I want to say "Thank you" to many people for many things. Thank you FBCG for giving me the opportunity to serve on mission trips. Thanks to the many people who have supported me with prayers and financial assistance. Thank you Tracie for gathering all the school books necessary for Nana to finish his classes. Thanks to two dear friends who had given me tea cups and saucers to be used for my Ladies Night Program. One dear friend had given her tea cups that were collected through out her life, and the other had given her tea sets from her son's wedding. These were beautiful and precious gifts from the heart. The ladies that were able to choose their favorite cups and keep them as gifts had a night to forget pain and suffering and just be happy. Finally I must thank my family. My husband that can run the household smoothly for three
weeks, and solve all problems that arise.
I arrived home Saturday night at 9:30 US time and 4:30 AM my Austria time. I was exhausted. Sunday morning I literally had to drag myself to Church. Pastor Jeff had given a sermon just for me! I'm sure many other people felt the same way I did. He asked a question, "When was the last time you were amazed by God"? I wanted to jump out of my seat and scream "Every day on my mission trip for the past three weeks"! God accepts my strengths and gifts that I have to offer, but He also uses my weaknesses and imperfections. As I serve God and allow Him the right to use me to help others and to allow Him to help me grow in faith, love and relationships, I am simply amazed and grateful.
A few of my precious memories from the Austria Mission Trip: (Please pray for these people)
An elderly Chinese man that walks by taking six inch steps and his eyes are excited and his smile tells me he is happy to see me.
A special family of three. The man is a Christian and the wife used to wear a veil. The brothers have stabbed and tried to kill her and they have fled their homeland. They were to be deported back on the 21st of September, unless they could flee to a Church in Denmark that is a safe haven for them.
A family with a mother of 5 that had tried to tell her husband that she is about to give birth and finds out he has been murdered by an unmentionable group. Now she has 6 children and is in a camp in a strange new land.
My precious young Afghan men that help to wash, dry and put away the dishes after coffee night is over. They called me "Mama" and said they wanted to help.
An Iranian man that literally has no home. He can't return to Iran. He lived nine years in Hungary and was then denied his papers. He escapes to Austria. Austria will send him back to Hungary to a prison type camp for six months, and then tell him to leave the country. No country will let him stay. What kind of life is that?
Traiskirchen Camp in Austria is where refugees from many countries flee to in their time of crisis. These refugees are displaced, persecuted, or in fear for their lives. The Oasis is a place where refugees living at the Traiskirchen Camp can come for clothing, Bible study, socializing with games and coffee, children's activities, or just to leave their small living quarters. Many refugees will just sit on the bench outside the doors for long periods of time. God has drawn missionaries from many parts of the world and formed a team of workers with compassionate hearts and a willingness to serve. God continuously draws teams from all over the world to work alongside the missionaries throughout the year.
I thank God for Sue Tristano and Ruth Nelson that have served at The Oasis before me, and returned home with the great vision of helping refugees in our own neighborhoods. I am looking forward to another great year of serving alongside these ladies and many others that offer their time and talents to let God's light shine through them.
Thank you Tom and Sue for leading the Austria Team, and thanks also to our team that has given up two weeks of their life to serve and accomplish more than I thought possible.
Rose
Friday, October 1, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Meet Baby Artur!
Welcome to the World Baby Artur!
You would think Kathy, Oasis David, and Jeni gave birth to this bouncing little baby boy as much as they are gushing over him!
Please pray for him and his mom Tamara.
What a blessing the Oasis was to this young woman - she received a baby bag and clothes for her son thanks to their baby bag program and their clothing room. Though Kathy and Jeni were the blessed ones who got to deliver the gifts to Tamara, I know she is very thankful to the Oasis! May the gifts given to her plant a seed of Gods love in her heart everytime she sees her baby boy!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Final thoughts of Austria from Jeni
Make God Famous today... words I heard several time from our team leader throughout the two weeks. He used them in different ways, but in general the words meant the same. When we left for Austria this time I wasn't sure what God had planned for us. I knew personally in my life things were flipped upside down and the only thing that made sense to me was to go to Austria. My role in Austria was to simply serve God in what ever He had planned for me... No More, No Less and Nothing Else but what He had planned. I know people laugh at me and say that is a Tall Order to keep, but after what had happened to my family in the last few months I knew that those words were my simple but clear directions from God.
