Serving in Africa

It's such a joy to watch a young person live out their faith through service. Our very own Emily Wiles is doing just that in Africa this summer. Follow her adventures on her blog as she shares the love of Christ far from home.

www.carryingyourname.blogspot.com

MOI Mission Trip, Report 4

What a day. Our weather was 45 degrees and it smelled like Christmas outside. We finished up VBS today and heard comments from the children;
My dad nevers goes to church- will you pray for him?
How do you become a Christian
What a joy it is to share the saving grace of Jesus Christ with kids!

Our construction crew is working at a frenzy pace to finish their projects. These group of guys are incredible!

The highlight of the trip had to happen last night. Harold and Jan Wall invited us to their ranch for dinner. We sat with brothers and sisters in Christ and shared a meal. We had a devotional where we prayed with each other. It was a time where the Holy Spirit was among us. Tonight we will continue to fellowship with our new friends, the Afdahl's. Joel, Claudine, Josh, and Torri are incredible people. I can't wait to tell you about them.

Mark your calendar for June 22. We will share our great adventure with you!

Blessings,
South Dakota mission trip team

MOI Mission Trip, Report 3

Tuesday is coming to an end. Sheetrock has been put up. VBS numbers doubled today, and everyone is exhausted-- exhausted in a good way, exhausted knowing that our day was spent serving in the kingdom of God.

And that is the difference of most days, is it not? We are always exhausted-- we tend to pride ourselves in what we can acomplish in 24 hours. The question that needs to be asked is "what kingdom did we serve". May our time in South Dakota be reflected in our days in Houston and may the Lord Jesus Christ and his kingdom be at the forefront of all we do.

I'll have some more thoughts tomorrow--enjoy the pics of some of the children in VBS.

Blessings,
South Dakota Mission Team

MOI Mission Trip, Report 2

Our mission trip has started off tremendously. Today was our first full work day. Nancy Bergeron did an incredible job teaching the Bible story today. The construction crew was working at full speed. Today they have already moved a bathroom (thank you Greg Cornman). The have also put sheetrock in the brand new education space.

The true blessing has been visiting with Deacon Joel and his family. I am reminded of what a privilege it is to be the people of God and have brothers and sisters in Christ all over the world. May Christ be glorified here in South Dakota and may Christ be glorified in you life in Houston.

Many blessings from our Team!

The Men of Issachar Mission Trip

Last night, we loaded up the trailer. It is full of VBS supplies, some plumbing tools, a lot of sleeping bags and anything else that could fit in Jeff Medcalf's car. Today half of the group headed out in car, tomorrow five more will board a plane and Sunday morning, four more will head up North to partner with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

The MOI is our Men's Ministry - two summers ago, it was their vision not just to serve inside the church (and praise God they don't mind making hot dogs and flipping burgers for our children and students), but they wanted to go out from JVBC too. This year, the Holy Spirit directed them to South Dakota.

Our group is in two teams - one of them is remodeling parts of a church on a Native American reservation, while another group is bringing the good news of Christ to children in Faith, South Dakota. Our task is to finish a construction project and have a great Vacation Bible School. Our desire is to sense the Holy Spirit among us and among our brother and sisters in Christ in South Dakota. Please keep us in your prayers as we travel and stay tuned for more details of the trip.

Bike Out Hunger Update

Editorial note: Blogger was down for some time last week, so please excuse the delay in this posting.

By: Meredith Steffen

At the beginning of the week we spilt into three groups based on miles per hour; group A, B, and C.

The first day I decided to try group B and it went pretty well so the second day I went with the same group. On Wednesday, the third day of the ride, there was some slight reorganizing of the groups. Group B wanted to increase their speed by a few miles per hour and when I heard this I was hesitant to continue on with that group.

I really wasn’t sure where to go so I just started on my own and eventually found a small group that was just my speed. Along the way we pushed one another to continue on and we never allowed too much distance to come between each other. Wednesday felt great and by the end of the ride the majority of my nerves had settled.

Thursday morning I woke up feeling confident and with news of a somewhat shorter ride I had no doubt that I would have another great day. I was wrong. The first ten miles were tough. I started in a larger group and immediately fell behind.

There was one man in that large group who was in the same group with me the day before and when he saw me slowing down he stuck with me and told me to keep at my own pace.

Each morning we have a devotional before the ride and this morning’s devotional was about how people need community to finish well. At the time I had no idea how true this would prove to be. Cycling is applicable to life; we all need community.

Tuesday - Bike Out Hunger

Yesterday we got off coarse. It added an additional 14 miles to a 65 mile day. Such is life.

Sometimes we work hard for a great cause but we still find ourselves lost.

Today we rode 69 miles to Nacogdoches, TX. The beautiful east Texas pines screamed at me to keep peddling. I rode with a new friend who was in severe pain. I kept telling him to stop and let the sag wagon (help vehicle) pick him up. He refused. Such is life.

Sometimes well intentioned people will tell you to stop.

Endurance to keep going in the midst of difficult situations is hard to find. But ever so often, someone will come up beside you and say, “you got this!” or “Great job!” This helps me to keep pushing. Such is life.

Just when you are ready to give up someone opens a door so you can keep going.

Bike Out Hunger is one way that Texas Baptist’s are opening the door of life through feeding programs, training and support. We proclaim this at every rest stop, hotel and church we see along the way. Such is life.

See pictures and video at http://bikeouthunger.texasbaptists.org

Scott