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.