Travel With Travis

NEW LOCATION

2008-01-04T11:14:00.000-08:00

All my blogging will take place at:

www.callmetravis.com

Boston Wrap Up

2006-08-10T09:05:00.000-07:00

Eight days in East Boston and reading a very challenging book called Irresistible Revolution has got me evaluating my life as a follower of Jesus.

I think we live our lives as "Labeled Christians" but live like most other people. We call ourselves Christians, and we believe in the Christian doctrinal truths, but our living patterns are very different from Jesus and his teachings.

I'm not just talking about sex, drugs, and other sinful behavior...Although we may struggle in these areas as well. I'm talking about living out Jesus in the place we live. Whether we live in Mattoon, Charleston, Springfield MO, Ft. Lauderdale, Boston, or Colombia... we have to live out a life of love and service to people around us. We need to be active in serving and not just do it when someone approaches us for help. Taking the initiative to serve WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

So, after a week of cleaning, talking to people in the park, playing with children, participating in a very diverse church service, helping our team work out life issues, and just being the person God created me to be....I'm ready for change.

I'm ready to be pro-active in a life of service and good deed. I need to be the good Samaritan all the time. I need to love God, love my church community, and love everyone around me.

- - -
SOME MORE PICS

Saturday - Sunday

2006-08-06T20:01:00.000-07:00

The past two days have been great days for team ministry. Saturday was filled with morning prayer stations across the community, a few hours at the beach for a small get-a-way, then a Summer Blast kids outreach in the park in the evening. We have many new families we connected with, many children who had fun and played many games, and many parents who met Pastor Dave and people from the church. All in all....A great day.

Sunday we gathered for church. It was the first time we actually met most of the people who attend Central Assembly. It's an incredible city church. More than 12 countries are represented, every skin color (most of which were different than us) and so many accents it was hard to understand many of the people. Wonderful people. Wonderful experience. Wonderful glimpse of God's Kingdom with such a diverse make up of people.

- - -

BLAST FROM THE PAST.
We were in East Boston in 2000 for the first mission trip I'd even led as a youth pastor. On the trip Jeremy West (for the first time) prayed out loud with someone at the park who had a hurt knee. That week she came to church with us and her knee felt much better. Her name was Rita.

Today I ate lunch next to Rita. She was water baptized a year after our trip. Now, she faithfully attends Central Assembly. When she saw our team and found out we were from mattoon, she immediately asked if Jeremy was with us. I explained he was now a full-time missionary. I called Jeremy on my cell phone and he and Rita talked at lunch. Although Rita had never used a cell phone, the two talked and it was a very cool mission trip moment.

- - -

Tonight we play Uno at the kitchen table. The full week of ministry and experiences have nearly ended. The team has done wonderful. We stuck to our mission statement: We served Pastor Dave and his family, and we served his church and his community. They set the schedule and ministry, we simply stepped in and served to the best of our ability.

It feels good to serve. In fact, we are wired to do good things. God, who lives in us, has designed us to do good. And when we do, we feel good because we have accomplished our purpose God has established. God is good. Our reflection of him should be good. Our actions should be good. And when we do it.... it will feel good.

I saw a Christian t-shirt once.... be the moon, reflect the Light.
I really don't like those type of shirts...but i liked the message.

moon.

pics from the day

2006-08-03T20:02:00.000-07:00

Today was a great day.
-Summer Blast kids outreach
-Prayer Stations
-Joy and Deanna Arrived
-Powerful Team Service late at night

The weather has cooled down....thank you Jesus.

And for the pics....

stuff I've learned so far...

2006-08-02T18:12:00.000-07:00

- Crusty is not a good clown name.
- You can drink 10 bottles of water and not go to the bathroom.
- Hot weather messes with your mind. (Like people crawing around in Pastor Dave's house and walking around out side with 4-inch heel and shorts...Kacy)
- In boston, tonic is pop. But pop is soda. So I have no idea how to order a Diet Coke.
- You can accidentall walk into a stranger's house when passing out flyers.
- Our team doesn't mind playing in fountains with 6-year olds.
- Phil looks good in pink shower sandals. (This is his foot, and he did pull a muscle....and he does wear these at the YMCA for showering.)
- And peanuts do not grow on trees, but underground...according to our AirTran pilot.

EAST BOSTON

2006-08-02T17:46:00.000-07:00

TUESDAY: fourteen of us from church land in Boston. Joy and another team member will arrive on Thursday.

---

WEDNESDAY: The bank digital sign reads 104. A heat advisory has been established in Boston. The mayor has asked everyone to check on their elderly neighbors from time to time throughout the day.

We were going to do a work project, but because of the heat, we are changing directions. We believe bottles of cold water to neighbors is the way to show love to the community. So as I type, we sit in the basement of the church, quite with the echo of circulating fans, and we get ready to share water.

I just have to believe Jesus would give out cold water on a day there is a heat advisory. No loud preaching. No tract distribution. Just a nice bottle of ice cold water to bring refreshing. And through it….may their soul be refreshed as well.

I'm Home

2006-06-28T15:00:00.000-07:00

Getting home and completing the story of a trip is no easy task. After experiencing 11 days of God moments, memories, and incredible situations, it's difficult to sum it up. I'll bullet point a few stories and events.

We distributed approximately 22,000 books to students in Choloma, Honduras.
More than 4,000 people attended our GodMan presentations throughout the week.
We sweat more than 15 hours a day.
We ate at the same buffet 8 times. (the owner was so happy he gave us t-shirts and clocks)
I swam through a cave in the Caribbean Sea.
I watched US students fall in love with missions.
We saw incredible miracles take place in front of us.

