Every spring, the REVIVE Carnival is not only a fundraiser for the REVIVE program, but it also provides a great social opportunity for NorthWood families and those from the surrounding community.

This year, the REVIVE Carnival raised $10,542.40 for a very important cause.  Families with special needs children receive such a blessing through the REVIVE Program.  Your continued support means another year’s worth of ministry will go out to these very appreciative families.

3/19/11 11:30am in Hanoi…We just arrived back into Hanoi from our overnight train originating in Loa Cai.  We spent our last day in Northern Vietnam with the farmers, the kids, and with the Hmong.

The adult group spent the morning trekking through mud in the mountain farmland to visit with farmer’s association and several farmers to build relationships and learn more about their families and their farms.  We learned that the winter was very harsh and many farmers lost their valued water buffalos to the cold temperatures.  Water buffalo are fair-weathered animals that can die from hypothermia at temperatures below 10 degrees celsius.  GVI and NorthWood have assisted farmers for the last two years by extending business loans through the farmer’s association to allow them to buy seeds, fertilizer, water buffalo, and also supplies to build corrals to keep the water buffalo out of the inclement weather.  GVI loans have allowed farmers to buy 22 water buffalos and build 16 corrals over the last two years.  The farmer’s association was pleased to report that no animals housed in the corrals died during the winter that saw 59 unprotected water buffalo die in the area.  The farmers use the loans to plant crops or work the fields to improve the crops planted.  The loans are repaid from the crops harvested or from the offspring of the water buffalo sold to other farmers.

Here is a proud farm owner’s wife next to her water buffalo donated by Kathy Hindman.  This family already owns one water buffalo, but a second will allow them to properly work the 10 plots of land that the 7 families living on this family maintain.

This is the future home of the corral that is being built to protect their water buffalos.  The families are very appreciative to the help from GVI and NorthWood.

Here is the home to another happy water buffalo, along with his owner.

Mark Scott posing with the village leader, who guided us through his village and introduced us to the families that are taking advantage of the GVI sponsored business loans.

Much to my disappointment, we weren’t able to build any corrals.  The rain prevented us from our construction work on this trip.  I told many of my friends that I would return with a new skill in case there was ever a need to help build a mud-walled, tin roof structure in the states.  I guess this will have to wait for my next trip to Bac Ha…

We don’t realize how much we have and how comfortable we are.  It is so rewarding to share our abundant resources with others.  They don’t ask for our help, which makes these opportunities so much more fulfilling.  We share our time, our energy, and our love with the farmers.  God blesses all of us in different ways.  I believe that we can help these beautiful people see that we love them and through these relationships the kingdom will grow.

The afternoon was spent at Ta Chai Middle School teaching 2 classes of 40 8th and 9th grade students English.  We had a great time with these children, playing games and teaching them verbs and sentences.  We used lots of props including beanbags, starbursts, and flying monkeys!  We will definitely be back again to spend time with these wonderful kids.

The students had a play day yesterday.  They went hiking and site-seeing, including visiting a Hmong village.  Susan Kimmel has some great video of the music and dancing at the village.  I am sure that this video will be posted soon.

The combined groups met up with a GVI group from Corpus Christi coming back from Sapa.  We all joined up on the night train back to Hanoi that arrived at 5am this morning.  Today is a day of relaxing and inspirational time reflecting on our trip up north.

Due to the tragedy in Japan, the youth group flights have be changed to avoid connecting through Tokyo.  This has delayed their return by a couple of days, but the team is very excited to spend a few extra days in Hanoi.  They will be visiting SS3 and Burla orphanages today and tomorrow, then spending time in Hanoi building more relationships and building the kingdom throughout Vietnam.

Please pray for the team from Corpus Christi, and Mark & Vicky Scott, who will be flying out today and tomorrow through Tokyo.  May God watch over them and allow for safe passage through Tokyo and all the way home.  Please also pray all of the people of Japan to find the strength and guidance through this catastrophe.

The adult team spent the morning back at Nam Mon primary school teaching English, learning Vietnamese and playing games with the students.

Mark and Vicky Scott built a special bond with the kids at Nam Mon primary school.

Both teams combined in the afternoon at Nam Mon primary playing games with the kids.  Fruit Loops necklaces, colored pipe cleaners and play dough were the big hit with the students and teacher alike. The Fruit Loops made for a great snack as well!

It has been a great week in Bac Ha and Nam Mon to laugh, play, teach and just spend time with the kids, teachers and famers. The excitement and energy from the team is very apparent in all of the activities.  Our love for the people of Vietnam spreads such joy to this part of the world. If we can change the life of just one of these people, then our journey has been a success.

