Buddhist Temple/Markets/Kids Ministry

3/25

Summary:

Today we visited the Buddhist temple. We received a tour from the nun and had a long discussion on Buddhism. After the temple, we went to the Asian market, enjoyed Asian treats and had lunch there. In the afternoon we played with the kids and presented them a skit we had been preparing on the life of Joseph. We played a game where groups of children designed colorful coats. To conclude our evening, some Muslim friends surprised us with a meal they had prepared for dinner. We loved today!

Buddhist Temple Visit

Buddhist Temple Visit

Buddhist Temple Visit

Saigon Market

Denae and Diana

At the markets

Kids coming home from school

Playing in the neighborhood

Doing Bible skit for the kids

Playing games with the kids

Playing volleyball with the kids

Playing with the kids!

Playing with the kids!

From Vittoria:
Today was amazing! I loved every moment of it. but my most favorite was when we went and played with the kids. We shared a Bible story with them and all of the kids were engaged it was awesome! What stood out to me is how funny everything was. And how happy they are for everything. For example, when we are all playing volleyball and the ball went out of the court they all laughed. Back home, in great falls people don't just have a good time and laugh all together. It makes me realize that we have so much. We need to value every moment we have with others and laugh and love.

Vittoria and Oz

From Lenore:

During our Buddhist temple tour, we respectfully listened to the nun and asked lots of questions. It was sad to think about how earnestly she is traveling her path to Enlightenment through kindness, compassion and self denial; but she is missing the answer of Jesus - the way, the truth and the life.

Our group continued to embrace a friendship with a 16 year old Muslim girl. She is extremely open about the hardships she has faced. She recognizes the cost of coming to Jesus and is unwilling to pay that at this time. We so want her to know Jesus and to become free. Please pray for her and her entire family.

Our evening session with the children was a great privilege as it was the first event ever in the new ministry center that our hosts, Don and Billie, are opening up. We invited all the children and youth that we could find but didn't know if any would come. Many did come!! They came eagerly and responded so well to the love that our team showed them. During our skit about Joseph they were fully engaged. Oz was a huge hit, as he "wept" in his role as Joseph's father! Laughter filled the room as the children dressed McCaila, Diana, and two of the youth with colorful streamers. 

After the formal part of the evening, the games resumed as no one was ready for the fun to end! Children and adults were playing everywhere! It's amazing how playing catch with a five year old girl could mean so much to me. It was a personal turning point on this trip as I felt like God has allowed me to make a connection. God is working in my life and our team member's lives as much as in the people we have come to serve. All glory to Jesus,  the author and finisher of our faith!

Lenore

Orientation/Worship Day

3/24 Sunday

Today the team went to Sunday morning service at Eastside Community Church, which meets at Conrad High School, right next to the ministry area. It is one of the most diverse high schools in the nation, where over 52 different languages are spoken. The pastor spoke on Luke 9:23 - “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." The speaker talked about the cost of following Jesus and how He is worth giving up everything for.

After church the team went to the Valenceo Apartment Complex in the Vickery Meadow neighborhood, the main one Trek-X serves in. They had a delicious lunch from an Ethiopian restaurant and were introduced to Area Directors, Don and Billie. The team had the chance to learn more about the neighborhood, which has 90+ language groups, and the ministry vision of how people are being reached for Christ.

Ethiopian lunch (the aftermath!) :)

Team orientation

The afternoon was spent playing with neighborhood kids, talking with people around the neighborhood, and then having dinner with a Rohingya Muslim family who Don and Billie have spent a couple years building relationships with. The Rohingya's are one of the most persecuted people groups in the world. Their 17 year old daughter did henna on all the gals and it was a sweet time having a chance to get to know each other better. 

Playing with one of the neighborhood kiddos!

The gals after doing henna!

Please pray along with us that the Lord opens doors in conversation to share Christ with all those we get to interact with throughout the week!

From Amber, Trek-X Staff (Former Heritage Christian AD):
It is a blessing to be back in Dallas and to have the chance to serve alongside the Foothills team! I had the privilege of living in the neighborhood here this fall for four months, serving and training some of our missionaries who are now overseas. It was sweet to reunite with some of the families and youth in the neighborhood who we were able to share the gospel with this fall!

