Now what?

Six months in Colombia have quickly come to an end. By this time tomorrow, I’ll be onboard a plane, hoping to land safely in New York. In just a couple weeks, the interns will be returning to their classes at Mount Zion. As for me, well…I don’t know.

The burden of my heart has long been to return to Africa, but exactly where, and when, and how…I don’t know.

Please pray for me during this time of decision and uncertainty. Thank you so much.

Stephen Pasquale

__________________
StephensMissions.org
PayPal
Google Checkout

Dignity for Sale

Last night was our last time visiting the homeless together. One friend that was especially hard for my team to say goodbye to is Jina, a beautiful young girl of only about 12 years. She’s still somewhat new to the streets, seeming relatively clean, with a youthful look of purity and innocence…but for only a few dollars, anybody that wants can take advantage of her. It’s truly heart-breaking.

Apart from a miracle, she will soon become just as messed up as everyone else we find on the streets. It doesn’t take long for the bottle of glue and the cheap cocaine to melt the mind and change the countenance.

Please pray for this precious child and the countless others just like her. God can do the miraculous for them.

Thank you.

__________________
StephensMissions.org
PayPal
Google Checkout

World AIDS Day

In recognition of World AIDS Day, all donations received through stephensmisisons.org during the first week of December 2009 will be forwarded in full to Doctors For Life International toward their outstanding work in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

To learn more about Doctors For Life, you can visit their site at doctorsforlifeinternational.com

To read articles written during my four years with Doctors For Life, visit these pages:

      Once Again
      Invaluable Experience
      Orphaned Again
      New Team For Harding
      Doctor Janto's Visit

Thank you.

__________________
StephensMissions.org
PayPal
Google Checkout

New Missions Photos - Colombia

And hello again,

I have some new photos I'd like to share with you. My roommate lent me his camera and I was able to get some great shots of the children and the homeless. Please visit stephensmissions.org/colombia to see what the Lord is doing here in Medellin.

Thank you very much for your continued prayers and support.
__________________
StephensMissions.org
Please click to give through PayPal.
Or here to use Google Checkout.

Introducing Google Checkout - Another way to give

Hello, please allow me to introduce the new blue button on my website. I’ve recently added Google Checkout to my page as an additional option for making easy, secure donations online. I would really appreciate if someone would give it a try :)

__________________
StephensMissions.org
Please click to give through PayPal.
Or here to use Google Checkout.

Need a Plumber?

One of the ministry leaders here in Medellin supports his family by working on the side as a plumbing contractor. To help him promote his service, I made him a website and posted it today.

I'm certainly not an expert webmaster, but I figured a low-quality page beats no page at all. In a city where it seems most contractors don't have their own pages, I believe it will give him an extra advantage in securing more of the bigger jobs.

I don't suppose many of my readers (all three of you) are in need of a plumber in Colombia, but just in case, you can check out his page here: contratistaderedes.com.

I still have to add photos and references of his completed projects, and soon I should replace the stock photo with his photo, but that's what we have so far. To see the original template I started from, visit contratistaderedes.com/original.

__________________
StephensMissions.org
Please click to give through PayPal.

And now back to Medellin

Thank you everyone for your prayers while I was in Kenya; it was really an amazing trip! For those who've been waiting for the photos, you can find them at StephensMissions.org/kenya-2009.php

I'm now in Miami headed back to Ciudad Refugio in Colombia where I've been leading a small team of interns from Mount Zion. We have just two months remaining there and want to make the most of it.

Let's pray for the Lord to do great things in my team, in the ministry, and in the city as a whole.

Thank you.
____________________
StephensMissions.org

Please click here to give through PayPal

Back to Africa!!!

After a long time of waiting, I´m headed back to Africa. Taking a short trip to Nairobi, Kenya from October 2-9. There´s lots going on. Please keep this time in prayer. Thank you.

Stephen

---

Visit StephensMissions.org

Our Youth Group

Hello everyone,

My team and I have been here in Colombia for two months now – four months left to go. We’re still assisting La Ciudad Refugio with their various ministries: the outreach to the homeless, the drug rehab, and the program for the woman and their children….among other things, I’m blessed with the privilege of walking the kids to school every day, my favorite errand.

Lately we’ve been reaching out to some teens from the neighborhood and are praying for direction about developing a youth group of some sort. We’d love to see the Lord touch their lives and bring them into salvation and freedom in Christ. This city has so much filth to offer; how great it would be if these precious young people would be spared from it. Please pray God will lead us in this. He knows the best way to go about it.

Your prayers and support are very much appreciated.

Thank you.

__________________________
Visit StephensMissions.org
Please click here to contribute through PayPal

First Month in Colombia

The interns and I have just finished our first month here in Colombia, and in many ways, we feel like we’re still adjusting. Some things are very similar to my South Africa experience; but other things are unlike anything I’ve ever known.

In many parts of Medellin, crime, drugs, and poverty seem to rule the streets unchecked. We see hundreds and hundreds of men sleeping on the ground, mothers digging through trash, kids sniffing glue, young girls selling their bodies. It’s heartbreaking.

Every Friday night, we go right into the midst of it all, into some of the city’s poorest neighborhoods to visit those living on the streets. We offer bread and a hot drink, inviting each one to join us for a service and a meal the next day. Many of the leaders here once lived on these same streets and first came to the program because of someone reaching out with a simple piece of bread.

The ministry here is mostly centered around serving the homeless and helping recovering drug addicts. Every night, La Ciudad Refugio's ground floor is lined with homeless men content to have found a safe place to sleep. Upstairs from them, live a about a dozen guys who are learning to walk in freedom from addiction. Above that is the women’s program where moms and their children find a fresh start in life.

It’s not an easy ministry, but it is worth it all to see the Lord healing hearts and restoring broken lives.

Remember to keep us in prayer.

Thank you.
__________________________
Visit StephensMissions.org
Please click here to contribute through PayPal

We've arrived in Medellin, Colombia

Hola! On Sunday afternoon, I arrived in Colombia with three interns from Mount Zion International School of Ministry. For the next six months, we'll be serving La Ciudad Refugio, a ministry to the homeless, addicted, displaced and disadvantaged.

Once we get settled in, I hope to write more about where we are and what we're doing.

Please be sure to pray for us. Muchas Gracias!

__________________________
Visit StephensMissions.org
Please click here to contribute through PayPal

Back From Israel

We all had a an amazing time in the Holy Land. I hope to post some photos soon.

---

Visit StephensMissions.org

Next Stop: Israel

Times Square Church asked me to co-lead a group traveling to Israel in May. We'll be staying in Haifa and Jerusalem for two weeks. 

(Anyone contribuitng toward this trip rather than Colombia should give through Times Square Church instead of Mount Zion. Thank you.)

---

Visit StephensMissions.org

Not too far from Oz

I just came back from Kansas where I had the opportunity to address some of Washburn University's nursing students and the congregation at Faith Family Life Centre in Topeka. How I loved reviewing my South Africa memories and sharing my stories of living and working among the Zulu people.

---

Visit StephensMissions.org

My New Site

I'm creating a new website these days. It's not entirely ready yet, but you're welcome to view my progress so far.

---

Visit StephensMissions.org