Participants: Dick Duerksen
Series Code: MMS
Program Code: MMS000136
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00:07 [music]
00:30 From the trailers and RVs behind me you might think I'm 00:34 in a national park, but this is typical for a stateside 00:38 Maranatha Volunteers International project. 00:41 Traveling from home to a Maranatha project somewhere 00:44 in North America, it's still an integral part of Maranatha's 00:48 volunteer opportunities. 00:50 Some of our volunteers they stay in motels, 00:53 others they stay in the homes of friends, 00:55 but most they just hook up the trailer, pack up the RV, 01:01 and head off into a world of service. 01:04 In just a few moments we'll meet one of the couples who has come 01:07 here to Florida. 01:09 But first, here's what's happening today 01:11 in Maranatha's world. 01:17 Thirty-five volunteers finished construction on a new 01:19 school campus at an existing school in New Delhi, India. 01:23 Volunteers have built 7 One-Day classrooms in a cluster, 01:26 revitalizing the long term commitment of the 01:29 Southern Asian Division to education in this region. 01:33 An Ultimate Workout leadership team recently spent a week 01:36 on the Mosquito Coast of Nicaragua, 01:38 determining final locations for this summer's Ultimate Workout. 01:42 If you know a team looking for the adventure of a lifetime, 01:44 please have them sign up at MARANATHA.ORG. 01:48 The "Maranatha Mission Stories'" production team just returned 01:51 from Honduras where they documented the inauguration of 01:54 the Choluteca school campus. 01:56 More than 800 volunteers have made their way to Honduras to 02:00 make this school a reality. 02:02 This month volunteers have begun work on the CEA school, 02:05 a new project similar in scope. 02:08 Watch "Maranatha Mission Stories" every week for 02:10 the latest mission news. 02:12 And thank you for your support. 02:22 Twenty years ago Maranatha embarked on a project in 02:25 the Dominican Republic that would forever alter the course 02:28 of the organization, Santo Domingo '92. 02:32 Twelve hundred volunteers built twenty-five brick-and-mortar 02:35 churches in just seventy days. 02:38 Never before had Maranatha attempted to coordinate 02:40 a project of this size. 02:42 And volunteers from around the world descended on Santo Domingo 02:46 to be a part of Maranatha history. 02:49 Each day they traveled to their job sites to lay block, 02:52 roof, tile, and paint. 02:54 At new churches, lifetime friendships were formed 02:57 as the volunteers and locals worked side-by-side. 03:01 Twenty years later the impact of this project can still be seen. 03:05 Adventist church membership in the Dominican Republic has 03:08 tripled as God continues to bless the work that was started 03:12 in Santo Domingo. 03:15 Let's take a moment for an update on Maranatha's 03:17 upcoming projects. 03:20 Have you always thought that it would be fun to go on 03:22 a Maranatha project if you had the right skills? 03:26 Don't worry. Just go. 03:28 There's always a job for everyone on a Maranatha 03:30 mission trip. 03:31 Here are a few of the options you won't want to miss. 03:35 Take your family on an adventure to Nicaragua June 14-24 for 03:39 the Maranatha Summer Family Project. 03:41 You'll find a mission opportunity for every member 03:44 of the family. 03:45 If you're a teenager, or know one who wants to experience 03:48 an extreme mission adventure, 03:50 check out Maranatha's 22nd Ultimate Workout. 03:53 Volunteers will build churches and schools at Nicaragua's 03:56 remote Moskito Coast. 03:58 The dates are July 17-30. 04:01 If you're in college, we have a project just for you. 04:04 The Collegiate Project runs from July 17-30 in Nicaragua. 04:08 And if you're a young adult, join us in Nicaragua 04:11 August 1-13. 04:13 There's always a project that's just right for you. 04:15 To find it, visit our website: MARANATHA.ORG. 04:23 [music] 05:22 Usually "Maranatha Mission Stories" takes you to faraway 05:25 places, but you'll be glad to hear that not all Maranatha 05:28 projects require a 30 hour plane ride. 05:32 Some of you, we've learned, prefer to stay closer to home 05:35 and serve communities right here in North America. 05:38 So we've created what we call Stateside Projects. 05:42 And in 2012 you'll be able to find us in Florida, California, 05:48 the Carolinas, and even Colorado. 05:59 It's the middle of winter here in Tampa Bay and nearly 06:01 40 volunteers have traveled in their RVs to come help renovate 06:05 2 Messianic Jewish Adventist Synagogues. 06:09 This is part of one of Maranatha's many stateside 06:12 projects. 06:26 As volunteers we get to know so many different people. 