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Three Stories – From the Dominican Republic with Love … and Compassion Canada

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Happy New Year!

This coming year, I will be celebrating 10 years as an artist/ambassador with Compassion Canada in partnership with Flyingbow. As we celebrate a new year, I also look back on 2014 with some really fond memories. One such memory is the week I spent in the DR with Compassion Canada. You can read more of this visit in a blog post here.  Compassion Canada captured a video (and three stories) of my visit to this beautiful country. Compassion works!  If you have not done so already, I encourage you to sponsor a child through Compassion here. It will change your life and the life of another child – for eternity!

Off to Dominican Republic with Compassion Canada Tomorrow

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My violins and bags are packed … I am off to the Dominican Republic with Compassion Canada tomorrow in partnership with Flyingbow – Jan. 31 to Feb. 7/14. This year marks my 9th Anniversary with Compassion as an artist.  I am looking forward to this Mission/Exposure Trip with real anticipation. My last trip to see the work of Compassion up close was in 2008 when I visited Quito, Ecuador.  You can read about that incredible trip here. I am sure this trip will be just as life-altering!

The Dominican Republic boarders Haiti and is known as one of the most popular tourist destinations

Compassion’s work in Dominican Republic began in 1970. Currently, more than 48,500 children participate in 167 child development centers. Compassion partners with local churches, helping them provide Dominican children with a long-term program of physical, educational, social and spiritual development. Through this partnership between Compassion and local churches, children in need (from birth to young adult) have the opportunity to rise above their circumstances and be all God created them to be. Although the DR is known as one of the most popular tourist destinations, poverty is still a stark (hidden) reality.  I along with a group of fellow artist “ambassadors” will spend most of our time in the poorest regions of the county, meeting the people and getting a first hand look at all the great work these churches are doing in partnership with Compassion.  I’ll be blogging more updates over the next week, but in the mean time, here are a few pictures of the people and places we will visit.

Two Amazing Visits to the Santa Cruz, Bolivia Navy and Air Force Bases

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I am still processing my visit last month to Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Life has changed for me … it always does after such an impacting mission trip. God shook my comfortable world a little more (it needs to be shaken regularly) … and gave me more of a thirst and vision for those who are seeking Him. Recently two more visits to the Santa Cruz Navy and Air Force Bases have played out in my memory. Here are some photos and video to help tell the story … and keep the memories alive. Photos provided by: Steve Sugrim – http://www.stevesugrim.com

DAY 7 – THE SANTA CRUZ AIR FORCE BASE

Sharing my story with the Santa Cruz Air Force Cadets

The audience of young men really enjoy our music

Many hands go up to receive Jesus into their lives. They “yelled out” their prayer in unison in true military style! It was really incredible to experience.

The Cadets line up to receive their bibles from the Gideons Canada team as we play more music …

 The men are anxious to read their bibles right away – a thirst for God’s word!

As we leave, the soldiers stand at attention, bibles still in hand …

I pose with a future air force pilot (his new bible in hand) who asks to try out my violin. He plays me an excerpt of “Minuet in G” by Bach!

DAY 8 – THE SANTA CRUZ NAVY BASE

Fellow music missionary, Tony Lind (guitarist) and I stand at the entrance of the “Armada Boliviana” Navy Base.

During our outreach performance for the Bolivian Navy, Santa Cruz

Craig Hussey, Gideons Team Leader,  presents the gospel message through our translator, Jorge Soria

Many Navy Cadets once more put up their hands and pray to receive Christ

Navy Officers read their new Bibles … they again have a real thirst to read God’s word!

I give the Chief Commanding Navy Officer a gift of our “Danforth Sessions” CD

I’ll leave you with this final video clip of the Bolivian Navy Cadets doing their final exercises, Bibles still in hand … truly amazing!

