NRHBC Worship Ministry

Last Post for Buenos Aires 2012

Thank you Lord. The last words I heard Manuel say every night as we went to bed.

And those were great words to say as our Lord accomplished so much more than we had imagined he would do. Dozens of times every day, the Lord put great things together; missing parts, needed pieces, time tables and divinely appointed help at just the right time. All of these things we were able to shout praises to God throughout every day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPbItvHTZTE  A video from early Tuesday.

You can see all videos at www.youtube.com  under waynegraham3239

One vid will come up later under "Nothing is Easy in Argentina".

All photos are on the left under "1st Look at Buenos Aires 2012"

We painted four rooms.
We installed a suspended ceiling in the bathroom.
We replace wood in 20% of one floor and painted the entire floor.

We put baseboard in two rooms.

We built a loft in the dining room (ceilings are 14 feet high) and put in paneling below.
We built a kitchen counter top and installed a new sink and faucet set.
We tiled the walls of kitchen use area of the dining room.
We busted out concrete and ran a new sewer system for two new enlarged bathrooms, that include sinks, toilets and showers.
We rewired the bathrooms and the dining room/kitchen.
We re-plumbed the incoming water line to the storage tank, by passing leaking pipes in the walls.
We re-plumbed the water distribution and added a new flash hot water heater.

Because of some time line things, we were unable to set the new bathroom fixtures. But Nadia's father, who is in construction, has committed to finish setting these in place when the tile is cured and grouted.

We did not know the full scope going in. We accepted a large challenge. The entire team was committed to Glorifying God first, and accomplishing task second. We did just that. The effects of putting God first were evident to Guillero, Nadia, her father Miguel, her brother Lucas, Sabastian who came to help, Servando - associate pastor at Barrio Norte, and many neighbors and friends who after seeing the effort committed to giving more helpful things to the effort at the Villa Crespo church.

Thank you to Daryl King, Barry Tiedt, Ted Ulmer, Jenny & Joey Soule, Wallace Hearne and Manuel Sosa for making a huge commitment to travel and work so very hard. I was blessed by what I saw God do through you.

Wayne

Headed Home

After a long week and a long day today, we are headed home.

We will leave at 7:30 PM CST this evening, going through Miami, arriving home at 10:20 AM Thursday morning.

 

God has been so good.  Pics posted from today.

Photos uploaded to      "1st Look and Buenos Aires 2012"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPbEKWmLiNA  Sunday morning in BA

Well today was another hard working day.  The electricity was out at our hotel through the night but it was not too big of a problem. Walking down 10 flights of stairs in the dark was pretty fun thought.

At 7 AM four of us ventured out to go to work. We arrived at the work site at 7:45 and began working.  We all left at 7:30 this evening. The bathrooms are tiled. The grout is in the kitchen.  The sink is in the counter top.  The grid for the suspendied ceiling is in place. And we have begun cleaning up.

We came back to the hotel and then went out for a nice Argenine dinner. We just arrived home around 11:30PM.

Tomorrow evening we fly home.  But we have more to do.  The team wants to put in a full day and we will.  We want to finish the ceiling, install all the bathroom fixtures after grouting, install paneling in the dining room and then really clean the place up.  It is an ambious goal after the week we have had.  But through the Lord provision we can do this.

I forgot to tell you about sharing god´s grace with a taxi driver on Monday morning.  Daryl and Wallace were with me.  He had a cross hanging from his meter.  After speaking with him briefly I ask was that something important.  He said yes, and said his life was in God´s hands.  He said when he goes to heaven, it will be fine with him.  Then he said, or the other place.  I asked him if he was sure he was going to heaven. He said how can you be sure.  I asked him if he knew God´s Word.  He confessed he did not, but how could you be sure.  Through sharing scripture I showed him how he could know he had eternal life through Christ.  It was a typical picture of the Argentine culture.  Respecting God´s Word, but not knowing one thing about it.  It was a sweet time.  I challenged him to read Eph 1-3.  He said he would.  When Daryl got involved in the converstation, the driver said, "You have something he (me) does not"  I let him know that was God´s grace.  It was good and funny all together.

Everything is going well here.  The group is doing well is is so happy the Lord has blessed them with this opportunity.

Thank you for your prayers.  We have experienced God´s goodness.

Wayne

Monday was SOOOOOOOO Hot!

