Church Blog

Nicaragua Mission Trip Day 6 and 7

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 02:05:00 GMT

Day 6

Every day in Nicaragua holds unique experiences that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The experiences here make the trip worthwhile. Today, I’m going to tell you about a few of them.

As many of you know, we have an hour and a half ride each morning and evening. One of the translators, Franklin is more or less, the honorary DJ for these trips. We get to hear a wide variety of music; anything from the Bee Gees, YMCA, Billy Joel, or even modern hits from both America and Central America. He keeps the car rides interesting, and even takes requests from time to time. Today, when we arrived on-site, we passed out 2 way radios to the different groups so that we can get a hold of each other if need be. After awhile, David was trying to get a hold of Pastor Angel, and shortly after he said something, you could hear Mambo #5 playing over the radio. We couldn’t help but laugh. The translators have a way of keeping things fun and everyone in good spirits.

The day was a productive day. 5 skylights were installed, despite having some obstacles such as rotten wood and weak boards to walk on, which was a record number for our time here. There were multiple numbers of gardens installed, and the water filter crew got all but 8 of the water filters installed. The health and hygiene lesions went well, and Katherine was helping with leading the lessons, and she stole the kids’ hearts. It was great to see how much the health and hygiene crews are bonding with the people in the community, after their daily interactions with their new friends.

One more story from today was when Sandy was at the church, she saw two little girls walking by carrying buckets on their heads; with the help of one of the translators, they started talking. The girls had buckets of corn, and they were walking very far to the mill to have their corn ground up into tortillas. They did this every day, and made the entire walk bare foot. They were only aloud to wear their shoes to school, so needless to say, they did a lot of walking without shoes. I don’t know if you’ve seen from the pictures, but the roads are a little rough to say the least; they are covered with small stones, shells, broken shells, garbage, animals, and pretty much anything in-between. With a little coaxing, Sandy convinced the girls to accept a pair of flip flops for each of them. They were very thankful for the gift, and the next day, we actually saw them running down the street in their new flip flops, something they would have never been able to do before. It is the occurrences like this that seem to happen quite frequently, and they are the experiences that make all of the hard work so worth it!

Day 7

Today was another very productive and educational day. On the bus ride to Petosi, Jose brought a couple of cashews and showed us the fruit and the nut. He also brought samples of the type of bananas that he grows at his house. Jose is extremely proud of Nicaragua, and you can’t help but share the pride that he has. This trip, I have been blessed to have spent the majority of the time working with Jose. I have gotten to know him pretty well over this trip and the trip last year. He is definitely someone that I will keep in my prayers, and one that I would request that you keep in yours (along with all of the other translators Franklin, Jorge, and Jose the driver). They are truly some incredible people, and I look for working with them in the future!

Once we got to Peloci, we discovered that the first garden that was planted at the church already had plants starting to sprout! We hope that this is a good indication that the remainder of the plants will grow well here in Nicaragua!

Today was our last day on-site in Peloci, and it was pretty incredible to see all of the things that God enabled us to do on this trip. The gardening crew was able to install a few more gardens, and train the people of the community on how to install the remainder of the seeds that were donated, the water filter team installed their final 8 water filters, bringing the total to 40 filters this week, the health and hygiene team was able to finish their lessons early enough for a few games with Frisbees, beach balls, and even a baseball game! Finally, the skylight team was able to install 3 more skylights, bring the total to 14 for the week. God opened up many doors, kept the team safe, and has impacted us in some amazing ways. I know this is an experience that I will never forget and it is one that will shape my life.

Tomorrow, we will be visiting a local trade school in Chinandega that is supported heavily by the Dearborn Rotory Club and one of the local wallpaper shops in Dearborn. After visiting the school in Chinandega, we will see what the day holds. We have to travel to Managua, so we will be there in-time for our 7:30 AM flight back to the states.

It is definitely a sad feeling, getting ready to leave Nicaragua, but I know that it is only ‘until later,’ either this world or the next, we will get to see our family here again. It is my prayer that everyone would at some point be able to experience the kindness, friendship, and love of our friends and family here in Nicaragua. It is an experience that is difficult to put into words, so I hope that our journals, pictures and stories will help to give you a taste of God’s hand at work here in Nicaragua.

Tim

Nicaragua Mission Trip Day 4 & 5

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 14:53:00 GMT

Nicaragua 2012 – Days 4 & 5

Day 4: Day three was definitely a busy one. We woke up a little earlier than usual, since we had our first full day in Petosi. After starting out the day right, with prayer, devotions, and a big breakfast, we hit the stores for some last minute supplies before heading to Petosi. The hardware store is interesting. You aren’t really aloud to touch anything. Workers at the store gather the materials for you, set them aside while you pay. I will post a picture of the hardware store; it looks like a cross between Aco and EnglishGardens; since there were plants hanging from the ceiling.

On the road to Petosi, we got to know our neighbors in the bus quite well. We packed 16 people, 16 skylights, 16 meals, 1 ladder, 2 boards, and a bunch of 1 gallon catsup bottles (for making Tippy Taps), and 2 people had to sit on buckets (which the translators told us we were riding Nicaraguan style). We made it to Petosi in one piece, and with all of the supplies!

