Belize – Jesus Film Project Report

Just click on image above to view it more closely!

We have so much to thank God for after our recent 2 week Jesus Film project in the country of Belize. Since this was our 3rd project there, it was a little easier to relax and enjoy the beauty of our surroundings and to recognize the powerful and yet gentle hand of God at work in our lives and in every circumstance we encountered!

Our team was made up of believers from Belize, Guatemala, and Canada which enabled us to work in 4 of the languages that are commonly spoken in the southern part of Belize (Kekchi, Garifuna, Spanish and English).

Our rented bus carried us over many miles of rough and rocky country roads that led to the 12 different villages that we were able to visit this year. We showed the Jesus Film 16 times to over 2200 villagers who came out to hear the story of Jesus in their own mother tongue. Hundreds of viewers discovered God’s uncondi-tional love and began their faith journey as they surrendered their hearts to Jesus.

Once we had completed our showings in the villages around Punta Gorda we traveled back to Belize City where we got permission to show the children’s version of the Jesus Film in English in 6 different elementary schools. The 10 showings done in the schools were attended by approximately 1800 students! What a joy it was to see the smiles on the beautiful faces of these precious little ones!

We thank God for these unforgettable experiences and for every life that was transformed by His Spirit as the story of Jesus was told to the people in Belize! Thank you for your prayers and support and your partnership in our ministry.

Robert & Grace Plante

Remembering Dec.6

Today is the 20th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre and the National Day of Action and Remembrance on Violence Against Women.  Candlelight vigils are happening tonight all across the country and in our city, too.  But what does this have to do with church, Christians, Christmas or Trinity being On Mission?

Everything.

The stats tell us that there are women we know (in and outside of the church) who are currently experiencing violence in a relationship or who have experienced it in the past.  This is intolerable to God and must be intolerable to us.  So, what is your part in ensuring that every woman you know understands she is loved by God, created in His image, and is not intended to live in fear?

If you or someone you know is currently at risk, please ask for help by calling:

The Kelowna Women’s Shelter – 250.763.1040

Update from the Karsgaards

Around this ‘Thanksgiving’ time, it seems just very appropriate to send a word of thanks to you, for your prayers and support…

We really do appreciate all you do for us…, and we know that many people in and around Loreto are blessed as a result…  Therefore, ‘Thank you so much!’

 We are thankful for the financial support we receive because it:

1. allows us to be here in Loreto…
2. supports the many ministries we are involved in…
3. helps us support some of the Mexican nationals (who need help) to be involved with us in some of these ministries…
4. helps us do additional ministries, when we receive support above and beyond that needed to do the above…

We are thankful for your prayers because:

1. we are dependent upon the Lord in all we do, as mentioned above…
2. those we minister to are blessed as a result…
3. those we minister with are blessed as a result…

 And what is the end result of your prayers and support? (II Cor.9:12)

1. the Lord Jesus Christ is glorified through us and by us…
2. the Lord Jesus Christ is glorified by those we minister to, as a result of  the blessings they receive…
3. the Lord Jesus Christ is glorified by those we minister with, as a result  of the ministries they are able to be involved in…, and the blessings they personally receive from the Lord when working with us…
4. the Lord Jesus Christ is glorified by you, as a result of your prayers…
5. the Lord Jesus Christ is glorified by you, as a result of your financial support…
6. and we are blessed by the Lord in and through all that we are involved in, here in and around Loreto…
7. and not only are we blessed, but you too are blessed by the Lord for your participation in these ministries… (Phil. 4:17)
8. and, we are all blessed eternally, with generous treasures in heaven… 

Praise be to the Lord!  (Matthew 19:21, II Cor. 9:6… )

 So again, thank you so much for your prayers and financial support!

