"Lisa," I was asked, "why did you stay in missions for 30 years?"

In the end and in the beginning, I believe it has been God's purpose for me and so He has given me the drive to stick to this one thing and persevere.
I wanted to make a difference for Christ.

I wanted to make a mark in Christian camping.

I love what I do and can’t see myself doing anything else.

I love those with whom I work.

At a pivotal stage, soon after my mother passed away, a mentor of mine, Sibyl Towner, shared how she had stayed the post at her role in Family Ministries for 25 years at College Hill Pres. in Cincinnati and eventually saw how the church ministry joined with the camp ministry and left enduring change for Christ’s Kingdom. That comment inspired me.
God gave me a firm launching pad with my parent's faith, solid church backing and excellent pastoral support over the years. My youth pastor, Jay Passavant wrote a blog post about the role of perseverance (see link- Blog by Pastor Jay Passavant on me)

As a child, I saw how my father admired Naomi Sutter’s sticking with her mission work on the Papago Indian Reservation and her example inspired me. 

Pastor Jay Passavant and I (at 16 years of age) serving Naomi Sutter on the Papago Indian Reservation.

What to do…

...when I needed an unusual piece of furniture built?

...when I needed to convert a set of shelves into a chest of drawers?

...when I needed someone to build ropes course elements?

...when I needed someone to supervise the construction of a house? 

...when I needed someone to fix something at camp, or at our house, or in one of the Sunday School classrooms?

...when I needed someone to watch the house while our family was traveling?

...when I needed someone to teach Short-term missions teams to make cement?

The answer is the same for all the above questions: I would call Don Carlos Romero. (see pictures on the blog)

Carlos Romero passed away into the presence of the Lord tonight.

Alfredo’s aunt, MariaElena, introduced me to him in November, 1998 and he has been working with us intermittently since then. Every time we received a work team, Don Carlos would gladly participate with us, often traveling the week before to the campsite to advance on the project, then once we arrived he would supervise the workers and teach the North Americans to make cement! The last team Don Carlos accompanied us with was this past July in El Salvador when we built low ropes course elements. His specialty was building 12-foot climbing walls.  

He was 88 years old and still very spry for his age. 

I can’t tell you the number of projects he would be recruited to build, everything from wooden guns for Victor, to a reading nook/loft, closet, and desk for Valerie, shelves for my office, and furniture to hold all my Creative Memory photo albums (which he equipped with light bulbs to dissipate the humidity), office closet and desk for Alfredo, …. He even built a gazebo for us from a huge pine tree that fell down in our front yard. 

Don Carlos was a very humble man, a Nicaraguan, who had lived in Honduras for the last 30 years, serving with us off and on for the last 18 years. He had a servant heart and our family, plus those who would visit our home, and all the short-term missions teams developed a special affection for him. 

He often reminded me of my father, both were very handy, and could fix just about anything. When my father passed away, I brought back a number of his tools to give to Don Carlos for him to use is his carpentry  workshop.

We will miss him greatly. There's not a room in the house where his hand-prints can't be found. We have many memories of special  moments shared together.  During one of the many long drives we would take to Fountain of Life Camp outside of San Pedro Sula, he told me his life story and I was able to present the gospel to him and he assured me that he spoke to God frequently and believed that Jesus was his Savior. I look forward to seeing him in heaven. 

Short-term Missions Team in Costa Rica

Leader’s Cabin, Camp Roblealto, Costa Rica

We sit in a circle, a team formed of folks from Pittsburgh, Panama and Honduras. Fifteen folks who will not meet all together again until we are at the feet of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, but for this week are enjoying a growing sense of family.

Valerie laid against my legs and as she looked at the song sheet, she whispered: Whenever we sing, I get so calm and tranquil inside.

Robert Bruneau, took the guitar and asked us to open our hymnal (our Bible) and we sang directly from Psalms 117, 48, and 46—in Spanish. Patrick, director of Ligonier Camp & Conference Center (outside of Pittsburgh) asked for lots of repetition to try and get those words down—he tended to lapse into French!

Afterward, Victor and Valerie and Nicole (Robert & Nina Bruneau’s daughter) climbed up to Victor’s bunk & held their flashlights high in the air to shine down on their books-When I checked in, Nicole said: We're having a reading party! Victor was reading Lord of the Rings, book 1, Nicole was enjoying the cartoon-like illustrations of my Games Encyclopedia and Valerie was reading a mystery. Their delight to be together is matched by their parents’ delight to be together again.

Alfredo is home in Honduras holding down the fort and the children and I are here to accompany this team made up of folks from Ligonier Camp and First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh. Our goal has been to build an innovative playground for Camp Roblealto and here are the results:

We'd love to have you join us in prayer for:

• Pray for the reminder of our time with the team, Oct. 5-11, for each of us to sense God’s direction for our lives, and for the five full-time staff members from Ligonier to deepen in their love for this Camp.

• Pray for the additional four days during which the kids & I will have special family time with Robert & Nina, to create unforgettable family memories as well as to freely discuss important issues Christian Camping International, Latin America.

