HANDS
TRANSFORMING LIVES
WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE WE GOING?  THANKS TO YOU...


WORLD MISSIONS

Episcopal Diocese of West Texas  
September, 2015



 

THE FUTURE OF GIVING    

  

 "Foreign funding is a short-term solution; local funding is the long-term vision," said Barbara Shantz, Global Consultant for Trans World Radio, as she opened the 10th Annual Summer Missions Symposium.  This year's theme was Accessing  God's Resources, which embraces our DWTX vision for helping all our foreign partners to become self-sustaining. 

 

Shantz reminded attendees that under the Great Commission all believers are equal and are equal participants in God's work.  She pointed out that no one nation or generation will complete the task, and we have and must work together.  Our task as "goers" is to include an exit strategy from the outset of our mission so that we do not encourage dependence on us but rather on God as the provider.

 

Trust between partners (foreign and local) is essential to transformation.  We are all stewards of time, skills, and wealth as we advance the Kingdom of God.  For stewardship to be successful, there must be transparency in giving and financial accountability.  Nouwen said, "Fundraising is as spiritual as giving a sermon, entering a time of prayer, visiting the sick, or feeding the hungry."  

 

There are several primary reasons that Christians give:  egocentricity (shame, guilt, fear, pride), sociocentricity (for personal recognition, recognition of a need, and social responsibility), and theocentricity (obedience to God, worship, faith, hope, love).  It is our responsibility as Great Commission Christians to provide opportunities for giving to all our mission partners so that they may participate in the joy that comes through obedience as well as the blessing as we all see God's Kingdom's come.  

 












ST. HELENA'S YOUTH TRIP TO THE OGALALA LAKOTA SIOUX 
   from Dawn McLendon (Youth Minister, St. Helena's, Boerne)


We had an amazing experience as 27 of us traveled to and served the Ogalala Lakota Sioux in Pine Ridge, South Dakota.  This is our third summer to serve on the reservation in conjunction with Next Step Ministries.  Our focus at Pine Ridge is to rebuild and help restore the living circumstances on the reservation and to build relationships with the community.  This year we worked on completing a full home that has been three summers in the making, re-roofed a home, finished a storage building for a lovely Lakota woman who ministers to the needy on the reservation, weeded a large 
overgrown garden, built a deck to increase access to a trailer, and tore down and completed new sheetrock in an existing dilapidated trailer.

We were blessed by four Episcopal churches (St. Peter's Amarillo, St. Matthew's Alliance, Ascension Pueblo, Heavenly rest Abilene) who hosted us along the way.  It is wonderful to create new friendships with churches outside our diocese.

          DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:  TMI MISSION TRIP REFLECTION 
                                                          from Haddie Hill

"It's scary at first, but I believe that we all have it in us to soar. Look at me. I'm really quite ordinary. Just a normal girl who wants to save the world. It could be any of us." (James Patterson)

Or it could be all of us. We each have our own talents, fears, hopes, tears, cares, and passions. We are all human. But the world will not get better by A human. It gets better by humanS. We add to each other in ways that many would never even dream. There is not a way that we add to each others' lives that could or would ever be considered wrong. Yes, some ways could be considered different but not wrong. Adding to life could range from a smile to millions of dollars to charity.

The children in the Dominican Republic changed my heart, my soul, and my mindset, but this was not done by the means of millions of dollars or nice fancy things but by their joy and their ability to sing and laugh and praise God in ways many people forget. Yes, they didn't have the most money I've ever seen, but they had the biggest hearts. I'm not saying money is bad. By no means; it can be very beneficial. But, at times we make it a measurement of a human. We use money as a tool to measure a community, a culture, or the very self worth of the individual. Money is a tool to open opportunities, not a measurement of worth. We all have different opportunities, gifts, and very simply different lives. But who is to say we can't share these lives.

Jesus came down from heaven to give himself and his life for us. In this same way the Dominican Republic natives gave a piece of themselves to my mission group and I in the form of a simple smile, hug, or thank you. They set an example in terms of Faith for me to follow and for that no amount of work I could do in or for their community could ever reimburse their gift to me.

I challenge you. Use your gifts to bless each of God's children. Because in the words of Molly Wren "I'm no better, no worse, but I'll give what I can give." Give what you can give and never stop because giving is a cycle. Open your hands, your heart, and your mind; you never know who God will bless with your life. Amen. 
 
Haddie Hill, aged 14, participated in TMI's Servant Leadership Mission Trip to the Dominican Republic this summer. This was taken from a letter she sent her grandparents thanking them for supporting her efforts in the international mission trip.


