Family Missions Company

spring 2014

MISSION FORMATION WEDNESDAYS 6:30 PM

OUR LADY of the BAYOUS

FAITH CAMP WEEK 1: JULY 7-11

WEEK 2: JULY 14-18

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UPCOMING EVENTS

APRIL 17-24 CASTRIES, SAINT LUCIA

MAY 31-JUNE 7 GENERAL CEPEDA, MX

SSME JUNE 3-24 MALAYBALAY, PHILIPPINES

JUNE 7-17 ECUADOR

JULY 9-25 KOLKATA - PUNE, INDIA

JULY 12-19 GENERAL CEPEDA, MX

JULY 15-23 ECUADOR

JULY 28-AUG 7 PICOTA, PERU

AUG 4-11 GENERAL CEPEDA, MX

Beautiful Chinaby S.D. | China

China - where do I begin?! This beautiful country has truly captured my heart. Every day there are new things I learn that make me love it even more! Its rich culture and simple way of living are remarkable. It is truly beautiful to also know that the Lord is here, in their hearts, but He has yet to be discovered. Yes! It is true! He is here in their friendly smiles and curious stares at the four foreigners who have come to proclaim the joy of the Lord! I am truly grateful to have been chosen to serve this nation where the hunger and search for God is so evident.

There are numerous ministry opportunities here! We had to slim down to only a few, which include serving the abandoned children at the orphanage, helping with a youth group at a local church, and assisting with spiritual growth of the staff at the orphanage.

Our situation is very unique due to the fact that we cannot be very open about our faith, but this can serve to our advantage. Forming true friendships with the people and challenging them to deepen and strengthen their relationship with Christ is an essential building block for turning the heart of China towards God. No doubt about it, we stick

out like a sore thumb; all eyes are on us. This realization struck a chord with me because we must be imitators of Christ at every moment. There are no days-off from answering the call to holiness on the mission field. Not just when we are in public but in our household as well, to really strive to be a Saint so that others may be drawn to Christ through us.

As I said before, there are endless ways to show the love of God to the people here. At the orphanage where we serve, there are a significant number of children with physical or mental disabilities. For the first week, I would only pick up the healthy ones; the ones that didn’t look like I would break them if I were to hold them wrong. Then it dawned on me that I was looking at these babies as the world might view them and not as God does: “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.” -1 Timothy 4:4. I was not realizing the goodness that is a fragile life, and how I should receive such a gift with praise and thanksgiving to the Father! (continued inside)

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UPCOMING TRIPS

Blessedby M.L. | China

I don’t think a day goes by where I can’t help but think of how blessed I am to be living in China. Never did I think I would stop midway through receiving my degree to move to a country half way around the world (unless it was to study abroad). But, of course, the Lord had something up His sleeve. I get to live in a country where people are thirsting for Christ, and I am the one who gets the opportunity to share Him.

Just the other day I was on a bus and was sitting next to a Chinese woman who speaks fairly good English. She was asking me how I liked China so far—the food, the people, the mucky air. Then, she asked me how my family and friends felt back home about me not finishing college and moving to China. I responded that although it was hard for most of them at first, their hearts have turned around. They know the Lord wants me here and are convinced this is what He has made me for. Her response shocked me. She told me how lucky I am that I can choose what I want to do, I can choose to not finish school, do what Jesus wants and move half way across the world. She on the other hand has so much pressure to finish her degree in a certain amount of time, choose a degree that will pay good money, be the best in her class, make sure she has a job by the time she graduates, and get married. She, unlike me, does not have the opportunity to give it all up and move halfway across the world. The one thing this young woman is missing is Jesus. This young lady and many

other people are the reason I am here. These people don’t know that with Christ the possibilities are endless.

This is why I am so blessed. I’m not blessed because I got to leave school and move to China. I am so blessed because I know Jesus and He knows what’s best for me. He knew before I was even formed in my mother’s womb that I would be moving to China. He knew that I was made to share His love with others and that is why I am here.

I am also blessed because of the opportunities I have to serve Him here. I am living in a country where babies with medical problems are often left abandoned because of the one-child policy. I get to hold these babies. I get to look into their eyes and tell them, each one of them, how much their Savior loves them. I get to watch them progress and get well enough to be moved back to their orphanages or to foster homes, and eventually to be adopted. Do I really get to do what my heart has always desired; talk about Jesus and love on His precious little ones? Wait…is this really my life? It really, really is!

I pray that Christ will become more known in this country. People, like the woman I talked to, will have the opportunity to do what Christ wants for them. I pray moms will no longer have to abandon or abort their babies. I pray people will realize that the joy I see in their eyes comes from Christ. I pray everyday for China and that He will make me the best servant for Him here. Join us in mission and pray with us too.

After this realization, this fear of mine dispersed, and I was able to hold the little ones with confidence, knowing that I had the opportunity to be the hands of Christ to hold and love them amidst their surgery wounds, feeding tubes, and oxygen machines. One little girl that I had the opportunity to care for went on to claim her eternal crown and it dawned on me how sad I would have been had I entertained the fear of not holding her, of not choosing to love Christ in the weakest and most vulnerable state. How short her life was, and the part I was able to play in it made me realize how precious life is.

The people of China continue to capture my heart every day; and the more I fall in love with this country, the more I wish to draw them to the God who is Love. Please pray for us as we continue to serve the people here.

Beautiful China (continued from cover)

MissionChina

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"Let the Little Ones come unto Me"by E.C. | China

When we first arrived at the end of January, my team and I were mentally prepared for the large quantities of rice, dense population, houses with roofs that curved at the ends, and technological advancements as far as the eye could see. When the jet-lag dissipated, we realized that where we are living, although a major metropolitan city, is filled with vast amounts of poverty. Many of the buildings are old and lacking proper maintenance, the streets are littered with trash, and the pollution disguises the sun as a faint glowing ball in the sky. All these things considered, China’s greatest source of poverty is its lack of Christ.

