Reflecions After Returning Home

Royal Servants: Reflecions After Returning Home: "We've been home for 10 days now, so I asked some of our team members to reflect on the transition from a week of life in Guatemala to life b..."

Why Flexibility is Your Friend

The opening chapter of Simply Serving (our short-term mission leader training guide written by Global Outreach Development founder and president, Bob Wielenga) reminds team leaders to make flexibility their number one leadership quality. It’s usually how I start all my training sessions with new teams that are preparing for a short-term trip. I’ve quoted the chapter hundreds of times in conversations about short-term missions. It seems like I’ve reminded team members of the importance of this simple concept every day on every trip I’ve been a part of. Flexibility is fundamental! With as much as I have talked about flexibility, you might think that I had the concept mastered. That’s not the case. Part of the reason why I remind people about it so often is because it is a tricky little concept to keep in mind.

The essence of the concept can be said this way, “It’s not about you, your team, or your plans. It’s about God!” (p.11). God has a funny way of quickly and unexpectedly altering our plans. Staying flexible means leaving space for God to do the unexpected and not getting disappointed when things don’t work out the way we’d planned. My recent trip to Guatemala was yet another example of how God changes our plans for the better. Let me quickly recount the story. I had originally planned on making two trips to Guatemala this month with two separate teams. This plan had been in place for several months, but in late June (only a few weeks before departure) a conversation with our partners in Guatemala led me to try to merge these two teams into one. What I thought was going to be an impossible task was nearly resolved after a short series of phone calls. I even managed to get everyone on the same flights (quite possibly a miracle, considering the time frame). These were a few of the first signs that God was behind this new plan.

As our time in Guatemala unfolded it became more and more clear that the new combined team was exactly the right combination of personalities, gifts, abilities, and strengths. Throughout the week our team bonded and some outstanding relationships were formed among people who otherwise would probably have never crossed paths. Looking back at how it all came together, I am reminded once again that flexibility really is our friend, and that God is usually on the other side of situations that require our flexibility.

Pray for us as we remain flexible with God’s plans for us throughout the rest of the summer.
- joe

Mississippi Team Blog- I had a great week serving alongside a team of Jr. High students in Mississippi last month. Read some reflections here.

Guatemala Team Blog – Our Guatemala team also took time each day to write a little reflection on their experiences. Read some reflections here.

Guatemala Team Updates

Keep up to speed on what's happening with our current Guatemala team at the Royal Servants blog.

GSM Founder Speaks About LCS Guatemala Team Success

Below is a segment of an e-mail update that Paul Banta (Founder of Global Soccer Ministries) sent out shortly after the LCS team returned from Guatemala.  Thanks to all who prayed, supported, or participated in this amazing project.  And please continue to pray that God would use GSM and these evangelistic soccer clinics to reach into the lives of those in Pinito.

- joe neill

Short-Term Missions Director

SimplyMissions.org

"A great group from Lansing Christian High School spent their spring break working hard with GSM Guatemala and some residents of a little community called Pinito here in Guatemala City. The community has recently become another site of a soccer academy for GSM Guatemala, where boys and girls ages 8-15 come and train, improving their soccer skills, and participating in a series of Bible stories and devotions aimed at growing their hearts.

Pinito, as a community, is composed of families that scratch out a living from the discards of the neighboring meat processing plant. The intestines of already butchered cows are cleaned and hung to dry in order to be resold as sausage casings ......the lower legs and heads of cattle are gleaned and cut away at with the remnants of meat being salvaged and resold. Though the dogs of the community seem to fare well, the families do not as they struggle to manage their lives from the discarded cattle remains that they receive daily. Located in the community, is a small, narrow soccer field that the team from Lansing Christian transformed in an unbelievably short amount of time.

Protective fencing was welded together and raised at both ends of the field was secured into a block wall that was constructed and painted. Add in a lot more painting and, to top it off, a train of dump trucks that just kept coming to dump a select grade sand/clay mixture that was shoveled, wheel barrowed, and raked to create the new playing surface. Many from the community pitched in to help including kids of all sizes, many of them being academy players who realized the significance of the upgrade to their field that was taking place.