We sorted the materials, tools and supplies, but because of the trip to the hardware store, it was a little later start. The gardening, water filter, and skylight groups all barely started before it was time for lunch. After lunch, the gardening group tilled the land by hand, with shovels and rakes, removing any extra blocks, rocks, concrete, or larvae they found. They were able to get 16 rows of seeds planted in the garden at the church, and one more garden in the community by the days’ end. The water filter team was able to all 38 of the water filters assembled, and 8 installed water filters; after installing the water filters, the team passed out health burritos and additional tooth brushes to the families receiving the filters.

The health and hygiene team hosted groups at the church; they taught the people how to uses Tippy Taps (a picture is below). Tippy taps are a way to wash your hands; you tie a jug to a tree, cut a couple of holes in the handle, tie a rope to the handle, so that when you step on the rope, the bottle tips over, letting water trickle out. A bar of soap hangs next to the tippy tap, making everything easy, and water efficient to wash your hands. The health and hygiene team also taught the lesson of the woman at the well.

In the afternoon, the skylight team was able to get 2 skylights installed. It is incredible how much difference one panel will make in a house. I will include pictures below of the skylights being installed.

Day 5

Today, we got an even earlier start; breakfast and devotions at 6:30 AM was a little uncomfortable for some, but it all worked out! Our hour and a half car rides each day, actually have proven to be a blessing, at least to me. We get to bond, de-stress, talk, and just get to know each other better through these trips. I know I have spent a lot of time talking to our translators Jose and Georgie. They are two incredible people, and I think that God is using them to do great things in their communities here in Nicaragua!

After arriving in Nicaragua, we separated into our groups and hit the town so to speak. We had 1 gardening crew, 1 water filter crew, and 2 skylight crews (since health and hygiene lesions cannot start until after the children are out of school). It was great to see how different today was from yesterday; everyone seemed to hit their groove. The gardening team began asking the families receiving the gardens to help, and they were more than willing, they were actually eager to assist with digging and planting the gardens. After the gardens were planted, the family and team would stay a prayer over the garden, asking for Gods blessing.

The health and hygiene education were able to get into their rhythm. James and Sandy were a little more confident in both the translations and lesions. The children seemed to genuinely enjoy and understand the lesions. The families building and receiving the tippy taps were more than excited about acquiring one of their own. The same could be said about the water filter team; they were able to install water filters in more houses today, and it actually looks like they may run out of water filters by the end of the day tomorrow. 38 water filters installed, in just a few days. This new system is definitely A LOT faster to install and even easier to use.

For skylights today, we had 2 teams in the morning, which each got 1 skylight installed. In the afternoon, we had just one team but with a little more time, we were still able to get 2 installed. The day was filled with the usual problems, such as the ladder being too short, the drill bits breaking, and even having to move the skylight location due to termites weakening the wood, but that’s to be expected, but it was awesome to see how solutions presented themselves, and we were able to move on. It is a God thing, to see how He really doesn’t give us more that we can handle, life can be uncomfortable, and definitely hot here in Nicaragua, and I know all the teams will attest to that, but God is true to His promise, He doesn’t give us more than we can handle.

One of the highlights for me today was lunch. We were able to enjoy lunch on the beach. Pelosi is on a peninsula, so a lot of the people here make their living either fishing or farming. We got to see all of the boats, and on the horizon, we could see El Salvador and Honduras. Some of us were even able to take a short swim in the ocean, and then wash off in a spring before heading back to work for the afternoon.

After our work was done, we said our good byes, and we headed back to Chinandega, we had a little down time before our devotions, dinner, and daily meeting. A group of us headed to the local market. We were able to pick up some souvenirs, as well as some food. I’ve definitely gotten hooked to the momonchinos. I bought another 40 today to share with everyone tonight and tomorrow. This trip I have been a little more adventurous with trying the local fruit, and I am definitely thankful that I have! There’s a lot of fruit here that you can’t find in the states, so it is truly a treat to enjoy them while we are here.

During the debriefing today, it was interesting to hear everyone’s highs, lows, favorite experience, and ways in which they were able to see/experience God’s love. This trip has truly opened my eyes to how different it is in other countries around the world, and I think it is doing the same to a lot of the other people in this group. There are always experiences that we have each day that truly impact us in a way that is difficult to describe with words. It’s the way you feel when you see an old friend from last year, the emotions you feel when you see those you know are struggling to get by, the need, the hurt, but also the joy, the happiness, and the true dependence on God. There is no other experience like this, and we cannot thank everyone enough for supporting us throughout our time here in Nicaragua.

Tim Dunigan

Nicaragua Mission Trip 2012 - Day 3

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 13:23:00 GMT

Nicaragua 2012 – Day 3 (October 28, 2012)

Today has been a great day so far! We got to sleep in before breakfast and devotions. We did not have to be to La Joya until 10 AM for church, so it was a much needed chance to catch up on some rest before church. The usual roads to La Joya were washed out due to recent rains (overnight), so we had to take a new road, which was a little bumpy, but not impassable.