Here's A Story from Liz McMahan's xanga http://www.xanga.com/LittlegirlinHiseyes "God had been called upon in that service for salvation, for healings, for repentance, and for the return of a grandson, that had been kidnapped on June 7, the felons requesting millions from the poor family in return. The pastor asked me to pray for them. I have no children of my own, and I didn't even have the words to say, so I remembered in Romans 8:26 to pray in a way that only the Spirit understands. God will hear. For a half of an hour, I prayed with the grandparents of an 11 yr old boy named Richard. I fully expected God to cause those men to carry that young boy through the church doors at that moment. So much so, I kept looking to the entrance. Nothing. After a while, we got off of our knees, stopped crying, and it was as if God said now wait. But the Pastor wanted me to pray more. I was frustrated with God at that moment. We have all authority in heaven, what about the power of Jesus' name? This could not be God's will for that boy to suffer harm. We stopped praying and waited. Nothing. Meanwhile, an old lady asked me to pray for her right leg which was in grave pain. She moved with a walker and cried out it hurt so bad. No wound, just unexplainable pain. God did not heal her then. Why not? I went to bed asking the team to keep praying for Richard and went to bed, not questioning God's power, just asking about His motives for waiting. I couldn't sleep much. The next day we went to the same church, danced and praise God with more energy and when it was all done ( 8 kids scattered around me ) the Pastor said someone had a testimony to tell. He pointed at the Grandparents that were in my row of seats and said that Richard had been found last night!!! I kid you not, I stood up and shouted, "Sweet Jesus, that is so exciting!" Then I sat down because everyone was looking at me. They went up to the front, and started telling how he had been tied up and blind folded to the back of a non moving bus. Someone in the town had found him and returned him to his parents LAST NIGHT!!! They called me and we hugged and cried and praised God more! Amazing, God is simply amazing. He had indeed used His power to return the boy to his parents as we wept for his life.

I thank God for his faithfulness during the entire trip. Again and again I lived in his faithfulness, survived by his faithfulness, and ministered by his faithfulness.

Update# 3 Honduras

2006-06-22T18:09:00.000-07:00

Today was a teacher's strike in Choloma. We could only do three schools. Although a few schools missed out because of the strike, our team got some needed down time from the heat and hard work.

- - -

Friday is a very full day. We have 15 school assemblies and three GodMan presentations scheduled. We will be with more than 7,000 students tomorrow, as well as all the people who attend the three GodMan presentations.

Update #2 Honduras

2006-06-21T21:37:00.000-07:00

It was hot today. The internet said 95, but a teacher today said it hit over 100. It felt like you stuck your head in the oven to see in the pizza is ready yet. Everything is hot, the schools, the vans, the bedrooms until about 3 a.m....then it's freezing (go figure).

Needless to say, today may have been the toughest day I've experienced in a log time on mission trips. Dirty, hot, scorching sun with no shade, and tiresome.

The teams did great, but we are zapped of everything. Tonight's rest will be good. And, because of a teacher's strike, we will start a little later tomorrow (7:30 a.m. in stead of 5:45)

- - -

Memorable moment: We were at a GodMan presentation tonight in the middle of Honduras Nowhereland. The van drivers got lost, I was alone in a truck with a pastor who doesn't speak much English, and I had no idea where we were or when I would see the rest of my team. The pastor's cell phone was dead, and I leaned against the truck hoping two white vans would come down our dirt road that use to be a train track.

Anyway, finally everyone arrived and we passed out movie invitations to the few homes in the area. Students didn't invitations to this GodMan because it was too far from any school we were in. Although it was suppose to start at 6:30 as the ticket said, at 7 p.m. there were a handful of people. At 7:15 we just decided to begin the presentation. By 7:30 it was pack (250 people) and there were no chairs left for anyone to come in and watch the movie.

There were three boys who stood outside the door...looking in, but would not come in. When we tried to bring them in, they refused because they didn't have any shoes. No shoes.

Book of Hope Missionary Liz McMahan (click for Xanga) heard them say they wouldn't go in because they had no shoes. She, without a moment's hesitation, took her shoes off, put them on the dirt road next to the boys, and told them they could have them to go into the church. One boy refused, but another went in barefoot right along with Liz. This is Jesus stuff. Take off your shoes and offer them to someone who has none. Wow.

- - -
No pics tonight, I don't have my cord with me.

- - -
Love my family...tell them all hi for me. I saw a huggies bath wash soap commercial in spanish tonight and realized how much I miss them.

UPDATE #1 Honduras

2006-06-20T16:08:00.000-07:00

MONDAY NIGHT

I sit in out room late at night with the sounds of Spanish TV in the background. Our local friends helping us this week love to watch TV very loud, very late at night. And since the World Cup Soccer is in full swing, I am being educated about Latin America’s favorite pastime.

Being in a new culture is always fresh and exciting. Today we were finished with schools early enough to walk the neighborhood and pass out invitations to tonight’s GodMan presentation. Being the leader, and a little more willing to experience new things, myself and three others decided to get coconuts and papayas out of a roadside tree. After our 15-year old female translator climbed a wooden latter into a tree to find out she was not tall enough, a local man came out of his house with a machete. At first I though we were in trouble for climbing his tree. Then I found out he was going to help us get some coconuts.

He hacked at the tree and got four or five coconuts down. His wife came out with another machete and chopped the ends off. We sat in front of this tiny two-room house and drank fresh coconut juice. It was warm, and not very good, but an experience I enjoyed for the novelty of it.

Our translator spent a few minutes talking about coconuts, and then the lady went inside to get something for us. She came out with a plate of homemade coconut candy cookie bars. All the warnings of “do not eat street food” rushed through my mind. But not wanting to offend, and enjoying the experience, we ate….and we liked.

Tomorrow may be a day of diarrhea, but today is a day of new adventure.

- - -

We are in the city of Choloma doing our ministry, just north of San Pedro Sula. Tonight we showed the GodMan for the first time. It was excellent, and it was effective. We advertised it all day in the schools. Our three groups did three different showings of the animated story of Jesus. Combined, there were 1,600 people who viewed the movie. At my venue, more than a hundred children and adults responded for salvation. It was amazing. People are hungry for God in this city.

