October 8-13, 2012

You live in one of the nicest houses in town even though your “bathroom” is an outhouse with no seat and the door hangs by one hinge, you have no electricity, you heat your home with wood and cook your meals on the same woodstove that sits in the middle of the living room. You’ve never owned a bed so you sleep on the floor where the bed bugs and mice wake you up throughout the night. You also have a rat that lives in your kitchen.

You walk a half a mile to fill your 5 gallon pail of water that is used to drink, wash, and cook for the day. You have no television, computer, or other electronic device. When the sun comes up, you start your day. When it sets, you lay on the floor with your “friends”. You are the head of your household at age 21, raising your 4 younger siblings. Your mother froze to death last winter walking home from the bar.

This third world scenario is exactly what we walked into on our Good Goer trip in July. What third world country was this? New Mexico, USA. Stunning beauty contrasted by heart breaking poverty.

Pine Dale, New Mexico is considered “checker board” reservation. The community of 1,200 is located on the southeastern border of the Navajo Indian Reservation where each plot of land is governed alternately by the reservation, the state, the Fed, or individual land owners.

The average household income is less than $13,000 per year, 52% of homes lack indoor plumbing, reported domestic violence exceeds 38%, unemployment hovers just over 30%, and alcoholism exceeds 50%.

In this place religion and government are dictated by ancient Navajo traditions through the local medicine man. It’s difficult for the church to make inroads into this culture due to a long history of broken promises. Older Navajos cling to their tradition, 85% of homes speak exclusively Navajo; while the younger generation is drawn into Navajo peyote culture or gangs imported from big cities.

The family we served, living in the conditions above, had refused to join a gang after their mother had passed, so many of their family members had abandoned them. All five, Jeffrey (21), Jeff (17), Ernestine (20), Davis (16), and Dave (13) had finished or are in the process of finishing school. The three older boys had jobs at an auto detailing company in Gallup.

During our week we gutted their house, primed and painted every surface. Chased the rat from under the sink, purchased a cooking stove, purchased gas lanterns, linens, and other items. Ernestine’s dream was to bake a cake for her brothers, so we also purchased cake pans and other baking needs.

On our last night, we delivered 5 new beds, courtesy of the James Fund, complete with new linens, pillows, and blankets. The smiles and tears were priceless.

It’s difficult to bring hope into such a dark place. It was amazingly gratifying to make a large difference to this family in such a short time. Since our visit, the family has begun to attend church and other community leaders who have hindered the churches progress in the past have become members. Members of our Good Goer team have adopted this family and have provided furniture, food, clothing, and other items. They will also have a very merry Christmas courtesy of Good Goer alums.

The light of Christ truly did shine through this team.  Several lives have been altered permanently.  A family of orphans has been adopted by families of people who “signed up” to see what a mission trip would be like.  Fathers and sons grew closer together.  A family from Louisiana is working on a way to move to Pine Dale to do mission work full time.  A young widow has discovered her calling for mission work and has begun local ministries in her community and has attended additional trips.  A trip leader is committed to finding long term solutions.  And the ripple continues…

July 29-August 3, 2012

I am amazed at how our Lord selects and assembles His people to go on these trips and how He stirs people’s hearts to serve others. I like to hear the stories from people selected by Him and what caused them to want to go on a Good Goers trip. Then I like to watch how God changes us during the week while we serve, work, and play. Normally, after a mission trip the people that serve are inspired to go back home and raise support for the children and missionaries and to be a voice for the fatherless. But that support came at the front‐end of this trip, before the team met and saw the mission at Sunbelt Christian Youth Ranch for the first time. Nancy with her 12 year old son Peter and Robin with her 12 year old granddaughter Haley, collected donations, school supplies, and made blankets with the support of their churches, schools, and community.

We started the first day touring the ranch property, houses, and school house and learned how everyone at the ranch pitches in to make the farm function. They raise their own cattle and chickens, milk the cows, grow crops, and chop wood to heat the homes in the winter. This was followed by developing team building skills to teach us how to trust and problem solve together by working on a rope course that the director, John, had created. This was an excellent way to start our trip, allowing us to learn about one another and how to work together when building bunk beds for the kids. This team dove right in and worked hard side‐by‐side, even through the heat of the day, knowing that we were serving the Lord. The work was hard in the hot Mississippi summer but the team cheerfully worked on knowing that we were creating ripples and children would be benefitting from the beds for years to come. We worked hard and we played hard.