Since 1949, China has been a Communist country; it limited, and nearly squashed, all forms of religion among its people. Some small villages and underground groups maintained their faith and passed it on from generation-to-generation. Even now that they are given more religious liberties, approximately 70% of people have no faith at all. They believe in family and success and are trained to be hard working, well-oiled machines, in school and eventually in their careers.

As many of us know, leading a life where our success and monetary gain is on the forefront of our minds, we are trapped in a never ending search for meaning and purpose that can never be attained. It is only through our acknowledgement of Christ’s unceasing and profound love for us that we find our dignity as persons and achieve great, unimaginable happiness in our walk through life. Our humble team of three, work-in-progress Mandarin speakers, attempting to bring 1.3 billion people into the knowledge of Christ seems like a foolish task. However, after the grand teaching and insights of our mission company, we know better than to rely on our own strength, merits, or abilities. “For with God, nothing will be impossible.” Luke 1:37

Although this mission site looks a bit different from other FMC missions, Christ has been revealing ministries

He wishes for us to develop. Mostly, He has placed beautiful people into our lives who need to know His love and His mercy. Until we are able to better communicate in Mandarin, our lifestyle witness is of extreme importance. We must stand out in ways other than our obvious cultural differences. We must stand out because we walk in the knowledge, wisdom, and understanding that our Lord loved us into existence and has redeemed us to live with Him in Glory.

After two months here in China, we have become more adapted to the culture, developed a more routine schedule, packed with prayer meetings, time working with orphaned children, and assisting a religious sister in town. We still have lots to learn and the loving people of this place are continually challenging us to open up our hearts and home to all God’s beautiful children.

Please pray for S.W., our fearless friend who has been our guide and spiritual role model, the team and children at the orphanage, and for the Holy Spirit to continue to work in the hearts of everyone in this city.

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Real JOY in Our New Missionby Jonathan & Teresa Kiehl | Juarez, Mexico

“Whosoever loses his life for my sake shall find it….” Mt 16:25

Joy! That’s what we’re talking about: real, incomprehensible, deep-down, whole-hearted JOY! Despite difficulties, despite living without most common comforts, despite living in a house without heat or air conditioning, or hot water, no kitchen sink, holes in the roof, termite eaten wood everywhere you look, and missing windows, we are happier than we have ever been!!!!!  Why?  Because we have Jesus to an extent we never thought possible! One of my favorite saints, St. Jean Vianney said, “The Lord is never found in pomp, pleasure and luxury, but in lowliness and humiliation.”  How true we have found these words!  Where is Jesus?   He is here, living with us, through us, in us, and all around us in the people we serve! 

We are living a Joy which can only be found in Jesus, and HE is waiting to be found!!!!! With the onset of our new mission post, we prayed and prayed for the Lord to show us what the goal of our mission work should be this year.  Yes, it is always to spread the Gospel, but how?  The fact of the matter is we are only one family, so how can we possibly do everything?  It’s true, we couldn’t possibly accomplish it all - but we are not alone.  God was quick to remind us of the early apostles.  There were only just over a hundred people in the upper room, yet they changed the face of their known world. HOW?!!!!  By sharing their faith with JOY.  Yes, joy in suffering, joy through beatings, joy in times of trial and danger, at all times giving praise to our Lord Jesus with JOY!  Our faith is not just some story we read in a really long story book.  No, it is TRUTH, and in this truth we have found our FREEDOM!!!! How can we not have joy?! 

With this truth we can have confidence that the Lord will provide for our every need.  We know because Jesus said so time and time again in the Gospels and the Epistles (Mt. 6:31-32; Mt. 7:11; Lk 12:24; Phl 4:19, Rm 5:1-21 to name a few), but more importantly, WE SEE IT EVERYDAY!!!!!  We are completely dependent on the Lord to supply all our needs.  No amount of working overtime will earn us an extra buck, but God speaks to the hearts of our benefactors and we are provided for!  And so we are left with confidence

in the true Provider.  We know, we don’t just believe,

we KNOW that He is all powerful, loving, giving; because of our confidence in him we have, “the Peace and Joy that surpasses all understanding!” (Phl 4:7)

So what is our goal this year?  To share our faith with the JOY and the confidence that has been given to us time and time again, and to encourage those we share it with to share as well!  We have begun Bible studies to help encourage participation.  It is hard to see Jesus at times in our lives. But when you are with others reading about Jesus, talking about Jesus - how He provided, how He healed, and how He is working in your life - and sharing these things in a small group setting, we start to see just how often Jesus is working in our lives. It also gives you a chance to “practice” talking about God, so it is easier to share with others in your own family, on the street, and in the world as a whole.

Just think about it, if everyone decided to share about Jesus, live for Jesus, and live as Jesus did, we would no longer be living in the world in which we are living.  The world would be transformed!  It would be as if we are living in heaven, yet still in the world, because we would see our God all around us at every moment. 

So I guess our goal for this year is more of a vision.  Share the Gospel, have others share the Gospel, and transform the world!!!!!!! Let’s bring heaven to Earth, and let’s begin TODAY!!!!!

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Even if We’re afraid, the Lord Still Works!by Sarah K. | India

I am so filled with joy thinking about the past two months that I have been in India. But this joy has also been mixed with struggles and homesickness. God is working here in powerful and incredible ways, but India is a completely different place from my home and that makes the transition hard at times. One lie I began to fall into was to believe that when I am homesick or afraid, the Lord cannot use me. But then the Lord spoke into my heart and told me that I can be His missionary and His instrument as long as I am seeking to be. It doesn’t matter how I feel, I just have to keep telling Him yes!

