Doug's Testimony

Doug reported that it was a privilege to lead the construction crew in building the church in Peñitas. The way everyone worked together was incredible and he felt blessed by the team’s unity (at the end of the trip the team agreed that unity was the one word which described the entire mission trip).

We were the first group in Mexico to finish the One-Day Church frame in one day. Doug feels it is because of the perfect mix of people, skills, and temperaments and that the team before us (working in Corozal) shared with him what they would do differently if given the chance.

Line blocks were another example of God’s hand directing this team. While shopping here in Anchorage for some construction supplies we would need in Peñitas, Doug felt impressed to buy line blocks although he wasn’t even sure what they were used for or if we would need them. It turned out that they were a vital component in helping to make sure each row of blocks was level. God answered the need before we even knew there was one and it would be confirmed time and again throughout the mission trip.

Doug saw God’s hand in everything—from who came on the trip, to which town we went to, what date we choose for the trip, and the specific number of people on the trip. As team leaders we were at times frustrated with the details, but kept praying for God to lead us. He did just that and as the trip unfolded we were all amazed at how wonderful His plans were and how perfectly everything and everyone fit together. Doug said: “It was a blessing to see how the Lord put the entire trip together from start to finish”.

Spiritual Report

I’d like to share a story with you that reminded me, in part, of team Northern Lights in Mexico. Two men were riding a bicycle built for two when they came to a big steep hill. It took a great deal of struggle for the men to complete what proved to be a very stiff climb. When they got to the top the man in front turned to the other and said, “Boy, that sure was a hard climb.” The fellow in back replied, “Yes, and if I hadn’t kept the brakes on all the way we would certainly have rolled down backwards!”


James and I were blessed by 15 other team members who pedaled as hard as they could throughout the entire mission trip—even through torrential downpours, sickness, and injury. One of the participants noted that we had an easy team to lead our first time out. And for that I say: “Praise God!”


I had the opportunity to lead the group in twice daily devotionals that focused on our relationship with God and our relationship with the people God places in our life. After the last devotional in Plan de Ayala, I asked the group to define our mission trip with one word. That word was ‘unity’. Unity--It not only defines the interactions among the team members, but also our relationship with God and our fellow believers in Mexico.


A.W. Tozer in The Pursuit of God said: “Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become ‘unity’ conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.”


The Northern Lights worked well both as a mission team and with our new friends in Mexico because we have a common goal: to be ambassadors for Christ. Each one of us has a growing relationship with Christ Jesus and a desire to do His will that, just like the tuning of the pianos to a single tuning fork, brought us together in unity.


Philippians 2:1-2 (NIV version) talks about imitating the humility of Christ. It says: If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”


We can find that purpose defined in: John 17:20-23 where Jesus prays for all believers: "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.


God was at work changing hearts long before Pastor Kack asked James and me to lead a team on a mission trip. The Lord was working to change our character to be ready for mission work and to instill in us a love of missions. God worked through us as we shared this new passion with you.


Isaiah 65:24 states that “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking will I hear.”. The people of Peñitas had been praying for a long time that they could reach souls for Christ and build a new church to house them in. They did their part by praying, reaching out to their neighbors, collecting money for construction supplies, and by submitting a request to Maranatha to help them build a church. Simultaneously God was working in the hearts of the people in Peñitas (to receive the Good News) and in the hearts of people like you and me--from the United States, Australia, Canada, and Peru (to be Christ’s ambassadors).


While the team was in Mexico we learned about a couple named Juan and Brenda. Their story shows how God works in the hearts of the believer and unbeliever alike. Juan and Brenda were living together and had an 8 month old son named Juan, Jr. Juan is not an Adventist, but his mother is--and as a mother myself I can guarantee she is praying for Juan! Brenda was an Adventist that has been disfellowshipped for her lifestyle choices.


Juan is a wealthy man by that area’s standards and owns a lot of land. He felt led to donate the land that the Peñitas church was built on. Here are some other things Juan felt “led” to do: he stopped by to watch construction, came by with Brenda and Juan Jr to share dinner with the team one night, and came to church services. He made two interesting remarks: first that it would be a nice church to get married in and secondly that he plans on building a house on the piece of land next door so it would be easy to walk to church. Is there any doubt that the Holy Spirit is at work in Peñitas?


O’Malley—you showed your Christian unity by supporting the Mexico mission trip. Out of your love for Christ you gave towards His work in Mexico and here is a list of some of the things you gave: your time, prayers, financial support, words of encouragement to the leaders and other team members, donations of delicious foods for both our Mexican dinner and bake sale, bed sheets, children’s felts and felt board for Sabbath school, and Bibles, hymnals and Children’s devotionals through a generous donation by the Pathfinders organization. Team Northern Lights and the people of Plan de Ayala and Peñitas offer you a sincere thank you for the love of Christ you showed us through your actions.


