Cross-Cultural Ministry Bliss…

takes place when all participants have mutual respect for one another, share openly and honestly, and desire to learn from each other as they work together towards a common goal. This is exactly what was realized this weekend in Mexico and it was amazing!

The EGM-Mexico team has discovered a unique way to teach EGM’s biblical teaching model to children’s leaders. On January 13-15 the team of trainers in Mexico walked Francie Overstreet and Krysten Nortkaitis through their 3 day training course, explaining each step along the way. Francie and Krysten were like sponges trying to soak in every word because since they had observed many teachers who have completed their course and wanted to learn from their experience.

In turn, Francie and Krysten had the opportunity to share the new materials that EGM has recently developed with the Mexican leaders. They were more than receptive.  Francie and Krysten shared the ideas, led them through hands-on activities and engaged in meaningful conversations.

When the weekend was over it was clear to see that God had orchestrated the time together.  Both teams had enjoyed wonderful fellowship, gained an incredible amount of knowledge, and are anxiously looking forward to what God will do in the days ahead as a result.

Daniel’s Story

Daniel Watts and Steve Delph just returned from a fantastic trip to Belarus and Ukraine. The Belarus ministry is nearly twelve years old and is bearing great fruit. This summer the national leaders in Belarus worked with churches to develop over 450 summer camps, serving over 20,000 children. Approximately 40% of those children were non-Christians. They trained children’s workers for camps and provided them with teaching materials based on the EGM Model Children Workers qualities in Deuteronomy 6:4-10. Nearly 7,000 children gave their life to Christ at the camps and Daniel heard numerous testimonies of the transformational work that God did in the lives of boys and girls.

The fall training programs have been launched with over 2,300 children’s workers involved. These workers are serving in over 1,200 local churches. Daniel and Steve had the opportunity to serve with our EGM-Belarus team last Friday and Saturday as they worked with 280 children’s workers from the Minsk region.

A real highlight was the opportunity to distribute Teacher Tool Kits at the conference. Donated by a children’s worker from a church here in the US, we were able to distribute these resource kits (glue sticks, scissors, colored pencils, pipe cleaners, etc.) to children’s workers in Belarus.  The teachers were overjoyed, encouraged and excited to have a new bag of ministry tools! After passing out the kits, the leaders prayed with the teachers. Daniel said, “In that moment I realized that God had bound the hearts of children’s workers in Belarus and the US together in our common desire to see children transformed in Christ”.

Rancho Agua Viva training

     As we walked into the room where Eric, one of the trainers for EGM-Mexico, was reviewing the Model Children’s Worker elements (Deut.6:1-9), it was clear by the smiles and intensity of the thirty students that they were “getting it.”   October 13-15, we (Krysten Norkaitis, David and Francie Overstreet) had the blessing of watching Mexico’s team in action as they trained students attending Agua Viva’s Biblical Institute.  These students come from all over Mexico, its villages, towns, and cities, to this lovely camp just outside of Ensenada.  They are sent by their churches because they are already young leaders who need more training.  All of the students, no matter what level they were already on, eagerly took the training.  They will go back to their churches understanding God’s priority for children to be transformed in Christ and knowing the Biblical process He mandated in Deuteronomy 6.  They worked in small groups to plan a lesson.  Then presented the lesson to their peers and, after evaluation, refined the lessons that were then presented to groups of children.  The lessons were fantastic!  The students will return to their churches highly motivated to act on God’s behalf for children.

     For those of you who have prayed for EGM Mexico, we want you to know that this is an exceptional group of volunteer trainers who are completely committed to the MCW and training others.  So much so that, Elva, one of the teacher trainers, worked with the others to train 45 of the children’s workers in her church, including the pastor!  After hearing from each of them about how God had transformed them as teachers and as leaders, we also heard their strong call from the Lord to reach all those who work with the children of Mexico.  We were encouraged and blessed. 

     Some of you were involved with the sending of the Teacher Tool Kits and we took many to the Mexico training. (See picture attached) Not only were they excited to receive these, but the team leader, Octavio, the country representative, said, “We can have our churches here in Mexico do this for other more needy churches in our own country.”  That is what national ownership is about as they recognize what God wants done and then do it!

Mission Accomplished!

Rick finished strong. He ran it just under his goal time. Now we are enjoying breakfast with him and his family.

Mile 22

Just saw Rick Fortier at mile 22. He was looking really great and is ahead of his hoped pace. His son Will us joining him for the last 4.2 miles.

The race has begun

The LA marathon has begun.  Still no info from our great runner.  We should have an update of where he is on the course soon!