So as I headed on the plan, off to Austria and not really knowing what God had planned for me I could feel instantly that I was on the path He had set for me... which was an awesome feeling of peace to have. Along with peace, I also felt him preparing my heart for something bigger than what I experienced on last year's Austria trip. Last year I learned how to be a listener, and not always a teacher... I was molded and shaped by my experiences that I had with the Oasis team and not so much with the refugees I met.
This year the trip for me was all about relationships... new relationships with our team, deeper relationships with the Oasis team that taught me so much last year, sharing and caring relationships with the refugees and most of all a closer relationship with God. Today I was asked by David (an Oasis missionary) what was different for me... I told him that expressing what I felt was so much harder for me. Last year I was able to share experiences I had and I was able to talk about how much I learned from the Oasis team. This year I should be sharing about the amazing refugees I met and how they spoiled me with special meals, how we had long talks about their families and their futures, but all I can think of is how much they need us to pray for them. The most important thing we can do for them is to pray, and never stop praying for them.
This year I was blessed with the opportunity to meet several refugees and spend time talking with them and what I saw was... I saw hope, I saw sadness, I saw fear, I saw their futures, I saw faith, I saw love, I saw anger, I saw prayers being answered, and I saw God working in each of their lives even if they didn't see Him themselves. I saw God! I saw God being made Famous in every word that was spoken, every action that was taken, in every story that was shared.
So my final thoughts of Austria comes in a prayer request... please continue to pray for the Oasis team - for they have the blessing and the burden of every day lifting up the refugees spirits, and sharing God's love with them even when they don't want to hear it. Please pray daily for all the refugees that have been at the camp, are at the camp and will be at the camp in the future. Pray for their hearts to be softened so they can see God in their lives. Please pray for our team as we continue to take the new gifts and skills God has blessed us with and learn how to use them back here in the United States.
Thank you to each one of you that have supported us in prayer and financially... each of you were an intricate part of this trip. Plus Each One of you literally played a part in helping us Make God Famous!
Serving Him Faithfully,
Jeni
So as I headed on the plan, off to Austria and not really knowing what God had planned for me I could feel instantly that I was on the path He had set for me... which was an awesome feeling of peace to have. Along with peace, I also felt him preparing my heart for something bigger than what I experienced on last year's Austria trip. Last year I learned how to be a listener, and not always a teacher... I was molded and shaped by my experiences that I had with the Oasis team and not so much with the refugees I met.
This year the trip for me was all about relationships... new relationships with our team, deeper relationships with the Oasis team that taught me so much last year, sharing and caring relationships with the refugees and most of all a closer relationship with God. Today I was asked by David (an Oasis missionary) what was different for me... I told him that expressing what I felt was so much harder for me. Last year I was able to share experiences I had and I was able to talk about how much I learned from the Oasis team. This year I should be sharing about the amazing refugees I met and how they spoiled me with special meals, how we had long talks about their families and their futures, but all I can think of is how much they need us to pray for them. The most important thing we can do for them is to pray, and never stop praying for them.
This year I was blessed with the opportunity to meet several refugees and spend time talking with them and what I saw was... I saw hope, I saw sadness, I saw fear, I saw their futures, I saw faith, I saw love, I saw anger, I saw prayers being answered, and I saw God working in each of their lives even if they didn't see Him themselves. I saw God! I saw God being made Famous in every word that was spoken, every action that was taken, in every story that was shared.
