Michael Capshaw's Reflections on Chiapas

While I sit and reflect on the trip to Chiapas, the most lasting memory is the smiles of the children in the poverty stricken village of Chacacal. As we were driving down the road that led to their village there was a young boy sprinting behind the van. Barefoot and eager to meet us, he ran for at least a half mile. As we got closer we noticed more children running as well. There was excitement in the air. We could see it in them, later they saw it in us.

I knew that the next few days would be filled with God's word, good stories, and hard work, but nothing could prepare me emotionally for what was to come. This poor community had a "special" meal prepared for us. It was eggs and beans. They rarely ate eggs and typically reserved them for a special occasion. They also killed a bull for us so we could have meat the next day. I felt so loved in this village so far from home by people who did not even know me.

We got done with our meal that first day and everyone was sitting around not really knowing what to do. We decided to go grab a soccer ball (futbol) from the van. Within minutes there were over a dozen children running back and forth kicking the ball around (still barefoot) and having a good time. I was not able to easily communicate with anyone so this was a good ice breaker and a way to build trust. We ended up playing soccer for well over an hour. It was hard for me to believe that in a village in Mexico where everyone knows soccer that they had no soccer ball. It was sad when I realized the reason was that they could not afford one.

I thought I knew poverty from previous mission experiences. I worked with some Navajo on a reservation when I was in junior high, but this place made the Navajo look like kings. The lack of running water  made even the most simple tasks difficult. For instance, to get water to mix with the concrete the children would take a bucket to the river and bring it back. Washing hands? Forget about it. We dipped our hands in a bucket before we gathered around the table to eat.  

We got to spend a lot of time working with the children. The smiles and laughter coming from their beautiful faces was enough to make me vow to return. I have never seen people with so little be so happy. The first morning after waking to rooster crows at 4:00, 4:30, 4:45, 5:30, and 6:00, I finally decided the dogs barking too was enough to get out of my sleeping bag. I went outside to read my Bible and there were several people walking by. I could not help but to notice their  smiles. I sat and had a good ten or fifteen minutes to reflect on happiness. I was convicted. I realized that sometimes we Americans tend to feel like we need more to be happy. All we really need is to trust in God and to learn to be content with what we have; just as they were content with what they had – almost nothing.

We worked hard every day. At least three of us had blisters after the first day of using their primitive tool handles in the garden. I was perplexed the first two days by the  amount of people just standing around watching us work. Initially, I was upset. What were all these people doing standing around watching? The more I thought about it, the more I got it. They were impressed. They saw something different in us. Something that perhaps they had not seen before. They saw gringos working hard for no apparent reason. I believe this is what stirred a lot of the excitement. By the third day of working there were others, that had been watching the previous days, who joined in and helped to work hard.

When we spoke to the church everything had to be translated from English to Spanish (thank God for Dulce!) and then Spanish to Tzutzil, the Mayan dialect they spoke. It actually worked out well. The language barrier was tough, but it was interesting to see how love could completely destroy such a barrier. I felt connections with several people that I did not speak a single word to. God was moving in Chacacal. God is working in Chacacal. There is much work still to be done.

I would like to thank the church for all the prayers. I would also like to ask for continued prayer for Chacacal and the work that is being done there. The seminary in San Cristobal has wonderful plans to help this community prosper, but it does not come without price. It also does not come without hard work and sacrifice. One day I hope to be able to take a trip back to Chiapas with some more members of the church.

Thank you again.     

-Michael Capshaw

Concrete Block and Fresh Fish

April 13, 2012
Dave DeMott

We have finished work on day 2 (of our work, day 3 of our trip) and
are getting ready for dinner.  Instead of eating out, which is just as
cheap as making our own dinners, we decided to allow the cooks among
us to show us their Martha Stewart skills.  On the way to the work site
we stopped by a market to get fresh fish and fresh vegetables.  The
fish had been caught within the day.  We brought the fish back and I
(Dave) just finished helping clean the shrimp; which were about as big
as I've seen.  (We saw shrimp boats off shore last night when we went
for ice cream.)  We will have grilled fish and a Mexican salad that
looks, well, Mexican.

