Summer Newsletter 2014

 

Stateside Ministry

Early Tuesday morning, June 10 we jumped out of bed, closed up our St. Croix apartment, and traveled through 4 airports, over 2000 miles, and 16 hours later to climb into our bed in our cabin in Maine! It is always good to go back home.

 

Many people said "Hope you have a good vacation!" Little did they realize that ministry does not stop on the mission field. Our schedule was to become packed with carpentry work, painting, cutting down trees, clearing up brush, as well as sharing our slide presentation to churches and individuals of our ministry here on St. Croix.

We also spent time reacquainting ourselves with family and friends. The youngest grandchild is still a little slow in reaching out to her grandparents.

We also spent time shopping for supplies needed. Prices are less expensive in the states so we purchase non perishable items and ship them.

We did get to see some familiar Maine sights and some we had not seen before, as well as kayak on the lake. We saw deer, eagles and loons. Spent some time swinging on our porch swing and listening to the call of the loons across the lake.

Time came to say our goodbyes to Ryan & Nicole and their family.

 

 

Seven weeks later we found ourselves back on a plane again but this time we headed to Atlanta for a couple of days to spend some time with Darrin & Charlie.

 

 

 

 

We arrived back home to St. Croix on July 31. Although it was good to get away it was good to be back home on our island.

 

Tropical Storm Bertha

We arrived back to the island on a Thursday night and Tropical Storm Bertha arrived on Friday night. We found ourselves scrambling around getting groceries, gas for the generator, and picking up lightweight items around our home. Bertha welcomed us home with some winds and rain, and some power outages.

 

 

 

"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee."

Isaiah 43:2

 

Ministry at Altona Baptist church

 We continue with our ministry at Altona Baptist Church. Billy will be teaching some in the adult Sunday School as well as assisting in the worship service. Cecilia will continue with the weekly church bulletin and assisting in the worship service as needed.

 

 

The Dorans are active in church leadership and members. They just celebrated 45 years of marriage.

Happy Anniversary!

 

Carpentry & Construction Projects

 

God has provided carpentry/maintenance projects for Billy to supplement our monthly support. Those are opportunities to build relationships and meet new people. With this flexible schedule Billy is able to spend time with Bible study in preparation for more preaching opportunities.

 

Ministry at Free Will Baptist Christian School

 

Cecilia returned to school in August. She continues to be the school nurse and work on government grants for the school. In addition to this she is teaching 25 fifth graders their Bible class every day.

Billy will be able to do some construction projects on the school when needed.

 

Island Economy

Unemployment continues to be high here on St. Croix. Hovensa, the closed oil refinery, is up for sale. There seems to be some interested parties in purchasing the property. Re opening the oil refinery would be a big boost to the economy here. This seems to be taking longer than the government expected and only time will tell if the sale goes through.

 

Praises & Prayer Requests

Praises

Ministry opportunities

Employment in these tough economic times

Prayer and financial supporters

Currently at about 30% of monthly support needed

Good trip to Maine & Atlanta

 

Prayer Requests

Ministry on St. Croix

Continued employment

Opportunities to share the gospel

Health & Safety

Wisdom & Guidance

 

Thank you so much for your prayers and financial support for the ministry here on St. Croix/

 

Billy & Cecilia

 

Contact Information

Billy  340-643-0820

Cecilia 340-643-0821

www.CaribbeanMissionBlogspot.com

 

Tax deductible contributions may be sent to:

YES Ministry

PO Box 700697

St. Cloud, FL  34770

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Spring 2014 Newsletter

Easter Sunrise Service

&

Baptism

 

Easter weekend is a time when many people from the island camp out on beaches. Several people from Altona Baptist Church camp out at Cramer Park on the east end of St. Croix. Traditionally the Sunrise service has been held there. Billy had the privilege to give the message. There were about 35 people present, many of whom were young people.

 

 

He also assisted with a baptism. This was especially nice as the 68 year old woman had accepted Christ as her Savior a few months ago when he had preached.

 

 

 

God splashed a rainbow across the sky just before the Sunrise Service!

 

Movie Night

 

In March we showed the movie "The Passion of The Christ." We had a good turnout that night. This was the first time seeing this movie for several people. Although it was a difficult movie to watch, it was one that we all agreed touched us in many ways.

 

 

 

Chapel

Cecilia told the Easter Story during chapel services at the elementary school. The children loved the "Resurrection Eggs" and were eager to see what symbol of Easter was in each colored egg. The favorite was the last one which was empty...just as the tomb was on that Resurrection Sunday.

 

 

"And the angel answered and said unto the women, fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay."

Matthew 28:5-6

 

Ministry at Free Will Baptist Christian School

 

Blessings come along when you serve the Lord that you could never imagine. Cecilia was able to coordinate and accompany the fifth grade class on a field trip on the historic Roseway Schooner. World Ocean School, based out of Camden, Maine, comes to St. Croix each winter.

 

 

Students on the island learn navigational skills, as well as history, math, science and teamwork as they sail in the Caribbean. Three hours a day for a week they climbed aboard and were sailing partners with the staff of the Roseway. Rough seas at times were a challenge but overall the children and their teachers loved it! It was Amazing!

 

 

 

Carpentry & Construction Projects

Billy worked with another missionary at the school repairing roofs, painting and building some new shelving for the library and physical education equipment.

 

 

 

Construction has begun on the new addition at The Way of the Cross Baptist Church. Billy was able to stop by and help when the concrete floor was poured. He will be helping out with the roof once the block walls are finished. What a blessing to see this happening as construction had been delayed when Hovensa, the oil refinery, closed.

 

 

Stateside Ministry

We leave St. Croix June 10 for seven weeks. It will be a working, seeing family & friends, sharing ministry at churches, and SOME much needed vacation time. The end of the trip we fly to Atlanta to see Darrin & Charlie...three years is a long time without seeing them. That visit will be brief as we head back to St. Croix on July 31.

 

Praises

&

Prayer Requests

Praises

Ministry Opportunities

Trip to Maine

Employment in these tough economic times

Prayer and financial supporters

 

Prayer Requests

Speaking engagements in Maine

Quality family time

Health & Safety

Wisdom & Guidance

Return to island July 31

 

Thank you so much and we look forward to seeing some of you this summer!

Billy & Cecilia

 

Tax deductible contributions may be sent to:

YES Ministry

P O Box 700697

St. Cloud, FL  34770

or

www.YEServants.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Newsletter Winter of 2014

2014 Agricultural Fair

 

Each February, St. Croix hosts an agricultural fair. People from nearby islands come to the three day event, displaying their harvest, plants, animals, as well as booth after booth of crafts, services, and or course delicious island foods!

 

Parents with their children stopped by the WIVH booth. This radio station, managed by a missionary family, broadcasts Christian radio over the airwaves of the Virgin Islands.

Billy and "Kenya" attracted some little ones who wanted to touch the puppet and have their picture taken.

 

 

Movie Night

The Power of Forgiveness

 

Movie night continues, though attendance varies. Many of the people don't want to drive after dark because of the poor road conditions and high crime rate. Nevertheless, we continue to bring Christian movies to Altona Baptist Church. Most recently we showed "The Grace Card." The message on the power of forgiveness touched all of us. Unforgiveness creates hatred, bitterness, and eventually causes a sad, angry individual. This spreads to those around and causes difficult situations for all. Jesus is the only one who can change the unforgiving heart. If you haven't seen this movie you will want to very soon!

 

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

1 John 1:8-9

 

 

A Little Fishing Fun!

 

One Sunday afternoon we took 4 boys from Billy's Sunday School class fishing. They caught lots of fish as well as an eel!

 



 

 

Ministry at Free Will Baptist Christian School

 

Billy and Ken Lane, built a set of stairs in the gym at Free Will School. He will be working on some other carpentry/maintenance projects at the school.

 

 

Cecilia continues as the school nurse, monthly chapel devotions in the elementary school, and works on grants to help keep the financial costs down at the school. She recently took an overnight trip to St. Thomas to exchange grant information with their administration. This new relationship has opened doors for future ministry opportunities.

 

 

Morning Message

 

During Christmas, our pastor and his wife, at Altona Baptist Church, were away so Billy had the privilege to preach the Sunday morning message. He spends many hours in Bible study to be prepared.

 

 

Opportunity to Help WIVH, West Indies Voice of Hope,

The Local Christian Radio Station

 

Jon and Tiffany Bowman manage and run WIVH out of their home. They also home school 4 young children as well as connect with local churches on the island. They are in need of some hurricane shutters. During hurricane season, while trying to keep the radio on the air, they also have to put large, heavy sheets of plywood on their windows. It protects the windows but it is  time consuming and exhausting work.

Not only would this help WIVH but it would be a great place to come on a mission trip!

 

Praises & Prayer Requests

 

Praises

Ministry opportunities

Housing

Employment in these tough economic times

Prayer and financial supporters

 

Prayer Requests

Ministry opportunities on the island

Hearts open to a relationship with the Lord

Health & Safety

Wisdom & Guidance

 

 

Thank you so much for your prayer and financial support. We welcome anyone who is seeking a short term mission trip to contact us. You never know how the Lord could use you and your talents!