Once we arrived in La Joya, there were many familiar and friendly faces to greet us! Sandy was able to visit her family before we headed to church. The sermon was done by a pastor from Canada; it was unique to see a few fellow missionaries abroad. There were even a couple of songs sung for us by the children, which was a unique treat. After church was over, the games began. We brought plenty of baseball bats, and I was reunited with my buddy Pele from last year and his brother, Antonio. I personally, even met a few new people, like Jaclyn and Llevano. After we played baseball and Frisbee, we played a rousing game of red rover before it was time to leave. The people were in good spirits, and seemed to be doing well. It is great to see how the town of La Joya has taken some major steps in the right direction. There is now water piped through the town to many of the houses, and the church seems to be growing, which is always encouraging.

The people of La Joya will be missed as we now start new adventures assisting the people of Petosi.We had lunch at La Espigon. Most of us ate fish (like a red snapper) while overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It was truly an incredible view, with music being sung and played in the back ground; it definitely made for an awesome experience, which provided a glimpse of the beauty of God’s creation.

After a short trip back to Chinandega, we separated into groups of 2 and went on a prayer walk. A prayer walk is a form of intercessory prayer, where you walk around the community and pray for the people, their problems, and ask God to meet their needs. It was a pretty incredible experience to walk through the city, in groups that weren’t so conspicuous, which enabled us to see the city a little clearer. I hope that everyone back home is keeping the people of La Joya, Petosi, Chinandega, and the rest of Nicaragua in their prayers! I think that God is doing great things and will continue to make a difference in the lives of the people here!

The rest of our evening has been focused on preparation for tomorrows’ events. We reated ‘health wraps/burritos.’ The ‘health burritos’ consist of a pen, combs, tooth paste, 6 tooth brushes, and soap, all wrapped up in a wash cloth (there are a few pictures below).

We also put individual tooth brushes and tooth paste into bags to be distributed after health and hygiene training tomorrow. Now that all of our preparations are done, we are catching a little of the Tigers game before dinner; GO TIGERS!!

Talk to you soon,

Tim Dunigan

Nicaragua Mission Trip 2012

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 13:18:00 GMT

Nicaragua 2012 – Days 1 & 2

First of all, I would like to apologize for my delayed blogging. We have spent a lot of time traveling up to this point, and I am just now able to sit down and do some writing. We left Detroit yesterday at noon. We arrived in Atlanta with enough time to eat some lunch, discuss the customs process and plans for the evening, before catching our plane to Managua.

We arrived in Managua safely last night. There was a little delay in finding one of my checked bags, but fortunately it eventually showed up before our 3 hr car ride in the morning! We spent the night at the Best Western, which is literally across the street from the airport. The rooms were renovated since last year, but I think many of us were too tired to fully appreciate anything more than the top side of the pillow!

This morning, we were able to enjoy a big buffet breakfast before hitting the road. We drove from Managua to Chinandega, which is about a 3 hour drive. Once we arrived in Chinandega, we unloaded the many duffle bags, and sorted them out during lunch. After lunch, we piled into our 16 passenger vans and embarked on the 1 ½ drive to Petosi. I believe that the total trip was around 70 km, but only the first 50 or so are paved. When the pavement ended, we were flagged down by a few army officers. Jose (our driver) gave them the proper documents and apparently the correct answers, since we were permitted to continue. I don’t know if you have seen any pictures of the Army officers in Nicaragua, but they are armed a little better than the police back in the states. All of the officers at the stop were armed with AK 47s. It was fortunate that they did not hassle us on our trip today!

After we cleared the Army stop, it turned out that we had yet another obstacle to navigate; the road was flooded, and it appeared to be a pretty deep hole where the water gathered. Jose had to adjust the air intake on the vans (since they draw air from the bottom side of the engine), so that we wouldn’t have major problems crossing the road. After the adjustments were complete, we piled back into the van and made it across! After numerous kilometers of rough roads, water puddles, and numerous motorcycles sharing the road, we arrived in Petosi!

Our arrival in Petosi was a little softer of a greeting than we are used to in the familiar village of La Joya. Once in Petosi, James and Sandi started community mapping with the families that gathered at the church. The children got to participate in coloring exercises and the parents were able to draw maps and answer questions about the communities in which they live. This is the first mission group to Petosi, so it is a bit of a learning experience about the community assets, skills, and needs. A large group of us were able to walk in the community and visit the houses in which we will be planting community gardens and installing skylights. By the end of the afternoon, we had a better view of the community and the people definitely opened up and were sad to see us go. The children were as friendly as ever, and I cannot wait to have some time to play with them later this week! Who knows, with all of the talk of the playoffs down here, we might just have to get a baseball game going! Well, it is getting late here, so I better get going to bed. Hasta lluego.

Tim Dunigan

One Member's View on an Evening at Guardian

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 22:42:00 GMT

I woke up this morning warmly reflecting on last night's worship service... Best VBS worship ever (June 16, 2011)!! What a way to spend a Thursday Summer evening.

