Archive for September 2011

Nica News – 9/30

On September 30, 2011   /   NicaNews   /   Leave a comment
      Good morning and Blessing to all………..This morning Pam and I will be flying out to Hudson, KS to cast our vision for BWCM and share the gospel in two different churches in the area.  God continues to open doors and blessing BWCM with NEW PARTNERS.  As I set here this morning and look over the past 11 years I stand amazed at all that GOD has done and allowed us to be a part of.  Sometimes we get a little tired and frustrated with “Nicaragua.”    When this happens I just have to remember that it’s all about Jesus and it’s GODS work not mine.  Very thankful that God has chosen us for HIS task in this beautiful country.  Seeking your prayers as we begin year 12 and be GODS hands and feet in a place we love so very much.

We are asking that you pray about how you can join us in our “MannaFest program for 2011.  As I have shared with you over the past couple of months, these are very difficult times in Nicaragua.  It’s not an unusual situation it seems the conditions are like this each year and won’t improve until after the first of the year.  Through MannaFest we are able to distribute FOOD BAGS to many hungry and struggling family.  A $10.00 donation will feed a family of six for about a week.  I’m asking all my Pastor friends to pray about joining with us to “feed the hungry.”  We are  praying that our friends will look into different opportunities that they can use to introduce “MannaFest” to family and friends.  We need your help in Jesus Name…..IHL, Donald and Pammie

Dr and Mrs. Donald M Gillette

Because We Care Ministries, Inc.

P.O. Box 21806

Roanoke, VA. 24018

WWW.BWCM.ORG

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Manna Fest 2011

On September 22, 2011   /   NicaNews   /   Leave a comment

 

Isaiah 58:10ESV  If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.

 

Proverbs 28:27ESV  Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.

 

     Blessings to All……Late 2010 Pam and I began to pray very intensely “Jabez Prayer,”
“Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border,”  1 Chronicles 4:10A.   I really didn’t know what that was going to look like but we did know that was our hearts desire and very comfortable that was the will of God for BWCM.  God really answered our prayers by opening doors to new villages in The North West parts of Nicaragua.  People often ask, “How do you find these villages?”  The answer is simple, travel a road that you know and turn right or left onto a dirt road you don’t know and you’ll find people somewhere.  We literally did that last week and GOD brought us into a village of around 350 people.  I think about the fact that in the last couple of weeks we have been introduced to several new villages.   That leads me to wonder, how many more are there and where are they?
With those thoughts in mine I need to remind you of our Christmas Bag, “Manna Fest” program that is starting up this month and running through OCT.  Each year Pam and I spend Christmas in Nicaragua so we can distribute food bags and toys to as many as possible.  We are very thankful for all toys that have been given since early June and we will be able to supply at least one toy to several thousand children.  The food bags are very simple, I can purchase enough food from a local vendor to supply a family of  6 for about a week at a cost of $10.00.  The needs are great, last week our team was able to cook a hot meal for thousands and I’m pretty sure today they have nothing.  I ask a villager, how things are going and his answer was simple, “We are in very difficult times.”
This year we are asking Pastor’s and friends of BWCM to help us in an unprecedented way.  Would you please set aside one Sunday and take up a special offering for, “Manna Fest?”  If all our friends (BWCM’S) would donate the price of eating out just one meal we could feed a family of six for 1 week.  I’m asking that you pray about what GOD would have you do and respond accordingly.
May God be honored as we are obedient to the scriptures and “Feed The Hungry.” 

 

When you see the desperation in their faces when you pull into a village, and then you see the hope in their faces as they line up to receive food, and then you see the smiles on their faces as you leave, you know you have been a part of something glorious that day. (Matthew 25:35-40)
Chris Dowd
Executive Pastor
Bedrock Community Church

 

I can’t get two people out of my mind. The 10 month old child who was so hungry couldn’t help herself and reached her hand in the hot bowl just given to her mother and cried because it was so hot, nor the eyes of the old woman who stood in line for the only hot meal she would have for at least a month. God help me not to complain but to do something in Jesus name.
Dr. Bill Ashford
Associate Pastor, First Baptist Church, Roanoke, VA.

 

Dr and Mrs. Donald M Gillette
Because We Care Ministries, Inc.
P.O. Box 21806
Roanoke, VA. 24018
WWW.BWCM.ORG
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Nica News – 9/21

On September 21, 2011   /   NicaNews   /   Leave a comment
Isaiah 58:10 ESV  If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.

