frontline Missions

contents
FROM THE HEART OF AlAn
PAGE 2

JEMiMA FindS CRAdlE OF lOvE

PAGE 3

CETRAM UPdATE
PAGE 6

GOd CAllEd ME TO FROnTlinE (nEW STAFF MEMBER!)

PAGE 8

Frontline Missions and CETRAM were both graced and honored by the presence of Guyanese governmental representative, Parliamentary Secretary & Ministry of Housing and Water, Ms. Philomena Sahoye-Shury, C.C.H. (left), shown embracing Heidi Winter. Ms. Shury attended CETRAMs Grand Opening in February, giving support of the vision of CETRAM to bring hope for the indigenous people of Guyana and Brazil alike.

OUT OF THEiR COMFORT ZOnES

PAGE 9

Frontlines 2012 Schedule

FEBRUARY 3-12 Alan to CETRAM, Boa Vista, Brazil 3 - 3/26 Elizabeth to CETRAM 5-17 Luis to Honduras w/ Ballardsville Baptist Church 18-25 Luis in Honduras w/ DeHaven Baptist Church 21-27 Alan & Heidi to Fayetteville, N.C. for Missions Conference at Manna Church MARCH 3-11 Alan & Heidi to CETRAM w/ Winshape students 11-18 Alan & Heidi to Mahaica, Guyana 17-24 Luis to Costa Rica w/ First Baptist of Atlanta (FBA) 26-4/7 Luis to Columbia 30-4/7 Alan, Heidi, Harry, & Elizabeth to Honduras w/ Landmark Christian School APRIL 14-21 Luis to Honduras w/ First Baptist 22-28 Alan & Luis to Venezuela w/ FBA MAY 26-6/2 Luis to Nicaragua w/ FBA JUNE 2-10 Alan, Heidi, & Elizabeth to Honduras w/ New River Community Church 9-23 Luis to Honduras w/ Crossroads Church 29-7/7 Alan, Heidi, & Elizabeth to Honduras w/ Beulah Baptist Church 30-7/6 Luis to Honduras w/ FBA JULY 6-14 Harry to Guyana w/ Dogwood Church 7-14 Luis to Nicaragua w/ Crossroads 21-29 Harry to Guyana w/ St. James Episcopal Church 27-8/4 Alan, Heidi, & Elizabeth to Brazil w/ Manna Church AUGUST 4-19 Alan, Heidi, & Elizabeth to Wai Wai village in Guyana 4-11 Luis to Nicaragua w/ FBA 12-29 Luis to Honduras w/ FBA

OnE dAy On FlOWER MOUnTAin

PAGE 13

COFFEE PROJECT TO BRinG HOPE, FREEdOM

PAGE 17

dO yOU HAvE WHAT iT TAkES? (CHAvARRiA MiniSTRy)

PAGE 18

Cover photo: Alan Winter Inside cover photo: Alan Winter Publication editor: Autumn Hill Faulkner

From

the

heart

oF

alan

Gods purposes through the decades

When I began serving Christ, I abundant grace and faithfulness on diseases. Today, 26 students from five was privileged to live with my pastor the frontlines in my own life and in the tribes are radically transformed and and father-in-the-Lord, Dick Strutz. I lives of those I have the honor to on fire for Jesus, ready to make great vividly remember sitting at his dining work with. I am able to describe how sacrifices to reach their own tribes room table listening intently to miseleven years ago the Lord gave us a and beyond for the Kingdom of God. sionaries share This year, we marvelous stories have also seen Gods of Gods faithfulwork among a forgotness and miracuten people (see Tolulous power. pan Indians article In particular, I from 2010 issue). He remember one has orchestrated a dimissionary deverse group of people scribing how he to not only reach them spent years prayfor Christ, but also to ing about and help them rise from planning to go to starvation and the Japan. After threat of genocide to much hoping and become economically waiting, he and self-supporting. his family finally Finally, Ive witset out for Japan nessed Elizabeth Pearin the fall of 1942, mans transformation Alan's Alaska trip in June afforded the time to give respect and deserved honor to fathers of the faith, dick Strutz (left) and dick Benjamin (center), who rst only to have the from a student on a deposited the very seeds of church planting within Alan. Pearl Harbor athigh-school mission tack occur when trip five years ago to a they were in the middle of the Pacific. dream of a training center in northern full-time Frontline staff member. They never made it to Japanyet Brazil to reach the indigenous peoThrough the use of Storying, Elizabeth God still achieved His purposes! This ples of the region, and how finally in now ministers to people from many missionary and his family ended up in 2011 the dream became a reality be- different cultures and languages. Australia and New Zealand instead, yond our expectations. God is and always has accomand Gods accomplishments through Of course, the reality is wildly dif- plished His purposes on a global them are still having an impact around ferent from the original dream, but scale. Are we willing to believe He will the globe today. When God says, All CETRAM and its people have been do the same for us individually? This is things work together for good to baptized through fireincluding diswhere it all beginsyou and I believthose who love God and are called couragement, mistakes, threats, car ing Gods Word is true and will be fulaccording to His purposes, He accidents, abandonment, investigafilled in our lives. Faith is the means exactly that! tions, failed lawsuits, lies, slander, de- substance of things hoped forthe Now, thirty-five years later, I find monically inspired conspiracies, evidence of things not yet seen (Hemyself sharing similar stories of Gods absence of funds, and life-threatening brews 11:1).
Page 2

