SWAZILAND | ON OUR WAY.

This week we lead a team of 15 to Swaziland. Three of which are Ambassador participants. What began as a medical trip with a nurse and those with medical experience has changed. It now consists of one "medical" member (and old friend of mine), Amanda Knoll ... who is a licensed medical assistant. The rest of us have little to no experience. What does God have in store? I believe He will use us to minister to the sick even without the medical knowledge. What's more powerful than prayer? So pray with us that through the power of our Heavenly Father and Great Physician individuals are healed. Not only physically, but spiritually, emotionally etc. I look forward to sharing more as the trip unfolds.

Upon our arrival we will call Kristen Torres-Toro, who is our answer to prayer of an Administrative Assistant, and she will post a blogs for us when possible. Internet is slim to none where we will be. (Nosoko in Swaziland)

Follow us at | http://10sw0313amb1.myadventures.org/

 

HAITI | UPDATE.

Dad is still in Haiti and will return on the 16^th. Just a few days later, he takes off to lead another trip to Guatemala. Please keep both my parents in your prayers.

To read and see just a little bit of what AIM is doing in Haiti, please check out this link.

http://www.sethbarnes.com/?filename=please-connect-with-a-church-in-haiti

We have recently added an Ambassador trip there this summer. Don and I will fly out in July with the Haiti Ambassador team then visit our team next door in the Dominican Republic.

So much to pray and praise God for. Join us!

Thank you!     

Lima - Pucallpa - Iquitos and finally, the beginning of the Amazon River – Nauta!

Meeting us in Iquitos, was Crystal, AIM staff, who has spent the last couple of years living and ministering to the people of Nauta.  It took an hour and a half by taxi to arrive to the village of Nauta. Much of the scenery in Peru reminds me of my years in Bolivia.  

 

Ready to greet us with high fives and hugs were handfuls of beautiful children. Immediately they learned our names and began to holler them through our window which faced the street.

 

 

Our days were spent visiting with local pastors...brain storming, dreaming, praying, and planning for our next Ambassador team, who will arrive there in June!

Following our time meeting with Crystal and Pastor Williams, we feel led to do something different for this community during our teams time there. 

Pastor Williams explained to us a lot about the state of the Church in the jungle and what it desperately needs. As with the Church in many areas of the world, unity is a big problem. Churches work against each other in competition ("Come here to my church, it's better than yours' ") instead of working together as the Body of Christ. So our team is going to go in and intentionally try to engage different denominations and churches, asking them to work together with our team-which is also composed of teens from all walks of life. 

Another area the people in this area of the jungle really needs help is with their greatest resource-the land. Despite what many of us would assume, not a lot is known about agriculture and taking care of the plants. We're praying about training our students in this area so that they can go and teach those they come in contact this too. The result will be plants that will live and produce food-it will sustain the people and provide physical nourishment.

At the end of the trip our students will take a group of people (from several churches) with them on a trip up river to a primitive village. Only instead of being in the forefront, our team will be in the background. They will do what gringos do best (according to Crystal)-which is draw a crowd. It's true. Gringos overseas-in any country-draw attention. We always try to use that for good, like using that attention to talk about Christ. So people will come and our team will support, pray, and encourage the national team as they disciple the church in the village and also teach them about how to best tend to their land. Best of all, we won't be the one finally teaching. Ultimately, the end goal of missions is to work ourselves out of a job-to equip an area of the world with the gospel and discipleship tools that the Church is self-sustaining without the help of missionaries. This team's purpose is to work towards that end. Pray with us.

 

 

Crystal has been such an instrumental part of what is taking place in Nauta. The relationships she has built with many churches and pastors is extraordinary!  You could see the impact she has on so many. I've been to few places where people were so friendly. I believe they have seen it modeled for them, by her.  There wasn't a night in which Crystal wasn't tending to the heart of someone. There is little to no privacy in Nauta. Children and adults, if not already inside, knocking on the door for a cup of water, a place to pray or talk. Once you step out the door, the children flock.

 

 

Crystal holds English lessons and Bible lessons often. It was pure joy for my friend Kristen and I to be a part. The children memorized one of my favorite verses...Proverbs 4:23: "Above all else guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life."  

 

While visiting yet another pastor, he asked if we'd be willing to share that night with the youth of his church. I thought it would be rude to say no, so I said yes...fully expecting Crystal to step in and teach. But no...she wouldn't and didn't. I'm not a teacher naturally...but shared that night about unity. About building bridges of love that could bear the weight of truth.  

The last day we took a boat out on the river and visited a village an hour up river called Amazonas. We walked through the community, stopping, visiting, and praying with those who followed us. 

 Photo by Crock | Amazona girl.

 On the return trip to Nauta, the heat got the best of us and we jumped into the Amazon.

I fought off twin anacondas, thousands of piranhas, and rode a pink dolphin. 

A perfect end to a successful trip. Thank you all for your prayers and support that made this possible. Please keep Nauta, Crystal, and the ministries there in your prayers.