This became evident a week ago when my homesickness was so strong I didn’t think I could manage it. I was walking with Thomas, another missionary here with me; on our journey we ran into a beggar on the street. He approached us, and Thomas started talking with him. We learned that his name was Anna Shankar Bhawar. He began speaking in rapid Hindi and then pulled aside a filthy rag wrapped on his leg to reveal a horrible, deep wound. Thomas looked at me and asked if I had anything in my bag that could help him. Usually I carry a small first aid kit, but this wound was far beyond that. I looked at Thomas and told him that we would need a lot of dressings and medicine to treat his wound well, or send him to the hospital (which we learned later was not an option). I just wanted the entire conversation to be over because I was so sad, missing my family and my home. Then Thomas motioned to the pharmacy about a mile down the road, and said he was sure they would have something there. At this moment the Lord spoke to me, and said it was time to serve Him in the distressing disguise of this poor man, and that I would have time to rest my aching heart later.

So we sprang into action, Thomas bringing the man to get something to eat and me heading to the medical store. Here is when incredible things began to happen. Shop keepers came out to bring a chair to this man, and people on the street began to want to help us. You do not see

this often in India because many times people become so desensitized to the incredible poverty, or they believe that they are too above another to help them. As I began the process of cleaning and bandaging his wound, we had a crowd of 8 men around us. I will say that I am thankful for my training as a nurse, because this was not a wound for the light hearted. When I finished, Thomas said that one of the men was crying as he watched us serve this poor beggar. We finished by praying with the man and all those surrounding us, asking the Lord to heal his leg and bring this Hindu man to know Him.

Before we left, each man thanked us for what we had done, and another thanked us for coming to India and helping the Indian people. The Holy Spirit filled me at that moment to say that we are all brothers and sisters, that we are called to help each other. This was one of the most beautiful experiences of serving the Lord in India thus far. So, my friends, even when we are afraid or sad or homesick, God can still use us, as long as we keep telling Him YES!

The Heart Understandsby Megan Behrens | General Cepeda, Mexico

Our team in Mexico decided early on that we would all go to language school in February. Since I never studied Spanish previously, you can only imagine my excitement at the opportunity to learn a new language and finally, finally understand at least something. The first few weeks were difficult as I tried to force my mind to absorb a huge amount of knowledge. I felt tired and exhausted mentally and emotionally, and no matter how much I learned I still couldn’t understand the wonderful elderly lady I stayed with. In a word, I was frustrated.

At the end of my third week I found out about a Catholic charismatic conference in a nearby city. I literally begged God to be able to go, and completely by His grace I did. It

was two days, 10 hours a day, and completely in Spanish. I didn’t understand anything on the first day, but still I praised and sang and joined with the people. I may not have understood the language, but I understood Adoration, I understood praise, and I understood the Spirit of God. On the second day, somehow everyone remembered me, the gringa who didn’t understand Spanish but came back anyway. So many people talked with me and asked me questions, and for the first time that month I had conversations—stilted, awkward, and often hilarious conversations, but I could tell people my story, share about missions, and I made real friends.

So maybe I still can’t speak perfect Spanish, and I can’t understand a lot of what I hear, but I learned that when it comes to sharing the faith in a foreign land none of that truly matters, because my heart understands. 5

fmc missionary thomas v. with bwahar

Missions Isn’t Glamorous, but it sure is Glorious!by Breana Olivier | Camiguin Island, Philippines

Since moving to Camiguin I have really been missing my family. I didn’t expect to have such a rough transition, but I miss those fools. Since arriving on the Island, I have been sick and that makes me even more emotional. Through all this the Lord has really been speaking to me. My prayer time in missions has been phenomenal. The Lord has truly shown me that this is the exact place I need to be, that I will suffer, that he will never leave me and He will take care of me. He wants me to put all my faith, my trust, my worries, my fears, my emotions, my doubts, my joys, and all of my life into His hands. He doesn’t just want some of me - He wants all of me. I realize that I am holding on to some baggage from the past that is literally weighing me down, and now that I am across the planet, I can’t complain to my family or my friends. I have to unload these bags on God (which I’m pretty sure is how He wanted it in the first place – bazinga!). I really have always liked the idea of letting God be my provider and relying on Him for literally all of my needs, but now that I am actually living it – woah, so overwhelming!

It’s overwhelmingly beautiful and awesome and breathtaking and wild. He knows that I’m tired and that my stomach is ever so slowly adjusting to new Filipino foods and I’m hot and I absolutely hate lizards…but He also knows that I love sleeping on the floor, I love coffee, I love laying in the hammock on our bamboo porch with a book and an ocean breeze, I love the water, I love the joyous and precious Filipino people, I love my hysterical team, I love laughing so hard with them that I almost pee a little bit (or maybe even a lot), and I love when I can clearly know He is talking to me when I read the Bible. The Lord has blessed me!!! He has sent me to an Island paradise, amongst people who are so accepting and loving and so open to know the truth and to learn about Jesus. Even though my head wants to complain about all of my “sufferings” – my heart wants to leap with joy every time I wake up in this place. This place that the Lord has called me to by name! When He knit me in my mother’s womb, He destined me to be in this place at this time, serving His people in the way my gifts can be used for the salvation of souls, for His kingdom. Praise the Lord!

  This week my team and I have been talking a lot about our humanness. We all desire to be these wise and honorable young women who are on the straight and narrow path to sainthood, but we realize that we are also human and hormonal 20-year-old girls. The Lord has really been speaking to us directly about our humanness. The reading from Mass a few weeks ago from 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 was soooo spot on to our exact feelings and prayers this week. I personally had been feeling an attack from the devil this week. I could feel the evil one telling me that I am not smart

enough or good enough to teach people anything in the Philippines. This had me questioning what on earth am I doing here? I have never moved away from home, I have a terrible memory which makes me feel like I can’t teach anyone things that I don’t even know, and I simply just don’t have the wisdom and knowledge or the eloquent captivating speech to get a crowd pumped up about the Gospel. LIES. These are lies from the devil. In that Bible passage (1 Cor 2:1-5) Paul says:

“When I came to you, brothers, proclaiming the mystery of God, I did not come with sublimity of words or of

wisdom. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. I came to

you in weakness and fear and much trembling, and my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive

words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of spirit and power, so that your faith might rest not on human

wisdom but on the power of God.”BOOM.I literally know NOTHING except that I love Jesus

and He speaks to me through Scripture and I want to go to Heaven and I want everyone else to come with me. This week I have really felt my weaknesses and I for sure have lots of fears and I think I may have trembled once or twice…but praise the Lord, this means I am a HUMAN BEING – just like Paul! My team and I - we’re human beings. Ahh, such a relief!

