2008 October archive at What’s Up Dyck?

Posts for October, 2008

October 27th - November 2nd

Published by Jeremy Dyck - USA October 27th, 2008 in Prayer Updates. 0 Comments

We’re back! It may only be for another 2 months, but regardless…we’re back. We had an amazing trip to Roatan this past week. Thank you so much for your prayers! Every day was filled with divine appointments and incredible blessings. Without writing a novel I’ll just have to share some of the highlights. Hopefully we’ll all get some personal time to talk and share with you more about this exciting transition.

Our church has found a home! We signed a contract with a nearby resort to utilize a conference room at their facility for all of 2009. Beginning in January our church will move to weekly services and be hosted at the Mayan Princess Resort in West Bay, Roatan. This is a HUGE praise as we will have space to host our services as well as children’s ministry. In addition, having a set weekly home will be a radical improvement upon how we have been meeting to date.

Not only has our church found a home, but Melissa and I have found a home as well. The Lynch family has offered us use of a 2 bedroom condo which they built on their property several years ago. The house that is pictured is their current home on West Bay, but the condo we will be living in is on the same property. This is an incredible blessing as we will have a safe and amazing place to live that is near to the church and has easy access to all other parts of the island. Max and Clay will have an area to enjoy home school, a host of dogs that will keep them safe and two friends next door, (the Lynch’s boys, Jayson and Grady) to keep them company. I want to say a special thanks to TJ and Shelly Lynch for their incredible hospitality during our stay in Roatan and for their willingness to offer this condo to our family.

There are several others who have offered their assistance in our relocation phase as well. Our friend Wally from Helene has offered to help us locate affordable appliances for our new home. Another friend Peter and his friend Mark are assisting us in finding a safe and affordable vehicle before we arrive. Others have offered to help us in getting to know the island as far as where to shop, who to talk to about residency issues, and so much more. Overall, our trip produced much fruit and we are eager to make the transition in January.

There are several items that we need your prayer about. First of all, our church needs a worship leader. The young man who has been leading worship at the IWC will be returning to the states in November. We really feel that worship needs to be a HUGE part of our weekly experiences and so we are praying for God to bring us a gifted worship leader. The costs associated to relocating and living in Roatan are a bit more than we had originally expected. We will need to raise a large amount of initial start-up funds prior to our departure. We are having a garage sale this weekend and anticipate selling many more of our possessions before we leave in hopes of off-setting some of these initial expenses. And lastly, we are asking for prayer regarding peace in our household over the next 2 months. The process of packing, selling, moving and setting up once again in another country is daunting. There is so much to be done and little to no time to do it in. We really want Gods peace that transcends all understanding to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Will you agree in prayer for those three things for our family?

We love you and we are eager to share more about all that God is doing in our lives and ministry as we prepare to launch out. Be sure to log on to whatsupdyck.vineage.com to read more about all that is happening. Be blessed and thank you again for your prayers!

In Him,

Jeremy Dyck
Alternative Missions

Final Roatan Post

Published by Jeremy Dyck - USA October 23rd, 2008 in Blog. 0 Comments

Yes, I know we will be here one more evening, but based on today’s activities and the schedule we will have tomorrow, I probably won’t post again until we return home. This has been an incredible week and there is so much to share with all of you. First off, let me just say thank you again for your continued prayers. We have felt the covering each day!

Today began with yet another deluge from the heavens. That didn’t deter our plans though. We enjoyed a slow paced morning with the Lynch family, (our hosts) as well as some friends we have met who are vacationing here on the island and considering a move very soon to the West Bay area. After that, Melissa and I worked a little bit on preparing things in the condo where we will be living when we return. We removed the old blinds and did some surface prep on the walls and floors. We are VERY excited about were we will be living upon our return.

Around 11am we ventured out into the storm and spent some more time with Peggy Stranges at her clinic in Sandy Bay. From there we had lunch with an amazing young man named Donny who is a worship pastor at a local church here on the island. After lunch we drove out to Coxen Hole and met with the Silseth family who have been here for 9 years managing HRGS radio. Peter and Sandy Silseth are amazing people who have an incredible ministry here on the island. Peter will be preaching at the IWC in November and December while Larry is home on furlough. While we were with Peter, he took us to meet a gentleman who has helped many local ex-pats acquire vehicles here on the island. It was a great contact and we’re hoping for Gods favor in securing reliable transportation upon our return.

This evening, Melissa joined 15 other ladies at the Silseth home for a womens Bible study. During that time I met with 4 other gentlemen who I believe will serve key rolls with the development of the IWC. It was an incredible time of discussion and prayer. After the meeting I returned home and the Lynch Family and Melissa and I had a time of prayer on the upper deck of their home here in West Bay.

