Packing Party Night...

Thursday Night was our packing party night....can you say CHAOS! but great times! It was a great night...by far the smoothest packing party night I have ever been to! We had so much donated...and another first for me...we couldn't fit it all in! PRAISE GOD! (That just means there is more for the next missions trip!) I was excited because for the first time...we had all the Missouri part of our team in the same place at the same time! (Andrew, Doug and Mike...we missed you!) It was good to all be in the same room at the same time....just looking at all the faces...this team is definitely handpicked by God! It was awesome to see the unity begin...others pitching in and helping out one another...lots of laughter...great times! Enjoy the pics!

Hi, Im Taura. I dont really know anybody that Im going on this trip with except Shawn but I am looking forward to changing that. This is an adventure for me, one that has been on my top tem list of things Id like to experience before I die. I wrote this list about 10 years ago.I always thought I didnt have enough knowledge in the Bible to go on a mission trip. You'd think that would encourage me to study it more. It was always like reading a foreign language so I set it on my shelf and there it lived for most of its life. Anyway, I took it off the shelf and have had several more bibles given to me recently. All kinds. Interesting. So with the help of some friends I'm beginning to learn alot through it. Now, at this point in my life I cant explain why and how this trip is comming to be for me but I will embrace it. When this oppurtunity was presented to me I was overwhelmed. Speechless. My reaction to the invitation probably made me look scared and shocked. Suddenly I was. I quickly realized this was for real (and real life can be scary) but I had an oppurtunity to experience this adventure with someone I respect, trust and love. I now know that I am being led and actually following the path created for me. I picture myself holding on to Jesus hand and being led into unknown territory. But I trust that this is where I need to go, that there IS a mission in mind and it will be done. I pray for us all to keep holding on to His hand and thank Him for our adventures in this life. Thanks so much to Gateway and my dear friend who helped this oppurtunity to serve ( in a very exciting way) come to life. I could say 'I cant wait for this experience to begin!' But it already has for me and Im loving it. Thanks be to God, I'm in your hands.

Taura

WOW !! Is this really happening ??

I have to begin by saying Thank you GOD for allowing me the privilege of being a part of this journey. When I think that we will be leaving in about 5 1/2 days I can hardly believe it. The journey that has already taken place to get me to this moment is truly amazing to me. I don't want to take a single step of that journey for granted. Last year when a dear friend of mine returned home from this very trip she was a different person. She had a light about her that frankly, I was lacking, but that I wanted so very badly. I had been allowing the world to rob me of the light that I had inside of me and was very convicted of that when I was with her. She told me all about the trip and mentioned that I should go "next year". I kind of shook my head yes and went on...thinking in the back of my mind that it would probably not happen. I just could not picture myself ever going to a foreign land doing anything...period. I thought that she would maybe forget that she asked me to go BUT that was not the case. Every time I saw her she asked me if I had thought any more about going. I would give her enough of an affirmative answer for the subject to go on to something else. The Lord had been working in my life to the point that I knew that in order to grow the way I desired to grow that I needed to take part in something like this, but then there was all of my fears. If there is something to worry about, trust me I will do just that. One day at work I just could not stop thinking about going, but I thought that I needed my son, sister or husband to come too...that way I would have that bit of comfort with me. None of them were able to make the commitment so it was up to me and God. Would I trust HIM to be enough for me on this trip and make the commitment to go by myself? I knew that God wanted me to take part in this...I don't know why or what He has in store, but I know that I am supposed to be there. That day I requested the time off of work and began slowly making the commitment to go. We were told how much money we needed to pay for the trip and trust me I did not just have that laying around. So I began to put together a couple of garage sales to raise money. They went very well and I raised about $800.00 or so. I was thinking ok God, you keep comfirming that this is something you want from me. The Sunday after my last garage sale my husband was playing basketball and ruptured his achilles tendon and needed surgery. That meant that we would have doctor bills that we had not planned on and he would have to take time off work without pay. I automatically thought about the money that the Lord had provided from the garage sales and after talking with John we agreed that we would have to use that money to pay for his surgery. My heart was broken because if we did that, I could not pay for the trip therefore I would not be able to go. I sent an e-mail to Amy that Monday and explained to her that I felt that God was closing the door for me to take part in the trip. I asked her if she thought there was any way I would be able to go...she said that if the Lord wanted this for me then it would happen. She also mentioned that Mike needed the completed paperwork that Friday so he could book flights. I knew even as I told her that I did not see any way that it would happen that I was supposed to go to Jamaica. We ended our conversation and John and I moved forward to schedule his surgery. His surgery was that Thursday and we were home that evening (the night before Mike needed the final paperwork) and Amy called me and told me that someone had sponsored my entire trip...it was paid in full. She said that she would be by my house in a few minutes to get my paper work because MY GOD PROVIDED MY WAY TO JAMAICA !! I can not tell you what I said to her next but I was in total AWE of MY GOD...why me? I can't answer that, but I can tell you that we serve an amazing, faithful God...I know that even though I have so many fears going in to this that HE is bigger than any of them and I will make the decision to trust Him instead of the voices of untruth. I look forward to walking this journey with each of you and am committed to returning home more like Jesus.

