September - December 2010

1 Corinthians 3:9 “For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.”

FELLOW WORKERS

Children watching the Christmas story in El Tablon
(note Pastor Heber and Mercedes as Joseph and Mary!)

Visits from Ezel Church Ciudad Delgado– On October 14 and December 4 the missions committee from Ezel Church, Ciudad Delgado came to Ojos de Agua to partner in our work here. In October the team of volunteers worked on digging around the perimeter of the church building with the purpose of channeling water. In December the team returned the purpose of blessing the children of El Tablón with a Christmas celebration that included the Christmas story, games, piñatas and gifts. The enthusiasm of these young people eager to serve is contagious! We are thankful for their partnership with us!

Visit from Tulare First Baptist-

Left to Right: Tree, Brett, Eric, Andy, Mary, Carlos, Daniel and James

November 19-26 we had the privilege of hosting a mission team from Tulare First Baptist Church. The church raised funds for our building’s floor. Between members from the mission team and church members the floor was laid in four days! The team also gave a soccer clinic to kids from the community on the last day. Before traveling back to San Salvador we celebrated a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner together. God blessed the project with funds to purchase musical instruments as well: a drum set, a bass guitar, amp, and a microphone. We are forever grateful to TFBC for their partnership with us in this project! Members of the team were: Pastor Daniel Elías, James Neeley, Eric York, Andy Tiner, Mary Jones (Cindy’s mother), Brett and Theresa Jones (Cindy’s brother and sister-in-law), and Carlos Elías (Pastor Daniel’s father).  

Watch the slide show for some highlights of the week:

Music Classes

Aspiring drummer boy, Lucas Blanco

As soon as the musical instruments were purchased, Camilo began giving music lessons. Drum and bass lessons meet on Saturdays with five students.  On Wednesdays piano and guitar lessons are being given to six students.  It is wonderful to see the enthusiasm the students have in praising the Lord with music!

Isabel Melgar sharing her testimony with our church

Blessings from L.A.

In September and October we had special visits from three members of the Church of God of Reseda, CA: Jorge and Leticia Mejia and Isabel Melgar blessed us with their presence and participation in our church activities during their vacation days to their hometown of Ojos de Agua. We are so grateful for them and their church in California for their partnership with us!

San Martin to Ojos de Agua, Ojos de Agua to San Martin

Pastor Camilo, Pastor Salvador, and Missionary George from Costa Rica

Kids with the pinata just before hanging it.

In the month of December we had the opportunity to visit Pastor Salvador Perez's Church in San Martin. We shared time of Holy Communion, prayer, preaching, time with the children and lunch. The next weekend members of San Martin Church traveled to Ojos de Agua for a visit where we had service together and lunch. The church visiting blessed the children with pinatas and gifts.  It was a wonderful time of fellowship and we are grateful for their partnership.

MINISTRY

Visiting Praise team from Jersalem Church of Coyolito
played at both all night church services.

Two Vigils (All night church services)

Two all-night church services were held on September 25 and November 13 with the purpose of sharing the gospel to the community.  All of Ojos de Agua was invited and an estimated 300 people attended each service!

Two young men, Carlos and Wil accepting Christ as their Savior

Phillip Project –

Home Evangelistic Bible studies have expanded. Pastor Heber is giving leadership training once a week to 10 brothers and sisters who are leading the Bible studies.

As a result of these ministries (The all night services and home Bible studies), many people have started attending church services and since then many have accepted Christ as the personal Savior. 

Soccer Tournament and Movie-

On Friday December 3, Ojos de Agua Youth Ministry held a soccer tournament for youth in Ojos de Agua and the surrounding communities. Eight teams arrived and played their hearts out and had a good time. In the evening the community was invited later to watch the movie, Facing the Giants.

Final game Ojos de Agua vs. El Zapotal

Cindy handing out the first prize awards a soccer ball and tee-shirts

NEXT PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION

Many are asking, what’s next in the construction? Here is a breakdown of what’s needed:

• septic tank and bathrooms: approx. $3,500 (This week volunteer work began in digging the hole for the septic tank!)
• windows (with defense bars) and doors: approx. $5,500
  
  

  
  

  PLEASE PRAY...

  
  

  -For our ministry working as a team with Pastor Heber and his family in 2011

  -For provision for our church building construction Project

  -For wisdom as we work to strengthen the spiritual maturity of the congregation.

  
  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

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    Here are some of the latest light poles Cindy has painted in the community:

August 2010 Update

Greetings Mission Partners!  These past two months have been full of blessings and lots of work!  We are excited to inform you about the happenings...

Please pray: for our health and the health of Pastor Heber's daughter Raquel, for provision for our construction project, that in His timing we will sell our car, and Pastor Heber's truck with the goal to purchase more practical vehicles for where we live, for Camilo and Cindy's studies....thanks!

Church Construction Update

Most of the month of July was spent on installing the roof to our church building. The month of August has been spent compacting the floor with layers of a sand and cement mixture.  With heavy rains, we have had flooding problems, but we have found that the layers of compaction are helping to prevent the problem.  We have two teams coming to help us.  One team comes from North Carolina in the month of October. The second team, from Tulare First Baptist will be coming in November.  Both will be helping with the construction project.  Please pray for their trip, provision and safety.

Barefoot softball, no gloves, and rocks as the bases!

