JOHN SHIRK – Alertness can be described as being attentive and watchful.  Our senses are heightened to be in tune with what is going on around us.

To be alert is to be aware of potential hidden dangers.  In the spiritual realm, the Bible challenges us to be aware of dangers, which wage war against our soul.

First Peter 5:8 instructs us to “be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.”

Alertness teaches us to avoid the pitfalls of laziness and complacency. We are in a spiritual battle.  We can prepare for each day’s challenges with a time of worship that includes prayer and Bible study. This will awaken our soul to be in tune with God’s will for our lives.

Alertness is a character quality that enables us to represent Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Cooperation can be defined as working together or acting together for a common purpose.  Teamwork is involved.  This does not mean we go along with activity that violates our convictions, but with a cooperative spirit, we demonstrate a servant’s attitude to work with others to get the job done.  We show flexibility to the ideas of others. We show respect for our co-laborers. We show a willingness to help where help is requested.  Cooperation is particularly important in the church.

Jesus said, “A house divided against itself will fall.”  This is the result of members working against each other instead of with each other.  Ephesians 4:16 shows us how a cooperative spirit moves the ministry of a church forward. Speaking of Christ, “From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

A cooperative spirit is a character quality that enables us to represent Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

LISA LANDIS- After our visit to the Rama Island we got back in the boat and traveled not far across the bay to the Rama Mainland.  This is where FIA is working to build a village for the Rama people.  A man named William is letting Friends in Action use some of his land to construct houses, teach the people agriculture, and generate wind power.  This is where Karlita Bravo and her little brother and mom and dad live.  They are the national missionaries with Central American missions who are partnering with the work of Friends in Action.

Here are some pictures from our Friday visit.  The couple pictured is William and his cousin, the boats are their fishing boats and the cabin is one of the new cabins FIA is building to house works teams.  The other house is the Bravo house and the base where Tim and other workers stay.  I had a sweet siesta on their hammock.  Nothing like being lulled to sleep by the sounds of the jungle.  The church is also pictured below.  The shot across the water is looking at the Rama Island from the Mainland.

As you see we left to go back to Bluefields as the sun was going down.  Next I will post videos of our Friday visit.  I hope to post those as we wait in the airport Monday.

Adios!

lisa@wjtl.com

LISA LANDIS-Greetings from Bluefields, Nicaragua.  Yesterday morning we left the hotel and walked to a house along the water where the family owns many boats and rents them to groups like Friends in Action.  Here are pictures of our journey waiting for the boat, traveling across the Bay in the boat, followed by a visit to the Rama village which is the size of just two city blocks.  In a future blog I will post pictures of our journey across the water to the mainland where Friends in Action is building houses, construction cabins for work teams, experimenting with wind power, and much more to creative a sustainable village.  Here are some of the sights that we witnessed yesterday of the Rama village.  There is a great need here and FIA is doing amazing things to bring hope to the future of the Rama people of Nicaragua.

I have many more pictures to share, but that’s all the time I have for now.  We are getting ready to leave the hotel today (Saturday).  Our flight to Managua leaves at 4pm.

lisa@wjtl.com

FIAintl.org

LISA LANDIS-

Here are some pictures from Thursday when we traveled with Friends in Action Intl. from Puerto Cabezas down to Managua then over to Bluefields.

The Hotel sign is where we are staying and the street scene is the street outside our hotel.

Yesterday (Friday) we traveled by boat to the Rama village and then the mainland where FIA is building them a village.  I will post another blogs with those pictures.

lisa@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – To have a sense of wonder is to marvel or have a feeling of awe or admiration. 

It is quite common for young love to be filled with wonder.  Our relationship with God can start out with wonder at His amazing love for us.  We marvel at His creation, and take time to smell the roses. Worship services stir our soul to deep appreciation and admiration for Jesus. 

Then the time might come when we settle into a routine or get distracted by other things, which dulls our sense of wonder.  Our sense of wonder can be reignited when we remember that God is wonderful.  His deeds are wonderful.  His love is wonderful. His guidance is wonderful.  Each day is an opportunity to think about a specific dimension of Jesus and thank Him for who He is and what He has done for us. Seeing Jesus with a believing heart is the key to being filled with wonder. That was the case in Luke 9:15.  “As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.”  Notice how their sense of wonder propelled them toward Jesus.

Wonder is a quality that enables us to represent Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

LISA LANDIS-Here is a look at the Friends In Action Intl. crew building a house in the village of Boom Sirpi, Nicaragua.  FIA supplies the materials, while the people receiving the house supply the labor and work teams from the states visit too!   Find out you can be a part of an FIA work team at FIAintl.org.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7vciOkBVJg

JOHN SHIRK – A mentor can be described as a teacher or coach.  A mentor has the type of influence on others that spurs growth and character development. Mentors train tomorrow’s leaders.

We have several examples of mentorship in the Bible.  Paul mentored Titus and Timothy to become leaders in the early church.  Moses groomed Joshua for leadership.  Elijah groomed Elisha to succeed him as a prophet of the Lord. And Jesus instructed His followers, and prepared them for leadership in the early church. Also, parents are instructed to be a type of mentor for their children, training them in the instruction of the Lord.

Psalm 78, verse 4 says, “We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.”

With words of wisdom, a life of Christian integrity, and God’s help, we can be effective mentors that train people to become godly men and women of influence.

Mentorship is a quality that enables us to represent Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

LISA LANDIS-

When I saw this boy I thought, “he could be someone’s sponsored child”.  A typical chore for little boys-pumping water at the well then carrying the water home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0oXLBA_h_4

Greetings again from Puerto Cabezas.  Early Wednesday Pablo drove us to the village of Boom Sirpi-home to the Miskito people. It took about 30 minutes thanks to the newly grated road.  Friends in Action is working in Boom Sirpi to help the people rebuild after Hurricane Felix, which hit the Mosquito Coast in 2007.  FIA is supplying materials & a block press to help the people build sturdy homes to withstand any storms which might the coast in the future.  Here are some pictures from our visit to the village.  I hope the pictures will give you a better idea of how the people live as well as their beautiful spirit.

So these are just a few pictures from the village.  The last picture is my breakfast-this is for you Radio Friend Phil-and that picture before that was the view from the balcony as I Skyped last night with Radio Friend Phil.  The country cries out to be photographed with its bright, vibrant primary colors, endless sunshine and fabulous cloud formations!

Whenever I visit a third world country I get an overwhelming sense of urgency.  I say to myself, I need to help, but what can I do as one person?  This is an opportunity to come alongside a Christian organization that is working to be Jesus to the people in their great time of need.  And what a joy these people are.  A beautiful spirit, with so little, yet so much joy and the believers have such a great passion for God.  That is something I hope to never forget.  FIA can really use your help to compete these projects.

Just visit them here for more information.  FIAintl.org