What We've Learned So Far

     Well, we are making it through a very warm Cayman summer! Last week the heat index was 117°F. Actually, since the Cayman Islands are tropical, the concept of four seasons seems wildly inappropriate. So here’s my summary of our Cayman seasons.

     “Summer” or “Rainy Season”—May through October, characterized by muggy, warm, rainy weather, and the accompanying hordes of mosquitoes. Hurricanes—June through November—always be ready!

     “Winter” or “Dry Season”—November through April, characteristic heavy “nor'easter” winds early in the year, pleasant temperatures.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

      At the beginning of August we held an all-day prayer and fasting session in the sanctuary. During that time our recipients for the food bank arrived. We invited them up to the altar so we could pray for them. What an electric time of intercession we had! A lady with whom we have prayed about her extremely difficult situation gave me an envelope containing her tithes and offering. It read “for people in need.”

     We are learning some important lessons about ministering here in the Caribbean. The first is the necessity of living according the rhythm of the island. The flow of life here is slower, and many dreams are surrendering by necessity to “island time.” We could try to force things into being, but the result would be ministry disconnected from the very people it hopes to serve. Our role is to promote the indigenous principle—encouraging and helping our national brothers and sisters to develop their own burden for the types of ministry to which the Lord has called them.

     A related discovery is the crucial importance of ministry training. Without national workers, no ministry is possible. We are greatly encouraged by the hunger our students have to understand and apply Biblical precepts. These are the future leaders of Grand Cayman and of the many other nations represented in our church. We are also seeing the significance of modeling these precepts in front of them.

PLEASE PRAY WITH US FOR:

~~unity and transparency in the Body of Christ; a greater spiritual fervor to combat the nominal religious spirit that pervades the island; a continued emphasis on corporate and individual prayer/fasting.

~~a tearing down of occult strongholds as well as fear and superstition concerning its power in the life of believers; a practical understanding of the Holy Spirit’s work in believers’ lives.

 ~~a greater interest among men to receive Biblical training and take on leadership roles in the church.

~~training—the last two Global University courses of the year; altar and follow-up ministry; new Living Free course.

~~ongoing talks with the government about acquiring a piece of property for a Teen Challenge Center; wisdom for the next step.

~~youth outreach trip in Cayman Brac (our neighboring island).

~~our parents’ health—John’s mother is growing very weak and can no longer eat, walk or talk well. John’s father is exhausted as he valiantly takes care of his wife. Sondra’s mom went through the recent earthquake in Virginia and had severe chest pains afterward. She subsequently had surgery to insert a new heart stent inside an old one that had closed up. She is now recovering in the hospital.

~~a financial miracle. We have lost almost 20% of our support since arriving on this island.

Six Month Update

     Well, I guess I still need lessons in Blogger! I tried several times last week to post a blog, only to lose the text of my post. If you see this, I have finally been successful. :) Just blame it on baby-boomer slowness to catch up with modern technology!
     What have we experienced in the last few months?

• We have taught three Global University courses to an amazing group of students. It has been wonderful to hear testimonies of how the classes have changed their lives. One young lady told me with tears in her eyes, "I am just so full." Another student shared that her hunger for the Lord and for His word has exploded since her baptism and course participation. We are also preaching from time to time at First Assembly and at West Bay Assembly (pastored by missionary friends Mike & Debbie Hampton).
• Counseling is taking up more of our time. We are seeing increasing evidence of  the pervasive Caribbean occult heritage, a stronghold that often reaches back many generations. One woman was sold to her grandmother, a witch doctor. Many otherwise strong Christians believe in curses, and are intimidated by superstition and fear. Part of our task is to reassure them of Christ's victory over the enemy, and let them know them no longer have to put up with such bondages. Please pray with us for boldness and discernment.
• Pastor Bobb (Cayman Superintendent and pastor of First Assembly) has been praying for a spirit of renewal on the island. To that end, our Sunday night services are geared more towards worship and prayer. We do the altar worship with our guitars. The emphasis in the last few weeks has been on the Holy Spirit, and we sense we are on the cusp of a great move of God. Please pray with us for a genuine revival.
• We have been involved in compassion ministries such as our food bank and prison visits. A Teen Challenge center is still on hold, pending a government approval of property. Please pray with us for favor.
• Our art and music lessons for the public will begin in a couple of weeks, and we are hoping to make contact with unchurched families that way. Eventually we hope to open a community center/coffee house ministry as this grows. Sondra is also helping to mentor and train our music director and choir.