For several years we've talked about holding worship in the gym. This was as good or better than I've ever imagined.

To be gathered with people I love (a bunch of people, I wonder what the "count" was) experiencing the children sing with joy (motions are always nice too, they tend to sit still after that); confessing my sins; receiving absolution; praying for those of our community in need of prayer, both intercessory & jubliant was awesome. The presence of His love pervaded the atmosphere. The group that led VBS did a great job, loving their Lord & expressing it, both spoken and facially with eye contact. The music was well done, great selection of songs that pointed "The Way" including some of my favorites (Lead me to the Cross, Mighty to Save, . . .)

To gather with a group of people I love, singing and seeing joy, in a comfortable, unencumbered environment was pure pleasure (I'm not sure that as a "Lutheran" I should feel that good). A rare treat. If that is (our) idea of broadening our worship perspective (my words, not yours), lead on!

Then the bonfire in the parking lot afterwards, whose idea was that, I want to profusely thank them. Instead of going home to a quiet house, I got to come home smelling of campfire smoke, with good memories of watching children run, jump, play; being offered a 'smore' (not a big fan, but being offered in love, how could I refuse); great relaxed conversation, getting to know my 'brothers & sisters' better. . . . I came home with a stronger sense of the peace that surpasses all understanding.

Conversation in the parking lot... and seeing the smiles on their faces as they watched people practicing "Life together" was great.

Bottom line, good time (read that as good Christian time spent among the family). I could easily keep going...

Bruce Glennie

Vacation Bible School "Pandamania"

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:47:00 GMT

Guardian Lutheran Church and School invites children to Vacation Bible School every June. The theme for this year was “Pandamania” where we learned how God is wild about us! (Psalm 139). We welcomed over 130 children daily from the neighborhood and 30 area churches. The Gospel of Jesus Christ was shared via electrifying Bible adventures, Bible crafts, teamwork-building games and singing praises to our Lord. God’s love for us was celebrated each day by the children, a wonderful team of volunteers and music by the band, Captive Free. A concert featuring Captive Free was held on Tuesday evening. A CD of the music sung during the week was sent home with each child. On Thursday evening the VBS group and Captive Free participated in the worship service with almost 200 in attendance. The evening included fun and fellowship after worship at a bonfire where everyone enjoyed more singing and tasty smores. Mission projects during the week included collecting school supplies for children in Nicaragua and painting flower pots each containing a flower for shut-ins in the neighborhood. The children loved sharing God’s love through this mission. Thank you to everyone who made this event a successful demonstration of God’s love!

Join us next June for another exciting week of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ!

Fellowship and Fun at Guardian

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 15:41:00 GMT

The first full weekend back from Christmas break was filled with many activities at Guardian.

The weekend of fun and fellowship started with the boys JV Basketball team taking first place in the tournament hosted in Guardian's gym.

Shortly after basketball, almost 60 Guardian members from 7th graders through adults played in a round robin volleyball tournament. Several spectators came to witness an event filled with competition, fun and laughter. This was the kick off event for the adult volleyball league which started on Sunday afternoon and will run through the end of February. Four teams (36 players) will be playing each Sunday afternoon with the final championship match being played on the first Sunday in March.

Middle school students enjoyed a dance on Saturday evening. Many of the friends made during Confirmation Camp at Camp Cavell in the fall were in attendance, as well to end the very busy day at Guardian

Sunday was a wonderful day to participate in worship at Guardian. Three new Bible Studies and Sunday School program were kicked off between services at 9:30. At late service 31 new members were welcomed into Guardian's church family. Two beautiful children were baptized and joined our faithful family as well.

Many blessings and great fun during this event filled weekend.

If you are interesting in more activities happening at Guardian, feel free to call the church office at 313-274-1414 or email churchsecretary@guardianlutheran.org.

UPDATED SUNDAY 11/14: Guardian Mission Trip to Nicaragua

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 04:00:00 GMT

Saturday, November 13 (submitted by Dennis Tino)

Hello family and friends,

The Guardian contingent arrived safely home last night around midnite from our wonderful and eye opening trip to Nicaragua. The N. Dakota and Wisconsin folks also arrived home safely, although later.

Twenty-five home installations were completed during the week we were there; near to our goal of 30. In addition to the provision of clean drinking water, the filter installations allowed the Team to share the Living Water of salvation provided ALL people through the grace and mercy of God through their service of love.

What blessings we experienced by working for and with those remarkable people of La Joya. These people are as completly poor as one could only imagine. They have no shoes; no electrical appliances; no autos or motorized means of conveyance; no windows; no running water; and, for that matter, any convenience you can think of, they are without. And yet, they smile, they laugh, they are joyful in their daily living! What a lesson for me on the idea of living for the day and not being anxious about anything! (Phillipians 4:4-7)

So many experiences to remember. One of my favorite was when the 10 year old horse drawn cart driver invited me to hop up on the cart beside him while returning from an installation. A short time later, as I sat next to him, he turned to me and, with a big smile said "Mi amigo."

