Guatemala Campa 3D November 22, 2011

Along the side of the field where we held Campa 3D, written in large blue letters against a white concrete wall, was written a Bible verse.  Our final devotional topic to be covered was the Holy Spirit and to introduce it we posed a question to the campers.  Had anybody noticed the verse written in large blue letters?  In unison they answered yes, and recited the verse, Phil. 3:14 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”   Wow!  We felt like a well watered garden had been laid out and we had experienced a living example of the Holy Spirit.

This soccer field had been built by a christian mayor, possible fruit from missionaries who came long before we set foot in this beautiful land of volcanoes and colorful textiles.    Prior to our team’s arrival, God has been at work in Guatemala and the fruit from Campa 3D remains to be seen.  What we do know is, during the last week we saw over 200 campers, more than double the amount from last year, and they received Biblical instruction.  The game of soccer opened the door and God brought forth those children He called to Campa 3D in Guatemala.   The staff included coaches from Guatemala and we are praying they too will be touched by this experience.  If their prayers offered during the camp or the conversations between us are any indicator, it seems their hearts have been softened to the idea of faith based soccer camps.  The Guatemalan coaches comments echo an understanding of the transformation God can implement through using Biblical teachings along with the sport of soccer.  To love the Lord our God with body, mind and soul is our highest calling and Campa 3D has brought forth this instruction to a new arena…. soccer in Guatemala.  Our team has been blessed by the privilege of serving kids and bringing the love of Christ beyond our walls.

Guatemala 2011 – Campa 3D November 22, 2011

“Truly, truly, you have to be born again” John 3:5 ~ This was painted on the side of a garage wall next to the field at Cerritos where we met over 50 Compassion kids. Campa 3D was amazing! Soccer drills, devotional time discussing how we love the Lord with all our heart, mind and soul, smiles of joy, and radiant faces reflecting a day of soccer instruction. In the evening we worshipped at an Evangelical church with pastors involved with Campa 3D. We made a joyful noise together, raising our voices in a fresh song of praise. Though our languages are different our hearts are one!

Guatemala Campa3D 2011 November 18, 2011

The sights and sounds of  Guatemala whizzed by as we travelled to the Villa Nueva soccer field.  Large buses filled with workers, truck drivers leaning on their horns, petrol fumes, Coca Cola signs,  McDonald’s, even a few Pizza Hut delivery bicycles were spotted along our way.   After months of planning, it is time for Campa 3D 2011, our second run at faith based soccer camps.  This time it is a bit different because Guatemalan coaches are joining the camp, with the intent of learning how the prinicples of loving God with body, mind and spirit can apply to soccer.   In this part of the world, soccer rules.  Yet bringing God into this sport arena is as unfamiliar to them as the entire traffic system here, is to us.  One thing is certain, it works, their crazy trafic flow, and our unfailing God.  But will it work here, now, during this camp, at the Villa Nueva field?  If the first day of camp is any indication, the answer is a resounding yes!  75 kids came in the morning and another group of 40 in the afternoon.  Both sessions were incredible; t-shirts for all of the kids and coaches, clean water, snacks, balls, pinnies, and cones for dividing the field… the essentials for a soccer camp…orchestrated entirely by SEPAL.  The coaches lead devotions, prayers were lifted up,  and the kids experienced a new kind of soccer.  Thank you Lord!

Guatemala Trip 2011 – Campa 3D November 17, 2011

Coach Lou and Pastor Kurt met with Guatemalan coaches today, making final plans for the official start of Campa 3D tomorrow. Another good prep day for coaches and the team! We ended the day praying over the field naming the attributes of God, preparing our hearts for all God will do in and through us, the coaches, staff and kids over the next few days of camp!

Guatemala Trip 2011 – Campa 3D November 15, 2011

Training Guatemalan coaches today was even more exciting with the 80 kids that came along! An awesome beginning for the week as coaches and staff get ready for the arrival of the rest of our team tomorrow. A great day for the Lord!

Haiti Men’s Trip 2011 October 17, 2011

An awesome time worshipping at Pastor Moise’s church. Jimmy Dodd did an excellent job preaching! So great to be together as one – Haitians and American praising Christ together. Had lunch at a Haitian buffet with Moise. Our first real lunch of the trip!

