Thursday, November 30, 2006

Extreme Makeover 2007


We have a date for PI's next Xtreme Makeover Trip to Central Asia. It will take place from September 17th - October 1st.
If you are interested in being part of this team please feel free to email me at sammyweltenpi@yahoo.ca and let me know.
Application forms and information brochures will be available by mid-December.

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

More than just an interpreter


Question Did you find it to be difficult trying to express your through your interpreter
Answer Until you get used it, it can be awkward dealing through an interpreter, but I must say that we were so blessed with the interpreters we had working for us . Let me take for example Olga.
At first I noticed that Olga seemed to be a little distracted at times, but I soon realized that at every moment, she new what every member of the team was doing, and she was ready to assist in any way she could. Whether it was help with unfamiliar building techniques, or interaction with the locals Olga was there. When a car would pull up to the sight, or any strange face for that matter, the first person they would come into contact with was Olga. When in the market, it was as if there was a wall of protection around the team, she would often move in and tell would be pickpockets to back off. When negociating in the market, she was a machine. The only time I really saw her upset was when she felt that we were being wronged by a retailer. She worked along side the team, and was a true blessing to us. The part that amazes me the most is how great her attitude was with the work we were doing. She took great pride in a job well done, and was truly happy for the recipients of our work. The thing that is so amazing about this is that I know that I know that with in a few days of any one of the projects , we had already surpassed the quality of living she new. Let me give you an example. One day we decided to purchase a couch , we mad the deal, then hired a wagon to bring it to the house we were fixing up. I later learned that she was using her 2 week salary to purchase a couch for herself, but would have to wait for the next team to come so she could make enough to have the couch brought to her house. Yet when the family came home and found a new couch, nobody was happier for her than Olga. Even after we have left, Olga has continued to be in contact with and encourage those that we had helped while we were there, Looking past the job, we find the character, and that outways any difficulties.
My prayer is that when she looks past the work we did there, she sees as equally Godly character
Blessings John

Monday, November 27, 2006

Now taking Requests

If there are any photos from any of the previous trips, or stories or updates that you are interested in, please let me know through the comment section, and I will gather what information I can, and post them as soon as possible
Blessings John

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Cell Phone vs. Bible

I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like our cell phone?
What if we carried it around in our pockets?
What if we turned back to get it if we forgot it?
What if we flipped through it several times a day ?
What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave it to our kids as gifts?
What if we used it as we traveled?
What if we use it in case of an emergency?
Where is YOUR Bible
At least you don't need to worry about your bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid!

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Home again .

Well we all made it home safe and sound. We left the Capital City Missions house @4:00am and headed for the airport. Our flight left Central Asia @ 7 am there time (11 hours ahead) and landed in Toronto and cleared customs around 9 pm our time. We had two stops. One in Yerevan Armania, where we saw Mount Ararat , and the second stop was a 2 or 3 hour layover in London. It's good to be home again. When I get my head on strait from the time change, I will go through the photos and post a bunch more.
Blessings John

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Mountains

Heading for Home



It is now 9:30 pm in the capital city and we will soon be leaving for the airport. We want everyone who has sponsored us or has been praying for the team , or helped in any way , to know how much we have appreciated being your hands in action. We have seen things , and experienced situations that will live with us forever. We have had the opportunity to reach into the lives of every day people, and touch them in ways that they'll never forget. I think of a young boy that came for help. He is 18, supports three sisters ranging from 7 to 11 years old. He lives on the top floor of a run down 6 story apartment. The roof leaks, the water does not make it to the top floor, and the wind blows in around the windows. He was looking for help sealing the windows so the wind does not blow in, you see with no heat, the wind is more than they can bare. We got him the supplies to fix the windows, then showed him how to use the calking gun, then told him the best way to stop the cold was with this, then handed him a brand new heater in still in the box. It was all he could do not to cry. This boy is one of thousands here that has had to grow up way to fast. Its the interactions like this that we will remember in years to come. We look forward to being home soon. Blessings from Central Asia . John

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Good bye to all our friends in Central Asia

The Best Marshupka driver in Central Asia

House project #2 Goes Shopping


For more photos and a personal update from the team you can join us at Norwood Pentecostal Church on Sunday November 19th at 11:00 a.m.

A house by faith

Just wanted to drop a note on the blog quickly while I wait in Frankfurt airport.
just got an email from scott saying that since he's been back in Canada he has gotten emails and phone calls about giving money to help buy the house we bought in Central Asia.(actually scott pulled the trigger on the deal and told me he would raise the remaining $1000US or give the money himself)....well...as of this moment he has $1100 Cdn promised. C'mon now folks.....I was back to visit the lady and her family...she had already started cleaning up the yard and wanted a shovel and rake to keep going. God is great! Thanks to all those who stood in faith with Scott. It's not too late....we could do some reno's there if you wanted to give....or maybe even buy another house....yeeha!

