New Days, Mondays and Wednesdays, Feeding the Needy at Zephyr Park

Yesterday was our first Wednesday of feeding the needy at Zephyr Park.  Mel and I together with 2 other couples have added Mondays and Wednesdays to the feeding of the needy in Zephyrhills.  We have been blessed to be able to add these days. 

God is so good!  Please check out the pictures from there on our photo page.   Mel has been busy (in his spare time!) working with wood.  He enjoys creating woodwork.  Please take a look at the photos taken of the Nativity that he made!  Are you ready for the coming of our Saviour? 

Helping in Zephyrhills

We hope everyone had a very Happy Thanksgiving.  Mel and I were able to go to dinner with very special friends on Thanksgiving Day. I had the opportunity to work both Thanksgiving evening and Black Friday. It was an experience!  

We have continued to find new ways to help God's people. We are cooking and helping feed the needy on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays through two other outlets. We are also ringing the bell for the Salvation Army on Tuesdays up until Christmas.  Trina is working 5 days a week at WalMart in Zephyrhills to enable us to do more for others.

Zephyrhills Update from Mel and Trina

We have been back in Zephyrhills for a little more than three weeks and we are very very busy!  We dove right into helping the needy in Zephyr Park on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  We also have met other pastors who are helping in other ways.  Pastor Jerry is conducting a service and meal on Saturdays and we have begun helping there.  We met with Pastor Mike who is a member of the Zephyrhills Wesley Chapel Ministerial Association and Mel is scheduled to go to Lake Wales Care Center with a group of people from the Zephyrhills community who Pastor Mike put together.  They will tour the Care Center and get ideas on what they are doing in the Lake Wales community to help and will be bringing back ideas to the Zephyrhills area and begin the process of implementing things here.

Trina has began working at WalMart, in the shoe department at the Zephyrhills store.  This will help us continue to help others.  

Please keep us in your prayers and if God is asking you to help us help others please send a check to:
           5824 23rd St, Lt 21
           Zephyrhills, FL 33542

Update on Zephyrills

We have been very busy helping to feed the needy in Zephyr Park, beginning last Tuesday.  The group of people that are being feed is growing as the weather begins to change up north.  During the winter, the numbers increase dramatically.  

MaryAnn has asked us to become much more involved and we are prayerfully considering it.  Please add this to your prayer time.  Trina has also began job searching to help with the costs we are and have incurred in helping others. in PA and FL.  We want to do as much as we can for others.  

Funds are getting low for the food and supplies and more people are coming in to eat each day.  Some of the businesses that donated food or money have gone out of business.  God is good and so far the food has stretched to feed those that come.  We know that God will provide.  Prayerfully consider a donation to help with the purchase of food and supplies.  

Thank you so much.  God Bless you all.

Mel and Trina

Be sure to check out the pictures from Zephyr Park on the photo page!

In Zephyrhills

We arrived in Zephyrhills Saturday afternoon.  After 2 days of setup we are almost there. 

We have a meeting with MaryAnn with the homeless feeding program tomorrow afternoon to schedule.  We may be handling all of Wednesday and Thursday meals with help from others. Please pray that we are able to bring Jesus to these
less fortunate people through our words and deeds.

Trina will also be job searching so that we can greater fund our mission.  Please pray that Trina finds a position that allows her to participate in the feeding program.  If the Lord is leading you to help us,  please click the link to the right  to donate using PayPal.

Thank you for your prayers and support.

God Bless,

Mel and Trina

Heading South

We left Ives Run yesterday afternoon.  It took us much longer to get ready because things go wrong.  We found a brake line that was leaking on Sunday. So before we could do anymore packing we had to get that fixed.  A big THANK YOU to Mike for coming to our rescue and coming and fixing the brake line. God is so good .  On Tuesday morning we finished packing and found several tires needed a lot of air. So it was mid afternoon before we were able to leave. We were able to make it to Mount Joy today and will help at GAiN.

Update on Mel's Surgery

Mel had surgery last Wednesday on his back, they put in a spinal cord stimulator to relieve the pain in his legs.  His back is extremely sore right now, there are 20 staples in it!  He has a doctor's appointment tomorrow and we pray they remove them. The leg pain is so much better.  God is so good!

