At the beginning of this month, we sat eight of us in our big room four days in a row in close to 100 degree weather. With ideas and opinions being tossed about every which way, we accomplished something necessary for any organization or business- stopping normal productivity to cast and communicate vision. We called it our "Seek Week." The vision was for this week to become an annual time of casting vision and preparing the ground for the year.
New Song has been working to change the lives of the people here in Candelaria since 2002 and has faced many obstacles, failures, blessings, and successes along the way. Those things can cause an organization to ebb, flow, and attempt to throw it off its primary purpose.
It can also throw a person off their purpose. That is why it's important to consistently step back, look at what you are doing and ask yourself what it is you want to do and what you are doing to get there.
We also looked at several challenges we were facing and how we need to approach them. The biggest challenge being: how do we continue to give to those in need and not create a dependency on Americans? If there is one thing we want everyone to understand is our dependency on God- not the dollar or the cordoba. (Even talking about this challenge causes us to have a greater dependency on God because we need Him to guide each step!)
We've had meeting after meeting because we want to enforce a structure and foundation that will last and bless this community for years to come. It's amazing what sort and amount of communication is necessary to see a project like this succeed!
Then we prepared to bring in our first mission team since January. Two families came down from N.C.'s coast for a week. They completely blessed us by offering to give free dental care to a few in the community who really needed it. They also brought uniforms, soccer equipment, art supplies, and gave gymnastics lessons for the kids around. It is amazing how those who visit for such a short time can greatly impact our community in Candelaria. One of the ladies also taught our team about the importance of social media in communicating to those in the states what is going on here, so hopefully you will be getting a better idea of what we are doing here than just a monthly blog. These two families were so kind and so ready to help.
We also had a family for Canada come through for the night just interested in what New Song is doing. Though they were here for a day, they were so ready to pray for those around and brought us stuff for our kids and music ministry.
Having those who support us from the states, or come to serve is really a huge blessing for all of us here. We get to spend time with kids, minister to the sick, love the broken, and the lost, but you are the backbone how you love us! So thank you all for all that you do.
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| Seek Week 9 a.m. meeting |
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| Moving foam mattresses on top of the taxi, down to the base to prepare for the families who came |
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