Sam on way home

This is Sam reporting from xxxxxxxxxx on my last night before I return to Canada. It is 10:56pm here and I am sitting in an internet cafe surrounded by a group of 14-15 young men playing war games on the computers. Spending time and money fighting "make believe" wars....there has got to be more to life than this.
My heart is pulled towards home and my family...also thinking of my sister. But my heart is also tugged towards Central Asia and the team that is presently there from Norwood and doing an INCREDIBLE work in a small city. Pastor Ron...you have quite a team there....and John Wright is a machine. It has been a month of WILD impact in a country of Central Asia. To both teams...incredible.
And you guys from Norwood still have a few days left. Go for it!
Please read the couple posts (posted previous) by Pastor Ron Hughes about what is going on here in Xxxxxxxx....no need for me to blog what he has done previously so well. Let me just say....God is up to wildly wonderful things.
Looking forward to further reports. Also looking forward to wings at Moose Winooski's!

The old kitchen

A new kitchen

A new look !

Sunday, November 05, 2006

Some things are best left un said

New Mattresses for he Hospital

Project House # 1 goes shopping .

Bruce in his glory

Team update

Hello from Central Asia ,Gods love is alive and well projects are progressing well
The buzz around here in the village that the Christians are here and changing peoples
Lives. I never realized the impact of some good works and love. The love of God
Spreads through keep us in prayer for protection and encouragement and thanks for all The support EDWARD L


Hi I am Acel .I just thank God that I`m here with this team. Especially I thank God
That I can serve Him by helping the poor people in Central Asia.I`m sorry for my poor English.Thank you for every thing what we are having here.Thank you for relationship,for friendship.


Greetings friends! This is Paula. We are watching God work miracles here. Thank you for your prayers. It is encouraging knowing that many of you are praying and fasting for us and for the work that God is doing here in extending His kingdom. In my personal devotions today God gave me these verses… Isaiah 42… I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I will also hold you by the hand and watch over you, and I will appoint you as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon and those who dwell in darkness from the prison… These verses hold a different meaning for me today. We have been cleaning and painting 2 apartments. In one lives a man who has lost a leg and partial eyesight to diabetes. In another lives a man who has just been released from prison. And our team today moved into a place called, “Lighthouse” where we will stay while we work in this, a different nation. God surely has appointed this particular team to this particular place for such a time as this. He is holding us by the hand and watching over us.

Hello, Julie here. Today I had the privilege of going to the market and tagging along as the local workers took the woman from one of the apartments and her granddaughter shopping. It was a sight. First of all the woman, Natasha, could not believe that this was happening. So she started by saying shyly that her granddaughter, Katya, needed some new shoes. The ones she had on were well worn and three sizes too big. After a while she started to believe it and when we left her family of six had a few things each. Natasha had traditional rubber boot shoe things so we insisted that she choose some new ones. This was the first pair of real shoes she has had in thirty years. I got to buy her a beautiful pashmina scarf. Love to all.


Hello, it is Vlady I am working with this team as driver I am very pleased God that He give this possibility to find out these beautiful people who came from far away to show their love and brought His Heavenly Love to those people who doesn’t know Jesus Cross.
It is wonderful time when people to tie in one bunch and follow in one direction according God direction their can say any mount throw yourselves in the sea and it will be done because God living in their hearts. Let God of Heaven bless everyone throough His Son Jesus Christ. Blessing everybody. Love. Vlady.

Pastor Ron here. Great to be back in Central Asia with the team. They were thrilled to see Nargiza again and also it is always beneficial to have another interpreter. The team moral is high and our new accommodations seem great. They have risen to the occasion for sure! Tomorrow we will be ministering at the church and we come bearing crayola gifts! It will be a wonderful day to be a kid at church for certain. Finally I never forget that the team members in Central Asia are only part of the whole team. Those in Canada who make this possible will surely be rewarded in that day.

John here now. I have not written in a few days. The projects here were a bit more than any team should have to face, but the team bit the bullet and dug right in It was amazing to see the transformations of these homes. We took the lady from one of the projects to the market to purchase clothes for her family. She is in such shock that she cannot understand what is happening, she is still a little afraid that we are up to something. She was not going to leave the house until we made a deal with her to pay her hydro bill. It is five years behind and has been cut off and illegally reconnected several times. The family hides in the house and does not answer the door, and before she goes out she would peek out the window, then run when no one is looking. The total cost to cover all bills and all fines, and reconnection fees was $250 . Can you imagine her relief.


Hello from Robin, I tried to type that in Russian, but I had better stick with english. Our God is an awesome God, and we are constantly reminded of his wisdom and power beyond our comprehension. The work here seemed overwhelming to begin with, but the team has worked so well together that we may actually be able to put the house back together, before leaving! I look forward to the beginning of the week and all that God has in store for us. Thank you for your prayers and support at home.
Blessings to all!

