 This week, we are honored to spotlight the dedicated missionaries we support who are making a profound impact outside of the United States. Their tireless work and commitment to their missions embody the values we cherish and support.  August 30, 2024 Dear Friends, We pray you are well and enjoying the last days of Summer. The past three months have been crazy busy -- in the best of ways. I tried to keep our newsletter as short as possible, yet it is a little long. I hope you will enjoy catching up with us.  The Children at the Home. Two newborns have come to live at the Home, a little boy two months old and a little girl one month old. We are currently evaluating the little boy, Mateo, for neurological issues. We fear he lacked oxygen at birth. Please pray for our Tias in Casa Fe as they adjust to a home filled with eight boys under 8 years, plus the babies and teens.  The School at the Children’s Home. We are celebrating the arrival of a new kindergarten teacher this semester. Even though we only have four children in kindergarten and another four in pre-kinder, guiding these children can prove to be quite a challenge! We would like to ask you to please pray for our new teacher and her students as she becomes more familiar with the children and the overall ministry at the Children’s Home. We have several students who are classified as special education in elementary school. It has been a tremendous blessing to see each of them make tremendous progress this year. They are not working at grade level yet, but we have great hope for their futures. During July semester break the children were able to enjoy several field trips: a day of horseback riding, a visit to a farm, hiking and a day at the swimming pool.  Mission Teams at the Children’s Home. We are building exterior walls surrounding the property at the Home. Not to keep the children in, but to keep uninvited guests out. Mission teams have spent many weeks this Summer moving rock, laying blocks, and pouring concrete. There are a few more teams coming this year to help with this project. Please pray we can complete the upper wall this year. The lower wall will be an ongoing project for years to come. We had planned to begin working on our third home, a duplex for 12 additional children, however the walls are taking much longer to build than anticipated.  New sanctuaries in Limon, Guapiles and El Tigre. The work at these three churches is moving ahead. We have been blessed to receive four teams at each location this year. These teams worked diligently pouring concrete, tying rebar, sifting sand and digging ditches for these new sanctuaries. The church in Limon is a new church plant, the churches in Guapiles and El Tigre have been under construction for several years. During their visits, the mission team members minister alongside the local congregations through outreach events to the children in the community. We give great thanks to each group for all of their labor over the past three months. Their presence has been a powerful witness and testimony throughout the region!  The Methodist School. The first week of August, we celebrated Spiritual Emphasis Week at the Methodist school with a band and group of friends from the Woodlands (TX) Methodist Church. Members of the band spent their mornings sharing songs and testimony with the student body! (PreK – 11th grade) At the conclusion of each gathering, students and teachers had the opportunity to come forward for a time of personal sharing and prayer. Though we have witnessed the Lord’s hand move so many times before during this unique week, we were still amazed at the response of students who came forward, yearning for a deeper walk with the Lord. By week’s end, dozens of students had made decisions to follow Christ, and others testified to the impact the week had made in their lives. An additional highlight was an evening directed towards recent graduates of the Methodist High School as we shared together around the theme: “Faith after highschool.” What transpired was a beautiful time of mutual sharing between team members and Ticos (Costa Ricans) about the challenges/opportunity’s college life brought to their faith. We give thanks for this new outreach and look forward to it becoming yet another piece of the overall ministry at the Methodist School.  