Home safe and sound!

We are safe at home, Praise the Lord.  Our coworker, Krysten Norkaitis, is also back home here in Southern California. 

The EGM Chile office was successfully moved and after all our US moving experiences, it was amazing to see how it is done in Chile.  A couple of young men did most of the really heavy lifting but we were also able to make a significant contribution to the process.  Working alongside our Chilean teammates through this crisis has given us a new love and appreciation for each one.  There's too much to tell but our hearts are full. 

Our departure from the Santiago airport was fascinating.  They have come up with a very creative and relatively efficient way of taking care of thousands of passengers and are using only a small portion of the building to do it.  Check in was in large tents outdoors with giant fans (it was hot!) and we waited in chairs set up under carports where rental cars were normally parked.  There was lots of waiting in long lines (we arrived nearly 5 hours before our flight) but our flight was very close to being ontime.

As our airplane took off, we were looking forward to heading home but at the same time had the overwhelming sense that God had accomplished His purposes on the trip and we wouldn't have changed a thing.  Even the earthquake itself was a big spiritual blessing to us as we experienced the power of God in a new way and felt His loving arms around us. 

You, our praying family, have been a big way God has expressed His presence to us.  "Thank you" falls so far short of the feelings in our hearts. 

Joe and Julie

Update from Krysten

I made it to CHILE!

I arrived this morning on one of the first International flights into Santiago after the devastating earthquake that struck early Saturday morning. My flight consisted of many Chileans who had been out of the country when the earthquake hit. Many people were desperate to get home as they had not seen their family members since the quake and did not know how damaged their houses were. Needless to say the mood was very somber and it was obvious that I had arrived in a country that was mourning.

The Santiago airport building is closed due to major damages. When we landed, the airport staff lined up our bags outside on the ground (see pictures). Once we found them, we had to pass through immigrations, which meant standing in line with our bags while dogs came through sniffing them. Then, we went through passport control where they reviewed our passports and entered the necessary information into their laptops, which were set up on tables outside of the main airport building. Finally, we got into busses that shuttled us to Santiago because the airport roads are closed. When I got off the bus in Santiago, the EGM-Chile director, Daniel Lagos was waiting for me. It was wonderful to see him and catch up on all that had transpired post earthquake.

The EGM-Chile office has a lot of structural damage so the ministry will have to move. At the moment, the ministry is meeting out of a room in the EGM-Chile Director’s church. I met up with the team this afternoon and they were all very excited to see me! I could tell that it meant a lot to them that I decided to come to Chile after the earthquake. I am so glad that I am here!!

I am staying with a dear family outside of Vina del Mar. We have electricity but we don’t have water and it looks like we might not have running water for days. I just took a “shower”. Even though water is a premium here, they heated up some of the water they had saved up so I could take a shower. They set me up with a bucket filled with warm water and a pitcher. They also bought me bottles of flavored sparkling water that I can drink and use to brush my teeth  I am overwhelmed by their generosity and care!

As I shared in my last post, the EGM-Chile team decided not to cancel the meetings and activities that are scheduled for this week. Our itinerary is below.

Please pray that Joe, Julie and I will be an encouragement to the Chilean team as we stand beside them during this difficult time. This catastrophe has caused many people to reflect on their lives and consider what is truly important. Please join me in praying that many would come to the realization that having a relationship with the Lord is the most important thing!

Mar. 3- AM-City Tour, PM- Meeting with EGM-Chile leaders
Mar. 4- EGM-Chile Board Meeting
Mar. 5- EGM-Chile Board Retreat
Mar. 6- All day meeting with church pastors & Conference for Sunday school teachers
Mar. 7- Two Church Services: Sunday school teacher observations & Joe preaches
Mar. 8- Work with EGM-Chile team, possible Sightseeing in Santiago, Travel Home
Mar. 9- Arrive in US

Pictures From Chile

Ministry in Chile continues (see previous post), yet all around there are reminders of the earthquake that has rocked this country.  The news now tells us that this quake was so strong that it actually tilted the earths axis.  Please continue to pray for this country, especially the church leaders who are responding to the hurts within their communities.

Damage in Vina Del Mar area

Damage part 2

Damage part 3

Lunch with church leaders after church on February 28th.

Pictures from Peru

Enjoy these Pictures from Peru!

EGM's Poster on the church bulletin board.

Pastor of Betania church - a model children's ministry leader! 

Kids at Betania church

Pastor of Betania Church participating in Children's Ministry!  This man understands that Children's ministry is an important part of God's plan for the church!