Since we've been back

11/25/1015

Well we’ve been in Metro Manila for over a month now and have been able to work on several projects.

Project 1: Church building in Paradise Village.

The walls of both stories are now complete and the outside of the first floor has been covered in cement. The gates were installed this week; as well as, some of the wires for electricity. We will start on the roof next week.

This church has already made an impact in this very bad area. We were able to use the inside of the building to hold one of our VBS stations, and the outside for another. Pastor William and this Church are also making an impact in the lives of the people of Paradise. The man who is in charge of all cock fighting, is allowing to store our supplies in front of his shop. He is also selling us the cement blocks we need with a 30% discount. We were able to give him a World Family Missions t-shirt and an Armor of God coin. We also have a young man who works for us who God is using this church to change. Early on in the building progress, five bags of cement were stolen from the job site. Pastor William and several of the church members prayed that they would get the bags back, and the man who had stolen them heard them praying. The next day, he came to Pastor and confessed that he had stolen the bags to be able to afford milk for his baby and food for his family. He also told Pastor that just weeks before his brother and him had killed a man and his brother was now in hiding. Pastor told the young man that he did not need to steal, and if he needed food for his baby that we could just give him a cash advance on his paycheck. It’s been several weeks, and the young man has not stolen anything else. He did however, come and ask Pastor William if, when the church building is finished, he would perform the wedding ceremony for him and his girlfriend. Several other workers have asked Pastor to perform their weddings as well.

Pastor William and all of us who regularly attend the Bible studies at Paradise have made strong relationships with the people there. It’s great to see how kind Pastor is to all of the workers, while still making sure they are doing their jobs. They all know if they have any issues or need help they can talk to him.

Project 2: VBS in Paradise.

During the mornings of the week that the team stayed with us, we ran a VBS for kids ages 3-13 in Paradise. The kids split into four groups, led by the youth leaders from our church. They then rotated between four stations, led by our team. The stations were Games, Music, Craft and Story, then at the end we gave the local mothers money to cook meals for all the kids. It was great to see everyone come together to put on this VBS! The older kids helped show the younger kids what to do, the mothers cooked meals, our team led the groups and even the youth from the church in Navotas spent their semester break from school helping. We were so blessed to be a part of these kid’s lives!

Our VBS was centered on the Gospel Wristband and each day represent one of the 5 colors. Day 1: Black/Sin. Day 2: Red/Christ’s Blood. Day 3: White/Purity and Forgiveness. Day 4: Green/Growing and Going. Day 5: Yellow/Eternal life with God. On the last day everyone received their own Gospel Wristband.

Project 3: Painting the Church in Navotas.

Because of the skilled work and team that the Lord put together, we realized that spending all our time on the church in Paradise would not be wise, so God gave us another project to work on. Our home church in Navotas (Pastor William’s Church) really needed to be painted and so we decided to get it done. We spent three afternoons (after VBS) and then all of the Monday before the team left getting everything painted.

Since the team left last week we have been getting settled into our house, began Tagalog lessons and have been taking Inna and MJ (two of our team members who stayed longer) to see their families here in the Philippines. In the next few weeks we have several events coming up: a conference, youth sportsfest and a gathering of all the local churches for “Family Day”!

Please pray for us as we look for more ways we can meet needs and share God’s love here in the Philippines!

God bless,

Michael, Sarah and Eden.

  

Tré Davidson

10/1/15

We are just 20 days away from leaving for the Philippines!! Several of us have not been fully funded yet so please pray that the funding comes in as our departure date gets closer! If God puts it on your heart, you can donate at http://www.worldfamilymissions.com/#!give/cilx or write a check addressed to World Family Missions with the name of the person its intended for on a post it note. With that being said, I would love to introduce one of our youngest members, Tré!

I want to go to the Philippine's because it is a combination of the two things I have always wanted to do; leave the country and build a building. I want to build a church because I go to church and enjoy making friends and learning about God. Jesus is awesome because he was part of God and came down and healed people. I believe in God because it is an extremely good explanation for the beginning of time and our universe, that has such cool nicknames like "Milky Way." I feel very happy that I have a home in the universe on a planet that has so many things to learn about! I like learning about the stars and other suns that might have a solar system of their own and might not be just lonely fireballs. I thank God for all of it and, because I enjoy church so much, I want other people to have a church to go to too!   

