Response to your prayers

To our praying partners at OHCC. Thanks for all your prayers concerning our need for an office facility. We have just signed and are getting installed. It is just perfect for our purposes - a real answer to prayer and a great response from God to our steps of faith.
The counselling and teaching ministry is taking of in some unexpected and exciting ways and God is enlarging our network of friends, families, groups. More info soon with a few photos.

We have recently been givien the chance to purpose a small second hand car for ministry purposes. We are interested as it reponds to a real need. We need to see some finances coming together for that (3 500$).

Erwin & Del Henderson

Expect Great Things, Attempt Great Things

EXPECTING GREAT THINGS

The great missionary, William Carry, lived by the motto: “Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.” This summer is a time of attempting great things for God….

Last week kicked-off the busiest season of the year here in Puerto Viejo as we hosted our first short term mission team of the season. My job as the Director of Short Term Missions is to plan for and host these teams in such a way that they enhance on-going ministry with extra skills & activities that groups can bring. It is an extremely busy job this time of year, but so rewarding in the results it brings.

For example, by the end of the short term team season last summer, we had the skate park built and youth ministry started. Teams often enable us to host events and touch people’s lives in ways that we cannot do on a regular basis.

This summer, we have plans to finish the construction at the property (the office, skate trailer, and music café); participate in the community with projects at the preschool and police station; and expand the youth ministry with new participants and by developing youth leaders. We’ll even host the first ever youth retreat for the youth of Puerto Viejo with the help of a visiting team! Needless to say, we expect big things from God as He has proved so faithful in the past.

Please pray with us that God will touch the lives of the 100+ short term team participants as well as the local people. We’re always praying for team members to return as long term staff and, praise the Lord, He’s doing it! One of last week’s participants, a contractor by trade, committed to return and serve with us for a few months this summer!

I’ll keep you updated on all that God is doing as we expect and attempt great things.

BUILD YOUR HOUSE UPON THE SAND?

Last week’s team helped us run a Bible program at the local elementary school. The purpose was to create more awareness about the Kid’s Church we host on Sundays and to get the parents involved. At the end of the week we hosted a Sand Castle Building Contest for the families in the community. Sad, but true of the nature of this place, only the moms showed up, but we still had a great time. Many of them admitted they’d never even built a sand castle before!
One woman, Angela, best illustrates God at work through our fun. She had never heard of the Kid’s Church and was very interested in attending the Spanish house church. Generating this type of awareness and encouraging families to get involved is the first step to seeing lives changed by God. Praise God for a fun opportunity!

Please Pray for Me

· As fun and rewarding as the summer season is, it is also extremely tough on us as staff. Please pray for the health of my team—physically, within families, and in our interpersonal relationships.
· Our only summer intern arrived yesterday and is both living and working with me. Please pray for April that God would use the next 3 months to shape her as a missionary. Please pray for me that I would have wisdom the various relationship roles as roommate, “boss”, and friend/mentor.
· Also, please pray for my personal safety as I travel alone to San Jose a couple of times a week throughout the summer to pick up and drop off teams.

Thank so much for your faithful prayers and financial support. I truly believe that God is able to work through me due to your involvement. I’ll do my best to keep you informed of all God is doing as you continue to partner with me in this ministry.

Serving Joyfully,
TJ Gause

“Look among the nations and watch—Be utterly astounded!
For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you.”
Habakkuk 1:5

Belize & Beyond Mission Update: June 07

Belize and Beyond Mission Update: June 2007

“Not by might nor by power but by My Spirit says the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6

The past month was one of the busiest as one event led to the next, back to back teams, people coming and going! Looking back now it all seemed as if it was months ago that I arrived back from California, but I thank the God for the awesome privilege of co-laboring with Him in Belize.

