SETTING THE TONE
Last year's trip stirred up a lot of good ideas. So this trip, a very small team, was to firm up the specifics of a number of new and established initiatives with our partners on the island.
Our surprising first meeting was with Erickson Ramkhelawan representing the International Christian Chamber of Commerce in Trinidad and Tobago. Our connection to him is through our new Business-As-Ministry trac. Men like Erickson are helping us navigate the largely uncharted waters of how business people can use their skills to further God's "Kingdom priorities"
Our meeting set into motion a multi-church conference held in April and another gathering scheduled for the fall of 2009.
OLD FRIENDS, NEW START
Some of our very first medical projects were hosted by our friends at Faith Life Community Church in San Fernando in 1996.
We are working with Pastor Farouk and some of his new leaders to increase the impact of those medical projects and to help them establish new community outreaches.
Faith Life hosted our April business conference from which they hope to mobilize business people who will help them create a church-based "Three-S Center" where poor and indigent people in the neighborhood can get Soup, Soap and Salvation!
REVISITING THE HOUSE OF GOD
The House of God Ministries in Chaguanas is our true base of operations when in Trinidad. Over the years we have seen it transform from a rickety building with little hope of success into a growing, thriving community of believers who are making a difference in their neigborhood.
More men are coming to the church and taking responsibility for their families. Business people are turning their skills and lives over to more spiritual concerns, more young people are getting involved in the life of the church and the King's Kids Primary school is becoming more established in the community.
A LOOK UNDER THE HOOD
We got to peek into a leadership meeting at the House of God as they discussed an up-coming leadership/vision/planning retreat.
One of the recurring themes that we hear in Trinidad (and in America) is that many church leaders are dissatisfied just "doing church". It's very easy to plan events, but what they long for, pray for and plan for is meaningful transformation of people and places.
It is heartening to see these verteran leaders (and new young ones) still fresh for ministry and still very enthusiastic about the difference Jesus can make in them and in those they serve.
We feel priviledged to be a part of their work.
PARANG IN LOPINOT
Parang is a popular kind of folk music that reflects the Caribbean/Spanish influences in Trinidad's history. It comes from a Spanish word, "parranda" that means "to-make-merry".
All of us got into the act while visiting an old French plantation site in Lopinot. Box-basses, maracas, toc-tocs and Mr. Alexander's cuatro (a four stringed guitar) helped to remind us of the infectious joy that is the heart and soul of Trinidad.
CATCHING UP WITH THE KING'S KIDS
Some of the support MissionGuides gets from its generous donors goes to help the King's Kids Primary school. This support has helped to build classrooms, supply books, stock the shelves and support some of the kids who's parents can't afford the tuition.
Pastor Rampaul has told us that this school has reached farther into the community than the church was ever able to in the past.
It was great to see the kids doing their morning routine knowing that another year is coming up and a new classroom will be built this summer with a MissionGuides team.
BUSY HANDS
It's hard to believe that the energy and fizzing motion of all these kids can be wrangled into an orderly classroom by the teachers at the KK. But wrangled they were!
Our friend and partner, Mrs. Rampaul administrates the school and has allowed us to bring teachers and administrators from the U.S. to help train and observe.
We are encouraged to have such a good working relationship with the school and look forward to a small team of helpers going again in June to help pack up the school year and give the students summer packs to keep the fires burning during the long break.
THE OBLIGATORY STAGED PHOTO
One of the great joys of traveling is to see, hear, and touch the work that continues because our donors keep us strong.
Too often, missions is only a "checkbook ministry." Money is tossed into an offering basket and no one knows what really happens to it. But we get the priviledge of taking those donations and giving them directly to partners like Mrs. Rampaul at the King's Kids.
Your most recent contributions covered the complete tuition costs for six kids who were able to finish the remainder of the school year because of it.
Maybe you can't travel with us, but it is our great joy, and priviledge, to represent you when we go. THANK YOU.
For thirteen years our teams eagerly anticipate our one tourist day when we can go to Port-of-Spain to see the sights and buy a few souvenirs.
Lenore is one of our favorite sights at the Sun Tings souvenir shop and has helped us understand what goes on in the city and the hearts of its people.
She is concerned about the future and is unsure of what the economy will do to her business, her employees and all of their futures.
But the Gospel can shine anywhere and was proved when between the t-shirts and the keychains, Lenore shared her unique perspective on life, Jesus and all things spiritual. It was an enriching time and a conversation we look forward to picking up again when we see her this summer.
MISSED THAT FLIGHT FOR A REASON!
As often happens in Trinidad, plans don't go as planned. Our plane needed a part that wasn't available in-country (of course) so our flight got shifted to a much later departure time.
While re-booking we met some new/old friends that we were unable to connect with earlier during the busy week.
We enjoyed breakfast and valuable catching up time with Pastor and Mrs. Nandal. We even took a side trip into the city to spend some time with them.
While spending the day, it became clearer that the Nandals and their fellowship will figure prominently in new ministry work in the future. Thank God for broken airplanes!