I believe the last time I wrote was in July. Since then many things have happened. I enjoyed a great summer of working for PPM last summer. I am still in school and am about to finish my senior semester in Missouri. I have accepted a full time job with Praying Pelican Missions, I will be starting in May working from Minneapolis, MN.
I leave on Sunday for Belize once again. I will be joining Brittney Johnson in Bermudian Landing. We're leading a Viatnamese church from New York. Thats the majority of what I know about the trip right now. Brittney is leading it and she knows most of the details. The team is fairly small, about fifteen I think. I hope and am praying that it will be a fulfilling trip. I give the whole thing to God. I'm looking forward to not only this trip but the rest of my participation with PPM. God Bless those who read this and keep our mission in prayer.
- Jon Nelson
Friday, December 28, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
July 24- Armenia
It's been quite some time since my last post. The last two weeks have been a roller coaster. I'm very busy so I have to make this quick.
Last week I was staying and working in Ladyville, where the airport is located. I worked with Ladyville Baptist church and pastor Maurice Westby. The team consisted of a few different churches under an organization called "Erin's gift of Hope". The organization was created a couple years ago in remembrance of Erin, a fifteen year old girl who was killed in a car accident. They were from New Jersey. The team wasn't real spiritually mature as a whole but they were quite the workers. They helped David put up forms to pour cement, the last part of the process before putting the roof on the new church. They also did a VBS in the morning. We did farming out at pastor's farm early in the morning, at like 6am. Funny thing- I was in charge of the farming, up early early everyday. It was a good week. A number of kids were quite challenged in their faith, grew spiritually for sure. As a minister to those doing missions work, it's great to see kids stretched and grow in their faith. I heard one girl share her highlight at the end of the week: "After visiting Dorothy Menzies orphanage early in the week, I asked God to give me a chance to go back, knowing that it wasn't scheduled. Then Patty told me we might be able to go back! That was the first time I actually think God ever heard me." Hearing highlights like that make my work down here all worth while.
Another thing that reminds me why i'm working down here is a week like the one i'm participating in right now. I'm working with a team from Texas, Canada, and Tennessee. We're in Armenia, a small spanish village I worked at last year. The team is very hardworking, very fun, a lot of young adults. They are passionate about sharing the Love of God with others. Up until this week, I had been disappointed with a number of the youth groups I worked with; their attitudes, spiritual maturity and work ethic. But this team makes my summer. I love spending time with them, working hard with them, and fellowshipping. Tonight at our nightly meeting, it was so relaxing. We sat and shared for quite some time during highlights, I took requests for the worship songs we sang and then a black scorpion fell from the roof, throwing us all into a frenzy! The team is trying to finish the fence which another team started last year, bracing the posts and putting on the fence wire. They've done ministry at a local orphanage in Belmopan and hopsital ministry. I'm excited about the rest of the week. I myself am currently getting rid of a sore throat that bothered me for 3 days, which turned into a sinus infection, but it's getting quite a bit better and I felt good enough to eat 5 peices of Angel's pizza tonight. God bless.
Last week I was staying and working in Ladyville, where the airport is located. I worked with Ladyville Baptist church and pastor Maurice Westby. The team consisted of a few different churches under an organization called "Erin's gift of Hope". The organization was created a couple years ago in remembrance of Erin, a fifteen year old girl who was killed in a car accident. They were from New Jersey. The team wasn't real spiritually mature as a whole but they were quite the workers. They helped David put up forms to pour cement, the last part of the process before putting the roof on the new church. They also did a VBS in the morning. We did farming out at pastor's farm early in the morning, at like 6am. Funny thing- I was in charge of the farming, up early early everyday. It was a good week. A number of kids were quite challenged in their faith, grew spiritually for sure. As a minister to those doing missions work, it's great to see kids stretched and grow in their faith. I heard one girl share her highlight at the end of the week: "After visiting Dorothy Menzies orphanage early in the week, I asked God to give me a chance to go back, knowing that it wasn't scheduled. Then Patty told me we might be able to go back! That was the first time I actually think God ever heard me." Hearing highlights like that make my work down here all worth while.
Another thing that reminds me why i'm working down here is a week like the one i'm participating in right now. I'm working with a team from Texas, Canada, and Tennessee. We're in Armenia, a small spanish village I worked at last year. The team is very hardworking, very fun, a lot of young adults. They are passionate about sharing the Love of God with others. Up until this week, I had been disappointed with a number of the youth groups I worked with; their attitudes, spiritual maturity and work ethic. But this team makes my summer. I love spending time with them, working hard with them, and fellowshipping. Tonight at our nightly meeting, it was so relaxing. We sat and shared for quite some time during highlights, I took requests for the worship songs we sang and then a black scorpion fell from the roof, throwing us all into a frenzy! The team is trying to finish the fence which another team started last year, bracing the posts and putting on the fence wire. They've done ministry at a local orphanage in Belmopan and hopsital ministry. I'm excited about the rest of the week. I myself am currently getting rid of a sore throat that bothered me for 3 days, which turned into a sinus infection, but it's getting quite a bit better and I felt good enough to eat 5 peices of Angel's pizza tonight. God bless.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
July 1st
Well it's Sunday evening, July 1st. I just got back from Corozal. Corozal is a spanish town on the northern border of Belize and Mexico. I was up there setting up for a trip in August, which my brother will be on with some of his youth!
