You & Missions??

To someone who has never gone on missions or is wondering what it is all about, let me tell you how missions has changed my life. It’s about being able to hold a baby while the wind and sand blows in your face. It’s about hearing the sweetest giggle. It’s about being able to physically change a building. It’s about prayer walking. It’s about doing the little things and serving any way you can. The Lord has given us all abilities to use for His glory. You don’t have to be anyone special! Being able to serve on 11 mission trips from serving in Mexico to NYC, to the Philippines and Thailand. The Lord has been faithful to provide for it all. Despite my fears and worries, He was [and still is] in control of it all. Do not be scared to take that step out of your comfort zone. He calls us all to serve.

Philippines 2019

-Kerstin N
Thailand 2018 & Philippines 2019

He is THE WAY

This picture is one that will always stick out to me from this summer. We looked not for our own way, but THE Way for guidance, peace, and at times, sanity. We’d literally scramble through the pages sometimes to try and remember scripture to help answer questions!
God is so much bigger than I can ever image.
My eyes have been opened to the spread of Jesus’ name to all the nations. 
His grace is sufficient. 
The cross was enough, and His word gives life. 
Seek Him today. 
Thank you Jesus for the grace you so freely give. 

“And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God,

that you may know that you have eternal life.”  

-1 John‬ ‭5:11-13‬

-Amelia

Stand in the Gap Team

Philippines 2019

How many stranger's homes did you stay in??

Finally getting to share some of the faces I got to encounter and love over my 2 months in Southeast Asia. We backpacked from village to village, stayed the night in over 20 stranger's homes, and used the same 4 shirts and 3 pants all summer joyfully. :)  SO blessed with joyful and flexible and loving friends to do it with that passionately poured into everyone we met!

-Kimberly
Explorer & Evangelist Team 2019

Relationships that Continue...

Some things in life come and go and I’m thankful for this friendship who has remained constant.

Since returning from our trip this summer, the devil has tried to get his foot in the door what seems like greater than ever. Struggling with insecurities I haven’t dealt with in years, believing lies about myself, and getting caught up in the worldly “standard” that I don’t measure up to.

Thankfully in this season, I have this sister who I can always count on to be honest with me and push me towards the cross above everything else.

Whether exploring a new city, going on mission across the globe, or watching Survivor while eating Hibachi... I’m thankful for this Jesus-loving friendship today! 

-Lauren
2019 Tropical Harvester Team
Philippines

Have you ever seen a hyrax??

This morning during my quite time, I came across Psalms 104 which speaks of God’s creations. All of the animals and the landscapes that He has made that bring glory to His name. 

There was an animal in Kenya called a hyrax. These animals were everywhere and one of the funniest memories I have while I was in Kenya was one being on the roof and everyone thinking that it was going to attack at any moment. 

Psalms 104 talks about how God has provided for the animals that He created and in verse 18 it says “the cliffs are a refuge for the hyraxes.”  How cool is it that God provided the cliffs as a refuge of protection for these animals. If God cares so much even about the hyraxes well-being then think about how much he cares for His children and wants to provide them with abundantly more. In Leviticus 5 it talks about how the hyraxes are considered unclean. Yet God still cared and provided for them. It’s so amazing that we too, unclean sinners, can be

washed clean by His mercy and grace. God’s plans for us is exceedingly more than the hyrax. I’m thankful for God showing me His compassion and just how much He loves and cares for His children this morning.

-Madison W.
Camp & Community 2019
Kenya

Consider it pure joy

This summer we were given 26 Bible verses to learn and one of the first ones I memorized was James 1:2-4... Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of all kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. And let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Whenever my faith was tested this summer I would always think back and remember those words. I do have to admit a lot of times I did not have the right mindset and would get frustrated when opposition stood in my way and forget the truths that God tells His children. I would always tell my girls this summer that God would be with them through their hills and valleys. He would be with them through their highest of highs and their lowest of lows. But I would often forget that truth myself.

Ever since I have been home from Africa, I have had a lot of anxiety from transferring to a new school, adding a major, transitioning back to “normal” routine, and just the daily stresses of life. James 1:2-4 has been continually coming up. We were given the book of James to write an exegetical paper on for one of my Bible classes, so after reading James daily I have had the ability to meditate a lot on God’s promises that are seen in James 1:2-4.

