Tanzanian Treasures & Unexpected Surprises

Our journey to Tanzania this year is taking us into the northern region of the country.  God’s handiwork in this area includes Mt. Kilimanjaro, the Ngorongoro Crater, and the Serengeti.

This journey has added “missionary” purposes.  Bekah Guess, 18-year-old daughter of Rev. David and Marcy Guess, Minerva, Ohio, traveled with us to further explore her sense of calling to missions.  She is using her budding photography skills to help us chronicle our safari as well as interview Safina (Children of Promise) sponsored children.  Also on our excursion are Rev. Scott and Deanna Compton and their 3-year-old daughter, Elliana, and 9-month old son, Ian,  from Mansfield, Ohio.  They have been selected by Global Missions of the Church of God to join the Tanzania mission team; this is their very first trip to Tanzania. They have assisted us interviewing the sponsored children, and as of this evening are in Babati, to meet with the Tanzanian team leaders Ben and Kelli Shular.

You can imagine our excitement when we all gathered together in the Detroit airport to make our journey across the Atlantic together.  One week prior, I had the opportunity to meet Elliana; suffice it to say, she is a beautiful little girl with a really sweet personality.  Both she and her brother, Ian, had some difficulties with their sleep patterns on the two days it took us to arrive in Tanzania.  They were little troupers as were their parents.  With 22-pound baby Ian strapped on her back, Deanna would frequently hold Elliana when she needed some reassuring. Both Deanna and Scott showed us that getting in a hurry was not always the best road to travel.

We arrived at 9:00 pm Saturday, Feb. 12, 2010 in the Kilimanjaro International Airport.  In Tanzania, the airlines moved a staircase out to the plane so we could deboard the plane.  Just as we pulled into the airport, God opened the skies and the rain fell in bucket loads!  We were now 2-days smelly and drenched from the rain.  The press of the mob at the Visa booth was daunting.  I finally caught the eye of an Immigration officer; he motioned for me to come around for the processing of our six passports.  Wonderful!  Poor baby Ian had to pay a $100 visa to get into the country; somehow that seems like a crime to me!!  With passports and visa stamps in hand, we got our luggage, got waved through customs and were met by Ben Shular and Ron and Carol Baker.  What a blessed site!  We arrive at our guest house about 10:30 or 11:00 pm.

The next morning we boarded the land rovers and headed to Meru for church.  I love worshipping in the village churches because, often, the people have only a drum, their hands, their voices and their passion for God to experience true worship.  We experienced the presence of God in singing Swahili songs, praising and worshipping the Lord.  A delightful experience occurred at the end of the service; I had heard of this, but never experienced it.  The pastor and platform guests led the way outside.  Once outside, we began forming a circle with each new person passing by everyone in the circle and shaking  each person’s hands.  The last ones in the line were Scott and Deanna Compton, Ian and Ellianna.  At first Elliana was shy in shaking hands…that is until she met some little children.  Her big beautiful smile lighted up her face.  I will treasure that experience alone as one of the most special experience we have had so far.  I have to wonder if she will remember this experience when she is a young lady.  I hope so.  The love of Christians is the same all over the world.  Who knows what impact this experience will have in the future or how many lives might be turned toward the Lord because of it.

We reconvened in the church to interview the children.  These children are delightful.  They may be young but they are dreaming big dreams for their futures.  Here are some of the occupations/professions they said they wanted to be:  doctor, lawyer, pastor, work with orphans, soccer player, teacher, pilot, and tourism specialist.  Doesn’t this encourage your soul? 