CetramB r a z i l

Jemima nds cradle of love at CETRAM

By Alan Winter

Jemima Chatarpal grew up in Belem, Para, Brazil, one of 14 children in a family of Syrian descent. After high school Jemima received her certificate to teach and moved to Boa Vista, Roraima, Brazil, to continue her education at Federal University, prompted by her love for history and her dream of becoming a teacher. Shortly after she arrived, Jemima was introduced to Awan Chatarpal by mutual friends. They fell in love and were married in 2002. Jemima continued her education and later graduated with a degree in history. Being married to Awan added a lot of spice to Jemimas life. She had been raised in a large coastal city, so life in the ministry was a new experience. Jemima not only had to become familiar with ministry in general, but ministry to remote Indian tribes in Brazils immense savannah and jungles. And not only to just one tribeeventually God connected them with nine different tribes from Brazil, Guyana and Venezuela. Quickly the call of God in Awans life became Jemimas. Soon she began to dream of writing the history of the tribesof their struggles, beliefs, customs, how they eventually came to accept Christ, and the missions involvement. Jemima often joined Awan in the far north as they ministered to large
Page 3

Awan and Jemima Chatarpal outside the new CETRAM facility in Roraima, Brazil. Jemima has been instrumental in CETRAMs inception, planning, and operation. She currently serves as director at the school.

gatherings of indigenous leaders. At these meetings several tribes came together to worship, learn the Word of God, and share unique customs and not-so-unique struggles. From these gatherings and many fireside discussions, the idea of a school like CETRAM was conceived and developedprimarily in the hearts of Jemima and Awan, who would not be deterred in carrying the idea of a school to full term. Soon the idea was made reality, and the newborn school was thrust into a harsh reality, depending solely on the prayers of the church for continued existence. The same year the school was set to open, Brazils federal govern-

ment imposed a new law requiring all schools to be overseen by someone with a degree in school administration. Jemima immediately stepped up to do her part and headed back to school for another degree. While Jemima was studying for her certification, Awan kept busy building the actual campus with six helpers: an administration/classroom building, a cafeteria, dorms, and the grounds. Awan also began training instructors and worked with Alan Winter from Frontline Missions to raise the needed funds to build the campus, maintain those buildings, and operate the school on an on-going (cont. ) basis. Meanwhile, Jos,

CetramB r a z i l
CETRAMs key indigenous leader, traveled to numerous villages throughout the region, recruiting students to be part of this historical endeavortraining other natives from neighboring tribes! The school is now flourishing, thanks to these efforts and also to Jemimas hard work, dedication, and compassion for Brazils native peoples. An atmosphere of grace, trust, and love has produced a class of students that will change the whole region for Christ. Interview Excerpts ALAN: Jemima, tell us about the school CETRAM. JEMIMA: The school has been a blessing to my husband, Awan and me. I learned a lot here; God gave me a new heart through the school. Through the students, God has modified me a lot. I thought that I was going to teach them, but they have taught me so much more. I have to thank each student and staff that works here. CETRAM is a big family, united in harmony. God restored all of our lives. The students who came here were sad, timid, and abused; I now see them happily giving testimonies. When the students came they wouldnt look at you and now they look at me and pray and worship with their heads held high. ALAN: Share with us one of your greatest joys so far at the school. JEMIMA: There are many, many, many stories, but I will try and specify one. One student, Romario, came here with a broken life. He was involved with drugs and drunkenness. His family was also. He was very bitter and angry due to abuse, but when he returned home, his family saw such a change in him that they asked forgiveness from him. God freed their hearts and Romario was able to lead his family to Christ. After returning back to CETRAM, Romario began dreaming of starting a school like CETRAM in his own region. He says, Because my whole family accepted Christ, they want me to learn more so I can come back and teach them. They want me to reach all of the youth so they can be set free from alcohol, drugs, and immorality. I want to reach my whole community for Christ. This brings great joy to my heart when I see a simple young man bound by sin, set free and then God uses him in such a marvelous way. There have been many, many joys from each one of the students, but I wanted to specify this one. ALAN: What is your name and why did you come to CETRAM? ROMARIO (CETRAM student): My name is Romario and I am a Macushi from the village of Mutum from the area of Chiramiota. I came to CETRAM to learn the Word of God so that I can take it back to my community and disciple the people there so they can learn to walk with Jesus. I will disciple them by teaching them the stories from the Bible so they can learn from the stories how to live and how God can change their lives like ours. It is very important for me to carry my testimony to my community, my family, and the surrounding communities. One of my dreams is (cont. )
Page 4

Using every moment they can, CETRAM students diligently dig into the Word of God together before they are sent back to their own villages.

CetramB r a z i l
to open a school to teach the young people in the area, so that the community can learn, change, and have hope. I also want to teach the children so that they can learn to respect one another. ALAN: What was your life like before CETRAM? ROMARIO: My life was terrible. I fought a lot and partied with my friends the whole night until morning. ALAN: What do you want to do after you leave CETRAM? ROMARIO: I want to start a new community. A Christian community with a school that teaches the Word of God so that students can learn the stories from the Word of God...to live in community and learn practical skills...similar to what I have learned here at CETRAM. ALAN: What is your favorite thing at CETRAM? ROMARIO: I love to serve by cleaning, cooking, and repairing. I love to serve the others.

