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<TITLE>Mission Trip 11-16-09</TITLE>
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<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us">Feb 16<SUP>th</SUP> 2010 - Mission 2010 Mexico – One day plus and more!! </SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"> </SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us">Hello Everyone,</SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"> At this moment I am over the Caribbean somewhere on my way back from the pre-trip to Mexico to plan for our group’s arrival. Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts.</SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"> There is a lot to tell you so I’ll move along as quickly as possible. The logistics of this project are a bit different then our last trip but I really believe God has worked out the details very nicely.</SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"> First let me explain some of the housing, food, construction, medical, evangelism, and excursion details in brief and then tell you our needs.</SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"> We will be staying at the Linda Vista University, meaning a beautiful site, and beautiful it is. We will have a wing of the campus dorm to ourselves. I have reserved 20 rooms so that we can have 2 to a room. There are 6 bunks in each room so if there is a family of more that 2, you will be able to stay together. Each room has a private bath, bedding, towels, soap, shampoo etc. We will eat at the University and work around their eating schedule. The kitchen, dining room, baking area etc, are very clean. All kitchen help wear facemasks and hairnets. They have their own bakery, laundry, water purification plant, store, snack bar, etc. I believe we will be very very comfortable there. The only draw back, if there is one, is that it’s about 45 minutes from the work site. We will travel by bus that we have rented from the school. I could not find any housing closer to the work site other that a 2 story hotel 40 min. the other way with no kitchen facilities or any other things that the University will supply. </SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"> The construction site is in the village of Jitotol (pronounced Hetatol). It is a very, very poor area. There are many little stores in town including several shops and hardware stores, but no shops with souvenirs. The church floor is already in and the posts approx. 2feet up are in also and ready for us to place the steel beams, roof, walls, windows, doors, and pull electrical wire. If we have time, we’ll put in a front wall with gate. </SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"> The medical team will have their hands full. The need there is very great and the village is thickly populated. I met with the Mayor and he is very willing to help us with any needs he can provide. I visited two villages outside of town in the mountains. They speak Tzotzil, an Indian language that some of the locals will translate to Spanish and on we will go. They were very scared of me. Most of the woman and children ran into their small wooden one-room houses. I can already hear some of you laughing because you know me. The president of the village said most of us have never seen an American. Both village presidents met with the people and agreed that it would be very beneficial for them if we visited. Neither village has had a medical team there, only a local doctor who visits on occasion but with no medicine. Both places are about 40 minutes from the work site. By the way, while I am thinking about it, several on the last trip told me they get carsick.. Because of the terrain I would suggest that you bring some Dramamine or other motion sickness medicine. If you will let Eric or me know, we can arrange to have you ride near the front of the bus. OK, back to the medical team. I will speak with the medical team, and come up with a schedule. Tentatively we need several days in town, one day in each village (2 of them) and one at the University. We will plan accordingly. Sorry for the length but I must give you as many details as possible.</SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"> Evangelism. The local churches had planned a large campaign a week before our arrival, long before they knew that we were coming. They had planned to rent a large community building in town and bring an evangelist from Columbia. The cost of bringing him there was very expensive. After a very large meeting with the 22 local mission churches, which was scheduled<U> somehow</U> the same weekend that we where there, I spoke and explained our usual plans, but did not want to interfere with theirs. After much discussion and prayer they were very happy to change there dates to the dates we will be there. They will take care of all the plans, and work with us on Bible studies prior to our arrival, and asked if Pastor Rigo from Honduras could be the evangelist. They were very impressed with him and his God given talents. The only thing they lack is a children’s program. After I told them about ours they were very excited for they never had a children’s program along with a campaign. We will take care of that program totally. I spoke to a local man who had a place perfect for our children’s program and when I told him all the things that we had planned for the community; he said that we could have the place for free. By the way, he is not a brother from the church. Praise God for His plans.</SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"> Excursion. We will be staying at the Crown Paradise Club Resort in Cancun. I believe God worked out something very special for us. The round trip ticket from JFK and back via Cancun was only a few dollars more. The room rate at this Five Star resort includes 7 restaurants, 6 pools, ocean front, lots of activities, etc. I could fill 6 more pages about the resort but will give you the website instead. </SPAN><A HREF="http://www.crownparadise.com/"><SPAN LANG="en-us"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF">www.crownparadise.com</FONT></U></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></A><SPAN LANG="en-us">. See for yourself.</SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"> Our needs, as always, are large. There is probably a better word to describe it but that will do. </SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"> 1) Money to purchase Bibles and literature - There at the mission office they will give us Bibles and literature because of our outreach for 60 Pesos each. That is approx 4.60 each. What a blessing, and they will have them there when we arrive. We will need 300 Bibles, also literature at our ready- 2 Pesos each. </SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"> 2) Medicine - We will need 4-5 Med-packs. Purchase price is $475.00 each and it provides approx 3,000-4,000 dollars of meds appropriate for that particular area. We will also need to purchase extra meds in quantity for specific needs - approx. $4,000.00 </SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"> 3) Transportation – Buses and trucks are very expensive to rent and the fuel there is also expensive.</SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"> 4) Children’s Program – We always need money to purchase crafts, misc. supplies and children’s literature and Bibles. By the way, the local church expects to have 600-700 adults and 400-500 children at this program. As I said the population is very dense there.</SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"> 5) Money to advertise our program – such as posters, flyers and loud speakers on cars to announce our evangelism and medical work.</SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"> 6) Sponsorship – We will need to help Pastor Rigo Dawkins to come and speak and help with many other things, as many of you know. Also to help with his pay for his family while he is with us. </SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"> 7) The university would like if we could provide some equipment such as soccer balls, basketballs, nets for the courts and other supplies as well.</SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"> 8) Project Fee – Maranatha will need a minimum of $7000.00 for the supplies and construction materials to build this one-day church, which will also include walls, windows, doors, etc.</SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"> I will need donations as soon as possible. It has been coming in, but very slowly. I know some of you have been waiting to hear from me after my trip. I pray that there will be some large donations. Please contact me as soon as possible.</SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"> I am always surprised by the response I get each year. I am not a fund-raiser. That gift is something I have not received. If you remember, I asked if there was someone out there who has that gift I would relieve me of that responsibility so I can concentrate on the gifts I believe God has given to me. Again thank you all in advance for your prayers, your sacrificial offerings and support in all ways. I have never met most of you who give to Berkshire Mission. Thanks for all of your faith in this team.</SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"> Also, those of us who go, pay for all the airfare, excursions and much more. Only because of your help can we supply all the other needs.</SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"> Let me close with this thought from Numbers 11:21-23 Paraphrased – “Moses said where will I get food for over 600,000 people, we would have to catch every fish in the ocean to fulfill your promise” Then the Lord said to Moses, when did I become weak? Now you shall see whether my word comes true or not! </SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"> Pray what God would have you do, and watch the windows of Heaven open up and provide for you during these very hard economic times.</SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"> </SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us">God Bless you all</SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us">Bob Young</SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us">Mission Director</SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"> </SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us">PS. There has been no reported Swine flu in the area where we are working. I checked with local medical people and the Mayor. It does not mean it does not exist, we still need to be careful. </SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"> </SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
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