At the site we worked to get more blocks up.  We are actually getting
the hang of it.  We are becoming masons.  Earlier we met a group of
ladies who have a Bible study that Joyce Reed leads.

The funny for the day was when Hulio, the pastor of a small church,
asked if Dave Morton (pastor at Rangely) and I were from the same
church.  Dave told him that we were from different churches.  Hulio
then came over and put his arm around me and pointed to our slightly
rotund midrifts.  I then jokingly patted his rotund midrift with a
trowel.  He then said that around here, his congregation calls his
midrift his pulpit.  That left me in a bit of a quandry. because I'd like to
get rid of my (personal) pulpit.

We had several Spanish lessons and when Ramon almost hit me with a
rock while I passed underneath his work on the second floor, we simply
exchanged almost-giggle smiles.  It's funny how smiles, like music, is
an international language.

We will give a more thorough overview of our trip when we get home,
but right now the fish are ready...

Our First Day of Work

April 12, 2012

Sherry Burns

Sherry Burns

Work day one was an illustration of what power we have in our lives if we wait on the Lord.  The Master’s hand is necessary for production.  We arrived about 10:00 ready to go.  Nine novice mason’s with all the knowledge we could possibly imagine.  We gathered all our tools and promptly passed about 200 cinderblocks up to the second floor with speed and agility working as tight brothers and sisters with a very efficient assembly line.  We were stoked.  We were going to hammer this job out in record time.  We got the cement mixer set up with a rope and bucket up to the second floor and began sending it up with four of our “best” professional masons on the roof.  After two hours of putting up about 10 blocks over and over again, trying to get them straight and level the true Master Mason and his two trained buddies showed up.  After checking out our work it had to come down just one more time.  The Master kindly picked up the block, laid some cement on the wall and tied off the strings to keep them straight.  Our “best” looked on in amazement as he placed the blocks with little effort and great precision.  Within three more hours, there were four walls in place, perfectly aligned and finished to perfection. 

Pastor David Morton

Seminary in La Paz

Isn’t that the way we are sometimes?  Don’t worry God I’ve got this one covered.  I don’t need to wait on you.  I’ve got all the knowledge I need to complete this task set before me.  We try and try of our own strength and knowledge.  We work and work and end up with absolutely nothing done right.  We finally surrender to the Master’s hand and with ease in our lives with no strength of our own, we accomplishes the task He chose for us.  Did you get that?  HE accomplishes the task using our hands and feet with no effort of our own strength.  He has the task already worked out, all we have to do is wait on the Master.    Sherry Burns

Hello from La Paz

La Paz, Baja, MX

April 11, 2012

Mike Oldham

It is my first trip to La Paz. I think I am experiencing a little culture shock. After spending a week in Chiapas, returning home for ten days, and now spending a week in La Paz.

There are so many differences. This is Mexico as I imagined it growing up: tall cacti, mesquite trees, lots of sand, and bad windy roads. We are also staying about three blocks for the Sea of Cortez.You can learn more about La Paz:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Paz,_Baja_California_Sur
•  images of La Paz

We are staying at a little pasada called Casabueno. It is run by an African-American who now lives in La Paz. He has a yellow (white) lab named Cracker, too good for words.

While in La Paz, we will be working on the seminary with David and Joyce Reed. We will be laying block, mixing concrete, and doing some electrical work.

There are nine of us on this trip. David Morton, pastor of FBC Rangely is the trip leader. Josh and Mike are from his church. Dave DeMott and Stephanie are from FBC Grand Junction. From FBC Delta, we have Mike and Sherry Burns and Rosa. I’m sorry I don’t have last names. I will try to post a group picture tomorrow.

Good night friends.

Wrapping up the Trip

March 31, 2012
Mike Oldham

We are on our last day in Chiapas. Please continue to check this blog for the next couple of days, I hope to get some other reflections posted by each of the team members.

