Shhhh, I'm hunting for churches

Our Family has been in the Greenwood, Indiana for a little over a month now.  So far we have visited a handful of churches, but we still haven't found our "home" church.  We never thought it would be this difficult.  Never fear, we are visiting another church this coming Sunday. 

We know how important finding a church is, and we hope to find one soon, but we also know that God is guiding our path and He will guide us to the correct church (hopefully sooner than later.)

Life here is beginning to settle down.  We are basically unpacked and we are beginning to form our routines.  Briyana started working her 12 hour shifts at the hospital today and "JuneBug" is enjoying Parent's Day Out more and more.  With Routine comes busyness and stresses.  Please pray that we would find a happy medium of busyness and relaxation.

Thank you for all your support and prayers!

Brent, Briyana, and Aliyana

TWIST

This Week In Short Term:
Haiti:

We have a work team of 6 going into Cap Haitian, Haiti September 10 - October 5.

We have a work team of 6 going into Cap Haitian, Haiti September 24 - October 1.

Ecuador:

We have a medical team of 16 in Susudel, Ecuador September 16-25.

Rwanda:We have a team of 3 going to Kigali, Rwanda September 9-29 to provide literacy training.

TWIST

This Week In Short Term:

Haiti:

We have a work/evangelism team of 11 in Cap Haitian, Haiti September 3-17.
We have a work team of 6 going into Cap Haitian, Haiti September 10 - October5.

Ecuador:

We have a medical team of 16 in Susudel, Ecuador September 16-25.

Rwanda:
We have a team of 3 going to Kigali, Rwanda September 9-29 to provide literacy training.

What God is doing through OMS and Men For Missions

While sitting down this past Wednesday in are half day of prayer, I found out some amazing statistics I can't help but share.  

• This past year we have seen 34 people answer their call by God to become missionaries at our headquarters.
• We have seen 13 countries participate in our most recent Church Multiplication Training.
• We have seen almost 300,000 people profess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior in the past 6 months.
• AND we have seen tremendous growth out of our 2 most recent One Weekends.
• 38% of those that participated in the first One Weekend and 35% from our second One Weekend have chosen to become missionaries.

One Weekend is designed to help those thinking about or wanting to explore what missions is all about.  Over the weekend, each participant will have the chance to explore missionary life, have conversations with actual missionaries, and explore topics that missionaries deal with each and everyday.

Our next One Weekend is October 28-30th.  I've attached a flyer below and a link to our website.  If you would like to participate contact Paul Cox or myself.  For $65 (single) or $130 (couple) you can also sponsor a scholarship for somebody attending.  To do this you can also contact Paul Cox or myself.

Hallelujah, we worship a BIG God!

Brent, Briyana, and Aliyana

TWIST

This Week In Short Term:

Haiti:

We have a work/evangelism team of 11 in Cap Haitian, Haiti September 3-17.
We have a work team of 6 going into Cap Haitian, Haiti September 10 - October5.

Japan:

We have a work team of 5 going to Tokyo, Japan September 9-2 to help with the Tsunami relief effort.

Rwanda:

We have a team of 3 going to Kigali, Rwanda September 9-29 to provide literacy training.

Evangecube

Last Friday, I participated in a training session that included learning how to incorporate the Evangecube into our ministries.  As part of the training we went to a local hotel we had connections with to share with those that would listen.

The hotel we visited tends to be refuge to those down on their luck.  Many of those that stay, use the hotel as last resort until they become homeless, and a large majority of them are without a job.  We knocked on several doors with no answer, but the conversations that we had with those that did answer tended to be very encouraging.

My teammate  Bill and I had a very encouraging conversation with a gentleman named Nick.  Nick is a recent U.S. Marine that has been medically discharged from the service because he suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  He invited us into his room and we began sharing with him the message of hope and salvation with our testimonies and help from the Evangecube.  We asked Nick if he had ever heard about Jesus Christ and he said yes, but when we asked him what he would say to God to let him in Heaven when he approached the day he died; he had no answer.  We asked him if he wanted to ask the Lord into his heart and he nodded.  We prayed with him and encouraged him to get plugged into a local church for fellowship and mentorship.