I hugged him around his waist and said ,"Si, Mi amigo"! I had met him earlier in the day and found that his name in Deniston, my namesake.

The Travel Team is so grateful to all of our prayer partners. We surely felt the presence of your prayers. Five of the 18 were afflicted by various feelings of sickness during the latter part of the week. Some probably due to too much sun, or not enough hydration; others too much rich dinner food; others not used to such heavy work. But, God was with us and there was no serious illness. And, even those who felt the discomforts of diahrea, were glad that they had the opportunity to serve these needy people. As was said, if only one person will be saved by the clean water and hygiene training, it will certainly be worth the trip and all the hard work.

A presentation will be made to Guardian Congregation by the Team, hopefully in early December. For those far away, the presentation will also be available via internet.

Wednesday, November 10 (submitted by Dennis Tino)

A blessed day again! A total of 17 filters have been installed thru today. We hope to do 10 more tommorrow. Had opp to share Gospel with Security guard here at hotel while waiting for the bus this AM. Tonite, he came looking for me and gave me a big hug and wanted to talk, but our interpreter had left and I had to tell him we can talk in the AM. Praise God!

We all worked hard washing sand and gravel and repairing leaking assys. and installing in homes. I witnessed one installation and have great pictures of the family. People here like to have their pics taken so they can see them on the camera.

Pres Louis (Nic LC) stopped by briefly this AM and I talked to him about getting young men motivated to come to church for things they would be interested in order to break thru the cultural barrier in which boys are raised to think that church is only for females. He was interested and wants to talk about it more. Any ideas Jim?

The people have really accepted the health and hygiene pitches and crafts and Bible studies. The people are very friendly in general and I have stopped to " talk¨" with people and they are very willing to talk. The kids at church are very grateful for our presence and often come up and give me hugs. the mother of 7 wonderful kids told me today that she would welcome us back "with open arms" when we return.

Tomorrow is our last work day! Closing ceremony by Pastor Marvens and I have bo bons ( suckers) for all the children. I gave out a bunch the other day and told them there would be more tommorrow.

Your prayers are being felt by EVERYONE on the team!

Tuesday, November 9 (submitted by Dennis Tino)

Another beautiful day in the 80s. Washed sand all morning and after our brought-in lunch , four of us went to the radio station to go on the air with the President of Luth Ch- Nicaragua. It went well. Turned out this was a different radio Christian station than he had us on Sunday. It was also blogged to a web site, so when I get the site I´ll let you know.

Coming back, the van got stuck due to the right rear wheel being 6 inches off the ground. The interpreter and I finally got us going again by pushing the van backward.

The President then showed up at our work site with a group of 11 people from LC Canada who came to build a church somewhere near here. They will be staying at our hotel, so we will find out more about what they will be doing.

I got a chance to play a little soccer with some boys late in the day. The kids really like us there. One guy came up to me earlier and said "mon". Turns out this means "play". So I grabbed him and he started trying to tickle me. He hung around me for some time. Love these people!

The VBS went well today again. Lot's of ninos. Also, the team installed 6 filters in homes. We are getting GREAT pictures of this beautiful country and these beautiful and loving people!

Got to go and let the next person use the keyboard.

Thanks for all the prayers! We can feel them.

Monday, November 8 (submitted by Dennis Tino):

Greetings to all!

We had another beautiful day in the tropics with temps in mid 80´s and a nice breeeze in the am. We cleaned as much sand as we had water to do it.. Cleaning the sand is a slow task in that we use wash basins to swirl sand aound four times with ou hands, dumping out the dirty water each time. Water delivery is only available in the am, so we had to stop after about 2:00 pm. We attempted to install two filter assys in homes. But the time ran out and the installations will be done tomorrow.

The first children´s VBS was very successful with lots of kids from the neighborhood. They did art and story telling and singing. The kids really get into singing.

There are always horses and carts around for hauling water and other stuff, even in the cities. A boy had come to VBS riding a horse. I casually asked Pastor Martens, thru an interpreter, if he was a horse back rider. He was and asked me if I rode horses. I said yes, and the next thing I knew, he had gotten permission for me to ride the horse. Well, it was just at the time when a group of people were headed out to install the two water filters, so I rode along behind the horse drawn cart carrying the water filters. Well, when we got there, Debby discovered that they needed a few parts left behind. I offered to go back to get them, a distance of about half a mile. As one might expect, I got lost. The "roads" , no more than uneven dirt trails with incredible bumps and divots, are not labeled. BUT, the church is so well known in the community that I was able to ask people along the way "Informacion, Iglacia Lutherano" and found my way back to the church, albeit coming in from the opposite direction. By the time I got back to the installation site, the team had decided that it was time to quit for the day. But it was fun!

Lots of blessings being experienced by all. We are truly a team and everyone keeps pitching in, in any way needed to get the work done. Praise God

We have devos each morning and evening. Everyone feels the power of your prayers.

God bless you all.

_____________________

On Friday, November 5th, a mission team comprised of ten individuals from Guardian will depart for La Joya, Nicaragua where they will spend 9 days constructing BioSand water filtration units for the village. While there, they will also educate the villagers in good health and hygiene practices, all the while sharing the Good News of Jesus, our Living Water.

