HAITI in my heart.

Hey!

I have been back from Haiti now for a couple of weeks and decided it was time to update my blog and work on my monthly newsletter

I led a small team of 5 other people to Montrouis, Haiti for a week. The trip impacted each of our lives in many different ways. Here is a photo of our team:

(left to right) Rebekah, Carli, Tina, George, Me, Bobbi
(AND Frans, our translator!!)

While we were there, we worked alongside the missionaries and we were able to see all aspects of their ministry. I loved being able to see all that they do for the Kingdom in Montrouis. They are building relationships and making a huge impact in the lives of the Haitian in which they work and serve with.

Since pictures are worth a thousand words, here are some photos of what we did throughout our week in  Haiti:

Took the kids form the orphanage to the beach with the missionary interns. The kids loved it!

Played and loved on the kids at the orphanage and made crafts.

Bubbles were a big hit! Thanks to Rebekah on our team for bringing them!

Prayer Walked in the local fishing village and met some great people.

Helped at the missionaries eye clinic

Helped Paint the Missionaries new home

Carli and Bobbi having fun!

helped serve food at a school

At the school where we served food

Many of you may know that God has placed a burden on my heart for Prison Ministry inside and outside of the United States. While I was in Haiti, I was able to go into a Prison and minister and pray with the inmates. The experience was humbling and life-altering.  I hope to return at the end of May and go back to minister inside of the prison. Please keep these inmates in your prayers. i would love for the opportunity to talk with you about the Haitian prisons, so please e-mail me for more details.

Also, if you are interested in a short-term missions trip, please email me at kathryn@hsminc.org

So that all may know Him,
Kathryn.

Peru: Watch and be Utterly Amazed

I (Kathryn) have just returned from leading a team of 17 people to Arequipa, Peru.  God was so faithful to us and we saw Him work miracles among our team in many different ways.

The Lord gave me a scripture about a week before we left for Peru. It comes from Habakkuk 1:5, "Look at the nations and watch and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do things in your days you wouldn't believe, even if you were told."  While we were serving in Peru, this scripture was constantly at the forefront of my mind. The day we were leaving, I heard from the missionaries that the 2 team members from another team we were joining had their bags held at the airport in Lima due to medicines they were carrying. They only had a few bags, and we had 30 or more! We began to pray and believe that all of our bags would make it through. Long story short: we never lost a bag, lost a pill, lost a packet of food. Everything made it through. Utterly amazing. God is faithful.

We conducted 5 full days of clinics. Our team was fully equipped with 1 doctor, a Doctor of Physical Therapy, 1 P.A., a pharmacist, and a handful of wonderful nurses. Through the clinics, evangelism and outreach ministry, 106 people came to know the Lord. Check out some pictures of our wonderful team serving and meeting the needs of others.

We began each day with a prayer and worship among those
who were waiting to be seen in the triage unit.

Staci (P.A.) treating a patient. Jim Weber (translator)

Susan (our Doctor) attending to a family at the clinic in Pedregal

Steve (our pharmacist) sorting medicines

Dora, a nurse and I.V. Therapist 

Jenna, a nurse working in the Triage unit

Megan, our Physical Therapist. Such a joy to have her along!
She made each patient work hard!

The first 2 days we spent in Cono Norte. God opened up the doors in this village for us to host a clinic. The missionaries we partnered with have a desire to build a permanent Christian Hospital there in the village. We were able to meet with the leaders of the village and walk to the land that they are wanting to build on. We prayed over the land and prayed with the leaders. God has already worked in the leaders hearts and placed that desire in them for this hospital. Their/our prayer is that the government will sign the papers and allow the Hospital to be built. As a team, we believe that God has given them this land and the hospital will be built. The scripture says to "Watch and be utterly amazed...he is going to do things we wouldn't believe, even if we were told..." We believe that more amazing things will come from the presence of permanent Christian Healthcare.

At our next clinic location, in the village of Pedregal, we saw God continue to work. At the end of one of our clinic days, there was an elderly lady who had walked all the way to the clinic seeking care. She was 101 years old and was our last patient. As she was being seen by the doctors, one of the Peruvian ladies at the clinic led her to the Lord. After she led her to a personal relationship with Christ, she said to the elderly woman that she looked familiar. The elderly lady recognized her as well. The lady figured out that this elderly woman was the lady that wet-nursed her as a child.  When she was a baby, her mother did not produce enough milk to feed her, and had another lady in the village wet-nurse her as a child. This is utterly amazing. God had brought these 2 women full circle and had an ultimate plan for their lives. As this lady gave her food and strength to grow as a child, God used that small child to grow into a mighty woman of God to eventually lead the elderly lady to Christ when she is 101. Check out the picture:

Carrying her up the stairs to get seen by the eye doctor. God is truly amazing.

While each clinic was taking place, we had a small group of people serve as part of the "Outreach Team". We worked mainly with children leading worship, sharing Bible Stories, making crafts and playing games. Each team member was a vital part of this ministry and they worked hard each day.

