Our Last Full Day :(

Today is the last full day we have in Trinidad :( While the team is very sad at the thought of leaving, we are enjoying ourselves and remembering all we have done here.

We went to two schools this morning, and both were very rewarding. The first school we went to was an integration school for both the handicapped and non handicapped children. Personally, I had a great time talking to a few kids in particular: Faith, who had Downs Syndrome, DeAndrew, who suffered from seizures, and Katishma, who had cerebral palsy. What a blessing this time was! The kids all enjoyed our singing and our skits.

We went on to another school nearby. It was a preschool run in what looked to be a house. The children there were all so sweet, and had fun getting to ride on Micah and Nate's shoulders :)

After returning to TTUM we enjoyed lunch together (especially enjoying the juicy watermelon we don't have at home this time of year) and then washed the 'Maxi-Taxi' we have been riding in these last two weeks (if you don't know what a Maxi-Taxi is yet, it's a type of shuttle or bus). After that we enjoyed ourselves in the sun by the pool, talking and swimming and reading. Oh, yes, and throwing Nate into the pool (twice!). That was fun :) (there has been a bit of a war going on here. The other night, the boys threw myself, Charissa, Liz, and Melanie into the pool and then last night locked us out of the building where our rooms are).

Dinner will be coming up soon, and I hear we are to enjoy home-made Trini pizza :) Yum. Another team is arriving tonight around 11:30 or so, which is right around when we are planning on making a KFC run :)

Well, we will be seeing most of you very soon. Thank you all so much for your prayers, your support has meant so much to our team!!

God bless, Krista Thoman

from John (TTUM)

Hi, this is John and I just want you to know how much I loved and enjoy working with the N W C Team it was such a blessing seeing them work with all the kids bringing a lot of love to them and seeing the joy on there faces you are a bless group of young people and I enjoy working with all of you I felt like one of the team members. God Bless! Bye.~John Sylvester (from TTUM)

Another Wonderful Day!

Hello once again from the Sunny Side. Today we returned to the TTUM compound via an extremely enjoyable bus ride and hiking, swimming, waterfall diving, and goofing around adventures. We got back just in time to get ready for church and eat supper before going to (and leading) Bible study tonight.

All is going very well. Each member of the group would agree that we have had just an all around wonderful day. The sun was shining today, after a day of rain yesterday, which made everything all the better.

Tomorrow starts at a bright and early 6:30 am for breakfast... (We figure we might as well get up to watch the sun rise at 6). Which means this Bird should be in bed! It is now after two o'clock in the morning, and we have at least a few school to visit tomorrow.

Overall, everything is going well. Everyone is still in good health and high spirits. Praise God for such a wonderful group of people and a wonderful trip! That's all for now. Goodnight from the Sunny Side ~Liz Bird

Greetings from the Caribbean!

Let me start by mentioning that the team is doing well, but we all miss our beautiful MN weather (just kidding) Seriously, every morning here is an inspiring occasion for all of us to look out at the magnificent beauty of God’s green creation . We have had a little bit of rain, but we are trying not to let that hinder our progress.

In our two full days in Toco we have been able to visit three different schools. In this post I just want to mention the skits/dramas we have been performing in these schools.

First, in a pre-school here in Trinidad part of the team performed a puppet show. The puppet show involved farm animal puppets and a farmer. One of the team members functioned as the narrator and sought to get the kids involved in the puppet show by having them make the animal noises along with the puppets. The kids really loved it. The puppet show was based upon the parable of the last sheep. Thus, at the end the narrator explained to the children that in the same way the farmer was willing to leave his farm for one lost animal, Jesus is concerned over every individual lost child.

