ORU Missions Media Team 2009

asian sensation

2009-06-13T13:03:00.000-07:00

Belize

2009-06-11T17:54:00.000-07:00

Hello from Belize…we have made it to the final week of our trip! When we arrived here we were awed by the beauty of this country. There are tropical jungles covering the myan mountains and turquoise oceans lining white sandy beaches. Even the bush has a rough and dignified beauty.

We were picked up by Pastor Ron from the airport; he is a true New Yorker…accent and everything. Once we fit all of our luggage into the back of his pickup truck we were off to Blackman Eddy, which is a village about 1.5hours away from the airport.

When we arrived we immediately knew that this would be the perfect end to our trip! We were excited to discover working showers WITH HOT WATER, English speaking people and wonderful American food is served at the compound! We were also thrilled to discover the motto that the team has been living by for the past several weeks: “work hard, but play harder."

The team does work very hard. They have spent many a day painting houses, building, washing cars. or doing anything else that Pastor Ron needs help with, but in return he makes sure that they have tons of fun during their time off. Hearing their stories makes us just a little jealous. They have seen myan ruins, gone to sink holes and caves, been cliff jumping, tubing and even slid down waterfalls.

We are excited to start our work here and are believing that we will get our best footage yet. We have had 3 previous teams to practice on now we are going to pull out all of the stops.

Team Awesome Amazing Americas is ready to rock Belize’s face off!!!

goodbye yet again...

2009-06-06T14:42:00.002-07:00

Our team has had an amazing time in the Dominican Republic. We have been blessed to meet the other team and the kids at the Home. They were all so sweet and we feel blessed to have met them. We are keeping all of you in our prayers and cannot wait to see you again at debriefing!

For those of you praying, please keep us in your prayers as we leave for Belize and the last leg of our trip.

Prayer points:
1. finishing strong
2. health
3. spiritual awareness
4. peaceful relationships

Thank you all so much!
Team Awesome Amazing Americas out!

free days

2009-06-06T14:42:00.001-07:00

While at a ministry site the teams from ORU work hard, but occassionally there is a free day where they are allowed to go out have just have fun. These free days are few and far between, but when they come around let me assure you that ORU students know how to have fun.

While in Dominican we had most of saturday and all of Sunday free. The time was spent walking around the city and exploring. It was fun to see all of the historic sites .We were able to see the monument that was erected for the founding of the city and Christopher Columbus’ house.

We also found a street that is famous for having tourist shops and spent several hours shopping for souveniers. We found loads of treasures that we bought for ourselves, friends or family members.

We made a pit stop to buy fresh frozen yogurt and then ended the day buying juice at our favorite local restaurant. It was amazing to just relax and have fellowship together and helped to rejuvinate us for the week to come!

Refreshed and blessed….Team Awesome Amazing Americas out!

when in India...

2009-06-04T19:12:00.000-07:00

Hello from the Asian Sensation! We made it safely from India to China and then from China to Japan, where we are hanging out with the team in Tokyo. Life has been really good, and our time in China (while short) was amazing and full. Tammy and Kevin Schneider were visiting the team at the same time as we were, so it was quite the ORU party :) The amazing people at New Life took us around the facility and showed us their factory, foster home, and school. Last Tuesday, we were treated to a visit to the Great Wall - which was pretty epic.

But a little bit of catching up is in order, considering that China blocks Blogger and we haven't gotten to update. First off, here's some important lessons we learned in India:

If random men offer to assist you with your luggage, they aren't being friendly - they are just looking for some rupees. Decline firmly or be willing to fork over the cash.
People will stop you on the street and ask if their kid can take a picture with you.
If ever you are offered a ride in a rickshaw by an Indian man named "Bob," the answer is always yes. Just bee sure to have some extra time allotted, as he will want to take you around half of India. Also, he will probably want to take you home to meet his wife and 3 children - just be stern, call him James Bond, and all will be fine.
If you use the bathroom on a train, it goes straight onto the tracks outside. Therefore - never walk on the tracks.
Also, while on trains: if you're leaning out the train and feel moisture, it's probably not water.
Always ride in a vehicle with tinted windows, otherwise you will gain unwanted attention from Indian men and beggars.
When you see a sign that says "TO LET," it's not "TOILET" misspelled. This will save major disappointment in an emergency.
"TO LET" means "for rent."
When asked if you want another portion of rice, it doesn't matter what you say. They give it to you anyways.
Green chili peppers will make yo9u cry.
Any public place can become a public bathroom.
If you shake the hand of a child, or take their picture, be prepared to do the same for about 500 more children - who will mob you.
Everybody in India eats with their hands. Some people shouldn't.