We had a great day. We were able to make great accomplishments with our Lord´s help.

It was over one hundred degrees today. We heard 102 on the radio. And we were outside most of the time. We were never in airconditioning. We all drank lots and lots of water. 

We started by finishing the hot water runs, preparing all the sewer connections and preparing the dining room/kitchen for painting. It was 1 PM before we knew it. Lunch was at the corner parilla (grill) where we had hambergeses. We meet briefly in the auditorium for strategic planning. Then we again asked the Lord for everything we needed. We knew it would be a tough afternoon.

The dining room got painted. The kitchen counter/shelf unit was built and installed. Guillermo, who will be living in this space began bringing in personal items and setting up house. He is so proud and happy.

 Barry and I took off around 5:30 to get cleaned up for the airport. The group continued to work another 30 minutes. Barry and I then left the hotel at 6:30 while the group relaxed for a while. We arrived around 7:30 pm and there was lots of folks. He got all checked in and now is in route back home.

 We have much to do, but you have continued to see me write that. We have to get the tile down in the bathroom so we can set fixtures on Wednesday. We have to put the new bathroom walls in so they can be tiled on Wednesday. We have to cut the sink hole into the counter top and hook up all the sinks, toilets and stove gas lines.

 The time table will have to be exact and the Lord will have to see us through.

 Continue to pray that we may finish the task set before us. It has been an incredible ride with the Lord and this group of committed servants.

 

Wayne  

 

Sunday - A half day of work and a mental/physical break

More pictures in the photo album to the left title "1st Look at Buenos Aries"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mwgZofawW8

Look for Joey and the invisible man.  Link coming soon.

Today, Joey, Barry and I went to Villa Crespo at 8 am, followed by the group at 9.  We worked until 1:30 and headed to the hotel.

Wallace was able to complete all the cold water supply lines and turn it on. That was a big moment. Although you can´t tell, that is water running out of a faucet.

The loft is complete and Nadia is so happy for this new space.  What Barry designed is pretty cool.

We only have one room to paint, having painted two; and they were not easy.  Very old paint on the existing walls and very rough surfaces made it extremely hard to prepare for adhering, but it is done.

I made everyone quit at 1:30 and go to the hotel.  Everyone had time to do whatever they wanted to do and then we headed out. We first went to San Telmo for the Sunday bazzar.  It was a fun experience.  Then on to Recoleta Cemetary, where we ate a bite of lunch.

After supper, we went to church at Barrio Norte, our partnering church here.  Our taxi got lost and I just told him to stop.  We started walking and I got turned around.  We arrived at church 30 minutes late (8:30 PM) but the pastor and those we know we so very glad to see us.  We renewed friendships and made some new friends.  The pastor ask me to speak and I told them of what the Lord has done.  I also thanked them for our 2 year partnership.  It was a good time.

Tomorrow we have ambitious plans.  Barry leaves tomorrow so there are several things that need to be completely finished.  There is the sewer to be finished and a kitchen counter top that will be sweet.

Pray that the Lord will give us great success.  We can see the finish line and we will press toward it with all the Lord´s help.

Blessings,

Wayne

An Incredible Day of Blessings

Check out photos to the left:  1st Look at Buenos Aries 2012

This morning we started with a powerful time of scripture and prayer before starting out. We had a couple who were struggling with heat exhaustion and mental fatigue. We were reminded of where all of our strength and power come from through God´s Word in Eph 1. We focused on the source of all Hope out of Romans 15. And we lifted up our team members who needed a special touch from our Great God. We asked the Lord to give us a super day of accomplishment toward our task.

I then reviewed what needed to be accomplished today. It was an ambitious list. We discussed problem solving and pacing for the day. Then we headed out.

The first answer to our prayers were we had many extra hands show up today to help. At one time there were 16 working on the house! What a blessing.

Jason Freely, SBC missionary with Sergio, Barrio Norte church member

We needed more ladders and there was one at Barrio Norte church. But no one had a vehicle to get such a large item. I asked Nadia´s father if he knew of someone who had a tall ladder. He said no, but he had 4 or 5 smaller ones. We went and picked them up a block away. Amen

We needed a special drill bit to continue in the water distrobution. Just as we were about to make a hardward store run, Joey said he had one of those in his bag. Amen. 

We had a wonderful lunch at the corner Parilla.  14 of us.