The following link will allow you to stay in touch with the team via blog posts and photos. To view blog posts, click on "Comments". To view photos, click on "Nicaragua 1026" under Albums.

Nicaragua 1026

We ask that you keep the members of the mission team, Most Ministries, and the people of La Joya in your prayers and also encourage the members of Guardian to make use of the special devotional booklet created by Diane Kaye.

Guardian Team 1026 (and their helpers) - Bonnie Thiesen, Mary Dubensky, Bill Jenkins, Joy Schultz, Ron Schultz, David Smith, Dennis Tino, Larry Kent, Jim Doran, Sandy Kratt, Janet Dickhudt, Bob Dickhudt and Lance Moquin

Guardian Softball Tourney: An Afternoon of Spirited Fellowship

Tue, 21 Sep 2010 18:13:00 GMT

Nearly 70 players on five teams, and dozens of spectators enjoyed a beautiful afternoon of fun, fellowship, food, and faith at the First Annual Guardian Round-Robin Softball Tournament.

The Guardian Saints defeated the Guardian Cardinals 11-3 in the championship game, while the Guardian Padres nipped the Guardian Angels 9-8 in the consolation game. The Guardian Warriors rounded out the afternoon with a wonderful effort that came up a bit short on the scoresheets.

God is good... and His love was evident and enduring that afternoon...

CONFIRMATION CLASS OF 2011

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 04:00:00 GMT

Confirmation will soon be underway for the Guardian Class of 2011. Pastor A is really looking forward to meeting with the parents and students as they work together moving them to further grow in faith and in love for Jesus.

Sharing the heart of Jesus with confirmation students is one of Pastor A's greatest joys in ministry. Not only will the students have a great time learning more about the Lord, but there will be laugher and smiles along the way!

The parents of Confirmation students are asked to set aside Wednesday night, August 18 at 7pm to meet with Pastor A in the sanctuary for an orientation meeting. He will have a packet of information for you at this meeting, will answer any questions you have, and hope to have a few really good stories about his Uncle Stosh (one of the great Polish heroes of all time).

Classes for Guardian students will begin on Monday, August 30. They will meet during school on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Classes for public school students will begin on Tuesday, September 14. Classes will continue to meet on Tuesdays from 7-8pm, unless otherwise indicated. A full public schedule will be included with the info packet.

Because of an unusually late date for Easter (Apr. 24), Confirmation for the class of 2011 will be later than usual: Sunday, May 15. Please make note of this date.

The church’s goal in this undertaking is to help parents build a firm foundation for their children... Confirmation is by no means graduation. But by working together, we can share with your children the faith in which the world hopes – and the endurance for the heavenly race which is found only in Jesus.

Pastor A hopes to see you there!

Please call the church office at 313-274-1414 if you are unable so that we can make sure to send you the Confirmation information.

Financial Peace University Returns

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:03:00 GMT

A new session of Dave Ramsey's Fincancial Peace University is coming to Guardian. The new class starts on Sunday, September 12 at 7 p.m. FPU is a 13 week life-changing program that empowers and teaches you how to make the right decisions to achieve your financial goals and God's plan for your life. The course includes practical lessons on eliminating debt, building wealth, giving like never before, and much, much more! Register for the class in the church office or on Dave Ramsey's FPU website. A limited number of membership kits are available for $75; otherwise the kits are $99.

If you have any questions, call the church office at 133-274-1414.

For more information or to register online go to www.daveramsey.com

Guardian Secures A Booth At Dearborn Homecoming

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:16:00 GMT

Guardian Lutheran Church and School has secured a booth in the "Civic Tent" during Dearborn Homecoming. Many congregation members and ministry and mission groups will be on hand to distribute information about all that Guardian offers our community.

The city of Dearborn's 2010 Homecoming festival in Ford Field Park has been a true summer tradition for 31 years. This year, the festival runs from Friday, Aug. 6 to Sunday, Aug. 8. Homecoming inspires residents, former residents and regional visitors to meet up with old friends and neighbors and enjoy continuous entertainment, activities for all ages, a classic car cruise and show, a Living History Hill with a craft show and camp exhibits, great food served by more than 30 different nonprofit organizations, a carnival, and of course spectacular fireworks on Saturday and Sunday evenings. For more information about Dearborn homecoming visit www.cityofdearborn.org.

For more information about Guardian feel free to call the church office at 313-274-1414 or visit us during this three day event.

Guardian launches the 5 plus 5 plus 5 Campaign!

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 14:40:00 GMT

Guardian Lutheran Church and School has been serving the city of Dearborn, Michigan for over 63 years. Located on the corner of Cherry Hill Road and Denwood Street in west Dearborn, Guardian has been touching the lives of many area residents through weekly worship and it’s Lutheran Day School.

