Nica News

      Blessings from Casa De Shelly…….Early morning rains,  then the sun came out and I think most everybody was wishing it would start raining again.  Its just that time of the year in Nicaragua and you have to learn to be flexible.  With that said the team headed out this morning after the radio broadcast to a couple local schools to share and engage.  We actually visited one school that I have never been to before and was received with open arms.  Small school with only 18 students, 2 teachers and lots of hospitality.  Lots of fun engaging the students but the real deal maker was a 12 year old young lady on our team that shared her testimony, at least I know all the boys were listening.
At the second school the principle actually scolded me for waiting so long to return.  Once more several shared the Gospel message, the Kingdom was enlarged and God Glorified.
You can never assume anything when you are working in a third world country.  Today we once again cooked a big pot of chicken stew and served it to the people of San Miguelito.  By the end of the day we had two different people show up with only small plastic bags to put their portion of food in.  I immediately thought about a dear friend of ours that has worked for several weeks collecting bowls for us to bring to Nicaragua to help with the feeding program.  I will have bowls for these two people next month when I return to their village.  Thanks TK
Tonight as the thunder roars in the back ground we as a team are praising GOD for all that HE has done and will sleep tonight with joyful hearts anticipating what HE will do through each of us tomorrow if He tarries.   IHS, Donald and Pammie 

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

Blessings from a very wet Nicaragua……Very dark and dreary beginning to the day but GOD stepped in and got things going at the radio station.  It is amazing how GOD took the testimony of three team members and turned the whole day around to HIS GLORY.  Because of the threat of more rain this afternoon we decided to hang out at the clinic and engage the adjacent village.  We put on the usual pot of chicken stew and watched the children file in 2 by 2 and before long we had our hands full.  Once again this afternoon the team learned a very valuable lesson in engaging the community.  Best of all, everyone left with a full stomach and the Kingdom continues to grow.  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

      Blessings from stormy Nicaragua…….In case you forgot, GOD is amazing.  Lots of first for BWCM today.  We were able to go down to the gas station and wash car windows, hand out cold drink, and just love on the people of Somotillo.  In a little over 2 hours we engaged 300 people, no one rejected the hand out and every person said thank-you.  Better than that, our team learned to be SERVANTS.
Well this afternoon one of the young men on the team decided to share the gospel with some other men in Pascuala.  That was great except he used the scripture that was tattooed on his arm.  I find it hard to say, “the Bible says” and your pointing to your arm.  I encourage the teams to use all the tools that are available and I guess that’s what he did.  TOO FUNNY

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

Blessings…….Well the sun has set on our first Honduran adventure and I’ll have to say.”I’m glad to be home.”  Started the day by traveling once again into the mountains of this beautiful country to a village called Conception of Maria.  Great group of Pastors, leaders in an amazing little town on top of the mountain.  Traveling up you would never expect to find a village with concrete streets and one of the most beautiful church buildings we have visited in either Nicaragua or Honduras.  Great time of teaching and worship with the church family that had traveled for miles to be a part of what GOD was doing.  One Pastor shared that he had walked for 1 1/2 hours to be with us.  In these mountains you know that’s not an easy task.  The afternoon session was different also,  El Triunfo  is about 25 kilometers  from the Nicaragua border.  About half way into the presentation the power went out, no problem I have a big mouth.  A few minutes later it started to rain, very hard.  Hard rain on a metal roof makes speaking and listening very hard.  We soldiered on through the presentation only to be rushed out so we could cross the border before the river got up.  Interesting ending to a very exciting and busy week.  One other thing, while we were eating our lunch a young lady entered the room and announced that she wanted to be saved. SWEEEEET!  Prayed with  her and then talked to the pastor that will disciple her.  Thank You LORD

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

      Blessings once more from Choluteca, Honduras……Today we were at “Arch of Christ” Baptist Church doing another Leader/Pastor training.  GREAT day, I love my job.  Great time sharing from the Word of God, life experiences and my time as a pastor.  I will say a lot of what we are teaching is info from what I’m seeing going on in the states.  It’s amazing how much the Nica and Honduran church resembles American Church’s.  The Third World church has the same struggles as our North American Church’s.  It is amazing to talk to a local pastor and then begin to see yourself in their shoes.  The good thing is that in many cases we are able to identify with them and simply share our experiences as a Pastor.
     Tomorrow we will travel to another city named “Maria Conception” for Pastor/Leadership training in the morning.  In the afternoon we will travel to “El Triunfo” for our final Pastor/Leader conference for this trip.  We are praising God for all that HE has allowed us to do and be apart of while here in Honduras.  Once we get back to Somotillo Pastor Diomedes and I will set down to compare notes and see where GOD is leading.  We are very thankful for the prayers and support during our travel.  I’ll have to admit that after 2 weeks of Pastor training and teaching I’ll ge glad and thankful that we will be finished for a while.  God is our strength and we will praise HIM in all that we do and say……Donald and Pammie