GSM Guatemala and Lansing Christian finished the project by inviting the community to come and watch the Pinito Soccer Academy host the Canalitos GSM Soccer Academy, another of GSM locations. They played four games that were followed by hot dogs, watermelon, and face painting fun - as well as a short devotional from Pastor Teddy Torres, one of the pastors from our sponsoring church for this particular academy. Aching backs and sunburned necks aside, a great project was completed. We believe it has the capacity to impact lives for years, as we continue to run programs here. Our relationship with Pinito continues to grow, providing more opportunities to share God’s love. Pray for changed hearts within both the academy players and their families. Thanks again, Lansing Christian.....job well done! " - Paul Banta

Guatemala Team Returns Safely

Here is a group photo of our team that recently spent their spring break in Guatemala.  They returned early Sunday morning after a long travel day back to the US.  Here are a few comments that have already ended up on Facebook.

"Rejoicing in all that God did in and through the Lansing Christian mission team that was here. They worked so hard and were a great blessing to many. Hope you rest up you wonderful people!" - AMY (host missionary) 

"Thank you so much Amy and John for all u guys did for us. I miss Guatemala SO much already, if I could jump a plane back tomorrow I would. You guys are amazing!" - Stephen (Student on trip) 

"Ditto! It was one of the best mission experiences I've had." - Tim (Parent who went along as a chaperon) 

"Cannot describe how much God has changed my life through the lives of the people in Panito!"- Halie (Student on trip)

 It's always exciting to see the ways that God works in the lives of people (from hosts, to guests, to nationals, to prayer partners) on these trips.  If you haven't taken the time to read the blog entries from this team while they were in Guatemala, you can still find them on our website at http://www.simplymissions.org/lcs_guatemala. 

Thanks to all who supported this team in any way!
- joe
Director of Short-Term Missions
SimplyMissions.org

LCS Guatemala Team makes News on TV10

Our Team In Guatemala This Week

We have a team of 23 people from Lansing Christian School serving in Guatemala this week.  Read their updates on our website at the following link.

http://simplymissions.org/lcs_guatemala

Beyond Borders Road Trip: SOUTH AFRICA August 7-20, 2010

Join the Beyond Borders Road Trip: SOUTH AFRICA August 7-20, 2010!

What is a Beyond Borders Road Trip? It’s a chance for college age students to step beyond the borders of their life and discover a world beyond their own. It’s a chance to encounter God through the eyes of another culture. It’s a chance to experience what it’s like to live on mission.

Don’t just go to help people, come to be with people.
Don’t just go to speak, come to listen.
Don’t just go to see the world, come to better understand the world.
Don’t just go to accomplish something, come to be transformed.

Because we set out to give you a holistic missional experience, we will take pieces of what Pure Hope & Nieu Communities (two cutting edge ministries reaching out to the least of these in South Africa) naturally experience throughout the year and bring as many of those pieces together as we can to provide a compact, integrated experience.

Three currents of Communion, Community, and Context will be obvious throughout the trip. So there will be times of spiritual reflection, worship, or prayer each day. We’ll do some exploring together and we’ll engage the culture through acts of service, kindness, conversation, and prayer. We’ll also throw some adventure into each trip and take you out to see and experience more of the country.

At this point you may be wondering if this is really a fit for you, or you may have specific questions about a road trip – whichever it is feel free to contact Joe Neill, Director of Simply Missions, at info@simplymissions.org.

Come join us on an adventure … an adventure that might just change your life.

Project Lifeline Video

Project Lifeline from Bob Wielenga on Vimeo.

Project Lifeline team returns from Kenya

Our Simply Missions medical & water filtration crew (nicknamed: Project Lifeline) has returned safely from Kenya.  They were able to conduct clinics in Olmoran, Lorrian, Salama, and Olkalou, Kenya.  In the end they saw 1280 patients! 

The water crew taught four men in Olmoran how to properly build the water filtration systems.  Those men will continue to build five filters a week for the next five weeks, under the supervision of a local pastor.  That will result in 26 filters in that community in a little over a month.  One filter unit was placed in the medical clinic in Olmoran and will be in process for 21 days (that’s how long it takes to initially get clean water out of it). 

Our team trained five men in the village of Salama do the same thing for the next five weeks resulting in an additional 26 filters (52 total).  This crew will also be supervised by a local pastor. 