On Sunday, May 30, 2010, Guardian Lutheran Church and School officially launched the new “5+5+5” offering campaign to the congregation. Developed by the Board of Stewardship, this campaign is a new way of looking at how a small increase in weekly offerings, just $5 per family per week, can have a broad impact in correcting the church’s financial status. Each year following, the family is asked to contribute an additional $5 per week on top of the previous year. After three years of implementation, it is envisioned that the $15 per week that each family provides will balance the financial books of the congregation and allow us to move forward with our growing mission in ministry.

A video of Pastor Darryl Andrzejewski describing this new campaign was played during the Offerings at the 8 AM and 11 AM services. To reach more of our members, we are hosting this video online to allow you to listen to Pastor A’s words, and to review the two additional slide shows that show how and why it is important for Guardian to regain is fiscal health and remain a voice for Jesus in the years to come in Dearborn!

The first posting is the video of Pastor A introducing the 5+5+5 offering appeal.

The second posting is a slide show of our church and various church related activities of Guardian Lutheran set to the voices of the congregation. For over 60 years, Guardian has been richly blessed by God.

The third posting is a slide show of various school related activities of Guardian Lutheran set to the voices of the school children. Celebrating it's 50 year anniversary in the 2009/2010 school year, Guardian’s Lutheran Day School has provided a quality Christian education to Guardian’s members and non-members alike.

Pastor Andrzejewski, the Board of Stewardship, and the Parish Planning Council of Guardian Lutheran Church and School appreciate your continued support as we move forward in our mission in ministry. Your support, in prayer and in offerings, is critical in allowing us to continue to serve long into the future. Thank you for taking the time to view these videos and prayerfully considering your ability to support our mission.

God’s richest blessings to you…

Guardian puts faith in action at Vista Maria

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:07:00 GMT

It’s a joy to serve together, as we remember the words of Jesus, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me,” (Matt 25:40). And it certainly was a joy to be part of the transformation which blessed the girls and staff at Vista Maria.

Vista Maria, located in Dearborn Heights, is Michigan's largest, private, non-profit child welfare agency for girls and their families and has been rebuilding lives for 150 years. On October 10th, Guardian Lutheran Dearborn members joined forces with Enchanted Makeovers to bring about change, both in the surroundings and the lives of the girls and young women of Vista Maria. Enchanted Makeovers is an internationally recognized non-profit organization that “transforms shelters for women and children into places of peace and possibilities—not just where basic needs are met, but spiritual needs for hope and beauty also.”

Guardian members volunteered over 243 hours of time and talent to patch, prep, tape, caulk and paint alongside other Enchanted Makeover volunteers. Under the direction of Enchanted Makeovers founder, Terry Grahl, they primed and painted walls and furniture, installed doors, fixtures and personal touches, and provided a delicious lunch for the final day and Makeover reveal on November 15th.

Time, talents and treasures were shared as the Guardian Foundation also contributed a sizable financial donation. Several other members provided additional monetary support as well as food donations for the luncheon on the final day. This was truly an inspiring outpouring of Christian love and service. Some of the girls responded with shrieks of excitement, some cried, some quietly took it in, and others hugged volunteers and whispered, “Thank you.” A staff member of Vista Maria said, “My friends, one of the greatest things about working at Vista Maria is when I see how volunteers and supporters, like you, make the girls feel like they are worthy of spectacular things. You and I both know that they are more than worthy of greatness. But when they realize it for themselves, it is a very special thing. Thank you SO MUCH to Terry and all the volunteers at Enchanted Makeovers for doing this special project for our girls.”

The project at Vista Maria touched all those involved-the volunteers, the staff, the donors, and the residents. “No words or amount of hugs could ever match how much I appreciate how Guardian Lutheran stepped up and put ''faith'' into action.” As we fulfill our mission of transforming shelters into heartwarming havens we gather people together. Whether they are a donor of handmade items, monetary support, or physical work, their special talents and love are ingredients in the final product. It is a thing of beauty to behold. It oozes of love and wraps its arms around the women and children. It exults, "You are loved. You are special. You are worthy of beauty. You too can create beauty," Enchanted Makeovers founder, Terry Grahl.

View a slideshow of the makeovers and excitement at www.terrysenchantedcottage.com. For more information about Guardian Lutheran Dearborn, visit www.guardianlutheran.org. To learn more about the programs offered by Vista Maria and for volunteer opportunities, visit www.vistamaria.org.

Early Communion at Guardian?

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:00:00 GMT

A CASE-STUDY FOR EARLY COMMUNION AT GUARDIAN LUTHERAN

Preface

In 2010, Guardian will be asked to consider offering communion to our young people before the traditional reception after Confirmation. This would occur toward the end of the fifth grade, approximately ages 10-11. Needless to say, this is a significant decision. We would like to explore all options, giving you as much information to study and opportunity to discuss before making as informed a decision as possible.

Two helpful primers may be found at the following websites:

http://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/CTCR/admisup.pdf

http://lutheranlogomaniac.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/2009confirmation.pdf

A Biblical Basis

1 Corinthians 11. The occasion for Paul’s writing to the Corinthians was his growing concern over the church’s behavior and attitudes, in part, with reference to two aspects of church: Worship and Communion. In chapter eleven, Paul highlights his concerns, and with respect to communion he gives these “directives (v17)”:

v28- “A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup”. The LCMS has long believed that it is imperative to recognize the bread as the body of Jesus in the Lord’s Supper, and the wine as the blood of Jesus.