This past week I was assisting in a trip with Group Work Camps. Praying Pelican teamed up with Group Work Camps, the largest short term missions organization in the U.S. to bring 85 students to Belize City. The teams split and worked at three different churches in the area, serving in construction at the local churches and homes of those in need affiliated with the churches. It was a long week, and lots of work was involved. I was stationed at the Faber's road site for the entire week. The team I lead worked on the beginnings of a new fence around the church, building the foundation. They also served by connecting with a single mother of 11 children across the street from the church. They repaired leaks in her roof, painted the house inside and out, and put a new front door on her house.
One of the relationships I formed this week was with a pastor named John Mendes. He was the contractor for the fence my team worked on. He's a 71 year old pastor at a little Baptist church in town. He's actually retired, but is pastoring on request for a church in need. He's an amazing man of God with a servant's heart and a sense of humor like no other. He's living in poverty, riding his bike wherever he goes and is an example to us all that no matter what we're going through, we can give glory to God and live for him. I will be visiting him at his church this week and hopefully be setting up a trip for him next summer!
The poverty in some of the villages we're working in is astounding down here. Pray for the people we're serving, those we're taking the gospel to, that they may have open hearts and minds.
I met a man at Sister Cecilia's old folks home in Belize City, a worker, he had a confusing name. He was in the States for a while, got in trouble with gangs and drugs. Now he's back here and is still living in that kind of situation. He's a very smart guy. Not wise, but smart. I had a long conversation with him about my faith and about the meaning of life and what we're being taught by the world and how it corrupts us. Pray for him too, I may play basketball with him soon...
I now have a few days off before my next trip. The last two trips were considered the hardest of the summer and I was on both of them. One was in a totally new country and the other with 85 students while we worked with another missions program. I will be going out to Caye Caulker for a night or two of relaxation, then back to set up next week's trip with my cousin Matt.
I hope my church family in Moberly is doing well, pastor James, Ken and family, Norma and Robbie Hall, Nita and Roberta Harris, Delores and Shirley, ect... I miss you and worshipping with you. It's rare I ever find a piano suitable to play down here. I also hope my parents are doing fine, I got and email from them a couple days back. God Bless.
This past week I was assisting in a trip with Group Work Camps. Praying Pelican teamed up with Group Work Camps, the largest short term missions organization in the U.S. to bring 85 students to Belize City. The teams split and worked at three different churches in the area, serving in construction at the local churches and homes of those in need affiliated with the churches. It was a long week, and lots of work was involved. I was stationed at the Faber's road site for the entire week. The team I lead worked on the beginnings of a new fence around the church, building the foundation. They also served by connecting with a single mother of 11 children across the street from the church. They repaired leaks in her roof, painted the house inside and out, and put a new front door on her house.
One of the relationships I formed this week was with a pastor named John Mendes. He was the contractor for the fence my team worked on. He's a 71 year old pastor at a little Baptist church in town. He's actually retired, but is pastoring on request for a church in need. He's an amazing man of God with a servant's heart and a sense of humor like no other. He's living in poverty, riding his bike wherever he goes and is an example to us all that no matter what we're going through, we can give glory to God and live for him. I will be visiting him at his church this week and hopefully be setting up a trip for him next summer!
The poverty in some of the villages we're working in is astounding down here. Pray for the people we're serving, those we're taking the gospel to, that they may have open hearts and minds.
I met a man at Sister Cecilia's old folks home in Belize City, a worker, he had a confusing name. He was in the States for a while, got in trouble with gangs and drugs. Now he's back here and is still living in that kind of situation. He's a very smart guy. Not wise, but smart. I had a long conversation with him about my faith and about the meaning of life and what we're being taught by the world and how it corrupts us. Pray for him too, I may play basketball with him soon...
I now have a few days off before my next trip. The last two trips were considered the hardest of the summer and I was on both of them. One was in a totally new country and the other with 85 students while we worked with another missions program. I will be going out to Caye Caulker for a night or two of relaxation, then back to set up next week's trip with my cousin Matt.