Like I said, what an incredible day. Thank you again for your prayers and support. I will be sending out an update when we return with more detailed information about our trip and all that we have learned. Be blessed!

Jeremy & Melissa

4th Roatan Post

Published by Jeremy Dyck - USA October 22nd, 2008 in Blog. 1 Comment

What a day! Can you say DIVINE APPOINTMENTS?!?!?! This morning I joined Larry Benson for a quick breakfast and a few more hours of deep conversation. We had a great time to talk and celebrate together how God is bringing things together in amazing ways with the I.W.C. From there, Larry and I went to visit a mutual friend who Lissa and I worked with back in 2001. Peggy Stranges moved to the island years ago to begin a clinic in the Sandy Bay area. Today she runs an amazing medical and dental clinic that serves people from all over the island. Peggy is an incredible woman with an amazing heart for the people of Roatan. She has been attending the IWC for all these years and it was exciting to get to see all that God has done through her since last we met. While I was visiting with her she set up several key appointments for me with people on the island that could be an integral part of the IWC ministry in the future. Praise God. Before we left, another gentleman, Henry, arrived who is also an ex-pat ministering on the island. Henry serves in the nearby Colonia, (a community of EXTREMELY poor Honduran nationals) and has te vision to really reach out to the youth of that community. Henry and I talked about how we could work together with short term teams to bless the people of the Colonia.

After my time at the clinic, I rushed back to West Bay for an important meeting at the resort where the IWC has been meeting. We have been working to secure a space that the church can use each week to meet. Currently the church meets twice a month and generally at 2 different locations on opposing ends of the island. TJ has been working hard to try and develop a relationship with the new management of this particular resort in hopes to secure the facility on a weekly basis begining in 2009. God was with us and we have penned an agreement with the Mayan Princess Resort in West Bay to use 2 conference rooms every Sunday for the church service and kids ministry. The total cost will be $75 each week or $300 each month. This is a total miraculous providence! Now with a secure location to meet, we can begin planning our weekly services!

After that meeting, TJ and I took a quick trip to the local dump in order to clean out a few things from his construction site. In the evening we all had dinner together at the Lynch’s house and enjoyed some amazing fellowship. God is really binding together our hearts as families and friends. We are very grateful for the Lynch family and the hospitality they have shown us this past week.

In case you are wondering where Lissa was during all of this, she had an island adventure all her own today. I’ll let her tell you a little bit about it…

“Hello all! Did lots of running around today with Shelly, our host, checking out more of the local stores. We went to a mercado as well and saw the “fresh” vegetables available. Pretty sad state of produce to be honest. In seeing that, it has been a blessing however to stay here with our host family and see how great the meals are that they make with all the local food. I was pretty nervous around there though and realized that it will be a while before I feel comfortable taking the kids with me. The streets are very busy in Calle Ocho (yes where we have done ministry in the past. :)) and Coxen Hole and it would be too difficult to watch the boys, search out my options, and navigate through the towns decifering when to use my Spanish and when to speak to the islanders in English. Too much to balance and keep a close eye on the boys. I so enjoy shopping with Shelly. She is quick like me. I can see us making many trips together to all the stores. It is so nice to find a friend like that before we arrive here as a family. Thank you SOOOO much to the Garbers and my sister and brother in law for watching the boys while we have been able to be here. As we drive around and check out the scene, I am so reminded of all the amazing mission trips I have made with so many of you. I miss you all and am so thankful to you all for praying for us. Love to you all. See you soon.”

Tomorrow evening Lissa will be participating with the womens Bible study. I will be meeting with the IWC development team leaders to talk about where we want to head as a church. I’m really excited about hearing the hearts of those that have been here and a part of the IWC for so long. Thank you for your continued prayers. We love you and are looking forward to sharing more great reports upon our return home.

Jeremy & Lissa

3rd Roatan Post

Published by Jeremy Dyck - USA October 22nd, 2008 in Blog. 2 Comments

Thank you again for your prayers. Yesterday seemed to rush by in a blur. We woke up in the morning and hooked up with Larry Benson, (Alternative Missions Helene ministry director). We enjoyed breakfast together, met more local business owners and then had a few hours of great discussions with Larry about Roatan, the IWC and life in general here on Roatan. The meetings ran into lunch and then it was back home to check in with the Lynch family. However, Larry asked if we could run a quick errand for him that would take us nearly to the other side of the island.