I’d like to share another example of God at work before our need. I asked for a donation of bed sheets to use as privacy curtains on the windows of the school where we were to stay in Mexico. We were housed, at the last minute, at the church instead. All windows in the Sabbath school rooms except two had curtains on them already. The weather turned colder and rainy so we were very cold especially at night. We were grateful to have the extra bed sheets to keep us warm at night. When we left Mexico, we gave money to a local woman to launder the sheets before donating them to their local Dorcas association.


O’Malley also sponsored a Bible Worker by the name of Israel Torres Ramirez. On the last Sabbath we worshipped with the Penitas church, Israel awarded Bibles to 9 children and 1 adult who had completed their Bible studies with him.


Israel also wrote a letter that he would like me to share with you (see letter below).


After initially reading Israel’s letter, my husband spoke to Pastor Chuc about it. The pastor felt that Israel’s talents would be best used at this time by employing him to help with the reaping series coming up February 27 – March 6. So we gave Pastor Chuc the remaining funds from our Bible Worker fund to keep Israel working for the Lord for another 1-1/2 to 2 months.


James and I are so blessed to have been given this awesome opportunity to serve the Lord. Our faith has been deepened by seeing how intricately the Lord brought everything together. And He’s not done yet…the Lord’s work continues and He will call each one of us again to His service. It might be a call to serve on foreign soil or it could be a call to serve Him right here in Anchorage, AK.


I have made a commitment to make 2010 the year of obedience to God’s call--wherever that may lead me. Where you are, right now, if you feel the Lord calling you please bow your head and whisper a prayer of commitment to be obedient to His call--wherever He may ask you to serve.


Privledged to serve,
Lynda




Israel's Letter to the Northern Lights and Church Family:


Greetings from the Torres family in Chiapas, Mexico to my Alaska friends and your church family!


I am writing to thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve God by giving Bible studies in northern Chiapas, the district of Plan de Ayala.


Thank you for fulfilling my dream—working for God full-time. Thank you for the 3 months of salary. I am blessed to still have 25 days to harvest souls for God.


There are now 20 people who are studying about the faith of Jesus. In addition, there are 6 more who are married but will need to change their marital status before they proceed any further.


I have a wife and 5 children to support. We spent a happy year working for God. We hope God gives us the opportunity again someday to serve others.


I would like to continue this great work—if my services have been useful. I am willing to devote more time to this ministry. I am a wage laborer and have a low income. I would need continued support if I was to continue this missionary work. Also there are items I would like to request that I could use in my missionary work: a laptop computer and a projector. This will help me give Bible studies and sermons. If you help me, God will magnify it that much more.


I thank God that in 2006 God used me to bring 89 souls to the foot of the cross and they were baptized. I have also helped start 11 church companies and baptized another 282 souls for Christ. My family has a string band and I play the accordion during services.


I am your brother in Christ,


Israel Torres Ramirez


(I would like to add that we were informed by the mission office that he is the best Bible worker in the area- Lynda).




Evidence of God's continued work in Penitas:


2 of Israel's Bible students, Juan Antonio and Miguelina, were recently baptized! Here are their photos:

More Stories to Come

Good Morning Blog Followers!

I just wanted to give you a quick note that more blog entries will be coming next week. Our team is currently gearing up for our Reporting Back Service to our congregation. I have been pouring over a thousand photos; selecting and editing the best! During the service this week we will have time for each participant to share a brief story about how God has been working in their life—particularly through the mission trip. I hope to post these stories along with additional photos for each team member next week.

God bless,

Lynda

“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering for He who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23

Preview of a Finished One-Day Church in Mexico

Below is a photo of a church, but it is not the church we just built in Peñitas. It is however a completely finished One-Day Church in the general vicinity of Peñitas.


Concerning the church we just helped build in Peñitas, part of our team stayed after we left to finish pouring the remaining three sides of the sidewalks surrounding the structure. Later the national team will stucco the building inside and outside, install the doors and window grates, and then paint the building. When it is finished Maranatha and the Peñitas congregation will have a dedication ceremony.

The Peñitas church will be a beautiful structure set in lush, rolling ranching land that can be glimpsed from the road as people travel from destination to destination. It will be a place that people can come to worship God and a place to go out from to carry the Good News to the community at large.

Whatsoever you ask in prayer...

Matthew 21:22 says--"And all things, whatsoever you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive."