The Wesley Clinic At the end of July, we received a wonderful medical team from Dallas who worked alongside our Costa Rican physicians and dentists at the Wesley Clinic in Puerto Viejo. During this short two day “Health Fair” two hundred patients were assisted and received much needed medical attention. Thanks to several generous financial gifts, we were able to begin using our first EKG machine and do so in a more comfortable setting as several consult rooms now enjoy air conditioning! We praise God for all who participated in this outreach and seek your prayers for a similar health fair during the first week of September. Our Family. Ray and I recently made a quick trip to Texas to help Emma move from Waco to College Station (in the100+ degree heat). I lost count of the number of trips we made between cities, but we no longer need the GPS to find the way! Sarah is in her last year of her master’s program at Baylor and Emma is beginning her master’s program at Texas A&M. We are so grateful that both girls were able to spend time at home in Costa Rica with us this summer. The only downside is that it is difficult to have an empty house once again. Dear Friends, Thank you for your faithful support of us and the Costa Rican Methodist church. We have experienced difficult days recently, but your prayers and financial gifts have seen us through them. Thank you for making it possible for us to minister with the lovely people of Costa Rica. We are most grateful. In Christ’s love, Ray and Lidia _________________________________ I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. Phil. 1:3-5  FMWM-Asia makes disciples by crossing cultures to share Jesus, pursuing servant partnerships to reinforce national leadership, and implementing systems to cultivate flourishing Free Methodist Churches.   Gene just led the Leadership in the Local Church module with our friends in this creative access country (PN). The training was on Zoom, 7 hours each day. Gene had to encourage participants to take breaks, as they were so eager to learn. These beautiful and precious brothers and sisters love Jesus and have a heart for those yet to hear the Gospel. Despite the opposition, they have a burden and are committed to reaching people for Christ.  In July, we were joined by our friend, Stephanie Gradey, from Detroit, Michigan. This was Stephanie's first visit to Japan in 38 years when she first came on a short-term mission as an English teacher for two years in the Osaka area! She braved the summer heat of Japan. We enjoyed meals and worshipping together during her visit. Japan has remained in her heart and prayers even after all these years.  Gene just wrapped up two weeks of training in Thailand, Wesleyan History and Theology. Thailand is the smallest country we train in, with 15 leaders and yet they continue to grow leaps and bounds. Year to date, they have led 401 people to Christ and baptized 83. They have planted three new churches! For our friends there, training isn't about gaining more knowledge but taking that knowledge and applying it to their lives, their families, their churches, and to reaching others for Jesus. Hi Friends, The summer is drawing to a close as we shift to school and work routines. Here is our update for August: https://youtu.be/9BUXQE_Bb5k Thank you for partnering with us these past five years. With all our love in Christ, Gene & Minori Praises: 1. Praise God for the past five years guided by his love, grace, and joy. The Lord provided abundantly, enabling us to train fruitful and faithful leaders throughout South East Asia. 2. Praise God for all of you, our partners who faithfully pray and support our work in Japan and S.E. Asia. Prayers: 1. Please pray for the over 62 leaders in PN who finished the Leadership in the Local Church module in August. It was Gene’s first time training with leaders in this country. Pray that they are enabled to carry out the call God has placed on them to share the Gospel in unique ways and settings. 2. Please pray for God’s wisdom, strength, and direction as we serve in Southeast and Japan. Pray especially, that we can invest even more into young Japanese men and women for the Gospel’s sake. The more you grow, the more productive & useful you'll be for the Lord. 2 Pet. 1:8   Times are A-Changin’ When it Comes to Discipleship! With no experience, you can jump in with both feet and be a disciple! Call them small groups, life groups, or Covenant Discipleship Groups. It does not matter. We are just people who “disciple” together. What does it look like to “disciple” together at KFUMC? Maybe you are interested in our various food ministries. Maybe you enjoy making hospital visits. Maybe you are interested in delivering flowers to homebound members. Maybe you would like to offer communion to those in nursing facilities. Maybe you love to sing, but cannot, so you are thinking about joining Haley Montoya’s Sing-a-Long group. Maybe you are good at home repairs. Maybe you love to read to others. Maybe you are a genius when it comes to second-grade math and can offer your skills as a tutor. Maybe you like to fold and sort clothes at Mustard Seed. On September 4th, KFUMC has a new group starting. This will be our 7th group in three short years! We are making a difference in our community, one group at a time!!! If you are interested in meeting some new people, forming new friendships, and “discipling” together, please come to our first meeting to learn more. I will be in room 203, on the second floor of the education building. You do not have to commit yet. Just come and check it out. See you on Sept. 4 at 5:30 PM! Blessings, Rev. Monica O’Donnell  Mega Food PantryWe are so thankful for the San Antonio Food Bank and Amazing Unpaid Servants! Mustard SeedWe love our neighbors! Joyful Noise! Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100) When people ask what I do for a living, and I reply that I’m a singer and music director, the most common comment I hear is “Oh, I can’t sing! I can’t carry a tune in a bucket!” and I inevitably reply with “just make a joyful noise!” Getting caught up in perfectionism (a personal affliction of mine) is an all-too-common human condition. Perfectionism gives us false hope that, if we try hard enough, we can be “good enough” for God, or for others. Perfectionism makes us think we can earn our worth and value; something that only comes from the Lord. God blesses all of us with something to give and, when we offer our loaves and fishes, God multiplies whatever seemingly insignificant things we hold in ourselves, and He feeds His people. So come, make a joyful noise! Sing with someone to remind them that they still matter (try our Sing a Long group). Lighten someone’s depression or anxiety by spreading the joy of music (sing with Saints Alive). Help bring someone to the present moment by singing an old, familiar song with them. It’s okay if your voice is like a 1982 Oldsmobile, rusty and hard to start. It’s okay if you sang in a choir 40 years ago but haven’t kept it up (come to a choir rehearsal). It’s okay if you’re not good enough, God will take care of that. If you feel called, then come, make a joyful noise! How YOU can make a joyful noise with KFUMC:  Sing a Long: this group meets at a different care facility each Wednesday mid-morning and sings old and familiar hymns and popular tunes. No music reading is necessary, but volunteers must enjoy singing and laughing with people. Easy commitment (come when you can) and the session runs from September through May.  Saints Alive: This group meets on Tuesday mornings at the church and rehearses easy to read hymns and familiar tunes then presents concerts at each care facility in Kerrville. The fall and spring sessions run 12 weeks each. Must be willing to wear a red polo shirt and goof off.  KFUMC Choir: This group meets on Wednesday nights from 6:30-8:30 and prepares music to sing on Sunday mornings at the 10:45 service. This group has a wide spectrum of music reading abilities so if you are at all curious about how you will fit in, please meet with me, or come to a rehearsal and see. This group also prepares music for the Christmas and Easter Cantatas.  KFUMC Cantata Choir: This is a lighter commitment choir that meets on Wednesday nights from 7:00-8:30 for the10 weeks before Christmas and the 10 weeks before Easter. This group is great for singers who cannot commit to year-round rehearsals or Sunday mornings.  8:15 Service Music: Musicians are welcome to share their gifts during offertory/communion at the 8:15 service. Instrumentalists and singers alike, please contact me if interested!  KFUMC Ringers: Rather ring than sing? This group meets Wednesday evenings before choir practice and prepares music for Sunday services in the fall, spring, and summer. This is a lower commitment group with sessions approximately 3-7 weeks long. This is a great group for those that read music at a somewhat intermediate level. Get in touch with me and come see where you can make a joyful noise! Haley Montoya KFUMC Director of Music [email protected] 830-257-0809   Hello, New Adventures! Lord Jesus, we ask for Your help as children throughout our community begin the new school year. Allow each child to experience Your presence in the many blessings You put before them. Open their eyes to the new challenges and exciting opportunities that this new school year brings. Open their hearts and minds to new friends and new teachers. Place Your hedge of protection over all students and staff. Amen. Mustard Seed LIGHT on the HILL Mustard Seed and Mega Food Pantry Schedule August 5: Mustard Seed Closed August 12: Mustard Seed 9-10am August 19: Mustard Seed 9-10am August 26: MEGA 8-10am September 2: Mustard Seed Closed September 9: Mustard Seed 9-10am September 16: Mustard Seed 9-10am September 23: Mustard Seed 9-10am September 30: MEGA 8-10am October 7: Mustard Seed 10-11am October 14: Mustard Seed Closed October 21: Mustard Seed 10-11am October 28: MEGA 10am –Noon November 4: Mustard Seed 10-11am November 11: Mustard Seed Closed November 18: Mustard Seed 10-11am November 25: MEGA 10am-Noon December 2: Mustard Seed 10-11am December 9: MEGA 10am-Noon December 16: Mustard Seed 10-11am December 23 and December 30: Mustard Seed Closed    It was a great morning at the Back to School Bash! Thank you to everyone who supported this KFUMC community outreach at Light on the Hill!   Clean out your closets today and bring the gently used clothes and shoes that your kids have outgrown to the worship center porch at Light on the Hill so we can share with others. DEADLINE TO DONATE IS THURSDAY, AUGUST 1. We have lots of opportunities to volunteer! Contact Beth Palmer if you are interested in helping with this event.  