Wednesday, July 27, 2016

WAW Wednesday ... Law Enforcement Trip, and More

"The Word at Work is a ministry that mobilizes churches and individuals to answer God's call to minister to those in need," writes Rev. Tim Tam, Director of the Amarillo, Texas-based ministry. "Through our relationships, God reveals needs and opportunities for service. As we come along side the poor, new friendships develop and doors for ministry open. As we serve, God provides the resources to supply for the needs he reveals."


Law Enforcement Trip, and More

Hello Friends,

Summer teams have been stacked up in back-to-back. We have a small break of four days but start again this weekend with teams from Pennsylvania and North Carolina.Rushing to get this out while it is still Wednesday

Kenny just finish up the law enforcement trip: Last week a group from New Mexico and South Carolina worked with the Belmopan Police Department sharing their faith in Christ and providing training which included defensive tactics (Krav Maga)), first aid/CPR, and firearms. The team also worked with local police on a home of one of the officers, building walls in the home while helping the officer build relationships with his neighbors.

Momentum is building. They are asking for training in additional districts. Do you have law enforcement people in your church that can be involved in next years trip? Please send me their contacting information.

Update on Dallan from geneday@aol.com: To all ... Just went for the first follow up after surgery for Dallan. Dr. Higley said he is doing very well. This is a copy of the x ray of his jaw. The thing that looks like a bicycle chain on the right is the metal bar that is holding his mouth in place until they can put in the prosthesis. Please pray he is very careful and doesn't fall or take a blow to the face of any kind. That bar is very near his brain.

The metal on the left is brackets they put on his teeth to hold rubber bands to keep his mouth almost closed and in place.

The next 90 days are going to be a challenge waiting for the prosthesis. Please continue to pray for God's provision and give Him praise and thanks for ALL HE has done on Dallan's behalf. We still need to raise some more money to pay for the prosthesis. It is truly a blessing for all of us involved to witness God's hand in all of this. There are so many people involved in so many areas and God has brought us all together for His purpose and His child. When you think of where he was just two months ago it truly is a miracle. THANK YOU JESUS!!!

God Bless,

Gene and Bev

Thanks for your involvement and support which makes all this continue to happen!

tt (Tim Tam)
The Word at Work

ps: Our Ministry Associate team gathers school supplies, toys, and stuffed animals through out the year ... we've discovered blankets are an ongoing need as well, so please be saving them, too. Click here to learn more about becoming a TW@W Ministry Associate, or get in touch with Tim Hagen for more information!



EDITOR'S NOTE: Speaking from my own first-hand experience - working side-by-side with Tim, Kenny and our brothers and sisters in Belize - won't you give thoughtful, prayerful consideration to supporting the efforts of Tim, the Word At Work staff and their partners? Please please fill out this Commitment Card and return it to their office!

Also, remember that you can follow The Word At Work on their Facebook page!


Wednesday, July 20, 2016

WAW Wednesday ... Right Now in BZ

"The Word at Work is a ministry that mobilizes churches and individuals to answer God's call to minister to those in need," writes Rev. Tim Tam, Director of the Amarillo, Texas-based ministry. "Through our relationships, God reveals needs and opportunities for service. As we come along side the poor, new friendships develop and doors for ministry open. As we serve, God provides the resources to supply for the needs he reveals."


Right Now in BZ

Hello Friends,

Okay, I just got back from Belize last night. I’m a little bit fried so lets' have some fun. A lot happened last week and a lot more is happening right at this moment. Just for fun I'm going to throw a bunch of photos at you. And there will be more to come with teams stacked up and back-to-back through the summer.

FYI - Law enforcement mission trip started yesterday where Christian officers train Belizean police in a variety of skills and also share how faith sustains them in their work. Look for that next week.

Gabriella before and after: Infection in her leg a thing of the past. She is healthy and growing fast. She is one of the shyest kids I've ever come across, But yesterday she gave her testimony of God's healing work in her life to a crowd at church camp.

Last week's team from Ocean Springs, Mississippi: Dr. Michael Cunningham ... help for a young boy with clubfoot.

Another before and after shot: Some of you will remember Moses from seven years ago, injured by a truck and given no hope for life.

Back when he was in the hospital I made several promises to him. One was a promise to include him on one of my mission trips and take him out to the islands to go snorkeling.

It took me seven years to fulfill that promise. He is now a young man of 15 years old, Junior in high school and getting excellent grades. Here he is pictured with last weeks team giving them points on how to lay cinderblocks.

AND, not only snorkel for 1st time but also Kayaking ...

