Our Team!

Its Saturday morning. Its hard to believe that less than 48 hours from now, we will be enroute!

I would like to introduce you to "the team" - the people who have been together for about a year. We are more than a team, we are a small group, a fellowship. We are bonded by common goals, common work and a God who has put us together for this purpose.

Hans and Hilda Dam - Hans, in partnership with his brother, own and operates Clarences Service Centre in Fenwick. His expertise was proven two years ago when he and a few other team members managed to get an old tractor going in Guatemala. Hans will be our work co-ordinator, figuring out what has to be done for the day. Hans is married to Hilda who works at her brothers' hardware store. She is a generous, caring and fun lady and took care of getting many, many school supplies donated for us to take along. They have five kids, four of them are married and have four grandsons.

Michael Klapwyk - Michael works for his father-in-law, GreenPark Nurseries, helping with marketing, field work and tractor work. He is married to Laura and they live in Caistor Centre. Michael has good expreience in construction and carpentry and will be a great assest to the team as the school needs desks repaired, cupboards made and doors hung.

Matt Oussoren - Matt joined us less than a week ago! His heart was stirred while attending the commissioning service. Matt is an electrician and own/operates his own business. Matt will be a great addition to our team as there is great need for this kind of work when building a new school. God bless you, Matt, as you prepare for this trip with such short notice!

Evert and Nellie Prinsen - Evert is a retired tool and die maker. He has much experience and knowledge on how to fix just about anything. One of his hobbies is to restore antique cars to running condition. Nellie is a homemaker, mother to four married kids, grandma to 16, and great-grandma to 2! Don't let that fool you, both are in amazing health and have been great to have on our team. Evert is our videographer for the week. We are so pleased you are able to join us! They attend Maranatha CRC in St. Catharines.

Ed and Ans Roorda - Ed also owns and operates his own business, along with his wife Ans. They own Oakridge in Fenwick. Ed will likely be put to work building cabinets and doing other construction on the third floor. Ed is an avid outdoorsman, enjoying skiing and snowmobiling. Ans is the mother of four girls and also grandma. She loves to read. Together, she and Ed will be leading our team in devotions and worship during the evenings.

Lloyd and Anita Wierenga - Lloyd and Anita are partners in a greenhouse operation. Both work and play hard in life. Lovers of the outdoors, camping, and canoeing, spending time with their families is priorty. Both have a wonderful sense of humour and we look forward to alot of laughter. They have four children, all in university or highschool. Lloyd has been taking pictures over the past year and will continue to do so as our 'official' photographer. Anita has taken charge of gathering and taking a first-aid kit. Our prayer is that we will not have to use it!

Karl and Wilma Vahrmeyer - Karl own/operates a nursery and cut ornamental branch business along with his three sons. He has been on many mission trips and lends his experiences to us all. He is our treasurer and made sure all the funds donated were recorded and turned in properly to Worldwide Christian Schools. Wilma is mom to five kids, three who are married, and grandma to 2. Wilma is Team Leader and this is the third team she has led. She volunteers once a week at the office of Worldwide Christian Schools and has developed a passion for this organization.

So, there you have it - twelve people who's lives have been condensed to a few sentences! Do not be fooled - all of our team members are beautiful and gifted people who have contributed much to the tone and spirit of this team. Please continue to pray for the team as a whole and also for the individuals on this team. All come from different walks of life, all are experiencing different thoughts and feelings as the day comes near. Some are worried about home, parents, kids, their businesses, travelling, health and more. Pray for the peace of Christ in our hearts as we go!

Under the Umbrella

When teams go on short-term mission trips, such as the one we are on, they do not go alone. The trip itself is the final journey of a year's worth of prayer, effort, logistic's management and community encouragement. We go, under the "umbrella" of God and the organization of Worldwide Christian Schools.

Worldwide Christian Schools. Where does one begin? HANDS (acconym for Helping Another Nation Develop Schools) gives the average person a mission opportunity. It is for volunteers who would like to make a difference in the the name of Jesus. These teams build or repair schools in many countries around the world, allowing children in these, often the poorest, countries to attend a Christian School. Going on a HANDS Team is often the experience of a lifetime, touching your life as much as you will touch the lives of the people you meet.

When going on a mission trip such as this there is hard work, a new culture to see, enjoy and experience, new people who often become your friends, much worshipping with the hosts and with the team, and there is a new sense how Christ's message is relevant to the whole world - his love has no boundaries! These trips touch your heart.

HANDS Teams go to Honduras, Nicaragua, Belize, the Dominican Republic, Soweto, Zambia and Guatemala. The schools that are built are Christian and have high education standards, there is consideration for the local culture and there is encouragement for these schools to partner with other organizations and not depend of WWCS. WWCS helps build and establish these schools but does not operate them.

