James R. is a last-minute addition to our team! He will work on the One-Day Church and be available to act as our interpreter, if needed. He is bilingual (Spanish/English) and is familiar with the area of Mexico we will travel to. We are excited to have him on our team!
Reminder: Final Pre-Trip Team Meeting, at O'Malley Church, this Saturday (December 5, 2009), at 4:30pm. A light supper will be served. We will review the upcoming mission trip and have a question and answer period.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Lynda's Story
As a young adult I felt the Lord tugging on my heart every time I heard a mission story. I knew I was being called for mission work, but I struggled with so many fears. In the late 1980’s I went with my Tacoma, WA based non-denominational church to Yakima, WA to work with a local Native American group for a weekend project. We were a very mission-minded church and I was on the mission board as secretary and the liaison to women’s ministry, but I couldn’t muster up the courage to go on a foreign mission!
In the late 1980's there was a Christian song that came on the radio that made me laugh outwardly, but inside a still small voice chastised me every time I heard it. It was sung by Scott Wesley Brown and is titled ‘Don’t Send Me to Africa’:
O Lord I'm your willing servant
You know that I have been for years
I'm here in this pew every Sunday and Wednesday
I've stained it with many a tear
I've given you years of my service
I've always given my best
And I've never asked you for anything much
So Lord I deserve this request
Chorus:
Please don't send me to Africa
I don't think I've got what it takes
I'm just a man, I'm not a tarzan
Don't like lions, or rivers, or snakes
I'll serve you here in suburbia
In my comfortable middle class life
But please don't send me out in the bush
Where the natives are restless at night
I'll see that the money is gathered
I'll see that the money is sent
I'll wash and stack the communion cups
I'll tithe 11 percent
I'll volunteer for the nursery
I'll go on the youth retreat
I'll usher, I'll deacon, I'll go door to door
Just let me keep warming this seat
At the 2007 annual Maranatha Volunteers International (MVI) Convention I was challenged and inspired spiritually. We were asked to earnestly pray Friday night about short-term mission work and as I got down on my knees the song popped into my head again (“I don’t think I have what it takes”). Like the glare of oncoming cars lights on a dark night, the Lord confirmed in my heart that I don’t have what it takes to go on a mission trip. But He does! I had focused so long on my fears and failings that I had lost sight of Who is in control. That night I committed to serving the Lord wherever and whenever He calls me.
In January of 2008 I went to Galapagos, Ecuador with MVI where I worked with a local shopkeeper teaching English in the afternoons. I couldn’t speak Spanish and he and his family couldn’t speak English, but we had a wonderful time learning from each other. Our laughter attracted many people into the shop who would sit and watch us and spurred conversation as to who I was and what I was doing (a great witnessing opportunity). I found it very encouraging to be able to sit and converse with people who didn’t share the same language as me. It truly was a God encounter!
Just over a year ago, Pastor Kack asked James and I to lead a team from O’Malley church on a short-term mission trip. My husband and I looked at each other with open mouths and blank minds. Well, not truly blank…my mind whirled with so many thoughts! What an exciting vision! What an incredibly frightening prospect! Then I remembered my promise to God in September 2007. So we said yes and the work began.
Most importantly the work began IN me. God has allowed many things to happen in my life this year: He prompted me to quit my job of 7 years in February, we returned from a vacation in March to find our home had been burglarized, and I was diagnosed with cancer in July. God lovingly used these events to work on my character and attitude for His glory and to calm my fears and help me be a more willing servant. Praise God!
His servant,
Lynda
I have been a member of O’Malley church for 9 years and a Christian for 22 years. I am anticipating many years of mission work; perhaps even Africa some day!
