June 28th Morning Update

The team arrived in Somotillo this morning excited and ready to get onto the mission field. We spent the afternoon in Jinochauo. Even though the heavens opened up and poured down rain off and on throughout  the whole afternoon, the team still had a great time playing soccer and with water balloons (we obviously weren’t wet enough from the rain…) and slingshots. Ed shared his testimony and presented the gospel, and then Josh prayed over the people who were suffering from various sicknesses. We spent a wonderful evening praising at the Prince of Peace church. The team members sang, and then Tom shared a message from God’s word. Two men came during the altar call and made decisions for the Lord. It was a full day on the mission field, and we’re excited about the blessings that God has in store for us tomorrow!

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

June 22nd Update

Good morning and blessings to all…….The reports are in and it’s official, SUMMER IS HERE.  A number of folks that we know are in camp, VBS or going to camp and VBS very soon.  Please join us as we pray God’s favor on all the summer activities where so many young folks will be traveling and upon arrival be exposed to the Gospel and prayfully lives changed.
With that said we will be leaving on Fri. and our team of 20 enthusiastic missionaries will follow on Sat.  Please pray for safe travels, airline connections, baggage arrival, bus travels and a safe arrival at Casa De Shelly on Sat. afternoon.  Team Faith Fellowship will be working on the medical clinic, painting a couple houses and starting construction on another house in Pasquala as well as youth rally, medical, feeding program and spreading the Gospel Message on the radio as well as in a number of villages.  We Covet you prayers, Donald and Pammie

Oh!!  By the way, we now have on line giving available to all our supporters.  Just go to the web site,WWW.BWCM.ORG, scroll down the home page to the “donate button”, click on the button and follow along. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT….

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

June 12th Update

Good morning and blessings to all…….Over the past 20 months I have watched 3 young pastors step out in obedience to plant a new church in a small city not to far from where Pam and I live.  I have learned a lot from them in the area of FAITH, OBEDIENCE, TRUST, GUIDANCE, VISION and GOD’S WILL.  These are all areas of our Christian Life that we talk a lot about and teach about but it truly is a whole different enterprise when it comes to putting them into practice.  Over the past 10 years Pam and I have tried through the leadership of the Holy Spirit to be faithful to the vision and call of God as we serve in Nicaragua.  The Bible says in Ps 37:23 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in His way.”  We believe that we are being “ordered ” to take some steps in a new direction.  This morning we seek your prayers and support as we begin the next phase of our obedience to the call of God for our lives.

Our hearts desire and we believe the will of God for us is to step out by faith and begin to spend more time in country (Nicaragua) working with the local pastors, churches and villages.  Our vision from 10 years ago “To Grow the Kingdom” has not changed.  What will change is our everyday presence and ability to work with and stand by those that need us the most.  We could never praise God enough for what HE has allowed us to do and be apart of over the past 10 years but it is time now to step up the work.  What I’m sure of is that the churches that have been planted need help to grow and be productive and that is why we believe God is leading us in this direction.

Sometime near the end of 2010 we plan to leave our secular jobs and commit every fiber of our beings to work in Nicaragua.  As I type this letter this morning I can honestly say I’m not real sure what this is going to look like but we are going to take that 1st step by faith and just wrap our arms around the WILL of God and see where these steps lead us.  I do know that we will continue to have the monthly teams join us in the work and blessings as we serve the churches and villages around Somotillo.

Let me once again THANK many of you that have supported us both financially and through pray all these many years.  I can honestly say that you are a big part of what got us to this point.  With that said we are asking many to pray about monthly support and please continue to pray for God’s work through Because We Care Ministries.   Over the next several months we will be “CASTING THE VISION” with many of the church groups that have worked with us in the past as well as many individuals.  I don’t know any other way except to say we need your help, both through pray and finance.  If you have any questions please feel free to call or write and we will get you the answer.  In His Service, Donald and Pammie

Dr and Mrs. Donald M Gillette
Because We Care Ministries, Inc.
P.O. Box 21806
Roanoke, VA. 24018
WWW.BWCM.ORG
540-774-4197