This morning we had breakfast at the Zapatista Restaurant and we have done a lot of shopping.

Today they are celebrating the 484 anniversary of the founding of San Cristobal. There are tons of people, dancing, etc. I can't imagine what it will be like tonight.

At 3:00 p.m., we will go to the Seminary, SIM, and meet with the students and Ricardo Mayol one last time. We will be thinking and dreaming about how we can form a lasting partnership with the people of Chiapas.

Prayer Requests:

1. Our trip home: Normally, this is not much of a concern. I am not a nervous traveler. However, tonight is the beginning of daylight savings time. And, there has frequently been miscommunication about who is picking us up and at what time (we were three or four hours late leaving Chacacal). With an early flight tomorrow, a two hour drive, and the time change, I am nervous about the connections.
2. Pray for Doris: Doris is having some significant health issues. She has been back in Puerto Rico for over three months. We are concerned about her health and the ministry in Chiapas.
3. Pray for a church planter: ABCRM is in the beginning stages of planting another church in Colorado. While this is very early, we want to make sure we are seeking God's guidance and trusting God to provide the right church planter (perhaps a pastor here in Mexico) to work with this new church. 
4. Pray for us to find was of working together that empowers the people here, not create dependency on us.

I am sure there are other prayer requests, but those are the ones most on my heart today as I write to you. Hasta luego .

Mike Oldham

Humbled

March 29, 2012
Dulce Garcia

Today is Thursday (I think?!) and day 6 of our trip. My skin is darker, my back is sore, my voice is a little more scratchy, and my heart is both full and heavy. We have just spent the last 3 days in the very poor, very small community of Chacacal in the municipal village of Simojovel. When I say small and poor, I mean we literally bathed in the little river in town. This community has no running water, they cook over an open flame, and there is barely any electricity. Our time spent there consisted of a lot of playing with the beautiful… and I mean beautiful children of the village. Their smiles could light up a room and anyone’s heart (and probably the whole village if their power went completely out!). It addition to playing with the kids, we obviously came to do WORK! So work we did, let me tell you… I have never worked so hard in my life (& I’m not sure the guys on the team had either… even by their own admission). Our first afternoon there we helped to build gardens. The dream of the seminary students is that the people of Chacacal have their own sustainable agriculture and development. As soon as we planted the last seed the rain came… and then the fun! I spent the next hour playing futbol in the rain with the children. The vast majority of these children, mind you, had no shoes and still played fearlessly and with as much (if not more) joy than I have ever seen in children.

The following day (Tuesday, day 4) was the hardest. We got to work on two different houses of two of the men that are leaders of the Baptist church in the village. Some of our team was putting the walls made of adobe blocks, and the group I was with got to dig 10 different holes to help with the structure of the house. We began the project with the sun on one side of the sky and as we worked, we watched it make its way clear to the opposite side of the sky. We continued to work on the homes the next day, ate with the family who heads up the church, and you guessed it ended the day with more playing!

Our time in Chacacal was incredibly humbling. I continued to utilize my translating… but in Chacacal our times together were tri-lingual as we had to overcome the Tzotzil language, then to Spanish, and then to English. Many of the people spoke Spanish, but there were several who did not. This was the first time I had been to a country where I encountered a language that I was not able to speak and it was tougher than I had imagined. At the same time however, the children were quick to step in and help build the bridges for us. Most of the people in Chacacal (& the majority in this region of Chiapas) are indigenous people of Mayan descent, and have endured years of discrimination from the Mexican population. This is a part of my heritage that I never knew and it was heartbreaking to hear. I was thankful to show these people the love of Christ and to tell the women how beautiful they are and that I view them as sisters. Before we left the women of the main family we’d spent so much time with even gave me a parting gift, which left me speechless and humbled yet again. I pray that the Lord was able to use our interactions to bring some healing. 

2 down, 7 to go!