Being here makes me think of 1 Cor. 3:6-7 where the Apostle Paul says, "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow." God weaves different people in and out of our lives over time and we are to be faithful sowing seed. He brings the harvest in His time. 

My prayer this week for the team, and every day of our lives, is that we would be faithful and intentional in seeking out opportunities to share the hope we have in Christ, while trusting the Lord to do the work only He can do in the hearts of those He puts in our path!

Amber reuniting with some of the gals from this fall!

 From Raina:
I am so excited to be here in Dallas and getting to see the Lord work in this neighborhood! My first experience with the wonderful people here was when we got to play games with some of the kids here. It really helped build the connection with them that is vital to the rest of the mission work we will be doing and what the full time missionaries Don and Billy will be continuing down here.

Another great moment was when we got to share a meal with a family living in an apartment here. We really got to know them and begin a relationship with them that I hope to strengthen throughout our time here in Dallas. We were able to make an extra special connection with one of the girls when we bonded over her giving us girls henna tattoos! I thank you for your prayers and I hope they will be continually sent our way and that we can keep doing the Lord's work!

Jacob and Raina with the Texas sign at
the hotel!

 

We arrived!

3/23 Travel Day
From Janelle:
We were blessed with a beautiful sunshiny day for our departure and quite a few people met at the airport to send us off. We enjoyed a sweet time of prayer and then it was time to start through security.  We were able to share with several of the airline employees why we were headed to Dallas. I am praying for many more opportunities to share Christ with those we meet.  Personally, I am so grateful to be a part of this team and am excited to see what God will be teaching us and working through us this week.

Team pic

Leaving Great Falls

Sunset

Late night food run in Dallas

Late night food run in Dallas

About our ministry partner...

I wanted to post a link to Trek-x, for anyone who is interested in learning more about what they do and the Dallas site. Thanks for trekking with us!
https://www.trek-x.com/location/dallas/

2019 Team Pic

                                          2019 Dallas team (not pictured-Nicole Thompson)

Prayer Calendar

DALLAS MISSION TRIP PRAYER CALENDAR
Mission trip info:  From March 23-30, a team of 12 adults and students from Foothills Community Christian School will be in Dallas, TX.  The team will be partnering with Trek-X (https://www.trek-x.com/location/dallas/) which is an organization that launches missional believers.  There is a large refugee population in Dallas and we will have the opportunity to serve many of them during this week alongside full-time missionaries.  Please join us in prayer as we seek the Lord and as we endeavor to share the gospel at every opportunity.  Check out our blog to get current updates https://fccsmissionteam.blogspot.com
SATURDAY	SUNDAY	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY
23 Travel Day Please pray that God would be glorified through everything that happens on the trip and that He would prepare hearts to respond to the gospel. 1 Cor. 10:31 Acts 4:12	24 Church Day Please pray for us and fellow believers in Dallas would hold unswervingly to hope that we profess and for the gospel to be preached to all the nations. Romans 10:13-15 Hebrews 10:23	25 Ministry Day Please pray that our team would share the Gospel with boldness with the lost souls we meet today. Eph. 6:19	26 Ministry Day Please pray that our team would be an encouragement to the missionaries we are serving alongside. Hebrews 3:13	27 Ministry Day Please pray that we would abide in Christ, bear much kingdom fruit, and serve together in unity. Eph. 4:1-4 John 15:5,8	28 Ministry Day Please pray that we would be effective communicators of the Gospel message. Romans 10:17	29 Tourist Day Please pray that we would decrease so that the Lord can increase and be magnified in our lives. John 3:30	30 Travel Day Please pray for lasting change amongst team members and in those we shared the gospel with.  Pray for more laborers to be sent into the harvest field! Where is He calling you to go and serve? Col. 1:9-14

Hello! This is the new blog for our Mission Team.  Its purpose is to keep our prayer partners in touch with what the team is up to.  We will be journaling our thoughts about what God is up to with us here.  Stay tuned!