Toledo Calvary Missions Team! (day 2)

OK, sorry about not staying more current. I know the purpose of a blog is to post things as they happen. I'm not there yet, but I'm working on it!

On Tuesday, March 9th, we traveled to our 2nd feeding. This is held on a basketball court in the community, and during our scouting trip, we noticed there were no backboards or hoops for the court.

As a side-project, we decided to hang new backboards & rims for the community while the feeding & program were taking place.

Many in the community were eager to help, and after a supply run we were fast at work on the backboards. We ran into a snag when we discovered we didn't have a drill bit large enough for the bolt holes, but Karl Heiss was able to use his construction skills to enlarge the holes.

The rest of the team did a great job ministering to the kids and their moms in this feeding, and headed on to the next one while we stayed back to finish the backboards.

The guys in the community quickly painted the backboards, and hung them by standing on the back of a tricycle (motorcycle with sidecar), while others waited eagerly to play. In fact, a game started before the paint was even dry!

We then met up with the rest of the team as they ministered in another feeding. The great thing about this is that as they minister to the children and their families, others in the community are standing on the periphery watching the program. I believe that along with the children and their families, many were impacted by the stories and illustrations shared by the team.

Toledo Calvary Missions Team!

From March 4th through the 15th, we were blessed to host a team from our home church, Calvary AG in Toledo, Ohio. Led by our Executive pastor (former youth pastor) Bill McGinnis, and including Calvary's children's pastor, Keith Kurtz, along with 18 others(including our daughter Caitlyn!)

On Sunday, March 7th, the team divided into 3 groups and each traveled to a different church to minister. That evening, we all came together for for a combined Youth Service. About 6 churches were represented, and over 100 youth attended. Pr. Bill preached and others shared their life stories.

On Monday, March 8th, the team ministered in one of our feedings in a community right on the ocean in Aklan. Our team helped build a "kubo", which is a bamboo shelter that the children will use while they eat their meals. The team visited people in the community, and were often invited in their homes. Through these relationships, team members were able to pray with their hosts.

In the afternoon, our program started with Pr. Keith & the team sharing fun songs with the kids, then acted out Bible stories with some of the children from the feeding. Thanks to the donations from people at Calvary AG in Toledo, we were able to give gifts to the children, and a bag of food to the mothers in the feeding. It was a great day of ministry! (become a fan of CCMP: Childcare Community Ministries Philippines on facebook, and you can see pictures from the trip!)

Time to Start Using the Blog!

Hello Friends,

Perhaps you are here after reading our recent newsletter (or not...). In any event, welcome!

Our desire is to use this to provide you with monthly updates of what is happening with CCMP, and/or our family.

We've fully recovered from the flood (thank God for insurance), and are looking forward to the teams that will be coming throughout 2010 to minister with us.

That's all for now.

Blessings,

Steve, Beth, Caitlyn & Evan

What Took So Long?

I'm asking myself this very question. Anyway, I have finally started posting to the blog I created way back in March of 2007.

I will try to update this at least monthly (no promises!) with info on us and our ministry.

Thanks for reading! More to follow...

~ Steve