If you'd like to see pictures of our trip then go here.
http://www.pbase.com/beamsclan/bpf_2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
This is the church!
5 men from BPF plus 5 missionaries standing before a group of 65 children and teachers in the middle of the Bolivian jungle about to pray a prayer of dedication for a water well that we are giving to them as a gift from God the giver of clean water and living water - THIS IS THE CHURCH!
What an honor it has been to represent Christ and BPF this week. We have been able to bring clean water to a people in an incredibly remote area of Bolivia (a 4 hour boat ride into the jungle). These people have no missionary or evangelical presence among them at all. They are an unreached people. Thanks for your prayers and for giving to this church so faithfully. This enables us to send teams just like this one to the remote places of the earth and share Christ by meeting some of the most basic physical needs like clean water, in his name, and to share with them why we have come, which is to let them know that they are not forgotten, that God loves them and cares about their needs!
So as you gather as the church tomorrow for worship, know that church really isn´t just about Sunday´s. The church is so much more. We gather to honor him and learn from his Word on Sunday but then scatter from there to take him with us where ever we go. Thanks for letting us take him this week to Bolivia! This is the church!
What an honor it has been to represent Christ and BPF this week. We have been able to bring clean water to a people in an incredibly remote area of Bolivia (a 4 hour boat ride into the jungle). These people have no missionary or evangelical presence among them at all. They are an unreached people. Thanks for your prayers and for giving to this church so faithfully. This enables us to send teams just like this one to the remote places of the earth and share Christ by meeting some of the most basic physical needs like clean water, in his name, and to share with them why we have come, which is to let them know that they are not forgotten, that God loves them and cares about their needs!
So as you gather as the church tomorrow for worship, know that church really isn´t just about Sunday´s. The church is so much more. We gather to honor him and learn from his Word on Sunday but then scatter from there to take him with us where ever we go. Thanks for letting us take him this week to Bolivia! This is the church!
Jungle and Well Drilling
To get to where we drilled the water well we had to take boats as there was no direct road access. The wooden boats were long and skinny. They were powered by small lawn mower type engines. We had a lot of gear with us and the boats would barely stay above water with us in them. The ride to the village was about 4 hours. Water leaking into the boat kept us busy - we had to bail water from the bottom every 10 minutes or so. We also had to fill the motor up with gas from cans a couple times. The ride lasted into the pitch black night and the boats have no lights so we used flashlights to spot and dodge debris in the water and to signal other boats passing by.
We made a small campground about a 100 yards from the river after we landed at the village. The village (called Nuevo Caperneum) consisted of a couple of wooden huts in the jungle and a concrete and brick school that 60 students attend. The students (age range from infants to teenagers) came from up and down the river and stay at the school long term. Six teachers teach, feed, and take care of the children. We were touched by how friendly the students and staff were and how happy they were that we were there to help. There is no electricy in the village, and the only source of drinking water is the nearby murky brown river.
We placed the well in the school yard. We started by pumping water from the river into temporary pools. We pour this water down the well as we drill to fluidize the sand and clay that we dig up. We set up a frame and pulley to suspend the drilling pipe. We started the actual drilling on Tuesday morning and were able to dig about 35 meters the first day. The second day was much slower due to some thick clay and hard sand layers. We started earlier and drilled into the night and finally reached a sand layer that would likely produce fresh clean water at 51 meters (about 150 feet). We had a lot of help on the drilling from the students and teachers and enjoyed interaction with them. As Ronnie mentioned in his post the well produced a small amount of water the next day. Danny tells us the well will produce more water in about a week. Our prayer is that the village will have abundant clean water.
A small luxury in the jungle each night was a bath in the river to remove the thick mud that caked on our clothes and skin during the drilling process. We had to be on the lookout for rays, anacondas, and pirannha in the water (the day before we arrived one of the teachers was stung by a ray). Another treat were our campground meals cooked by Angelica who is part of Danny´s drilling team. Other members of Danny´s team included Irai (from Brazil), Carlos (from Colombia), Thomas (from Belgium). We became close friends with each of these folks and learned a lot of culture and Spanish from them.