 Warmly,                        Don & Lorraine

Update from Kidds at Chain of Love

Dear Friends,

 To view this month’s newsletter please follow this link to our website http://www.chainoflove.org/news

 Rev. Christopher & Ingrid Kidd

Chain of Love Homes, Brazil

Dear praying partners of Chain of Love                   Nov/Dec 2009

Thank you so much for your overwhelming response to the situation of Director Ken Bayer. After a fun night of eating pizza with sponsors visiting their COL children, Ken returned to his home where he was shot in a robbery attempt. Less than a week later he is back at COL and it’s business as usual, aside from a slight limp. Praise God for this miracle. You can read Ken’s story on our website under the news section.

More lives Touched—In the last few weeks Chain of Love said goodbye to some of our children and hello to some newer ones. Inarai, Stefano, Isis, Beatriz, Aniele, Mateus, and Fernando left; Lais, Viviane, Bruna, Alexsandro and Robson have arrived. It was Robson’s first Sunday in Church and he was in tears; no, he wasn’t hurt and no, he wasn’t sad. He was just overflowing with gratitude for the life that he has at Chain of Love. This is a life you all make possible for him and for the many other children under our care. Photos and biographies of the new children can be viewed at www.chainoflove.org.

We have been notified by NAB Home Office that they will no longer be able to send us the cards and messages that sponsors send for their COL Children with their payments. Please keep your payment separate from your cards and notes. Cards and notes need to be sent to the address on this newsletter or they will not be delivered.

Gifts…It’s that time of year again, when we count on your financial Christmas gifts to the children to provide a summer vacation with their COL family and a week at a top-notch Bible camp. Thanks so much for making this possible. This year, we are renting homes on the beach for every Chain of Love family. Please pray that we will find reasonably priced beach homes to rent.

If you would like to send a little something to your sponsored child at Christmas, please, keep it a small package of things that are not of great value—articles of clothing, a CD (yes, although it is not understood, English music is wildly popular here), sunglasses, sunscreen, school supplies, or photos.

Financial gifts need to go to the NAB Home Office, designated for your child. For more gifting suggestions, we invite you to visit www.chainoflove.org/giftguidelines.  Also, when sending Christmas greetings to your sponsored child, please keep them short, interesting, and written at a child’s level. And remember: they need to be translated.

The teams are here. Over the past few weeks we have been blessed by teams from Medicine Hat and Leduc. It was especially fun taking the children shopping in downtown Campo Bom with their sponsors and then eating ice cream together. Aside from spending lots of time with the children, these groups provided dental care for everyone at Chain of Love, completed a covered parking area for our staff, fixed up curtains and backpacks, took updated photos of all children for our website, and had a ton of fun including going to a soccer game. They also fixed House 2 which really needed some TLC. A big thank you to these groups who do so much for COL in such a short time.

Prayer needed for Belize!

Please pray for Robert and Grace Plante as they take the Jesus Film from village to village in Belize Nov.26-29.

Please pray:

-that God will fill their hearts with compassion and love for every person that they encounter on their journey through Belize

-that many people will attend the showings, desiring to hear and learn about Jesus and God’s amazing plan for their lives

-for good weather during the showings

-for a powerful working of God’s Spirit as people see and discover who Jesus is and what He desires to do for them

-that many receive God’s gift of eternal life and begin their spiritual journey with Jesus as their Saviour and Lord

-for the local follow up teams who have agreed to contact and minister to new believers and seekers who attended showings

-that many Belizeans will discover Jesus and grow to become strong and fruitful believers who will live passionately and enthusiastically serve God in the power of the Holy Spirit

-Dec.1&2 – the Jesus Film will be shown to children in schools in Belize City

-Dec.4&5 – please pray for safety as Robert and Grace travel back to Kelowna.

Children’s Lives Changed!

This weekend, Greg Sczebel played and sang for us and challenged us to sponsor a child through World Vision.  We just heard that 48 children were sponsored this weekend!  That’s 48 children’s lives changed!  Way to go, Trinity and thank you God!

