Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Almost there and it's not quite the eleventh hour!


Do you remember the post
Pembroke Pentecostal Tabernacle heads for St. Luci...
Well it is crunch time. Money is due in on Friday, and Benjamin and Rachel only have $450 each to go. It's not to late if you want to help...... Let us know
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This is our son and daughter in law.......How come they get to go to the sunny south on missions!

Sunday, January 28, 2007

La Tinta is calling!

Report from Sam and Vee
In the northeastern countryside of Guatemala, tucked away in the mountains is the village of La Tinta. There is a school there that does not look like much when compared to our structures in Canada...however this educational centre brings hope to not only the students but the entire village. Next January I would like to bring a PI team back to Guatemala and work on a bathroom project for the school. This trip would not be for the faint-hearted my friends....but it would be Xtreme! If interested please check the PI website (www.possibilitiesinternational.com) around the middle of February for more details.

Saturday, January 27, 2007

Patience


Well as much as I wanted, it looks like I will not be able to return to Central Asia this spring, In my head I know that it is the right choice, but in my heart, I am still really disappointed.
This trip over was going to be more of a fact finding trip in Central Asia and Xxxxxxx. Although I have tried every year, it has been a few years since I was last in Xxxxxx. I think it would be great to travel around and see the projects and visit with friends at previous projects without the same time restraints. You know I was almost 5 weeks in Central Asia last time and only got by to see a Giana ( older man we fixed the house up for last year) once, and that was only for about 10 minutes. When there with a team, we are just so busy,there is hardly a spare moment. I guess we are always mindful of the sacrifices that so many had made to get us there.
. We are in the process of re-mortgaging the house now to prepare for the long turn trip next year.. We need to have our own plans and Itinerary in place soon so we can arrange flights, Visa's accommodations etc. as well as shots and passport renewal. I hope to get that all out of the way soon so that we can start booking teams in as soon as possible. They will need to have time for preparation and fund-raising. With all this going on soon, I didn't think it was right to ask friends for support for March, and Personal finances are already stretched.
I was pleased to hear that Dave will be joining Sam in March. It has been a blessing to see the energy and enthusiasm that he and his family, and his church have brought to missions in Central Asia. He works so hard both here at home, and overseas that it is really great that he will have this opportunity to be on location without the pressures of a regular trip.
To all our friends reading this blog in Central Asia Sorry I will miss you this round, but we will be back soon enough.
Blessings John



Ps . They would not let me sign in without switching to this new blogger, and I am not happy. I some how managed to cut and past this article , and it landed here as a link to a photo of Dave and the team checking out the gardens at the house he bought in town for the family from the dump. I guess this will take a little getting use to.

I Love this Photo !

This is a Photo taken at the town baby orphanage in Central Asia.... The look on Robins face says it all. Now don't get mad at me here, but it's like picking up a toad.... the minute you pick them up, they pee all over you...but if you can get past that....
It reminds me on an incident in one of the orphanages in Xxxxx . I was having a particularly bad day. I was overwhelmed, and nothing was going right. I needed a break, and remembered seeing a couch in the hall in front of the crawling room ( a room for kids that were not able to walk) I decided to go sit on the couch and have a time out. No sooner did I sit down, but a small child , about 6 or 7 years old dragged herself out of the room and climbed up onto my lap. she snuggled into my chest, peed, and promptly fell asleep. After about 1/2 hour, she woke up and climbed down and went back to the room. Right away, one of the workers there came over to me and said how thank full she was that I had taken that time with the child. She had been trying to explain to the kids about the love of there father in Heaven, but they had no fatherly contact that these kids could relate to, but now this girl might understand.
Here I was having a selfish pity party, and God used it for what could be one of the greatest impacts of the trip. From then on when people say to me "What could I do on the missions field," I say " Can you hold a Baby."

