Ireland Update #2

Yesterday morning, our team really did a great job in caring for the kids of VCD. VCD has gone to 2 celebrations, and they team split and took on all the family ministry for the church from ages 0 to 12. From there we had lunch and then brought all our team together for a team meeting, just to check how everyone was doing. Alton and I wanted to check in with how they doing emotional and physically. We had a nice but long (2 hours!) time of bonding which really took our team to the next level and got us ready to serve on today. In the evening we got to finally meet the VCD CRASH team for an overview of the week and ministry time. Boy, did God really show up!!! We prayed for impartations and for the power of God to operate through us.

This morning did our first kids club. Last year the most kids they got at the kids club was approx 90. Well this morning, we hit 95 on the first day! It was awesome!

The weather here has been for the most part beautiful. We had some scattered showers here today but they are brief followed by sunshine. So please keep up your prayers for pretty weather!

Thanks for your prayers and continue to ask God for the supernatural to be poured out this week through our team for the glory of HIS name!

Ireland Photos

At the airport...so excited to be going to IRELAND!




At the hotel....morning devotions. Sweet time with God.




Protestant St. Patrick's Cathedral in Armah





Catholic St. Mark's Cathedral in Armah

Goofing off at the Cathedrals!





Sightseeing in downtown Dublin

Ireland Team 09 Update #1

Well it is 1:00 a.m. on Sunday morning and it has been a full couple of days! We did not have free internet access until this evening, which is why we have not been able to update sooner.

We arrived safe and sound Friday morning, with most of us getting little to no sleep on the plane. It was not because the movies were so good that we wanted to stay up and watch them, but that the seats were just so uncomfortable. It could be summed up by Alton's one phrase to me as were were getting off the plane. "My butt is numb!". But it did not dampen the enthusiasm of the team because we were just so excited to be in Ireland!

We were met at the airport by a coach, with a driver that could not speak English (Polish) and did not know the directions of how to find our hotel. So our 1/2 hour to the hotel ended up being a 2 hour adventure circling Dublin. After taking naps and showers in our hotel rooms, we split up into 3 groups and went to explore Dublin on the hop on/hop off bus. We learned some things about the city and most of us ended up walking for several hours around downtown and having a good time exploring. About 8 pm, Michelle Scott came to have dinner with us at our hotel. After dinner several went to bed and we went out exploring again with Michelle to find a this wonderful diner on the River that served desserts and coffee. Much laughing, bonding and feasting ensued!

This morning we had our devotional in the hotel, then headed off to view the Protestant and the Catholic Cathedrals in Armah. Both cathedrals were ornate and stunning to look at. (Pictures will be coming soon!) After sightseeing in Armah, we headed to Dungannon to be dropped off at our host homes. It really did feel like the host homes were handpicked by God for each of the team members. We will hit the church tomorrow for 2 celebrations where our team will be serving in children's, hospitality and Alton teaching.

Our weather has been beautiful and the temperature has stayed around 68 to 70 with partly cloudy skies. Please pray that the weather continue to stay beautiful, especially as we begin to serve next week.

The team has bonded very well and it feels like we are set to move into the week with unity! Thanks for all your prayers, we can feel 'em!

More to come tomorrow....

Medical Outreach

The VCC community really shined through today during our 7 hour medical outreach. By the end, we saw over 175 people who lived in many surrounding villages. Everyone went above and beyond in the areas that they were working. Some were working with the hundreds of kids who were waiting for their parents or themselves to be seen; there were volunteers assessing the condition of people and checking vitals; traffic controllers under the medical tents; people praying over the patients; and some who distributed medicine. It was like a well oiled chaotic machine! Without everyone cooperating and working together, we would not have been able to accomplish as much as we did! There were 3 Nigerian doctors and an American missionary pharmacist who joined us.

Even though we saw so much desperation and despair it was encouraging to be able to share the word of our Lord and let them know that these “weird” Americans cared enough to fly across the world to visit them. We distributed medicine to alleviate some pain and cure some minor ailments.

