A New Year

This year is bringing many changes into our lives as we prepare to move to Pan de Vida Orphanage this summer.  A dear friend of mine from the mission field, sent me this poem that sums up my perspective. I am so Thankful that God has put brothers and sisters in my life to encourage me on this journey.  It can be very overwhelming at times.  Thank you all!

A New Year With The Lord

A new year is about to unfold
With new opportunities to explore
Doors will open for new experiences
New adventures with the Lord


Remember not the former things

The things of this past year
The Lord will do new things in us
Much more than we are aware



For He will make a way for us

As we put our trust in Him
And He will guide our every step
By His presence we have within



What God has placed within our hearts

We find we’ll be able to do
If we look for the opportunities
We’ll see the door to go through



We mustn’t let anything hold us back

But rise up and take our place
And be all that God wants us to be
With a fresh touch of His grace



© By M.S.Lowndes

El Salvador 2007 OCC/Eye~Medical Clinics

Since I have returned from El Salvador, I have been reflecting on my experience and wanting to write an entry.  In doing so, I realized that words cannot capture the greatness of God.  As I sit here now I am listening to the song FIRE FALL DOWN by Hillsong.  It is one of the worship songs we sang every evening.  In the beginning I just mumbled through and wanted so much to just be able to sing a song I was more familiar with.  Now as I listen to it, it takes me right back to that place and the wonderful people I served with.  It will always be a real Spirit lifter for me.  We also sang Amazing Grace to a different tune.  I think it is a "you have to be there" thing.  Nevertheless, I truly believe music speaks to the soul. 


I have decided to post a few pictures instead of writing a long Testimony about the trip. The team consisted of about 80 youth, and 20 other people who were team leaders, part of the "Medical Brigade", communications and other ministries.  The youth were divided into 8 teams.  Each day 2 teams per bus were dispersed to different locations.  The object was to present the Gospel to the locals through shoebox distribution, medical~eye clinics, soccer clinic and house building.  We always go to allow God to work through us and we each learn so much in return.  So here are a few pictures of the experience. 


Eye clinic

Team Building Mailbox

House Building

Blind Boy with Wayne

Last evening in El Salvador on the edge of a salt water pool built on the side of a cliff joining the ocean.

There are no Coincidences!

Bobbi & Rachel 2006 Dulce Refugio Mission

Veronica (Vero) resident of Pan de Vida now at Dordt College

I just had to post this testimony to the greatness of God and how He reveals how He is working in our lives.
In 2005 Ira and I were asked to lead an eye clinic with a team from Chatham Ontario.  This would actually be the first trip we would be going on that we would not know any of the other participants.  The mission was at the orphanage Pan de Vida (Bread of Life).  Pan de Vida was home to Vero and her siblings for many years.  We met her there in 2005.

In 2006, a local team...the Bluenosers would be going to do a work project and eye clinic in Aguascalientes.  The Orphanage is Dulce Refugio (Sweet Refuge).  It is 3 hours from Pan de Vida and is being built on same vision.  Both of these Orphanages will be under the new Children of Hope Organization.  I was a part of this team in 2006 and we stopped to spend 2 nights at Pan de Vida.

Rachel...in Spanish means Raquel...so that is how I address her...she doesn't mind...it is something that connects us to the memory of our service together.  After our 2005 trip to Pan de Vida, I had Raquel's address, we had brief contact in trading pictures and hellos.  As usual after some time and other "life" things with each of us, the contact became less frequent.  She still remained on my MSN messenger and I kept her updated to the trips I had been going on and I prayed often for her.  She was just that special person that I connected with on this particular trip.

When I found out that I would be going to Dulce Refugio and stopping in for a visit to Pan de Vida, I buzzed Raquel on messenger and told her about it.  Of course in the excitement, the memories resurfaced and just the joy of what we do in serving God was stirred.  A couple of days later, I received and e-mail from Raquel telling me how she had looked through the photos and how she wished she was going, etc.  I told her to Pray about it and not limit God's ability and that I would also Pray for her.  To make a long part of the story short...God opened the door for Raquel...from Ontario, to join the team from Nova Scotia on a mission trip to Aguascalientes, Mexico.