May 28th Update

5 AM…Awake and packing for our return trip home today.  Thank you for your prayers and support for another amazing week on the mission field.  Part of our team returned to Managua after their week in Somotillo.  Always interesting to listen to their stories and reports about their trip and also listen to their plans to return for another week.  The Managua team did another radio broadcast yesterday morning and then just hung out and started planning for our next Pastors conference.  I have no idea this morning how many “Pastor’s Conference’s” I have been apart of but I will say, this one has been one of the best planned and well organized….THANK YOU PASTOR EDDY AND CHURCH FAMILY.  Please pray for our safe travel today…Donald and Pammie

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

May 27th Update

It was a wonderful day on the mission field.  We awoke knowing this was our last full day at work here in Somotillo.  We prayed and read the scriptures as a team before we started our day.  Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first his Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”  All week we put this verse into practice as each day began and ended with seeking the Almighty.  It’s amazing what happens when we simply put into practice what we know we should do.  HE WORKS!

It has been a refreshing week here in Nicaragua as we’ve had rain every day.  In fact, today we had some “monsoon” rain for a few hours as we played with the children of Pascuala in their classroom.  It was fun to get creative as a team as we adapted to the wet surroundings and continued to share the love of Jesus.  As we often say, the Holy Spirit holds the trump card on everything!  Our job?  Be obedient!  As you’ve heard before… God always blesses obedience.

After lunch we drove out to a village in San Francisco.  With the rain coming down the place almost looked deserted as everyone was inside their homes.  However, as our presence was known God quickly drew a crowd of children and adults.  Water balloons were launched, tossed, thrown, parachuted and I even had one thrown at me.  Our team of college students did a skit that I’m confident they are still laughing at.  If laughter is good medicine for the heart (Proverbs 17:22) then God used our visit to drop the whole pharmacy upon their hearts.  Joy comes from a passionate pursuit of Jesus Christ.  It is FUN to follow Jesus!

Tomorrow morning we’ll pack up, load the truck and head to Managua.  I depart with the next trip in mind and a deeper love for God’s Kingdom work in Nicaragua within my heart.

If you’ve been… come again!
If you can’t come… send someone who can!
If you don’t know someone…send money…we’ll help you find them!

Thanks for partnering with Because We Care Ministries to make an eternal difference in a place so desperate for the hope of Jesus.

Jonge Tate
Lead Pastor
Bedrock Community Church
www.bedrockchurch.com

May 26th Morning Update

Day two and final day of the Pastor’s Conference at The Father House Church has come to an end. What an amazing blessing it has been to be part of it all. God has His man there to be their Pastor. Eddy is a Man of God after His heart. I count it one of my greatest privileges in life to have had the opportunity to stand behind his pulpit and speak God’s message. Pastor Chris and I each spoke this morning and he spoke again tonight. He challenge the church to come and pray for their pastor and the response was great. Along with this Donald requested an offering this morning from all present to bless Eddy and his family. Again, a wonderful response. Q& A again after lunch. Great questions. My favorite was “What do we do to help our churches cross denominational lines?” My response was look around you. The room was full of Baptist, Pentecostals, Presbyterians and more. You as the Pastors have the responsibility to make the effort to continue what you are doing here today, speak it from the pulpit and bring your people into unity with others.

Tomorrow Donald will be on a local TV station and then the three of us will head off to two secular station which Eddy has built a relationship with. Got to be a God thing. Usually the realization of going home doesn’t set in until a Thursday evening or Friday morning. It has happened tonight. One more full day then Chris and I head home Thursday morning. This week is an answer to year long prayer for myself and I know one for Eddy and Donald. The Kingdom has been strengthened through Pastors trained in the Word. The weapon is the Sword of Truth which they now have a better grip on. I look forward to returning to find out what they have done with it.

May 26th Evening Update

Another exciting day on the mission field!  This morning on the radio, one of the members of the team gave her testimony and Jonge continued his series on Elijah from 1 Kings. Then, we went to Pascuala again and played with the children there while they were on a break from school. In the afternoon, we visited Villa Esperanza with the doctor, engaged the kids, presented the gospel, and handed out some beans and rice. This evening we went to the church in Somotillo (Prince of Peace) and held a youth rally. We played a few games to get them involved.  It was fun to watch them laugh and enjoy each other.   Jonge spoke about filling our lives with Christ, rather than the things of the world.  To the Glory of God, several students gave their lives to Jesus Christ.