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

      Blessings from Honduras…..Sorry that we didn’t send out news yesterday but the Hotel I was staying in didn’t have Internet.  Today we met with Pastors and leaders from Guaymaca City which we traveled to yesterday.  Gauymaca City is 300 kilometers north of the border and takes about 5 hours by car.  I have to admit that Honduras is one of the most beautiful mountainous countries I’ve ever visited.  From what I can see the country is a little more prosperous and a lot better off than Nicaragua.
     Much like our Nicaragua Pastors these men and women were very eager to learn and expand their world.  We were literally begged to come back soon and help the Honduran church.  Certainly something that Pam and I will have to pray about and seek Gods guidance.  Anyone want to bring a small team to Honduras?
     One thing I have learned in nearly 11 years on the mission field is that you had better be flexible.  We were told around 1 PM that all the plans were canceled for Sunday in Tegucigalpa due to political unrest.  We traveled back to Choluteca where we will stay until Monday.  Pastor Diomedes got on the phone and now has us booked in a church here Sunday morning and Sunday afternoon.  It all amazes me how quickly things in Central America can come unraveled and how quickly new plans can be put in place.  Thank you Lord for obedient servants.   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

After the baptisms in the Río Negro (Black River), our team pressed on to share in song and drama with nearby villages.  On our ride back into our quarters we emptied every item we had brought to give away, tossing them off the truck as we drove.  Children lined the sides of the street awaiting our gifts.  Undoubtedly, they received them: Everything from the “¡Caramelos!” (candy) to the shirt off of one of our member’s back!
It was a blessing today to reflect on the diversity of strengths that God has brought together this week for this mission:  A spirit-led Photographer, a heartfelt Sketch artist, a group of talented singers, a group of talented instrumentalists, a group of strong speakers, a group of knowledgeable translators, a group of GREAT COOKS…and the list goes on.

Buenas Dias – another day of God’s faithfulness in Somotillo

It’s was a great morning at Casa de Shelly.  The majority of the team made a couple of trips to the river and finished up the bottom layer of rocks for the parking pad (pending Donald’s inspection)!   It was a blessing to see the pastors show up again at the Casa, hungry for another morning of training on lessons about the Holy Spirit.

More testimonies were shared on the radio this morning, and praise and worship songs in Spanish were sung.  After the radio team rejoined the others at the riverbed, to continue gathering rocks, they met a couple of locals who were also gathering rocks and water.  Two of the young boys on horseback had heard the radio broadcast and were enthusiastic to listen in again tomorrow. 

Mama Maria’s pasta salad for lunch rejuvenated the group, and we all set out for Pasquala.  For those who had been before, it was a treat to see some familiar faces and to encourage those there in their walk with the Lord.  Pray that those who heard the Gospel would come to know Him and join the others in the village on their journey with Christ.  Please pray for continued “eternal successes” as the team finishes the second half of the week.

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

This morning our team started with work projects.  Some of the women went to the market to get food to serve in the village later while others stayed back and prepped walls to paint and filled water balloons to play with the kids in the village later.  The guys went and filled the truck with rocks to bring back to the Casa to make a pad for the bus to park on during the rainy seasons. 

After lunch, we went to the village, Los Torres.  We engaged the villagers through playing soccer, painting fingernails and playing with water balloons.  We broke up into small groups and the gospel was presented to the guys playing soccer and the children in the village.  Many seeds were planted in the village.  We also took the nurse with us to provide medical care and prescriptions to those who needed it.  Donald gathered a group to pray for healing over a two month old who had a severe case of pneumonia.  Prescriptions were provided to her as well.  We were reminded through this situation, as Donald says, “What would happen if missionaries didn’t come?”

We were also able to provide hot nutritious soup to the villagers.  They brought bowls, buckets, plates, or whatever they could find to hold food.  We were able to pass out some of the bowls provided by team members to those without any.  Dry food packets were handed out for families to provide additional meals as well. 

Our team really enjoyed serving the village of Los Torres.  

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

Hola amigos!
The trip down to the Casa was a little more exciting than usual. When we landed in El Salvador for our 37 minute layover, we discovered that our flight was canceled and that we actually had to wait for six more hours. However, our team remained in very high spirits and we used the time to play some icebreaker games and got to know interesting facts about each other! From the very beginning we could tell that Satan was attacking but we knew that God always wins.
This morning we left the hotel in Managua for Somotillo. We arrived at the Casa around noon, and prepared to visit our first village- La Flor. The team was very excited to minister to the people and handed out candy, played soccer, painted nails of young girls and played fun water balloon games with the children. After engaging with the villagers, we split into small groups, and with the help of translators shared the gospel. Then, Oscar and Johanna led us in some Spanish songs while others prepared the meal. We had the opportunity to feed the people a nice hot meal before we left to return to the Casa for the night. God spoke to the group through our surroundings, other group members, and the joy we could see in the villagers. We’re excited to see what God has in store for us the rest of the week.
You have to admit that a day when the Kingdom of God is enlarged, it’s a GOOD DAY.  Today we had five of our team members share the Gospel, some for the very first time…..Thank You Lord 

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