Although in the midst of our trials is not very pretty or fun and it can hurt a lot, but when we endure the suffering just as Christ did for us, there in that valley, our faith is strengthened which is such a beautiful thing. But we can’t just endure them, God tells us that we must endure our trials with a joy that is genuine. Pure joy is found only in Christ, who came and gave himself for us. I am often guilty of looking for happiness in things that the world loves, but joy that is genuine comes from knowing God and seeking His will for our life.

James then goes on to tell us in verse 12 “Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him”. Our pain has a good reason, God has promised us that if we endure our trials with joy that we will be rewarded with the “crown of life”, which is forever with Jesus, how awesome is that?

So, if you need an encouragement today, know that God promises us that our pain has a purpose. It is there to stretch us and grow us. It makes us into the Christian that He has called each of us to be. What’s so comforting is that we do not have to suffer alone, God does not abandon us during our hard times, He is with us and He is guiding us. Rest on the truth of His promises. The same God that was with you on your hill will be with you in your valley. Praise Him for your trials, because there is purpose in your affliction.

-Madison W.
Camp & Community 2019
Kenya

Goodness of God

This phrase was an anthem for my team throughout the summer. On our first Sunday in South Korea, our worship leader sang the Bethel Music song “Goodness of God.” Unknowingly, these lyrics would become a team bonding focal point, a source of encouragement, and a ministry tool. Since our team was comparatively smaller than others, it was so evident that the Lord had strategically given each of us talents and gifts in areas where the others lacked. Luckily for Julia, myself, South Koreans, and Filipinos alike, Makenzie was blessed with such a beautiful voice. 

So since we didn’t have access to music for 2 months, Makenzie filled that void. Let me explain further... Afternoons in the Philippines are hot, and for me personally they were the time where most of my spiritual battles took place. I remember vividly laying next to Julia under our mosquito net listening to the constant sound of geckos and roosters. We were exhausted. We went many days prior to that specific day without “siestas,” because the children were always begging to play Pato, Pato, Manok (duck, duck, chicken) and obviously no one can say no to those precious faces. So, while laying on our bed mats, Makenzie sang “Goodness of God” on repeat (because we couldn’t remember or look up lyrics to other songs). I wouldn’t have had it any other way because the Lord met us in our physical and spiritual valleys that afternoon and many other similar July afternoons. 

By the end of the summer, we were able to teach our South Korean and Filipino teammates the lyrics as well. Then our Filipino translators began teaching/sharing this song with our church children, high school students, and other people living in our island village. 

After almost two months back in the States, it is so easy to look back and see the Lord’s hand, faithfulness, and goodness in every small detail. This song continues to remind me of my experiences in Southeast Asia, my teammates who became some of my very best friends, and the work that still needs to be done in SE Asia. I deeply long to be back on my bed mat singing this song or playing Pato, Pato, Manok with the barangay children. However, I understand that the Lord has each of us placed in strategically different regions around the globe for our specific purpose in fulfilling His kingdom ministry. So, in this transition phase I am encouraged by the bond created over lyrics to a song, but more importantly I am encouraged by the eternal impact that one summer, one team, one song, and one God will have on people in South Korea, the Philippines, the USA, and all over the globe in the coming months and years.

Team with their Philippine church family

I love You, Lord
For Your mercy never failed me
All my days, I've been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
And in darkest night You are close like no other
I've known You as a Father
I've known You as a Friend
And I have lived in the goodness of God, yeah!

-Camden Studstill
Multinational Advance 2019, South Korea & Philippines

I miss... all in His time

Stand in the Gap & Island Magic Teams

I miss these people more than words can describe. 

I miss Kassi doing my hair in the morning joking about the last time that we had a good hot shower. 

I miss sitting with Emma in the afternoons while she plans our next Bible study for Kuya Marc’s house while I try and read A History of the World in 6 Glasses for WHAP. I miss my “moms” yelling at me to actually read A History of the World in 6 Glasses for WHAP when I just wanted to take a nap. 😂 
I miss Amelia presenting me with a new verse that she found during her quiet time, using it as encouragement for me when when i’m going through a rough time. 
I miss yelling for Tucker to get his camera when a millipede the size of my hand is crawling across our house or yelling for him to come get the giant lizards off of our beds and mosquito nets. 😬
I miss checking the chore chart to see who’s turn it is to go fetch water this time. I miss complaining about the fact that it is my turn to go fetch the water lol. 
I miss joking with Jadon every time he burnt the rice and told him to “leave it to the women.”😉
I miss yelling for Phoebe and Golden every 10 seconds to help us translate something that a child was trying to tell us. 
I miss those stressful grocery shopping days when all Kassi &  want to do is just curl up in a ball on the ground bc there is so much going on (ok maybe I don’t miss that one too much haha). 