Worship with the kids. (Even a trashcan can be used as a drum!)

Me with some kids in Pedregal

The parachute was a hit!

Gwen, Bill and Shannon teaching the kids to jump rope
in the village of Cono Norte

stickers were great face decorations...

One of our crafts to go along with a Bible Story

Bill, our team Worship leader, was a great asset to our team.
The children just loved him, and he loved them!

After our 5 days of clinics in Cono Norte and Pedregal, we spent the last 3 days between the feeding center in Peruarbo and at 2 orphanages. The feeding center was an amazing experience. We were able to bring enough of the food (rice soy casserole) that we package at HSM to last a month or more! 

Susan and Karen cooking the food in Peruarbo

Pre-packaged meals. Each bag contains 6 meals! We
brought over 50 bags ( over 300 meals)!

Guilianna, the missionary/Pastor to the feeding center.
She runs the center and solely relies on God to provide the
food each week. Our team and the food was a blessing to her .

Guilianna leading worship at the feeding center

Faces of some of the people who attend the service at the feeding center

While we were there, the church/feeding center was facing a difficult time. As we were traveling to a clinic one day, we came upon a horrible wreck in the road. A small child was killed in a car accident, and the rest of the family was in the hospital. Later, we found out that this was a family from the church/feeding center that Guilianna runs in Peruarbo. Guilianna was so upset and many said that this was God's fault and that they would not return to the church. Many in the village were telling the believers that this happened because they attend Guilianna's church and feeding program. We surrounded Guilianna with love, prayers and support. She wasn't sure if anyone would even come on Saturday and you could tell through her tears that her heart was hurting. We stood behind her and we went together on Saturday ready to see God work. When we arrived, many were already there waiting and Bill lead the people in worship as others started to prepare the food. 

God moved in such miraculous ways that morning. One of the best (utterly amazing) moments was to see Guilianna eventually grab the guitar and lead her people in beautiful worship to the Lord. I don't believe that it was happenstance that we were there that week. God knew that she would need an army of other believers to come around her and help her that day.

Please continue to pray for Guilianna and the church/feeding center in the village of Peruarbo.

The next 2 days we spent at the orphanages. Sunday, we had a BBQ for the kids (filled their bellies with all the good stuff!), tye-dyed t-shirts, painted nails, played games and spent time in prayer and worship.

BBQ feast

worship at the orphanage

praying with the kids and they prayed for us

shannon and her new friend!

Steve playing with some kids on the monkey bars

The last day, the team did construction on the new orphanage that is being built.

God was so faithful during our travels and had his hand on us this whole trip. Please continue to pray for the people of Peru and those who came to know Him as their personal Lord and Savior.

I will be headed to Haiti in 3 weeks. Please pray as team members prepare their hearts for this trip! 

So that all may know Him,

Kathryn

Ministry Update!

      Wow...I can't believe we are less than a week from Christmas. This year has flown by and been full of transitions. I began this year working as the Director of Missions and Outreach at a local non-profit in the area. I really enjoyed the position and opportunity to work there and God truly taught me so much through that job. In February, my husband and I both felt the Lord leading us in the direction of Heaven Sent Ministries. As we met the President of HSM and talked with him, there were many confirmations that this is the place that the Lord wanted me to serve. I officially began in May as an International Missions Coordinator at HSM.

      Through God opening doors to work at HSM, my husband and I recently began ministering the local Juvenile Detention Center as part of our ministry. We have felt so blessed and enjoy doing this together as a team.  Recently, Jason shared on what it means to have "true freedom." He shared that you can have more freedom inside these walls (of the prison), than the freedom they had before they were incarcerated. He went on to read scripture and share the Gospel. Afterwards, a girl told me that she would like to have what my husband talked about. I said, "What do you mean?" She said that she wanted to have the kind of freedom that only Christ can give.

    Those truly are the moments that keep us going. God is in the business of changing hearts and lives, and we want to be vessels for the Kingdom.  This could not be possible without people like our prayer and financial supporters.  Thank you so much to all who support our ministry at HSM.

     We will be leading short-term mission trips throughout 2012 and would love to get you plugged in. Email me for more information at kathryn@hsminc.org.

So that all may know Him,
Kathryn
Philippians 3:7-14

Prison Ministry + Operation Christmas Child

Things have been busy, but in a good way.  International Mission trips are booming at HSM and I look forward to helping lead these teams around the World. Upcoming trips to be praying for:

PERU-January
MARCH/APRIL-possibly Italy
HAITI-June/July
NICARAGUA-July/August
GHANA-June
PERU-July
JUNGLE of ECUADOR-October

We are so appreciative of you prayers.  We are also needing to continue to raise monthly support to be able to continue reaching people with the Gospel here and around the world. If you are interested in partnering with us and possibly taking a trip, please e-mail me at kathryn@hsminc.org.

