Wed June 9th - by Matt Knowles

Today was an unbelievable day!!!! It was a hard working day between the continued construction projects at the school, the VBS program, and the painting projects at the Seminary.  Alot has been accomplished in terms of works, but even more has been accomplished in terms of changing of peoples hearts. We all are changing, the mission team members, the children, and the full time workers at Talita Cumi! There were several highlights from today that need to be mentioned. One of which is one that I had while bending rebar and making forms for concrete columns......so to summarize my hands were killing me from two solid days of metal work that I cannot really even describe (Lets just say....Its amazing what these people can accomplish with the resources that they have available), it was early and I knew I had a full day of this bending ahead of me, and all of a sudden VBS started up next door and I heard the most beautiful singing in the courtyard.....the voices of children singing out Santo, Santo , Santo.....Santo, Santo Santo.  All my discomfort went away within about 15 seconds.  Tonight before dinner I listened to my son (Bennett) singing the same song in the shower...and it was even more beautiful, because I knew he was impacted just like I was earlier in the day.  Later that morning a little girl in the 4th grade (Fernanda), accepted Christ into her heart, as the gospel was presented......praise God! Even in the middle of a City of 2 million.....a soul was claimed, and who knows how many other hearts were softened as she made her commitment.  I watched  Fletcher get his first taste of a really hard day of work in the sun....I was proud of him, and proud of all the children as they have served in a number of ways and connecetd with the children here.  It is great to see them play soccer, random games and just hug on the other kids.  I had the privilege of watching Fletcher and Bennett make friends with Cesar, Tiburcio, Yoselyn, Yain Carla and Juan Carlos.  I have watched my wife get bombarded today with hugs and kisses from the children. (One child Grismaldo who she had not even talked with just came and climbed into her lap today at lunch to read a bookmark to her in Spanish). Nicki had no idea what he was saying, but he was as happy as he could be to be in her lap and receive her hugs.


Just know that these people have nothing by the worlds standards, but I have now met and made friends with my Bolivian brother's and sisters in Christ.....and I have never felt more a part of the Body of Christ, and I have never felt more connected to EUMC.  Please continue to pray for us as we prepare to leave this place and say our goodbyes....tomorrow will be an emotional day as we leave these children and our new friends.

God Bless!  

Monday, June 7, 2010 by Vicky Jackson

The week-end was great, but it is time to get back to work. We started off our day with another hearty breakfast at our hotel. We met in the lobby at 8:00am to pray and get our schedule for the day. Then, we piled into our one bus and headed for our work stations. We were able to hold VBS outside at the school today, since it was not raining. When we arrived at the school, all of the children were outside celebrating Teacher Appreciation Day. They were singing and dancing while we were getting ready for VBS. At the end of their celebrating, the children started asking some of us to dance with them. I grabbed my camera and took pictures. I know that Earl, Holland, Fletcher, Jessica, Susan, and Kasey participated in the dancing. I'm sorry if I left any dancers out.
Thanks to Jarrod and Jessica for providing live music rather than singing with a CD. We sang four songs in Spanish. Holland read our scripture which was about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Then, we had game time and craft time. While I was watching the children play the game, a little boy came up and hugged me and said, "Era muy bonita cuando bailaba" which according to Jessica means "You were very beautiful when you were dancing."The only "dancing" that I had done was the motions to the songs. After VBS, we had lunch with the children from Talita Cumi. Then, we separated the North Carolina team and the Kansas team. The Kansas team went to the market while we went to Elva's house. Half of us took a walking tour of the barrio which is a neighborhood. This was a humbling experience. The other half stayed at Elva's and had empanadas and cunapes, which is a kind of cheese bread. Elva is the one that Ebenezer gave money to help build her and her children a new house.It was so great to be able to meet Elva and her family and to be able to see the house that we helped to build. Then, we went to the market and the Kansas team visited with Elva and walked around the barrio.
We returned to the hotel for a one and one-half hour time to do with as you choose. Then we went to supper at a place called Los Lomitos, which is Kasey's favorite place that have been so far. Then, we went back to the hotel and had our devotion time which was about being a servant. Now, as I finish this blog, It is about 12 midnight and I am in great need of some sleep.
Thank you for all your prayers. Please pray specifically for Donnie, our Fearless Leader. He wasn't feeling well this morning, but he joined us at lunch. However, he has lost his voice and has to say what he wants to say in someone's ear and have them talk for him.