Jemima speaks to a class at CETRAM. At the time of publication, 26 students from numerous backgrounds and regions were enrolled at CETRAM.

ALAN: How do you want people to pray for the school? JEMIMA: Finances. We need to increase the finances to feed the students better. For clothing, shoes, school supplies, and a stipend for the students for personal needs. For prayer when they go back to their communities. Many of them will be the only believers in their community. Many of them will face discouragement and oppositions. We ask for prayer that they will stand The lord has stirred the heart of Jemima Chatarpal, director of strong and that CETRAM, to serve in a key mother role for all the students. many will come

to Christ as a result of the students changed lives and hope that they now have in Christ. ALAN: How can we pray best for you personally? JEMIMA: I need prayer for my marriage. I need prayer for there is a lot of work here at CETRAM and this has taken a toll on my relationship with my husband. This is what I need prayer for. I also want to invite those that have supported us to come and see all that God has done in creating CETRAM into a cradle of love. I can feel what it is really like to live in Christ. I didnt understand this totally but this year I have learned what it means to live in Christ. I love coming here every day and it is worthwhile. The investment into the lives of these students is worth it; it is the greatest investment!

Page 5

CetramB r a z i l

Update: CETRAM ourishing in rst year

By Alan Winter

Praises By the time of this publication, Pastor Jos will have received his four-wheel drive pick-up which will be used to visit and encourage the CETRAM students in their home villages. This mentoring previously took him two weeks of travel by foot, canoe, and vehicle, but he will now be more productive for the Kingdom thanks to Reports your support. He is especially grateful to the Lord for Manasseh, a Wai-Wai student from Parabara, not only providing the necessary vehicle, but one shared his testimony of Jesus transforming power with equipped with the his parents, family snorkel and winch reand friends, who quired to navigate were shocked to into these remote losee the changes in cations. his life. Rejoicing Two students with him, his father prayed for a man who said, My son, had been bedridden who was lost and with a back injury for doing wrong over two weeksand things, is now the man was healed! found and is doing The following day he good works. rode his bicycle to the Upon receivfarm where the stuing a gift of food dents had been workfrom his father, one ing and joined them in student shared it their labors. When the with all the other chief heard, he asked students. He exRosane (right, also on front cover) sketches out drawings to help her remember the students to return plained why he had the numerous Bible stories and their sequences as Martinilza (left) looks on. to win the entire vilshared this covlage for the Lord! eted commodity: We learned in the story of Acts that the early church had Prayer Requests everything in common. Isnt that what were supposed to Please pray for the continued equipping of the studo? dents as they are trained to reach their villages and counOne team ran out of food on their mission trip so try for the Lord. Pray for their protection as they share the they prayed for the Lord to provide. Immediately they Gospel in what are occasionally hostile environments; saw a turtle coming toward the houseand prepared pray for their families as they are absent from them; and their evening meal with thanksgiving. pray for the necessary support for their food, tuition and February 2011 marked the grand opening of CEtravel. Pray for accountability and for the Holy Spirit to TRAM, the Bible training center for indigenous (cont. )
Page 6

continue His work in their lives not only through their time at CETRAM, which culminates with their graduation on July 29, 2012, but also as they go out to labor for the Kingdom and continue to disciple others. Pray for the few students who will remain behind at CETRAM to assist the new students who arrive late this summer.

CetramB r a z i l

The students of CETRAM have already had a huge impact on their surrounding regions. in only one year, the students have participated in two missions and two home visits. 30 students have been sent to 16 different villages, witnessing an amazing 395 salvations and 19 healings.

people in Brazil and surrounding regions. We were grateful that the Lord built upon the relationships He established with local businessmen and political leaders to help obtain permits and approval from the local government. The schools first class consisted of twenty-six students from five tribes chosen by their chiefs to relay the biblical information, agriculture, computer skills, business management, and construction back to their villages. Upon enrollment, many of these students were not truly interested in the biblical studies; they were away from their families for the first time, and came from tribes that had long histories of warring against each other and spoke different languages. It seemed it would take a miracle for these students to create a unified spirit. Within that first week, we taught them eight Bible stories and soon discovered that drawing them out communicated beyond the language barriers. As we discussed how man was created in Gods image, the students realized that all men were thereby created equal. They saw that one culture is not better than another; a great hush and the presence of the Lord filled the room. Only those who have worked closely with opPage 7

pressed, degraded, and abused people can fully comprehend the magnitude of this revelation. The following day we learned about Adam and Eves disobedience creating separation from God. When the students asked how they could be restored to a right relationship with God and no longer separated from Him, we decided to spend the rest of the morning putting our trust in Jesus. We experienced a wonderful time as we saw the transformation of the countenances of the students that had been separated from God. Once the students were united with their Creator, they entered into a sweet time of worship complete with tears and dancing. Some of the students had visions of how the Lord would use them to draw others to Himself; others experienced healing from past rapes and hurt, and still others were convicted to forgive past grievances. After healing had taken place in their lives, the Lord opened their eyes to His bright new future for them. The students were now ready to go out and share the hope that they had inside of them.