- - -

We are in a training room at the hotel every morning at 5:45 a.m. for pray and devotions. Then a 6:20 breakfast and load the vans at 7 a.m. The days are long, but packed with God moments where children and youth are hearing the truth about Jesus, and realizing they can have a personal relationship with Him.

- - -

I preached Sunday night at church. I had a message prepared from home, but the pastor announced to the church Saturday night I would be speaking on the Second Coming of Christ. Well, good thing I’ve seen Thief in the Night…so opened of Thessalonians and Matthew and preached on Sudden Events that Change Lives. For such little preparation, I believe God gave me a good message for that night.

- - -

Now that we are in Choloma doing ministry, there is one restaurant we eat at. It’s a Christian owned all-you-can-eat buffet serving incredible food. Well, looks like I’ll have to hit the gym as soon as I get home.

- - -

Love and miss Joy and the boys. Wish you were here. Have a great week.

- - -

TUESDAY

I forget that most American kids have never seen true poverty. I’ve seen the one-room wooden homes that have no door and a few slats of wood for a roof. I’ve seen the raw sewage in the street or the river. I’ve seen the babies running around naked because they have very little clothing.

But today I watched a team of high school students slowly get off a van and wonder where they were at. Why is the school so run down and dirty? Why is there no electricity? Why is everyone looking at us…even more different than the other schools?

It was true third-world poverty. The children had no shoes. The babies had no diapers. The house next to the school only had a dirt floor with a wood-fire stove. A one-year-old was running around with a box found in the trash and the brothers and sisters were sitting along the road starring at us.

I talked to the team about third-world poverty and told them to look around and appreciate what they have at home. It was our last school of the day. They spent some extra minutes playing with the neighborhood children. They took pictures for memories. Then, as boarding the van, they asked if we were going back to the hotel now that the last school was finished. I looked at the two kids sitting on the edge of the road, nodded my head yes, then climbed in a truck for departure.

- - -

Schools were good today. One school of 600 elementary students were so chaotic we sent them back to the classes until they could calm down. We finished this crazy school and then moved on to a school of 26 students. It was awesome. A small school sometimes is more moving to the heart than a student body of 800.

Why do we like huge crowd if ministry is more effective in smaller groups?

- - -

Health…everything good. Coconut cookie doing fine (see Monday post)

- - -

Talked to Joy today from a internet/telephone café. It cost one dollar for 20 minutes…wow! Cheap. It’s right next to our lunch buffet place, so students can call home more often, now.

- - -

Plans for tonight: No late night ministry so we are at hotel to rest for a big day tomorrow. Pizza, pool, and a movie on a big screen. We are calling it REST here…I’m sure some of you reading this is rolling their eyes saying…tough trip. But we are up doing devotions at 5:45 a.m., eating at 6:20 and on the road at 7 a.m. And it’s hotter than….hot.

- - -

Evan Courtney's group from Macomb

SATURDAY

2006-06-17T21:38:00.000-07:00

I stood and watched eleven girls dressed in blue and yellow dresses dance during a full set of praise in worship in a special Saturday night revival service in Honduras. The girls were praying as we entered the church 30 mins. before service. Then they danced and worshipped. It was authentic. It was genuine. It was a nice cultural experience. And it was the beginning of a wonderful night at church.

I preached Acts 3:1-8 when the begger was healed at Gate Beautiful. After talking about the power of God and the potential for Him to work tht night, our team of 32 lined across the front to pray with people from the church. Several came forward for salvation, then a floodgate of people opened for prayer for the miraculous. I can´t explain all that happed, but God's presence was real, powerful and evident. It was an early church of Acts experience. Signs and wonders..the real New Testament stuff.

It´s always exciting to go to another country and trust God to move. Our expectation level is ten fold. We WANT God to move. A lesson I need to learn every day, every Sunday, every time we gather as the church.

- - -

All in all everyone is healthy and doing fine. We are meeting wonderful people from Honduras. My friend Dennys is here....a great time. (He´s the one I took a picture with near the ocean on my October 2005 trip.)

- - -
Joy... I love you and miss the family very much. Tell the boys Hi and that I love and miss them. ALSO...So much for the diet in Honduras. I had a cheesburger and fries from Wendy´s tonight. Pizza will happen too this week. But the good news is it´s low 90s and feels like 102 in the shade. MUGGY and SWEATY. So although I may eat a cheeseburger, I´ll sweat off 10 pounds this week.
- - -
Goodnews: this is from our hotel where we got access to the internet. I´ll post again as time allows.

Honduras para Christo!
- Travis

HONDURAS 2006

2006-06-14T13:09:00.000-07:00

Trip Dates: June 15-25
Stay tuned for updates...

Honduras, October 2005

2005-10-10T12:17:00.000-07:00

The children always remind me of the importance of Great Commission, New Testament ministry all around the world.

This is Me and Dennis (The Book of Hope national who oversees Honduras, Belize, Costa Rica, and Panama) He's a great guy who has a passion for ministry.

This is a view from Tela, Honduras. It's a coastal city where we may do a day of relaxation on the June 2006 trip.

Chiquita Banana trees on a farm between San Pedro Sula and Tela. It was huge...maybe miles long of acres and acres of banana trees. They put bags over the bananas to protect them form insects.

My U2 experience

2005-09-23T14:24:00.000-07:00

Me and MAtt Wilkie went to the U2 show in Chicago. We got Bomb Shelter passes where we viewed the show from within the center of the staging area. It was incredible.

Enjoy the photos...

We were behind this girl. Bono asked her to say something in Spanish.

2005-09-23T14:22:00.000-07:00

2005-09-23T14:21:00.000-07:00

2005-09-23T14:18:00.000-07:00

2005-09-23T14:06:00.000-07:00

2005-09-23T13:59:00.000-07:00

Post-vacation purchase

2005-09-16T13:30:00.000-07:00

These are my new glasses. I have two pair...maybe I'll show you the others on another post.