The Bible worker, Israel Torres Ramirez, provided us with a list of people in Peñitas who are interested in (or currently) studying the Bible with him. Here are their names so that you can pray for each one personally:

1.   Rene
2.   Migulina
3.   Abel
4.   Juan Altonio
5.   Juan Carlos
6.   Jairo
7.   Maria
8.   Nohemi
9.   Jose
10. Juan Altunar
11. Marta
12. Manuel
13. Miguel
14. Carlos
15. Yaquelin
16. Raquel
17. Catalina
18. Cresencio
19. Yecazard

I have not included their full names since I do not have their permission to post them online. However, I have no doubt that these people would be happy to know that you are lifting them up in prayer. Someday-soon-you will have the wonderful opportunity to meet them face to face!

Lynda

10 people studying with Israel Torres Ramirez received Bibles on January 9, 2010:

The Great Commission

"Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:16-20

It's not unusual to have a baptism on a mission trip--it would be surprising not to have at least one. The Bible worker in Peñitas had a person who had been studying the Bible with him and was ready for baptism. It was scheduled for a Sabbath when Team Northern Lights was there, but had to be postponed because the local pastor was called away that day.

The team rejoiced that a person was ready to make a public commitment of their faith, but disappointed that they didn't get to witness it. It is always thrilling to watch a baptism. But God was at work in another very surprising way!

On our last Sabbath in Peñitas we had a foot-washing and communion service with our new friends. As I've mentioned before, it is the custom in their culture for only baptized members in good standing to be able to participate in this part of the service. I was informed that one of our own team members was not baptized. I was surprised, but that's due my own assumptions that an adult would already have made this event part of their Christian walk. In actuality, the only two requirements we had put forth to be on the team were a desire to be obedient to the Lord's call to do His work and to be respectful and supportive of our beliefs whether you held the same beliefs or not.

Later, following communion, we casually discussed having this person baptized while in Mexico. For a number of very practical reasons we decided against it, but I suggested the team member follow up on it after returning home if that was the desire of their heart.

I was thrilled today to receive confirmation that our team member has met with the Pastor and is ready for baptism! I cannot begin to describe how much this means to our team! It also reinforces my belief and desire that God will not only work through us while on a mission trip, but He will continue to do so after we return.

His word is the foundation for my belief: Philippians 1:3-6 "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

This team member has touched my heart already. I can't wait to witness this special occasion next Sabbath.

Come. Come rejoice with Team Northern Lights and all the angels in heaven!

Lynda

Faces of Mexico

Stay on Schedule and Be Flexible?

By work day three (Sunday, January 3rd), we had settled into a routine that worked well for us. The kitchen crew was up at 5:30am and had breakfast ready at 7:00am. About 20 minutes later I started the morning devotional and by then our faithful driver (Moises) would pull into the courtyard to wait for the construction team. Between 7:45am and 8:00am each morning the team would travel the half hour to Peñitas.


As the crew worked on the church the kitchen staff prepared lunch and if possible even started dinner preparations. Moises would arrive back at the base camp around 11:30am and by noon we were delivering a delicious lunch to our hungry workers. We would stay to eat with the group and take a few pictures before we (the kitchen staff) left again for “home”.

The afternoons found the kitchen staff with a little extra time that was used to walk to the town for grocery shopping, a trip to deliver dirty laundry to the Laundromat, time for me to review the next devotional, or for Cheryl to review her menus and plan her strategy for the upcoming day or two.

The construction crew was scheduled to leave the jobsite at 4:30pm to allow time for them to shower before dinner at 6:00pm. We had the two outdoor portable showers and 1 or 2 church bathrooms that could be used as showers (it depended on how many sick people needed a restroom left open for their urgent, but unpredictable needs).

The evening devotional was done at either 6:30pm or 7:00pm depending on what other activities were planned for the evening. The devotionals were a good way to equally relax and be re-energized as we focused on God’s word. I observed that the couple times a devotional was not done (due to wandering team members or other encroaching activities) that the team did not function in unity as well as they had previously and that both their physical and spiritual energy was subdued. It affirmed my belief that it is imperative for short-term missionaries to daily stay connected to their Power Source to be the most effective workers for the Lord.

A few days into the trip, James suggested we introduce the team to the “mission song” we learned while on other MVI projects. I do not know its title or composer, but it is a simple and catchy tune sung at full volume and finished off with your fisted-hand raised as you loudly proclaim “Hey!”.  After our morning devotional we sang this song with gusto:

Good morning it’s God’s morning

Whether skies are sunny or gray.

Good morning it’s God’s morning

Hope you have a wonderful day!

Hey!

And then off we went, filled with godly joy, to be ambassadors for Christ!

