Monday, March 12, 2012
On The Way (No, Really!)
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Heading Home!
It is a little after 10:30 A.M. in Brazil. We arrived in Santarem a little after 9 A.M. Saturday morning. We stayed an extra day in Estrada D (pronounced Estrada Day) to get the trusses for the roof on the building. The team is very tired from a week of hard work in a beautiful community. We are all safe, but have lots of stories to share. We went into town after breakfast Saturday morning to find gifts for family, friends, and donors. We will be uploading more pictures in the next few days now that we are back into the city. Unfortunately we do not have Wifi in the guesthouse. We have had a fabulous week of fellowship, people accepting Christ as their Savior (Hallelujah!), and growing very close as a team. Each team member will write about their favorite things that happened this week when we are able, but wanted to let all concerned know we are safe. I did want to share one short story on something we did on Wednesday at the construction site. As a team, we joined with the Brazilian workers and walked the entire building & site praying for God's blessing, protection, growth, & favor over the new church & community. After completing our prayer walk, Pastor Chuck (Sumner) prayed a POWERFUL prayer blessing the church as John Tucker anointed the structure & all it's openings & walls with oil. I have NEVER felt such a strong presence of the Holy Spirit!! We have so many stories of Jesus' presence & grace & will try to upload the stories while traveling home over the next few days, as well as new photos. We are excited to be heading home, but will miss the people we have grown to love this week. We also miss you all so much!!! Especially you Rebecca (selfish post!) Therefore keep checking the blog! Can't wait to see each & every one of you & share what got has done with your financial & personal sacrifices pn this amazing trip! See you soon! (With assistance from Kristi Page)
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Houston, We Have Landed
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Preparing for Departure
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Team Member Profile: Chuck Sumner
Hometown: Charleston, SC
Favorite Bible Verse: Matthew 6:33; Philippians 4:4-7
Hobbies: Gardening
Favorite Dessert: Rich Dark Chocolate
Family: I am blessed beyond measure with Kay, my wife of 33 years. A wonderful daugther, Abbie, and her husband, Jason and an amazing grandson Ty and a terrific son, Chad.
Pet: an old cat that doesn't like me, named Yellow Cat
It is always exciting for me to leave especially for the PAZ Mission in Santarem. This will be my third trip to Brazil. I really look forward to seeing friends in Brazil and most of all the beautiful people of the Amazon River Basin. The people are open to the Gospel and their willingness to commit their lives is humbling. Pray for the missionaries of Project Amazon, and the people of the Amazon River Basin. Their goal is to establish 1000 churches by 2014. With the help of God, this goal will be accomplished.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Serve One Another
For you have called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don't use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. -Galatians 5:13
We are down to the final countdown and in 2 weeks we'll be well on our way to Brazil. The prayer for our team is that we are humble in serving one another and that begins before we get on the plane.
One of the most practical ways we can serve our brothers and sisters on the missions field is to offer an extra piece of luggage packed with materials and supplies they can use on the front lines. You might be thinking, "why don't they just ship supplies down" and that is a good question. The problem with that is in the fact the Brazilian government taxes import goods almost 100%. A computer that costs $1200, now becomes a $2400 investment and you aren't necessarily guaranteed to get everything in one piece.
With a team of 11 individuals, we'll be able to take almost 550 pounds of supplies without any extra costs. The list includes everything from coolers to computer equipment. The prayers that are needed - we get everything down there in one piece, that we'll be able to check everything all the way through from Charleston and that those on the front lines will be encouraged and re-energized by these goods.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Team Member Profile: Clara Hodges
Hometown: Center Tuftonboro, NH
Favorite Verse: I'm not sure that I have a favorite verse yet, but I do love this one: In the beginning, God... -Genesis 1:1
Hobbies: singing, dancing, knitting
Favorite Dessert: Ice Cream
Family: I have 6 siblings; I am the youngest. I have 5 sisters: Mehera, Julia, Frances, Anne and Sara; then one brother: Gess. Then there are my parents, BG and Joanie.
Spiritual Strengths: I tend to be good at being friendly and making people feel comfortable. I have some tendencies towards leadership but it's hard to know - I need to have more chances to pinpoint my strengths.
I'm going on this missions trip because God has always nudged me in this direction and I'm finally taking the opportunity. I've always shied away, clinging to my day-to-day life and family/friends; but now, I have this really great chance to do His work and He has been opening doors for me throughout the whole process. I've known the Bests (missionaries in the field with PAZ in Brazil) for a very long time as well as other people from my church who have gone on missions trips. They all share this joy from truly making a difference. I can see how much missionaries help people and share Jesus' love, and I can see how much closer to God missionaries themselves become. It's been a culmination of seeing fulfillment and realizing I am far from it that has finally made ministering and helping other people really click - nothing else gives true satisfaction.
