We made it back home safely!! Patty and I made it back home safely this morning -- arriving at RDU about 9:30 this morning. No problems flying, except Patty was not able to sleep much on the long flight from Santiago. Its a really long way -- about 12 hrs flying time.
Really tired now, this would be a good time to take a nap. But we're back and everyone is well.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Tuesday update
Last evening, we did get a quick site seeing trip out of Mendoza city into the countryside. We were amazed that as soon as we got out of the irrigated city, the terrain was as dry as Arizona. We drove up the road that crosses the Andes and goes into Chile. We reached the beginning of the Andes mountains, and could see many peaks that were snow covered, yet it was 80 F where we were. Along the way we passed dozens of vineyards. I'll post more pictures online so you can see.
We also had a very nice dinner at one of their traditional parillas -- which is grilled beef (ribs, sausage, rib eye, filet mignon....). If you like beef, you can't beat the food here. On the drive over we were listening to David Crowder sing "I Saw the Light". (Funny to be listening to Bluegrass 5,000 miles from home).
Now we are packing, preparing to head to the airport. Our plane leaves Mendoza this afternoon around 7:00pm. We fly all night and should be back at RDU around 9:00 AM tomorrow. So my next post should be from Johnston County. We can't wait to see our children, and sleep in our beds!
We also had a very nice dinner at one of their traditional parillas -- which is grilled beef (ribs, sausage, rib eye, filet mignon....). If you like beef, you can't beat the food here. On the drive over we were listening to David Crowder sing "I Saw the Light". (Funny to be listening to Bluegrass 5,000 miles from home).
Now we are packing, preparing to head to the airport. Our plane leaves Mendoza this afternoon around 7:00pm. We fly all night and should be back at RDU around 9:00 AM tomorrow. So my next post should be from Johnston County. We can't wait to see our children, and sleep in our beds!
Monday, November 17, 2008
More for Monday
I realized I had failed to identify two of the people in our pictures, Cristian Mikkan and his wife Cintia. Cristian and Cintia are both members of the Equip council, and have worked hard with the team to make these conferences successful. Cristian was also designated as the liason to me and Equip headquarters. So they have been the ones to shuttle us around and take us out to eat. They have been enormously kind to us-- we really couldn't have asked for nicer hosts. Patty and I really appreciate their generosity and friendship.
We're posting more pictures online today. Latest weather report: sunny, with high of 90 F. (Sigh, wish we could bring the weather home with us).
We're posting more pictures online today. Latest weather report: sunny, with high of 90 F. (Sigh, wish we could bring the weather home with us).
Monday update
Wanted to give everyone an update. Our Internet connection was down all day yesterday , so that hampered our communication for a day. But, we have discovered that my Vonage soft phone works great from here. YES! That means (if its working) we can now call home for free. But only works from my laptop, so we can only do in the hotel room. We did call home and learned that Rachel has been sick. She is getting better by this morning. But it is really hard to be this far away while your children are sick. We really miss Aaron and Rachel terribly, and really look forward to getting home to see them.
Even though our camera was stolen, we were fortunate to borrow a camera for part of our trip. So we have posted pictures online at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/ray.honeycutt/MendozaNov08#
We attended church services with Pastor Juan Carlos last evening. Most churches here have services at night. Juan Carlos leads the Equip council for Mendoza, so he and his team are responsible for all the logistics and promotion of the conference. They have put in an enormous number of hours, long before I arrive here. His church was also the site of this conference, since it can accommodate large crowds. Their average attendance on Sunday is 500-600.
Today is our site seeing day. We want to pick up a few souvenirs, and hopefully venture out into the region some today. I am not confident to be able to drive in the City here. It would be similar to pulling your car into the middle of a Italian Formula 1 race. Let us just say, they drive aggressively.
Even though our camera was stolen, we were fortunate to borrow a camera for part of our trip. So we have posted pictures online at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/ray.honeycutt/MendozaNov08#
We attended church services with Pastor Juan Carlos last evening. Most churches here have services at night. Juan Carlos leads the Equip council for Mendoza, so he and his team are responsible for all the logistics and promotion of the conference. They have put in an enormous number of hours, long before I arrive here. His church was also the site of this conference, since it can accommodate large crowds. Their average attendance on Sunday is 500-600.
Today is our site seeing day. We want to pick up a few souvenirs, and hopefully venture out into the region some today. I am not confident to be able to drive in the City here. It would be similar to pulling your car into the middle of a Italian Formula 1 race. Let us just say, they drive aggressively.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Sunday morning
Whew! We've been really busy since Friday night. We finished the conference last evening, and everything went very well! Friday night I taught one class on Enduring Tests. Then Saturday I taught sessions on Developing People and Investing our Lives in Others. I think all the sessions were well received. Our translator from last conference was not able to be here, but a long time missionary from the States, Paul Wright translated 2 sessions for me. Paul did a fantastic job.