The water system in this old house is very complicated. It is hard to tell where water is running from and going to. We did not know how we were going to understand it all. Then the Lord brought the answers. Through 3 or 4 test throughout the day we determined all we need to know. We will have it all hooked up and running by mid morning tomorrow. Amen.

The loft is built. All but one room is painted. The kitchen tile is 80% up. The kitchen counter tops and final lumber needed were purchased today. We are all ready to mount and hook up the hot water heater. And the electrical rewiring has been worked out.

We went to El Centro (Downtown) this evening for pizza and then coffee;  both at famous places.  We walked Neueve De Julio, the widest street in the world.  And had a great time fellowshipping with each other.

We will work a half day tomorrow because there is no time to coast. We plan on completing the sewer system that has been delayed, painting the final room, hook up all the water systems and finish the kitchen tile.

A little after noon we will go back to the hotel, clean up and go to El Centro and San Telmo.  We need some mental and physical breaks after pushing so hard the past 4 days.  Then church will be at 8 PM at Barrio Norte.

God has been so good to give us such a great day of accomplishment.  We asked the Lord all day to help us.  And we were able to praise the Lord all day for what we saw Him doing.  And this was actual praying for guidance and help, out loud.  And it was actual praise with our lips for what we saw, giving great encouragement to the entire team.  We did not just talk about doing this.  His praise was continually on our lips; from each of us.  Lots of whooping and hollering for what God was doing.

What a great way to spend the day. 

 Wayne

Friday, January 6th

Today, Friday, Jan 6, was a tough long day. It is hot here. And it will stay hot. Next Tuesday is to be over 102! 

The team has been working so very hard and we hit a few delays today. The “getting ready” stage has been extended by some time.

We would love for you to join us in praying that we can really see the Lord bring great results on Saturday. All the staging has been done. Almost all the supplies have been purchased and are one site. We are all a bit ready to see the picture come together.

We know the Lord brings all success. And we are asking Him for a huge day on Saturday.

Please check out shots from today. You can see the sweat.  Photo album to the left  1st Look at Buenos Aires 2012

Only by His GRACE,

 

Wayne

 

Thursday, January 5th

More pictures under photo album on left "1st Look At Buenos Aires 2012

Videos from Wednesday:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfdYfg_G22Q  Taking the bathroom wall out early

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAqfAtFLKPo   Barry and Guillermo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0Qk0NiXkYk   Saving tiles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mTE3ypF7zE  Barry was bleeding

Today was our first full day of work with the team in Villa Crespo, Buenos Aires, Argenting. We took advantage of the time.

 Barry and Manuel spent 3.5 hours this morning locating supplies for our construction efforts, which was not a fun shopping experience. He said it would have taken 35 minutes in Fort Worth. But things move more slowly here in the Southern Hemisphere.

 While they were out, the group continued demolishing the bathroom/kitchen, starting on the gas line for a new hot water heater and digging trenches for sewer lines. We also gutted a small upper room that was in terrible shape. This will be used for an office later.

 Mid morning, I was getting a bit irritated waiting for concrete and building supplies to show up. The concrete was promised at 9:30AM and it was approaching 11. Also, I talked to Manuel and he told me they found the lumber/plumbing supplies but they could not be delivered until Tuesday. The lack of concrete was stopping a floor going in and without the supplies of lumber and plumbing pipe we were losing lots of time. I gathered the 6 of us together and said we have things to pray about. Joey said “The Lord just blessed me with a solution” and we rejoiced over that. (We are calling on His name for our every need and are quick to praise Him for His blessings)

 So I told the group of our loss of time and asked if they would join me in asking the Lord to help us in getting hurdles removed in a providential manner. I ask them to pray without doubt. So Jenny voice our prayer to the Lord about building material transportation and concrete delivery.

 Across town God was working. Barry and Manuel were told no one could help them get materials and no one could help them transport the stuff. Then a man walked up to Manuel and said, “You need some help moving some materials?” Of course they said yes. This guy climbed up on the tall shelves and got down all the needed boards, one at a time, and loaded all the stuff up. Just out of the blue. Right.

We got a call and heard of the help our Lord had provided. Jenny and Daryl both thought we should pray again and see if the Lord forgot about the concrete. I found out the concrete place was 5 blocks away so I walked over to see what was going on. I was told the truck had just left.

