CPCOG Blog

Construction day two brought more of the same from day one.  This year is extremely hard for some reason.  The humidity seems to be higher but it's not hot.  All of my clothes are completely soaked before 9AM in the morning.  Every muscle of my body is now aching and every bone just plain hurts.  I'm fully invested in the ministry of what we are tr ...

This is my second mission trip to Ecuador so the material preparation was the same but the spiritual preparation was very different.  I didn't finish packing until 2AM the day of our departure which is not normal for a 10 day trip to another country.  It's had a different feeling to it the entire year and I can't put my finger on the cause.  Is it ...

Only one day until we leave for Atlanta, then on to Miami and from there on to Ecuador.  Thanks to all who are going.  Your about to experience God and his blessing in a very different way.  I commend you.   Joshua ...

Only 100 more days or so until this year's Ecuador mission trip.  I'm excited for the ones who have signed up but I wish there were 3 times as many going.  I will try anything to get them to go and I have often used guilt as a successful motivator.  :-)  God will provide the funds if you provide the vessel ...

I apologize for not posting anything over the last two days, but I've been exhausted. I've grown spritually over the past two months, but Nothing compares to what I've experienced here in Ecuador. I believe that in order to serve God fully, there can be no "comfort zone" in your life. All I want to do is just stand in His presence and soak up as ...

I didn't blog on Tuesday because I couldn't.  The words were too hard to say.  The poverty we served on that day was more than my emotions could handle.  I know it sounds dramatic, but, it's the truth.  I've only seen that kind of poverty on television.  The last time I felt that strong of an emotion was when my father died.  It was terrible an ...

We went to a small church in Guayaquil this morning.  I don't know what time it was SUPPOSED to start, but, I can tell you they weren't very worried about if they were on time or not!  :)   Then I heard the band start with familiar chords in their first song...they were singing a tune that I knew!  It was Come, Now Is the Time To Worship.  They ...

Now that we are all back in the U.S., I wanted my last blog post about construction to give you a glimpse into the awesomeness of what was going on last week and hopefully encourage you to participate in our Ecuador activities in the future. The first kind of building we did is summarized in the video above.  It doesn't look like much to you ...

  Before I get to the "So....why?" thing, take a look at the pics above.  The first is the church we are building in a community called "Bastion Popular".  It is basically a squatters community about an hour north of where we are staying.  Dirt roads, open sewers in the street, bamboo houses, and actually a little sporty from a safety perspectiv ...

...with 150+ other folks from all over the eastern US to try and share God's love to those in need.  As I watch all these folks work through a 20 hour travel day to just show up, it amazes me and reminds me how Jesus himself just.....WENT.  There are almost countless ways that a believer from a modern country can reflect God's love much further tha ...

Here is the finished product.....our "Iglesia de Dios" in the heart of southern Guayaquil. When I first posted the "before" picture of the church construction site at the first of the week, most if not all our time naively hoped that we could finish before we left Ecuador.  The objective was to have the entire building done with no more work req ...

The "Inglesia de Dios" that we are building is coming along.  In the photo you can see all the concrete posts we have poured, block we have laid, and all the material we are using sitting in piles in what is their sanctuary.  Josh, myself, Allen, and Blake are having a blast on the team and I think all of us feel like we have made fast friends.  ...

This week was amazing. It literally flew by. In a way it'd be nice to have longer just so we wouldn't be so rushed for the few days we have to work. To be honest though, I'm ready to get home. We are showered and clean, although I never really feel 100% clean here.  Same way with the eating. Although I can eat a meal here, I'm not filled up like a ...

Let's try this again.   It is 5:36 Thursday morning is I begin writing this, getting it ready to post hopefully sometime later today. Like last year, it has been difficult to write. The internet has become almost unusable here and there’s just so little time in each day and everyone is just extremely tired. We’ve seen little of the other team mem ...

