Nica News 8-11

 

Today was our last full day in Nicaragua. It was such a bittersweet feeling- sweet to get to go home the great US of A- back home to friends and family. Bitter because tomorrow we won’t be going to a village and feeding people who may not have eaten this week. None of us will ever look at our world the same.
We went into Pascuala today and helped build the 18th home there for the people of the village. Kids were slinging paint on the wall, adults jumped in to help and it was finished before lunch. We played soccer with the kids, loved on them and before we left were able to share Christ with them. It is an incredibly exciting thing to lift high the banner of Jesus Christ in another part of the world and to share the name of Jesus knowing that His word will not return void and knowing He is continuing to draw those people to Him long after we leave.
While on group was in Pascuala another group was at the training center planting crops they had developed for the past two weeks and finishing the irrigation system that will help them to grow quickly. Some of the local school kids came to over to help and were able to learn the system and how it works. A small but very significant step in helping the Nicaraguan people grow food in their villages and ending hunger for their families.
This afternoon we headed out to Ojoche. The people in Ojoche were precious and it was such a blessing to us to love on them and serve. They have started to implement small steps in raising their own chickens and being self supportive. They have a strong dynamic leader who cares for them and the difference in that village and some of the others we visited was night and day. There was no trash on the ground- it was all in a trash can. Some of the ladies had pottery sitting out that they sell at the village. They had a system in place for beating beans where the chaff falls away and the bean is left for them to use for food. The chaff is then used for compost. A nurse came with us and helped with medical needs and left bags of medicine for the people to have on hand. It was a blessing to see the hope that is to come for all the villages in Nicaragua.
“For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many.”
To God be the Glory

 

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 8-10

As the hours wind down on another day on the mission field, we are in continual awe of all that God has done this week and continues to do through Because We Care Ministries and those obedient servants who wish to share Gods glory.  We also know that tomorrow is the last day of “walking in the Scriptures”, at least here in Nicaragua, its amazing how quick the week flies by.

 

Thinking back on just today’s events, makes it abundantly clear that only God could orchestrate all things for His glory.  Throughout the course of the day, we completed the siding on house number 18 , side by side of the homeowner, in the village of Pascuala; shoveled a dump truck full of sand for the concrete floor; finished painting the new office at the training center; the Feed by Seed team obtained more needs assessments from Pascuala as well as prepped a field for planting, which included, plowing the Nica way…with oxen and a plow, installing a drip irrigation system and fertilizing,;  10 Pastors continued training in leadership; while 7 of their wives attended, for lack of a better term, a pampering session, where they had open discussion on all that goes on with being a Pastor’s wife and got treated with gifts and a “spa” day with facials and satin hand treatments;  in the villages of Pascuala and Los Limones, the locals were engaged by the team members, soccer was played, water balloon games, finger nails painted,  watermelon eating contests; approximately 250-275 hungry mouths were fed, and last, but certainly not least, the Gospel was shared and lives were forever changed by the power of Christ.

 

We were reminded prior to embarking on this trip of 2 Corinthians 12:15 “I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls…”

 

The days are long and VERY hot and at the end of each day…most of us are in fact spent and weak.  We know that it is in our weakness that we are most reliant on God.   

 

2 Corinthians 12:9   But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness…”

 

 

We go out again tomorrow…our hearts desire being that we become weaker still.

 

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 8-9

Another day on the mission field has come and gone and while we sit in the Casa and listen to the rain falling outside it is nice to sit and reflect on all that God has done today. It is always amazing to watch God show up and show off. He has a habit of doing that down here in Nicaragua and today was no different. We have seen our share of battles back home before we left as well as a few since we have been down here. The enemy is very good at what he does and he has been very busy. However, the Word of God clearly states that “greater is He that is in me than he that is in this world”. It is raining heavily outside, just like it does every evening, the thunder is booming and the lightning is flashing but we are all safe and sound inside the Casa. God is a shelter in the midst of our storms. He is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and our safe. The enemy has been loud and making lots of noise but he has received no victories here this week. We have found our strength in the Lord. For every punch that the enemy has thrown, our God has thrown a more powerful counterpunch. So I thought that I would share some of the victories that we have already seen God bring this week.