After church then the interviewing, it was time to eat lunch.  We enjoyed a goat stew over rice and a soda pop.  Then they brought a platter covered with a doilie.  What could this be?  First we were given Maasai blankets and beautiful cloth for sewing.  That was a very generous gift.  Then they removed the doilie from the covered platter.  There was a cake which one of the ladies had prepared and it was presented to me.  Ben, Ron and Carol explained to us how special this gift was because no one among our Safina families even owned an oven to bake a cake in.  Wow!  We cut the cake in small pieces so that everyone…children…parents…committee members and others could have a taste of this special treat.  What a way to end the Sunday worship/circle of community/thanked for something our sponsors make possible everyday by faithfully supporting the almost 900 children in Tanzania and 4,077 children around the world.  The next time you reach for a piece of cake I hope you will remember the sponsored children around the world and usher up a prayer for them and their families.

Linda Mason, Assistant Director, Children of Promise


P.S.  Tomorrow we will attempt to add pictures to our blog.  Traveling around the world is not an easy task.  Uploading photos this evening is taking a very long time and we pull out of Arusha at 5:30 am to make the 4 1/2 hour drive to Gelai where our Maasai sponsored children live.

Sponsors Meet their Children in Home Visits: Another Blessing from God

February 5, 2011

This was a day full of experiences with the children.  We spent the morning visiting the homes of about nine of the sponsored children.  The homes ranged from two-room cement block houses to tiny “apartments” where all of life occurs in one room.  In each case, we were warmly welcomed. 

Dale VanHoose was able to meet seven children sponsored by members of Meadow Park Church of God in Columbus, Ohio.  He also met the child that he and his wife, Barbara, sponsor here in La Ceiba.  The boy, Angel, was so excited to meet him.  We visited the tiny house where he and his mother live.  His mother was able to get a few moments off work in order to meet Dale and the group, and as we were leaving I asked her if it was okay if Angel accompanied us on our visits to the other homes during the morning.  She agreed, and as Angel jumped and ran with excitement to his babysitter across the street to let her know, we were once again reminded of how important the sponsors are to the children.  Angel accompanied Dale and the rest of us on our home visits.  We learned that he had never seen other parts of the city before.  His eyes were big as he took it all in.  It was a great morning for Dale and Angel.

There are so many stories surrounding these children we visited in their homes.  There is Wendell, who as a small boy, had a serious heart condition that looked like it would require surgery.  But the Lord healed him, and today he is completely well.  He told me his favorite thing to do in his free time is read the Bible.  He studies hard, and, I somehow have the feeling that he knows that his life was granted an extra chance for a divine purpose. 

There’s German Mena, sponsored by Gene and Kay Cahall.  German’s father abandoned his mother, and then, his mother gave him away as an infant.  A Christian woman in the Church of God in La Ceiba, took him in and is raising him.  She is no relation to German.  She loves him as her own.  German has some serious learning difficulties and challenging behaviors due to his abandonment and early years.  It was wonderful to see his happiness over the gifts that Gene and Kay sent to him through our visit.  Who knows where German would be today if God had not intervened on his behalf.

And then there was the wonderful meeting of Klairy Martinez and her sponsors, Paul and Marcia Lund.  The family has recently moved to the outskirts of La Ceiba into an area that is developing.  They were able to secure a small plot of land, and Klairy’s father has built a small, two-room house.  He took such pride in showing us his land, his home, and his well.  The meeting between the Lunds and Klairy’s family was a wonderful time.  Klairy loved the gifts the Lunds brought, and there was immediate rapport between the two families.  Klairy gave Paul and Marcia two photos from her childhood, and the exchanges between the two families were warm and close.  As we walked the small plot, observing the cultivation of yucca and the trees and plants that the family had planted, we were impressed with this father’s goals and plans for his family.  As members of the Church of God in La Ceiba for about 12 years, Klairy’s parents are the fruit of the church’s ministry here.  It was such a joy to hear their dreams and see them coming to fruition because of their hard work, sacrifice, and ambition.  A perfect conclusion to our home visits today.  the Lunds commented on how rewarding it is to partner with a family with so little, yet with so much ambition and drive.