Friday, January 26, 2007

Bunnies to Capital City... Hitchhiking on the Internet


Ok Here is the deal... see these bunnies, they need to make it from Amsterdam to an orphanage in Central Asia.. I am not sure how this is going to work, but if the Internet community can turn a paperclip into a house or can raise the money to help some guy rent super bowl space to propose to his girlfriend, we can get "Bunnies to the capital city "

If you or someone you know is heading through Amsterdam to Kiev, or Central Asia, or returning to almost any major city in Canada, or even Rockford Illinois , or if you would like to sponsor shipping costs for these bunnies , please let us know... It may take a little time, and an interesting journey, but I bet we can do it!



learn more about this story by clicking on this link

Thursday, January 25, 2007

¨Xtreme Makeover-Guatemala Edition¨


Today we found ourselves deep in the jungle(literally)...visiting a school in the north east part of Guatemala in the mountains. It just may be the location of the ¨Xtreme Makeover-Guatemala Edition¨ in January 2008. We still have a few places to visit however....so no definites yet. However...they need a new set of bathrooms at the school....and what makes this ¨Xtreme¨ is the location....we are talking thatched roofs....dirt floors...hot and humid...shanty town....and some of the most lovely, caring people on the planet. Will definitely keep you updated on plans for the trip next January.
Hector and Ruth Aragon are our hosts and two of the greatest missionaries I have ever worked with or travelled with. I am so pumped about partnering with them in Guatemala. They are coming back to Canada from July to December this year and if you are a pastor reading this.....you may want to book them in your church....this my friends is a NO BRAINER...talk about passion....Hector is like a cannister of ¨nitro¨ that is always on the brink of going off. Trust me....you want to connect with these folks...they do incredible work here.
Please continue to pray for Vee and I as we are here until Saturday...then we are coming home and will be in our home church (Freedom in Kitchener) joining with teh saints in teh pew and declaring the wonders on God! Please pray also for a trip I (and a couple others) will be heading on in late March to Central Asia and Xxxxxxxxxx. Another scouting mission....getting stuff in place for our teams this fall.


Passionately Connecting North Americans...
...helping orphans and the elderly in their distress.....

sammyweltenpi
www.possibilitiesinternational.com

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

CRUISING ON A BUDGET

We have started getting excited planing a family trip home from the missions field next year. We realized that with the high cost of flying , we might be able to find another way home, and an opportunity to use our six months of Russian emersion . They were all in agreement with me right until the last stage. Here are the planes so far.
Fly from the capital city to Moscow, Hire a van from Moscow to St. Petersburg. then take the train from St. Petersburg to Kiev through Latvia, Estonia, and Belarus. then get a Euro rail pass and spend a week traveling through eastern Europe, then home. Now this is where the disagreement starts. Keeping in budget, I have found this lovely tanker.

The problem appears to be that I will be making this part of the journey........by myself!.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Wild Possibilities in Guatemala


Been here just a couple of days and both Vee and I see many possibilities of impact that a team could have. Our hosts, Hector and Ruth Aragon are "machines" and you could not find a better couple to partner with in the area of caring for children, the helpless and the hopless. We at PI are looking foward to a long term relationship with the Aragons here in Guatemala.

