Archive for February, 2011

Friday, February 25th, 2011

‘Share Your Story’ Contest Winner Can’t Believe Mission Trip Photos

Like so many before her who left home to share God’s word on an international mission trip, Karen Twenhafel was stretched in new ways as she ministered in the Ukraine. “I can’t believe that’s me,” she says every time she looks at photos of herself from the mission trip.

Twenhafel is the winner of the Ministry Travel Share Your Story contest. We invited our Facebook fans to share their favorite mission trip story for a chance to win two airline tickets. A number of our fans responded, all with great stories of compassion and God’s movement around the world.

Jack Sauls shared how he was moved by watching Ugandan children carry yellow containers of dirty drinking water on their bicycles. Deborah Bagley recalled how the orphan children she worked with in Bolivia cherished the little Christmas box of toys they provided.

Kay McNabb shared about a medical mission trip to Peru where the hardest part was turning away people from their make-shift clinic because they just did not have enough time to see everyone who had a need. Tracy Fisher shared how her time with a medical team in Uganda challenged her to go home and help collect medical equipment and other supplies. Tracy’s efforts resulted in a 20 foot container packed wall to wall with state of the art equipment for a Christian medical center in Uganda.

Several contest participants shared how their trips changed their lives. Even the process of determining where to go, raising the necessary funds and then the logistics involve to accomplish their mission stretched their faith. Our staff enjoyed reading all of the stories and knowing that they are a small representation of the thousands of stories our clients experience every year. 

Karen Twenhafel did things on her mission trip that she would never have imagined doing before the outreach. Not necessarily big, dramatic things, but things that were outside of her natural comfort zone. All of us who have participated in similar endeavors can relate to her. It is the myriad of “little” things that often stretch us and leave an indelible impression on our lives. Most of all, it is serving others that enlarges our vision and helps us realize how blessed we truly are. Karen’s story is a great summary of the affects that short-term mission trips have on those who go.

Here is Karen Twenhafel’s story:

“I can’t believe that’s me.”

That’s my primary thought when I look at pictures of myself on a mission trip to Ukraine in June 2010. It’s not that I have trouble believing that I traveled to a foreign land and spread God’s Word. I’m a Christian – it’s my obligation to do that. The pictures that render personal disbelief are those that depict me in roles that, before the trip, I would have never attempted.

There’s the picture of me holding a Ukrainian baby. We were in the small village of Kygarlyk. There was a 12 year old girl who came to all of our presentations. However, she was often limited in participation as she cared for her 10 month old brother. When she would try to put him down so that she could do a craft or play a game, he would cry and she would have to stop.

On our last day there, we pulled out a brightly colored parachute to play with. The girl’s face lit up as she eagerly cried “Parachuta! Parachuta!” But then her face fell when she saw her brother firmly ensconced in her arms. I, without thought, indicated that I could hold the baby. As she thrust the boy into my arms, I wanted to immediately hand him back. I’ve always been a bit afraid of babies – they’re small, squirmy and seem to make irrational decisions. But when I saw the girl, so often put in the role of an adult, gleefully run off to play, I steeled myself. I held, sang to and played with the baby for the next 45 minutes while his sister got to be a kid.

Then there’s the photo of Dawn and Megan, two fellow mission workers, a couple of Ukrainian girls and me crammed into the back seat of a passenger van. When we were in Savron, geographical distance between the churches dictated that up to 16 people could be in a van meant for 10. On this day, I found myself squished between Dawn and Megan, with Megan’s elbow lodged in my ribs and me sitting halfway on Dawn’s lap.

As someone who greatly values her personal space, this situation should have been unbearable for me. But in the picture, I’m smiling – not a tight, just-get-through-it smile but a full-on grin. I remember being physically uncomfortable but I more recall feeling happy. I was happy because as we bounced down dusty back roads, the van, brimming with God’s children, was also over-filled with laughter, singing and joy.

Every morning in Ukraine, I would pray that God would open my eyes to opportunities He wanted me to see. I had expected, and often found, occasions to share the wonderful news of redemption in Jesus Christ. I did not, however, anticipate that God would show me ways to break out of my well-worn habits.

While there are still times when I can’t believe it’s me in those photos, I now stare at them in appreciation of how God works in our lives. I can’t wait to see what He does next when we return to Ukraine this June. To Him alone be the power forever and ever. Amen.

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Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

Missions Round-Up: North Africa Uprisings as an ‘Open Door;’ Bible Distributors Killed by Somali Pirates

The world has watched dramatic events recently unfold in Tunisia, Egypt and now Libya. Although many tourists and missions workers have fled Egypt and currently are staying clear of the North African nation, Christian workers there and in the region are asking Western Christians to “run toward Egypt,” according to a recent Baptist Press report.

Believers familiar with the scene see this as an unprecedented open door for Americans to come and serve alongside national Christian workers. “So instead of stepping back in fear, we need to step in and roll up our sleeves and get in the fields white unto harvest,” one worker was quoted as saying.

The report goes on to say that the gap between Christians and Muslims, which had been widening over the decades, is now “slamming together” as a result of men from both faiths standing together to protect their homes from looters during the recent uprisings.

Other ministries are also echoing the call to greater Christian involvement in Egypt and throughout North Africa and the Middle East. In a recent Mission Network News story, Jason Woolford with Christian Resources International commented on what he sees as unique windows of opportunity for gospel advancement in these countries. “We definitely have short windows—or it would appear that we could have a short window—to get God’s Word there.”

Woolford’s organization ships crates of Bibles and other Christian materials to a network of believers in these countries for distribution to pastors and individuals desiring to learn more about Christianity.