In the late 1980's there was a Christian song that came on the radio that made me laugh outwardly, but inside a still small voice chastised me every time I heard it. It was sung by Scott Wesley Brown and is titled ‘Don’t Send Me to Africa’:
O Lord I'm your willing servant
You know that I have been for years
I'm here in this pew every Sunday and Wednesday
I've stained it with many a tear
I've given you years of my service
I've always given my best
And I've never asked you for anything much
So Lord I deserve this request
Chorus:
Please don't send me to Africa
I don't think I've got what it takes
I'm just a man, I'm not a tarzan
Don't like lions, or rivers, or snakes
I'll serve you here in suburbia
In my comfortable middle class life
But please don't send me out in the bush
Where the natives are restless at night
I'll see that the money is gathered
I'll see that the money is sent
I'll wash and stack the communion cups
I'll tithe 11 percent
I'll volunteer for the nursery
I'll go on the youth retreat
I'll usher, I'll deacon, I'll go door to door
Just let me keep warming this seat
At the 2007 annual Maranatha Volunteers International (MVI) Convention I was challenged and inspired spiritually. We were asked to earnestly pray Friday night about short-term mission work and as I got down on my knees the song popped into my head again (“I don’t think I have what it takes”). Like the glare of oncoming cars lights on a dark night, the Lord confirmed in my heart that I don’t have what it takes to go on a mission trip. But He does! I had focused so long on my fears and failings that I had lost sight of Who is in control. That night I committed to serving the Lord wherever and whenever He calls me.
In January of 2008 I went to Galapagos, Ecuador with MVI where I worked with a local shopkeeper teaching English in the afternoons. I couldn’t speak Spanish and he and his family couldn’t speak English, but we had a wonderful time learning from each other. Our laughter attracted many people into the shop who would sit and watch us and spurred conversation as to who I was and what I was doing (a great witnessing opportunity). I found it very encouraging to be able to sit and converse with people who didn’t share the same language as me. It truly was a God encounter!
Just over a year ago, Pastor Kack asked James and I to lead a team from O’Malley church on a short-term mission trip. My husband and I looked at each other with open mouths and blank minds. Well, not truly blank…my mind whirled with so many thoughts! What an exciting vision! What an incredibly frightening prospect! Then I remembered my promise to God in September 2007. So we said yes and the work began.
Most importantly the work began IN me. God has allowed many things to happen in my life this year: He prompted me to quit my job of 7 years in February, we returned from a vacation in March to find our home had been burglarized, and I was diagnosed with cancer in July. God lovingly used these events to work on my character and attitude for His glory and to calm my fears and help me be a more willing servant. Praise God!
His servant,
Lynda
I have been a member of O’Malley church for 9 years and a Christian for 22 years. I am anticipating many years of mission work; perhaps even Africa some day!
Bob's Story
In this time of economic difficulty, many people are re-examining what is truly important in life. With decreased or limited funds, people are looking at their beliefs concerning what a necessity is versus what a luxury might be. People all across this land are making a commitment to tighten their financial belts.
Bob and his family have recently transitioned from two incomes to one so he is familiar with the struggle for frugality. Yet Bob felt called to go on this short-term mission trip to Mexico.
In faith he mailed off the paperwork for a passport. Bob was told it would take 6 to 8 weeks (or even more) to process the request. Later he heard about an expedite service that could get it processed for you in as little as 2 weeks, but Bob’s paperwork was already mailed so he couldn’t take advantage of this assistance.
Bob also wondered about financing the trip. Where would he come up with the $800 participation fee and approximately $900 for the airfare? It was then Bob realized he had gold jewelry sitting in a drawer! Bob decided the gold wasn’t doing him any good so he had it cashed in. The “useless” gold jewelry netted $1700 that could be used to help Bob be faithful to the Lord’s call to go on this mission trip. Bob sincerely heeded the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:19: “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”.
God wasn’t stopping with one miracle! Another was winging its way to Bob via the United States Postal Service—his passport arrived in only 3 weeks time! Then after his passport arrived, Bob went to his employer to see if he could get the time off work. Only six weeks prior to the trip, Bob had the necessary money, approved time off work, and his passport.
What a wonderful lesson for all of us! By stepping out in faith we allow God the opportunity to show that He is in control. Romans 8:28 says: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”.
Excited to serve such an awesome God,
Lynda
Bob is a four year Seventh-day Adventist and member of O’Malley Church. He has a background in construction and maintenance work. Currently he works in the maintenance department of a local hospital.