I miss the afternoon siesta that would always end up being interrupted by children wanting to play volleyball before our next Bible study. 
I miss those happy faces pictured, always joyful and excited to hear what topic we would be preaching on next. 
I miss these people so much right now and it is so hard to carry on with my “normal” life right now, knowing that these people are back in the Philippines eating chicken adobo as usual and going about their day, waiting for the moment when they can get on Facebook messenger to contact us again. 
I wish with all of my heart that I could be back with these people, but I know that right now, I need to be here. I need to be in Zachary, Louisiana attending Zachary High School so that I can be a light in someone’s life here in America. 

These Filipinos became my life and soul this summer and it was so hard to say goodbye, knowing that I may never see their beautiful, smiling faces again. I hope that one day I will be able to return to my new found friends and check up on them. and I hope that one day, I can see Kassi, Emma, and Amelia’s faces again. God only knows, and for that reason, I have peace. Because I don’t know what is around the corner for me. Only God does. God’s got some great stuff coming for me. I just need to learn to be patient and wait for when He is ready to reveal those things to me. All in His time...

“After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands.”

-Revelation 7:9

-Maddie

2019 Stand in the Gap, Philippines

Just say "Yes"

Words cannot describe just how incredible it was to see God move and work this summer. This summer was one of the best I have ever had. It has been a little bit since I returned to the US after having spent two months in Southeast Asia. School has started back and has been keeping me busy. It has been a bit of work transitioning back to being a student. I learned a lot this summer and have been looking for a way to bring that with me to campus. 

You see, this summer, I got to see God move in amazing and incredible ways. I made many incredible friends and just love the relationships i was able to form with them. I am thankful that they were willing to take a chance  to hang out with and get to know the weird Americans. It was awesome to see God transform the many people we became friends with, and how He was using and transforming me too. 

It was such an amazing opportunity where I got to share the Gospel and God’s love to people who had never heard it or experienced it before. This trip continually opened my eyes to how important it is to be willing to say “yes” when God calls us to do something, even when it is something we don’t particularly want to do. I definitely had those moments this summer. What I saw God do in those moments when I did say yes a bit reluctantly, showed me just how little I know and how great God is. This summer I got to see what God could do through people that were devoted and surrendered to Him and it leaves me without words to describe how amazing it was.

-Jordan B
Southeast Asia

Go to www.nehemiahteams.com to see where you can serve this summer.... just say "Yes!"

Kalipay!!

KALIPAY: JOY or HAPPINESS
Finding happiness in things the world is telling you not to. 

This summer we learned to die to ourselves through bucket baths, no air conditioning, bugs, and hiking mountains to experience the joy of sharing the Gospel to those who had never heard before. 

I’ll miss the people, the motorcycles, the mangoes for sure, but I’ll especially miss that we don’t get to see first hand how God makes the seeds that were planted this summer grow!

-Morgan
Advance Team
Philippines

From the Laborers of Your Field

God, we were Your gardeners
We brought forth our best tools
Most righteous deeds but filthy rags
How could you use such fools?

God, we were Your gardeners
Bound to see what You would do
We tilled the ground and planted seeds
But Father, nothing grew.

God, we were Your gardeners
Watered these people with our tears
Our hearts were shattered, seeds still scattered
Who knew deep roots took years?

God, we were Your gardeners
This ground is hard as clay
With hope we trust, in faith we must
Rejoice, share, teach & pray.

God, we were Your gardeners
Wanting to bring you flowers & bouquets
Instead we'll lift these empty hands
Accept, dear Lord, our praise.

-Meghan
City Talk English Team
Thailand

A Jewel in Southeast Asia

One of the first days on this new island, we were excited to go out and explore. Surrounded by beauty we were ready to see all that God would do. We headed out to find people. Ten minutes into our walk we happened across a barber shop where a few women sat in front smiling and calling to us. This was enough of an invitation for us to go over and chat with them. 