After lunch, we interviewed the 53 children at the church.  Again, we were impressed with their dreams.  But, we were equally concerned for some of their living situations.  Few children here live with both parents.  Abandonment by fathers is common, and several of the children are orphans being raised by church people.  The church is so important in these children’s lives.  It serves as an anchor for them.  The sponsors are also an anchor that helps keep them in school, fed well, and connected to the community of believers that continually nurture and care for them. 

Here are some highlights from the interviews.

"What's the best thing that has happened in your life?"
*When I'm with my family.
*God healed me my heart (physically).
*Coming to church.
*Playing and eating.
*My mother.
*Being sponsored.
*That people love me.
*Meeting the Lord.
*All my family member are alive.
*When the program took us to Wendy's for Christmas.
*When my father is home.

The children also shared some of their heartbreaks when we asked "What is the most difficult thing in your life?"

*When my grandmother died.
*When my mother died.
*I don't have a father.
*When I am hungry.
*When my parents fight.
*When I had to leave some friends because they were a bad influence.
*My parents are separated.
*My father left us.
*My mother has a lot of back pain.
*Two of my brothers died.
*When my father died.
*When I get to see my parents.

These children are living the full range of experience possible in life.  Joys, sorrows, high points, low points.  And you walk beside them, encouraging them, offering help, and praying for them.  Thank you, sponsors.

Our time has come to a close in Honduras.  Tomorrow we will worship at the Church of God in La Ceiba, and then begin packing for the trip home.

It has been so good to have you with us.  I hope you'll make the next trip with COP - to Tanzania and Ghana with Linda Mason next week.  Get rested up.  There will be some exciting and heart-wrenching experiences.

Dr. Paul Maxfield
Executive Director

On to Honduras After Little or No Sleep

February 4, 2011

Leaving Jinotepe, Nicaragua, at 2:30 a.m., in order to make our 6:30 flight in Managua, the night was short; in fact, some of the group members didn’t actually go to sleep.  After two flights from Managua to El Salvador and on to San Pedro Sula, Honduras, we were greeted by Carolina Stewart, COP director in Honduras, and committee member, Jenny, at the airport in San Pedro Sula.  It was a challenge to get all of the luggage into the church van, but we somehow managed, due to the expert skill of our driver, Kelsey.

The drive from San Pedro Sula to La Ceiba is stunning.  The lush foliage set against the picturesque houses and farmland was so delightful.  A blown-out tired on the van provided some excitement.  Our driver handled the blowout well, and we were spared injuries or damage.  A repair shop just happened to be nearby, about 100 yards up the highway.  So, after our 12-year old repairmen changed the tire, we were on our way again.  We arrived in La Ceiba about 4:00 p.m.     After getting settled in our hotel, we enjoyed a meal together at a typical Honduras restaurant.

A long day, but a good day.  We are looking forward to all that we will experience in this short time in Honduras.

Paul Maxfield

Executive Director

A Day to Enjoy God's Handiwork

February 3, 2011

Today was set aside to enjoy the beauty and culture of Nicaragua.  We began with an hour-long boat cruise among the islets (small islands) on the shoreline of Lake Nicaragua, the fifth largest lake in the world.  We saw many islands with just one home on them, we fed monkeys who were the sole inhabitants of one island, and we marveled at some very luxurious private retreats situated on private islands.  The weather was beautiful, and the boat ride was smooth and enjoyable.

Our next stop was the Masaya volcano.  Some of us climbed to the top of a long series of steps (185 to be exact) where a cross adorned a lookout over the crater of the volcano and the surrounding countryside.  The volcano was actively producing sulfur and other gases, but no eruption is imminent at this time.  (We were safe!)

Lunch at a typical Nicaraguan restaurant was enjoyed, including a private concert by a marimba player.

In the city of Masaya, we were able to do a little shopping at a large artisan market, set inside the stone walls of a large colonial building.  Only the walls remain of the structure, but it provides a perfect place for artisans and souvenir vendors to sell their wares. 