It would probably be good for anyone reading this to know that I have never brought someone to Christ. There are many different reasons for this but my worry now is that I won't know exactly how to do it or that I'll do it wrong. I know this is completely idiotic - if I'm doing it for God then the Holy Spirit will work through me and bless my words - so I am praying for courage. I am trying to become closer to God throughout this whole process and hopefully bring others closer as well, that is my goal.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
The Details
Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. - Matthew 10:29
God cares about the details....EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM! So thanks to a sweet sister this morning for reminding me (Amie) of that and join us in praying for the details.
Monte Alegre - 1˚59’58.05” S 54˚04’59.33” W
Below is a map where it shows Santarem, where we will begin our journey and the base of Monte Alegre is up in the upper right hand corner. We don't have the coordinates of the village of Estrada D, but it is 3 hours by car (remember jungle roads) from Monte Alegre.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Hitting Cruise Control
Cruise control...I do this in day-to-day life as well, forgetting to lean in on God and remembering He's got the control. I take such a 'been there, done that' type of attitude and can easily forget to lean into Him.
There are many of us on this trip that have been to Brazil before. We have a comfort level. We've been there before...we know the deal. We were on CRUISE CONTROL...UNTIL NOW!!!
You can make many plans, but the LORD's purpose will prevail. - Proverbs 19:21
We got word today that our trip this year will look significantly different than any of the trips that we've done before. God kicked off the cruise control and called us back to a place of humbleness and reliance on His purpose for our lives, not our plans.
Typically we have been in a village along the river and used the PAZ boats as a base out on the river for living quarters. This year we will be going by line boat (think a Greyhound but in a boat) 3 hours from the city of Santarem and then 3 hours inland to the river village. We will split into groups of 3-4 and live with our brothers and sisters in Christ during our visit in the village.
Here's the run down of what we know.
Depart Charleston: Thursday - March 1st
Arrive Santarem: Saturday - March 3rd
We'll leave Santarem via line boat (Greyhound bus on water) on Saturday for a 3 hour ride to the city of Monte Alegre where PAZ has another base. It is then a 3 hour ride inland to the village of Estrada D (D Street). We are likely going to be working on the roof of the church in this community: building and raising the trusses, handing up lumber for additional supports and then passing up and nailing on the roofing tiles.
We welcome this change and are excited to see what God has in store. It will likely be more difficult to get updates out until we are back in Santarem on March 9th or 10th, but we will update the blog and we covet your prayers as we look forward to these changes.
Team Member Profile: Jerry Miner
Hometown: Lima, OH
Favorite Verse: Titus 3:14
Hobbies: Photography
Favorite Dessert: Ice Cream
Family: Married to an amazing godly woman, Sharon Miner. Father to Jessica Carpenter (at Seacoast), Chris Miner (Fort Wayne, IN) and Joy Wine (Phoenix, AZ) and 6 (and should be 7 before we leave) wonderful grandkids. One pet - Sundance Sassy Pumpkin - our ever present Golden Retriever
Spiritual Strengths: Learner, Teacher
Sharon and I have been interested in missions all our adult life. We have worked for Water Missions for over four years and are now stepping out to begin our own ministry - The Cross Connecting Network. Much of what we will do will center on safe water projects. The missionary partner in Brazil has done extensive work in this area, so we are hoping to learn what we can do at Seacoast to help them.
One prayer request is that my new little grand baby comes on time and I get to see her before we go to Brazil. Another would be that our eyes are just opened to all that God has for the team to absorb. Give us God's eyes to see.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Team Member Profile: John Peckham
Hometown: Weymouth, MA.
Favorite Verses: Micah 6:8; Philippians 3:9-11
Hobbies: volunteering, researching safe water topics, golfing, backyard astronomy
Favorite Desserts: ice cream, pie
Family: my wife Sue of 27 years, 3 adult children, and 4 grandchildren
Spiritual Strengths: teamwork, encouragement, and enjoy reading & studying the Bible.
This will be my 3rd mission trip with Seacoast Church. The 1st mission trip was in July 2008 to Honduras, assisting a mission with construction at an orphanage. Last March, I was fortunate to be part of the Team sent to Project AmaZon (PAZ) in Santarém, Brazil to assist the mission with church construction and assess safe water issues.
