Hello, Everyone!
We hope this finds you doing well, and settling into the fall routines of work, school and ministry life that happen around this time of year. Believe it or not, the holidays are just around the corner! This year has flown by!
A year of travel...
We started 2018 off in Mexico City, Mexico, celebrating the New Year with dear brothers and sisters after a week of ministry in the jungles of Chiapas. We once again had the wonderful opportunity to work with Pastor Jaime, our sweet sister Feli, her sister and brother-in-law - Isabel and Fernando as we brought a team of 4 Americans and 7 Mexicans to comfort and encourage groups of persecuted believers who have been ostracized from their indigenous communities because of their faith in Christ. Part of our Mexican contingent consisted of the niece and nephews of Feli, Isabel and Fernando - all in their 20s, and all eager to find God's will for their lives in regards to ministry. We had sweet times of fellowship and service together, in spite of some travel sickness that all of us endured to varying degrees. Our team raised enough funds to provide for food packages and building materials that greatly helped the communities of people we were able to visit. We were humbled by their grateful hearts and joyful attitudes. We were especially humbled as they prayed for us in our weakness, and sought to care for the sicker of our team members. God's body is a blessing to be a part of!
On the heels of that amazing trip, we had to wrap things up, take care of the annual administrative bliss that accompanies the end of one year and the beginning of another, and began putting together our team and ministry plan for our trip to Moldova. There were four of us from California that were able to join our brother Chip in Moldova to come alongside the great work he is doing there.
Moldova Mission Trip June-July, 2018
We worked with Chip, a national mission worker from Moldova. He has a Taekwondo ministry to youth and adults in Chisinau, the capitol city, and in 7 rural villages northwest of the city. Cheryl and Dawn, missionaries with ConnecTree, along with 2 dear friends from Henderson Avenue Baptist Church in Porterville, Glen and Sherry Hall, were able to go.
Things we got to do and see:
Taekwondo Ministry: We went with Chip to a few villages and watched the kids he works with practice Taekwondo in an open field with bare feet! Three of these kids are national champions! We shared the gospel with them by using the “Wordless Book,” illustration. All 6 kids in one village repented of their sins and received God’s forgiveness and new life. Pray for Chip as he leads them into a deeper understanding of Jesus’ love and sacrifice for them. We also watched as two of Chip's adult students took their next belt test. It was amazing! We went to dinner with their families afterwards and Glen got to share the gospel with one of the guys. He is very interested in Jesus and wants to know more. Pray for him please.
Social Workers & Hospitality: We were welcomed into three social workers’ homes whom Chip interacts with in the villages. They made wonderful lunches for us and shared their Moldovan hospitality. Chip used this time to do some counseling with them. Pray for their families to believe in Jesus.
Marriage & Family Seminar: Glen & Sherry taught a marriage seminar while we were there. Both Christian and non-Christian couples attended. Many of these couples are in crisis and need Jesus to draw them together. Please pray for the marriages and families in Moldova.
English Classes: We taught English classes in all three villages with the children. They played Twister (learning colors and body parts), had a photo booth session and enjoyed themselves! Children are often forgotten in Moldova as parents leave their children with other family members to go find work in other countries. It was great to make them laugh and see them have fun. Please pray for the children to come to Jesus, and stay out of trouble (sex trafficking is a problem there.)
We witnessed amazing beauty, a rich cultural heritage, abject poverty, a crumbling Soviet past, a hopeful future, a strong and hardworking people (who really love to eat, drink, and laugh!), and a ministry that is bearing fruit for God’s kingdom.
Below are some pics of our amazing adventure!
We are Currently...
Dawn just finished up the Grant Writing Academy through the Academy for Grassroots Organizations - www.academygo.com It's was a great class and we look forward to putting that new knowledge to the test as we begin seeking funding for ministry growth and specific missions projects the Lord brings across our path.
We are about to embark on some serious prayer, strategic planning and putting together a more comprehensive fundraising strategy to propel ConnecTree into the next stage of growth as a ministry. We know our Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills...we are trusting Him to grant us what we need to reach the Lost and see many come into the Kingdom and begin to grow in their faith as we help support those long-term workers in the harvest fields...won't you join us?
If you are interested in being involved with ConnecTree…
As a Volunteer -
email us at connectree.information@gmail.com and let us know what area you may be able to help out in (communications, social media, fundraising)
As a Prayer supporter -
email us at connectree.information@gmail.com and let us know you are praying for us. We will put you on our prayer supporter list and will send you specific prayer requests.
As a Financial supporter –
You can give to ConnecTree from our web page: https://www.connectree.org/donate
Or you can send a donation through paypal - www.paypal.com and give a gift to connectree.cherylm@gmail.com
Or you can send a check made out to ConnecTree to:
Connectree, 12685 Pocono Road, Apple Valley, CA 92308
All gifts to ConnecTree are tax deductible.
Thanks for reading!
Cheryl Markowitz and Dawn Hamrick
for ConnecTree