Dominican singers

2009-06-02T06:05:00.000-07:00

During our travels we have experienced many climates, people, and events but this week we encountered something completely new. While preparing for church the older kids at the home came to us and asked if we would like to go with them to a concert. Of course we were up for it, I mean who doesn’t like concerts?

We left the home as one huge group, walked a little, then separated into cabs. We of course were the fun car and had a dance party in the back of the cab. When we were dropped off we found ourselves in front of a very loud bar….we thought, “hmm this is interesting. I am not sure this is oru approved.” luckily…it was not our final destination.

We continued on our quest through several blocks of neighborhood, walked by the YMCA then through a dark wooded park. Then we saw the spotlights and knew that we had reached our glorious destination. We entered and immediately ran to our seats. Everyone was so excited!

The concert itself was comprised of several Christain artists from the Dominican Republic. It was a great time of fellowship, worship and dancing. We did not leave until 1:30 a.m. which was very late for us because we have typically been going to bed at like 10 p.m.

Having a blast…..Team Awesome Amazing Americas out!

days gone by...

2009-06-01T11:38:00.000-07:00

Team Dominican Republic has 8 members, 1 boy and 7 girls. They are basically three separate missions teams that were combined into one.

Three of their members work at a hospital here called Cure International. They have been observing surgeries, helping patients and doing any other odd jobs that need to be done around the hospital.

The remaining four girls work at a school called Biblo in the mornings. Most of the kids at the home go to this school. They have been teaching English and helping teachers in the classrooms. In the afternoons they come back to the home, eat lunch, play with the kids and teach additional English classes to the kids that wish to learn more.

The sole boy of the group also stays at a separate location. Many times, he comes to the home in the morning and works in the office doing accounting work for World Vision.

In the mornings each various group separates and they are not together again until around 4:00 p.m. Their evenings generally consist of church or playing with the children.

It has been interesting to try to get all of the footage that we need. We pretty much decided on a divide and conquer tactic. The boys got the footage of the hospital and we both separately went to the school to get interviews and shoot. We have been very busy during our time in the Dominican Republic.

More to come….Team Awesome Amazing Americas out!

on the road again...

2009-06-01T11:36:00.000-07:00

After our final crusade in Guyana it was time to hit the road yet again. We left for the airport around 11 p.m. Once we arrived, we still had two hours until we were allowed to check our bags and get tickets for our 5:30 a.m. flight. We spent several hours sitting in the van awaiting the time when we could venture into the airport. Once the time had come we unloaded, went through security and boarded our flight.

We arrived in Trinidad for several hours and then it was on to American soil. Our layover in Miami was a much-needed break from all of the newness we had been experiencing. We were in a familiar environment and could easily understand what was being said around us. We spent our time calling friends and family as well as stocking up on magazines, eating pizza and making a starbucks run. After several flight delays we were finally off to Santo Domingo. Upon arrival we were picked up at the airport and taken to the orphanage, or home as we call it, that we were staying at.

This segment of our journey has different from the rest because our team had to separate for the week. We still see the guys during the daytime, but at night and in the mornings they stay at another location. Let you know more later….

Team Awesome Amazing Americas out!

crusades....

2009-06-01T07:56:00.000-07:00

The spiritual setting in Guyana is intense and you can feel the warfare that goes on for the souls of the people. The team has been working with many Hindus and has been praying, along with members of the church, that God will use them to change lives. God has honored the supplications of his people and the team has been having a significant impact on the people that attend their meetings.

Below is a list of some of the awesome things that God has been doing at their meetings!
Healings
Deliverance from addictions
Deliverance from demons
Salvations
Speaking in Tongues
Renewed Faith
Encouragement for believers

feed the children

2009-06-01T07:49:00.000-07:00

When we arrived back in Corriverton our time was primarily devoted to crusades and children’s ministry. One of our favorite activities was visiting a section of government housing known as 77 to have children’s church.