Proverbs 28:27 ESV  Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.

     Blessings to All……Late 2010 Pam and I began to pray very intensely “Jabez Prayer,”
“Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border,”  1 Chronicles 4:10A.   I really didn’t know what that was going to look like but we did know that was our hearts desire and very comfortable that was the will of God for BWCM.  God really answered our prayers by opening doors to new villages in The North West parts of Nicaragua.  People often ask, “How do you find these villages?”  The answer is simple, travel a road that you know and turn right or left onto a dirt road you don’t know and you’ll find people somewhere.  We literally did that last week and GOD brought us into a village of around 350 people.  I think about the fact that in the last couple of weeks we have been introduced to several new villages.   That leads me to wonder, how many more are there and where are they?
     With those thoughts in mine I need to remind you of our Christmas Bag, “Manna Fest” program that is starting up this month and running through OCT.  Each year Pam and I spend Christmas in Nicaragua so we can distribute food bags and toys to as many as possible.  We are very thankful for all toys that have been given since early June and we will be able to supply at least one toy to several thousand children.  The food bags are very simple, I can purchase enough food from a local vendor to supply a family of  6 for about a week at a cost of $10.00.  The needs are great, last week our team was able to cook a hot meal for thousands and I’m pretty sure today they have nothing.  I ask a villager, how things are going and his answer was simple, “We are in very difficult times.”
     This year we are asking Pastor’s and friends of BWCM to help us in an unprecedented way.  Would you please set aside one Sunday and take up a special offering for, “Manna Fest?”  If all our friends (BWCM’S) would donate the price of eating out just one meal we could feed a family of six for 1 week.  I’m asking that you pray about what GOD would have you do and respond accordingly.
     May God be honored as we are obedient to the scriptures and “Feed The Hungry.” 

When you see the desperation in their faces when you pull into a village, and then you see the hope in their faces as they line up to receive food, and then you see the smiles on their faces as you leave, you know you have been a part of something glorious that day. (Matthew 25:35-40)
Chris Dowd
Executive Pastor
Bedrock Community Church

I can’t get two people out of my mind. The 10 month old child who was so hungry couldn’t help herself and reached her hand in the hot bowl just given to her mother and cried because it was so hot, nor the eyes of the old woman who stood in line for the only hot meal she would have for at least a month. God help me not to complain but to do something in Jesus name.
Dr. Bill Ashford
Associate Pastor, First Baptist Church, Roanoke, VA.
Dr and Mrs. Donald M Gillette
Because We Care Ministries, Inc.
P.O. Box 21806
Roanoke, VA. 24018
WWW.BWCM.ORG
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Nica News Sept. 15

On September 15, 2011   /   NicaNews   /   Leave a comment
      Blessings…..Last full day on the mission field this year for “Team Faith Fellowship.”  What an exciting day for them as we ventured up to Santa Cruz.  For many it was their first time there an very revealing at that.  For many they thought they had seen some of the worst villages we serve.  Today they discovered probably the hardest living conditions that I have encountered since we began our work here.  The big issue as many of you know is lack of water.  Even though we are in the rainy season there is still a shortage of water and food on that mountain.  We had the opportunity to engage the children and bring a little joy to them if only for a short season.  For the first time today we cooked a large pot of chicken stew and handed out bowls so that everyone could eat.  I’ll never get tired of watching the children eat their stew and wish we could provide more each time.  Very thankful for the resources that God has provide and that we could share on this day.  One hot bowl of stew for each person and 2 bags of food for each family, I’ll call that a “Blessed Day.”  Pray for the team as we begin our journey home.  IHL, Donald and Pammie

 

Dr and Mrs. Donald M Gillette
Because We Care Ministries, Inc.
P.O. Box 21806
Roanoke, VA. 24018
WWW.BWCM.ORG
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Nica News Sept. 14

