1st and 2nd round of questions

What are three unique things about you?

-Ability to solve a conflict between to people. I love to help others, and helping feuding friends is no exception.

-I love photography, even though I haven't taken any classes over it.

-I am a roller coaster expert. Have questions about a roller coaster or amusement park? I'm your guy.

How do you spend your free time / What do you like to do to relax, have fun?

-My free time WOULD have been spent doing roller coaster things, but our local amusement parks have all shut down. The most recent being two years ago. Basically everything I do is roller coasters.
-I like to ride my bike. The most I've ridden at once is about 10 miles.
-I love being with friends. I'm an excellent texter, so I talk to them a lot.

Tell us who you are

I live in the boredom capital known as Wichita , Kansas . There's nothing to do here, so I find myself riding my bike a lot and sleeping. If offered a million dollars, I would give at least 3/4 of it to my church, and quite a bit to charity as well. Then I would pay off my mom's debt, then do something for myself. I always try to consider others before myself. I am always asking myself "What would Jesus do?". I believe those are great words to live by. I am active in my school's G/SA, and am always finding the best in a situation. I love traveling, whether it is to see family, mission work (even though this will be my first time), or going to a theme park. I'm a very happy person who you will rarely see upset.

2nd Round:

1. Honestly, what are the top three reasons you signed up for this trip?

There are several reasons as to why I signed up for this trip. I feel that it is time for me to branch outside of my comfort zone and go out into the world. In this case, literally! I love to travel, but I understand that this is not a vacation. I didn’t even know we would have spare time to have fun until after I received my acceptance letter. Traveling to different places really helps me succeed. It gets me away from my common life here in the boring state of Kansas and to experience the many ways that God works. I find that when I am away from my home and/or helping other people, I work even harder than I would at home, which really makes my mom mad!!! But we end up laughing about that later. Anyway, I have always heard wonderful stories about mission trips from family and friends. Now it’s time for me to follow in their footsteps. God has called me to this, and I will answer that call

2. How do you want to change and grow through your mission trip? What would you like for God to accomplish in you?

I’m not 100% on how I want to change. One thing I do know, however, is that I WILL change. I know that I will be experiencing an extremely different environment that I’m used to here at home. I know how lucky I am to live in such a wonderful country, and how much God has blessed me. However, even if I am grateful for what I have, I don’t believe that I, or anyone, are grateful until we’ve seen firsthand what it’s like to have next to nothing. I know that this trip is going to change me for the better, and I know God will be there every step of the way.

3. How do you want to help the people in the DR – and show off God’s greatness? What do you expect God to do through you on this trip?

God is great. We all know that. For some time, I didn’t think that, like many GLBTQ identified people. It took other people to show me that God IS great and God works in so many ways to show his love for me and this world. I want the light of God to shine through me onto the people of the DR, showing just how great our awesome God really is. I know God will be bending me over backwards at times for this trip, but God has a plan for me that I know is for the better, no matter what my task may be.

Santo, Santo, Santo

Holy, holy, holy, my heart, my heart adores You!
My heart is glad to say the words: You are holy God!

Santo, santo, santo, mi corazon te adora
Mi corazon, te sabe decir: Santo eres Dios!

What do you bring to this mission trip?

I'm hoping that knowing Spanish really well isn't all I can bring to the table, but I think it'll certainly help! I'm a great mediator between people and cultures, and I also have a gift for knowing when people need something even when they don't come out and say so. Perhaps these traits can be helpful on the trip, but if not, I also believe that my patience, sense of humor, and contagiously positive attitude might perk some people up if they are homesick, tired, hot and grumpy, or need a smile or reassuring hug (because I'm also extremely affectionate). And I hope that the children also "catch" what I've got and I can get them to enjoy learning and loving.

:)

What do you bring to this mission trip?