Speaking of caring for children in need, just a quick reminder that this is the last weekend for our Celebration of Love offering.  Just bring your donations of cash, gift cards, or unwrapped gifts for children under 11 to the display in the foyer.  This is also your chance to help replenish our Benevolence fund which is used to help people in need throughout the year.

Lastly, you won’t want to miss the services on Dec.5/6!  Our children’s ministries will be doing their annual Christmas production in all three services that weekend!  This is a great opportunity to bring friends and family to see our kids act and sing Christmas praises.

Ed Henkel

It is a windy Sunday morning, and Ed Henkel is out directing traffic in the parking lot of Trinity Baptist.

This is Henkel’s routine, which he always performs with a pleasant smile on his weathered and wind chapped face.

But today, his smile is extra bright.

“Guess what,” Henkel exuberantly proclaims, “I wrote a cheque for $1,000 this month for the orphanage.”

Ed Henkel routinely collects cans and bottles, and with the money he receives from returning them for the deposit, he helps support the New Hope Centre, an orphanage in Swaziland.

From the cans and bottles collected in the 45 gallon drum placed by the side door at Trinity Baptist, several businesses, and individual personal donations, Henkel usually donates around $175 each month.

This month, he received $800 in cash donations from several donors.

The impact the money Henkel sends to the New Hope Centre changes lives forever.

“Some of these kids, they were literally picked off the street.” Henkel states, sharing how “one little girl was picked up [by the orphanage] from underneath a bush.”

“The orphanage is limited by the amount of money that comes in — so with every dollar that comes in, they can help somebody else.  There are thousands of kids out there.”

Hearing stories from his daughter who returned from a missions trip to the orphanage, Henkel and his wife, Evelyn decided to take action in March 2009.

“I never thought a five cent can would excite me.  Before, it was just a piece of junk on the side of the road, now, I will actually pull over and pick up a five cent can.  It’s another nickel to the project.  It is amazing how they keep adding up.  What we can do with that empty pop can to help somebody less fortunate it is just incredible.”

Since March, the Henkels have donated about $2500 to the orphanage, with no signs of slowing down.

“I think the project is unlimited.  God blesses us every weeek in giving us contacts, and some people hear about the project and they are coming to us asking us if they can contribute — they are asking us how they can help.”

To get involved, call Ed Henkel – 250.762.8084

Update from the Bayers

Dear Praying Partners:                                                                                                               November, 2009

      Many events have impacted our lives as a missionary family in the last little while. We ask for your prayers and that we have discernment. We would like to share two such events with you where we have seen prayer at work and God´s hand moving.

      Ken came home from the pizza parlor where he had spent time with the Leduc Gateway team and their sponsored children from Chain of Love. He pulled in after the event at about 10 P.M.  Jerilyn had not gone because she had been at a bridal shower all afternoon in 38 C. heat and was worn out.  After Ken had parked the truck he noticed that the garage was empty so suggested to Jeri to have her put her car in and then he would park his truck on one side of the outside patio between the garage and the outer gate to give room for Jessica our daughter to park her car when she comes home from work.

     When Ken was completing this operation and lowering the gate a car pulled in and the passenger got out with a gun announcing a hold up. They made Ken sit on the step of the front door.  At that point Jerilyn stuck her head out of the living room window because she heard him speaking to someone. They announced the holdup and the taller one who did not have a gun jumped through the window and started demanding that she open the non-existent safe.  He also demanded that Jerilyn open the front door. (They had not seen the garage passenger door that was unlocked).  She has keys for two of the three locks while Ken has keys for all the locks on his key chain. His key chain was on the dining room table but Jerilyn did not know this. The thief that was hovering over him with his 9 mm semi automatic pistol tried forcing the doorknob from the outside. Ken knew they were getting more and more nervous and at the same time, Ken was getting angrier.  At one point he quickly jumped the fellow when he was not looking, pinning his arms to his side. Ken thought that the pistol could be a perfect imitation. With his wrists pinned and with Ken below him rising to a standing position the assailant managed to squeeze off a shot with his trigger finger. The shot was wild and could have gotten himself as much as Ken.  With this shot they panicked and took off with their stolen car. They saw the spreading blood stain on Ken’s shirt and high tailed out.