I hope my church family in Moberly is doing well, pastor James, Ken and family, Norma and Robbie Hall, Nita and Roberta Harris, Delores and Shirley, ect... I miss you and worshipping with you. It's rare I ever find a piano suitable to play down here. I also hope my parents are doing fine, I got and email from them a couple days back. God Bless.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Edinbrook church / Jamaica Missions
Well, it's Monday night, June 19th. I'm in a Miami hotel with Jason Pfingsten, my cousin and founder of Praying Pelican Missions. We recently finished our first trip to Jamaica. This past week we lead a group of 37 students and 8 adults from Edinbrook Baptist church (Minneapolis, MN) in ministry near May Pen Jamaica. The team divided into two groups to partner with two Baptist churches in small villages near May Pen (Chateau and Rosewell, Jamaica W.I.). The ministry the team was involved in was construction projects including painting, spreading of fill dirt, rendering of a cement finish on the church and landscaping work. The students put on a VBS in both villages in the afternoons. It was a good week of ministry. A lot of work was done and the team left the congregations at Rosewell and Chateau blessed and renewed in their excitement for Christ. The churches partnered together to hold evangelistic services on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
My experience this past week was a very good one. I was delegated a large clump of responsibility, being asked to be in charge of the whole Chateau group (19 students, 4 adults). I was on site with the team the whole time and struggled through a few bumps in the road, typical for starting out with something like that during our first Jamaica trip. Overall the youth group was fun and succeeded in their mission. A number of lives were changed on the trip, including at least 1 dedication to living for God.
The team finished up their time in Jamaica by traveling to Ocho Rios and going to Dunn's River falls. They are currently on their way back to Minneapolis, MN, and planning on arriving home around midnight.
Jason P. and I are on our way to Belize in the morning. It's been a challenging week, but a week of learning, growing and excitement. The next trip i'm on in Belize is a group of 85 high school students from Group Work Camps (the largest short term missions organization in the U.S.). They will be divided into 3 different ministry sites in Belize City. Pray for safe travel of the students and leaders, for our PPM staff, and for successful tangible results.
My experience this past week was a very good one. I was delegated a large clump of responsibility, being asked to be in charge of the whole Chateau group (19 students, 4 adults). I was on site with the team the whole time and struggled through a few bumps in the road, typical for starting out with something like that during our first Jamaica trip. Overall the youth group was fun and succeeded in their mission. A number of lives were changed on the trip, including at least 1 dedication to living for God.
The team finished up their time in Jamaica by traveling to Ocho Rios and going to Dunn's River falls. They are currently on their way back to Minneapolis, MN, and planning on arriving home around midnight.
Jason P. and I are on our way to Belize in the morning. It's been a challenging week, but a week of learning, growing and excitement. The next trip i'm on in Belize is a group of 85 high school students from Group Work Camps (the largest short term missions organization in the U.S.). They will be divided into 3 different ministry sites in Belize City. Pray for safe travel of the students and leaders, for our PPM staff, and for successful tangible results.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Praying Pelican Staff retreat
This past weekend, the 4th-6th of May, I traveled far north to Duluth, MN for a Praying Pelican staff retreat. It was an amazing time of fellowship, friendship, and training. We prepared for our summer ministry in Belize and built relationships with other staff members who we hadn't yet met or hadn't seen for quite some time. We stayed at a house on "the point" in Duluth, MN. It's a small island in Duluth with a residential neighborhood. One of our staff member's provided the nice size house for us all to stay at while we were there. It was cold and rainy all weekend, but we remained focused and got a lot done and also had a lot of fun. I'm leaving for Jamaica on June 8th, and it can't come fast enough.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Terrill Road Freewill Baptist / Praying Pelican retreat.
I work with a Freewill Baptist church near my school. I was raised Pentecostal, took membership with the Free Methodist church, and am currently ministering in a Freewill Baptist church while attending a Restoration Movement school. So clearly I am all over the board denomination-wise. I closely associate my beliefs with the Free Methodist church, along with the Christian church's dedication to Biblical authority and Christian Unity.
My current ministry at Terrill road Freewill Baptist church is two fold. I have been serving as the worship minister on Sunday mornings and evenings, leading in songs and praises. On Sunday evenings I have been helping lead prayer meetings. Jerrod Tune also serves at the church on Sunday evenings, and preaching occasionally. I have been given the opportunity to preach a couple times as well. Our church is small. Small but growing. When I began attending in September there was on average about 10 people in our Sunday morning assembly. Since that time, Pastor James Wilson has inspired the congregation with Biblical preaching and we've grown to nearly 20 on Sunday mornings. We now have an average of 6 college students coming consistently. Our Sunday night group usual consists of 6 or 7, and we've grown into more of a tight knit small group. There is a school at the church, a Christian Academy, existing of 30 students. We usually have kids on Sunday morning, with the Kid's church minister changing by the week.
