Today we said our goodbyes to Don & Billie, and Amber (Trek-x staff). It was an amazing week of learning what they do in Dallas and seeing God on the move.
From Amber (Trek-X staff):
On this trip I was reminded that God brings beauty from ashes. When I was still the AD at Heritage, the gym in Bozeman was set on fire by an arsonist in 2014 during the State Tournament. God brought coaches and AD’s closer through that tournament and led eventually to the friendship I have now with Janelle (FCCS trip leader). Through other missions opportunities serving together the past few years, the Lord led to this trip being an opportunity in partnership. God’s ways and plans are far greater than our own.
To see friends from Montana loving on, sharing Christ, and furthering relationships with the Dallas kids and families I know well from living in the neighborhood down there this fall, along with getting to be apart of the first ministry to take place at the new community center, was such a blessing. To see eyes being increasingly opened to the lostness of the world and urgency of the gospel through the mosque and temple visits, and working amongst individuals from unreached people groups, is both exciting and sobering. To see the team taking steps of faith in sharing the gospel is a beautiful picture of what we were each created for - glorifying Him and sharing Him with those He puts in our path. The Holy Spirit went before in so many conversations throughout the week.
Getting to know team members better through talking and serving and praying and laughing and tears and shared experiences on this trip was a reminder in my life personally that where God guides, He provides. God knows exactly what our hearts need and takes care of us in ways immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine. Please pray I would continue to put my hand to the plow and not look back as I sow gospel seeds wherever He sends me.
May we all be faithful to follow where He leads us in being apart of His work among the nations, for we know that: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).”
From Janelle (Foothills team leader):
Even though I visited this ministry site in December, this week did not go how I was expecting it to. We were living out 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, "My grace is sufficient for you; for my strength is made perfect in weakness." It started out with Paul (my husband) arriving in Dallas with significant hearing loss in one of his ears. I had been really looking forward to having him join us, since this was his first Foothills mission trip. Through visiting a doctor, who referred him to another doctor, several connections were made for further ministry and professional connections. Nevertheless, seeing Don & Billie again and getting to serve with Amber again was so sweet. The relationships we forge in ministry go deep quick and we all experienced that this week. God is so good!
Aside from teaching me to hold my expectations loosely, this trip stretched me in many ways. Working with so many different cultures in one neighborhood made it impossible to begin to know how to try to relate to each culture. It boiled down to the language of love and this team related it so well (Matthew 22:36-40). By the last day, kids were coming from all over when they saw us arrive. This morning when we said goodbye, Don said he already had kids knocking on his door wondering if we were coming today. This happened to be the first week for the new ministry center to have anything going on and he said with our team being there, it has successfully been launched. God's timing is always perfect. Praise God!
As we visited the different temples and mosque, we all learned more about what these people believe about spirituality and how to reach heaven. As we talked with them, it was apparent that none had the assurance that we have as Christians. It grieved my heart to see so many earnestly seeking after something that provided no true assurance and peace. I look forward to getting back to Great Falls, to look at our community with fresh eyes and to see who God has for me to befriend and share Jesus with. Please continue to pray for me and the whole team to follow through on the things that the Lord has asked us to do and to live mission-minded wherever He leads us.
From Vittoria:
This week has been amazing for me and for everyone else on the team also. I loved every moment of it. What impacted me most is seeing the kids that we interacted with; seeing them just open up to you. I loved playing with the kids and they even taught me that we should always be happy and smile. Always be kind to others because you do not know what they are going through. The kids thought everything was hilarious and would laugh about anything. I want to bring the joy of God back home. I want others to see a change in me back home. Going on this trip was truly a blessing to me and to the whole team. Also a blessing for the families we interacted with.
From Oz:
First of all, I take this moment to thank Jesus for this great opportunity and experience. I learned that no matter what we endure in life, we should be content and persevere to make a positive change in our lives. We must continue to strive by teaching others about Jesus so they also have the opportunity to accept Jesus as their Savior. In fact, this trip provided me with the understanding and the urgent need to spread the work of God amongst the refugees and anyone we came in contact with.
From McCaila:
God has used this trip to grow me and to teach me what this world is really like. I have been blessed to grow up in a little Montana town with Christian parents and a good Christian education. I knew in my mind that the world was not like that for everyone, but seeing it for myself was heartbreaking. Our mission in life is to serve the Lord and bring people into His kingdom. There are so many lost people, and we only got a glimpse of the suffering that is so prevalent. This trip made me realize that I cannot just live in my little bubble and ignore the fact that there are people who have never heard the name of Jesus. I was really touched by Amber’s heart for people, and it just fueled my drive to prepare my heart for the missions. I really believe God is going to use me in some wonderful medical missions trips and I am so excited for what He has in store for me.