In my last session we had someone who this was their first time translating. We had just a few bumps in the translation, but it worked out and people received the message well.
This time the conference was in a different facility than last May. This conference was held in the church of Pastor Juan Carlos. Attendance was really good, probably around 500 participants on Saturday. I know that there were people attending from all around the region. Some traveled over a 100 miles to be here. There are churches represented from across many denominations, which I have learned is a big deal in their culture.
Pastor Jorge from Uruguay (who was the trainer from the first conference) was the other trainer with me on this conference. Jorge has now agreed to continue on, and will be training with me at the remaining conferences.
I have more good news: we now have luggage!! Shortly before Friday's conference started, our luggage arrived at the hotel. Yes! Thank you Lord, we can now wear clean clothes. Its funny how being without something can so quickly make you appreciative for it. When they arrived, we were only missing Patty's cosmetic kit (apparently was stolen) but we were so thankful to get clothes we didn't care.
Overall, I think this conference was very successful. I had spent a lot of time in preparation, and in prayer for the conference. I'm glad I was not really nervous at all, which was a real blessing. I'm also starting to hear more of the feedback from the first conference, and that has been truly amazing. I learned that several churches are taking the material and teaching to their leaders within their church (which is the Equip model). But I also learned that at least one church is now offering a seminar to their community (outside their church) and inviting local businesses. Several people indicated to me that this material had been useful within their churches, especially in many areas that we as North Americans take for granted, but where they do not have good role models.
But, the story that touched me the most came since the last conference. The conference team here called many participants to remind them of the dates and invite them to come back. When they called one lady she explained that she came to the first conference, but was not a Christian then. She came because of our topics and was interested in leadership development. But after the conference she came to Christ and got plugged into one of the churches. She is now encouraging others in her church to attend the conference and use what they learned in the church.
I'm really sensing that God is using this program to energize His church in this region, and I count it a privilege to be a part of that.
In my last session we had someone who this was their first time translating. We had just a few bumps in the translation, but it worked out and people received the message well.
This time the conference was in a different facility than last May. This conference was held in the church of Pastor Juan Carlos. Attendance was really good, probably around 500 participants on Saturday. I know that there were people attending from all around the region. Some traveled over a 100 miles to be here. There are churches represented from across many denominations, which I have learned is a big deal in their culture.
Pastor Jorge from Uruguay (who was the trainer from the first conference) was the other trainer with me on this conference. Jorge has now agreed to continue on, and will be training with me at the remaining conferences.
I have more good news: we now have luggage!! Shortly before Friday's conference started, our luggage arrived at the hotel. Yes! Thank you Lord, we can now wear clean clothes. Its funny how being without something can so quickly make you appreciative for it. When they arrived, we were only missing Patty's cosmetic kit (apparently was stolen) but we were so thankful to get clothes we didn't care.
Overall, I think this conference was very successful. I had spent a lot of time in preparation, and in prayer for the conference. I'm glad I was not really nervous at all, which was a real blessing. I'm also starting to hear more of the feedback from the first conference, and that has been truly amazing. I learned that several churches are taking the material and teaching to their leaders within their church (which is the Equip model). But I also learned that at least one church is now offering a seminar to their community (outside their church) and inviting local businesses. Several people indicated to me that this material had been useful within their churches, especially in many areas that we as North Americans take for granted, but where they do not have good role models.
But, the story that touched me the most came since the last conference. The conference team here called many participants to remind them of the dates and invite them to come back. When they called one lady she explained that she came to the first conference, but was not a Christian then. She came because of our topics and was interested in leadership development. But after the conference she came to Christ and got plugged into one of the churches. She is now encouraging others in her church to attend the conference and use what they learned in the church.
I'm really sensing that God is using this program to energize His church in this region, and I count it a privilege to be a part of that.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Friday update
Just a quick update for our blog today. Its a beautiful day in Mendoza. The weather is sunny with a high around 88. If you get out in the direct sun, its a little hot, but the city has huge shade trees everywhere, so its nice and comfortable through out much of the city. On my last trip here, it was late fall and everything was brown and cold. But now they are about to go from Spring to Summer, and everything is green. Still such a crazy contrast to home....
The people are very friendly. Everywhere we've gone people have been very gracious, and accommodate my poor Spanish well. They appreciate us attempting to speak directly with them, even though I sound like someone who failed second grade grammar.
Unfortunately still no luggage. Have called airport several times, but no answer. Sigh, maybe manana. Since we had to have some clothes to get through the conference, Patty and I bought a few things last night and this morning. Aargh, who can understand metric sizes??? I can't convert inches to centimeters in my head. Why didn't I pay more attention during 5th grade math?