 

The pastor’s conference has been going really well and we are learning a lot about leadership together. Every morning we share prayer requests together and spend a wonderful time together in prayer. It is truly a blessing to see a room full of Nicaraguan pastors on their knees lifting up holy hands in prayer. Venancio, a pastor from a village called Ojoche, shared that God has blessed their efforts to reach out to another village called Los Comes. It is a very dark and dangerous place but they have already seen fruit from their ministry in that area. The enemy staked his claim in that village but the armies of the living God are taking it back one family at a time. Please pray for the people in Los Comes.

 

We have baby chickens!! I know this may sound like a strange victory to some but this is a big deal down here. The Feed by Seed team from Virginia Tech  have been here working for a week and a half here at the training center and this week we were able to see the first chicks hatch. This means that it may be possible to reproduce this same process in villages and that would allow Nicaraguans the ability to have may eggs and thus more food. Please continue to pray for the agricultural research and production here in Nicaragua. The day when Nicaraguans can farm their own land and produce their own food is coming and it is coming soon.

 

Village ministry has been wonderful as usual. The team has really come together and are working as a team every afternoon. Every afternoon we have brought food, fun, and the gospel to nearby villages. As a result the darkness is being pushed back and the Kingdom is being advanced. This afternoon, after a massive soccer game (I think it was about 20 versus 20) we gathered everyone under a shade tree and shared the God’s redemptive story. A young teenage boy gave his life to Christ and then walked down to the church to tell the pastor and his family about his decision! Please pray for Albin and the village of Mata de Caña.

 

Perhaps one of the sweetest victories of the week so far was this morning when one of our own team members surrendered her life to Christ. She was concerned about sharing her testimony on the radio and asking people to give their lives to Christ when she had never taken that step. So this morning she did. Her testimony is filled with examples of the enemy getting victory after victory in her life. That ended today. The victory belongs to the Lord.

 

So…. are you having a tough week? Do you feel like the storms of life are getting to be more than you can take? Just remember this….. God is bigger. No matter what it is, God is bigger.

 

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 8-8

     We’re here on our third day in Nicaragua! There is so much going on here- it’s hard to keep up with all God is doing. At the training center there are 36 new baby chicks! Six have hatched this week after much prayer. There is a VT agriculture team here experimenting with different types of plants to see which ones will grow the fastest to help the people. Growth is happening!
We’ve been out to 2 different villages this week where we gave out candy, clothes, toys  and  cooked a meal for the people. At the first village, San Miguelito, we went to it was difficult to get everyone in line and cooperative- the large pot that we served stew out of was boiling hot and we didn’t want the children to run into it and get burned. One of the translators  talked with a mom who had 7 children and no husband and asked her why the people were more anxious than usual- The mom replied “We have no food- my children have no food- there’s nothing at our house- we’re desperate.” How humbling it was to be part of God providing for his children. Soon after they ate one of the pastors stood on the back of the truck and shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with the group that had gathered. God of America is God of Nicaragua and His word reaches to the end of the earth.
Today Chris and Jeremy taught local village pastors who gathered here at Casa De Shelley about Leadership- the importance of leading with integrity and leading from the Word of God. They can take what they’ve been taught back to their villages and continue to make an impact for Christ. In the afternoon we went out the second village of the week- Las Mesas- We painted nails, blew bubbles with the children and had a watermelon eating contest! It was so fun to watch the children’s faces light up as they raced to eat watermelon- For a moment they weren’t children who had no food, clothes, and other basic necessities we all take for granted. They were having fun, bellies full and life was good.
Please continue to pray for the team as we continue to learn how to serve the way God desires us to, the agriculture team to figure out the best type of seed to use to feed the Nicaraguan people and for the people of Nicaragua to know and believe there is a God in heaven who loves them and desires a relationship with them.
It’s All About Jesus,

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

Nica News 8-6

Seven Days – Endless Experiences

In only seven days, the Feed by Seed team has gained enough experiences to last a lifetime. Yes, this may sound cliche, but it is true: anyone who spends a week in a developing country surrounded by foreign cultures and delicious food cannot honestly say that they did not gain some sort of experience.