We arrived at the church building and found that many children were already waiting inside for the team. As they walked to the front we watched the kids excitedly come up to give them hugs and talk. While they were preparing, the kids kept pouring into the building. When all was said and done there were 74 children there, which was an attendance record.

Once the team started church they sang bible songs, did dances and gave their message by means of a very entertaining skit. It was fun to watch the kid’s faces as they interacted with the team. We were able to see the joy that they found in a hug, the enthusiasm with which they danced the chicken dance and the sudden understanding of the fact that God loves them and can use them no matter how small or young they are.

After the service it was time for a surprise. The church had gotten box dinners containing a healthy meal of rice and vegetables for each child. There were even many leftover dinners that children got to take home to their families.

It is easy to see that this is kingdom.
Team Awesome Amazing Americas out!

Animal Life

2009-05-29T14:34:00.000-07:00

Animals we have seen in Guyana….in order from ferociousness….

4. McCaw’s—we saw some beautiful ones resting in a tree while in Orealla.

3. Jaguar—while traveling up the river to Orealla we stumbled upon a jaguar that was swimming across the river. Our captain turned the boat around and circled it several times. We got so close that Bekah and I were able to look at it directly in the eyes!

2. Tarantulas—while at the church in Orealla we discovered several of them walking on the ceiling and walls….scary!!!!

1. Killer Moth—while staying in our home in Corriverton a huge moth flew in our window…..we’re talking larger than a small bird! Anyways we had to fight quite the battle to get it out of our house (tripods were definitely involved)

Guyana arrival and river trip

2009-05-29T13:22:00.000-07:00

When we left to come to Guyana, we did not know what to expect. We had heard several things about the country that had made us wonder if we would be able to get suitable footage, but upon arrival we realize that people were fine with the presence of our cameras. We faced a different problem: bad lighting. Most of the buildings were barely lit, and many of the meetings that the team participated in were at night. This made it very difficult to film, but we were still able to get some wonderful footage.

When we arrived at the airport we were met by two church members. We discovered that they had driven five hours just to pick us up. Our flight had gotten in very late, so we did not reach Corriverton until 5:30 in the morning. Once we arrived, we crashed for about two hours before we were up again to prepare for the river trip.

Our driver, who ironically was named Ken, picked us up at 8 a.m. We were taken to the team house and were enthusiastically welcomed. After breakfast we left for the dock. Our ride was a fishing boat with two motors attached. We traveled at a pretty fast pace up the river for about 2.5 hours until we arrived at our first destination, Orealla, Guyana.

Upon arrival we rested for a short while and then went exploring. Our guide, pastor John, took us to the highest point inOrealla. Here we were able to overlook the entire village and see the slowly flowing waters of the river. We also went to many of the homes in the village and were able to meet the people. One interesting fact that we discovered is that most of the pineapples in Guyana come from Orealla.

We had two services on our trip. One in Orealla and the other in Apoera, Suriname. God showed up in a powerful way in both of these services and hearts were changed. The people of Guyana are so hungry to learn about God. We can’t wait to see what God has in store for the crusades over the next several days!

Team Awesome Amazing Americas out.

Trinidad Adventures

2009-05-29T13:21:00.000-07:00

While on our way to Guyana, we made a pit stop in Trinidad. Our layover was about eight hours long, so we decided to try to venture out from the airport and find a beach. We met a wonderful taxi driver named Ken who informed us that the best beach was an hour away, but well worth the drive. After a unanimous vote we loaded our stuff into the cab and embarked on another team adventure.

As we drove through the city, we were able to see much of the local scenery. The houses were wooden and many stood on stilts. People and dogs lined the streets that we drove through. After leaving the city, we began our drive through the mountains. The lush forest was breathtaking! As we climbed higher and neared the top we started seeing streams that originated from springs that were located at the very top of the mountain.

Ken took great pleasure in sharing local history with us and we made several stops to enrich our knowledge of the culture. The first stop was at a cocoa farm. We saw the cocoa pods and learned the process that they go through in order to become chocolate. The next stop was a scenic view in the mountains that overlooked the ocean. We found ourselves particularly enthralled by an island not far from the shore that closely resembled a sea turtle. Our final stop was at a local food stand. We got some spiced pineapple, which was amazing!