March 25, 2012
Dulce Garcia

It's been some years since I have had the privilege and honor to be a part of a missions trip team. I was invited to join the ABCRM team to Chiapas last year, but for several reasons was unable to join them then. I now know for certain that I was never intended to join that team... but that the Lord was saving my time in Chiapas, Mexico for such a time as this - to join hands with 4 other brothers from Colorado (3 of which had never been to Mexico on missions) and to join our hearts to the people of Chiapas.

We were off to a great start on both day 1 and day 2, however I think I speak for the team when I say that both days were long in their own regard. Saturday was our traveling day, and after two different layovers and one very very choppy landing in Mexico, we arrived. Day 2 was spent in San Cristobal ("San Cris") and mostly at the seminary that we have partnered with here in town. Now, I know I am not often short on words... but you can ask the team to verify that on this particular day I may have hit my quota of speaking! Part of my role on this team is to act as translator between the Spanish-English barrier. As many may have noticed, Colorado isn't exactly booming with Latin/Hispanic culture/people, so even though I grew up in a bilingual home, I don’t often have occasion to practice my Spanish… much less flip the switch back and forth between both languages at a moments notice! Sunday (day 2) was all about our team learning from the students at the seminary. They shared anything and everything they could with us about Chiapas, the Mayan/Mexican cultures, the myriad of struggles the people face, the projects and programs they as students and as a seminary are dreaming of accomplishing, and much more!! All of this was done in Spanish; and through in several questions posed in English throughout the day and it made for a dry throat for me. Needless to say, by the end of the day, when the guys and me took a stroll around the town square/center of San Cris, I didn’t exactly click my heels in joy when I was asked to translate “Can I have ham on my subway sandwich?” and “I’d like to order a chocolate shake.” J Nevertheless, Sunday was a great day with no real complaints. It was full of shared knowledge and it was evident that the students and teachers at the seminary have a strong passion and huge heart for their community, their people, their state, their country, and even the world at large! It was certainly a challenge, as well as a great encouragement to hear this so sincerely from such young people (as most are in their very early twenties).

Wow from Chacacal

March 29, 2012

Michael Capshaw (a.k.a. "Jesus" because of his beard and long hair)

Wow is the first thing that comes to mind after our stay in Chacacal. I thought that I knew what poverty looked like, but this experience completely blew me away. No running water, minimal electricity, few shoes, bathing in the river, sleeping on the floor, and minimal variety in food are just a few things that we experienced. With the poverty there, it was incredible the amount of love present. The smiles of the children will be etched into my memory forever. From the first kick of the futbol to the last hug goodbye, the children touched my heart. We worked on  many different projects while there, but what I enjoyed most was the fellowship and building community. It was eye opening in many ways. It was difficult because when any of us (other than Dulce) spoke, it had to be translated from English to Spanish, then Spanish to the Mayan language used in the community. I got really sick last night, but I was just glad that we got the work done before I got sick. We worked on several projects. We built a garden, planted seeds, dug holes (tough work with only hand tools), and did adobe work on the walls of a house being built. Blisters were not uncommon from the tools we used. Even with gloves on, working with tools with handles made from tree branches was really hard on our hands. The heat also made work exceptionally difficult. The best thing was that we all worked hard without complaining. The community was touched and so were we. God was definitely moving in the hearts of the community. I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve and the team for staying so strong. 

Hard Work, Good Days

March 27, 2012

Chacacal, Chiapas, Mexico

A wonderful day, full of hard work. We are exhausted, except for Michael C. who does not seem to get tired. 

We are stuffed. This community has gone out of its way to provide food for us. Mostly black beans, rice, and noodles. Sometimes we have eggs.

Yesterday, we cultivated and terraced two gardens. We even got to plant one garden.

Chacacal is a small village with 79 kids and we don’t know how many adults. (Two of the young men form the church not only counted all the kids, but wrote down their names.) Like most of Chiapas, it is a mountain community, so everything is on the side of the hill.

