Navigational Links |
|
|
Giving Thanks |
|
Giving Thanks to the Lord of the Harvest
By Carly Stevens, Executive Director
Once again the Lord has blessed MOST Ministries with an incredible year of Short Term Mission work! Each year as we plan the team schedule, we ask for guidance, wisdom and above all, that the Lord's will be done through our teams and projects. We also pray for the Lord to raise up just the right people to fill the places on our teams--not only that they would be a blessing to the fields but also, that they will grow in their faith and be blessed through the process of their mission trip. As you will hear later from Pastor Pedro in Costa Rica, "The Lord is listening!"
Our objective is to support the ministry work of missionaries and national churches through strategic projects carried out by short term teams. To this end, we strive to work closely with our hosts overseas to understand their ministry goals and learn how our teams can assist in their work more effectively. Does it work? Do Short Term Teams make a difference in the lives and work of missionaries and national pastors? Read their personal reflections on the effects of MOST Ministries teams in their cities, countries and continents:
From Roberto Carlos Acuna Rivera, Volunteer Coordinator in Nicaragua: "MOST helps our Churches bring new people to the Church and these teams are the ones that help the Church be recognized in the city or town where they are. It always has huge impacts wherever we have a MOST team. People are constantly asking when we are having another....The teams touch many hearts when they come to a community, like in the Church in the city of El Viejo there was a man who came back after he was brought thru the clinic with some gift for the team It was some mangos from his farm. He brought it in gratitude for what they did for him...It's always a blessing to have MOST Ministries teams in Nicaragua because it helps in many ways the Churches that they visit and serve."
From Rev. David Chuchu of Kenya about a patient seen by a MOST medical team from the New England District: "The team raised money to help Josephine undertake a special surgery in Nairobi. Josephine called me last week through the Hospital chaplain saying she never thought she would get the kind of support and treatment she got. She was sure that she was going to die as her siblings had. Now she went through successful operations. This has become the talk of the community....Josephine received the Lord while in the hospital and is looking forward to being baptized. I think this credit first goes to the Lord who gave you (the team) strength, resources and energy to come here in Kenya for a short term mission. You were able to be the Lord's hand to reach and touch Josephine."
From Mara Bulbe and Velga Dimante, National hosts in Latvia on an ESL team from St. Luke, Oveido, FL: "Here in Sloka everyone was very impressed with how MOST Ministries helped us...We saw how they organized classes by including singing, sports, crafts, etc. MOST Ministries has wonderful methods for working with all ages from young to old. It was great for our leaders to see how they do it... We are waiting so much for next year's English camp here in Sloka. Please, come and teach English to our children and adults, please come and tell them about Jesus' love! It is so necessary to hear it from missionaries like you!"
From Rev. Pedro Adolfo Quintero Paz, Nicaraguan missionary to Costa Rica shortly after a Michigan Puppet team from St. Luke, Ann Arbor and Shepherd of the Lakes, Brighton, helped him with outreach efforts: "We have a place to begin a congregation! November 5th we are inaugurating the place that we have rented. It is the same as what we used for the puppet presentation in Alajuelita. We have a contract for a year. We will have services and begin a Sunday School for the children. Possibly at the end of November, we will begin confirmation classes. We are excited! I feel that God is opening many doors to go and serve his kingdom...I remember that you promised to pray for our needs here in the Lord's mission in Costa Rica. Thank you for this. The Lord is listening!"
The Lord is listening indeed! He is transforming lives and using Short Term teams such as these to do it. He raised up 389 people to serve on MOST Ministries teams this year. 389 people the Lord called to serve according to His purposes and to further His kingdom. For the privilege of being part of that, the mission work being done around the world and for those who have come to a saving knowledge of Christ through this work, we give thanks to the Lord of the Harvest!
By Gayle Sommerfeld, MOST Founder
Meet
Grace. She is a PLWHA (Person Living With HIV/AIDS). Her home is Kibera,
one of the largest slums in all of Africa. Our Hospice Care Team met Grace
and her extended family of twelve children while we were serving in Kenya
as a teaching team for Caregivers of those dying of AIDS. In the slum,
her family shares two small rooms with no plumbing. The Lutheran Church
in Kenya is attempting to minister to her needs, which is an overwhelming
task because she represents thousands of others who are also PLWHAs. The
name Grace is befitting for a person like her who is caring for a dozen
children, five of whom have tested positive for HIV/AIDS.
