An update as to what has been happening to date.
The team has been rounded out to include another four men and two women coming from the St. Thomas area with one of the men coming from B.C. Lord willing we look forward to meeting and working with these brothers and sisters in the near future.
The team members have been busy soliciting donations. Thank you to those who have already contributed. Your support is greatly appreciated not only in terms of the monies received but also in the encouraging words.
Also like to mention that the support of the team member’s wives has been outstanding, included in that support is the organizing and preparation of the upcoming fund raising dinner. I’m sure that it’s a good thing the team member’s role for this dinner will be limited to that of serving.
The airline tickets have been purchased. We’ll be flying out of Buffalo to Newark, N.J. then on to Bogota Eldorado Airport, arriving there about 9:45 pm. I understand from there we’ve got another 45 minutes of travel to Tenjo, which apparently is more than 8600 feet above sea level.
Through e-mails we’ve been given the run down on security measures and possible vaccinations we might need. CDA seems to have a good handle on security, although we will still need to be vigilant. Here’s a musing excerpt from one e-mail- “the situation has greatly improved in Colombia during President Uribe's first term, and now into his second. Mexico now is the world's number 1 site for kidnapping not Colombia.”
On January 16th we hope to have an orientation meeting and discuss what some of the activities we might be doing while at the home. The hope is that not only do we build the medical clinic but play a lunch hour game or sport. Hold a morning devotional with the girls. Participate in music. The girls love to cook, so possibly share some of our culinary skills. It’s a good thing we have some women on the team!
That’s about it for now. I’m sure in the weeks leading up to the trip there will be more to report.
Continue to pray that all would go well and that God would bless us that we might be a blessing to those in need.
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Monday, December 11, 2006
Intro
It is my hope that through this blog we as a community, young and old, may all share in this trip by keeping up to date with the day to day activities of the mission team. What to be in daily prayer for and to bring glory to God.
The team member’s families, particularly the children will appreciate day to day updates of the progress and well being of their dads. And share in the excitement of bringing the love of Christ and the good news of salvation to the developing world.
It probably would be good to give a little background information in regards to the mission trip, those that will be going and the organizations involved.
A group of expert builders from the Rehoboth congregation headed up by John Langendoen will be traveling to Colombia for 2 weeks in February, 2007 D.V. The rest of the team members consist of Joe Bontekoe, Ben Brouwer, Gerald Brouwer, Rod Koning, and Richard VanVeen. There will also hopefully be 6 others coming along from some other churches. We will be building a medical clinic and spending some time ministering to 60 girls in the Girls’ Home in Tenjo (about 45 minutes outside of Bogota). This special home serves as a refuge for the girls who have suffered from forms of physical and sexual abuse and had to be removed from their homes for their own safety. The girls are looked after 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by the staff of CDA Colombia a partner organization of Word and Deed Ministries.
CDA stands for Corporation Dios es Amor meaning Corporation God is Love. CDA’s goal is to share the gospel and provide assistance and opportunities to those in need throughout Colombia. Recently at a fund raising dinner for this particular project we heard from the President of CDA, Missy Christie de Acosta. One thing she said that stands out and is such a tremendous statement of faith, were these words, “God is good ALWAYS.”
When we consider some of the facts listed in the Project Proposal of Colombia ….
7 boys and girls are killed every day by homicide.
Two million children suffer from abuse every year in Colombia. Half of these suffer severe consequences.
70% of the cases of sexual abuse reported , have a child, boy or girl as a victim.
Child prostitution in Colombia has increased in the last three years reaching an average of 30,000 boys and girls that are part of the sexual market.
The vast majority of Colombian children have been victims of violence within their homes, abandonment or sexual abuse.
We see the significance of these words, “God is good ALWAYS.”
Word and Deed Ministries mission statement is to improve the lives of needy people in the developing world both materially and spiritually in obedience to Christ’s command to love our neighbor as our self. For more information concerning this ministry and the work being done in Colombia follow the link at the bottom of this page.
One other thing that should probably be mentioned is that projects such as these take money. Members of the mission team are raising money to fund their flights and accommodations while in Colombia (estimated to be $1,800) as well as to fund the medical clinic itself ($12,000).Please prayerfully consider how you might be able to help.
The team member’s families, particularly the children will appreciate day to day updates of the progress and well being of their dads. And share in the excitement of bringing the love of Christ and the good news of salvation to the developing world.
It probably would be good to give a little background information in regards to the mission trip, those that will be going and the organizations involved.
A group of expert builders from the Rehoboth congregation headed up by John Langendoen will be traveling to Colombia for 2 weeks in February, 2007 D.V. The rest of the team members consist of Joe Bontekoe, Ben Brouwer, Gerald Brouwer, Rod Koning, and Richard VanVeen. There will also hopefully be 6 others coming along from some other churches. We will be building a medical clinic and spending some time ministering to 60 girls in the Girls’ Home in Tenjo (about 45 minutes outside of Bogota). This special home serves as a refuge for the girls who have suffered from forms of physical and sexual abuse and had to be removed from their homes for their own safety. The girls are looked after 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by the staff of CDA Colombia a partner organization of Word and Deed Ministries.
CDA stands for Corporation Dios es Amor meaning Corporation God is Love. CDA’s goal is to share the gospel and provide assistance and opportunities to those in need throughout Colombia. Recently at a fund raising dinner for this particular project we heard from the President of CDA, Missy Christie de Acosta. One thing she said that stands out and is such a tremendous statement of faith, were these words, “God is good ALWAYS.”
When we consider some of the facts listed in the Project Proposal of Colombia ….
7 boys and girls are killed every day by homicide.
Two million children suffer from abuse every year in Colombia. Half of these suffer severe consequences.
70% of the cases of sexual abuse reported , have a child, boy or girl as a victim.
Child prostitution in Colombia has increased in the last three years reaching an average of 30,000 boys and girls that are part of the sexual market.
The vast majority of Colombian children have been victims of violence within their homes, abandonment or sexual abuse.
We see the significance of these words, “God is good ALWAYS.”
Word and Deed Ministries mission statement is to improve the lives of needy people in the developing world both materially and spiritually in obedience to Christ’s command to love our neighbor as our self. For more information concerning this ministry and the work being done in Colombia follow the link at the bottom of this page.
One other thing that should probably be mentioned is that projects such as these take money. Members of the mission team are raising money to fund their flights and accommodations while in Colombia (estimated to be $1,800) as well as to fund the medical clinic itself ($12,000).Please prayerfully consider how you might be able to help.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