The Lord has chosen me to be a missionary not because I am strong, but because I am weak. So in all actuality, I am a perfect missionary because of all my weaknesses! Jesus wins and so do I!

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My Fire-Dancing Friendby Rebekah L. | India

I first saw her in the Doha, Qatar airport. Among the crowd of burqa-clad Muslims, she was hard to miss—jet-black hair sharply contrasted against pale skin, a figure-hugging skirt and sleeveless tank top, and a giant tattoo. I’m sure some judgmental thoughts passed through my mind as I watched her. Fast-forward seven hours. I’m aboard an airplane heading for Mumbai. The same girl is seated one row behind me. She’s about my age, so we smile at each other, and I make some comment about liking her pretty earrings. As the plane begins to descend, she leans forward and asks, “Excuse me, do you have a place to stay here? I haven’t booked a hotel and I don’t know anyone in Mumbai.”

My first thought was, “I’m exhausted. I just travelled twenty-plus hours across the world. All I want is to get into a cab, return home to Pune, and sleep.” But then I felt the Holy Spirit nudging me to befriend this girl.

So I said a quick prayer, set aside my bleary-eyed tiredness, and replied, “Well, I live in Pune, which is about four hours away. I’m sure there’s extra room in the cab. Why don’t you come home with me? You can have a hot shower, some breakfast, and a nap. I’ll help you figure out where to go from there.”

Immediately, I saw relief and gratitude flood her face. Remembering how nervous I had been the first time I travelled by myself, I stuck by her side as we navigated customs and collected our checked bags.

As we sped towards Pune, I began to see how God was working. I listened to her story: born into a Polish Catholic family but disillusioned by scandal, heavily

influenced by new-age spirituality, part of an anti-government squatter community in Amsterdam, a past of drugs and alcohol, just getting out of a controlling and abusive relationship. My heart ached for her. Pope Francis said that, “The joy of the Gospel is for all people: no one can be excluded.” Here was a soul longing desperately for that joy.

Praying for the right words, I gently began to share the Gospel - the beautiful love story between God and His people. I told her some of the ways I had personally experienced that love. Her eyes shone as I talked. “I really like that story. I never knew that God loves me.” During the rest of the journey she asked countless questions about God, the Bible, and Christianity, and I gladly shared my faith with her.

Throughout that day, the Lord gave me the grace to be completely at ease with someone so different from myself. Yes, there were many things “wrong” with the way she was living. Yes, she had strayed far from the truth. But what she needed most was simply to be loved. And that’s what Jesus helped me to do - to show love. I explained our life as missionaries, and I could tell she was trying to figure us out. “You’re different,” she told me. “You really know what you’re living for.”

That evening the youth and young adults from our charismatic Christian community were putting on a Christmas outreach. Through the program we hoped to share the full meaning of Christmas with our peers, both Christians and non-Christians. I was excited when my new friend decided to come along, because I knew the power of the message she would be hearing.

“I would like to do something for you, since you’ve helped me so much. I know fire-dancing, and I could put on a performance at the program if you want,” she offered. Her light-juggling dance turned out to be the hit of the show! I saw that she valued the enthusiastic appreciation of everyone there.

“This isn’t really my kind of crowd. I’m like the black sheep with all these Christians. But tonight I felt accepted and not judged. I’ve never met people like this before. You have something really special here.” Yes, indeed! That “something special” is really Someone Special, and His name is Jesus.

As we said goodbye at the end of the evening, she grabbed me in a tight hug. Teary-eyed, she said, “Thank you for everything. You’ve given me so much to think about. I will never forget this!”

And that was that. She got on the bus, drove away, and I haven’t seen or heard from her since. I will probably never see the fruit of our brief friendship. This may have been one of the first steps in a journey towards Christ, or one of the last. But I am confident that the Lord is at work cultivating those little seeds that were planted. As you read this, please say a prayer for my friend, wherever she is, that she will come to know, love, and follow Jesus!

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Renunciation and Hardship: Part of the Life we Loveby Frank Summers

Why do some missionaries who begin with the idea of making missionary service a long term or lifelong vocation later decide to leave the missions and return home?

Well, some may only be called to foreign missions for a time. FMC asks its missionary candidates to make a minimum two year commitment when entering our Intake program (for spiritual formation and special training). Of those who go through training and enter missionary service for two years, most leave FMC after the two years to reenter their lives stateside. A few don’t complete their two year commitment. Some return to their university studies, or seek a spouse, or serve with another missionary organization. Some enter religious life or the seminary. Numbers have found positions in stateside dioceses or church parishes, serving in youth or family life or evangelization and community building ministries, some in personal apostolates. Others get secular jobs in their area of study or previous employment. Most who leave do so on good terms with the FMC, after prayer and discernment with FMC directors. Our missionaries haven’t taken vows and only serve for as long as the Lord calls them to it.

But some of these missionaries fail to remain on the mission field when they ought to. Why? I think there are two principal problems: We go into the missions with some good motives, but our lives also remain driven by other incompatible motives. To live a missionary life, we are called to RENUNCIATION, giving up even good and holy things that aren’t part of the mission God is offering us. We give up our culture, country, language, families and friends, comforts, tastes… many of our favorite things. Missionary life takes a big commitment. My wife, Genie, has taught us to say: “All it takes is everything.” And if we are holding something back, sooner or later there can be a conflict between what we are willing to give and what the Lord’s

mission requires. Jesus gave everything. He emptied

himself and took the form of a slave. He was obedient even unto death, death on a cross. When we have put our hands to the plow, we can’t be looking back.

