Things are going well for with our team in Haiti.  The team has had four more days of ministry since our last blog. These days here in Jacmel, Haiti have been long busy ones and we have seen so much fruit already.  God is faithful.

The weekend turned out to be a fabulous.  Our team drove about 40 minutes into a mountain village where we held a children’s outreach.  There we sang songs, performed dramas, fed them lunch, gave flip flops to the children, and took pictures of each child and put in in a frame to take home with them.  This was especially unique for a couple of reasons.  First, because these children very rarely get to have a photo of themselves, secondly, because God did an amazing little miracle just for the team with this particular craft,  You see we needed to use an instant camera and film in order to take over two hundred pictures and get them in frames for each child to take home in time the outreach was over.  You never know exactly how many children will show up for these events.  We were told to plan for two hundred children for each craft.  This helps to have a number for purchasing the craft supplies.  When we ordered the film, we felt to order a little extra.  240 pieces to be exact.  When we got to Jacmel we used one of the prints to test and measure the foam frames we cut out for the kids.  This left us with 239 photos left.  To make a long story short, there were lots and lots of kids that day.  We all prayed as the line for pictures wrapped around the building that day.  As we neared the end of children our film was running low.  We think it’s a miracle…. 239 kids, 239 photos, no one turned away. IT WAS EXACTLY THE NUMBER WE NEEDED. What a testimony of God’s faithfulness!!!

For our weekly schedule, we visit and minister in schools in the mornings. In the afternoon the focus is on orphanages.

Holding those babies and playing ball with the kids has been amazing.

The schools are now a series of tents/canopies made into classrooms, likewise with hospitals.

The hospital conditions have been a bit distressing; the care for patients and proper treatment isn’t the best because of lack of the correct supplies, however  the staff are very grateful for the help .

The hospital here in Jacmel has a huge need for physical therapists.

We have one therapist on our team.  She, plus one other volunteer therapist and a trainee is all the hospital here currently has. Needless to say they has been NONSTOP. At times it is overwhelming.  Wound care is an issue as well.  The lack of proper supplies leads to the lack of proper treatment.  Motrin and ice are even very hard to come by. PLEASE pray for these people, the supplies, and medical personnel needed to help them.

The construction team has done some demo for a family that has their neighbors two story house laying on ½ of their home since the earthquake.

They have also been busy building school desks, pews for the overflow at the churches and cribs for babies that have been sleeping on the floor at an orphanage.

The team building school benches and pews

This baby slept on the floor

Not any more!

The city of Jacmel is rubble and flattened buildings in many areas. Tents and little “suburbs” of tents everywhere.  The conditions are difficult.

Tents and little “suburbs” of tents everywhere. The conditions are difficult.

Still we see hope and joy in many Haitian eyes.

Church services have grown by 300-400%.  Many have turned to Jesus. We have been able to personally witness many come to Christ.  Our team sat on the outside of the church service this past Sunday (there was no room inside and the overflow went around the building). We could see the mountains and the beauty of this country just above the top of the building. As we looked back down at the people it was clear to see how the Lord was changing their hearts.  Isaiah 54 (especially the second half) seems to fit so well.  He is doing a new thing here. 

Please continue to pray for these people and the team.

Thank you for your love and support!