The afternoon was completed with a visit to the Catarina lookout, a beautiful spot overlooking a volcanic crater, now a beautiful lake near the larger Lake Nicaragua.  Stunning views.

We arrived back in Jinotepe tired, but filled with memories and scenes that will remind us for many years of the wonderful time we have had in Nicaragua with the church and Children of Promise families.

Paul Maxfield
Executive Director

Blessed and Humbled in Nicaragua

February 2, 2011

The children came to the church yesterday afternoon to be interviewed individually.  The team talked with each child about their current situation and updated their information for our files.  The group talked about the interviews that evening, sharing the highlights from their time with the children one-on-one. 

The question “What is the best thing that has ever happened to you?” brought the following responses by the children in Nicaragua:

“Children of Promise.”

“Knowing God.”

“Being able to come to church.”

“Being baptized.”
“Opportunity to study.”

“Winning a medal.”
“To live with both parents.”

“To be alive.”
“When my mother comes to visit.”

“Going to the Pacific Ocean.”
“When God healed my mouth.”
“Becoming part of the church, knowing the pastor and Juanita, and having a family.”
“Being with my mother.”

“A new baby in our house.”
“Meeting the Lord.”

We continued visiting homes of the children today.   One special home we visited was that of a child who was sponsored during this time by a group member.  We were able to introduce Julie Hostetler to her child at the child’s home.  We marveled at the two-room home with dirt floor.  The two rooms were a small sitting room and one bedroom.  The family of five sleeps in one room.  Cooking is done outside over the open fire.  The family was lucky enough to have an outhouse and an outdoor shower area.  As the child opened the gifts Julie brought, all the family was elated.  There were many hugs, and as the time drew near to leave, it became hard to say goodbye.  A bond has been formed, a new friendship, a connection that will grow over the years and over the miles.  What a privilege and joy to observe the contentment of both sponsor and family as this new relationship took form.

In the afternoon we visited the colonial city of Granada, and then worshiped with the congregation of the Church of God in that city.  They are a young, lively group.  Since they do not have anyone to play the keyboard, I was privileged to play a few songs, and Juanita Blanco and I sang a duet.  Juanita preached a dynamic message on how we handle adversity.  Blessed is the word most often used to describe our time with the Granada Church of God.

Blessed.  That word can be used to describe so many of our experiences in Nicaragua.  Another word that surfaces is humbled.  We are in the midst of such great leaders and such servant examples. 

Last evening we attended the worship service in Jinotepe.  Jonathan Poveda, a sponsored boy, sang several songs to the delight of the crowd.  Even though the language barrier was very real, the Spirit spoke to hearts, bypassing the use of language.  The service was led by young people.  It has become very evident that Juanita and Guillermo are investing in and raising up young people of commitment, service, and leadership.

Sometimes as I sit back and observe all that God is doing around the world, I ask myself, “How is it that I find myself in this place, seeing God work in the lives of so many children?”  I am blessed and humbled.  The group members on this trip echo the refrain:  “We’ve been blessed and humbled.”

Paul Maxfield

Executive Director

Sponsors Take in The Starkness of Poverty



Jonathon shares a warm, inviting smile.



Welcome to Nicaragua.  Thanks for joining us.  We made the long trip from San Jose, Costa Rica to Jinotepe, Nicaragua yesterday by bus.  It was a beautiful ride through the countryside of northern Costa Rica and southern Nicaragua.  After an interesting process at the border, we arrived about 3:30 p.m.  Pastor Guillermo Herrera was waiting for us. We piled into an old van, along with all of our luggage, and took off for the church.

Juanita Blanco, Children of Promise director and wife of Pastor Guillermo, was waiting for us.  We had a wonderful meal of gallo pinto - rice, beans, onion - fresh pineapple, watermelon, papayñ fried cheese, and fresh homemade tortillas.