Immediately folks began asking where they could get a filter for their homes.  The pastor in Salama told those who could afford materials to purchase the items needed and the work crew would come to their home to install the filter for them.  Those who are without means will receive one of the filters that were donated. Those that can purchase their materials now have a qualified team to install their filter.  We anticipate that each filter has the capacity to provide clean water for up to three families.

We still have funds to build more filters in these communities, but we wanted to make sure this setup was going to work before over committing resources.  We are excited to see how these small changes may help breathe life into the community and open doorways for these pastors to minister to these families.

Thanks for praying for this team and for making health a possibility in these communities.

What About Haiti? Things you should know about how you can help.

Since our focus is short-term missions, we’ve gotten a lot of questions about the possibility of mission trips to Haiti, and the question has been on our mind as well. In fact, Global Outreach Development was birthed out of numerous trips to Haiti, so responding in a tangible way is important to us on many levels. When the earthquake struck, we didn’t have any active connections with missionaries on the ground there. Since then, we’ve sought to make some connections with the intention of bringing aid groups. The most emphasized issue raised by our recent contacts is that for the next few weeks/months, Haiti will need many trained medical personnel, but non-medical teams will not be needed for another few months. 

Here are some important things to think about:

• The devastation in Haiti created a massive strain on limited resources
• Even with supplies being delivered, the damaged infrastructure (from administration, to roadways) has made it difficult to properly distribute those goods.
• The vast majority of the "hands" that are needed at this point should be medically trained ones.
• The usual risks of international travel are elevated when heading to a natural disaster site
• The need in Haiti will be ongoing (most often I am hearing the word “decade” used), so think carefully about the best way that you can help both now, and in the future.

If you are a medical person or have networks with medical personnel you may consider assembling a team.  Here is what you’ll need:

Medical Teams  (ideal composition)

• 1 ER doctor or family doctor
• 1 Internal medical doctor / pediatrician
• 1 PT or PT/OT
• 3-4 RN nurses (wound care specialists)
• 1 medic
• 2-3 support people ( at least 1 pastor or spiritual leader)
• your whole group should be between 10-12 people

Additional Considerations

• Your team needs to be self sufficient, including pillows, air mattresses. (Think ‘camping’ but without pots and pans.)
• Simply Missions will coordinate with the Earthquake Crisis Center in order to do the logistics for you
• The Earthquake Crisis Center will provide ‘housing’ and food/drinks
• A stay of about 1 week or longer is encouraged
• Be willing to be stationed at a clinic site
• Keep in mind that there is the possibility of infectious diseases
• Funds will be needed for renting (mini) buses to transport teams locally
• Have immunizations updated
• Bring antibiotics for personal use for GI issues (bactrim, cipro, flagyl)
• Make sure you take your malaria medication before arrival

Contact us if you or someone you would like to assemble a team of medical personnel. We hope to be able to send non-medical relief teams as soon as we know that those teams will not be consuming the limited resources necessary for the survival of the Haitian people.

In the mean time, pray for Haiti.

Kenya Update

A Simply Missions medical team will be serving in Kenya on Feb. 5-14.   While there, the doctors will conduct medical clinics in four rural villages.  The rest of the team will be training members of the Anglican Church of Kenya on the process of assembling the Aqua Clara water filtration systems that many of you generously helped to provide.  The goal is that the team will assemble 15 units on this trip during the training sessions, and then the Kenyan’s will continue with 200 more units in the weeks following.  Please be in prayer for this team as they travel, work, and minister throughout Kenya.

A Peek Ahead: What's on the Horizon?

Last month I shared some of the milestones that we’ve enjoyed throughout 2009, but I didn’t get to talk much about some of the exciting things that are happening in the year ahead. So here are a few highlights.

Willow Creek Jr. High Trip – We’re really excited to have the opportunity to organize a jr. high trip for students at Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago. That trip will be to do hurricane relief work in Mississippi and will take place in mid-June.

Guatemala Focus – Last summer it seemed like we did a lot of work in Jamaica. This year the focus is leaning more toward Guatemala. With three trips already planned to serve our partner missionaries (Global Soccer Ministries) in 2010, we are anticipating some great work to be accomplished in Guatemala this summer. One of those trips is open to individuals like you! Let me know if you are interested.

