tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38690514679551727222024-02-07T16:35:36.038-08:00The Tilapia ProjectOur goal is to help provide a stabile source of protein to people around the world in need - for God's glory.Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726428475158919488noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869051467955172722.post-82581577091902665122013-05-16T08:50:00.000-07:002013-05-16T08:50:07.621-07:00Living Among Them Ministries in Mexico celebrates first Tilapia Harvest!I got an e-mail from Lance, with Living Among Them Ministries the other day with news that they have completed their first harvest of Tilapia! I'll paste in his narrative from their blog below along with photos. Check out their blog to see some what this great ministry is all about! <br />
<a href="http://www.livingamongthem.blogspot.com/">http://www.livingamongthem.blogspot.com/</a><br />
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<br />Well it's about time that we were able to share this new post with you all! I say that because this tilapia project has been a year in the making. The first pics showing us cleaning out/painting the tank and placing the baby tilapias in the tank were taken back in April/May of 2012 and the pics showing us removing and eating the fish were taken just a few days ago on May 12, 2013. <br />
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Many thanks to Neshia Rudd and Bill Kirby for their faithful support of this project!!!! Their desire is to establish these tilapia projects in various parts of the world to help orphanages and other groups of people. May the Lord bless you two!!!!<br />
I love this little word of wisdom from Bill Kirby, the founder of The Tilapia Project: <br />
"Yes, it is about growing food for people in need, but it has to be about more than that. God is the reason we want to feed people. Give him the credit and the glory. 'If we only feed hungry people, they will still die someday without knowing that it was God who fed them.' (Todd Hinkey) Let them know that this project came from God for them."<br />
Because pictures a worth a thousand words, I think that I will just start posting pics as I am sure that you will be able to follow the story line just fine. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgQ4W__a-orJInAWHlDuvvmC_gbhI0ogF1JEZHMdrQ_8ATkG7a3jqnZLBE5PhI6W6H-VjF3wXfG6TOHKx46DdxgTVNSh0w5GbvsTZU1iPwLWwuY4kfgBTdCzElMJgOghhKvJRE8FU6RQG/s1600/1%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" pua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgQ4W__a-orJInAWHlDuvvmC_gbhI0ogF1JEZHMdrQ_8ATkG7a3jqnZLBE5PhI6W6H-VjF3wXfG6TOHKx46DdxgTVNSh0w5GbvsTZU1iPwLWwuY4kfgBTdCzElMJgOghhKvJRE8FU6RQG/s320/1%5B1%5D.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tank before cleaning</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvddmDCCuwog4mnNY5sV4UWk0qplgtq9FdeEeyTOx6_K_pzkckGd0OP5DO_SnjdFYtS4IIcr03micBHCAnbkL8zEkJ3kQmdKjhrNuvpP9BcrjVfgOJZ_Vw1JWdjANtsR3OV2q1lt6twOG/s1600/59%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" pua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvddmDCCuwog4mnNY5sV4UWk0qplgtq9FdeEeyTOx6_K_pzkckGd0OP5DO_SnjdFYtS4IIcr03micBHCAnbkL8zEkJ3kQmdKjhrNuvpP9BcrjVfgOJZ_Vw1JWdjANtsR3OV2q1lt6twOG/s320/59%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cleaning out the tank</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDaB2g7rDw_fZ61e_0QZfBbPYHLDLlFXNwn-MaqTC-59pdl2-BOa1QwTs6hkevBp1ZzQhyphenhyphenA1wrbOZowET9yvJEsERQJK8ro1KMSdZxiKNYI1mkKvH1DK32uuKU9vUbGhg4UN69l-nmg8o/s1600/85%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" pua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDaB2g7rDw_fZ61e_0QZfBbPYHLDLlFXNwn-MaqTC-59pdl2-BOa1QwTs6hkevBp1ZzQhyphenhyphenA1wrbOZowET9yvJEsERQJK8ro1KMSdZxiKNYI1mkKvH1DK32uuKU9vUbGhg4UN69l-nmg8o/s320/85%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lance working on the nursery tanks</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5MAvJ64rGz3rwuwWYDGrvut_WsWmTF9M0WbumDsdjlTbzKTpn9fs_nNNT2zygOzNVAjYErTuubLVTegbonuIznf8jg1h7ARL44ph9oyN6hVcQmpxK7qLLjyyG8WcOfHEuMwaeDepvfUcT/s1600/91%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" pua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5MAvJ64rGz3rwuwWYDGrvut_WsWmTF9M0WbumDsdjlTbzKTpn9fs_nNNT2zygOzNVAjYErTuubLVTegbonuIznf8jg1h7ARL44ph9oyN6hVcQmpxK7qLLjyyG8WcOfHEuMwaeDepvfUcT/s320/91%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Releasing baby Tilapia</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSjohBLf3R_lQZ1Lc7OQgd7q4ti4hBH2Rn9g9yRvUPCZJY8IFhWEE6YItvQj_qGiL5KXScX4kyUGjVexY0mZldRxohfVubnFhSpOx8pasQ1uk1woy_oLAGJLndpF3xMyrNkaDZUFkq2bE/s1600/IMG_0389-001%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" pua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSjohBLf3R_lQZ1Lc7OQgd7q4ti4hBH2Rn9g9yRvUPCZJY8IFhWEE6YItvQj_qGiL5KXScX4kyUGjVexY0mZldRxohfVubnFhSpOx8pasQ1uk1woy_oLAGJLndpF3xMyrNkaDZUFkq2bE/s320/IMG_0389-001%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The harvest net</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilDEv-rSK8MZYKDIbZ2G03XuHKpBtl2aAZzWHsjIvmqB2sd9acaeCxFfxy7jcD39W0AWmt6AuRAoPavHlyR2A9NRUFhbyDRGLx_y6hceebHzrDvUGmDtM5jzPjN5T-FyldUqkcd4uTGjtt/s1600/IMG_0417-001%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" pua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilDEv-rSK8MZYKDIbZ2G03XuHKpBtl2aAZzWHsjIvmqB2sd9acaeCxFfxy7jcD39W0AWmt6AuRAoPavHlyR2A9NRUFhbyDRGLx_y6hceebHzrDvUGmDtM5jzPjN5T-FyldUqkcd4uTGjtt/s320/IMG_0417-001%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two "big fish" :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCupQad7lQelr4VUpxZevKI3PMz1LMnlJyIIugX0BFdSI8tNsC9kI6PN82RXCY18g7jgeZRwMBvlNhUTYW7AerCyrxXlqsEMcKOcsXF5ra-JUBm5FzQJJL2iI6k-VkAic0OuAWeNu2az2r/s1600/IMG_0398-001%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" pua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCupQad7lQelr4VUpxZevKI3PMz1LMnlJyIIugX0BFdSI8tNsC9kI6PN82RXCY18g7jgeZRwMBvlNhUTYW7AerCyrxXlqsEMcKOcsXF5ra-JUBm5FzQJJL2iI6k-VkAic0OuAWeNu2az2r/s320/IMG_0398-001%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the net to the bucket</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkVsxpbGPPVUmuSB9fQ9gGITx1UGuiPfXsDvGGFY5zRfwPnXjzWh519bZ19ZWAUGjNTrBJ5hXrxrzMMen4ApPPu20XRs3-zk5lXIzNY6JTcQAdRJKbz9tOFwfA7_ykUCr6_kySu2SJYDib/s1600/IMG_0409-001%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" pua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkVsxpbGPPVUmuSB9fQ9gGITx1UGuiPfXsDvGGFY5zRfwPnXjzWh519bZ19ZWAUGjNTrBJ5hXrxrzMMen4ApPPu20XRs3-zk5lXIzNY6JTcQAdRJKbz9tOFwfA7_ykUCr6_kySu2SJYDib/s320/IMG_0409-001%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proud workers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKONB-6qpZHqJEFPCUvMfMmjJxMXYUZlL2OuBOZwUW531a4XTdZvrVAK1pKLGexXpT2Yi2kw1QmV_xqxTvJUSf05_9slOhNuhePSSB_zsjuctCu0qORAXCgCRz0Qu7721mHN280R4G9Rb/s1600/IMG_0418-001%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" pua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKONB-6qpZHqJEFPCUvMfMmjJxMXYUZlL2OuBOZwUW531a4XTdZvrVAK1pKLGexXpT2Yi2kw1QmV_xqxTvJUSf05_9slOhNuhePSSB_zsjuctCu0qORAXCgCRz0Qu7721mHN280R4G9Rb/s320/IMG_0418-001%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tilapia cooking</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3Pjo6W6PmTBAzwZn7H_-fs71k7I-MZbLClTlYWKJjmkhbfBiCqWSbCZJ6RUfRUNFYx6SgDnt17hzStMFFhFqky8XRrTmjjobr8EI8uiNeflDNXMOK2eB0FMpqX5E8TTBjICtjAANIIfT/s1600/IMG_0432-001%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" pua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3Pjo6W6PmTBAzwZn7H_-fs71k7I-MZbLClTlYWKJjmkhbfBiCqWSbCZJ6RUfRUNFYx6SgDnt17hzStMFFhFqky8XRrTmjjobr8EI8uiNeflDNXMOK2eB0FMpqX5E8TTBjICtjAANIIfT/s320/IMG_0432-001%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch line</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wLttbDZO5aNrEBKDBSpRs3qhoEreCMYo9ptKAgw2PlxAVrsMLmJDwXf_4sGetG14rDFdM_eos9fLpkPvwvMSmtt4vdBrygVvrZQjt2xPn3DI55E1UbIdqjbYLhL4feMU3PEFHQe3XQH8/s1600/IMG_0437-001%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" pua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wLttbDZO5aNrEBKDBSpRs3qhoEreCMYo9ptKAgw2PlxAVrsMLmJDwXf_4sGetG14rDFdM_eos9fLpkPvwvMSmtt4vdBrygVvrZQjt2xPn3DI55E1UbIdqjbYLhL4feMU3PEFHQe3XQH8/s320/IMG_0437-001%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delicious!</td></tr>
