Back Home

Sheila and I have had several days of travel but we are now back home on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We will be with our children and grand children. We will be at our home church Nags Head Church, and will be visiting Kitty Hawk Baptist. We are looking forward to seeing so many friends. I will also be participating in our first Board meeting of Mission Encounters International. Just e-mail us if you want to get in touch, leave a comment and we will get back to ya!

International Observers

In the recent Honduras democratic election the whole world seemed to be watching. Well, so Sheila and I decided we would become certified international observers. We entered and monitored 2 voting locations that were right next door to each other in a local school. We greeted many local friends that voted in this election. I was impressed with the verification process to make sure people were registered voters. They actually had a picture of each voter and each voter had to have a Honduran ID. Each voter was given three ballots and each voter was gently taught how to vote. No political parties were even close to the polls. We as observers in the most part were appreciated for our participation many knew our influence of presence was important. I was often thanked for being there. I am honored to be a part of a country that stood up against dictatorship and continued with their democratic government. Honduras, the little country that could, did allow their democracy to survive. I feel sorry for those who do not see it or get it.

James Dale Joins M.E.I.

James Dale Bio
Mid-Level Management, Walmart Corporate Office
Senior Director, Blockbuster Entertainment
Executive Management, Camping World USA
Partner at Nags Head Church
President, Colington Harbour Yacht & Racquet Club, Inc.

Jim took a position as a member of an executive management team to drive a successful turnaround of Camping World USA. After careful consideration, he branched into the field of management consulting, working with different agencies within the Department of Homeland Security as well as the major US defense contractors. He now leverages his management consulting skills and techniques guiding management and cultural change through Fortune 500 US companies and leading 100 companies in Canada.

James Dale lives in Kill Devil Hills, NC with his wife and 3 teenage children.

Heather Campos joins M.E.I.

Heather Campos Bio
Executive Director, Care Net (affiliated pregnancy & parenting ministry)
STM Director, Alternative Missions
Lay-Counselor Director, Care Connection Ministry
Member, American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC)
Member at Church

After 13 years with Care Net, Heather is completing a master’s degree in Christian Counseling. She also loves to participate in short-term mission trips to Kuwait and Thailand. Heather is a mother of three children, all married to wonderful spouses. If you ask her, she will say a great purpose in her life is the time spent loving and influencing her 10 grandchildren!

Announcement: M.E.I. and E-Tapestry

Mission Encounters International signed a contract this morning with E-Tapestry the most advanced and reliable non-profit software. The software has high level security for those giving on line. It provides for an unlimited amount of participants which will be able to view their own accounts. The software will allow the user which can be an individual or a group such as Short Term Mission Teams the opportunity to raise funds and have them in real time show up in their account. IRS forms for their donations will be immediate, and they will have the ability to give funds to projects, peoples, individuals or a particular site. More importantly it will allow donors to be more strategically connected to one another and see how their volunteer services and donations are impacting others. What an awesome world we live in to be able to give and serve with others and to see our service multiply together.

Home Again

Sheila and I will return home again to the Outer Banks in December. We have been over whelmed with the needs and changes in Helene. Never before have I returned home with such a sense of urgency for the ministries in Helene. Of course we came to Helene almost 6 years ago with Alternative Missions and we will return home now with Mission Encounters International. We will arrive at the airport in Norfolk on December 7th. We will hopefully have someone pick us up the next day and bring us to the Outer Banks. I am weary for rest and relaxation. I will be on the Outer Banks for 10 to 15 days and then I will be heading west and then return at the new year. Plans are moving forward aggressively for our first board Meeting with Mission Encounters International. Pray that God clears every board members calendar for this important meeting. Pray for our family as a whole. Josh, Bethany and Lucy Kate on the Outer Banks, Camas and Emily in Oklahoma City, and Susanna In college at Wilson N.C. our schedules are so full. Pray that God will help us all in getting together over the holidays.

Much love,

Larry

The Barnabas of Helene

If you have visited the island I am sure you have met Jerry Matute. He is the Barnabas of the island, he is an encourager. I have never had a conversation with Jerry in my life, that I did not walk away feeling encouraged he is certainly a man of God to me. Well he is about to finish his 3 years and 6 book commitment in Pastoral studies at our little seminary here on Helene. He has been so faithful over the years. We have gone visiting together, prayed for the lost, shared the gospel together, I have heard him preach, he has been with me when I have preached, we have just been good friends. He has asked that we continue on in our training we will actually in February start a course that focuses on preaching alone. I am so thankful for Jerry remembering him always makes me want to return to Helene.

New School Director and Teachers

The teachers are from left to right Dola Kinder, Shanna third Grade, Kiera Second gread, Amalia a teachers helper, Marion first grade and our school director is Elizabeth the last one. This year has been such change I never could have imagined. God has been so faithful as we move ahead with our Maturity Strategy we see God's hand at work.

Dominic's Baptism

Dominic serves on Team Helene with us and decided he needed to be Baptized. So we did just that!