Las Animas Work & Witness Trip Report
Summary Report
July 23-29, 2007
Report Date: August 16, 2007
Project Objectives:
- To assist Las Animas First Church with the completion of multiple projects in their sanctuary and fellowship hall.
- To love and encourage our brothers and sisters in reaching out to their community with the love of Christ.
- To be the Body of Christ in Action in the town of
Team Members
· Beth Bennett
· Chase Bennett
· Noel Bennett
· Jim Dewey
· Karen Dewey
· Gale Green
· Tim Harter
· Dan Smith
· Debbie Smith
· Rod Speed
· Curtis Wood
· Kim Wood
· Melissa Wood
· Ryan Wood
· Derek Winkler, Work Project Coordinator
· Janette Mikatich, Team Chaplain
Additional manpower provided by Pastor Peter Wybenga and David Abericio of Las Animas First and Pastor Brian Williams and the youth from La Junta First.
Project Highlights:
- Repaired drywall in women’s restroom
- Installed closet doors in nursery & women’s restroom
- Cut & installed molding and baseboard in nursery and fellowship hall
- Drywall finished exit door in fellowship hall
- Handmade and installed doors for storage area in fellowship hall
- Made and installed shelves for kitchen closet
- Cut kitchen counter to size for repositioning of refrigerator and freezer
- Handmade staircase and railing in fellowship hall
- Tiled entry, stairs and landing in sanctuary
- Built or completed three window seats in sanctuary
- Made three new window sills, sanded, stained & installed
- Installed doors in closet and sound booth in sanctuary
- Mudded, textured and painted sound booth
- Made, stained and installed window and door frame in sound booth
- Pulled weeds and completed landscaping projects
- Installed can lights in sanctuary ceiling
- Replaced damaged ceiling tiles in fellowship hall
- Completed installation of handicap ramp railing
- Polyurethaned hand rail on new stairs and handicap ramp
- Completed platform in sanctuary
- Installed cabinets in Sunday School office
- General clean up and various smaller work projects
- Shared meals with our brothers and sisters from Las Animas and La Junta
- Led a prayer walk through the buildings upon completion of work projects
- Worshipped with Las Animas First on Sunday morning
- Fellowshipped with community members following Sunday service
Report Summary:
Our brothers and sisters at Las Animas First began an ambitious building project several years ago. Many obstacles stood in the way of completion, including the sudden departure of their contractor and back-to-back winter snow storms, which caused significant financial setbacks among otherwise generous donors. The congregation also decreased in numbers due to families choosing to relocate outside the area during the past year. Completion of the project seemed an insurmountable task, but with God all things are possible!
I was awed by the team that God brought together for this Work & Witness effort. As Pastor Peter would later describe during Sunday services, “It was amazing to see all of the various projects going on at once with no apparent leader directing the projects.” The glory belongs to the Lord who brought together skilled construction workers, an electrician, a drywaller, painters, woodworkers, tile workers, people with a willing heart to serve in any capacity, people with natural abilities of listening and supporting others, prayer warriors, and children who were helpful beyond their years and a true joy to watch serving others with joyful hearts. God also provided additional hearts and hands from both Las Animas and La Junta First churches.
Several team members stayed in the homes of members of the church where special friendships were formed. I can personally speak to the warm and welcoming hospitality extended to me by my sister in Christ, Penny. Other church members lovingly prepared and served us wonderful meals and we were blessed by getting to know those who joyfully filled this need on multiple occasions throughout the week, like sisters Ruthie and Reata. Brother David worked faithfully alongside us for the majority of the week and willingly completed a small “punch list” upon our departure.
Following our Saturday evening prayer walk around the church, Pastor Peter and Jeannie Wybenga graciously opened their turn-of-the-century home to all of us for a personally guided tour and history lesson. Pastor Brian Williams of La Junta First had it laid on his heart to get his congregation involved in serving locally as well. Their youth group worked alongside us one day and their missions-minded members prepared and served us a delicious full course meal on Friday evening.
In a small town like Las Animas the influx of a group of folks from “the big city” peaks curiosity. The traffic passing by the church throughout the week grew as the number of vehicles parked outside increased with the arrival of additional team members. Our prayer is that our presence ignited hope of what is to come, not just physically, but spiritually as well. Pastor Peter shared with us on Sunday that he sensed a spiritual darkness being lifted day-by-day and that by Sunday it had been replaced by a Spirit of hope. Praise the Lord!
The vision of the church is to eventually open up as a community movie house on Friday evenings, since there is no theatre in town. All that is left to accomplish is the purchase and installation of carpet in the sanctuary, the selection and installation of sound system equipment and the refurbishing of the seating, which can be done at no cost by the residents of the local prison. Is God calling you to be involved in the completion of this work?
For many of our team members, this was their very first Work & Witness experience. Three team members chose to spend their birthdays in service to the Lord and two families chose to spend at least a portion of their vacations being a blessing to others. There are some amazing stories about how God called the various team members to serve and what He has done in their lives as a result of their obedience to His calling. It is my hope that you will take the time to ask them about their personal experiences and prayerfully consider joining a future Work & Witness team.
Missionary Janette
Prayer Requests:
1. That God would provide the resources to complete the pending projects
2. That the Lord would bless Pastor Peter and Jeannie at this time of their retirement from the ministry
3. That the Holy Spirit would lead the selection process for a new pastor
4. For a Spirit of hope and joyful anticipation to remain among the current members of Las Animas First and that there be a recognition and an empowerment to reach out to their local community with the love of Christ
For God’s continued blessings to be poured out on all those who served so faithfully, in any capacity, during this W&W trip.