The first summer team has landed. We are in Haiti! On Thursday afternoon BWO kicked off the 2010 summer mission year.  We have 11 individuals that have answered  the call to go to Haiti.  We departed from Miami on Wednesday morning.  After a short flight we arrived in Port Au Prince, Haiti.  The journey was not over yet.  After getting through a VERY busy Main airport terminal we grabbed a taxi van to the charter terminal. That is where we caught our Charter plane headed for Jacmel.  Jacmel is a city 40 miles south of Port Au prince with a large mountains that separate the two cities.  After hearing that the roads where badly damaged by the quake, we decided it best to charter two planes, one 10 passenger Caravan  and small Cessna to deliver us to the Jacmel airport.
Once we were to Jacmel our missionary contacts promptly retrieved us and delivered us to our wonderful “outreach” house.  We have been very blessed to have accommodations such as these for us to recover at after a long days of ministry.
After arrival and lunch our missionary friends wasted no time in getting us started.  Our first stop was a Mother Theresa orphanage with precious babies and toddlers. It was so amazing! These beautiful little people loving and climbing all over us.  Loved it!
Next we took a tour of the city. There are no words to explain what has happened to this country.  Lives lost, children fatherless, families homeless, but they are resilient and hungry for Jesus!
Thursday was our first full day of ministry.  The construction team headed off to Nerland’s house.  Her family had 1/2 half of their house demolished by the two story house that fell on it that used to sit right next to theirs.  They have been waiting nearly 6 months for the rubble to be removed so they could start to rebuild.  Bet you’ve never seen a 100+ lb girl work harder than 6 men.  She did!!
The medical team went to the local hospital where our physical therapist had an unending line of people.  Our nurse practitioner worked in wound care.
The outreach team visited a school in the morning and an orphanage in the afternoon.  The school had been very badly damaged by the quake.  As a result all of the children are forced to have classes under tarps set up into classes around the outside of the school.  We played games,  sang songs, performed a skit, talked to the kids about how they lives are hidden in Christ, then as a representation they all received a brightly colored visor they could decorate and take home with them.
We finished our day with an evening outreach to the community where Nerland lives. As we arrived there we tents set up everywhere.  These are now people’s homes.  As we stood on the slab where Nerland’s neighbor’s house used to stand she told me where she stood during the quake.  She pointed and said, “Over there was a professional school (trade school) where you learn a profession. Everyone died when the building collapsed.This is their reality but we are privileged to be able to offer them hope.
As the sun went down we set up a 10 x 12 foot screen in the middle of the street closing it off to vehicles.  Our missionary contact pulled up his SUV and plugged in a projector & sound system to an inverter to his car battery and made a make shift movie theater in the middle of town.  Two to three hundred people gathered to watch The God Maniac in Creole.  This is a powerful depiction of the Gospel.  Following the movie Pastor Abraham gave a very anointed opportunity for people to come forward.  So many came to know Jesus last night.  It was amazing sight to see.  As we drove Pastor Abraham back to his tent, he was so excited as he shared how the young men that accepted Christ asked him to come back and hold bible studies with them.
WHAT A DAY!
So I leave you with this request.  Please keep us in your prayers.  Not only for this trip but the many that will go out this summer.
THIS ENTRY IS A FEW DAYS LATE AS THE INTERNET WENT DOWN JUST BEFORE WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT PUBLIC. Much more has happened and God has moved mightily.  Stay tuned for the next blog.

Hi Friends, We thought we would share some experiences from places we serve with from around the world.  Today we would like to focus on an orphanage called, ” Amani Baby Cottage” in Jinja, Uganda.  I am the director of BWO and Amani is one of my favorite places in the world.

Here’s a little view into why:

Amani Baby Cottage was established in 2003 to provide care for orphaned and abandoned children. ABC is located in Jinja, Uganda near the shores of Lake Victoria. The facility can house up to 60 children ages birth to 5 years. Children are referred through local authorities and the Ugandan social welfare system. Many are orphaned when their parents die due to AIDS, birth complications or other factors. Some are abandoned in the hospital after birth. Others are found abandoned at taxi stops, in latrines, or on the street.

The Baby Cottage has as its goal, that each one of them will find a place with a loving family. Amani is the beginning of their journey to such a place.

Below is a except from a blog of one of Amani’s current volunteers.  BWO missionaries will journey this June to Jinja, Uganda and Amani Baby Cottage. Some of the emotions the volunteer shares below, we expect, some of our short term team members may feel as well.

Soak it in, reflect, and enjoy…

(*The names of the children below have been changed to protect their privacy.)

Counting the Cost

Saturday, March 13, 2010

One of the most nauseating things I was told before I came here was you are such a good person to help orphans in Africa and you’re sacrificing so much you poor thing. Those people just don’t get it. You think I’m an amazing person and that I’m sacrificing so much?
You didn’t get to see Tommy today smiling and crawling around on the floor and know that three weeks ago he was lying in my arms lifeless all skin and bones.

You didn’t get to feed baby Gloria her bottle and plant kisses on her head knowing that just a mere 6 hours ago she was lying in a field in the rain abandoned.

You won’t get to see two sets of parents come running through our gates in three short weeks and take their new children into their arms.

I’m not amazing. I’m not sacrificing so much.  I am doing what everyone else is doing in this world. I’m finding what gives me the most joy and pursuing it. Nothing has ever given me as much joy as caring for the orphaned children of Uganda.  So that’s what I’m going to do.

I don’t think God always provides you with a miraculous sign to show you what you should do with your life. Sometimes I think it is as simple as being somewhere doing something and feeling a peace and joy so profound that you know they couldn’t come from anywhere but God. I have found that here. When I think about a future here all the world fades away. When I think about never having a proper shower, air conditioning, krispy kreme, the possibility of never marrying, only seeing my family and friends once a year I grow sad. But then I see one of my babies laugh or say their first word or come running to me to give me a hug and that joy surpasses all.

***Now taking applications for summer 2012.

Hi All.  We wanted to keep you in the loop.  We added another date for our Haiti mission trips.  The official Dates are JUNE 8-19, 2010 and newly added- AUGUST 7-18, 2010.

We are working with a great bunch of people in Jacmel, Haiti.  We are really excited to see what God is going to do there this summer.

Please keep these trips and the work there in your prayers.  Right now they are in the process of getting a barge to move 3200 ft of fencing and a 200ft by 200 ft tent from Florida to Jacmel.  This is a very important part of  getting the 4 acre ministry compound up and running for accomplishing the ministry God has layed on their hearts for the next few years.

So we are headed to Jacmel in June and August.  There are still a few spots left for the June trip and we have started accepting applications for the August trip. There is lots of work to be done and lots of people to care for.  We need construction workers, medical personal, people to help with aid distribution, and lots of folks to love and care for children.

You have gifts and talents given by God. You can use them on the mission field.  If you have been thinking about missions for this summer, now is the time to make your decisions. Will you go?

Hi Friends,

We have been so blessed to see how many people are excited about serving in Haiti. To help people that are in such desperate need of love and support.  We thought we would post some key aspects of the trip that so many of you are interested in.

Answers to questions you may have:
THE VISION-
#1. BWO’s primary goal will be to use physical relief to open doors for ministry in evangelism and discipleship.
#2 To be able to create/facilitate opportunities to get people on the mission field so they can experience a deeper relationship with Christ.
THE SCOPE-
Ministry opportunities will include:

• Medical. We will set up medical clinics to treat earthquake victims and other medical needs. We are looking for trained medical persons in all fields.
• Construction. The clean-up effort will take months, if not years. We will help clear rubble and rebuild homes.
• Orphanage and Children’s Outreach. We will be ministering among these devastated and fatherless children to bring joy of Christ to their lives.
• Village Ministry. We will work with people living in local village areas in and around Jacmel,serving in evangelism, VBS, and food relief. These are communities that are receiving aid  because they are so far from the city. These  are  communities in desperate need.
• Refugee Camp Ministry. We will serve in  evangelism and food relief in the refugee camps located in and around Jacmel.

THE LODGING-
Since the entire nation of Haiti is currently in a state of emergency, and since conditions aren’t likely to change, our accommodations will be the four acre fenced in ministry property that holds an outreach house as well as  200 x 200 tent that will serve as a lodging facility for team as time progresses. you will need a sleeping bag, and whatever you can carry in a small suitcase for your personal items.
THE TRAVEL-
We are planning to fly out of LAX & Fort Lauderdale right now.  We usually stage to different fly out cities on each side of the U.S. so it is easier for folks who may be on the other side of the country.  The two cities are LA & Fort Lauderdale for this trip.

THE ITINERARY-

Trip Dates:
June 8-19, 2010- from Los Angeles
June 8-19, 2010- from Fort Lauderdale

18 years and older

AND

August 7-18, 2010- from Los Angeles
August 7-18, 2010- from Fort Lauderdale

18 years and older

*We will open other dates or if need be customize a specific date/trip for a church that desires their own trip.

Example Schedule:

DAY 1 - We will depart LAX & Fort Lauderdale

Day 2- Travel-  Take a charter flight from Port-Au-Prince to  Jacmel Airport airport. travel to lodging facility. Get situated.

Day 3- Orientation/ ministry training Ministry team visit surrounding villages & site checks for medical & VBS
Day 4,5,6,7,8,9,10 -Ministry teams-Medical, Outreach, Construction teams

Medical Team —    to medical clinic/village/ refugee camp outreach
Orphanage Team- love, care, vbs
Construction- rubble removal and rebuilding
Aid Distribution- helps service in areas most needed (may combine aid & outreach team together)
Outreach Team —

o    Door to door friendship evangelism/ Bible distribution
o    Drama outreach
o    Vbs with village children
o    Soccer outreach & Clinics for youth

Day 11- possible day off & debrief-
Day 12- fly back to LAX & Fort Lauderdale

*Keep in mind, it’s missions. Everything may be subject to change.

What may a typical day look like?

This usually works well. Everything is subject to the environment and country we are in.
• 7:00 am                 Breakfast
• 7:30 am                 Personal Devotions
• 8:00 am                 Team Time
• 9:00 am-5pm       Depart lodging facilities/ to ministry sites

• Medical Team           —   out
• Outreach/Aid Team —  out
• Orphanage team     —  out
• Construction team —-  out

•  6:00 pm                                Dinner
•  7:00 pm                                Evening meeting/Service- worship, speaking, debrief
• 9:00-10pm                            Back to lodging facility -Lights out

THE COST:
The other is lodging.  If we are able to put the teams up in an actual lodging facility rather than tents we would much prefer doing that but we are preparing them for tents.

$1798 departure from Fort Lauderdale;

$1948 departure from Los Angeles

THE TRAINING AND PRE-TRIP PREPARATION -

The missions manual: Once a person fills out the application  for a trip with BWO, they will be sent a missions manual and a payment schedule.  The manual has all the necessary paperwork that need to be filled out , personal info, medical, insurance, notarized forms, pastor (small group leader) recommendations. It also has example fundraising ideas, example support letters, how to prepare your heart, what to pack, and more.

The training DVD & book: We have just finished working with some Calvary Chapel teachers that assisted us in putting together a DVD series on how to minister cross culturally.  There are 9 short 6-10 minute segments that coincides with the book- Ministering Cross-Culturally. Each person will receive this to prepare them for their trip. It is a very helpful tool to help them gain perspective and  different cultural views before they leave this country.

Devotional guide: We have put together a devotional guide to prepare hearts before, during, and after the mission trip.  This devotional guide is offered to each missionary.  It has 8 devotions to be read the 8 weeks prior to departure of the mission trip, 14 daily devotions while on the trip, and 6 devotions to be read the following weeks after the trip.  All the devotions are from various Christian mission type leaders.  There is also a place to journal after each brief devotion.

In the office: We want to walk with the missionaries every step of  the way.  We are here to answer questions, talk, and pray.  This is the part of the garden we feel called by the Lord to till. We desire to do this with excellence unto Him who called us. And… have a fun time doing it too. : )

THE NEXT STEP-

I hope this helps answer some of your questions. When you are ready to sign up you can simply go to www.believersworld.com , hit online application and follow the prompts.  Have more questions? call us at (877)641-5100. Hope you can join us on this trip or one of our other mission trips!

For The Glory of His Name,

BWO Staff

 

If you have read the previous post & Haiti trip page and feel called to minister in Haiti this summer with Believers World Outreach. The next step is to click on the online application page, sign up, pay the application fee and we will begin the process.

Like any of the BWO missions trips, this is the first step in the process.  Once you sign up, within one week you will receive a missions manual and payment schedule in the mail. Shortly after that you will receive a training DVD and book on cross cultural ministry that is a very important tool to prepare you for your trip.

In the manual you will find paperwork that needs to be filled out and sent back to us as soon as possible.  There are also lots of other helpful things in the there.  So be sure to read it. Like fund raising ideas,example support letter and pledge forms.  These things are crucial to raising funds for your trip.  Also, what to pack, how to prepare yourself physically and prayerfully.

We want to help you every step of the way. That’s what we feel is our call here at Believer World Outreach.  To help others reach out to the hurting and lost of this world.  Always pointing them to the one who loves them so very much- JESUS! When you do this… He pours so much more right back into you.  He is good!

If you are interested in bringing a group or just have more questions please give us a call at (918) 641-5100 or email debbie@believersworld.com.

HAITI RELIEF MISSION TRIP FORMING NOW….Believers World Outreach is assembling a team to bring relief aid and help rebuild the already poverty stricken country of Haiti.

You are invited to be a part of this life-giving team. BWO’s primary goal will be to evangelize and to disciple believers, using physical relief as a way to open doors for ministry.

On January 12th a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck near Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Devastating aftershocks followed. The current number of dead and missing is estimated to be between 150,000 and 500,000. The entire capital of Port-au-Prince appears damaged or destroyed.

Your help is urgently needed to bring immediate emergency relief to those affected. We are accepting donations now that will used towards these efforts. Please go to the “Give” page if you are not able to go but would like to be a part of the sending and relief aid by donating to this cause.

We are currently targeting the departure dates of June 10-22, 2010.  Details are unfolding daily.  If you are interested in being a part of this relief team. Please contact us as soon as possible at (918)641-5100 or email: debbie@believersworld.com.

Ministry opportunities will include:

• Medical- we will be setting up a medical clinics inside the compound to treat earthquake victims. We are looking for trained medical persons in all fields.
• Construction- clearing rubble and rebuilding homes.
• Orphanage and Children’s outreach
• Village Ministry- working with people living the Grantier Lake area doing evangelism, VBS, and food relief. This is a community an hour away from Port au Prince that has no resources and typically does not receive any aid because they are so far from the city.
• Refugee Camp Ministry- doing evangelism and food relief in the refugee camps located in Port au Prince.

WE HAVE A NEW MISSION TRIP! BWO would like to announce our new trip to Kigoma ,Tanzania. We are excited to be partnering with Saving Grace World Missions to bring the Love of Jesus and His Gospel to Kigoma, Tanzania this summer.

August 12-27, 2010- BWO, along with a pioneer team will embark on a new adventure. Here’s a snap shot of what the daily schedule could look like. Keep in mind we are still in the process of solidifying what the ministry days will look like:

Thursday August 12, 2010
Trip Flight departs  from the two cities of- Los Angeles & New York ( You pick the city of departure that best suits you.)

Friday—August 13th– Travel Day

Saturday- August14th -Travel Day
Overnight in Dar Es Salaam

Sunday – August 15th
Depart  Dar Es Salaam to Kigoma
Arrive Kigoma
Orientation for mission team with incountry contacts

Monday- August 16th
Orientation/ ministry training
Pastors conference begins
Ministry team visit surrounding villages & site checks for medical & VBS

TUESDAY AUGUST 17,18, 19th
Conference Team —
August 17th – Prep for Pastors Conference begins-
July 18th & 19 Pastors Conference

Tuesday, Wed, Thurs- August 17,18, 19th
Ministry teams-Medical, Outreach, Construction teams

Medical Team —     August 17-19th to medical clinic/village outreach
Outreach Team — August 17-19th
o    Door to door friendship evangelism/ Bible distribution
o    Village evangelism
o    Vbs with village children
o    Soccer outreach & Clinics for youth

August 19th -Potential Woman’s Conference for the “mamas”
(females missionaries from ministry teams would be involved in honoring the local “mamas”

Friday August 20th
Conference people to  join ministry teams for the day
Ministry teams
possible  take teams by helicopter to remote village?
We could bring medical team, maybe more? Schedule is dependent on what works best for the ministry that day.

Saturday August 21st- Ministry team- Day Off
1.    Day off option s are: situated next to one of the biggest lakes in the world.  Team may go to the lake for a day of swimming, relaxing, playing “beach games”, etc.
2.    Another option is a boat fishing for those who like that kind of thing.
3.    Lastly, there’s the possibility of going by boat up to Gombe Stream National Park to see the chimpanzees. This is the place made famous by Jane Goodall and her research.
4.    There is also a new hotel that serves as a great place for a “special meal” with the team to enjoy good food and fellowship.

Sunday August 22nd-Church and Afternoon Outreach.

Mon, Tues, Wed, – August 23, 24,25th
Ministry teams/ try to change to different villages these days than 1st week of the trip.
Medical Team —     August 23-25th to medical clinic/village outreach
Outreach Team — August 23rd-25th
o    Door to door friendship evangelism/ Bible distribution
o    Village evangelism
o    Vbs with village children
o    Soccer outreach & Clinics for youth

Debrief in Evening

Thursday- August 26th/Friday August 27th
Flight  to Dar Es Salaam depart
Flight from Dar Es Salaam back to U.S. A.

* In the mornings will be breakfast, devotional, time, and team time.

** In the evenings we will return back to the guesthouse where we will have dinner  following my an evening meeting/service.

If you would like more information please go to the Tanzania trip page on this site. You may also go to online application if your ready to sign up.

BWO Mission Team: 2009