“Honestly this trip was amazing, and i know I’m just waiting for the next trip. But the mission does not end in Guyana. There is not a special God of Guyana that comes down when we go over there. We are still in a battlefield and God still wants to use us. Continue to spend time with our Lord and continue to lift one another up in prayer.”
============================================================================================================“It’s It’s been 5 days since we’ve left . Guyana and we’re both still quite sad about having to leave such a wonderful place. When we went to Guyana, we first had to empty ourselves completely so that God could fill us back up again with His amazing power and love. At the time we were asked whether or not we would be interested in going on a missions trip to Guyana, we didn’t have to think twice about it; although, I admit I was a little scared because Bryan had shared a few interesting stories about the Michigan folks, especially Mr. Bino. But nonetheless, we knew that this was a place where God had intended both of us to go. It’s always important to seize any opportunity God gives you to be His hands and feet especially in areas where people are not regularly exposed to the Gospel. We were anxious and nervous about the trip, but we didn’t have great expectations. We both already knew that no matter what our expectations, God would surpass anything we would have imagined and move in a great way. In addition to the Michigan group, we were accompanied by others who lived in the Philadelphia area, including 5 kids from our church youth group. For both of us, it was extremely important to see God do amazing wonders for them, as well as the people of
Guyana. If God was able to move in our lives and change our hearts too, well, that would just be icing on the cake. One of the biggest and most welcomed surprises was to see how receptive the people of Guyana were to hearing the Gospel. Many times, here in the states, we are accustomed to having people not having the time to listen to the message of salvation. Guyana was a completely different story. It was very evident that our personal prayers and the prayers of our supporters really prepared the hearts and minds of the Guyanese people. God truly did hear and answer our prayers. It was then up to us to take the next step of sharing that Gospel.Which comes to our second surprise….We were so happy and thrilled to see how bold the kids of our youth group were in taking the Gospel message to the people of Guyana. It was great to see them talk and even pray over people without any hesitation. We both know that this is just the beginning and God has great things in store for each one of them. Being in Guyana, we let God be in full control. We let Him use us the way He saw fit. It was nothing of our own doing, but all Him. He instilled in both of us a tremendous amount of boldness and faith. He filled us with the Holy Spirit so that when we go forth and share the Word, we know everything is under His hand. God touched and changed our lives first before He worked in us to touch other people. We hope that those who find themselves reading this will seriously pray and consider going on a missions trip. It’s a great way to step out of your comfort zone and really see how God can use you when you let Him. It also gives you some time to think about why God created mosquitoes?For those of you considering on going to Guyana know that the food was amazing and that sleeping in a hammock is the best sleep you’ll ever have. We both hope and pray that God will give us another change to go back to Guyana very soon. And we both hope that next time only hearts will be broken and not church windows. J “===========================================================================================================“Guyana Missions Trip 2008 was simply awesome.God’s grace and favor was strongly evident during the entire course of the trip.Quite frankly, I was a bit overwhelmed as I was given the opportunity to be part of this mission… to be an ambassador for Christ in a country that’s totally foreign to me - I’ll admit that I was a bit nervous.However, as I took that first step of faith and consented, the nervousness soon turned into excitement.“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matt 28:18-20).Those words of encouragement and comfort gave me all the strength and the will-power I needed.It put all things in perspective.I put the down-payment on the airline ticket and never looked back.In Guyana, I was met with the warmest welcome that a foreigner could hope for in a distant land.The people quickly captured my heart with their warm smiles and kind words.Having gone there to help and to serve, I was humbled by their hospitality and their zeal in caring for our needs.The tropical landscape, the laid-back atmosphere, narrow roads shared between fast-moving traffic, pedestrians and cattle all brought back fond memories of my childhood days in Southern India.The delicious food is certainly worthy of mention.The primary focus of this mission trip was evangelism.In Guyana, I saw a country that displayed an insatiable thirst for Christ.This South American nation that has the look and feel of Kerala, India, is also one that is culturally saturated with people of Indian decent.Of these souls, a good portion of them subscribe to Hinduism or Islam.There are Hindu temples located in every single village and town where Indo-Guyanese reside.The Hindu rituals and festivals are just as ornate and extravagant as the ones that occur in our own motherland, India.Muslim influence on the country is just as strong.Like their Hindu counterparts, Muslim believers are organized into orthodox and reform groups.Our team went into these towns and villages and conducted door-to-door evangelism, open-air meetings, church services and conventions creating a Christian awareness in this environment.The response that the team received was amazing.Folks invited us into their homes with open hearts, some with tear-filled faces.They welcomed our prayers and they eagerly listened, as we shared the Gospel.Several people accepted Christ into their hearts for the very first time.A few came forward in obeying the Lord in water baptism.The work was done in the hearts of the people, even before we reached Guyana - we simply joined in on the harvest.Thinking about going on a mission trip of your own?Ever wonder if God can really use you?If you approach the task with an earnest heart, take the necessary time in prayer and preparation (up front), you’ll be amazed at the work that God can do through you.Once I made up my mind to go on this trip and took that first step of faith, I was amazed at how everything simply fell into place.God graciously provided the funds that the team needed to fund the mission.There was a tremendous outpouring of support from friends, family and my local church - we got a good amount of monetary donations, used and new clothes and other articles that the team needed for the various ministries that we had lanned.”