Some of our team was able to build wooden bins that the village doctor will use to store the medical supplies that Back2Back will supply for him. His simple “office” will be transformed by the storage units we have built and the examination table we plan to build tomorrow.

Please pray for the time we will spend in the Market, and then continuing our medical mission work at the Kisayip village!!

Drilling a Bore Hole

Today we went to the Jebbu Miango Village to visit with the people of Tabitha Evangel Ministries and the current recipients of the 50th bore hole! The drill team was on site actively drilling as we visited with the people. Binta, the founder of Tabitha, shared her amazing testimony of how God called her out of Islam and into Christianity and the persecution she went through because of it. This has led her to minister to people who are facing the same persecution and exile and describes this as a ministry to "Muslims who met Christ."

The day is described by many as the "best one yet" as we had the whole day to really spend with the people in this village. We played soccer, danced, painted nails, gave out hand massages, made beaded necklaces and laughed and laughed. The children were reluctant to even smile at the beginning of the day, but by the end, we had coaxed one out of each of the children. God truly blessed the outreach we did in the Jebbu Miango Village today.

We did stay as long as we could to watch the drill team and hope and pray to see clean water. Alas, we had to leave for the day without witnessing the clean water, but was a surreal experience to see the drill in action. We were able to see water, though it was thick with mud, as it sprayed us all in the process. It was thrilling to be covered in that mud, knowing that shortly the water would be clear and clean!

Friday we plan to do a medical outreach in the village. Please pray for our safety, health, energy and wisdom in treating as many patients as possible.

Wednesday's Update

Today we ventured to the Oasis House. This house is the future home for the CLAPAI children Back2Back serves. The scenery was magnificent—it seemed that God had just dropped boulders from the sky. We climbed to the top to survey the property and eat our lunch. Children from both the village and the Filani, a nomadic people group, joined us on the trek up the “mountain.” It was amazing to see them climb skillfully to the top, some in bare feet and some only in flip flops! Once everyone was atop the “mountain” we took pictures, ate lunch and distributed some cookies and sandwiches to the children.

After lunch we went back to the Oasis house and were divided into groups to complete various tasks. Some painted ceilings, some made benches, and others dug holes for posts to mark the property line for the campus yet to be built. We worked for several hours, even during the rain, and after had a chance to do more outreach with the children. Some of us visited with the Falani people and made some real breakthroughs in developing relationships and ministering directly to them. Others played soccer with the kids.

After a long, hard day of work we were able to dine at the restaurant King’s Bite. Some ate the local cuisine—pounded yam. Others opted for more familiar food—pizza. A nice time was had by all.

Thank you for continuing to keep the team in your prayers. Please pray for energy, patience and endurance to continue the work God has given us to do.

Oasis House and Zoo Visit

This morning we were able to see the house that the CLAPAI Children will move to in the fall. We cleaned, painted and repaired several areas in the much needed larger home. It was tough work, but so much fun! We were even able to play with some of the children from the village there during breaks.

After lunch we travelled to the current CLAPAI House to pick up the children and take them to the zoo. We each paired up with a buddy and saw lions, elephants, monkeys and many others. We heard the lions roar and saw monkeys that would dance for a peanut. Very entertaining and the children had a blast!

To end our time with the children, we played on the playground. The picture below is from the see-saw. It was precious.

We're Here!

After nearly 48 hours of travel we have finally arrived in Jos! The flights were very long and left us tired, but excited to have arrived. =) The picture here is from the McDonald's at the Frankfurt Airport on a long layover.

After lunch we were able to purchase handmade clothing and purses from the Gidan Bege Widow's School, which is a ministry that serves widows by providing them a way to earn a living and learn a trade.

This afternoon we were able to visit CLAPAI (Childrens' Love and Protection Advocacy Initiative) to throw a birthday party for the children who live in the home and birthdays fall in the months of May, June or July. It was fun to see how happy the children were to see us and receive their own birthday presents. Tomorrow we will take the children on a field trip.

Thanks for all the prayers as we continue to adjust.