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!