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Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726428475158919488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869051467955172722.post-16949649302914301152011-08-16T13:46:00.000-07:002011-08-19T07:36:38.600-07:00Kisima Academy Pond Upgrades<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBO45LRX9w-eaMdfQO4Tt67Veg5NICQyEDEH6KHdfW4NyuYO-47RPDRwM_74H9_naDWwbvVOWyCui72KnPfBQasTHzE0Y3ogKdcP8Hb321EkEV8QfG3iWbnLEZgNzL2L71ZWfGiFsvEc2_/s1600/first+harvest.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641562433529384082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBO45LRX9w-eaMdfQO4Tt67Veg5NICQyEDEH6KHdfW4NyuYO-47RPDRwM_74H9_naDWwbvVOWyCui72KnPfBQasTHzE0Y3ogKdcP8Hb321EkEV8QfG3iWbnLEZgNzL2L71ZWfGiFsvEc2_/s400/first+harvest.JPG" /></a>Just a quick note. Kisima Academy is trying to enlarge the existing fish ponds and increase the number of ponds in order to increase the harvest for the children. If you would like to be a part of our Kisima Academy, Kenya project, you can send donations to: Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, 260 Wade Road West, Loudon, TN 37774-3412. Be sure to make your checks payable to Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church and attach a note that it is for the Kisima Academy Tilapia Project. Thanks for supporting this ministry and the children it serves!
<br />Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726428475158919488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869051467955172722.post-32474572523024560722011-06-16T08:43:00.000-07:002011-06-23T13:15:50.084-07:00It's been a while...Update!<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmg0J6epmj7I1Idwu88a3yXr6IOs9j8-eiUr9hp6OY0QnrsJCAPdIIH6GgJNxgnYJD1IpMMtzZ-5EAX0xvDoi1zTKbtrTg4cBFIN6p6pxCxxaZuz4XUhO94zDZY4R8KtDNTB_g7GFlDeo/s1600/9.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621511029707432370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmg0J6epmj7I1Idwu88a3yXr6IOs9j8-eiUr9hp6OY0QnrsJCAPdIIH6GgJNxgnYJD1IpMMtzZ-5EAX0xvDoi1zTKbtrTg4cBFIN6p6pxCxxaZuz4XUhO94zDZY4R8KtDNTB_g7GFlDeo/s400/9.JPG" /></a>The orphanage and kids in need of a Tilapia Project in Chiapas, Mexico</div><br /><div align="center"><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMC9kKAZqiNfH3owzcCvxL1A4rqa7wvn1Yc85QxG5YYrj_phGMnnV0r6b8sJ5HvkXwmzA1HXR42TzCmb05D_uoVNBvivg_-_93vgavHfj-N_GB5gFS9MtEWh7Cl2gZSC1u8jzjMccytCX/s1600/New+Pond+Uganda.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 328px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 219px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618860995751899506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMC9kKAZqiNfH3owzcCvxL1A4rqa7wvn1Yc85QxG5YYrj_phGMnnV0r6b8sJ5HvkXwmzA1HXR42TzCmb05D_uoVNBvivg_-_93vgavHfj-N_GB5gFS9MtEWh7Cl2gZSC1u8jzjMccytCX/s400/New+Pond+Uganda.JPG" /></a>Large new pond in Uganda for PCM</div><br /><div align="left">Well, it has been a while since my last post. Thanks to all those who have been an encouragement these last six months. Our family is doing well. Sophie is now a very active 7 months old. She is finally starting to sleep better (Thank the Lord). Emma is a great sister and a lot of fun for us. Just the other day she told me she was "all grown up". </div><br /><div align="left">We are happy to report that despite our silence on the blog, Tilapia Projects are continuing around the world, and we do have some new prospects as well. Our pilot project in Kenya continues to produce fish for the Kisima Academy Orphanage. They have had a few bumps in the road, but Martin, the director of the orphanage, has a knack for overcoming adversity. They continue to build new classrooms, dorms, and a kitchen, while growing much of their own food including vegetables, maize, chickens, fish, etc. Martin does have a need to expand their tilapia ponds in order to increase production. The two small ponds they originally started out with will be combined into one larger pond. More water equals more fish for the kids! Great job Martin. <a href="http://www.kisimaacademy.blogspot.com/">http://www.kisimaacademy.blogspot.com/</a></div><br /><div align="left">Parental Care Ministries (PCM) had completed construction on several different ponds, they have filled with water, and stocking with tilapia has begun. We at the Tilapia Project have been greatly encouraged by PCM founders, Dr. Mark Barret and his wife Monica. PCM has done a great job of taking the idea for fish farming and running with it. May the harvests be boutiful and quick! <a href="http://www.parentalcareministries.org/about.php">www.parentalcareministries.org/about.php</a></div><br /><div align="left">Our newest active project is with Living Among Them Ministries in Chiapas, Mexico. Lance Keeling and his wife are full time missionaries working with the native people in a variety of ways including helping with an orphanage. They hope to begin work on a well and some tilapia ponds this fall to benefit the orphans. (contact me for more info on this ministry)</div><br /><div align="left">All of these projects are centered around God's love for his people, and his desire for us to know him. The most important component of any Tilapia Project (beyond God's blessing) is the people on the ground who are managing it. They must be people of strong faith who are willing to overcome adversity. They must be forward thinkers who can work through obstacles. The projects mentioned here have such people directing them on-site. Our role here at the Tilapia Project is more advisory than physical. (Though one day I do hope our family can visit these sites) We are also working to match potential donors directly to projects that God is leading them to. If you are moved to support any of these ministries, or know someone who might be so led, please visit the websites listed above to learn more. Your direct donations will be well used and tax deductible. </div><br /><div align="left">P.S. Dr. Neshia Rudd of Today's Vision Tyler will be holding another trunk show to benefit The Tilapia Project this Saturday, June 25th,from 9 to 3. Stop by if you're in the area. And thanks to Today's Vision for your support!</div></div>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726428475158919488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869051467955172722.post-11943590940921515272010-12-14T13:34:00.000-08:002010-12-14T14:02:21.024-08:00We Wish You a Thankful Christmas<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8H1439XAfXiRxkNt1W-o3FoThU19VWHpLkb7jffuQPjUWvVfllJrpBVlxmNwPWXI0cNpdQVeCMWgIGzfnFLgELlj5PeKyW5fp2xstvkgBpQ3Tz1yi5cEn-t5cbHJqJyxZsZXPJYk-Hnq/s1600/Emma+and+Sophie.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 286px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550661656819844450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8H1439XAfXiRxkNt1W-o3FoThU19VWHpLkb7jffuQPjUWvVfllJrpBVlxmNwPWXI0cNpdQVeCMWgIGzfnFLgELlj5PeKyW5fp2xstvkgBpQ3Tz1yi5cEn-t5cbHJqJyxZsZXPJYk-Hnq/s400/Emma+and+Sophie.jpg" /></a><br /><div>It's been a whirlwind around our house for the last few weeks with the blessed arrival of our second daughter, Sophie. God has touched our family this year not only with a beautiful daughter, but with His provision in our lives through our friends and family. We never really understood the ministry that it is to bring a family a meal until now. We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love. Its about so much more that the wonderful food. When people come to our home, they are telling us that they are standing with us. We are not alone. God is showing us in a very real way that He will provide. Thanks to all our friends and family for their support and willingness to love us. And thanks to God for reminding us that we have so much to be thankful for. </div><br /><br /><div>There are so many people around the world who can not see God's love or provision right now in their lives. We pray that through their difficult circumstances, pain, and abandoment, God will touch them and let them know they are not alone. May God's people stand up this year to show people in a real way that God loves them. </div><br /><br /><div>This season we celebrate the birth of God's son. We celebrate our ultimate salvation from ourselves through Him. And we celebrate God's provision for all of this and so much more because of His love for us. May all of our hearts overflow this season with a better understading of just how thankful we should be.</div><br /><br /><div>Merry Christmas! The Saviour is born!</div>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726428475158919488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869051467955172722.post-53481960661441875662010-11-09T07:50:00.000-08:002010-11-09T08:52:24.655-08:00Tilapia Project Uganda Kickoff LunchParental Care Ministries and the Tilapia Project are hosting a Kickoff Lunch at the Potpourri House in Tyler, Texas. This fundraiser will benefit the Tilapia Project in Uganda (PCM Ministries).<br />Its TODAY! Tuesday, November 9th, 2010 at 11:30.