Sunday 6/6/10 by susan hinton

We began our day with a scrumptious breakfast at the hotel. Allen was telling the Kansas team everything embarassing I had done on the trip so far; the funniest thing was I was falling asleep the whole time I was on the plane filling out the customs forms, so I had checked that I was a male professional tourist and mission trip volunteer, I had traveled by sea, air and land to get to Bolivia and we had 19 bags! We only actually had 5 so it was a good thing that Pam had the church praying for us through customs! Then I went to sit in the hot tub and there was a suction at the bottom that tried to suck my behind through it; I thought I was going to have to call security to get me unhooked! After breakfast we had lost one of our buses so we actually managed to cram 43 people into a tiny bus; we of course felt much closer after this! Then we attended church with the most awesome band playing in Spanish. Our praise band actually played and sang a few songs along with Laura from the Kansas team praise band. The church had several young people that danced with streamers and tambourines. We were blessed that Bennett's fever was gone and he was feeling better. Heidi had done a wonderful job of picking out restaurants for us to eat at that were economical and had delicious food. We did find out that in order to adopt a child in Bolivia you actually have to live in this country for 2 years first. And it is also getting more difficult for Christian missionaries to come to Bolivia. Kimberly is a student at Ontario but is here on a student exchange program and is rooming with us. We needed our clothes ironed so we called downstairs for an iron. About 10 minutes later a lady came up to the room, gathered our clothes and ironed them for us! We had a little bit of free time tonight so we went to the plaza to shop for souvenirs and actually go to to a Bolivian Coldstone! After devotions out by the pool we turned in for some well deserved sleep. Also, a special 18th birthday wish to Rachel Hinton.

Day 2 & 3

We attempted to update the blog last night, but spent so much time talking about what to put on it that by the time we got to the computer we were all too tired to type. So, here's a brief summary of the last couple days.

Friday morning was cooler and rainy, which put us scrambling to change some of our plans. The VBS we planned on hosting couldn't be held outside as planned, so our team set up at a local church and had the kids bussed over. Part of our team worked at the local school, repairing bathrooms and chairs, and the others did some work at Talita Cumi, winterizing the dining room and moving a load of dirt and bricks from a collapsed wall. We came back to the hotel exhausted and hungry, ready for our dinner at Brasargent, a local Brazilian steakhouse.

Today was our soccer day. We pulled up at a local soccer field and set up some stations, where we soon had around 60-70 kids playing soccer and getting their fingernails painted. We used this opportunity to present the gospel to the local children, and heard one man's testimony of how God performed a miracle to save his son's life. It was a very moving moment for many of us. Then it was on to Talita Cumi for a saltenos lunch and play time with the kids. After a short rest time at our hotel, we journeyed to the home of missionaries Bill and Bev Smith for a churasco, a giant Bolivian cook-out with many of the nearby missionaries and natives.

One of the things that really effected me tonight was the opportunity I had to visit with some of my former students from my time teaching and coaching at the Learning Center. My students mentioned several little things that I had said or done that stuck with them, and it made me realize that some how, in some little way, I was able to have an impact on the lives of these kids. This is a very humbling thought to me. Something I said more than two years ago is still present in the minds and hearts of those youngsters. What things do we say or do on a daily basis, without giving it much thought, that are going to have that sort of an impact on the lives of others? I am reminded tonight of just how powerful our words and deeds can be. It is important for us on this mission trip and when we get back home to be extra cautious about the impact we have on others. I can't help but think of the book of James, when he warns against the dangers of a loose tongue, and how it can set a great fire if not restrained. Through our words and deeds I pray that we will impact this world for God in a positive way.