I spoke with the different women about their lives, looking but struggling to find an open door to share the gospel. Just as I began to think we should give up and move on, our translator encouraged me to keep asking questions. Praise God that I did not walk away in those moments! Eventually one of the women *Jewel ended up sharing that she had Christian relatives who had taken her to church a few times and had told her about the story of Jesus. Not only had she heard but her heart would break every time she heard the story of Christ crucified and would cry. She said that each time she heard this story it broke her heart but her Christian family told her to remain in her own religion, Islam. As we began to go deeper we asked if we could go to her house to continue talking.

As we sat in her house which consisted of “kitchen”, bedroom and bathroom all in one room, we discussed more about all that Christ’s crucifixion means for us. She agreed that this story is true and she fully believed. We asked her if she knew all that this meant, that following Christ means turning from sins, and other idols and accepting Jesus as our Lord. After going through all that this meant, we led her in prayer asking for forgiveness of sin, confessing that Jesus is Lord who died and was resurrected to pay for our sins. 

We studied John 1 with Jewel two times after she accepted Christ. She had already downloaded the Bible App on her phone, and was experiencing push back from her Muslim community who were suspicious of us visiting at her house. She stood firm in her new faith, seeming not to be afraid of confrontation. We went through the 10 Commandments in Exodus, explained prayer, the importance of reading scripture, worship and sharing her faith. When we visited her the second time she said she had been reading every day in John and felt a peace she couldn’t explain. It was the most encouraging experience of our trip out. Pray for Jewel and her family as they grow in their new faith!

-Jenna 
Ex & Ev Team
Southeast Asia

The End of the Beginning (The End of Me)

My time as an active member of Nehemiah Teams is running short. As of July 31, 9:01 P.M. (CST), I will no longer be on my short-term mission trip. Orientation. Travel. Ministry. Breaks. Debrief. It will all be over. There will be many friends who I may not see again until we all get to Heaven.

The thing is, I am excited to taken my first step into obeying God’s Great Commission. Once our debrief is over, everyone will go their own separate ways, and I will too.

However, at least for me, I am not going back to being the same Christian Townson. Right before we left the Philippines, another Nehemiah Teamer asked me, “So describe your summer in two sentences.” I went with my gut reaction. This is what I said.

“I learned how to die to myself.”

The old me loved and tried to glorify God in everything he did, but his earthly goals sometimes took precedence over God’s will. He was looking for ways to improve HIS life, HIS situation, and to accomplish HIS goals. Even though this was not done with malicious intent, my mindset became an obstacle in the way of seeing what God wanted me to do and how He wanted to use me.

At the beginning of the summer, Psalm 37:4 was my favorite verse. “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” I still love that verse, but after this summer, I think that Acts 20:24 fills my heart with a greater joy than any other verse I have read up to this point in my life.

I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me- the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.

My life is worth nothing if I am not living for God and telling others about His love and His mercy, and how Much it is worth to follow Jesus and live life on purpose for the Lord.

Truthfully, this was one of the greatest summers of my life. If I could have stayed for a few more months, I would have taken them up on that offer. The most satisfied I am with my life is when I am glorifying God, telling others about His Good News and seeing them understand what that means. Also, being with other followers of Jesus with World Christian mindset rejuvenated my passion for cross-cultural missions. I do not know what role God is going to put me in for long-term missions, so I’m just gonna go until God tells me to stop.

Please pray for every Nehemiah Team member to take the Great Commission seriously as we leave Nehemiah Teams. I love Nehemiah Teams as much as anyone, but the world will not be won to Christ with short-term missions. We need mobilizers and goers to take on the challenge of spreading Jesus’s name to the ends of the Earth. 

Pray for any national partner/supervisor/cross-cultural worker who we have left. They needed us for a reason, so pray that we were effective enough and laid a foundation for them to reap the harvest.

Pray for every Christian in the world, including you, the person reading this article. How are you participating in God’s Great Commission? Are you doing anything? The Great Commission is for EVERYONE, not for a select few.

I want to thank everyone who helped me on my journey to Nehemiah Teams 2019. I want to specifically thank my parents and brother for being supportive and constantly encouraging me to love the Lord more than them. I know that’s hard, but there will be people in Heaven because my team went this summer.

So, this isn’t THE end. It’s just the end of the beginning...the end of me.

-Christian
Tropical Harvester Team (Journey)
Philippines

Bush Missionary: Good Bye!