Table Rock Lake Vacation

2005-09-16T08:34:00.000-07:00

My sister-in-law Amy pulled a quick U-turn on the golf cart and the cooler went flying off and everything spilled onto the cart path. (We weren't even suppose to have a cooler.) And the ice, sandwiches, and bottles of water went flying. Then Amy pulled up to the cooler, jumped off quickly to pick everything up, forgot to put on the brake, and cart hit the cooler again and smashed a sandwich.

Here's a close-up of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich flattened under the golf cart.

My son Dakota didn't like water two months before vacation. We took him to YMCA swim lessons and it made a total difference. By the end of the week of vacation, he was jumping in all by himself, and going down the slide with anyone who would take him.

This is the family posing for a pic after our last dinner of the trip. Note that my glasses were at the bottom of the lake at this point.

I posted some other thoughts on vacation at my other blog. donotfeartruth

Remember the one

2005-08-22T12:31:00.000-07:00

A week has nearly past since returning from our trip to Guatemala. Many memories already begin to fade. Who can remeber every school, every view out the window, and every smiling face. But we all have one story, one child, one incident etched into our spirit's memory bank.

My challenge: remember the one, pray everyday for him or her. Continue to visualize the face and pray that God will do miracles. Pray for a historymaker to to be raised up by God to impact a generation that we may never come in contact with a again while on earth. The one you pray for lives in that land everyday. Pray that one will affect the desitiny of all. Pray for the one.

Guatemala Stats

2005-08-17T13:41:00.000-07:00

I'm not big on counting heads, and keeping track of ministry numbers....but to give you an idea of the amount of ministry our team was involved in....here you go...

Team Size: 15 (11 girls, 4 guys)
Total Books Distributed: 13,807
School Assemblies: 54
Salvation response at Hopefests: 78
and...
Times we ate chicken: 24
Hours on a bus per person: 27
Dinner rolls in Matt Woddy's shower: 2
ponchos and rugs purchased: 12
Police pulled us over: 2
machetes bought: 7
Luggage lost: 2
Vomits on bus/plane: 4
Getting shocked during showering: 3
PEICES OF PINEAPPLE: 2
CHINEESE BUFFETT: 1

Got more stats? comment....

2005-08-17T13:26:00.000-07:00

Our translator, Vivi, prays with Darian and Sophia, who responded to the salvation message at the hopefest.

We bought a new set of drums for Christ is Returning Assembly of God church is San Antonio, Guatemala. The drums they were using were in really rough shapre. The drummer usually just used a cow bell and the broken high hat cymbol.

Me and Matt Woody....our fearless leader.
Pastor Van and his team performing the Hero drama.

2005-08-17T13:10:00.000-07:00

Our San Antonio Hopefest.

Me and some students from our first school we did.

The team I travelled with 3 of the 5 days.

Students reading the Book of Hope after an assembly.

Thirteen of us road in a small Toyota (girls in skirts) 20 mins to a church. Great ride!

Guatemalan student

2005-08-17T12:53:00.000-07:00

The team

2005-08-17T12:47:00.000-07:00

This is the team photo we took after our church services. We took it because we didn't think we would ever see these girls in skirts again....but actually they had to wear them in many of the schools. Us guys...we didn't have to wear skirts.

Friday - Monday

2005-08-17T12:25:00.000-07:00

I'm back home and want to wrap up the trip with some highlights from the final days I couldn't blog.

FRIDAY- Last day of schools. It went great. That evening I had to exchange some money for the trip. I tried five different banks....no luck. Then a guy on the street helped us find "a place" that would exchange for us. After driving 10 min. and driving into a market area....we were taken into a small t-shirt junk shop. A lady took me behind the counter, (our driver gestured that I was going to get shot) and then we counted a lot of money out....and I though i was in the middle of a CIA movie or something. Weird moment...a bit scary.....great memories!

SATURDAY-- We did two Hopefests. One in San MArcos and one in San Antonio. An estimate attendance of 850 were there. 78 people responded for salvation. The team did great in the event. Great day!

SUNDAY-- We headed back to Guatemala City and Antigua for some sight seeing and shopping. It was alot of fun and relaxing. The 5 hour bus ride went great thanks to me and Phil's free comedy show. No one got sick....not even Meaghann! Everyone bought the typical Latin American stuff....ponchos, machetes, and bracelets.

MONDAY...we had a chance to sleep in. We didn't have to be up until 9:30 a.m. - but who would have known it was a holiday in Guatemala City and the neighbor decided to start launching cannonball sized fireworks into the air at 6 a.m. We had breakfast at 9:30...a bug literally crawled out of Ashley's jelly, and I pulled a few hairs out of the eggs... all was good. We got to the airport and everything was smooth until we got to Atlanta. He stood next to the luggage carousel for more than hour....nothing. And we had a flight connection we had to get. Then we got our luggage....ran, ran, ran to the gate....only to find out it was changed to another gate...only to board at the last moment and find out the flight crew was late too. We got to Indy and no one's luggage made it. We waited for the next flight to come in and all but 2 suitcases were there. (Sorry Pastor Van and Sarina) We got to Mattoon at 3:30 a.m. and I crawled into bed at 4:30 a.m. And finally saw Dakota and Riley at 7:30 a.m........then i slept.

Good to be home!

Thursday

2005-08-11T17:04:00.000-07:00

Things are going well. We have been in several more school, passing out several thousand books.

Today we were in an all-boys elementary school. It was a lot of fun. Phil taught all the guys how to make (tooting) noises by blowing into their hands....as well as cupping their hand under their arm pits. He´s very proud.

Today I met a boy named Christian. He just moved here 3 months ago from New York City. Something happened with his family and he had to move in with his step dad....or something like that. Anyway, he was he only person in the school that spoke english. The principal brought him on stage with us so he could translate a few things and welcome us in english.