On September 14, 2011   /   NicaNews   /   Leave a comment
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      Blessings come in many different ways.  Mine today was in a saddle that was donated to a pastor here in Nica.  Earlier this spring I made my first trip up the mountain to a village church called Cacau.   Pastor Santos and his family are some of the most gracious people you will ever meet.  With that said they came down the mountain (1-2) hours and brought their horses to help us get up the mountain.  Honestly, there is no way I could walk up there so he suggested I ride the horse.  With two earlier trips I learned that the right equipment,  in this case a good saddle makes all the difference in the world.  So I knew if I was going back up the mountain I would have to find him a “good saddle.”  I can’t explain the joy in their faces when I gave him a saddle that had been donated by some folks from Bedford, VA.  I will say that I was thanking GOD on the  ride up those beautiful mountains for such a wonderful piece of equipment.  Once we arrived we rested and had lunch in preparation for an afternoon of worship with the church family from Cacau.
     As most of you know we started a pastor’s training here at Casa De Shelly in early Jan. for a number of pastors.  Pastor Santos was one of those men and he has been very faithful in his attendance.  He is like a sponge in class, absorbing everything he can so that he will be a better pastor.  Today I had the opportunity to talk to him and try to wrap my mind around his day.  I have attached photo’s of the mountain sides that he calls fields and where he plants his crops by hand.  On the days that he comes to school he leaves home at 5AM walking down the mountain to make a 9 AM class.  On days that the buses run he can catch the bus at the bottom of the mountain and ride all the way to Somotillo then walk over to Casa De Shelly.  There are days that the bus doesn’t run so he has to walk all the way to the river.  To cross the river he pays 50 cordobas ($2.23) to have men pull him across the river in an inner-tube.  I can only imagine what it looks like to see men on each side pulling people back and forth.  During the rainy season (now) the river gets too high for buses to cross thus 2 men, 1 inner-tube, 2 ropes and people willing to pay to cross.
    Over the years I have grown to love many of these men of GOD and I have a heart felt desire to equip them to be even greater men for the glory of GOD.  Please pray for our Nicaragua and Honduran Pastor’s.  Everyone that I have met through the years have a very difficult life but are true to their call and love their people.  IHL

Dr and Mrs. Donald M Gillette
Because We Care Ministries, Inc.
P.O. Box 21806
Roanoke, VA. 24018
WWW.BWCM.ORG

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Nica News 9-11

On September 11, 2011   /   NicaNews   /   Leave a comment
      Blessings on this most somber of days…..This morning our team started our day by going to “The Mtn Of Prayer” for a prayer tribute to those that fell on 9/11 and all those that have given their ALL for our freedom.  Being a vet it was a very humbling experience for me and one I will never forget.  Mid morning we went to Pascuala for a ball game with Le Platenal.  Seeing them in a cow pasture playing ball was a lot different than the experience they had with FLG last week-end.  I’m very thankful for the way we were received and I can honestly say it was because so many prayed to receive Christ and have turned their lives around.  Let the follow up begin.
Early afternoon we rolled into a village we were introduced to yesterday by the baseball team we met last week-end.  Chaguite is located in the mountains about 5 kilometers from the main road on the opposite side from where we turn to go to Pascuala.  Much to our surprise there was somewhere close 300 people both adults and children.  After a few minutes engaging the children we were able to share the gospel and a huge number of people that prayed to receive Christ.  When you look at the pix you’ll see one where a number of people are raising the hands.  We ask them on occasions to do so and the local Pastor can identify those that prayed to receive Christ.  Today we took Reynaldo because he will be doing the follow-up in the weeks to come.  So excited about all that GOD is up to here in Nicaragua.
IHL, Donald and Pammie

 

Dr and Mrs. Donald M Gillette
Because We Care Ministries, Inc.
P.O. Box 21806
Roanoke, VA. 24018
WWW.BWCM.ORG
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Nica News Sept 9

On September 11, 2011   /   NicaNews   /   Leave a comment
 

 

 

Dr and Mrs. Donald M Gillette
Because We Care Ministries, Inc.
P.O. Box 21806
Roanoke, VA. 24018
WWW.BWCM.ORG
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Nica News – 9/5

On September 5, 2011   /   NicaNews   /   Leave a comment
      Just think what a difference 24 hours can make. This time yesterday we had 29 missionaries in the house talking about their day and all that GOD had allowed them to be apart of over the past 3 days.  Words can’t explain the peace and contentment that fills our soul when we are obedient servants.  When I allow GOD to set on the throne of my life I’m in a position that GOD can bless.  Today our team left to return to the US and their families filled with the satisfaction of knowing that they had accomplished the task GOD had placed before them. 
     Tomorrow we will start our “Pastor’s Training”  here at Casa De Shelly.  Praying that all the pastor’s will be in attendance and that God will use us in a way that is pleasing and glorifying.