We attended church with John, our ministry partner, and his wife one evening and were always treated with true southern hospitality wherever we went. John would share the vision for the ranch that the Lord had placed on him and what some of the future plans were. The following week’s Good Goers team was going to work on an outdoor worship chapel with benches and a 20 foot cross. Our team finished assembly and painted two bunk beds with ladders for one of the houses. These had to be assembled and disassembled outdoors and then reassembled indoors. The last day we were treated to a trip to Jackson for a tour of the Mississippi Historical Center with John, Ginny Lee, and the children we served. We got to hang out and kid around with the children and learn some history of the state. Of course, a trip to Mississippi would not be complete without having fried catfish and pickles, which we were obliged. Every night we would sit together and talk about God’s heart for orphans and those in need and why it was important to serve. The Good Goers on this trip, both children and adults alike, grew together spiritually during those 5 days. What a blessing and privilege to serve the Lord and to be a father for the fatherless. We go to minister, and are then ministered to.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.  – Ephesians 2:10

This verse resonated within our hearts all week.  We lived out Ephesians 2:10 at Sunbelt Christian Youth Ranch. We were being transformed into the likeness of Christ and encouraged by the fact that God prepared a work beforehand.

As we arrived on the first day we learned that Ephesians 2:10 is a verse that all the youth memorize.  We began to wonder what were the works that God prepared for us at Sunbelt?  The week unfolded with more than we could imagine.  John, one of the directors, began the first day by growing us as a team.  We were challenged with multiple low ropes course tasks that focus on teamwork, trust, and communication.  We discovered we were a mountain group!  Which means our thirst to bring glory to Christ drove us together as a team and created a thirst within us to overcome any obstacle.   As the first day ended we were all excited to greet the next day.

John told us that, “We’re going to build an outdoor chapel with a 25 ft cross.” Say what?  The task before us was a large one.  We didn’t know a lot about construction, or 25ft crosses.  All we had was faith, a group full of love, tools, and a bunch of wood.  The team decided to begin with humor and a table saw.  Half of us began to build benches, while the other half began to prep the 25ft cross.  It was hot, it was tough, and it was all for the glory of Christ.   None of us expected to get as far as we did on Monday.  We built and prepped all the benches, and prepared the cross to be lifted the next day.   As the day ended we came together for a meal and a time of sharing.  Exhausted, we fell asleep excited to greet the next day.

We began the morning with a fantastic devotional from Kim that centered on Romans 12.  Each of us was challenged as we thought about how we could grow.  We left the table with a desire to be more for Christ.  Our first task of the day started with a question: What is the safest way to lift a huge 25ft cross into a hole?  The answer was with a tractor.  As the tractor carried the cross out we discussed how Christ had to carry His cross.  When the cross finally was upright and filled with concrete we looked at it with hearts strangely warmed.  A symbol of torture that God turned into a symbol of love, reconciliation, and forgiveness!  The later afternoon we dug holes for the benches, started to measure and set the OC up.  The evening meal was a blast. All the youth from the ranch joined us.  It was a great time of fellowship.  At the end of the night we came together to talk about our day.  We discovered what the good works that we were called to do, and began to plan for the first service for the outdoor chapel.  With plans on our minds we fell asleep awaiting to greet the next day.

Field trip!  It was adventure time with the some of the youth from the ranch.  We went all over Mississippi, including visiting a Family Christian Store.  With a doughnut, fresh coffee and good friends we went to an agricultural museum.  We learned about how Mississippi “grew” as a state, and how the tools of cultivation changed over time.   We drank coca cola from bottles, and got rained on.  Eventually stuck at 1960 replica gas station we got the van and headed back to the ranch.  We got cleaned up and then went to church.  At church we explained who we were and why we were there.  Then we began a discussion about Romans 12.  It was a time of learning.  After church we picked up supplies, and went to the ranch. With God’s grace we solidified the plans for the next day.  We fell asleep ready to greet the next day.