Bob and his family have recently transitioned from two incomes to one so he is familiar with the struggle for frugality. Yet Bob felt called to go on this short-term mission trip to Mexico.
In faith he mailed off the paperwork for a passport. Bob was told it would take 6 to 8 weeks (or even more) to process the request. Later he heard about an expedite service that could get it processed for you in as little as 2 weeks, but Bob’s paperwork was already mailed so he couldn’t take advantage of this assistance.
Bob also wondered about financing the trip. Where would he come up with the $800 participation fee and approximately $900 for the airfare? It was then Bob realized he had gold jewelry sitting in a drawer! Bob decided the gold wasn’t doing him any good so he had it cashed in. The “useless” gold jewelry netted $1700 that could be used to help Bob be faithful to the Lord’s call to go on this mission trip. Bob sincerely heeded the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:19: “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”.
God wasn’t stopping with one miracle! Another was winging its way to Bob via the United States Postal Service—his passport arrived in only 3 weeks time! Then after his passport arrived, Bob went to his employer to see if he could get the time off work. Only six weeks prior to the trip, Bob had the necessary money, approved time off work, and his passport.
What a wonderful lesson for all of us! By stepping out in faith we allow God the opportunity to show that He is in control. Romans 8:28 says: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”.
Excited to serve such an awesome God,
Lynda
Bob is a four year Seventh-day Adventist and member of O’Malley Church. He has a background in construction and maintenance work. Currently he works in the maintenance department of a local hospital.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Joseph's Story
Joseph heard about the One Day Church program at General Youth Conference last year and knew he wanted to help with this program. He attended the Maranatha Volunteers International’s convention this past September and decided it was time to do something about it.
Joseph isn’t a stranger to mission work. He went on a short-term project during his junior year in high school and they worked on the second story walls and ceiling of a church in Mexico. When I asked him what story he had to tell from that trip, Joseph said: “nothing too memorable” and that it was a much different time in his life. He noted that the missing ingredient to an extraordinary mission trip was interaction with the people.
He is looking forward to meeting the needs of others and to spread God’s love in whatever way he can. Joseph also expects to have a better mission trip experience this time around and knowing the other participants as I do I have no doubt that he will find this trip personally rewarding and spiritually invigorating.
I asked Joseph how God had been working in his life recently especially related to the upcoming mission trip. He said: “I had a couple of jobs come up that I wasn’t expecting. They were just enough to get me caught up on my bills and pay for this trip. God has really blessed me with work at a time when so many are struggling.” Praise God!
Excited to serve,
Lynda
Joseph is a young adult living in the Portland, OR area. He is a general contractor with experience in pole buildings and other metal projects. He also had the opportunity to lay block walls while in Mexico as a teenager.
Joseph isn’t a stranger to mission work. He went on a short-term project during his junior year in high school and they worked on the second story walls and ceiling of a church in Mexico. When I asked him what story he had to tell from that trip, Joseph said: “nothing too memorable” and that it was a much different time in his life. He noted that the missing ingredient to an extraordinary mission trip was interaction with the people.
He is looking forward to meeting the needs of others and to spread God’s love in whatever way he can. Joseph also expects to have a better mission trip experience this time around and knowing the other participants as I do I have no doubt that he will find this trip personally rewarding and spiritually invigorating.
I asked Joseph how God had been working in his life recently especially related to the upcoming mission trip. He said: “I had a couple of jobs come up that I wasn’t expecting. They were just enough to get me caught up on my bills and pay for this trip. God has really blessed me with work at a time when so many are struggling.” Praise God!
Excited to serve,
Lynda
Joseph is a young adult living in the Portland, OR area. He is a general contractor with experience in pole buildings and other metal projects. He also had the opportunity to lay block walls while in Mexico as a teenager.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Rick's Story
Over the last ten years, Rick reports that he has been on the receiving end of support and encouragement from church members. He feels that he had been more of a “listener” and less of a “doer” during that time in his life.