      Hello people of the United States,   I got to bed at 1am and slept 5 hrs. Pastor Josh, Brandon and I are sharing a room. We tagged along with the construction guys this morninng to a church service in the very church that they labored on so hard last year (along with Blake and Allen).  I have to say it was a pretty special site to see, ...

Hey everyone, If you are reading this entry on Saturday July 14th in the afternoon, we are in Miami airport waiting on our flight to Quito Ecuador. From there we'll take another late flight to Guayaquil. It'll most likely be midnight by the time we get through customs and arrive at the Grand Hotel. Thinking carnally I tell myself I need to be goi ...

  It was a hectic yet fulfilling week in Guayaquil. Being a Missionaro (Spanish translation) is hard work! It’s been very difficult to post updates on the blog because we have so little time. Second, it’s hard to turn the experience into adequate words, so that also takes time to think about what to tell. We have been hitting the pavement (mostly ...

What a wonderful day here in Guayaguil, Ecuador. All plans seam to be running smoothly, great day for church with our 1st visit to the location of our week long project. Today we prayed over the site where the new church will be and had church in the street in front of it. What a true blessing we all have enjoyed here all day as we have shared our ...

Josh looks like you can do a quick post from non flash items.... Sent from my iPad2 allen ...

Leaving early tomorrow for Atlanta! Let the trip begin. Go Braves!!!!!!! Allen iPad 2 upload test ...

"Are we ready" is the big ? Me, I am not 100% sure, but I am ready to try! I believe like the rest of our group that God has called me to take part in this challenge. Knowing that this trip will take most of us outside our normal comfort zone; but we must continue to believe and have faith that we can complete this task with God's help and directi ...

  Blake and I are trying to get everything in order for the fast approaching journey to Guayaquil! We are praying that God continues to help use prepare ourselves mentally, physically and most of all spiritually. We (CPCOG x14) are planning to join somewhere around the # of 200 others on this journey. We are not only planning to tell pe ...

We are home from Ecuador.  I am thrilled that I got to share another wonderful week of missions work with my church family (and my wonderful wife, Beth).  Was I in my comfort zone?  NO WAY.  Was I physically comfortable.. NO, it was HOT and DUSTY.  Am I physically refreshed?  NO, I'M COMPLETELY EXHAUSTED.  Was it worth it?  ONEHUNDEREDPERCENTYESYES ...

We had a kid's crusade today. Over 1000 children present... praise God. Overwhelming success. -- Jared ...

Ecuador 2012 is fast approaching.  Please accelerate your prayers for our missionary team: Pray that we will go forward in the boldness of the Spirit, overcoming any fear and spiritual inhibitions.  Pray that the Spirit will begin working in the lives of the people in Ecuador in advance of our arrival.  Pray that God will go before us opening ...

Matthew 6:19-21 19 "Don't collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don't break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Ever said to yours ...

  This week I have had the opportunity to learn what it is to have a servant's heart. Even though it happened in Ecuador, I discovered the examples I should be following are very close to home. I have had the privilege and honor this entire week of accompanying Heather and Melissa into the poorest neighborhoods of Guayaquil, Ecuador. I have ...

Psalm 33:20 - We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. This scripture is exactly what the people here believe.  We (Melissa and Heather) are thrilled for this opportunity to serve and experience the greatness of God.  We had a practice day on Monday and learned several songs in Spanish with the motions, several dramas, and ...

For those of you who haven't been on our journey, College & Career (C&C) just finished an almost 3 month study on the kings of Israel. We learned about the civil war between Israel and Judah, Israel's evil monarchy and Judah's somewhat-good leadership, and what happens when we practice and even allow idolatry. To mark the end of this study, let me ...

It is astounding how misinformation spreads. My wife and I had the privilege of having very little to do this past Saturday, and at noon, the only television show worth watching was Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. Before I go on, let me add that we do not own satellite or cable television. Most individuals with cable or satellite could find something bet ...