The morning was filled with hard work.  We had a self imposed time limit and needed to get it done.  We made huge progress in the morning, but still had a full plate for the afternoon.  We decided to split the group after lunch.  You see, as the week went on we discovered that God did not only send us to minister to the youth, but to John and his wife Jenny-Lee.  The ladies went inside to cook dinner for everyone and took that task away from Jenny-Lee.  She worked so hard for us, and we knew that it was time to give her rest.  The guys went to go finish the OC.  Then the unthinkable began.  An overcast of clouds that threatened to bring about a downpour was quickly approaching.  We worked fast.  We believed the job would take at least 3-4 hours took 1.5.  When it was finished the rain came.  Relieved we went inside.  The ladies worked hard in the kitchen and cooked everything for a 20 plus group.  Finally we were able to say grace and eat.  The meal was perfect.  After dinner we made our way to the cross.  Once there the service began.  It started with the reading of scripture that continued through the entire service.  Kim and Kourtney took a bucket and began to wash the feet of everyone there.  They modeled Christ washing the feet of the disciples.  Then everyone was handed a piece of paper.  On that paper we all wrote something that was a hurt, hang up, or barrier to God.  We then at our own time took that paper and through it into a raging fire thus releasing it to God.  Zach and Darryl then served everyone communion.  It was a time of remembrance of all that Christ sacrificed for us. We prayed and ended as Christ taught his disciples with the Lord’s Prayer.  The night was a night of celebration that could not but end in celebration!  We then had smores at the fire, fellowship, and encouraged one another.  The night was falling on our stay at Sunbelt and we thanked God for using us.  We feel asleep excited to get back to our friends and families and yet sad to leave behind the friends that we’ve made.  The next day’s greeting would be greeted with mixed emotions.

After a devotional we all said goodbye.  We all laughed, worked, encouraged, prayed for, and loved each other so much through the week.  Our friends and the ranch would embed themselves in our hearts.  God had used us.  Ephesians 2:10 alive!  It was time for us to return committed to find and do the good works God prepared for us back at home.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.  – Ephesians 2:10

After a good night’s rest, we awakened with the excitement of what God had in store for us on day two. Loaded into a van, we headed to Delilah’s (a widow) home. We were to finish the home, which included painting and running electricity, in time for a dedication and dinner the next day. As we drove through poverty stricken areas of homes built with scrapes of wood, metal, and broken pallets, one could only think how difficult it must be to live like this. All I could think of was Yahweh Yireh Lord our Provider. We took a quick tour, and one of the missionaries asked “Where is the kitchen?” “You are standing in it.” It looked to me like a large outdoor porch. Delilah prepares her meals outside until she can afford to enclose her kitchen. After a long hot day our tasks were completed.

The next day we helped with a giant sale where proceeds would go to the hosting church to complete their building project. Upon our arrival, people were lined up waiting for the sale. This neighborhood was also poverty stricken. I helped with the shoe area. While setting up, I came upon a pair of Nike’s that were ripped on the side and splattered with paint. My first thought was to toss them out, but I left them on the table. A boy of about 12 picked up the shoes, inspected them then placed them back on the table. After a time, we cut prices by 50%. The boy returned with money in hand and purchased the shoes.

Following the sale, our team went on a prayer walk. Singing and praying, we arrived at Gloria’s home where we were given the grand tour. Upon our departure, we were greeted by Josephina, a neighbor who came with a gift of two large papayas. How generous for someone who has so little to give so much. As we were about to leave, the boy who purchased the paint splattered shoes appeared with a large smile wearing his new shoes.

We piled back into the van and went to Delilah’s for her house dedication. What an emotional time as many prayers were offered and many tears shed. A red ribbon was cut and in her open kitchen she presented us with an authentic Mexican meal. Again such a generous gift for one who has so little. Our last interactions with children included V.B.S. at a state-run facility, and taking a group of girls to the movies. Our last day was adventure day as we headed to the ocean and the Myan Ruins, we could not help missing the interaction with the children.

Our final debrief was powerful as one of our team members rededicated his life to Christ. Our group went away committing to make a change in our communities and churches. As I reflect back on the changes the team made during the week, it was apparent that God planned for the eleven of us to be His hands and feet for the week. We witnessed God supplying all of the needs, not the greed’s, of His people.

The team was 22 strong to the Oaks, including 10 teens and 2 younger boys, 10 and 8. The weather was hot, but the team worked very hard to accomplish projects that would encourage the kids and the staff.