Home Church Support – As missionaries, any time we get support is great, but it is particularly meaningful when your home church adopts you. This month Westwinds Community Church, our home church and where I once served on staff, announced that we’d be “on the books” for 2010. We can’t express how thankful we are to be backed by our church. It means a lot.

Olmoran Vision Moves Toward Reality – It was January 2009 when we first announced our intentions of transforming a community in Kenya through clean water (water purification, & filtration), medical clinics (to relieve urgent and chronic illness), evangelistic outreach (seminars, ministry, and relationship development), and long-term discipleship (through church planting). Next month a team will travel to Olmoran, Kenya, to begin the first phase of what we have sometimes called GoDevelop Olmoran. That team will be focused on addressing physical health issues through chiropractic care and facilitating the assembly of up to 160 water filtration systems (thanks to the generosity of our donors!). We are thrilled to have this opportunity to make a practical difference in this community and we look forward to the doors of ministry that will open in the process.

So, that is a brief look at some of what is on the horizon. Keep praying for God’s movement and direction as we seek to serve Him around the globe!

Peace,
joe neill
Director
www.simplymissions.org

God's Faithful Provision: A 2009 Fiscal Report

The end of the year is also a good time to evaluate our finances (though we do it on a regular basis as well).  As I look over the numbers I am reminded of God’s faithful provision for us as we have taken this step of faith.  We ended 2009 at 51% of our annual funding goal.  That may raise the obvious question, how in the world can we keep doing this?  Well, that is a good question.  I have discovered that when we rely on God, money seems to go farther and doors of provision open in unexpected ways.  For example, this fall (by a series of Divine coincidences) Laura landed a part time job at a dental office.  That has been a blessing in many ways.  Also, last January, I had the opportunity to teach a class on spiritual formation for undergraduates at Spring Arbor University.  This year, SAU has extended an invitation again and I’ll be teaching Worldviews.  These part-time opportunities have seemingly fallen into our laps and we have God to thank.  Additionally, we’ve enjoyed periodic “surprise gifts” that have ironically (or better, Divinely) come at our times of greatest need.  Experiencing God’s faithful provision strengthens our hearts and encourages us to continue placing our faith in Him.  So, know that I’ve included this fiscal report not as a plea for cash, but as a testimony of how we believe God has cared and will continue to care for us.

Starting The New Year Right

The dawn of a new year always provides an opportunity to reflect on life, set goals, and chart a course for the future. This month, I will have some specific venues in which to do that reflection. From January 8-15th I will be at the Michendo Retreat Center to participate in my third and final residency retreat for my master’s degree. Though academic in nature, these residencies have been extremely formational for my spiritual life, and I expect that this one will be also. The focus this year is on leading the Church toward increased effectiveness in spiritual formation. The specific application for me will come in the search for ways to lead and facilitate spiritual growth through mission experiences. The following week I’ll head to Canada for a pastors and leaders conference. Here again I’ll have the opportunity to reflect on the year ahead, spend time listening for God’s direction, and seek God’s vision for the future. Please pray that God will open my mind and heart to receive all that He has for me during these focused times of study, training, reflection, and prayer.

Celebrating 2009

As last year came to a close we’ve taken time to look back over some of the numbers that have been significant for us in 2009…

58,186 = number of air miles traveled by Joe

1,256 = number of support letters sent out this year

160 = number of water filtration systems sponsored to be built in Kenya in 2010

132 = number of trip participants

51 = number of days Joe spent overseas

9 = number of mission teams this year

6 = number of countries served (Kenya, France, Guatemala, Jamaica, South Africa, & USA)

3 = number of homes built for the poor

The most important numbers are the ones we don’t know with certainty, but we celebrate none the less…

?? = number of prayers prayed

?? = number of sacrifices made by supporters

?? = number of lives changed

As the new year begins, we hope that you will take time to consider all that God has blessed you with throughout 2009, and know that we have counted you among our blessings.  There is much work still to be done around the world, and at times, it can be a bit overwhelming.  We are thankful for the role we have been able to play in God’s work this year.  Please pray that God would continue to guide us to people and places where we can serve.

Blessings,

Joe Neill

Director