From Diana:
The Lord has taught me so much this week and I am very thankful that I get to share it with you on here. First God showed me that I have a heart for the Nations. I honestly never thought I would but interacting with all the different people groups revealed it. Secondly, I realized that you don’t have to go on a missions trip just to tell people about Christ. Imagine that! I have been a Christian for most of my life and I have fallen into a routine of complacency. I don’t want to be a complacent Christian anymore. God taught me that if I am going to live for Him then I really need to LIVE for Him. It felt a little weird to walk around a mall with stores such as Versace, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, etc after being in the neighborhood where we did most of our kids ministry. It felt vain and kinda made me sick to my stomach. Don’t get me wrong, I love shopping but I had no desire to buy anything. It’s crazy how God can change you and shape you in a short week!
From Lenore:
I realize that broken people are everywhere, Jesus loves them and desires for all to know him. He is powerfully at work and wants me to be more intentional in connecting with the work that He is doing in the lives around me.
From Raina:
Through this trip God has taught me the importance of knowing Him and teaching of Him to others. In our temple visits, God revealed to me the flaws and unexplained pieces of other religions. I have learned how to defend my faith and better explain it by watching the leaders do it and doing it myself. I learned how to minister to people of different cultures as well as bond with them. Going back to Great Falls, I want to take the skills I have in bonding with others and use it to witness to them better. God showed me that people are more open to what you have to say if you listen to them and their story and religion more than you cram Jesus down their throat. I plan to build more relationships and further the ones I already have to spread God’s Word and bring glory to Him.
From Paul:
As I spent most of my week in doctor's offices and in a "bug jar," I was reminded about empathy and looking at people as a whole. They may be doing well on the outside, but usually are hurting, empty or lost on the inside. Dealing with the physical complaint may not always be the issue and what a person really needs is help for what's in their heart. I am not good at guiding people to the Lord from an obvious standpoint, but hopefully God will continue to lead me in my daily walk and especially give me guidance, insightfulness and a soft heart to subtley or boldly guide and direct people to the true Healer.
From Nicole:
As I return home from this mission trip my heart is so grateful for so many reasons. Personally, the Lord has renewed my desire to share the Good News with lost people, whether in Great Falls, MT, Dallas, TX or anywhere else He chooses to send me. God reminded me that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word and how do lost people hear unless someone tells them. God pulled me out of the pit of destruction 17 years ago and He used PEOPLE to reach me! It was a privilege to be used by God to share the Gospel of Christ on this mission trip. Now I pray that God continues the good work He began in me and that I will do the work to continue to fan the flame that started in my heart.Secondly, I was amazed to see the kids from Foothills serve so humbly and diligently on this trip. I am impressed with the maturity and wisdom that they have at such a young age. I credit not only their parents but also Foothills for giving them such a firm foundation for life. On this trip the kids learned such valuable tools for life after high school. These kids have been blessed to be raised in Christian homes and attend a Christian school in Great Falls, MT; many of them have never met or interacted with people who practice Buddhism, Hinduism or Islam. This trip gave them the opportunity to learn about other faiths, other ethnics groups and exposed them to different cultures. They now know the basics of Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam. They learned how to interact with people different from them and also how to start a conversation with people who believe differently from them. They learned to examine their own faith and ask questions about others in a kind and caring manner. As these teenagers prepare for college and leaving home they are now well prepared to be ministers of the gospel to whoever God puts in their path!
From Denae:
I’m so glad I was able to come on this trip and experience all the different cultures and people groups. Not only that but we were given ministry opportunities to so many different people and it was able to demolish some of the stereotypes I had in my head concerning people from other countries. Like when someone mentions a Muslim, many people, think of the radical groups. So many times I judge people based on their appearance or what other people have told me, and then they end up being the total opposite. Our culture is so full of judgement and often times its so far from the truth. I want to be more open-minded towards people of other religions so I'm less afraid to share the good news of Christ.
From Jacob:
Often on mission trips we see so much pain and suffering that we are emotionally overwhelmed and sometimes struck to our core in ways that affect the rest of our lives. I still see the faces of those two girls from our last mission trip... Those precious girls that wrecked my heart and prompted me to place a new sacrifice on God's altar - that of my will in where and how I was willing to serve him. That is how I expected to feel this week.
No matter how much I tried not to have expectations of this week...I had expectations of this week. The week that I carved out and gave to God; I kept secret strings attached to it (secret from me, of course, not from God).
This week God has surprised me with fellowship where I didn't expect it; in a sister who is so crazy on fire for God that she could melt stone, in teammates who not only shine God's love but his joy and humility as well, and even in a Latino lady who ministered to us even as we sought to minister to her.