Then, will we accept the HARDSHIP that mission life entails? In theory, we may have accepted the idea of being persecuted, or even martyred for preaching the Gospel; this would be hard and require great courage. But what about other hardships, like not having social media readily available, not having air conditioning or excellent medical attention, or an automobile, or a house that measures up to U.S. standards, or a retirement pension? Suppose there is a lot of mud and bugs and strange food? Suppose living conditions are less than hygienic? Suppose almost no one is noticing our heroic lives and service - do we accept obscurity for ourselves? 

American life has not prepared us well for the way of life lived by the vast majority of mankind - they are poor - in comparison, we are the very rich. FMC missionaries are committed to living in Gospel Poverty. We depend on the Lord for everything and live among the poor, to share their lives and to become their real friends. We believe Jesus shows a preferential option for the poor - His evangelization of the poor is the sign of the coming of God’s Kingdom.

In America we have built a society that is incredibly comfortable and convenient; we are determined to be safe and secure; we have worked hard to take hardship out of our lives. But as missionaries we need to accept the hardship and potential dangers that are part of the lives of the poor people around the world. To live in hardship day-in-and-day-out is a very great challenge for us Westerners; nevertheless, we must if we are to evangelize the billions today who live in all sorts of dire poverty.

“Missionary saints”  need love, zealous faith, patience, perseverance, fortitude, long suffering. We will “keep on keeping on” when things are inconvenient and uncomfortable, difficult and dangerous. Scripture says:

“...bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.” 2 Timothy 1:8..

“Bear your share of hardship along with me like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 2:3.

“...put up with hardship; perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5.

“Take as your example of hardship and patience, brothers, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Indeed we call blessed those who have persevered.” James 5:10-11a.Missionaries are invited to renounce many good things,

and are subject to much hardship. And as we bear our crosses and encounter so many troubles, as we suffer, we already taste the goodness and joys that are our promise of eternal glory. We more and more come to love this life. Yes, our eyes are fixed on Jesus and on heaven. Come Lord Jesus! May the Lord find us fully engaged in missionary evangelism when He returns.

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Frank & his sons on mission in micronesia, 1995

Holy Rosary High School by Genevieve Reardon | Camiguin Island, Philippines

This past week we put on retreats for the 3rd and 4th year students of Holy Rosary High School. We shared the kerygma. I gave a talk on God’s love, Alex gave a talk on sin, Breana talked on how Jesus saves us, and Rebecca talked on new life in Christ. We played games and had small group discussions as well.

I felt very called to give my talk on God’s love, but I found it hard to give. God’s love is so great, so immense that I found it hard to fully express that in a simple talk. Not to mention that there was a language barrier, so I had to talk very slow and in simple terms. I did my best, and I believe the students were able to see that God loves them immensely, regardless of anything they have ever done, good or bad, and that God’s love for them will never end. I made sure to share that God’s love is not like the love we receive from our parents or friends. God’s love is not like human love, because human love fails. Our parents’ love fails us at times. Our friends’ love fails us at times. But God’s love never fails. I am glad this distinction was made, because in our small groups it was apparent that these kids have experienced a lot of people fail them in their lives.

Whether it was parents, siblings, or friends, these kids have seen human love fail. After doing two retreats, the things being shared in the small groups started to weigh heavy on my heart. For the last retreat group a girl shared in the small group that when her mom got pregnant her dad left, and then her mom brought her to live with her grandmother. Another boy shared that his grandmother who financially supported him had died and how hard that was because he cared for her so much and was dependent on her. He did not understand why God would take away someone so important in his life. This was amongst other stories from the earlier groups where dads are absent, kids are too poor to afford lunch so they go without eating, and where they feel so unloved and feel hated by their parents and classmates. Oftentimes the experiences triggered questions: “Does God really love me?” and “Why would God let this happen?” My heart felt so heavy and sad for these students.

I tried to let the Holy Spirit work through me to give them encouraging words, but I felt like my words weren’t enough. It made me think about how hard it can be to cling to Jesus through the trials and not turn to other things to fill the hole in your heart. I wanted to do more for these kids, hug them, take them in, yell at their absent parents. I did not feel like my words that God loves and Jesus is always with them were enough. 

I thought about this more and I realized that I was offering them the best sustainable option we have on this earth - and that is to cling to Jesus Christ and follow the narrow path of the cross. Life is hard; I know my teen years were especially hard for me. What we are sharing with them is far better than the empty promises the world is offering. Instead of turning to unhealthy relationships, drugs, alcohol, etc. to fix the pain they feel (these things only leave you deeper than where you started), we are sharing Jesus with them and all the love He has for them!

Life is hard no matter what — we all face trials! But having Jesus to turn to during those hard times makes our trials bearable. Jesus is a real solution. A life of sin is an easy fix for the moment, but it will never help you to really face the hard times; it only numbs the pain.

I feel very blessed I was able to share with these students a better way. We made a real connection with the students that I know will only grow and allow us to serve them more.

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What FMC Missionaries are Doing in Indiaby Susanna de A. | India

Did you know that there have been Christians in India since the first century? St. Thomas is said to have arrived in India in 52 AD. We have also had the Portuguese and the British since the 16th century, who brought their missionaries along with their rulers. Christianity has been known and practiced in India for centuries. My family has been Catholic for many generations.

So why has God called FMC in particular to send missionaries to Pune, India? Are there no missionaries already? Actually there are many Protestant missionaries doing wonderful work among the unreached. There are many Catholic churches, many priests, religious sisters and faithful lay people. So why an American mission organization, especially when Christianity has been looked down on as a "Western religion" by many Indians?