In the news yesterday were reports of four Americans killed by pirates after their boat the Quest had been captured last week off the coast of Somalia. Christianity Today is reporting that two of the four killed, Scott and Jean Adam, were a retired couple who spent most of the last decade sailing the world distributing Bibles. Scott Adam is a graduate of Fuller Seminary and he and his wife Jean were members of Santa Monica’s Catholic Church in Santa Monica, California.

According to a Reuters story, the kidnappers were in negotiations with a U.S. Navy ship that was following the pirates when the killings occurred.

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Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

FAA Website Provides Helpful Traveler Resources

While the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) primarily focuses on airline safety, pilot licensing, and overseeing the nation’s air traffic, it also provides resources helpful to individual travelers through their website at www.fly.faa.gov.

The FAA monitors the operational status of all commercial airports across the country and provides an interactive map listing airport delays and details. A quick glance will tell you what airports are running 15 minutes or less behind schedule (green dots), 16-45 minutes (yellow) or are experiencing significant delays or temporary closures (red). Orange dots indicate that inbound flights have been delayed prior to departure.

Actual airline delays tend to be a bit longer than the over-all airport delays, but the map is a good quick indicator to what is happening at your airport or others across the system. The map can be found at http://www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/usmap.jsp.

The FAA will send you free email updates on the status of airports. This is especially helpful if you fly a lot or you manage teams flying out of particular airport. Sign up for the emails at http://www.fly.faa.gov/ais/jsp/ais.jsp.

The FAA handles concern or complaints regarding airlines and airports. They also track and report the on-time departure performance and monitor airline compliance with tarmac delay rules. Travel problems, concerns or complaints can be made by phone 24 hours a day by calling 1-866-TELL-FAA.

In addition, the FAA conducts an assessment of all international airlines that fly to the United States, as well as the aviation authority of each country with carriers operating in the U.S. It does not, however, evaluate the operations of foreign carriers within their own countries as this is against international law.

Finally, the FAA offers several traveler-focused articles and tips. These include safety suggestions such as how to handle turbulence and tips for traveling with children. The children’s section includes help on getting through security screening, using car seats on planes, and more. Those articles can be found at http://www.faa.gov/passengers/.

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Wednesday, February 9th, 2011

Frequent Flyer Program Changes Benefit Ministry Travel Clients

American Airlines recently unveiled new ways for members of its frequent flyer program, AAdvantage, to use their accumulated miles. AAdvantage points can now be used to directly purchase car and hotel rentals.

While all the major airlines offer various ways to accumulate miles—everything from buying flowers to turning on a light switch—they tend to be pretty stingy in how they allow passengers to spend those miles. Typically miles can only be used for flights, and then only under tight inventory controls that make it difficult to actually use the miles.

American, however, has bucked that trend by offering rooms at 10,000 hotels in 320 destinations worldwide that can be purchased with miles. In the past, American would allow you to transfer points to the points program of selected hotel chains. You could not book hotels or cars directly. Travelers are now given the option of using all miles or a combination of miles and cash to pay for hotel and car rentals through American. Points redemption, however, can only be done through the airline’s website and not by phone.

American also offers what it calls “exclusive deals” with certain hotels, which cost fewer miles. This means that there is not a direct correlation between the price of the room and the number of points needed.

The InterContinental Los Angeles hotel, for example, is available for 17,200 points per night. A room booked through the hotel’s website is $259. The Omni Los Angeles charges $10 more per night ($269) but is 4,500 AAdvantage points cheaper. AAdvantage Elite members get greater discounts.

A compact car rented from LAX, for example, cost a minimum of 2,450 points per day. Car renters are still responsible for any taxes or fees, which are paid at the time of rental.

These new AAdvantage options are also good news for Ministry Travel passengers who fly internationally on partner airlines and prefer to accumulate American miles.

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Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011

Travel Lessons from the Crisis in Egypt

More than 1,600 Americans were evacuated from Egypt by the U.S. government in the past two days, and at least 1,400 more are awaiting evacuation. The current Egyptian crisis provides some important lessons for anyone who travels internationally.

First, notice how quickly political and social situations can change around the world. We saw this recently in Tunisia and now in Egypt. What was a seemingly stable country just a couple weeks ago is now in turmoil. Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets and Egypt is facing the possible collapse of its government.

Second, anytime you travel abroad, you should register with the U.S. State Department’s free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (formerly known as “Travel Registration”) at http://travelregistration.state.gov. This will provide you with updated information about your destination country and enable consular officers to reach you in case of an emergency.

Third, if you are abroad and find yourself in a fluid situation like Egypt, it is important to stay abreast of the news and to monitor U.S. State Department announcements as well as the foreign affairs departments of other nations. The easiest way to follow the State Department is on Twitter: @TravelGov.

If you decide that you should leave the country earlier than originally planned, contact the airline or your travel agent about switching to an earlier flight. In crisis situations like Egypt, airlines often will waive the change fees. You will want to stay in contact with the airlines as flight schedules may change with little advance notice. That happened this week with many Cairo flights.

If you can get back home on a commercial flight, that may be better than a government evacuation flight. American evacuees from Egypt are being flown to “safe havens” in Europe—primarily Athens and Istanbul—where they will then be responsible to find their own way back to the States. Plus they have to reimburse the government for the flights. So sticking with a commercial carrier, if possible, may be the simplest and cheapest way to go.

When you are confirmed to leave, get to the airport as early as possible just in case there are delays en route. Also try to bring some food and water with you as these may not be available at the airport during a crisis.

Hopefully you will never find yourself in the middle of a crisis situation like we see today in Egypt. If you do, these lessons will prove invaluable.

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