Hug A Child For Christmas *Huge Success*

First, I want to thank everyone who has supported the Pavia Project, prayerfully, financially in service or any other way that I'm not thinking of. It has been a huge success. There were enough gifts for nearly 1100 children. On the very first day (Sunday, 19th) over 500 gifts were handed out to the children at Mi Casa de Oracion, the church in Pavia pastored By Gereson Perez and his team. There were approximately 700 people (including adults) who showed up to the outreach. This is an impressive number considering that there was no transportation available for this year's outreach. Most of those in attendance had to walk to get to the church.

Yesterday, (Christmas Eve) the rest of the gifts were to be delivered to children throughout the other sectors of Pavia who were unable to attend the outreach. It is amazing to see the generosity extended from around the globe. The love of Christ was on full display this past week. Thank you all again for helping make this possible.

Merry Christmas!

Approved!

This past Friday, November the 12th I received an e-mail from North Carolina's district missions board endorsing me as a Missionary Associate. That day was also the first day of North Carolina's Fall Youth Convention. It was a great day but everything felt different. It was sobering to realize that this may be my last time that I will attend Youth Convention with our students as a Counselor/Youth Leader. This whole process changes the way that you see everyday events. I love the fact that God has chosen me for this and continues to shape who I am and how I see the world. This one is short and life is gonna be busy with the holidays approaching quickly but I will try to keep you updated as much as I can.

* Sorry, I thought I posted this last month. Just shows how busy I have been, that I didn't even notice that it never posted.*

Today was the day

Today I had my interview with the district. It should have been relatively simple, but of course it couldn't be. I woke up, plenty early enough. I had shaved last night, just to make it one less thing I would have to do. I knew that I was going to be a bit nervous, even though I had no reason. I showered and began to dress in the clothes I had planned to wear. Of course, now my shirt looked wrinkled, even though it didn't look that way yesterday. I ironed it. Then did it again. Then one more time. (*note, I need to get better at ironing, or marry a woman who is good at it and doesn't mind) Now the shirt was perfectly pressed, but one problem. Now it looked dirty. As if the iron suddenly made my nice clean shirt dingy and covered in lint. So now I have to change shirts. Not a big deal, just having to adapt to the situation. I grab another shirt, and of course this one in completely wrinkled. I iron this one and finally get going.

Next up, the drive. I start driving down a two lane road that goes through the woods only to see traffic stopped. I didn't even wait to see what the problem was. I just turned around and went back to the Glenwood Ave to try and make up some time but to no avail. There was slow people crowding up the road like they were purposely trying to make me late. I called up and was able to get someone to let them know that I was running a few minutes behind (thanks Sean).

I walked into the interview and was extremely nervous. I still can't put my finger on a reason why. There were two members of the committee in the room and three were on the conference call. The questions that were asked of me were not difficult questions but my nerves made some of my answers not as clear as I would have liked. I remember at one point struggling to remember the word accountability. In the end, I don't feel that it went bad, but I do know that I didn't answer and say all that I feel I should have. I am not concerned about the outcome of the interview, as it is in God's hands. I just wish I hadn't sweat through my shirt!

Time for an interview.

I officially have an interview date set. On 11/11. I will be meeting with the district committee for my first interview. It is both exciting and scary at the same time. Every day is like that. One minute I am in a rush and feeling like there is so much I could be doing right now if I was already there. Then out of nowhere, I am hit with the feeling that I am unprepared. I haven't been praying enough, studying enough, Do I know enough about the country, etc. I've had this conversation with a missionary friend as well as with future missionaries who have all been where I am.  They all have said that if you aren't having these feelings that something is wrong. If you think that you are fully prepared to go to a foreign land and do battle with Satan on your own, you are mistaken. We can achieve nothing of significance without the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit.

(p.s. I thought I posted this a little over a week ago. Sorry)

2 down, 2 in progress, three more to go.

I was getting ready to fill out some more paperwork today, (Medical history) and I decided to take a look at my online application status.  I was pleasantly surprised to see that I have two green lights. Background check and placement are good. Credit check and District approval are in progress.  I should be able to book my meeting with the district missions board now.

On another note, yesterday was National Missionary's Day in Venezuela. I heard that my name was mentioned at a church there. I guess that's kinda cool! Well happy missionary's day to all of my missionary friends and even those who I don't know. For obvious reasons, I will not be naming the ones I know, but if you happen to be a missionary, I hope you enjoyed your day. Go ahead and enjoy today as well.  I'm praying for you!

Hug A Child for Christmas

There is now an annual Christmas event in Pavia. For every $5.00 received we are able to help 2 children receive a gift at Christmas.  Last year, 700 gifts were provided from various vendors such as Coca-Cola.  Over 300 children were turned away for lack of having enough gifts.  This year the goal for the church in Pavia is 1000 gifts for 1000 children & teenagers.  Provided below is the link to how you can donate.  100% of your donation will go to help the children in Pavia this Christmas.  Once you click it you will see a place to donate.  