May 25th Update

The first day of the pastor’s conference was a tremendous blessing from our great God. 400+ pastors, leaders, & wives came in from all over the country today in order to simply sit under the teaching of the word of God. We had a sweet worship time in the morning and then Ron and I both taught on the “calling of God”. After the morning session we broke for lunch and fed all of the people rice and bread. There was plenty for everyone to have seconds and even take some home in bags! After lunch all 3 of us sat on the stage and entertained questions for the Q&A time with the pastors. I was overwhelmed as I sat and spoke with pastors and heard their stories and their desire to attend this conference. A man named Dolphin (yes like the fish) who lives and plants churches among indian tribes in northern Nicaragua, had to take a small boat, with an oar and a small outboard motor for six days in order to get to a town where he then rode a series of different buses for about 6 hours in order to be in Managua for this 2-day conference. Another group of men left their village which is approximately 6 miles just north of Costa Rica riding in the back of a half pickup-half dump truck vehicle with no idea of where they would stay or sleep once they got here. People have literally come from all over the country hoping to hear from God and to glean anything they can that will help them in their ministry. It is extremely challenging to see and hear about their hunger and thirst for the word of God. It only validates the need for more pastor training events like this in the future. Pastor Eddie (who coordinated this conference) had to turn away 300 people who registered simply because we did not have enough room. We could literally host one of these a month and I believe that it would be full. It is also extremely humbling to be one of the voices on that platform. Am I that hungry to hear from God? Are you? What “inconveniences” have kept you from going to church in the past? What “busy schedules” have kept you from a daily time in God’s word? I have stayed on my knees and in his word this week to make sure that they hear a word from God and not from me. These people have not traveled hundreds of miles because they saw my name on a flyer or heard my name on a radio promotion. They have no idea who I am. It literally has NOTHING to do with me. These people have come to hear from God. What an unbelievable responsibility! Pray for us as we continue teaching and leading these faithful men and women this week.

Chris Dowd
Executive PastorBedrock Community Church
www.bedrockchurch.com

May 24th Evening Update

God was so good to us today in Somitillo! We started off the day at the radio station where joshua Bryant was able to share his testimony and Jonge shared the word from 1 Kings. We then were able to head to Pascaula to see the start of the 14th house that BWCM has sponsored. Praise the LORD! Our group was also able to shard the story of Jesus with the dolls that 2 churches in Roanoke, Va helped to make that had the 6 colored beads based on Jesus life on earth, and the children thuroghly enjoyed it. We then headed back to the casa to prepare for our journey to Ojache. The students really enjoyed the trip out to that village because of the wonderful children who were so excited to simply play with them. We had several activities including water balloon launching in which the kids loved to get wet! We were also able to share the story with the doll again. On the way back to the casa from the second village we gave out lots of ‘CARAMELLOS” and clothing for the houses on the roads back to Somitillo, and many of the people were so joyed to recieve simple things like candy and clothes our students were blown away by the reactions to such simplicity. The most amazing thing was that the rain held up just long enough for our team to finish the work for the day and now the heavens have opened up to bless the soil once more. We hope that the rest week is just as touched with God’s hand as it was today!


Lindsay M. Evans
100 Accomac Turning
Yorktown, VA 23693

Old Dominion University
Vice President 2009/2010: Baptist Collegiate Ministry
Secretary 2009/2010: Sport Management Association

May 24th Update

This is the day that the Lord has made… and we’ve rejoiced in it!  Our first day on the mission field has been incredible.  We worshiped with people from Leon this morning and with those in Somotillo tonight.  It’s great to reconnect with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.  This morning as we began to worship I was reminded of my church family back home and all the followers of Christ that will gather to worship our God.  The Kingdom is BIG and by His grace and power this week it will grow.  Names were written in the Lambs book of life today as BWCM was preaching in three separate cities here in Nicaragua.  People from all three churches gave their lives to Christ.  The Gospel is Powerful!  We are so grateful for so many back home that made it possible for us to be here.  May God find us Kingdom Minded as we serve him this week.