<br />Join us for a quick lunch, and for a donation of $20 you will receive a fabulous free lunch. PCM is a great ministry and the proceeds will go towards building and stocking a LARGE tilapia pond for the orphange. Hope to see you there!Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726428475158919488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869051467955172722.post-87885044074818246962010-11-09T07:37:00.000-08:002010-11-09T09:02:26.518-08:00Dominican Republic Project Update<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipzZBAH9oyTDWWz0pIyy_Yfau_CfpC0_j0W_vsoKZB0wu_ZnZEed3NEAyRrems1rCIjRhJK89H9MvJw-EMMoI3z5VZaaaOX-MCDs4GgRj78KEeP1zfcVridG6aqZ_NVOoFGrEiEBAA9_v1/s1600/Hurricane.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 274px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537576713067998850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipzZBAH9oyTDWWz0pIyy_Yfau_CfpC0_j0W_vsoKZB0wu_ZnZEed3NEAyRrems1rCIjRhJK89H9MvJw-EMMoI3z5VZaaaOX-MCDs4GgRj78KEeP1zfcVridG6aqZ_NVOoFGrEiEBAA9_v1/s400/Hurricane.jpg" /></a>Our friend Stefan Schmid was unable to make his trip from Haiti to the DR due to the bad timing of Hurricane Tomas. Instead, Stefan had to make a quick getaway back to the states. So, we will find another way to make contact in the coming weeks. Stay tuned as God continues His work. It's always an adventure!Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726428475158919488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869051467955172722.post-90408190387355372052010-10-16T08:46:00.000-07:002010-11-03T12:43:36.307-07:00October 2010 Update, New projects in the works!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6I3qWqsjno0uh0TaSq20_pF_Mc9FLu8jg3c0lqGwThDgOmL9VnsqVQ5gT2J-D_MsReDgvBgK1buQRlL9wp7E3EdR8ciRO1gE0Li-xMmFr8bgPZJOwU6qYc0YiSGjmc30lUABaIgS11sub/s1600/PCM+child+with+tilapia.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530607297263146594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6I3qWqsjno0uh0TaSq20_pF_Mc9FLu8jg3c0lqGwThDgOmL9VnsqVQ5gT2J-D_MsReDgvBgK1buQRlL9wp7E3EdR8ciRO1gE0Li-xMmFr8bgPZJOwU6qYc0YiSGjmc30lUABaIgS11sub/s400/PCM+child+with+tilapia.jpg" /></a><br /><div>The Tilapia Project continues to move forward despite the lack of posts these last few months. We have been seeking God's direction in our on-going projects, and in finding new projects. It seems God is leading us primarily to ministries that are serving children. What better way to show His mercy than by feeding His most vulnerable people? </div><div></div><div>Our first project, Kisima Academy, continues to produce fish, feeding and providing money for this orphanage serving over 140 children. The director, Martin, has done a wonderful job of growing additional food to provide for the children in his care. He is not only growing tilapia, but also vegatables and grains. Martin has plans to build more fish ponds in the future in order to provide more security and self-sufficiency to their ministry. If you would like to learn more about Kisima Academy, and how you can help, go to: <a href="http://kisimaacademy.blogspot.com/">http://kisimaacademy.blogspot.com/</a></div><div></div><div>The Dominican Republic project takes another step forward in November when our primary contact, Stefan Schmidt, will travel to Puerto Platta. Stefan will make contact with Richard James to determine what progress has been made and will bring information about where he can purchase fish in the DR. We will use this trip to establish more reliable means of communication and to ensure that Richard is still able and willing to be the man leading the way in the DR for the Tilapia Project. The DR project will serve Hatian refugee children by providing fish to the school serving the Villa Ascension refugee camp. </div><div></div><div>Parental Care Ministries, Uganda, is also moving forward with their Tilapia Project. This ministry is orphanage based as well as serving to unify and enrich local Christian ministries and churches in Uganda. PCM is in the fund raising phase of its Tilapia Project. They will be hosting a fund raiser at the Potpourri House Restaraunt in Tyler, Texas on November 11th. We hope to break ground on the first fish pond at their property in Uganda in November! If you would like to learn more about Parental Care Ministries and how you can help, go to: <a href="http://www.parentalcareministries.org/">http://www.parentalcareministries.org/</a> </div><div></div><div>We have another possible project in the planning stages in Chiapas, Mexico. This ministry is lead by Lance Keeling of Living Among Them Ministries. Lance and his family are working with a local orphanage trying to improve the children's lives. He approached me through a common friend about raising tilapia. We've had some great correspondance and he has a great vision for how the Tilapia Project could help these children. Right now Lance is working to find a sustainable water source for the fish. A well would be a great answer to prayer, but they are quite expensive. Please check out the Living Among Them Ministry at <a href="http://www.livingamongthem.com/">http://www.livingamongthem.com/</a> to find out more about this ministry and how you can help.</div><div></div><div>Debra and I have been impressed in the last year how many children in this world are in need of help. We hope that if you are reading this, that you may be encouraged by the people who have stepped forward, with God as their guide, to care for these kids and show them and their communities God's mercy and grace. If you are inspired to help, you can give tax deductible contributions directly to Kisima Academy, Parental Care Ministries, and Living Among Them Ministries. Thanks for following the Tilapia Project! Bill<br /><br /></div><br /><div></div>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726428475158919488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869051467955172722.post-35023184363627134142010-08-07T13:44:00.000-07:002010-08-09T19:09:48.278-07:00August 2010 UpdateIts been a great summer for the Tilapia Project. The exposure we gained at the Today's Vision Tyler trunk show in June continues to impact the Tilapia Project (Thanks again to Dr. Rudd and her networking genius Todd Hinkey).<br /><br />As a result of that opportunity, we had an amazing meeting with the founders of Parental Care Ministries (PCM), Dr. Mark Barrett and his wife Monica. One of the ministries of PCM is to provide a home for orphans in Uganda. At the moment PCM is providing a home for about 200 children. They hope to be able to serve over a thousand children as resources and infrastructure allow. As we found out in Kenya with Kisima Academy, the Tilapia Project is a natural fit for orphanages looking to become more self-sustaining. That is just what PCM is looking to do in Uganda. We have already begun working with this great ministry to formulate a budget and a plan to bring ponds and fish to Uganda. Check out the PCM website at: <a href="http://www.parentalcareministries.org/">http://www.parentalcareministries.org/</a><br /><br />Another result of the trunk show is that we will be giving a presentation to the Bullard, Texas chapter of Rotary International on August 12th. We are looking forward to sharing our vision for the Tilapia Project with these fine men and women. It is always an honor to share what God has done and is doing in our lives.<br /><br />We are still working on getting the Dominican Republic Project up and moving. We keep reminding ourselves that God has His own timing, and He seems to be on Caribbean time for this one. :) We continue to make slow progress. Because our project manager in the DR has no telephone, internet, or electricity, our communication with him is challenging. However, we should have more specifics laid down with him in the next few weeks.<br /><br />Thanks to all for your prayers and support.Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726428475158919488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869051467955172722.post-11812323205644134102010-06-21T08:48:00.000-07:002010-06-21T08:59:16.728-07:00$1000 donated by Today's Vision of Tyler, Texas!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKApaMWxGhHme-Im8W9_FU3Vi2nGefAyo1PudSI33wso4umzTnroiS5ebw9N5gnmss0FoS-cUonHlv5oVx94rnb8_Bj0NY8aKVUljXrSVSlwTwNsYIyYfcl1XNDG5TNvWyqpaMygKNwhWH/s1600/Todays+vision+trunk+show2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 281px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485255614692197186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKApaMWxGhHme-Im8W9_FU3Vi2nGefAyo1PudSI33wso4umzTnroiS5ebw9N5gnmss0FoS-cUonHlv5oVx94rnb8_Bj0NY8aKVUljXrSVSlwTwNsYIyYfcl1XNDG5TNvWyqpaMygKNwhWH/s400/Todays+vision+trunk+show2.jpg" /></a> Dr. Rudd hosted a trunk sale at Today's Vision of Tyler, Texas, benefiting the Tilapia Project last Saturday.