Grace Community Church, Madera » India – New Mexico Team Reports

India team. update 3

Greg — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 13:32:55 +0000

Greetings from India. After several days of work in the village we are finding our time in the air-conditioned big city quite refreshing. We have spent our rest-time eating such authentic Indian favorites as KFC and McDonald’s, purchasing genuine handi-crafts, and visiting with (and hopefully encouraging) other Americans who are working here. Last night we ate dinner with an Iranian refugee family who’s amazing story we will be excited to share with you when we return. Otherwise, I am getting a little anxious to return to the village, so with that I am looking forward to our return journey tomorrow morning. Please pray that we will continue to have good opportunities to proclaim the Gospel and encourage the Indian church to do the same. Ask that our communication be clear and that we will seize every opportunity to share.

Until next time, thanks for your prayer,

BG and the team.

India team. update 2

Greg — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:51:01 +0000

We are back in Chandigarh after 3 days of staying in another town and working in a nearby village. The people in the villages are very welcoming and we’ve had more chai than you can imagine. Pastor D and his wife Baljit are some of the most hospitable people I have met and are so much fun to be spending time with and getting to know their family. The heat here is not something I can explain in words, lets just say we will come home with cleansed pores and a few pounds lighter. I wish I could say more but stories will have to wait until we come home, we don’t have much time with the internet. Oh… and someone should let Starbucks know that what they are serving is NOT chai.

Love you all, Mona and India Team

India team. update 1

Greg — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 13:11:09 +0000

After two long days of travel we have finally arrived in Chandigarh. Getting used to a 12 and a half hour time difference has been as difficult as anticipated. I am looking forward to going out into the village tomorrow to begin our ministry.
Please pray for God’s strength as we go, and for sufficient rest when we sleep. Pray that God will use our preparation to bring glory to Him.
Thanks for sending us to India and for your continued support through prayer.
Greg and the team.

Jim Liljegren – Russia

Greg — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:53:50 +0000

DEAR FAMILY AND FRIENDS,
JUST A QUICK UPDATE. TODAY WE DIVIDED INTO TWO TEAMS – ONE AT THE ORPHANAGE AND ONE AT A COURTYARD DOING SIMILAR THINGS. THE GOSPEL WAS PRESENTED AT THE CHILDREN’S MINISTRY AT THE ORPHANAGE WITH VERY POSITIVE RESULTS. WHILE WE WERE PAINTING AT THE COURYARD, I SHARED THE LORD WITH ALEXANDER, A RETIRED PLUMBER. HE HAD NEVER HEARD THE GOSPEL AND WANTED TO READ THE BOOKLET AND THINK MORE ABOUT IT. A SEED SOWN. THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS.
NOW, OFF TO THE SPORTS MINISTRY … BASEBALL, VOLLEYBALL AND FRISBEE WITH CHILDREN.
LOVE TO ALL,
JIM

Dennis Braga – Pskov, Russia: Update 2

Greg — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:12:31 +0000

Hey Everyone

I apologize for taking so long to send the next update. Most of the nights this week, I have been getting home around 11PM, eating a snack, drinking some tea and going to bed. The American team left yesterday and Daniel and I are left to continue the work. Daniel was part of the American team this summer and last summer. He is a Russian American from the L.A. area and we worked well together last summer as we made friends with the “Drunk Group.”

This week, much was done in the courtyard; we: built benches, sandboxes and painted those along with the Amphitheatre. For a couple days we had people from several different areas of Russia and America (and even a musical group from Latvia). Sidenote: The father of the Latvian family told me he had been to the Fresno area in the Sequoia National Forest. I was pretty shocked and we instantly became even better friends.