In Christ,

Jarrod

Day One

We gathered at the church yesterday, loaded the trailer down, boarded the bus, and took off on an adventure. Twenty-eight hours later, we're finally ready to rest. Well, we were ready to rest several hours before this. We're finally ABLE to rest.

We arrived in Santa Cruz after a long plane ride to find bright, blue skies and warm breezes waiting us. After getting checked into the hotel and getting to know each other well, we went out to see where we'll be working; we ate a pizza lunch with the orphans of Talita Cumi and played some games with them, then toured the school where we'll be leading VBS. As the sun went down, we set our faces toward Pollo Moderno for a chicken dinner, then returned to the hotel, completely worn out.

We didn't start any of our work projects today, but we learned a lot. I know that God is already starting to work in us and through us, and that this will be His trip, done through His strength. In reading my Bible this morning, I read one of my favorite passages, and feel it is very appropriate for us to remember as we start this trip:

"Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written, 'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.'"
-1 Corinthian 1: 26-31 (NRSV)

This is a comforting scripture to me. I like to think of myself as a pretty smart guy, pretty wise in my own right. But I know that my wisdom is foolishness in God's eyes, and what He does that seems foolish to me is ultimately something greater and wiser than I could ever hope to attain. We must approach our trip, and our lives, with this in mind. We will not succeed without the Holy Spirit working through us, speaking for us, moving our hands and our feet to His work and bending our minds and hearts to His will. No matter how far we manage to make it on our own, it will never be far enough. It is only through submission to the leading of His will that we will find success.

And if anyone disagrees with my assertion that we are "what is foolish in the world", I will leave you with this image of Bob and Donnie enjoying the giant gummi bears on a stick (and wish you could hear the high-pitched voices our team leaders provided these gummi bears with).

In Christ,
Jarrod

Have You Ever???

In order to travel to Bolivia, you have to get a pre-approved Visa from the Bolivian Consulate.  In an effort to save some money on the processing fees charged by our travel agent (about $1150), Neal Stancil and I drove to Washington, DC to hand deliver the Visa applications for our team.  What an awesome trip that was.  Upon return, Neal wrote a really funny "Have You Ever???" account of our trip.  Neal's account follows:

"Ok, bear with me….

Have you ever left North Carolina for Washington DC at 2:00 am in a car?...We have (Donnie & Neal). And we didn’t even stop one time.

Have you ever driven back in the same day?...We have. (but we stopped a few times, because our bladders where now awake)

Have you ever put money in a parking meter only to have it begin flashing “out of order” then you put in another quarter because you thought that should add up to the right amount of time?...I have.

Have you ever been to a bank that didn’t have a public restroom but had 8 inch thick bulletproof glass between you and the tellers (on the inside of the bank)?...You guessed it, we have.

Have you ever eaten one of those things that Donnie loves so much from Bolivia (a saltena), only you ate it at a strip mall restaurant in Alexandria, Va. because the nice lady at the Bolivian Consulate recommended the place?...We have (It was delicious by the way)

Have you ever tried to ask the waitress, who was a Honduran native for the recipe for above mentioned “Bolivian” food in “her” native language and she thought you were asking for your bill?...Donnie has. I came to the rescue with a google translation on the Blackberry only to find out that she didn’t know and the owner wouldn’t be in until 4 hrs. later...Yes - We Have.

All true but now for the rest of the story.  As we all know, Donnie is a great engineer, but did you know he is also a great banker?

Have you ever tried to withdraw $3000.00 dollars at an ATM?...Donnie has.

Have you ever filled out 23 deposit slips by hand for someone else’s account (Bolivian Consulate) at their bank (Bank of America)…..at one time?...Donnie has.