We quickly checked in with TJ to see if he had heard of any road blocks being set up between here and Los Fuertes. TJ informed us that he had heard that a road block was planned on being set up at 2pm in the town of Los Fuertes and so Melissa and I jumped in the car and drove like mad men to our destination. Our goal was to retrieve a document from Wally Bodden, (many of you remember Wally from the island of Helene). We arrived at Wally’s store in Los Fuertes around 1:15 and got what we came for. We asked Wally if he had heard anything about a protest or road block and he said he was preparing to leave because he had heard that one was planned for 2pm.

Lissa and I thanked Wally for his help and then jumped back in the car. We arrived home right about the time the protest was planned to begin. That afternoon, Lissa and I walked down to West Bay Beach and enjoyed a quick dip in the Sea. We attempted a bit of snorkeling, but because of all the storms we have been experiencing here, visibility was horrible. We spent the late afternoon talking with the Lynch family and other friends who stopped by the house. In the evening we had dinner in West End with another family we have met since we have been here on the island.

When the day was done, it didn’t seem as though we had accomplished a lot, but we still had a great day. Life in the Caribbean can be strange. Days can whiz by and you can feel as though your day was a waste. Looking back, we were able to have time to enjoy the company and fellowship of quite a few people. And when it all comes down to it, that is the most important thing. When we return, we will need to focus a great deal of time and attention on spending time with folks here on the island and building relationships. I guess today was a great practice run afterall.

2nd Roatan Post

Published by Jeremy Dyck - USA October 20th, 2008 in Blog. 1 Comment

Days coming to an end and believe it or not…no rain. It seems to rain all night and be nice and cool during the day. Skies were cloudy all day, but we had a wonderful breeze. The cool air made it hard to tell if this was actually Roatan or not.

We had a very productive day today. This morning we got up and headed to West End and enjoyed a breakfast od Rudy’s banana pancakes, (for those of you in the know…be jealous). Afterward we headed in to Coxen Hole, (Roatan’s capital city) and began doing some window shopping. We have been offered an amazing place to live here in West Bay. It is a beautiful 1200 sq ft/2 bedroom condo right near the beach. It has 24hr security and lots of amenities. TJ and Shelly Lynch, the family we are staying with here in Roatan have offered this place to us and Melissa and I are VERY excited about the opportunity. However, we do need to find furnishings. So, in Coxen Hole we began to price out mattresses, refrigerators, stoves, washers/dryers, dishes and silverware and so much more. All in all it looks as though we will be able to furnish the entire condo for around $2500 - $3000. That’s pretty exciting if you ask me!

After window shopping in Coxen Hole, we headed to the local Tigo store, (cell phone provider). We picked up a new phone that we can use once we move in January. Now we have means of communication here on the island. Things are so different from when we lived here nearly 10 years ago.

We then made our way back to West Bay where we met with team Helene director, Larry Benson for lunch. Following lunch and a great discussion with Larry, we headed out to meet a few folks from the International Worship Center. We were also able to meet with a local hotel owner and make arrangements for possible summer outreach teams.

Finally we headed home and are now sitting here, watching the sun set out over the Caribbean. God is good. Please pray as tomorrow there are planned protests that will be taking place over the island against the local power company. Recently they doubled their prices and that has made the folks on the island fairly upset. Already Roatan boasts the highest cost of electricity in all of Central America. The last time these protests happened, many of them turned violent. Pray for safety and direction as we continue to travel across the island and prepare for our upcoming move.

Until tomorrow!

Jeremy & Melissa

Roatan Post

Published by Jeremy Dyck - USA October 19th, 2008 in Blog. 1 Comment

Had a GREAT day here in Roatan. This morning we gathered together with the folks at the International Worship Center. There were nearly 40 people who came together for praise and worship and an incredible sermon from Larry Benson, (AM’s director in Helene). I was able to share with the church a little of our vision or the future and we had an amazing reception.

After chuch we all traveled to the Lynch’s house in West Bay and enjoyed an amazing lunch and fellowship together. Lissa and I were able to have some face time with a few of the family’s that attend the IWC and we had a lot of fun. After lunch TJ and I went with the kids to the raquetball court and enjoyed a game of dodgeball. Needless to say…I got destroyed by TJ’s 9 and 7 year olds and their friend. Even still, we had a lot of fun.

Last night it rained cats and dogs and it looks as though we may experience more rain this week. Lissa and I are heading out tomorrow to investigate the prices of some of the local groceries and oter supplies. Please continue to pray for safety and direction. We are very excited about all that has happened thus far and we are anticipating a fantastic week here on the island.

Keep Praying!!!

Roatan, Honduras 18th - 25th

Published by Jeremy Dyck - USA October 18th, 2008 in Calendar. 0 Comments

Melissa and I will be headed for Roatan, Honduras during this week. We will be meeting with church and ministry leaders and making arrangements for our upcoming move tentatively scheduled for January of 2009.