 

I'm excited to share God has provided enough money for me to book a ticket to Peru! I'm trusting the remaining amount will arrive soon. Thank you for your prayers and support. I will keep you posted as I can. Unfortunately Don won't be able to go with us. I look forward to meeting the pastor and seeing the area our team will work with and in this summer.  Nauta is located in the Amazon Jungle, on the edge of the river. I leave on the 18th.

 
On another note...
I've been given the opportunity to use my "creative" gifts. One is designing the van signs that are being driven by our AIM Haiti teams in Haiti. Our Adventures in Missions - Mercy in Motion vans were to be flown in by cargo planes, but are soon to arrive instead by boat. AIM's blogging teams have arrived safely as have my van magnets. It's not much, but its fun to say, "my design/photo is in Haiti" That will have to do until God allows Don and I the opportunity to go help firsthand. Please pray about this with us. Thank you.

Here are some links to follow AIM's work in Haiti:
http://www.sethbarnes.com
http://clintbokelman.myadventures.org/
http://youthspecialties.com/blog
http://whyismarko.com/
http://rhettsmith.com/

The other "creative" outlet I've had recently, is a home on loan to AIM, here in Gainesville for an indefinite amount of time. It's a beautiful but run down lake house. We will use it to house missionaries as they return home, train teams and house leaders. I'm in the process of collecting furniture, supplies, carpet, floors etc...to be donated to the use of this home. I'm looking forward to pulling out my paint swatch book, painting, and decorating! What a blessing this house will be to so many who need a place to crash.

Two weeks ago we posted our schedule for the Spring. Since that entry, God has brought an opportunity for us.
 
A good friend of ours...Crystal Reitsma (http://crystalreitsma.myadventures.org)... is AIM staff living in Nauta, Peru, which is located in the Amazon Jungle. She is currently in the Gainesville area and will return to Peru February 16. While exploring opportunities for our Ambassador trip this summer, she invited me (Connie) and our Administrative Assistant, Kristen Torres-Toro (http://kristentorrestoro.myadventures.org) to return with her and set up the trip with her. Because Crystal will go up river soon, we are leaving in a few weeks...February 16-21, 2010. We found tickets at a good price (even better, a straight shot to Lima and then a short flight to Iquitos) but in order to go, I need to raise $400. This amount includes flight, transportation, lodging, food, etc. We have prayed about this and are amazed at how God has already worked out many of the details. He's even provided a portion of the cost already. We need to purchase tickets soon... so the amount doesn't go up. Will you pray about a one-time gift for this trip?

This trip is a time to love on Crystal as overseas staff, minister in the area, and complete set-up for the team going to Peru this summer. "Set-up" means we will meet with pastors, check out local ministries, find lodging, and in general check out the area we are sending our teams. Preparing the way..that entails a lot! There's a lot of work we do pre-trip so the teams can jump right in to ministry. It's also important that Don and I see firsthand the locations and ministry for the trips we've sent overseas.

 

-Photo of Nauta, Peru by Crystal R.

If you would like to give towards this trip or partner with us monthly, just click on the  "Support Us!" link to the left.

Thank you for praying about it... for your prayers, encouragement, and support. It means more to us than you could ever know.

How Do You Describe An Ambassador Trip?

Life-Changing Ministry
"When we arrived at his house later that afternoon we started talking to him and his two sons that lived with him. We decided that we would pray for them... One of our team members decided to step up and ask if they were wanting to make the decision to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior.  Both the son and father said that they would.  It was an amazing thing to witness." Read more...

 

SWAZILAND, AFRICA TRIPS!

Medical, but not limited to medical! You don't need medical skills to go!

ADULT SWAZILAND TRIP

3/13/2010 to 3/21/2010

Cost: $910 plus all your airfare.

http://www.adventures.org/a/trips/level3/3323.htm

AMBASSADOR SWAZILAND TRIP (ages 14-18)

3/13/2010 to 3/21/2010

Cost: $2,500 including airfare from ATL.

http://www.adventures.org/a/trips/trips.asp?tripID=3316&locationID=188

Project Overview:

Swaziland is a small country within the borders of South Africa. Currently it is one of the countries hardest by the HIV/AIDS crisis. With this high rate of AIDS, the life expectancy is at an all time low as of 32 years, leaving almost every family and individual affected, in some way, by this disease. In this country of extreme poverty, hunger and disease we believe that Christ is the only one who can bring the physical, emotional and spiritual healing so desperately needed. As we are called to be Christ's hands and feet here on earth, we have the opportunity to bring the gifts that He has given us to the people of Swaziland. While sharing His hope, His truth, and His healing with them we will be tangible examples of Christ's love.

Ministry Description:

Much of the ministry involved will be ministering to people in need of healing. At the care points we will be able to minister to children, while also bringing medical supplies to care for wounds and other medical problems that we see. Through home visits we will be able to meet, pray and care for those in the community. Our ministry will be mostly medically focused, bringing knowledge and medical supplies to those in need. However, we will also focus largely on the healing that Christ brings - as He is the only one who can truly know each person's needs.

 

We've been back from our Texas/Mexico trip for a couple of days now. Thank you for your prayers. It was great catching up with some of you while there – trips never seem long enough to see everyone. Although our time in Mexico was short, we enjoyed seeing the AIM staff and Novas participants.