Noticing the Trees Just one year after our first trip to Joplin and almost two full years since the devastating tornado that forever changed this Ozark town, much has changed. We first noticed the amount of new growth on the trees as you drive into town. Last year the trees got progressively Read More...
The message of Easter says that we are not stuck in the past. The story of the cross and the empty tomb says that we are no longer slaves to guilt but have been set free. Peter wrote to the ancient church that “we’ve been given a brand new life and have Read More...
The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Rome, “If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live at peace with all.” This instruction is clear but it comes with an “if.” “If it is possible.” Paul knows that we are not always able to mend every wound. Every Read More...
Today is Good Friday. At noon today about 150 folks will gather in our sanctuary to face the ugliness of the execution of God’s beloved child. When we hear the story of the crucifixion our beautiful gold cross will be shrouded in black cloth. The service will end in a pain-filled silence. Read More...
We just returned to the Nehamiah center after working/livng on the farm for the past few days. This group has planted coffee and banana trees. The group has met children and shared with teenagers from Nicaragua and realized that we may speak different languages…but we all like to laugh. This group has Read More...
“You need to die if you want to live with me,” Jesus says to his disciples and to us, but most of us are not too sure that we want to follow that advice. This is a difficult teaching but if we pay attention to the Easter story we’ll see that Read More...
Waking up at 3:30 in the morning may seem tough, but it is nothing compared to a ten hour layover in the Houston airport, which is exactly what we did. The first leg of our Nicaraguan journey was characterized by walking through terminals, getting free meal vouchers, and something we deemed to Read More...
Justin, Carla and nine youth members of Country Club Christian Church met at KCI at the ridiculously early hour of 4:30 a.m. today to fly to Nicaragua. Their original schedule had them arriving in Managua around noon, but Carla just forwarded this update: "Stuck in Houston for 10 hours after missing connection. Read More...
Friday morning was the closing ceremony at Canas Blancas. It was our typical morning….coffee, breakfast, Bruce lost his bag, etc., but it was our last morning in Jinotepe. We made our last trip to the community, and there were a lot of people there waiting for us. We ran down the road past Read More...
Nancy. (How do you get out?) Carla working on the last footing. Dr. Tim and patients. Patient waiting patiently. Waiting for the doctor. Pouring the first column. Patients from another village. The final hole is complete. Danielle with balloons. It's a long way down! Frank, Luis and Harold
The last day of digging is complete. We’ve completed all 6 of the holes for the footers, and the Carolina crew’s really deep hole is complete as well. It’s funny going into the day this morning, we are all tired and sore. The tools all weigh an extra 20 lbs. You fight off the fatigue Read More...
Today was our last day in the medical clinic. We saw 82 patients in the clinic. We also had medical providers who went out and did home visits on a motorcycle and on foot. This accounted for around another 20 visits. Today I saw the most beautiful 2 year old. She looked Read More...
The Argentinian Poet Antonio Porchia has written, “To wound the heart is to create it.” That is a truth that is difficult to embrace. We try to protect our hearts. We guard them. We don’t want to have them wounded in any way. No one knows how to hurt each better than Read More...
Work progressing on the latrine. George making progress in the latrine. Dr. Doug takes a turn. Only five more feet to go! The water tank is finished. Inspecting the fifth of six footing holes. Amigos. Rebecca, Julia (from the Netherlands) and Noa teaching an art class. Pillow case dressed made by our Read More...