Building terraces is the only way they are able to grow gardens. One of the things I have noticed in the village is the lack of vegetables. In San Cristóbal de Las Casas, the city, one of my favorite places to visit is the farmers market. You can buy almost any fruit or vegetable. I often go before breakfast and by some bananas and a mango or papaya. In Chacacal, we only get a few slices of potato or carrots in soup, never any fresh fruit.

The seminary students are trying to help the village women recover their history of growing vegetables for their family, thus the gardens. They are teaching both women from the church and from the community how to grow small gardens for their families.

Today, we worked much harder. We were digging the footers for the support posts for Pastor Mario’s new house. These had to be 80 centimeters (about 30 inches) deep and 80 centimeters square.  Mario has eight children and several brothers all living with his parents. Pastor Mario is 38 years old. (You can see him on the YouTube video explaining the new fish pond.) He really needs a new house. It took us all day to dig these ten holes. Digging around the rocks slowed the process to a crawl.

Others in our group helped lay adobe block.

We were all relieved when the rain came at about 3:30 p.m.

We had a late lunch, about the same time as the rain started. They killed a bull and prepared a stew with the beef ribs. This was, of course, accompanied by tortillas and Koolaid.

Then, two seminary students arrived with the leftovers from the bread that they sell to raise money for the students. The whole community shared this bread. Then we had dinner at 8:30 p.m. I am so stuffed.

Oh, we also had a time of teaching with about 50 children from the community. Rich Blanchette taught the lesson. The seminary students organized the activities. The rain complicated everything. Some of the adolescent boys colored pictures for more than two hours.

After dinner, we took a bath in the river, and if I finish this post, I will head to bed (the last one).

Tomorrow, more digging, more laying block, and a community basketball game. God is good. 

Hopefully we will get caught up with the blog by tomorrow.

Thank you Dulce

Mike Oldham

Dulce is the only female on our trip to Chiapas. She is the Family Ministries Director at First Baptist Church, Colorado Springs. Some people asked, “How does this fit in your ministry?” This was a particularly difficult time for her to leave her responsibilities in Colorado for a mission trip. She has work to do for classes at Denver Seminary. Her pastor is having some health concerns. And, Easter is coming.

I wish you could see Dulce. She is connecting, translating, laughing, and serving. The four guys from ABCRM on the trip are completely dependent on her willingness to serve.

At the seminary here in San Cristóbal de Las Casas, there are a number of young women. These women have few role models in ministry. For them to see Dulce as a (the) key part of our team is huge. She is a young female in ministry. She is a seminary student. She is a person of Mexican descent who cares about them as indigenous (Mayan) people.

This week, Dulce is serving as your missionary to Chiapas. FBC Colorado Springs, thank you for sharing her with us. Thank you for sending her as your missionary to Chiapas.

Dulce, thank you for your willingness to serve and be used by God.

Welcome to San Cristóbal de Las Casas

Mike Oldham

The trip to San Cristóbal de Las Casas is an all day journey. We left for the airport before 7:00 a.m., not too bad. We arrived in San Cristóbal a little after 10:00 p.m. Nothing compared to those who travel to Africa or Southeast Asia, but still a good day’s travel.

We had no issues along the way. No missed connections. No problems while on the way. We did have to circle the airport in Tuxtla Gutierrez. It is a little disconcerting when the pilot puts down the landing gear, you see the control tower, and then the pilot lifts the landing gear and powers back up.

We are staying at La Casa de Carmelita again this year. She had a wonderful dinner of stewed chicken and vegetables, rice, and, of course, tortillas. We then walked the four or five blocks down to the city center. The only places still open were a few bars and many restaurants, but we were at least able to get some fresh air.

It is chilly here. Tuxtla was about 80^o when we landed at 8:00 p.m. When we got to San Cristóbal de Las Casas, it was in the 40s.

Tomorrow, we are able to sleep in a little and then we go to the Seminary for orientation.  We will learn about the history of the Mayan people under Spanish and Mexican rule. We will learn about the way the Seminary is working with churches throughout the area. We will also get a chance to meet a few of the Seminary students and hear about their work in the area of sustainable development.