Haiti Men’s Trip 2011 October 16, 2011

A great day visiting a couple local pastors homes and the villages their churches sponsor. Everyone is exhausted (in a good way) from playing with kids. It was a good opportunity for us to see what a church partnership looks like!

Haiti Men’s Trip 2011 October 14, 2011

We got a tour of the Jumecourt property today, including the orphan village and school as well as microbusinesses sewing center and brand new bakery. We then visited an orphan village at Leogane which is near the epicenter of the earthquake. Kids just love the time with visitors, especially to have a group of men. It’s so rare for them to get adult male interaction. On the way back from Leogane we got a tour of Port Au Prince. Poverty is overwhelming here. The team is doing well and God is at work! We’re excited about the next few days.

The Sharing of Light July 8, 2011

God has placed a piece of Himself and His light in each and every one of us. It is deliberate, beautiful, and intended for others to see.

Today I felt God’s light not only glowing through me but I also saw it in the twinkling eyes of the babies and the spirited smiles of the disabled people that we visited. The most beautiful thing about it all was that neither myself or the people I was with were controlling this wonderful exchanging of Light; it was all God using each of us to touch the other in powerful ways at the exact same moment.

One particular baby was left on the side of the road by her mother and the caretakers said that she was the most traumatized baby there because of it. Then our guide handed her to me and as soon as I looked in her eyes all I could think was “You are so beautiful and you are a Child of God. Please know that.” The amazing thing was that she was soon the center of attention! She was lively and friendly to everyone! I have no idea why she was so open to everyone but I like to think that it was God shining His light through everyone there that made her feel comfortable with all of us.

So I am thankful for all the experiences of today even though they sounded a little awkward and scary at first. I feel like it helped prepare me as well as the rest of the team for uncomfortable situations that will face us in Swaziland. It was a good practice to put myself out there because I will never regret something I did for God’s people.

~Sarah Henry

Being vs. Doing July 7, 2011

Bleary eyes greeted me this morning at the 7am wake-up call, but everyone was soon out of bed and excited for our first day in South Africa.  We spent our day touring and learning about Emthonjeni, a community center ministry serving a slum community in Johanesburg. Emthonjeni is a ministry extention of Mosaiek, which is Woodmen’s sister chuch here in Joburg.  As we left Emthonjeni, most of the team expressed excitement at knowing a lot more about what God is doing on the ground here, but at the same time, a feeling of disappointment at not being able to jump right into the ministry of Emthonjeni and, “do something.”

For many of us, the idea of a mission trip conjures up ideas and images of us going somewhere to do something.  We build houses, we feed the hungry, we keep ourselves busy and wear ourselves out doing God’s work.  But, this is, in many ways, going to be a different sort of trip.  Much of our trip will involve just being.  Being a part of what God is already doing here in Joburg and in Swaziland by connecting with the people, and opening ourselves up to God’s movement and not necessarily our own.

Don’t get me wrong, we’re already tired and overwhelmed with many of the things that God has already shown us, but one of the things that has become apparent already is our inability to do anything at all without God’s strength and power.  And, our inability to just be without trusting that He is working and moving in ways we cannot see.  As one of the trip leaders, I know this lesson is coming to me over and over again.  I have felt God telling me to be present in each moment, and to stop worrying/thinking/planning for the days to come.  He is in control and nothing takes Him by surprise.  Because of this, I can trust that it is okay to gather in all that God has for me in that one specific moment, and not spend my time worrying about what He might have for me a few days from now. In the short amount of time we’ve been here, I am already learning that this trip will be a much different mission trip than any I’ve participated in or lead before, and because of that I don’t want to miss a thing that God wants to show me!

Thank you for praying for me, and for our team.  We are already learning and experiencing so much that has taken us out of our comfort zones, but God has been good to walk there with us. We are relying on his power, the same power that rose Christ from the dead and now lives in us! For those of you who will connect with a team member when we return home, please remember to ask us about the difference we learned between doing and being, and how we saw God work in and through us because of it.  We are still in the early stages of experiencing this tension, but already it has changed the mindset of our entire team.

Blessings to all of you. Thank you for taking the journey with us.
-Jen Ferrell