Since that day, Nick has begun attending a  Sunday morning church service and recently attended a Wednesday night bible study with other new believers.  He's moving out of the hotel and plans on moving in with his Father into a house.  Please continue to pray for Nick as he grows deeper in his relationship with Jesus Christ.

To God Be The Glory!!!

Brent, Briyana, and Aliyana

SO Much Has Changed!

I want to apologize for the significant gap in updates and posts.  June was a blur with Aliyana's birth, July was a blur from the lack of sleep and effort Briyana and I took to adjust to our new schedules and family.  August was a blur because of all the traveling we did to say goodbye to family, friends, and the move to Indiana.

We moved to Greenwood, Indiana on August 19, 2011 to begin our ministry with Men For Missions and One Mission Society.  Though we miss are families and friends; we are so excited to see what God has in-store for us over the coming months.  Briyana will be working with the University of Indianapolis part-time and part-time at Community Hospital South in their Progressive Care Unit.

Please continue to lift our family up in prayer as we adjust to our new lives and continue raising the last of our monthly support.

God Bless,

Brent, Briyana, and Aliyana

TWIST

This Week In Short Term

Haiti

We have a work team of 5 in Jeremie, Haiti helping with electrical work and generator repair until September 2

We have a work team of 5 going into Jeremie, Haiti from August 30 - September 3 

We have a work/evangelism team of 11going into Cap Haitian, Haiti September 3-17 

Japan

We have a relief team of 5 from northern IN going to Japan Sep. 9-24

Rwanda

We have a team of 3 going to Kigali, Rwanda for literacy training Sep. 9-29 

Mission Trip to Haiti: Day 8

Day 8 was our last day in Haiti.  We woke up at 5:15am and headed out around 5:45am for the airport.  The ride to the airport was bittersweet and somewhat emotional.  We got to say our goodbyes to our Haitian friends and proceeded through the 3 security checkpoints you must go through to get on an airplane in Haiti.  If Americans feel like security checkpoints are bad in America, I'm afraid of what they would say if they lived in Haiti.

Our flight from Port-au-Prince to Fort Lauderdale was smooth.  We were in no hurry.  We knew we had a 3.5 hour layover and were not worried of missing it.  Unfortunately, our flight from Fort Lauderdale to Dallas was delayed too.  The plane broke down and we had to wait an additional 4 hours for another plane to take us to Dallas.  SO, instead of arriving at Dallas around 5pm, we arrived at 10:30pm.  A bit frustrating, but we figured it was better that they found out the plane was broken while we were still on the ground, rather than finding out while we were in the air.

All in all, the trip was a HUGE success.  The house got built, relationships were established, missionaries were encouraged, and lives were changed.  Thank you for your prayers and support!

The finished product  :)

Mission Trip to Haiti: Day 7

I woke up and was determined to go to the jobsite today.  We had biscuits and Haitian gravy for breakfast. Instead of having the traditional gravy with sausage, our gravy had eggs in it.  It was interesting.

It was going to be our last day at the jobsite, and we also wanted to visit a house that was previously built to say hi and give them some gifts.  We decided to go say hi first.  The other house was the complete opposite direction from our jobsite and was on a mountain overlooking the Caribbean.  The mountain was so high, that our SUV couldn't even make it up to the house.  We had to walk at the steepest part.  When we got there, I was awe struck.  I felt like I was on top of the world.  Homes for Haiti had built a $10,000 house with a $1,000,000 view.  We were able to give the kids of the area some treat and toys and gave the home owner a water purification system and a Radio that plays the Bible.

A view from the house on top of the mountain.

We eventually headed back to our jobsite and dedicated the house to the future homeowners.  It neat to see their appreciation and hear how the house was going to make an impact on their lives and the lives of those around them.  We also gave them a water purification system and a Bible on radio.  The understanding we have with the homeowners is that they will hold bible-studies in their home with the neighbors around them.

Once they left, we finished up the roof and other last minute things and headed back to the Villa.  That evening we had the chance to have dinner with the pastor of the church we partner with in Port-au-Prince.  Members of their sister churches were their and we enjoyed an evening of fellowship and fun.