F r o n t l i n e USa

God called me to Frontline Missions

By Elizabeth Pearman

As the seasons change in my life, I understand more each day that life is a journey. Ever since I was little, missions has fascinated me. I listened with wide eyes every time I heard a missionary speak and hoped for the opportunity to go one day myself. When I was 16, I finally got my chance to visit Honduras with Frontline Missions in 2006. As I worked in the medical clinic and pharmacy, held dirty Tolupan babies who never laughed or cried, and loved on barefoot children, my heart was forever changed and I was hooked. The following year, I was privileged to return to Honduras with my home church, Beulah Baptist. In my six years of missions, I have been a part of sixteen foreign mission teams to many parts of Honduras and Guyana. As I was involved with each team, God was directing my path and preparing me for the future. My path took a turn as God gave me the opportunity to intern with Frontline Missions in the summer of 2010. As part of my internship, I went on trips to Honduras and Guyana and was trained in Bible Storying. I ultimately learned the Panoramic Story, an eight-minute summary of Gods Story in the Bible. Each time that I have told the Panoramic Storywhether to Hindus and Muslims in Guyana, Tolupan Indians in Honduras, or Americans in my hometownI have

seen Gods truth communicated to peoples hearts in a way they can understand, and as a result their lives are changed. It was during my internship at Frontline that I recognized the call that God placed upon my life to share His Story with others, especially with those who may never hear it otherwise. At the conclusion of the summer, I begged to stay at Frontline and keep volunteering for them while I continued my studies at Point

Elizabeth scoops up one of Gods precious little ones in Guyana.

University. I was eagerly adopted into the Frontline family and have continued to work and learn under their wonderful leadership. As part of my training with Frontline, I was given the opportunity to help Alan Winter and Dr. Steve

Crowther instruct Bible Storying trainers at a course at Grace College of Divinity in January 2011 and 2012. Through this experience, God broadened my heart from simply foreign missions to include a desire to equip the church in the U.S. to go out and share Gods Story with others. As I spent time in Honduras and Guyana in the summer of 2011, God continued to direct my heart towards full-time mission work in partnership with Frontline Missions. After my graduation from Point University in December 2011, I happily joined Frontline Missions full-time in January 2012. I look forward to the exciting opportunities that I will have to serve as I assist and lead teams in Honduras, Guyana, and Brazil. I will also be involved in training teams in Bible Storying as they prepare for their short-term trips. In February and March 2012, I will have the opportunity to work and live with indigenous students at CETRAM Bible School in Brazil. We will be translating Bible stories into their heart languages so that they can share Gods Story with their home villages after their own graduation in July 2012. The opportunities before me both excite and overwhelm me with the goodness of God. God has been faithful to direct my steps and I am excited to see where He leads me as I continue to serve Him in partnership with Frontline Missions as a Missions Mobilizer.
Page 8

Outside their comfort zones!

Jennifer Nurenberg Dogwood Church Peachtree City, GA My Guyana journey began in January 2011, when I went to a women's retreat and picked up an artists rendition of "The Pearl of Great Price. Jesus said that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it (Matt 13:45-46). The artist from the retreat, Janice Van Cronkhite, went on to say, "As this revelation makes its way from our head to our heart, WE then become a pearl of great price to Him. We are incredibly loved by our Creator. We become one He can entrust His mysteries to and, more importantly, we become His friend." The reason I chose to go to Guyana, besides obedience to God, was to put others first before my own comfort. Between January and July, Matthew 13 slowly made its way from my head to my heart until I believed it. I thought that my going on this trip was to make others namely the children at Save-RKidsfeel valuable, like a pearl. I felt successful in this mission with several of the older girls in the home. I enjoyed relating to three Indian sisters and one other troubled sibling. I remember thinking it odd that she had not connected to any of the women on the trip. She seemed hurt and aloof, and I, in turn, shied away from her. One day we were doing a praise dance during Vacation Bible School when I saw her light up. She was a dancer. After that day, all she wanted to do was dance or talk nonstop. I can only imagine what kind of lies and hurtfulness she and other girls have experienced in their brief lives so far, and what kind of hurdles lay ahead. When someone can make them feel like a pearl, that really is "priceless," for both parties. I also found that I could conquer my own giants by going on a mission trip. In the popular book Wild at Heart, author John Eldredge says quite a bit about spiritual warfare. About women in particular, he says on page 182: "Eve is the crown of creation, remember? ... And so she is the special target of the Evil One; he turns his most vicious malice against her. If he can destroy her or keep her captive, he can ruin the story." For me, one of those giants was feeling inadequate or inferior as a stay-at-home mom. The Evil One was winning in my heart every time I questioned myself and the importance of what I was doing. Going to Guyana in obedience was a way for God to use me by serving others, and therefore gain spiritual strength to defeat a key (cont. ) lie of the enemy.