San Cristóbal is the hub of the Zapatista rebellion in 1994. When NAFTA went into effect, some of the people in Southern Mexico saw it as a disaster for the people. They led a revolt against the Mexican government. When we head to Chacacal on Monday, we will see some of the Zapatista communities that still consider themselves independent of Mexico.

We also found out that Chuck Shawver will be taking us to Tonina to tour the Mayan temple. I am glad that we will be able to reconnect.

Less than 24 Hours

Mike Oldham

Less than 24 hours until we get on the plane for Chiapas.

Please remember to pray for us as we travel tomorrow.

Once we get to Chiapas, we will drive to San Cristobal de Las Casas. We will spend the first two nights at Pasada Carmalita near the Seminary. Then we head out to Chacacal to work  on the project.

In addition to the five participants on the trip, please pray for Ricardo and Doris Mayol who will be hosting us. Pray also for Mario, Eleazar and other students at the Mayan Intercultural Seminary in San Cristobal de Las Casas.

I still haven’t finished packing, so I better get finished so I can get some sleep.

Ready, Set, Wait

I play basketball at the YMCA. In basketball, even Y Basketball, defense is not allowed to call time out when the ball is in play. This prevents a coach or player from interrupting a fastbreak or other play when the offense is about to score. I feel like someone keeps calling a time out on our trip to Chiapas.

I am ready to go. I have been thinking about this trip for a year now. We have our team assembled. Now it is time to go. However . . .

Just because I am ready, that does not mean that I have everything ready. We still have team members who are waiting on their passport. We still need to register with the State Department. We still need to take care of details. I still need to prepare some sermons in case I am invited to preach.

Ten days to get it all done and get on the plane.

TIME OUT!

I'm not ready yet.

Heading to Chiapas

In two weeks we will be on our way to Chiapas.

We are taking a great group of young adults to Chiapas to work in with Seminary students from Mayan Intercultural Seminary (SIM) in San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas and to work in the small village of Chacacal in the municipality of Simojovel, Chiapas. We will be working with Doris and Ricardo Mayol, ABC-IM missionaries to Chiapas.The group participants are
• Dulce Garcia, FBC Colorado Springs
• Rich Blanchette, Highland Park, Colorado Springs
• Quincy Shannon, New Hope, Denver
• Michael Capshaw, FBC Colorado Springs
• Mike Oldham, ABCRM staff

The village of Chacacal is one of the poorest in the province of Simojovel. Two seminary students, Eleazar and Mario, are working on sustainable development projects in this village. They are also working to improve the living standards of the people. We will be building two houses from adobe and working on a fish pond. Below, you can follow the link to Chacacal and see a video of the community and the digging of the fish pond.

Tentative Schedule for the trip:
• Saturday, March 24: Fly to Tuxtla Gutierrez and then drive to San Cristóbal
• Sunday, March 25: Worship, orientation, introduction to Seminary students, and travel to Chacacal
• Monday through Wednesday: Work in Chacacal. We will be building two houses and working on a fish pond for sustainable agriculture
• Thursday, March 29: Debrief and travel back to San Cristóbal de Las Casas
• Friday, March 30: Celebration with students at SIM and youth from neighboring churches
• Saturday, March 31: Tour of Tonina ruins
• Sunday, April 1: Return to Denver (Arrive at about 9:00 p.m.)


Helpful links:

• San Cristobal de Las Casas
• Simojovel

Project in Chacacal:

• Information about Chacacal 
•  YouTube Video of the project

Doris and Ricardo Mayol:

• IM Link 
• Ricardo Mayol on YouTube 
• Mayol's Website 

Information about Chamula and the ruins at Tonina

ABCRM Mission Experience to Haiti - 8/8

Greetings from Haiti! The team is alive and well and we appreciate everyone;s prayers. We have been working hard - really hard and having a good time. We are staying at a great guest house and have flush toilets and plenty of food. the first couple of days because of the threat of heavy rains we didn't work on the rubble houses but at the Conservative Baptist Fellowship school project. We built desks, twisted rebar, dug foundation and moved a lot of rocks. We are physically tired at the end of the day but it is good to return to the guest house for a cold shower, filling meal and evening devotion.

