Jacquie, Rachael, Cody, Jennica & Blake
Jamie, Nolan, Amanda & Amy
Jacquie is one of the sweetest people any of us have ever met. Her heart is so genuine and real, and her compassion for others is alive. Jaquie loves going for long walks by the river. She has realized that her love of coffee frappucinos is not necessary back home, but is a nice perk. She finds Islam to carry many similarities to Christianity. When she hears the call to prayer she reflects on how they pray - that they put off everything and it becomes solely them and god. It encourages her to pray and acknowledge that God is really ALL she needs!!! He Truly is Everything!! Jaquie summarizes the trip as incredible, eye opening, and special. Her favorite scripture is Isaiah 41:13. The strangest food she has had is the yougurt and pasta. And if she was behind a truck that gets in a wreck she would preffer it to have a petting zoo inside that gets loose rather than a bundle of bowling balls.
Jamie loves to read. She realizes that she does not need her TV, computer, and pop culture from back home, even though they are enjoyable and come in handy. The three words Jamie uses to summarize the trip is that this is an eye opening experience. her favorite verse is from Psalm 23:5 " Even though I walk through the valley..." Jamies first impression of Islam that it is rather interesting and she would like to continue to learn more. When she hears the call to prayer the thoughts that run through her head are more of a curiosity - what are they really saying and how sad it is that they are filing into a mosque that is empty. Ministry here has been different from her expectations, but she is loving it! The weirdest food she as tried is a fish - the entire thing - eyes and all. Jamie has a sincere heart and an amazing voice. She has brought so much to this team. If Jamie were to laugh when she was to cry or cry when she was to laugh, she would prefer to cry when she was supposed to laugh - cause that what she already does!
Amy Drown is a such a woman of faith. She is so encouraging to the team. She brings up passages of scripture at the times the team needs it most. In fact, this is her favorite hobby - getting into the Word of God - especially with a group of Believers over a cup of java. She loves to sing and play piano as well, which she has blessed us with as she helps lead worship on this trip. She is thankful that God has unveiled her blinded eyes to the Truth of His Gospel whenever she has heard the call to prayer. Her first impressions of the Islamic faith is that it is empty and steeped in tradition and ritual. It comes so close to the truth and yet it is so far from it at the same time. Her trip is summarized in Christ, Freedom, and Hot. She is guided by 1 John 4:19 which states, "We love because He first loved us." When it comes to ministry Amy is so excited and feels incredibly priveledged that God has chosen her to glorify Himself. She too had an interesting time with the whole fish a couple of towns ago - sharing most of it with Drew! Amy would also like to laugh when she cried, because laughter is good medicine!
Nolan. Nolan. Nolan. A man of so few words. He truly is like a safe - full of knowledge but so hard to crack. He keeps all he learns in his mind and locks it up, only giving it to those he knows. Nolan loves to read, we have found him with a book on every bus and plane thus far. He doesn't really have anything that he has at home that he realizes he doesn't need - just food and shelter - which he has here. Nolan finds the call to prayer rather loud. He finds himself out of place, being a white American in a Turkey culture. He describes this trip as cool, Muslim, and Turkey, and finds the ministry very relational. Nolan loves the verse ames 2:10. The clothing that the children wear during the circumsision celebration is rather unique and interesting. And well, if he were to go to a ball in an orange jumper, he could choose to wear no shoes. I wonder if this would change if he were to play another roung of extreme spoons??? (he hurt his foot last time we played)
Rachael Kowalchuk loves to read and hang out with her friends. She too has brought so much to the trip. She is willing to share what is on her heart and it is so neat to hear and to be encouraged by that. Her first impression of Islam is the similarities it carries with Christianity, and yet she is saddened by how far off they really are at times. When she hears Muslims pray she wonders what they say and how they pray to a god that doesn't listen or even exist. Being on this trip has opened her eyes to the amount of clothing and shoes she has at home but may not really need. Who needs more than a pair of running shoes, sandals, a handful of shirts, and a pair of shorts??? Turkey has been a challenging, stretching, and exciting time for Rachael. She has realized that the term ministry doesn't always mean sharing the gospel, as her experiences with a group of young women has revealed - it is so much more than that - it is abut prayer and building relationships. If Rahael was to go to a ball in a fuzzy orange jumpsuit she would chose to wear matching orange shoes. I wonder where she would get those??
