Blessed Be Your Name

"Blessed be Your name, when the sun's shining down on me, when the world's 'all as it should be'... blessed be Your name.  Blessed be Your name on the road marked with suffering.  Though there's pain in the offering, blessed be Your name." - Matt Redman

It is hard to start writing this blog with out first giving God all the praise and glory for this trip.  It has been a very eventful 24 hours for our team.  We left Paducah and started on our journey at about 12 am this morning.  From the beginning it was evident that God was working within the group, there was an anxious excitement for the week ahead. God provided safe travels for us throughout the day.  We arrived safely in El Salvador around 11:45am.  While waiting to be picked up from the airport the group got to sit around, talk, and even throw a football around.  After being picked up we quickly ate lunch at Wendy's and headed to the mission house.  We had a slight bit of down time before we started on the exciting evening planned.  We had a full evening set up to celebrate the work that the translators do and to thank them for inspiring each of us in our own personal walks with Christ.  The translators are a vital part to the work that is done here is El Salvador.  The evening focused on taking time to not only thank the translators but to also worship our Lord and Savior.  We ate, caught up with old friends, and in many cases started forming new friendships.  After the group was fed we all sat down for worship.  Dan brought out his guitar and played a few songs for us while we all sang.  It was beautiful to hear everyone worshiping together. After a few songs we then had communion as a group.  At the end of the night we also "gifted" the translators, Susan and Cameron.  Coming together and worshiping Christ as a group was such a perfect way to start the week.  Praising God for all that He accomplished in the past 24 hours in our team.  We made it to our destination safely and we had a wonderful night praising Him!

~Russ

El Salvador 2012

21 mission team members will leave for the Nashville airport Friday night, September 28. First Baptist Paducah is proud to partner with Starfish Orphan Ministry and serve the lost and needy in El Salvador.  For many team members, this trip will be a return to El Salvador, as Laura Roberts has led several teams over the last few years.  Pray for safe travels and fruitful days of ministry.  May the Lord give us all a heart for the world and eagerness to celebrate and share the Gospel of Christ.

Emily Carter and Olivia Harp in El Salvador (April 2012)

Reflections by Brian the Lion

Posting on the blog

I tried not to get my feelings hurt, and kept wondering when my picture would be on the blog.  Finally, I decided to steal Steve's laptop while he was asleep and post something myself.  My name is Brian.  Brian, the lion.  I was so glad to be a part of the team this year.  My primary role was camp security, but I also did a little acting in "Daniel and the Lion's Den"(pictured below).  I forgot one of my lines, but felt pretty good about the overall performance.  It's been an exhausting trip, and it was nearly impossible to sleep in airports.  Riding in the bottom of Rusty's bag was better than I thought it would be, but I've been starving all week.  I could literally eat a horse right now.  And normally, I'm pretty picky.  Anyway, I just wanted everyone to know the WHOLE team made it back safely.  It felt great getting behind the steering wheel again last night and driving back to my own den for a good night's rest.  Truly, it's nice to be home.

Sincerely,

Brian

Rehearsing for my part in "Daniel and the Lion's Den"

Trying to sleep in the airport

Longing for home

Driving back from Barkley Aiport

Reflections by Suzanne

As we sit in an airport in Germany, we have time to reflect on our trip and time to thank God for permitting us to be a part of His work in Ukraine.  What a wonderful blessing this trip has been.  God has given us safe travel, good health, wonderful fellowship and worship, but more importantly, we have seen the Holy Spirit at work in the hearts of his people.  God united our team and the team from House of the Gospel to make us truly one in the body of Christ.

When we began to prepare for this trip, our prayers were always that God would use us to present His Gospel to the children and to present it in a way that would bring honor and glory to Him.  These prayers have been answered.

Now as we start home, we begin to focus on the next mission.  When and how do we get started on a building in Ozero?  Our goal has always been that everyone in the village of Ozero would come to know the saving power of Christ.  Pray that God will lead us with clear direction and confirmation so that we proceed according to His plan.  Pray that we will boldly step out on faith and obedience to God’s call.

~Suzanne

Reflections by Lloyd

We have completed another mission trip to Ozero, Ukraine.  Our desire was and is to bring the Gospel , the good news of Jesus Christ, to an unbelieving people.  As a mission team we have tried to follow God’s calling.  What are the results?  How many confessions of faith have there been?  Is there a visible body of Christ there now?  I don’t have the answers.  I am drawn to 1 Corinthians 9:6 where Paul says, “I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.”  May God’s blessing bear fruit in Ozero.

~Lloyd

Boarding in Kiev

We're boarding our plane soon in Kiev, headed to Munich.  Thanks for your prayers back home.  See you soon!

Tuesday Report UPDATED

We made it safely back to Kiev a couple of hours ago.  We are currently meeting with Pasha, a Russian native working as a contractor in Ukraine who represents   www.borkholderbuildings.com.   The company is based out of Indiana.  There is definite traction with the eventual building of a church.  We are considering a worship space that could also house a pastor and his family in Ozero.  Pray for wisdom and vision for the project.  There are many details to consider.

UPDATE
The meeting went very well with Pasha.  His company had heard about our goals for Ozero, and Pasha seemed genuinely excited to help.  He even prayed for us after the meeting.  He had interesting ideas about how to get some work done by volunteers, keeping our cost down for labor.  It seemed clear he and his company are eager to help us, and do so with a budget in mind.  We left the meeting very encouraged.

We said our goodbyes with Tolli tonight, and he got back on the road for a 4-hour return to Rivne.  We were left without an interpreter for dinner and our remaining hours here in the hotel.  We headed to the only place we felt safe within walking distance... the golden arches!  Today, Lloyd celebrated his 69th birthday with us, traveling across Ukraine, eating lunch in a gas station and dinner at McDonalds.  I never heard a complaint.  Happy birthday Lloyd (a.k.a. PawPaw and  LL).

Birthday Lunch at the gas station

Kiev McDonalds