back-2-school Around the World

So, my favorite part about back-2-school was the shopping of course. But, it wasn't about the clothes, it was about the SCHOOL SUPPLIES!!!  To this day, 10 years post any back-2-school excitement for me, I still get excited when I see the school supplies piling up in the stores! 

I think there are mixed emotions when the Back-2-school season rolls around.  At least it is for students who for them, the school year is just part of life for 13 years.  But there are kids around the world who don't know what "bakc-2-school" is all about.  Because for them, school isn't an option.  School is either too expensive, too far away, not available at all, or frankly, may just not be as important as working a job to help provide for their family!

Worldwide, nearly 80 percent of primary-school-age children attend school. In least developed countries, this figure is around 66 percent.

The largest out-of-school population is in sub-Saharan Africa, where around 45.5 million children of primary school age are out of school.

Of the 67 million primary-school-age children who do not attend school, 53 percent are girls.

Worldwide, only 49 percent of children of secondary school age actually attend secondary school.

Of the 49 percent of secondary age students who do not attend school, 52 percent are girls.

The world’s functional illiterates include more than 130 million children who do not attend school, 73 million of them girls.

These are some heartbreaking statistics.  Something that we take for granted so often.  Around the world kids are dreaming of an education. 

Here is a chance for us to help!

First and Foremost...PRAY!

Do you sponsor a child!? Your sponsorship helps provide an education to your child, and you get to write back and forth about what they are doing in school!  We love hearing about Brenda & Alvaro's experiences in school!

Provide textbooks and learning materials to kids through Compassion's learning centers.

Landlocked and Lacking: Praying for Bolivia

Following recently introducing you to Alvaro, I would like for you to join me in praying for Bolivia!  An area the size of California and Texas combined, landlocked in South America, Bolivia is home to almost 10.5 million people. 

"Bolivia ranks at or near the bottom among Latin American countries in several areas of health and development, including poverty, education, fertility, malnutrition, mortality, and life expectancy. On the positive side, more children are being vaccinated and more pregnant women are getting prenatal care and having skilled health practitioners attend their births. Bolivia's income inequality is the highest in Latin America and one of the highest in the world. Public education is of poor quality, and educational opportunities are among the most unevenly distributed in Latin America, with girls and indigenous and rural children less likely to be literate or to complete primary school. The lack of access to education and family planning services helps to sustain Bolivia's high fertility rate - approximately three children per woman. Bolivia's lack of clean water and basic sanitation, especially in rural areas, contributes to health problems." - The World Factbook


"The Bible Society has been and remains instrumental in all aspects of ministry in Bolivia. Over one million NTs have been distributed in schools. The Aymara and Quechua Bibles are in great demand, but without effective literacy programs, their impact is blunted. Nearly every Amerindian language that warrants translation work has received it; SIL, The Bible Society and the Catholics have been instrumental in this. Pray for a powerful impact of God’s Word on all groups in Bolivia." - Operation World

Will you pray for Alvaro, his family, community, and nation!?

Serving one. Loving Jesus.

Why do we serve?

When I asked this question, I found my mind going in circles because I really could not settle on one solid answer, but rather was flooded with the many reasons we choose to love on others.  

First, being that sometimes, when we are so in tune with the Father, I find that it isn't even a conscious choice, but rather just allowing our Lord to move in and through us! Those "little" impulse moves to carry out somebody's groceries, or pump gas for the elderly across from us, or even hold a door so politely for someone.  These are acts of service, of love, and when performed so naturally rather than for self boast, it's not our love, but rather the perfect Love of the Father shining through! 

We should never find ourselves short of "reasons" to Love.  

Jesus and The Word, tells us to do so...

"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen" - 1 Peter 4:10

"If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” - Mark 9:35

I recently read a passage in a book that has stuck with me...

-why don't we assume God actually does want us to DO everything He tells us, and have faith that he will direct and channel those actions in the right direction?

Jesus not only tells us numerous times to serve others, but many times we read instruction to love others. Love is a synonym of serve, at least in should be! 

Because he first loved us...

We as fallen human beings lack the ability of true, perfect love. It is ONLY through God and our relationship with Jesus that we can truly love others. 

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us" 1  John 4:7-12

Why do we serve? 

"God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them" - Hebrew 6:10

Serving is not only a way we can demonstrate God's love, but in serving we "show God love!" It is an act of worship! 

Why do we serve?

"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” - Gal 5:13-14

We have been set Free! 

When we come to the realization of who and what we would be without the saving grace of our Lord, we can discern that every part of our lives should be devoted to service

 For Him! 

"We can do no great things, only small things with great love" - Mother Teresa

There are innumerable ways that YOU can serve! Be proactive and pray for direction! Remember that we don't have to serve hundreds or thousands to serve Jesus.  Only ONE!

  "And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." - Matthew 25:40

Here are a few ways my family serves...

We sponsor children through Compassion Intl. and serve as child advocates.

Pack and send shoe boxes every year as well as give monthly to Samaritan's Purse discipleship program.

Participate in food drives that serve the local community.

Serve through mission trips at home and internationally.

Volunteer at various events such as conferences and concerts.