Hill Country Emmaus Family, Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer and week! Our next Gathering is quickly approaching and we look forward to seeing y’all soon! Please mark your calendars for Monday, August 5th. We will meet at Light on the Hill. Please join us at 6pm for dinner and 7pm for our gathering. Please read below for more important information. We look forward to see everyone soon! Have a blessed weekend! Upcoming Gathering Monday, August 5th Food provided by Marquetta 4th Day Speaker David Nelson  Women's WalkWomen’s Walk September 26th-29th  We are getting so excited about our upcoming Women’s Walk! We have 23 pilgrims signed up and we have slots for 36. If you know of anyone wanting to join please help spread the message. Scholarships are available. This will be one of the best walks ever! This years walk leaders and helpers: Spiritual Director- David Payne ALDs (assistant lay directors) - Lori Payne, Carol Tucker and Michelle McGinnis. Music team - Kari Banks, Sara Lohmeyer and Dana Foster. You can drop off your agape in the Suzannah room at LOH any time between now and the walk. Volunteers: If you have been on a walk and would like to serve on the inside team please email Tina Box. Women's Walk Inside team meeting dates and times: August 2nd 5:30 to 8:30 Suzannah room August 16th 5:30 to 8:30 Suzannah room August 30th 5:30 to 8:30 Suzannah room September 14th 9:30 to 3pm Wilson Building Walk applications: Please click on the links below and turn in the completed forms to Tina at Light on the Hill at Mount Wesley 610 Methodist Encampment Rd, Kerrville TX If you have any questions please reach out to Tina Box at [email protected] Pilgrim application Team application What a wonderful morning at Light on the Hill! Thank you to all of the wonderful unpaid servants who pour out the love and grace of Jesus Christ on each other and our neighbors! God is so, so good! What a Great Week at Camp Wesley! Thank you to all of the unpaid servants who shared Jesus with so many children! What a blessing!!!     Back to School Bash, Loading...Back to School Bash is this Saturday, August 3rd!! Clean out your closets and bring the gently used clothes and shoes that your kids have outgrown to the worship center porch at Light on the Hill so we can share with others. We have lots of opportunities to volunteer! Contact Beth Palmer if you are interested in helping with this event.  This week I am having the privilege of sharing with Camp Wesley Campers about all of the wonderful ways that Mustard Seed Ministries serves our community! They are learning about the history of Mustard Seed and about all of YOU! Without your support, Mustard Seed wouldn’t have the impact in our community that it does. Thank you for your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service and your witness! Small things, great love! If you would like to know how you can get involved in our food relief efforts, please reach out to Beth Palmer beth.palmer@kfumc or Tina Box [email protected] and we can get you plugged in! We currently need more people to add to our home delivery team. Let us know if we can give you more information. Thank you!    What a great evening on July 4th at Kerrville First United Methodist Church! Back to SchoolWe are working hard to get ready for the BACK to SCHOOL BASH at Light on the Hill on Saturday morning, August 3! We are excited to be able to help children who would benefit from a “hand up” for the start of the new school year! We need volunteers to help before the event with things like praying over the backpacks and organizing the gently used children’s clothing, and we also need help at the event with giving free haircuts, serving popsicles, and welcoming and helping direct people to the different areas during the event. If you would like to help, please contact Beth Palmer at [email protected] or call 830.459.5847. Thank you to everyone for your prayers and your donations. What a joy it is to be able to share blessings! Camp Wesley  Joy filled the Mega Pantry this week because of all of the amazing unpaid servants, the wonderful food that was delivered by the San Antonio Food Bank, and our awesome neighbors that we had the privilege to share with! And thanks to the the super Girl Scout Troop #672 helping at Mega! Get ready for our BACK TO SCHOOL free event coming this August!  Nurse Theresa and Community worker, Emily, shared information about our Back to School Bash at the Glory Community Garden’s “Burgers in the Garden” event!      |
HubShareStay tuned to the latest LOTH news, articles, events, and community happenings! Archives
September 2024
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
|
Light on the Hill at Mount Wesley is a Texas nonprofit corporation recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (Federal Tax ID: 83-3263624).
Site created by vMarque, LLC