So my final thoughts of Austria comes in a prayer request... please continue to pray for the Oasis team - for they have the blessing and the burden of every day lifting up the refugees spirits, and sharing God's love with them even when they don't want to hear it. Please pray daily for all the refugees that have been at the camp, are at the camp and will be at the camp in the future. Pray for their hearts to be softened so they can see God in their lives. Please pray for our team as we continue to take the new gifts and skills God has blessed us with and learn how to use them back here in the United States.
Thank you to each one of you that have supported us in prayer and financially... each of you were an intricate part of this trip. Plus Each One of you literally played a part in helping us Make God Famous!
Serving Him Faithfully,
Jeni
Final Reflections of Austria from Sue
Rose and I met a young refugee woman from Armenia who was just placed in the village of Altenmarkdt. She looked weak and sick. She told us she's on dialysis. An ambulance has to come 3 times a week, take her to dialysis in Baden (the biggest town), and return her late at night. There is no train and only limited bus service to that town. I asked why did they put her in a place so far away from the hospital? She is hoping for--and they have talked about--relocating her in Baden. We were eager to listen to her story, but she did not want to talk of her experience in Armenia. Her eyes showed a hopelessness I had never before seen. What could I say?
I found out later that she probably had one or both kidneys removed--not from disease or illness, but to raise money to help pay for her journey out of Armenia. It's quite common to sell a body part for this purpose. I was shocked. How desperate they must be! I say now that I would never do that, but under her circumstances, would I be tempted? Could I be tempted? Or is it not even a matter of choice but of necessity?What necessity will drive people from their homes, homeland, family? What would drive me? How desperate would I have to be to leave all I know? May we never have to face this decision, but what would God have us do for such as these?
I found out later that she probably had one or both kidneys removed--not from disease or illness, but to raise money to help pay for her journey out of Armenia. It's quite common to sell a body part for this purpose. I was shocked. How desperate they must be! I say now that I would never do that, but under her circumstances, would I be tempted? Could I be tempted? Or is it not even a matter of choice but of necessity?What necessity will drive people from their homes, homeland, family? What would drive me? How desperate would I have to be to leave all I know? May we never have to face this decision, but what would God have us do for such as these?
Final thoughts of Austria from Kathy
A SWEET BABY BOY
Here it is, day 5 of being home, and I am waking up every morning 2:30 or so, to start my day. My heart and spirit are still at The Oasis. And I am so thankful for it. God has lead a beautiful team of missionaries there, that he continues to Bless in His Magnificent ways, as they pour out their hearts to those they were called to serve. I have been Blessed by God to have had this opportunity to be in their presence.
My preparation for the trip started here at home along with a great team from FBCG. For months, we lifted our hearts and souls up to God as he paved the wayfor our 2 weeks there. I was amazed, and still am in awe and will continue to be, of our Lord and how he works His Ways in us, through us and all around us.
As I look back now, I see that God also prepared me on my job, as a nurse, before I was to head off on my trip. I work as a nurse in one of the poorest communities in suburban Chicago, in the Pediatric area. There was this 2 month old little boy in for his Dr's visit and to receive his first roundof immunizations. When the Dr. was finished, and I was called in to get the baby's chart, I saw a mother with her teenage daughter standing quietly at the littleboy's side. I caught a glimpse of the baby and noticed he had a cleft lip. As I headed out of the room, I felt Mom and Sister looking at me, waiting to see my reaction to the baby's face. My heart ached for the baby and family.
One of my first days at the Oasis, I saw a mother with her baby heading around the corner toward our open doors, with her husband walking close behind. As she entered, I noticed a beautiful little boy, who had a cleft lip and palate. I held him and hugged him and thought of the little boy back home. How these parents must hurt for their little ones, who expect to bring a perfect baby into the world, and God has another plan. And how Perfect His plan is.
You see, I poured out my heart as God led me to tell these families, of our own family story of a little boy being born with cleft lip and palate, my nephew,who is now 26 years old. I explained how today, you would never know he was born with such a defect. With the help of translation, I spoke with the Mother from Georgia. I went away that day and prayed for her and her husband and their precious little boy.
