Whiter than snow!

Prayer and Bible study was cancelled tonight due to severe wheather. As I shovelled my driveway I was amazed again at how white snow really is! Look at these images of snowflakes. Is it not an amazing fact that there are not even two snowflakes the same - ever! Here's something even more amazing: A prayer of King David, "Remove my sin, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow." (Psalms 51:7) So, I sent up a prayer for the many commuters navigating "whiteout" conditions and also thanked God for His forgiveness that is so full and perfect that it is "whiter" than snow! Selah

Noah's Troubles: Bird Flu?

Hi,
Imagine some of the challenges that Noah and his family faced as they floated day after day with all those animals.

Through it all they made it through the storm. God is faithful! And remember...the ark was built by amateurs, the Titanic by professionals!

Tiffany

Today we feature "Tiffany" of 8 Miles, Belize. We first met Tiff on previous missions and the last Youth Mission, 80% of which were young ladies and women, adopted her. She stayed with and worked with the team for 10 days. The 1st photo is of Tiff and her little brother, Jusitin (left) and Dion. The 2nd is a shot of her helping with the "Set Sail" DVBS at 8 Miles. As part of our follow-up to this mission the team wanted to help Tiffany go to school. Some ladies of Grace Chapel (Belize City)have started by helping her get enrolled and paying some of her tuition, books and uniform etc. The team is presently working on sending her the remainder needed for her to continue her studies.
Let us pray for her now..."Dear Lord, bless Tiffany in her walk with You. We pray that she would be able to continue her studies so as to be able to serve and honor You better. Thank you for the privilege of knowing and helping her. In the name of our Lord Jesus, Amen."

Weekend at the Whites

"Hi, Y'all" from North Carolina! Here are Jeremy and Rachel with thier missionary kid friends in Waxhaw, NC. Our good freinds, the Whites, moved from Texas and we decided to plan a much needed weekend away to go and see them. They are Wycliffe missionaries who were a great blessing to us and our kids in Guatemala. Their friendship has meant alot to us over the years. Here's a couple of shots that can almost capture the precious moments of catchup time. Included is a must pitstop on the way to take in a breathtaking view of some Virginia landscape.

Sing unto the Lord

The way we might sing some well-known hymns if we were being honest:

1. I Surrender Some

2. There Shall Be Sprinkles of Blessings

3. Fill My Spoon, Lord

4. Oh, How I Like Jesus

5. He’s Quite a Bit to Me

6. I Love to Talk About Telling the Story

7. Take My Life and Let Me Be

8. It is My Secret What God Can Do

9. There is Scattered Cloudiness in My Soul Today

10. Onward, Christian Reserves

11. Where He Leads Me, I Will Consider Following

12. Just As I Pretend to Be

Mine eye affecteth mine heart (Lamentations 3:51)

I saw this image on both my friend's blogs, including Nigel Barham's Prayer Blog Nigel Barham's Prayer Blog and had to include it here. Nigel (former missionary kid, "MK") is serving around the world as George Verwer's (Operation Mobilization) gopher.

The caption reads:
"" PULITZER PRIZE " photo taken in 1994 during the Sudan famine. The picture depicts a famine stricken child crawling towards a UN food camp, located a kilometer away. The vulture is waiting for the child to die so that it can eat it. No one knows what happened to the child, including the photographer who left the place as soon as the photograph was taken. Three months later he committed suicide."

Nigel challenges us with these thoughts...


"...consider these thoughts: (1) Jesus loved/loves this little boy, (2) Christ called/calls us to share Himself with such as these, (3) Were any of us there? Why not?, (4) Jesus loved/loves the photographer who took this picture (see caption), (5) The photographer did not have the hope of Jesus in his life, (6) Did any of us share Christ with this photographer? If not, why not?, (7) If one of us had been there for the little boy, how would this have impacted the photographer?, (8) How long do photographs like this have an impact on us?, (9) Most of us are comfortable lifestyle-wise and perhaps believe that this is because God has blessed us (don't tell that to John Piper); if this is true, how does this blessing relate to this little boy?, (10) Matthew 43-44: "For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me." Is this true of me? (11) Where were you in 1994? Where was I?

May we examine our attitudes."

Trekers Treking...

Here's an Awana Trecker marking her Bible during one of the study sessions. The whole weekend was packed with fun; even a torchlight hike Friday night. Please enjoy some of the pictures. In the one with the blindfolded Treckers, they think they are going to eat Sardines, but gummy fish were substitued at the last second! The changing leaves of fall provided a beautiful backdrop for some of the few games played outside. It is easy to see why this weekend is a highlight of the year for the Treckers.