While we were at Pan de Vida the first Sunday, during Sunday School....Ana...Vero's older sister shared her testimony on her life, how she and her siblings had ended up at Pan de Vida and what God was now doing in their lives.  By the way, Ana is married to a missionary, Jeremy, and they are currently serving at Dulce Refugio.  In her testimony, she shared how one of her younger sisters would be leaving for University in the states.  She had received a scholarship to attend Dordt Christian College in IOWA!  Guess what?  Raquel had finished her first year and would be returning for a 2nd yr at Dordt Chrisitan College in IOWA!  Just thinking about how God brought these 2 girls together through an Orphanage in the mountains of Mexico to a college in IOWA...that is no coincidence!! 


The Yard Sale

I have had a yard sale every year as part of my fundraising efforts toward my trips.  This yard sale was different.  Now that Ira and I are going to be moving to Pan de Vida into 1 room, we definitely had to make the decision to let go of our belongings.  We went through our building of seasonal items/storage and did just that.  We had things that we truly treasured....not worshiped.  As hard as it may have seemed it would be, I have to tell you that it wasn't.  Actually, after it was over, I cannot even remember what some of the items were. Another thing I realized was that things that I thought were meaningful, they really were not.  When the yard sale was over, I placed things to the curb for free and still no one was interested.  It is all just stuff.   However, there are some things that we did keep that our children may want someday, our earthly treasures of photos, journals etc. We have downsized from a barn full to 3 boxes.  In the spring we will have to make decisions about the furniture and big items in the house, but for now, we have let go of the small stuff.  We feel so much lighter.  God tells us that the service under the yoke of His authority will not make us weary.  


Matthew 11:28-30  "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Preparing for El Salvador

I am sorry this post is a bit delayed but as the usual excuse goes, I didn't want to post until I had time to sit down and really capture the testimony of what God is doing.  I have been invited to lead another eye clinic for Samaritans Purse Dec 9-19/2006 in El Salvador.  It is an outreach clinic associated with the Operation Christmas Child (OCC) shoebox distribution.  The shoeboxes go to places all over the world but this particular distribution is the big Youth Event. So far I believe there are 81 teens approved to go from the US and canada.   Last yaer I was Blessed to do the clinic with the OCC youth event in Belize and 100 teens. 

It was at this time that I learned how much I Love working with the teens. I also learned that the shoebox distribution is much more than passing out a shoebox full of items to children.  Last year when we arrived at the YWAM base where we would be staying, I thought the teens had all come from one area.  It was if they had known each other all along but they were all just meeting for the 1st time.  I think there were 2 brother/sister teams and the rest were individuals from different places.  Paul Brandt, the country music singer, was also on the trip.  He has a very interesting testimony and a passion to use his music as a ministry for Jesus.

Samaritans Purse Youth Coordinator, Erin, had done a wonderful job of organizing the teams.  At orientation the teams were then divided into different ministries for distributions.  They had music, skits, drime(drama acted to song), and children's ministry...face painting, balloon figures, games, etc.  Each distribution takes about 2 hours.  After setting up, the youth do their ministry, then there is the Salvation message of the birth and resurrection of Jesus.  This then leads up to the gift message and passing out of the shoeboxes.  Then the youth help the children to explore the treasures that people have given to them because of the love they have for Jesus.

At the warehouse, the shoeboxes have Christian tracks added to them.  The children love reading material and want this read to them.  I would also encourage people who read this and pack shoeboxes to enclose a card/letter along with photo of you and your family.  The children absolutely LOVE this and it personalizes the gift for them.

I didn't want to make this too long, as I had mentioned before, I could do a short story on each trip. Another thing that excited me about the opportunity to go on this trip was that SP had heard Ira and I were going to Pan de Vida for long term Ministry.  They were not sure when or if we were already there but they would have made arrangements for me to join them from Mexico if I had been. The reason I find this so exciting is because God had provided the eye glass clinics as a ministry through SP and when Ira was called to Pan de Vida, I wondered where, or if,  the eye glass Ministry would fit in. Our ministry at Pan de Vida will be through Children of Hope, but there may be times that we partner with SP teams in projects and outreaches which will include the eye clinics.  No matter what I am doing, I know God has a use for me and that is the most exciting part of all. 

Just so you can get idea of the size of a Youth Event team, I am attaching the "crazy" group photo from last year.   In addition to the youth, there are team leaders, communication crews, base directors, etc.  Please Pray for us all as we logistically and spiritually prepare.


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