After 10 more hours of boat and truck travel we´re now back in Santa Cruz, Bolivia nursing our numerous bug bites, achy muscles, and sunburn. Sleep last night was a major blessing. Today we will spend some time seeing Santa Cruz. We leave for Miami and then Houston on Sunday morning. Thanks to everyone at home for your thoughts and prayers.
==Posted by Wes Heinlein and Jay "The Well Man" Wellman==
We made a small campground about a 100 yards from the river after we landed at the village. The village (called Nuevo Caperneum) consisted of a couple of wooden huts in the jungle and a concrete and brick school that 60 students attend. The students (age range from infants to teenagers) came from up and down the river and stay at the school long term. Six teachers teach, feed, and take care of the children. We were touched by how friendly the students and staff were and how happy they were that we were there to help. There is no electricy in the village, and the only source of drinking water is the nearby murky brown river.
We placed the well in the school yard. We started by pumping water from the river into temporary pools. We pour this water down the well as we drill to fluidize the sand and clay that we dig up. We set up a frame and pulley to suspend the drilling pipe. We started the actual drilling on Tuesday morning and were able to dig about 35 meters the first day. The second day was much slower due to some thick clay and hard sand layers. We started earlier and drilled into the night and finally reached a sand layer that would likely produce fresh clean water at 51 meters (about 150 feet). We had a lot of help on the drilling from the students and teachers and enjoyed interaction with them. As Ronnie mentioned in his post the well produced a small amount of water the next day. Danny tells us the well will produce more water in about a week. Our prayer is that the village will have abundant clean water.
A small luxury in the jungle each night was a bath in the river to remove the thick mud that caked on our clothes and skin during the drilling process. We had to be on the lookout for rays, anacondas, and pirannha in the water (the day before we arrived one of the teachers was stung by a ray). Another treat were our campground meals cooked by Angelica who is part of Danny´s drilling team. Other members of Danny´s team included Irai (from Brazil), Carlos (from Colombia), Thomas (from Belgium). We became close friends with each of these folks and learned a lot of culture and Spanish from them.
After 10 more hours of boat and truck travel we´re now back in Santa Cruz, Bolivia nursing our numerous bug bites, achy muscles, and sunburn. Sleep last night was a major blessing. Today we will spend some time seeing Santa Cruz. We leave for Miami and then Houston on Sunday morning. Thanks to everyone at home for your thoughts and prayers.
==Posted by Wes Heinlein and Jay "The Well Man" Wellman==
What An Incredible Week
We finally arrived back in Santa Cruz late last night after 3 days in the jungle. What an experience! The team is all well, with the exception of hundreds of itching bites each. Last night in the hotel was like heaven.
The good news is ... we got the well drilled. It was extremely tiring work from morning until evening. The locals pitched in alot at the beginning, but as the new wore off, much of the labor rested on the team and 2 or 3 locals. When the reached what I believe was a depth of 51 meters, the call was given .. ¨"Alto!" .. and we were overjoyed. After some more work, it was time to test the well.
We initially got water, but then it stopped. We tried again later and got the same result. Danny Beams, Missionary on Sight, said that this happens sometimes, and that he was certain that the water production would improve as they used it and new tributaries to the pump were formed. So the well was a success, it´s just going to take some time.
I have much more to say, but computer time here is in demand so I will go for now. Thank you so very much to all of you who have been praying for us. The boat rides to and from the village were long and hard, but God was gracious to us in so many ways. Lots of stories to tell.
Today, I will finish some interviews for the Transition Home with Vanessa Beams and we will have some very exciting things to tell you about it, and how Brazos Pointe Fellowship can partner with that part of this incredible ministry in Bolivia.
I´m ready to come home. I miss my family.
== posted by Ronnie Whitehead ==
The good news is ... we got the well drilled. It was extremely tiring work from morning until evening. The locals pitched in alot at the beginning, but as the new wore off, much of the labor rested on the team and 2 or 3 locals. When the reached what I believe was a depth of 51 meters, the call was given .. ¨"Alto!" .. and we were overjoyed. After some more work, it was time to test the well.
