Hi all,
Joe and Sarah have sent us yet another update about their trip west. Go west, young man!! (and young woman). As I reported last time, they were heading west to take part in medical missions. The latest news is that they are doing great and the mission is going great! They just started their second day and had about 350 people hear the Gospel and get medical attention. They are expecting more as time goes on. For now, they are mostly doing crowd control. Sarah did the registration while Joe was working the waiting room before people got to the nurse's station.
This is such as AWESOME way to reach people with the Gospel. I am reminded of James 2 where James talks about seeing a brother or sister naked and destitute of daily food. If one says to them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled, and yet they do nothing for them, it's what James calls dead faith. Well, Joe and Sarah and the others there are showing their faith by their works and people will respond to the compassion, grace, mercy, and salvation that Christ has to offer through His people.
Please continue to pray for the Nelsons. There is NOTHING more powerful in all the universe than prayer. James also says that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Lift them up in your quiet time with the Lord and also very seriously consider contributing to their work over there. Joe and Sarah and their four kids are living by faith for financial provision and we as the children of God should rise up and meet the needs so that they can focus on what they are called to do there!
In His service,
Mike Larsen
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
February 8th, 2011
Greetings to all in the precious name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. I just received an update from Joe and it's pretty dire. They are dying of humidity poisoning! NOT!!! JUST KIDDING so please don't run with that and get the rumor mill going that they are not making it. There is NO SUCH THING as humidity poisoning. The fact of the matter is that they are doing fine. They are very busy with school and things. That is why Joe hasn't been able to write much lately. Not to worry...he hasn't forgotten us!
About two weeks ago the care team met at the Fletcher's house and we Skyped with them. As you may or may not know, there was a lot of flooding over there and their house had about five inches of water in it. They were literally living out of the care packages sent from Calvary Chapel Valle Vista until the water subsided. What we have in the works now is a plan to have the women of the church Skype with Sarah. As that plan materializes, it will be announced at church and here on the blog.
Moving right along, school is winding down for Joe. He handed in all of his assignments already. He had to chart the book of Daniel as well as offer a brief explanation of Ps. 18-20 and how it ministered to them. Joe is also teaching on the jail and prison circuit and it's going very well! In the city jail, Joe says the inmates are really getting involved and growing in their walk with the Lord. That is such awesome news!! Joe is going through the books of Peter with them while Angel is going though Matthew. The guys are asking questions and are trusting and seeking the Lord. I know that is also a great encouragement for Joe as well.
Sarah is still doing Sunday school and she conveys that all of the materials that were sent to help were a huge blessing to the kids. They are currently working on picture frames and they have new crafts every week!
Joe has been involved in the aquaponics program there and he explained that to us before they left. He relays that yesterday (Feb. 7th) was a huge day for them. They finished the pond and transferred the fish and they also found about two hundred hatchlings at the bottom of the old pond. They also graded and set the first plant bed and prepared it for plants. As soon as they sprout they will be up and running! This is awesome news as the money raised from the project will help fund things there. This has been an on-going project since July and the guys working on it are super excited about it!!
Later this week they will be heading to the west side of the island to take part in a medical mission with Pastor Ron and doctors from the U.S. They will be there for about ten days but they aren't quite sure yet what they'll be doing. In whatever capacity they serve they will still be the hands and feet of the Lord as they minister there.
Prayer requests for the Nelson family are as follows:
1. Marital and family unity. Being in such close proximity all the time can often tax the patience.
2. Steadfastness and unwavering commitment to the Word and continual growth of faith in their walks.
3. Good stewardship of all things.
4. On the national level, please pray that the people there would continue to grow in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
5. Pray for the medical mission that it would be a success and also for the safety of all participants.
6. Also pray for all of the kids that they see on a daily basis. Specifically, pray that the kids would see the love of Christ in the lives of the Nelsons and would be drawn to the Saviour.