At night time, the Latvian family in addition to the local church put on a concert/church service for the people in the vicinity of the courtyard. Many people heard the Great News of the Gospel through song, through sermons and through our actions. After the concert, we would set up the volleyball net and play a few games against each other and against the local youth. During the last concert, the courtyard director (named Yuri) came and awarded a framed certificate of thanks for the 13 or so churches represented. A few days prior, there was a meeting of all the courtyard directors in Pskov with the mayor. Yuri stood up and said something along the lines of “I have 40 or so Evangelical Baptists from all over the world working for me this week. They do amazing work!” In response, one of the other courtyard directors wanted to have us beautify his courtyards, but Yuri said “You need to see their work, but I want them for myself, you can’t have them!”

There are many things I can mention about this week and how God is working, but one of the highlights was the “Tea Party.” Earlier in the week, I had the opportunity to meet up with friends from the “Drunk Group” (Pavel, Victor, Sergei). Our friendship had not changed this whole year. It was as if I was in Pskov this whole time. Daniel and I have been hanging out with them most of the nights this week at the concert. Before the American team left, we hosted a “Tea Party” which was pretty much a Christian youth service with food and drinks. The Drunk Group and us walked over to the venue and talked outside. They didn’t want to go inside, but it started raining…so we found cover under a doorway. The rain would stop for a bit and then start up again. This time, it was really pouring down so we decided on going inside to the Tea Party to keep dry. It was a packed house, so when we came in, we sat up front on the stage with the speaker. I think we all felt that all eyes were on us (especially since my friends are at this Christian youth event). Our other non-Christian friends (who we met this week and who are a lot younger) were there and they even told me earlier that I shouldn’t be hanging out with the “Drunk Group.” I am sure that even the younger guys were in shock that they were there.

During one of the talks, Victor (from the Drunk Group) blurted out a question: “How do you know that God exists?” The Latvian father said “It’s like the wind, you can’t see the wind, but you can feel its presence.” Victor replies “Who hear has felt God’s presence?” [Almost all hands in the room went up]. Victor goes “Well, sometimes I don’t believe in God and sometimes I do.” [The crowd cheers.] It was a pretty intense but funny moment. During the course of the night, I had to stand up for my friends because I felt like they were being blasted by one of the guys who wanted to say something (by pointing and staring at my friends).

I honestly care for my friends and they care about Daniel and I also. On several occasions, they have said that we honestly understand and relate to them and accept them. Not only do they feel somewhat judged by the Christian community, but from the Pskov community as a whole. They trust and feel safe with us and God has given us great favor with them. Several of the church members and people working with us here have talked to them at the Tea Party and at the concert and have sometimes turned them somewhat off to the Gospel (because they focus on their sins and not on Jesus). At the same time, I know that God is working in their lives. They are definitely more serious about spiritual things than last year. One of our main jobs is to help the local church have favor with my friends and I think that is happening slowly.

Daniel and I have made many new friends through Pavel and other people, so our next 3 weeks should be busy spending time with all of them. We plan on providing an English class on Tuesday and Thursday nights. On Friday nights, Alexander (the church planter) has a film night in the same facility (and of course on Sunday nights for the service). This week, I will be visiting several villages and even staying the night at one of them.

Thank you for your prayers. God has definitely answered them. For example, Daniel and I were somewhat lost and couldn’t find the facility (the Tea Party room) for the Sunday service last night, but we randomly saw one of the younger guys walking by himself. He pointed us in the right direction and were able to find the place.

Titus 3:3-7

Den

New Mexico Mission: Update 3

New Mexico Team — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 03:33:22 +0000

Hi to everyone! This trip has been more than worth the investment of finances & time. Indescribable in human words, but not indescribable in HIS Words! WOW! Thank you to all who have been praying. Very evident. Many children responded to the VBS! Adults, wow. Very hungary for His Word & leadership, direction, teaching & much more. Very responsive. More later. I truly look forward to our presentation to our Body @ GCC.

Geoff Tipton

Dear Brothers and sisters in Christ. I just have to say I am lost with words, I know God had planned all this before it even started out as an idea. He knew to bring Tony here to work on the heater for the church and be the lead eng. team for all the side projects, Paula is our chief cook and always has all the food prepared with the help of the girls; Erich, well he had the irrigation and other awesome jobs completed, I can go on and on, for the rest, I am so blessed to be with this awsome group of brothers and sisters not just from our team but the Navajo brothers and sisters as well, the walls have come down and I feel at home here. Praise GOD!!! Pray for our sisters in Christ here and for our health and safe return back so we can share on how GOD was glorified…. GOD is Great!!!! From your brother in Christ Cris Aka Dr. Dougafossilup.