Jennifer

He is Matchless...

Since Sunday morning I have been thinking about a song we sang at church...and the phrase..."You are Matchless in every way"....keeps echoing in my ears...I had never heard that song before. I have thought long and hard about what that truly means..."Matchless". One dictionary defines it as having no equal; peerless; unequaled; incomparable. Yes, that describes my God. Tonight, as I think about all God is doing in the lives of our team...I see how He is Matchless. I keep hearing stories...and I keep encouraging the team to share them on here...hint hint....and these stories are LOUDLY DECLARING the Matchless God we serve.

This weekend I saw how He is Matchless in my life. Friday at work I was talking with a co-worker about how I was struggling with completely trusting God for the finances for my trip and also with a certain bill that needs to be paid before I leave...and how basically....I could only trust God...I needed His help. When I left work Friday I started to see through God's lense what He was doing...and my prayer quickly changed from "Lord, HELP!" to "God, if my struggle is for her to see You...then let me struggle..." I thought how cool it would be to be able to go back into work Monday and tell her..."Look how my God provided!"....I began to believe God for it.

Sunday, several things happened...a friend walked up to me and handed me money for my trip...found out that someone else had written a check for my trip and there was money left over...received a donation from my brother...God provided...and yes, I went to my friend today and BOLDLY told her how God is my Provider...my prayer is that she is drawn to Christ through this...He is Matchless!

Amy

Gateway Church Send-Off...

Today we had our "send-off" at church for the trip...it is so hard to believe that the trip is here! 1 more week! There are many things I am excited about for this trip, one of them at the top of the list is seeing a body of believers united to serve and accomplish God's mission. Today was a HUGE taste of that. First, seeing a good majority of our team standing together...we missed those of you that couldn't be here...I found myself becoming very excited! Secondly...seeing our Church Family jump right in and say a HUGE "YES" when asked to contribute towards the challenge we will be presented with in Jamaica.

Each year, we are presented with some challenges in Jamaica that need financial assistance and so we come (to Jamaica) prepared financially to help meet those needs...a HUGE THANK YOU to Gateway Church Family and others who contributed today to make a HUGE donation that will go to help meet the needs of those in Jamaica. I will be sure to blog once we receive our challenge to let everyone know how their generous contributions were used. I know God is smiling down on His people right now...today was HUGE and I know I keep using that word, HUGE...but let's face it...we serve a HUGE God! I look forward to seeing how God is going to use this gift once we get to Jamaica...we will keep you updated.

~Jamaica Bound~
Amy Hayward

An introduction

My name is Doug Fiechtner (pronounced Feekner). This is a picture of Mike, my son, and me. I guess some of you may have met Mike when he was in your neck of the woods over Christmas. We are very excited to be a part of this mission trip. While we are flying from a little farther away, we will be hooking up with you in Houston.

I have thought and prayed about this trip. This work is God's work and you are allowing us to be a part of His plan in a special way. I know we will grow in our faith by living, working, and praying with the people in Jamaica. I look forward to meeting each of you. I know we will have a successful mission by spreading the light that came to us one Christmas day. Jesus taught us to love our neighbors and what better way then to join together to give them your time and talents.

We will see you soon!

2 WEEKS!

...it is really hard to believe that we are boarding our plane in 2 weeks...wow, the time has flown! I couldn't sleep last night just thinking about all the preparation that must take place between now and then...packing...sorting...collecting items...getting supplies...getting life in order here to be ready to be gone from work and home....there is so much to do! But in the midst of all my thoughts I hear God speak in that still small voice saying "let go...give all of that to Me...let Me handle it for you!" My word for this trip has been "SURRENDER". One of the definitions of the word Surrender is: to give oneself up, as into the power of another; submit or yield. I believe that that is what God is asking of me on this trip...to just yield to Him...whatever He says...DO! To yield to His ways...and let go of my own. I am so excited about what He has planned for this journey and I feel like a child on Christmas Morning...just waiting to see what is inside the box! I believe that He has a great Gift for all of us....so countdown start...let's get ready to receive ALL that He has waiting for us! Let's GO!

Amy