     We highly recommend that you check out and subscribe to our Facebook ministry page: The Bocchieris > Missionaries to the Cayman Islands:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bocchieris-Missionaries-to-the-Cayman-Islands/120224851333888  That page gives a more instantaneous view of what's going on with us, and is updated quite often.
     Check out our latest newsletter in the column to the right for more information. Also, we've added a new feature to our blog. In the right-hand column, just above our slideshow, there is a place to follow our blog by entering your email address. You will then receive an email notice every time we add a new post or feature. We want you to have the most current information on our ministry, so you will be able to rejoice with us in the victories and intercede for us when we have prayer needs. Your email will be entirely secure, and you can unsubscribe at any time. Thanks for being our partners in winning and discipling this area of the world for Christ!

Jumping In with Both Feet

Airport arrival, tired but happy

 
We have been living in Grand Cayman a month? How did time go by so quickly? On the other hand, in some ways we feel as if we have been here a long time. Here are some of our experiences since we arrived:

We have our permits to drive in Grand Cayman. I have only driven twice, but I am getting bolder!

Our first US visitors--old friends, the Griffiths

 
 The church has found us a lovely place to live.





 
We have a pet rock lizard named Belshazzar who lives on our patio.




 

My Hero!

We have explored historical spots on the island like Pedro St. James, birthplace of Caymanian democracy.
 

We have met our with our leadership team, including



 

Enjoying good Caymanian fare

missionary colleagues Mike and Debbie Hampton, who pastor a neighborhood church in the West Bay area. They are also working with us to promote Global University training on the island. We find them delightful--passionate for the Lord and the people of Grand Cayman, as well as great Mexican Train players! 
 
What a blessing it is to partner with our new missionary and national family to reach out with the love of Christ. Please pray for us as we cast vision for this island nation.
 

Over 50 families are fed each month.

 God has swung the doors wide open for us here. Ministries with which we are already involved include: helping with Operation Joy (our food bank outreach), 






speaking for women's ministry,

Helping the altos with their part

practicing with the choir for Easter, training altar and follow-up teams, leading worship during Sunday night prayer service, AND setting up Global University (our first course for credit starts in March). WHEW! DON'T STOP PRAYING!


 Thanks again for your partnership in the Gospel!

On the Island at Last

Yes, it's true! We have actually arrived in Grand Cayman, a small but international island in the western Caribbean that numbers 50,000+ residents comprised of 109 different nations. We arrived here on the evening of January 18, 2011 and were greeted by a wonderful welcoming committee consisting of Pastor Torrance Bobb, Pastor Charles Boucher, and Missionaries Mike and Debbie Hampton. It felt like coming home again.

We have been here almost two weeks now and are learning many new things such as:

• how to drive on the left side of the road and negotiate the roundabouts;
• that if you don't keep hydrated you will have a bad headache (learned that from experience);
• how to get to the far west side of the island and back; that if we get lost, just head for the smokestacks of the cruise ships;
• how to eat conch salad--and what conch really is (a giant snail);
• how to blend with a new worship team--and learn its preferences in music;
• how to shop and do the exchange rate in our heads, although we still haven't learned not to be shocked at how expensive everything is;
• that the reality of great spiritual need here does not match the polished and carefree image many people have of the island
• how gracious and kind the people of Grand Cayman are;
• AND MOSTLY--how important is is to trust in the timing and provision of the Lord!

