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