3/16/11 8pm…The skies have opened up and the rain keeps coming down.  While the wet weather has prevented us from doing some of the work that we had planned, such as paving the courtyard at the middle school for the youth group, or building corrals for the audit group, it has not kept us from spending time with the children of Nam Mon.  The youth group spent yesterday setting up the computer lab at the middle school, then playing with the kids at the school.  Today both groups spent the day at the primary school.  We joined the community in recognizing and celebrating the Nam Mon primary school’s award for education excellence based on providing the necessary facilities, teachers and results.

Vicky Scott presented a picture of Central High School to the principal of Nam Mon, Mr. Ha.  The picture was signed with words of congratulations and recognition of the outstanding award.

The members of the Nam Mon School District, Nam Mon Primary School principal, vice principal, and teachers, GVI members, and the teams from NorthWood celebrate Nam Mon’s recognition award.

We also presented them with a banner signed by many of the members of NorthWood.

The youth group spent the day with the kids, handing out stickers, painting fingernails, playing games and sharing their love with the students of Nam Mon primary school.

With temps in the 40’s at night and 50’s during the day, and with continual rain, it has made for some chilly conditions, especially the youth group’s residence in Bac Ha.  The food is great, the family serving the group is wonderful, and the area is beautiful.   The team stayed warm at night with the blankets and pads provided.  “Most” got warm showers… and everyone’s spirits are great.  We are so fortunate with our lives in the U.S., and we are so lucky to be able to travel to this great country and share our love for the wonderful people of Vietnam.  Jesus taught us that the Kingdom is first internal then external.  “No one will say, ‘Look here!’ or ‘There!’ For you see, the kingdom of God is among you.” Luke 17:21.  Our simple presence shows all of the people of Vietnam God’s love for them, starting on the inside.

Nam Mon community leaders will hold an official event on March 16, 2011 to mark the prestigious occasion of receiving the Certificate, which demonstrates attainment of the first national standard. Glocal Ventures representatives have been invited to deliver speeches to celebrate the partnership between the international NGO, government entities and the community.

NorthWood Church began partnering with Nam Mon Primary School I to improve its infrastructure by installing a water filtration system and teaching health and hygiene classes in October 2009. This was followed by building a new kitchen, paving the school yard, providing a computer lab and rebuilding the school’s gate and main entrance and donating winter coats.

Nam Mon Primary School I is the third school to meet national standards as a result of efforts by Glocal Ventures volunteer partners. Cool River Church in Superior, Colorado has helped Ta Chai Middle School and Bao Nhai Middle School to meet the national standard in 2008 and 2010, primarily by donating and installing computer labs and also by donating water filtration systems.

A volunteer team from NorthWood is in Lao Cai to build buffalo corrals, teach English, Health and Hygiene and monitor a microloan program.

The First National Standard recognizes the efforts of local people and the district government in creating better education services and a better academic environment for students that meet goals outlined in the national strategy. It is based on five criteria: management, teacher capability, educational development, educational quality and infrastructure. GVI has focused its efforts at improving the infrastructure of several Lao Cai schools through volunteer activities such as donating computer labs, providing running water, building latrines and paving school yards.

The First National Standard describes basic standards for overall quality in education. The Second National Standard describes higher benchmarks aimed at motivating schools to be competitive with regional (eg. ASEAN) and international academic standards.

Both groups make it to Vietnam…

3/15/11 3pm in Bac Ha.  I am happy to report that all of the travelers that made the trip are now in Vietnam.  The youth group had a long wait in Hong Kong, but they all got on the afternoon flight to Hanoi.  We were able to experience the excitement of Hanoi, including shopping and interacting with the people on the street.  Nick Sage took Ryan King and Colin King on a tour of the area and to local Western favorite, El Frescos.  We’re in Vietnam, but it is still nice to have our comfort food after the long travel.  The rest of the group went to another local favorite, called Joma’s.  Great coffee, sandwiches and desserts.  We were able to hit a few shops to get some great deals before heading for the train station.

We took the night train from Hanoi to Loa Cai. Four people to a “birth” and about 6 births to a car.  Everyone was tired as we got settled in. Several were asleep before we left the station, the rest were out soon after.  The train takes about 7 hours to get to Lao Cai. It was very quiet throughout the night and most reports were that they sleep long and hard through the ride.

