by Calvin Landrus, SRCFC National Director

Saying "thank-you" can be often become rote and routine.  One time I always say it with meaning is to my belayer upon a safe return to the ground. This is especially true after a top-rope session on my project so long that even Job would not have had enough patience for.

 
 Other times, giving thanks is not easy.  In Psalm 44, the psalmist cries out to God, "We are brought down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground."  This psalm is Israel's cry for help after suffering a devastating defeat at the hand of an enemy and it's clear they are shaken.  But yet after saying in many ways they felt abandoned, they still boasted in God and committed to praising God's name forever.

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Fruit has already been seen through "Where Climbers Gather."  Here is the start of a post with the subject of ""Re: Christian coffee shop needs help!" that was posted "niCastro" on Saturday, Nov. 03, 2012.  It reads: "Hey everyone. I'm going to head down to El Buho at the end of next week to help Andrew out. It sounds like Andrew is doing amazing things down there for the climbing and the local community there. It's actually a crazy story how this all worked out and I was encouraged to share it with everyone because it just brings more glory to God."

Kevin, a.k.a "niCastro," continues later in the post, "Well a few days ago, on October 30, my climbing partner and I decided, even though we were very excited and prepared, we needed to call the trip off for a few reasons. The next day, I saw this ad on SRCFC and I got really excited about the ministry and the location. So I emailed Andrew who runs the ministry about maybe helping him out." 

He gets to the heart of the new direction at this point in his post: "I realized that this is what the Lord has been building me up to over the last few months because I am already totally ready to go and I can be down there when Andrew needs me. So... I'm going to Mexico! It's so amazing how many things the Lord has been doing to prepare me for this trip without me even knowing about it."

You can read the whole post online without having an account in the Campfire Forum!  Please pray for Kevin, Andrew and his wife, Gena, as they do outreach work to climbers in El Potrero Chico, Mexico.  Also, feel free to contact them to learn how you can support them.  

January 25th to February 10th

As previously announced, SRCFC is doing a mission trip to Cuba in early 2013.  Our Cuban Chapter Coordinator, Maikel Gomez, has asked from time to time for Solid Rock to come to Cuba to climb and to give witness of Jesus as we come.  We have heard from God a team is going from the USA and Mexico.

Our purpose in going to Cuba is to be witnesses of Jesus Christ in at least three ways.  The first way is through our presence and personal witness.  Just being there will provide for us opportunities to share.  We will be bringing along resources in Spanish to share.  Secondly, we are bringing a cordless drill, bolts, anchors and other gear for equipping routes.  That will be left with the Cuba Chapter.  These will allow Maikel, our Chapter Coordinator, to have an enhanced standing in the climbing community and larger platform from which to share Christ from.  Finally, we have arranged for several Cubans to be trained as climbing guides.  During that time together with them, we will have an opportunity to share. 

To see the details of the team's itinerary and who is on the team, click here. (Please note that this is in a section that is only for SRCFC members.  If think you are a member of SRCFC or would like to be one, visit here after logging in.)

The first way for you to support the trip is to pray.  Pray that the team has an effective witness and that the climbers and other Cubans that are met have hearts open to the message of Christ.  Also, pray for our travel to Cuba through Mexico.  Our Mexico Chapter Coordinator, Fernando Maldonado, who has traveled to Cuba and is joining us on the trip, will help us getting flights from Mexico to Cuba and back.  Pray also that anticipated funding is available for all who are going.

Another way to support the trip is to give.  The drill, bolts and other gear we are taking and leaving will cost around $1,000. Now, conventional donations will be the norm but for the person giving the most will have an opportunity to receive a very unusual and special thank-you gift. A member of Solid Rock (thanks Jody Langford) has donated an angle piton that is signed by two legendary climbers - Layton Kor and Fred Becky. 

If you are interested in trying "win" the piton, please send an email to office@srcfc.org with your anticipated donation ($200 minimum) by November 25th.  We will let you know if you are the highest donor and we will give all who have shown interest an opportunity to give at a higher level.