Bits and Pieces of Recent Weeks

Don't miss reading the "trio" of blogs below, until you get to the Haiti video at the end...November was crazy but wonderful! Three weeks away from home for World Renewal International ministry in three Friends churches (Shirley, Rush Creek, Fairmount...all in Indiana), receptions for Pastor Luc, the "Welcome Home" radio broadcast (smile, Jack!), training sessions with international leaders and local church planters, yearly WRI banquet and much, much more. Thank you for your prayers and your support. I am privileged to serve the Lord and the church in this way.





What a joy to have fellowship with Tele Moraes and Pastor Anselmo from Brazil in Indiana and Kansas, and to go "on the road" with Pastor Luc, telling the Haiti story, presenting the need there and brushing up on my Creole for a busy schedule in 2009.

God uses many people from many places to accomplish his purposes. We need each other. We each have a ministry. We help each other do God's will. It was our great privilege to be hosted for a meal in the home of one very dear supporter of the work in Haiti who had never met Pastor Luc. God is so good to let us all be in His family, reaching out to His world with His great love and the gospel of Jesus Christ. He gives us little glimpses of heaven when we serve him here below!

KEEP READING...

HAITI...PASTOR LUC...BIRTHDAY PARTY and MORE

GONAIVES, HAITI - September 1, 2008: Flooding from Hurricane Ike devastates the city of 100,000+.

DESTROYED: World Renewal Haiti’s Gonaives church, Christ's Compassion Orphanage and school, Pastor Luc’s home and all their contents.

SAVED BY A MIRACLE (and the faithful obedience of Pastor Luc): 25 orphans and 10 adults who survived many days without food and water.

All the children and several adults who care for them are living in our unfinished mission house (under construction for the past several years) with no electricity, running water or household items. They sleep on these bits and pieces of used plywood.

Help us build them a new church, mission house, school and orphanage...a place of ministry...a place to call home again. Pastor Luc has requested that I come to Haiti often in coming weeks and months. There is much work to do in order to help create a new place that is home again for these orphans and the church in Gonaives. I would appreciate any financial help you can give to get me and others and the resources needed into Haiti multiple times in 2009. We are raising up leaders, and plans are being made to plant 2 churches next year, in spite of the hardship and challenges the believers there are up against on a daily basis. What a blessing it was to have Pastor Luc in the U.S. for the yearly World Renewal Banquet and training sessions, as well as several receptions to tell the story of recent events in Haiti. Many of you helped us purchase him clothes and many other essential items to take back with him. The truth is, Pastor Luc is one of God's heroes. He is a key leader who is faithful to serve the Lord in the worst of conditions, always with a smile on his face and the light of Christ shining through his every word and deed. Thank you for your help in fanning into flame the ministry of World Renewal Haiti.
Last September after the hurricane (and three days on a roof with no food or water), the only possessions the children of Christ's Compassion Orphanage had was the clothes they wore while they waded several miles to safety under Luc's direction through "murky" flood waters. BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR JESUS trunks had been delivered at the wrong time (or so we thought), but God used that timing to safeguard the bags inside. He knew they would need to open them in October, so they could have a BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR JESUS three months early!!


KEEP READING....

because I/we really need your help...

Speaking of BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR JESUS...

My 1996 Aerostar (150,000 miles) is empty of seats, but loaded front to back, top to bottom for a trip to Mexico next week. I will have 400+ bags with presents and money for each BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR JESUS. Those bags have very carefully and lovingly been filled by people from several churches all throughout the midwest. THANK YOU! Some containers will stay with the Friends churches in the north, and the rest I will ship to Mexico City. Those local churches will host parties, feed unchurched children and their parents and present the Gospel in some creative way.

Samuel Vasquez and his family (above) from Agujita in the state of Coahuila will host me for a day and help me ship crates to Mexico City. I will also share with a growing men's ministry and perhaps sing and/or teach a new song in Creole!

My wonderful friends and church planting pastors in Mexico City (above David Martinez and family; below Ramiro Martinez and family pet Roby) will receive the bags and then distribute them at several locations in January, the traditional time there for presenting such gifts.

In January, I hope to travel to Mexico City to take part in the BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR JESUS with Gary Wright and World Renewal Mexico Representative Jim Flood, and assist in a training seminar.

YOU CAN HELP. Travel funds for both these trips into Mexico are "lacking." I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE any help you could give. Any extra monies will go towards travel to Haiti in coming months.

Please consider doing three things:

1) Pray for my safety and travel.

2) Send a financial gift to help me deliver BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR JESUS bags/trunks, and to make the January training trip.