Pinnacle Church of Amarillo: is also in Belize at this moment working with Phillipa at Exodus Church in Belize city. They've already built the playground set and this week have been assisting Philippa's leaders with hundreds of children in a vacation Bible school.

Monday night was the church’s first women's conference and over 70 Women from the Pickstock neighborhood attended.

Last week, three shipping containers arrived with about 1000 desks and chairs: These high quality desks and chairs were donated so schools in Belize need only contribute funds to pay for shipping expense.



Air Force pilot Devon Meister from Ocean Springs team: spent part of her trip working at the prison in the area of her expertise, Hurricane preparedness.

This was one of my favorite photos of the week so I included it. I like the way the color of the coconut matches the parrot on her head.



And how about these faces:

Utter Joy ...

Awe and Wonder ...

Contentment juxtaposed with a bit of suspicion ...

Thanks for your involvement and support which makes all this continue to happen!

tt (Tim Tam)
The Word at Work

ps: Our Ministry Associate team gathers school supplies, toys, and stuffed animals through out the year ... we've discovered blankets are an ongoing need as well, so please be saving them, too. Click here to learn more about becoming a TW@W Ministry Associate, or get in touch with Tim Hagen for more information!



EDITOR'S NOTE: Speaking from my own first-hand experience - working side-by-side with Tim, Kenny and our brothers and sisters in Belize - won't you give thoughtful, prayerful consideration to supporting the efforts of Tim, the Word At Work staff and their partners? Please please fill out this Commitment Card and return it to their office!

Also, remember that you can follow The Word At Work on their Facebook page!


Wednesday, July 13, 2016

WAW Wednesday ... Friendship!

"The Word at Work is a ministry that mobilizes churches and individuals to answer God's call to minister to those in need," writes Rev. Tim Tam, Director of the Amarillo, Texas-based ministry. "Through our relationships, God reveals needs and opportunities for service. As we come along side the poor, new friendships develop and doors for ministry open. As we serve, God provides the resources to supply for the needs he reveals."


Friendship!

Hello Friends,

Our group from Mr. Calvary Church in NC is in the northern part of Belize - their kinship with Luz de Evangelico Church in Orange Walk runs deep - we're grateful they've returned again this year to help with their VBS.

WAW Photo
We often say that ministry happens while we are on our way to do something else - and that has been true at many turns on this trip. While in the North, we received word that of one of our partner's nieces was suffering and in need of a help. Karina's misdiagnosis left her losing weight with no plan to help. Today US & Belizean physicians were able to discern that she has gallstones! Tomorrow she will undergo a procedure and we hope you will pray with us that the procedure will go smoothly and that Karina will be living life to the full again soon!

FPC Ocean Springs is enjoying time renewing friendships and making new ones in the Shawville area of western Belize. The team has split up into small groups and worked with Pastor Robby on his home ... they've shared VBS with the kids from House of Salvation ... some of the team has joined Omega Church in their Breaking Bread ministry (learning to cook Belizean style, and then taking meals out into the community and meeting new folks while sharing a meal) and medical folks have offered a women's clinic.

Today we also helped this young man from a remote village ...

WAW Photo
Pedro, 6, has had an issue with his foot since birth - we traveled to Belize City for a consultation today and we've got a plan for surgery that will help him walk and play. Pedro's mom is blind and they are taken care of by Pedro's grandmother - please keep this family on your prayer list! Pedro had a full day! He was able to see the ocean for the first time - and he saw the Jaguar at Banana Bank on the way home - and he met another friend who has been helped by our friends who are the Word at Work.

Pedro hung out with Moises today - you may remember Moises, this "boy who wouldn't die" - a few years back he was in an awful accident that left his abdomen ripped open and critically damaged - but God has plans for this young man, and after months in the Amarillo where he endured multiple surgeries, he returned to his family in Belize. Today Moises is thriving, making good grades (he's in high school!!) and on this trip he's had the opportunity to see how we go.

Speaking of surgery and medical things ...

Your prayers are helping, friends - we hear from Gene Day that Dallan's surgery was successful yesterday, Praise the Lord! Dallan's US "parents", Gene & Bev have been by Dallan's side through the whole ordeal. Please pray specifically for relief from pain from being on the operating table so long and that Dallan will continue to improve and be released soon. Please also keep Gene & Bev in your prayers as they take care of this precious friend. Thanks.

Finally ...

Our friend Ladeni checked an item off of her bucket list and it's nothing short of amazing. In 2014, Ladeni's leg was amputated because of a large cell tumor. Many of you helped make that surgery possible, prayed her through and helped with her medical expenses - and over the weekend Ladeni CLIMBED THE TALLEST MYAN RUIN IN BELIZE!! Here she is at the top of Xunantunich!