I liked being an answer to someone's prayer

So said Chuck Doren (husband of the Short-Term Missions leader Henrietta Doren) to the group of 30 Honduran Host families, translators, CCI LA/Honduras volunteers who gathered in our home to share testimonies and thank the 7 North Americans for their labor of love.
Chuck was referring specifically to the prayers of Josue Cruz, the caretaker/director of King's Castle Camp. Josue has shared how he had kept praying for the project not to be canceled when the crisis broke out in Honduras and their finances dwindled due to several USA work teams canceling their trips as well as Honduran guest groups canceling their retreats (all due to the fear that has gripped the country since the President was forcefully removed from office).
Josue prayed and prayed because he knew how mighty a tool in God's hands a ropes course can be.
What power lay in such simple elements as these?
God uses well trained facilitators like these to do wonders:
During the two day retreat designed to minister to the 70 King's Castle leaders, God's wonders included the following:
Deep community was fostered amongst the participants:
Deep healing was prompted by the Holy Spirit as people worked through their fears (fear of falling is often evidenced during the Trust Fall)
Deepened understanding of teamwork:












Yes, I agree, there's nothing like being an answer to someone's prayer.

Update on the Short-Term Missions Team from North Way Christian Community

Our first day at camp on Monday, Aug. 3, 2009 we joined forces with a team of Hondurans from Christian Camping International and King's Castle.

As a team, our first goal was to build a ropes course--The area we selected to build them in is full of ferns so we call it: "Acertijos entre Elechos" (Fern Forest Ropes Course).
Mike Gundel, Chuck Doren, Byron Gibbs and Joche carried the telephone poles into the forest as our dear carpenter's Carlos Romero (almost 80 years old!) directed them.
The girls were right behind them with Vicky Gundel and Diane Synder!

We have to hand it to this crew, moving that wood around was an arduous job! Go Mike!


Henri started out by attacking that dangerous looking stump that was in the middle of the path! Rogelio Euceda Martinez (Alfredo's nephew) helped out!

I (Lisa) am blessed to have an entire support crew who helps us each year we host work teams (from right to left--Don Ramon, Valerie, Alejandra -Alfredo's cousin, Henri, Victor and Don Carlos)


We'll continue with more updates soon!

Short-Term Missions Team's Safe Arrival to Honduras

We are thankful to the Lord for the safe arrival of 7 North Americans from North Way Christian Community. As one of my home churches, we are grateful they braved the alarmist reports and proceeded on with their plans to help serve a member camp of Christian Camping International in Honduras by building an entire ropes course! Here's Victor and Valerie excitedly waiting for their arrival, dressed in their Honduran soccer shirts and holding welcome signs.

Here are the four Honduran host families with whom they are staying this weekend, anxiously awaiting their arrival to the Tegucigalpa Airport.



Quite on time, the group arrived and the host families and guest-goers were united!

Here's our fearless leader, Henri and Chuck exchanging money at the airport for personal expenses over the weekend while with their host family.


We will be at camp from Monday to Sunday (Aug. 3-9) but will try and post as often as we can!

Feel free to share your comments and prayers!

Long term results from Short term missions trips--A North American perspective

As I mentioned in the previous post, by taking the time to trace God's handiwork through short term missions trips, Henri Doren (my co-leader) we have discovered some long lasting fruit resulting from this brief forays into Honduras. (the pic to the left is from a reunion of past work team members this past Thanksgiving in Pittsburgh)

• Derek: "We helped organize the trip from the State's side, then brought them to Honduras. This served as a wonderful preparation for our current missionary service in China where we have served for the past 7 1/2 years. It was good to see a missionary like Lisa on the field who could serve as an example to us."
• Holly: "Someone backed out at the last minute at giving their testimony and I reluctantly took their place. Speaking in public was one of my worst fears (still is) BUT, from that point on I was to share my testimony to every single taxi driver in China where we have served, together with my husband Derek, for the last 7 1/2 years. I am grateful for the training ground that Honduras was for our current ministry in China. I appreciate Lisa's timely advice and encouragement over the years."
  
• Diane: "When in Honduras I had an opportunity to interact with children during Vacation Bible School at a refugee camp for victims of Hurricane Mitch. This time sparked a connection with children that set me on a course upon my return to go to college to become an elementary school teacher. God is awesome!"
• Ann: "I have grown in sensitivity to intercultural "spiritual gifts" which we can draw out from one another, learn from one another and pass on to others."
• Teresa: "The hardships I experienced on these trips have enabled me to endure challenges in my job like when my co-workers are disgruntled with me, giving me a hard time because I love my job, excel at it, and am joyful. I know God is in control."
• Steve: "In 1999 I went to Honduras with my parents and sister. As a result, it had a lasting impact by deepening my relationships within my family."
• Corina: "I have felt affirmation for the gifts God has given me.
• " It's not wrong, it's different, we were taught to say. God has broadened my worldview to include more of the world --to accept other cultures, other points of view, and to have more grace."
• "It helps me to remember that God is bigger than my culture and what I can immediately see. It is eye opening and helps me keep perspective on who we are in Christ." (the picture to the right shows the work team members together with the Honduran volunteers cooling off in the creek at Fountain of Life Camp.)
  
• "Since going on several trips, I now have greater confidence in leading groups and I have found my niche for service in my church and beyond.

What a privilege that God has chosen us to play a small part in His overall plan for bringing signs of His Kingdom here on earth!