World Renewal International Box 399 Greenfield, Indiana 46140. Write a note designating it for Frank's travel.

3) Send me an email if you intend to respond to either request. I would especially love to hear that you are praying for me as I travel, for those loving gifts as they are given, and for each child who will receive something special for Christmas...and at the same time hear about the reason Jesus came. hereinks@yahoo.com

THANKS! GOD BLESS YOU!! HAVE A WONDER-FILLED CHRISTMAS!!!

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One more thing.

Below is a video we took last spring in Haiti. The place where they are singing was under 10-12 feet of water on September 1. Unfortunately, the backpacks and their contents were most likely washed away in the hurricane and flood, but thank the Lord each and every child was safe. And we have no doubt that many times since they have praised him in the same way you see here.

Reed Logan Bergquist

Grandson Number Three!

Born Tuesday, September 30, 2008 at 1:15 a.m.

Wichita, Kansas to Chris, Joy, Grayson and Tate

8 lbs. 5 oz. 21 inches long

Our Loved Ones in Haiti

Pastor Luc Joseph is a vibrant man, full of the Holy Spirit and a true blessing to every person he loves and serves. In recent days he has led may people, including all the children and workers from Christ's Compassion Orphanage through flood waters and all the trials that have come as a result of the hurricanes and severe storms. He represents and cares for many who are suffering. I cannot imagine what they have been through.

We ask you first of all to PRAY FOR OUR LOVED ONES IN HAITI.

Secondly, you can CONTRIBUTE TO RELIEF...

Flood Relief Fund - LOVED ONES IN HAITI

Contributions can be sent to:

World Renewal International PO Box 399 Greenfield, IN 46140

Or call us for information about how you can help

800-248-6512 or 317-467-9899

For much more information and updates on our loved ones in Haiti, please visit: http://worldrenewalhaiti.blogspot.com/

Max Wright from Greenfield, Indiana is seen above with children from the orphanage. He is World Renewal's faithful Haiti Representative. He has traveled there multiple times, and carries a burden for the pastors and people he serves. Pray with him about how each of us might best demonstrate the love of Christ to those in great need.

Max recently posted these photos on the WR Haiti blog. Gonaive is where Luc and his people live. Food, clean water and safe conditions are in short supply. Let these pictures remind you to pray for our Haitian brothers and sisters in Christ, asking how we might best help them in these difficult times.

FINISHED PRODUCTS in BRAZIL

Some of you have asked what the finished projects looked like from my June/July trip to Brazil with Kenny. Of course, my time there was cut way short by my father's death on July 4, so I did not get many pictures of my own (except the one you see below of an unfinished cabinet taken the day I left). Thanks to everyone who sent these to me in days since.

Our initial goal was to build as many multi-purpose units as posssible. We were putting in drawers and hanging doors when had I to leave after 10 days in Carpina. In the next 2 weeks, Kenny and our Brazilian friends finished the portable 14 cabinets I helped start, and built 5 stationary library shelves, a mobile display unit, and 2 desks and a set of shelves for school administrators. That was much more than we hoped for, and was an extra blessing for the ministry of World Renewal Brazil. God is so good and my friend Kenny is amazing.

ANOTHER VERY SUCCESSFUL MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! Thanks to all of you who helped make it possible, and thank the Lord for blessing beyond what we even asked or hoped for.

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE THAT BEARS REPEATING:

The ultimate goal of WRB is to glorify God by preaching the good news of Jesus Christ throughout northeastern Brazil, planting churches that reach out with His eternal love to every person in every community possible. That effort is growing and ongoing and involves multiple ministries that require various kinds of support. The result is that lives are changed both now and for eternity!

It is a privilege to serve the Kingdom cause, using our hands and hearts to help where we can. Thanks for equipping us to help equip them. Every contribution of any kind (time, talent, treasure) or size is greatly appreciated and pleases the Lord.

A LIFE WELL LIVED

Thank you all for your prayers and the many cards, letters, phone calls and expressions of love and support for our family. Mixed with our sadness is an overwhelming sense of great blessing. God has been good in uncountable ways, especially during the past month. Our hearts are full of praise for all He has supplied, including so many wonderful years with a wonderful man we all loved. We miss him immensely, but are rejoicing that we will see him again in eternity.

Frank A. Penna October 17, 1920 - July 4, 2008

Mother's 90th birthday party, April 12, 2008.

With Dad's only remaining sibling, sister Murva Booth.

May 2007
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60 Wedding Anniversary, 2001

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Some of the powerpoint pictures from the memorial service...



40+years on the job...65 in Plumbers Local #3
"Thanks for all your hard work, Dad.
You took extra good care of us all."

