Celebrating Life and a Spirit of Gratitiude

This past weekend we traveled to Dayton to celebrate the life of Maria's grandpa, Bill Wynn.   He lived an amazing life of 88 years, enjoyed 63 years of marriage, had 2 daughters, 16 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, with two more on the way.   And while there was grieving, tears, and a sense of loss, there was throughout the family a sense of thankfulness.   Whether it was memories from long ago or more recent, there was so much to be thankful for.

Overwhelmingly everyone was so appreciative of the opportunity to go to the Outer Banks (33 of us total) this past June.   It was one last time for all of Maria's family to celebrate a week together with Grandpa.   In fact it was amazing that God blessed us with this last opportunity.   Grandpa had a mild heart attack earlier in the spring and was able to recover enough to join us.

Grandpa and Grandma Wynn surrounded by 31 family members including great-grandchildren.

We are thankful that we had the opportunity to travel to be with family and to celebrate Grandpa's life.  Had he passed six months from now, we probably would have been out of the country.  We were blessed to see family that we hadn't seen in years.

When FMC sent us our acceptance letter, they included a document titled "Have a Missionary Heart."   Their first recommendation comes from 1 Thessalonians 5:18, "In all things give thanks."   This is not easy.   But as people of faith, we recognize that God and His grace is always present.   In all things and in all situations.   That whatever comes... loss, tragedy, frustrations, hardships, suffering, God is there.   He is present, with His arm wrapped around us, in the agony of the gardens in our lives.   As it says in Psalm 138, "Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me."   Again in Romans 8:28, "We know that all things work for good for those who love God."   God loves us enough to be with us, by our side, even in the darkest hours of our lives.

For those who are in WNY, we want to invite you to come and celebrate God's love for us, for the blessings He has poured out upon us, and for His companionship with us even in our struggles.  On Wednesday, August 10 from 7pm- 8pm there will be a Night of Praise and Worship sponsored by the 4:30 Worship Team at St. Gregory the Great Parish.   It is an evening to worship our God for all the blessings He has given us.   We will take some time to share some of the amazing ways we have seen God working our lives as well as others.   God is so good!   There will be a reception afterwards in Gathering Room 2.   There will be a free will offering available in the back of the church.   But a donation is not required to join us.

What do missionaries do? A call for charity and justice.

A lot of people ask us what FMC missionaries do.   A very fair question.   A lot depends on where we are assigned, what the local needs are, and if there is a particular task that the local bishop and/or priests has for us.

One of the things that all FMC missionaries do, regardless of their particular assignment, is to identify the needs of poor in their community and to get them the assistance that the need.   These needs may include housing, food, medical, pastoral, etc.

For example, we would like to introduce you to Amber LaFleur, a first-year FMC missionary.   We  met Amber last August when she attended the same Come and See week.   Amber has an amazingly sweet and generous missionary heart.   Since high school she has desired to spread God's love as missionary and has been praying about for years.   Last September she joined FMC and went through Intake, their training program.   Since January she has been on her first assignment in the Philippines.

She recently posted the following on Facebook.   Please take a moment to read.  It provides a little insight to some of the work that we will be doing.   Also take a moment to pray for Amber and Jeffy and consider if God is inviting you to help Jeffy with a donation.

I HAVE A PRAYER AND ALMS REQUEST:
Please take the time to read, so that we can have as many people as can praying.
I met a family 2 weeks ago, needing help with their son's CT scan.
When I met them I didn't know how bad it was going to be.
Jeffy, has had asthma since he was 1 years old and it got so bad that he wasn't getting enough oxygen in his brain, so it resulted in him having a seizure and now is in ICU non-responsive. He has to have oxygen to breath and a tube down his throat to get rid of the liquid in his throat. He is really struggling to breath, and often has coughing spells...
The doctor ordered for him to have a tracheostomy any day now. The family has no money to pay for his medicine and procedure. I have, by the graces of God and help from my donors, been helping them with their medical bills. The procedure and tracheotomy tube will be expensive though.. I need your help!!

Jeffy is unhealthily losing a lot of weight and strength being in the hospital. His family members are very worried about him.
If you feel called to help, please say in the donation that it is for Jeffy. You can go to my FMC website page to donate.
amberlafleur.familymissionscompany.com
Most importantly, please keep Jeffy in your prayers!!!!
The Lord can heal anyone, so please join me in that prayer!!
Thank you, and God bless~
~Amber LaFleur~

Amber LaFleur: Catholic Missionary

amberlafleur.familymissionscompany.com

amberlafleur.familymissionscompany.com

God is so Good and the Need is Great!

The final count is in from last week's Facebook campaign.   Our goal was to raise $9000 in one time donations and in monthly pledges.   When we stretched out the monthly pledges over the course of the year we raised.... $12,594.40!   That takes us to less than $6,000 away from our annual goal!   THANK YOU!!!

What is God teaching us?   He has already told us to let go and trust in Him and now He is showing us that He is trustworthy!   As we shared in a previous blog (Click here), there have been times in our lives where we have done all that we can, and there reaches a time where we need to surrender to God.   He is the Creator and Master of the Universe.  :)   He reminds us, "Don't worry.   I have you.  You are mine."