 WE ARE BLESSED! A great thanks goes out to all of you who have prayed and given so that we might be here in God's timing for His work in this small crossroads of the world. You are a tremendous blessing. Please continue to pray:

• that we will settle in quickly;
• that our shipment will arrive safely and soon;
• that the last of our budget funds will come in;
• that the Lord will strengthen us and our families while we are apart from one another;
• that we will be a blessing as we serve the people to whom the Lord has called us.

Help Us Reach our Goal NOW!

Our Cayman work permit is approved, & we need to be in Grand Cayman ASAP before it expires. Only five $25 pledges & ten $150 offerings are needed in order for us to receive final clearance & book our travel! We have been quoted a very inexpensive price, but must take advantage of it immediately or lose it. If the Lord has spoken to you to give, NOW is the time to obey! Please check our link below for the fastest & easiest way to make a contribution.

People like Delia* (who was raped by many village men from age 7 on--& is now helping similar victims through the grace of God) & Samuel* (whose marriage was saved through his deliverance from alcohol, & who is now a member of one of our local churches) are depending on us--& YOU!

PRAISE AND PRAYER:

• Thanks again for all of your prayers on our behalf. Sondra is recovering nicely from her emergency gall bladder surgery, and gaining her strength back. 
• Our son has found a great place to live and is pursuing active leads for a job. Please pray that the Lord will provide the right employment for him, and that he will see God's leading hand in this transition. Our daughter is also going through a transition, and is actively seeking God for her future. Please pray for our family in our separation from one another.
• Pastor Boucher (French-Canadian missionary serving with us on Grand Cayman) gives thanks that his wife is doing much better in her fight against cancer. Please bathe this wonderful couple in continued prayer.
• Please pray for strength and wisdom as we tie up all the last-minute loose ends before our departure for the place of our calling.

 *Names changed

"Following the light of the sun. . ."

Christopher Columbus first sighted the Cayman Islands on his last voyage to the New World in 1503. He named them Las Tortugas because of the many turtles he saw there. His discovery set into motion events that stretch into modern times.

The sides of his caravels carried this inscription, "Following the light of the sun, we left the Old World." We are about to make a similar journey, leaving behind our own Old World, and following the light of the Son. May we set into motion events that stretch into eternity!

On a personal level, we would appreciate your prayers for Sondra, who had  a severe gall bladder attack resulting in emergency gallbladder surgery two days ago.  We are very grateful the attack didn't take place in the plane on the way to Grand Cayman! The Lord's timing is always to be trusted.

Back to Blogger--finally!

     Well, friends, we are back on Blogger after a few weeks of trying find our blog. It seems that when we updated our account with the new Google log-in, our blog disappeared. After a few attempts to re-access the blog, we are finally successful. I guess it's true that you CAN teach old missionaries new tricks.    
     Please check out our new Facebook page: "The Bocchieris > Missionaries to the Cayman Islands." We post updates quite often.
     We are awaiting our departure for Grand Cayman with anticipation. We can almost taste the mangoes, we are so close to leaving! However, due to a number of circumstances beyond our control--such as moving a parent out of state, our son's biopsy (came back negative, PTL), visa application glitches, an auto accident with attendant issues, and, yes, the remaining 2-3% of our budget yet to raise in order to be cleared--we are still in the US.
     We rest in the Lord's timing for our lives, and are learning patience in this long journey. At the same time, we ask you to agree with us in prayer that every attempt of the enemy to block us would be thwarted. Please pray also for clarity and discernment as we make the many last-minute decisions still remaining before flying to this new land of our calling.
      If the Lord speaks to you about partnering with us financially, just click on the blue bar at the bottom of the page to make a contribution. Our desire is to be able to leave in the next few weeks, as the need is crucial.

Isaiah 40:27-31 (The Message)
Why would you ever complain, O Jacob,
or, whine, Israel, saying,
"God has lost track of me.
He doesn't care what happens to me"?
Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening?
God doesn't come and go. God lasts.
He's Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath.
And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired,
gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don't get tired,
they walk and don't lag behind.