Also unfortunately, we won't be having any pictures to post for this trip. Our camera was stolen this morning by a pick pocket as we walked down the street. I'm just glad I had cleared the memory card at home, and saved all the pictures we had made before the trip. Oh well.
So now I'm getting ready for tonight's conference. I start teaching around 8:30. Interestingly enough, my first lesson is on "Enduring Tests". Maybe there is a connection with what we are enduring this trip. I try to remember "All things work together for good" even when all things are not good in themselves.
The people are very friendly. Everywhere we've gone people have been very gracious, and accommodate my poor Spanish well. They appreciate us attempting to speak directly with them, even though I sound like someone who failed second grade grammar.
Unfortunately still no luggage. Have called airport several times, but no answer. Sigh, maybe manana. Since we had to have some clothes to get through the conference, Patty and I bought a few things last night and this morning. Aargh, who can understand metric sizes??? I can't convert inches to centimeters in my head. Why didn't I pay more attention during 5th grade math?
Also unfortunately, we won't be having any pictures to post for this trip. Our camera was stolen this morning by a pick pocket as we walked down the street. I'm just glad I had cleared the memory card at home, and saved all the pictures we had made before the trip. Oh well.
So now I'm getting ready for tonight's conference. I start teaching around 8:30. Interestingly enough, my first lesson is on "Enduring Tests". Maybe there is a connection with what we are enduring this trip. I try to remember "All things work together for good" even when all things are not good in themselves.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
We made is safely!
Patty and I arrived safely in Mendoza today around noon - local time (they are 2 hours ahead of EST). We made it here, but our luggage didn't. Last we heard our luggage is somewhere near Atlanta, and come make it here by tomorrow, or possibly not. But, we have the clothes on our back, and my notes for the Equip conference, so its all good.
We left out of RDU last evening around 6:00. We flew out of the new terminal 2 (not "C"), which is really nice. (There is a 42nd street seafood in the terminal -- good choice). When we changed planes in Atlanta we were running behind schedule, which is why our luggage decided just to stay there. Got really frustrated at Atlanta airport. I've been there literally dozens of times and know the airport, but when we got off the inter-terminal subway all the escalators were going the wrong direction, so we had to walk down to the next set of escalators. When we did that, we emerged just outside the security perimeter, and the TSA guy said, "you've got to go through security again". I should have walked backwards down the escalator. Argh. We just made it onto our plane in time.
The flight to Santiago was fairly smooth, but long (9 1/2 hrs). Patty and I went to sleep somewhere between the Panama canal and Ecuador. Everything else is going smooth. Cristian and Pastor Esteban picked us up at the airport. The conference starts tomorrow (Friday) night, and then all day Saturday. I'm just hoping I don't have to teach in the clothes I've worn for 3 days.....
Will post more, with pictures soon. Thanks for keeping us in your prayers!
We left out of RDU last evening around 6:00. We flew out of the new terminal 2 (not "C"), which is really nice. (There is a 42nd street seafood in the terminal -- good choice). When we changed planes in Atlanta we were running behind schedule, which is why our luggage decided just to stay there. Got really frustrated at Atlanta airport. I've been there literally dozens of times and know the airport, but when we got off the inter-terminal subway all the escalators were going the wrong direction, so we had to walk down to the next set of escalators. When we did that, we emerged just outside the security perimeter, and the TSA guy said, "you've got to go through security again". I should have walked backwards down the escalator. Argh. We just made it onto our plane in time.
The flight to Santiago was fairly smooth, but long (9 1/2 hrs). Patty and I went to sleep somewhere between the Panama canal and Ecuador. Everything else is going smooth. Cristian and Pastor Esteban picked us up at the airport. The conference starts tomorrow (Friday) night, and then all day Saturday. I'm just hoping I don't have to teach in the clothes I've worn for 3 days.....
Will post more, with pictures soon. Thanks for keeping us in your prayers!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Preparing for Trip
Now I'm preparing for the next Equip conference in Mendoza. The conference will be Nov 14-15, 2008. I'm really excited about this conference, and looking forward to what God has in store. Now I'm spending time in preparation and prayer. My real desire is to not only teach the material, but that I would be open to God's leading and teach what He would have.
It will be late Spring/early summer in Mendoza, so I understand it will be hot there (very different climate than last trip). This time Patty is going with me, so I look forward to her getting to experience this with me. I feel very blessed, not only to be a part of this work, but also that Patty and I get to experience it together.
We leave NC on Wed Nov 12. Look forward to more posts around then.
It will be late Spring/early summer in Mendoza, so I understand it will be hot there (very different climate than last trip). This time Patty is going with me, so I look forward to her getting to experience this with me. I feel very blessed, not only to be a part of this work, but also that Patty and I get to experience it together.
We leave NC on Wed Nov 12. Look forward to more posts around then.
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