God knows what He’s doing. He has a very specific plan for each of the young people He has sent here from the US, and for me, born and brought up in Pune, but trained by FMC in Louisiana. I’ve seen a little of what He has been doing, and there is definitely a lot more that I haven’t seen.

In 2008, Mr. Frank Summers visited India. I remember him writing, “As I stepped out of the airport, I was overwhelmed by the number of people. Their expressions told me that they were carrying heavy burdens.” When I read that, I was slightly offended. But after my time in the Philippines, I returned to my city, and I felt the same way. People on the streets never smiled at each other, there was no small talk, no interest beyond one’s own little circle. The caste system still exists in India, but in the cities, it seems to be manifested in a disinterest in the lives or burdens of anyone beyond your own family and friends, and often even in suspicion or mistrust. We Catholics don’t usually look very different from the rest. Negativity and cynicism are catching.

But there is something new on the streets! Come take a look with me. Do you see them? A bunch of white people

weaving through the crazy traffic on their bicycles,

helmets perched on their heads, water bottles in their cycle baskets. They smile. They wave cheerily. They will find an excuse to make friends with you... no matter who you are. No one is barred from their friendship - children, beggars, shopkeepers, security guards, maids….

There is ‘Barr-bara’ Anne helping the local shopkeeper’s daughter with her homework, on the floor on their tiny room at the back of the store. There are Thomas and Paul plunging into the filthy water of a canal to pull out a dead body they see floating in there, as locals are shocked out of their complacence and gather to help them. There is Sarah cleaning the open wound of a wandering Hindu pilgrim. There is Rebekah babysitting a neighbor’s baby. “Aapka naam kya hai? (What is your name?)” they ask everyone, with their limited Hindi. They have friends everywhere. Most times when our team needs to leave one event to get to another, I lose one or another of my team members. “Where’s Paul? We need to leave!” I demand, and there he is, deep in conversation with another new acquaintance.

Jesus is on the streets! The love of Jesus shines through our team! And as we see them, the same love awakens in the hearts of all those who know Jesus. “Why NOT smile at strangers?” “Why NOT ask your local shopkeeper his name?” “Why NOT offer to pray with someone who has a problem?” “Why NOT ask someone how they’re doing, and REALLY listen to the answer?” “Why NOT pull a Pope Francis?” “Why NOT be Jesus?”

With their yes, the new missionaries are inspiring many Catholics here too. “Their readiness to pray, their servant hearts, friendliness, and courage, the way they listen and are interested in what people say, teach the slum children who can be loud and rude sometimes, travel by cycles in crazy traffic, take the first step in getting to know people, even total strangers... all this inspires me to be a better Christian,” says Laryssa Fernandes, a young Catholic professional. “The part that inspires me the most is that they sacrificed their careers to work for Christ. The fact that they said yes, makes me think about the number of times I said ‘No’ to a calling for service,” says Ronny Gracias, another Catholic friend.

Just as negativity is catching, so is joy! Pune and India are being changed by the joyful witness of our Team India!

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The Secret Life of Justin Spiehler by Sarah Granger

Founding FMC Board Member, Justin R. “Jess” Spiehler, Jr. passed away quietly on Mardi Gras morning, doing a crossword puzzle on his couch by the fire. He was known and loved around town as a successful retired businessman, beloved husband, father of five, and doting grandfather. For most of his life, Mr. Jess was who he seemed to be - your basic hard working, no-nonsense,

typical guy. Then, 21 years ago, he survived his first heart attack. He died in the hospital, was revived, and began his “secret” life.

I’m sure that his funeral on Friday was well attended by those who knew and loved Mr. Jess for his public life as a family man and businessman, but those who knew his “secret” life weren’t there. Why? Because when Mr. Jess was given a second chance at life, he spent most of his second chance years giving to those who could give nothing back, those who would not even be able to attend his funeral. 

For many years, he served on the board of directors of Family Missions Company, helping us provide for the desperately poor in places like Mexico, the Philippines, Ecuador and India. Thousands of hungry children, elderly shut ins, and families affected by natural disasters have been evangelized and served because Jess helped FMC to get off the ground through his hard work and constant

generosity. Those thousands from his “secret” life probably don’t even know his name, and they definitely couldn’t make it to his funeral. He spent almost a decade giving many of his weekends serving prisoners at Angola, most of whom will never leave that difficult place. He shared his stories, his time, his faith and love with them. He baked them cookies - hundreds and hundreds of cookies. They, for obvious reasons, weren’t there to say goodbye. Not too long ago, Mr. Jess started spending a few hours a week visiting a local nursing home. He loved praying for, talking to, and laughing with the residents. He went there to bring them communion because they couldn’t leave. They didn’t make it either.

He went to Mexico on mission with FMC where he personally stocked a medical clinic that had run out of urgently needed medicine - he even built the shelves and gave the Doctor his cowboy hat. The people helped by that clinic never even knew he was there. He was sneaky in his secret life. With a twinkle in his eye, Mr. Jess told me how on a recent cruise he convinced the Maitre D’ to put in an extra table for the dinner theatre to accommodate a dying lady. She wanted very badly to see the show. She couldn’t be at his funeral either.

Truthfully, these are just a fraction of the generous deeds that Mr. Jess delighted in doing. I’ve heard people say that you shouldn’t live a secret life, because when you die, you never know who will turn up at your funeral. But Jesus said about giving: “Don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” Mr. Jess did it right. Let people go on thinking that he was just a savvy entrepreneur, a cherished husband, a generous father and grandfather - the “secrets” about his life of kindness and generosity will most likely lie quietly at rest with him, only to be noticed in heaven!

My Mission trip to Ecuadorby Holly Chapnick

On the second day of our weeklong mission to Ecuador, we traveled through the Amazon Rainforest to visit a community and share the Gospel and the love of Christ with the people. The trek there was a little rough - I now know why they call it a jungle gym! Our boots kept getting caught in the mud and by the end I just wanted to give up. I started to pray and just when I thought I couldn’t go anymore, the Lord sent me an angel. A teenage girl, whose name was Denis, ran to me, kissed my head, and grabbed my hand.

