Calvary Chapel Kendall Missions

Don’t know what to expect? Here are the most asked questions from last year’s team.

1. What if you’ve never talk to people about God in Spanish?

It’s ok, don’t worry. Many team members are fluent in Spanish and the Calvary Chapel Bible College will provide us with a translator/guide to help us out. Remember that talking to anybody about God can be nerve wracking, we’ll pray together, we’ll give you verses in Spanish, and most importantly we encourage you to start practicing with your abuela!

2. What if you don’t like the food, will we have another option?

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. You will never be forced to eat anything “weird” or dangerous. However, we do expect you to take a leap of faith concerning ministry and concerning your comfort zone. If worst comes to worst, Jesus fasted for 40 days

3. Do Peruvians wear formal clothes to church?

Most do, however, we will be serving with Calvary Chapel Ministries. All the Calvary Ministries within Peru dress much like we do here at CCk.

4. How much money should we bring?

The amount you pay covers all food, airfare, transportation, and lodging. The only things that you’ll have to pay for are any souvenirs (if you have time) and extra food. About $100 should be more than enough!

5. Is there air conditioning?

There is no air conditioning anywhere that we’ll be going! This is not a joke! However, you won’t need any air conditioning, the weather is cool at night and slightly warm during the day.

6. Do we need to bring shampoo, conditioner, soap, etc?

Yes you will need toiletries, but you can either take them with you or visit a grocery store the first day in Peru to buy what you need. It’s usually alot easier to for the team to pool their money together and buy what you need.

7. Where are we staying?

We will be staying at the Calvary Chapel Bible College in Lima, Peru for a couple days but most of the time will be spent with Calvary Pisco.

8. Are we allowed to drink the water?

NO! We cannot drink the tap water! But we will have bottled water and juice available.

9. Is there something that I shouldn’t take?

Anything that will distract you from God, from fellowship, and from serving. This is a time to interact with people, this is not a time to watch movies, listen to your ipod, or iron your hair!

10. Is there something that I have to take?

Yes! You have to bring your Bible and your willingness to put your own interests aside and serve the Lord, His church, and each other.

Once again the time has come for Pastor Jose to lead a team from our Youth Group down to Peru. This is our favorite time of year as we see young people fully commit their lives to living and preaching the Gospel.

We will have more details coming up about the trip so stay tuned……..

Peru Team 2009

Dear Family,

One of our dear friends and family members  is a missionary in Quepos, Costa Rica. He has an opportunity for a male, short term missionary to go down there to serve alongside him for a period of 2-3 months volunteering in a drug rehab center.

“Obviously they need to be believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.

They need to be self supported and we can help in finding a place for them to stay.

Spanish would be a plus but the men in the house have a bit of English to help.

We would love to have someone come along that is mature enough and knowledgeable enough to guide and train the men in the center.

This would be in Sept.-Oct. or even Nov.

This is a win/win situation for anyone needing to give someone further outlook at ministry and life and we would benefit greatly from their part in helping this ministry move forward.”

This is a great opportunity for someone wishing to serve the Lord full time for a short season. Calvary Chapel Kendall has sent a missions team to this ministry so we have seen first hand the great need that is there. If you’re interested, email us at missions@calvarykendall.com.

Dear Friends and Family,

Darwin and I just wanted to send out a little update to let you know what is new! First off thank you all so very much for your prayers, support and encouragement! You help us serve here and for that we are very thankful!

Recent events:

1. The Bible College just began for this semester! The first class offered is Christ in the Profesies. Darwin says it is amazing so far. Please pray for the students, that they will be able to complete the class and that they will be blessed by the teaching.

2. Darwin is continuing to teach the book of Mark in the Animal Market. The people are comming with a hunger for the word!  Please continue to pray for Darwin as well as those that are hearing the word each week in the “Pecuaria.”

3. Youth group is going strong, please pray for the worship band as they are making a few changes. Pray for Wilson the youth leader as well as the youth that are attending every Saturday night.

4. We had a visit from my sister –in-law Ruth. We were super blessed to have her come stay with us for a little over a week. She helped me out so much as I was still suffering with Morning sickness! It was such a blessing to have our dear Ruth with us!

5. Fifteen weeks and counting! Our new addition is about the size of an orange now. Please continue to pray for the health of the baby. I am now doing very well having moved into a new stage of pregnancy and out of the horrible morning sickness! God is good! Also please pray for the our financial needs with a new baby on the way.

6. The 10th of April we will be hosting a soccer ternament for the local youth. The purpose of the event is to share the gospel with the youth and LORD willing win many young souls for the Him! Please pray for Darwin and Wilson as they are incharge of all the details.

7. Also April 26-31 Darwin will be heading up to Porcorn Bajo to teach a group of local church leaders several different computer programs, so that they will be better equipted to continue their translation of the Old Testiment. They will be translating it into the local launguage Quechua. Also please pray for safe travels for Darwin and Mr. Opland, another missionary that will be driving and accompaning Darwin.

Darwin and I pray that this email finds you content in the Lord, serving Him where you are. We are thankful for your part in our lives. God bless you and keep you.

Darwin, Annie and Baby

Text SP to 85944 to partner with Samaritans Purse for Haiti relief. Best $10 you’ll ever spend in your life.

Haiti Info from Calvary Chapel Kendall on Vimeo.

The U.S. Department of State issued the following Travel Warning on January 14:

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the situation in Haiti and urges them to avoid travel to Haiti in the aftermath of a powerful earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12.  An earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale struck near Port Au Prince, followed by multiple aftershocks.  The U.S. Embassy is working to ascertain the extent of the damage and check on the status of U.S. citizens around the island.  The Department of State has ordered nonemergency U.S. government personnel to depart Haiti.  This Travel Warning expires on February 13, 2010.