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIJjrs9ro3QMS5Y9Dk8_sLnkEAsPYiLomGSDRIH2aP-Hp02zGl1s8OqkuiBxHhZibTuOzNdCg9t_WXWOUei7oYVbwwG7Eg_9lz6EDGGzZVb_03fmlOOBneXDLkrJ-iumb2HlB0ryCveWO/s1600/Todays+Vision+Trunk+Show+1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485255605171386498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIJjrs9ro3QMS5Y9Dk8_sLnkEAsPYiLomGSDRIH2aP-Hp02zGl1s8OqkuiBxHhZibTuOzNdCg9t_WXWOUei7oYVbwwG7Eg_9lz6EDGGzZVb_03fmlOOBneXDLkrJ-iumb2HlB0ryCveWO/s400/Todays+Vision+Trunk+Show+1.jpg" /></a> Today's Vision trunk show in progress.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjQnXBOsRDvQsGrpLLjm7hLre6l32BTlT8bmCImshGSiyR-HSHzh6o48-dhhoPHdZFfTuqSk1Zy1u18DDqItVAOYzpRLzHOj6pb8cEHj-PKXveXPJXSlqOJOlLNBtWLaGBDkMg41akvdZ/s1600/Todays+Vision+Neshia.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485255593183316930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjQnXBOsRDvQsGrpLLjm7hLre6l32BTlT8bmCImshGSiyR-HSHzh6o48-dhhoPHdZFfTuqSk1Zy1u18DDqItVAOYzpRLzHOj6pb8cEHj-PKXveXPJXSlqOJOlLNBtWLaGBDkMg41akvdZ/s400/Todays+Vision+Neshia.jpg" /></a> Dr. Rudd pictured above in full Tilapia Project regalia :)</div><div>Many thanks to Dr. Rudd and all the Today's Vision employees for their support and hard work. Their donation of $1000 is roughly enough to get a new Tilapia Project going. We met lots of great people, and even made some connections for future projects. God has greatly blessed this project through Today's Vision! <br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726428475158919488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869051467955172722.post-76149199814014749742010-06-18T13:56:00.000-07:002010-06-18T14:00:04.506-07:00Today's Vision hosting the Tilapia Project this weekend.Our friend Dr. Neshia Rudd of Today's Vision, Tyler Texas, is hosting a fish themed trunk sale June 19th. Dr. Rudd has been kind enough to sponser the Tilapia Project with a percentage of the proceeds. We will be at Today's Vision from 9 am to 2 pm tomorrow. Come out and see what Today's Vision has to offer!Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726428475158919488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869051467955172722.post-15024976662723827522010-06-18T13:51:00.001-07:002010-06-18T13:56:42.130-07:00Tilapia found for the Dominican Republic ProjectAfter over a month of phone calls and internet searching, we have located a local source for fish in the Dominican Republic! Now we will put our missionary project manager in the DR, Richard James, in touch with the hatchery in nearby Nagua. This project is run by Food For the Poor. Our contact there will not only sell us fingerling tilapia, but will also be a great resource as Richard begins growing fish. Progress in the Caribbean is slow, but we're getting there!Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726428475158919488noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869051467955172722.post-54485191554150072132010-06-18T13:42:00.001-07:002010-06-18T14:03:01.275-07:00First Harvest at Kisima Academy, Kenya.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLDgt0Bwi9ExhBfQQWUL37rxoOThyphenhyphen-tQa6q84O8rqaCHttzQBJj1YOr_1T3TWr7visFLXKSdy8IYZG75-UrvLAbwjQwGmRSUzc9YvYmKzhJknquxAAvdbbjCVwtSDam9qcIXXTpUjwVtW4/s1600/first+harvest.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484217129776498786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLDgt0Bwi9ExhBfQQWUL37rxoOThyphenhyphen-tQa6q84O8rqaCHttzQBJj1YOr_1T3TWr7visFLXKSdy8IYZG75-UrvLAbwjQwGmRSUzc9YvYmKzhJknquxAAvdbbjCVwtSDam9qcIXXTpUjwVtW4/s400/first+harvest.JPG" /></a> Kisima Academy Tilapia Project had their first harvest in June 2010. In the photo above you can see them working the nets through one of the ponds. These fish were first introduced as fingerlings (about 2 to 3 inches) in the fall of 2009. The tilapia reproduced before the harvest, leaving many small fish in the ponds to grow up for the next harvest.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GyouOTrsk53h-N3p1OMmaPGU9JxsE8oOAC6SFsZaqhR4_rq84cgzjG5hrGrZJSR975fh7iuLQoGJoR8daeJL-aS9ML8WmFOMDr2cQyfJ9HdPwpt9-NYYtRk3EIguWFXWNRp7tVfyX4Mj/s1600/first+harvest+meal.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484217120965893922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GyouOTrsk53h-N3p1OMmaPGU9JxsE8oOAC6SFsZaqhR4_rq84cgzjG5hrGrZJSR975fh7iuLQoGJoR8daeJL-aS9ML8WmFOMDr2cQyfJ9HdPwpt9-NYYtRk3EIguWFXWNRp7tVfyX4Mj/s400/first+harvest+meal.JPG" /></a> The children of Kisima are seen above enjoying a meal of tilapia and ugali (maize flour). The excess fish were sold to local villagers, raising almost $200 for the orphanage. Martin already has plans to expand the Kisima Tilapia Project. He has purchased another acre of land and plans to build more ponds in the future. Great work Kisima! Praise God!<br /><br /><div></div></div>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726428475158919488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869051467955172722.post-88394460080935496362010-05-14T12:58:00.000-07:002010-05-17T13:09:19.178-07:00Dominican Republic update - where are we with the tilapia project?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBletzUxdcmFMOqeJfYQwaOa_cApXxr-1iT8b7FJGW6iFGYu7ERlg0dNTZaWOv15UeUnmz0mYcSsLNCp4T2m0dya__R57fK1zXjY_gGN7twQIwTltLdB-xQKsqHRDNRMtsXK5P31MOT3Gr/s1600/Richard+and+Pond.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472323954174784978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBletzUxdcmFMOqeJfYQwaOa_cApXxr-1iT8b7FJGW6iFGYu7ERlg0dNTZaWOv15UeUnmz0mYcSsLNCp4T2m0dya__R57fK1zXjY_gGN7twQIwTltLdB-xQKsqHRDNRMtsXK5P31MOT3Gr/s400/Richard+and+Pond.JPG" /></a><br />Of course there was more going on during our trip to the Dominican Republic than just touring the various communities in need of help. The main reason I made the trip was to try to work out some more of the details involved in starting a Tilapia Project. One question in need of answer was : could we find someone to manage the project? The answer came to use in the form of Richard James (pictured above). Richard grew up in England, and has quite an interresting story (he joined the merchant marine at age 14, traveled the world, etc...). He came to Puerto Plata with Mercy Ships about six years ago on a 4 week mission outreach. At the end of the trip, Richard decided to stay. He initially lived and worked eith the Hatian refugees in Villa Ascension. His heart and goal has been wholly devoted to helping these people. After a few years he was able to buy a small property nearby.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpCMd716RZfse6vBJRVDQ1bfeoESgr858I43m-hkBCLH2YL1mcXzj_EgVyiDOBS4tf5aEkgw676lmRqSZpxzEhshchj8WBJF0-82Eid_dcED-Tr7lPA9u11pSi5StAKVa5CSfADHOOCBK/s1600/Hatian+School.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472323949297191186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpCMd716RZfse6vBJRVDQ1bfeoESgr858I43m-hkBCLH2YL1mcXzj_EgVyiDOBS4tf5aEkgw676lmRqSZpxzEhshchj8WBJF0-82Eid_dcED-Tr7lPA9u11pSi5StAKVa5CSfADHOOCBK/s400/Hatian+School.JPG" /></a> <div><div>Richard has done amazing things on this property. His green thumb and way with animals is evident. The property is full of vegetables, fruit trees, chickens, ducks, pigs, and the like. The people come to Richard when they need help in the forms of food and medicine. He is the ideal man to manage the Tilapia Project at Villa Ascension, and he has been praying for just such a project. One additonal benefit - Richard's wife teaches at the school in Villa Ascension (pictured above). We were agreed that the best way to initially distribute the fish, without furthering the handouts and entitlement that continue to wreak havoc among these people, is to use them for meals to be served at school. As the project grows, Richard will try to get people involved in the harvest. We hope that God will raise up willing people to begin new projects in other communities.</div><br /><div>The next question that needed to be answered was: could we find tilapia in the Dominican Republic to start our project? This proved to be tougher than it sounded. Over the course of our stay in Puerto Plata, we spoke with numerous people who were said to be connected in some way with aquaculture. This process even lead us to speak with the Assistant to the Bishop of the Diocese of Puerto Plata. We left Puerto Plata with more connections, but no real answers concerning the availability of fish. However, in following up on some of the leads obtained in Puerto Plata, I contacted a lady named Kathy Skipper. Ms. Skipper workes with an organization called Food For the Poor, Inc. They started a similar project in Nagua, just under 100 miles from Puerta Plata. She is currently ironing out the details of allowing us to purchase fish from their project for the Tilapia Project at Villa Ascension. We're getting close!