As soon as she grabbed my hand, all of my worries, panic, and fear just vanished. She led me the rest of the way to the village, and when we got close she began to speak. Because of the language barrier, I didn’t understand. The look in her eyes said, “just trust me.”

She took my water bottle from my hand and I followed her up to a water spigot, expecting her to just fill my water bottle. She took a sip of the water and began using the rest to rinse off the mud that covered my entire person. She washed from my head down to my socks. She even cleaned my shoes and socks and helped me put them back on! I

have never felt more appreciative in my life. I couldn’t hold back the tears. She looked at me confused and I couldn’t explain to her why I was crying.

I thought she had washed off everyone, but when we got up to the community they were all still covered in mud. I can’t even begin to describe my thankfulness for her. She followed me around the whole time, making sure that I was taken care of, even making sure my hair was out of my face. The Lord truly sent me an angel, and I will always have a spot for her in my heart.

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Stretchedby Bridget Martin | General Cepeda, Mexico

The Lord is stretching me.  I feel like I’m being tugged in each direction, just past what is comfortable for me.  I am realizing more and more each day how much God desires my holiness.  He desires that I be stretched and drawn out of my comfort zone, so that I can grow into His likeness.  And God has every right to call me out of my comfort zone, since He Himself left the comfort of Heaven to become man and die for me.  I say I desire to be a Saint, and the Lord is holding me to my word.

The past couple months have been beautiful, busy, hectic, overwhelming and a reminder that, at the end of the day, all we can say is, “We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do’” Lk 17:10. I’ve found myself saying often, “God, this is a lot” - mostly at times like when both my girls are screaming and I’m trying to calm them down, or it’s nap time, the girls have settled, and I finally have a minute to sit and have my personal prayer time, when there’s a knock at the front door for the 10th time this morning, and I am the main Spanish speaker in the house.  “Praise You, Jesus!  Help me to love whoever this is,” I say under my breath and go to see who God has sent to us to share His love with this morning.

It’s been a challenging couple of months. Not everyone that comes to the door is easy to love. Sometimes they seem to be trying to cheat you or lie to you. Sometimes it’s the same person that has come every day asking for food, coffee, medicine, shoes or whatever else they think we might happen to have. Sometimes they ask to use your restroom and walk out of the house with all of your shampoo, face wash and lotion. And still God asks us to love.

The other day in my personal prayer time I read Matthew 14, and it really spoke to me.  Jesus has just found out that His cousin, John the Baptist, has been killed, so He goes off by Himself to a lonely place.  But the crowds heard and followed Him on foot.  When Jesus saw them, He had compassion on them and He healed their sick.  At the end of the day, the disciples tell Jesus to send the people away to find food, but Jesus says to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.”  Then they tell Jesus that they only have

5 loaves and 2 fish, and Jesus takes the little that they

have and multiplies it to provide for over 5,000 people, and there are 12 baskets of leftovers.

Jesus desires to use us in the midst of our poverty.  He wants to show us that it is His work because there is no way we could do it on our own without His help to provide for and love His children.  When I am tired from my baby waking up in the night, He wants me to call on His grace to patiently love and serve.  When the same woman comes back for the 5th time this week, He wants me to love her with His love, through His heart. He knows that I can’t do this on my own strength, and He desires for me to rely on His strength.

So often I try to be holy on my own.  I want to show God that I love Him by doing it myself, through my own power. He has placed me where it is completely impossible for me to be holy without calling on His help and grace at every moment. He’s not afraid to ask these difficult things of me, because He knows that it is for my own good.  He desires me to be a Saint even more than I do.  So I will gladly bear the pains of being stretched, knowing that it is for the greater good of bearing Christ to the world.12

kids showing off their new benedictine medals

Home IS Where Your Heart is!by Melissa Seilhan | Malaybalay, Philippines

  On Wednesday, January 25, 2012, our family walked into Our Lady of the Bayous Retreat Center for Mission Formation.   There were two reasons for our hour long trip to Abbeville:  1) to check out the facilities for a youth retreat that our parish was hosting, and 2) to find out why Family Missions Company was coming up so much in our recent lives.  

 When we walked through the doors, I immediately fell in love with the place and the people we met.  I had no idea what God’s plans were for me or for our family, but I knew I was right where He wanted me to be at that moment.  I knew that He had indeed called us there for something more than to book a retreat center.  I knew that my heart felt at home there.

 That night at Mission Formation, FMC was sending off a family and two single girls to the Philippines.  I was in awe of this family of four, which included one toddler and one infant.  They were leaving behind their families, their friends, their jobs, their HOME---everything they knew and loved.  And in a small corner of my heart, I was jealous.

  At the end of the night, we laid hands on them and prayed over them.  We prayed not only for them, but for the people of Malaybalay that they were being sent to.  I had no idea where the Philippines was and couldn’t even repeat the word Malaybalay correctly if my life depended on it.  But I knew that my heart was somehow connected to both now, so I became a missionary stalker!

 For months, I read everything these missionaries wrote on their blogs and stalked their Facebook pages too.  My heart grew more and more in love with the Philippines and the people of Malaybalay.   I laughed at all the stories of their mishaps, wondering if I would actually be laughing if it were me on the other side. I cried at all the stories of poverty they shared.  I rejoiced with them after reading all the conversion stories. My heart yearned to be there in Malaybalay with these missionaries. Little did I know what God had planned for my family.

  After almost two years of “mission formation”, our family joined Intake 2013 and was commissioned as a full time missionary family in December.  Then on January 22, 2014, almost two years to the date from our first Mission Formation, I again found myself in awe.   This time our family was one of the families standing in the middle of that room at Our Lady of the Bayous Retreat Center. We were the ones surrounded by family, friends, and strangers praying for our trip to the other side of the world, for our first mission in the Philippines, and for the people of Malaybalay that we were being sent to minister to.  

