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

New Simply Missions T-Shirts are here!

Show your support by wearing a Simply Missions T-Shirt.
Now Available for $15 each or two for $25 (plus shipping).
Adult sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL
E-mail your order to joe@simplymissions.org!

Simply Missions is now on Facebook!

We've opened up a Facebook Group for Simply Missions! This is part of our recent efforts to increase our connection points with you, our trusty supporters, and to create a viral approach to getting our name out there.

Let us know what you think by posting on the Simply Missions wall. Or, tell your friends about what we are doing with Simply Missions.

Find us on Facebook here. Or friend me (joe neill) and you'll see a link to the group on my page. I just opened the group this afternoon and already we have 83 members!

Not sure what Facebook is??? Don't worry. We'll continue to post updates here as well. If you don't recieve our email updates, contact me here and request to be on our e-list.

Whitehouse, Jamaica

In March 2009 Solomon Johnson's family of 11 was left homeless after an electrical fire destroyed their house and many of their possessions. Solomon's family was given land to rebuild on, the only problem was it was in the bush and would need to be cleared first; a difficult task for a man with only a machete.

That's the point where 23 Lansing Christian School students and adults entered the scene. With shovels, pick axes, a chain saw, and the generosity of a local contractor and his "bobcat", the land was cleared in one day. During the week of service, footings were poured; cement block laid and rocks carried to fill in the foundation. The sun was warm, and the work was hard as students had to carry heavy bags of sand and rock up the mountain to the site. Hand mixing concrete and mortar taught the students new skills and an appreciation for cement mixers! The team was able to complete the foundation for the new Johnson family residence as well as begin the hole for their latrine.

While in Jamaica the LCS team was able to present two chapel services in area schools. They sang songs and students shared about life in the USA. The group also attended an energetic Palm Sunday service (over two hours long) complete with the waving of palm branches. All week long this team had the privilege of demonstrating love to Jamaican kids. Whenever they had a break at school the kids would find the LCS group for more time coloring, blowing bubbles, and playing Red Rover, soccer and even cricket.

The LCS students were challenged each day to see God at work around them. Some examples included a bobcat showing up at the worksite to help clear the brush, the true worship that took place at a small Jamaican church, the chance students had to help each other carry heavy loads, and the joy on the faces of all the students as they ministered to Solomon's family and the children in the area.

The week ended as the LCS team gathered together to pray with Solomon and his family. They all stood around the foundation of his new home and lifted up prayers of thanksgiving to our wonderful Lord. It was another amazing week filled with amazing stories of God's faithfulness.

Upcoming Ministry Schedule

June:
• Jamaica – From June 13-20, a team from Westwinds Youth Ministry will travel to Montego Bay to work with the Caribbean Christian Center for the Deaf (CCCD).
• Jamaica – From June 16-24, a team from Jackson Christian High School will travel to Whitehouse to work with KBM.
• Jamaica – From June 16–25 a team from Rivertree Community Church will work ½ a week at KBM and ½ a week with CCCD .

July:
• Guatemala – From July 12-19, a team from Shiloh Community Church will work in Guatemala City, Guatemala, with Global Soccer Ministries (GSM). Their focus will be working on homes in the slums, repairing soccer fields, and ministry with children.

August:
• South Africa – From August 12-19, a team from Westwinds Community Church will travel to Johannesburg to work with various ministries.

Bwana Asifiewe!

Bwana Asifiewe is Swahili for “Praise the Lord!” And there is much to praise Him for after my recent trip to Kenya. God went before us and paved the way for an incredible week in Africa. Thanks for your prayers!

The needs in Kenya are overwhelming. As we drove throughout the country, the thing that left the greatest impression on me was the bredth of poverty across the land. Everywhere we went there were people living in shanti town slums, and surviving conditions beyond my imagination. It is tough to take all that in, but at the same time it is exciting to be a part of a mission seeking to bring help and hope to those in desperate need.

In such situations, it can be difficult to know where to begin, and the truth is we could probably start almost anywhere. Relationships are often the default starting point, and our work in Kenya is turning out that way too. Through a network of already established relationships we decided to focus in on Olmoran, a remote community located about 45 miles north of Nyahururu.

We found ourselves in Olmoran, speaking with a group of cattle farmers about their greatest needs, food and water. In the midst of the conversation, a man named Leonard stepped forward from the back of the crowd and said, “I will pray for you, that God will show you how to help us.”

I want to ask you to join Leonard in his prayer. With so much work to be done, we don’t stand a chance without Divine intervention. We are now planning a medical mission trip to Olmoran, Kenya in October of this year. If you are interested, or know of someone interested in going on this trip, please let me know.

This is an incredibly busy spring season for us at Simply Missions. While I was in Kenya we had a team in Mississippi doing Katrina relief work. Next week Laura and I will be leading a group of high school students on a trip to France. During that same week, Bob & Janet Wielenga (founders of GO Develop) will be at a children’s home in Jamaica leading a team of 23. We get a short breather in May before the summer season begins in early June with two team trips to Jamaica, and one to Guatemala.

As always, we are grateful for your prayers and support that make this work possible!

Please continue to pray as this ministry grows.

A new look for a new year!

Happy New Year! We are excited to unveil our new logo and a new look for our website for 2009. Click on the new logo above to surf over to simplymissions.org and have a look around and let us know what you think.

Aside from our new logo, we have some really exciting things going on in 2009. We are currently working on putting together nine different trips for '09 and we are always looking for new groups and partnerships. One of the most exciting things that is in the works is our newest initiative to transform communities in need of clean drinking water. We are already in the process of identifying a community where we will work to provide...

Clean Water through well drilling, water filtration, and purification.
Mosquito Netting to help prevent malaria.
Medical Clinics to relieve urgent and chronic illness.
Evangelistic Outreach through clinics, seminars, sports ministry, and relationship development.
Long-term Discipleship through church planting.

We'll keep you posted on all the latest news as these projects develop further. Thanks for your prayers!