-Tré

Inna Hetrick

September 22, 2015

Exactly why do I want to go on this mission trip? A Mission trip specifically to the Philippines?

Well, first of all, I was born and raised there until age 14 when I was adopted by an American family, and moved to Boise, ID.  I do believe that God brought me here to America to be able to end some unhealthy cycles in my birth family. God has blessed me so much the past few years, and I want to give back by serving him.

Recently, I was fortunate enough to be able to go to Mexico for a mission trip, with my church.  My experience there was amazing! I went on this trip because I like to serve people, and also to see if missionary work is for me long-term. One thing that’s really been on my heart is to go back to the Philippines, and work with orphans or in an orphanage.  This trip gives me the opportunity to help people from my country.

    

Please support our team through prayer, encouragement and anyway you are able.

-Inna

If you would like to donate, you can do so at  http://www.worldfamilymissions.com/#!give/cilx

Also, our next fundraising event is Thursday, October 8th at the Chic-Fil-A at the Village in Meridian from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. 10% of the proceeds goes to World Family Missions!

Bill Davidson (Fish)

August 31, 2015

I see this mission to Paradise Village as a great opportunity to have a huge impact in the lives of others. This experience will undoubtedly have a huge impact on my life, as well. Hope, faith, and love are abstract thoughts that can be difficult to identify or demonstrate. Even though these concepts are not explicit in the minutiae of a given day, they are the very things that get me THROUGH the day. Without these principles, I could never smile. I am truly blessed to be born into a loving family and a safe community with ample support systems to offer assistance to those in need. These resources are not ubiquitous however and if I can make a significant contribution to the well- being of others, then I am eager to be involved. Perhaps I can help someone else smile by giving them a sanctuary in which to study and praise Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodied the principles love, hope, and faith. My heart especially goes out to the children born in poverty, many of whom are fatherless or orphaned all-together. Frequently, young girls and boys are lured into one of the only industries that are prevalent: prostitution and the sex-trade. It is my prayer and hope that the gospel will help these children realize their personal value and discover the strength to stand up strong; forging their own paths in life rather than selling themselves short into disgrace. In the Paradise Village trip, a little money will go a long way toward building a stable and supportive church- family for Paradise Village; and for me, a fresh perspective on the larger world will help me better appreciate my position in it. Doing this as a family, I pray, will bind and strengthen us as a family unit.

-Bill Davidson

Jaden Harper

August 28, 2015

I have three different reasons for why I'm going on this mission’s trip:

1. I was blessed to be raised in an amazing Christian household that yes, occasionally had rough times with finances; but in the end God blessed me ten times what these people live without there.

To me, this is the least I can do to help.

2. Yes I was raised in a Christian household, but I never really made it my own faith until a couple months ago. It was then that I was asked by Mike Jones (the founder of World Family Missions and now a close friend), to join them on a missions trip to the Philippines. I believe that God had a huge part in that, and was telling me that I needed to change something in my life for the better. Not only the better for me, but for someone else.

3. I have no personal connection with the Philippines, but I do have a personal connection with other believers. 

These people that we are going to help, meet to worship and study the bible on the street. They don't have a building like we do and take for granted the air conditioned classrooms on Wednesday nights, nor do they have a permanent meeting place due to the weather.

To me this shows a huge loyalty to God, and I want to do whatever I can to encourage and support that.

If you would like to support this ministry, you can take it from me that the people behind the scenes of World Family Missions are there to serve God, and Him only. 

I would like to finish by asking for your prayers for the whole team, and asking that you read my all-time favorite verses as of right now: 

Matthew 18: 19-20

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

-Jaden

The adventure begins

August 24, 2015

The time has come for us to prepare to move back to the Philippines-this time with miss Eden who will be around 3 months old.

Much to our excitement, a team from Boise will be joining us for 2 weeks in order to build a church in Paradise Village. Paradise is an area that the church in the Philippines ministers to. Every Sunday (when they are not rained out) they go and lead 5 groups in bible study, one of them being a children's ministry.
As long as they have done these, they have met in the street. Now we are excited to be able to build a structure for them to finally be able to fellowship together in an area that will house them all.

As always, we ask that you pray for us and our team. If you could join us in praying for the list of things below, we would greatly appreciate it!

• Eden's birth certificate and passport (We are running out of time!)
• Funding for our team and the building expenses
• Monthly financial support for Michael, Eden, and I 
• Our team's experience. That they will be able to greatly bless those around then, and in turn will be hugely impacted in their walks with God 

Up until we leave in October, I will be posting something from each of our team members. And so, without further ado, I would like to introduce MJ! (MJ will actually be staying with us until December rather than returning to Boise with the rest of the team)

Here is the reason why I want to go on this mission trip. 
God chose me specifically to get adopted to a family here in Idaho. He didn't want me to take the blessings I have now for granted. He wanted me to share what He has taught me over the years. I know exactly what it is like to live in the Philippines. It's not the safest place to live in. Poverty is very common there. Since God has blessed me with a family and great friends, I would like to serve and help others in the Philippines. 

Please pray for the team and I as we go on this mission trip. Thanks for all your support and prayers!

I have included a link for you to donate to this trip and our team if you feel God has placed that on your heart. 

http://www.worldfamilymissions.com/#!projects/c1qjk

http://www.worldfamilymissions.com/#!give/cilx

Updates, info, and ways you can help!

April 28, 2015

Updates!

I don't even know where to begin with our crazy lives! We are back in America, settling in to a lovely home that God has blessed us with.

I am growing fatter and fatter with baby Jones, (I thought babies were tiny -.-) and he is supposedly going to join us in about 12 weeks. WHAT!? He is SO active, I am convinced he thinks he is going to muscle his way out before then-perhaps through my belly button is his thought?

I am enjoying the small things that I have missed, such as my hubby bringing me flowers more often than not. Heart-heart moment!

We are also having oopsie moments as we re-adjust to American culture and the things we are used too. Apparently America requires you to wear seat belts at all times? Who knew?

Now that I have more energy I have been attempting to resume much of my past homemaking activities. Such as cutting my hubbies hair... Lets just say that ended with him being not so thrilled. And a visit to the hair salon commenced... My excuse was that I was pregnant and hadn't done his hair in a while. To bad I only have 3 more months of using the "I'm pregnant" excuse. I don't know what I will do after that ends.

Michael has been working on getting the organization World Family Missions up off the ground. It is SO exciting to see! Hopefully you all share in our excitement. Speaking of which, you all know that we are trying to aid our Filipino friends in building a church so that they can worship off of the streets. Guess what!? (Can you tell I am excited yet?) We have been blessed with a sponsor that has pledged to match dollar for dollar up to $1,000 for this cause. Only problem? If we don't raise $1,000, we don't get it. So PLEASE help us! Here are a few links to where you can donate if God places that on your heart.

• Indiegogo 
• Gofundme
• World Family Missions

Refresher on what Paradise Village is and why this is such an important goal to us. Remember the women I posted about a few months ago and her family? This is where she is from. A family that supports themselves by making laundry clips. They get 3 pesos per kilo of clips. THREE. And for an entire sack of clips they get 60 pesos-and I am not talking tiny little sack. You know the big potato sacks that we race in? For ONE of those, full to the brim, they receive 60 pesos. That is slightly over 1 dollar in American money. (You can read more about her story here: Life for some.)  This church is for her family. This church is going to make it so for that hour or two of rest from working so hard for her family, rather than sitting under the hot sun on a very narrow street, she gets to worship and rest in a church building alongside her friends and family. This simple building is SO important. Even if you can only spare 5 dollars, your Starbucks or Dutchbros for the day, that's almost 5 days worth of work for this family. It will help us reach this goal. It will help us provide this building-which is also a symbol of hope. If we don't reach that $1,000 goal, we don't get matched. Like I said, 5 bucks goes a LONG way and is SUCH a wonderful blessing. You can also contact Michael or I by email or phone to see how you can be involved.

Michael:
Email: mjworldfamilymissions@gmail.com
Phone (text or call): (208)297-0461

Sarah:
Email: sehodgie@gmail.com
Phone (text or call): (208)841-9557

Here's a video of one of our outreaches to Paradise!

Baby Jones- 12 weeks away, say what!?

Help us impact lives! 

(I still say his haircut looks fine ;) )

Gorgeous flowers from a handsome hubby 

 Please continue you to pray with us. Pray for our family in Christ over in the Philippines. Pray for us as baby Jones makes his/her way in to this world. Pray that Michael and I stay focused in honoring Christ in EVERYTHING that we do. Pray that our hearts and attitudes stay mold-able and ready for whatever direction God sends us in. Likewise, how can we pray for you? How can Michael and I bless you during our time here and how can we pray for you and your families?