What do I bring to this trip? Hmmm, I know! Why good looks of course!...oh yeah and humor.
I don't feel very "Eileen" like if I'm not joking around. Which is kinda cool cuz humor comes in very handy when meeting new people; it can put people at ease and a smile transcends language and cultural barriers. My personal style of humor is usually on the silly/neurotic/underdeveloped brain -side. Does that make sense? Wait a minute! Did I just say my brain is underdeveloped??? I guess I did. Ah, what can you do? I can adapt my humor for different settings and people. But I always keep it clean. Which is proof to the existence of God and the wonder working power of Jesus Christ. Cuz if you knew me a few years ago you would've needed more than just a bar of soap to clean out my mouth! You would've had use some Tide detergent, CLR, Mr. Clean and Kaboom too. It probably wouldn't have hurt to use some of those super awesome cleaning products endorsed by that guy with the grizzly beard either. You know the guy I'm talking about..the Oxy Clean guy! "Hi! I'm Billy Mays!" Yeah, that guy! So anywho, I like to smile and laugh.
This world's a ka-razy place and it's struggles are many. I can either give the enemy a victory over me by being all kinds of doom-n-gloom OR I can use my God given optimistic point of view and humor to make my temporary walk through this world a joyful one. Both for myself and those around me.

Report from the Dominican Republic

Greetings to our Mission Team Members and our fabulous Sending Partners!



My name is Tim Helm, member of MCC Washington D.C. (MCC-DC), where I serve as MCC-DC's Dominican Republic (DR) Outreach Coordinator. I will be assisting Regional Elder Arlene Ackerman, Rev. Jen Glass, Youth Leaders Rachael and Amanda, and our fabulous group of youth missionaries during their critical mission trip to the DR in June. I just returned from the DR and wanted to provide all of you with this report.



But first, why me? My relationship with the DR started 4 years ago when I traveled alone to the DR for a few days of rest and relaxation. But, as often is the case, God had more important plans for me than just a few days sitting by the pool. God showed me a population of GLBT folks in the DR who did not have a place to worship and where the Catholic leadership regularly issued proclamations condemning their sexuality. Outside of my fancy resort, I saw hard-working people trying to earn enough money for the basic needs of food and shelter. I saw too many kids spending the majority of their day digging through garbage for food.



So I went back to MCC-DC and told the story of what I saw. Our church responded. We conducted a 3 month study to determine if a church plant in Santo Domingo was feasible. The MCC-DC Board of Director's approved our request and sent our Associate Pastor to the DR for 3 months to establish the church plant. We held informal prayer sessions in Santo Domingo and sent two mission teams to the DR to conduct summer Bible School sessions and perform repairs and maintenance at 2 schools.



Moving forward, the 41 members of MCC Santo Domingo, under the awesome leadership of Rev. Tania Guzman, celebrated its 3rd anniversary last month! They have marched for equal rights, testified before the DR Senate in favor of protections based on sexual orientation, provided assistance to folks who lost their homes during last year's hurricanes, and provides a space for worship and prayer for all people every Saturday night in Santo Domingo. God is good!



Logistically, all is set for the youth mission trip. Plane tickets have been purchased and the hotel reserved for the one night stay in Miami. Our headquarters hotel, Residencial El Candil in Boca Chica, is fully prepared and will provide our youth team with comfortable rooms, a great breakfast (even pancakes!) to start each day, and a refreshing swimming pool after the long, hot days of mission work. Our Director of Transportation, Carlos Baez, is ready as well, making sure our daily journeys to El Tamarindo and Santo Domingo are safe. At the Escuela de ICM El Tamarindo (The MCC School of El Tamarindo), Rev. Francisco Barrera and 72 of his students are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our youth mission team! The MCC Summer Bible School is the most anticipated event of the year for these children, ages 3 through 13. And finally, Rev. Guzman and MCC Santo Domingo are busy making plans for our visit to Santo Domingo, including a worship service with the mission team on the eve of our departure from the DR.



Please continue to pray for the success of this mission trip!