Trek Treat at Beacon

Here are the Trekers (formerly Jr. Varisity clubbers) of Northside Awana. Although the weakend was chilly and wet, it did not dampen in the least the fun and fellowship at Beacon Bible Camp near Bala, Ontario. At least one girl from our group ran up to me and said, "Remember when the speaker said we could pray and ask for salvation?" "Yes", I replied. "I did it!" What an encouragment to hear this clear profession of faith in Christ. We will try and post a few shots of the activities over the next few days. Rob Armstrong is pictured with me and the kids and Marlise our director is the photographer.


Way to go Trekers!

Sick Router...

Dear Blog Readers and Prayer Partners. Please forgive the lack of blog bytes! Our wireless router is very ill and will die I'm sure. So, hardwired in the living room I'm trying to get this online.
So, let's bring our readers up to speed: first, look at Andrew as he follows the Lord in the waters of Baptism. Jim Comte is baptizing him. You can see a video of this at Northside's website at www.northsidebiblechapel.com and hear him share his faith.
This weekend Rachel and I will be going on the "Trek Treat", an AWANA retreat at Beacon Bible Camp. We'll remember to take our camera and try and bring back a report.

Quote of the Day

"You only believe the part of the Bible you do." - Rick Warren

What a great quote! Selah!

Gospel Folio Press

We would like to thank Gospel Folio Press ( http://www.gospelfolio.com/ ) for generously donating tracts and literature for the Belize Youth Mission. The team was able to distribute hundreds of tracts on the streets of Belize City and gospel booklets such as Ultimate Questions and Final Destiny in the Community of 8 Miles. Also, Sunday School material was donated to 8 Miles Community Bible Chapel.

So, thank you GFP. Keep the presses going and we'll all pray for the seed sown.

"...so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."
(Isaiah 55:11)

Motives for Missions

Hi,
Greetings from Sudbury! With SBF (Sudbury Bible Fellowship) for the day I am about to share the presentation of the Belize Youth Mission for the first time. I hope all the technology works! We do have strong motivation to be involved in the greatest mission ever:

1. The Command from Above: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel" (Mark 16:15)

2. The Cry from below: "I have five brothers, send someone to warn them lest they also come into this place of torment" The rich man in hell wanted to become a missionary! Selah! (Luke 16:27,28)

3. The Call from Beyond: "Come over and help us" The Macedonian man calling for the help of Paul the Apostle. Can you hear the call for help? (Acts 16:9)

4. The Constraint from within: "The love of Christ constrains us" This is the best motive. If we have experienced God's love in Christ it will be impossible to keep it to ourselves. (2 Corinthians 5:14,15)

I can't remember where I 1st saw this outline, but it has never left me. May the Lord who loved us help us be faithful to His command, call and constraint.

Is It a Sacrifice?

The biography of David Livingstone inspired me as a young Christian. Today I came accross this challenging quote and blog it for our prayerful consideration.

"People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa. Can that be called a sacrifice which is simply acknowledging a great debt we owe to our God, which we can never repay? Is that a sacrifice which brings its own reward in healthful activity, the consciousness of doing good, peace of mind, and a bright hope of a glorious destiny? It is emphatically no sacrifice. Rather it is a privilege. Anxiety, sickness, suffering, danger, foregoing the common conveniences of this life—these may make us pause, and cause the spirit to waver, and the soul to sink; but let this only be for a moment. All these are nothing compared with the glory which shall later be revealed in and through us. I never made a sacrifice. Of this we ought not to talk, when we remember the great sacrifice which He made who left His Father’s throne on high to give Himself for us."

David Livingstone

Suffer the Little Children...

During the course of our mission in Belize there were hundreds of photos taken, the bulk of which we could never publish. Each one is a nano-second glimpse into the world that is Belize. We will try and post a number of shots which we think are blog worthy. Here is one of many taken of the children of 8 Mile. It is an amazing thought that each and every one of these children is infinitely precious to the Lord Jesus. What a privilege and joy to minister to them.

And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
(Matthew 10:42)

What it's all about...

Well, back on the ground here and back to "normal" life (?) gives opportunity to reflect on the recent mission to Belize. Many times we have tried to communicate just how much a short-term mission will change your life. Today I recieved an e-mail from one of the parents of some of the team members. It was so encouraging to read: "By the way , the girls have a wonderful new God inspired outlook on life and a new found appreciation for all that they have, looking forward every day to spreading God's word."

Jet Lagged Luggage...