posted by sammyweltenpi

Saturday, January 20, 2007

AND NOW YOU KNOW THE REST OF THE STORY

Do you remember the storey of laura. For those who don't know.
Laura is around 14 years old, she lived with her Great grandmother (GG) from the time she was three. Her grandmother has been trying to kill the (GG)to get the house. GG had a stroke a year ago. They have been living on $9.00 a month . The house had only a stove that the chimney was plugged. no water, no food, no toilet, broken windows no security.
Men would let them selves in to pleasure themselves on a regular basis. the electricity was due to be disconnected... laura was kicked out of school, and they were living on food found at the dump (full of toxic waist) things could not get much worse ....... ENTER LAURISA Laurisa is a kind loving lady who was poor herself, and had no outside help. She goes to the dump and finds little children there and takes them home, and tries to provide food for them if they will stay out of the dump. She found Laura there and began helping her. Laurisa started doing what she could to get the house cleaned up, and food into there bellies. The locals would yell and swore at her because she is a Christian, and they did not want her in the community. .......She took Laura back to the school, and made arrangements to get her enrolled again and helped her with her school work. When we found out about her and the work she had been doing, we knew that we needed to help.
With the generous support of People here, we went over to help Laurisa. We began rebuilding the house. New windows, doors, walls plastered and painted, new electrical panel and wires, new fence and locks bars on the windows, toilet, fixed the chimney and stove, electrical heaters and lights, paid for the hydro to stay on and for the next year, a years supply of coal, new beds, furniture, blankets, new kitchen counter,and appliances, sink and water inside. We even put up flood lights with auto sensors outside, and an automatic light in the toilet. The court yard was cleaned up and wood was cut and stacked. the house was parged and painted, and the walkway to the house had new gravel put down. Along with helping Laura, we started many little projects with the neighbors, and they in turn helped us. It became a community project. It was nothing to have 25 or 30 locals helping at any one time from 2 to 92, they all worked.
It was an incredible transformation. While this was going on, Laura and her GG were taken to the home of one of our workers, and cleaned up, and given healthy meals, then taken to the market for a few new outfits to where. Arrangements were made to get Laura registered, and the documents were secured so that if anything happened to GG, the house would go to Laura.
The village is one long dirt road with no side walk, and probably about 30 houses and a population of about 150 to 200 people. all very poor field workers. As I was walking down this street one day, followed by the usual 8 kids, two dogs, a duck and a scrawny cow with a rope tangled around its horns , I remember having this thought of one day there being a church there for these people to meet. A place of new beginning for them.
Well we finished up there , left a little money for Laurisa to take a little pressure off her ($30 a month) and moved on to the next project.
Just befor Christmas, we received word that GG had died. We did what we could from here to assist , but took comfort that Laurissa was there to look after things.
Fast forward to an email I just received from Olga..

Hello John and Jilie!!!
I am very glad to hear from you and i thought about
you very often and memorize the time with warm weather
and very active time.
Yes i saw Larisa and sometimes she comes to my office.
She passed hello to you, i just talk with her.
she said ,that since the time of granny funeral,
Larisa took Lora to her house. Lora need help, control
and care. Now in granny's house, they make the
fellowship and cell group meetings.


It's funny, in my mind, it is now starting to make sence !

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Village Orphans lead by example

Generosity is a virtue that we often attribute to the wealthy, but it is often the poor that make the greatest sacrifice. Jesus shines light on this with "The widows mite"
The first time I saw this on the missions field was in Xxxxxx. whenever we would give these children anything, despite the fact that they had nothing, they would turn and want to share it with the child next to them. another time we gave money to a halfway house in Xxxxxx and a few weeks later we received photos back of the men preparing gift packs to bring to others in prison. When we travel with a team, we sometimes find ourselves in the homes of the locals, and it is amazing the food that they bring out. We would never think of serving cold boiled chicken with afternoon tea, but when you realize that what they have done is put all the food they have out for us. We have so much and they have so little, yet they are prepared to give us everything they have. I was reminded of this today when I received this email from Sergey and Anya


Hello dear brother.

I want sand for you this e-mail because is news touch my heart when I listen this.

You know what in Christmas day we did packets with candies for all kids in orphanage, and we gave every kids in orphanage. Yesterday we ask how they do in Happy New Year? They said what the 30th of December all kids from orphanage take packets with candies did half all packets (part kids keep and other part they give for other kids) and did show for other kids from the village. Director have address where live poor kids this parents, and she and older kids from orphanage visit those kids and gave candies for kids who live poor with parents. Oh, many parents have sock, many ask "how much coast packets with candies, and say what if they sell what parents can't buy because haven't money" but kids from orphanage say what is free. Wow.

I now see what kids for orphanage have a big hearts. I now have just emotions.

From these kids we can learn. We have lots, and sometime we can't or don't want give for other who needs :( Or we say:" this is all my, just my and I not give for other" Is sad. I now am cry, and I think what this example touch your heart and we can look for our life with new eyes.

God bless you.

Sergey, Anya and kids.


Wow, what a challenge for us all!
Thank you Anya for the update

Saturday, January 13, 2007

McJOYFUL CHRISTMAS !

McJOYFUL CHRISTMAS !
McDonalds has become the ELITE place to eat in Ukraine !
Orphan kids don't get to eat there.But this year we treated over 3,000 orphans to a thrill of a lifetime ... a Happy Meal !!! And every orphan heard that they have a Father who cares about them VERY much ! Special thanks go to the Elliott's enthusiastic team in Newfoundland who raised enough for 1,800 kids !!!

