Folks of all ages and from all walks of life continue to take the Mission Builder challenge to go, using their time, skills and spirit of adventure to assist missionaries around the world. The reasons they take the plunge are as varied as the volunteers themselves. But one thing remains the same: They all come back changed. God uses their service experience to call them each to something special, whether it's ongoing short-term volunteerism, a subsequent full-time calling in missions or just the pleasure of a job well done.

Would you dare to open the door a crack and let God take the ho-hum out of life? When you're ready, we can help you get where you want to go.

Why not see for yourself what God can do when you just say yes?

"With MBI, there is always something to do somewhere whenever we have two weeks. It's a practical way to serve; something we can get away and do easily for short periods of time using our skills. It's also a comfortable way to love when you aren't an evangelist by nature. You come back on fire, craving and planning another time. We're trying to figure out how to come back here and we haven't left yet! Friends and coworkers ask why we would leave work here to go work there. They don't get it at first; but they ponder it and then start asking how."  

- Justin and Kiley G.

"I thoroughly enjoyed my time in SE Asia and was so blessed to be connected with such wonderful people and ministries. Some of my highlights: Meeting Indonesian government officials in charge of community development for water sanitation and storage, sharing with them the 'appropriate technologies' which can be implemented at minimal costs and high success rates (Bali, Indonesia). Playing in a 3x3 basketball tournament with local people. One teammate came to Christ through this relationship (Penang, Malaysia). Preaching opportunity and evangelism in Akha tribal village. (Chiang Rai, Thailand) Thank you for your ministry and heart for placing those wanting to serve."   

- Tim C.

"God set up several divine appointments that we could not have done even if we had wanted to. We both have served in VBS several years and have said how we felt God calling us to VBS ministry.  The week we arrived in Juarez  we found out they decided to try a first-ever summer VBS, since they had always done it in the spring, but they were concerned with having help to facilitate it. We jumped in and had a blast serving in their first-ever summer VBS.

"Second, the ministry says they have been praying for a project director for several years to come help with the new campus development project. While we were there, I got to sit in on the discussion and review the plans, make recommendations, etc. They believed I was the person they have been praying that God would send to help project manage the development. After praying about it, my wife and I decided that God is calling us to the ministry."

- Shane and Susan N. and family

"Living with so many people from different cultures kind of makes you have to go out of your comfort zone and make an effort to understand each other. Very challenging but rewarding as well. Just living in and experiencing a foreign culture was a highlight. I tried the local variety of food and drinks, had to dodge mangos falling from trees, had cold showers every day, rode moto-taxis, transported items from one house to another with a donkey and cart, saw historic sites and buildings, and saw how every day Colombians on the coast live their lives. Thanks for giving me the opportunity."  

- Phil H.

"Farah was born and raised in Cartagena. We have been trying to go down there to visit her family every two years. This time, we wanted to do something more than just visit, so we pursued missions via MBI. You guys at MBI were wonderful in facilitating contacts with the outreaches in Colombia. Farah went to Cartagena to see what the needs were. She visited [a] small Christian school and was told how we could help in the future. About a month before we headed down, we organized a 'Colombian dinner party' as a fundraiser for our friends to help with donations. We accepted monetary donations along with basic school supplies. We maximized the use of our 10 checked bags for our family of five and packed many of them full of donated supplies to give to the school. We also brought down painting supplies to utilize. It was a great experience, and Farah and I both feel God's calling on our hearts to get more involved in [short-term] missions. We look forward to our next opportunity to serve."   

- Tyson and Farah W. and family  

(photo missing one family member) 

 "I'm absolutely loving South Africa, and this project is amazing. I am working with kids ages 8 to 11 from the Jehovah Jireh House, teaching in the new missions school. I really love them and hope to come back someday."  

- Erika D.

(lower left in photo)

 "We just took one step at a time  (to YWAM Maui) and were obedient to what God said to do. Now we wake up and ask how we could be so blessed.... It isn't that doing something different is more awesome or wonderful; it's just a perspective of all that God is doing in the world. It's what we wouldn't have seen had we not done this. [Some want] to know: 'How in the world did you start doing this?' It's just responding to the Holy Spirit. You open the door a crack and God takes advantage of it."  

- Larry and Loretta H.       

As the April 2 launch date of the 2012 MBI Crossroads Discipleship Training School draws closer (if it's not April yet, there's still time to apply!), work is under way in the basement of MBI's new staff-housing fourplex to develop a classroom, kitchenette and bathroom to accommodate students and future visiting teams of mission builders.  

Rarely does a building plan come together the way it's originally envisioned, and this project is no exception. Our on-site building supervisors' plans changed and took them away, and as of this writing, we're in a holding pattern before proceeding to completion. But pray with us, and watch what happens!

Once spring hits in earnest (we anticipate its arrival in Montana sometime between now and next September) and the ground is sufficiently dry, mission builders Justin and Kiley G. of Washington are scheduled to head our way once again to begin the masonry on the front and entryway of the fourplex. Handsome quarried stone was donated to MBI last year for the project, but winter moved in too quickly to place it. The stonework, along with painting the building and adding some landscaping, will complete the finishing touches on our beautiful and functional staff housing units. If you'd like to join Justin and Kiley (they are fun people!) to help with masonry, or help with painting or landscaping, contact MBI and reserve your place. In addition, our next-door neighbor, YWAM Montana, has plans for extensive remodeling of its own staff dorm later in the summer.

Six RV sites on the MBI campus accommodated the influx of mission builders who gave of their time and skills last summer to help build the fourplex. This spring, some of those sites will be used by our CDTS as some students bring their own housing.

A hearty thank you once again to all who have prayed and donated time, skills, finances and materials to see this portion of our campus and program development launched! We're grateful to all and for all who continue to partner with us, doing whatever it takes to keep connecting Christians to frontline missions.

So, please keep praying. And again, thank you!