2009 Missions Trip

Hello everyone! Kingsway is headed back to El Salvador July 18-25, 2009. We're excited to work again with King's Castle Ministries and Missionaries Don & Terri Triplett.

If you are interested in joining us, our first team meeting is Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 7:00pm.

Praying that Kingsway will once again make a difference in El Salvador,

Pastor Arlena

Safely Home

Hey! Just wanted everyone to know that our team arrived last night in Philadelphia. We landed on time and were back at the church around 10:30pm. All of our flights went smoothly and we were glad to be home.

We had an amazing service today. We shared with everyone our team video, one of the dances we learned (which provided a good laugh for all), and everyone on the team shared a testimony of what they experienced.

Thanks for reading. Thanks for posting. And, most importantly - THANK YOU for your prayers. They were certainly appreciated!

Blessings, Pastor Arlena :)

A Day in the Sun

Hola!

After four straight eighteen hour days, today was our team day off. We traveled two hours by bus to a resort on the coast called Atami. There, we enjoyed a beautiful beach with black sand, three salt water pools, a huge water slide, our own private huts with hammocks, and a wonderful concession stand that made fresh fruit smoothies. We were ready to relax and boy, does this team know how to do it. Everyone played hard and some of us took a nap in our respective hammock but most important - no one was hurt and it was a special treat to end our week this way. It was a day off for the Master's Commission and National staff too; they've been working with us every day this week and I know they appreciated the time off.

We are only moments away from our farewell service. We are told this is a special time when teams have a chance to review their week and share what they've experienced. On Sunday, we'll be able to tell you what an amazing part of the week this service was.

Tomorrow, we are up at 4AM because we have to leave the campground at 5AM. We must be at the airport three hours before our 10:05AM flight - hence the reason for the early day. We'll go through customs in Dallas and land in Philadelphia around 9:35PM tomorrow night. Frank Iannuzzi and Yuni Rowe will meet us at the airport. We hope to be back to the church by 10:45PM.

Keep our travel day in your prayers. The Lord has been with us all week and we are trusting that He will bring us safely home. This will be my last post from El Salvador. Hope you've enjoyed hearing about our days; I know I've enjoyed sharing them with you.

Blessings, Pastor Arlena

A Word from Nicole - Short, Sweet, & To the Point

I forgot to include this in the post I just put up. Ray & Dawn Difelice have commented on the blog often so I suggested to Nicole that she should put something up for them. Here is what she typed:

To Mom, Dad, Raymond, Daniel and Benji,
I miss you all and I'm having a great time. I'll see you in a couple of days.
Love,
Nicole

Give Me Coffee, or Just Kill Me Now!

Hope you enjoyed the pictures I posted earlier today! We're waiting to read your comments. "So, get busy!" says Patti.

Today was another work day here at the campground. A group of us painted another set of rooms (same size and type as yesterday); plus, we cleaned and painted a laundry room. Kim and Ericka were joined in the sewing room by Patti and Minerva. Together with the other volunteers there, they finished four quilts that are given as Christmas gifts to pastor's wives throughout Central America. Ray Hooley worked in the warehouse sorting the tracts that are given out to the children when the evangelism teams go into the neighborhoods and schools.

The paint crew had an awesome time at the end of our work time sharing testimonies and praying with our national staff. Every team that comes to King's Castle is assigned students from the Master's Commission to work with them throughout the week. Laura, Memo, & Alma have been with us all week and this afternoon, we had the opportunity to hear their stories - how they found Jesus and heard His call to ministry. On the porch of the Men's Dorm, we had a powerful time of prayer. Our hearts were so moved by their stories and what God has called them to do. We prayed over each of them - one at a time. The Lord spoke so personally through the prayers of our team members. For some on our team, that prayer time will be one of the most memorable and special times of the whole trip.

Now, a humorous story about your beloved friends and family:

We have struggled with the coffee situation. For those of us addicted to Starbucks, the coffee served at breakfast is a little less than "grande!" For the last two mornings, we've been forced to beg from our host missionary a measly half of cup each (for the six of us) from his coffee press (which he brings with him - I'm not lying about the desperate lack of good coffee). HOWEVER, today, since I had to travel to Santa Ana to post our pictures - I decided to take matters into my own hands. I bought the strongest and best coffee I could find. Then, I raided the apartment of one of the missionary associate's who lives here. I dragged Patti into the kitchen and we brewed a whole pot for our team. Ahhhh.....heaven (and many caffeine headaches treated)! Kim Mickel (who doesn't drink coffee) has been praying for our deliverance.

Tomorrow is our day off. We head to Atami Beach for a day in the surf and sun. In the evening, we'll have our farewell service so I'll try to post when we get back from the beach (sorry for all of you who have to work!) Saturday will be an early day as we head to the airport to come home.