Thanks Ed for the update! we can't wait to hear what you will be up to next!

Friday, January 12, 2007

Pembroke Pentecostal Tabernacle heads for St. Lucia


Warmest greetings to you and yours! I assume you survived the hustle and bustle of the holidays! I trust you found a little bit of time to, like Mary, quietly treasure the things of Christmas in your hearts (Luke 2:19). I’m excited to inform you that in the New Year, Rachel and I will be embarking on a journey to the West Indian island of St. Lucia. This seven-day trip, from February 12-19, will be filled with opportunities to enhance the lives of elementary school aged children with humanitarian and spiritual support.

Our team is connected with an organization called Seeds International. Seeds is dedicated to the retention of new believers by the local church both in North America and around the world. Their single purpose is to provide the necessary tools & training to aid in that goal. We’re excited to be a part of the work and ministry of this organization!
Our team will be visiting schools all across the island of St. Lucia with an action-packed presentation including songs, dramas, and puppets. The presentation simply expresses Christ’s love for children and plants a “seed” in their hearts that will one day grow into a healthy relationship with their Creator. Matthew records in his Gospel account that,

One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch them and bless them, but the disciples told them not to bother him. But when Jesus saw that was happening, he was very displeased with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I assure you, anyone who doesn’t have their kind of faith will never get into the Kingdom of God. Then he took the children into his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.

With this in mind, Rachel and I are confident that a short-term missions trip directly ministering to children is a good way to reach out to the world around us with the kind of love that Jesus had for the little ones.
This year, around the holiday season and into the New Year, please consider making a donation to this cause. Our expenses involve airfare and land costs in the approximate amount of $2000 per person. These fees are a real opportunity to see God move in a miracle of provision. Please consider being a part of this miracle!
Any donation you make toward the trip is fully receiptable. You can make cheques payable to Pembroke Pentecostal Tabernacle; just mark “St. Lucia 2007” in the memo. If you would prefer to designate your donation specifically to either Rachel or I, please do so by marking “Ben and Rachel” in the memo. However, please note that a receipt cannot be issued for designated donations.
Thank you so much for your time and consideration.

to contact Benjamin click on this linkyou would prefer, you can make donations through P.I click on this link or contact Sammy at sammyweltenpi@yahoo.ca

Thursday, January 11, 2007

COMMING SOON !


Update from PREVIOUS POST "EDventures "


Remember Vadim an orphan with a dream? Well for him, his dream has come true !
Here is part of an email I just recieves from Ed.

I had a bunch of bids on Vadim's painting ... you know what the highest one was? ... $1000!!! So I had some people from Halifax (who were coming over for McJoyful Christmas) bring a brand spankin new laptop with all the bells and whistles that Vadim ever dreamed about ... we gave it to him on December 25th! Here's a picture of him with his new laptop!
I got so excited about the results with Vadim's computer that I registered a new site (to rival ebay on the net! :)
edbay !!!
So soon edbay.org will be up and running and allow people to bid on orphans artwork and go further teaching the orphan kids how to fish!



to view original post click here

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

PI is Guatemala bound!


From January 20th - 27th Sam and his lovely wife Vee will be in Guatemala visiting Hector and Ruth Aragon. The reason for the visit? PI is looking at doing an Xtreme Makeover trip to Guatemala in January 2008! That's right friends....Xtreme Makeover-Central Asia Edition was such a hit that we are not only going back to Central Asia but expanding to other countries. If you would be interested in participating in the trip to Guatemala in 2008 or you have any further questions about the "Xtreme Makeover" philosophy please feel free to email Sam at any time.sammyweltenpi@yahoo.ca
Our prayers will be with you Sammy!

Thursday, January 04, 2007

Hello Dear friends!!!!


Hello Dear friends!!!!
Happy New Year and Merry Christmas!!!!

GreenOLga


Olga is one of our translators from Central Asia, but more than that , for many of us she is a good friend. All the best Olga, and may God blessyou and draw close to you in 2007. Love the Canadians