</div></div></div>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726428475158919488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869051467955172722.post-31855634142103377142010-05-06T12:04:00.000-07:002010-05-15T18:33:46.364-07:00Dominican Republic Trip Re-Cap - Aguas Negras<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhx42WFtvQPvL7Ky77lKCHGt-BUyG0SiuvpzEmd3jzxGUjfd2bh9AvQnDMkaqib2rnEBTJbIUsyLNLEq1KrhEym16TIk7Gw4QXcBBXoXs0GuWEnypGQrOq2dODN4MVGsU70j6VSoXs9DE/s1600/IMG_0037.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468236705020156882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhx42WFtvQPvL7Ky77lKCHGt-BUyG0SiuvpzEmd3jzxGUjfd2bh9AvQnDMkaqib2rnEBTJbIUsyLNLEq1KrhEym16TIk7Gw4QXcBBXoXs0GuWEnypGQrOq2dODN4MVGsU70j6VSoXs9DE/s400/IMG_0037.JPG" /></a> A roof top view of Aguas Negras. This is a predominantly Dominican slum in Puerta Platta. As you may have guessed by the name (black water) this place does not smell too great. The whole of Aguas Negras is built below the waste water treatment lagoons for Puerta Platta. When the heavy rains come, Aguas Negras is flooded with sewage. Nearly every home we entered had high water marks two feet up the walls. Aguas Negras has no sewage collection system of its own. As you can see in the picture below, the privys and toilets drain out to the street, and down to the ocean shore untreated.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuiCwT1uiwRUxiH6wHx_GOnszFaMJNs0DXQ-M-4wfKsWJ5vOaoxZel5wT-UYur4TmD5zV5XtgaKuLBt2V1Xhyphenhyphen3yPpQcySs0j20NNLmvjv2yOMCNRToeV4QlnMALmOrTwW3ErwZtBOiuAh/s1600/IMG_0051.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468236696418892722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuiCwT1uiwRUxiH6wHx_GOnszFaMJNs0DXQ-M-4wfKsWJ5vOaoxZel5wT-UYur4TmD5zV5XtgaKuLBt2V1Xhyphenhyphen3yPpQcySs0j20NNLmvjv2yOMCNRToeV4QlnMALmOrTwW3ErwZtBOiuAh/s400/IMG_0051.JPG" /></a> My faithful guide, Stefan Schmid. Stefan has been working in Aguas Negras and Villa Ascension for over 10 years with Mercy Ships. Everywhere we went, people would call out to Stefan telling him how glad they were to see him. He has worked hard through the years to do more than just build houses for the poor. He has developed real lasting relationships with the people in these poor communities. Stefan showed me that we have to do more than just come to build houses for these people. They need training and skills in order to find jobs in order to pull themselves out of poverty. They need help, not handouts. Stefan has an idea to bring teams of skilled people down to Aguas Negras. These teams would build homes for people, but they would work with local people to teach them how to build, how to use computers, how to do electrical work, etc...<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwF0jgU3e1H8ZOH5wxk0Z2dTGto_uvyJUtncZfbIHmP7PBIWRqZjCXZbkEsykJ7YJaNqc9daC-YSmxeATBMiCvxSQrqcJQIGKkAnPV_Cn-Q3WWRqnC5vtLek9cAguP2xGg1A9S9dAu7Yi/s1600/IMG_0041.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468236686239667330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwF0jgU3e1H8ZOH5wxk0Z2dTGto_uvyJUtncZfbIHmP7PBIWRqZjCXZbkEsykJ7YJaNqc9daC-YSmxeATBMiCvxSQrqcJQIGKkAnPV_Cn-Q3WWRqnC5vtLek9cAguP2xGg1A9S9dAu7Yi/s400/IMG_0041.JPG" /></a> This is my young friend Chico standing on the shore of Aguas Negros. Behind him you see a powerplant. This is also where the sewage runs to. You and I would never even consider swiming in these waters, but the people of Aguas Negras not only swim, but fish here.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1K-mbn5k5uuESOX2AzYfsWRrdC9n_nwVeNmDhhzf_zQwD9DqDxLCUJUncwV3ailUeFJ2Wy3C-wV8qpRe_uNWrXAf-cKa23dCdhRMTDUzEne09E4gl3WuVMeFZJOCd36fBkweL7FCOcsW/s1600/IMG_0022.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468236678601417570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1K-mbn5k5uuESOX2AzYfsWRrdC9n_nwVeNmDhhzf_zQwD9DqDxLCUJUncwV3ailUeFJ2Wy3C-wV8qpRe_uNWrXAf-cKa23dCdhRMTDUzEne09E4gl3WuVMeFZJOCd36fBkweL7FCOcsW/s400/IMG_0022.JPG" /></a> This is the school in Aguas Negras run by an amazing lady named Sandra. She told us her story my first night in Puerta Platta. She has an amazing testimony for what God has done in her life. I hope to tell her story more completely in a later post. The school is a bright spot in a very difficult place. She is truly devoted to these people, she is one of them. That is Sandra's daughter in the picture.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726428475158919488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869051467955172722.post-2138415622855810082010-05-06T10:53:00.000-07:002010-05-15T18:34:36.888-07:00Dominican Republic Trip Re-cap, Villa Ascension<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XaZ51UGmoTgsyb9-d1WqTIq9Yl0FVqStHiDx6lKyStYA-nedN9vB5LkrHQzduYNHgFYGxmzq-UqPVwJ1PNDvd0K9_rB_1S_bxDzxKA5xcpXuahIxfNv4udtwnyQTPMT_WjxlnK0IzILg/s1600/IMG_0007.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468225156576673586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XaZ51UGmoTgsyb9-d1WqTIq9Yl0FVqStHiDx6lKyStYA-nedN9vB5LkrHQzduYNHgFYGxmzq-UqPVwJ1PNDvd0K9_rB_1S_bxDzxKA5xcpXuahIxfNv4udtwnyQTPMT_WjxlnK0IzILg/s400/IMG_0007.JPG" /></a> This is the view of the Hatian village called Villa Ascension from the hills above. Out of view to the right is what they call the Old Village. That village is on "Company" land. The sugar cane industry originally brought Hatians to the DR to cut cane. When the processing factory folded years ago, they left their workers with no place to go, no work, and no hope. Notice the sugar cane in the foreground and surrounding the village.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGG-IUdQtCi2MKGy6g21bGvHCZEkKg3RucCW26ZHdRsxaQb6BRa447XahODrbwzsMLzXvUxk_EsN9IpUdY5Wqbcyjsq0LVlImk0eMqNT59urtKOdTf5aDfkOi9kwfMRzD3VbLSj8jqAHk/s1600/IMG_0009.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468225151758153810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGG-IUdQtCi2MKGy6g21bGvHCZEkKg3RucCW26ZHdRsxaQb6BRa447XahODrbwzsMLzXvUxk_EsN9IpUdY5Wqbcyjsq0LVlImk0eMqNT59urtKOdTf5aDfkOi9kwfMRzD3VbLSj8jqAHk/s400/IMG_0009.JPG" /></a> The one and only road into or out of the Hatian villiage.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8kVXWbWoaJn3Ht7pm2uWHoD33pyTTmknXabKh6JKQDGBgkBxZr2GKs_pgdd0RIW78nmrSYopfrPkvvD-l9PMiMaOoU0rCtebD1_F7EqsP4abbxvSicBtZy9zM-xwjGC8xuN43qvziSpFb/s1600/IMG_0024.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468224742105696082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8kVXWbWoaJn3Ht7pm2uWHoD33pyTTmknXabKh6JKQDGBgkBxZr2GKs_pgdd0RIW78nmrSYopfrPkvvD-l9PMiMaOoU0rCtebD1_F7EqsP4abbxvSicBtZy9zM-xwjGC8xuN43qvziSpFb/s400/IMG_0024.JPG" /></a> One of the dwellings in the Old Village. Richard James is the man we are talking to about raising tilapia to help the people of Villa Ascension. He was our guide as we walked through the village. He came to the DR with Mercy Ships about 6 years ago - and never left. He lives among the people in the same conditions. Now he has a small piece of land in the hills above the villages. The people come to him when they need help, food, or have medical needs.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9nkrYNW2K1C_Z734iLi20Y9oZy8GJDAwo9ObdoO3HD_yA_0EsEkVI7lMFVzrAyPEu1Jjqpmq8fU2rRBiouH3cWN-1iB7SZq95BK7VrhSPW_Cce0C8HAvhdtHSvDtU3mSFUyXSj-DaE3D/s1600/IMG_0029.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468224739652747362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9nkrYNW2K1C_Z734iLi20Y9oZy8GJDAwo9ObdoO3HD_yA_0EsEkVI7lMFVzrAyPEu1Jjqpmq8fU2rRBiouH3cWN-1iB7SZq95BK7VrhSPW_Cce0C8HAvhdtHSvDtU3mSFUyXSj-DaE3D/s400/IMG_0029.JPG" /></a> A girl and her baby sit in front of the local voodoo preist's place. Voodoo is no joke here. It is real and a part of the culture. This was the place where I felt most uncomfortable during the trip. Stefan explained to me that it was normal to feel that way, but what have we to fear? The creator of the universe is our God. These "priests" are in need of God's word and salvation too.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxTJRtZBlq3aqGTqTiGsak-clvQMb2OG-bTAZwSiDcdbBvZwHLByuI9JF80T67-YPZNjXDDnQani-ZMz7d0tj32uTaeh8fEX10zGY8Vt-9B_Uddok-nsRkbxj4V1qNiiAwT21ZePRyuzO4/s1600/IMG_0028.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468224126799776690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxTJRtZBlq3aqGTqTiGsak-clvQMb2OG-bTAZwSiDcdbBvZwHLByuI9JF80T67-YPZNjXDDnQani-ZMz7d0tj32uTaeh8fEX10zGY8Vt-9B_Uddok-nsRkbxj4V1qNiiAwT21ZePRyuzO4/s400/IMG_0028.JPG" /></a> Just a typical dwelling with a family in front. Seeing the children was difficult for me. That could be my Emma sitting there naked, dirty, and hungry.