With no indoor plumbing, Grace must to walk to the public latrine. As she becomes weaker, this would be a huge problem for her and whoever becomes her caregiver, perhaps her young daughter. The occupational therapist on the team, seeing the need for a solution to the 'walk to the latrine' problem, used his creative talents to fashion a 'potty pail' that has multiple uses. He explained to Grace and others that it can be used at the bedside or can be carried along the walk and sat upon along the way to rest when the person is short of breath. It can also be used in the latrine with the bottom removed so the user can sit on the pail and does not need to squat, as the latrines require good balance and strong legs to squat.
This was met with great acclimations ...a simple solution to a common problem from materials that are readily available! One woman who was attending the seminar shared with me that this had tremendous implications for her personally since the pain in her knees when squatting caused her to lose her balance three times in the past two weeks. She was rejoicing and confident that she did not need to fear this happening in the future.
This MOST Ministries team came prepared to teach fifty Deaconesses, Pastors and Evangelists, how to develop a Palliative Care Program that would be culturally sensitive to the needs of Kenyans. They taught thirty-two related subjects in three days of seminars, the 170 page text book was a Handbook developed by this team and is now the training manual for all of the Palliative Care Workers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya. Many months of preparation went into the writing of the Handbook, an ongoing gift from MOST Ministries that will affect the lives of thousands who give and receive care.
Stateside volunteers are as vital to our ministry as team members who go on trips. These wonderful, giving souls come into the MOST office faithfully to process glasses, grind lenses, help with mailings, prepare team supplies, pack them and much, much more! Thank you so much for your time, talents and dedication! We are also so grateful to all of you who collect glasses and make witness materials at home. Together, you make this ministry possible and we thank the Lord for you and your service to MOST! November 27th -29th is Volunteer Appreciation week but we truly appreciate our volunteers year round!
If you would like information on ways to volunteer at the MOST office or at home, please contact Lynn Wrightson at 734-994-7909 x14 or lynn.most@juno.com
In 2007 MOST Ministries sent out twenty-six teams to seventeen countries around the world. Our teams served in places from Mexico to Madagascar, from Brazil, Poland, Cambodia and many places in between. Team members shared the gospel and ministered to the physical needs of people through fifteen different projects.
We Thank the Lord that this Year:
Over 16,600 people heard the Gospel message or witnessed the love of Christ through a MOST Ministries team!
389 people responded to the Great Commission by joing a MOST Ministries team and serving the Lord internationally!
11, 857 people received the gift of sight or corrected vision through MOST Ministries Eyeglass clinics!
11,265 pairs of glasses were given out through Eyeglass Clinics! This means over 100,000 pairs of glasses were collected and processed by MOST team members and volunteers!
2,208 people received medical or treatment through MOST Ministries healthcare teams!
504 students heard about Jesus and furthered their English language skills through MOST Ministries Bible-based ESL curriculum!
2,700 children, youth and young adults learned of Jesus' love and forgiveness for them through MOST Ministries VBS, outreach and sports teams!
17 professionals provided workshops and seminars in four different fields of study on three continents!
2 churches, 2 schools and one neighborhood were improved and opportunities for evangelism were created through MOST Ministries Construction teams!
Rejoice with us and give thanks to the Lord of the Harvest!
Thank you to Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Washtenaw Chapter, for supporting our Eyeglass Fundraiser! Thrivent is matching any donations given for the Eyeglass Fundraiser up to $800. Thanks to Thrivent, your dollars can be doubled! Give $25 and MOST will receive $50. Give $250 and MOST will receive $500! Thank you to all those participating in the FUndraiser on November 28.
For information on donating toward this event, please contact Lynn Wrightson at 734.994.7909 or lynn.most@juno.com.
Project12Baskets: Using Unused Items!
What's in your basement, attic or closet? If you have clutter you don't use but haven't wanted to throw away, we have a solution for you. Donate them to MOST Ministries! Through Project12Baskets, we can turn your unused items into funds for the ministry! It's easy, with almost no work on your part—other than cleaning out your closet! Simply donate your items and you will be notified upon the completion of the sale process and will receive a letter outlining the amount for which your tiems sold that can be used for tax purposes! Since July we have raised $1,149 with only 14 auctions.
Do you have any of these Hot Sellers to add to the Auction?
|
Electronics |
Antique or Vintage Items |
If you have something to donate or would like more information, please contact Cheri Fish at 989.671.0955 or lwmlfish@charter.net.
|
In Honor of: |
Given by: |
| In Memory of: Earl Goecker Rev. Dr. Robert E. Carlton Marilyn H. Hintermaier David Crane & Ron Spivey |
Given by: Hulda Goecker Katherine Carlton Joseph & Stephanie Kosel James & Ardith Vandercook |