G U ya n a

As Jennifer steps out of her own comfort zone and dances into the lives of TracyAnn, Amanda, and Toshana (left to right), they in turn are able to lay down their broken lives for a moment and spring into joyous play!
Page 9

G U ya n a
Prentiss Findlay them took some time. A Band-Aid Cooley and Bible study led by PasSt. James Episcopal Church was a patch. Sometimes, I turned to tor Arthur Jenkins. At those times, I one kid to ask what another had said. felt the presence of the Holy Spirit Charleston, S.C. The children loved activities led and I was blessed with a new underAnimals are a part of daily life for by the Saint James team. Slip-andstanding of Jesus parables in Luke the 30 kids at the home in Cornelia slide on a long, narrow sheet of 13 about the Kingdom of God Ida, Guyana, run by Michael and soapy plastic was a big hit. So was words I had read dozens of times Michiel Campbell. Two cows wander musical chairs. The kids delighted at about how the Kingdom is like yeast around the premises. Fowl is slaughworked into dough sudtered and served fresh for denly came alive in a dinner. A small dog was renew way. The Kingdom named Lucky after Alcyone is here and now. The heard his yelps and pulled Holy Spirit, the yeast, is him from the mouth of an working in and through anaconda. us, the dough, to reLike Lucky, the kids claim a fallen creation have been rescued from a from the enemy. dangerous world beyond the As part of our misbarbed-wire-topped fence sion, we worked to surrounding the forested spruce up Save-R-Kids perimeter of Save-R-Kids. with new coats of paint I was among seven on an outdoor staircase. missionaries from Saint Afterwards, our air condiJames who recently spent tioned quarters felt like an Prentiss (better known as Uncle Gray Bear to the children) paints 10 days at Save-R-Kids. an outdoor staircase on his rst mission trip to the Save-R-kids oasis. I drank lots of puriBefore the trip, I knew childrens home in Cornelia ida, Guyana. fied water dispensed Guyana as the place in the from 5-gallon jugs. We news decades ago where light-up yo-yos and bubble wands. I were told not to drink the tap water. Jim Jones and his cult of followers wished that I had remembered to Despite the precautions, I got sick. drank poisoned-laced Kool-Aid. bring kazoos. And they really liked Thankfully, the antibiotic Cipro proUpon arrival, I was struck by the rusty two-wheelers we fixed up. vided by a team member brought the third-world appearance of the Uncle Gray Bear, can we ride rapid relief from a queasy stomach. airport. There is one runway. The bikes? We slept in bunk beds. During small terminal is a short walk from I suppose my nickname had power outages, which happened regthe plane. The customs lady had a something to do with my size and ularly, a noisy generator kicked in. A question or two before putting the tree frog lived in the toilet. From timefirst stamp in my new passport. This silver hair. I took it as a term of endearment. Never had I seen such to-time, bats made noises in the attic. was my first mission trip. We spent 10 days in Guyana. enthusiasm for beat-up bikes. But In the following days, I got to with new tires, any old bike beDuring that time, I felt that I had grown know the kids. They came up with a spiritually through daily worship, Bible comes a joy in Guyana. nickname for me, Uncle Gray Bear. study and prayer ministry. But I felt In addition to activities with the Like most kids, they liked to play jokes there was much more to know about kids, our days at Save-R-Kids inon people, jump rope, and scurry the country and its people. (cont. ) cluded worship songs led by Brent about at high speed. Understanding
Page 10

hondUraS
Jonathan Sharp Grace Church High Point, N.C. When I heard that my youth group was going to Honduras again for our annual missions trip, I was really excited. It had been three years since I had been on a missions trip. This year our destination was the village of Jano Viejo. Its about an eight-hour trip from San Pedro Sula, where we flew into. We broke the trip into two days, traveling four hours into Olanchito to stay the night, and planned to cover the rest of the distance the next day. When we left Olanchito I started to hear the stories of how long this stretch took the team that came last year. To reach Jano Viejo, you have to travel on dirt back roads. Last year, there was a lot of rain, which made the roads muddy and caused the trucks to get stuck a lot. By the end of the day it took them nine hours to make the trip. But this year God blessed us with dry weather and it only took four hours. One project our team was assigned was to dig an eight-foot septic hole. We started the project alone with guidance from the Honduran pastors who had joined the trip. But it quickly turned into a joint effort by both the gringos and catrachos (a nickname for themselves, the Hondurans). It became comical as we worked so hard trying to dig the hole, and then a Honduran man would jump in and give us a break. He would work for quite a while, being much more effective while using much less effort.
Page 11

It was incredible as well as humbling to watch a 60-year-old man put us to shame with the work he did. But also, this was the job we came to do for them and they joined to help us. I could not wrap my head around thatwhy wouldnt they just let us do the work to serve them? I started to understand as the week wore on. They were reciprocating the love we showed them. We had material possessions and some food to give to them. With a bit of a language barrier, the universal language of love was spoken with actions and this became the prevalent language we spoke on this trip. We worked with them, we played soccer with them, we tried to speak their language, we gave away our possessions, we shared our food, to show them the love that God had given us for them. However, I feel like the love they

showed us in return was just as much of a blessing to us as what we gave to them. They joined us in our work, they ate with us, the kids followed us around everywhere and they all tried to learn phrases of our language as well. By the end of the week, they knew each one of us for different reasons. We felt the love toward them that God has for them. In I Corinthians 3, it talks about how were Gods fellow workerswe plant and water the seeds and He provides the increase. On so many trips, it seems like we only get to plant seeds. We pray for people or tell them about Jesus and then never see them again. But this trip was different; we not only got to plant the seed and tell them about Jesus, but by forming relationships and showing them love, we got to water the seeds too, and now God (cont. ) will provide the increase.

