Awesome Job DR Mission Team 2009

At 3:06 PM July 21, 2009, the 2009 Dominican Republic Mission Team arrived back in Orlando after a week of doing God's work. Praise God for their safety, traveling mercies and blessings. They went to the DR and showed the people of DR what it means to love and what it means to be a child of God. Awesome job you guys!


Waiting for the team to come out of the gate!


First site!

Prayer of thanks to God.

Welcome back you guys, awesome job in DR!

Jon Lee and Update on Victor!

One of the praise leaders at Harvest, Jon Lee, is planning on going on a YEAR-LONG mission trip with the CTI Music Ministry 2009-2010. Jon is leaving on August 14, 2009 at 9:35 AM from the Orlando International Airport. As Jon goes on this trip to glorify and spread God's love through what he loves doing (music) let's pray that God would provide whatever support Jon may need. Whether it be financial support, physical support (strength and good health) and even spiritual support, let us pray that God would be Jon's source for strength and renewal. Here are a few action shots Jon needed for CTI.














And of course we got to add in this random picture of..... Yeari Han.


***Update on Victor***

The last news we had on Victor was that he did NOT go into surgery and that we was heavily sedated and alive with the help of multiple machines. I had the opportunity to talk with his dad Friday evening around 9:30 P.M. His father said that Victor is doing a lot better but is still heavily sedated, still has a breathing tube BUT THAT VICTOR IS GOING TO MAKE IT!!!

I have to give Victor, his father, and his family complete and utmost respect. Despite Victor's condition, they make it sound like there's nothing to worry about with Victor. They make it sound like his condition is the common cold that will get better over night. Talking with Victors' dad, he said that he loves me, love my family, and loves Harvest, and that he thanks them with the bottom of his heart for all that we're doing. He also said that he was praying for us and that he couldn’t wait to see us.

Is there anyone that CANNOT respect that? I mean, his own son is in a life-death situation and he isn't asking us to do more than we are but he tells us that his own son is going to be okay and that above all else, he tells us that HE, HIMSELF, is praying for us. That deserves COMPLETE respect.

And so my point is this, as we pray for Victor, let’s pray for a couple things.

1. Pray that God would strengthen Victor and allow his body to fight the cancer.
2. We don’t want any more people passing but let's pray that somehow, God would open up a door and somehow allow organs to be available for Victor
3. Let's pray that Victor's body would NOT reject the new organs but accept the organs and allow them to do their "job".
4. Let's pray that God would quickly heal Victor and that Victor would enjoy this life that God has given him
5. Let's pray that God would continue to speak to the family and allow them to FULLY trust and put their faith in Him
6. Lastly, no matter what happens, let's pray that Victor's family would understand that God has a plan for Victor and that everything happens for a reason and with that in mind, that his family would continue to shepherd the flock and be leaders in the church
   

People of God, like I’ve said before, God is calling us to pray. Our worship and our hunger for Christ is strongest when our prayer and relationship with God is strongest. How do we strengthen our relationship? PRAYER! Have that INTIMATE, 1-on-1, personal time with God. Let God be your accountability partner, let God be you're only source of comfort, strength, love, satisfaction, etc. Now is the time everybody, lets PUSH people of God.

Good Luck DR Mission Team 09'

This morning, the 2009 Harvest DR Mission Team met at the airport at 6:30 AM to check in bags and get ready for their departure. Their flight (Jet Blue) is scheduled to depart at 9 AM for a direct flight into Santo Domingo. As they depart, let’s pray for the following.

1. Unity within the team
2. Traveling mercies
3. That the work they do would be for the glory of God
4. That they may touch lives in the DR

I’m sure there are many more prayers at hand but these are the main ones. Here are some pictures from the air port.

Last minute preparations?

Prayer from our head pastor, Rev. Inki Kim.

