...and then the middle of March happened. PANDEMIC!! We had been in conversation with our missionary in Moldova about sending a summer team and had some folks willing and ready to head that up; and we had been praying about taking a team to Chiapas this summer from our home church. It was starting to look like these things were going to come together, and we were encouraged by the growing interest and support for these projects and the people served by them. Well, God had other plans...as it seems He had for pretty much everywhere and everything and everyone else...in the whole world!
Needless to say, these plans have been put on hold, but we look forward to when all restrictions are lifted and we can begin planning short term trips again. If you are interested in going on a short term trip with us in the future, please contact us and let us know. Meanwhile, we continue serving our missionary partners as we have opportunity. Keep reading for some updates on how that's been happening!
CONNECTREE IS GROWING!
It’s time to take ConnecTree to the next level! We’ve been operating on a part time basis, with no paid staff, for the last 8 years. Cheryl has felt led by the Lord to begin working with ConnecTree full time! She has been doing that in a volunteer capacity since October, 2019 and is currently raising her financial support to be a full time missionary with ConnecTree.
If you’d like to join her support team you can go to www.connectree.org and click on the Donate button to give a recurring monthly gift. Cheryl has raised 40% of her needed support. If you’d like to hear more about ConnecTree’s vision moving forward and what part Cheryl plays in that, please give us a call and let’s get together in person or by Zoom!
Pray for Cheryl's full support to be raised by the end of August, 2020!
Ask God if He would have you join our support team!
ConnecTree’s Missionary Advocacy Program (MAP)
One of ConnecTree's distinctives is to help churches care for their missionaries in a holistic manner, not only financially, but spiritually, emotionally and physically as well. We are excited to be partnering with Redeemer Church in Apple Valley, CA to implement our Missionary Advocacy Program (MAP) with their leadership, church body and missionaries!
If your church would like information about how we can help you care for your missionaries more effectively, please contact the ConnecTree office. We would love to share our Missionary Advocacy Program (MAP) with your church leadership!
Pray for CT as we expand the MAP program to other churches around the country.
MOLDOVA & CHIAPAS UPDATES
Moldova:
Easter Outreach - Chip and Connie
Picture Chip sharing the gospel with 300 children, teachers and staff in a public school setting…now picture that not happening because of the Corona Virus!! Every Christmas and Easter, Chip is invited by local school authorities and social workers to hold a gospel program and hand out gifts to kids in the public schools in 3 villages. The virus lockdown threw a wrench into that plan, so he decided, with the help of some brothers and sisters, to spend a week visiting several villages going door to door, giving gifts to the children and sharing the gospel at each home. They visited around 120-150 homes!! Normally, he doesn't have the chance to talk with their parents about the gospel, so this was a welcome readjustment!
Sponsor A Teen to go to Summer Camp
Lord willing, Elementary and Teen camps are happening in July & August and Chip is raising funds to sponsor as many kids as possible. It costs $100 per Teen student to be able to attend for a week. He's hoping to bring at least 30 kids. If you'd like to sponsor a student, you can donate from our website and choose Moldova in the designation drop down.
Pray for the salvation of those that heard the gospel during the Easter Outreach and for relationships to be built with these families.
Pray for the kids to be able to participate in the Christian camps and get saved. God uses these camps so powerfully!
Mexico City & Chiapas, MX
Pandemic Food Donations - Fernando, Isabel, Feli, & Pastor Jaime
In April, we were contacted by our missionaries in Mexico City, Fernando, Isabel and Feli and told that our dear persecuted brothers and sisters in Chiapas were not able to get much food. Their transportation to market was limited, jobs had been lost and there was no way to get any of their coffee beans to market to sell. They needed help buying food so we sent out an email and posted on social media that we would like to raise at least $1,000 to help buy food. As of this newsletter, we have sent $3,000 down there to help meet the need! In Mexico City, Fernando was able to reach out to neighbors in need and in Chiapas, Pastor Jaime was able to buy food for over 100 families to last them each a month!! Thank you so much for your generous giving!
The need is still there so if you would like to help, please click on the Donate button on our website and designate your gift to the Mexico Mission!
Pray for opportunities to share the gospel in the villages Pastor Jaime visits.
Please be praying for missionaries that have been affected by the Corona Virus, the shut down and travel restrictions. Many live in countries that don’t have great medical care.
Turn Your Shopping Into Donations for ConnecTree!
Amazon Smiles: Go to https://smile.amazon.com (or click the graphic below) and select ConnecTree as your charity. Bookmark the smile.amazon.com page and begin using that link to shop at Amazon. When you shop at Amazon Smiles, they donate a percentage to ConnecTree!
We are so blessed by you!
We are so blessed that you care about the work ConnecTree does. We appreciate your prayers, your financial commitment to us and your loving words of encouragement. Please pray for us as we begin to expand our ministry with Cheryl serving full time. We are excited and are trusting the Lord to do great things through ConnecTree and your partnership with us! We love you!
Zeph. 3:17 for you - The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
ConnecTree Contact Info:
Cheryl Markowitz: connectree.cherylm@gmail.com
Dawn Hamrick: connectree.dawnh@gmail.com
Office: 760-964-2430
Ways to Donate:
1. Website: www.connectree.org and click on the Donate button
2. Paypal: Go to paypal and give as a "Friend" to connectree.cherylm@gmail.com
3. Mail a check: ConnecTree, 12685 Pocono Rd., Apple Valley, CA 92308
Cheryl Markowitz & Dawn Hamrick