All the other boys in the school looked up to him and you could tell he had a following. I pulled him aside after the school assembly and told him that he was a leader in the school. He had an important decision to make. He was either going to be a positive influence or a negative influence. I told him God may have brought him to Guatemala to make a difference in his new friends´ lives. I gave him my red Book of Hope bracelet and told him to find us Saturday at the Hope Celebration. I pray he comes so I can talk to him a little more in depth.

That´s about all. We are pretty healthy...a few stomach aches and stuff like that....but for the most part all is well.

Tomorrow...Friday...is our last day in the schools. Please pray for us.

Blog Settings changed

2005-08-10T17:45:00.000-07:00

I think i changed the settings so anyone can add comments now. You don´t have to join anything or stuff like that. Post away my friends and family!

WEDNESDAY

2005-08-10T17:35:00.000-07:00

OK....on my way over to the cibercafe, me and phil were walking along the sidewalk....there was a gust of win and 25 foot section of a wall fell on us. It was made of corrogated metal. It fell against us and a power line. We caught it enough to get out of the way....weird. Thank God we were´t hurt.

BACK TO TODAY...

Today both groups were in rural towns. I´m telling you...these places aren´t on any maps. We drive an hour up a mountain...the clouds are below us, and we go to school that have no concept of modern day media, humor or anything. It´s a blast watching these kids see us for the first time. At first they are very hesitant....but then they love to be loved on. It´s amazing what happens when you just pat a kid on their head.

We ate lunch in a small mountain village town. This is the real deal. We walked through an open market where everyone had their goods. NO TOURIST STUFF....real everyday living stuff. We saw cut up chicken peices in a cardboard box ready to be sold. Wow.. Chicken, roosters, and turkeys were in cvargo-type nets. They were being tossed up onto busses. When our team walked by one bus...a chicken got loose and jumped off the bus in front of us....all the girls screamed....funny stuff.

Tuesday

2005-08-09T17:25:00.000-07:00

Well it's Tuesday and I feel like I got ran over by a bulldozer. All total, the fifteen of us have been in 22 schools doing full presentations in the past 2 days.

Today our group did seven school assemblies and the other groups did six. We´ve distributed close to 5,000 Books of Hope in two days. That´s a lot of schools....alot of students...and a lot of skits...

Let me share a few quick stories from today..

1. We we in a high school this afternoon and did an assembly for about 500 students. We shared in skits and dramas, then told real life stories of how God has worked in our lives...and then explained how Jesus can be found in the BOH and can make a huge impact in their lives. After the assembly, the principal got up and began to speak in the microphone. In most cases they simply thank our group and wish us well on our journey.

This principal was different. He opened the Book of Hope in the high school and began to read about God´s real love and quote a few verses. Then he just began to pour into the students lives about how Jesus can help them, and how they need to read this book and make a positive change in their lives. He even addressed a few loud kids in the back and told them they needed God more than anything because their lives were hurting. Powerful stuff. The students just stood their and read the BOH as he was speaking.

2. We were also in a very small rural school os 50 high school students learning to work on TVs. (i dunno....) But God really moved in this little school. The principal told the class we were here to share about God and then told us to say whatever. At first the classroom was quiet. But after some waming up and fun relational stuff....they were really receptive. Finally Rhoda ended the small presentation by sharing her heart about Jesus. Then the principal came up and thanked us. Then two of the students came up and personally told us how they needed to hear our message today. The I felt lead to go back to the front of the class and share Jeramiah 29:11 about God having a plan and future for their lives. It was amaing...God´s presence poured into the room and people began to weep...mostly our team...but the students were very moved. It was a complete God moment in the room.

The funny thing about this school....they didn´t think we would even show up because another organization long ago promised to come and never showed. We showed up with God in front of us and awesome things happened in the spiritual realm today.

---

I'll update later....when we get a chance. Keep praying...

For Diane....

2005-08-08T17:14:00.000-07:00

Please check you email....love Van

Sunday-Monday

2005-08-08T16:57:00.000-07:00

Sunday---
Our group of 15 split into two groups to cover more ground. So today we were in a church service for each group. One was an AG church, and Francisco preached...the other was a full Gospel church and pastor van preached. (My group had to pack 12 people into a small Toyota pickup that was a 2 seater in front, and a small bed in the back...a great mission experience....but a packed ride...and bumpy)

Both groups did a drama in the churches. We then met in a home of the San Marcos BOH director and had lunch. The rest of the day was more training for the schools and then we had a group church service in a training room. We had some worship and I spoke to the group on being foreigeners in life...and living for eternity...our real home.

MONDAY----
One group went into San MArcos city (Van, Francisco, Matt Woody, Abbi, Ashley, Victoria, Melissa, and Jessie) The other group (Travis, Phil, Rhoda, Sonia, Sarina, Felicia, Meagann, Autumn) went to the outskirts of San Antonio (Guatemala). It was much rural, much poor, and rougher roads. We had to park the bus at one point a nearly climb a mountain for 300 yards to get to a small rural school.

But you know what....no one had ever gone to these schools as visitors. And we had an opportunity to be the most exciting thing at their school. It was awesome.

The team is healthy, everyone is doing good.

I won´t be able to post pictures...sorry. I will when I get back.

Thanks for reading, travelling with us on the blog....and most importantly praying for us.

It´s amazing to see these kids grab ahold of God´s Word and read it. They love it. They love the message of Jesus. The need hope....and for Monday at school....it was delivered. God is good.

- Travis

FRIDAY, In Guatemala

2005-08-06T11:03:00.000-07:00

Hello from Guatemala....

He´s a quick review of the trip so far...

