Hey, hey, hey...
It's now Wednesday, about 3:00AM local. We'll be leaving for Ilha Grande in a few hours as the bus is leaving the hotel at 7. Heh. I've yet to see us leave sooner than an hour after we said we were going to, but that's part of the missionary life I guess.
We ministered at a United Methodist church here in Volta Redonda, and received a history and economics lesson from the pastor's daughter, Ariella, who along with her brother who we'll call "John" cause it's easier attends Christ for the Nations school in Dallas, Texas.
Their ministry here in Volta Redonda is really awesome. As a church, they already have 4 satellite churches in the area, and are working on constructing a building which will house not only a Bible college but a trade school as well for locals so they can get better jobs. The one thing this church is hurting for is a bus, which would help in rainy weather when local residents cannot get to the church due to flooding, etc... Understand that not a single person in the church owns a car besides the pastor and a few of the elders. Also, know that the church's annual budget is about 115K in US dollars, but they recently started that new building which cost them 125K for the initial phase. That's right, they spent more than their budget on the building, but it's all paid for and their budget was also met - this is done by people who make about $600 US/mo per household.
Worship tonight was hard for me as I was very distracted. I am tired. I am beyond tired to the point of exhaustion, my voice is giving out after some very "lively" worship services, and I miss my wife. I couldn't get in the zone, and I was ready to ask Henry for a plane ticket.
Tomorrow brings rest with the travel, and we don't have a service in the evening on the island so it's a relatively uneventful schedule. We'll see - so far uneventful has meant less music and more ministry...
Please be praying for the next few days. I'm not the only one getting worn down. Our rest has been disrupted, and we are not sleeping well even given time to do so.
God Bless - the island may not have internet access, but we'll see. I've said I wouldn't before and been wrong - thankfully I got to hear Iris' voice tonight thanks to a Vonage USB VOIP phone. It was a local call. Gotta love computers!
We ministered at a United Methodist church here in Volta Redonda, and received a history and economics lesson from the pastor's daughter, Ariella, who along with her brother who we'll call "John" cause it's easier attends Christ for the Nations school in Dallas, Texas.
Their ministry here in Volta Redonda is really awesome. As a church, they already have 4 satellite churches in the area, and are working on constructing a building which will house not only a Bible college but a trade school as well for locals so they can get better jobs. The one thing this church is hurting for is a bus, which would help in rainy weather when local residents cannot get to the church due to flooding, etc... Understand that not a single person in the church owns a car besides the pastor and a few of the elders. Also, know that the church's annual budget is about 115K in US dollars, but they recently started that new building which cost them 125K for the initial phase. That's right, they spent more than their budget on the building, but it's all paid for and their budget was also met - this is done by people who make about $600 US/mo per household.
Worship tonight was hard for me as I was very distracted. I am tired. I am beyond tired to the point of exhaustion, my voice is giving out after some very "lively" worship services, and I miss my wife. I couldn't get in the zone, and I was ready to ask Henry for a plane ticket.
Tomorrow brings rest with the travel, and we don't have a service in the evening on the island so it's a relatively uneventful schedule. We'll see - so far uneventful has meant less music and more ministry...
Please be praying for the next few days. I'm not the only one getting worn down. Our rest has been disrupted, and we are not sleeping well even given time to do so.
God Bless - the island may not have internet access, but we'll see. I've said I wouldn't before and been wrong - thankfully I got to hear Iris' voice tonight thanks to a Vonage USB VOIP phone. It was a local call. Gotta love computers!
posted by Kevin at 11:52 PM
6 Comments:
Hey Kevin! First of all, I think what you are doing is awesome and secondly, I am praying that God give you the strength and energy to continue. I am enjoying everything you've been writing. God bless you! Melody Keely
Hey Kev,
Hold on there buddy. All will come in God's time. My prayers are with you and the gane. Just remember thank God you have a beautiful wife to miss. Many are not Bless as you are and God has great things he is showing all of you. You will be a chenged man through all of this, God is good and you are his child and you know that kind of love is an AWSOME! love!!
Love ya buddy,
Carol
Kevster,
Pick up that breastplate and get it on! Remember Romans 8:38-39 and Phillipians 4:12,13.
It is difficult to see the good that is happening when we are tired and feel we aren't giving God our best. Yet, I think God gives us His blessing of strength when we do push forward despite the tiredness.
Be careful what you are eating, spice wise, in protecting your voice. Use the mikes and let them do your work if you feel you are straining your vocal folds.
The blessing of your trip is that you will come home with as much as you gave!
love, mom
Hi Kevin - I wish I had some really profound words to share with you - Have faith that God will provide the strength and guidance the whole gang needs. Though I only correspond with you be assured I think of and pray for the rest of your group. I know God is happy with your service and remember God will carry you if the burden seems too heavy - trust in our Lord. God Bless you!
Hey Kevin,
I hope you have some time to rest planed when you get back and some time during a Sunday service to share stories and pics with all of us at LW. Keep up the good work and we will keep you in our prayers.
The Blairs
Thanks everybody!
Mom - can't help singing loud here. The sound systems are not anywhere near up to the standards we have in the states. It's slipshod at best.
You should have seen the wiring we had on the island last night. We had to create our own adapters and extension cords, heh, just to connect to the power. It looked like some of the connectors dad found in the SDL network closets.
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