Check out this video compilation from 2008

A bit about me...Rachel

My name is Rachel, and I'm from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Contrary to popular belief, I don't live in an igloo, have a team of sled dogs, or wrestle polar bears for fun. (though that might be more exciting that my actual life) :)

Seriously though, I'm 18 years old, and about a month away from finishing grade 12 and my high school career! Whew! I'll be headin to university in the fall studying biomedical and health sciences. I am an avid athlete, playing both volleyball and fastpitch softball at the provincial level, as well as basketball and cross country running for my school teams. Sports and homework (ugh) pretty much run my life, but I manage time to spend with my family, chill with my friends, and play with my two beautiful choc. labs.

3 unique things about me...?
I can tie a knot in a cherry stem with just my tongue :) (I know, quite a talent)
I can say the alphabet backwards in about 4 seconds (again...what a talent, eh?)
I was born at home with a midwife, instead of at a hospital.

Honestly, what are the top three reasons you signed up for this trip?
Last year's trip gave me a whole new perspective on life, and I want to go back and continue learning about life from a people that live it to the fullest no matter what conditions or setbacks they face.
I want to continue meeting and growing with a network of youth within MCC, so that we may become a large, visible, and contributing piece of MCC life.
Last year as we left, we told the kids 'hasta luego' which means see you later. I never intended to break my word.

2. How do you want to change and grow through your mission trip? What would you like for God to accomplish in you?
Last year, I went into the trip with expectations, but what I expected went out the window in about 30 seconds. Things happened that were so much greater and more powerful than I ever thought possible, and I became completely overwhelmed because what I expected was nothing like what I experienced. So this year, I am trying to go into the trip without expectations, or things I want God to accomplish in me. I will be open to absolutely everything. I know that what God has in store for me is exactly the way it's supposed to be.

3. How do you want to help the people in the DR – and show off God’s greatness? What do you expect God to do through you on this trip?
I want the children to know they are loved by God, plain and simple, regardless of where they are from, or what they have or don't have. I want our group to be a symbol of hope and of God's loving and all inclusive ways. And I want the children and the people we meet in the DR to know that we are out there, thinking about them, praying for and with them, working to help them. I want them to know there are people out there who's lives they have deeply touched, and who will always remember them.

About Me and 3 Questions!

I am Angel Collie. I wear many hats and enjoy many things. I am just a simple guy with a passion for Jesus and Justice. I’m on staff with MCC as a Program Assistant and Co-Lead of their Transgender Resource Team. I am also a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill majoring in Religious Studies with a minor in Sexuality Studies. I have been on the Soulforce Equality Ride across the United States, twice, visiting Colleges and Universities who discriminate against LGBTQ people. During my free time I enjoys going to church, getting inked, and doing social justice... all in the same day if possible. My passions really are Jesus, Justice, and Activism. I love MCC and the opportunity I have to serve the denomination and the trans community. I think three unique things about me are that my favorite animal is camel, I love country music even though I do not look like your typical country music fan, and I spent spring break in Kyrgyzstan! For fun I usually go to UNC athletic events, get tattooed, and watch FRIENDS- I am addicted to that show and have every season on DVD!

vv
1. Honestly, what are the top three reasons you signed up for this trip?

I signed up for this trip for quite a few of them. First off, having an opportunity to continue the work we began last year. I hope to see familiar faces and spend time with them. I hope to experience this journey with the other participants from MCC and foster lasting connections that will contribute to creating a strong vibrant future generation of MCC leaders. I also hope to meet and work with the transgender community of MCC Santo Domingo. In addition, I would like to learn more Spanish.

2. How do you want to change and grow through your mission trip? What would you like for God to accomplish in you?

I want to push myself to step further outside of my own comfort zone and open up to being truly vulnerable. I want to be a light and vessel that brings love of God to the Dominican. I hope to be close with the other youth and young adults embarking on this journey and make lasting connections but specifically to support and empower one another through this experience.

3. How do you want to help the people in the DR – and show off God’s greatness? What do you expect God to do through you on this trip?