The next two schools we visited were both public primary schools. The age range of the children in these two schools was five to twelve. In both schools we did a skit called the “catch all” that involves one person who continues to catch the habits/problems of other individuals. For instance, a person may come out sneezing, touch the “catch all” and then the “catch all” will begin sneezing. This was just a fun skit we could use to get the kids laughing and comfortable with us. We also were able to perform a more serious drama in both schools. This was a silent drama that involved a paralytic, a wailing woman, and a blind man who are eventually healed and saved by Jesus. The drama is a powerful visual representation of Jesus taking on our infirmities upon Him. The drama shows the death and resurrection of Jesus which we were able to talk about before the drama, and then a personal testimony was given after the drama. We did the drama to the Skillet song “You Are My Hope.” (if you are reading this and get a chance, you should take a few minutes to listen to this song if you have it available and imagine us performing the skit you will soon see pictures of) Anyway, that is my prayer and our team’s prayer that the children and teachers in these schools would come to know the power of the hope found only in Jesus Christ.

God’s blessings – don’t forget to dress warm back in MN! ~Micah McQueen

Hello to all from the sunny side!

Our team is now in the process of taking a walk on the rugged side of the sunny Caribbean. On Sunday night after church at TTUM, we took the two hour drive up to Toco Trinidad which is a small town in the north eastern corner of the island. We are staying at a wonderfully rustic boarding house that has turned out to be an adventure for all. I am personally astounded that I get to have such an opportunity. I often feel like I’m staying in a cement block tent in the jungle. We are indeed in a house, but it seems that there are more open windows or spaces in the cement block walls than solid walls in any given room. All such “adventurous” opportunities continue to unify our team and impress me more every day. I’m basking in the wonderful differences of another culture.

We have been able to visit three schools since coming here to Toco. Yesterday we visited a small, Catholic nursery school, where most kids were around 2-4, and today we visited two other primary schools. All three visits were very enjoyable. I especially liked the last school we visited today which is just up the road from where we are staying where I was able connect with several girls and boys. Trinidadian children especially love to touch soft hair or look at/ touch your skin. As a result, let’s just say I got my hair “styled” today by a few “helpful hands” as other children gathered around hoping to be able to touch my hair. – As this was happening, I looked across the room to my fellow teammate Melissa who was having her hair “styled” by more than 5 children at one time!!! – I never knew that taking a hair binder out of your hair could be so “dangerous” J

While we have been in Toco, I have been Immensely enjoying spending time with John Sylvester, our guide from TTUM who lives at the center with his wife and kids and is the caretaker of the TTUM compound. He is a wonderful man of God who loves to show us all his favorite parts about his country. John is always ready and willing to be asked any question about anything, which is so wonderful when you are in a different place. John also loves to serve the team by getting us special things that grow here. He knows of my love of fruits and trying new things, so whenever possible, he finds new things for us to try. I just tried some spicy green “mango chow” that was AMAZING. He never ceases to amaze he with the new fruits, leaves, plants, peppers, etc. that he pulls out of the woods for us to eat.

Our team also visited “the point” where the waters of the Atlantic and the Caribbean meet. The whole experience of visiting the point left in awe of who God. The point is very rocky, so when the waves come in, they break on the rocks and water shoots in the air… it’s just magnificent. It’s a wonderful little tiny picture of God’s greatness and majesty. We visited the point last night and we were able to climb to the top of the light house to watch the sun set over the water. Gorgeous isn’t even a good word to describe it. It was glorious.

Everyone has been in relatively well health in the last few days. We’ve had a few iffy stomachs, but as a whole, everyone is on the up and up! To everyone I have e-mailed a few times, please know that we don’t have internet here, so I won’t be able to e-mail till I get back to TTUM on Wednesday night. Brian will be sending this message via an internet café down the street.

And one last note to a special someone -- I’m rightly considering my inconveniences and having wonderful adventures in the process! Miss you and can’t wait to see you! -- p.s. No apple trees here. From the sunny side ~Liz Bird

You Are My Hope...

Liz is playing a powerful song that she wrote as I write, and the presence of God is in the room...

Cody, Krista, and Charissa brought the Word of God through their personal testimonies, their sincere passion for the Lord shining forth from their eyes and conviction filling their mouths as they spoke forth the words of hope...

A few of us performed a drama portraying Jesus in all of his redemptive power as he rescues the wounded and the broken and physically takes their pain and their burdens to the cross...

