ARRIVAL!

After many planning meetings, switches in the itinerary, visa problems (and miracles!) a new ministry experiment began when six young people and two adult leaders reversed the usual ministry flow and brought Trinidad here to the United States.

Our ministry friends at the House of God in Trinidad sent eight of their most promising for leadership training and service projects in the Green Bay area.

Our two fold goal was to help fill a leadership gap for the House of God and to spread the infectious joy of Trinidad to a wider group of new ministry partners in the States.

Welcome Merlene, Ricky, Daniel, Richy, Mark, Alicia, Pricilla, and Christie.

INTRODUCTION TO THE NORTH WOODS

The first few days in Wisconsin were dedicated to cultural exchanges and getting used to what life in the States is like.

Lake Lundgren is a Christian youth camp in northern Wisconsin. They helped to feed and house our guests for a few nights and our guests helped Lundgren get ready for their winter shutdown.

Later in the week, more than one of the kids said seeing such an organized camp was encouraging and something that stirred a new vision for what could be done back home in the Caribbean.

THIS IS DIFFERENT

Trading palm trees for pine trees and mangos for pinecones is one thing, but these cold autumn days are not welcome!

In spite of the perfectly sunny 70° days, sweaters and hoods were in high demand. Note for future hosts: stock lots of extra hot chocolate (we mean lots!)

The Trinis did beat the cold and left a good impression on the Lundgren staff. The goodwill generated (and the tree they planted) will hopefully grow into another interesting ministry opportunity for all of us.

CULTURE CLASH ?!

If you are going to learn the culture of the Green Bay area you must meet representatives of the Catholic church. Father Guy of St. John's was just the man for the job.

It's surprising how much can be learned and how many preconceptions can be cleared up just by talking. Would evangelical protestants and Catholics get along? Was there something to be learned by both? Yes!

Crossing cultures, both physically and mentally presented new knowledge and some new insights that will inform the future ministry of these young people.

Thanks for your hospitality Father Guy.

DOWN TO BUSINESS

Since meeting the House of God in 1997, the call for leadership development has been their constant theme.

After settling into Green Bay culture, a daily schedule of classroom sessions with small group discussions and personal journaling time was our answer to that need.

Several pastors and ministry leaders from around the area gave their time to teach leadership tools, character lessons, channeling personal passions and discovering ministry skills.

Many thanks to Kurt, Johnny, Matt, James, Sheldon, and Tony.

SERVICE PROJECTS

After lunch each day, the team performed a variety of service projects. Not only did this give the team a shared experience that builds team history, they also demonstrated a practical faith that gets out of the church box and into the wider world.

Their service included a wide range of activities including, help at a local homeless shelter, volunteering at Paul's Pantry food center, trash pickup in the DePere business district, even washing the cars of the DePere Police Department.

TIME WITH THE HOSTS

Each evening, before going back to their host families' homes, the team was fed by many volunteers who introduced them to all sorts of exotic American experiences.

A hayride in the country, chili with macaroni, brats, cheese curds, even sloppy joes, made lasting impressions on the team.

Many many thanks go to the Swansons, Larsons, Stuckerts, Richardsons, Rays, Mentzels, Nachtweys and Bertagnolis.

MEDIA ATTENTION

The Green Bay Press Gazette sent a reporter to the classroom early in the week to do a story on the missionaries in town.

They did a nice article and gave the team a treat by having their names (and pictures!) large and above the fold of the Local section.

You can read the article by clicking here.

MINISTRY THROUGH SONG AND DANCE

We usually don't see a lot of interpretive dance in church, but it's quite a thing in Trinidad.

On several evenings the team participated in local youth meetings or regular church events where they performed songs and dance routines.

Often our teams going to Trinidad comment on how enthusiastic the Sunday services are, especially the song times. Trinidad takes to heart the psalmist's call to
"... praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp."

THE WORK THAT LASTS

We realize that classroom sessions and service projects are only the smallest tip of the iceberg when trying to help a church or change a city, but what is easy to see is that lasting impressions and warm feelings for fellow workers remains long after the projects are over.

So many people wanted more of our Trinidad friends and so many new ideas sprung from this week's experiment that it seems obvious that we will see many more years of Trinidad in the States.

Our prayer is that the same enthusiasm that comes home with our teams will now go back to Trinidad for many years of good news and good works by new leaders for the House of God Ministries.