Serve in our local church.

Click Here For more ways to get involved and read a little bit about what God is doing around the world.

Perfect Timing (A Photo Blog) Costa Rica 2015

 Costa Rica Mission Team 2015

This is a month late, but despite having 4 weeks to put this week into words, it cannot be done!

But I have to try...

I cannot tell you about May 23-31 without telling you what led up to this being possible...

April 2014 - While on the World Race (Month 4 in Costa Rica), I felt led to fast and pray about the upcoming "months and countries."  Brett did the fast with me back in the States.  We began Easter 2014.

On Easter the missionaries in Costa Rica invited the team (WR team) to a big Easter dinner with a group of several missionaries serving in Costa Rica.  When it came time to leave, a lady (Holly) at the dinner offered to drive us down the hill to the bus stop.  During the drive down I overheard Holly telling one of my team mates about her ministry and all they did.

The three days following Easter we fasted and prayed; much to our surprise we felt complete peace about me traveling home instead of continuing on the race.  Also in that time Brett and I both felt like God was calling us to open some doors for the people in our community who felt led to step into missions and what God was doing around the world.

Fall 2014 - Brett and I began to pray specifically for our first trip to lead a group on.  We had two places on our hearts and already and been in contact with ministries who could use our help; both were orphanages, one in Africa, one in Asia.  Yet while praying, Brett was brought to remembrance of his trip to Costa Rica several years ago, and I recalled overhearing of a ministry in need of help!

I contacted my teammate who had spoke with Holly that day.  She was in Asia still and I knew it would possibly be weeks before she was able to get back to me and I wasn't even sure she had contact info for Holly. But, she got right back to me and I was able to get in touch with Holly in less than a week!

October 2014 - We Arise Missions scheduled it's first trip to Costa Rica for Spring Break week 2015 to serve with Mission of Hope!

November 2014 - Dates of the trip were changed due to school schedules of some of the team members.  The mission was now set for May 23-31st!

December 2014 - Team members began fundraising, many for their first ever mission trip!!!

January to May 2015 -  To attempt to explain all the ways God worked in these 5 months would be absolutely impossible!  Please if you know anyone who was a part of this group, take time to ask them about the ways God worked not only on the trip but in the months leading up to boarding the first plane!

May 2015 - Just weeks before the trip, Mission of Hope received funding to start a feeding program 5 days a week in a local impoverished community.  The local church had a kitchen, however it was not suitable for serving hundreds of kids.  A new one would need to be built and they did not have enough man power or money to build it...However, A team of 14 was coming with a project budget!!!  Our week schedule was changed to make our main project building a kitchen in a community built out of pallets and scraps.

May 23 - Due to a parking mishap, our team of 14 walked into the Dallas/Fort Worth airport with 8 minutes to get everyone of us checked in, bags checked, through security and on the plane...and it happened!!!
Can we all agree God was in control!


May 24 begins an incredible week, I'll let pictures do the most talking...

This is the church in the community where Mission of Hope would start holding a feeding program 5 days a week...

This is the church's kitchen

This was their stove

And these are some of the kids from the community...

To say we fell in love with them is an understatement!!!

Our team had an amazing time building a new kitchen for the church; a kitchen that would be able to support feeding all these kids all week long!

As well as construction, we all spent time playing with the kids and loving on them! We painted their faces, jump roped, played soccer, and attempted some balloon animals (worms and snakes are EASY!)

Bubbles were also a favorite.  This kid was to...this is Jeremy, his dad helped out with the construction of the kitchen.  Jeremy definitely has a place in everyone of our hearts!!!

Before we could start building, there was some demolition to be done!  The church is made of mostly pallets and tin scraps, so we tore out the back "wall" and cleaned up all the rocks, scraps, and garbage piled around the church!

Some rocks took some extra muscle!

When the guys have all the tools and you have to build a bridge to get into the door of the church...
We call it "God's hammer"  - One less rock they had to carry off!!!

The back half of the church also got a new roof! - The locals all thought Brett was too "grande" to be up there!

It is starting to look like a real building!

The 2015 Costa Rica Mission Team was blessed enough to raise enough funds to also purchase a real sink and a cook stove to be installed in the kitchen!

Constuido con amor por We Arise Missions!
Constructed with love by We Arise Missions!

While in Costa Rica we were given the opportunity to spend some time with a kindergarten class at a local catholic school!  Brett got to tell the kids about the three Hebrew children while the rest of the team acted it out!  Afterwards we played some games, painted some faces, sang some songs, and helped them each make a salvation bracelet and share with them the story of Jesus!

We also had the privilege to join Mission of Hope in their ministry feeding the 

homeless in one of the local parks!

We fed their bellies with pancakes and their hearts with the love of Jesus!

Our last day in Costa Rica we returned to the park with the youth group 

of a local church and helped put on an outreach.

I finally stepped up my game and created a flower!

By the end of the day I was a professional at making flowers, dogs, swords,
and even mastered 2 "mariposas" (Butterflies)

During our activity in the park...