Thursday the Joiet team members and Jesse from Niles showed up at the Mattoon church at 7 p.m. We ate Villa, played miniature golf, then headed to the airport. We got to the airport at 1:30 am....sat around until 4:10 a.m....checked inand flew to Atlant at 8 a.m. At 10:30 am we went to Guatemala City and landed at noon. Then we grabbed a quick pollo sandwhich (chicken) and boarded a public transportation bus for the next 6 hours though the rugged mountains. A rough ride, one girl got sick...and only one stop. The back of the bus was packed with locals....

We go to our hotel late that night ad ate a great meal.

Today....Saturday....we ar training and having orientation....

Talk later

Travis

2005-02-20T21:10:00.000-08:00

A nice view from a Ft. Lauderdale canal....

2005-02-20T21:09:00.000-08:00

having fun on a 90-foot boat on the intercoastal. We took a 1.5 hour down the coast to get dinner, and then took the ocean back to our dock. Joy and I sat on the front of the boat, got sprayed with ocean water, and enjoyed a great night.....

2005-02-20T21:04:00.000-08:00

Nice homes are all over the intercoastal of Ft. Lauderdale.

2005-02-20T21:02:00.000-08:00

Dakota and Allie playing music and having fun.

2005-02-19T12:05:00.000-08:00

Ah...the ocean in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. 78 and sunny...

2005-02-19T12:03:00.000-08:00

My good friend Matt Wilkie and Dakota

2005-02-19T12:01:00.000-08:00

Me and Dakota....

2005-02-19T11:59:00.000-08:00

At the beach...

2005-02-19T11:57:00.001-08:00

Dakota not too sure if he likes the water coming close to him.

2005-02-19T11:57:00.000-08:00

Joy, Dakota, and Travis on the beach at Ft. Lauderdale.

2005-02-19T11:56:00.000-08:00

Dakota at our friends' house. Paul and Pam Walker.

Since I've been back...

2004-11-22T13:55:00.000-08:00

It's good to be back in the States.

SUNDAY NIGHT we had our Pipeline youth service. It went great. I showed some pictures of Poland and talked about the difference between religion and relationship. I feel like it connected since I shared some stories about teens in Poland.

TANIA SPENCER e-mailed me. She's not a blood relative, but she is a Book of Hope family member. I forgot to mention her in earlier blogs. My deepest apologies. We experienced great food together, as well as a facinating tour of a castle that looked like the TV set of TBN ministries...gold chairs and all. She's the official Book of Hope copy writer, as well as the famous telephone voice for BOH. When I read her e-mail, I can hear her English accent.

MAGDA e-mailed me. She the Polish girl that me and Matt Wilkie too a three-hour train ride with. She's got an incredible story. I shared it with my youth group last night. It's awesome to think I can continue to talk with her and encourage her in her faith even though I'm back home.

Short-term mission trips are great. It's a time to make friendships that last a lifetime.
Interested in Book of Hope trips? click here

Friday- travel home

2004-11-20T13:19:00.000-08:00

After an all-nighter on the train, I didn't but a few winks of sleep before loading up and heading to the airport.

We woke up and it was snowing. We get to the airport and go through all the process. Then we wait to board the plane. It was a 12:15 flight. We load at 12:30 and get situated on the plane.

I sit in my seat, put on my headphones and listen to a little Third Day. About five minutes later I'm in a deep sleep. I wake up 2 1/2 hours later and look out the window...and we're still sitting at the airport. The airport closed because of weather.

At 3:30 we take of for Chicago. We arrive 3 hours late at 6:40 p.m. (2 a.m. Polish time)
We drive home to Mattoon. Home near 11 p.m. (6 a.m. Polish time.)

Good night....

2004-11-20T12:24:00.000-08:00

Here's our plane with snow all over it.

2004-11-20T12:22:00.000-08:00

This is a view outside the bus window...heading to the airport.

Thursday Night

2004-11-20T11:56:00.000-08:00

Book of Hope hosted a wonderful banquet for of the team members that were in Poland this week. It was a very nice restaraunt in Old Town Warsaw. During the evening we shared stories from the week. But the highlight was getting to hear the story of Magda. She is a 17-year-old Polish girl.

About 2 years ago she established a personal relationship with Jesus. She has learned a lot about God in religion classes, but this was the first time He became a personal friend to her. Her life has changed in wonderful ways. She stopped drinking and smoking marijuana. She tells people she is now full of life and joy. Now she is active in Book of Hope distribution in Poland.

She lives in Lublin, Poland...about 3 hour train ride from Warsaw. We were suppose to meet her in Lublin when we visited the Concentration camp. However, because of weather we didn't go, and she took a train to Warsaw to meet us.

Unfortunately she missed her 7 p.m. train back to Lublin. Her mother was upset and very worried about her. Since the next train didn't leave until 10 p.m. she needed someone to ride with her for safety.

Me and Matt Wilkie rode the train with her to keep her safe. The train that night was delayed several times at different stops. Magda's mother called a few times while we were in the train. She was very nervous, mad and worried about her. But I'm very thankful we rode with her because there were drunk guys hanging around causing a scene in front of us. The cops hauled them off at the next stop.

Magda told us about student culture in POland. They don't like authority. They are involved in alcohol and drugs. This generation doesn't get too excited about their Catholic Church. However, Magda is on fire with her personal relationship with Jesus. It's difficult for her to find a group of people in her town that understand what it means to have a relationship with God. She virtually has no support system of encouragement except God.

So at 1 a.m. we got her to a taxi and sent her home. I believe is was an ordained moment for us. We got to pray for her, encourage her in her faith, and encourage her about some issues with her family.

What a night!!!! Here's an at-a-glance look...

7 p.m. - dinner
9 p.m. - arrive at train station
10 p.m. - depart for Lublin
1 a.m. - arrive in Lublin
1:30 a.m. - find a Polish diner near station
3:17 a.m. - find out the train is delayed
3:37 a.m. - board the train
6:30 a.m. - arrive in Warsaw
7:00 a.m. - get to hotel
7:30 a.m. - fall asleep
9:00 a.m. wake up and shower
9:45 a.m. head to airport

2004-11-20T11:42:00.000-08:00

This is me, Matt Wilkie and Magda. We're on a train at about 1 a.m. Friday morning.