Nothing like being home! Yeah! I am happy to report that the team arrived safe and sound from Belize. The only problem was that our luggage did not arrive! That's right - all 17 pieces are somewhere between Texas and Ontario! Hopefully all team members will recieve their bags soon. Thank you for praying and come back soon to get some follow-up news and photos.

I think I'll get a coffe and enjoy some Canadian weather!

Sean

Xunantenich

Saying goodbye is never easy. This afternoon the team played an informal match of soccer with the children of 8 Mile. Canada was leading 8 to 4 but Belize scored after we said, "next goal wins!" Then it was time to say our farewells and many of the kids hugged us and asked when we're coming back. In a matter of hours the team will board a flight that will end this mission and take us back to our seperate lives. As I enjoyed an evening of fellowship and stories my mind wandered to Psalm 126; "...we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing...The LORD has done great things for us; whereof we are glad."
This morning a two hour drive took us inland to Xunantenich, an ancient Mayan ruin. What a delight it was for Vera and I to sit, looking out over the lushous green landscape below. In the distance we could actually see Guatemala and we rejoiced to be on the field together again. It has been a great privilege and blessing to lead such a keen group of young people to Belize. They worked hard and well together and we are glad that the Lord has a plan for each of their lives. Maybe His purpose and plan will include another trip to Belize. Certainly this trip has changed us and we will take home many glad memories. -To Jesus Christ our Lord be all the glory-

Tract Distribution in Belize City

Hello people in Blogland! Our internet connection was down for 2 days but is back. We just returned from another gospel meeting at Berea in Belize City. The believers served refreshments and thanked the team for their labours. Tomorrow we are hoping for clear weather for the trip planned to see some Mayan ruins. Here is another pictoral update of Team Canada in Belize...

The team folding and stamping tracts at Grace Chapel



The team had opportunity to distribute hundreds of tracts; most eagerly accepted literature donated by Gospel Folio Press. There were a handful of drug addicts, communists, hecklers (Holly even got proposed to), antagonists and prostitutes. Thank God for His amazing grace.
Ben shares the gospel with people on the street in Belize City. This fellow read the tract from start to finish out loud on the spot!
Ben meets Jimbo
"Make sure you grab behind the neck real tight... and don't forget the tail!"
Rachel meets Vicki
Children at DVBS closing programe sharing some songs they learned with their parents
Team Canada with youth group in Belize city. Ben had some wild games and the girls sang some fun songs
Jessie, Mackenzie and Tiffany coolin' down after a blazing hot day handing out tracts in Belize City.

Team Canada at Shark-Ray Alley

The final day of VBS at 8 Mile was a fun-packed time for all. The team even got to play a freindly match of soccer with some of the kids after the programe. On Thursday we were able to pick up another six children from the little community across the highway. The crafts that the team shared with the kids were a huge hit. The leaders put on another great skit and each boy and girl recieved prizes for all their hard work. Tomorrow there will be a special meeting for thier parents to come and see what their children did and to meat the team.
Today the team went to a little island called Cay Caulker. Many of the team shorkled for the first time ever right beside the largest living coral reef in the world. The outing included swimming with sharks and rays at "Shark-Ray Alley". After a good rest we all went to the youth group in Belize City. Team Canada provided the singing, skits and a craft and two of the team shared their testimonies. It was really special to see the youth listeing with interest as Thalia and Joanne shared how they got saved and how God is working in their lives to overcome challenges and give victory in situations which are common to youth in any country. Tomorrow we have a full schedule of meetings so we will sign off. Praise the Lord for His love and care over the team (1 Peter 5:7). We hope you enjoy a few shots of the team in action...
Team Canada gets a "hands-on" experience with the rays
One of the Nurse Sharks at "Shark-Ray Alley"
Last day of VBS at 8 Mile

Sharing with the youth group in Belize City
Prize time at 8 Mile!

8 Mile DVBS, Days 1 and 2

Hi again! Our internet connection was down last night so we must hurry to try to get these latest pics online for our praying friends. Forty one children came out for the first day of DVBS at 8 Mile. The team is really working well together and the Lord is blessing their various gifts and talents to reach these boys and girls with the gospel. Today, when the rain stopped briefly, the team went door to door in another nearby town to invite more kids to the program tomorrow. Sunday we plan to have all the parents come and join us. Hopefully tomorrow our connection will be here again so we can share more blessings in Belize. Thank God for our connection to heaven through our Lord Jesus Christ which is alway open. "Let us therefore come boldly before the throne of grace to find mercy and grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)