After our hour-long drive we were thrilled to arrive at the beach! We changed into swimming suites and were off to enjoy the water. We had the time of our lives playing in the waves and talking with the people that we met. Our beach time lasted for about three hours and then it was time to go….so it was back to the airport and then to Guyana.

Who knows what adventures are to come.

Team Awesome Amazing Americas out.

Leaving Suriname-Getting the Shot- Carrying the "Worlds Best Natural Laxitive" with us

2009-05-29T12:01:00.000-07:00

Media Team Jumped the Border into Apoera, Suriname

2009-05-29T11:57:00.000-07:00

Children of Guyana

2009-05-29T11:52:00.000-07:00

More of Orealla

2009-05-29T11:49:00.000-07:00

Tropical Town of Orealla, Guyana

2009-05-29T11:45:00.000-07:00

Getting into Guyana and Going Upstream

2009-05-29T11:27:00.000-07:00

Day Long Layover in Trinidad- Terrible!

2009-05-29T11:22:00.000-07:00

//The Heart That Beats

2009-05-28T13:34:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,
Foremost we would like to say thank you to all who faithfully check our blog-page. We pray and think of you often. Sorry for the delay - much has happened since we’ve last updated you. From the power surges, commutes lasting several hours either way, along with the ministry opportunities little time has been available to devote to this blog as we should. Needless to say the Internet has become a precious commodity as of late.
To distinguish from the other team, we are now Team Asian Sensation.
We are officially two weeks into our trip and already we have seen the heart of God for the people of India, witnessed signs and wonders and the promise of hope in the eyes of those in need. After becoming accustomed to our surroundings and Team India, with whom we were staying, we began our work documenting the fruits of their ministry, as well as the continued, and many times unnoticed efforts of the local pastors, missionaries, and members of political office. It took us some time to develop a Polaroid of the message we were to record; being the first media team there was no organized agenda but to observe and witness the hand of God through the eye of a lens and follow the Spirit’s leading. Initially the common struggle we faced was identifying: what does the heart of God beat for? Children without proper medical treatment or shoes, women helpless to free themselves from the bondage of prostitution, families that walk from 5 kilometers around to fill a pitcher of water from the nearest well: all of these are no mystery. We have only to turn on the television to witness the devastation of hunger and disease and poverty, but how are the children of God responding? It is this question that our media team has sought to answer. If we are, as commanded by Christ, to reach the darkest corners and to become humbled before “the least of these” – in worship, we also have a responsibility to show the sustained growth of the gospel’s harvest; for the encouragement of the body of Christ as well as for the further proliferation of its message.
In the days that followed our arrival we had the opportunity to visit multiple slums, a prostitute village, HIV AIDS facilities, local youth groups, prayer meetings, etc. At the slums the children received gift boxes through Operation Blessing, each containing items such as pencils, lip balm, shoes and books written in the native Telegu were distributed. At the prostitute village we ministered alongside Team India in demonstrating the love of Christ and illuminated their understanding of self-worth as seen through His eyes. Every night we would debrief the day’s happenings, pray for guidance and intercede on behalf of the other missions’ teams. Several of us would sleep atop the roof as the guesthouse where we staying had no AC but for the multiple ceiling fans that would operate at all hours of the day. The sun rises early in India, and our host Nilu would awake and prepare the morning meal – customarily rice and curry – altogether singing and worshipping God. She was such a blessing. Through her example, as well as the example of Vicky her son, and Vashal we understood that being Christian, in this country was more than a choice of allegiance to one particular faith; in her words Christ was life, the consuming passion of her devotion – her husband, redeemer and friend. In India, one cannot afford to be lukewarm; God is everything or He is nothing at all.
To speak of the country, India is a state flourishing in its economic wealth and rich in its heritage, the people are composed with great dignity, regardless of the caste (social class) to which they are a part. Cities are crowded; the roads serpentine and unregulated; an unfinished mecca set against a sun merciless in its heat. Trash burns in heaps outside people’s homes and openly in the streets as the government struggles to meet the demands of a continued populous increase. Nonetheless Christianity, a recognized minority in politics and in inhabitants, has cultivated a widespread influence in the local communities, among the poor, and in the houses of government. The incumbent Prime Minister also is sympathetic to the gospel and is promising much to help the minorities whether Christian, Muslim, etc.
With all that said, we as a team are still in India, though we are preparing to leave for Beijing in the morning. Continue to pray for us; chiefly for the work that is being done here, the country and its people. A few paragraphs could not begin to suitably describe the magnanimity of their hearts and the panorama of their undertaking. If nothing else, from this experience I personally have come to affirm that a smile is indeed universal, and that the language of love and kindness – whether attributed to God or to the social conscious of brotherhood – knows no barriers it cannot overcome or suppress. Through these doors of opportunity we have entertained the company of prostitutes, members of Congress, persons of the Muslim and Hindu communities, and have been able to share the gospel through our godly example, humble servitude and the testimony of our mouths to the greatness of the Father’s love.