We initially got water, but then it stopped. We tried again later and got the same result. Danny Beams, Missionary on Sight, said that this happens sometimes, and that he was certain that the water production would improve as they used it and new tributaries to the pump were formed. So the well was a success, it´s just going to take some time.
I have much more to say, but computer time here is in demand so I will go for now. Thank you so very much to all of you who have been praying for us. The boat rides to and from the village were long and hard, but God was gracious to us in so many ways. Lots of stories to tell.
Today, I will finish some interviews for the Transition Home with Vanessa Beams and we will have some very exciting things to tell you about it, and how Brazos Pointe Fellowship can partner with that part of this incredible ministry in Bolivia.
I´m ready to come home. I miss my family.
== posted by Ronnie Whitehead ==
Monday, September 14, 2009
Welcome to the Jungle
The team arrived safely in the village after a few hiccups. They had some car trouble early on that had them arriving at the boats late, which had them arriving in the village late and getting camp set up later than anticipated (Sounds a lot like our experience last year!).
The mission trip beattitude is: blessed are the flexible for they will never be bent out of shape!
When you're in a developing country hiccups like this are to be expected.
The good news is that they are there and ready to serve! They will start drilling in the morning. Some really good news, is that the villagers have cancelled school this week so that the teenagers can help drill the well. This is good news because our guys can certainly use the help, but even better it shows the level of partnership and ownership that we desire in all of our missions ventures. This is huge! And, I am sure the teenagers enjoy the week off too!
Pray for our team...God has provided the opportunity for them to work side-by-side with the natives of this village. Pray for success in drilling and pray for success in building relationships that point these people toward God.
God is good...all the time!
The mission trip beattitude is: blessed are the flexible for they will never be bent out of shape!
When you're in a developing country hiccups like this are to be expected.
The good news is that they are there and ready to serve! They will start drilling in the morning. Some really good news, is that the villagers have cancelled school this week so that the teenagers can help drill the well. This is good news because our guys can certainly use the help, but even better it shows the level of partnership and ownership that we desire in all of our missions ventures. This is huge! And, I am sure the teenagers enjoy the week off too!
Pray for our team...God has provided the opportunity for them to work side-by-side with the natives of this village. Pray for success in drilling and pray for success in building relationships that point these people toward God.
God is good...all the time!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Sunday Morning
We are about to head to church. Sleep was incredible last night. Work begins later as we head towards the river.
The time spent at the Transition Home went great. Vanessa has put a great work together. I was able to shoot some video and get some interviews. I met one of the girls, Betti, and talked with her about what the home has meant to her. I can't wait to put this story together. There is so much the Brazos Pointe can do to help. Later this week, Jason and I will sit with Vanessa and talk specific vision for the future.
= posted by Ronnie =
The time spent at the Transition Home went great. Vanessa has put a great work together. I was able to shoot some video and get some interviews. I met one of the girls, Betti, and talked with her about what the home has meant to her. I can't wait to put this story together. There is so much the Brazos Pointe can do to help. Later this week, Jason and I will sit with Vanessa and talk specific vision for the future.
= posted by Ronnie =
Visited the Transition Home
Hey Everyone,
We had a great first day here in Bolivia. Yesterday evening we had the opportunity to go and visit the Transition Home. This is a home that Vanessa, my sister-in-law helped start 4 months ago that will be a place for girls who are from an orphanage and want help in getting their life going on a solid foundation. Also it is a home for girls that come from the pregnancy crisis center here in Santa Cruz and want a safe place to live while they are pregnant and are preparing for a life with a baby. It is a great home that will house up to 9 girls. They have 3 girls living in the home now and will be placing some more girls in the home in the near future. Ronnie was able to shoot some great video of Vanessa talking about the vision of this home, an interview with the house mother about all they doing to disciple these girls and prepare and disciple them. We also were able to interview one of the girls from the home and here her story. I can´t wait to get the opportunity to share this video footage with you once we get back.
Today, we are about to go to church here in Santa Cruz with my brother´s family at an international church where everything is done in 2 languages Spanish and English. Then this afternoon we are headed out of Santa Cruz to our location in the jungle to dig water wells. We are having blast - thanks for your prayers!
