Prepare yourself.

@ Iglesia Esperanza near Managua, Nicaragua

"We have been in prayer and fasting in preparation for your coming trip." 

I'm sorry, but I have to repeat that statement one more time: "We have been in prayer and fasting in preparation for your coming trip." You are preparing for our trip? How selfless; how genuinely Christ-seeking of you. These words came from the head pastor of the church we will be visiting in Nicaragua this coming February 2013. It is easy to get caught up in legalities, specifics, details, and prices as discussions about Lubeck Community Baptist Church's (LCBC) first official mission trip continue on in preparation.

Preparation: the action of making ready or being made ready for use. 

So, as we prepare, we make sure we "cross our T's" and "dot our I's." We check schedules, lists, times, dates, commitments, costs, reservations, transportation, and so on. Our preparation continues on and on in order that we might be made useful when the time comes. What will we use as study material? What books should we order? Who will our translators be? And so on... as it goes. We prepare. My mind is conditioned for this type of preparation--who, what, when, where, and how? But... do we sometimes forget to ask, "why?" 

"We have been in prayer and fasting in preparation for your coming trip."

Preparation for our new family in Nicaragua includes these same things, yes, but it also includes this additional element that I am ashamed to say I've neglected in my "preparation." They pray. "Okay," I think to myself, "prayer is great and we should be praying as well." They fast. "They refrain from eating? You mean they choose to go hungry in order that God's glory would shine through in our combined ministry?" That is an entirely new level of preparation. I realize I may be rambling on this topic, and for that I apologize. I remain in awe of this renewed perception of preparation; this Christ-seeking, spiritual preparation. So as we make ready for our trip in February I plan to prepare more fully. We can plan all we want... but, in the end, it is His plan that matters; not our own. And as in all things, can we not take this idea (spurred in mission and connecting with our brothers and sisters in Christ) and apply it to our daily lives here; our daily struggles, walk, mission, journey?

With that said (and in proper perspective), here is the tentative list of things we plan to help with while we are in San Marcos, Nicaragua:

• Vacation Bible Study
• Afternoon Sports Ministry 
• Visit a drug rehabilitation center
• Visit a nursing home
• Visit several members of the community the church is praying for with devotion
• Host a revival
• Pastoral and Church Leadership Training Sessions

As it stands, this is the tentative list of activities for the February trip (2/16-2/23). We are getting closer and closer and, as such, we should begin to prepare more and more. If you, the reader, could prepare for us, as well, we would greatly appreciate it. 

More to come as the date of departure draws closer...

In love.

1 Corinthians 13:13

"Next Time"

August 16, 2010... was the last day I posted in this blog. It seems only a day ago when we were traveling the Nicaraguan coast, getting stuck in mud pits, and praying that He bless our efforts along the way. I titled the last blog, "Until next time..." I'm happy to inform you--that time is here. 


Before I go into detail about upcoming trips, I want to first provide a follow-up on any loose ends from my last post. The Vera Cruz Baseball Association efforts went into "hibernation mode" until January 2012. Doors didn't seem to be opening as they should in order for the association to really take off. To make a long story short, we have been reminded of a tested and age-old lesson--all things in His time. However, in recent months we have been in contact with Regan Downs, and he seems optimistic about advancements with the league. He reports the possibility of fields we can use to facilitate the league. We (Brad Wright, Brad Hall, and myself) plan on returning this December with the intent to run introductory baseball clinics for communities such as Vera Cruz and San Marcos. Details of the trip are still pending, but we are excited to see what role the Vera Cruz Baseball Association might play in ministering alongside the church families established in each community. More information to come as time and planning progresses...


The International Baseball Academy of Central America has not made a substantial amount of progress due to a lack of funding (as I understand). They are still looking for potential contributors. If you are interested, please contact me (crislip4@gmail.com) or the IBACA organization directly through the above link. The land has been purchased, but development cannot begin until they meet a certain amount of funds donated/investments. Does anyone know Nick Swisher personally? Ha I'm sure he could be a huge help to those student-athletes in Central America that might not have the opportunity to play baseball or attain a higher-level education otherwise. Just a thought... you never know! :)


Now, about the future... 


As I mentioned before, I'm planning on making a return trip with "the Brads" this December. We hope to spend time assessing interest and need while teaching the basics of baseball and expressing our testimony to the youth of each community. While we are excited to see where this process of planning will take us, we are also very aware that this has to be His plan. We need to join him where He is already working--most often than not, He'll be two steps ahead. As we search for his "footprints" to follow in our preparation, we prayerfully ask that He search our hearts and bless our efforts. More to come...


The second trip "in the works" will be through the West Virginia Baptist Convention. Juan Aragon, Mark Houser, and Roger Ledbetter are the leads for this mission. So far we know several facts about this trip:


1) We will be going to a San Marcos, Nicaragaua
2) The trip will be in February 2013
3) We are taking a team of 12-15 individuals
4) We will be connecting with a church plant there entitled "Iglesia Bautista Jehova Jireh/Baptist Church Jehovah Yireh."
5) We look to learn from each other, build relationships, and create an international partnership between our two faith communities.
6) So far, we have been requested to plan and implement a bible school and a community revival. 
7) We hope to implement sport ministry in the future, as well. Basketball and soccer are both extremely popular, as we've been told. Who knows... maybe one day the "E"lite Sports Center could minister to "E"ven more youth through their "E"xcellent athletic talents and instructional abilities (I couldn't help myself... I may have been reading too many of Uncle Terry's Monday morning "E"mails :). 


With all of this information to process (and still "search for his footprints to follow" as we go), we must also find a way to raise funds for the trip. Keep checking back as I'll have more details, dates, and events that you can enjoy while supporting a good cause. I know right now we plan to have a yard sale (or two), a potential car wash, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament (if facility and time allow), and so on as we brainstorm. If you have any fundraising suggestions, please feel free to email me or comment below. They would be much appreciated. :) 


Again, I thank all blog-reading faithfuls that have been waiting two whole years for "the next time"... and are still reading at this point. ha I promise it will not be quite so long for the following update. You are wonderful, you are loved, you are unique, and you have a purpose. He promises us that (John 3:16, Jeremiah 29:11, Jeremiah 1:5). 




And while we're talking about "mushy stuff" like love and how unique we all are... try to tell someone special you love them today. We could all use a little more of that, I think. <3


Have a wonderful, blessed, inspired day. 








All my love and thanks,


Meredith




1 Corinthians 13:13