Rick’s comment reminds me of Ecclesiastes 3:1 that says: “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven…” We all go through times in our lives where we need to be the “listener”; a time of learning and growing before we are able to go out and help others. My husband, James, pointed out that Moses had 40 years of training. And Jesus’ disciples had 3 (or more) year’s worth of preparation before they were fully ready to go on their missions.
Now Rick is feeling the Lord tugging on his heart to go and help others. He said that at this point God has given him the “gift of time” and he would like to use that gift to do the Lord’s work.
While Rick has yet to go on a mission trip, he has listened to the experiences of others who have. He said that he can see how the mission trip had an effect on them—how it is a blessing for the missionary as well as the people they serve.
Our international mission trip will require a passport, but Rick’s has been delayed due to a clerical error. The agency is working on correcting it and will expedite the processing of it tomorrow. James and I have seen Satan working to derail this mission trip and we feel this is just one more example of it. However we know that our God reigns and He is victorious over the evil one!
Please keep The Northern Lights team members and the Mexican community of Peñitas in your prayers. We want to share Christ’s love with everyone we encounter so please pray for us to be bold doers and the Mexican community to be receptive listeners.
Lynda
Rick is a long-time member of the Hillside-O'Malley SDA church in Anchorage, AK. He has a lot of energy and can't wait to put his hands and time to use working for the Lord.
Rick’s comment reminds me of Ecclesiastes 3:1 that says: “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven…” We all go through times in our lives where we need to be the “listener”; a time of learning and growing before we are able to go out and help others. My husband, James, pointed out that Moses had 40 years of training. And Jesus’ disciples had 3 (or more) year’s worth of preparation before they were fully ready to go on their missions.
Now Rick is feeling the Lord tugging on his heart to go and help others. He said that at this point God has given him the “gift of time” and he would like to use that gift to do the Lord’s work.
While Rick has yet to go on a mission trip, he has listened to the experiences of others who have. He said that he can see how the mission trip had an effect on them—how it is a blessing for the missionary as well as the people they serve.
Our international mission trip will require a passport, but Rick’s has been delayed due to a clerical error. The agency is working on correcting it and will expedite the processing of it tomorrow. James and I have seen Satan working to derail this mission trip and we feel this is just one more example of it. However we know that our God reigns and He is victorious over the evil one!
Please keep The Northern Lights team members and the Mexican community of Peñitas in your prayers. We want to share Christ’s love with everyone we encounter so please pray for us to be bold doers and the Mexican community to be receptive listeners.
Lynda
Rick is a long-time member of the Hillside-O'Malley SDA church in Anchorage, AK. He has a lot of energy and can't wait to put his hands and time to use working for the Lord.
Scott's Story
"Back in the mid 80's I went to a poverty stricken district on the fringes of Mexico City to help build new housing. Our group of 20 or so people constructed a metal framed, stucco finished house. It was a very basic structure but quite solid. I have been to Mexico twice and look forward to returning with my O'Malley brothers & sisters. I enjoy working with my hands and it will be a privilege to participate in the Penitas Project. The Mexican people are very gracious and hard working. It will be a joy to help them build their new church."
Praise the Lord!!!
Scott is a team member of The Northern Lights and attends the Eagle River SDA Church in Eagle River, AK. I look forward to hearing how God works in and through Scott on our upcoming short-term mission trip.
Lynda
Praise the Lord!!!
Scott is a team member of The Northern Lights and attends the Eagle River SDA Church in Eagle River, AK. I look forward to hearing how God works in and through Scott on our upcoming short-term mission trip.
Lynda
Standing on the Edge
Have you ever stood on the edge of something really big? It can be very frightening or completely thrilling. I remember being a young girl with my toes firmly planted in the sand just staring at the immense ocean with ferocious waves beating the earth before me. The sound of crashing waves dulled most other sounds until all I heard was the roaring of the ocean. I stood transfixed by the power of the mighty water and thought: “If this frightens and awes me so much, what would it be like to see God, the Creator of the sea?”
Sometimes we seek out that which scares or excites us. James went on a Maranatha Volunteers trip to Peru in 2005 and thoroughly enjoyed touring Machu Pichu. He loves to climb tall, craggy mountains and gaze at the world below.