A green house was assembled from a kit. This greenhouse will allow the mission in the spring to get their seedlings started earlier. The mission relies on a large garden for many of their vegetables. An earlier start will increase the number of plantings and allow the mission to have more vegetables. In addition, the children learn good work ethics by working in the garden.

Three donation rooms were cleaned and inventoried. The staff was pleased to see what they have on hand and experienced first hand the use of the system with the house parents. The rec center was thoroughly cleaned and additional organizing was done. Some of the kids on the mission were able to help in the organization of the rooms.

The team played games and worked on crafts each day with the kids. An ice cream social was enjoyed twice by the kids and the Good Goer Team members. This was a good treat to share in the 100 degree weather.

It was a profitable week of service to God at the Oaks Indian Mission.

Good Goers experienced a week of God’s affection and fellowship while serving at Hephzibah Children’s Home. We had 3 generations of a family from Pennsylvania along with a large church family from Saginaw Michigan. What continues to amaze me is how God uses perfectly normal people to do extraordinary things for His kingdom.

The group was filled with laughter and cheer. From our first meeting any fears or apprehensions about what God had in store for us was quickly dismissed. We became one family, one church, willing to be used by God for the purpose of serving the needs of orphans and children in need. We laughed, we cried, we worked hard and we had fun! What is so amazing is when a group gives themselves as a living sacrifice to be used by God, awesome things happen.

What joy it is to let God be in charge and to serve as He wants us to serve.

By serving with an open heart and mind and by being open to what HE has planned for us, we were able to experience true harmony! What a delight it was to witness Grandma, Mom, Dad, Sister and Brother all working together; from painting walls to playing with children doing it together. I got to witness firsthand what it is like for grandma and parents teaching their children by example. They were putting their faith into action and leading by example.

Deut 11:19- “Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down
and when you get up.”

What an inspiring way to bond a family unit closer; Closer to each other and closer to God. God allowed me to witness two shy kids blossom with excitement by the end of the week how God was using them. Can you imagine how these children will treat other kids in school that are different from them or how they will realize how grateful they are to having a loving family to guide and teach them?

My church brothers and sisters taught me how to be a family even if we are not relatives. I watched God work through them as they cared for a sister on our team who was not feeling well. I heard them studying and discussing the Word together in the morning. I felt the love in them by seeing how they treating each other with respect and grace. All of them were volunteers and did something for their church and church family. Imagine the synergy in their church! True obedience to God’s calling; being the shakers and movers not just the observers.

“Strangers” at first, “Family” in the end all answering God’s call to serve His children who have no parents, who are teenage mothers or who have no one they can truly look up to.

Sacrificing….. going to a place they have never been before, leaving the comforts of home, offering up vacation time, and offering themselves as a living sacrifice. What amazing examples of families with a servant heart. This Good Goer family not only knew Jesus, but they were Jesus.

While serving wholehearted for the Lord, I bet they will tell you they have been blessed more than they would have ever imagined. I know I have been blessed serving with my brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you team for your life impacting service!

OAKS, OKLAHOMA 3/19-3/24/12

Dallas with four of our team had to go back to DFW airport after Tulsa airport temporarily closed due to torrential rains. Everyone finally made it to The Oaks late Monday afternoon. Little did we know, it would rain almost our entire week at The Oaks and it was all in God’s plan. Our James Fund/Good Goer team of 20 was in for an eventful week

Our introduction to the Oaks started on Monday evening with a meal in the dining hall and then the treat of hearing a Cherokee store teller. Choogie Kingfisher had the entire room on the edge of their seat as he told intriguing stores and played several Cherokee flutes.
The project plan for the week consisted of two main tasks. Foremost was to install tile in the Creek House of House Parent’s Dave & Julienne Sanders. The Creek House is a ranch with hallways that seem to go on forever. Our second project was to build a greenhouse (and “Gardener Training Center”) kit on top of a deck platform behind the Administration building.