Saturday another team arrived - a college group from North Carolina and 3 from Canada. Sunday, we went to church (over 3 hours all in Kreole) and then spent the afternoon at the beach. We enjoyed spending lots of time in the ocean and it was great to give our bodies a chance to recover. Today we moved 7 truck loads of rubble (picked it up from large piles that are on the streets with buckets and shovels into the back of a truck). It takes about 3 truck loads to build one house so we felt great that we gathered more thatn enough material for two houses.

Today was Becky Whitaker's birthday. We sang Happy birthday numerous times and even had cake - in fact we had four cakes so everyone could have some.

Please continue to pray for the team. We have one more work day then we travel home on Wednesday. Also prayer for Don & Lynn's daughter who is 17 and the person who was staying with her had to go to the hospital.

Blessings-
the ABCRM Haiti Mission Team

ABCRM Mission Experience to Haiti - 8/4

We had a great day today. Tiga, our team coordinator was afraid that the Storm was going to pass through Grand Goave around 10 am so we didn't work on the rubble houses. Instead we helped another American Baptist mission team from Washington State build benches for a school. Along with an equal number of Haitians, a group measured lumber, cut the boards, assembled the legs, then screwed the benches together. the project started slow but once we saw the first one completed we kicked it into high gear. Plus, Emily stalled out before reaching Haiti and our temperature was milder than normal (another blessing).

Everyone is finding ways to serve. Robert uses his French, Lynn's Kreole is wonderful for recuiting workers and explaining things, Catey pitches in with any task, Haley has a great skill relating with the Haitians,and Becky works hard on individual projects or with a group.

The lodging and food has been great. Plus, we are inspired by all amazing people serving here.

ABCRM Mission Experience to Haiti - 8/3 #2

Greetings from Haiti!

The team arrived this morning around 9:30am. After 2 -3 hours of sleep, the group took a shuttle to the Ft. Lauderdale airport for our 7:30am flight. God was with us because there were extra seats in first class and five of us got bumped up. God is Good! The skies were clear and we enjoyed looking out over the Bahamas and Turks and Kakos on our way to Haiti. We arrived but our luggaged didn't; the bags are due in at 1pm. Tiga, our boss for the week, and a driver were at the airport to pick us up. Tiga suggested we go to an air conditioned fast food restaurant where we can hang out for a few hours instead of waiting at the hot airport.

And in the same building as the restaurant is a small internet cafe. I handed them $5 US, they gave me 160 Gourdes Goud back and let me use a very old computer.The space bar only works if you hit it twice but I am thankful for the opportunity to email you on behalf of the team.

Flying into Port Au Prince you can see beaches, low tin buildings and areas of tent homes. Lots of traffic, horns honking and much activity. The team is engaged in soaking it all in and Robert and Lynn are using their language skills to learm more about the people.

Thanks for your prayers. We heard Emily will arrive tonight. We will be gratefully to have our rain gear which most of us packed in our delayed suitcases.

Blessings-

Karen Van
ABCRM Haiti Mission Team

ABCRM Mission Experience to Haiti - 8/3

It has been a hard day of travel for the Haiti team. Our flight out of Denver was delayed about 1 1/2 hours (late arrival then mechanical problems)so we missed our connecting flight in Dallas. There wasn't another flight to Ft. Lauderdale that night so they rerouted us through Miami. That flight also left late and we arrived in Miami about 1 am and then had to take a shuttle to Ft. Lauderdale. We hope to get about three hours of sleep then catch the hotel shuttle to the airport at 5:30 am to get our 7:30 am flight to Port Au Prince. Our luggage is still in Dallas and won't make it to Ft Lauderdale until after our flight leaves for Haiti.