The Greek word “examine”- diakrino- means to “judge rightly” or to “recognize”. This calls for the simple ability to weigh evidence. In this case, the bread is body, the wine is blood. There is no call to “understand” or “comprehend”, just an identification of the facts (I recognize nuclear engineering, but neither comprehend nor understand its dynamics).

v27- “Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.” The critical point of reception is recognition of and faith in the real presence. And in so doing, recognizing the connection of the forgiveness of sins to the body given, and the blood shed (cf. Matthew 26:28).

v29- “For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.” The result of poor examination: “Judgment”/ “Condemnation”.

Lutheran Confessions

Luther highlights three preparatory questions for self-examination (Small Catechism, p.238ff):

1. Am I sorry for my sins? (2 Co 7:10-11)

2. Do I believe in the words of institution? (Lk 22:19-20, 2 Co 13:5)

3. Do I plan, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to change my sinful life? (Eph 4:22ff)

The Sacrament must not be given to the following:

1. Those who are openly ungodly and unrepentant, including those who take part in non-Christian religious worship.

2. Those who are unforgiving, refusing to be reconciled.

3. Those who are of a different confession of faith, since the Lord’s Supper is a testimony of the unity of faith.

4. Those who are unable to examine themselves, such as infants, people who have not received proper instruction, or the unconscious.

The classic statement on “communing worthily” comes from the Small Catechism’s teaching concerning “The Sacrament of the Altar”: Who, then, receives this sacrament worthily?

Answer: Fasting and bodily preparation are a good external discipline, but he is truly worthy and well prepared who believes these words: “for you” and “for the forgiveness of sins.” On the other hand, he who does not believe these words, or doubts them, is unworthy and unprepared, for the words “for you” require truly believing hearts. (SC VI, 9–10; Tappert, 352)

Faith, as that means by which a sinner receives the gifts of God, takes front and center in all of the confessional teaching regarding the reception of the Eucharist in a worthy manner (that is, to one’s blessing). Faith in these words is necessary, and faith in these words is sufficient for an individual to commune worthily.

Luther notes (Large Catechism, Tappert, p. 456):

“Therefore let every head of a household remember that it is his duty, by God’s injunction and command, to teach or have taught to his children the things they ought to know. Since they are received into the Christian church, they should also enjoy this fellowship of the sacrament so that they may serve us and be useful. For they must all help us to believe, to love, to pray, and to fight the devil.”

FAQ

1. Why are we offering the option of receiving communion before confirmation?

Based on Scriptural and confessional teachings, many of our students should be spiritually ready to receive the Lord’s Supper long before the end of 8th grade. We want them to be able to receive the benefits of the Lord’s Supper as soon as they are ready. We also hope by separating the communion experience from the confirmation experience will help students to not view confirmation as graduation, but as simply one of many other faith stepping stones in their spiritual development.

2. Is receiving communion before confirmation an approved practice within the Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod (LCMS)?

Yes. The LCMS has discussed this practice for several years and has concluded that there is no Biblical reason to prevent offering communion before confirmation. Increasing numbers of LCMS congregations are moving to the practice. Latest estimates run roughly 30-35% of LCMS congregations.

3. What does the Bible say about the “right age” for receiving the Lord’s Supper?

The Bible gives no specifics on “the right age.” First Corinthians 11:27-29 simply says that communicants must be able to examine themselves and discern what is happening in the Lord’s Supper. Again, we believe that many children are able to do this long before the end of 8th grade.

4. How did we decide on 5th grade as the starting point for offering “early communion?”

This was the practice we found most common among other churches that offer communion before confirmation.

5. What if I don’t want my child to receive the Lord’s Supper until after confirmation?

The First Communion class is optional. Parents and students who would rather wait until confirmation to receive the Lord’s Supper may continue to do so. Parents will determine when their student is ready to receive the sacrament.

6. Will the Lord’s Supper continue to be taught in regular Confirmation Classes?

Yes… absolutely! Students who choose not to receive communion before completing the confirmation program will still need this instruction and it will be a great review for the students already receiving the sacrament.

7. If the Lord’s Supper is still taught in 8th Grade, what benefit is there to taking the First Communion class?

Because the confirmation experience entails so many topics that need to be discussed, the content of First Communion is unable to be covered as thoroughly as we would like. The First Communion class allows us an opportunity for more teaching so that students fully understand the meaning, benefits and honor of partaking of the Lord’s Body.

8. Do I need to be baptized before taking communion?

Yes.

9. If my student takes the First Communion class, does that mean they still need to take confirmation classes?

Yes. The First Communion class has a different purpose than confirmation classes. The First Communion class covers our beliefs about the Lord’s Supper only. Confirmation covers our doctrinal beliefs and practices. The First Communion class will definitely enhance a student’s confirmation experience, but can’t replace it.