     Ken had thrown his truck keys in the flower bed when they were not paying attention but was able to find them quickly. Jerilyn dialed what is equivalent to 911and then closed up the house while Ken backed the truck out onto the road. Then she drove him to emergency where she also filled in the police report while Ken was undergoing close observation and testing. After running several tests it was determined that the bullet had been shot from above. It had entered the belly structure but did not enter the belly cavity. It went in and exited this portion and then entered the right upper (inner side) thigh area, only to exit the right lower side of the rear end. No veins, nerves or bone nor organs were affected. The doctor said he won the lottery but we know that God’s hand was at work. All that needed to be done was to clean up the wound and suture the entry and exit areas.

     We recognized one of the assailants as a son of a couple that we had evangelized several years before. He seemed very uncomfortable and most likely recognized us once he was in the house.  It was a chance hold up which happens often. While people are entering their front gates the thieves take advantage of the open gate and invade their residence. We knew this to be by chance as they repeatedly asked if there was anybody else in the house. (Not knowing the family makeup).

     Ken spent most of the night and the next day under observation and was released from the hospital at 3 pm on Tuesday (Nov.03) with orders not to walk until Friday and then to progressively increase his activity level as well as walking. During the whole episode he felt only a stinging sensation but no pain. We want to thank you for your prayers and the overwhelming response of concern for us. This could have ended up in tragedy.  In the end this event caused many people to come together for prayer as well as to recognize that we only continue to exist because of God’s mercy.

     The second event ties into the first. One of the LPN’s taking care of Ken also works at another hospital where our daughter Jessica is an RN. This LPN is under Jessica’s supervision when their shifts coincide.  11 babies that had been born in this second hospital were having respiratory arrests and needed to be resuscitated. This happened over a two-week period. The LPN nurse was arrested for administering a sedative mixed with morphine, applied orally to these newborns. Our daughter, Jessica, had her suspicions and reported what she knew.  If she had not done this she may have been implicated with the same charges, especially if the LPN had not confessed to the crimes.  We shudder to think that this LPN could have accused others of being involved. This made the headlines of the newspapers for two days as well as national news.  We praise God for delivering those who are innocent.

     The words of the prophet have come alive for us. Isaiah 46:3-4 ¨Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth.  Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you.  I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”

     Thanks for your “sustaining” prayers and financial support so that we can be your representatives in Brazil.

 Sincerely,

 The Bayers

Karsgaard Update

                                    WEEKENDER TEAM: November 13-16

       This Weekender Team began with one disappointment after another, but thankfully it did not end that way… 

      It was just four days before the Team that we heard a couple of people from the US were for various reasons unable to come, then the day before the Team we heard that one of our dentists was sick and had to cancel, and then the day the Team was to begin one of our doctors also had to cancel due to illness…  Thankfully though we still had our ‘regulars’, and that included a doctor and a dentist, as well as some others…

      We’d been looking for Ramon in Loreto but we had not been able to locate him…  A lady from the US had some years ago met Ramon and felt drawn to help him…, and she had asked us if we could find him and see how he was doing…  But, we had not been able to find him…, BUT there he was at our Health Fair this weekend… We asked how he had been and he said ‘I am fine…, and I was thankful for the things that the lady from the US had given me, but I didn’t appreciate the attitude of the pastor or the pressure to change my religion…’  Then Ramon found out at this Health Fair he had a blood pressure problem, and our doctor gave him some medicine, and he was thankful for our kind attention.  Ramon was also given free glasses that day, and Gabriel (the one dispensing the glasses), was able to explain to Ramon that ‘religion’ is not really what God is interested in, but rather God is interested in having a ’relationship’ with us…,  and Gabriel explained further… , and with that explanation Ramon accepted a Gospel of John, and left us quite happy for the physical and spiritual help that he had received…

