http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/ Tue, 28 Feb 2012 19:29:57 GMT en-us Copyright 2012 First Methodist Mansfield http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/unity-park-memorial-garden-dedication--a-place-of-healing-and-reflection/ http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/unity-park-memorial-garden-dedication--a-place-of-healing-and-reflection/ Tue, 28 Feb 2012 19:29:56 GMT       On a very cold Saturday morning, members of our great church gathered at the Wesley Mission Center, and with six, large frosted Valentine cakes, cookies, loads of candy and cards we drove to ... http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/scholarships-make-a-difference/ http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/scholarships-make-a-difference/ Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:15:43 GMT Our church provides scholarships to train teachers, nurses and pastors in their native countries. Thank you for being a part of this transformational work. Please pray for each of these students as they work to minister to the needs of their ... http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/kairos-closing/ http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/kairos-closing/ Sun, 13 Nov 2011 16:57:52 GMT On Sunday I once again had the priviledge of attending a Kairos Closing ceremony. I can't begin to tell you how awesome these events are - one has to attend to experience the amazing transformation of these inmates who have been chosen to ... http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/hope-empowerment-update-from-your-zoe-community/ http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/hope-empowerment-update-from-your-zoe-community/ Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:44:13 GMT NdayishimiyeGisagara CommunityHope Companion: First UMC, Mansfield Ndayishimiye, 15 years old, has been caring for his two younger brother Nkomeje, 13, and Zigama, 10, since his parents died three years ago. Because he was only 12 years old at ... http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/thoughts-on-the-tennessee-mission-trip-september-2011/ http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/thoughts-on-the-tennessee-mission-trip-september-2011/ Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:45:31 GMT Wow!  What a week – God truly is awesome and Big Enough.  What a great group of people to share this giving experience with – from our local coordinators James and Carleton to our clients and team members.  I felt so ... http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/adult-mission-trip-to-nashville-tn-day-5/ http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/adult-mission-trip-to-nashville-tn-day-5/ Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:14:41 GMT Day five here in Nashville started like the previous days, with breakfast and preparing for the work day ahead. Today was different in that we were not scheduled to do any construction or clean-up work, but instead travelled to a warehouse near ... http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/adult-mission-trip-to-nashville-tn-day-4/ http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/adult-mission-trip-to-nashville-tn-day-4/ Thu, 29 Sep 2011 01:32:58 GMT If you have read our blog throughout the week, you know our morning routine by now. Wake up, thank God for a cool and beautiful day in Tennessee, have breakfast, get ready for the day of work and meet with James and Carlton our work coordinators ... http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/adult-mission-trip-to-nashville-tn-day-3/ http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/adult-mission-trip-to-nashville-tn-day-3/ Wed, 28 Sep 2011 01:14:51 GMT Tuesday was another beautiful day in Nashville with cool temperatures and sunshine. We enjoyed a hot breakfast prepared by Susan, Patricia, and Brenda. After breakfast we met with James (our work coordinator) and discussed the day’s work ... http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/adult-mission-trip-to-nashville-tn-day-2/ http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/adult-mission-trip-to-nashville-tn-day-2/ Tue, 27 Sep 2011 03:38:20 GMT Sunday night brought rain showers and cooler temperatures to Nashville – both of which we know would be welcomed back in Texas – but we enjoyed a cool and wet start to our first day of work. We started the day by meeting with James ... http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/adult-mission-trip-to-nashville-tn-day-1/ http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/adult-mission-trip-to-nashville-tn-day-1/ Sun, 25 Sep 2011 12:06:41 GMT After a long but thankfully uneventful day of travelling from Mansfield to Nashville, the road-weary adult mission team arrived at Bellvue United Methodist Church late Saturday evening. We were met by a member of the church who gave us a tour ... http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/living-in-the-valley/ http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/living-in-the-valley/ Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:09:34 GMT One of my most read devotional books is by Oswald Chambers.  I find his writings thought provoking and practical.  In “My Utmost For His Highest”, Chambers writes about the exhilaration of mountaintop experiences but how ... http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/birthing-kits/ http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/birthing-kits/ Fri, 12 Aug 2011 15:38:09 GMT Julie Warren was a member of our church when she came up with the idea for the birthing kit. UMCOR approved it and has now added it to their relief supply program. Our church was one of the first to begin making and donating these kits and we ... http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/update-from-zoe/ http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/update-from-zoe/ Mon, 01 Aug 2011 19:16:45 GMT I wanted to share a "miracle" story from your community in Rwanda (First Methodist is working with ZOE Ministry by commiting $250,000 over three years to ZOE Ministry’s Giving Hope Empowerment Project). We recently met 3 street boys in ... http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/update-from-haiti/ http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/update-from-haiti/ Fri, 08 Jul 2011 17:17:53 GMT Here's the latest information from our Mission Team in Haiti:Three of our team members are leading vbs each morning and then joining the construction group in the afternoon. VBS has been great! The number of kids vary throughout the morning from ... http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/mission-trip-items-for-haiti/ http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/mission-trip-items-for-haiti/ Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:39:19 GMT Our church is sending a mission team to Haiti July 5-13. Please be in prayer for them and for the people of Haiti. If you and your family would like to contribute needed items for the mission team to deliver, please bring any of the items below ... http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/2010-mission-trips/ http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/2010-mission-trips/ Thu, 26 May 2011 14:27:09 GMT View pictures of 2010 Mission trips. 