The church is growing. Pray for our congregation as summer nears. I will be traveling to Belize in early June for a summer ministry internship. Jerrod will be staying around for summer school and then going home for the summer as well, and the rest of our college students will be going home. Pray that the congregation stays encouraged and continues to grow over the summer.
Next weekend, the first weekend in May, I will be traveling to Duluth, MN. Praying Pelican Missions (PPM) headquarters is located there. We're having an all-staff weekend retreat. We will be preparing for our summer ministry through training and fellowship. Pray that God prepares our hearts and minds, fully equipping us for our service.
My current ministry at Terrill road Freewill Baptist church is two fold. I have been serving as the worship minister on Sunday mornings and evenings, leading in songs and praises. On Sunday evenings I have been helping lead prayer meetings. Jerrod Tune also serves at the church on Sunday evenings, and preaching occasionally. I have been given the opportunity to preach a couple times as well. Our church is small. Small but growing. When I began attending in September there was on average about 10 people in our Sunday morning assembly. Since that time, Pastor James Wilson has inspired the congregation with Biblical preaching and we've grown to nearly 20 on Sunday mornings. We now have an average of 6 college students coming consistently. Our Sunday night group usual consists of 6 or 7, and we've grown into more of a tight knit small group. There is a school at the church, a Christian Academy, existing of 30 students. We usually have kids on Sunday morning, with the Kid's church minister changing by the week.
The church is growing. Pray for our congregation as summer nears. I will be traveling to Belize in early June for a summer ministry internship. Jerrod will be staying around for summer school and then going home for the summer as well, and the rest of our college students will be going home. Pray that the congregation stays encouraged and continues to grow over the summer.
Next weekend, the first weekend in May, I will be traveling to Duluth, MN. Praying Pelican Missions (PPM) headquarters is located there. We're having an all-staff weekend retreat. We will be preparing for our summer ministry through training and fellowship. Pray that God prepares our hearts and minds, fully equipping us for our service.
Friday, April 27, 2007
My summer in Belize is nearing...
Most of you already know that this summer i'll be traveling to Belize, Central America, with Praying Pelican Missions. I began working with PPM in 2004, when I was a team member on a trip to Bermudian Landing with my brother Josh's youth group from Minneapolis. Last summer (2006) I worked as a summer intern for three weeks. This summer i'll be doing an official internship with Praying Pelican. I'll be in Belize for ten weeks; working with a variety of teams from various denominations, and numerous church bodies in Belize. Our leadership staff is very excited about the things that are going on in Belize. Many churches and teams have had impactful trips and are continuing to work in ministry with churches in Belize.
As a staff member with Praying Pelican, I am a servant. As Paul himself declared in Romans 1:1 "a bond-servant of Christ, set apart for the gospel of God." Our staff exists to set up successful short term mission trips for Unites States churches, who team with a local church ( in Belize). The teams we lead soak in the culture, develop new relationships, perform short term ministry programs, dive into service projects, and most importantly share the gospel message- often becoming a catalyst for something greater.
This web log will give me a better way to communicate to all of you- my family, friends, and brethren in Christ. I will keep you informed on what's going on throughout the summer. I am going to try to post a new blog at least once a week. That way I can inform you on what the team is like that I have been working with during that week, what kind of ministry they're doing, where they are, and how their ministry is going. I'll be able to share any prayer requests with you, and share any other thoughts I have.
Thank you for your support of my ministry. God has blessed me in so many ways, and He is so good! I will be posting another entry soon on my current ministry in Missouri with Terrill Road Freewill Baptist Church, and on my preparation for our summer ministry in Belize.
You better Belize it!
In Christ,
Jon Nelson
As a staff member with Praying Pelican, I am a servant. As Paul himself declared in Romans 1:1 "a bond-servant of Christ, set apart for the gospel of God." Our staff exists to set up successful short term mission trips for Unites States churches, who team with a local church ( in Belize). The teams we lead soak in the culture, develop new relationships, perform short term ministry programs, dive into service projects, and most importantly share the gospel message- often becoming a catalyst for something greater.
This web log will give me a better way to communicate to all of you- my family, friends, and brethren in Christ. I will keep you informed on what's going on throughout the summer. I am going to try to post a new blog at least once a week. That way I can inform you on what the team is like that I have been working with during that week, what kind of ministry they're doing, where they are, and how their ministry is going. I'll be able to share any prayer requests with you, and share any other thoughts I have.
Thank you for your support of my ministry. God has blessed me in so many ways, and He is so good! I will be posting another entry soon on my current ministry in Missouri with Terrill Road Freewill Baptist Church, and on my preparation for our summer ministry in Belize.
You better Belize it!
In Christ,
Jon Nelson
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