06:29 When we came to this one I knew--I already knew everybody 06:31 that's here. 06:33 And I know a lot of people that are at the other project. 06:35 And so you just kind of build your relationships and you 06:38 actually become friends. 06:39 No matter where you go you've got some friends just about 06:41 any place you go now. 06:43 So, Maranatha makes friendships worldwide. 06:47 So, I am thankful for that. 06:50 I love always participating in them, 06:54 because I just know that like every nail or every screw that's 07:01 put in there is going to help the gospel and to be a progress 07:07 in the area of which we work. 07:12 These synagogues have sustained a significant amount 07:14 of wear and tear over the years and were right for renovation. 07:20 From painting, demolition, framing, electrical, cooking, 07:24 and far more there was an opportunity for every volunteer 07:28 to get involved. 07:30 [laughing] Here it comes. 07:32 Thank you, thank you John. 07:34 Thank you much. 07:35 How about the other wire? 07:41 We talked to Roger Hatch project coordinator and asked 07:44 how he had to do any special preparation for 07:47 a stateside project. 07:50 Well, U.S. projects, by and large, 07:54 are quite different than what they are 07:56 out of The States. 07:58 First of all, usually you need permits. 08:01 You need plans. 08:03 And those all have to be approved by local authorities. 08:07 And that's one of the first things that happens. 08:11 Next thing most of the projects here in The States needs 08:17 leadership that is very familiar with the codes and so forth. 08:23 So, now then you've got to have experienced leaders that 08:26 understand the codes. 08:28 Does that mean that everybody has to be skilled? 08:30 Absolutely not. 08:32 They just have to be willing. 08:34 We can use any willing able bodied person that can swing 08:39 a hammer or do electrical work, and so forth. 08:43 How does this help the church? 08:45 Well, it saves the labor. 08:47 And labor is a big part of any project. 08:50 When we do projects like this we usually talk about carpenter 08:56 work, and siding, setting windows, setting doors, 09:01 putting siding on a building, roof. 09:16 The replacing of the roof may have been the most notable 09:19 change, but there was also a buzz of activity on the ground. 09:32 The attraction of a stateside trip as far as I'm concerned is 09:38 that we purchased a motorhome the first year we were married, 09:43 and so we were able to utilize that in traveling to 09:50 the different projects. 09:54 We have been able to see parts of The United States that I had 09:59 never seen before. 10:00 Meet people that I'd never met before. 10:05 And it's wonderful to have friends just all over 10:11 The United States as well as the world. 10:14 This Tampa Bay project gave volunteers a unique opportunity 10:17 to experience Jewish culture. 10:23 What I enjoyed in the service is the participation 10:29 of the congregation. 10:32 How they blend their voices in and sing praises to God 10:38 in their own custom ways that they do that. 10:46 The Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventist planted 10:49 these two Messianic Jewish Adventist congregations 10:52 in Saint Petersburg and New Port Richey. 10:55 The remodeling the volunteers did that will help enhance 10:59 the ability of the ministry to reach their community. 11:16 That Saint Petersburg the main thing was putting 11:18 a new roof on the sanctuary and putting siding--new siding. 11:24 Tearing the old siding off. 11:25 Putting new siding on their classrooms. 11:29 And fixing up a garage so that they could make a classroom 11:33 out of it. 11:35 Here we're taking out some walls and opening up an area 11:39 for fellowship. 11:41 And doing some stucco work on the inside of the church. 11:46 Security lights, repairing doors that don't work, 11:50 and door closers that don't work, 11:52 and drinking fountain that don't work. 11:54 The list goes on and on. 11:56 So, we got the majority of the shingles on. 11:59 If you come out here, you can see that wall back there. 12:08 We had to tear off all the stuff they had on there, 12:15 'cause it was pulling away from the wall. 12:18 So, we stripped that all off. 12:19 And we re-stuccoed, kind of smoothed out the wall. 12:24 We drove 1,100 miles from Michigan to get here. 12:29 It took us 2 days. 12:31 I came here on this project--I thought I might be doing 12:33 some roofing, might be doing some painting. 12:36 And I ended up power washing a fence, 12:39 taking the paint off and power washing this shed behind me. 12:43 I thought I was signing up for a project in Florida to do-- 12:47 play in the sun, play in the water, and have a good time. 12:51 I didn't think I'd be power washing. 12:53 Oh, that Harry. 12:55 He hates the beach. 