Once we arrived in Loa Cai, we unloaded the train and headed for shuttle buses to take us to Bac Ha. The switchbacks up the mountain are a bit scary and caused a few weak stomachs, but we all made it to Bac Ha. The youth group is staying at an awesome place that has lofted rooms that gives the kids a great atmosphere to hang out with each other and to reflect on their experiences.  We had a big breakfast before splitting up and beginning our journey to change the lives of those that we can interact with.

Here is the youth team in Bac Ha, ready to go. They will be spending several days at the middle school (grades 5 – 8), putting in a cement courtyard and installing a computer lab.

Here is where the youth group is staying. The kids and adult leaders are very excited about their home for the next 4 days.

The adult team spent the day visiting farmer’s homes to check on their newly built water buffalo corrals.  The day was rainy, so the trails were muddy and the shuttle bus was not able to make it up the mountain, so we hiked it in the rain and mud.

Here is one of the water buffalo corrals that we assisted in building. One of the neighbors came by and asked if we would be willing to build her family one as well.  The excitement is building in the area.

Our plans are changing slightly due to the rainy weather. We will still have plenty of time to interact with the farmers, their children, and the kids and teachers at the Nam Mon schools elementary and middle schools.  Flexibility continues to be the theme of the trip.

Our Trip to Vietnam…a rough start

The Student Group and the Education/Water/Health/Economics Group had a setback when we got the call in the middle of the night Thursday to inform us that our flight had been canceled.  Our first thought was mechanical or weather issues were going to cause us problems.  We never imaged that the actual reason was a devastating earthquake near our connecting city of Tokyo.  Our thoughts immediately shifted our from frustration to sadness and  prayers for those impacted by the earthquake and tsunami; both victims and their families.  God please help those trapped, injured or separated from their loved ones.  Give the survivors strength to help each other.  Take those who lost their lives into your kingdom and give peace to those who have lost loved ones.

Rather than accepting the situation and giving in, our groups immediately began looking for alternate routes to Hanoi.  Vicky Scott, Jill Roberts, Cathy Rathert, Dennis Jeffares and Brandon Smeltzer all put this into motion.  What seemed like a straightforward plan, became very complicated by full flights and multiple connections.  We went from confirmed to canceled, back to confirmed.  Even though the team was going to be separated for different segments, it looked as though we were booked; only one day delayed.  Then the message came that 75% of the group’s Hong Kong confirmed segment was dropped by the airline.  Vicky spent most of the night working with the airline to rework itineraries.  Good news in the end, all were once again confirmed.  The news at the airport the next day took another bad turn…almost half of the group’s Hong Kong segment was once again dropped.  The scramble is back on.  As I write this I am on a flight from Chicago to Los Angeles with 5 others, but it looks like at least 5 adults booked from the Education/Water/Health/Economics team are not going to make the flights. Pray for those of us that are confirmed to carry the love and messages to the children, teachers, and farmers in Bac Ha and Nam Mon.  We are in God’s hands now and we know that he has a plan for us, we just have to allow him to use us for this trip.

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And the challenges continue…

03/14/11 9am in Hong Kong.  Niki Roberts, Mike Richards, Matt Robertson, Ed McGlaston and Stan Waite did not make the trip. We are disappointed because we know how much they wanted to make this trip, and because of all of the plans to work with the families of Vietnam. We know that God has a plan for this trip and we continue to be flexible.

The rest of the two teams made it safely to Hong Kong. It was a long 16 hour flight, but we were very comfortable and most rested during the flight.  It was chaotic in Hong Kong with all of the flight changes over 5 different airlines.  Vicky Scott, Mark Scott and I made the morning flight to Hanoi, but the youth group, which had to be put on standby, did not make the early flight.  All of the adult leaders are with the group in Hong Kong and are working to confirm on the afternoon flight. As long as they get on this flight, then they will make it to Hanoi in time for the night train to Loa Cai.  We are praying that God watches over them and helps to get them to Hanoi in time to make the train. I don’t like leaving my son, or any of the rest of the group behind, but they are very safe and have plenty of adults with them.  If there it is any consolation, the Hong Kong airport is terrific.  I had to do the “OJ Simpson” run through the airport (sorry, those under 30 won’t understand this reference) to make the flight and saw hundreds of shops and restaurants to hang out while waiting for their flight.

Our new smaller adult team is regrouping to determine how to make the best use of our time.  We are not yet sure what luggage will make it to Hanoi as all of our education materials were packed in all 8 people’s luggage.  Once we get to Hanoi, we will assess our supplies and determine our plan.  We are operating under the motto of being flexible.  This will be the theme of this trip.  At a minimum, we should be able to build some water buffalo corrals and spend time with the kid at Nam Mon elementary school.  Even if that is all that we are able to accomplish, then we will be successful.

