2019 UPDATES FROM THE MISSION TRIP TO ROCA BLANCO
Saturday, March 9, 2019
Today, our goal was to arrive at the Roca Blanca mission base but God had other plans. We did not catch our 3rd flight. Through the stress, constant encouragement and floods of prayers, we decided to stay in Mexico City for the night and catch a flight Sunday. While the Holy Spirit led us to certain people, we made many friends.
PRAISE:
– WE MADE IT THOUGH MEMPHIS AND HOUSTON AIRPORTS WITH NO COMPLICATIONS- GOD PROTECTED OUR PEOPLE BACK HOME- WE PLANTED MANY SEEDS OF HOPE IN THE HEARTS OF MEXICO CITY-
MEXICO CITY AIRPORT SELLS KRISPY KREME DOUGHNUTS!!!
PRAYER REQUEST:
– SAFE TRAVELS TO THE BASE- PHYSICAL STRENGTH AND ENERGY
Mission Team update
Monday, March 11, 2019
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY:
This group is spread all across the school. Tim and Kb are helping the pre-k and kindergarten. Kristy is helping the elementary. Monnie and MaKaden are helping the middle school students as well as the high school students. And Tuesday, we will meet the 11 orphans.
PRAYER TEAM:
To: Grace Chapel From: Kim and Kelly Edge
“Monday was amazing at Roca Blanca! As we prayed for many who came into the medical clinic, we could sense the Holy Spirit guiding us and opening our hearts to the concerns and ailments of the people here. One little fellow, Victor Ramón, was there with his mother and aunt. She came out of the clinic with a tract in her hand; she had accepted Jesus as her Lord after speaking to brother Jesus in the oración (prayer) room. Three precious souls were born again that we know of so far! We believe we will hear of many more salvations and many healings to come. Many lives are being impacted. Everyone on this team feels that God began the change with each of us… and the impact will forever be far reaching. Praise God!!!”
UPDATE from our mission team
Tuesday, March 12th
Medical report:
It has been an amazing experience being at Roca Blanca Mission base. Our first day we worked at the Corbin Clinic treating patients physically and then sending them to our prayer team for spiritual healing. We have all been blessed to see God’s hand at work in this beautiful place. Thank you for continuing to pray for our team as we serve in southern Mexico. We look forward sharing our hearts with you all when we return.
Much love in Christ, Doc and Anitta Pratt.
Mission Team Update
by Anita Pratt:
We just wrapped up a two day medical mission in Puerto Angel, México. The local pastor Oscar was so gracious to open his home and church up to us while we were there. Each one of us has stories to share of how God has worked in and through us during our time here at this little costal fishing village. The Lord truly blessed the team by allowing us to witness a true harvest as we received a report of 85 clinic patients accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Savior!!! We headed back to Roca Blanca mission base tonight and Laura Pratt Nelson had prepared one of Oaxaca’s specialties for dinner, mole tamales which were so delicious! She had also prepared a beautiful dolce de leche cake for Leonard’s birthday! Needless to say, we have eaten very well during our time here. God bless you all and thank you for your prayers for the Grace Chapel team. We look forward to seeing you all on Sunday!
Mission Team Updates:
Stated by Monnie Whitmore:
Jesus love you and so do we
Galatians 6:9:
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
March 11, 2019
Each morning, Pastor Don has started the day with a devotional centered around the Twelve Tribes of Israel and the Twelve Disciples (there are twelve of us on the mission team). I am being convicted each morning of the Call to listen, to wait, to learn humility, and to serve even in the smallest of ways (Anita shared that we should be faithful in the smallest of things at last night’s discussion).
March 11, 2019:
KB and Tim worked with pre-k and kindergarten all day. They took pictures with KB’s Polaroid, and then made decorated frames with the teacher. Each child received a picture to take home. It was a beautiful sight to behold as they talked of it last night at our meeting.
Kristy worked with twenty-two elementary students all day by assisting the three teachers as they taught multi-subjects. MaKaden and I met with the lead teacher concerning needs of the students and school, personal stories of children in the orphanage, and the work to do with the junior and senior high beginning at 11:30 each day. That’s when their English lesson begins.
There are far more activities that took place than I have time to tell right now. Children laughing, singing, reciting, and smiling at you from behind palm trees will forevermore be something that will remain in my heart.
Last night, we attended a 2 1/2 hour worship service. It was people-filled, but most importantly, Spirit-filled. I saw beautiful expressions of worship by people that opened my eyes to being “desperate” (in Kelly’s words) for the Lord. Seeing all that we are seeing and experiencing is making it even more difficult to understand how the writers of the Bible were able to paint such beautiful and descriptive pictures of Biblical days. There are no words to describe the setting here, the language, and the hearts. There is a reason that God commands us to “Go into all the world…” In my opinion, it’s for our growth, as well as for the growth of others. You ALWAYS find yourself being blessed more by giving. It truly is better to give than to receive….God’s Plan works that way. You can’t “out-give or out-do” His love.
I’ll leave you with the students’ memory verse for yesterday: Ephesians 4:25
“Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.”
What is your truth?
Jeff Whitmore commented on his time on the mission trip, particularly at Puerto Angel:
It was great to get to know the mission team better through developing personal and closer relationships. Serving together provided a great opportunity for seeing firsthand the servant hearts of this team.
Monnie Whitmore stated: Going on this trip was a huge blessing to me. I really looked forward to going into the village two hours away from Roca Blanca to work with people. The experience showed me that people have humble hearts, have a need to love and to be loved, and they truly care for one another. I saw evidence of this in our team and in the other mission teams. Servanthood is rare these days. I’m thankful to have gotten to go!
Please pray for our mission team as they are away on their trip to Roca Blanca, Mexico March 9-16, 2019
Tim, Kristy & McKaden Barnes, Jeff & Monnie Whitmore, Barbara Keller
Leonard & Anita Pratt, Kelly, Kim & KB Edge, Don Elliott
And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.”
Mark 16:15(NLT
The mission team will share with us during the service on Sunday, March 17th.
It’s important to rely on God for all aspects of ministry – especially during times of great difficulty, so that efforts will produce fruit and ultimately a harvest will be gathered.
Pray that God will provide strength and perseverance when their ministry seems to be fruitless.
Pray that seeds will be planted and that missionaries would be able to see fruits of their labor.
Pray that an abundant harvest will be produced as more people learn about the love of Christ.
“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5