and we have much to do. We need to paint the kitchen, clean up the backyard, dispose of belongings, sell the vehicles (anyone want an '05 Mitsubishi Outlander?), and get everything into storage. Wow. We have 5 weeks from today. God is in control of the details...and I'm learning patience.
The people who had planned to rent our house ran into an issue...so we are looking for renters again. We aren't asking much, just enough to cover the house payment and the home warranty. We prayed that this couple would be able to do this, but a situation arose, so now we're praying again. I have to trust that the Lord will handle it all for us. If He called us to Guatemala, then He'll provide.
The financial part of leaving for a mission isn't easy. We're both people who DISLIKE having to ask people for money. We are at only 40% of our monthly needed support. We need to be at 90% before we are able to leave for Guatemala. We want to be able to leave on August 4, since we have plane tickets for that day. This means that we still need at least 40 people to partner with us by giving at least $30 a month. Donation information is to the right of this blog. I know God will take what is given and bless it abundantly! Please, if you are into missions, and want to see how your money will be used, go to http://www.mvi.org/. Our directors have a description of one of the pastors that they work with in Guatemala on the front page of the website.
Our mission focus is:
to help our directors, Randy and Brenda Purcell, in their ministry efforts by providing support for the short-term mission teams that come to Guatemala. The mission house in San Lucas will be our priority, ensuring the teams that come to further God's plans for the Guatemalan people are well-cared for during their stay. We believe God has called us back to Guatemala after our short-term mission with CMA and MVI. We also want to interact with the Christian motorcycle community in Guatemala.
We'll be caring for the short-term teams, maintaining the mission house compound, and working with our directors to help them further their ministry efforts. Their primary role is Missionary Ventures Directors for Central & Southern Guatemala. Randy and Brenda oversee Pastor Sponsorship programs, Feeding Center Programs and other developmental projects in Guatemala. There are currently fifteen feeding center locations throughout Guatemala. The Purcells assist pastors and Christian leaders through practical ways such as fundraising, work teams (construction, evangelism, medical, youth, etc.) and supplies and equipment. The Purcells facilitate ISOM Bible schools programs for pastors and leaders in the interior of the country where continuing Bible education is desperately needed but difficult to find. The Purcells are using evangelistic films in remote areas as another way to help pastors reach the lost. Brenda also hosts a monthly pastors’ wives meeting in their home in addition to the monthly pastors’ breakfast held in the capitol city. The Purcells do all this in addition to managing the mission house. How they ever rest is quite beyond me!
The short-term teams are invaluable. There is a team that comes down in November that is very special to us, the CMA team. They will be delivering motorcycles to national pastors that were purchased with Run For the Son monies. Other teams come to do construction, or hold a medical clinic, or do evangelism. The teams would have to raise more money to come to Guatemala if they were not able to stay in the mission house. Because of its location, teams are able to travel anywhere in Guatemala in a day. This all allows for money to be used to further God's plans in Guatemala.
Let me give you a few statistics about Guatemala. There are almost 14 million people there, and 96% of them are under the age of 64. What does that tell you about conditions there? Outside Guatemala City, there are villages who have had power less than 5 years. Almost none of them have indoor plumbing. But they are willing to serve the Lord, despite what we would see as crisis situations if that was happening in the US. Teams that come down can help with many different projects, and help ensure that the Guatemalan people are better equipped to care for themselves, both physically and spiritually.
The Lord says to "come and follow Me" so that's what we're doing. Ignoring the call, or refusing to do what we are told to isn't an option. We are just depending on those who will be "senders" to help partner with us to get to Guatemala and then stay there. Please, prayerfully consider partnering with us.
God Bless y'all!
Lisa
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
God is so amazing...
and the way He provides for us is just unbelievable sometimes. We spent from May 31st to June 11th in Orlando, FL for orientation and training at Missionary Ventures, International. The training was wonderful, and the people who are Missionary Ventures are the best! We learned so much, from the aspects of being a missionary to keeping your spiritual life at its peak. I am so glad we went. We made wonderful friends as well as getting mentors that will help us as we move to Guatemala and after we arrive.
The highlights of the training were our interview with the personnel committee (The Board of MVI) and Friday's ordination/commissioning ceremony. We were so nervous meeting the committee. You need their approval to go to work with Missionary Ventures, and because we haven't always been perfect people, we were a bit worried. It was a wonderful meeting! Such nice people. The commissioning/ordination ceremony was too cool! Bill and I have been ordained by the Orlando North Community Church. That tickles me, because who would have thought we would be considered pastors? But we can, as Pastor Rob said, "marry and bury people" now. Too funny!