We will be heading south as soon as the doctor gives us the okay.  We plan on stopping in Mt. Joy, PA at GAiN (Global Aid Network) to help out for a few days in their warehouse.  

We plan on getting to Zephyrhills sometime in October.  We are eager to see what God has for us this winter.

August 2013

Another month is almost gone by and it just doesn't seem possible.  Mel's trial spinal cord stimulator went very well and he is scheduled for the implant on September 4th.  He was without pain in his legs for a couple of days and as soon as they removed the trial the pain returned within hours.  He is looking forward to being able to do more than he has been able to in the past several months.  God is so good!  

August has been busy at Ives Run and Mel is painting the garage at CEF even though his legs are almost unbearable when he is finished for the day.  We are looking forward to what God has planned for us when Mel is able to do more.  

We have been able to connect with Chambers Camp and Retreat Center in Chambers, NY for the Spring/Summer/Fall of 2014.  We have met with Peter, the director and many of the other volunteers and we are eagerly anticipating our time at Chambers.  We are sure that God has placed us there. 

Be sure to check out our pictures on our photos page!

God Bless!

Trina and Mel

July 2013

Sorry it has been so long since our last post.  We have been very busy.  

Trina spent a week in Eva, TN visiting Kayla, her granddaughter.  There was a lot of time Mall walking in Nashville and Jackson.  Kayla had a good time.

We are still working at Ives Run Park and helping out at CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship).  Last week, CEF had a week long camp at Ives Run and the both of us helped out. I helped with the crafts and was the nurse for 2 days and Mel helped me and helped cook hot dogs for everyone on Friday.  Please be sure to check out our photos on our photo page.

We left on Friday after camp, for the weekend, to visit friends and family in and around Buffalo, NY.  We had a good time and were glad to get home Sunday evening. 

Mel will be having a trial implant (spinal cord stimulator) placed in his back on Monday, August 5th.  It should help with the pain that he suffers from in his back and legs.  The trial will last for 4 days to see if it helps.  Please pray that he receives pain relief from this device and that it can be permanently implanted.  Thank you so much.

Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF)

Mel and I are helping at CEF on a regular basis.  We went over this week and I helped finish the crosses for the craft during the day camps.  

Mel was helping scrape the garage walls to prepare it for painting.  The house and grounds are owned by Child Evangelism so the maintenance is done by volunteers.

We also took one of their company cars in for service at a local dealership last week.

Update from Pennsylvania

We have been busy working at Ives Run and helping out at Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) since our arrival in Tioga.  

Today, Mel helped with maintenance outside the office by fixing the porch boards and I helped inside by getting things ready for the summer camps that will be starting next month.  We will be helping again on Monday and working at Ives Run on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  Mel is diligently working on the many maintenance projects to be completed at the CEF office.

There are over 100 children enrolled for the camps and there is still another few weeks for more to register.   Mel and I will be volunteering as often as we can while the camps are in session.  I will be doing crafts and being the 'nurse' for one of the weeks.  Mel will be cooking hotdogs for the children on Friday of the camp week. We are not sure what we will be doing the other days of the camps.  

Please keep us and the upcoming camps in your prayers.  Thanks and God Bless, 

Trina

Be sure to check out our photos by clicking the tab 'Our Photo Albums' above!!

Child Evangelism Fellowship of Tioga County (CEF)

Mel and I were able to meet with Bob and Alison Horne today with Child Evangelism Fellowship of Tioga County.  We will be volunteering for CEF throughout the summer.  They are now very busy preparing for the summer camps starting within the next month.  There is so much to do to get ready!  We are looking forward to helping out and seeing what God has planned for us with the children.  Please keep the children and the volunteer staff in your prayers especially for God's plan to be fulfilled.

First Couple of Weeks in Tioga

We have been busy our first 2 weeks here in Tioga.  The weather is getting better.  It is hitting 70 during the day.  

Last evening we attended a meeting of the Tioga County Homeless Coalition. We were invited by a member of the board. They have been in operation for a little over a year.  We were very impressed with there vision and mission: 'to establish a faith-based network of churches and organizations within Tioga County which will provide a warm, safe, and caring environment for individuals and families who are homeless.’.  We are looking forward to working with them.  