Our youth group is slowly growing and has had the desire to serve the community and reach out to more youth.  In July we held a softball tournament for young women in El Tablón's soccer field.  The youth learned a lot about working together and planning a project, being their first time.  Many invitations to schools were sent, however only two teams showed and a third team was formed by the "ex-alums" of the community.  Still, the morning was a lot of fun.  The theme of the tournament was, "Do you want to be a champion?"  Cindy gave a short devotional based on Romans 8:37. The tournament's official tee-shirt, and a bat were given as first prize and a softball to the second place winners. A special treat was given to the team who showed the best team work. The youth, with the help of Pastor Heber's wife, Mercedes, sold food to raise funds. It was amazing to watch these girls play barefoot, stubbing their toes on the rock bases and try catching the ball with no glove, we were impressed. I (Cindy) am looking for donations for bases (like the ones used in P.E. classes) if anyone would be interested in looking into this, please let me know.

Our youth group is planning on holding a soccer tournament for boys and girls sometime before the year is over. We are continuing to look for more ways to connect to the youth and offer activities that promote a healthy lifestyle. 
**please check out more photos from the softball tournament at the end of the post!

Camilo sharing his testimony

Visit from Maranata Church, Soyapango

Youth working hard in the Church building!

We had the blessing to host approximately 40 youth from a MCA church of Soyapango.  The purpose of their visit the first week of August was to hold a youth camp and service project.  They stayed in Ojos de Agua's community building.  Groups of youth helped with digging in and around the church building and worked hard under the rain and in the mud!  A team of youth also gave workshops to our Sunday School teachers and left us a huge blessing of materials to use with children.  We learned new games, songs, crafts, and  teaching techniques. Also, Camilo, Cindy, and Pastor Heber were given the opportunity to share their testimonies to the youth during devotional times. We are so thankful to the Lord for the sacrifices and efforts that these youth put into their trip to Ojos de Agua!

**please scroll to the end of the post to see more photos!

Sunday School End of Unit Parties

These past three months our children have been traveling on the missionary journeys of Peter and Paul through the book of Acts.  To celebrate the end of the unit, we held special activities with the kids and awarded those that memorized the most Bible verses. In Ojos de Agua, the students dressed up like some of the Biblical characters, and "traveled" from place to place, from Jerusalem, to Antioch, to Damascus, to Cyprus, to the prison and more, reviewing what they had learned along the way.  In El Tablón, Cindy tried to review a bit of geography of the missionary journeys in a form of a relay race.  During both parties, the kids sang many songs, played games, and finished the morning off with awards and a piñata!  We have started using new material called Mission Adventures, where the children will be going on different adventures through topical studies from the Bible with a focus on missions.  

Sunday School students in Ojos de Agua

Sunday School students in El Tablón

Kids singing a new song that the youth from Maranata taught us!

**more photos at the end of this post!

Cindy shares about working with at-risk kids

At the end of July, the Missions Department for the Central American Mission (DEMCA), asked Cindy to share about working with at-risk kids to representatives from MCA churches in the San Martin / Suchitoto area.   Cindy traveled to Jardines del Edén church in San Martín to share what she had learned at the WEC /Rainbows of Hope conference that she had attended in April about how to start a ministry for at-risk kids in a local church. It was a privilege to be able to share such valuable information and encourage others to reach out beyond the four walls of the church building to where there so much need.

Painting Poles to Promote Tourism
Ojos de Agua participated in the Pueblos Vivos 2010 (Alive Towns!) contest, in national campaign to promote tourism throughout the country. One of the activities that is ongoing is painting the light and electric poles throughout the community with paintings that reflect the flora, fauna, and culture of the region.  Cindy has just started to get involved and has painted three poles. Starting next week, some of the members of the youth group will continue the work with her.  

Visit from Maranata Church Youth Group

Cindy giving her testimony

What hard workers!

A special time with the children

The kids had a great time at their end-of unit parties!

 Sunday School - Ojos de Agua

Traveling to the first church in Antioch

Paul and Silas in prison

Brave Camilo hanging the piñata!

Lucas has a go ...

 Sunday School - El Tablón

Ready for the relay race!

Bible geography game

Time to sing praises

Youth Softball Tournament

Before starting the tournament, Cindy shares a message from the book of Romans

Some members of our youth group listening on

Watermelon and cucumber snacks for sale!

A serious pitcher

Running the bases....oh, check out the beautiful mountains!

June 2010

We want to thank you for your continued prayers and support!  We would not be here if it weren't for you all doing your part in building God's church in Ojos de Agua. 

Please continue praying for:

Provision for the construction project, our health and safety, Camilo and Cindy's studies, continued provision for Pastor Heber and his family's ministry with us. 

Translation Work 

Cindy had the privilege of serving as a translator for a short-term mission trip June 12 - 21 in Ciudad Delgado, in San Salvador.  Members of the team were from various states: OH, KY, NC, and MO. Work included: construction work at Ezel Church, Vacation Bible School, visit to Exodo Orphanage, and great fellowship time with the brothers and sisters of the church. We are grateful to Pastor Heber and his family for helping us take care of Lucas during these days that Cindy was translating and Camilo was working on our construction project.

Here are some photos:

 

Mission team at MCA's Mission House in San Salvador   

 Translating for Joe and Taylor's gospel presentation at Exodo Orphanage

  

Translating for Troy's sermons

Baptisms June 27

On June 27 baptisms were held at the creek in Ojos de Agua.  We are so happy for the following who have made the decision to follow Christ:  Jorge Molina and his wife, Blanca Chinchilla, Andrea Calderon, Yaquelin Guardado, Mirella Guardado, and Oscar López. 

                                                    Oscar López                 Yaquelin Guardado

 

Yaquelin, Mirella, Oscar, Blanca, Jorge y su hijo, Brayon

Church building taking shape!

We've had some flooding and rain that has slowed down the work, but on the drier days, lots of work has been accomplished on the roof installation. Praise God soon we will have a place meet!