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All his grandchildren and some of their spouses were able to be in Denver for services.

Many have asked about Mother. Here she is in recent days with grandaughter Angie Cahoon (Bob's youngest). Mom is truly amazing...a real sweetheart, and blessing to us all. Keep her in your prayers. She hopes to travel a bit and see us kids until she decides where to live.

This is the front of one card we received.

Dad would love this picture.

His kind of scenery and colors.

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8

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After nearly 61 years, 4146 Irving will soon have a new owner. We are all sad, because this little bungalow has been a special home to many family and friends. But we are also thankful. In an ever changing world filled with chaos, we are grateful for that steady, secure place and the two people who made it that way.

BRAZIL Bookshelves, Blessings and More...

Somewhere during the preparation for my trip to Brazil, I remember thinking that someday I could be called home because of a family crisis. Little did I know this would be the time that would happen. I was to stay in Carpina from June 24 to July 22 in order to help Kenny Smith build cabinets, participate in and observe the Medical Team (8 folks from Indiana with Dr. Taylor), English Camp, a Pastor's Conference (with Hubert Nolen and Paul Romoser from Brookville Road Community Church in east Indianapolis), and the performances of "Shout" by 30+ youth from BRCC, as well as spend extra time with worship leaders and musicians. God had other plans for me, and I'm just thankful for the 11 days I did have in northeastern Brazil. We were truly blessed again in every way to partner with this dynamic team of church planters and brothers and sisters in Christ.Kenny and Ricardo once again did their thing to get us the best lumber for the job.







A good result takes good planning (and an expert Brazilian electrician).



Our shop this time was the room right next door to where we slept. Not very big, and we needed every square inch once the sawdust began to fly. Notice the "oversize" plywood - all metric measurements.We always try to raise enough money for Ricardo and others to have some new tools when we leave. He had just recently been installing some baseboard out of 3' pieces of super-hard wood, cutting each one my hand. He's smiling, and doesn't even know yet how much easier his life will be with a new Makita chop saw!

I love this picture of my friend, Kenny Smith. I was disappointed with it at first until I really stopped and looked at it for awhile. He cares so much about doing the very best he can with the tools and abilities God has given him. He serves the Lord with his hands as well as his heart. There he is, doing what he has done thousands of times before, building his first face frame for a big job, a true craftsman, with the light of Christ and the power of God shining through his work and his life. Thanks, Kenny. God uses you in more ways than you realize.
The hardwood we used was very wet. Look at all that sawdust sticking to everything it touches.

Boca Louka (Crazy Mouth) is our favorite late-night spot for indescribable burgers with "everything but the kitchen sink" on them.

Steve Turner is World Renewal's Brazil Representative, a volunteer job that he takes on with great enthusiasm and great love for the people and ministry there. He spent nearly six weeks there this summer, all at his own expense. A true servant of the Lord. Sitting next to him is his son, Jeff who with his wife Lindsay are WRI missionaries in Brazil. Say a quick prayer for them...they continue to face Visa challenges.

What wonderful friends God has given us...guys like Roberto (on saw with Kenny, took over a lot of my responsibilities when I had to leave), Duda (a working dynamo), Ricardo (awesome church planter and man of God, as well as our fellow carpenter, translator and much, much more), and Neco (great bass/guitar player).

When I left Brazil after 11 days, we had 14 multi-purpose storage units on casters waiting in the hallway for adjustable shelves, drawers, doors, handles and locks, and a paint job. After I left, they built 5 library shelf units, a portable library unit with display shelves, and 2 desks (complete with veneer tops) and a shelf unit for school administrators. And all in just another 8 working days!! Makes me tired just thinking about it. Way to go guys! The blessings I recieved in Brazil are too many to tell, and they just kept coming even as I traveled home during a difficult time. God got me out of Brazil on a very "ify" standby ticket. Then he supplied a seat all to myself right behind a bulkhead. Nobody saw me or even knew I was there for 10 hours. I needed that. It gave me a quiet, private place to grieve the loss of my father. In the middle of the long trip, I heard the pilot say something about the Amazon. I opened my window, and was totally blown away. Took about 30 pictures for the next 20 minutes. This is at 35,000 feet!! I learned from my dad to appreciate God's awesome creation. This view was a special gift to me at a very emotional time, and helped me so much to be prepared for the days ahead. I eventually went to sleep, but suddenly woke up and wondered where we were in the air. I opened my window and was once again taken by surprise realizing we were passing over the north end of South America. Another breathtaking view, and reassurance that God was with me and my family through it all!!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS - They all make THE difference.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT - It means so much to us and to those who receive the results of your loving generosity, poured out in tangible ways.