Dear Simply Missions,

Your trip to Jamaica and in particular The Nest Children's Home is now history.  You and your team came, you interacted with the kids and you brought them gifts, just letting them know how much you love them. 

I just want to take the time out to document my thanks and appreciation for all of your help during the time spent here.  We were really concerned about the adjustment period here, but you fitted in quite well, the kids learned a lot from you as well as you from them. 

Please extend our thanks and appreciation to all of the members of theChapel Pointe Church and individual sponsors who have devoted themselves to meeting some of the needs of these kids. 

Thank you, Joe for everything you have done while in Jamaica to make us happy at the Nest.  

All of our children send their love to everyone. 

Blessings! 

Major Booth

There are a few reasons why I chose to go through Simply Missions instead of trying to do everything myself.

1. I can't do everything myself very well. I wanted this trip to be the best experience that it could be, and that meant getting help from a very qualified individual.

2. I did not feel like a cog in a machine. Many missions organizations are very big, and impersonal. I knew that I could call or e-mail Simply Missions and get responses to questions fast.

3. I did not have to squeeze my team into a "ministry model" and try to be something we were not. We were able to be ourselves and offer the gifts that God had uniquely assembled into our team to the missionaries we served.

4. I did not have to worry about setting up the details of travel, itinerary, lodging etc... 

5. Simply Missions provided our team with a devotional book to study through while we were down there.

There was a lot that I DID have to do for this trip, but Simply Missions freed me from the details so that I could focus on the big stuff that needed to get done.

If you are looking for a missions organization for Short Term Missions in your church. Check out Simply Missions. www.simplymissions.org

 

-      Tom Rundel

Shiloh Community Church

 

There is a popular song out there by the artist Rob Thomas. It is called "This is how a heart breaks." The song is not Christian, but the title is my point. Many people on the trip are experiencing this to one degree or another. God is softening our hearts and making us whole, pure, and resigned to do His work with a passion.
Last night, a missionary here for two months named Ronald led us in a time of worship that touched the hearts of each one of us, me personally. Proceeding this we reflected on what God was showing and speaking to each one of us. As people shared, you could see the fire, passion, heartbreak, and renewal within everyone.
We were supposed to hit the sheets when it was over, but my entire room of guys stayed up until 1:30 pouring our hearts out to each other as God led us. I have never experienced anything like it before, and know that others are feeling the same way. Do not expect us to come home the same, and certainly don't expect us to lose our fire. God has and is knitting us so close together that we will keep each other accountable in brutal honesty.
~ Jesse D.
Guatemala Team '06

How do I describe the incredible things that have happened to us this week? We painted, tore out bushes, built houses, played with children and helped with the feeding programs up in the hills around Chichicastenango, Guatemala. We also experienced some of the sweetest times of confession, worship and praise that I have ever experienced.

This time of worship and being open to the leading of the Holy Spirit culminated in a baptismal service at Lake Atitlan with 5 students from Lansing Christian School being baptized. I can't describe the joy I felt watching my son stand up in front of his friends, adults, several Guatemalan bystanders and God to declare himself a follower of Christ and his desire to continue to grow and serve. It was indeed an awesome moment.

Kathy B.
Lansing, Michigan

The biggest thing that God is showing me is the value of the human heart. No matter where you go in the world, the feelings on the human heart and reaching out to touch another life is far, far more important than any of the riches of this world. People, like the kids we spent time with today, just need to know that there's somebody who cares for them and who will spend time with them. And the great thing is: you don't have to fly around the world to do that. People everywhere need that.
~ Stephen D.
Guatemala Team '06

Thank you so much for the critical role you played in getting our church involved with the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. We are currently on a 6 week rotation where a group of a dozen or so leave every six weeks for a week along the Gulf Coast. Your experience in missions & respected leadership has motivated us to "roll up our sleeves" and offer ourselves to serve in this great effort.


If the heroes of 9/11 were the police and firefighters who responded, then the heroes of Katrina certainly are the churches who have banded together to share hope, joy, peace, and rejuvenation that comes through Jesus Christ. What a pleasure to serve alongside "family" like this. Thank you!


"When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?" The King will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (Mt. 25:39-40).

Pastor Mark
Mason First Church of the Nazarene