Have you ever been questioned by the lead consulate about the financial statements in your application after you just spent almost 2 hrs trying to deposit $3000.00 into his account?...Donnie Has.

Have you ever used the front seat of a '93 Lexus as an office to add 1 paid receipt for each visa application to each individual folder so they wouldn’t have to?...Right again. We have.

Ok, I’m almost through. All of the above mentioned “have you ever’s are true, and there are even some pictures to prove some of it (check out the "Washington Visa Trip" album on the Pictures page of this site).

Seriously, we went and we conquered. The visa applications were hand delivered with great care and relief. We had a great trip and our experiences today are a testament to the biblical writings, “that through God, all things are possible.” Yes it has been a long day, but what a wonderful day it was. I hope this brings a smile to your faces and Donnie, I hope when you read this on Tuesday (because I know you are asleep by now) that you are also smiling as much as I am while I am writing this."

Thanks to Neal for putting this trip on paper for us.
Donnie

Why Go?

This week is going to be a busy one for me. In addition to my regular, 40-hour-a-week job, I've got lots on my plate- leading our church's first Coffee & Worship night, Bible study, guitar lesson, grocery shopping, taxes, meetings... the list goes on and on, and I don't want to think about the pile ahead of me. But one of the things that is predominant on my mind this week is this upcoming Sunday. This Sunday, I'll be speaking at two different churches, delivering the sermon, in order to raise funds and awareness for our Bolivia trip.

I'm not nervous about speaking in front of the churches. I've been in front of crowds in one capacity or another as far back as I can remember, and feel just as comfortable there as anywhere else. My thoughts are, what am I going to say? I've been praying about this one for a few months now, and I still don't know what I'll say. But the topic that keeps circling my mind is, "Why go?"

There are lots of things in North Carolina that scream for attention. There are people in need here. There are orphans who need love just a few miles from my door. So why am I taking a group to another country to help the needy when the needy are all around me?

The most obvious answer is that God has called me to it. I don't think that foreign missions is any more or less important than anything that the church does. But God has given me a passion for the foreign field, and I must obey my Lord. As Jeremiah said, it is like a fire in my bones, and I cannot ignore or stifle it. But beyond that, why do we go on mission trips? One of the best answers I've heard to that question came from my friend, Kasey. Speaking at church after returning from a mission trip to Georgia, Kasey brought up that same question, and his answer was, "When you help out those you know, it's because you love them. If you go somewhere else and help people you've never met, it's because you love God."

There is also the impact that such a trip has on those who are going. While the work done on the field has an effect on those in the country being visited and meets the needs of the needy, the impact is far greater in the lives of the individuals who stepped out of their comfort zone on faith, witnessed the brotherhood of believers on a new, global scale, saw the greatness of God in ways never before experienced, and return to their homes touched by God. The people who go will never be the same. Though I've been on quite a few trips by now, even having lived in a foreign country as a missionary, I am still challenged and changed and shaped by these trips. Could God have used the apostles had he left them in their boats on the Sea of Gallilee? No doubt. But God chose to call those men out of their comfort zones, out of the areas in their life that they had always known, and used his grace and majesty through those 12 ordinary men to change the world.

That is why we go on these mission trips. Because when God changes you, he then uses you to change the world. And this world needs that kind of change.

Reverence

We've been getting ready for our Bolivia trip, trying to organize everything- plane tickets, vaccinations, tasks to complete while in Santa Cruz, etc- that it feels like we've been on a non-stop whirlwind of preparation. And all of this stuff is important to the success of our mission, no doubt. Without the physical preparations, nothing could get done.

Still, there is something of much more importance in our lives and in our mission trip that we cannot fail to overlook. God has granted us the privilege of knowing him, of being close to him and sharing in the life that he has chosen to give us, and it is our honor and glory to openly share that gift with the world- from Bolivia to our local community. Something that has been impressed on me lately is the importance of a reverence for God in our day to day lives and in the specific times that are set apart as God's times. God loves us enough to allow us to approach his throne without fear, but that doesn't mean we should approach his throne haphazardly. It is a grand and glorious thing to kneel at the feet of our Lord, Savior, Redeemer, King and Sovereign. He has called us his children, but even the children of the King must recognize that he is king as they approach his throne.