So here we are: entering week two with so much behind us and even more to come. Our first week of teaching agriculture went perfectly, if you can call numerous translation errors and a classroom topping 90 degrees perfect. We really enjoyed working with the students, especially when it came to playing games that were fun regardless of the language barrier. It was also surprising but exciting to learn that many of the students were already knowledgeable about many of the topics we were teaching, including the parts of a plant and where eggs come from. The fact that these students already knew so much about agriculture and its importance was a good sign that there is hope for the future of the industry in this impoverished community.

As the house was pretty empty this weekend after the departure of our six new friends from Virginia, we decided to take a walk into the main part of Somotillo to purchase some more herbicide as well as check out the town. Literally five minutes from our house, the walk seemed to take twice as long thanks to the heat. It was enjoyable, though, as we greeted and were greeted by many friendly people along the way.

The town is very similar to that of Tijuana, Mexico (for those that have been there), except the buildings are more condensed and stores sell useful things like groceries rather than cheap souvenirs. Also, the popular method of transportation is what we call the “pedi-taxi” or “pedi-cab” – a sort of tricycle with a wide seat in the front and a bike seat and pedals in the bike. Two people can fit in the front seat and are pushed around by the driver pedalling in the back. I guess you could say it’s a form of rickshaw with the passengers in the front. We passed places you would find in any regular town, including clothing shop, ice cream parlor, and a single-chair hair salon. The only difference was the amount of trash in the streets and number of people sleeping right in the middle of the side walk.

Today we also took part in some hands-on farming experiences. Austin, Keira, Margery, and Shasta loaded up two 5-gallon buckets with herbicide and set out to spray the half-acre plot we are using as a model farm for the community. The plot had been taken over by dead corn plants, struggling sugar cane crops, and endless weeds so it was vital that we straighten up the area to make way for new crops. This afternoon the entire team also battled through the tormenting heat to have a “rock-picking party” or, in agricultural terms, spending two hours picking up all of the rocks from the area so that the soon-to-arrive tiller could successfully do its work. Although it was exhausting work, we were rewarded with a delicious fried chicken and apple pie dinner to enjoy with the arrival of the new 13-member mission team. 

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

Nica News – 8/5

Blessings from Managua……Psalms 37:23  The Bible says….The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.     One year ago this month Pam and I visited a farm a little south of Managua and realized  almost immediately that GOD had led us there.  What we saw was a miracle from heaven in that they were teaching people how to sustain life.  I began to pray for guidance and wisdom in how to make this work at Casa De Shelly.  After a couple months of prayer GOD brought a very qualified man into our lives to begin to run the “training center” and try and make it profitable so it can finance itself.  In late Nov. God brought a friend  with a back ground in agriculture on a mission trip.  He actually walked the farm and gave us a very detailed guide line and lots of suggestions.  One of those suggestions was to work with the local school students and begin something similar to our “FFA” program.    This past week 10 members of an organization named ” Feed by Seed” arrived to work both at the Training Center and in the Baptist School.  This team will be in Somotillo for another week working with Aldiberto and the school.  In my mind it was like praying down heaven.  There is so much I DON’T know about farming but verrrry thankful for those that do.  One aspect of the ACTS 2 church was that all that believed were together.  I call that “team work”.
This coming Sunday night at Prince of Peace Baptist Church they are going to have their first ever “Church Fellowship” and our team will be serving.  I’m excited beyond belief as this church begins to move.  First step is “fellowship” and the second step will be “service”.  Next week some church members and our team will be cooking at the Mayor’s office and serving everyone that works for the city and the police dept.  God will be glorified and the church will be serving.  Simply stated, “Be The Church”.   IHL, Donald andPammie

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 8-3

      Blessings…..Philippians 4-19  And my God will supply every need of yours according to HIS riches in GLORY…  You tell me how rich GOD is and it’s easy to tell you how well He can provide.  Our VT AG students have been a huge blessing to the training center and have partnered well with our team from Oasis in our afternoon village ministry.  What an amazing asset these students have been this week both here at the training center and in the Baptist School.  I’m truly excited as they continue to explore areas of development and train the folks here to make the best use of the land that we have.
Once again this afternoon we had a number of team members step out of any comfort box they might have and shared their faith and the plan of salvation in La Fragua.  This is the third week in a roll that we have visited this village, mainly because they stated they were hungry and we have food.  Both physical and spiritual were delivered on God’s time.
Pastors conference ended today and the men are more than excited that we are holding conference again next week. We did ask the pastor’s to bring their wives in for a special day out.  One of the team members spent the morning engaging and blessing all those that attended.  I do believe these pastors would come everyday if we offered it.  Thankful for all those that make this happen….GOD is glorified…..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 8-2

I just wanted to say again, “Thank You” for the opportunity to serve with Because We Care Ministries. 