    

Dr and Mrs. Donald M Gillette
Because We Care Ministries, Inc.
P.O. Box 21806
Roanoke, VA. 24018
WWW.BWCM.ORG
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Nica New 9-4

On September 4, 2011   /   NicaNews   /   Leave a comment
Today was the culmination of many prayers and plans.  Anticipation was in the air from the earliest moments of the day. In fact, there was no door knocking or shouts for “gringos” to arise, because everyone could sense the magnitude of the day that God had planned for us. Our main event of the day was to have our baseball team face an all-star team featuring the best players from the Somotillo area. At the conclusion, Dr. Bill Ashford would present the gospel and invite the audience to accept Christ.  With the sounds of children laughing and bats cracking, the game began around 11 o’clock. 
We were able to see two distinct ministry arms working together for the same goal at the same time. The VBS team was broken into smaller units both inside and outside the stadium engaging people with soccer balls, balloon animals, tennis balls and jump ropes.  At different intervals, we’d stop and share the Gospel to the different people that we’d been interacting with.  The professions of faith were more than we could’ve imagined.  Each team member had numerous God moments with special folks throughout the day that made an eternal impact on our hearts.

The sun beat down on the baseball team, yet they remained full of smiles and laughter as they continued to build relationships with the men of Somotillo.  When Dr. Ashford presented a powerful, relevant message geared toward the men on each baseball team, focus and attention could be seen on each of their faces.  We won, but more importantly, many hands around the stadium rose to signify that they had given their lives to Christ.    Our mission was to engage and point people to the cross, and in the words of Don, “today was a homerun!

Dr and Mrs. Donald M Gillette
Because We Care Ministries, Inc.
P.O. Box 21806
Roanoke, VA. 24018
WWW.BWCM.ORG
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Nica News 9/4

On September 4, 2011   /   NicaNews   /   Leave a comment
God is so GOOD! We continue to feel and see His presence in all that we are doing/seeing/experiencing at the ball field. God has consistently exceeded our expectations up to this point in our work here in Somotillo through this simple game of baseball. He has opened doors to our teams (baseball AND VBS) to share the gospel with more than just the men we are playing with/against, but also the entire community.

Most of our players arrived in Nicaragua with three basic expectations:

1.       Sharing our love for the game of baseball with men from the surrounding villages.
2.       Providing a substantial amount of new equipment and uniforms to six local teams.
3.       Facing the challenge of presenting our love of Jesus Christ to men who have been known to be unreceptive of BWCM groups in the past.

The first two expectations went as expected. Nicaraguan men LOVE baseball as much as we do (and greatly appreciated the new uniforms and equipment)! Much to our surprise, every man on every team seemed not only receptive but also appreciative of our commitment to sharing the gospel with them after every game (10 games in 2 days). The icing on top is that in addition to our experiences with the baseball players we have also been blessed with the opportunity to spend a lot of time with LOTS of kids and some families. In two days we have shared testimonies with approximately 100 men and another 30 children ages 5-15.

Looking forward to a great night’s sleep and a BIG final day tomorrow…Somotillo All Stars vs “el Gringos” and a family-oriented celebration (lunch, praise & worship, and preaching by Dr. Ashford)!

We ask for your prayers for continued safety and for the softening of hearts for the message Dr. Ashford will share.

Dr and Mrs. Donald M Gillette
Because We Care Ministries, Inc.
P.O. Box 21806
Roanoke, VA. 24018
WWW.BWCM.ORG
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About Nicaragua

Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America. To the north it is bordered by Honduras, and to the south by Costa Rica. Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the western hemisphere, partly because of the long civil war of the 1980′s and the devastation caused by hurricane Mitch in 1998. The vast majority of the five million inhabitants live in abject poverty with many suffering from severe malnutrition and starvation.

Our Ministry

This ministry helps people meet their chief need for a Savior, while also helping to meet the critical physical needs of hunger, poor substandard housing, shortage of water, lack of schools and education, lack of churches and pastor sponsorship. We offer general economic, healthcare, and emergency relief. To date we have helped feed tens of thousands of hungry people with hundreds of tons of food.

Church Resources

Click here for more information about Manna Fest 2012

Here is a link to download a video file that you can show in your church to introduce our ministry and share about the work we are doing in Nicaragua. Right-Click here and choose save to download the video file to your computer. The video is also located on Vimeo.

Who Can Volunteer?

Anyone with the desire to minister to hurting people in another culture can volunteer! Experience is helpful but not required. The ability to speak Spanish would be a plus, but we always have interpreters who assist in our work. Each team spends about a week in country ministering to the Nicaraguan people in some of the more remote villages.If you are interested in learning more, please contact us to discover if you can become part of this wonderful work.