Thursday

2004-11-18T02:20:00.000-08:00

We made it to Warsaw Wednesday afternoon. We have visited the Old Town. This place was destroyed during WWII. Many buildings have been rebuilt into stores, cafes and museums.

It is very rainy and cold here. In fact, today (Thursday) we were heading to a concentration camp in Lublin, Poland, but had to turn around because of the bad weather. I was fine...it reminded me of a good ol' Illinois thunderstom. But, for safety and the fact the entire tour was outside, we have headed back to Warsaw for some more indoor shopping and sight seeing.

We have watched a few parts of a movie called the Pianist. I can't wait to see all of it when I get back the States. It's the story of the Warsar Uprising. This is the only rebellion against the Nazi invasion from local Jews. The movie was filmed here, and we are seeing many of the sites. I've been told the movie has some bad language and violence, but is very accurate to what happened here in Poland during WWII. It has been nominated for many awards.

This has made me appreciate my past visits to the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC. It's amazing to stand on the streets where innocent people were dragged from their homes and killed because of their race and religious belief.

Europe is rich in history. The buildings we were in yesterday (Wednesday) were built in the 1500s. That's alost 300 years for we were even a nation.

Regarding BOH: One of the teams had a "Teacher's Tea" with a group of teachers. They presented the Gospel and shared with the teachers how they can receive Jesus as their best friend, as well as their hope for their unsure future.

One of the teacher came to the tea with information to hand the team on Catholic doctrine and tradition. At the end of the team she stood up and announced that beofre this evening she knew her religion, but now she knows there is much more for her to discover. She is anxious about knowing Jesus in a personal way, and not just in a knowledgable way.

God is good and working in lives here. It's amazing to partner with the Catholic church to present the Gospel i nthe schools. We simply take what they learn in religion classes and help them make it personal.

Pray for Poland. Pray that student leaders and teachers would help disciple students through Hope CLubs. That's where they will get a better grasp on having a personal relationship with Jesus.

I fly home on Friday. Please keep me in your prayers.

TUESDAY

2004-11-16T13:52:00.000-08:00

Today was a day of meetings for me and the other Affect Destiny reps. We discussed vision, 2005 changes, and other stuff. The other teams went into schools again doing school assemblies.

We all gathered at night for a Hopefest. A typical Hopefest is children and their parents from the schools we visited earlier this week.

We had music, dramas, testimonies and a challenge to the students. I was in a drama called Masks. I got to play the part of a partying drug/alcohol user. It was a good drama that really got the students' attention.

Many kids were interested in the altar call, and many signed up for Hope Clubs in their local schools.

Tomorrow we leave for Warsaw. We'll do some sight seeing. The Thursday we head to a Concentration Camp.

I'm not sure about internet access in the next few days. If you don't hear from me...I'll update when I get home.

Again, thanks for the prayers. Students in Poland are excited about Jesus, and you have investment in that!

I love all my family. See everyone soon. Someone give Dakota a hug from dad.
Pipeline youth: I heard you had a great night. Awesome!

Travis

2004-11-16T13:48:00.000-08:00

A great group of students who found out for the first time that a relationship with Jesus can be fun. These guys stayed after the Hopefest to hang out with us, ask us questions....and yes...get our autographs.

2004-11-16T13:45:00.000-08:00

I posed for a picture with these girls after signing a few autographs. That's how exciting it is for these students that we're here. They so excited they they're willing to ask a 29-year-old over weight youth pastor for an autograph. They asked if I was an actor. I told them no, I just play one on TV. Since I don't speak Polish...they didn't understand a word I said:)

2004-11-16T13:42:00.000-08:00

This is Martha. She prayed to accept Jesus as her personal friend and savior for the first time Tuesday night at the Hopefest.

2004-11-16T13:39:00.000-08:00

STudents dance to "Evry Move I Make" after a Hopefest rally Tuesday night.

MONDAY review

2004-11-15T15:17:00.000-08:00

Today was a great day. Check out all the photos I posted on the page.

We spent the day in one school. We did four assemblies in the school. The age of the students was 1st through 6th grade. We had a ton of fun sharing Jesus to them. This is the first time for many of these students that they hear that Jesus can be a personal friend to them. They learn about him in religion classes...but never hear that he can be personal in their lives.

It's been great working with old BOH friends...Paul, Jason, Kathryn...and Matt Wilkie.

Tonight we spent a night of ministry in an orphanage. These kids were great. It's amazing to think we presented the gospel to a room of kids with no parents in their lives.

God is good.

Thanks for your prayers...

Travis

2004-11-15T15:10:00.000-08:00

Me passing out a Book of Hope in Poland.

2004-11-15T15:08:00.000-08:00

Matt and me with Polish students!

2004-11-15T15:07:00.000-08:00

Me and my incredible friend Matt Wilkie and Jake.

2004-11-15T14:47:00.000-08:00

I met these awesome kids at an orphanage. Three of the girls were transwred from an orphanage that was in the Vatican.

2004-11-15T14:45:00.000-08:00

This is the framework of a Jewish Synagogue dome that remains after a horrible attack from the Nazis in 1941. The Nazi soldiers surrounded the building with machine guns and then set the building on fire. They shot anyone who tried to escape the buring building. A tragic 2000 jews dided in the burning building this day.

2004-11-15T14:40:00.000-08:00

I took this pic in the middle of a group of students.

2004-11-15T14:39:00.000-08:00

Boys pose for a picture after an assembly.

2004-11-15T14:37:00.000-08:00

My new Polish friend.

2004-11-15T14:35:00.000-08:00

Some girls at a school.