2010 Trip Pictures DatesLocationDetails January 16-23 2010  Mexico See our photo album from this trip Online February 13-19, 2010 Matamoras, Mexico See our photo album from ... http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/your-big-and-small-world/ http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/your-big-and-small-world/ Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:28:31 GMT The following devotional comes to us through Joni and Friends, one of our ministry partners. It speaks so well to the mission of our church and to the challenge of our lives as Christians. I want to share this thought with you and thank you all ... http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/the-latest-on-casa-de-comunion-y-bendicion/ http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/the-latest-on-casa-de-comunion-y-bendicion/ Tue, 14 Dec 2010 19:30:06 GMT Our church took a special offering to help build the Casa de Comunion y Bendicion Methodist Church in Matamoras, Mexico.  Because of this gift, throughout the year, we have been matching funds raised by the members of the Mexico church. We ... http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/kairos--prison-ministry-at-the-boyd-unit-closing-ceremony/ http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/kairos--prison-ministry-at-the-boyd-unit-closing-ceremony/ Thu, 04 Nov 2010 16:00:06 GMT I just wanted to tell you that my experience in attending the Kairos Closing at Boyd Unit yesterday is one I'll never forget.   Nothing prepared me for the emotional joy I would feel in my heart among these incarcerated men.  To ... http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/the-boy-in-the-tattered-jacket/ http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/the-boy-in-the-tattered-jacket/ Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:55:25 GMT This poem was inspired by one of the people who went on the ZOE Ministry Mission Trip, July 7-10. The Boy in the Tattered Jacket Somewhere in Southern Rwandaa sight did catch my eyeA boy in a tattered jacketgathered as we went by.The jacket ... http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/the-struggle-for-power/ http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/the-struggle-for-power/ Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:13:50 GMT July 15, 2010 Although I’ve come to enjoy life by candlelight, I do sometimes miss the conveniences of electricity, namely: computers/printers, music, and refrigeration. Last night I went to the home of some new friends in town for ... http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/rwanda-africa-zoe-ministry-mission-trip-july-7-10/ http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/rwanda-africa-zoe-ministry-mission-trip-july-7-10/ Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:53:31 GMT We all have expectations, we are excited and maybe a little anxious.  But one by one, we board the plane to Washington, D.C, en route to Rwanda, Africa.  After a layover in Dulles airport, we find our seats on Ethiopian Air.  ... http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/umcor-sager-brown/ http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/umcor-sager-brown/ Thu, 27 May 2010 18:28:26 GMT Learn more about Sager Brown Depot and campus in Baldwin, Louisiana, where mission has been taking place for more than 140 years.  Learn more about how gifts of hope are assembled and dispatched to those who need them most... http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/emilys-journey-to-liberia/ http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/emilys-journey-to-liberia/ Thu, 20 May 2010 19:27:49 GMT In God’s Hands  -  March 18, 2010 I’ve received an invitation to serve as the camp recreation coordinator and English teacher at Ganta Mission School’s Camp E.D.G.E. (The EDGE stands for “Experiencing and ... http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/cleaning-buckets-for-tennessee-may-2010/ http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/cleaning-buckets-for-tennessee-may-2010/ Tue, 18 May 2010 15:52:09 GMT Cleaning Buckets for Tennessee - Disaster Response Request -  A total of 52 counties in Tennessee were affected with damages estimated at $1.5 billion.  There is a great need for cleaning buckets to help with clean-up.  If you ... http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/revelation-serves-as-confirmation-/ http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/revelation-serves-as-confirmation-/ Mon, 03 May 2010 15:06:19 GMT I would like to share a revelation from this last months Hands of Christ Workday... Saturday we were given the opportunity to assist a local church in renovation of a small church.  The project is a collaboration of ... http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/reflections-on-a-mission-trip/ http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/reflections-on-a-mission-trip/ Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:02:41 GMT As I get back in the groove of work, I can’t help but reflect back on the past week spent on a mission trip to Mexico.  As a veteran of numerous mission trips to Mexico, I began to wonder why this one was so special for me.  It ... http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/container-project-for-kids-in-zimbabwe/ http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/container-project-for-kids-in-zimbabwe/ Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:52:57 GMT (literally taking Christ to the World ) Beacon of Hope and Joy, which is a part of African Ministries of FUMC, learned in late August that space on a container headed for Zimbabwe was available to us. The next day work began on collecting ... http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/zarsonnon-birthing-home-project/ http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/zarsonnon-birthing-home-project/ Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:05:01 GMT Below is a letter about the Zarsonnon Birthing Home Project that was funded by our church.  The dedication of the birthing home was January 30, 2010.  Thank you to all that helped make this possible. Dear Teresa and Everyone, I am ... http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/gifts-that-go-beyond-2009/ http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/gifts-that-go-beyond-2009/ Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:02:14 GMT What kind of difference did you make this weekend that will go well beyond our walls? 14 soccer balls will be given to children in an African nation 190 Bibles will be given to people here in the United States that find their lives in ... http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/greetings-from-ganta-hospital/ http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/greetings-from-ganta-hospital/ Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:06:40 GMT Greetings from Ganta Hospital and hope that you are all doing fine. I write this letter to keep you abreast of the latest development on the work in Zarsonner. Since your departure, the community and the PHC team at Ganta have beed working very ... http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/a-part-of-his-plan/ http://www.firstmethodistmansfield.org/stories-of-missions/a-part-of-his-plan/ Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:08:35 GMT First of all, I do want to say that these past 7 days have been some of the most phenomenal days of my life.   I can show pictures and tell stories, but it is impossible to convey the true feeling one gets in such instances.  ...