North Stafford Church of Christ

Nicaragua Boot Fund Update

From Mike:

Attached are several pictures of kids receiving the boots purchased by North Stafford.  We purchased 71 pairs of boots for kids at one of our mission schools at Barranco Blanco (a rural community outside Jinotega about 40 kilometers) and 147 pairs when we went on the river to San Andres last week.  That does it.  With your $1500 you purchased 389 pair of boots at an average cost of $3.85 per pair for kids that needed them.  Thanks for the participation in this program.  The kids really benefited from your efforts.

 

Christian & Megan in Nicaragua

Christian and Megan were down in Nicaragua in Jul and Aug working with Mision Para Cristo.  Other pictures of their adventures are at C and M in Nicaragua.  See all of the Mission's pictures at Mision Para Cristo photos.

Smile for a Child - Christmas Gift Boxes for Nicaragua

We are collecting items now for the A Smile for a Child gift box program that supports Mision Para Cristo children in Nicaragua.  Our goal at NSCofC is to ship 100 filled boxes to the children this year.  All items and donations need to be at NSCofC no later than Sun, Sep 13 in order for the boxes to be shipped several weeks later to make it to Nicaragua by the Christmas holidays.

We already have boxes and gift wrap so all we need are items to fill each of the boxes.  This is where you can help.  Can you please consider purchasing items (see list below) or making a donation towards the purchase of items or shipment of the boxes?  Each box costs $5 to ship.

For you to help, see the sign-up sheet and donation container in the foyer of the NSCofC auditorium. Of course, you can also be in touch with Anne, Karita, or Raeann to assist or if you have questions.

Items (new, please) to be collected: 

-  Jump ropes

-  Small balls (no larger than 4 inches big)

-  Bubbles

-  Writing pens

-  Note pads (no larger than 5 X 7 inches)

-  Toothbrushes

-  Toothpaste (large tubes)

-  Hair combs

-  Bars of soap (each in Ziploc bag)

-  Lollipops or gum (no other type of candy)

-  Shampoo, lotion, etc. (hotel or trial size)

-  Donations (for purchase or shipping)

-  Large rubber bands (for keeping each box closed)

Smile for a Child - Christmas Gift Boxes for Nicaragua

It is time to start collecting items now for the A Smile for a Child gift box program that supports Mision Para Cristo children in Nicaragua.  Our goal at NSCofC is to ship 100 filled boxes to the children this year.  All items and donations need to be at NSCofC no later than Sun, Sep 13 in order for the boxes to be shipped several weeks later to make it to Nicaragua by the Christmas holidays.

We already have boxes and gift wrap so all we need are items to fill each of the boxes.  This is where you can help.  Can you please consider purchasing items (see list below) or making a donation towards the purchase of items or shipment of the boxes?  Each box costs $5 to ship.

For you to help, see the sign-up sheet and donation container in the foyer of the NSCofC auditorium. Of course, you can also be in touch with Anne, Karita, or Raeann to assist or if you have questions.

Items (new, please) to be collected: 

-  Jump ropes

-  Small balls (no larger than 4 inches big)

-  Bubbles

-  Writing pens

-  Note pads (no larger than 5 X 7 inches)

-  Toothbrushes

-  Toothpaste (large tubes)

-  Hair combs

-  Bars of soap (each in Ziploc bag)

-  Lollipops or gum (no other type of candy)

-  Shampoo, lotion, etc. (hotel or trial size)

-  Donations (for purchase or shipping)

-  Large rubber bands (for keeping each box closed)

Christian & Megan in Nicaragua II

Christian and Megan are still down in Nicaragua working with Mision Para Cristo.  See new and updated pictures of their adventures at C and M in Nicaragua.  See all of the Mission's pictures at Mision Para Cristo photos.

     

Christian & Megan in Nicaragua

Along with grandparents Ann and Mike, our teenagers Christian and Megan are down in Nicaragua for several weeks working with the good people at Mision Para Cristo.  See new and updated pictures of their adventures at C and M in Nicaragua.  See all of the Mission's pictures at Mision Para Cristo photos.  A few photos of Christian and Megan below.

     

     

     

Mike & Ann in Nicaragua #12-09

Mike Faris
Jul 19, 2009

Greeting Fellow Workers,

Well, the week of our largest number of mission workers is over.  We were blessed by God and it went wonderfully.  We had 45 people working with us on Monday and 42 plus 5 interns for the remainder of the week.  While the groups were here we had a couple of firsts.  Our electric meter burned up so we were without power for 6 days and during that time the city decided to work on the water line so we were without water or the threat of no water for 2 days.  However, not all the mission areas were effected so we made it through just fine.  Lots of flashlights and hauling buckets of water for a while.  We were able to make great progress on the house for one of the members of the church in Jinotega, start a new school in a community called Saraguaca, about 45 minutes North of Jinotega, do some more painting at the nursing home and visit a different school every day to share the mobile library with the kids.

Ann took care of the menus and making sure everyone was fed and the odds and ends that come up in hosting 45 people.

Next week there are no groups at the mission.  So, we will use it to do upkeep on the vehicles and some housekeeping chores before the next group, a youth group from Pleasant Valley in Little Rock, arrives.  Oh, did I mention we are on our way home to pickup two of our grand kids (Megan and Christian) and bring them back to Nicaragua to work with us for 3 weeks.  You can imagine how excited and how much Ann and I are looking forward to this.!

Around the mission:

1.  Still no word on our container.  But, we are still expecting it here in a week or so.

2.  We’ve secured a warehouse and will start moving in items next week.  It will take 10 days (or so J) to get it ready the way we agreed to with the landlady.  I sure hope the warehouse is ready before the container arrives.

3.  We have a trip on the river scheduled to leave Monday the 20th.  Miguel will be taking some chairs to the church in Pankawas and La Esperanza. He will also be taking a lantern to Urbino, the preacher in Pankawas, to show him what I will be bringing up in larger quantities on the September trip.  And, Miguel will be taking a roll of barbed wire for our first 8 test gardens.  I’m anxious to hear how it went when he returns in a week.

Mission needs:

1.  A utility truck. Cost: $15,000 - $17,000 dollars.

2.  More books for the mobile library

Prayer needs:

1.  Our container and warehouse are both ready in the right order.

2.  Safe travel and work for the groups.

Well, that’s it for a while.  We offer prayers of thanksgiving for all of you often.  Thanks for being there.  You know some of you may want to consider coming down to work with the mission for a week.  It’s worth praying about.

Blessings.

Ann and Mike
Misión Para Cristo
www.misionparacristo.com

Mike & Ann in Nicaragua #10-09

Mike Faris
Jul 3, 2009

Greetings Fellow Workers,

Just wanted to drop you a quick note between groups.  But first, if you’ve been keeping up with the news I’m sure you are aware of the situation in Honduras.  Just wanted to let you know it has not affects us one bit here in Jinotega. Groups are traveling in and out of the country without incident.  So, in case it crossed your mind, we are fine busy and enjoying ourselves.  It’s the rainy season here but it sure has been hot lately and not much rain.  Good for working.

The groups from Grapevine TX and Summerville SC departed Jinotega today for their return home.  While it was a busy time having 37 workers here it was a great time.  We had a chance to renew friendships got to make some new friends and had a good time working together.  The group worked on 5 projects while they were here: painted the new church we build last month at Yanke (a community about 45 minutes north of Jinotega), completed the addition of a classroom to our school in Santa Inez (a community about 30 minutes south of J inotega), started construction on a house for one of the widows in the church in Jinotega, held a medical clinic every day in a different community and visited a different school or day care every day with the Mobile Library.  And, there were a few other places they went to work for only a few hours, in their free time.  Some of the work they did can be seen at photos.misionparacristo.com.

Ann did a wonderful job of hosting the group.  She was up preparing breakfast every morning, made sure they had “fixin’s for their lunch”, took care of the laundry and all the little problems that can crop up. 

The interns - Shauna, Lilly, JR, and Donovan - have been a tremendous help.  They have been out with the groups every day and are now helping us prepare for tomorrow.  Donovan has a good command of Spanish and does some translating out on the job.  Tonight we are all going out to dinner on Benny.  Can’t wait.

Our next group, Grapevine youth, (13 strong) will arrive tomorrow (Sat, Jul 4) for lunch.  I will squeeze in a half workday for them (wouldn’t want them to feel they were wasting their money to come here to serve and not serve).  They will continue with the house construction, make cinder blocks and build a latrine for a lady here in Jinotega.  The group is scheduled to depart on Jul 11.    

Around the mission:

1.      We have one or two leads on available warehouses.  We’re negotiating with the owners but nothing firm yet.

2.      Next week (Jul 9)  we will have three possibly four groups here at the same time for a total of 48-60 people.  Preparation is underway.  This is gonna be fun.

3.      Our container has been shipped from TX.  It contains a lot of medical items (no medicine) and a variety of general items (like chairs) that we can use around the mission. We’ve sent the paperwork to our customs agent in Managua for processing and hope to have it here in Jinotega in two to three weeks.

4.      Two more interns arrive this weekend.

Mission needs:

1.  Funds to rent a warehouse.  The cost is $300 a month with a one year contract or we would gratefully accept a one-time gift of $3,600.

2.  A utility truck. Cost: $15,000 - $17,000 dollars.

3.  More books for the mobile library

Prayer needs:

1.  Our container is not delayed and is delivered to Jinotega on schedule

2.  Safe travel and work for the groups

3.  Pray the situation in Honduras is settled quickly and without any major violence. Especially keep our Christian brothers and sisters working there in your prayers. 

Well, that’s about it.  Got to run to get some water for the next group.  Again, thanks for your support.  We wouldn’t be here if you weren’t there.  Blessings.

Mike Faris
Misión Para Cristo
www.misionparacristo.com
http://photos.misionparacristo.com/

"Smile For A Child" at Christmas

We once again have the opportunity to provide "A Smile for a Child" for children in Nicaragua at Christmas time.  With your help, we want to send 100 boxes filled with little items that the people at Misión Para Cristo will distribute to deserving children just in time for a child's special Christmas this year.

Four easy steps:

1.  Fill a small box with toys, school supplies, personal items, clothing, hard candy, and other happy things for a girl or boy.  About ten items fit nicely in the little boxes.  Please don't include toys that need batteries or that have English instructions and no candy that melts.  The boxes have already been purchased by Karita and are available to you from her to fill up with goodies.  Also, Karita has put together a good list of items to put in the boxes so hook up with Karita or see the list at NSCofC for guidance and instructions.

2.  Wrap the box and lid separately (not as a single package!) in holiday wrapping paper. Use only the boxes that Karita has made available, please.

3.  Designate whether the gift is for a boy or girl and attach $5 to the top of the box to cover shipping from the U.S. to Nicaragua.

4.  Get the boxes back to Karita or NSCofC by early Oct so we can ship all of the boxes in one huge shipment to Nicaragua in time for Christmas.

Help us out even as we give "A Smile for a Child" in Nicaragua.

Mision Para Cristo strives to share Jesus and serve the people of Nicaragua.  The mission's main objective is for the message of Jesus to be shared with all people.  To accomplish this goal, the mission work in Nicaragua is to provide health care, food, shelter, and education to those in need.

You may contact Mision Para Cristo at 700 Garland St., Plainview, TX 79072 or call 806-296-2708 or visit www.misionparacristo.com.

080601 - "Nicaragua" - Mike Faris

Jun 1, 2008.  Download here or listen with the player below.