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4qCPFAM2orF63_Jm-pG3dSfww_cAW64k9NIUZ8F_3VizKwAgtEuoJGs-8mNjPpMoPNX-oG0Aosn-dxQx6kYdTUd01zurkY5BUA7AI4uw1vqhT-m9vergUykDfwY4qfBOcbuTqCW3-SQ1/s1600/IMG_0027.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468224123266518706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4qCPFAM2orF63_Jm-pG3dSfww_cAW64k9NIUZ8F_3VizKwAgtEuoJGs-8mNjPpMoPNX-oG0Aosn-dxQx6kYdTUd01zurkY5BUA7AI4uw1vqhT-m9vergUykDfwY4qfBOcbuTqCW3-SQ1/s400/IMG_0027.JPG" /></a> Babys sleeping on the concrete floor of a Company dwelling with Mama watching over.<br /><div><div><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbU62DToQmRmX4RRqjrabLMRlrJrUP8eLpPTqejk28qi1sffngI3_XV2UbhVA8YONk7Aa68P-IAG0wNPlMezCGuqSusRspCCwKn6Y-3SXiSo15KlC545ohTD1eblDj0Zv7JkGWaizcc2Sv/s1600/IMG_0030.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468217526336947394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbU62DToQmRmX4RRqjrabLMRlrJrUP8eLpPTqejk28qi1sffngI3_XV2UbhVA8YONk7Aa68P-IAG0wNPlMezCGuqSusRspCCwKn6Y-3SXiSo15KlC545ohTD1eblDj0Zv7JkGWaizcc2Sv/s400/IMG_0030.JPG" /></a>This little Hatian girl lives in the shack behind her. It was very humbling to walk through their village and take photos of their homes. The people of Villa Ascention and the "Old Village" were very gracious and open. They invited us into their homes and offered to share what they had. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726428475158919488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869051467955172722.post-2020535801588788692010-04-20T07:03:00.000-07:002010-04-20T07:30:09.573-07:00Getting ready for the Dominican Republic trip!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVV4Lrvsv-JvrndUPkp1dKoP59EWWc_EIqYaM1mz0I-t-jy1uvgMjaejaPpfvbXbkIB0bMBJHcPM1Ml4upXy9sMqBYHbDGzAxEwXk8AeNNXiUmHrxF9X-FbjKRyuiuhYrh7Op7uivOLrO/s1600/hispaniola-topographic.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 152px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462226862705665426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVV4Lrvsv-JvrndUPkp1dKoP59EWWc_EIqYaM1mz0I-t-jy1uvgMjaejaPpfvbXbkIB0bMBJHcPM1Ml4upXy9sMqBYHbDGzAxEwXk8AeNNXiUmHrxF9X-FbjKRyuiuhYrh7Op7uivOLrO/s320/hispaniola-topographic.jpg" /></a><br /><div>We are one week away from the Dominican Republic trip. I'll be meeting Stefan Schmid in Puerto Plata on Thursday, April 29th. While there we hope to get the details worked out to start raising tilapia under the direction of locals in order to help the Hatian refugees in the area. I want to thank all those who have given encouragement and funds. You have made this possible. I'll try to take lots of pictures and give a detailed account upon return. Please keep this project in your prayers. </div>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726428475158919488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869051467955172722.post-90874624314959117252010-03-30T14:21:00.000-07:002010-05-15T18:39:35.054-07:00Kenya Update and Beyond - March 2010<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVa99PFqkodGBGEDuDx3utXNg16WpEXwK8likyrFbbdieDyccfXjzIGoyU3dgZliiQPuMEfD4meEile-V1S3xxOtkike9immCYIpX1Kf1knmZWdyfpVVboINxokVHU521rnDs_WbvQhC_X/s1600/Kids+at+the+ponds+2.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457774248765864034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVa99PFqkodGBGEDuDx3utXNg16WpEXwK8likyrFbbdieDyccfXjzIGoyU3dgZliiQPuMEfD4meEile-V1S3xxOtkike9immCYIpX1Kf1knmZWdyfpVVboINxokVHU521rnDs_WbvQhC_X/s200/Kids+at+the+ponds+2.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXUD8sM4kjXfGSDRWRjij0i06ITbqO4SI0E9HIjhrkgDyD353xvinEhmXGibjAFOAgo_fRrsmnvebtZ1qWHsZvFQYu_wk1tfhPf5VW7ObIZ4XiaW1Go_uhCbRM56pC047i2bFw5z8gxPg/s1600/Kids+at+the+ponds.JPG"></a><br /><br /><div><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">The Tilapia Project is starting to move around the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What began in East Texas is already working in a Kenyan orphanage and we are hoping to help Haitian refugees in the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Dominican Republic</st1:place></st1:country-region> this summer. Here’s a quick recap:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore">1)<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Tilapia in <st1:place st="on">East Texas</st1:place></b>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Success!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Last May, we<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>introduced about 35 small tilapia into a pond to study their growth and productivity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Over the summer the fish proved to be tough and prolific in reproduction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The fish grew to over a pound each before being harvested in October.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>With winter approaching, we collected over 1,000 of their offspring and moved them into the storage shed behind our house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The plan was to over winter them and stock them again the following spring in several ponds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Then came winter!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We found it wasn’t economically feasible to heat the little shed after our electric bill went up in December.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We had learned what we needed to know, so we gave the fish to a friend who does organic gardening for fertilizer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We were sad to end the local project sooner than we planned, but it didn’t make sense to spend the money on heating our shed when there are more projects to be implemented and better ways to spend the funds God has given us.</span></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore">2)<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Tilapia in <st1:country-region st="on">Kenya</st1:country-region></b>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>God is working in <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Kenya</st1:country-region></st1:place>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In November, we sent $1000 to the <st1:placename st="on">Kisima</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Academy</st1:placetype>, an orphanage serving over 100 children in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Kenya</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Within one week, the director of the orphanage, Martin Simiyu, had two hand dug ponds finished and filled with water and fish!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Today those fish are growing and doing well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Martin has planted a garden and plans to raise chickens in the area around the ponds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We expect the first fish will be ready for harvest in six to eight months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In the mean time, the fish will reproduce, making the next generations of food for the children of Kisima.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Please check out the Kisima academy website<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="color:blue;"><a href="http://kisimaacademy.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#800080;">http://kisimaacademy.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span>and support them as the Lord leads you.</span></p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-: EN-USfont-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12;" >What’s next you ask?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-: EN-USfont-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12;" >The Tilapia Project will be heading to the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Dominican Republic</st1:place></st1:country-region> in June!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Stefan Schmid has been working with Haitian refugees in the “DR” through Mercy Ships since 2003.