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bfc board of missions |
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May 28, 2003 Edition Issue 17 Let’s Fish. Bible Fellowship Churches sharing resources to evangelize the world. A place for the exchange of ideas on short term missions projects and local outreach. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
All responses can be sent to office@bfcbom.org
Current and past issues can be found on the web at: www.bfcbom.org look in “Mission Events” then Let’s Fish
212 Days till Urbana
Greetings from Allentown!
4. Trips in the works (updated weekly)
Many short term teams advocate journal entries while on a trip. It may be important enough to require all team members to keep a journal. It is amazing how much we forget about our “once in a lifetime” experience if we do not write things down.
Reading from journal entries makes for a very productive evening team time together. Simply hearing what caught the eye and heart of fellow team members can be a springboard of many meaningful discussions.
Some Ideas for your journal:
>Write down all names of people you met and places you visited. >Make a vocabulary list of new words. >Write down spirit prompted observations. >Attempt creative writing like short stories and poems. >Write down meaningful observations from your personal Bible Time. >Look for and write down God granted miracles.
Typical Journal Entry:
I am exhausted! I didn’t believe that jet lag would catch up to me. I thought I was prepared physically for this trip. Perhaps it is the mental stress of my surroundings that wears on me. Last night I literaly threw up when I thought that Pente was sleeping on the street. I know for a fact all she had to eat today was that left over sandwich I gave her at lunch.
I keep wondering about the dumbest things, like how does Pente keep so clean, she was immaculate from her hair to her torn dress. How does she keep that perpetual smile when her life is so hard? I read tonight in the book of Acts about Phillip preaching to the crowd from the least to the greatest. I thought of Pente, I thought of myself. At first I thought of Pente being the least but in one quick heartbeat God told me that I was the least –Pente (homeless Pente) she was HIS greatest. Jesus said that he was called to preach the Gospel to the poor…to Pente.
Eight long days to go. I am gaining a new respect for Gerald and Nancy. They will be here long after I go. I can’t imagine that they have been here already nine years.
Breakfast: Hard boiled eggs and coffee. Imagine ME drinking coffee! -team meeting -DVS same routine as yesterday. Lunch: Sack lunch made by Nancy. The meat is funky but the bread is awesome! -Teen sports today soccer (boy do I stink!) -Practice for tonight’s meeting. -one on one ESL (this continues to be my favorite time of day). Students today; Grace, Janet, and Pente. Father I pray that all three will come again tomorrow. Supper: Rice and beans AGAIN!!! Some kind of meat I simply pray it was beef but who knows …don’t ask! I still can’t get over how loving and giving the women of this little church are. They work for hours in the heat to prepare this meal for us. I would never say anything, but I don’t like beans and rice is not my favorite. I guess I could say hate the meal/love the cooks! Mom I promise I will never complain about left overs again! (Well at least not for a week!) -Meeting tonight was awesome! I don’t know a word the evangelist said but oh what passion. People really listened! I feel proud that so many came to see our show, but actually STAYED to hear the message. I feel proud that I had a small part in the four who accepted Christ tonight! -After meeting fellowship with the church kids was great but I am so-o-o tired.
I must stop writing and get some sleep! Good night God, Good night Pente wherever you are! (Entry is fictional but the events are real and taken from a variety of short term trip experiences.) Hint: don’t wait till you go on your trip to begin your Journal START NOW! Record the great ways God is providing for you financially and what HE is teaching you as you prepare for the event of your lifetime! Veteran Short termers, share with us a great page from your journal. We would love to print a page. Send it to office@bfcbom.org
No letters this week!! Write me. I love e-mail! office@bfcbom.org
Cameras remain the number one stolen item of mission trips. Unless you are an avid photographer wanting that special shot, leave your camera at home. The one use throwaway camera may be your camera of choice. These cameras have come a long way in recent years. Most now have a flash, some are water proof, and some for a few bucks more come with advanced lenses. There is also a panorama model and make great group shots and scenic shots.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do ask before photographing a national.(Be prepared to pay a tip). Do record in a small notebook details of each shot.(Make sure to get the names of nationals with spelling and pronunciation). Do make sure YOU are on some of your shots. Do take lots of Candid shots and few staged group shots. Don’t put film in your checked luggage. (X-ray of checked luggage is strong) Don’t photograph police, military, or airport personnel or facilities. Don’t promise to send photos back to the field UNLESS YOU INTEND TO DO SO! Don’t leave your camera open to the environment. Some tropical settings can be very harmful to film. Do plan a team picture night to share your photos and relive the experiences of the trip together.
Consider having a team camera for those hilarious "everyone wants-one" shots. You know the situation. One poor soul is given 15 different cameras to take the same photo. One shot reproduced for everyone will eliminate that “wait just one more” times.
4. Trips in the works (updated weekly)
The Board of Missions is keeping statistics of all short term missionary trips (both by teams and individuals). Please let us know all the important information about your trip. WHO, WHAT, CHURCH, MISSIONARY, COUNTRY, and DATE. Contact: office@bfcbom.org
To Date the following ministries being done by BFC’ers have been registered with Let’s Fish.
