Honduras: Day 7

Today we went to a park that overlooks Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Simply incredible.

There is a statue of Christ (pictures) at the park.

It is fun to have seen Tegu at the micro and macro levels. This place will continue to be apart of our lives.

We helped stimulate the economy this afternoon by spending lots of money at the market. Now it is time for strategic packing.

Again, we have several people that are sick...pray that traveling is smooth tomorrow. Thanks!

Honduras: Day 6 & our remaining moments...

I really like bullet points. Brief. Concise.

Here is our Friday in bullet points....

• Several of us woke us sick (we have had 5 of our team go down total). As of last night everyone was doing MUCH better. It helps to have a doctor on the trip! :)
• Help rebuild and renew the playground at the government orphanage. The swings and slide consumed most of our time (picture).
• Distributed LOTS of supplies to the government orphanage. After seeing how little food they had Jennifer Kiser commented, "it is really good we invested in the food because they did not have much."
• Fed the children lunch (picture of Ellen Wiles feeding her girl!).
• Played, prayed and held children (picture of Mikela Melakis with the child she wants to adopt).
• Lunch
• Visited a teenage boys orphanage that felt more like jail. We were able to spend time talking with the guys as we shared our stories and listened to theirs. Many great conversations took place. The guys were great!
• Ate Italian food for dinner.
• Today: Going to see Jesus (a statue on the mountain), shopping at the market and our fair-well dinner with translators/Buckner workers.
• Leaving: Tomorrow our flight leaves at noon and we return to Houston at 4:00pm. Pray for safe travels!

Pray for...

• Health...it is NEVER fun being sick but especially when you are with a group in a foreign country.
• Safe travels today and tomorrow.
• As we say our final "good-bye" tonight.
• Tonight as we dialogue and process as a group how we will allow this week to shape us and then share it with others.

JVBC, thank you for supporting this us. Many of you gave money so students could come and most of you give to support the JVBC Student Ministry. What has happened here is real and we are excited to share it with you in conversations, Facebook, blogs and pictures. It has been wonderful and too difficult to explain on a blog...but that doesn't stop us from trying! Peace.

Peace to you,

Scott

Honduras: Day 5 in Pictures

Thursday was GREAT! I am an extremely proud member of this group. Blogs and pictures don't capture everything that has happened but we will try.

Today we went to an elementary school to sing, give testimonies and love. In the process we were able to meet many new children that have stolen our hearts. This is also the place where we delivered the basketball goals! THANK YOU VBS CHILDREN!!! Oddly enough, this school has a basketball team and the director has been praying for goals for 3 years. We presented the goals in a Buckner celebration (tell you more in a second) and then built them on site. The kids were THRILLED!

Buckner has Community Transformation Centers (CTC) in communities dealing with extreme poverty. Today they celebrated the 1 year anniversary of the center. We were glad to join in the festivities! :) Many volunteers were recognized so we lavished them with praise. In addition several families received shoes and clothing (we presented it to the families).

Dr. Jack Grainger has been able to see hundreds of patients at the CTC and most children at the orphanage. Medical missions is truly a wonderful thing. MANY doors have been opened because we have a doctor with us. Dr. Grainger, CJ and Morgan (his grandkids) will be traveling tomorrow to visit their Compassion International child who lives in Honduras (another great organization). Please pray for safe travels (approx. 2 hour drive).

Several of our group went shopping for the most severe needs at the orphanage...food and diapers. JVBC & Buckner spent $1,500 on food, diapers and bibles. I am starring at 10 bags of rice, 4 bags of beans, 2 bags of flour and 3 cases of eggs in my room right now BUT there are two other rooms full of items! Tomorrow is going to be a great day of distribution.

Our prayer is the God will be glorified and Buckner's ministry in Tegucigalpa will continue to gain validity in orphanages, schools and communities. The Good News will spread as Buckner's ministry increases.

Thanks for praying...great things are happening in lives!