Jason
We had a great first day here in Bolivia. Yesterday evening we had the opportunity to go and visit the Transition Home. This is a home that Vanessa, my sister-in-law helped start 4 months ago that will be a place for girls who are from an orphanage and want help in getting their life going on a solid foundation. Also it is a home for girls that come from the pregnancy crisis center here in Santa Cruz and want a safe place to live while they are pregnant and are preparing for a life with a baby. It is a great home that will house up to 9 girls. They have 3 girls living in the home now and will be placing some more girls in the home in the near future. Ronnie was able to shoot some great video of Vanessa talking about the vision of this home, an interview with the house mother about all they doing to disciple these girls and prepare and disciple them. We also were able to interview one of the girls from the home and here her story. I can´t wait to get the opportunity to share this video footage with you once we get back.
Today, we are about to go to church here in Santa Cruz with my brother´s family at an international church where everything is done in 2 languages Spanish and English. Then this afternoon we are headed out of Santa Cruz to our location in the jungle to dig water wells. We are having blast - thanks for your prayers!
Jason
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Email from Wes
Things are going great. We had smooth flights to Miami, La Paz, and Santa Cruz. The mountain views from the plane in La Paz were incredible. We're chilling at the Beams' place after a nice big breakfast. Taking some time to relax. Getting ready to do some good work here. Hope things are well at home. Wes
We arrived in Bolivia
After a long plane ride, we finally made it to Bolivia. We spent the afternoon with Danny, Vanessa, Nathaniel, Luciana, Isaiah. It was so good to have an awesome breakfast waiting for us.
After checking into our hotel, we went to these awesome SAND DUNES. Wes is definitely the champion Sand long jumper, Greg wins the SAnd boarding competition, Jason needs oxygen, Ronnie took pictures, and Jay stayed at the hotel and caught a precious nap.
After dinner we will go to the Transition House and listen to Vanessa´s vision. The first day has been exciting. Pray for us tonight that we can see how Brazos Pointe can effectively partner with the the Transition Home and help them reach more young ladies for Christ.
= updated by Ronnie =
After checking into our hotel, we went to these awesome SAND DUNES. Wes is definitely the champion Sand long jumper, Greg wins the SAnd boarding competition, Jason needs oxygen, Ronnie took pictures, and Jay stayed at the hotel and caught a precious nap.
After dinner we will go to the Transition House and listen to Vanessa´s vision. The first day has been exciting. Pray for us tonight that we can see how Brazos Pointe can effectively partner with the the Transition Home and help them reach more young ladies for Christ.
= updated by Ronnie =
Friday, September 11, 2009
And They're Off!
Our Bolivia team left this afternoon. One of the many great things about Bolivia is that it is only one time zone away and one hour different from home! So, as you are praying for them...it is about the same time of day.
On this year's trip our team will go deep into the jungle to dig water wells. They are going to such a remote location that they will even have to canoe several hours to get to the location! What a great adventure.
Another really big element of this trip is that the team will tour the Ruth & Naomi Transition home in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. This is a new venture that our partners, Danny and Vanessa Beams, have started. It is a safe place for orphaned or abused young women. We are getting in on the ground floor of this new ministry. It will be awesome to hear about what the group sees.
Communication will be very limited because of the team being so deep in the jungle. However, check back often. We will update with everything we know, and the team will post before and after from Santa Cruz.
Thanks for praying for this mission! Pray for health and safety, but more importantly for abundant fruit in this ministry!
On this year's trip our team will go deep into the jungle to dig water wells. They are going to such a remote location that they will even have to canoe several hours to get to the location! What a great adventure.
Another really big element of this trip is that the team will tour the Ruth & Naomi Transition home in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. This is a new venture that our partners, Danny and Vanessa Beams, have started. It is a safe place for orphaned or abused young women. We are getting in on the ground floor of this new ministry. It will be awesome to hear about what the group sees.
Communication will be very limited because of the team being so deep in the jungle. However, check back often. We will update with everything we know, and the team will post before and after from Santa Cruz.
Thanks for praying for this mission! Pray for health and safety, but more importantly for abundant fruit in this ministry!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)