12 people got saved for the first time, four of them are going to the church now!
15 people rededicated their lives
We prayed for 40 people for different necessities
10 people, mostly homeless, got their hair cut
4500 tracks give away
50 new testaments
50 cross necklaces
196 lunches and 53 breakfasts    

May 31st - The group landed in FL with just under a 2 hour layover before boarding time, Customs however, took 2 hours and 10 minutes.  You cant get 14 people on the "next plane!"  In an attempt to get at least some of the group on the plane everyone raced to the gate hoping to catch it at the last minute.  But due to being short staffed the plane was delayed and after a meal and a nap, all 14 of us got on the same plane back to Dallas!

God has perfect timing

Never early, Never Late

It was overwhelming enough to experience it, and remember it all in one week, but to look back at all the ways God's timing was absolutely perfect leaves me speechless and in awe all over again!

To keep up with all our missions visit...

WeAriseMissions.org

Costa Rica Mission Trip

 

I love when we get to see God's will play out in our lives.  The Lord began a work in Brett and I before we ever even knew each other, and now, many years later; so many things are making sense!

We desire to see followers of Christ live out the great commission.  Through many prayers we have started the process to start a non-profit that will give us a platform to give those seeking to serve, an opportunity to do so in capacities that may not otherwise be available to them!

One way we are doing that is through low-cost mission trips.  In May 2015 we are leading a group of 14 (children, teens, & adults) to San Jose, Costa Rica for a week long mission trip.

Please pray for our team, Mission of Hope Ministries, and most of all, the people who we will come in contact with!

A more specific way to pray for us, is financial provisions. 

 If you want to support us financially; for a $20 donation we will send you the T-shirt shown above!  I can ship the shirt anywhere in the United States.  Donations can be made by check or paypal!

Thank you so much for your prayers and support!!!

Country Spotlight: Pray for Costa Rica

 

Costa Rica : Rich Coast

- The "riches" of Costa Rica attract many to the country in hopes of escaping poverty and making a better life for themselves, only to sink even further into poverty

-Pray for the ministries of Costa Rica, both domestic and foreign, that their work continues to impact the country in the name of Jesus

-Pray for the people we will come in contact with May 2015 when we lead a group of 14 on a mission trip to San Jose.  Lift our team up in prayer, for most of our group, this will be their very first mission trip!  Pray for Mission of Hope ministries, the group we will be serving with while in Costa Rica.

Pura Vida en Cristo: Because true "pure life" can come only through Christ!

On a mission

Over a year ago when I felt the Lord calling me to the World Race I couldn't make sense of it. Like most things the Lord asks of us, it seemed crazy and most of all didn't fit into what I thought His calling on my life was.

As the race began, I only became more sure of what I already thought my role was going to be in the Kingdom; to be a support to my youth pastor husband and work with the youth. So how did international missions come into all of this? Or maybe I was wrong about what I thought my path would look like? I knew that we are all called to a mission field, but what was God wanting to show me in that specific season?

When had I started preparing for the world race I realized that our small community had a big heart for missions. Over the months of my world race journey I realized there were very few local and affordable options for most people to get involved. During the race, as I witnessed the possibilities of what ministry could look like, (and some of what it isn't) I realized that He was showing me what He wanted me to take back to our small church and community.

Four months into the world race, in Costa Rica, my eyes and heart began to open up to what the Lord was speaking to me. When I told Brett one day on the phone he practically began screaming, God had been speaking to him about the same thing! God wanted us to open a door...

After hearing what sounded like the Lord screaming, GET TO WORK, I returned home, got some business out of the way... :)

and we got straight to work.

The first 6 months we were married we spent more time away from home then we were at home. (really we counted it all up!) We had church camps, mission trips, conferences, and many other youth trips that have kept us very busy! However, we have not forgotten what God -not so gently- laid on our hearts. Although Brett's youth ministry is our first priority, we are currently in the process of forming a non-profit organization and we are so excited to lead our first mission trip to Costa Rica in May 2015. (crazy how we are going back to where it became so clear to me what God was trying to show us! Fun Fact: Costa Rica is also where Brett took his first mission trip!) AIN'T GOD GOOD!

We cannot wait to see all the ways God will use this to bless His people and further His kingdom!

Once God convinced me the world race was part of His plan, I thought I knew what 2014 would look like, But He is so good to keep us paying attention. I could not have planned it better myself, isn't that the way it always works!? Our Father in Heaven will always show us that trusting Him and His plan for us is far better than we could ever imagine!

Thank you for all your love & support,

Brett & Kylee Morris

Country Spotlight: Pray for Uganda

Pearl of Africa - A Nation of Children

Why Pray for Uganda?...

 - 24.5% of the population is below the poverty level

 - 25.2% of the population has unimproved drinking water

 - 48.7% of the population is less than 15 years old 

 - Home to 2.5 million orphans

 - 63,300 AIDS deaths each year (6th in the world)

 - 9% of the country is unreached

 - "The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) spreads terror and has committed countless atrocities, having evolved over 20 years into little better than an occult-powered militia group. Its predation displaced nearly two million people and has taken more than 120,000 lives."

Sources: Operation World , UNICEF , CIA.gov

Ministries in Uganda: