rolling, rolling, rolling.

AS ALWAYS, ANYONE THAT RECEIVES OUR MISSIONARY BLOG THAT WISHES TO BE REMOVED FROM OUR LIST PLEASE LET US KNOW, AND YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS WILL BE PROMPTLY REMOVED.

Hi Folks,

Well, thanks to some very generous people in South Carolina the Avion travel trailer will soon be on its way to Nicaragua!

We have already relocated the trailer to a friends house in San Antonio, in preparation for the move, ... a "staging" process.

Carolyn and I are going to attend the General Assembly this year in San Antonio. We were kindly invited by Brother Aldana from Guatemala, and since I grew up in San Antonio the temptation to revisit my "home city" was irresistible. Carolyn and I have some very good friends that live in San Antonio and in the surrounding areas as well. We are excited about being able to spend some time in one of our favorite cities, and the chance to renew some good friendships.

The journey to Central America (Nicaragua) while pulling a 32' Avion trailer will be a new experience for both Carolyn and I. I have had occasion to make this trip before, but only in a pickup truck, and never pulling a trailer. I wish I could describe for you how I foresee the trip taking place. The roads between Brownsville, TX and Managua, Nicaragua are really not terrible...with a few notable exceptions in the southern part of Mexico and Honduras. We will be traveling slowly,and carefully. We expect this part of the trip to take about 3-5 days.

It is the road from Managua out to Puerto Cabezas that we expect to take the longest. It is only a distance of 301 miles, from Managua to Puerto Cabezas...but we fully expect it to take up to four days to make this segment of the trip. The road is more like a riverbed than a road really. The buses take 20 hours to make the trip. I have made the trip on numerous occasions and typically will take between 10 and 11 hours in my Tundra. It is a punishing trip. I have NEVER made the trip without SOMETHING breaking down on the truck, or a flat. So my knowledge of the road, leads me to expect the trip to take three days, but we are NOT going to be rushing it...so we think it may take as long as four days to cover that 301 miles of bad road ("bad road" doesn't really describe it though...it is more like a teeth jarring, noisy, barrage upon your vehicle).

Keep us in your prayers as we begin this journey folks, we can use the Divine Help. We are expecting to leave following the Church of God General Assembly.

Anyone wishing to come with us, let us know and we'll see if we can work it out.

Dios le bendiga grandemente a su familia y ministerio.

Casa de Servicio, International
Missionary Aviation, Medical Evacuation
Church of God, World Missions Project #: 065-0497
http://www.casadeservicio.org/

Richard & Carolyn Becton
1135 Ponderosa Dr
Cleveland, TN 37312
210 392-9574 (for dialing from the US, and for messages)
011 505 613-5824 (Our number in Nicaragua)

flight@flash.net
http://www.myspace.com/rbecton
http://www.casadeservicio.org/blog/

ADDRESS IN NICA:

Iglesia de Dios, Central
Missionero Richard Becton
Barrio: 19 de Julio
Puerto Cabezas, R.A.A.N.
Nicaragua, Central America

actions

 

Hi Folks,

 

     I have spent some time reflecting on a basic principle of life.

 

     The principle that ACTIONS speak louder than WORDS.  This is a self-evident and simplistic statement, but it is a principle which we can use to help us to model our lives after Christ's teachings, and to uplift our lives and our ministries and our families futures.  This simple, effective principle can be used as a mirror to examine what is of most value to ourselves.  When we examine the actions which we took today, and yesterday and last week...do they reflect our Christian values?

 

     Actions speak louder than words.  That means that what we act upon contains the value of our lives, and not what we profess to believe.  Actions speak louder than words...a simple statement that our modern society seems to value very little.

 

     The wisdom of our forefathers, wherever they may come from...be it Europe, or Africa, or Asia, or wherever else...is something that seems to have lost its value in our modern society.  Has humanity really become a symbol of the lowest common denominator, as it often seems these days?  Have we humans, as a whole, forgotten the hard-learned lessons of our predecessors?  Have we substituted "common knowledge" for wisdom, or commonly accepted moral precepts for biblical principles?

 

     I pray not. 

 

     Let us each strive to be discerning as the days creep forward, and let us pray that our lives are modeled after the actions of Jesus Christ.  Christ's ministry while He was on this earth was one of action, He healed, and He taught and He LOVED.  He packed a lot of action into the three and a half years of His earthly ministry...what have WE done with the last three and half years of our lives, and what are we going to do with the next three and a half?  Have our actions concurred with our words, our professed beliefs.  For many of us, that IS the case, and for some of us...there may be doubt.  I pray that all doubt be removed and that others around us may see our actions follow our beliefs, and not merely the mouthing's of platitudes, or a semblance of belief. 

 

lights... camera...

 

Dios le bendiga grandemente a su familia y ministerio.
 
Casa de Servicio, International
Missionary Aviation, Medical Evacuation
Church of God, World Missions Project #: 065-0497
http://www.casadeservicio.org
 
Richard & Carolyn Becton
1135 Ponderosa Dr
Cleveland, TN 37312
210 392-9574 (for dialing from the US, and for messages)
011 505 613-5824 (Our number in Nicaragua)

 

flight@flash.net
http://www.myspace.com/rbecton
http://www.casadeservicio.org/blog/

 

ADDRESS IN NICA:

 

Iglesia de Dios, Central
Missionero Richard Becton
Barrio: 19 de Julio
Puerto Cabezas, R.A.A.N.
Nicaragua, Central America

 

 

ChristWalk recap

www.casadeservico.org/blog


Hi Folks,

I am taking a second of your time to express our gratitude for the hard work that the ChristWalk Church Team displayed during their very successful "Vision Team" clinic, during the week of June 25th.


Puertano's (residents of Puerto Cabezas) were treated to a standard of care and service that is NEVER seen here on the Atlantic Coast. Dr (and Pastor) Jim's team were thoroughly professional, and caring beyond belief in the manner in which they interacted with my precious Miskito people. The smiles on peoples faces were the only payment received by Pastor Jim's wonderful team!

Despite the hard work which the team endured, they STILL found time to minister to the Spiritual needs of our little community as well.

On Thursday night, the entire team was able to attend services and speak to the host church, The Iglesia de Dios Central, with Pastor Adrian Lacaya. One by one, the team stood up and explained why they felt called to serve our Miskito brethren. As each of the six took their turn, we received a different insight into the call of the missionary heart.

On Saturday, Pastor Javardo Jones preached a sermon at the San Judas Iglesia de Dios which was right on target. I had several people come up to me the next day to remark upon how needed that message was. Pastor Jim Chamberlain was able to get a few words in at the end of the night and impressed everyone with his testimony of how a "little Kentucky boy from nowhere" was blessed by God to become not only a Doctor, but a Pastor too. His testimony clearly hit the mark with our brothers at the church.

On Sunday the entire team was able to make it to the Iglesia de Dios, Nuevo Jerusalen for a morning of prayer and preaching. Pastor Javardo Jones once again filled our minds and hearts with Spiritual food. The altar call brought EVERY SINGLE PERSON in attendance forward to be ministered to. What an astounding service. I wish each of you could have been there. The Sunday evening service was conducted by both Pastor Jones, and Pastor Chamberlain at the Iglesia de Dios Central. They really work well together, their friendship is evident in their partnership in ministry.

During the clinic, as each person passed from the last phase of the site they passed into the more than capable hands of Pastor Javardo Jones...who prayed, loudly and faithfully, and with the expectation of answers...for each and every person the clinic saw on Saturday. What an awesome experience that was! We were busy taking care of patients, but the occasional shout of JOY, could be heard throughout the day. What a powerful tool of ministry that was!

Even though the team was working long hours, they found time to conduct an interview with the Nuevo Diario newspaper (the link: http://impreso.elnuevodiario.com.ni/2008/07/02/departamentales/79875 ), be interviewed on Channel 5 television and conduct an entire 40 minutes of radio sermon...all of THIS, on top of the clinic, and the preaching in various churches.

The team left Puerto, tired, and happy on Monday morning. Praise God that they came, and our prayers will see them safely return to Puerto Cabezas in October.


Dios le bendiga grandemente a su familia y ministerio.

Casa de Servicio, International
Missionary Aviation, Medical Evacuation
Church of God, World Missions Project #: 065-0497
http://www.casadeservicio.org

Richard & Carolyn Becton
1135 Ponderosa Dr
Cleveland, TN 37312
210 392-9574 (for dialing from the US, and for messages)
011 505 613-5824 (Our number in Nicaragua)

flight@flash.net
http://www.myspace.com/rbecton
http://www.casadeservicio.org/blog/

ADDRESS IN NICA:

Iglesia de Dios, Central
Missionero Richard Becton
Barrio: 19 de Julio
Puerto Cabezas, R.A.A.N.
Nicaragua, Central America

Puerto Cabezas

www.casadeservicio.org/blog

 

Hi Folks,

 

     There has always been a certain "flavor" to this town...Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua.

 

     It is a flavor of the Caribbean, crossed with a touch of desperation, and lightly influenced by tinges of violence, and aggressiveness.  Throughout the whole "stew" that IS Puerto Cabezas, the overriding "flavor" that is most evident throughout every action of the day is: Prayer.

 

     The people here love to pray.  We pray with expectation, we pray with true faith, and we pray knowing that the most important thing is God's Holy Will. 

 

We pray FOR things here in Puerto Cabezas: food, shelter, the rain to stop...natural things.  It would be a rare occurrence for someone here to pray for a new car, or a better house, or a raise in income.  Sometimes, God sends an angel to answer our prayers.

 

We pray ABOUT things here in Puerto Cabezas too: sickness, and addictions, and infirmities of the body and of the mind.  We pray about our neighbors, and our families, and our loved ones and about life's aches and pains, as well as the more dire circumstances which life sometimes sends our way.  Sometimes, God sends an angel to answer our prayers.

 

We pray BECAUSE of things here in Puerto Cabezas also: deaths, accidents, wayward children and tremendous grievances that hurt us to the depths of our being. Time heals these wounds, but our lives are changed forever because of them, and through it all, our faith persists.  Sometimes, God sends an angel to answer our prayers.

 

The flavor of Puerto Cabezas changes with the seasons.  In the Eden-like climate of December and January and February we are light-hearted, and full of joy, and life.  Then March, April, May and June are tinged with regret and a sense of anticipation of impending gloom.  The rains come. 

 

Oh how we pray.  The rainy period is an intense period of time here.  People's natural aggressiveness seems to be at a peak, and it is not uncommon to see fights on every other corner as the dusk approaches.  The rain is cold, and in a way, maddening.  Trickling creeks are swollen beyond their natural borders, overflowing into the pock-marked streets, creating ruts a foot or more deep, in the streets, and in the fabric of our lives.  We come to respect the power of water, as it invades our lives and flows and seeps into every corner of our existence.  Water is in everything! 

 

     Together, in whole...we realize that water is simply a natural thing, and that although it seems to flow and surge into every corner of our lives, it really has its barriers.  There are things which can stop water, sandbags, and walls, and curbs.  There are things which can direct water, levees, dams, and hills.  There are things which can stop water, bridges and wells, and concrete barriers.  It is tempting to think of prayer as water, powerful, and able to penetrate into deep places...yet we realize that although prayer is LIKE water, it is really SO MUCH MORE than mere water.  It is really LIVING WATER.

 

     We understand to the depths of our souls, here in Puerto Cabezas, what the New Testament speaks of in John Chapter 4:

 

John 4:9
Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
 
John 4:10
Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
 
John 4:11
The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
 
John 4:12
Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
 
John 4:13
Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
 
John 4:14
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

 

Dios le bendiga grandemente a su familia y ministerio.
 
Casa de Servicio, International
Missionary Aviation, Medical Evacuation
Church of God, World Missions Project #: 065-0497
http://www.casadeservicio.org
 
Richard & Carolyn Becton
1135 Ponderosa Dr
Cleveland, TN 37312
210 392-9574 (for dialing from the US, and for messages)
011 505 613-5824 (Our number in Nicaragua)

 

flight@flash.net
http://www.myspace.com/rbecton
http://www.casadeservicio.org/blog/

 

ADDRESS IN NICA:

 

Iglesia de Dios, Central
Missionero Richard Becton
Barrio: 19 de Julio
Puerto Cabezas, R.A.A.N.
Nicaragua, Central America

 

The situation for food in La Miskitia

FOOD

A disaster struck the indigenous people ("The Miskito People") that live on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua, on September 4th, 2007. An already absolutely impoverished area of the world, that is practically on America's back-door step, was hit hard by the largest recordable strength of a Hurricane...A CATEGORY FIVE!

Hurricane Felix was an unthinking, unfeeling devastator of lives and property. The EYE of Felix passed directly OVER the people of Puerto Cabezas, and a small community called Sandy Bay, as the natives clung to trees and huddled together for strength and prayer. Most came together in the one strong building available, the church. That night, the church was packed well beyond capacity as the prayers for safety flew into the night. Roofing tin, as sharp as razor knives, flew through the air and embedded itself in trees, and buildings, and flesh.

The Miskito people originated from a mix of Mayan and Incan ancestors that migrated from North-Eastern Colombian about 700 years ago. As time passed, they settled in the coastal plains of both Honduras and Nicaragua. The Indians, not yet known at that time as "Miskitos", settled into a life of barter, and sustenance from the nearby jungles and what trade they could find with the pirates that frequented the shores of the Caribbean sea. In fact, that is how the Miskitos got their name, through their trade with these ancient pirates. The natives traded food, and wood from the forests for muskets as well as necessary foodstuffs. When other nearby cultures tried to invade and subjugate these natives they were met with fierce resistance, by gun and knife and muscle. The natives became known as the Indians with muskets, later called "The Miskitos".

It is a hard life on the Atlantic Coast. There is fish from the sea, if you can afford a boat, but few crops can be grown in the native soil. Through perseverance the people have survived, but never prospered. Some things have changed in the last 700 years since this culture began (compare it to the 230+ years of American history) and much remains the same. The Miskitos are a SMART, and beautiful people. Given the chance this group of people WILL PROSPER, but right now they need THE BASICS.

It is hard for some people to understand the poverty here. You must encourage yourself, and others to visit, then they will "get it". When hurricane Felix hit, almost every house in Puerto Cabezas had at least SOME damage. Mostly roofs, some walls, and SOME completely destroyed. Most Americans know what a hurricane can do. Remind yourselves that the houses in La Miskitia are comparable to a kids treehouse, as construction methods are poor.

The physical damage is immense, and some help has come in for repairs, and the immediate needs.

There is a BIGGER PROBLEM. Unfortunately, the world while good-hearted and generous (for the most part) has a short memory. When we remind people that there was a hurricane on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua they say "Oh yes, I remember that...didn't we send some stuff there?". AND THEY DID! It was a real blessing and many bellies were filled, and roofs were covered with plastic tarps.

You have to understand though that the main sustenance (food) for the Miskito people is the Cocoa nut. 95% of the cocoa nut trees were knocked down, completely. That means that 95% of the food for these indigenous people is gone, and new trees must be planted. IT TAKES A MINIMUM OF 8 YEARS FOR A TREE TO GROW TO THE POINT OF PRODUCING FRUIT. That's eight years MINIMUM. So although people have helped, they rarely understand the depth of the problem on the coast.

Basically, there are 318,000 indigenous people who will struggle daily for a meal, a single meal, for the next eight years. There are no jobs here, and no tourism. There are no resources except native local hard-woods. Approximately 40% of the trees in the forest have also been snapped off, looking like the discards of some fairytale giants meal...80 feet tall "toothpicks", splintered, and showing the starkly white patches of arboreal entrails.