What an amazing group of people. We had to say goodbye to these people who we love and have become family. This team gave so much and worked extremely hard for the past two months with us in Kaabong. They are humble servants and their love for the unreached and our KJ people is contagious. We sure will miss them and their amazing attitudes. Nehemiah Teams is awesome and I would highly recommend them to anybody who needs more information. A shout out to Laekan for recommending and working it all out for them to get here. We absolutely love these guys and their hearts!

-Selvin & Laurel
Field Supervisor, Bush Supervisor
Uganda

Bush Missionary team ready to travel

Butuan City area teams: Good Bye!

A great way to say good-bye to friends & national partners.... share a huge pizza! 
Pray for our national partners as some will be returning to the areas where we worked this summer to follow up on new believers. 

-Tropical Harvesters Teams
Island Ministry Team
Butuan City, Philippines

Life on Purpose

Being back at our home base for the last two days of our trip seemed like the end, but the Father had a plan. I had been forming a good relationship with one of the cousins, *Nelly, who lives in this city.

We had become very close over the few weeks. I was trying to share with her, but she would lead the conversation quickly away. As I left to go out for our second trip, my heart hurt knowing that she does not believe. The day I came back, expecting my work here to be done, our supervisor asked me if I wanted to try and meet up with Nelly. I agreed it would be a good idea, though my heart was weary from the long-time of work in the weeks before.

The Father was beginning to teach me something in the middle of this that is so vital to the walk the Father has called each of His children to.

I began to pray for our conversation and later that day we went out to get coffee. At the end of the day we began to talk about the dark magic. She told me about many of her family members who were affected by the dark magic including a curse that was put on one of her grandmother’s friends and her grandmother had to make a sacrifice so that the dark magic would leave. I took this opportunity to share about the greatest sacrifice ever made.

She quickly lead the conversation away. 

We returned to the house without more conversation about the Good News. I was discouraged as I walked back into our home, but I trusted that the Lord was working. Again, I thought that this would be the last opportunity for truth, but the Father was working in ways I could not see.

The next day, Nelly and I ate breakfast together and the Spirit provided an opportunity for me to share my testimony and to listen to her about a lot of the trauma of her past. She listened intently as I shared and though she still did not believe, something seemed to shift in our conversation. Pray for Nelly that she would believe.

I was not ready to share and I felt so empty and unprepared, but the Lord provided the way into the conversation and the means to share. He taught me that we hold the greatest news that means life or death so we must not go on in silence. We must go to the nations so that the family will grow even when it means being emptied daily. We must always be ready to share and rely on the Father for strength to walk in it. 

-Tali 
Ex & Ev Team
Southeast Asia

Hide & Seek/Nurse 2 Nurse: Good Bye!

And they're off!!! The end of an awesome summer of ministry. 

-Robin, local supervisor
Hide & Seek Team
Nurse 2 Nurse Team
Southeast Asia

Preschool, VBS & Prayer Walking Team: Good Bye!

Finishing well.. very well indeed! So thankful for this Nehemiah Team and their ministry with us this summer. They were amazing!!

-Edward, Local Supervisor
Southeast Asia

Refugee School: Good Bye!

Refugee School team members

I haven’t really talked too much about what has been going on this summer, but these 6 precious girls just left Korea today. I had the pleasure of being their mission supervisor for the summer to reach out and tell the Gospel. For two months, these sisters in Christ loved, lived with, and did life with North Korean refugees. Although they left today, their impact will be felt for an eternity. Never wait to follow the Lord into missions. We are all called to fulfill the Great Commission. And the Lord is certainly working in Korea!

-Aaron J  (2012 NT Korean Refugee team member)
Seoul, South Korea

Recent trip to DMZ

Gospel Spreading: Good Bye!

Gospel Spreading team and Teach, Heal & Hoops teams with
their local supervisors & national partners. 

Saying good bye was really tough for us. We had a Worship Celebration before we left and for that I am super thankful! This summer has been full of so many lessons from the Lord. He taught me so much about surrendering all expectations and anything I had planned for the summer. I pray that I continue to learn and apply these lessons. The Lord is so good! 

At our worship celebration, we sang How Great is Our God in both English and Tagalog and y'all... it is just a glimpse of what heaven will be like! It makes it worth all frustrations and being pulled out of my comfort zone. 

Please continue to pray for the people of Camarines Norte and the people of the POP Student Center. Also, lift up all the different teams as they travel back to debrief. 

-Kerstin

Gospel Spreading Team

Philippines