After getting settled in our dorm rooms, we visited the sanctuary of the church.  I could not resist playing the keyboard, and we had a wonderful hour or so of singing old hymns together.  It was a very special time together as a group.  Afterwards, Guillermo shared his life story, including his years in the Sandinista army and his conversion to Christ.  We ended the evening by praying for the children we would visit the next day, as well as our friends and family facing the ice and snow storm in the Midwest.



Kevin once told me that he

 was "enchanted" by the Word of God.



This morning - Tuesday - we visited the homes of the sponsored children.  Dirt floors, glassless windows, outdoor kitchens with open fires, outhouses, outdoor bathing, few possessions, empty walls, no running water, and one or two small rooms.  These are all descriptors that represent the children’s homes.  The conditions were stark and, at times, shocking.  But it was a quick transition for the group from surprise and overwhelming feelings to focusing on the children and their families.  It was wonderful meeting them and talking with them.

After returning from our home visits, I sat in Guillermo’s and Juanita’s living room, listening to some of the group members comments about the mornings experiences.  Here is what was shared.

• The families have so much pride in their homes even though they have practically nothing.  They were so welcoming.

• They were so open and friendly with us.

• It is so obvious that the need is so great.

• It was so cool to see the one girl show her report card to Juanita.  She was eager to show us that she is doing well in school.

• I enjoyed walking the streets, visiting the homes.  It really gave me a feel for the living situation of each child.

• I will never forget Jonathan’s smile.

• Dirt floors, holes in the walls and roofs, heart-breaking conditions.  You hear about it, but until you actually see it, you don’t really understand.

• I was so glad to see that the children seemed happy.  It is obvious that COP is making a huge difference in the lives of the children.

• It is sad that we cannot help every single child who needs help.

• I feel guilty about the affluence I live in.  I complain about things that aren’t important.

• It is hard to put into words all that is experienced when visiting the children.  Images keep coming back.  God is blessing us in a unique way as we get to know these children.

The foliage and fruit are so plentiful and beautiful.  What a blessing to enjoy God’s creation in this place at this time.

This afternoon we will be interviewing the sponsored children at La Iglesia de Dios¨- the Church of God.  We are looking forward to that.  See you there.

Dr. Paul Maxfield

Executive Director

Kids Travel Far to Meet Sponsors

(From Sunday, January 30, 2011)
Our time in Costa Rica is passing too quickly.  We have thoroughly enjoyed meeting the children and their families. Yesterday we interviewed the children from Moin and Nicoya.  The kids from Nicoya on the Pacific coast boarded a bus at 4:00 am in order to be her by 9:00 am.  And the children from Moin left the Caribbean coast at 6:00 to be here by nine.  Both groups were a delight.  After spending the morning together, we enjoyed lunch together and before the kids boarded the buses to return to their home communities.

One interesting thing we encountered was that the children from Nicoya have all been in the program since it started in 2004.  No kids have left.  Most of them are in secondary school, and what a bunch of outstanding young people they are.  We were so impressed.  The Children of Promise program has really built some wonderful qualities into their lives.

In the afternoon, we visited the Alajuelita Church of God.  This is the largest congregation with over 600 members.  It was especially enjoyable for me since our family began its ministry in Costa Rica in 1992 in this congregation, when it was a very small tin shed with a dirt floor.  To see the building completed, including a Sunday School wing, and a full children’s program in process on a Saturday afternoon was wonderful.  And, the worship leader of the afternoon was a young man who was in our children’s choir in 1993.

We encountered more children abandoned by fathers in this community.  Life is difficult for mothers trying to raise children alone.  Several mothers shared how helpful the sponsorship is in raising their children.  School fees are very high in Costa Rica, and most of these children would never go on to secondary school without their sponsor’s assistance.

The children in Alajuelita live in a very crowded urban settlement that began as a squatter’s settlement.  It is now packed with small concrete houses that share common walls.  No one has a yard.  The people of the congregation walk to church.  Nine children in this area are sponsored through Children of Promise.  We were able to meet and interview all of them.

