Grace Missions Blog

The fourth day of ministry for this team was a very good one.  Our morning worship time was especially powerful.  Pastor Mark & Rachel Mast along with Pastor John & Cherie Johnson led our musical worship as they have done all week.  I appreciate their leading this aspect of ministry on this trip.  Pastor John Johnson then brought a message from the Word.

We then spent some time with folks just sharing what God has done for them on this trip.  What a sweet time!  One of those, “you had to be there” times.

All 20 houses have now been completely finished with the exception of three plates and a barrel bolt to be placed on one door.  (You cannot count on Tom & Chris to properly load the supply boxes!)  When I write “finished” that means completely finished i.e. wood, metal, concrete, hardware, et cetera.  This team has a large number of first timers and they have done an awesome job of getting these houses finished.

The last day of VBS was good.  The VBS is always a great part of what we do on a trip.  Thanks Pastor Mark and those who were involved.

Today is house dedication day.  Pray that we will be able to clearly present the Gospel.

Tyrone Crawley left this morning heading home.  He is such an integral part of any team as he brings a lot to the table with his skills.  However, his attitude and vision for this ministry are so encouraging.

Eight folks from the next team will arrive in Antigua today.  That team will be led by Pastor Mark Mast.  Pray for safety in travel for Tyrone and those coming this way too.

Everyone here is well.  Pray for us.  Thanks!

The third day of ministry for this team was good!  The day began with Dr. Mike & Miss Dottie Clark from Casa Aleluya joining us for our morning worship time with Dr. Mike sharing the Word.  Good service.  Always a blessing to have them with us and to hear his teaching/preaching.

A couple of men, Astro & Ken, followed the Clark’s to CPNA where they did some plumbing work and electrical work on the new addition.  They had a good day and got a lot accomplished.

A couple of ladies remained at the mission house to get ready for the evening activities.

Everyone else headed to the village for another short day of work as we left the village at 1:00PM.  Three more houses were built which brings the total built for the week to 16.  Four more houses received concrete which brings that total to 14.  A total of nine houses have now been completely finished.  Good three days (actually two days of work time) of house building for this team.

Mark Mast & his crew led another day of VBS and that went well.  Mark is so gifted in working with children.

Lee & Candy Sugiyama brought their daughter, Anda, and 47 boys from Casa Aleluya to the house for a time of running through the woods and enjoying pizza, brownies and ice cream.  They were with us from 3:30PM until 6:30PM and a good time was had by all!

Today, we will meet for our morning worship time with Pastor John Johnson from Canada sharing the Word with us.  Astro & Ken will head back to Casa Aleluya while the rest of the team go to the village.  Plans call for the team to completely finish the houses and to host a clothes/food distribution this afternoon.

Today could be an important day in regard to GM receiving electricity at the feeding center.  Would you pray about this matter?

Thanks for praying.  Thanks for keeping up with this team via this blog.

This team was blessed yesterday with a really good second day of ministry.  Here are the highlights:

We used the “My Hope America” dvd for our morning devotional.  Powerful stuff!  One salvation decision.

The team built four more houses up to the point of being ready for the concrete.  Three more were framed.  Six more houses received concrete which brings that total to ten.  Four were “finished” which means they are completely done.

Pastor Mark Mast led a VBS and I am told there were a “bunch” of children in attendance.  He will do that for the next two days.  He is certainly gifted in that area and has a host of folks helping him.

Our day in the village was intentionally cut short as we left there at 2:00PM headed back to the mission house.  After some quick showers, we made our way down the hill to the feeding center where we hosted a meal for the children and families who will be in our inaugural group beginning in January.  Personally, that was a highlight of the week for me.  I spoke to Tyrone Crawley and I think he shares those sentiments with me.  God confirmed in my heart that this is going to be an important aspect of GRACE Ministries from this point forward.

Today, we head back to the village but will leave there at 1:00PM as we will host the boys from Vencedores this afternoon.  Our day begins with Dr. Mike Clark bringing the message in our morning devotional time.

Everyone is well.  Thanks for your prayers!

A good first day of ministry.  The team built 8 houses (minus one roof) with four of those receiving concrete.  We have four or five folks on this team who have never been on an international mission trip period.  A good number of others have never been on a GRACE Ministries trip.  Our morning devotional went a little long (too much music maybe?) and we had to make three stops on the way to the village which meant that the actual building of the houses did not begin until around 11:00AM or so.  So, it was a very good day when one takes all of that into consideration.  God is good!

Today calls for more of the same.  However, our day will end early as we will be hosting supper for the 35 children who will be taking part in our feeding center program.  Their families will be involved as well.  This will give this team the opportunity to meet these children and to better know how to pray for them.

Everyone is well.  Thanks for checking on us.  Keep praying!

Quick update – everyone is present and accounted for.  Long day of travel yesterday and most folks found the bed fairly early last night. Will update either tonight or first thing in the morning.  Thanks for checking on us.  Pray for us.  Blessings!

A good final day.  Some of the team worked at Casa Aleluya while the rest visited a children’s home that Lazaro works with.  That was followed by a visit to Casa Aleluya.  Upon their return, the vans were washed inside and out.  An 80th birthday worship service was held for Bro. Paul Leytham.  Manolo & Mildred Padilla led the musical worship, others shared, and a brief message from Joshua was shared.

After supper, we will have our final share time.  It will be up and at them early in the morning.  The good part of that is that everyone should be at their respective home airports by mid-afternoon (not as early for the Michigan folks but earlier than normal).

Thank you for taking the time to follow these abbreviated blog entries.  Pray for us as we travel home tomorrow.

The day began with our men working on the road inside the property.  They used rocks, sand, and cement mix and it has made an immediate positive difference.  We will see if it works long term.

We then went to the village and dedicated the 24 houses.  There were several salvation decisions.

This evening, we went out to eat.  Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

Everyone continues to do well.  Pray for us.

A really strong Monday!  First, we hosted three Bible Schools with a total of 430 children.  What a great blessing!

The building teams were able to finish the construction of the houses today by building ten more and putting concrete in twelve today. We came back to the mission house tired but grateful for the day.  We have plans to dedicate the 24 houses tomorrow because we have ministry opportunities on Wednesday.

Some of the team came back to the mission house early in order to do a food/clothes distribution in the El Tejar area.  I understand that went well.

Everyone is well.  We are thankful!

A good Sunday.  The team slept in, ate breakfast, and then spent time in musical worship followed by a message delivered by Lazaro Suruy.  Pastor George Lamorena translated the message for us.

We then headed to the service at Rios de Agua Viva.  Pastor Walter Aju preached with Pastor George serving as his translator.  It was a good service.

The rest of the day was spent “as usual” for us with lunch and shopping.  Nice, restful evening.

They needed that rest as tomorrow will see us building more houses, doing concrete, and hosting a food/clothes distribution in the evening.

This has been a historic trip as eight “slacker” shirts have already been distributed by the “committee!”  Seven were given last night!  We have had a husband & wife and a dad & lad receive shirts – never before in the history of GRACE Ministries have we had this.

Thanks for taking the time to read this update.  Pray for us!

A good second day of ministry.  More houses were built, two VBS’s took place, and another day of work at Casa Aleluya.  Everyone is in good spirits and serving with great attitudes.

Tomorrow is a usual Sunday for one of our GRACE Ministries teams – morning devotional, church service, lunch in Antigua, shopping, and then an evening at the mission house.

We appreciate those who are checking on us.  Keep praying.

Blessings!