The Lord is teaching us to look expectantly for Him each and every day, in every nook and cranny, in every eye and touch...

As we go into the mountains tonight, as we travel beneath the stars, our hearts will be brimming with anticipation to see all that He has for us in the days to come. ~Nate Gazelka

Sunday, January 6th

The day began early... breakfast at TTUM (today it was French Toast) and then to Campoo, a predominantly Hindu village where TTUM has an active church plant. Leading worship we could look out through the main windows and see a large open field with goats grazing in the distance. We sang, shared testimonies, Pastor Ashoke preached and we all had communion together. Afterwards they served a snack which included one of my favorite Trinidadian treats... Banana flavored soda pop! This afternoon we rested, packed for Toco, washed clothes, and prepared for the evening worship service at Faith Community Church--at this moment Charissa is sharing her testimony. Later tonight (it is now 7:35pm) we have a 2-1/2 hour drive to Toco where we will be for the next three nights. Tomorrow morning we will be ministering in schools but the pace of life there is much slower so it will be a whole different type of ministry. We will not have internet access while there so we will not be able to update the weblog until Wednesday night. Keep us in your prayers--God is not finished with us yet! ~Brian Tanning

Fun at the beach!

Today was a day filled with relaxation after all the bustling activity from the last couple of days. We had the opportunity to do a little shopping in town and then... off to the beach! The weather was cloudy yet warm, the water salty and marvelous, and the waves wonderful! We had a fabulous time splashing and playing!

For lunch we all tried a dish called 'Bake & Shark'... my first shark experience. It consists of fried bread and breaded steak. The condiment options were coleslaw, lettuce, tomatoes, and a few varieties of sauce. I prefer steak, but am glad I seized the opportunity to try something new.

After we returned to the missions compound, I was told there was a baby alligator near the dining hall. So, I grabbed my camera and got my picture taken to add to my collection! After carefully washing my hands, we had a delightful dinner of spaghetti and garlic break. Overall, a fabulous day indeed! ~Crystal Keller

and the day ends..... again

It appears that another day has come and gone here in the great land of Trinidad. We had our last day of VBS and a number of kids prayed to accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior. What a blessing it was for all of us to witness such a thing. 50 piggyback rides, countless supermans, and many other tiresome activities all proved to be worth it. We had a youth service tonight with the Faith Community Church youth group here in Trinidad and that was pretty swell... seriously it was. I am so thankful for every last one of my teammates and I can see how God has strategically places each and everyone one of us here. Sorry that I'm jumping around on topics I hope that there aren't any English Prof.'s reading this. Bye. ~Cody Wilde

Amazed

With God's divine intervention, our team pulled off yet another day (the last day) of VBS today (Friday). As Pirate Limp Leg (Nate) and myself, Pirate Barefoot did our skit for the day, we finally were able to discover that which we were looking for -- our treasure. The children watched with strikingly intent focus as Pirate barefoot dug around in her treasure bag (a stripped pillow doubled as a wonderful treasure bag) to show to the children and to Charissa what treasure Limp leg and I had finally found. As it turned out, the only thing in my bag was a book (which Limp Leg and Barefoot where none to happy about). However, Charissa quickly explained that this book (the Bible) contained the message of the GREATEST treasure there ever was, and how God treasures each of the kids individually. When offered treasure to purchase such a thing, Charissa explained that it is a free gift. When challenged my Limp leg and Barefoot when they explained that they were too bad for God to treasure them, Charissa assured them God loves them and treasures them no matter what they have ever done. In the end, Limp leg and Barefoot were led my Charissa in the prayer of salvation. Once the prayer was finished, we asked if any of the kids would like to pray, and we were able to pray the prayer of salvation with around 10 kids. It was an awesome experience... encouraging, and hard because you find yourself asking what happens next... However, we go home in a little over a week... But God isn't going anywhere. I hope and pray that we have planted some seeds... only if it be through hundreds of piggyback rides (called jocky backs here)... or sharing the gospel with them.