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We will be investigating the feasibility of growing tilapia in some ponds near the town of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Puerto Plata</st1:place></st1:city>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Puerto Plata is on the northern coast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We will develop a plan with the people growing the fish that will allow them to help families in need without creating another form of dependence that could lead to more hunger in the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If everything looks good, we hope the fish will be used to supplement the diet of children attending a Christian school that works primarily with Haitian refugees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></div></div>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726428475158919488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869051467955172722.post-58039139441504715882010-03-30T14:16:00.000-07:002010-05-15T18:41:56.149-07:00Kenyan Orphanage Opportunity - October 2009<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBjbUqCM4hi0xDJvIlKq3j1smAPtq83eDB99-2g2TpSti6lKsbI0drBi1Xh-IzqHL4V-IGRM3kvlja2HqMOsoo8dnouB1G0lMseASaRN3xnybyh4Rq_D7n3AtaUB6ZhhxpocaUBJgYPi1/s1600/Martin+and+kids.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457775329910359058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBjbUqCM4hi0xDJvIlKq3j1smAPtq83eDB99-2g2TpSti6lKsbI0drBi1Xh-IzqHL4V-IGRM3kvlja2HqMOsoo8dnouB1G0lMseASaRN3xnybyh4Rq_D7n3AtaUB6ZhhxpocaUBJgYPi1/s200/Martin+and+kids.JPG" /></a><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">We have several exciting developments in Project Tilapia to report since our last update.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>First things first, the project here in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Texas</st1:place></st1:state> has been a success!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We started noticing baby tilapia in the brood pond the first part of July and every day we see more and more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>These fish are rugged, quick breeders, require minimal care, and adapt well to change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The water level in the pond dropped a foot before a recent rain and the water was quite warm, yet the fish were un-phased.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We will begin our first harvest in October.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The research phase of this project is about to take a back seat as we prepare to step into the real world and provide practical help to some people in need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:red;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">TIME TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">In June, I was put in contact with a gentleman, Martin Simiyu, from Africa who runs an orphanage for about 100 children who’ve lost their parents in the recent political turmoil in <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Kenya</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The name of his orphanage is <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Kisima</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Academy</st1:placetype></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Please check out this website for more information and pictures of his amazing ministry:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="color:blue;"><a href="http://kisimaacademy.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#800080;">http://kisimaacademy.blogspot.com/</span></a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span></span>Martin has been praying for some time for a way to supplement the orphans’ diet with an affordable, sustainable protein source.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Through our correspondence this summer, we believe we have a viable plan to breed tilapia and help feed the children at <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Kisima</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Academy</st1:placetype></st1:place> on an on-going basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">We are now partnering with Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, of Loudon, Tennessee (long time supporters of Kisima Academy) in order to offer tax deductions to donors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We are seeking partners to help with the following one-time expenses:</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Construction of ponds (includes a water pipe system)<span style="mso-tab-count: 2"> </span>$<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>738</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in" class="MsoHeader"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Purchase of starter fish, fish food, and equipment<span style="mso-tab-count: 3"> </span>$<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>375</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Purchase of ½ Acre of land on which to dig fish ponds<span style="mso-tab-count: 2"> </span>$2,305</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">The largest cost of this project is the purchase of land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Land is very valuable in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Kenya</st1:place></st1:country-region> because it is one of the indicators of wealth in their culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The land currently owned by <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Kisima</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Academy</st1:placetype></st1:place> is already being used for teaching and living space for the children, as well as a large vegetable garden and grazing pasture for a singular cow purchased to provide milk for the orphans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Please consider joining us in this ministry to the children of Kisima.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We are giving financially to this need and hope you will too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Every dollar donated will go towards this project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726428475158919488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869051467955172722.post-28095611035862734062010-03-30T14:14:00.000-07:002010-05-15T18:43:23.980-07:00East Texas Research - May 2009<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">I want to take a moment to give you an update on what’s happening with the tilapia project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It has been a very interesting couple of months since you heard from me last.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">First of all, I would like to thank so many of you for your prayers, supportive words, and financial assistance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Your support has allowed us to purchase the equipment and fish necessary to get this project off the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I would also like to thank those friends who have contributed their time helping me get the ponds ready for fish.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">The project has evolved in the past few months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I believe the Lord gave me the inspiration to begin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I took the initial idea and made it my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And now, in the last few months I think He <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>has been taking the reins back from me, and asking me to allow Him to show me how this is really supposed to work!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It’s been a real faith builder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The plan has changed and I have no doubt that it is for the better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">We purchased and stocked Tilapia brood fish on May 18<sup>th</sup>! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>These fish will spawn this summer, not in the ponds we’ve dug, but in smaller ponds that friends have allowed us to use for the project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>At the summer’s end, we will remove the offspring from the ponds, and place them in small pools to ride out the winter indoors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Next spring we’ll move the fish to the ponds to grow them out for harvest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Meanwhile, my friend Stephan Schmidt with Mercy Ships will be going down to the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Dominican Republic</st1:country-region></st1:place> in June.