We have had an exciting summer around MMPC.  I continue to be in awe at how the Lord continues to work in and through the wonderful people of this particular body of Christ.  Below you will gain a glimpse into an exciting mission trip that two of our folks took this summer.  Please take the time to read these two powerful testimonies of Amy Kelly and Ashley Moon.  But also, after reading their words, please take some time to listen for God’s word and how He may be leading you to “go.”

I look forward to joining you in serving Him by serving others.  Enjoy.

From Amy:
So…naively, I signed up for this mission trip with the idea that I wanted to make an impact on the world.  Overwhelmed by all that God provides for my enjoyment, I wanted to give back.  I wanted to share His love, His influence, His compassion with others (and if that meant going to Kenya to do it, even better!).  The funny thing is, throughout the process God kept showing me just how much of an impact other people have on my life.  Maybe it was a heightened sense of awareness, maybe it was simply my frame of mind, but when I deliberately set out to make a difference, I was made keenly aware of the difference others were making all around me.  From the opportunity laid out before me by HPPC to the emotional and financial generosity of my family (both immediate and church), to Watt loaning me his camera to record this adventure, to Lewis’ brilliant idea to take “silly bands” to the children, to Leslie purchasing them at the last minute, to John driving us to the airport, to the tireless translators eager to share the Good News, to the four year old girl carefully laying out the animal-shaped bands just to admire them, to the young Kenyan family sacrificing two goats to prepare dinner for us at their home, to ever-smiling Elizabeth who gave up her career to feed the children of Nairobi, to the warm handshakes of so many strangers that bridged the gap between language barriers, to the young Asian woman on the plane still trying to decide what she wanted to do with her life… Each of these had an impact on my life.  Through them, and so many others, God provided generosity, thoughtfulness, kindness, appreciation, sacrifice, joy, fellowship, and opportunity.

So…I encourage you to go on a mission, regardless of where it leads you.  And know that it will make an impact on the world by first making an impact on you.

From Ashley:

On my recent mission trip to Kenya with Amy Kelly and 4 other members of Highland Park Presbyterian Church, I experienced God’s amazing love and also saw living examples of Christ-like hospitality and sacrifice.  The people of Kenya were a living example of Romans 12:12-13 which says, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” 

The first 5 days in Kenya, at the Imbirikani Girls High School, we were greeted with such warm smiles, handshakes and hugs from various people who either helped organize the Christian growth conference, worked at the girls school or were attending the conference.  They all had such an amazing excitement for how the Lord was at work in their lives, their churches and at the conference.  There was not a single person I met that did not praise our Lord for where God had brought them to in their lives and for what they were going to hear from God while they were at the conference.  There was no shame in mentioning how wonderful and glorious our Lord and Savior is!  I often wonder in the course of our day, how many times do we, mention to those we meet in passing how awesome and glorious our Lord is to us and how wonderful it is to be in the presence of our Lord each day? 
One of the most memorable experiences while in Kenya was when a Maasai man named Paul and his family invited us to their home (Boma) for dinner one night.  While there, we were shown such amazing hospitality.  They cooked a goat from their herd, bought extra vegetables to serve, made a warm fire to sit by and borrowed chairs from neighbors.  It was the most beautiful picture of hospitality and how we are to go out of our way to make God’s people feel welcome.  I cannot help but think about the hospitality shown by our church members when they have opened their homes for church dinners.  Those times of sacrifice and hospitality always seem to bring us closer together as a body of Christ.  I say “thank you” to those who have opened your homes and challenge each of us to show hospitality as much as possible, clearing our calendars and forgetting about our messes.

While we were in Nairobi, we visited a woman named Elizabeth.  She was a picture of Romans 12:12-13.  She was a widow who had felt God calling her to serve and care for children.  She left a job that paid her well and moved her and her children to a home in Nairobi so that she could start feeding children in her area a warm meal, teach them and love on them every day.  Through hard work and dedication to the Lord, she is now in the process of building an orphanage.    She sacrificed her life for the care of these children.   She knew that God was calling her to do something with children and that God cares for the welfare of His children.  That is why she named it “Christ Cares Children’s Center”. 

We are all being called to do something.  It may be to say yes to Africa next year, to feed the hungry children in our community, or to say “yes I will teach Sunday school”.  Remove the things of this world that keep you from listening to God’s calling.  Say “yes” to God, then let Him figure out the details to make it happen.  Share with God’s people who are in need, sacrifice your time and show love and hospitality.  I promise you will be blessed beyond your imagination. 

Friends, God is good all the time; all the time God is good!

See you back at the ranch! 

Trey