Saturday, August 30, 2014

A Special Prayer Request



Urgent prayer request! Please pray for the Nehemiah Center in Managua, Nicaragua. On August 27, and just days after the Ginger Creek Service Learning Team left its facilities, the Center was flooded with 8¨ of water during a torrential tropical rain storm. The damage was to vital records, valuable electronics, equipment and furnishings. Ginger Creek has supported this organization for the past 12+ months. Their Ezra Team of Nicaraguan professionals have been supporting our two partner ministries in Nicaragua with on-going church leadership training, healthy marriage workshops, agricultural/farming support, Business-as-a-Mission training and more. Our GC Church 2014 Service Learning Team lodged and headquartered here during its recent mission trip to Nicaragua. Also, GC missionaries Kerrie Kuntz, Dock and I have used these offices and the resources of the Center on an ongoing basis since 2012. Pray for God´s provision. -Norma Caton (Check these links for more info: nehemiahcenter.net and centro.nehemias )
























Monday, August 4, 2014

Return to Nicaragua



Vacation is over and it’s time to get back to work.  It has been a great summer for Norma and me, with two big family reunions on both sides of our family.  We have been so thankful to have all our children and grandchildren with us this summer as we visit with extended family members.  God has blessed us immensely with our children and grandchildren who all love and serve God


We began the summer with a trip to Colorado where we met with all the Caton clan in Buena Vista for a few days of rest, relaxation and fun in the mountains.  In July we travelled to Oklahoma where we met with the family on Norma’s side -- the Haas reunion.  What a wonderful summer of having opportunity to be with family on both sides. 

Now we are switching gears. We will spend the next several days back in Nicaragua.   Norma and I will be leaving tomorrow and will be joined up with two great teams that we have be working with for about a year in preparation for this particular trip. 

First off, we will be partnering with 3T (Triple Threat Mentoring, www.triplethreat.org), which is based right here close to us in Aurora, Il.  They are a triple threat to the world with their plan of developing the body through the ARTS, ACADEMICS and ATHLETICS.  This trip team is lead by Megan McKinley, a young servant missionary from our church, Ginger Creek (www.gingercreek.org). 

After a week of this group working through their plan in Nicaragua, the second team, our own Ginger Creek Service Learning Team (SLT) will arrive and the two groups will sync on Sunday August 10th for a rally on Pochocuape.  Triple Threat will be heading home while the Ginger Creek SLT will continue on for the next week.   Both groups will be residing at the Nehemiah Center (www.NehemiahCenter.net) and will be working on Pochocuape Mountain, and in Guadalupe, La Chureca city dump neighborhood.  We look forward to hearing many great stories of how God has brought these teams together for His glory. 

What a timely mission trip this has proven to be. Ginger Creek has just begun a new series on our real reason for connecting at the home front, only to go out to serve the world and be “On Mission.” These messages will be teaching us to be generous, not only with our money, but also with our time and talents to God’s mission in the world.  Our teams have a great opportunity to put our time talent and treasure to the test.  Please pray for God’s great working and will among these teams as we travel. 

Dock Caton 08/04/14