Here's their flight, Flight #1717, Gate #103, 9 A.M, Jet Blue, Orlando to Santo Domingo, DR

So as they embark on this mission trip, let's pray that God would move mountains and show people His love and grace that He has in store for the people of DR and for us.

Update on Victor***

Last night, we received good news that by the loss of another, God has provided a donor for Victor. We expected Victor to go into surgery early this morning for the 12 hour multi-visceral surgery. We found out not too long ago that the organs were reported unhealthy and not available for use in Victor's body. Victor is currently sedated, unconscious, alive with the help of a breathing tube.

People of God, let's continue to pray. NOW MORE THAN EVER, let's PUSH (Pray Until Something Happens). Our dear brother Victor needs us. Here's a small thing I want to share.

Not too long ago, Victor sent Pastor DL a text message going along the lines of this, "Thank you Harvest for all your prayers. It really encourages me to keep on fighting and to keep running towards God's light. As I hopefully get a transplant soon and look forward to seeing all of you, I pray for those who are sick and in need of healing."

Think about that. How selfless is that? That Victor, given his condition, tells us that he is going to keep praying for those in need of God's healing. Could there be any other example of selflessness? Victor is in a life-death situation, possibly at the end of his life and all he can do is pray that God would heal him BUT ULTIMATELY, pray that others would experience God's healing.

So with that in mind, people of God, Victor needs us more than ever. He deserves it. Pray that Victor would come home, and be a living testimony for what God has in store for us, HIS CHILDREN! Let's pray people of God, in this time and place, LET US PUSH!

Prayer for Victor!

Victor Paek has played a huge role in my life as well in the lives of many others at my church. Victor, 15 years old, was diagnosed around early October with a rare form of terminal cancer in his liver. At this point and time, he is in a life-death situation. He is currently in Indianapolis waiting for a multi-visceral organ transplant that will be performed by Dr. Rodrigo Vianna. The link leads to a testimony from a man who's life was saved by this very doctor. Here is the update on Victor's condition and situation.

"Victor is going into surgery tonight for multi-visceral transplant. He¹s
getting a new liver, pancreas and stomach with part of his intestine being
transplanted as well. Surgery will take place with Dr. Rodrigo Vianna, a
renowned multi-organ transplant surgeon.

An hour before a donor was found, Victor was in a life-death situation
again. He stopped breathing due to a clot in his lungs. His stomach had
swelled again due to fluids and couldn¹t be drained for fear of rupturing
veins. The doctors thought he was going to die and he was put into an
incubator. Once the clot was removed, they received word that a 16-year old
boy had died, an organ donor.

Surgery begins tonight and goes for 12 hours. Please, pray with us for
Victor and his family."

Let's pray that Victor would make it through this 12-hour operation and that he may come home and be a living testimony for what God has in store for all of us; life. Victor is such a HUGE encouragement for us all. So now more than ever, I ask you friends, people of God, to pray for Victor, to PUSH (pray until something happens). It was by the loss of another that God has opened a door for Victor, that God has provided a loving family to donate their very own sons' organs that it may benefit another. Pray that God would lead Dr. Rodrigo hands in the surgery and that God would continue to hold Victor's hand during the operation. Let's pray people of God, now more than ever, PUSH!

VBS 2009

So from July 9-10, 2009, the kids congregation at my church had what we call VBS or Vacation Bible School. The kids participated in worship and sermons, bible classes, numerous activities and even got a cool surprise at the end. Here are some pictures.

In case you can't read it, the writing says, "Dear God, Thank you for my family."

So this was the surprise. One of the dads of one of our youth congregation members does what he calls "Name Art". He basically uses different pictures and symbols to write your name. He'll use dolphins, palm trees, etc. Its all by water color AND he uses a variety of different rectangular brushes.

Ashley

Justin

Tina

Jonathan

Overall, the kids had an awesome time. They had a HUGE moon bounce, made tie-dye colored shirts, did a bunch of coloring and painting activites and just learned a bunch about the gospel and what God has in store for them. It truly was a blessed time.