12:57 He is such a joker. 12:59 Great group. 13:00 We've really appreciated working with all the Maranatha people. 13:03 It's been tremendous. 13:04 Every time we go to--go on a Maranatha, 13:06 Joel will say I wonder who we're gonna know. 13:09 And that means so much to him. 13:13 The interaction between people of every walk of life, 13:16 every background, and all of a sudden you are just 13:21 one big family. 13:23 There's no better way to serve the Lord. 13:25 If a person can find the time to do it, 13:27 and there's no better way to meet new friends. 13:32 And to keep in touch with old friends. 13:35 It is just a wonderful way of life. 13:37 And I highly recommend it. 13:50 That's cool. 13:52 So, how many trips have you actually been on? 13:53 This is just our third. 13:55 Just your third? 13:56 Yeah. 13:57 But you've got-- 14:00 We've got the fever. 14:03 Okay. 14:04 So, I want you to tell me about your Navion and why that is such 14:08 an important part of your life? 14:10 Well, we love to travel. 14:12 And we can get 16 miles to the gallon if I keep my foot a 14:16 little light on the accelerator and keep it down around 55. 14:20 So, you can actually get 16 at 55? 14:22 I can get 16 at 55. 14:24 And I can get 15 at 65. 14:26 I'm impressed. 14:28 And so you're able to travel a long ways actually 14:30 at a fairly inexpensive rate. 14:32 But and you have a full cafeteria inside? 14:35 Oh, yes. 14:37 There's sufficient things in there for me to use to prepare 14:41 a pretty decent meal. 14:44 What have you enjoyed most about this trip? 14:46 Well, maybe the best thing is meeting new people that we 14:48 hadn't met before. 14:50 That's always fun. 14:51 But the camaraderie of Maranatha, 14:55 the trips is wonderful. 14:56 It's catching. 14:58 Where did you start? 15:00 What was your first Maranatha trip? 15:01 Yuma. Yuma. 15:02 Now that--did you drive this out there? 15:04 I drove this out here. 15:05 I did tow a car on a tow dolly, because I needed a tool chest. 15:09 And that was your tool chest? 15:11 I had to have something to carry my tools in, 15:13 so that was in the trunk of the car. 15:15 I think you're right. 15:16 You need to look for a trailer. 15:19 But you take your tools, you go all the way out there, 15:21 and you did miracles in Yuma. 15:23 That was a big project. 15:24 Yes. That was a lot of fun. 15:26 So, from Yuma to? 15:28 We went to Eden Valley. 15:29 Up in the--was that beautiful? 15:31 It was. 15:32 Had you been there before? 15:34 I'd been to Rocky Mountain National Park before, 15:36 but not to Eden Valley. 15:37 So what did you think when you stood at Eden Valley 15:39 and looked at the sunrise in the morning up there? 15:41 It was beautiful. 15:43 Words can hardly express what it looked like. 15:48 It's just calm, wasn't it? 15:49 It just makes you feel good. 15:51 Yeah, but don't forget the first night we had a hail storm. 15:54 [laughing] I have been there when there was a hail storm. 15:59 That's amazing. 16:00 And so did it hurt your motorhome? 16:02 If you look real close to the hood, 16:05 there's a few slight little dents. 16:07 It knocked a couple-- 16:08 Yeah, but this one is a lot safer. 16:10 It's not going to hail tonight. 16:11 You promise? 16:13 Yeah, we're probably going to be okay. 16:14 I don't think we're gonna get any Florida hurricanes 16:15 now either. 16:16 No. I think you're pretty safe. 16:18 You have gone on three trips. 16:20 Where would you like to go next? 16:22 Well, we're going to South Carolina. 16:23 You're coming up to Nosoca then and help up at the Pines. 16:26 That's cool. 16:28 And what do you look forward to--other than just the people? 16:31 I think it's just fun. 16:34 I'm a do-it-yourselfer. 16:36 I mean, I built my own house. 16:38 It took me 2 years and that was in 2001-2002--I started 16:44 in Christmas 2001 and moved in in November 2003. 16:48 Two years later. 16:49 Yeah, 2 years later. 16:50 But you did it all yourself? 16:52 Not all of it. 16:53 No. I didn't set tresses-- 16:54 Yeah, but you did everything you possibly could. 16:56 I put up walls. 16:57 I did electric. 16:58 I did plumbing. 17:00 I did what I could. 17:01 And so when you come on a Maranatha project in the US, 17:04 you can do most anything anybody that anybody can ask. 17:07 I like to do electric that's what Roger had us set up to do 17:11 is electric and a little security. 17:13 Well, we're ending up doing the security. 17:17 Yeah, but now when you do that kind of thing--well, 17:20 today you were down working on the roof down at the other 17:23 synagogue, right? 17:24 No, we were working on an old shed they have down there that 17:26 they ought to fit a match to. 17:29 Yeah. 17:30 You know I saw you guys working on that and I wondered if it 17:32 would ever get straight again. 