A MINI-REPORT FROM THE WOMEN'S REVOLVING BANK 
Nebbi Diocese, Uganda
 
250 women from 13 different groups around the diocese are participating in the Revolving Bank Fund. Mono Caroline, Project Director, moves around the diocese meeting with women to discuss needs, disburse loans, and receive payments with interest on money borrowed.

Most of the women's performance is particularly good and will result in better lives for them in the future.  Currently, they are planting coffee,        greens, and vegetables for personal use and for selling.  Many women are also growing onions, groundnuts (peanuts), and beans which bring in additional income.  Another woman is proud of the new home that she has built from the proceeds of her small loan.

The fiscal health of this project is reported to be stronger than ever before, and the women are so grateful for the encouragement and support of DWTX.   
 

RAFIKI VILLAGE KENYA thanks from Ginger Guynes 

Dear DWTX World Mission Supporters,

This was a summer I will never forget.  I am so grateful for the part you played to support my mission trip to Rafiki Village Kenya.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

When our team arrived, the children were on break from school, and our responsibility was to organize games, art, music, and enrichment activities for them.  Playing with children is the absolute best way to get to know them.  We had so much fun.  In the evening we would go to different cottages to share devotion time.  It was pure joy to sit with the children as they sang hymns, read passages from the Bible, and then shared what they learned.  The children's prayers humbled me as they prayed with passion and always remembered "those who don't have."  They do not take what they have for granted.

I was also the Village nurse.  It was fulfilling to be able to teach classes on first aid, health and hand hygiene to the children, teachers and staff.  I was called upon to examine and treat injuries and illness as well as answer a variety of medical questions.  I tell you, I really had to reach back into the annals of my nursing school training to answer some of the questions.

Thank you again for enabling me to go and to take part in what was a life-changing experience.  I pray that I get to return to a Rafiki Village in early 2016.  I do not take for granted what a blessing it is to be given this opportunity. 





WE'RE STILL LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD MISSIONERS

 
The Rev. Nancy Springer (St. John's, McAllen, [email protected]) announces two mission trips.  Team members are needed for both. Please contact designated persons (below) if you are called to serve on any or all of these:   

 

September 12-19:  Surgical Mission

We need general surgeons, CRNAs, anesthesiologists, OR nurses and technicians, recovery room nurses, circulating nurses, and non-medical support people.  We will work at a hospital in Chichicastenango.  If you are interested, please contact Jim Chase ([email protected]).  The cost for the trip is approximately $1300 per person (a firm cost will be available in a few weeks).    

  

November 1-7: Medical Dental Mission

We provide dental and basic medical care for people in the indigenous Mayan regions of Guatemala, setting up temporary clinics in churches and schools.  We need dentists, dental assistants, doctors, nurses, and non-medical people.  If you are interested please contact Lorena Rojas [email protected] or Jim Chase [email protected].  The estimated cost for the trip is $1300 per person (a more definite cost and commitment deadlines will be available as the trip draws closer).


DID YOU KNOW...
      
There are THREE components to world mission:  GOING, GIVING, PRAYING.  
  
You know about GOING AND GIVING, but did you know that Virtual Mission is a group of PRAY-ERS who participate in team trips by attending team meetings, reading the team devotional books, staying connected with the team as they go, and PRAYING daily for the team?  If you'd like to be part of Virtual Mission, contact Libby Templeton for more information ([email protected]). 

 PRAYER GUIDE & TEAM LIST    
DATES  PLACETEAM   DESCRIPTION
September 12-19
 
  
Guatemala Jorge & Lorena Rojas, Team Leaders, Nancy Springer Surgical (St. John's McAllen)  
October 21- November 5 Uganda Helen & Garry Schnelzer Threads of Blessing 
November 1-7GuatemalaJorge & Lorena Rojas, Team Leaders, Nancy SpringerMedical/dental mission (St. John's, McAllen)
November 10-17 SE Mexico Valerie Kirk Veterinary mission 
 
                MEMORIALS AND HONORS                            

Given by:
In Memory of:
Mollie & Glenn Polhemus
Billy Chumney
Elizabeth & Mitch West
Billy Chumney
Betty Chumney
Edith Downing
Elizabeth & Mitch West
Edith Downing




  






 


TO MAKE A DONATION TO WORLD MISSIONS:  
(You may give to specific designations or "Where Most Needed.")
 
 
Or make checks payable to DWTX and note "MISSIONS" on the 
memo line.  Mail to DWTX, PO Box 6885, San Antonio, TX  78209.

Or call Betty Chumney 888/210-824-5387.


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Episcopal Diocese of West Texas World Mission