Day Three of construction:

Day Four of Construction:

Window frames were temporarily set in to install the blocks around them accurately

Day Five of Construction:

Day Six of Construction:

Day Seven of Construction--just need the front section done:

Day Eight of Construction:  Installing metal roof

The Ripple Effect

What is a ripple? It can be viewed as a disturbance in an environment that is an interruption in something or someone’s current status. After the disturbance that status can return to normal or be forever changed.

When was the last time you skipped a rock on a lake? Or even just lobbed a rock as far as you could out into the lake? Whether the water is calm or rough the ripples from the rock entering the water go out in all directions…even come back towards you.

God works that same way in our life. He can drop a pebble (or a boulder, if needed) into our life and it not only affects us but it can ripple out and influence others around us. God uses these situations for His glory and our good. And we, Team Northern Lights, were blessed to see it happen time and again during (and even after) the mission trip.

The church members in Peñitas prayed for a new church. And the ripples began. God began working in the lives of people from Alaska to Oregon to Australia to Canada. He began calling people to financially support the building of the church. He began calling people to become construction missionaries. He began working in the hearts of the people living in the community surrounding the Peñitas church. He began calling church members in the city of Plan de Ayala to open their hearts and church to strangers from foreign lands.

We thought we were simply building a church for a community in need. It has turned out to be more far reaching than that. One local man (in Peñitas) skeptically said that if the Peñitas congregation could get strangers to come and build them a church then he would come to church. We did and I hope he has!

There is an upcoming evangelism series in Plan de Ayala where the local congregations will come together and share the Gospel with the community. God used our presence in Plan de Ayala and Peñitas in preparation for this series as a witness for Him. Every where we went people wanted to know who we were and what we were doing. Everyone was talking about the strangers in town who came thousands of miles to build a church. Ripples…

The ripples weren’t contained only in Mexico. God began to work in the Northern Lights team member’s hearts as well. He taught us valuable lessons in humility, perseverance, joy, and love for God and man. I have heard that some team members are reading the Bible more and sharing their faith with others with a new ease. One team member is studying with our local Pastor to be baptized! We are so excited to see God at work around us on a daily basis.

On January 30, 2010 Team Northern Lights will have the opportunity to share their recent God infused experiences with the Hillside-O’Malley congregation in Anchorage, AK. We are anticipating God using The Ripple Effect to reach people in new and exciting ways.

To God be the glory!

Lynda

Over the River and Through the Woods...to Church We Go!

How did you get to church last Sabbath?  Whether it was an old faithful clunker or a sleek new ride, you arrived at the church in mere minutes and without a blemish on your Sabbath clothes.

For our brethren in Peñitas, it requires commitment and perseverance.  And rubber boots!  By foot or by horse they come on Sabbath...crossing fields and rivers along the way.  The children remain at home if the river is too high for them to cross safely.

James and Janell following a local church member up a muddy hill to her house.

Carefully through barbed wire fences...

 

Gingerly over the slippery river rocks...

Or if you're fortunate, on horseback...

Across miles of rolling farm land...

Janell ready for the trip with umbrella, boots, poncho and a borrowed horse:

James and Elizabeth ready to cross another river along the journey:

Is that Little White Riding Hood?  Or a caped crusader?

James mastered his fear of being bit (again) and rode a horse for part of the trip:

Livin' the Life Ladies!

I don't want to scare off the ladies with all the talk about roughin' it in Mexico! We truly spoiled our lady missionaries...

We indulged our kitchen staff with comfortable chairs:

Played Hide 'n' Seek in the rain...

Found time to practice dancing and singing...in the rain...

Had ample time for the niceties in life (the only hairy legs were on the spiders!)...

Allowed plenty of personal time for our ladies to contemplate life...

We were truly pampered princesses...

January 1, 2010 – Second Day at Work

The first day of 2010 started at what seemed a very early hour--we woke up blurry eyed and tired due a sleepless night. As I’ve mentioned before Mexicans love very loud music and New Years Eve brought loud rhythmic, thumping music all night long and into the early morning hours. We could hear fireworks and gun fire throughout the long night.

James and Maria traveled to Villahermosa in the afternoon of December 31st and made the decision not to overnight there, but to return to Plan de Ayala after picking up Ben and Elizabeth. Unfortunately Elizabeth’s flight was again turned around (this time back towards Houston), but she eventually arrived safely in Villahermosa. The four weary travelers drove to our base camp in the dark night surrounded by fireworks, gunfire, and bon fires beside and even in the road. James felt a heavy load on his shoulders as he navigated the two hour trip to the La Fe church where we were fervently praying for their safe arrival. I breathed a prayer of gratitude when the van pulled into the courtyard around 1 a.m. on January 1st.

