Thanks for the donations!

I wanted to try out the Blogger app before we're in Nicaragua, so here is a picture of the 81 toothbrushes donated by one of our sending churches -- and we had only asked for 50!  Thanks for the support. 

Thanks for Praying!

Many of you reading this blog have already supported the Nicaragua 1309 team in some way.  Some of you have contributed financially, some of you have made Witness bracelets, and many of you have donated toothbrushes, toothpastes, and soap.  We're hoping that all of you are reading this blog, though, because you wish to support us in prayer.  Specifically, we would like to ask you to pray for the following during our trip:
1.  Pray for God’s leading:
-- For sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit
-- For willingness to lay aside preconceived ideas and follow God’s leading
2.  Pray for the team:
-- For the attitudes of servanthood, and humility
-- For the joy of the Lord to be our strength
-- To show God’s compassion and love to the people
-- For God’s help in communication
-- For patience and team unity
3.  Pray for our team’s ministry:
-- God’s anointing when we minister
-- The exercise of spiritual gifts as He leads
-- Openness to the Gospel by those we serve
-- Helping with physical needs
4.  Pray for our leaders:
-- For wisdom in all their decisions
-- For staff and leaders to work together well
-- For energy and strength
5.  Pray for the people we will meet:
-- Local pastors
-- Local people
-- Missionaries
6.  Pray for safety:
-- Safe travel
-- God’s protection while ministering
-- God’s protection from sickness and accidents
-- God’s protection for our families at home
7.  Pray for lasting results:
-- Spiritual growth for team members
-- To fulfill all of God’s purposes for the outreach
-- For this mission to enable and encourage the current ministry in El Piloto, Nicaragua.
-- For team members that hear God’s call for future mission work

Additionally, MOST has provided us with the following list of prayer requests for the work in Nicaragua, so we hope you'll lift these up, too:

PRAY: For local spiritual needs to be met and churches to multiply.
PRAY: For a revitalization of the healthy two-parent family in the youth.
PRAY: For government officials that are respected by all communities to come forth, unite the divided country, and institute the needed structural and socioeconomic changes.
PRAY: For the growth of the radio and television evangelism ministry.
PRAY: For success of local youth ministry efforts; that young men would learn and grow to be strong male role models for future generations.

Thank you so much for your partnership with us!

Let the Countdown Begin!

Well, it's just over a week until the entire team will meet in person.  We're coming from all over the country to fly out of Houston, Texas to Managua, Nicaragua on July 5th.  We will spend our time in Nicaragua on a clean water project and VBS.  Click here for a video on the clean water project in Nicaragua.

Our team is traveling with MOST Ministries and led by Lisa from Michigan.  5 of the team members are part of the 2009 Amaziah collegial group from PLI (Pastoral Leadership Institute): Paul and Julie from Chicago, Brian from Amarillo (TX), and Greg and Diana from Corvallis (OR).  Rounding out the team are David and Samuel from the Chicago area and Kara from Hawaii.