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He will be gathering information to determine the best path to bring Project Tilapia to the people down there who need food so desperately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>At this point we believe the startup costs in the DR should be similar to what we found here in <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Texas</st1:place></st1:state>, depending on availability of supplies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>One additional cost will be the airfare down there to help get the local people going in the right direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">We are seeking partners to help with these expenses and to join us in prayer for a fruitful project and future outreach opportunities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Every dollar donated will go towards this project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Any extra funds raised will be used towards future outreaches related to this project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726428475158919488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869051467955172722.post-47828360446599195892010-03-30T14:02:00.000-07:002010-05-15T18:45:31.618-07:00A Heart to Help - the Tilapia Project begins - January 2009<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">About three years ago, I was looking for a way to serve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I had several friends with YWAM (Youth With A Mission), a missions organization based here in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Tyler</st1:city></st1:place>, and they suggested a short term medical missions trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Before I knew it I was all set to go to <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cambodia</st1:place></st1:country-region> on my first medical missions trip with YWAM Mercy Reserves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Unfortunately the trip was canceled at the last moment due to unavailability of the doctors who were planning on making the trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was saddened that my first mission trip failed to leave the ground, but the experience of communicating a need to friends and family, and then seeing God provide through you was a true faith builder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After that experience, I continued my search for a way to serve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>I was praying and asking God what my place in His plan was. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>I asked Him how I could serve Him instead of myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I found the YWAM website and started looking at their many bases around the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>One base in particular caught my attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This YWAM base in the <st1:place st="on">Cook Islands</st1:place> of the South Pacific listed aquaculture as one of their needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was excited!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This was right up my alley – almost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Yes, I am an aquatic biologist, but I had never raised fish in anything but an aquarium before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I began investigating fish culture and the techniques and fish that might be most useful around the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>One of the biggest roadblocks I faced was my own lack of experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>How could I instruct someone how to grow fish if I had never done it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>At that time it was a roadblock that I could not see how to overcome.</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"></span>Quite a bit has happened in my life since that time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My bride Debra and I were married on April 14<sup>th</sup>, 2007.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Nine months later we were blessed with beautiful Emma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Now Emma is one year old, walking, and talking (well, sort of talking </span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-char-type: symbolfont-family:Wingdings;" ><span style="mso-char-type: symbol;font-family:Wingdings;" >J</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> ). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>Over the past year and a half, Debra and I have both been increasingly searching for ways to serve in ministry again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And now, three years after the initial idea, the roadblocks seem to have disappeared!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><br /><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">In December 2008 we presented a proposal to the directors of the YWAM base in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Tyler</st1:place></st1:city> that would allow me to gain experience in tilapia culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They have given permission to construct three small ponds on the YWAM base for the purpose of finding a low cost way to produce tilapia in remote areas of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The fruits (or fish) of the research will provide fish to feed the YWAM base.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Ultimately we hope to be able to put together a guide to help missionaries around the world supplement their protein needs and gain valuable inroads into the communities that they serve by producing tilapia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>In the long term, I would go on short mission trips to interested ministries around the world to help implement and shape their own tilapia projects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We already have a friend working with Mercy Ships who is interested in starting a project in the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Dominican Republic</st1:place></st1:country-region>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The possibilities are without end as long as there are hungry people in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><br /><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Work has already begun!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>YWAM has graciously allowed us to use their backhoe to construct the ponds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>With the help of my friend, Clint Wright, one pond is already finished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We hope to have the remaining two ponds finished soon in order to fill up for summer with the spring rains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><br /><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><br /><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">The outreach will cost each of us about $3000 (around $1750 will go to the Airlines).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>At this time I am seeking partners to help me with these expenses and to join me in prayer for a fruitful and safe outreach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>One hundred percent of the funds raised will go towards the outreach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Any extra funds raised will be donated to this <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cambodia</st1:place></st1:country-region> mission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Will you please pray and ask God what He would have you give?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><br /><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><br /><ul style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type="disc"><br /><li style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">(3) small ponds, each approximately 50 feet in diameter</span></li><br /><li style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">(800) tilapia fingerlings, 1 to 2 inch fish, $200</span></li><br /><li style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">(1) 50 foot seine, ¼ to ½ inch mesh, $200</span></li><br /><li style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">(2) large dip nets, $50 each</span></li><br /><li style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">(2) large coolers, $50 each</span></li><br /><li style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Commercial floating fish food, $16 per 50 lb bag</span></li><br /><li style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Automatic feeder, $100</span></li><br /><li style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Weighing scale, $50</span></li></ul><br /><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726428475158919488noreply@blogger.com0