This coming week we are meeting with "Child Evangelism Fellowship of Tioga County."  They have many needs and  work with the children year round.  During the summer they hold many week long day camps throughout the county. We are going to find out what we can do to help them out.

Be sure to check out our photos - they are updated regularly!

Please keep us and our ministry in your prayers.  There are so many needs and we are using all of our resources to do God's work.  We need your help to fund our ministry!  Prayerfully consider making a monetary donation.  

 

Ives Run Recreation Area, Tioga, PA

We have arrived!  And it's still cold and wintery!  It was spitting snow while we were setting up!  On the bright side, we will get to see the change of seasons, from winter to spring to summer!!!  

We are meeting with Dina, the volunteer coordinator Ranger, this morning to find out what we are doing for the park.  

The rest of the time we will be volunteering in the community. We plan on helping the homeless and continue helping in the flooded town of Athens, PA where after almost 2 years, there are still so many out of their homes! 

Our prayer request to you is to pray for God to show us what else He wants us to do, for Him to open the doors He wants opened and for us to receive the funds we need to complete His call to us.  

Please check out our photos on the photo tab above.  Click here to see our newest photos from Tioga, PA. 

We were able to volunteer at GAiN again this year on our way through PA.  Click here to see photos.

Below is a devotion we found inspiring.  Watch for our next devotion.

MISSIONARIES MINISTER BY BEING BENEVOLENT

23 But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you, 24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord’s people there. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. 28 So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ. 30 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 31 Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there, 32 so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed. 33 The God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Romans 15:23-33 (NIV)

A. The Situation In Jerusalem At This Time Was Grim: 

• Christians were hated by the Jews.

• The Romans had just labeled the Church as an outlaw religion.
• Many believers were lower class and were often poor or slaves.

B. Paul Mobilized The Love Of The Brethren:

• Believers in Europe realized their debt to Jerusalem church.
• They took up a collection & sent it by Paul and a delegation.
• The church ministered to human needs.

                      
C. How Do Missionaries Imitate Paul In Being Benevolent?

• They help with housing needs.
• Rebuilding homes after the Pacific Tsunami, the earthquake in Haiti, and after the many frequent hurricanes.

• They help with hunger needs. 
• A Disaster Relief Feeding Unit responding after a hurricane.

• They help with medical needs. 
• At one time, there was a dental clinic in The Gambia that served a population of 800,000.

D. Christ Did Not Come To Earth To Just Heal The Sick.

• He came to seek and save those who were lost.
• While He was on Earth, He could not help but be benevolent Himself and show His love to people through benevolence. So do missionaries. 
•  In West Africa, a volunteer optometrist gave a pair of used glasses to a former high school teacher.  The Muslim man had taught until his eyesight got so bad he could no longer see to read, and then he had to quit. When he got his glasses, he also received a copy of the New Testament in his own language. He left rejoicing, saying, "I can read again! I can read this book and I want to know what it says!"

Discussion Questions
 
1. Ask yourself where and how you can help? 
2. Can I help others by donating monetarily?
 

In Virginia

We left Virginia Beach on Wednesday morning.  We spent a few days with Tim and Saafe, Mel's son and daughter-in-law.  We had a good visit and did a little sight seeing.  We went to the Virginia Zoo and to Kitty Hawk and the Wright Brother's Memorial.

We arrived in Lancaster, PA this afternoon. We went by way of western Virginia.  We stayed at Endless Caverns RV Park and toured the Endless Caverns.  


We stopped to  see our dear friends, Virgil and Rosemary Mumaw in Broadway.  

While we are here in Lancaster, we plan on helping out at GAiN (Global Aid Network) for a couple of days.

Be sure to check our photos from the zoo and Endless Caverns.

Virginia Zoo

Kitty Hawk and Wright Brothers Memorial

Endless Caverns  
 
Please continue to keep us in your prayers.  Blessings to all.

On The Road Again

We are on the road again!  We pulled out of Zephyrhills yesterday about 4 pm.  We are heading back to Tioga, PA. We will be stopping at GAiN (Global Aid Network), near Lancaster, PA to see what we can do for them this year.  Last summer we helped package donations for around d the world.

