Thanks to You!!

Thanks to you, those who supported me in my travels to Africa, I have come back loaded with awesome.  God's awesomeness.  It wouldn't have been possible without your support and prayers.  There was a lot that happened in the past 10 days that I want to share with you.  I will try to do my best.  I know...it's a huge responsibility.

God happened.  God showed up.  God moved in the hearts of those we encountered, God moved in my heart.  That's the 30-second answer to "How was your mission trip?".  Do you want to hear the longer version?

They say that not everyone is ready to hear the long answer.  I have found this to be true from my stories from the Dominican Republic (June 2010).  I want give you the right answer and but please know that it will take more than 30 seconds.  So you need to tell me...which answer you want to hear.

It was an incredible journey.  One that had more than what I expected, and held more promise than I would have thought.  There was discovery of new territory....that of Swaziland, Africa and also those uncharted waters of my heart.  Changed happened in Africa, change happened in my soul.  

I now see God in a new and fresh way.  Not that I had a bad view of by any means.  But it is bigger, it's on the wow-scale at 15, it's now expanded.  That is awesome, that is God.  I can't wait to share with you.  I hope you are ready for the long answer.

Meet Jacob & Kristen

Jacob loving on kids in Africa

Jacob Hardesty is 23 and is a student at Oklahoma Wesleyan University in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.  He is pursuing a degree in Secondary Math Education with a minor in Youth Ministry.  At OKWU, he has played NAIA Division One Varsity Soccer for four years and Intramural Volleyball.  His plans include graduating in December 2011.  He likes to hunt deer and duck and likes to go fishing.  

Jacob had already been to Africa once this year.  He spent twenty-one days in and around Mbabane, Swaziland earlier this year in May/June.  While there, he experienced some life-changing moments.  He was able to see things with his own eyes...  “things” like you read about in the Bible…people being healed from sickness, paralyzed people standing up and walking, numbers being added to the Kingdom on a DAILY basis! "For a moment I was shocked almost as if “is this really happening?” I just had to step back and let God out of this little box that so many people try and force Him in.  It hit me This Is Africa!  Why was I so surprised when God did what He had already promised?"  It took him getting out of the “sheltered” American culture to begin to understand just how much God does not need “us” and how much we, people, need Him. 

He began praying for guidance on whether or not he should seek an opportunity to go again.  That evening Mitch Hildebrant had an interesting post on facebook that intrigued Jacob and sparked a little curiosity.  After inquiring with Mitch about the situation and pointing him towards Justin Carson, the rest is history.  The only way to explain it is God.  A simple prayer which led to the opportunity to return – for which he is thankful!

Kristin with her sponsored child in Dajabon, summer 2010

Kristin Kratt has a dream to be used by God as a medical missionary.  She is currently seeking education in the nursing program at Wicthia, KS.   Kristin is from Arkansas City, KS.  Last year, Kristin traveled with a team to the Dominican Republic.  I dare say that was a hinge moment in her life as far as seeing the needs of children and her role in helping people, as Kristin has a heart for serving kids.  Being the youngest team member we all wanted to mother her when she was sick on those malaria meds.  So excited that she is going to Africa with the team.  

Meet the Diehl's. Kathy is a full time secretary for an attorney, and a terrific mom to their son Zach. She is also a super homemaker and loves to bake yummies. She is also coordinator of a yearly festival held in their home town of New Berlin, PA and works in the church nursery. She loves kids and can't wait to love on them. James is the Regional News Editor at the local Christian Radio Station WGRC, and Host and Producer of the "Classic Music Showcase" a weekly Christian oldies program which focuses on music from the Jesus Movement and Christian classics with interviews from the artists that wrote and sang the songs. He also likes to garden, and grow orchids. Plus he plays keyboard for one of the praise teams at his church. Both are looking forward to sharing Jesus with the kids in Swaziland.

Prayer Circles

When preparing for  a mission trip, I start praying the day I know that I am supposed to go. My list of prayers covers a variety of topics from safe travel, to providing enough funding, to bringing the right team together, to being used by God. There are so many details that need to be in place before one steps foot out the door.

The one of the biggest prayer circles I present before the Father is to accomplish His work in my heart. I don't want to wait until I get to the destination for Him get my heart ready. I am hungry to know what's on His heart concerning the days ahead.

When asked, I knew immediately that God wanted me to go. As I was talking with another team member who had been struggling with the reasons for going, he again asked the question.. "Why should I be going?" I kept reassuring him of all the reasons to go, but it wasn't until God reminded him of a previous mission trip experience in the Dominican Republic, that actually helped him feel assured of the mission call. There was a tender moment a year ago when God opened his eyes to the distractions of his life at home, only to reveal the "rich" life of those he had traveled to serve. The American dream is quickly cast aside when it collides with wide-spread poverty, and buried with the disadvantaged.  That was life-changing for him, as it was for most of the team members.

God prepares you as you pray to prepare. 


He will always bring us   


to seeing their needs 


to His broken heart 


to loving them as His people.


It's there that we can see God's purpose in serving.   


Purpose.  Once we see His heart...how can we say no?

Mission Swaziland T-Shirts

Meet the Team! Part 3

Patty Gilliland

Patricia "Patty" Gilliand lives in Ponca City, OK with her husband Joel and family.  She has four kids that she adores.  She is finally a nana; Madelyn and Tucker are more precious than anything she has ever seen!!   Her youngest, Rebekah, is in the sixth grade.  She is an adoring aunt, is LOVING that she has glasses to wear and is MORE of an organizer than even her mother. They all play soccer, are active in their church.   

Pam Worcester (on left)

 Pam Worcester is Super Woman.  She can do it all.  At least  I think she can.  She assists her husband Barry in all things H20Church.tv.  They travel almost every weekend to consult and mentor other H20 Church campuses.  With all her duties as a mom and wife, she still finds time to volunteer at Perry's finest coffee shop HeBrews.  She has been to Israel on missions.  Pam's not afraid to get her hands dirty, and she as a soft place in her heart for victims of child trafficking.  

I Can't Get Past...

I can't get past this story.  But God can.  He is bigger than the pain and the scars leftover from such a violent act.  I am thankful that we have a God who cares, and knows.  And the end of the day, and at the end of this story, God is still God.  And that is enough.


Of course this story brings up the age old question of, why God?  Why did you allow this precious young girl to be violated in such a way?  Because evil exists.  And it exists everywhere, it's not just confined to Africa.  What I DO know that in the middle of her pain God was there to meet her with the hug and touch through this missionary couple.  Grace and mercy were given.  In situations like this, when words fail, a touch of comfort is what is needed.  


Where is God in the middle of these type of situations?   I believe that God weeps too when his children are hurting.  I watched the movie Tears of the Sun this past weekend.  It was on our "recommended" list of resources in preparation for this mission trip to Swaziland.  Here's your disclaimer.  I know that it is rated R.  I don't watch rated R movies...ever.  The violence is too much, I can't absorb it, and it doesn't entertain me.  This movie was very violent, and horrific.  The good guys win in the end, but there is a lot of blood shed.  I wouldn't recommend it at all unless you really like bloody fighting scenes riddled with profanity.  I now have those hurtful images in my mind of such horrible acts of violence.  I can't get past those either.  


Why does God allow bad things to happen, even to the innocent?  I don't know.  But I know that God loves and I know that my response to those who commit acts of violence is one that should be of love.  Without conditions, without judgment, just like what Christ has offered to me.  That kind of love is something I can't get past.  I hope I never do.