There are reports of extensive damage, and communications remain extremely difficult.  Additional aftershocks remain a possibility.  A Tsunami Watch for Haiti and neighboring islands issued by the Pacific Tsunami Alert Center has expired.

U.S. citizens in Haiti should remain in shelter.  If exposed when an aftershock hits, take steps to avoid falling debris by getting to as open a space as possible, away from walls, windows, buildings and other structures.  If indoors, take shelter under a heavy table or desk, or in a doorway.  Avoid damaged buildings, and obey all instructions from local authorities.  Do not use matches, lighters, candles or other flame in case of disrupted gas lines.  Avoid downed power lines.

Evacuation flights have begun to depart the International Airport in Port-au-Prince.  U.S. citizens wishing to depart Haiti should make their way to the airport during early daylight hours, in as safe a manner as possible.  They are encouraged to bring their passport and identification, if available, and food, water and supplies, if possible, as facilities at the airport are limited to nonexistent.

If possible, U.S. citizens in Haiti should contact friends and relatives outside of Haiti to inform them of their welfare.

The U.S. Embassy in Port Au Prince has set up a task force at the Embassy which is taking calls as conditions permit.  The Embassy is working to identify U.S. citizens in Haiti who need urgent assistance and to identify sources of emergency help.

U.S. citizens are urged to contact the Embassy via email at ACSPaP@state.gov to request assistance.  U.S. citizens in Haiti can call the Embassy’s Consular Task Force at 509-2229-8942, 509-2229-8089, 509-2229-8322, or 509-2229-8672.  The State Department has also created a task force to monitor the emergency.  People in the U.S. or Canada with information or inquiries about U.S. citizens in Haiti may reach the Haiti Task Force at 888-407-4747.  Outside of the U.S. and Canada, call 202-501-4444.  For further information and updates, please see the State Department’s Consular Affairs website.

First, pray.

Second, give.

In an emergency situation reputable aid groups need finances. Samaritan’s Purse has a long history of working in some of the most dangerous and desolate countries on Earth. They have had a team in Haiti since it was hit by a hurricane a little over a year ago, they were also one of the first aid groups to put Doctors, medical supplies, and temporary shelter on the ground in Port au Prince. They are large enough to make an enormous impact and small enough to make decisions quickly, they are also a Christian organization and seek to glorify the Lord with their activities. Take a look at this video.

If your home church is Calvary Chapel Kendall and you have family in Haiti, email us at missions@calvarykendall.com.

Are you blessed with a little extra cash this Christmas? Are you thinking of buying a gift for a missionary? We’re going to tell you what you should be buying your missionaries, and what you should stay away from.

Top 5 BEST gifts for Missionaries

iTunes gift card- You can’t go wrong with an iTunes gift card. Why? Because you don’t need to mail anything, clear customs, pay for shipping, or any of the other hurdles to sending gifts overseas. You just buy the gift card and email the card number to your favorite missionary and you’re done, Merry Christmas.

Amazon Kindle- Check out www.amazon.com for a device that has revolutionized reading. If you can hand deliver it, then it’ll make a great Christmas gift. In the following Christmases you can give them Amazon gift cards to help them fill it up.

All inclusive vacation- I know it’s kind of expensive but in many developing countries you can buy a 5 day all inclusive vacation for just $400-$500 including flights. None of my “co-workers” ever turned down a vacation in Turkey.

Frequent Flier Miles/Buddy Passes- This is a blessing of enormous magnitude. If you have accumulated miles that you don’t mind donating, or if you have a friend/relative that works in the airline business who can hook you up with a buddy pass then you are an angel sent from the Lord Himself. Give this to a missionary and you will always have a fervent prayer partner in your corner.

Cash- At the end of the day, cash is king. Please don’t send cash or checks anywhere, technology has eliminated the need to send real cash. Deposit some money in their missionary fund, pay-pal, or directly in their bank account and you will have given them a merry christmas.

Top 5 WORST gifts for Missionaries

Food- Food can go either between best gifts or worst gifts. Many missionaries would love a well timed delivery of snickers bars, but the problem is shipping. Although brownies that stay in customs for 5 days are still edible, and sometimes still delicious, they may not be very healthy for you. Homemade goodies will probably go bad and store bought goodies will carry a hefty customs tax, if they don’t disappear. Most of the time, food goes on the worst list.

Anything you have to ship- First you have to find the shipping agency, then you have to wait in line for hours, then you have to pay $60 worth of taxes on a package that cost the sender $50 to put together. After that, you return to your car and see that you have a ticket on your windshield. The $50 package cost the missionary almost $150. True story.

Alcohol- At Christmas time, most people keep a few good bottles of wine on the shelf, ready to dish them out at the next few dinner parties, but this is not suitable for your friendly third world missionary. Most missionaries don’t drink, nope, not even a sip. Sometimes their sending agencies or churches have a “dry” clause, or alcohol may be a temptation for your missionary, or maybe it’s looked down upon in the culture in which they serve. In any event, even if you can personally deliver it, don’t give it.

Best Selling Christian Book- Surprise! Most missionaries are not interested in the latest Christian self-help, mysticism, philosophical, motivational, christian books that the rest of the United States is interested in. Believe it or not but Dr. Phil books are not on my reading list or on the reading list of any missionaries that I know.

Hand Me Downs- Gifts yes, old, ratted, worn out, dirty clothes, no. Give your best to God and your old clothes to Goodwill.