My experience of being on three HANDS Teams has been heart-touching. God is using WWCS and his people to bring the truth to places and people who have never had a chance to know Jesus and his life-saving grace. Children are the ones who often bring this message of salvation to their homes and families. Being on a HANDS Team is life-changing and makes me realize that the Good News is not only for us, but for the world. God's message of life is not only for white, conservative, hard-working North Americans but is especially for the down-trodden, the poor, the uneducated, the unemployed, the sad and lonely. His message is for the whole world for "He has the whole world in His hands!"

For more information about Worldwide Christian School please go to www.wwcs.ca There you can see all the teams that are going this year. You will be able to find out more about HANDS opportunities and other programs.

Commissioning Service

We have experienced the grace of God and received the encouragement from two church congregations during the past year. On January 18 and 25 we were commissioned to 'go' and bring the Good News. We were challenged to be Christ's ambassadors to the people of Guatemala. In Maranatha, Pastor Jerry Hoytema preached on the "Feeding of the Five Thousand" and how Christ gives his followers everything they are in need of to do His work. We were encouraged by his words and through the prayers that followed. After the service we were surrounded by the people who offered their words of encouragement and talked about one day sending a team of their own.

In Bethany, Pastor Martin Dam (guest pastor) preached on "How Do We Love?" and "Whom Do We Love?" It was good for us to hear this messages as we contemplate why we are going on this trip! Our own pastor, EJ deWaard then also commissioned us to be Christ to the people of Guatemala, we read a responsive litany with the congregation and the elders came to the front, layed their hands on us as a team, and prayed over and for us. We knew that we were in God's presence. A powerpoint was shown at both services about Guatemala and the site we would be - they say a picture is worth a thousand words and its true!

God has been real and present during the past year. He has blessed our efforts immensely! We have prayed together, talked together, fundraised together, and fellowshiped together. We pray that it was all done in the name of Christ. As we look forward to this coming Monday, when we step on the plane and head south, we ask that you also will continue to pray. Pray that we will represent Christ well. Pray that we will have His compassion and concern for the people of Guatemala. Pray that we will have good health as we experience altitude and a different climate. Pray that God will bring us opportunity to minister to the people there. Pray that the work we do will be only to the glory of God. Pray that we will receive the gifts of the spirit in our hearts - love, peace, patience, self-control, kindness, gentleness, humbleness, and more. Pray for safety in heart as we see some of the evil the people of Guatemala face. Pray for physical safety as we travel by plane and van, as we work hard, as we are in a different country. Pray that the relationships on the team will strenghten and will become close. Pray that those who are anxious about this trip will experience the true peace of Christ as they bring those anxieties and cares to Him. Above all, pray that everything we do will honour and praise our Creator. May all the glory go only to Him.

The Countdown in on!

Today its cold! as it has been for a little while now. Dreams of our upcoming trip are becoming closer to reality. Guatemala is a beautiful country, nestled between Mexico to the north, Belize to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the west and Honduras and El Salvador to the south. Tropical near the coast, cooler and arid in the mountains, Guatemala is a contrast of culture and geography.

We will be flying to Guatemala City and from there travel by van up into the mountainous area of San Cristobal, Totinicapan. Though 160 miles as the crow flies, the trip will take us over four hours. Up and down, around and around - through the mountains we go.

The area is green. The countryside is marked with many mountainside farms that checkerboard the hillsides. Everything from tropical fruit to cold weather crops like cauliflower and broccoli are grown here. The Guatemalan highlands are often called the land of eternal spring - the climate has an average temp of 22C during the day. But don't be surprised to find frost on your windowpane when you wake up in the morning! At 8000' above sea level, the air gets frosty once that sun disappears!

I spent several hours at Worldwide Christian Schools today, working in the office. Its a privilege for me to learn more each time I'm there about this amazing organization and how it continues to bring the gospel - the Good News - to children around this world. Thank you Michele, Carolyn and Laura-Jane for your friendship and encouragement in the office. I'll see you in a couple of weeks.

Monday, January 26, 2009
Well, a week to go before we leave for Guatemala. Kitchener is currently there we are excited to have their team leader stay behind with us. Some team members are already packing, final arrangements are being made and we had the exciting news of adding another member today. Matt, welcome to our team! Your skills as an electrician and your caring manner will add much. We look forward to getting to know you over the next few weeks. Everything seems to be in order for next Monday, Feb 2. We will be leaving Buffalo early in the morning and our prayer is that things will go well are that we will arrive in Guatemala that same day. Keep in touch with us as try and do our best to blog and add pictures. Feel free to leave your thoughts and prayers.
Wilma