1. Every family counts…
Hurricane IKE
Here are some pictures of Hurricane Ike in both Texas and from a friend in Haiti who took pictures of hurricane Ike’s effects there. I was there earlier in the year. An orphanage that convoy supports was massively flooded and only could be reached by helicopter. They rescued all the children and took them to another orphanage.
News Clip About Convoy
Our Trucks on the Highway
Hurricane IKE
we got back from port arthur, texas on thursday afternoon. it was an amazing experience. we were able to reach 9000 families/cars in three days of distribution. if you think of that in terms of around 3 people per family, the number of people reached could amount to around 27,000 people. It was great to be able to meet their physical needs with the love of Jesus. we also had people walking the mile-and-a-half line of cars with tracks and talking and praying for people while they waited for their turn to get MRE’s, water, ice, powerade, trash bags, bleach, and other odds and ends. MRE’s are “meals ready to eat.” they are a complete meal in a bag – no need to cook or anything. they have a heater inside that uses a teaspoon of water to heat them. each family got a box of 12 MREs. we had 6 stations at a time giving out our products. we worked from 7:30 am until 4:00 pm when we would run out of products for the day. convoy of hope has so far sent 66 semi truck loads of goods totaling just at 1.9 million dollars. it was an amazing experience to be apart of helping so many lives when they needed it most. we spent the nights in the mobile command center which is a semi with 6 beds, shower/toilet, and all the things needed for disaster response. radars, internet, radios – basically a weather station on wheels. it was our “home away from home” for a week.
the thing that stuck out the most to me was the southern hospitality. the people, in the midst of chaos and having their homes and lives torn apart, were so hospitable to us. they would volunteer to help in any way possible. one man named thomas came every day at 8 am and worked till 4. he never took a break. we were able to minister and talk about our faith with him. he brought his grand kids as well to help. when we left he found each one of us that worked with him, thanked us and gave us hugs. it really meant a lot to me. i took some pictures of us along the way with our caravan of 5 semis and 2 rv’s that came from missouri. thanks for your prayers.
An Amazing 5 Months!
Short video showing my trips so far:
well i’m just about 5 months into this journey!!! it has been an amazing time that i really can’t put into words. being in Haiti, Nicaragua, and El Salvador have all been incredible in themselves, but to have had the opportunity to minister to all three is more than i could have ever asked for. going from the poorest country in the western hemisphere (Haiti) to Nicaragua, the second poorest country, has opened my eyes to the need for compassion around the world. to see first-hand the hardships that so many people face on a daily basis has changed me. i have been able to be apart of what Convoy of Hope is doing to make a change for the world, both spiritually and physically.
i have worked in schools, churches, youth retreats, pastors conferences, teacher conferences, communities and villages giving food, water, clothes, hygene kits, friendship, hugs, and been able to share the love of Jesus in a real and tangible way. so many have come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior because we came first with compassion, meeting there physical needs, and showing them the love of Jesus. i have preached in churches, led alter calls, been in front of hundreds and hundreds of kids acting like a complete goof – all for the sake of sharing the gospel to as many as possible.
this summer was an amazing adventure where God led me to make relationships with so many people from El Salvador and Nicaragua. i truly love the people that i met and made friendships with. one pastor actually gave me his vary own Spanish bible after i spoke in a service. i cant even begin to tell you how that made me feel.
my last day in El Salvador left me with the realization that there are still so many lives that need someone to offer their hand in compassion. a little girl named Beatriz (8 yrs old) was in an assembly where we gave wan opportunity to get prayer for a number of things. she was in the front row, and raised her hand. a team member went and prayed with her, and she was crying. we ended and she still was crying. i went to her and picked her up. with a interpreter i asked what was wrong. she said her dad beats her and her mom cant do anything about it. i held her for over 2 hours. hugging her and praying with her. she asked God into her heart! not only was she in need for food and other physical things, she also has to endure being beaten by her father.
it’s people like Beatriz and so many others that i believe God has put me in this calling with Convoy of Hope. i want to thank you for all your prayers and support. please keep me in your prayers as i continue to reach the world with God’s compassion.
adios
chaditto
P.S. Next stop Armenia and Moldova… more on that later!!!!
amazing children…
photos from Central America
Click here to see the whole album!
new update from el salvador
i have been in central america for almost 5 week now! it has been an amazing time and has flown by very fast. i have made a lot of friends. we have ministered to over 4000 people – last count 600 people had given their lives to the Lord. we have distributed food and hygiene kits to so many needy people. i have preached in churches and schools and loved and hugged so many beautiful salvadorian kids. i’ve eaten some amazing food. i’ve also been privileged to work alongside some of the most amazing men of God here that are salvadorian pastors. this weekend we are having a big event for single moms, prostitutes, and others at a huge park in san salvador all day. we will be giving out food, hygiene kits, and presenting them the hope that is Jesus Christ. we are doing a lot of amazing things here, and can only do them with the power of the Holy Spirit in us and with your prayers as we go!
until later
chadito…. as they call me here
below is a short video from a youth conference we did here in el salvador. it was the first-ever youth event for this church, and they had youth groups from all over the city there. really powerful. we were able to have a great time of ministry with them.
el salvador
hey hey! el salvador has been amazing. we are very very busy here, but God has been moving a lot in and through us. we have been working in schools doing assemblies for students from pre-school through high school. for 2 weeks we are focusing on spiritual emphasis in the schools. we present a few dramas, get the kids dancing and interacting, give testimonies, and then ask for responses. we pray and lay hands on every student there. in the last week alone we had 150-200 people accept Jesus as their Savior. we’ve prayed for many students in abusive or broken homes. we’ve prayed for children that have tried to kill themselves. We have seen healing of sick and watched God move as we prayed for teachers and administration of the schools. it has been amazing. and of course, we spend much time loving on kids with hugs, games, smiles, and showing the love of Jesus.
along with all that,we were at a big youth rally this past weekend with youth groups from many churches in san salvador. we were able to pray for every student there, and God moved in the lives of so may youth.
as far as what i personally have been doing, i have been leading 15 of the 30 interns when we go out to minister. we break into 2 groups, and go to different schools. i have been giving alter calls, testimonies, and directing. it has been a very stretching time, but very good.
thats what has been going on here. i miss everyone from home, and would love to hear how you are doing in an email anytime. keep us in your prayers!
your friend chad
nicaragua
i have been in nicaragua for over a week now. things are going great. we were working with a church from missouri, along with the missionaries here, bonny and levys. they are amazing people. we have worked mostly with one school doing alot of painting, cleaning, and using there church to do a lot of ministry. we helped host a big pastors seminar for the local pastors, blessed teachers with bags of food, clothes, school supplies, toiletries, and much more. we distributed 500 family food packages to hungry families. some of our work was in the town of seboco which is about 2 hours away from the capital city of managua. we ministered in school assemblies and church services. we were at one service tuesday night for fathers day and got to pray for a bunch of fathers.
a lot of the team got really sick for a few days, and i was one of them. really sick, but got through it ok.
God really showed up through us in nicaragua and tomorrow morning we are off for el salvador for about 4 weeks. keep us in your prayers as we are doing a lot of ministry and food distribution, and need our health and energy. pray that God would use us there for his glory and purpose.
God is good
chad-