And in today's world, we need to know more than ever that there is still a loving God that holds us in the palm of His hands, that weeps with us in our grief and brokenness and heartache.   He has not left us, but is in our agony of the gardens.   Our prayers goes out for all those that are suffering from all recent acts of violence, Istanbul, Orlando, Dallas, and so many more.   There is a need for Christ's love, in our neighborhoods and homes, in the States, and on every continent.   We all have a part to play.   We are all called to be sent.

Day 8 of 8. Called to the Harvest

Did anyone hear a missionary theme in this past Sunday's Gospel from Luke 10:1-9?   It was hard for us to miss.

At that time the Lord appointed seventy-two others
whom he sent ahead of him in pairs
to every town and place he intended to visit.
He said to them,
"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.
Go on your way;
behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.
Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals;
and greet no one along the way.
Into whatever house you enter, first say,
'Peace to this household.'
If a peaceful person lives there,
your peace will rest on him;
but if not, it will return to you.
Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you,
for the laborer deserves his payment.
Do not move about from one house to another.
Whatever town you enter and they welcome you,
eat what is set before you,
cure the sick in it and say to them,
'The kingdom of God is at hand for you.'"

There are two points that grabbed my attention.   First, the pairs were sent ahead of him to places his intended to visit.   Missionaries are called to go ahead of Christ, to prepare the way and hearts.   Missionaries are called to be like John the Baptist, lowering the mountains, raising the valleys, and straightening the paths.   By sharing our stories we can invite others to encounter the love of God.   We are Christians, not because we are perfect or stronger than others, but because we are broken,  weak, and in need of a Savior.   Sharing Christ's love with others cannot be done from a personal self-reliant strength, but from personal weakness and vulnerability.   Let me show you how much the Lord loves you, because look how much He is able to love even this part of my life!   And this then leads to the second point...  our message.   "The kingdom of God is at hand for you."   For YOU.   Did you hear that, or read that?  The kingdom of God is at had FOR YOU.   It is so easy to believe God that God love unconditionally.   It is easier to tell others that Jesus loves them or to theologically wrestle with God's unconditional love as an academic exercise.   Maybe it is because we know our own closets and brokenness, but for so many of us it is harder to accept His love for ourselves.   But if you want to know the depth of Christ's love for you, pray for courage and let Him in.

Maria's sister, Katie, is currently in Europe and was able to hear Pope Francis give his reflection during the angelus on Sunday, July 3.   It kinda ties in a little.  (Insert sarcastic emoji.)  Check it out... Pope Francis' Angelus on July 3

Speaking of traveling in Europe.   Please pray for my parents, John and Marlene Gehl.   I drove them to the Toronto Airport yesterday.   They are flying to Spain to spend the next 42 days walking the 500 miles of the Camino with only a backpack each!   What is it about us Gehls and being a little crazy?!  Check out their blog.   Our Crazy Camino.   They are looking for intentions to pray for each day.   So please leave a comment on their blog if you have anything and leave them a line of encouragement!

John and Marlene Gehl about to leave for the Toronto Airport and the Camino!

We have been so excited and blessed to share our story of God's love and grace with you through all of last week!   Simply put, that is what it means to be missionary.   Spread the seeds of your story of God's love and let God take control of where they take root.   Well we are humble to announce that the Western New York Catholic will include a full page article during the month of July.   Check out page 9.   For the Greater Glory of God!

Day 7 of 8. We made it!! We do not live on bread alone

THANK YOU!  Here we are in our last 24 hours and we already passed our goal of $9,000!   Our first year of missionary work is already half covered!   God is so good!   We will keep the Facebook campaign going for this last day.  Anything that is given at this point will get us ahead towards our overall annual goal of $18,000.   So if you are still considering giving, God still has need of your generosity!  Click here. You still have a post for day 8 of 8 to look forward to.   After the holiday weekend, we will share the success of this week with the final tally.

We are so blessed by the One would gives all all good gifts!   Despite all of our efforts and all work we do, it is God who blesses and brings things to fruition.   Today's psalm from Mass reminds us that "One does not live by bread alone, but every word that comes from the mouth of God."  We depend on God.   Bread takes work and effort.   The wheat needs to be planted and harvested.   The grain needs to be separated and ground into flour.   The flour needs to be mixed and baked into bread.  If bread represents our work and our efforts, then we rely not on ourselves but on our loving God.  This does not mean that we do not need bread, but it is not what we ultimately rely on.   This doesn't mean that we don't have work to do and effort to apply, but at the end of the day, we trust in God, not ourselves.

Over this past week it has been a joy sharing our story with you.   But what has been an even greater blessing is seeing God working in your lives inspiring so many of you to support us and join us!   Even with all our efforts, had God not lead your hearts to partner with us with your generous prayers and gifts, we would not have had the success that we are experiencing at the time!   Praise God!  And thank you!

On another note, we are also very proud of Elijah.   In a previous blog post we shared how he first felt God's calling to become a missionary at a week-long camp run by the People of Praise.   This was before we even told our children that we were considering FMC.   This past week he returned for another year.   Check out this video of Elijah giving his testimony in front of 100+ campers and 40+ staff members!

Finally, we are also very excited and thankful for Fr. Leon and our parish, St. Gregory the Great for not only letting us share our story in this week's bulletin, but for featuring it on the front page!   See below!