So FOOD is on the minds of the Miskito people right now.

God is striding MIGHTILY in the La Miskitia region, and His hand is upon these people. In the next five to ten years the prospects will be better due to the help of people like you, and the committed members of the Church Community, and the God Guided help of secular friends.

Please pass along my deepest gratitude for your help.

Dios le bendiga grandemente a su familia y ministerio.

Casa de Servicio, International
Missionary Aviation, Medical Evacuation
Church of God, World Missions Project #: 065-0497
http://www.casadeservicio.org

Richard & Carolyn Becton
1135 Ponderosa Dr
Cleveland, TN 37312
210 392-9574 (for dialing from the US, and for messages)
011 505 613-5824 (Our number in Nicaragua)

http://www.myspace.com/rbecton
http://www.casadeservicio.org/blog/

ADDRESS IN NICA:

Iglesia de Dios, Central
Missionero Richard Becton
Barrio: 19 de Julio
Puerto Cabezas, R.A.A.N.
Nicaragua, Central America

eagerly anticipating a blessing!

Hi Folks,

I am sitting at the Managua airport, eagerly anticipating the arrival of Pastor (and Doctor) Jim Chamberlain's team from ChristWalk church in Florida. They aren't due to arrive until Wednesday (tomorrow), but I am still eagerly anticipating their arrival. I am here a couple of days early to "finalize" the paperwork for Pastor Jim's teams visit.

Please join me in prayer for their safety, and their blessings, as they venture forth through service to Christ in Puerto Cabezas Nicaragua.

God Bless,
Richard


Dios le bendiga grandemente a su familia y ministerio.

Casa de Servicio, International
Missionary Aviation, Medical Evacuation
Church of God, World Missions Project #: 065-0497
http://www.casadeservicio.org

Richard & Carolyn Becton
1135 Ponderosa Dr
Cleveland, TN 37312
210 392-9574 (for dialing from the US, and for messages)
011 505 613-5824 (Our number in Nicaragua)

flight@flash.net
http://www.myspace.com/rbecton
http://www.casadeservicio.org/blog/

ADDRESS IN NICA:

Iglesia de Dios, Central
Missionero Richard Becton
Barrio: 19 de Julio
Puerto Cabezas, R.A.A.N.
Nicaragua, Central America

blog updates

Hi Folks,

There has been a server change for our website. Nothing has changed as far as you are concerned, you can still visit our website at: http://www.casadeservicio.org/ and our blog at: www.casadeservicio.org/blog

The last three or four "updates" to the blog didn't post correctly, but we got that sorted out now.

In addition:



We have been able to meet with Ramon Canales as of yesterday here in Managua. It was an invigorating meeting. I think we should be able to get back on track towards getting fuel supplied for the Aztec. It has been a slow, and for me, a painful process.

We have also received final permission from MINSA for the medical group to visit Puerto Cabezas on the 25th of this month! Hallelujah!

This group, from ChristWalk church, is going to help the local people of Puerto Cabezas by supplying free eyeglasses in several visits to Puerto Cabezas. We are all very excited to kick this groups first visit off with much prayer and rejoicing! They will be here from the 25th, for almost a week.

Richard


Dios le bendiga grandemente a su familia y ministerio.

Casa de Servicio, International
Missionary Aviation, Medical Evacuation
Church of God, World Missions Project #: 065-0497
http://www.casadeservicio.org/

Richard & Carolyn Becton
1135 Ponderosa Dr
Cleveland, TN 37312
210 392-9574 (for dialing from the US, and for messages)
011 505 613-5824 (Our number in Nicaragua)

flight@flash.net
http://www.myspace.com/rbecton
http://www.casadeservicio.org/blog/

ADDRESS IN NICA:

Iglesia de Dios, Central
Missionero Richard Becton
Barrio: 19 de Julio
Puerto Cabezas, R.A.A.N.
Nicaragua, Central America