Until next time … T

Flyingbow Mission Trip to Santa Cruz, Bolivia in partnership with Gideons Canada

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Bolivia is one of the the poorest countries in South America

Tony Lind (Flyingbow Guitarist) and I are just days away from embarking on a Mission Trip to Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Here are the broad details from an excerpt of a letter written by Elizabeth Sharpe (chair of the Flyingbow Ministry Board) to prayer partners and supporters:

… I write on behalf of Flyingbow Music Ministry. We support a community of Christian artists and musicians including violinist, Trevor Dick and guitarist, Tony Lind.

In partnership with the International Missions branch of Gideons Canada, Flyingbow Music Ministry has been given the tremendous opportunity to be represented by Trevor Dick and Tony Lind in support of a Mission Trip to Santa Cruz, Bolivia, South America from March 23 to April 1, 2012. They will join a team of 30 men and women who will distribute 100,000 New Testaments and share the gospel of Christ as God leads and opens doors. This mission trip follows in the wake of a similar project last Fall to Lima, Peru where a Gideons team of 19 strategically worked with 230 local pastors to distribute over 47,000 copies of God’s Word in Spanish and share the gospel. On that trip the group celebrated as they witnessed 11,000 individuals come to Christ through one-on-one evangelism and a further 5,000 group decisions for God.

Building on this incredible God-response in Lima, the Gideons have invited Flyingbow musicians, Trevor and Tony to join the Bolivia Team in Santa Cruz to minister in the streets, schools, market places, churches and the main soccer stadium – to attract larger crowds and share their love of Christ in music and testimony. This team will again work with many local pastors and churches in the street evangelism and Bible distribution. Pastors and church leaders in Bolivia are excited about this project and pleased to work in partnership with the Canadian team.

To support this project, please make cheques (designated: “Bolivia Mission Trip”) payable to Flyingbow Music Ministry. You may also donate online at: http://www.flyingbowministry.com. Charitable tax receipts will be issued through Flyingbow Music Ministry for each donation. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions …

According to the Center for Economic and Policy Research, which published an in depth report in December 2009 (using poverty data from 2007), 60.1% of Bolivia live in poverty and 37.7% in extreme poverty. 80.2% of the population have no access to electricity, 86% have no access to running water, and 50.8% have no sewage system connections. It will be a real honour to serve the Lord and the people of Santa Cruz, Bolivia for this 10 days of music ministry and missionary work. We really appreciate all your prayers for safety, open doors and hearts and God’s empowering in every way. As of yesterday, here is how our itinerary is shaping up:

• Thurs/Fri. Mar. 22-23 – travel to Santa Cruz, Bolivia from Toronto, via Miami.
• Sat. Mar. 24 p.m. – Perform and share at a large Crusade Event in the main Santa Cruz Soccer Stadium for 10,000 + people
• Sun. Mar. 25 a.m. – Perform and share in a Church morning worship service , Bolivian Mennonite Colonies
• Sun. Mar. 25 p.m. – Perform and share in a Church evening worship service , Santa Cruz
• Mon. Mar. 26 a.m. – Perform and speak to students of the largest high school in Santa Cruz
• Mon. Mar. 26 p.m. – Street busking, bible distribution and 1 on 1 evangelism in Santa Cruz
• Tues. Mar. 27 a.m. – Perform and speak to 1500 inmates in the Santa Cruz prison
• Tues. Mar. 27 p.m. – Street busking, bible distribution and 1 on 1 evangelism in Santa Cruz
• Wed. Mar. 28 p.m. – Perform and speak at the Santa Cruz military base
• Thurs. Mar. 29 a.m. and p.m. – Street busking, bible distribution and 1 on 1 evangelism in Santa Cruz
• Fri. Mar. 30 a.m. – Perform and speak to students at a Santa Cruz College/University
• Sat. Mar. 31 – To be decided
• Sun/Mon. April 1-2 – travel back home to Toronto from Santa Cruz

The beautiful city of Santa Cruz, Bolivia

I will be posting some updates here as the week progresses so stay tuned. Until next time. T