==============================================================================================================“The Guyana mission’s trip was an eye opening and life changing experience. I went expecting God to do mighty things in the lives of the people there but God also did some amazing things in my own life. Earlier in 2008 I was at a convention at my church and there was a call for the youth of this generation to rise up as missionaries. I stepped out in faith that in 2008 I would go on a missions trip. After that I continuously prayed and asked God for open doors. I believe around April my youth pastor Bryan Varghese emailed us and said that there were a few spots open for people in our church to go on a missions trip to Guyana. I knew immediately that I was meant to go. I had absolutely no money but Bryan told me not to worry about the money and to step out in faith and say yes. I did and during the following months God miraculously provided for every financial need! I expected great miracles and healings and many many saved souls for this trip. The experience I had in Guyana was like no other. I terribly miss the people there because they are a very loving people. Our hosts truly showed the heart of Christ. I saw people just broken and accepting Christ and people being delivered from demonic spirits. The most exciting thing that happened for me was that I shared Christ one on one with someone, something I was always fearful of doing before. I am changed in that aspect because now I have a boldness I never had before! We went house visiting and prayed for the people there. I absolutely loved visiting the orphanages, although it broke my heart to see all those beautiful children living without their parents. I am glad I was able to put at least a smile on their faces through the skits and songs. I loved that this trip was a personal experience with the people of Guyana. I would without a shadow of a doubt jump at the next opportunity to go to Guyana again! If anything I would love for the trip to be longer. I really did not think the amount of time we were there was enough although God did use us with the limited time we had. The leadership team did an excellent job preparing us for the trip and leading us while we were in Guyana. I have no complaints there. God Bless you guys for putting all of this together! When I came back to my church, I recommended everyone to go on a missions trip! I would recommend them to go to Guyana b/c Guyana is a land that still needs Jesus and we need all the people we can get, to go! It is a trip that will change the heart of someone forever. This trip really taught me about servitude. Just serving was a blessing to me and when I came back to the USA I realized that I needed to do more of that because it doesn’t just stop in Guyana.”============================================================================================================“Since I was a child I knew in my heart that I was to go beyond the four walls of the church. I had heard experiences of those who had gone on mission trips and my heart would be filled with a longing. I wanted to go to the nations. As I grew older the sense of longing turned into urgency, because I realized that God’s coming was very soon. I wasn’t going to wait for the next time. The time was now. I didn’t know what to expect since it was my first time going on a missions trip. I just wanted God to move and His glory be shown. That is exactly what happened in Guyana. I experienced God in a entirely new way. I found a freedom there that I hadn’t known at home. God changed me and become more real to me than ever before. I realized how sharing Jesus with someone wasn’t as difficult as I made it out to be. I also realized how complacent I had become by taking my salvation for granted. My faith increased greatly and found out that all I had to do was make myself available to Him, listen to his voice and He would use me. My heart was broken for the people of Guyana. I know my heart is still there. I would definitely go back with the knowledge that God can work through his people to do His will. It may not always be what we expect or what we have heard to happen on mission trips. Everyone should go on a mission trip at least once in their lifetime and the time to go is now. I have gone once and I know that it is only the beginning of what He has in store”.
“The reason for returning to Guyana was based on two important reasons: 1/ After praying on whether or not I should go, me hearing God giving me the release to go, and 2/ wanting to see the status of the people of Guyana after my last visit in 2006.In all honesty, I expected God to do powerful things in Guyana, just like He had the last time I had been there; after seeing God deliver people from bondages, how could I expect anything less?Also prior to the trip I knew there was going to be more spiritual warfare, more so than the last time, so I was arriving in Guyana with high expectations. While in Guyana, I experienced from positions of utter failure to great humility, and everything in between.Being a visual person, for me to gauge whether or not something is occurring, be it in the physical or the spiritual, I need to see it.This is not always the case when dealing with God, and His sovereignty.I have always known God to be one to do things in His time, and His way, but this was a lesson I thought I knew.The first two days were frustrating for me, seeing God wanting to move but yet people being unresponsive in the worship session.At one point I honestly wanted to come home due to my state of mind and thinking that I was not being used by God, and that I was being ineffective as a missionary to another land.This disposition came to a halt when we as a team started to speak out what was on our minds, and how we thought the missions’ trip was proceeding that Monday night.After, in essence, confessing our disappointments and the lack of how God was moving in our minds, we prayed.Not just ordinarily prayed, but I believe we actually understood what God meant in the Bible when He said in Mark 9:29, “…this kind can only come out only by prayer and fasting.”