travel...

2009-05-26T09:26:00.000-07:00

Travelling is always fun…but while on the road we have discovered a few things that you may want double check or avoid.

6. Avoid trying to board planes while the airport is testing their fire alarm system.
5. Avoid making the entire plane wait for you to board.
4. Avoid forgetting to recheck your baggage through customs when entering a new country and changing airlines.
3. Always check and double check which gate you are supposed to be at because sometimes they change without warning or notification.
2. Avoid men at Venezuelan airports named Giudo Ratfink. They will “help” you by giving you bogus luggage fees.
1. Avoid hearing your name over the loudspeaker in an airport when you cannot understand what is being said afterwards….

If you follow the above advice, then you will be able to avoid some of the funny and at times frustrating circumstances that we have found ourselves in. Thankfully, we serve a faithful God that has helped us come through all of them without any major issues!

Team Awesome Amazing Astounding Americas Out!

8 hours in Bangkok is LIVE...finally...

2009-05-23T10:28:00.000-07:00

Goodbye Brazil....hello Guyana!!

2009-05-20T08:17:00.000-07:00

Hey all!
We have had an amazing time in Brazil. It has been a privilege to meet all of the loving people and experience their culture. Today we must say goodbye and go to the next part of our journey. We leave for the bus station in about 20 minutes where we will drive to Brasilia. From there we will fly to Manaus, Brazil then Caracas, Venezuela, Trinidad and our next destination Georgetown, Guyana.

We are not completely sure what to expect in Guyana. It is a Muslim nation populated largely by Indian people. We do not know if we will have Internet access, so we may not be able to update.

Thanks to all of you who are praying…and please continue. Here are some prayer points for our stay in Guyana.
safe travel
health
equipment working
spiritual warfare
salvation for the people of Guyana
openness to the Holy Spirit

Make sure to check out the YouTube video of our time in Brazil http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=my3p5ZKUlW0

Team Awesome Amazing Americas out!!!

Ministry

2009-05-19T04:29:00.000-07:00

Team awesome amazing Americas has been extremely busy over the past several days. Our first full day of ministry was on May 14, 2009 and it included three separate ministry sites. We started out going to a daycare for children ages 0-6. It was so fun to get to hang out with the children! We got some amazing footage of the dance team and ourselves loving on the kids.
Our second stop of the day was at an English school which mainly had middle school aged children. There the dance team performed and visited classrooms to speak English with the students. They were very curious why the dance team was visiting them and asked many questions. This provided the perfect opportunity for members to share about their faith in God.
The final stop of the day was at a military high school. This was a test of our faith because we were very nervous about how the students would react. Thankfully, we serve a faithful God and they ended up being our most enthusiastic crowd of the day. Afterwards there were several students that came up to tell members of the dance team about how they had been touched or felt God’s presence during the performance. It was so encouraging to hear these testimonies!

God is Good.
Team Awesome Amazing Americas out!

The Neighborhood, The People, Us.