Our morning devotional, What are Your Fears?, seemed very appropriate after a nerve wrecking night. We continued our study of Matthew 14 by focusing on verses 22-27 as well as John 14:27. Comfort was found through Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with thee”.

James and Elizabeth stayed at camp on Friday to catch up on sleep. The participants building the church headed off for their second day on the job. The commute involved two vans—one rented by the team from Avis and a second van owned by a church elder whose services we hired for the entire trip.

The road to Peñitas was very slow going. It was filled with muddy, deep potholes and speed bumps. The vans, both with a chassis low to the ground and overfilled with people and gear, had to take the bumps and larger potholes from a sideways position. The driver would approach it at an angle and proceed first with one front wheel then slowly turning the opposite way for the second front wheel to make it over. The same was repeated for the back wheels.

For someone like me who gets motion sickness from repeated back and forth and up and down movements, the drive was miserable! I had to wear motion sickness wrist bands, chew ginger gum, and take a homeopathic anti-nausea medication. If someone asked me what I considered the “worst” part of the trip, this was the one thing that I would put in that category.

Work progressed nicely at the Peñitas church. The team was able to get multiple levels of blocks installed. After the team returned to the base camp, I heard one worker say with a smile and a chuckle: “I don’t know how many times I redid that one block. If it wasn’t done well they’d tell me to take it out and do it again!”. Building a block church was new to many of us and since the Bible says to “do everything unto the Lord” perfection (or as close to it as possible) was expected in all we did during the trip.

We had the opportunity to watch the Plan de Ayala lovingly prepare their sanctuary for Sabbath services. We were invited to worship with them for their Friday night services and then again for Sabbath. The Le Fe members are such loving people that we felt instantly at home with them.

We closed our evening with a devotional titled Do Your Assignment that focused on the Levite clans of the Kahathites and the Merari. The lesson was that every duty assigned by God has equal importance—even if it is a humble duty. As with all the other devotionals, we looked at how the lesson applied to our work on the mission team as well as how we could apply it to our Christian life when we returned home.

La Fe member preparing flowers for the sanctuary:

Doug laying first row of block on back wall of church:

Chad laying first row of block on one side of church:

Yves mixing mortar:

Second work day:  2 rows of block layed on

three sides of the church:

December 31, 2009 - One-Day Church Frame

The kitchen crew was up bright and early at 5:30am...well not so bright; sunrise wasn't until 6:43am. Breakfast was served at 7am followed by our morning singing and devotional.  He's Able was probably the teams most sung tune followed by Standing on the Promises and Shine, Jesus Shine.

Today's devotional was titled 'Facing Difficulty' and was based on Matthew 14:22-24 and James 1:2-4.  It stressed that difficult circumstances will come our way and with the Lord's help we can not only accept it, but find joy in it.  We recited our team scripture (Isaiah 30:21) and our team motto:  "Faith, Teamwork, Flexibility!" and sent our workers off for their first day on the jobsite.

The foundation had been poured long before our coming and stood waiting for our arrival.  It was a sign of the church members faithfulness and willingness to make sacrifices to spread the Good News throughout the community.  They prayed fervently for a new church home and God had answered them through Maranatha and Team Northern Lights.

The One-Day Church came neatly wrapped in a box.  The plans were laid out, the boxes opened, and parts organized for installation.  The crew easily worked together to begin the installation and soon the new church frame took shape.  Local church members took turns filling in on each others farms so that members could have the opportunity to join us in building their new church.  They took an active role in the building process.

Sabbath school room on the left, church on the right with

foundation for new church in front:

Chad

Team Northern Lights construction leaders and local

Maranatha crew reviewing plans:

George, Doug, and local crew

And the work begins...

Steve, Cazort, George, Doug, and Bob

Assembling the roof beams:

Doug, Scott, and Bob reaching for the sky!

Monkey see, monkey do???

Chad, Yves, Steve, Rincon on scaffolding;

Bob, Doug, and locals on the ground.

Raising the roof truss:

Chad and Steve on scaffolding;

Doug, local workers, and Bob on the ground.

Almost in place:

Chad, Yves, Steve, and Rincon on scaffolding;

Bob, Doug, and local crew on ground

Chad installing and Steve helping:

Rincon inside structure, Steve outside

Additional metal trusses installed;

Joseph on scaffolding

Joseph, George, and Bob (partly in picture)

helping local workers unload truck:

Local worker:

Church member, Lino:

We recommended frequent rest breaks for team members;

Beverly

And water breaks;

Steve

Blue tarp being installed over One-Day Frame: