"50 BY 80!"

Left to right: Randy Ayers, Wayne Clark, Judy Clark, Laura (Lulu) Paschall, Anita Smart, Gary Smart and Jeff Stienbach. Average age- 73!

Please stick with me til the end of the Blog.

I've always said, "You cannot be close to Jesus and not feel His heart for the broken, confused and lost people of our world"... billions of them! As Believers, missions, home and abroad, is not optional for us individually and collectively. It is vital and has so much to do with the flow of God's blessings and resources into and through our lives and churches. It's not whether you can afford to give to missions or do missions. You, we, cannot afford not to give to missions and do missions!

When asked to start a departmental "Seniors" Ministry for the South Texas Assemblies of God Ministries, Judy and I knew that it must have a "Missions" component.

The team above was our team for the second "Seniors With Purpose" missions trip. This one was to Managua, Nicaragua. Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the western hemisphere, second only to Haiti. Our project: Finish the work on the "Centro Infantil Acahualinca" (children's ministry) facility, located adjacent to the Managua city dump.

Two Builder's International teams had preceded us, each with specific, targeted assignments. (One team was the first Builder's International, She Builds Team. Yep all ladies. They did an incredible job!) Ours had three basic components. 1. Remove and replace broken tile in the kitchen; 2. Replace toilets and sink in the bathroom; 3. Repaint primary meeting main room.

All three turned into much, much bigger jobs than the original assignment. The team above was absolutely amazing! Good enough wasn't good enough with this bunch. The three ladies scrubbed every individual tile in the main building. We created so much more work for ourselves, basically because Jesus deserves our best and the kids that attended there deserved the best we could give!

Our first morning was spent with the 3-5 year olds. We brought them a small stuffed animal and a Tootsie Roll Pop! The ladies in white shirts are the teachers/cooks who are there daily ministering to the children. The Director, Ada, is second from left. The lady in black is Christine Alfaro, our Missionary. She and her Husband, Nathan, pastor "Casa De Mi Gloria", an amazing church with 18 campuses. Nathan, was in the U S on a short fund raising trip for their new 3000 seat auditorium that is in the process of being built! Amazing Missionaries!

It was an honor to work with everyone associated with this project, Builder's International, the Alfaro's, Ada and the Center Team of Ladies, Johnathan our driver from start to finish but especially Jeff, Gary, Anita, Laura and Randy. Judy and I had our lives enriched working along side these unselfish, love Jesus with all their hearts, team.

Oh, you may be thinking, so what does "50 by 80" have to do with any of this? Glad you asked! Randy Ayers, set a goal of doing 50 Missions Trips before his 80th birthday. This trip was number 50! He turns 80 next March! We have gone on a lot of trips, all over the world together. Thank you Randy for the incredible example you are to all of us, young or old, that we should always be engaged in God's great Kingdom, serving and working, til He comes!

So how are you engaged? Where are you serving? There is always a place!

As usual, our Team received far more that we gave. If you have not gone on a Missions Trip, you are cheating yourself of a blessing that is immeasurable. Look for our 2024 Missions Trip details early next year!

Thank You, Randy! We had to celebrate 50 by 80!

Wayne and Judy Clark

South Texas Assemblies of God Ministries

Seniors With Purpose

ps. We ate at nice restaurants, were chauffeured in a new 2023 Toyota van and stayed in the Holiday Inn Express! Not bad huh? It was a great "Seniors" Missions Trip!