Submitted by dcswinford on Tue, 12/15/2009 - 03:37
Greetings. Grace and peace in Christ Jesus.
What an awesome experience to be here in Nicaragua. I have been trying to upload pictures to the blog, but have been unsuccessful so far. I have a new camera and apparently my pictures are now to large to load. Bummer. I'm sure that there will be some way to fix the problem later.
I enjoyed teaching Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon at the school we partner with in Jinotega. Our school is called the Institute for the Preparation of Workers, which really says a lot about the servant aspect of the school. In addition to teaching, one can spend time doing addiction counseling, building school buildings, giving kids shoes and boots, passing out gift boxes to kids, mixing and pouring concrete, making concrete blocks, getting a sunburn, evangelistic efforts, preaching and fellowshipping with some of the greatest Christian friends and co-workers in the world. I left Jinotega tired, but satisfied and inspired. I really appreciate the efforts of our partners in Jinotega. Mision Para Cristo is making a real difference in the lives of people all over Northern Nicaragua.
Submitted by Sunset Alumni on Thu, 04/09/2009 - 16:54
Dear Co-workers,
Blessings to you and yours. Praise God for His grace and mercy. Much thanks to you for your financial help. Thanks for the many prayers. Last week, an elder told me that he prayed for me 5-6 times a week. That made my day/week!
Let’s look at the reports for the first 10-11 weeks of 2009. In Guatemala, we had 72 baptisms with 21 restorations. Some of the campaigns were more difficult because they were in 100% Mayan villages. The language and cultural difficulties naturally hindered the number of responses. We are happy to make these inroads.
I am very pleased with William Racancoj in Honduras. He is the new director; with only 16 students, they have baptized 105 and restored 114. Also, they have helped start at least three new works. In Nicaragua, over 160 have been baptized through March. I do not have the restorations number. So totally, we have more than 337 baptisms, plus very many restored to God’s glory.
Submitted by dcswinford on Sun, 06/08/2008 - 02:19
When people ask me for my job title, I try to tell them, but it actually makes no sense to most people. After spending a few minutes trying to explain what a "Dean of International Studies" is, I generally just say that I am a missionary to a whole lot of countries. I like the idea of having a mission and going on a mission. In fact, all who enter my office at Sunset have to pass a sign on my door that reads, "If God calls you to be a missionary, don't stoop to be a King." Sometimes, however, i forget what an amazing role I am allowed to play in the Kingdom. Recently I was reminded by someone close to me that I love mightily.
Phillip is my nephew. More specifically, he is the eldest son of my little sister Melissa. Her two sons, Phillip and William, mean a great deal to me, as do all of my nephews and nieces. Phillip is smart, athletic and gifted in many areas, and is very serious about following Christ. He was recently given one of those typical assignments in school, an assignment to write about what he wants to be when he grows up. As a proud uncle, I thought I would share his paper with you. His words are italicized below.
