Mood:  a-ok

Two or three times a year, our umbrella mission, BCM International, publishes a magazine called BCM World. It's a great magazine edited by Jeanette Windle, the wife of BCM's president. A nationally acclaimed Christian writer, Jeanette has written many fantastic Christian suspense novels such as Crossfire and The DMZ. She also wrote the following article on what missionary travel is like for so many who work on foreign mission fields. Because of copyright issues, I can only print the first paragraph and then give you the link to the online article. Please click through. The ending is worth it all.

The pilot’s arrival at the gravel airstrip, lying flat and groaning in the back of an army jeep, had not been an auspicious beginning. Now, packed with eight others into a military prop plane intended for six, the young foreigner cowered in the copilot’s seat as the aircraft wobbled erratically through the clouds.  Still celebrating last night’s fiesta, the pilot sang at the top of his lungs, occasionally emphasizing the beat with a shove on the throttle. Periodically, he pounded on the dashboard, trying to shake the altimeter and compass into use. His girlfriend, without a seat, leaned over the young foreigner’s shoulder, whispering drunken caresses into the pilot’s ear.

To read the rest of the article please click here.

Okay, Okay, maybe missionary travel isn't quite like this, but it is exciting nonetheless!

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Mood:  a-ok

BCM International is looking for help for this summers camping season. They have dozens of camps all over the world. Some camps are still looking for workers. Check this video then check out CBM International's website by clicking here. By the way, BCM is the mission that Sarah and I work under. They're great people! You'd have a blast.

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Mood:  a-ok

Do  you wish that there was something more for you kids to listen to other than the ridiculous gibberish that's on the TV and radio these days?

Do you long for yet another way for your children to hear and internalize the Word of God?

Never Fear - Call A Story is here!

Many years ago, BCM Canada (the Canadian branch of the mission we are with) began working with a man from California who for years recorded and made available Bible stories that you could put on a small answering machine type device to be played after children dialed a number. He called it "Call-A-Story". When the old tape machine type answering machines became obsolete, BCM Canada began putting the stories on CD's to be put on computer answering devices. They realized, however, that even that had it's limits.

Now, they have reworked the stories to be a little more modern and have put them on the internet! And, it used to be that you were at the mercies of the people programing the answering machines as to when a new story was put out. Now you can listen to as many stories as you want, when you want them! They are totally neat. Hear is the web address - http://www.bcmintl.ca/CallAStory.php Dial...er...I mean click in today for a new and fun way for your kids to hear Bible stories.

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Mood:  happy

Some time ago I posted a YouTube video of the problems in Orissa, India and how BCM International was helping. Recently I received an update of how things were going in Orissa by BCM International's president Mary Windle. First I'll post the video for those of you who may have missed it the first time around, then I'll post the letter.

 Now here's the latest news.

From the President’s Desk – Orissa

Posted on: 29 Mar 2010 at 12:50 pm

Greetings from the President's Desk.

Orissa, and the believers there, have been in our prayers for some time. I am happy to report that this last week end, Palm Sunday week end, BCM held a Bible Convention in Orissa and also dedicated three new churches. These are the first new church to be built since the persecution began over two years ago.

Early Sunday morning Dr. Dalavai, Rev. Adustra Rao, and Rev. Nayak called me from the train station on the return from the area with a verbal report:

“I am happy to inform you that God has enabled us to accomplish the dedicating THREE newly built Churches, meeting with all the pastors and also addressing the convention, as per Rev. Nayak's report there were 5000 people in attendance.”

Please pray as we build and rebuild churches and also as we begin rebuilding houses in the area. BCM participates with local resources for these projects. Our participation cost for each church is US$4,320 and for each house is US$730.00.

We were also able to visit with the abandoned and/or orphaned children we are sponsoring in the area, and they are doing well. Pray too as we look for continued sponsorship for these children. BCM also coordinates with local resources for these children. Our participation cost for each child is US$34 monthly.

Blessings,
Marty Windle
BCM President

Continue praying for these people, and BCM's role in the rebuilding of the Christian Community

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Mood:  a-ok

Today was a beautiful day. Warm outside. Clear skies. It made me finally think of spring. Days like today get me excited because after spring comes summer, and you know what happens in the summer don't you? Camp!

Many of you know that for over 25 years Sarah and I have been involved in Christian camping in one way or another. This summer will be no different. Although we no longer work at an overnight camp, we still run day camps for the kids that we work with that live here in the projects. This year we haven't decided exactly how many to run but we do know that it will be either three or four. That, along with our regular ministries and our community garden will probably be all that we can handle.

We love camp, and think that it is a valuable part of a child's life. Now, I know that if you lived closer, you would want to send your child to one of our day camps . But, unfortunately, so many of you live too far away, so I decided to introduce you to BCM International's camping ministry. They have been doing camps for almost as long as they have been doing Bible clubs for kids. They have dozens of camps all over the world and they recently put together a little collage of some of the camps that they run. I decided to post it here for you all to see.

I have had the pleasure of seeing a few of BCM's camps in person and can tell you that they are magical, Christ filled places. For more information on BCM's Christian Camping ministry, please click here to go to their website.

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