Having been on the mission trip last summer I know that the journey promises to be a life changing encounter for all involved. Being in the Dominican Republic forced me to step outside of my daily life and be able to understand how privileged we really are. I know there had been times I didn’t want to eat because I didn’t like the food or didn’t want to wear certain clothes or shoes but after being in the Dominican it is eye opening to know many people are thankful to just have food, clothes, or shoes at all.

Being there it took time to really see and understand what was going on. At first, I thought it was a tight knit community and it took paying attention to realize that when bottles of water disappeared while working that the children were taking them because they were thirsty and desperately wanted clean water. It’s hard to see something so essential to survival as a luxury in comparison to our wasteful society. It took a while to notice that the street children were salvaging our leftover food out of the trash can and that it may be the only food they get that night. It makes you think when you live in a “All You Can Eat Buffet” America in which we fill our plates with more food than we could ever eat in one sitting and throw away. For the first time it put a face and a smile and a Child to the cliché phrase I always ignored from my Mom when I would throw away leftover, “there are starving kids who would love to have the food you are wasting.” It’s like you know it exist but until you truly experience it and feel it then it’s hard to truly understand.

God opened our eyes last year and created a desire to want to serve God through taking care of God’s children who are not able to take care of themselves. God did amazing things many times. Over and over language barriers were transcended by love and human connection. The smiles, joy, and love on the faces of the children and the effect of a simple hug. I couldn’t communicate with many people last year because of my lack of Spanish knowledge but it just didn’t matter. We still made connections and deeply touched one another.

I think the most touching thing last year was when some of the children begin to wear stickers at places I had piercings and begin calling the stickers Tattoos. :) It touched my heart and is something I will hold for the rest of my life. Having began this ministry and having the opportunity to go back I know many things like this and more will happen as God works within all of us to simply love God’s people. I want to bring smiles to their faces, be there to give them hugs and joy, and make a difference in their lives so when we leave they have experienced the love of God. I hope to have the opportunity to work with MCC Santo Domingo and the rising trans community there so that they too know that they are a gift from God, and loved fully as their true selves without reservation.

Opening Questions

1. Who are you?
I am a member at Our Hope MCC in Athens, GA. I recently graduated with my MBA from Piedmont College. I work for the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia running an internship program for high school students to get into the construction industry. I am one of five children in a blended family.

2. What are three unique things about you?
I am incredibly clumsy and accident prone. I have a piece of cartilage that floats around my right collar bone. I was the goalkeeper on my college soccer team.

3. How do you spend your free time / What do you like to do to relax, have fun?
I love to go out dancing or hangout at the lake. I cherish the time I get to spend with my niece and nephew, because I get to act like I am 5 years old.

1. Honestly, what are the top three reasons you signed up for this trip?
This trip was presented to me as I was trying to find a way to refocus my life around service to others. It seems a great way to celebrate my graduation as I was looking for a cause to endorse that everyone could get behind regardless of political or religious affiliation.I love working with children and youth.

2. How do you want to change and grow through your mission trip? What would you like for God to accomplish in you?
I am seeking direction for the next phase of my life. I expect that my time of reflection leading up to this trip and while in the Dominican will help me to focus on my gifts and articulate a clear mission.

3. How do you want to help the people in the DR – and show off God’s greatness? What do you expect God to do through you on this trip?
I expect that we will encounter some people who are not aware of God’s inclusive love for all creatures. I hope that we will be able to embody Christ in a way that will make them feel valued and appreciated. I want to empower the people I meet to use their voices to tell their stories and inspire others.

we can do it

1. Honestly, what are the top three reasons you signed up for this trip?

ok the #1 reason i joined this trip is because i like working with kids always have its like a passion 2nd is i like to learn new things im very open-minded 3rd is i love to travel any and everywhere


2. How do you want to change and grow through your mission trip?

i hopr to get a better understanding about myself this way i can help myself and others daliy because i have a lot of growing to do

What would you like for God to accomplish in you?

well i wish god would give me more patience cuz i can use some


3. How do you want to help the people in the DR – and show off God’s greatness?

ummm just by the work we will be doing so they dont feel like all is lost

What do you expect God to do through you on this trip?

anything he pleases

Hola!