We are leaving in 7 weeks. 7 weeks. 49 days. ARGH! We have much to do, and funds to raise. At this time, we have met our start-up budget, and are about 30% funded for monthly support. Here's our issue...we have 7 weeks to be at 90% funding or we don't get to go. We need approximately 60 people to pledge at least $20 a month in order to go and be funded each month. We are trusting in the Lord that He will open people's hearts and let them know how they can support us. We'd like everyone who might consider supporting us to pray before you decide!
We know that we have been called to Guatemala. Missionary Ventures is the group we want to work with, mainly because they don't go in and "help" by doing things for the needy people. MV is dedicated to working with the indigenous people, teaching them to be self-sufficient in all they do. Missionary groups who go in and "do" everything make the indigenous people dependent, and that isn't good for anyone. I'd rather work with people and teach them, than to have them be dependent on me for everything.
I hope that you will read this...and let God lead you! As the Mercy Me song says, "Where You lead, I will follow." We're following His call, and we'd like you to as well!
God Bless Y'all,
Lisa
The highlights of the training were our interview with the personnel committee (The Board of MVI) and Friday's ordination/commissioning ceremony. We were so nervous meeting the committee. You need their approval to go to work with Missionary Ventures, and because we haven't always been perfect people, we were a bit worried. It was a wonderful meeting! Such nice people. The commissioning/ordination ceremony was too cool! Bill and I have been ordained by the Orlando North Community Church. That tickles me, because who would have thought we would be considered pastors? But we can, as Pastor Rob said, "marry and bury people" now. Too funny!
We are leaving in 7 weeks. 7 weeks. 49 days. ARGH! We have much to do, and funds to raise. At this time, we have met our start-up budget, and are about 30% funded for monthly support. Here's our issue...we have 7 weeks to be at 90% funding or we don't get to go. We need approximately 60 people to pledge at least $20 a month in order to go and be funded each month. We are trusting in the Lord that He will open people's hearts and let them know how they can support us. We'd like everyone who might consider supporting us to pray before you decide!
We know that we have been called to Guatemala. Missionary Ventures is the group we want to work with, mainly because they don't go in and "help" by doing things for the needy people. MV is dedicated to working with the indigenous people, teaching them to be self-sufficient in all they do. Missionary groups who go in and "do" everything make the indigenous people dependent, and that isn't good for anyone. I'd rather work with people and teach them, than to have them be dependent on me for everything.
I hope that you will read this...and let God lead you! As the Mercy Me song says, "Where You lead, I will follow." We're following His call, and we'd like you to as well!
God Bless Y'all,
Lisa
Friday, June 10, 2011
Ordained and commissioned!
We wrapped up our training in Orlando with an ordination and commissioning ceremony. I never dreamed that I would be an ordained minister...but here I am! The ceremony was amazing, and we joined 7 others in receiving our orders to "Go and tell the world about the Gospel of Jesus Christ."
I'm borrowing from Donna and Billy Hires, who will be our pastoral mentors on the field. (Talk about a fantasic couple! We're blessed to be paired with them.) Donna posted this on her Facebook after the ceremony, and it's perfect.
I'm borrowing from Donna and Billy Hires, who will be our pastoral mentors on the field. (Talk about a fantasic couple! We're blessed to be paired with them.) Donna posted this on her Facebook after the ceremony, and it's perfect.
Matthew 28: 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Isaiah 6:8-11 describes a conversation that Isaiah overhears in which God is asking, "Whom then shall I send? Whom will go?" and Isaiah answers, "Here I am, Lord, send me." Here we are, Lord...ready to be sent in your name.
Our departure date is scheduled for August 4. We are excited, and nervous. We have 6 weeks to do 4 motorcycle rallies, pack our house up, and get everything into storage or sold. We're selling most everything, except personal items that mean a lot to us. What we can't sell, we'll give to Goodwill. The Lord has put it upon us that we aren't to make a fortune on anything we sell, just get rid of it somehow. Someone will benefit from what we have to get out of the house, I'm sure.
Our funding is the issue that we request prayer for at this time. We are at approximately 30% monthly funding, and MV says we must be at 90% before we can leave. The plane tickets are purchased, so now it's a case of trusting God to open people's minds and hearts to support our mission.