Hi Everbody

I am glad my prayer was answered that God would send me on this trip and be able to tell the kids how much God loves us and cares for us. I was able to tell the people of New Mexico why Jesus came into the world for us. I wish we could stay another week, I enjoy talking to the people of the church. I learned yesterday how to make Indian bread- it was so good. I learned how they need God’s Word. I am glad God sent me on this trip. My prayer for next year is that we can all come back again.

God Bless Rosemary

Thank you everyone for praying for us. We look forward to coming home and filling you in. Please pray for safe travels. We leave tomorrow morning at 6AM or 5AM your time.

Praise Him,

Kyle Olguin for the team

New Mexico Mission: Update 2

New Mexico Team — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 03:43:03 +0000

Church Family,

It is Wednesday night and we are having a great time here in New Mixico. The Navajo people are great. The VBS is going well. The adult teaching is incredible. The Navajo adults are asking great questions about creation. The Navajo children are interacting with our church kids. The Holy spirit is working here in New Mixico. We have been working very hard with many contruction projects. We could stay a month and still have things to do. The church served us a great Navajo dinner that was awsome.

Keep us in Prayer!!!

Erich Schaller

Hello Everyone,

Greetings from the Navajo Reservation! We have just finished playing an awesome game of volleyball with the Navajo people at the local rec center that they have in the middle of the housing projects. We had such a blast! If you can imagine playing volleyball with Geoff Tipton or Cris Andaverde you can guarantee some great laughs! The Navajo people are welcoming us with open arms now. We are looking forward to continuing on the rest of this week with construction and with VBS. The adults and youth in VBS are rocking out with the kids and Geoff, Tony, and myself have been teaching and have seen HUGE results with the youth (Tony) and the adults (Geoff and I).

Keep us in prayer as we continue to seek the Lord in this mission. Pray also for a few sick team members and also for Patty’s car. We are having it towed into a local city 45 min away to be looked at by the Ford dealership.

Praise Him,

Kyle Olguin for the Team

New Mexico Mission: Update 1

New Mexico Team — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 05:22:30 +0000

Hello Everyone,

We have arrived in Flagstaff, AZ! Praise the Lord for safe travels so far. We will be staying the night here before we head out in the morning for another 4 hour trip to the Navajo Reservation. We had quite the trip leaving Madera at 7AM and arriving here at 7PM after many unplanned bathroom stops but ya gotta do what you gotta do!

Pray for us as we continue in our travels tomorrow morning and meet some of the Navajo people that we will be ministering to. A lot of our youth are getting really excited. It has been great to sneek in on their conversations and hear how they are so excited to tell people about Christ and do the work we are scheduled to do. Pray for us in those different areas.

Come back and check out the website every day as we will try to give you a glimpse into what is going on as Internet connections permit. Thank you all for the different ways you have helped support us by finances, your time, and most importantly, your prayers.

Praise Him,

Kyle Olguin

Getting Ready To Head Out!

New Mexico Team — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 02:56:58 +0000

Hey Everyone!

We, The New Mexico Team, would first like to say thank you for all of your prayers and support that you have given to us the past few months to allow us to go on this missions trip to the Navajo people. We are excited to see God use us as vessels for His Gospel to reach the nations, literally.

Pray for us as we drive 10 hours to Flagstaff, AZ tomorrow morning at 6AM and then onto Farmington, NM another 5 hours on Sunday. Pray that the Lord will guide us there safely and with our cars in good shape! Pray also for opportunities at gas stations and rest stops to share the Gospel with those we come into contact with and make visual God’s love in the way we treat each other as a team. Our youth are excited to have the chance to share even before we get to New Mexico.

Praise Him,

Kyle