Peace to you,

Scott

Honduras: Day 4 and Redirection

In an act of humility or self-doubt (Bruce Williford told me her's is better) :) I want to redirect you to Kristen Peterson's blog. Kristen is one of the student ministries connection group teachers, U*Staffers and fellow Honduran traveler. She is a great writer and lover of Kingdom things.

Go check it out here...www.kristenashleypeterson.blogspot.com

Tomorrow we will be giving away the basketball goals that OUR children raised money for at VBS. The hope was to raise $440 for the basketball goals...JVBC children raised $780! They are not physically with us in Honduras but they will be here. We'll take pictures!

Picture 1: I wish you could see these students playing, laughing and crossing communication barriers with a silly game. It is wonderful!

Picture 2: Lunch...Don Ross dared me to post this picture. I'm not one to turn down a dare. :) Don't be fooled...it was REALLY good but messy. Honduran Chipotle!

Pictures engrained in my mind...

(1.) Watching Ellen Wiles feed a special needs/orphan child who has to lay down on the bed 24 hours a day. Ellen can make her laugh OUT LOUD! Today she took her from tears of hunger to joy-full laughter! One of the coolest moments.

(2.) Allowing students to interact with some of the worlds greatest needs and listening to some of the worlds greatest questions surface.

(3.) Lives changing...

(4.) Allowing ourselves to redirect our attention, questions and aim on the Kingdom.

(5.) Watching you be amazed at Kristen's blog...GO CHECK IT OUT!

Blessings to you, your family and our church.

Peace to you,

Scott

Honduras: Day 3 in Pictures

Picture 1: Lindsay Bertsch sharing about the change Jesus Christ has made in her life with 200+ high school students.

Picture 2: Allison Ross showing students how to make bracelets.

Picture 3: CJ Mote (our energizer bunny) with his soccer friends!

Picture 4: Making bracelets and spending time with students.

Picture 5: Fernando Tello doing what he does best...love.

Honduras: Day 2

By: Scott Shelton, Student Minister

"If anyone would come after me, they must deny themselves and take up the cross daily and follow me." Matthew 9:23

Today we did so many things. It began with a medical clinic led by JVBC's own Dr. Jack Grainger. Several students help perform diabetes testing as he examined patients. The rest of the group was across the street at a private school doing VBS activities. After eating lunch we headed over to the government orphanage to be with children and teenagers.

As you might expect the needs are overwhelming and the stories are too numerous to share on a blog. The sound of the children laughing is too beautiful to express in words. The look in their eyes is unexplainable.

Tonight we asked several questions...

1. What has this week cost you? Answers: time, work, anything I wanted to buy the last 6 months, time with friends, family vacation, etc.
2. What will it take to make a difference here (Honduras)? Answers: Lots and LOTS of time, love, prayer, Jesus Christ, creativity, compassion, action, etc.
3. What will it take to make a difference in your friends lives (back home)? Answers: see answers to #2.

The point? It will be costly and it is a lifestyle (wherever we find ourselves in this world). It will mean that we take a life of denial.

We deny something. We can deny ourselves and follow Christ (Matthew 9:23) OR we can deny Christ by our actions (Titus 1:16). We all choose...

Our actions will reveal what we are denying. Come hang out with some of these students if you need to learn about a life of denial. Several have taken extra jobs. All have sacrificed summer fun with friends in pursuit of the Kingdom. Some have given up new "things" such as cars, fashion and/or entertainment.

They are denying themselves.

My life is shaped in watching students give themselves away to something Great.

Pray for us tomorrow...

• Medical Clinic
• 200 high schoolers at a local school
• 40-50 Orphans
• 4 special needs kids (10 months-14 years)

Thanks for joining us on this journey..."talk" to you soon!

Peace to you,

Scott

Picture: Frank Holder sharing his testimony at the private school.

Note: We are currently unable to take pictures at the orphanage.

Honduras: Day 1

By: Scott Shelton, Student Minister

The alarm buzzed at 4:00am but I was already up. What was fixing to take place had me tossing and turning all night long. We are on a mission. Cross cultural situations seem to amplify the mission and our purpose. The mission is simple and complex. Love.