That's it for now folks. In closing I'd like to post some photos from the recent flood so that you can see what they were dealing with. I'd also just like to encourage all of you who read this to consider being a part of something bigger than yourself by becoming a financial supporter of the Nelsons as they bring the Gospel to the wonderful people of the Philippines. I often say that if we can't be out there doing the work, we should most definitely be supporting those who are out there doing it. It doesn't take a lot of money either. Many hands make light work and many contributors giving a small amount adds up to what it takes to support them as they bring the Light of the Gospel to the lost people of the Philippines. If you want to contribute to the Nelsons, go to the following link:
www.calvaryvallevista.org/nelsons.html
On that page you'll see a link to Shepherd's Staff. You'll also see instructions at the link about how to set up regular monthly contributions. You can also go straight to the Nelson's Shepherd's Staff site located at the following link and set up your contribution there:
www.shepsstaff.org/jnelson.aspx
Without any further ado, here are the photos we received during the time of the flooding.
I will be setting up a web page that will feature the photos sent to us from the Nelsons. Stay tuned for the address information once I get the web site set up.
God bless you all,
Mike Larsen
About two weeks ago the care team met at the Fletcher's house and we Skyped with them. As you may or may not know, there was a lot of flooding over there and their house had about five inches of water in it. They were literally living out of the care packages sent from Calvary Chapel Valle Vista until the water subsided. What we have in the works now is a plan to have the women of the church Skype with Sarah. As that plan materializes, it will be announced at church and here on the blog.
Moving right along, school is winding down for Joe. He handed in all of his assignments already. He had to chart the book of Daniel as well as offer a brief explanation of Ps. 18-20 and how it ministered to them. Joe is also teaching on the jail and prison circuit and it's going very well! In the city jail, Joe says the inmates are really getting involved and growing in their walk with the Lord. That is such awesome news!! Joe is going through the books of Peter with them while Angel is going though Matthew. The guys are asking questions and are trusting and seeking the Lord. I know that is also a great encouragement for Joe as well.
Sarah is still doing Sunday school and she conveys that all of the materials that were sent to help were a huge blessing to the kids. They are currently working on picture frames and they have new crafts every week!
Joe has been involved in the aquaponics program there and he explained that to us before they left. He relays that yesterday (Feb. 7th) was a huge day for them. They finished the pond and transferred the fish and they also found about two hundred hatchlings at the bottom of the old pond. They also graded and set the first plant bed and prepared it for plants. As soon as they sprout they will be up and running! This is awesome news as the money raised from the project will help fund things there. This has been an on-going project since July and the guys working on it are super excited about it!!
Later this week they will be heading to the west side of the island to take part in a medical mission with Pastor Ron and doctors from the U.S. They will be there for about ten days but they aren't quite sure yet what they'll be doing. In whatever capacity they serve they will still be the hands and feet of the Lord as they minister there.
Prayer requests for the Nelson family are as follows:
1. Marital and family unity. Being in such close proximity all the time can often tax the patience.
2. Steadfastness and unwavering commitment to the Word and continual growth of faith in their walks.
3. Good stewardship of all things.
4. On the national level, please pray that the people there would continue to grow in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
5. Pray for the medical mission that it would be a success and also for the safety of all participants.
6. Also pray for all of the kids that they see on a daily basis. Specifically, pray that the kids would see the love of Christ in the lives of the Nelsons and would be drawn to the Saviour.
That's it for now folks. In closing I'd like to post some photos from the recent flood so that you can see what they were dealing with. I'd also just like to encourage all of you who read this to consider being a part of something bigger than yourself by becoming a financial supporter of the Nelsons as they bring the Gospel to the wonderful people of the Philippines. I often say that if we can't be out there doing the work, we should most definitely be supporting those who are out there doing it. It doesn't take a lot of money either. Many hands make light work and many contributors giving a small amount adds up to what it takes to support them as they bring the Light of the Gospel to the lost people of the Philippines. If you want to contribute to the Nelsons, go to the following link:
www.calvaryvallevista.org/nelsons.html
On that page you'll see a link to Shepherd's Staff. You'll also see instructions at the link about how to set up regular monthly contributions. You can also go straight to the Nelson's Shepherd's Staff site located at the following link and set up your contribution there:
www.shepsstaff.org/jnelson.aspx
Without any further ado, here are the photos we received during the time of the flooding.
The beginning of the rains.
Later that evening.
Two inches of rain in the house.....so far.
Yup.....sandals float!
Almost all the rain has fallen now.
Raquel's house.
Road to Bible School washed out.
Soldiers came to aid during the flood.
The waters begin to recede.
God bless you all,
Mike Larsen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)