1. Honestly, what are the top three reasons you signed up for this trip?
a. I honestly signed up to make a difference somewhere. In Miami growing up, I knew and had many Dominican friends. It's a hard life there and they are resilient people, and I respect that. Knowing that I can contribute to helping children accomplish their goals and perhaps do things that they would not be able to do, have some of the opportunities that we have in the U.S., gives me a sense of accomplishment and motivates my daily life.
b. I've always wanted to do missionary work, and never thought it was possible for someone that didn't know the Bible to be able to do. I'm excited about the new experience.
c. I'm going into Social Work and I hope to learn about a different culture, and hope that things I learn in DR I can apply here when working with other cultures.

2. How do you want to change and grow through your mission trip? What would you like for God to accomplish in you?
I believe that God has a plan for me. I've seen the different aspects of my life connect in similar ways, all moving toward social and community work, specifically with women and children. I'd like to widen my cultural awareness, that would be my goal in growth and change. I'm always interested in seeing how God works in my life. They say that Dios aprieta pero no ahorca. I think that when He squeezes it's for us to look around and see what else He's got in store for us.

3. How do you want to help the people in the DR – and show off God’s greatness? What do you expect God to do through you on this trip?
I have no idea what to expect, or how I'll be able to help. I know that one way, for sure, that I'll show off God's greatness is by conveying my enthusiasm and faith. I'm looking forward to talking to the kids, hearing their stories, making them laugh.

my first post

Hola a todos! I am so excited about this year's trip!!! Soon, we'll all be blogging!

The first round of questions we asked this year's participants include:
Who are you?
What are three unique things about you?
How do you spend your free time / What do you like to do to relax, have fun?

My answers to those questions are as follows:

Who are you? I am Jen Glass. I am queer. I am the first born of 3. I am local to Lancaster County, PA. I grew up Roman Catholic and went to Catholic schools most of my life. I have 2 masters degrees. I am MCC clergy. I have been to the Dominican Republic numerous times, and even spent a year there doing missionary work. I have 2 part-time ministry jobs. My partner and I have been together for 10 ½ years. We own our home and share it with 8 of God’s creatures, 3 dogs and 5 cats.

What are three unique things about you?
I have lived in a convent, but was never a nun.
I had a radio broadcasters license after going to broadcasting school.
Yo soy una gringa que puede hablar español.

How do you spend your free time / What do you like to do to relax, have fun?
I love to watch baseball and go to games – PHILLIES!!! I also like to listen to music, watch tv and movies, read books, and do things on the computer.

Youth Mission Team to Visit and Worship with MCC Santo Domingo

The Fellowship's thriving church plant in the Dominican Republic, MCC Santo Domingo, celebrated its 3rd anniversary in April! The Youth Mission Team will spend two days visiting with Rev. Guzman and the members of MCC Santo Domingo. On Saturday, June 27, the Mission Team will end their week-long mission trip by participating in MCC Santo Domingo's Saturday evening worship service.

Youth Mission Trip Preparations are Underway!

The MCC Fellowship's Youth Mission Team is ready to go! The eleven youth team members are busy raising funds and practicing their Spanish for this summer's mission trip. Over 70 students, ages 3 to 10, from Rev. Barrera's school in El Tamarindo, Dominican Republic are anxiously awaiting the start of the Mission Team's summer Bible school on June 22. This year's Bible study theme will be Daniel and the Lion's Den. The mission team is also planning an outdoor fiesta with games, activities, and prizes for the children.

We want to take time to especially thank the spending partners who are praying for the mission trip's success and have helped to raise the funds needed for this journey. Contributions for the mission trip are still needed, and can be sent directly to Rev. Jen Glass, P.O. Box 276, Landisville, PA 17538. Please make your check payable to MCC.

Please continue to visit this site as our youth post their comments and discussion topics on their hopes and prayers for the success of this mission.

Solo Dios Puede - Only God Can