We were granted smooth travels and short lines. Twenty-nine pieces of luggage managed to stay on the roof of our bus through the hills of Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The children at the orphanage were eager to run to us. Eager for love. We were eager to give.

Pray that the road will be made clear for us in the days ahead. Tomorrow we start a medical clinic, working with children at a Buckner Community Transformation Center (CTC) and then heading to the government orphanage.

There are SO many needs and there is temptation to be pulled in a million different directions but our mission is clear. Love. Simple yet complex. Pray for us to have wisdom.

"'Teacher, which is the the greatest commandment in the Law?' Jesus responded: 'Love the Lord you God will all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.'" -Matthew 22:36-40

Join us on this journey...love. Not by your power or will but by His.

Peace to you,

Scott

PS: Don Ross will be working on getting us some photos for the blogs this week. Sorry todays was just words. :)

VBS Mission Projects

James 1:27 says “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” (ESV)

During VBS, the children had an opportunity to participate in 2 mission projects to help orphans and others in need.

Our Student Ministry will soon take a group to Honduras, so we decided to collaborate with them. The 1st - 5th grade children at VBS donated $743.73 to the group going to Honduras. This money will be used to buy a basketball goal and other items to improve an orphanage there.

The Preschool and Kindergarten children at VBS also participated in a mission project. They helped by bringing Kits for Kids. These “kits” included school supplies for children all around the world. The VBS kids donated 100 Kits for Kids! Now children who could not afford to purchase supplies for school can go to school with all of the supplies needed!

Great job, VBS kids!

Elaine Pendergrass
Minister to Preschool/Children
Jersey Village Baptist Church

Serving in Africa

It's such a joy to watch a young person live out their faith through service. Our very own Emily Wiles is doing just that in Africa this summer. Follow her adventures on her blog as she shares the love of Christ far from home.

www.carryingyourname.blogspot.com

MOI Mission Trip, Report 4

What a day. Our weather was 45 degrees and it smelled like Christmas outside. We finished up VBS today and heard comments from the children;
My dad nevers goes to church- will you pray for him?
How do you become a Christian
What a joy it is to share the saving grace of Jesus Christ with kids!

Our construction crew is working at a frenzy pace to finish their projects. These group of guys are incredible!

The highlight of the trip had to happen last night. Harold and Jan Wall invited us to their ranch for dinner. We sat with brothers and sisters in Christ and shared a meal. We had a devotional where we prayed with each other. It was a time where the Holy Spirit was among us. Tonight we will continue to fellowship with our new friends, the Afdahl's. Joel, Claudine, Josh, and Torri are incredible people. I can't wait to tell you about them.

Mark your calendar for June 22. We will share our great adventure with you!

Blessings,
South Dakota mission trip team

MOI Mission Trip, Report 3

Tuesday is coming to an end. Sheetrock has been put up. VBS numbers doubled today, and everyone is exhausted-- exhausted in a good way, exhausted knowing that our day was spent serving in the kingdom of God.

And that is the difference of most days, is it not? We are always exhausted-- we tend to pride ourselves in what we can acomplish in 24 hours. The question that needs to be asked is "what kingdom did we serve". May our time in South Dakota be reflected in our days in Houston and may the Lord Jesus Christ and his kingdom be at the forefront of all we do.

I'll have some more thoughts tomorrow--enjoy the pics of some of the children in VBS.

Blessings,
South Dakota Mission Team

MOI Mission Trip, Report 2

Our mission trip has started off tremendously. Today was our first full work day. Nancy Bergeron did an incredible job teaching the Bible story today. The construction crew was working at full speed. Today they have already moved a bathroom (thank you Greg Cornman). The have also put sheetrock in the brand new education space.

The true blessing has been visiting with Deacon Joel and his family. I am reminded of what a privilege it is to be the people of God and have brothers and sisters in Christ all over the world. May Christ be glorified here in South Dakota and may Christ be glorified in you life in Houston.

