Guarding the Gaps

The prophet Ezekiel lived in a desperate time, a time when "Even (the) common people oppress the poor, rob the needy, and deprive foreigners of justice."

It wasn't your typical case of the underprivileged being abused by the rich and powerful (the "1%", if you listen to the Occupy Movement). It was guys like us, the average man or woman on the street who had no time to help those who really needed it.


Rick Cogbill at God's House Pentecostal Church, Okotoks

Last weekend, I traveled to Alberta to present Mercy Tech's vision for fighting poverty. We do it by changing lives one skill at a time, in Jesus' name.

In 5 meetings over 3 days, I met many wonderful, caring people, and together we challenged each other to "dig ditches of faith" (See II Kings 3) in order to see how God will fill them with the waters of His blessing.



Todd Green presenting the work of Mercy Tech Mission, Rockpointe Church, Westhills



A woman's home burned by a bush fire
(Photo by Lynn Lagore)

God loves the poor and needy, and He's looking for action on their behalf. "I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none."

 

That was then. But praise be to God, today people are ready to stand in the gap, ready to make a difference in this broken world.

 

 

There are many excellent ways to help the poor and needy, and Mercy Tech Mission is just one of them. But maybe it’s the one for you.

The goal of Mercy Tech Mission is:

“To fight poverty world-wide by providing needy communities with technical support, skilled labour, and on-site training to enhance the spiritual and physical quality of life.”

The next trip is rapidly approaching.

Departure Date: April 1st, 2012  
Duration: 2 months  
Goals:

1) to teach the next level of automotive training

2) to raise the walls of the maintenance shop

3) to teach fine woodworking skills using a donated wood lathe

You've invited to stand with us in the gaps. To give a gift, follow this link. To find out more about future trips, contact me here.

Gearing Up for 2012

It's kinda nice to be thinking about the warm weather in Africa when you're in the middle of a Canadian winter - but of course, that's not the main reason for the trip!

Plans for 2012 will be a little different than in 2011. For starters, I will be travelling to Mozambique at the beginning of April for a two-month stay instead of just one month. My first task will be to continue the Automotive Training Program that was started in August of last year.

Rick teaching future mechanics in Mozambique (Photo by Todd Green)

So far, we have one volunteer joining us this year, John Topham of Summerland, BC. John is an expert wood worker, and has arranged for the funding and shipping of a high-quality wood lathe to the ASAM mission base in Mozambique. Hopefully it will arrive in Africa by mid-April at the latest.


Rick Cogbill and John Topham discussing how to turn a bowl on a wood lathe (photo by Lynn Lagore)

John will be joining me in Mozambique for the month of May, where he will teach wood-working skills to some of the men at the ASAM mission base.

The other reason for returning to Mozambique is to continue the work on the Maintenance Facility. This 6-bay shop will be the focus point for our continuing automotive training, as well as providing a location for servicing all the mission vehicles and equipment.


Repair pit for future Maintenance Shop (Photo by Dwight Lagore)

At this point, we have poured the foundations and built the repair pit. The next stage is to pour the floors and then begin putting up the concrete block walls. As you can imagine, this is a large project, and we would really value your donations so that the vocational training for Mozambican young people can continue.

If you can help us with this project, please follow this link to our project page. Together, you can help Mercy Tech Mission fight poverty and change lives, one skill at a time...in Jesus' name.

The Reasons Why...

Last weekend (January 8th, 2012), 65 people crowded into the Fireside Room at Summerland Baptist Church to hear Rick Cogbill (Mercy Tech Mission) and Dwight & Lynn Lagore (ASAM) tell why they do what they do. 

Rick (right) interviewing Dwight & Lynn at the missions presentation



Just about a full house!



Dwight & Lynn Lagore, Field Directors for ASAM in Mozambique

It was a great evening as Rick gave an overview of MTM's August trip to the ASAM mission base in Mozambique, and then interviewed Dwight & Lynn about their almost 20 years in mission work.

But the highlight for many was the taped interview of Prosper Fernado, one of the automotive students taught by Todd Green and Ed Hyslip during the trip. It was a rare opportunity for everyone to hear how the concept of taking skills training to Africa can impact a life. Here is the video below:

Making a difference in the lives of people like Prosper is the reason why we do what we do.

Rick Cogbill will be returning to Mozambique in April 2012 for a two-month stay to work on the Maintenance Shop project, and to continue the vocational training program. The shop is still at the foundation stages, and we invite you to join with us as we raise funds to complete this important project.

Donations can be sent directly to SAM Ministries in Edmonton, or to Mercy Tech Mission. Please make cheques out to either SAM Ministries or Summerland Baptist Church, with a notation that it is for the Mozambique Maintenance Shop project.

We thank you in advance for helping us to change lives one skill at a time...in Jesus' name.



Hard pressed, yet not crushed...

Some things just refuse to quit...


Rick can't believe that this 3-cylinder diesel still runs! (photos and video by Todd Green)

 We came across this tired and noisy diesel engine laboring hard behind a mud building while its owner worked just as hard inside grinding maize for the local villagers.