Although things have been busy, Jason surprised me recently with a "Date Day". We were able to get away for a a little bit and enjoy the beautiful leaves and spend some time together.

Jason and I will begin ministering in the prison THIS SUNDAY!! We are very excited about this opportunity. We will be visiting the youth detention facility each Sunday, Jason working with the guys, and I, the girls.

About this time of year, Jason and I participate in Operation Christmas Child. This is one of my favorite things to do going into the Christmas season. We pick whether we are going to package gifts for a boy or a girl, what age, and then pick out toys, school supplies, etc....anything that will fit in a shoebox.  Last year, we packaged for a little boy, so naturally we were going to do a little girl.  But as we were shopping i remembered Tate, the son of a friend of mine. He passed away last week from a brain tumor and he was only 5 years old.

I immediately changed my mind and wanted to pack a shoebox in memory of him, with all of his favorite things. He loved Tigger, which was the most important thing for me to fit in the shoebox. We were able to purchase a stuffed animal tigger that was the perfect size. The rest of the items we bought were black and orange (like tigger). We also bought some hygiene products and school supplies. Our box will go somewhere in the world to another 5 year old little boy in honor of Tate the Great.

I encourage you to participate in Operation Christmas Child.  You are able to track your box and see where in the World it was delivered! It is a blessing to be able to give.

Thank you for your continued prayers and financial support.

So that all may know Him,
Kathryn

Let's Debrief...

     Typically in missions when returning from a trip we have a time of "debriefing". Although I know the meaning of this word, I decided to look up the formal definition in the dictionary; partly because I just really wanted to know, and partly bc I am up at 5am and can't sleep. Part of the definition said "to question formally and systematically"... so I have decided to relay the details of my trip in a question format.

1. What was the main purpose of your missions trip?
When I began working full-time at HSM in May, I met a woman who frequently volunteers at the organization.  She shared with me her heart to travel to Haiti and her burden for the country since the earthquake.  As a part of what i do at HSM, I try and connect with missionaries who are on the field in different countries and seek a partnership with them through prayer and visiting their ministry. I had a connection with some National missionaries through my parents and a 2nd connection with some American Missionaries in Haiti through HSM. We needed to do a "fact finding" trip to see if God was calling us to partner with these organizations to send short-term teams.  I asked the woman if she would like to go and we can do a "fact finding" short-term trip.

2. Where did you go in Haiti? 
 I went to 2 different parts of Haiti. The first 8 or 9 days of the trip, I traveled to Les Cayes to work with the national missionaries (meaning they are from Haiti, spreading the Gospel in their own country). The 2 place I went was Montrouis, pronounced "Monwee".

3. What did you do?

Women in a village we prayed with

My trip to Haiti was probably one of my favorite short-term missions trip that I have ever taken.  It was primarily fact-finding, but the Lord opened several doors for us to serve Him and share the Gospel. In Les Cayes, we visited several villages where the missionaries have raised up churches, schools and clinics. They have planted 65 churches and close to that many schools and clinics. In these villages, we met the pastors of the churches that have been discipled by the missionary and sent to these places to live among the people and spread the Gospel. We prayed with the pastor, prayed with members of the
community and met many children (and passed out candy!). We also had the opportunity to help the main school planted by the missionaries in the city prepare for the school year starting this week. We painted the desks and benches, which took two days. I wish i had a sufficient picture to show just how many there were...

As we traveled to villages, we really took a liking to the village of St. Louis.  We decided to purchase over 200 lbs. of rice and beans to package and distribute to the people living there.

We visited the orphanage started by the missionaries as well and shared Bible stories and talked with the kids. We spent a good amount of time with the kids, learning about each of their lives along with where they are at in their education, etc. We had a great time there and we brought them lots of candy.

At the school, teaching "counting" to a little boy

After Les Cayes, we headed back to Port Au Prince to be picked up by our next connection, New Vision Ministries.  We were so impressed by this ministry which was started a few years back by an eye Dr., his wife and 10 children. Yes, 10 children. They heard the call, picked up and moved to Haiti. We joined 2 other teams they had down that week and served alongside of them, helping out in the school, joining a prayer meeting in the village of Kalalan, and painting a school.

Among the teams working with New Vision Ministries that week, was a group from Soles4Souls. They pass out shoes to children around the World.  Their ministry was very inspiring and we loved working with them. They are VERY organized and had shoes in the right sizes for the children.  When the children are called back to receive their shoes, they first wash their feet before slipping on the new pair of kicks!

Both places were great and I was so humbled to be able to go to each place and serve with these ministries.

4. Will you go back?
YES! We plan on sending short-term teams to each location which I will be a part of leading some of these teams.

5. Can I get involved?
Yes!! You can be a part of a short-term team to Haiti. Also, Jason and I are still seeking full-time financial and prayer partners for our ministry at HSM. Please email us at vicars4missions@gmail.com for more information.

So that all may know Him,
Kathryn