October 12th - 18th

Published by Jeremy Dyck - USA October 15th, 2008 in Prayer Updates. 0 Comments

We will be sending out weekly prayer updates as we prepare to head out to Roatan. Although this next week you may not receive one as Melissa and I will be in Honduras to meet with church leaders and make initial preparations for our move in January. You can feel free to skip all of the updates and read just the prayer requests if you like. It is our desire to provide prayer needs for our support network each week. Prayer is key to our long-term success in Roatan. As my firend Greg Ruark once told me, “there is no battle you can win standing up that you couldn’t have already won on your knees”.

This week has been a week of further confirmation about our decision to move to Roatan. God provided renters for our house this week and renters that we know, trust and love. Melissa and I are very excited about this and are preparing for garage sales, moving trucks and extensive carpet cleaning.

In addition, this week we will be sending out our long overdue newsletters. We have been waiting patiently for a print job to return and it looks as though it should be ready either today or tommorrow. That means that we’ll have our newsletters in the mail before we leave! Now our prayers shift towards seeing a HUGE response from our ministry partners upon receiving these newsletters. God is good!

Finally, Melissa and I will be celebrating our 10th anniversary on the 17th, (This Friday). It is exciting to think that the day after our anniversary we will be headed back to the island where we first met over 11 years ago. God has given me an amazing wife and I am forever grateful for this amazing woman he sent to Roatan, Honduras in 1997.

So as you pray this week, please remember:

- Prayer for safety and direction during our trip to Roatan
- Praise for our house being rented
- Prayer for a financial response to our newsletter being sent out

Thank you for your continued prayer and support. We love you all and we’re looking forward to sending out great reports upon our return to the states.

Jeremy & Melissa Dyck

October 2008 Update

Published by Jeremy Dyck - USA October 7th, 2008 in Blog. 0 Comments

Many of you have heard the news, but for those of you who haven’t…no, we’re not pregnant… we’re moving! Yes, the Dyck family is headed back to Roatan, Honduras in early 2009. Just over 11 years ago, Melissa and I met on this small Caribbean island and now, after 10 years of marriage, we’re returning.

Alternative Missions is partnering together with LifeChurch.tv to help develop a small church called the International Worship Center, (IWC). The IWC was started by Greg and Angela Ruark over 5 years ago and today hosts meetings every other week at different resorts on the island. The church focuses on the growing expatriate community that exists on the island. An expatriate, or ex-pat is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person’s upbringing or legal residence. The expatriate community consists of anywhere from 5 to 10 thousand people on the island of Roatan alone.

The members of the IWC have asked Alternative Missions to assist them in developing their church. We at Alternative Missions have approached LifeChurch.tv, a large, multi-campus church based out of Oklahoma City, OK, in hopes of the IWC becoming a network campus of Life Church. By network campus, that means that the IWC will utilize the resources of Life Church, (teaching/preaching messages, kids/youth ministry curriculum, small group materials and more) while maintaining the individual characteristics of the IWC. For those of you who want to know more about Life Church, be sure to check out www.lifechurch.tv.

Melissa and I will be joining the IWC and serving as the campus pastor. It will be our responsibility to develop new relationships, mentor new believers and coordinate the administrative tasks that are necessary in this new ministry endeavor. We will be traveling to Roatan on the 18^th of this month to spend a week with the folks from the IWC and begin coordinating our upcoming transition from the states.

There are a lot of details yet to be worked out and there is much to be done before now and the first of the year. We will be sending out weekly prayer emails and monthly updates as to where we are at in the transition process. Right now we are challenged with the task of raising $3500 a month in financial support as well as selling our vehicle and finding renters for our home here in Phoenix. These are all monumental tasks, but we know that this is the path that God is leading us down and we know that He will provide answers for each of these needs.

Be watching your mailboxes for our 4^th quarter newsletter. We’re also sending out a new prayer/support card for each of you to take a look at. We really need your support as we move ahead in this new direction for our family. Your prayers, friendship and financial support are key to our long term success as we launch out. Thank you to all of those who have already committed to our families home support team.

If you would like to give financially to our ministry, checks can be sent to:

Alternative Missions
PO Box 5835
Goodyear, AZ 85338

Or you can give using our all new online E-Giving option. Just click on the personal support tab of this website and follow the instructions on the E-Giving page.

Thank you again for your love and support. We are so excited for this move and we will be sending out more updates in the very near future. Please feel free to call or email us if you have any questions or just feel like catching up. We want to know how you are doing as well! Be blessed and we look forward to hearing from you soon!

In Him,

Jeremy & Melissa Dyck

What’s Up Dyck?