2009-05-17T22:48:00.000-07:00

Ministry

2009-05-17T22:45:00.000-07:00

Headquarters and Ministry

2009-05-17T22:42:00.000-07:00

Photo Set 2 Travel and Arrival in Anápolis, Brazil

2009-05-17T22:39:00.000-07:00

Travel and Arrival in Anápolis, Brazil

2009-05-17T22:34:00.000-07:00

how we got from there to here

2009-05-16T01:43:00.000-07:00

There have been many notable events since last we updated you, our dear friends and readers, of our progress in travel. However, to dissipate any anxiety, I will cut to the chase and inform you that we have arrived safely and with all of our luggage and gear intact in Hyderabad. We were met at the airport and courteously escorted to the guest house where we will spend our time with the ORU India team, who have been extraordinarily gracious in accepting us into their routine. Today we head out with them to minister. Our expectations are high, but we're also a little bit nervous; the initial traveling is done, and we are beginning to do what we've been thinking about and preparing for over the last several months. The gear that was bought at such a long process, the countless hours of figuring out logistics, the attempts at explanation to family and friends, the selection of the team and process of choosing locations...investments and initiatives on end have finally found their purpose. So that's a bit intimidating – in the best sense.
Now to how we've gotten here – apparently getting to where you're going can be just as much of a test/adventure as what you do once you've gotten there. Our last update got you to Minneapolis, which was our last stop before departing and heading out to India (via Tokyo and Bangkok). For an international, trans-oceanic flight, it was fairly uneventful. Our arrival in Tokyo was late by several minutes, but the real delay came when we were asked to remain in our seats until the “Quarantine Inspection” was completed. When the plane doors opened, about 15 people with full medical/sterile garb came on board and proceeded to measure everyone's temperature with (what we presume was) an infrared camera and ask about our immediate medical history. We passed the inspection with flying colors; however, the delay meant that we had approximately 30 minutes to get on board our plane to Bangkok – fortunately, we were not the only ones delayed and we arrived at our gate in time to board. The flight to Bangkok was, again, mostly uneventful; however, we were requested to fill out yet another quarantine form.
Bangkok signaled the beginning of our adventure travel. Because our tickets from Bangkok to New Delhi had been purchased separately from our other tickets, we found out that we had to go through immigration, get our bags, leave the secure area, and then check in again through the main counters. Which wouldn't have been a huge problem, except for one thing: it was 1am, and the check-in counters didn't open until 5:00. Starbucks became our good friend as we waited out the hours at one of their tables. Before checking in the second time, we made a quick video to update you all on what we'd been up to. Hopefully that will be uploaded soon.After Bangkok came New Delhi. Our arrival in Delhi signaled that the end was in sight – we were actually in our country of destination. However, the most interesting part of our travel was yet ahead. The plan stated that we were to purchase a SIM card at the airport, call our contacts, figure out our precise destination, go to the train station, purchase our tickets, and board a train which would, after 22 hours, get us to Hyderabad. This plan was complicated by the fact that 1) you have to have a local Delhi address to get a SIM card and 2) the contacts' phone numbers wouldn't work at the phone booth. One of the workers at the phone stand advised us to wait a few minutes and try the numbers again. We took his advice, and used the time to eat a quick lunch. By the grace of God, we were finally able to reach our contacts, and then proceeded to get to the train station and purchase tickets. Upon our arrival at the station, we found that there were no trains until Monday. This was Thursday afternoon. So, after a long discussion with an Indian travel agent, far too many calls to the states (where it was 2:30am), and quite a bit of unexpected cost, we ended up with a hotel for the night and 4 tickets on Spicejet Airlines departing at 6:15 am for Hyderabad.
On the third try, our taxi driver finally got us to the correct hotel. We moved in and quickly fell asleep – for several hours. At around 6:30, we were able to wake up sufficiently to get to dinner. Debriefing was fairly short, followed by a time of prayer and then more much-needed sleep. Check-out was at 4:20am. We loaded up the cab and headed to the airport. By 5:00 we had unloaded at the airport and said goodbye to our taxi driver. Soon thereafter, we realized that we were at the wrong airport. New Delhi has two airports – one for domestic flights and one for international flights. Our driver had dropped us off at the international airport, and so even though the domestic terminal was within sight, it took us another 20 minute cab drive to get to the correct terminal, giving us approximately 35 minutes before the plane took off. A few divine connections and baggage inspections later, we boarded the plane 5 minutes before it was set to take off.
Spicejet airways does not give free food. However, they do hand out bottled water before the plane takes off, so we had a decently pleasant flight from New Delhi to Hyderabad. The entire team felt a tremendous sense of relief that we had, in fact, made it onto our flight and were on the last leg of the first part of our trip. This relief turned into absolute joy when we were met at the airport by our contacts and we heard the familiar sounds of ORU Music Ministries playing in the car. We were treated to an amazing, home-cooked lunch on our arrival at the guest house where we are staying with the India team. After an afternoon nap, we greeted the other team as they arrived back at the house from a long day and the headed out to tour Hyderabad. Even though we've only been here for a few days, we feel that we have seen an immense amount of Indian culture and society.
Today we head out for our first “real” day of shooting, and hopefully we'll be able to get a feel of what the rest of this trip will be like. The team is heading out to minister and we are tagging along.
That brings us to right now – I'm writing this while I'm sitting in the car and driving to our first ministry site with the India team. Please continue to pray for us as we minister to and with them, not interfering with but rather enhancing the effectiveness of their ministry and the work that God is doing in this place.
Team Asia is signing off for now :)