Many blessings from our Team!

The Men of Issachar Mission Trip

Last night, we loaded up the trailer. It is full of VBS supplies, some plumbing tools, a lot of sleeping bags and anything else that could fit in Jeff Medcalf's car. Today half of the group headed out in car, tomorrow five more will board a plane and Sunday morning, four more will head up North to partner with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

The MOI is our Men's Ministry - two summers ago, it was their vision not just to serve inside the church (and praise God they don't mind making hot dogs and flipping burgers for our children and students), but they wanted to go out from JVBC too. This year, the Holy Spirit directed them to South Dakota.

Our group is in two teams - one of them is remodeling parts of a church on a Native American reservation, while another group is bringing the good news of Christ to children in Faith, South Dakota. Our task is to finish a construction project and have a great Vacation Bible School. Our desire is to sense the Holy Spirit among us and among our brother and sisters in Christ in South Dakota. Please keep us in your prayers as we travel and stay tuned for more details of the trip.

Bike Out Hunger Update

Editorial note: Blogger was down for some time last week, so please excuse the delay in this posting.

By: Meredith Steffen

At the beginning of the week we spilt into three groups based on miles per hour; group A, B, and C.

The first day I decided to try group B and it went pretty well so the second day I went with the same group. On Wednesday, the third day of the ride, there was some slight reorganizing of the groups. Group B wanted to increase their speed by a few miles per hour and when I heard this I was hesitant to continue on with that group.

I really wasn’t sure where to go so I just started on my own and eventually found a small group that was just my speed. Along the way we pushed one another to continue on and we never allowed too much distance to come between each other. Wednesday felt great and by the end of the ride the majority of my nerves had settled.

Thursday morning I woke up feeling confident and with news of a somewhat shorter ride I had no doubt that I would have another great day. I was wrong. The first ten miles were tough. I started in a larger group and immediately fell behind.

There was one man in that large group who was in the same group with me the day before and when he saw me slowing down he stuck with me and told me to keep at my own pace.

Each morning we have a devotional before the ride and this morning’s devotional was about how people need community to finish well. At the time I had no idea how true this would prove to be. Cycling is applicable to life; we all need community.

Tuesday - Bike Out Hunger

Yesterday we got off coarse. It added an additional 14 miles to a 65 mile day. Such is life.

Sometimes we work hard for a great cause but we still find ourselves lost.

Today we rode 69 miles to Nacogdoches, TX. The beautiful east Texas pines screamed at me to keep peddling. I rode with a new friend who was in severe pain. I kept telling him to stop and let the sag wagon (help vehicle) pick him up. He refused. Such is life.

Sometimes well intentioned people will tell you to stop.

Endurance to keep going in the midst of difficult situations is hard to find. But ever so often, someone will come up beside you and say, “you got this!” or “Great job!” This helps me to keep pushing. Such is life.

Just when you are ready to give up someone opens a door so you can keep going.

Bike Out Hunger is one way that Texas Baptist’s are opening the door of life through feeding programs, training and support. We proclaim this at every rest stop, hotel and church we see along the way. Such is life.

See pictures and video at http://bikeouthunger.texasbaptists.org

Scott

Final Days of Serve H*Town

In many ways this experience has been more tiring than leaving our zip code for a mission trip. Everyday we came home to family, work, and friendship responsibilities. Students would leave Serve H*Town and head to the rodeo, go to work, or baseball games. It was an exhausting week BUT completely worth all the effort.

Everything we did (and DO) is about people. The VBS showed love to children in a nearby apartment complex. The "fun" experiences where about us drawing closer as a youth group. The Houston Food Bank was about us making sure children on free/reduced food programs had enough to eat on the weekends. The Helping Hands Garden (urban garden) was about making sure people have access to healthy food. It is ALL about people.

We got a t-shirt's that will be worn on Sunday morning but my deep hope is that we gained a greater awareness of God and His work. I hope that we (the Church) can be aware of God whatever city we find ourselves in. Missions is not about changing zip codes. It's who we are as the people of God. So let's serve ______________ (fill in name of city you are currently located).