Cody is a man who is strongly dedicated to his family and to his sports. He goes gaga over the Matthew and carries him around whenever he can. (Ladies is this a good thing - quite possibly??) But no really, he is a dedicated man and is willing to be upfront. He finds Islam to be "insane" at times and really doesn't think of anything when he hears the call to prayer in the background. He summarizes the trip in perfectly fun everyday. Cody has found ministry fun as he has gotten to know a few fishermen and tried to catch a few fish. He brings so muc life to the team is hardly afraid when talking with Turks. Cody would also rather listen to classical music over Barry Manalow for 24 hours straight.
Another sweetheart on the team is Jennica. Her hobbies include sleeping, eating, reading, piano, and baking. She has found that she truly does not need a tv in life. This trip for her has been beautiful, stretching, and HOT. As hot as it gets, Jennica has delt really well with it, and hardly complains. She has found so much appreciation for the little things in life - like a gentle breeze!! Her heart breaks for the Muslim people, that they are praying to a god that does not exist, that their faith is so close to the True faith in Christ and yet so far. Jennica is encouraged by Hebrews 4:14-16. She has realized that ministry can simply be investing time into some else's life. this can be as simple as wasing a shop's windows with a smile on her face or asking how someone is doing. Jennica would like to laugh when she is supposed to cry - its one of her favorite things to do - we enjoy seeing her beautiful smile quite often.
Bekah is here as Jake and Amy's nanny, but she too plays a vital role on this team. We are so greatful that she has been able to join the team on some ministry outings and historical sites. Her words of wisdom are encouraging to hear and can bring a different perspective to life. Bekah loves to read, watch good movies, dance, and play tennis. To her, Islam is an appealing religion, however it just holds no hope. People are praying to a god that carries no hope and can't help them. She prays that Christ will shine in their darkness. She describes the trip as stretching her heart.Her minstiry on this trip is to Jake and Amy. She absolutely LOVES every minute of it - even when Matt is fussy. She feels so blessed to be able to serve them, plus she has had so many opportunities to share with Turks because of Drew and Matthew. I wonder if this trip for her determined this answer - would she rather a have a third arm or leg - definitely the third arm!!
Jamie loves to read. She realizes that she does not need her TV, computer, and pop culture from back home, even though they are enjoyable and come in handy. The three words Jamie uses to summarize the trip is that this is an eye opening experience. her favorite verse is from Psalm 23:5 " Even though I walk through the valley..." Jamies first impression of Islam that it is rather interesting and she would like to continue to learn more. When she hears the call to prayer the thoughts that run through her head are more of a curiosity - what are they really saying and how sad it is that they are filing into a mosque that is empty. Ministry here has been different from her expectations, but she is loving it! The weirdest food she as tried is a fish - the entire thing - eyes and all. Jamie has a sincere heart and an amazing voice. She has brought so much to this team. If Jamie were to laugh when she was to cry or cry when she was to laugh, she would prefer to cry when she was supposed to laugh - cause that what she already does!
Amy Drown is a such a woman of faith. She is so encouraging to the team. She brings up passages of scripture at the times the team needs it most. In fact, this is her favorite hobby - getting into the Word of God - especially with a group of Believers over a cup of java. She loves to sing and play piano as well, which she has blessed us with as she helps lead worship on this trip. She is thankful that God has unveiled her blinded eyes to the Truth of His Gospel whenever she has heard the call to prayer. Her first impressions of the Islamic faith is that it is empty and steeped in tradition and ritual. It comes so close to the truth and yet it is so far from it at the same time. Her trip is summarized in Christ, Freedom, and Hot. She is guided by 1 John 4:19 which states, "We love because He first loved us." When it comes to ministry Amy is so excited and feels incredibly priveledged that God has chosen her to glorify Himself. She too had an interesting time with the whole fish a couple of towns ago - sharing most of it with Drew! Amy would also like to laugh when she cried, because laughter is good medicine!