 We have been in Malaybalay for a month now, and I can’t begin to describe the feelings I had seeing the place that I had read so much about.  Nor can I describe how I felt meeting all the people that I had already grown to know. My heart is overflowing with joy here in the Philippines. It is true what they say: “Home is where your HEART is,” and mine has been here in Malaybalay for a long time! 13olivia & emily helping with floors for the poor

the seilhan family

We are Growing: HELP!by Joseph Summers | Director

Here at Big Woods spring is in full bloom! My grandfather used to call this time of year the “Green Explosion,” because in Louisiana, there are a countless variety of green hues which fill the trees and fields come April. The “Green Explosion” is right in step with the New Life which we are called to contemplate in the liturgical season of Easter. He is Risen, His Life conquers the death and cold of sin and is born anew from the tomb, a story retold by creation, as new leaves and flowers burst forth from barren branches. He is ALIVE! The world is full of new life, growth and change!

Here at Big Woods, it’s not only the trees, flowers and grass that are exploding. Our missionary family is expanding exponentially. These last 18 months have seen unprecedented growth, and after commissioning 38 new missionaries this past Intake, we now have over 70 missionaries serving full-time in 6 countries! This is a trend that doesn’t show any signs of slowing down, as we just facilitated our largest discernment weekend to date, with over 30 new potential missionaries praying about a future missionary vocation here. Faith Camp is growing, mission trips are abounding, speaking engagements and special mission projects are on the rise! There are a litany of wonderful ways we are being stretched and challenged to meet the urgent mandate entrusted to the Church, namely reaching the billions of those unreached by the Gospel, and serving the least across the globe. This is no small task, and so while we welcome the incredible growth we are seeing here at FMC, we also are feeling the growing pains that accompany it. My heartfelt prayer of thanksgiving as we see God raise up more missionaries for His Kingdom, is coupled with this sincere prayer: “HELP!”

God knows if we are to be able to adequately receive, train and support the missionaries He is calling to serve with us, then we are going to need some serious help! From mowing the perpetually growing grass and repairing old houses, to sending voluminous mail outs and receiving guests, there is no shortage of tasks, great and small, that need attention. More people also means we need more space! One of the most urgent material needs at this interval is a new office space - I share this hoping that God might touch a few key hearts with this special need. The list goes on, but we know in it all His grace is sufficient! I am pleading (and trusting) God to provide faithful prayer warriors, committed volunteers, and generous benefactors to supply what He knows we need! Maybe He is asking you to enter more fully, or give more creatively, to this apostolic work. As we grow, we need your help now as much as ever. After all, the fruit God is bringing about with this Springtime of Evangelization is only made possible through your faithful spiritual and financial support!

How Can we Help?by Dr. Mike Melancon | Lafayette, LA

There are many ways to serve.  Many of you already help in various ways, from financial support through donations directly or through different fund raising activities indirectly.  Hopefully, we all try in the missionary spirit to spread God’s message of salvation.  If you have never been on a short term mission trip, I suggest you go on one.  It is amazing to see what Family Missions Company does!!!

I would like to share with you just one little way that my wife Peggy and I have found to serve God with and through FMC.  After the Proclaim Conference last fall, we felt the need to do more.  We prayed about it and Peggy suggested that we commit to serving 2 weekends per month either at Big Woods Mission or at Our Lady of the Bayous, FMC’s retreat center.  Since November, 2013, we have given on average 4 service days every month.  So far we have been blessed in that we have been able to stay the night either at Big Woods Mission, or at the retreat center. 

I have been given a list of things that need fixing, mainly routine upkeep of old buildings, i.e.,  replacing rotten wood, painting, staining wood beams in the chapel,  repairing leaky faucets and toilets, - you know guys, the same things that we should be doing in our own homes! But I think it’s always more fun to do it for someone else - especially if that someone is God.  There are plenty of tools there; however, I like to take my own.  Peggy has been working in the office with Elizabeth Edwards, Amanda Winch, and the other staff that are in at the times we are there.  

I look forward to our “get away” weekends together at the mission base - working and praying - it’s a retreat atmosphere. There are some projects that might go more smoothly if an extra pair of hands were there, but so far I’ve managed to accomplish the tasks on my To Do list by myself.  It is very peaceful there and I feel blessed.   

Help FMC Grow! Let us know if you have any questions or ideas about ways you can get more involved in our ministries! From volunteering in the office, to praying, to web design, or bake sales- the Lord has blessed his people with an amazing range of talents. Let's put them to use for the building of his Kingdom! We'd love to hear from you!

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BLESSED BY READ ING SERVE?SERVE now reaches almost 10,000 households around the world! Sharing testimonies from the mission field is an important part of our ministry that bears great fruit here at home. We need a sponsor for this publication. Help us reach even more people with the Good News!

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Prayer Intentions• For all FMC missionaries

to continue to be rooted in Christ's love and His plan for them

• For team leaders to be strengthened and guided by the Holy Spirit

• For those served by FMC that they may be open to receive God's love and mercy.

• For God's graces to be poured out on our supporters and benefactors.

• For the health of Mr. Frank Summers

• For all FMC missionaries to learn and adjust to the cultures and languages that they are immersed in.

• For the building of the Chapel of Nuestra Señora de la Merced (Our Lady of Mercy) in Mexico that their efforts and ministry may be blessed.

• For the safety of FMC missionaries and healing of all their ailments.

ETERNAL REWARDSETERNAL REWARDS is a creative and easy way to get even more involved in supporting Family Missions Company! By redeeming your credit card rewards for FMC, you can help us with the upkeep and renovations needed around our mission base without spending a penny!

Offsetting these necessary expenses with gift cards means we can be even better stewards of the funds God entrusts to us, directing even more dollars to our ministries and the proclamation of the Gospel! Redeem your rewards TODAY!

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