Courage Carr, leader of Grace Churchs mission team, is affectionately attacked by the little friends he met last year in Jano veijo.

hondUraS

The team from new River hikes to a remote village in Honduras to hand out much-needed corn, rice, and even solar-powered mp3 players. This team actually visited two villages in one dayMontenegro and Monterreyhiking for a total of eight grueling hours.

Fred Gilkeson New River Community Church Douglasville, GA Our team hiked to Montenegro, [Honduras], one of the poorest and neediest of all of the Tolupan villages. It is very difficult to reach and rarely, if ever, has visitors. Even their own government officials dont make the journey. When New Rivers team arrived at Montenegro after the four-hour hike, a villager asked them with great surprise, Who sent you?! The team explained that Pastor Luis of Sulaco had sent them and they were one of the Frontline Missions teams, ready to serve the people of Montenegro. At first, the women and children were afraid of these outsiders and were reluctant to come out of their houses. The chief, however, was very welcoming to the team and he showed interest in the solar mp3 players we brought. Each player contained the New Testament and basic lessons about being a Christian. The chief could not believe that the team would travel so far to his village and give them the mp3 players, as well as much-needed corn and rice. After personally experiencing how bare and desolate

Montenegro truly was, it felt very good to give where the need was so great. On the same day, the team, although already tired from their hike to Montenegro, decided to hike straight on to another villageMonterrey. A New River team had visited Monterrey four years earlier and they desired to make the four-hour trek to that village despite their burned and blistered feet. Once they arrived in the village, they were greeted by many who remembered them. Karen Beard, a nurse and one of this years team members, had delivered a baby on that first visit, and she was able to find the now 4-year-old child. At first the family didnt recognize her but soon they began to rejoice with Karen at this blessed reunion! The team continued handing out rice, corn and more mp3 players. We gave one player to Loris, a teacher visiting from Sulaco. She was elated to receive it because it has been a desire of her heart to take the Word of God to the Tolupannow she could use the mp3 player to do so. The team was able to commission Loris for the desire and work that God had placed in her heart. It is remarkable how God orchestrates peoples paths to cross.
Page 12

One day on Flower Mountain

By Alan & Heidi Winter

hondUraS

Sleep evaded me as the hardest rain I have ever seen pounded down on Flower Mountain, Honduras. Various scenarios ran through my mind. What precautions should we take in traveling back down the mountain road? Would we be able to cross the already high rivers that were surely rising by the minute? I repeated prayers of safety for everyone and asked the Lord for guidance. For days He had been stirring my heart to pray for the safety of this trip, and earlier that week my wife Heidi described an unusually heavy burden she felt to pray against danger. I was listening. I was on guard. By morning the ankle-deep creek by the community center where we stayed had risen above six feet. I had never seen this in mountainous La Ceibita. I realized my nighttime concerns had not been unfounded, since even on a good day the road was fairly poor not to mention after a deluge. At breakfast we decided as a team to cancel that day's ministry plans and make the road passable instead. We loaded three pick-ups with shovels, ropes, pry-bars, and a chainsaw, and went to inspect the road. A mile down we found a gaping trench, five feet deep and ranging from eight to almost 20 feet wide. Such a gap was not passable with
Page 13

Putting his frequently used problem-solving skills to work, Alan sizes up the huge, gaping hole in the road from the village of la Ceibita, Honduras, which blocks the teams path back to the airport and their ight home.

4x4 trucks, motorcycles, or horses. Searching the area, we discovered a four-foot-high boulder nearby. After several hours, eight of us managed to roll it 30 feet and down into the trench. Next, we cut four trees to span the gaps from the rock to the original road. After six hours we had built a bridge and partial dam, finally

enabling us to cross. One mile of the road completedeleven miles to go. Two miles further down, we came to a river crossing where a large tree had fallen directly on the ford. Using the chainsaw just above the waters surface, we cut the tree into short logs that floated down the river in no time, and thank- (cont. )

hondUraS
fully the river was just low enough to cross at that point. Three miles downeight to go. After we crossed over, some locals told us the rest of the road was okay for travel, so we decided not to work any further in that direction. We began anticipating a wellearned meal and a good nights sleepbut when we returned to the river we found a new problem waiting on us. Though we had cleared the river of the tree, the logjam we created caused the already-precarious water level to rise and swamp the crossing with a pile of mud and sand. A few team members worked carefully in the swift, dangerous current to move logs and debris, and after ninety minutes the jam was cleared. When the water level dropped eight inches, I decided to attempt to cross the river myself. When we entered the ford I suddenly realized we were in trouble. The 4x4 was not going to make it through the piled-up sediment against the current. The rocks I felt earlier when walking the river had shifted, and our tires began spinning in foot-deep sand and mud. The rushing waters shoved the 4x4 into the deepest channel, making it act as a dam. Water began pouring into the floorboards. Although I was standing on the gas pedal, we were stuck. The next minute, the current began sweeping us down river. I cried out, "God, help us," and threw the truck into reverse. How we were able to get any footing in reverse is beyond meit must have been Gods miraculous provision. Even now as I recount this, I am reminded of the verse, He set my feet upon a rock," (Ps. 40:2). Once we were safely on the other Brandon Jones (left) and a Honduran friend (middle) ultimately bank, we came up with the solution: rolling a four-foot boulder across thirty thanked God feet into the river to form a makeshift bridge. and prayed that the river would drop further. We had just decided to park our trucks there and walk back to La Ceibita when another small mission group drove up in an SUV. With difficulty we finally persuaded them to park their vehicle on our side and stay the night with us. A husband and wife were leading this team, and the wife expressed relief at our presence, saying she was sure her husband would have tried to cross if we had not stopped them. Since their SUV was lighter and lower than ours they would surely have met with disaster. We were convinced the Lord allowed us to be stranded at the river for this other teams safety. Realizing how tired the team had become, I started to make the four-and-a-half mile run back to camp to retrieve the sole truck left behind. But after the exertion of the day I could hardly keep moving. Just after the first mile, I came upon a home where I had previously helped a family. Remarkably, they had a visiting friend with a motorcycle, and he took me the rest of the way back to camp. After transporting the team back, we found enough mattresses for our six guests from the other team and had a wonderful nights sleep without rain. Thankfully, by the morning the rivers had dropped, and we travelled past all but one of them without incident. Unusually, we had cellular reception at this time, so I called Heidi all the way back in the (cont. ) U.S. to fill her in on how
Page 14

