathways and see the Desire Pathways students.  We had our final team meeting and each presented what God has been putting on our hearts this past week serving in Haiti.  At the close of our meeting the rain started to fall in ever increasing volume on the tin roof above our heads causing us to close in prayer with loud voices.

The rain is truly a blessing because it has been many weeks since this part of Haiti has seen rain.  So in a way the seeds the Lord has sown in each of us, He has begun to water them in our soul as He gently prods us to action for whatever is next for the individuals, the team and the church.  We wait expectantly for the Lord to answer our prayers and grant us wisdom.

Tomorrow we have a chance to visit another aspect of the GO Haiti ministry in Port au Prince before we go to the airport to begin our journey back home.

And we will have with us a very special guest- Pastor Jeannot from Desire.  Pastor Jeannot was granted a visa to visit us in Fort Collins.  After 4 years of partnering together, Pastor Jeannot will be able to share with our congregation what our partnership has meant to him and how the Lord is using our two churches to work together to care for orphans in Desire.

This will be a trip of any firsts for Pastor Jeannot who has only traveled outside the country to the Dominican Republic.  First time on a plane, first time going through U.S. Customs, first time experiencing Colorado and snow...

We will have him in all three of our services this Sunday with a reception at noon at the church.  We pray that God uses this trip in mighty ways to strengthen him and be an encouragement in our partnership together.

Last Day in Desire

Today was the last day to spend with the orphan children that we have come to love so deeply.  Three months ago when we started preparing for our trip and team members met each other for the first time, we started talking about humility and flexibility as highly held values for our short term team.  Tonight as we debriefed the day, things have come full circle as the team has been reflecting on the last four days of ministry in Desire.

This team has demonstrated humility in every aspect of the trip from preparing and getting to know one another, to putting the interest of others ahead of their own and striving to understand a culture very different from their own.

Our daily plan has been to spend two sessions in Desire- one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Today we had to exercise flexibility as we stopped by Pastor Jeannot's home for a quick visit and to see his home.  Then we were going to stop and wait as Pastor Jeannot purchased goats from funds that a young girl from our church collected instead of getting birthday presents for her birthday.  If you know Haiti, you know that Tuesday is one of the market days and we waiting on the bus just outside the congested street market while Pastor Jeannot went on a mission to finds goats.  Finding the goats and tying them on to the bus was only the first obstacle.  Our next and most challenging was to maneuver a bus through the busy market and make a left turn down an alley where the market continued to plug up the road.  Some vendors were a little put out because of the tight slow movement to get the bus through.  By the time we got to Desire it was already noon- the time we would have ended the morning session.  So instead of going back to Gonaives for a break, we hatched plan B to stay for an extra long session that took us up to dinner time.

Given that this was to be our last visit to Desire, the team worked hard, played hard, and loved well.  I couldn't ask for anything more than a team that is willing to adjust and take the change in stride.

A final thought for today.  Almost six months ago when our last team was here we delivered letters to the children.  I had a chance to read a letter (again) to one of the boys who proudly showed me the letter and the envelop that it came in, in pristine condition.  When our teams come we do our best to bring supplies that are needed and sometimes fun.  Most of those things get trashed quickly given the tough environment the kids live in and that kids are kids and material stuff can keep attention for a short time.  But this letter is a treasure.  The kids have preserved their letters and carefully place them under their mattresses.  It was a reminder of what's most important in our partnership- relationships.  For those kids to know that someone loves them and prays for them, we may never fully know the importance and impact that it has on these kids.  One child even wrote a letter in Creole for me to take back with me for the church.  It's important to remember that what we are doing is not a transaction- it's transformation.

Blessing from the Challenge

Our day started off with a trip up to Desire in the morning to visit the kids while they were on a break from their school day.  We arrived and immediately jumped in with a couple of our planned activities for the teen girls and games with the younger children.

I had a chance to reacquaint myself with the teachers since I had a met them last August during the educator exchange.  I met a new teacher to Desire and the surprise was that he is teaching English to the Desire children three days a week.  When I met Celestine I was completely taken by surprise because of his greeting to me in English.  The more I spoke with him about the children the more I was encouraged about English being a part of the Desire kids' education.  He has never been to the States but learned his English from missionaries in Port au Prince and continued to learn and practice after the missionaries had left by immersing himself with movies to practice his conversational English.  Here's the kicker- the missionaries were from Texas and he has a bit of a Texas accent when he speaks- no joke!  I am very encouraged about what our team experience could look like in a year or more from now.  The number one frustration expressed by team members currently and in the past is the language barrier.  I see the barrier being lowered even now.

Today's overwhelming low point was the craft that we had planned.  We really struggled with keeping order and having the children assemble the craft in an orderly fashion.  A bit of chaos erupted when we were trying to create lines for the craft pieces.  There was some pushing and shoving happening as kids were jockeying for a place in line.  However, in spite of the bit of chaos the craft was a giant success.  There was great joy shown as kids were able to let their wind socks blow in the wind whipping around Desire.  And so there was the blessing from the challenge.  We just need to be used by God in whatever way He sees fit and then stand back and watch.  What we watched this afternoon was a thing of beauty.

Thank you Stephanie and Ben for your awesome photos!