The next time I saw her, I grabbed my cell phone and pulled up a recent picture of my nephew and showed her. Her face lit up, and she took the phone to her husband for him to see. She brought the phone back to me and said "thank you", and I choked back tears. I held my arms out for the baby and Mom handed him tome. I didn't want to let go.
God orchestrated my meetings with these families, should there be any doubt. No, there is only hope; hope that can only be found in Jesus. God works in amazingways...sometimes they are grand, often times they are small and might go unnoticed. They are small steps that are taken towards God's grander plan for each of us,who choose to call Him, Lord and Saviour.
The Oasis is a beautiful and perfect place where those that have hit rock bottom, are hurting, and searching, can come to open arms ready to take them in, lovingly,as God has planned. How perfect God's plan is.
May God continue to Bless the Missionaries at the Oasis and the Ministry; May God Bless their families, and, their extended families who no doubt, miss them dearly; and last but not least, May God Bless those they serve.
Kathy Geiger
Here it is, day 5 of being home, and I am waking up every morning 2:30 or so, to start my day. My heart and spirit are still at The Oasis. And I am so thankful for it. God has lead a beautiful team of missionaries there, that he continues to Bless in His Magnificent ways, as they pour out their hearts to those they were called to serve. I have been Blessed by God to have had this opportunity to be in their presence.
My preparation for the trip started here at home along with a great team from FBCG. For months, we lifted our hearts and souls up to God as he paved the wayfor our 2 weeks there. I was amazed, and still am in awe and will continue to be, of our Lord and how he works His Ways in us, through us and all around us.
As I look back now, I see that God also prepared me on my job, as a nurse, before I was to head off on my trip. I work as a nurse in one of the poorest communities in suburban Chicago, in the Pediatric area. There was this 2 month old little boy in for his Dr's visit and to receive his first roundof immunizations. When the Dr. was finished, and I was called in to get the baby's chart, I saw a mother with her teenage daughter standing quietly at the littleboy's side. I caught a glimpse of the baby and noticed he had a cleft lip. As I headed out of the room, I felt Mom and Sister looking at me, waiting to see my reaction to the baby's face. My heart ached for the baby and family.
One of my first days at the Oasis, I saw a mother with her baby heading around the corner toward our open doors, with her husband walking close behind. As she entered, I noticed a beautiful little boy, who had a cleft lip and palate. I held him and hugged him and thought of the little boy back home. How these parents must hurt for their little ones, who expect to bring a perfect baby into the world, and God has another plan. And how Perfect His plan is.
You see, I poured out my heart as God led me to tell these families, of our own family story of a little boy being born with cleft lip and palate, my nephew,who is now 26 years old. I explained how today, you would never know he was born with such a defect. With the help of translation, I spoke with the Mother from Georgia. I went away that day and prayed for her and her husband and their precious little boy.
The next time I saw her, I grabbed my cell phone and pulled up a recent picture of my nephew and showed her. Her face lit up, and she took the phone to her husband for him to see. She brought the phone back to me and said "thank you", and I choked back tears. I held my arms out for the baby and Mom handed him tome. I didn't want to let go.
God orchestrated my meetings with these families, should there be any doubt. No, there is only hope; hope that can only be found in Jesus. God works in amazingways...sometimes they are grand, often times they are small and might go unnoticed. They are small steps that are taken towards God's grander plan for each of us,who choose to call Him, Lord and Saviour.
The Oasis is a beautiful and perfect place where those that have hit rock bottom, are hurting, and searching, can come to open arms ready to take them in, lovingly,as God has planned. How perfect God's plan is.
May God continue to Bless the Missionaries at the Oasis and the Ministry; May God Bless their families, and, their extended families who no doubt, miss them dearly; and last but not least, May God Bless those they serve.
Kathy Geiger
Friday, September 17, 2010
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