Overall, everything is going well. The team is feeling well, having fun, and being changed. Thank you for your continued prayers -- please don't underestimate our need for them!!! Guess that's all for now. From the sunny side, ~Liz Bird

Jan 4, 2007

I right this as I sit at the breakfast table in our dining hall here at the compound. It is a new, gorgeously beautiful day here in Trinidad. The sun is shining, it's warm out, and we are currently eating the most amazing breakfast ever... We're eating Trinidadian "hot bakes" that are puffy bread sort of food that you put peanut butter, jelly, cheese or cinnamon and sugar. Speaking of which... I'm going to go get another on one. ... As I said... absolutely amazing breakfast. I just put cinnamon and sugar on this one that I have on my plate.

Besides the delectable food, we have been having a fantastic time. Yesterday, as Kristin said in her blog, we did our first day of VBS. It was wonderful, crazy, tiring, splendid, difficult, relational, FUN, and so much more. I personally had several encounters with children (usually little girls) coming up to me and clinging to me like their favorite teddy bear. Today we will return to the same spot for another VBS for more fun and crazy adventures with he kids.

I also had a chance to pull out my best pirate skills when Nate and I (robed in our very best pirate attire) greeted the kids with a fun skit which introduced the theme for our VBS -- Treasure.... We (Limp Leg and Bare Foot) were out on an adventure to seek treasure. By the third day of VBS, Limp Leg and Bare Foot will find the treasure they seek, only to realize that God's heavenly treasure doesn't compare to what they have found.

My team and I are now done eating, and we are soon to leave for an elderly home where we will be doing music, talking to the residents, and praying for the people there. Everyone is in good health.... no huge surprises yet. All stomachs are on the up and up... Rachel, the only one of us who wasn't feeling the best, is now feeling much better. Praise God for a wonderful trip thus far! ~Liz Bird

VBS Day 1

This afternoon we spent time with about 45 kids from a local neighborhood. We invited them to come to Vacation Bible School, where we sang songs, played games, and let them climb all over us! The kids loved having their face (and arms & legs) painted and then being able to paint our faces too! These kids are pretty needy and just loved the focused attention of the 12 of us. We had a big tent outside in what they call a savannah - which is just an open area in the neighborhood. The kids, which ranged in age from 4 to about 14, typically spend their days roaming the streets, so we were able to provide them with some constructive activities. It was great just to be able to give them our time, love, and attention. If you look at the pictures from today, you can see that they are very photogenic and LOVE having their picture taken! We will be going back tomorrow and Friday to do similar activities and we hope that many of the kids will return and that we will be able to show them the love of Jesus in real, tangible ways. We don't know what each of their home situations is like, but many of them come from homes where their basic needs are barely met. We truly enjoyed the opportunity to share Jesus with these kids and pray that God would give us more opportunities to show them the salvation, hope, and joy that we have in Christ. ~Kristin Janes

i don't really even know! (the Title)

Well, Cody here reporting from Trinidad. I am currently sitting in the dining hall at the TTUM headquarters. I just finished my meal of "Possum" and it was quite delicious. We just came back from a drug rehabilitation center and I guess it was very eye opening to see the extreme need for Christ. We have a VBS coming up this afternoon and I'm looking forward to that I guess. It's getting hot here on the Island so I'm gonna sign out now. Stay classy Minnesota. ~Cody Wilde

Hope in the Darkness

This morning we visited a drug rehab center and had the opportunity to sing and share with a group of Trinidadians at the center. It was amazing to me to sit and talk with some of these individuals and be able to see the life in their eyes in the midst of their current and former circumstances. I spoke with one man, Paul, who has been at the rehab center for a little over 6 months. When I asked him about his family, he told me he was unable to see them and hadn't for some time because he has been basically disowned by them. In spite of his current situation with his family, Paul has a dream to one day visit New York City and see the Statue of Liberty, and he would like to leave the center, find a home of his own, start a family, and give them the life he never had. It was incredible to me to see the hope he had within himself for the future despite his past. As we talked about more spiritual matters, he told me that he trusts in Christ as his hope and his future for today and for tomorrow. I hope I can express that same kind of hope that he showed me to others here in this beautiful place during these next few days. God bless! ~Charissa Pederson