May 14-28 Cedar Crest & Quakertown Tanzania Trip Building Dispensary. May 23 June 6 Emmaus to The Fold (Hash) room available May 26- Aug. 5 Alicia Billups Team Coordinator for RGBI June 7-13 Paris Prayer Conference 03 www.david.riddell@wanadoo.fr June – August Rachel Bechtel CF summer missionary June 12-15 . Mt. Pocono trip to Blueberry Mountain (Slomas) June 21-28 Coopersburg trip to work with Bob & Donna Sloma at Blueberry Mountain Bible Camp along with Chris & Becki Merrick. June 26-28 Paradise at Lighthouse for VBS June 26-July 3 Emmaus to The Fold (Hash) room available July 2- August 1 Rebecca Zurbrick from Paradise BFC will be going to Panama July 4-18 Serbia Trip Reading (spaces available) July 5-12, Paradise team to Thompson, CT, to assist with VBS both at the church and at a nearby park. July 5-20 Elizabeth Studenroth Moscow with the English Exchange July 6-August 10 Kara Lapp from Paradise BFC will be going to Wyoming to disciple youth and lead an outreach with YWAM July 11-26 Serbia Trip Reading (spaces available) July 26- August 3 Q’town & Lehighton missions trip to Asheville, North Carolina. July date to be determined Cedar Crest to Morocco Work team and ministry. August 1-6 Terre Hill at Spruce Lake VBS outreach August 2-18 - Emmaus Ukraine Trip doing puppet shows, drama, music and coffee house ministry as well as a morning camp program with Push-the-Rock each morning. August 8-21 Cedar Crest trip to Pollocks Team of 11 teens and 7 adults for day camp among Native Americans and work projects. Aug. 15-30 Serbia Trip Reading (spaces available) August 16-23 - Emmaus going to Wissinoming BFC for VBS and evangelistic puppet shows. August 22-24 - Walnutport BFC Weekend Block Party. Emmaus will be doing puppet shows and a Saturday block party. Sep. 26-Oct. 11 Serbia Trip Reading (spaces available) October date to be determined Cedar Crest to Kosovo Work and ministry. Nov. 7-22 Serbia Trip Reading (spaces available)
We all get it on a missions trip, sooner or later it WILL hit: dreaded diarrhea! It has been called: Montezuma’s revenge, the runs, the trots, the quick step, traveler’s discomfort, as well as some non printable names!
The number one defense is still “don’t drink the water”! The biggest mistake of the short termer is to religiously refrain from drinking local water, but then order ice in their Coke!
Other care items are: avoid fresh lettuce, and other fresh veggies.
Simply remember the dynamics of the body. Your body is attempting to bring about a quick healing by eliminating unwanted little critters like amebas. Don’t interfere with your bodies work as long as the symptoms are light. If symptoms are more severe or dehydration is a concern, or if your agenda calls for long periods of travel, then take a medication. Imodium and Pepto-Bismol are old stand bys. Bloody stools or severe conditions MUST receive medical attention.
Don’t attempt what one short term group did. In order to preempt diarrhea from hitting their group, they all took Imodium every morning! By the fourth day, there was a great demand on the missionary’s enema bag! They found out that the cramps of constipation were every bit as severe as the cramps from the runs!
Insult to injury came when the leader had to admit his mistake to the team and then at a team meeting give instructions on the use of an enema bag. Since there were no toilets, each short termer had to take their turn at the long hike into the woods by themselves with the red bag and white hose under their arm! Now there is an entry for the journal!
Are you going on a short term trip this year? You are about to embark on a great adventure. God can do some amazing things to your heart while you are involved in ministry. Be sensitive to His calling, His prodding, His personal lessons for you.
One hundred and fourty years ago this prayer was written. It is worth your while to pray it today:
Lord, speak to me that I may speak In living echoes of Thy tone; As Thou has sought, so let me seek Thine erring children lost and lone.
O lead me, Lord, that I may lead The wandering and the wavering feet; O feed me, Lord, that I may feed Thy hungering ones with manna sweet.
O strengthen me, that while I stand Firm on the rock, and strong in Thee, I may stretch out a loving hand To wrestlers with the troubled sea.
O teach me, Lord, that I may teach The precious things Thou dost impart; And wing my words, that they may reach The hidden depths of many a heart.
O give Thine own sweet rest to me, That I may speak with soothing power A word in season, as from Thee, To weary ones in needful hour.
O fill me with Thy fullness, Lord, Until my very heart overflow In kindling thought and glowing word, Thy love to tell, Thy praise to show.
O use me, Lord, use even me, Just as Thou wilt, and when, and where, Until Thy blessèd face I see, Thy rest, Thy joy, Thy glory share.
Most of all, Keep Fishing!
Dana
Reminder
November 14-16 BOM Missions RWR This annual work/study weekend sponsored by the BOM is for high school and post high school young people serious about knowing God’s will for their life and the possibility of career missions. This weekend fills up quickly so register early by e-mail to office@bfcbom.org. Name, age, church, e-mail and snail mail address, and phone # required.
Registrations are already coming in! Don’t miss out!
December 27- January 1 Urbana
A cooperative effort of the churches of the BFC to win the world for Christ Your response is always welcome at: office@bfcbom.org 610 398-8776
A cooperative effort of the churches of the BFC to win the world for Christ Your response is always welcome at: office@bfcbom.org 610 398-8776
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