Peace to you on the journey...

Pictures

Serve H*Town - Tuesday & Wednesday Thoughts

Most of the time I (Scott) am the point person for trips but this mission week has been different. Heather Mooney has been in charge (and doing a GREAT job). It has been great to watch her and our students step up and lead. This freedom in the midst of controlled chaos :) has given me time to think. Here are a few thoughts...

Thought #1:
Over the last few days, we have seen receptive people in northwest Houston. They are grateful we are at their apartment complex. Many come and watch as we have fun and interact with their children. Several are opening up to God's truth. In a word they are: receptive.

Thought #2:
Many times we make missions or God's mission about us. We ask questions like, "What do I want to do?" or "Where do I want to go?" We end up with self-serving ministries that drive our self-serving goals. The way of Jesus calls us to deeper interactions that demand sacrifice. Fulfilling God's call will not be convenient BUT it will be worth it.

Thought #3:
The rawness of students draws me into a way of living that is more genuine than I know how to express. The approach is honest - "why are we doing this?" The attitude is real - "I am tired." The excitement is contagious - "I LOVE the kids in my VBS group!"

Thought #4:
It feels good to serve kids but our goal is singular: love because God first loved us. Faith driven by moralism is traded for a Kingdom mindset that sets Christ at the center. Self-serving mission work is traded for a sacrificial life that puts Christ at the center. Our desire to be heard is traded for the trust that God's work will be accomplished as Christ is placed at the center.


Side note: The blog is not letting me post pictures right now. I will try and publish a blog of pictures too!

Serve H*Town Monday Edition - The Future is Now

Before any mission trip you must brace yourself for the unpredictable and embrace flexibility. This is what students do best...they LOVE the adventure. Today we started our VBS with many excited children, students, and adults. The rain found us but it did not stop us. We were able to have rec time, Bible study, snack, crafts, and free time! You should be SO proud of our students!

After lunch in the bus we headed over to Northwest Mall (the old JC Penny's) to work with the Houston Food Bank. Today from 1:00-4:30pm about 40 JVBCers filled 2,001 bags of food for school aged students to take home on Friday's so they have food for the weekend. Did you hear me? 2,001 kids will have bags of food because we volunteered! The workers seemed surprised by our ability to work and stay on task. I was not surprised at all.

Many people tell me that students are the future of the Church. I always agree politely but I must admit that I also have great concern with this statement. When I see what students did today I want to shout, "They are the Church NOW!" While it is true that they are growing and maturing in their faith and will lead the Church into many new adventures, we must be willing to learn from them. Here is what I learned today...

1. Sacrifice. Students are giving up the freedom of Spring Break to serve people. When was the last time I gave up a day or week to serve someone? Don't put it off that they, "just students"...they have things they could be doing. Several of them have taken off work, sacrificed family vacations, and/or skipped invitations from friends.

2. Be excited about what you do. I LOVE how students are willing to have fun in ANY situation. I watched as two JVBC students made a soccer ball from a water bottle during a break time at the Food Bank! How cool is that! I believe there are spiritual lessons in this.

3. People want to be engaged. It is too easy to sit back passively in life and/or church without ever engaging people. Giving our students opportunity to interact with children at an apartment complex and people at a Food Bank shapes who they are becoming. You can't do the work of the Kingdom without engaging people.

4. Be flexible. Sometimes our plans fail. Learn to adjust. Again, many spiritual lessons in this.

What a GREAT week ahead!

Serve H*Town Sunday Edition

Tonight students, adults, and college students started a week long journey as we learn to serve Houston...our hometown. There is a temptation to leave so we can be on mission for God. Somehow the feelings of leaving our zip code make it easier to be on a "mission trip." This week we are trying to learn what it means to be on a mission trip within our hometown.

Please pray for us as we begin the VBS tomorrow morning and serve at the Houston Food Bank.

The pictures focus on students preparation tonight in the Warehouse.