 

 

Billy & Cecilia

 

Contact Information

Billy 340-643-0820

Cecilia 340-643-0821

 

 

Tax deductible contributions may

be sent to

YES Ministry

P O Box 700697

St. Cloud, FL  34770

or

www.YEServants.org

 







 

 



 

 

 

 



A Still Small Voice

 

The times that you know God is speaking to your heart are times you want nothing else but Him. Life in its busyness keeps us from hearing Him more often. I am guilty of that many times. But even then God still desires to speak to me.

Today God has brought back to mind a time not so long ago..four years this month. I was working full time as a school nurse in Tennessee. It was a good job, good people to work with and a good secure income. But deep within my heart I sensed God told me it was time to leave that position. Nothing was wrong, it didn't make sense...I just knew that He said it was time. So I gave my two week notice, not knowing why or what was going to happen. Within that week my mother became hospitalized. Thursday they diagnosed her with kidney failure. I knew that I would need to make a trip to Maine. Friday morning about 3 am, I was awakened from my sleep, called the hospital, talked to the nurse and her advice was to come home. I called the airport, found a 6:00 flight, and was packed and out the door to the airport at 5:00 to catch my flight. All this happened as a big snowstorm was coming.

My connecting flight was in Atlanta and as I hurried to my next gate I got the call from my sister that my mother was gone. All alone...my God did not fail me. He placed a big young man next to me on the plane with a heart of gold. He asked me where I was going and I told him. He gave me a big bear hug. I don't remember his name but I do know the One who sent him and planned for him to sit beside me on that early Friday morning flight home. That was precious! Although I did not get to see her again, I know God had a reason and I trust Him. In His timing I will see her again in Heaven.
January 29, 2010 is the day the Lord called her home.

As we were seeking God's direction with our lives, we sensed He wanted us to be full time in missions. Billy felt the need to return to St. Croix where he had served four months on a short term mission trip in 1989. It did not make sense to us as our finances were limited. But in February we booked our flights to St. Croix and followed the leading of the still small voice. In April we stepped on the island of St. Croix and without a doubt knew that's where God wanted us to serve Him. Although there have been some difficult times, there have also been some tremendous blessings.

I'm writing all this to say had we not listened to the still small voice, where would we be today? And even more importantly  I know that I have missed many blessings for not listening for that still small voice. My desire is to make more time...deliberately choose more quiet times. Others may not understand this but there is nothing more precious than knowing God wants to spend time with me and have that personal relationship.

"And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice."  1 Kings 19:12





 

 

 

 



Fall Newsletter 2013

Worship At Altona Baptist Church

 

 

Myrna and Stephanie, worship leaders at Altona Baptist Church, also wear many other "hats" in ministering at our church and in the community. They have servant hearts and are also wonderful cooks.

 

 

Altona Baptist Church, the oldest Baptist church on the island,

celebrated it's 55th Anniversary in October.

 

 

Before & After

The Sunday School Room

 

 

 What a joy to start the fall off in our new classroom upstairs. The mission team from Faith Baptist Church in Kissimmee, Florida did a great job!

 

 

  

This group of young people are busy practicing puppetry and singing for the Christmas program on December 15th. Fluffy fabric has come to life and we are looking forward to the debut of

 "Patchwork Pals" puppets.

 

  

A Tragedy At School

 

A week before school started two of our teachers had to suddenly go back to the states for a medical emergency. The husband was diagnosed with metastatic cancer.

On October 14th, one of our ninth grade students tragically drowned. That was and still is a very difficult time for our students and school staff. It is as times like this that it is hard to understand but at the same time we know that God does not make mistakes and he is still ultimately in control. This was an opportunity to share the love of Christ with students and each other.

 

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Isaiah 55:8-9

 

 

Moving Into Our New Apartment

Once again we found ourselves looking for a place to live. The homeowner was returning to the island (which we knew was going to happen). Both of us were ready to move into a place that did not require work in exchange for a place to live. With our work and ministry schedules, it was becoming too much. We prayed about our needs and brought them before the Lord. In early November we moved into a downstairs, two bedroom apartment. It is very private, safe and hurricane ready. It even has a view of the mountains and sea. The owners have two dogs which are an extra blessing. Rentals and electrical bills are high on the island so we find our budget is tight. But overall we believe this is where the Lord would have us live. With a high crime rate on the island and hurricanes, safety was our first priority.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Different Cultures

 

 

People from all over the world have made St. Croix their home. Just as these eggs are a variety of color, size and shape, so are the cultures here on the island. Each offers it's own unique characteristic but inside each one is the same. Each person has a soul that Jesus died for. He desires a close personal relationship with each one.

 

 

Praises

&

Prayer Requests

Praises

Ministry opportunities

Quiet hurricane season

Housing

Prayer and financial supporters

 

Prayer Requests

Ministry at Altona Baptist Church & Free Will Baptist Christian School

Opportunities to share the Gospel

Health & Safety

Wisdom & Guidance

 

Thank you so much for your prayers for the ministry here on St. Croix.

May you have a

Merry Christmas

&

A Blessed New Year

 

Love

Billy & Cecilia

 

 

Tax deductible contributions may be sent to

YES Ministry

P O Box 700697

St. Cloud, FL  34770

or

www.YEServants.org

 

 

 



Summer 2013 Newsletter

Mission Team

Faith Baptist Church

Kissimmee, Florida

 

 

On Wednesday July 17th we headed to the airport to pick up a 14 member mission team from Kissimmee, Florida. They arrived with suitcases full of food and materials and lots of energy and a heart's desire to do service for the Lord.

 

Worship service at Altona Baptist Church


 



The men tore up a classroom floor, damaged by termites and put down new plywood. The temperature in that room must have been close to 100 degrees! A new light/ceiling fan was also added.

Pamela and Kristie painted a wall mural for the new classroom.

 

Painting, painting and more painting. The outside of the church is completely painted and looks so bright and clean.

 

 

The kitchen and bathroom were painted as well.

 

 

The men installed 7 ceiling fans/lights in the fellowship hall, replacing lights that were old and working occasionally.

 

 

New shelving was made for a downstairs closet. For a week they worked in hot, humid weather, some sleeping on air mattresses without the luxury of air conditioning.

 

"...for the people had a mind to work."

Nehemiah 4:6

 

Mission Team Memories

 

 

Daniel, age 15 and Joshua, age 11 were busy hauling old brush and watching for centipedes.

 

 

 

The women painted and cleaned as well as prepared 3 meals a day for 16 people. New tablecloths along with the ceiling fans made for a bright and welcoming fellowship hall.

 

 

Meals, snacks, drinks, and paper products as well as money for meals and food were donated by Altona Baptist Church members. What a huge blessing to have everyone working together in the Lord's House.

Testimony Time

The team sang as well as shared testimonies of what the mission trip meant to them.

 

 

Some much deserved beach time!

 

Words can not express our thanks for all the mission team meant to us. They accomplished so much work for our church, provided the supplies needed, and added some wonderful friendships to our lives. It was a sad day when we dropped them off at the airport but the wonderful memories will last forever.

 

The Days & Weeks Ahead

 

Both of us are back at work, involved in ministry at our church and with the school. We anticipate a move in the future as the homeowner of the house we are staying in returns to the island. We both are anxious to settle into a house that is a little more long term. We are working to expanding Family Night at church and doing the weekly church bulletins. Our desire is to not only have a close personal relationship with the Lord, but to encourage and lead others to do the same. We appreciate your prayers and financial support. We especially need your prayers as we work here on the island. God opens the doors but it is up to us to go through them. May our eyes and ears be open to His leading and directions.

Praises & Prayer Requests

Praises
Ministry Opportunities
Mission Team Success
Prayer and Financial Supporters

Prayer Requests
Ministry at Altona Baptist Church & Free Will Baptist Christian School
Housing
Safe Hurricane Season
Opportunities to Share The Gospel
Health & Safety
Wisdom & Guidance

Thank you so much for all you have done. We look forward to seeing what God has ahead.

Billy & Cecilia

Contact Information
340-643-0820 Billy
340-643-0821 Cecilia

Tax deductible contributions may be sent to
YES Ministry
P O Box 700697
St. Cloud, FL  34770
or
www.YEServants.org

 

 

 

 

 

God Cares About The Little Things

God Cares

 

So many times people feel like they don't want to "bother" God for the little things in life. But we have found that some of the greatest blessings can be found in the normal needs of everyday life.

 

Our refrigerator has been slowly getting warmer and warmer to the point that the freezer was no longer freezing. It is old and we're thankful it lasted as long as it has. Today we said we would check out the prices and see what it would cost here on the island. Home Depot had some nice ones, though their appliance sale was a couple of weeks ago.  So onto Sears I went. SALE on appliances! I found a refrigerator that was within our budget. Delivery is not free here, neither is the removal of the old one. As I talked to the salesman I told him that just a few days ago the Lord had provided some money for our ministry. Come to find out he was a pastor of a church on this island...

 

The frig could not be delivered until Saturday. Hmmmmm. He said let me check to see if one is in stock, came back and said he could deliver it himself on his lunch break for less than the contract delivery drivers could do it AND he could do it today.

 

God DOES care about the little things. We bought a refrigerator on sale, the pastor made some money delivering it (which is okay in my book as they are underpaid for the work they do) and we now have a new frig in our kitchen....all for LESS than the ministry money given to us. This was a double blessing.

 

Isn't God Amazing!!!