He surprised me with hope in the very people we came to minister to; the 53 year old father who just became a citizen of a country for the first time in his life because his own country did not allow him citizenship, or his daughter who has grasped our friendship with open arms and is constantly so kind and giving and joyful.
He surprised me with the kindness I saw in the children toward each other as they played, and the friendliness in the faces of almost everyone we approach.
He even surprised me with the variety, deliciousness, and overwhelming abundance of food I have experienced.
But more than all this, God has surprised me with victory instead of brokenness. Despite the lies that Satan tells, the religions that offer gold-gilded self reliance, the countless who have not yet heard, and despite my own expectations, I have an overwhelming sense of triumphant victory bubbling up inside of me. This victory is not mine, for I did not earn it, nor is it bestowed upon me; rather, I am invited into it by the One who has won it. He has defeated death! He has called his own and they will answer him!
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:55-57
This is what He has surprised me with! With victory and life where I expected struggle and tears. I have seen poverty and pain mixed with such hope. I have seen and heard lies that have ensnared thousands and millions. I have seen people desperate for God completely devoted to religious lies. I have seen the very things that I thought would break my heart, and yet my heart is filled with the victory of Christ!
Praise be to the God who surprises us with Himself!
Praise be to the God who reached down to us when we could not reach up to Him!
Praise be to God victorious!
Praise be to the LIVING God!
From Jacob:
God has shown me a lot over the course of the week while ministering to the children. He has shown me that I should be more appreciative with what He has given to me because these kids hardly have clothes to cover their back. They seem to be so happy even though they have nothing. It makes me feel guilty because I’m always striving to get myself and my family things and not focusing on giving to the community. I am not the type of person that likes to get hyper and be active with kids so that was going to be a struggle for me on this trip. I am also not a kids person and I figured I wouldn’t make any connections with the kids but God brought one boy to me on the last day of our ministry. He and I just did something as simple as throwing a few bean bags back and forth. He made me realize that I enjoyed playing with kids and seeing him happy and smiling made my week. It’s nice to make someone happy and I think God was blessing me with experiencing this young boy's happiness. So when I go home I plan on being more satisfied with what I have and think of others more. I’m gonna also work on being more interactive with kids when I can be. I truly think that I needed this mission trip spiritually as much as the school encouraged students to go.
From Emily:
Ever since Sunday night, I have been continually reconfirming what day it is. When you only have one week to spend with someone important or doing something important it can feel so quick - as if time sped up and you are left mourning the lost minutes and desperately trying to hoard what is left all while it continues to slip away. That is how I expected to feel this week. Often on mission trips we see so much pain and suffering that we are emotionally overwhelmed and sometimes struck to our core in ways that affect the rest of our lives. I still see the faces of those two girls from our last mission trip... Those precious girls that wrecked my heart and prompted me to place a new sacrifice on God's altar - that of my will in where and how I was willing to serve him. That is how I expected to feel this week.
No matter how much I tried not to have expectations of this week...I had expectations of this week. The week that I carved out and gave to God; I kept secret strings attached to it (secret from me, of course, not from God).
This week God has surprised me with fellowship where I didn't expect it; in a sister who is so crazy on fire for God that she could melt stone, in teammates who not only shine God's love but his joy and humility as well, and even in a Latino lady who ministered to us even as we sought to minister to her.
He surprised me with hope in the very people we came to minister to; the 53 year old father who just became a citizen of a country for the first time in his life because his own country did not allow him citizenship, or his daughter who has grasped our friendship with open arms and is constantly so kind and giving and joyful.
He surprised me with the kindness I saw in the children toward each other as they played, and the friendliness in the faces of almost everyone we approach.
He even surprised me with the variety, deliciousness, and overwhelming abundance of food I have experienced.
But more than all this, God has surprised me with victory instead of brokenness. Despite the lies that Satan tells, the religions that offer gold-gilded self reliance, the countless who have not yet heard, and despite my own expectations, I have an overwhelming sense of triumphant victory bubbling up inside of me. This victory is not mine, for I did not earn it, nor is it bestowed upon me; rather, I am invited into it by the One who has won it. He has defeated death! He has called his own and they will answer him!
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:55-57
This is what He has surprised me with! With victory and life where I expected struggle and tears. I have seen poverty and pain mixed with such hope. I have seen and heard lies that have ensnared thousands and millions. I have seen people desperate for God completely devoted to religious lies. I have seen the very things that I thought would break my heart, and yet my heart is filled with the victory of Christ!
Praise be to the God who surprises us with Himself!
Praise be to the God who reached down to us when we could not reach up to Him!
Praise be to God victorious!
Praise be to the LIVING God!
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| Sunset over Denver...almost home! |
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