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!
Monday, October 18, 2010
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.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
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
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
Saturday, October 16, 2010
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 BarquisimetaƱos come to pay for prostitution.
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
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.
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.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
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!
*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!
Monday, October 11, 2010
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.
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