HALLELUJAH! ~ Michael Bryant (8.2.09)

On Saturday, July 25, 2009, a Congregational Mission Team of sixty-one students and adults (fifty-one from Stony Point and fifteen from Dornoch Free Church, Scotland) traveled to Fairmont, West Virginia.  In Jesus name, the team spent a week there doing repair and maintenance on five homes up and down Hamilton Street.  It was our best week in Fairmont ever. We built decks, walkways, bathrooms, closets, retaining walls, porches, handrails, and steps.  We repaired gutters, plumbing, and roofs.  We visited many of our former Host Families and the Wishing Well Nursing Home.  We even painted a mural.  God answered every one of our prayers, and (as is His custom) then some. Several of our Fairmont Hosts were Christians.  They inspired us with their depth of faith, courage, hospitality, and generosity.   Others are not Christians (yet).  We hope that our humble service and witness will somehow inspire them to seek and find their place in God’s kingdom. Our faith in Christ was certainly strengthened and one from our team professed faith in Jesus for the first time. It was a week we will not soon forget. Hallelujah!  (Check the PHOTO GALLERY for some pictures from the week.)

THE HOLY SPIRIT AT WORK ~ George Fohl (7.30.09)

It’s getting close to midnight here in Fairmont. And the news of how God is working through us and in us is, in my opinion, worth breaking a 10:30 camp curfew to share!   (I also have to admit that the front porch of our cabin is quite peaceful so late at night!)  Ever since God placed the desire on my heart this past spring, I have been so pumped about coming to Fairmont.   After so many years I was finally obedient to God’s call to serve and I was so eager to see the ways God would use our physical labor as a means to work in and shape peoples hearts!   Let me tell you what–our mighty God does not disappoint!   I hope I can provide a small glimpse of that to you.

My team is working on the home of an elderly woman whose name is Mary. Her adult daughter, Caroline, also lives in the house with her.  They are so gracious and patient as we work around their house!  Outside, we have installed a new storm door, built a walkway from the front to backyard, cleaned some massively clogged gutters, and rebuilt a rotten stairwell roof.  Inside, we have been scrubbing, repairing, and repainting the kitchen walls.  We’ve also been doing the same to ceilings throughout the house.  As enjoyable as that physical labor is, I can’t help but to remember that it’s just the vehicle for why we are really here.   As our team has worked around Mary’s house, God has used us in some awesome ways to encourage and build up Mary and Caroline.  For example, just today Caroline came home from work frustrated and discouraged.  How great is to see her eyes light up as we spoke with her!  Talk about the Holy Spirit at work.  YEAH!!  And the joy that radiates from their smiles as we showed them the progress on our various projects clearly shows us that God is doing some awesome things in their hearts.

It is also so incredibly great to step back and see how God is working in the hearts of our team members as well.  It’s such an awesome sight to see them serving so selflessly and so willingly.  It is so cool to see them pour out such a genuine love as they serve and talk with our hosts!

There is so much more to share of how God is truly answering your prayers for safety, etc., but time is short.  To sum it up–we serve such an amazing gracious God who truly provides, protects, and loves His children.  I hope and pray that our time here truly gives Him the glory that He so rightly desires!

REACHING OUT TO THOSE IN NEED ~ Eilenn MacKay (7.29.09)

This is my first experience with any mission project.  I, along with the rest of the team from Dornoch, feel so blessed to have the opportunity to do God’s work – reaching out to those in need.  Although, coming into it, I did not realize how hard the work would be, I truly have seen God at work every day throughout the week.

I am serving on the Special Ops Team. Our job is to visit host families from previous years.  Today we visited Gloria and, her daughter, Very. Although Gloria is very ill, she cares for her 16 year old daughter who has learning needs. What I observed was the look of bewilderment on the mother’s face.  She was emotional and could not understand why we would bother helping her family at no cost.  Witnessing the bond between Stony Point and this family, I was so moved.  God touches people through others.

Another example of God at work in Fairmont today was when a young man from Stony Point stood up in front of the whole team and told everyone he had asked Jesus into his life.  He was so brave to have done that and we all cried.