Friday, November 03, 2006

Greetings All

Just a quick update for those wondering what is going on! John and the team are doing well in Central Asia and I just received word from John that the team is in a hotel at $5 a head per night. The house was a little cramped ... try 29 people ... with Nargiza and I coming tomorrow .. that's 31 .. I don't think so Tim. John took care of it! The team is staying in a hotel with hot and cold water, a TV and a stocked pond for fishing .. OH my!

Nargiza and Dylia have run us off our feet here. I am whipped. We have been in so many orphanages, handicap ministries, blind works, elderly work, .. She keeps saying .. "A team could do this, a team could do that". Well we may have our VISA problems behind us if our meeting today with a great connection comes through the way promised. I could go on and on but to say taking the 15 workers out for lunch, giving them a gift and taking them bowling was a highlight I would be understating it! We have some of the greatest saints in the world working for us in this country. What a priveledge to partner in this work. God is at work big time! In buildings and in homes the work flourishes. There is so much we can do and we trust God to help in the finances. I know that PI wants to expand its support for our overseas ministries but we need the financial support of partners in ministry.

I am looking forward to getting with the team tomorrow. It is amazing how much I have missed them.

Sam will be returning to Canada on Monday and will not be coming back to Central Asia with me. Please pray for his sister and his family. This guy has such a heart for these countries and God has raised him up for such a time as this. Many widows, widowers and orphans depend upon his calling. Pray for him and consider supporting PI.

A greeting to my church in Norwood whom I love and depend upon their prayers and support. Thank you for caring for the families of our team. Keep praying for us with Rosie at 6:00 PM every weekday evening at NPC.

You are making a huge impact in this part of the world. Seriously you have to see it to believe it. Story after story ... The half has never yet been told.

Love you 5 Hughes' I left in Norwood

Mark on your calendars the 19th at 6:00 PM at Norwood Pentecostal Church for our Report Sunday. Food, testimonies, pictures, videos, reports ... You will not want to miss it.

Pastor Ron

Thursday, November 02, 2006

Head Hunters....

Hello sad world... Renee here... reporting for my official first blog duty. It was requested that I post, to update all you fans out there on our most recent encounter with the locals. So we arrived today in the village and scooted over to the apartments we are to be...fixing?? ...not that I even know how to swing a hammer, but I do what I can. Well, we arrived at the first apartment, and arranged with the family that we would set them up in a hotel while we're taking care of things for them. They were slightly uneasy with the thought of leaving the apartment, but finally gave in after we bribed them. The pastor took them to the hotel and bought them some good food, but instead of saying thank you and digging in, the family seemed to grow even more uneasy. The pastor asked if everything was ok, and they looked at him and said they were concerned that we were fattening them for a pagan sacrifice... lol! The pastor then helped them to realize that that was not the case...

Ahh gotta love it when things get lost in translation....
Signing off.
Renee

All is well.

You may see on the news some excitment in the capital city. We are along way away and doing well. Will post some photos of the new project shortly. Please pray for pastor Sam as he returns to Canada early for a family emergency. Sam you will be missed .
Blessings from the village

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

A lesson in breadmaking


A Day At Auxana's .....Jamie fixing chimney

Before and After.....and a little extra wood left over



Oops how did that get in there ?

Laura visiting with the team in her new kitchen

All Heaven is rejoicing

Rema Rema Rema

As we sat in the morning meeting over breakfast at Rhema's home ... the table full of food ... much of it I had no idea what it might be ... that's another blog ... All those ladies around the table .. most with their handicapped child next to them or on their lap began to share their stories: I was lost and Rhema ... Rhema was there when ... I had given up hope ... Rhema ... My husband left me when I had a disabled child ... but Rhema ... Sam and I sat there as the tears flowed steady and the stories sounded familiar ... Lost hope .. but Reema ... No food .. but Rhema ... I don't believe in God .. but Reema ... I was lost but now ... Reema ... One lady said she had not made a commitment to God but Reema was her greatest blessing ...

Folks I have the feeling that she was saying that if God is anything like Reema then they want to know Him!

Who is Reema? Reema is a woman who through a 7 year journey of her own with the help of God took her from despair and set her on the Rock! Now PI gives her $40 a month ... 20 hours a week ... 50 cents an hour!!! ... she is rescuing woman with disabled children and leading them to Jesus! WOW. I think she needs a raise.

Rhema sends her thanks for the support of those giving to ministry in this country.

I met a genuine saint today!

BTW ... for those who know .. Sam and I were surprised to hear that Rhema is none other than Sister Alfyias MOM! We now see wher Alfyia gets her ministry for the elderly!

OH, one more thing ... a young single mom (her husband left her when they had a challenged child) .. sat there and told us that she is caring for her child, working and going to school for nursing! How much for the school of nursing? $120 per year for two years ... All of you who sent me with extra money for this area have paid for her two years of nursing!! She was in total shock. God is at work. $240 US for a new nurse ... maybe an employee for PI in a couple years .. she wanted nursing so she could care for disabled children! THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT!

Still on the road

Ron