After serving with the full-time missionaries at PAZ last year, my eyes and heart were opened to the great work in missions that the Lord has for all of His people. The missionaries at PAZ are some of the most dedicated folks I have served with in ministry. They truly have a love for Christ that is both genuine and contagious. I want what they have. PAZ is committed to “The Great Commission”, as commanded by Jesus Christ. They are busy planting churches, making disciples, and meeting people’s health, education, & safe water needs.
The mission trip last year was a reminder to me of how awesome God is and how He loves people of all nations and cultures. I was touched at the church services by how free the Brazilian believers worship the Lord. Although we needed translation for the language, our hearts were unified with them in our devotion to our Savior.
This year we have a great Team that God has assembled to work and evangelize in the Amazon basin. Please join me in praying for the following:
- Pray that God will bless the full-time PAZ missionaries spiritually, physically, and financially to do His work.
- Pray that this trip would encourage and forever change the lives of the people of the Amazon Basin.
- Pray that our Team would remain healthy, strong and unified.
To God be the Glory!
Monday, January 16, 2012
Team Member Profile: John Tucker
Hometown: Lawsonville, NC
Favorite Verses and more: The words of Jesus, Books of Ephesians and Philippians
Hobbies: Photography, genealogy, reading and jogging
Favorite Dessert: German Chocolate Cake-can you make that without sugar?
Pets: Had a puppy when I was about 10 years old.
Spiritual Strengths: Prayer-I love to pray for people, Love to read and study the Bible, love helping people.
A very gifted friend of mine described me as an “armor bearer”. The thoughts included, “A leader called to help and assist the Apostles in their work. You build up other leaders and help carry their burdens. A Servant’s heart and humility make you a loyal and valuable friend. You worship in spite of suffering, not a whiner or complainer but an encourager. ” Living up to these prophetic words is my daily challenge.
My first trip to the Amazon basin was in 2006. This first trip to Brazil was preceded by a mission trip to Scotland. As I traveled to Brazil, I wondered what God planned for me in this country so different from home. Growing up in a rural community, I never thought of going to Brazil. My view of the world came through National Geographic. When I returned from Brazil in 2006, I knew God wanted me to experience His brothers and sisters in other cultures. He placed me with some of the most wonderful people on earth in Brazil and Scotland and later in Honduras. No matter where we served, people opened their hearts to our team and blessed us greatly.
We need your prayers for this trip and in particular for:
* Pray that God would strengthen our team spiritually and keep them healthy;
* Pray for divine moments where God will lead us to His relationships;
* Pray for increase in community between Seacoast Church, other state side churches, and PAZ.
*Pray for our leadership to be as God would lead.
*Pray for the long-term missionaries we work with in Brazil
Team Member Profile: Amie Heath
Hometown: Mt. Olive, NC
Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 29:11
Hobbies: reading, running, laughing and eating of course
Favorite Dessert: Crème Brulee
Pets: My hubby for 13 years – Oliver, Molly our cocker spaniel and Zena our 2 year old Great Dane
Spiritual Strengths: evangelism-I love to bring anything back to Jesus, encouragement and anything that has to do with acting like a kid
I think that my blood has some shades of green and yellow as Brazil is firmly planted in my heart. I had the opportunity to go there for the first time on a business trip with Maersk to Sao Paulo. We took a day trip to Rio de Janeiro and I immediately fell in love the people. So when my friends, Pastor Jerry and Jodi, asked me about taking a missions trip six years ago to the Amazon River Basin it was an easy answer: YES!!!
I met the people of Project Amazon (PAZ), the river village we first went to and the draw to share the gospel in this area was one that I couldn’t ignore.
Since that trip, I have really learned that the relationship the Seacoast teams have with PAZ is a lot deeper. We are family and at times I feel guilty about raising support for the trip because it is a trip that I yearn for each year…to lead others and show them the heart of this beautiful country.
Another reason I am so excited about making the trip is in the story of one of our team members: Tommy Ellliott. Many of you know I work at the North Charleston Dream Center (www.northcharlestondreamcenter.org) and I met Tommy there almost 3 years ago. He was living in a tent and came on a pretty regular basis for help with food and to take a shower at the Dream Center. I watched him stay involved, but keep a safe distance. After coming back from Brazil last year, I really felt like I needed to invite him to make this trip in the future. This past year has been an amazing one for Tommy. He has committed to volunteering at the Dream Center as part of our facilities team, found a place to live off the streets and recommitted his life to the Lord!
I covet your prayers for this trip and in particular for:
* Pray that God would strengthen me spiritually to do the work He has called me to do in leading this trip;
* Pray for the relationships our team will make with the people of Brazil;
* Pray that the team will remain healthy and strong throughout the duration of the trip, as well as be of one accord in everything we do