Trinidad

As we open up our second day here in Trinidad, I can't help but wonder what God has planned for us today. Today we will meet with people, today we begin our VBS with the children, today God is going to use each of us to show his love to these people. It amazes me that despite my worries, fears, and short comings, Christ will use me as a light to another person. I can't help but continually realize that Christ is so much bigger than any of my worries or fears, and that through Him alone hearts will be changed. I am excited to see God's plan unfold throughout the day and the rest of the trip. ~Melanie Peasley

T4 Mission Trinidad

Here is our team--the photo was taken while visiting the first of two Hindu temples we visited today.

January 1, 2008

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!
Amazing LOVE, how can it be, that God, my God would die for me??
How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure...
And my heart is overwhelmed, that you would call my child...

Praise God that He is alive and real and evidently present today. How vastly deep his love is, that he would care for us, and want us to be in relationship with him. Upon visiting a few Hindu temples today, I am astounded at the reality of God. He is not a painted idol, nor will he be confused with a man made token of worship. I am broken over the reality of peoples deception and challenged by the importance of Truth. God has already started using this trip to "chip away" at my mind -- to put those pictures in my head that I cannot erase.

We've been here in St. Helena, Trinidad, at the Trinidad and Tobago Urban Ministry (TTUM) compound for less than 48 hours and I've already experienced things that have rocked my world, or changed my heart in one way or another. Our team arrived in Trinidad late last night and was taken by bus to the TTUM compound were we are staying. As we departed from the airport in our "Maxi Taxi," we had fun adjusting to how Trinidadian's drive on the "wrong" (left) side of the road, seeing the many different sights, and hearing many of the different sounds of another culture.

One difference we all experienced is the fact that Trinidadians like to be loud... if they're going to party, they figure they might as well be loud about it. As a result of this fact, (combined with the fact that they were celebrating "Old Years") the neighbors of the ministry compound blasted party music for one and all to hear last night. They continued to play the music until we woke up this morning, when we were awakened with even more music. It was such fun to experience just one little slice of the different culture right from the very start. Even now, at 12:29am , I hear some far off music. This has been quite the adventure for me, and has resulted in my having a CONSTANT song in my head or on my lips.

We are all eagerly awaiting tomorrow, when we will be visiting a drug rehab center in the morning and doing VBS in the afternoon.

Thank you all for your prayers. - Everything is going very well.
From the sunny side, Liz Bird

random thoughts mostly on grace

After talking tonight as a team my thoughts were brought to the simplicity of Christianity. What other religions rely not on works, but mere grace (really grace is not mere, but beyond my complete comprehension. What I mean by mere is how we lack the power to save ourselves). What other god's sacrificed themselves for the sake of even those unknown to them. I remember going to the Mormon temple years ago and feeling sick for those lost. I could see the emptiness in the eyes of guides as they explained their beliefs. Here I did not feel that. My lack of empathy caused me miss what my eyes where actually seeing. Thank God for the team he has created. They reminded me of the hope and power we have in Christ....there is more behind all this, but tonight my head is still spinning and my heart is still searching. At the same time, we can rest in sovereignty of the one who brought us here, knowing that he has complete control and will guide and mold beyond what we can comprehend. ~Raechel Kemp

Frozen Moments

As Liz masterfully dispatched dinner's dirty dishes with a fine blend of soap and elbow grease, I rinsed them clean and we discussed moments that are frozen into eternity...