17:34 Did you get it straight? 17:35 It's pretty straight. 17:37 But they ought to put a match to it? 17:39 Yeah, and go buy a pre-fab job. 17:42 And when you come, you don't work on the roof. 17:45 No. 17:48 In Yuma I worked in the kitchen. 17:50 And I had the privilege of working on housekeeping 17:53 at Eden Valley. 17:56 Cleaned toilets, cleaned showers, vacuumed. 18:00 And here I'm working in the kitchen again. 18:02 Well, let me tell you something that the folk at 18:04 Eden Valley said after the group left and several of us were 18:08 talking to the leadership. 18:11 And they were emotional about how clean Eden Valley was 18:15 because of what you folk gave. 18:17 It was a different place. 18:19 It had not been that clean for years. 18:21 So, that's a testimony to the kind of work you did for us 18:24 and with us up there. 18:26 Thank you. You're welcome. 18:27 Well, okay. 18:29 Nosoca Pines is next. 18:30 So, are you gonna have a trailer behind you then? 18:32 I think so. 18:34 I've already--I almost bought one over here the other day 18:35 and she talked me out of it. 18:37 Well, you can always just put more tools in your trunk. 18:40 I've got a luggage carrier on the back there. 18:44 And when we came over here we brought sheets and blankets 18:48 and all the silverware and the dishes that you see in there. 18:53 She collected through our church, 18:55 advertising in our church we need all this stuff. 18:57 Roger brought a load over early. 18:59 This thing--the bed was covered. 19:02 She had the back of that wagon so full she could--had to hold 19:05 it and close the door. 19:07 So, when you go you basically are self-contained. 19:11 But you're a little more than that. 19:12 You're self-contained, but you're project centered. 19:14 Whatever's needed. 19:16 Whatever's needed. 19:19 What a neat way to describe Maranatha. 19:21 This group, as I've noticed all Maranatha groups, 19:24 you tend to get together and talk about spiritual things 19:27 that are important. 19:29 What have you learned spiritually from this experience 19:31 on this trip? 19:33 We've had some really good worships. 19:34 And some interesting, you know, people relating some interesting 19:38 things that happened in their lives. 19:40 And so, it's that kind of a personal testimony, 19:42 "This is where God is with me," that encourages you. 19:45 Well, the interesting thing is here is that we have a rabbi, 19:50 Rabbi Jeff that we're working with. 19:52 And we're finding out a lot about the Jewish heritage and he 19:56 talked to us, gave us a little bit of background, 19:58 and one of our vespers he conducted and we learned a lot 20:03 about the Jewish religion. 20:05 I guess it'd be called a religion. 20:08 And we've gone to a few of their meetings. 20:10 Good. Good. 20:11 Did you get to carry the Torah? 20:13 No. 20:14 Dave got to do that. 20:15 Good. Good. 20:17 The other day I was in one of the states in the center 20:19 United States and met with several folk at a church 20:21 who said, "Well, we'd like to come on a project, 20:24 but we're just not sure that we would be any value. 20:27 What would we do?" 20:28 I don't think they need to worry about it. 20:30 They can find something for you to do. 20:32 There's always something? 20:33 I think there's always something to do. 20:35 I mean, some people aren't skilled, but they learn skills. 20:39 And there's a lot of things here that you can learn. 20:42 There's a lot of times when you need a goffer. 20:44 Like somebody to do housekeeping? 20:46 Yes. 20:47 That works. 20:48 So, how would you encourage folk in The United States, 20:51 who don't really want to go overseas on a mission trip, 20:54 to go on a stateside project? 20:55 What would you say? 20:56 Try it one time and they'll not quit. 20:59 They'll continue to participate. 21:03 The old saying, "Try it, you'll like it." 21:05 "Try it, you'll like it." 21:06 Well, I hear that there's food and that if we get over there 21:10 pretty quick we won't miss supper. 21:12 Let's run. 21:15 The One-Day Church Music Project can now be yours for 21:17 free with a $50 donation to Maranatha Volunteers 21:20 International. 21:22 Enjoy the music of your favorite gospel artists and give to 21:25 a cause you care about. 21:27 Danny Shelton, Ladye Love Smith, Brett Smith, Steve Green, 21:32 Melody Shelton-Firestone, and Yvonne Lewis. 21:36 Steve Darmody, pianist Tim Parton, 21:38 and John Lomacang will bring warmth to your soul with 21:42 the Christian favorites you have come to cherish. 21:45 This CD is yours absolutely free with a $50 or better donation 21:50 to Maranatha Volunteers International. 21:52 It also features Reggie Smith performing the Danny Shelton 21:56 touching original "One-Day Church." 