Thursday, April 28, 2011

New Wells

We are starting 16 new water projects over the next couple of years. Amigos for Christ received a grant from Cross International to build 15 new wells in rural communities without running water. One of the questions we were asked by Cross International was why do we seek out such rural communities to build wells and build water systems. The answer was simple. If we don't, who will? We have drilled over 100 wells in and around Chinandega and recently God has been clear to us in our mission. We need to take care of all in need within our reach, not just the high impact communities. If we only look for large numbers of people for impact and immediately look over smaller communities who's needs are just as drastic, we miss the point. We are not drilling wells just to provide clean water.

In this part of the process, our Directer of projects, Luis and our well team travel to these prospective rural communities to interview the people and get to know them. Rancho Pando is one of these communities. While we were there we learned the closest water supply is 3 miles away and many people walk this rocky path several times a day with 5 gallon jugs. The water supply is a river. These people bathe, wash their clothes, and drink from it. After hearing these stories, Rancho Pando is one of the first on our list of new projects. Imagine being born into a family that lives 2 hours away from any sort of civilization. The whole concept of poverty takes on a new level. The problem isn't that these people don't have an income, they have no means to get one either. From day one, their concept of life is to survive. These people need water and love just like everyone else. Please start to pray for these communities. Pray that God would lead us exactly where we are supposed to be and that bonding and trusting relationships would start to form between us and these people.

Thank you for your prayerful support. Please pass this along to others who will spread the word and pray as well.

Joey

Summer is upon us

We have returned from Cincinnati from our visit With Crossroads Community Church.
Our time was very encouraging there. There is a sense of authenticity with everyone we met. This alone opened the doors so much for us to be vulnerable and really learn from each other. We are currently working on implementing some of the ideas that we picked up from them. One of which is a prayer area. Starting this summer, there will be an area in Casa Blanca that will be dedicated just for prayer. Mission trip participants will be able to post prayer requests and leave them for future participants to pray over them. This will be an ongoing process and we're excited for it.

Over 15 "longtermers" (college/high school kids that stay and help with mission trip operations for more than a week) and summer interns will be joining us in May. Starting May 7th we have constant trips coming down until the end of August.
Please pray for the cross cultural interactions with week long mission trip participants and the Nicaraguans they'll be working alongside. Our time digging pipeline in Chonco is nearly finished and the relationships between us and the Nicaraguans living there grows every time we go dig with them. Pray for this to continue.

More to come
Joey

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

I am wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. The current temperature in Cincinnati is 55 and windy. It is good to be home. It is especially good to be in Cincinnati for a week.

Kristin, Jeremy and myself are visiting Crossroads Community Church in Cincinnati this week. We will be meeting with staff members all week long to hopefully learn and pick up much of the useful strategies of this Christ-centered, authentic church.

Please pray that God would use this week to build us up as well as teach and train us for the coming months in Nicaragua.

Everyone up here keeps apologizing for the cold, dreadful weather. My response has been the same to everyone. It's a nice change. I'm grateful to be home for a couple weeks.

More to come,
Joey

Monday, April 4, 2011

30 Day Water Challenge

We have a new campaign to raise money for new wells being drilled. Watch this powerful 2 minute video and see what life is like in Nicaragua without running water.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsjyJd1sEtM


The 30 Day Water Challenge
30 DAYS of your life can change EVERY DAY of someone else's life.



COMMIT. to drinking only water for 30 days.

PREPARE. Find an empty gallon jug.

COLLECT. For the next 30 days, when you would buy soda, juice, or bottled water, just drink tap water. Put the money you would have spent in the jug.

INSPIRE others to join you.

CHANGE THE WORLD. Give the money to provide clean water to rural families in Nicaragua.


If you'd like to do our 30 day water challenge and want to raise money for these water systems, you can make your donations here.



Joey