In Tioga, we are again staying at Ives Run Park, working for the park for 3 days a week and seeing what we can do for others the rest of the time. There are many ministries in the area that we will be working with. There is a new homeless shelter for the county, a ministry called "Seeds of Hope"  that is a partnership between churches, individuals and the Tioga County Department of Human Services.  Seeds Of Hope volunteers help families in difficult situations. They repair homes, mentor, and provide transportation, food and clothing and many other services.

Please keep us and the people we will be helping in your prayers.  God Bless. 

Mel & Trina

Heading North on Monday, April 1

We are going to staying at Ives Run Park for the summer again this year.  We will again be working in Athens, PA helping to rebuild flooded homes from 2011 and helping at a newly opened homeless shelter for Tioga County, PA.  We are excited to see what God opens up for us.

Mel is now able to lift 20 lbs using his right shoulder!  He has been released from therapy and the doctor has told him that there are no limitations as of April 20th!  That's the day we are scheduled to arrive at Ives Run!

We have been keeping busy these past few weeks.  We are still helping cook and serve for the needy in Zephyr Park every week.  We also have connected with Chancey Road Christian Church to help in their ministry of feeding the hungry in a different way.  They supply boxes of food to people 5 days a week.  We have helped picking up the donated food from local grocery stores and helped with packing the boxes.  When we return to Zephyrhills, we plan on continuing on helping out these ministries.  

Click here to check out photos from Chancey Road Christian Church's food ministry.
 

Update from Mel and Trina

Mel is still attending therapy twice a week.  He is now allowed to lift up to 5 pounds!  He is doing pretty well.  His hand is giving him trouble and he is going to be undergoing some testing later this week.   

We have been doing more around Zephyrhills, we are helping to serve in Zephyr Park more often.

We will be leaving to spend the summer in and around Tioga, PA on or about April 1st.  We plan on continuing what we did last summer in helping rebuild the flooded homes in Athens, PA.  We will also be helping at a new homeless shelter for Tioga County, PA.

Please keep us in your prayers and if God is leading you to help us out monetarily you can send us money through PayPal using my email address: tbauer55@gmail.com 

I have added a new page to our blog called "Our Photos".  See the link at the top left or click here. Please check it out!

  

Update from Zephryhills

We have been restricted since Mel's surgery.  He is now able to remove the sling and is having much more aggressive therapy.  It is hurting much more, it's surprising how weak you become when you are not allowed to move or use a limb (without help from the other arm) for 6 weeks!

We attended a Disaster Training Seminar at First UMC here in Zephyrhills the middle of January. We met some wonderful people and learned a lot about Disaster Response in the United Methodist Church.

Mel joined an Ecumenical Men's Breakfast Meeting on Tuesday mornings.  There is a speaker every week to talk about what they are doing in the community.  He met "Mary" who has been serving the needy and homeless in Zephyrhills for many years.  They feed Monday - Thursday at 4pm in Zephyr Park.  On Monday we joined them by bringing prepared hot dogs and helped by serving.  The store that has been providing a lot of the weekly food that is donated is one of the Sweet Bay Supermarket's that closed.   

Click here to see more photos of helping the needy in Zephyrhills.

Surgery Update

Mel had the shoulder replacement surgery 3 weeks ago today.  He has been coming along pretty well.  There was a lot of pain in the beginning.  He is slowly getting better and the pain is minimizing.

Therapy started 4 days after the surgery.  He is going 2 days a week so they can move his arm and get the joint moving.  He is not allowed to lift anything with it,  not even his own arm!  The doctor realigned the biceps and that is the reason that he can not move the arm.  The therapist does all the work.  They call it passive range of motion therapy.  Hopefully he will be able to move it and work it soon.  He is in an arm sling and will be for another 3 - 5 weeks.  

At this time, it looks like we will be here in Zephryhills until after Easter.  We then plan on heading to Tioga, PA to stay at Ive's Run Park and work for the Army Corps of Engineers and help out in Tioga County and the surrounding area.

We both would like to thank everyone for their prayers for us while we are on the road doing what we can for others.  We especially want to thank you for your prayers during Mel's time of recovery.  

As you are led by God, we ask that you prayerfully consider helping us through monetary donations.  We have found that the cost of moving to the places where God is sending us is very expensive. We would also like to be able to contribute more supplies and other needed items at the places where we are helping.