21:59 Call -1-800-467-6386 now. 22:04 That's 1-800-467-6386. 22:08 Or make your donation online at MARANATHA.ORG/MUSIC. 22:13 Thank you. 22:21 [music] 22:45 It's amazing. 22:46 Maranatha volunteers are a special breed of people. 22:49 What makes Maranatha Maranatha is the project and the people. 22:53 Together--you just need both. 22:56 And the people who come on these trips they've been to other 22:58 trips and there was a humility in them and a willingness 23:03 to do whatever the task is. 23:05 That's so amazing to see people of different cultures, 23:08 different ages, just come together and work on a project 23:13 that many of us it might be the first time that we're even 23:16 involved in construction. 23:18 And many of us are very seasoned and it's an amazing experience 23:23 that we take and we like to run with for all of our days. 23:26 So, it's been an amazing adventure so far. 23:30 Meeting people from around the US and around the world. 23:32 And I hope to do many many more of it. 23:45 In reading the Bible through again this year I've been 23:47 captivated by two moments with Jesus. 23:50 One at the very beginning and one pretty close to the end. 23:55 The first one of course is in the orchid garden where 23:59 Adam and Eve get to walk with the creator. 24:01 I wonder what they talked about. 24:03 Man, I've wondered that so much. 24:05 I would love to have been there. 24:07 It's one of the videos I want to watch in heaven. 24:09 But imagine walking with Jesus in the garden. 24:12 "Lord, what's with this Spanish moss hanging down 24:15 from the trees?" 24:17 He laughs and says, "You know when we were planting trees, 24:20 we decided they needed something hanging down that could live off 24:23 of the air and would look like garlands." 24:28 Well, they did a pretty good job, didn't they? 24:31 The other one I wanted to get to, though, 24:33 is the one in the Greek Scripture. 24:37 It's that day when Jesus was walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus 24:42 and we do know what they talked about. 24:45 It's a bit of a memory right there. 24:47 They don't know who it is, but as they're walking along they 24:50 start complaining about life. 24:53 And Jesus says, "Do you know what's been happening?" 25:00 They didn't. 25:01 They didn't have any idea. 25:03 And so he explained the plan of salvation. 25:07 He began clear back at the beginning, 25:09 back in Eden with Adam and Eve, all the way up through Moses, 25:12 all the way through David, and then he stopped and focused 25:17 totally on what was going on in Jerusalem. 25:21 How the Messiah was going to come. 25:23 The Messiah was going to die, and the Messiah was going to 25:26 live again. 25:28 That's the part of the story I would love to have heard. 25:32 Didn't matter what was going on around him, dogs barking, 25:34 people running, Romans shouting. 25:36 It made no difference at all. 25:38 All they heard was Jesus came to die for my sins. 25:43 And because of him I can plan for the resurrection. 25:50 It's the greatest message in Scripture. 25:52 Jesus' own voice telling it to two disciples who had 25:57 the good sense to tell it to you and me. 26:04 So, on Maranatha projects I listen a lot to what 26:06 the volunteers talk about. 26:08 They talk about everything. 26:10 They talk about football games. 26:11 They talk about skydiving. 26:13 They talk about why do cars work and don't work. 26:15 They talk about a thousand things, 26:17 including how many drills it takes to do the job. 26:22 But when the light goes down, you know what they're 26:25 talking about? 26:27 The plan of salvation. 26:29 It's as if Jesus is right there with them. 26:31 And you can see the tears begin to flow as they dig deeper 26:33 into the book. 26:35 And in the book fall in love again. 26:45 Maranatha needs your continued support to build more 26:47 churches and schools for the growing Adventist church 26:50 around the world. 26:52 For more information on how you can get involved, 26:53 call 800-467-6386. 26:58 Or you can visit our website at MARANATHA.ORG for information on 27:02 upcoming volunteer opportunities or to donate online. 27:06 You can also send your gift in the mail to 27:08 Maranatha Volunteers International, 27:10 990 Reserve Drive, Suite 100, 27:13 Roseville, California, 95678. 27:16 Thank you for your support. 27:18 Our website is MARANATHA.ORG. 27:28 Wow Sadie, it's exciting out here. 27:30 It is. 27:31 Thank you for coming. 27:32 Thank you. 27:34 I'm Dick Duerksen host of "Maranatha Mission Stories." 27:35 Thanks for joining us today. 27:36 We're here at Tampa, Florida. 27:38 Next week somewhere wonderful. 27:40 Be sure and join us on "Maranatha Mission Stories." 27:47 [music] |
Revised 2013-06-29