Something broke in the spiritual, that’s the only way I can describe it.The wall that we felt we kept hitting and breaking through was finally broken, and it wasn’t because we had figured out anything special.It was purely that we sought after the one who created us, who called us by name, who loved us when the world turned their back on us, and the one who saw us fit and gave us the privilege to go and spread the gospel to a country and community of people who have been beaten, battered, and broken by the lies of the enemy.At that point is when I realized that no matter how many lessons you have learned through God, you are always in line to learn a new one. God was a father, a healer, a deliverer, and provider to the people of Guyana, and to us as a missions’ team.There was not one moment where God had turned His back on any of us, but instead there were countless of moments where God’s hand covered us with protection.To go into detail in all of the occurrences would make me to write a novel of our trip to
Guyana, but a one on one conversation with anyone of us from the team would do more justice to God’s grace and mercy.
I would love to go back to
Guyana, to see yet again how the people are and what God would have in store.If God would allow me to, I will be on the team next time again.I highly recommend this to anyone who might be considering in going to Guyana, however I say this with high caution.This is by no means a joy trip or a vacation by any stretch of the imagination.There is such a strong dark spiritual struggle there with people souls and this missions trip is not for everyone.I would highly suggest any who might be interested to pray, and pray hard for a clear direction.Understanding the spiritual strongholds that people there is a definite, but know that you can learn a lot from the past.”
“What were the reasons behind your trip to Guyana?
I wanted to be a blessing to few who are less fortunate than me and share the Gospel with theunsaved.
What were your expectations before the trip?
See many orphen children and hug them and tell them that they have hope. (I was almost like one of them having nothing to hope for)
What did you experience while you were in Guyana?
We have an open field before us ready for harvest if we are willing. Love and care of people and opportunuty to serve.
What did God do for you?
Gave me confidence, power for ministering, confirmation to go ahaed even though I felt I am old! Also, I got many soul searching opportunities.
What did you do for the people of Guyana?
Pray, Pray and Pray! Share the love & power of God. Share what God did for me and how much more God can do for everyone in Guyana.
Will you go back to Guyana again? why or why not?
Yes, I will go back.
It is safe, cheap &productive; people in
Guyana are needy and deserving. Their love is cherishable.
What did you think of the leadership team? What could they have done differently to improve the trip?
Best team leadership I have experienced ever in any mission trip! (I went to many countries with many groups); There was no LEADER, only servants! Nothing I can remember now as for improvement since it was the best but I will think of it!
What are some of the suggestions you may have for future trips?
If possible only have 15 member team for 3 houses accomodation or request more houses as “paying guest”. More/differnt local churches should be involved.
Will you recommend others to go on this trip? why?
Yes, for all good reasons such as safety, price, young people friendly, short trip, effective ministries etc.
Include anything else that you thought that was significant on this trip.
How can we do some effective “charity works” and on going follow ups!!
Registration has started for this year’s retreat. If you have been to one of our past retreats, then you know that you can’t afford to miss this one. If you have never been to one of our retreats, then you have no idea what you are missing out. So, plan to come and register now.
Michigan Christian Fellowship is organizing another trip to Guyana this year
Dates: July 13 – 19
Cost per person: $800
Deadline for nonrefundable deposit of $250: April 15
Balance of $550 due: May 15th
Proposed plans for the trip:
Church ministry (train and empower local churches)
Personal Evangelism (visit houses and market places)
Children’s ministry (schools and orphanages)
Surinam meetings (one day program)
Open air meetings (2 nights)
Church meetings (2 nights)
If you are interested on this trip or need more information, please email to mcfmissions@gmail.com
Send your checks payable to Michigan Christian Fellowship and enter a memo of “mission trip 08″
Address: 795 Shelley Dr, Rochester Hills, MI 48307
We will be conducting several fasting/prayer meetings through out the month of July and August for the blessing of the retreat. Please contact Sherri Daniel for the schedule and prayer topics.
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