Finally, this week on Hamilton Street (where all our Host Families live) I have had the opportunity to build up a relationship with a neighbor named Charles.  He is blind and sits on his porch all day.  We just chat in general and I tell him some Scottish jokes.  We have a good laugh together.  Yesterday, John Linville (the musician) came by with his guitar. John asked Charles what he does to pass the time.  Charles replied, “Well, you see, I just take it one day at a time.”  John offered to sing that song to him.  He sang beautifully and afterwards Charles had tears in his eyes.  We all said ‘Amen!’

You are all such lovely people and we in Scotland are truly blessed that God brought you into our lives.

‘A MIND TO WORK’ ~ Zac Collins (7.28.09)

After only a few days here in Fairmont, we have already seen the Lord working in many ways. Our specific prayers regarding transportation and supplies have all been answered. But more importantly, He is fulfilling our desire to reach the hearts of our hosts with the Gospel.   Their thankfulness is shown through tears as, by God’s grace, we are able to do more than they (and we) could have imagined.

As Nehemiah saw in the young wall builders of his day, the Stony Point and Dornoch students serving in Fairmont this week also have ‘a mind to work’.   May God be praised as we continue to work in His name!

Everyone on the team is healthy and thriving in every way – mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We have already celebrated 2 birthdays and have another on Thursday.   There is also a great deal of mentoring going on for all ages.    Stay tuned for more more news of God’s faithfulness and loving kindness.

POST PROJECT REFLECTIONS

Fairmont was the best time I’ve ever had- I saw God everywhere and I got to know my church family so much more. I loved getting to know my brothers and sisters in Christ- it was so fun. ~ Emily Lehman

“West Virginia this year was an amazing experience, God was very evident in everything we did and I believe that we all grew more spiritually mature and formed unbreakable friendships. Our host families were wonderful people who I can’t wait to visit again. This past week was one that only God could have orchestrated so perfectly. Thank you all for your support and prayers.” ~ Jessica Deebo

I went on the West Virginia Mission trip because I felt God wanted me to step out of my comfort zone. The work done in West Virginia showed the love of Christ in action in two ways. First, the individuals and families that were served knew the work done on their homes as well as the expressions of caring were special and from God. It was not what you would expect from strangers. Second, our team’s common purpose to serve others for the Lord and our spiritual ties as brothers and sisters in Christ gave us a spirit of unity that spanned ages, personalities and abilities. Our team showed the love and acceptance of Christ to each other as well as those we served during the week. The trip to West Virginia stretched me. The Lord used team members, the young and the more “mature”, as examples to show me different ways to give of myself and to see how He can work when we are surrendered to Him. I saw faith and love in action. ~ Deb McFee

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world…let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven…love your neighbor as yourself…Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” How kind of our Lord to call us to serve in His name, to be His ambassadors, to be a part of what He is doing in the world today! As we follow this call, needs are met and more importantly Jesus is seen. The Spirit was at work on Hamilton St. in Fairmont, WV…moving in the hearts of those we served as well as our own. We go because He called, but the grace of our God gives amazing joy as we obey His call. Grace upon grace. Blessing upon blessing…that’s how our God rolls. ~ Zac Collins

THE TEAM FROM SPC

Zac Collins, Steve & Mary Jo Ellis, Dave Gray, Tim Mauney, James & Jennifer Murphy, Debbie McFee, Michael & Cindy Bryant, George Fohl, Josh & Anna Bryant, Meg Andreson, Becky &  Tim Anthony, Michaux Arthur, Jordan & Emily Blair, Anna H Bryant, Ben Constable, Kristin, Laurin, & Sydney Dahlstrand, Jessica & Ryan Deebo, Julie DiNisio, Taylor &  Mary Katherine Dowell, Harrson Frazer, Matt Garman, Dan, Ben, & Jordan Holland, Laura Holmes, Michael Dunn, Hope Laramore, Emily Lehman, Chloe Spencer, Nina Mauney, Ryan Milby, Stephen Norris, Sam Park, Roger Cooke, Patrick Osen, & Maddie Zakulak.  Bookkeeper ~ Paul Sherfey

THE TEAM FROM DORNOCH

James & Coral MacKay, John & Elisha MacKay, Euan MacDonald, Cameron & Garrick Taylor, Ewan Cameron, Angus Mathison, Pat Mathison, Eileen Mackay, Caroline Cairns, & Glenn Williamson

JOINING US FROM MTW

Matt & Aaron Blick