2004-11-15T14:30:00.000-08:00

Here's a picture of me and a group of student in Bialystol, Poland. This was taken after a BOH school presentation.

2004-11-15T14:25:00.000-08:00

Girls at our first school get their Books of Hope.

2004-11-14T16:30:00.000-08:00

a building near our hotel

2004-11-14T16:26:00.000-08:00

here's a local catholic church

2004-11-14T16:21:00.000-08:00

Here's a great self-portrait. I'm in front of a museum.

Hi to the Frownfelters and Spencers

2004-11-14T03:56:00.000-08:00

Hey guys...I'm checking my e-mail...thanks for writing.
Michigan Frownfelters...Poland will give you a run for your money on Cold weather!

Spencers....give Dakota a hug for me.

See you guys....

Travis

Sunday

2004-11-14T03:41:00.000-08:00

We woke up and had breakfast at the hotel.
I had polish sausage, bread and some cheese.
Then we moved to a room where we had our own church service.
Don Anderson from Fresno Calf. spoke. It was good. He spoke about the blessing of team ministry.
We ended in communion. I believe God has great plans for this week.

Me and Mark Cox (from the St. Louis area) took a walk after church service.
It's nice out today (36 degrees, but sunny)
The buildings are very traditional European look.
Many gray block buildings and apartments.
We are next to a large Catholic church. We stepped in to see it. Many people were there.
It was a giant red brick Cathedral. Very nice. I have pictures, but can't seem to get my camera to work with this cafe computer.

The people are cautious to make much eyecontact with us when we walk along the sidewalks. It's obvious were aren't from around here. And since this isn't a tourism city, they rarely see Americans.

MAtt Wilkie is due in by train today sometime. It will be great seeing him
Pray for Poland...it seems some of the Book of Hope doors may be closing in some areas.
Pray that BOH leadership would have favor with Catholic church leaders in the country.

So much for now....
Travis

I'm HERE!!!!

2004-11-13T10:06:00.000-08:00

We made it to Poland. I've been awake for 31 hours.
The hotel is nice, and we just ate dinner at an Arabic restaurant. Go figure.
It's very foggy and drizzly....Typical European weather for this time of year.

We'll be having church in our hotel Sunday morning. There are no evangelical churches here for us to attend.

Monday we'll be in schools working with younger students...Elementary students.

Well...I'm safe.

To Joy and Dakota: Love you and miss you.

The internet cafe is next to the hotel, so I'll try tp check in again.

Travis

Poland schedule

2004-11-11T07:08:00.000-08:00

Friday, Nov. 12 - Travel day

Saturday- Arrive in Warsaw, Poland. Then depart for Bialystok by bus

Sunday- Church service in hotel with all BOH teams. Then orientation and training.

Monday- School assemblies and BOH distribution. Orphanage ministry in the evening.

Tuesday - Meetings with BOH Affect Destiny field reps. Hopefest that evening.

Wednesday - Sight Seeing in Warsaw.

Thursday - Visit Magdanek concentration camp in Lublin, Poland.

Friday - Travel Day

Please keep me in your prayers during these days of ministry and travel.
I should post comments and pics ASAP.

2004-11-10T10:02:00.000-08:00

This is me.

Catch You Up to Speed

2004-11-10T08:46:00.000-08:00

I'm going to post pics and journals entries from my travels. I leave for Poland in two days. That's when I'll start posting new stuff. But to catch you up to speed on my past mission trips, I thought I'd offer a brief history.

1993: Monterey Mexico
I went with a team from Naperville IL and Mattoon, IL to build a school and medical facility. It was my first trip. I'd just rededicated my life to Jesus 6 months before we loaded that bus. It was a life-changing trip for my personal spiritual journey.

1996: Atlanta GA--The Olympics
I went with a team from Joliet, IL to do ministry in the streets during the Olympics. We worked in a neighboring community. We slept at a church, showered in a parking lot in a makeshift stall with garden hoses (very cold). We did ministry at the church and in a parking lot of a large shopping market.

2000: East Boston
This was my first year as youth pastor in Mattoon, and wanted to get involved with leading mission trips for our students. We worked with Central Assembly of God in the heart of East Boston. It was an incredible trip. With did ministry in the parks, on the street, at a metro station, and at the church. There are people involved in that church today as a result of that trip.

2001: Managua, Nicaragua
This was our first overseas trip. Joy and I had a brief discussion as we saw the lights of Managua, Nicaragua from the plane. It went something like this. "What are we doing? We have a group of high school kids with us and we're about to land in some country we know nothing about, and we don't speak their language..." It turned out to be the turning point in our mission trips. We connected with Book of Hope International, and have had an incredible relationship with the ministry ever since.

2002: San Francisco
We worked with Joy's sister and brother-in-law at City Ministries International. It's a great outreach ministry to homeless, drug addicts, and needy children in the bay area. It was an eye opener in the area of spiritual warfare. Great trip....Great growth in my prayer life.

2003: Quito, Ecuador
This was another Book of Hope trip that wonderful. The team was excellent, and children in the schools (we do school assemblies) were awesome. I'll never forget how Sarina got mobbed by 200 little children and we couldn't get her out of the courtyard area.

2003: Slovakia
Pastor Van, myself, and Evan from Macolm went on a "Vision Trip" with Book of Hope. I took Van and Evan so they could catch the vision for Book of Hope ministry. Slovakia is a post-communist country. Very grey. But the students responded to us, and the Gospel in a wonderful way. This was my first time to Europe. It was great...even if our luggage was lost for three days!

2004: Mexico
I led an adult/student team to Rancho de sus ninos in Baja Mexico...right outside of San Diego. It was an incredible trip. The team bonded in a great way. God provided team members with incredible testimonies to share to the people. We've continued to partner with the ministry. We'll be sending Christmas gifts their way next month for all the kids in their day care.

And now I leave for Poland in two days.....