Your prayers have made a difference! The health of the team has been good; attitudes have stayed right; and weariness is at a minimummmmmmmmmmmmmmm....sorry about that - I fell asleep at the keyboard! :) Just kidding. The Lord really has been with us every day and we attribute that to all of you praying so faithfully. We look forward to sharing our heart and what God has done in and through us on Sunday morning.

Blessings, Pastor Arlena

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Here are the long awaited pictures I promised! I'm not very good at formatting on blogger but I know that you'll enjoy seeing just a few of the things we've been doing this week. I won't be able to post pictures again - as I had to come into the city to do this. I'll post more tonight about our day today. Talk to you later! Blessings, Pastor Arlena :)

It ain't paint by numbers, folks!

Hello everyone! Yep, you guessed it - we (most of us, at least) spent the day painting. A team of 10 of us headed up to the third floor of the boys dorms to paint the rooms that the Master's Commisson students sleep in. I wish I could say that more paint ended up on the walls than us, but I'm not sure! :) Just kidding - as Pastor Bryon would say, "We rocked it!" painting one large room (30 x 30), two smaller rooms (15 x 12), and two bathrooms (15 x 12). We also painted the outside deck (30 x 20). It was messy, hot, and a tad smelly (OK...it was very smelly since we used oil based paint). As Kim Mickel says, Jimmy Carter was right - "Let's ban oil paint!" We made sure to take lots of "air" and water breaks but we wanted to get this important job done for the ministry here. We will be doing more of the same tomorrow.

Two of our team members, Kim & Ericka, "ministered" in the sweetest spot on the campground - an air-conditioned, music filled, atrium where they sewed. Seriously, we were a bit jealous but we know that they helped a key ministry here at Kings Castle. They made cloth bags that are filled with food, gifts, and necessities that are given to people throughout the country. The sewing room produces thousands of bags that can be given to those in need. They also make all of the costumes and puppets that are used in the programs that the evangelism teams use in ministering to children.

Michele & Minerva continued to work in the clinic. They saw 147 patients today between 8am and 4pm. Michele shares that she has used more Spanish than she has ever used before and has learned a lot. Both her and Minerva dealt with many heart-breaking situations but they prayed with and loved on tons of people. Patti worked in the same area with them in the pharmacy. She was kept extremely busy with barely enough time to break for lunch. Patti loved observing the doctor and how he treated each patient with respect, compassion, and the love of Christ.

We had a team meeting immediately following dinner and shared some of the things that we are learning and experiencing and what God is doing in each of our hearts. You'll get to hear all about that on Sunday morning when we share it with you.

Tomorrow morning, I'm planning to head into the city so I can post a few of the amazing pictures we have taken here. Plus, I'll have another text post at the end of our final day of work here.

Continue to pray for our protection from sickness. The Lord has helped us so far and we are believing that God will continue to strengthen us.

Thanks for your prayers! A HUGE shout out to my buddy RJ for hooking me up with how the Yankees are doing! Thanks, friend!

Love to all of our friends and family,

Pastor Arlena :)

p.s. The quote of the day by Dustin Smith (said completely out of the blue): "For next year's missions trip, I'm totally feelin' Iraq!"

Here are the prayer focuses for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday as I will be out of town!! Let's rally together behind our team these last few days!!

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Focus Topic: Divine Appointments

Focus Scripture: Psalm 32:8

Focus Team Members: Minerva Villareal, Michelle Romaniello

Prayer: God, Psalm 32:8 says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” Please guide each team member with Your eye today. Allow them to see things only as you see them. Provide them situations and interactions that only you can supply. Be with Patti and Michelle today. See what they need from you today and meet them in the way that only you can. Provide them with divine appointments that testify to your power and love for the people of El Salvador. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Friday, August 1, 2008

Focus Topic: Wisdom

Focus Scripture: James 1:5

Focus Team Members: George Mickel, Georgie Mickel

Prayer: Jesus, you say if anyone lacks wisdom let him ask. I pray today that you would flood our team and its leaders with your wisdom; that they would hear your voice and follow it. I pray that you would grant them wisdom in every situation they face today. God, be with George and Georgie today. Speak to each of them today in a new way. Allow them to see you and understand you in a way that they never have before. Use them to pour out your love and wisdom on every person they meet. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Focus Topic: Safety

Focus Scripture: Psalm 91

Focus Team Members: Kim Mickel, Dustin Smith

Prayer: Father God, you have surely sustained our team through this trip. I pray for safety as they travel home. Be with them as they begin and end their journey home. Place them on the right flights with the right pilots and be the hand that guides them safely home. Thank you for all that you have accomplished through this trip. Keep watch over Kim and Dustin today. Be everything that they need today. Give them opportunities as they move through the airports to speak into the lives of people they meet. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Focus Topic: Unity/Peace

Focus Scripture: Philippians 4:6-8, Isaiah 54:17

Focus Team Members: Pastor Ray Tate, Patti Tate

Prayer: Father God, I come to you today on behalf of our mission team. You said in your word that praying brings Peace. I pray today that each team member will seek you today more than ever before and as they do that you would bring them a peace and unity that will bind them together. I stand on your word that says that “no weapon turned against you will succeed.” Jesus put a stop to every weapon Satan would try and send against this team. I lift Pastor Ray and Minerva to you today asking that you would touch them in a special way. Give them peace and allow them to be examples of Unity within the team. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

What's in a Day?