Please continue to pray for everyone on the trips.  If you’d like more information about upcoming trips, please go the Glocal tab on the website.

Happy Anniversary!

Last Saturday, over 60 volunteers at the Haltom City Senior Center celebrated the second anniversary of their work with the seniors.  Ministry coordinator Tim Pierce and over fifty NorthWood members joined Haltom City Mayor Bill Lanford, City Manager Tom Muir, Parks and Recreation Department Director Tom Henry and a capacity crowd at the Senior Center to celebrate this important occasion.

In honor of NorthWood volunteers’ dedicated service, Tom Henry announced the unveiling of a plaque in the flower garden that commemorates the dedicated service of all the NorthWood volunteers.  The park is adjacent to the Senior Center and was a barren field when NorthWood members started the process of turning it into a park for the seniors.  NorthWood youth planted hundreds of trees, bushes and flowers in the park to make a welcoming place for the seniors to relax or exercise.

The day wasn’t just about speeches and plaques, though.  It was about serving.  Over 60 volunteers served approximately 200 meals. Fifty-five of which were delivered in fifteen vehicles by our volunteers.

How did this ministry to Haltom City seniors begin? In his own words, Tim Pierce describes the birth of this incredible ministry:

“Two years ago, The men’s accountability group that meets almost every Saturday morning shared a vision. We were looking for an outlet that would allow us to give something back to the community. This is what happened.

In the fall of 2008 we discussed and decided that we wanted to make boxed lunches and hand them out once a month in Haltom City. We chose Haltom City because our church was heavily involved there with Home Makeovers, tutoring at The Academy of West Birdville, Kid’s Café, a Fall Festival, and other projects.

We did not know if we would hand the lunches out at a school, fire station, a park, or anywhere else for that matter. We just knew this is what we wanted to do.

At the Christmas lunch, Bobbi and I met face to face for the first time. In our conversation we talked about the boxed lunches. She thought we might be able to uses the center as our distribution point.

Our first meal was in February, 2009. It consisted of a sandwich, a bag of chips, a piece of fruit, and a bottle of water. There were 12 volunteers who served a total of around 20 lunches and took around 125 boxes to a homeless shelter.

This ministry is an example of what seeking God’s will in your life and obeying his direction can do. We have many new things lined up for 2011 and look forward to wherever God leads us.”

The new year promises many great things for the Haltom City Senior Center ministry.  From sprucing up houses to helping elderly folks with much needed yard work and housecleaning, to visiting the hospitalized and the lonely, the ministry is expanding to meet more of the seniors’ needs.

Serving at the Haltom City Senior Center is also a great opportunity for the entire family.  Adults are needed to cook and deliver meals while kids get an chance to serve the meals and converse with the seniors.

If you feel God is leading you to be a part of this vital ministry, or if you would like to know more, you can contact TimPierce@NorthWoodChurch.org.

If you get the chance to hear a testimony of what the Lord has done in one our student’s lives, you can almost always trace it back to a D-Now Weekend. This annual event serves as a cornerstone in the spiritual lives of most of our students. It is a chance where 7th-12th graders stay in host homes with college leaders, hear great teaching, worship the Father together, and have an absolute blast.

This year, D-Now 2011 is February 25-27. Worship will be led by David Gentiles and John Thornton will provide in-depth teaching. You do not want your teenager to miss out on one of the biggest events of the year!

To register your student click here. If you are interested in volunteering this weekend or have a question, please email SuzanneGardner@NorthWoodChurch.org.

Super Bowl Sunday from Northwood Church on Vimeo.

On February 6, Dallas will play host to the Super Bowl. Whether you are a Green Bay Packer “Cheesehead” or carry your own Pittsburgh Steelers “Terrible Towel”, show your team pride and competitive spirit by wearing your favorite team’s game-day apparel on Sunday, February 6.

Your team may be professional, college or university – just show off your collection of shirts, sweatshirts or jerseys.  They don’t have to be Super Bowl bound or even have a winning season!

Disclaimers:

#1 – Keep the trash talking to a minimum!  Red Raiders, Horned Frogs, Longhorns and Aggies are a very combustible mix.  Be respectful – keep it fun!

#2 – The Jordan Fowler Clause – okay, yes, any kind of football is fine, even if it’s soccer.  It can be any other sport as well.