Amazing Grace Christian Fellowship, Spanish Lookout held its first Men’s Retreat in Hopkins Bay and twenty four of us enjoyed fellowship and had lots of fun. It was good to see the bonds built in the times of studying the Word, praying in small groups and canoed in the Barton Creek Cave. Pastor Mike Lutz from Ocean Hills Church, taught on being a Man of truth and took us threw the Epistles of John. As I glanced across the meeting room my heart was overjoyed as I reflected back over the past six years of knowing many of these brothers and the work of God in their lives and relationship with Him. John the Apostle said it best, “I have no greater joy than to see my children walking in truth.”

He Intends Victory International spent a week in Belize and conducted Seminars in Orange Walk Town, a Northern District, and in San Pedro Town, on Ambergris Caye. The focus of these seminars was to educated, inform and equip the Spanish speaking portion of the Body of Christ and to assist them as they reach out to those infected and affected with HIV/AIDS. It was a great success as the walls of ignorance fell and eyes were opened to the vast opportunities for Churches to join together in giving hope to the hopeless. In San Pedro Town., four local pastors are now working together is forming He Intends Victory San Pedro and making plans to start a support group for those infected and affected in the very near future. We’re so grateful for the partnering of He Intends Victory Ministry with Belize!

Calvary of Albuquerque’s School of Ministry spent a week in the Belmopan area working at Marla’s House of Hope, a home for sexually abused children, doing landscaping and ministering to the children. Laughter filled the Home as the team shared Bible stories by puppets which captivated their attention. The older residents of the home met individually with team members as they sought to help them in making preparation for adulthood while the younger ones enjoyed arts and crafts. The team took a few days on Ambergris Caye where they put on a Children Program and again, the puppet was a big hit. Several kids gave their hearts to Jesus as a result.

Upgrading has begun as Ron Marland, an engineer from GALCOM International and his good friend Lee Meyers arrived in Belize this past week to make analysis and preparation for a permanent tower and antenna. Ron emailed me a month ago and said, “Let’s get started so that the supporters of Lighthouse Christian Radio can be encouraged to hear that the work has begun.” He brought with him an antenna that we can use to get us back at broadcasting 500 watts while they work on our permanent antenna which will increase our coverage area tremendously. We have received permission from the owner of the building where the tower and antenna will be placed and we shared the usefulness of the roof as a canopy will be attached to the tower for shade with decorative planters. We use the roof now for times of fellowship, quiet times and just to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation. We so appreciate the servant’s hearts and attitude of these men as they give of their time and resources. Please continue to pray for the finances for the permanent tower and antenna and for approval from all the various agencies.

We give thanks to the Lord for His provisions as we celebrated a year of having the 3 Apartments next to the Radio Station! The Staff Apartment which houses Dennis and Abner; the Guest Apartment that has been a blessing to many who stayed there this past year, and my apartment. When you are planning a trip to Ambergris Caye, let us know so we can reserve the Guest Apartment for you!

‘Thank you’ to all who responded to the urgent monthly support for my financial needs. After a previous month of very little support and last month without a paycheck, I admit that it was a bit discouraging yet knowing that where God guides, He will provide. The needs are many here in Belize and the fields are ripe for harvest, so pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send out laborers and that can be in the form of senders (supports) as well. Thank you so much for taking the time to read the Updates and for laboring in prayers, support, encouragement and your love.

Please pray for:

The Body of Amazing Grace Christian Fellowship as preparations are being made for a building; for Rudy and family as they journey to Canada this month and for provisions for housing, and work; for interim pastors in his absence and continual growth.

The He Intends Victory San Pedro support group for those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

My monthly financial support as well as finances for Permanent Antenna and Tower.

A season of rest physically, vision for the Radio Station and ministry on Ambergris Caye.

For donations and further information, please contact:

Saving Grace World Mission 714) 993-4801 Ext. 106
17451 Bastanchury Rd. #203
Yorba Linda, CA 92886
In Memo: Welsh/Belize

Contact information in Belize:

PO Box 653 011-501-605-6123
Belmopan, Belize
Central America

Lighthouse Christian Radio 011-501-226-4673
PO Box 166
San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye
Belize, Central America

Blessed to be linked with you in ministry,

Clive Welsh