Nolan. Nolan. Nolan. A man of so few words. He truly is like a safe - full of knowledge but so hard to crack. He keeps all he learns in his mind and locks it up, only giving it to those he knows. Nolan loves to read, we have found him with a book on every bus and plane thus far. He doesn't really have anything that he has at home that he realizes he doesn't need - just food and shelter - which he has here. Nolan finds the call to prayer rather loud. He finds himself out of place, being a white American in a Turkey culture. He describes this trip as cool, Muslim, and Turkey, and finds the ministry very relational. Nolan loves the verse ames 2:10. The clothing that the children wear during the circumsision celebration is rather unique and interesting. And well, if he were to go to a ball in an orange jumper, he could choose to wear no shoes. I wonder if this would change if he were to play another roung of extreme spoons??? (he hurt his foot last time we played)
Rachael Kowalchuk loves to read and hang out with her friends. She too has brought so much to the trip. She is willing to share what is on her heart and it is so neat to hear and to be encouraged by that. Her first impression of Islam is the similarities it carries with Christianity, and yet she is saddened by how far off they really are at times. When she hears Muslims pray she wonders what they say and how they pray to a god that doesn't listen or even exist. Being on this trip has opened her eyes to the amount of clothing and shoes she has at home but may not really need. Who needs more than a pair of running shoes, sandals, a handful of shirts, and a pair of shorts??? Turkey has been a challenging, stretching, and exciting time for Rachael. She has realized that the term ministry doesn't always mean sharing the gospel, as her experiences with a group of young women has revealed - it is so much more than that - it is abut prayer and building relationships. If Rahael was to go to a ball in a fuzzy orange jumpsuit she would chose to wear matching orange shoes. I wonder where she would get those??
Cody is a man who is strongly dedicated to his family and to his sports. He goes gaga over the Matthew and carries him around whenever he can. (Ladies is this a good thing - quite possibly??) But no really, he is a dedicated man and is willing to be upfront. He finds Islam to be "insane" at times and really doesn't think of anything when he hears the call to prayer in the background. He summarizes the trip in perfectly fun everyday. Cody has found ministry fun as he has gotten to know a few fishermen and tried to catch a few fish. He brings so muc life to the team is hardly afraid when talking with Turks. Cody would also rather listen to classical music over Barry Manalow for 24 hours straight.
Another sweetheart on the team is Jennica. Her hobbies include sleeping, eating, reading, piano, and baking. She has found that she truly does not need a tv in life. This trip for her has been beautiful, stretching, and HOT. As hot as it gets, Jennica has delt really well with it, and hardly complains. She has found so much appreciation for the little things in life - like a gentle breeze!! Her heart breaks for the Muslim people, that they are praying to a god that does not exist, that their faith is so close to the True faith in Christ and yet so far. Jennica is encouraged by Hebrews 4:14-16. She has realized that ministry can simply be investing time into some else's life. this can be as simple as wasing a shop's windows with a smile on her face or asking how someone is doing. Jennica would like to laugh when she is supposed to cry - its one of her favorite things to do - we enjoy seeing her beautiful smile quite often.
Bekah is here as Jake and Amy's nanny, but she too plays a vital role on this team. We are so greatful that she has been able to join the team on some ministry outings and historical sites. Her words of wisdom are encouraging to hear and can bring a different perspective to life. Bekah loves to read, watch good movies, dance, and play tennis. To her, Islam is an appealing religion, however it just holds no hope. People are praying to a god that carries no hope and can't help them. She prays that Christ will shine in their darkness. She describes the trip as stretching her heart.Her minstiry on this trip is to Jake and Amy. She absolutely LOVES every minute of it - even when Matt is fussy. She feels so blessed to be able to serve them, plus she has had so many opportunities to share with Turks because of Drew and Matthew. I wonder if this trip for her determined this answer - would she rather a have a third arm or leg - definitely the third arm!!
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