Please pray for the team
* Safe travels
* our luggage catches up with us soon
* The tropical storm Emily doesn't effect our work in Grand Groave
* that we will be a blessing to the people we encounter during this adventure.
blessings to all-

Karen, Becky, Lynn, Catey, Haley, Robert and Don

THAILAND MEMORIES

There are so many things that made this trip memorable. There are smells that will forever be associated with Thailand—garlic cooking in the street vendors booths for example; there are sounds that will forever
remind me of Chang Rai—roosters crowing at 3 a.m., dogs barking, lots of traffic sounds; the traffic in Bangkok that was scary because it was so heavy and so intense; the beauty of the temples and the Grand Palace of the King; the taste of marvelous Thai food that we experienced in so many ways. Mary Tellis, Karen VanValkenburgh and I were blessed with a great camaraderie and a chance to see mission up close and personal.

The missionaries that we met challenged us every step. The Dieselbergs in Bangkok met with us and gave us a tour of Nightlight Ministries. We had a chance to worship with them and meet the women who work at Nightlight (making beautiful jewelry). Karen Smith gave us a tour of New Life Center in Chang Mai and introduced us to the young ladies and their handcrafts. We worshiped at the Chang Mai Community Church and were truly blessed. Becky Mann showed us the Lanna Café and the coffee distributing business. The Akha ministry of Chang Rai was highlighted by Chuck and Ruth Fox. We were asked to help with a project at the Family Learning Center (the school where Ruth is principal). The library had compiled a database of their book holdings but needed some additional help with the input of grade levels. So we, Karen, Mary and I, helped with that project.

Karen also helped with the financial piece they are completing. The school will become an international school in the fall in the new building being completed as I write this. Chuck assists the Akha with water projects and also works with people with drug addictions. We visited the village of Sansouk to see the dormitories and food service areas where ABCRM is funding necessary improvements. Chuck and Ruth Fox took us to spend the night in Sukasem, another Akha village, to worship with them on the final weekend we were in Thailand. It was an awesome experience, with the young people leading the service. We sang familiar hymns and the love of God was expressed to all of us through our worship together.

The trip included some wonderful sightseeing. Bangkok is a beautiful city with the longest official city name in the world. (Don’t ask me to pronounce it or spell it!) There are huge shopping malls, but narrow streets and wide boulevards, beautiful homes next to small houses or huts, a huge river with city on both sides of it with a canal through the “new” Bangkok (started in the middle 1800s). The elephant camp outside Chang Mai was amazing and showed us what a marvelous animal it is. We visited the King’s mother’s flower gardens at Doi Tung, which were beautiful and so peaceful! The night markets were an experience!

How does one express all the emotions experienced during this kind of trip? How can one share the lessons learned, how people we worked with touched us? Each day was full of new experiences and we praised the Lord for each one and for each person we met, for the challenges offered. It is an experience that has changed my life and I know will continue to bless me, Mary and Karen. I challenge others to take a mission trip because each one will forever be changed and blessed.

Deanna Dyer

Thailand 2011

We are very excited to be able to help Sansuk. ABCRM transferred $1,000 US into the Foxes' account to be split between the Sansuk project and the Ahka Craft program. We are a the school his week working on the library/book order project and I spent yesterday working with their accounting staff to help with their conversion to QuickBooks. Friday Chuck will drive the group to Sansuk so we can visit the area where the improvements will be made.

We are having a great time-

Karen Van

The next six pictures are of the Sansuk kitchen and dorm that needs help. They are requesting a new refrigerator, cabinet, and stuff for the kids. They are also requesting funds for a new roof on the girls dorm which is quite expensive.













Chiang Rai


Chiang Rai


ABCRM gifts presented to the Family Learning Center where Ruth Fox is principal.


Ruth Fox


The gifts from ABCRM


Bus station in Chiang Mai


On a bus... luxury.


The new site of the Family Learning Center




Deanna and Mary doing English practice with a student from Korea

The Fair Trade Akha Craft Store (another Ruth Fox project)




Downtown Chiang Rai