FYI on return to GCC. Nica Delta Flight 370 arrives around 1:20 pm on friday in Atlanta. They will have to clear customs, get luggage and to the curb. I predict 2:30 to 3:00 before we leave Atlanta. Atlanta traffic is bad but brutal on fridays after lunch. Given we stop for bathroom and snack I expect to arrive at Gaston Community Church around 7 PM. If you need more exact time of arrival call my cell late in day friday 704-578-1647.

Hi Joe and Amy, got your message and will pass along. Hi Jeff Owen, we talked favorably about you last night and hope you come on the trip next year if we do it again.
This is probably the last post before our return to Atlanta and Gastonia

Greetings to all of you. We are praying for you. Julie, we miss you so much. We'll eat sushi and cupcakes upon your return. We love you.

Everyone continues to work hard. Mostly doing cement and painting. Also doing some VBS events, etc. Hard work, lots of sweat, great devotions, well-fed, good teamwork. Pray that we finish well together as a team because i has truly been an awesome 7 days and we don´t the enemy of Christ to put any kind of damper on this good week. Also, if you want to write to anyone please do so here and I am relaying info to them, and they like to hear from you Leann, I got your message for Lyndsay and will relay to her at lunch time. Pastor Mark

Thanks Mark for all the updates. Sounds like you all are having a great time while growing and sharing in Christ. Let everyone know that we are praying and thinking about them. Let Lyndsay know that we miss her and can't wait to see her. Be safe and lots of love......Leann

It is Monday, August 2 in the morning and I have picked up all the comments from Jeff, Tom, JoAnn, Martha, and Patricia and I have written them down and I will pass those on to the respective people. Keep writing and I will be the mailman. I will also give the Stoker´s an update on Sylvia.
Sorry I cannot respond everyday, but will keep sending out updates every other day. I sent out a facebook message and will continue to check the Gaston Community Church website. Here is part of an update I put on FACEBOOK earlier today. ¨¨We had worship yesterday morning, and then some fun events in the afternoon as a team...including our own ¨Amazing Race¨ in Granada and a boat ride on Lake Nicaragua ... a couple of hours from where ¨Survivor¨ is currently being filmed. Anyway, this is an amazing team and one of the best orchestrated mission trips ever. I hope this will become an annual trip for Gaston Community Church, and that within the next few years 50% of our church will have made this trip. I simply cannot describe the caliber of leadership that is happening right now on this team. Young Life Leadership is some of the best in the world. Pratt and Ashley are, well, stunning in what they are putting together, and Trey has really led us in remarkable ways. Un...believable! Court and the other leaders and youth are simply off the charts. I´ve never seen anything quite like what I am witnessing along with the caliber of leadership and enthusiasm of the Nicaraguans. Pure joy!

Hi Mark , Thank you for the updates ! It sounds like you all are doing well and working hard. We are missing Joshua ,but know he is where the Lord wants him to be this week. Just one reminder to him he has medication with him to be taken on Tuesday. If he forgets Tuesday take as soon as possible. Thanks for passing that on. Give our love to him and Carole-Anne.

Thanks Martha for reminding us. Yes today is Jonathan Pratt Butlers 30th birthday! Yes 30 years young is how you say your age now! It should be special day as many took gifts, wrote special verses and cards for the birthday boy. It will be fun day of surprise and celebration!

Today is the Lord's Day and our team is off today. They will celebrate this day with a great message from Pastor Mark. I am sure brother Pratt will have some inspired words from God as well. They travel to Mombacho and get a canopy tour as well. Lots of free time to relax and spend time with God is in store today. It sounds like the team is having a great trip. All the prayers are paying off. God Bless and we miss you all!

Pray for GCC today as Deric Smyre shares Gods word with us. Pray for Silva Bilquist as she recovers from brief stay at hospital. She is doing good and misses her grandson Andrew & granddaughter Sarah who are on the trip.

thanks for the updates that you are sending. praying for everyone on the team and beyond. can't wait to see pics when ya'll return. tell pratt happy birthday from GCC.

To Lauren Evans and the entire mission team. Sounds like you all are excited to be there and getting a lot of work done. We are praying for each of you and for the work you are doing. Love you and miss you!

Mama, Daddy, and Lindsay

Yes, anyone can post comments. Once they are posted they are sent to me to approve (so that anything inappropriate is not displayed) and once approved, appears as the next comment.

It is Saturday morning and the GCC teams are all back to work. We are in three teams. One teams is painting in the high school classrooms, and two teams are making concrete... sifting the sand through sreen wire boxes, mixing the cement, putting the cement on the concrete blocks. We are tying rebar together with wires as well. Then, in the afternoons we do recreational games with the children. High energy, high humidity, good fun. Language barrier is always a challenge, but smiles and getting involved always helps make connections. Our youth on this team and our leaders are in a word ... amazing. I have heard some of the best testimonies and devotions I have ever heard in my whole life. We have much to praise God about. I know you may not be getting as many updates as you would like, but we do not have internet access at the campground we are stayin in, so I have to go to this little internet station when we come in to town. Pay a little money for about 30 minutes and get to give out this update. This is already proving to be a life changing event, and we praise God for your prayers and the support you have given to us. Everyone is really doing well. Working hard, having many devotions, and playing hard too. Pray we stay encouraged and that we continue to bond together as a team for the glory of JESUS. If I understand TOM and JEFF, people can post comments on this website, and I can communicate messages back to the team. IF I am correct, send some messages, and I will relay to others. Please pray for JEANNE ALLF´s family as her uncle passed away yesterday. I hope all is well with everyone of you. In JESUS, PASTOR MARK

we had a good flight to Managua. Pratt and Ashley have been amazing hosts. Today we went to the University of Central America and interacted with the English students. Fabulous experience and great fun as well. This afternoon our team was divided into three groups and have begun a variety of projects, including brick masonry to upgrade a couple of homes. The team I am on began painting in a high school. It has been a positive experience for all. The youth are doing a wonderful job, and team unity is excellent. Devotion times are extremely helpful. Trey has done an excellent work in putting things together in conjunction with Courtney and Pratt and Ashley. Jesus is Lord. We still encourage prayers for spiritual engagement, and good wholesome interaction with our new Nicaragua. In closing, we cannot thank Jeff Owen enough for driving us to Atlanta. All is well.
Pastor Mark

Well I got the team to the airport in Atlanta around 3. It was a mad luggage sort and rush off to the gate. All went well and they have spent their 1st night with the Butler's in Nicaragua.

It was a neat to watch as we hit the road. All were filled with excitement and nerves. I saw many faces that reflected a joy to be serving the Lord & others. Trey had them all break into small groups and rearrange seating on the way down. They began to share, pray and read scripture within this group. I enjoyed hearing them discuss how they hoped to grow in the days ahead. So all is well and will let you know more when I hear from them. We should have a few new pictures up later as well. God Bless!

Today the team begins final preparations and getting all details ready for tomorrows trip.

A special thanks to our valuable team member Tammy Baker. She is our bookkeeper and has kept everyones funds straight. Thanks Tammy!

Thank you Tom Kirkham for making it possible to post updates. It was a blessed day yesterday as we saw the group prepare to hit the mission field this week!

Thank you for your prayers for our mission team and our first mission trip overseas by Gaston Community Church and friends.