It´s culture baby!

2009-05-15T15:03:00.000-07:00

This is team awesome amazing Americas signing in for yet another blog update. During our short time here, we have discovered the flavor of the Brazilian culture. It is a little different from what we are used to, but we are adapting brilliantly. Our contacts are teaching us Portuguese phrases, making us tons of wonderful Brazilian food and making sure we know how to act in public. Luckily we have had no faux pas!
Here are some of the things that we have learned about the Brazilian culture.
1. They eat 5 meals a day
2. They consider it extremely rude to slam car doors
3. They eat everything with a knife and fork…and we mean everything
4. They do not put toilet paper in the toilet; they put it in trash cans
5. The okay sign in English is the equivalent of the finger in Brazilian
Here are the teams favorite things about the Brazil portion of our trip so far.
“I like pilfering small items from the other team members. I have always wanted to do that, and now I finally have the chance. I sometimes wear or use the things I use in front of the people I pilfered from to see if they realize that I have it. I also like how loving people are down here.”
Bekah Brown
“I love the weather, the lack of bugs and how they drive.”
Tim Wilson
“I enjoy the hospitality and I am excited about the Christian culture because it is different then the states.”
Tripp Hipple
“I like pilfering back the items that were stolen by Bekah Brown, meeting the friendly people and eating 5 times a day.”
Carissa Hon

That’s all for now!
Team Awesome Amazing Americas out!

Pictures on the way to Brazil

2009-05-14T15:38:00.000-07:00

Awesome Americas Arrives at Anápolis

2009-05-14T09:07:00.000-07:00

Team Awesome Americas, which consists of Tripp Hipple, Bekah Brown, Tim Wilson and Carissa Hon, departed ORU on their epic journey May 11, 2009. We began with a ride to the Tulsa airport where we checked in and headed for security. There we had to say goodbye to the other half of the media team. It was a little sad to leave those we had become close with over the past several months, but our hearts were willing because we believe that our teams are going to shoot amazing footage for the advancement of God’s kingdom.

After clearing security, we got dinner and then headed to our gate. We had heard that Chancellor Oral Roberts was going to be on our flight and were excited at the possibility of meeting or speaking with him. Once we arrived at our gate we saw that he was indeed on our flight. Our fearless leader Tripp asked if he would be willing to pray for us and he accepted. It was an amazing to begin our trip with a prayer from the very person that began the ORU missions program. We will try to upload the video soon!

After that it was goodbye Tulsa hello Dallas. We filled our time there with last minute calls to family, friends and fiancés. Then it was time to board for the long flight. It took about 10 hours for us to arrive in Sao Paul, Brazil. Upon arrival we were eager to explore and spent several hours walking around the airport, trying to see glimpses of the city.

We then flew to Brasilia, and were taken to the bus station to begin a three hour trek to Annapolis, Brazil (our final destination). Upon arrival, we were picked up by one of our contacts named Gustavo and taken to the house that we would be staying at. We were met by warm welcomes from the dance team and our contacts and home made food.

Once we had food in our stomachs we were more apt to take in our surroundings. The house is beautiful! There is a brick courtyard with a pool for swimming and an open dining room and kitchen attached. All of the doors and windows to the house are open to let in the fresh air. It has marble floors and is decorated with colorful couches and paintings. There is even a mattress for each person to sleep on! We are so thankful for the gracious hospitality that has been offered to us so far on our journey and we cannot wait to see what things God has in store for us!

Until next time,

Team Awesome Americas is out.