This morning we worshiped at the Tiribi Christian Center Church of God in San Jose.  Rev. Paul Lund, a member of our traveling group, preached on being a child of God, while I translated.  The sponsor group had a unique experience as they worshiped in Spanish.

This afternoon we have some time free to sight see, and then we will have a concluding dinner together at the home of Harry and Julia Nachtigall.  (Julia is the Children of Promise director in Costa Rica.)  We will have a typical Costa Rican meal and enjoy a few last hours before turning in.  The time here is almost over, but the relationships and the connections are just forming.  It is hard to leave a place that finds a place in your heart.

Tomorrow, we board a bus at 6:30 a.m. for a day long ride to Jinotepe, Nicaragua.  We hope you will be joining us as we move on to Nicaragua. We will look forward to seeing you there.  Perhaps you will be waiting at the bus stop in Jinotepe along with Pastor Guillermo Herrera and COP Director Juanita Blanco.

Dr. Paul Maxfield

Executive Director

"Being with God"

(from Thursday, January 27, 2011)

There are always adjustments to sleeping patterns when you travel overseas.  Often, it is the time change. Your body needs several days to get used to the new hours of sunrise and sunset.  In our case in Costa Rica, it is not the time change, but the noise of buses all night long that has made our sleep patterns erratic. With so many people unable to afford their own cars, public buses are the means of transportation for much of the population in San Jose. With a bus stop right in front of the church where we are staying, these large, noisy machines come and go 24 hours a day. Yet, while they may interrupt our sleep, they also take thousand of people a day right to the front of the Centro Cristiano Center Tiribi (Tiribi Christian Center Church of God).

I have been so impressed with the sponsors on this trip. Their genuine interest in the children and their desire to be of service has been inspiring.  Thank you, team.

Today we met the children from two churches in San Jose - Tiribi and Los Guido.  It was a wonderful time for me personally as I met with the children and parents of Tiribi, where my wife and children and I served and worshipped from 1995-1999.

Let me introduce you to Andres from Los Guido.  Andres is 12 years old.  He lives with his mother, father, two sisters, and two brothers in a community that began as a squatter settlement.  As time has passed, the lean-to shacks made of scrap metal have changed  into small cement block houses.  Andres attends the Church of God in Los Guido, where 10 children are sponsored.  Andres loves Social Studies.  He also loves futbol (soccer), like most Tico boys his age.  He plays on a team in the community on weekends.

He first really piqued our interest when he told our interview group that his favorite thing about church was the preaching.  (12 year old boys usually have other interests than preaching!). We learned a bit more about him when he told us that he wanted to be a lawyer because he wanted to help people.  And then, he brought smiles to all our faces when asked what the best thing that ever happened to him was. He responded, "Being with God." He then shared how he had accepted Christ into his life.  There was so much more to this boy than his shy smile would indicate.  A depth.  A faith.  A path.

Sponsors, I hope you can see, along with us, how influential and significant your sponsorships are.  As children are offered a helping hand by the local church, the hand that reaches out to them is actually the hand of Christ, reaching, loving, and inviting, all through your support and the loving acceptance of the local church people.  You really are being the hands of Christ.  And when children of all ages encounter those hands of love and comfort, their lives change.  They're suddenly in good hands, and life has purpose and direction.  Thank you for caring so deeply for your sponsored children.

We've taken a day off to enjoy the natural beauty of Costa Rica in the form of the beach on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.  This country is extremely blessed with evidence of God's creative genius.  We see it at every turn in the road.

Friday we will return to San Jose and continue interviewing the children from Moin and Nicoya, two communities on opposite shores.  Moin is a small community on the Caribbean coast, while Nicoya is a community on the Pacific coast.  Both groups will make long bus trips into San Jose on Saturday in order to meet with us.

It's so great having you along on our visit to Central America.  Thanks for coming with us.  Oh, and don't forget, it is your turn to do the group's dishes tonight after dinner.  :)

Dr. Paul Maxfield
Executive Dinner