Monday November 17-2008 --written by Rick Schnurr...
Monday was another beautiful day in Nicaragua. We all awoke refreshed and anxious to start work on the PAN warehouse. After a quick breakfast, we loaded up our tools and headed to the work site. The site is approximately 5 acres and is located northeast of Managua. The steel frame of the 40’ x 40’ structure was nearly complete when we arrived. Our team’s first priority is to cover the outside of the warehouse with a steel siding that looks much like the siding that is used to build warehouses and sheds in Southern Ontario.
We were pleased to make significant progress in laying the siding and were able to complete 2+ sides of the warehouse by 1:00. The attached picture provides a general idea of the size of the structure and shows members of the team laying the first few pieces of siding.
After a bag lunch at the worksite we loaded into the vans and returned to the barrio where on Saturday we had cleared an area for sports ministry. We spent some time raking the area once again, which is something we anticipate doing several times before we leave as each pass over the land unearths new pieces of glass, barbed wire and other treasures.
While we were raking, the area quickly filled with dozens of kids from the barrio who pitched in as we cleaned up the mess. Soon the hockey nets that the mission team brought down two years ago appeared and were used as soccer nets for a series of games that we had the pleasure of participating in with the kids. Many of the guys who came down on the previous trip were touched to see what great care the kids had taken of the nets. They clearly appreciated and valued the gift from two years ago. The joy the children’s faces on Monday afternoon was only surpassed by our own as we played soccer, baseball and shared pictures and stickers from Canada. Joel worked the same magic he does each Sunday at Kortright with the kids from the barrio and a fantastic time was had by all.
In the evening Wally led us in prayer late into the night. “Porch time” is quickly becoming a special time for both new and repeat members of the team.
We have been blessed to have Pastor Melvin from El Salvador staying with us while we are here. Pastor Melvin visited Guelph in the summer and spent time with the mission team at one of our preparation meetings as well as spending an evening at the church. Pastor Melvin’s journey includes many stories of medical miracles that have been brought about through prayer. Pastor Melvin has found that focussed prayer between the hours of 3:00 and 3:30 am have been a key to bring about unimaginable healing. Mark was touched by Pastor Melvin’s incredible stories of healing in the summer and has once again been touched by Pastor Melvin on this trip. 19.5 years ago Mark was struck by a baseball on his right eye that left him with blurred vision and limited use of his eye. For two consecutive nights now, the men’s team has been joined by Pastor Melvin at 3:00 am and prayed that the damage to Mark’s eye be reversed. The team has committed to continuing this prayer time through the rest of our stay in Nicaragua. We invite you to join us in prayer each morning during this time as we call upon God to provide healing for Mark. Nicaragua is one hour behind Guelph so it will be 4:00 in Guelph when we start our prayer each morning. If you feel so moved please pray silently or together from 4:00 to 4:30 (Eastern) for healing for Mark asking God to reverse the damage caused by that baseball so many years ago.Please continue to pray for our spouses, without whom none of us could be here stretching ourselves and our relationships with God.
Monday was another beautiful day in Nicaragua. We all awoke refreshed and anxious to start work on the PAN warehouse. After a quick breakfast, we loaded up our tools and headed to the work site. The site is approximately 5 acres and is located northeast of Managua. The steel frame of the 40’ x 40’ structure was nearly complete when we arrived. Our team’s first priority is to cover the outside of the warehouse with a steel siding that looks much like the siding that is used to build warehouses and sheds in Southern Ontario.
We were pleased to make significant progress in laying the siding and were able to complete 2+ sides of the warehouse by 1:00. The attached picture provides a general idea of the size of the structure and shows members of the team laying the first few pieces of siding.
After a bag lunch at the worksite we loaded into the vans and returned to the barrio where on Saturday we had cleared an area for sports ministry. We spent some time raking the area once again, which is something we anticipate doing several times before we leave as each pass over the land unearths new pieces of glass, barbed wire and other treasures.
While we were raking, the area quickly filled with dozens of kids from the barrio who pitched in as we cleaned up the mess. Soon the hockey nets that the mission team brought down two years ago appeared and were used as soccer nets for a series of games that we had the pleasure of participating in with the kids. Many of the guys who came down on the previous trip were touched to see what great care the kids had taken of the nets. They clearly appreciated and valued the gift from two years ago. The joy the children’s faces on Monday afternoon was only surpassed by our own as we played soccer, baseball and shared pictures and stickers from Canada. Joel worked the same magic he does each Sunday at Kortright with the kids from the barrio and a fantastic time was had by all.
In the evening Wally led us in prayer late into the night. “Porch time” is quickly becoming a special time for both new and repeat members of the team.
We have been blessed to have Pastor Melvin from El Salvador staying with us while we are here. Pastor Melvin visited Guelph in the summer and spent time with the mission team at one of our preparation meetings as well as spending an evening at the church. Pastor Melvin’s journey includes many stories of medical miracles that have been brought about through prayer. Pastor Melvin has found that focussed prayer between the hours of 3:00 and 3:30 am have been a key to bring about unimaginable healing. Mark was touched by Pastor Melvin’s incredible stories of healing in the summer and has once again been touched by Pastor Melvin on this trip. 19.5 years ago Mark was struck by a baseball on his right eye that left him with blurred vision and limited use of his eye. For two consecutive nights now, the men’s team has been joined by Pastor Melvin at 3:00 am and prayed that the damage to Mark’s eye be reversed. The team has committed to continuing this prayer time through the rest of our stay in Nicaragua. We invite you to join us in prayer each morning during this time as we call upon God to provide healing for Mark. Nicaragua is one hour behind Guelph so it will be 4:00 in Guelph when we start our prayer each morning. If you feel so moved please pray silently or together from 4:00 to 4:30 (Eastern) for healing for Mark asking God to reverse the damage caused by that baseball so many years ago.Please continue to pray for our spouses, without whom none of us could be here stretching ourselves and our relationships with God.
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