Buenos Noches para El Salvador! (Good evening from El Salvador - for all of our non-Spanish speaking readers!)

We've had another full day here at Kings Castle Ministries. After breakfast at our favorite time (6:30am), we loaded onto the bus to travel to a local school. There, about 75 kids waited for us to do our program. A word about the programs that are planned for each ministry site: they are composed of songs (which we do motions to - which are a lot like high-impact aerobics), skits, and a presentation of the gospel. At every program, kids are asked if 1) they want to invite Jesus into their hearts, 2) they want prayer for problems at home, with their family, or at school, and 3) they want prayer for someone that they know is sick. It's the best part of what we do when we gather around them to pray for them individually. We literally circile around them and each of us puts a hand on a little girl's shoulder or a boy's head. You'd be surprised at how sincerely they close their eyes and receive from the Lord!

So, we got to the first school and did the program I described above. While we are ministering, part of our team is praying - interceding for us as we sing, dance, do skits, and pray for the kids. After the program and prayer time concludes, we have opportunity to hug them, talk to them, ask them their name, play with them, and give them lots of candy and a gospel tract. We're careful to say adios to each child, because in Salvadoran culture you say a proper goodbye to those who have become your friend.

We did four programs today - all in schools in local neighborhoods. It was hot, wet (it rained in the morning), and we all drank lots of water to stay hydrated. Here's a few words about what each person did today:

Michele Romaniello worked in the clinic treating patients, helping the doctor triage patients.

Minerva Villareal also worked in the clinic. Her job was do intake - asking why people wanted to see the doctor and taking their vital signs.

Ray Hooley rested his ankle and worked with the eye doctor in the clinic. He was especially useful as a translator and though not able to serve on the evangelism team, God still had him in the right place, doing the right thing, at the right time. He'll have to tell you about his day when he gets back! By the way...his ankle is sore but he is in good spirits, determined to help out any way that he can.

Those working with the medical staff here are doing such amazing work. They have been separated from the rest of us for the last couple of days - staying on the camp while we have left to do ministry. But, the ministry staff is so grateful for medical personnel who can bring so much help to the people in the community.

Everyone on the ministry team participated in the skits, dramas, and human videos. Plus, we all had the opportunity to pray with kids, intercede for whichever team was ministering, and just love on every kid we met. Here are a few of the highlights:

Pastor Ray played Noah in one of our skits; plus, demonstrated his mad dance skills in the song, "My King Jesus!" (Just call him Spice!)

Patti missed out on our training yesterday so she wasn't as up to speed as the rest of us (which isn't saying much) but by the end of the day, felt confident enough to dance a few moves in the song, "My King Jesus" and then made her way to the sidelines to laugh at the rest of us.

George was Pastor Ray's back up dancer (just call him Flavor!) and played a mean bull in the " "Noah's Ark" skit.

Kim joined the Coast Guard and dutifully informed Noah (a.k.a. Pastor Ray) that it wasn't time to leave the ark yet.

Ericka and Liz served as the only two members of the Kingsway team coordinated enough to dance on the front row.

Allie & Nicole were both clowns today - a stretch from their normal behavior.

Dustin, in one of the human videos, was the only Kingsway member to remember to do the "L" move at the right point in the song.

Pastor Bryon & Georgie both played Jesus (at different times, of course!)

Ryan got his groove on and by the last program had worked his way up to the front row.

Pastor Arlena...well, she played a dove in the "Noah's Ark"skit. And, trying to make a dove funny....not as easy as it sounds.

Well, now you've heard about a few of our adventures in ministry. Let me tell you about our adventures in riding a bus on unpaved, broken, rock-filled, holes the size of craters road. Our bus driver, Hermano, is THE MAN! We are not sure how he is able to get a school bus, packed with about 30 people, up and down these hills but he does it with a smile. We, however, have found our prayer life enhanced as he drives the downhill curves with the same fierceness as he plows through the holes.

We can't believe it is only Tuesday and we have so much to share. Imagine what stories we'll have by Thursday. Keep reading. I hope this extended post gives you a taste of what we are doing, seeing, and experiencing here in El Salvador. You are all such an important part of our team and we want to keep you "in the loop."

Thanks for your prayers! Keep them coming! I hope to put some pictures up but the Internet connection here at camp is barely fast enough to post this text. It may take me a few days to get them there but I'll do my best.

Everyone is well! Love to all, Pastor Arlena

p.s. Tomorrow, we all stay on the campground to do construction, painting, and cleaning work. Hopefully, I'll post tomorrow night how our day went.