So, we asked the Lord for help and the Lord answered. Amen and amen. A small bit of concrete was used and the floor started going in. Then building materials all showed up. We started in the morning at 9:30 AM. It was now after 2 PM. We took a long Argentine lunch, with the understanding we would put in a full day AFTER lunch. It was a fabulous meal. We arrived back at the building and worked til after 9:30 PM.

Here, everything is encased in concrete, so we have to break everything out. It is hard and long work. But we are almost done with breaking things out. Today we sealed up the old door way to the kitchen. Joey and Ted finished the wood floor. We prepared most of the water supply lines for use. (They do things differently here. No PVC you just cut, glue and use.) And we are 75 % finished on preparing the dining room walls with the concrete. We removed floor tile in the new bathroom and prepared for the new sewer service by digging all trenches. We prepared to run the gas lines for the new hot water heated. And we corrected a wall leak at the main water valve into the facility.

Tomorrow we have planned to lay in the sewer lines, build the dividing wall for the two new bathrooms, build a loft in the dining room (a very clever design by Barry), start painting in the bedroom; run the water supply lines through out the facility, and hook up the hot water heater. It is an ambitious plan for tomorrow.

The group is doing well.  We are enjoying the hard work, enjoying seeing the Lord move and enjoying the culture of Argentina.  Please keep praying for opportunities to bring glory to our Lord and Savior.

 

Wednesday was a full and long day

Today we were able to see our Lord continue to work in Villa Crespo, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The group arrived right on time and Manuel, Daryl and I went to meet them. There was no travel trouble and all bags made the transition in Miami. This was a huge answer to prayer with our tight connection. But we had been asking the Lord for this blessing and the group pray especially for this right before the flight from Miami.

The group´s rooms were not available at 10 AM, so we all got into my room and readied ourselves for a day of hard work. We arrived at the church around 11 AM. We walked the facility and reviewed the scope of work and then prayed. We had a great time of prayer, prior to starting our challenging and rewarding time of serving God so far from home. We declared a dependence on the Lord and asked Him for all that He could give.

Then the hammers went into full swing. We completely removed remaining plaster in the dining room. We prepared the wooden floor to be completed tomorrow. And we completely destroyed the existing kitchen and small bathroom. We rented a hammer drill and just ate up the concrete masonry walls. We also secured some needed materials from various hardward stored. Today was a good day. We finished some task we thought might take serveral days.

Our list is long of things we are committed to do and there are 6 or 7 items not even included in our primary scope.

We will be tearing out the kitchen and tiny restroom and making two good sized restrooms – one with a shower! Lots of plumbing work here.

We will move the kitchen counter and sink into the dining room, also involving much building and plumbing.

We will add a loft in the dining room to create more usable space, as the ceilings are 14´ high.

We are adding a hot water heater and delivering the hot and cold water to three bathrooms, the kitchen and a meal preparation area on the other end of the building.

We will be replacing a portion of a wooden floor.

We will be building cabinets in the new kitchen area and closets in two of the bedrooms.

We will be painting all new interiors.

We will be doing tile work in three rooms.

We will be hanging new light fixtures in almost every room.

We will put in a supended ceiling in the large family bathroom. 

Then there are the 6 or 7 other things not on this list.

As we had a leisurely 3 hour dinner, we discussed what God was doing, all that He had accomplished today and how we are so utterly dependent on him. We spoke of bringing glory to God and not on our accomplishments. It was a GREAT time of sharing with this team God has put together.

JUST IN:  Manuel just recieved a text message from Guillermo.  Barrio Norted has approved the submitted expense list for everything we want to do. Excellent news!

A besso in Argentina is a kiss of greeting and goodbye. Men kiss men on the cheek if they know each other and have experienced life together. Sabastian, a member of Barrio Norte, has helped us each time we have come. He showed up this afternoon after his work and wanted to help. He and Wallace took turns to use the hammer drill on destroying the walls.  Around 5:30 pm, I sent part of the group home and Daryl, Wallace and I stayed with Sabasitan still working. Then he drove us home. When we got out of the car I told Wallace, “You know what you need to do”. Wallace gave Sabastian a big huge and kiss. This is what I saw.

Keep praying for us. Without the Lord´s help we will surely fail in this monumental task ahead of us.

Wayne

They Arrived

The group got her and ALL the bags as well. Praise God.

 

Wayne