From a mechanic's point of view, there was no reason for this ancient machine to keep running, but it was. Here is a short video to give you an idea of its sad condition:

Sometimes life throws a few game-stoppers our way. A debilitating illness, a financial setback, a relationship challenge - we don't have to go far to find examples.

To get beyond, it's sometimes good to go back - back to the words of Paul, who reminds us, "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed...Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4:8-9,16)

May you be renewed today, and every day. Remember the promise given to us in Galatians 6:9: "So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up."


Thanks to all who helped Mercy Tech Mission to keep "doing what is good" this past year. Your prayers and financial support are already producing a harvest of blessing, and we will press on in 2012 to see more of the same.
 
A happy and a blessed Christmas to you all.

Ed Hyslip & Todd Green

Bob Denesiuk & Rick Cogbill (Photo by Lynn Lagore)

Getting Here from There

Todd Green on a Mozambican Walk-about

"How did I get here?" I asked myself as I wrote in my tent, by the bluishwhite light of an LED headlamp. It was after "Missionary Midnight" - 9 p.m., the time when the generator gets turned off. Somehow, I found myself working as an automotive instructor on a short-term mission project in the middle of rural Mozambique...
Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/Mechanics+Mozambique/5740052/story.html#ixzz1eTWvOSi9

So begins Todd Green's recent article in the Calgary Herald newspaper (November 20th) as he describes his recent trip to Mozambique with Mercy Tech Mission.

It's a question I ask myself: How did we get here? Since January 2010, I have been to Mozambique three times, and each trip has been unique. Different challenges, different members on the team, yet what I remember the most are the people we go to serve, people like Jacobo.

Jacobo & Tome

Jacobo is ASAM's driver. He is in charge of the large Hino truck that hauls all of the building supplies from town, brings loads of sand and gravel from the river banks, and ferries orphan food and school supplies to wherever they are needed.

Hino Truck loaded with a new water tank

When I first met Jacobo in January of 2010, he was in danger of losing his job. Recently hired, it soon became obvious that his driving skills were very weak, to the point where the farm truck was sustaining heavy damage. I started by giving him some simple driving lessons on a Saturday morning. After I left, the other missionaries spent time working with him on those skills. During our last visit, Jacobo was also one of the automotive students in Todd Green's class. Today he is one of the mission's most valuable employees, a young man with character, a deep sense of commitment, and just as importantly, a Mozambican who does his job well and is able to provide for his family. Listen to his own words:

"The vocational training was awesome. It's helped me a lot to better understand how an engine, the electrics, and brakes work on vehicles. I also learned the importance of regular maintenance. A few weeks ago, two of us who attended the course managed to fix some electrical problems on our truck. This saved the mission a lengthy and costly repair job in town."

So thanks again to all who have contributed over the past year to help guys like Todd, Ed, Bob, and myself go to places like Mozambique, where a simple thing like teaching a trade in Jesus' name is changing lives.

Ed Hyslip & Todd Green

Bob Denesiuk & Rick Cogbill (photo by Lynn Lagore)

For those who are able to make it, the Mercy Tech Mission Information and Dessert night is now rescheduled for the evening of Sunday, January 8th, 2012 at Summerland Baptist Church. Our hope is that Dwight and Lynn Lagore, Field Directors for ASAM will be able to join us for that night of information and photos of the work in Mozambique. Hope you can join us!

Upcoming Events - Mercy Tech Info and Dessert Night!

MERCY TECH MISSION

(UPDATE: Due to illness, the October 30th meeting had to be canceled; our new presentation night date is January 8th, 2012. Thanks for your patience!)

Many people here at home have been waiting to hear a live report from my last trip to Mozambique, and I can now say that we've finally got a date!

On October 30th, I'll be making a very short presentation in both morning services at Summerland Baptist Church, but the main event will be that evening at 7pm, 2nd floor of the church in the Fireside Room. So mark it down on your calender!

I'll be showing photos and video from the trip, giving a recap of what we accomplished during our time there in August, and sharing some thoughts about what's in the works for the future.

Best of all, it's Dessert and Coffee Night! So don't miss it; in fact, invite some friends. Let them see what God is doing when we share our skills with people in need.

PS If anyone would like to have me come and present the work of Mercy Tech Mission to their group or organization, then just send me an e-mail at rick@mercytechmission.com .

Trip Summary

Here is a visual summary of our trip, set to the wonderful song by David Crowder, Surely We Can Change. It covers four main objectives that we had:
1-teaching a basic automotive repair course and fixing mission vehicles as required
2-making progress on the maintenance facility by building the repair pit
3-leading a one-day worship seminar at a local church
4-teaching guitar to a young man named Fani and then presenting him with his own guitar in the end so that he could go on to create new worship music for the church.

As they say, 'a good time was had by all.' We can't wait to return and keep the momentum going. Remember, if God puts it on your heart to become involved in this work, don't hesitate to contact us. We'd be glad to talk with you and tell you about the different ways to take part.



http://www.mercytechmission.com