The first Hindu temple gave me ample food for thought. As we gazed upon the peninsular structure, Mrs. Jennifer Bachew (our beautiful contact and wise guide for todays adventures) told us the story of how a man with a bicycle and two buckets had built the peninsula on which the temple was built...
Many years ago, the British had promised the Hindu immigrants that they would be able to build a temple if they immigrated to the isle. However, when the time came to do so, the immigrants were not allowed to build a temple on 'the Queen's land'. So one man with two buckets on a bicycle carried soil out into the bay until a temple could be built, easily 300 yards out into the inlet...
Truly a picture of devotion and resolve. And as I stood on the shoal and gazed across the water, I was forced to ask myself whether or not I lived with that kind of ardor for a Jesus who is alive... a Jesus who hears my cry and speaks to my heart, not a god of stone ears and stone hands, stone lips and a stone heart... This was my moment frozen in time and not soon to be forgotten...

At the second temple, a statue of Vishnu towered hundreds of feet above the visitor, finely painted and impressive in form. A plaque upon the wall assured all comers that Vishnu knew our thoughts and encouraged us to give lavishly to the needs of the temple...
And so, as Liz scrubbed, she told the story...
...of the man she saw standing just inside the gate, bowed humbly and ardently in prayer, his shoes left outside the gate and his thoughts directed earnestly at a god of stone. As Liz said, his prayers were 'bouncing off the roof of his mouth' and moving not at all the statue before him. We wondered aloud to ourselves in the kitchen what it would be like to face life's challenges without the knowledge of a God who is fully alive and mighty on our behalf? She will not soon forget the lone stranger praying passionately and yet so in need of a Savior... ~Nate Gazelka

T4 SCHEDULE

Mon Dec 31 (Day #1)

• Travel to Trinidad & Tobago

Tue Jan 01 (Day #2)

• AM: Orientation
• PM: Cultural Tour

Wed Jan 2 (Day #3)

• AM: Arima Rehab Center
• PM: VBS in Bellamy

Thur Jan 3 (Day #4)

• AM: Datta Elderly Home
• PM: Aunty Pearl’s Orphanage
• PM: VBS in Bellamy

Fri Jan 4 (Day #5)

• AM: Moved sand/dirt
  
• PM: VBS in Bellamy
• PM: Faith Community Youth Meeting

Sat Jan 5 (Day #6)

• AM: Visit Port-of-Spain
• PM: Maracas Beach

Sun Jan 6 (Day #7)

• AM Campo Worship
  
• PM: Pack & prepare for Toco
• PM: Faith Community Church Worship
  
• PM: Travel to Toco (2-1/2 hours)

Mon Jan 7 (Day #8)

• AM: Toco RC Nursery School

Tue Jan 8 (Day #9)

• AM: Monte Video Gov't Primary School
  
• PM: Toco Anglican Primary School
  

Wed Jan 9 (Day #10)

• AM: Hike to a waterfall/Return to TTUM
• PM: Bible Study @ Faith Community Church
  

Thurs Jan 8 (Day #11)

• AM: Charis Works Christian Academy
  
• AM: New Beginnings Nursery School

Fri Jan 9 (Day #12)

• Return to Minnesota

We've arrived!

Yesterday (Mon Dec 31st) was a long, long day... Arriving at NWC at 4:30am to depart, a 3-1/2 hour flight to Miami, a 7 hour layover at the airport and then another 3-1/2 hour flight to Trinidad... We were going through customs at midnight and arrived to the base at TTUM at about 1am.

Today we had an orientation on Trinidad and TTUM's ministry. We visited two Hindu temples and tonight we have time to prepare for our ministry which begins tomorrow. The weather is beautiful (upper 80's) and the food has been wonderful. Keep our team in your prayers and pray that God will be able to use our team in a mighty way. BT

T4

Welcome to the Northwestern College T4 Mission Team to Trinidad & Tobago blogsite! We will try to keep you updated with journals and photos from our ministry time in the southernmost part of the West Indies in the Caribbean. Why 'T4'? This is the fourth team from NWC that will partner with Trinidad & Tobago Urban Ministries (TTUM). We will be spending the part of our ministry time in Toco, a remote fishing village on the NE tip of the island. The majority of our ministry time will be at TTUM which is located in St. Helena, a small town located near the Piarco International Airport; we will do ministry throught the region between there and Port-of-Spain, the capital city of Trinidad & Tobago.