6 hours in Minneapolis

2009-05-12T11:15:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when you give the media team a 6 hour layover...coffee, bagels, and lots of random photos. Also a superfluous amount of AWESOME.

...and so it begins!

2009-05-11T23:49:00.000-07:00

We said goodbye to the Americas group early this afternoon, and since then it has felt like a part of our team is missing. As they traveled to Dallas and then boarded the plane for Brazil, we continued packing and tying up loose ends in Tulsa. Side note: if you're ever planning a media project, allow yourself about 2 extra months and 40% extra cash.

One really cool highlight from our day was seeing Chancellor Roberts at the airport. He just happened to be flying aboard the same plane as the Americas team, and so they were able to talk to him and get him to pray over them and their trip. That's a pretty awesome way to start a new endeavor, if you ask me.

It is a little bit awe-inspiring to think about the significance of what we're doing - not just in being the first media team from ORU, not just in bringing back a tangible representation of what our teams are doing in the field, but capturing God's heart for the nations and for this generation. With that in mind, we embark tomorrow (today?) at 4:45 from ORU and fly out of Tulsa at 7:10. From their, our route takes us through Minneapolis to Tokyo, from Tokyo to Bangcok, an eight-hour layover, and then into New Delhi. Hopefully we'll get to update from there.

Thank you all for your prayers and support - they are much appreciated and still needed! We love you so much and will be thinking of you as we travel. Americas - we already miss you! Have fun on all those beaches - and we'll be sure to update you from India and the Taj Mahal ;o)

~Susan

Thank you!

2009-02-10T07:26:00.000-08:00

Thank you all - we have officially raised all of the money for the 50% deadline, and that means - thanks to the grant that the international development trips received - we have all of the funds for our trip! God is awesome! Our leaders are currently working with the missions and media departments here to finalize our travel plans. Please continue to pray for us as we prepare the logistics and our hearts for this trip. We believe that this is a Divinely orchestrated opportunity to present the message of the Kingdom with excellence and develop the talents that God has given us. Thank you again for helping us get this far - please continue to keep us in your prayers!

50% Deadline!

2009-02-04T16:50:00.000-08:00

Hello all,

Just a quick reminder that the 50% deadline is THIS MONDAY at 5:00pm CST. Since we're an international development team, every dollar that you give will be DOUBLED by a grant that the missions office received from an anonymous donor. So, if you would like to give, now is the time! Also, please keep our team in prayer as important decisions are being made about how we can best serve the vision of the Kingdom and of the ORU missions program. God is moving, and we're excited to be a part of His work in the earth!

P.S.:
Online donations can be given here.

Welcome!

2008-12-28T21:35:00.000-08:00

Media and missions coming together to portray God's perspective to the world, engaging imaginations and capturing hearts for the Kingdom of Heaven.

What does that look like?

Media is a powerful force in shaping cultures. While most people would acknowledge that fact, few would be able to clearly state exactly how or why media shape society's behaviors and even worldviews. I believe it is because media presents a unique ability to engage imagination and stir desire. Whether it is a chorus that gets stuck in your head, a plot twist in a movie that captures your curiosity, or a photograph that even momentarily arrests your attention, media has succeeded in changing what you think about. Right now, your attention is a commodity that CEOs, journalists, advertisers, producers, musicians, artists, writers, and journalists are all vying for. They pay hefty sums to find out exactly what you want to see, in hopes that they can associate themselves with a message you've already accepted. Then, with varying degrees of success, they slip in their own message. Sometimes it's a product or a service that you're urged to buy. Other times it's an opinion, a cause, a lifestyle, an event, or any number of things.

But we believe we have a superior message.

We believe that the lifestyle of the Kingdom is the only one that truly fulfills and satisfies the desires of the human heart.

We believe that media can form a common frame of reference and a shared experience that allows people across the globe to form communities for the glory of God.

We believe that the power that audiovisual media wields must be wielded by those who are wholly submitted to the lordship of Jesus Christ, otherwise it holds great potential for harm.

We believe that technology is yet another tool in our arsenal that can be used to promote justice, righteousness, and peace, touching the world with the good news of Jesus Christ.

That is why we're going. Because people need to see, hear, and know the message of the Gospel.

"And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?" ~Romans 10:14