WAW Photo
Keep an eye on this young woman - there's no telling how God will use her story to bless others. #TeamLadeni We love you!

Thanks for being the Word at Work!

tt (Tim Tam)
The Word at Work

ps: Our Ministry Associate team gathers school supplies, toys, and stuffed animals through out the year ... we've discovered blankets are an ongoing need as well, so please be saving them, too. Click here to learn more about becoming a TW@W Ministry Associate, or get in touch with Tim Hagen for more information!



EDITOR'S NOTE: Speaking from my own first-hand experience - working side-by-side with Tim, Kenny and our brothers and sisters in Belize - won't you give thoughtful, prayerful consideration to supporting the efforts of Tim, the Word At Work staff and their partners? Please please fill out this Commitment Card and return it to their office!

Also, remember that you can follow The Word At Work on their Facebook page!


Wednesday, July 6, 2016

WAW Wednesday ... Belated Edition

"The Word at Work is a ministry that mobilizes churches and individuals to answer God's call to minister to those in need," writes Rev. Tim Tam, Director of the Amarillo, Texas-based ministry. "Through our relationships, God reveals needs and opportunities for service. As we come along side the poor, new friendships develop and doors for ministry open. As we serve, God provides the resources to supply for the needs he reveals."


Belated Edition

Hello Friends,

Cal Smith is back in Belize

WAW Photo
Many of you know Cal. He has been coming to Belize for about 12 years helping our mission teams and Kenny as a construction manager.

Cal is known for his dedication and his witty colloquialisms which we fondly refer to as “Calvinisms” ... like "He was as mad as a mule chewing on bumblebees."

WAW Photo
For a variety of reasons he had to take a little recess from traveling to Belize which has caused nationwide consternation ... ”Where’s Cal???”

But when Cal learned that his little friend from the Valley of Peace, Rosario, was getting a house built he had to buy a plane ticket and return.

Rosario is a delightful little Mayan woman, a widow with three children, who stands a little better than 3 feet tall. She's one of the few people that even Cal (formerly known as Lo-Cal) can look down on.

At this moment La Jolla Presbyterian Church is in the Valley working with our local church partners to complete the home.

One of our donors is putting up $2,500 to purchase a milk cow for Global Outreach -- IF we can round up enough dogies to purchase a second! The young men from under-resourced homes who attend this residential vocational school are chomping at the bit to have fresh milk, yogurt, etc. to beef up their meals!

If you're churning to help us meet this matching grant,  PLEASE CLICK HERE above .... thank you!

( Notate Bessie on your donation, please. )

Tim Hagen just returned from some time in Belize with Pleasant Grove Baptist Church
WAW Photo
Pleasant Grove continued strengthening their relationships with their friends in Shawville last week. Several different projects were worked on in partnership with House of Salvation Church and Omega Ministries including two chicken coops for families in the area and plastering the inside walls of a church. What a fun week of fellowship and work! Everything is better when chickens are involved. God is working in Shawville through both of these churches, and we were blessed to be a small part of it!".

WAW Photo
WAW Photo
Thanks for being the Word at Work!

tt (Tim Tam)
The Word at Work

ps: Our Ministry Associate team gathers school supplies, toys, and stuffed animals through out the year ... we've discovered blankets are an ongoing need as well, so please be saving them, too. Click here to learn more about becoming a TW@W Ministry Associate, or get in touch with Tim Hagen for more information!



EDITOR'S NOTE: Speaking from my own first-hand experience - working side-by-side with Tim, Kenny and our brothers and sisters in Belize - won't you give thoughtful, prayerful consideration to supporting the efforts of Tim, the Word At Work staff and their partners? Please please fill out this Commitment Card and return it to their office!

Also, remember that you can follow The Word At Work on their Facebook page!


Monday, July 4, 2016

Mission trip opportunities this fall at FPC-Midland include Belize

• Last chance to sign up

1st Presbyterian Church-Midland has two mission trip opportunities coming this Fall. Please contact Pastor Walter by July 7 if you are interested in either of these trips.

Uganda: Team will work with Dr. Bartha and the different ministries he is involved in, including clinics, schools, orphanages, and churches. Approximate dates: October 13-24.

Belize: Team will return to the village of El Progresso to continue partnering in ministry with our friends there. Specific projects will be identified once the team is formed. Early-mid November, approximately 1 week.

For more information, please contact:

Walter Thompson
Associate Pastor of Mission and Evangelism
wthompson@fpcmid.org
(432) 684-7821 ext 115