So how does this apply to our Bolivia mission trip? I cannot speak for you. Whether you are going with us on this trip in person or supporting us through prayer, it is up to the individual to approach the Almighty's throne in the way they feel is most appropriate. As for me, I am choosing this day, and the next, and the next, throughout preparation for Bolivia, throughout my time in Bolivia, and after my time in Bolivia, to show the reverence and respect to my God that he is entitled to. We are not dealing with comforting platitudes that have no basis in reality; we are dealing with real life, a bigger life than we can even begin to imagine.

10 Weeks and Counting!!!

Wow!  I just got an email from Heidi (the on the field missionary that will be hosting our team) confirming hotel accomodations as well as a few other details about the trip.  Man, I get more and more excited with every email, team meeting, fundraiser or conversation about the upcoming mission trip.  However, Heidi closed her email by saying "10 weeks to go!"  In a split second, my excitement shifted (for just a moment) to panic!  For that brief moment, all the details flashed before me along with questions like: "Are we prepared?  Have I done a good job as a leader?  Is everything in place in Bolivia?  Will all the money come in?..."  That's fear and fear is a part of life.  Jesus warned us that "in this world you will have trouble."  Even so, I don't think fear is something to be afraid of.  I think if we fear fear, fear will take control.  It takes control when we focus on what we can do to protect ourselves.  That's the problem with fear - out of fear, we think we have to take control.  But, what if we look fear in the face and clearly admit that "I am not in control and I can't save myself"?  What if we throw up our hands, bow our heads and say: "Lord, I'm scared but I know that you are mighty.  I am weak but I know You are strong.  You are my rock and my redeemer.  "I am not but I know I AM" (Giglio). I trust in You and You alone Jesus.  Please take control."  That's exactly what I did - I faced fear head on (not with my strength or under my control, but totally relying on Jesus).  I know that God is in control.  I also know that Jesus did not leave us hanging with the statement "in this world you will have trouble."  He finished it strongly by declaring "take heart, I have conquered the world."  He conquered death for you and me!  When we rest in the hands of our risen Savior - Jesus Christ, what is there to fear?  Now with His peace and by His grace, my excitement is even greater than before. 10 weeks to go! Bolivia here we come!  Hu-ah!

Fundraising?

As the members of this mission team (23 individuals) step out of our normal routines - out of our comfort zones - we are opening our hearts for God to prepare us.  One step in this preparation process is humbling ourselves to ask for financial support.  Support raising always seems to start out as one of those dreaded "gotta do its."  Its easy to feel that way...right up to the time that God blesses you with that contribution that you didn't expect.  He really has a way of doing that.  It just blows you away.  Right then you realize that its not all about the money or the trip and its especially not about me - its about God's mission in this world.  I'm not talking about the mission trip to Bolivia, I'm talking about God's mission to draw all people of this world to Himself. So, instead of seeing fundraising as a pain, maybe we need to see it like it is - a way of uniting the body of Christ in His mission.  For example, this week over 200 people ate lunch and/or dinner at La Cocina to support the mission trip to Bolivia. Instantly, our team grew from 23 to more 223! Now that's uniting the body of Christ!  From this point forward instead of thinking "fundraising," I'm going to be thinking "body of Christ raising."  Praise God for all who join Him in mission to share, reveal and reflect the light and love of Jesus Christ as He draws all people to Himself.

Calling All Prayer Warriors!