Whether we seek these emotion packed moments or whether they come to us without warning, they make us stop and think about how small we really are and how great our God is. It is exactly at this time that we lose sight of self and focus more closely on the beautiful character of our Lord and Savior.
James and I are standing on the edge of something very big, however we are not alone. We are joined by 14 other people who are willing to do what author Henry Blackaby suggested in his book Experiencing God: “Find out where God is at work and join Him there”. Some of our team members are seasoned workers and others are joining in for the first time, but we are all of one accord—to do the will of the Lord wherever and in whatever capacity He calls us.
Fellow missionaries, today we are 6 weeks out from our day of departure. Are you ready? I mean spiritually ready? Are you ready for physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges?
There will be discomfort. There may even be disappointment. But there are people waiting for us to share the love of Christ with them…people who speak a different language (culturally and linguistically); people who will watch how we speak and act. Will your character be that of Christ? Will they see His love no matter what language we speak?
I challenge you to spend time each day with God—now and each day throughout the mission trip. Ask Him to change your character into that which would please Him. Ask Him to reveal His character to you through the Scripture and through the people you encounter each day.
“And you shall seek me, and find me, when you search for me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
Sometimes we seek out that which scares or excites us. James went on a Maranatha Volunteers trip to Peru in 2005 and thoroughly enjoyed touring Machu Pichu. He loves to climb tall, craggy mountains and gaze at the world below.
On occasion we find ourselves on the edge of something really big--something that is dropped into our lives unexpected and unwanted. For me, it was cancer. It brought my life to a temporary halt as I tried to find answers and meaning. It was a time filled with intense emotions.
Whether we seek these emotion packed moments or whether they come to us without warning, they make us stop and think about how small we really are and how great our God is. It is exactly at this time that we lose sight of self and focus more closely on the beautiful character of our Lord and Savior.
James and I are standing on the edge of something very big, however we are not alone. We are joined by 14 other people who are willing to do what author Henry Blackaby suggested in his book Experiencing God: “Find out where God is at work and join Him there”. Some of our team members are seasoned workers and others are joining in for the first time, but we are all of one accord—to do the will of the Lord wherever and in whatever capacity He calls us.
Fellow missionaries, today we are 6 weeks out from our day of departure. Are you ready? I mean spiritually ready? Are you ready for physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges?
There will be discomfort. There may even be disappointment. But there are people waiting for us to share the love of Christ with them…people who speak a different language (culturally and linguistically); people who will watch how we speak and act. Will your character be that of Christ? Will they see His love no matter what language we speak?
I challenge you to spend time each day with God—now and each day throughout the mission trip. Ask Him to change your character into that which would please Him. Ask Him to reveal His character to you through the Scripture and through the people you encounter each day.
“And you shall seek me, and find me, when you search for me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Deadlines
Applications: You MUST turn in an application this week if you plan on being part of the team.
Participant Fee $700 USD and Excursion Fee $100 USD: If you haven't paid the full amount, please make arrangements to do so this week.
Airfare: Please purchase your airfare this week and forward a copy of your itinerary to me.
AJA Students: If you plan on being part of the team, contact AJA teacher Aaron Woehler this week.
Youth not attending AJA: If you are interested in being part of the mission team, contact us immediately. You will need an escort (parent or guardian); please contact us to discuss. Ages 13-16 will need to supply a letter of recommendation from your Pastor, Youth Pastor, or teacher. Youth = under age 18.
Contact: cazort@gci.net or 907-346-8308
Participant Fee $700 USD and Excursion Fee $100 USD: If you haven't paid the full amount, please make arrangements to do so this week.
Airfare: Please purchase your airfare this week and forward a copy of your itinerary to me.
AJA Students: If you plan on being part of the team, contact AJA teacher Aaron Woehler this week.
Youth not attending AJA: If you are interested in being part of the mission team, contact us immediately. You will need an escort (parent or guardian); please contact us to discuss. Ages 13-16 will need to supply a letter of recommendation from your Pastor, Youth Pastor, or teacher. Youth = under age 18.
Contact: cazort@gci.net or 907-346-8308
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