Below that you will see a comment box.  In the box, please type the following:

Chris & Angela Nelson-Venezuela 
The Pavia Project-Hug a Child
Project code # 14501

Link to donate through Assemblies of God World Missions Click Here

Pavia

In a pueblo with nothing, there are children surviving with even less.  Each evening as the sun goes down,the headlights come over the hill into Pavia as folks pay for a ride home and Barquisimetaños come to pay for prostitution.   

As a result of this ‘landfill prostitution,’ there is an amazing population percentage of children and preteens growing. “Some of these children are motherless, fatherless, and even abandoned by their families as the adults leave the pueblo in search of a better life.  

One afternoon, a young parentless child simply asked for a hug from Gerson Perez. From this act of godly compassion to the child, a children’s church was born under the shade of a shanty car repair shack. Since then Pastor Gerson and his team have been working tirelessly to make a difference through the gospel in the lives of children.  

The Pavia Project is an official B.G.M.C. project with a 2010 target goal of $65,000 to purchase a 3,000 square foot buiding, the accompanying 2.5 acres, rewire the building and add much needed bathrooms and sinks to the facility.

This past summer, I was blessed to have the opportunity to help lead a youth team and serve in my future home/ mission field, Venezuela. During our time there, we spent a large amount of time in Pavia. I was able to see first hand both the needs and the fruit of the work being done in Pavia. The Nelsons, a missionary family who I will be serving along side of in Venezuela, oversee the Pavia Project. In the words of Angela:

The Pavia Project was created in June of 2010 to assist a church in Pavia, Venezuela that consists of over 300 children.  God has opened many doors for our family to assist Pastors Gerson & Francoise Perez & their team as they minister to this large group of children & teenagers.  Over the summer we were pleased to host a team from Raleigh First Assembly of God in Raleigh, North Carolina.  They were able to use street evangelism & dramas to radically transform the community of Pavia.  God has amazing plans in store for the precious people of Pavia. 

      In May we were approached by the children's ministries director from NC to ask if this project could be the project for the children of NC.  BGMC is the program of the Assemblies of God that our children give to in order to support missions.  We are pleased that The Pavia Project became the 2010 project for the churches in NC.  We were additionally blessed that this project is also being recognized on a national basis.  We are so thankful to everyone that is giving from their hearts to help these children.  Our goal is to raise at least $65,000.  These funds will purchase the property that we currently rent (which is half a city block), provide bathroom facilities for over 300 children, & provide the christian resources needed to properly train them in the things of God.

       If you are interested in helping or supporting this project please contact us at: angela@nelson5missions.com  or chris@nelson5missions.com  We have a video presentation that is 3 1/2 minutes in length.  If you would like to see this promo video please contact us by email & we will tell you how to view it.  Due to child trafficking laws, we are not posting the presentation on the internet.  Thanks to everyone for your support & your prayers.  We are fighting a spiritual battle for these children.  How thankful we are that we serve a mighty God!

You can read more from the Nelsons at http://angelanelson.org/ or if you would like to donate to them or the Pavia Project click Here

Will you go? - Applying

So, I have started the application process to be a missionary. Truthfully, I started this process over a month ago. It began with a meeting with my missions pastor. For some reason that meeting was one of the scariest meetings in my life. I don't think that the actual meeting was scary, or even the thought of the meeting, but for me that was the point where I was saying, "ok God. I hear you and I'm going to listen".  It is very easy to say that "when God says go, I will go", but it is a little harder to actually do it. I've done it before, when I moved to Raleigh, NC but Venezuela is not quite the same as North Carolina. I actually submitted the first part a few weeks after the meeting. I can remember the day I submitted the first part. It was Sunday September 19th. It was an exciting day. A big difference from the night and morning leading up to the meeting. I never would have thought that I would be doing this. I can remember speaking with some co-workers earlier this summer and saying that I could see myself leading or helping to lead short term youth trips, but I didn't think I would ever go for any extended periods. Many of my friends have left the US to become missionaries. Now here I am, applying for a two year term. At the end of that term, I will have to reapply, if that is what the Lord is leading.  I finally understand what it was like for my friends to realize this call.

*It was brought to my attention that the photo above was actually the idea of Rachel Miller on our way home from Venezuela. Thanks. I love you girl!

The First One

Welcome! This is my first post. I decided to create this for a couple reasons. First, I wanted to document this process of becoming a missionary. This is a huge step in my life and I want to be able to look back and see the process after it has happened. I also wanted to be able to share with you who I am, and go back and show how I have gotten to the place I am. At times I may go back and tell stories from the past to show you the journey that has gotten me here. Other times I will fill you in on what is going on. I may have some of my friends, both at home and in the field, stop by and share with you from time to time. Thanks for taking an interest and please be praying for me as I begin this next faze of My Journey.