I will continue to pray for BWCM and for God’s direction in your great work there.
I thank God for the steadfastness and the strength that HE has given both of you to continue the ministry there.
You are both an example to me of perseverance and willingness to serve, regardless of obstacles that get in the way.
I have learned so much from serving with you in Nicaragua.

 

Sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ has become a greater passion in my heart since my first trip to Nicaragua.
I have not arrived yet, but I know that God is still working in me to accomplish what He has for me to do.
Serving with BWCM has been a big part of spiritual growth in my life and I cannot thank you enough for the opportunity.
Thank you, Donald, for allowing me to teach at the Ladies Conference and share on the radio.
Thank you for pushing me a little to share the gospel in Jinocuao last week.  Sometimes I need that extra push.
I am amazed at how God uses your ministry to reach so many lost people and believers who need a WORD of encouragement.

 

I look forward to serving again with BWCM.  I am praying about coming down with Keith in the near future.
He seems to be open to it and as God shows us His Will, we will make plans accordingly.
I would like to do another Ladies Conference in the future and I trust that God will show us His plan for that as well.

 

Again, thank you.
I hope you will be able to meet with us August 28.

 

God bless you both.

 

Love,  Kim 

GREATTTTTTT!!!!!!!  Day….Our VT folks took over the training center and school today with lots of enthusiasm and energy.  Students were excited and waiting and from all reports the kids did a great job.  Tomorrow (Wed) is a teacher work day so there is no school but our students wanted to come anyway and have their AG class.  Can’t remember when I volunteered for school …..I guess never.
Pastor’s training is going very well and we are excited about tomorrow and one of the VT students will be working with the pastor’s on Leadership training.  More than excited to watch our Pastors grow and develop as leaders in their villages.  God is so good, Donald andPammie 

 

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 8-1

      Blessings, Blessings and more Blessings…….They just keep coming.  Our VT agriculture team arrived this afternoon filled with  excitement and equipped to serve.  Their plan over the next two weeks is to work here at the training center with our foreman and in the school with 20 students that desire to pursue studies in the field of  Agriculture.  The plan for the training center is to increase production in volume and quantity.  Lessons learned here is exactly what will be taught to the local villagers.   I can only imagine what a village that can sustain itself looks like, God knows and it appears that HE is going to show us.
Also began another week of Pastor training this morning with most of the original class present.  Only ones that were missing were 2 that couldn’t cross the river because of the heavy rains.  We are also working on outlining messages to give to the teachers and pastors that are going into other villages so that everyone is on the same page.  At this time it seems that everyone was just doing their own thing and there was no consistence.  We are now outlining the Sunday messages and the teachers are using them in their weekly teachings. Prayers Please
Great time in the village this afternoon engaging and just “being the church.”  This time of the year you have to do everything in a hurry because you just know at 3:30 it is going to storm.  Today a lady  let us use her shed to finish cooking what now has become “chicken gumbo”.  Everybody got fed and not to many got wet.  God is so good…..Be Blessed, 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 7-28

Blessings……Great last day on the mission field and thank you LORD for allowing us to be your hands and feet.  This was the day to fulfill request from team members that had been here before and wanted to see the folks that they had connected with in the past.  Thankfully we only had to go to La Flor and Pascuala to fill all the request and make a few missionaries very happy.  I had been ask by a school teacher in one of the local schools to bring her some first aid supplies.  Today I made that happen and her response was pretty simple, “finally”.  I guess its been a while since she had made the request. Christ and the Kingdom has grown some more.  The Kingdom is not all that has grown, a number of our team has stepped out and “done” a lot of first this week.  Our prayer is that they return home and continue to verbalize and demonstrate their Faith.
This team will return to Managua tomorrow for their flights home on Sat.  PRAYERS PLEASE    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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