hondUraS
we had been progressing. I rarely communicate with her this often when I am on a trip to Central America, but for some reason I sensed a need to be in touch. Heidi urged that we still needed to be alert, watchful, and prayerful. She continued to stress that although the events from the previous days seemed extreme, she still was not convinced we were out of trouble yet. At the same time, our interpreter Cristy called her mother, who also said she had been warned in a dream to pray for this trip even more than usual. Later we would learn that Honduran pastor Luis Romeros wife, Lucia, was also divinely led to pray for us during that time. We prayed as a team and went back to driving, alert for anything else that might spring up. Within ten minutes of praying and warning everyone to be careful, just as we were crossing the final river, I looked in the rear-view mirror and watched in total shock as one of our trucks simply began to veer off the roadstraight toward a tenfoot drop. What is going on? I cried. What is happening? At once I imagined the possible outcome. At the bottom of the ravine large boulders waited to totally destroy the truck. It teetered precariously on the edge of the road and the ravine. If that truck goes off the edge any further, I thought, it is sure to flip and land on those boulders upside down. God, please stop them. Dont let the truck roll! Instantly the drivers door sprang open and the three people in the cab scrambled out. As Cristy was jumping clear of the unstable truck, she exclaimed to (cont. ) her sister, Meily, This

Many prayers are sent to the throne of God as Alan and his team try to keep one of their trucks from rolling over into a rocky ravine. The truck was eventually saved, and mercifully, no passengers were hurt during the incident.

Page 15

hondUraS
must be why Mom was praying extra hard for us on this trip! Meanwhile the truck teetered on the edge of the ravine. By an act of God, it had hung up on something. Everyone jumped out of the other trucks, working swiftly to tie off the truck with two towropes. Before anyone could yell out orders, our Honduran brethren were on the lower side of the vehicle, bracing the truck with their very bodies. Did they not realize how dangerous it was? Did they think through the consequences if the truck began to roll? The truck normally would have been loaded with team members in the back, but thanks to God, no one had chosen to ride in that truckotherwise, more lives would have been at stake. I knew that as dangerous as the truck was teetering there on the ravine's edge, pulling it out would match or even exceed our previous experience in danger. I needed fortified prayer, and I knew who could get the ball rolling. I quickly dialed, desperately hoping to get an answer on the other end. Seconds stretched into an eternity. Then I heard what I was longing for. Hello? I was so relieved to hear Heidis voice! Heidi, you have to get everyone praying! I cried out quickly. Call all the intercessors and get them on this right away. I explained the dangerous situation, and over the next two hours while we worked, the Lords throne room was filled with pleas, petitions, and prayers on our behalf by more

navigating six river crossings is only one of the many obstacles in reaching the abused and oppressed tribe of the Tolupan natives in Honduras. Heavy rains made this trip up Flower Mountain especially treacherous, but Gods protection was evident every step of the way.

than two hundred people all across the United States. Individuals and even large prayer chains immediately went into action on behalf of our troops. Among the team the stress was escalating; confusion from the enemy was trying to set in, and our emotions were high. Switching between two languages added to the frustration of such tense circumstances. We worked furiously, attempting to safeguard the truck from going down. Numerous rocks were gathered to build up a path underneath the tires; then we poured gravel and sand between the rocks. Miraculously it held the weight of the truck as we eased it back on to the

original road. Working together as a team, we were thrilled to get the truck on the road without any damagebut, more importantly, without any harm to anyone on our team. Within a few more miles, and without further incident, we were down the mountain and headed back to the safety of the States. The Lord truly is El Shaddai" our all in all. He warned us, He stirred the saints to pray, and He protected us in the end. Indeed serving the Lord is not about doing mighty deeds on our own but about relying on Jesus to engage His troops together for His purposes and His glory.
Page 16