I know that "running a mission house" doesn't sound very important, but it truly is. We will be there to provide hospitality and support to all mission teams that come in. That means that we'll see 10-12 teams in our first year, and each will stay 7-10 days. We will maintain the house and vehicles, ensure that all the teams need will be there, and feed them. Yes, feed them. Sometimes there will only be a few people, other times there could be more than 20! With Bill and I managing the mission house, our directors Randy and Brenda Purcell will have more time to do their calling, which is supervise 18 (yes, eighteen) feeding centers, over 50 pastoral couples, host pastors' conferences and support meetings, and run a Bible College. That's more than a lot...it's an overwhelming burden, and Randy and Brenda handle it with grace each day.
Please, consider partnering with us as we move to Guatemala. We're following God's call, and His Great Commission. Pray that the doors are opened, and people step up to further the spread of the Gospel.
God Bless Y'all!!
Lisa
Thursday, June 2, 2011
In training...I'm tired!
We started mission training on Wednesday, June 1, and though Orlando is reputed to be beautiful, we've not seen much of the city. Being in class every day from 8:30 to 5 keeps us from doing a lot, because we are absolutely exhausted at the end of the day.
Missionary Ventures is a phenomenal place, and the staff are wonderful. It's been two days so far, and my brain is so crammed full of information that I can't think anymore. Every single day is stuffed with speakers, and we sit and absorb as much as we can. We'll be here until the 11th. We have specialized team leader training for people who will guide short-term mission trips on Saturday, and Monday we meet with the personnel committee, who will give us the final stamp of approval. Please pray that we meet the personnel committee's expectations.
Our other battle is monthly support. We are trusting that God will lead mission-minded people to provide our monthly support. We need to be at 90% of our budget per month before we can leave. We're scheduled to leave August 4th, and we're only at 15-20% of what we need. Please pray that people will step up and commit to providing what they can per month. God can provide miracles, and we're believing our funding will be one!
The mission house will be our primary focus, and we're determined to provide a restful, serene place for the mission teams that come in to serve in Guatemala. We will be under the supervision of our country directors, Randy and Brenda Purcell. Our goal is to make the mission house productive, and allow Randy and Brenda to spend more time working on their ministry (which is huge!). There are three lots at the mission house, and we will care for all of them. There is the lot with the mission house on it, an empty lot, and a lot with a vacant house. We'd like to make the mission more self-sufficient by adding to the garden and raising chickens. The housekeeper, Blanca, comes in every other day and has a small garden there for herself and her family. Hopefully she'll teach me to grow native plants, and also how to cook native dishes. The food she served us in November was delightful!
Please pray that we meet the personnel committee's approval, and that people will commit to providing support for us as we prepare to move to Guatemala and serve the Lord.
God Bless y'all!
Lisa
Missionary Ventures is a phenomenal place, and the staff are wonderful. It's been two days so far, and my brain is so crammed full of information that I can't think anymore. Every single day is stuffed with speakers, and we sit and absorb as much as we can. We'll be here until the 11th. We have specialized team leader training for people who will guide short-term mission trips on Saturday, and Monday we meet with the personnel committee, who will give us the final stamp of approval. Please pray that we meet the personnel committee's expectations.
Our other battle is monthly support. We are trusting that God will lead mission-minded people to provide our monthly support. We need to be at 90% of our budget per month before we can leave. We're scheduled to leave August 4th, and we're only at 15-20% of what we need. Please pray that people will step up and commit to providing what they can per month. God can provide miracles, and we're believing our funding will be one!
The mission house will be our primary focus, and we're determined to provide a restful, serene place for the mission teams that come in to serve in Guatemala. We will be under the supervision of our country directors, Randy and Brenda Purcell. Our goal is to make the mission house productive, and allow Randy and Brenda to spend more time working on their ministry (which is huge!). There are three lots at the mission house, and we will care for all of them. There is the lot with the mission house on it, an empty lot, and a lot with a vacant house. We'd like to make the mission more self-sufficient by adding to the garden and raising chickens. The housekeeper, Blanca, comes in every other day and has a small garden there for herself and her family. Hopefully she'll teach me to grow native plants, and also how to cook native dishes. The food she served us in November was delightful!
Please pray that we meet the personnel committee's approval, and that people will commit to providing support for us as we prepare to move to Guatemala and serve the Lord.
God Bless y'all!
Lisa
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