Since you are reading this, I assume that you have heard about the 2010 mission trip to Bolivia. We stand in awe at how God has called and assembled a team of twenty-three people to share the love of Jesus Christ in Santa Cruz, Bolivia! This mission team consists of five families and four individuals. Wow! I hope you are wondering how you can be a part of God’s mission to Bolivia this summer because we have the perfect opportunity for you.  Praise be to God, the team departing for Bolivia is full; however, God has put it on our hearts to insure that each team member has many within the body of Christ who will commit to be a prayer warrior on a personal basis.
      Prayer warriors on the home front are such a vital part of God’s mission to Bolivia!! Will you be a part of
this team, God’s team, by giving the most important gift that you can give…prayer!! “As we join together in prayer, we draw on God’s enabling might in a way that multiplies our own efforts many times over.” (Shirley Dobson) We know that the prayers of the body of Christ are with us!
     Here are a few actions that we are suggesting for our prayer warriors:
1. Pray for the team members daily during their preparation time (which has already begun).
2. Pray for the team members while they are on the field (June 2-11).
3. Pray for the team members once they return home (especially the first 2 to 3 weeks).
4. Post comments on this blog site for the team members including encouraging scripture.
5. Also, be open to any other way that God may lead to encourage the team members.
     Each of our team members have felt God tugging at their hearts to share the gospel of Jesus Christ by serving in Bolivia this summer. As they prepare physically and spiritually for this journey of faith, we know how important it is to keep them covered in prayer.  I hope that you feel led to be a personal prayer warrior for this team. Thanks for considering partnering with us on this journey.
     Remember, “The intense prayer of the righteous is very powerful.” James 5:16 (Holman CSB)

Praising our Powerful God!!
Donnie, Holland and Jarrod

GOSPEL SING FOR BOLIVIA

SATURDAY, MARCH 27

EBENEZER UMC

6020 ROCK QUARRY RD, RALEIGH, NC

DOORS OPEN @ 6:30 PM

YOU’RE INVITED TO ENJOY AN EVENING OF

CHRISTIAN MUSIC, FUN & FELLOWSHIP

FEATURING LOCAL ARTISTS:

CALVARY’S MARK

JARROD & JESSICA

COMPLIMENTARY COFFEE AND DESSERT WILL BE SERVED

**ADMISSION IS FREE; HOWEVER, AT THE CLOSE OF THE EVENING YOU WILL GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT OUR JUNE 2ND-11TH MISSION TRIP TO SANTA CRUZ, BOLIVIA WITH YOUR PRAYERS, WITH A DONATION OR BOTH.**

Fundraiser at La Cocina

LUNCH AND DINNER FUNDRAISER AT LA COCINA

TUESDAY, MARCH 9

11:00AM TO 10:00PM

LA COCINA MEXICAN RESTAURANT

WHITE OAK SHOPPING CENTER

1219 -1221 EAST TIMBER DR., GARNER, NC

NEXT TO WHITE OAK CINEMAS

PLEASE STOP BY LA COCINA AT THE WHITE OAK SHOPPING CENTER IN GARNER FOR LUNCH AND/OR DINNER, TUESDAY, MARCH 9 TO SUPPORT EBENEZER’S 2010 BOLIVIA MISSION TRIP. LA COCINA WILL DONATE 10% OF THE TOTAL BILL FOR EVERYONE THAT TELLS THE CASHIER THEY ARE SUPPORTING THE “BOLIVIA MISSION TRIP.”

INVITE ALL YOUR FRIENDS TO JOIN YOU AND PLEASE REMEMBER TO MENTION THE “BOLIVIA MISSION TRIP” WHEN YOU CHECK OUT!

God's Mission to Bolivia

June 2-12, 2010

Purpose: "To share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the people we serve and if necessary, use words."


Bible Verse: "13 For "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, "How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!" Romans 10:13-15 (NLT)

What will we do? We will partner with a team from Kansas and on the field missionaries to:

• Love the kids at Talita Cumi
• Conduct VBS at Talita Cumi
• Assist in repair and maintenance at Talita Cumi
• Work with children at a local Christian school
• Work on the addition to a local Christian school
• Give ourselves totally to God's service and leading
• Conduct Upward soccer clinics