       The ‘seed’ had been planted several years ago in Ramon’s heart, but it was having a struggle growing…  But he was drawn by the Lord to come to our Health Fair, where the ground was again made soft for the seed, and then that seed was watered… Please pray with us for Ramon…

Read the WHOLE STORY…, see MANY PICTURES…, and find the STATISTICS… by going to:  http://tiny.cc/November2009LoretoWeekenderTeam

 Or to view this Report and others, please go to…

 http://tiny.cc/Loreto_Ministries or to http://tiny.cc/Mexican_Medical_Karsgaard

 …and once there please scroll down and click on the various Reports…

 We hope you too will consider coming on one of our Teams – we’d love to hear from you…

                        Thank you again for your prayers and your support!

                                                          Warmly,  Don & Lorraine

A Note from Ken Bayer

Hi,

If you want to circulate details here it is the event of Monday night.

I came home from the pizza parlor where I had spent time with the Leduc Gateway team and their sponsored children. I pulled in at about 10 pm. Jeri had not gone because she had been at a bridal shower all afternoon in 38 C. heat. After I had parked the truck I noticed that the garage was empty so suggested to Jeri to have her put her car in and then I would pull my truck over on the outside patio between the garage and the outer gate to give room for Jessica our daughter, to park her car. When I was completing this operation and lowering the gate a car pulled in and the passenger got out with a gun announcing the hold up. They made me sit on the step of the front door. At that point Jeri stuck her head out of the living room window because she heard me speaking to someone. They announced the holdup and the taller one who did not have a gun jumped through the window and starting demanding that she open the non existent safe. He also demanded that Jeri open the front door. She has keys for two of the three locks, while I have keys for all the locks on my keychain. My keychain was on the dining room table but Jeri did not know this. The thief that was hovering over me with his 9 mm semi automatic pistol tried forcing the door knob from the outside. I knew they were getting more and more nervous and I was getting angrier as well. At one point I quickly jumped the fellow when he was not looking, pinning his arms to his side. I thought that the pistol could also be a perfect imitation. With his wrists pinned and with me below him rising to a standing position he managed to squeeze off a shot with his finger trigger. The shot was wild and could have gotten him as much as me. With this shot they panicked and took off with their stolen car. They saw the spreading blood stain on my shirt and high tailed out. I had thrown my truck keys in the flower bed when they were not paying attention but was able to find them quickly.

Jeri dialed what is equivalent to 911 and then closed up the house while I backed the truck out onto the road. Then she drove me to emergency where she also filled in the police report while I was under going close observation and testing. After running several tests it was determined that the bullet had been shot from above. It had entered the belly structure but did not enter the belly cavity. It went in and exited this portion and then entered the right upper (innerside) thigh area, only to exit the right lower side of the rear end. No veins, nerves or bone nor organs were affected. The doctor said I won the lottery but we know that God´s hand was at work. All that needed to be done was to clean up the wound and suture the entrance and exit areas.

We recognized one of the assailants as a son of a couple that we had evangelized several years before. He seemed very uncomfortable and most likely recognized us once he was in the house. It was a chance hold up which happens often. While people are entering their front gates the thieves take advantage of the open gate and invade their residence. We knew this to be by chance as they repeatedly asked if there was anybody else in the house. I spent most of the night and the next day under observation and was released from the hospital at 3 pm on Tuesday with orders not to walk till Friday and then to progressively increase my activity level as well as walking.

During the whole episode I felt only a stinging sensation but no pain. I want to thank you for your prayers. This could have ended up in tragedy. In the end, this event caused many people to come together for prayer as well as to recognize that we only continue to exist because of God´s mercy. Ken Bayer