Tuesday Morning started with one of those “God knows best” redirects. The greenhouse kit had yet to be delivered. The 12 person tiling team, led by mission Co-Leader John Bush, dispersed to start their work. But what to do with the greenhouse team of 8? It turns out that a State Inspector was due to arrive at the mission on Thursday to examine the entire campus. So the greenhouse team immediately converted to the inspection spruce up team. Our first point of cleaning attack was the Recreation Center. Intense sweeping, vacuuming, dusting, mopping and organizing happened as we all whistled while we worked. The tiling team broke into several groups that started in the bedrooms and kitchen. After dinner time was spent at the rejuvenated Recreation Center with the kids and the house parents playing board games, air hockey and shooting pool. There are two piano’s at the center that led to an amazing discovery. One of the mission team started playing piano with a 15 year old boy who lives at the mission. After a short time it became apparent that this boy was blessed with some musical talent and before long he was playing songs both forwards and backwards. Quite a few “Picture of the Day” at debrief that evening were about this discovery.

The rains continued to fall and we modified our plans accordingly. Wednesday was to be our museum adventure day but the ground was too wet. The tile team made good progress but many square feet were left to cover. There was still no greenhouse sighting so the rest of us fine tuned the Recreation Center, and organized the Rummage Room. Thursday was finally dry enough to take the team to the museums. Led by Joni, our Group Coordinator, we toured the Will Rogers Museum and Cherokee Heritage Center. Many of the team was moved by the engaging Trail of Tears display. Dinner was held at the church with the Oaks community. We had a blast of an evening at the Recreation Center with an Ice Cream Social for the kids and house parents. There is nothing like ice cream, whipped cream, cherries and sprinkles to boost the energy level.

The Greenhouse had been delivered on Thursday, but was more than a one day project, so the entire team was dedicated to finishing the tile in the Creek House on Friday. It turns out we needed almost every hand in this project. Some of the team was diverted to helping Arlene in the kitchen or organizing supply closets at the Administration Building. As a way to bless this home, we wrote the James 1:27 verse on an old tile and had the entire team and the Sanders family sign before it was overlaid with new tile. Some special decor was added to the kitchen. As a surprise to the Sanders, several of the team who tiled in the kitchen chipped in a bought some beautiful window treatments that they installed as a finishing touch. The kids had been talking all week about getting to go to the hockey game with us and the time had finally arrived. We piled into three passenger vans and headed to Tulsa. We got to see a spirited game between the Tulsa Oilers vs. the Texas Brahmas and the home team won 6-0.

During the week we all felt the leading of The Spirit as we bonded so quickly with each other and most importantly with the Staff, House Parents, and the Children of Oaks Indian Mission. There were many tears and hugs as we said our goodbyes. It was our privilege to serve in such an extraordinary place like The Oaks.

Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all of His wonderful acts.
-1 Chronicles 16:9

Our week at the Oaks Indian Mission was full of God’s wondrous acts. His first wondrous act was to get all 25 us there on time. Because of our size we split the group up into four 6–person teams – just like the Naval Seals…but different.

TEAM 1 took on the task of building new bunk beds for the Guest House which future Good Goer teams will appreciate. Four shiny new bunks and a total of eight new beds for future teams completed and stained by weeks’ end.

TEAM 2 built a beautiful deck on which the future Green House and “Gardener Training Center” will be built. They also laid new flooring, new carpet, rehabbed, and refurbished another cottage for future teams. The new cottage is on move–in shape thanks to Team Two.

TEAM 3 blessed the house parents of one of the cottages by doing laundry… 22 loads in 6 hours, plus cleaned rooms, walls, closets, and floors to take the burden off of the house parents. Team Three also rehabbed and cleaned one of the vacant children’s cottages in preparation for future house parents and kids from a growing waiting list.

TEAM 4 stocked and organized the garment room and then tackled a total re-painting of the kitchen. Once they were done there, they began the up-dating process and painted the basement in one of the children’s cottages. Busy little team they were.

Now, beyond the work of being “hands’ and completing the project work…

• Our team cheered on the girls’ varsity basketball team which four of our girls play on. We won convincingly!
• Our ladies put on an incredible Spa Night for the girls, staff ladies and house moms. This was so cool that even some of the guys showed up. I think the draw was the massage.
• We had a game night for the entire campus.
• We held an ice cream social to celebrate the week with the special family we had made at Oaks. … and beyond all of this:
• Private tutoring took place.
• Private prayer time with house parents and children was a priority.
• Our team bonded and served boldly side by side under God’s amazing grace.
• We were stretched, we grew, and our hearts were turned afresh to the cause of the orphan.

It was our joy and privilege to declare His glory among the Cherokee people and Cherokee Nation! Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples. 1 Chronicles 16:24