hondUraS

Coffee project to bring hope, freedom

By Alan Winter

In our last issue, we wrote about our divinely led relationship and history with the Tolupan natives (read A Forgotten People). In January 2011, the Tolupan leadership asked to meet with us to discuss plans to develop their economy. They asked if Frontline could assist them in reversing the cycle of hunger and dependency on the coyotes (the loan sharks that grossly take advantage of their plight). Their pleas ignited the search for a project that would help them become independent. We went home praying and they went home dreaming. Last April, the leaders gathered and told us that they wanted to greatly increase their coffee production. They asked if we could help them develop their coffee products. Helping them would involve financing loans, finding honest buyers, and training them in how to improve their harvest. We made the commitment by faith that God would provide the finances. Praise to the King of KingsHe provided the needed funds within 30 minutes of the meeting! Before the Tolupan talked to us about the loans, God moved one family on the team to give us $10,000. After the meeting, which they did not attend, they approached me and asked if I had a need for $10,000 (the exact amount needed to begin the coffee project). I love how the Lord uses every one of His children to accomplish His purposes! Over the past year, the Lord has used Redeemer Lutheran Church, Landmark Christian School, New River Community Church, Beulah Baptist Church, and Grace Church of Fredericksburg, Virginia, to continue to reach the Tolupan by loving them, training their leaders, holding medical and dental clinics, playing soccer, providing food for malnourished children, purchasing crafts, and building hope for both now and eternity. Recently, Meily Garrido, Frontline Missions executive director in Honduras, held another coffee project meeting with the Tolupan on Flower Mountain. Meily brought a Honduran coffee exporter/processor to the meeting, who explained to the Tolupan that he could
Page 17

Savannah Moody, a landmark Christian School student, seizes the opportunity to love on a Tolupan child, whose future could be positively impacted by the planned coffee-growing project.

open a direct international market to sell their coffee, removing two levels of middlemen. These middlemen have historically taken advantage of the Tolupan natives by paying low prices that eliminate the growers well-deserved profits, so this new strategy of direct marketing could be extremely helpful for the impoverished Tolupan tribe. We have also been given a possible opportunity to partner with a previous buyer for transporting the coffee, which would make him an ally instead of an exploiter. Please pray that God gives us wisdom as we attempt to make this transition as smooth as possible. While we would like to believe that solving such problems is simple, change doesnt come easily in third-world countries. We must pray for safety for those involved with the project, as changes are displeasing to people who have profited from exploiting the Tolupan in the past. Our prayer is that our efforts to help the Tolupan produce high-quality coffee will bring about a new future for themone of economic independence, confidence, and hope.

do you have what it takes?

our hands dirty, mix mud with people in other countries, and help with the building of an adobe church. He alI remember that night as if it was lowed us to participate in a retreat to yesterdaythe preacher quoting from share and pray and see pastoral couIsaiah 6, Who shall I send? And who ples being restored. He allowed us to shall go for us? My heart pumping speak to individuals, pastors, leaders like never before, melting, tears in my and whole congregations in person, eyes, and this crazy idea in my mind: and allowed us to reach thousands I will go, Lord, send me! and thousands through radio, TV, and Since then, our kids have grown the internet. up. Many of those years have been We were able to minister to spent on the missions field. We have people who speak Spanish and/or gone through good times and hard English, to Amerindians, to Ameritimes, but through all these years, cans, to Central Americans and to God has always been faithful. South Americans. Every time I have the opporOur God is an amazing God. tunity of sharing about missions in Those times when we thought we front of a congregation, I love to did not have the resources, He invite them to be part of a shortprovided. When there were hurterm mission trip. I tell them to go dles, He took care of them. He with us or somebody else, but opened new doors and closed please go. I promise you that others as He pleased, just to pour your life will never, ever, ever be out His blessings on us. the same. Come once and see We have witnessed new how others live, and how blessed churches, new disciples, great you are. projects, new countries, and new The blessing is not only to dreams. The truth is, we do not be able to go and do something have what it takes. But He does! good for somebody else. This is Our hearts are full of gratitude very good, but the real blessing is for all of those individuals and that God will use the whole expechurches that came to serve with rience in ways we cannot even Millions of needy people in remote regions need us this year. We are grateful for all imagine. He will minister to our our compassionthis is why we feel compelled to return to the mission eld again and again. of those who have been co-laborlives and draw us closer to Him. ers with us for the Kingdom. Along It could be among the Lenca with all of that, we are rejoicing for people or with Pastor Franklin in part is about giving back everything. the hope we have in Christ Jesus Honduras. It could be at the retreat This was a great year for us. A knowing that He who began the center construction site or the Farm year full of contrasts, full of joy, and good work in us will be faithful to Project with Pastor Eliseo in complete it. some tears. God allowed us to get Nicaragua. It could be sharing tracts
By Luis Chavarria
Page 18

C h ava r r i a m i n i S t r y

or preaching on the streets of Sincelejo, Colombia, with Pastor Ezequiel. Every time we go, God is already there. The main reason that I am moved to write about this is twofold. First of all, it is a fact that there are millions and millions of people who need to hear the powerful love story of the resurrected Son of God, the Christ. But secondly, amazing blessings are ready for those who simply and plainly decide to trust God, no matter what. The first part is about receiving everythingthe second

frontline Missions
5600 Short Road, Fairburn, Georgia 30213 Contact: 770.774.0641 | info@fmusa.org

the people behind Frontline...

Alan & Heidi Winter

Harry & Diane Calsbeek

Luis & Karen Chavarria

Elizabeth Pearman