This was my second missions trip, and by far more challenging than the first.  Waking up extremely early to work, sleeping on air mattresses, dealing with the heat, and taking outside showers were only some of the obstacles before us, but God helped us to cope with these challenges.  Besides the challenges, we were able to interact with other mission groups as well as the natives.  Helping out at VBS was a great experience.  I remember one day when we were making cross necklaces, a kindergartener said to me, "This cross will always remind me that Jesus dies on the cross for our sins."  This touched my heart.  Behind all the rowdiness there were children that learned something after all.  God worked through us to help these children know and love Him. 

Jesse Newmann
To start everything off I would just like to thank everyone who kept me in his or her prayers.  Also, I want to thank the people who contributed money towards our trip.  You made it possible for me to have a great experience in Tucson, AZ.  This trip really impacted my life, as Christ worked in my life in amazing ways.  It was so cool to see how the Indians that live in America live their lives.  When I communicated with the natives I found out their lives were not much difference than ours.  The main difference was that most of the natives were poor, and some of the children had parents that beat them.  This really touched everyone and me because we wanted to do everything we could to help these children.  So when I was introduced to these things I knew God showed them to me on purpose.  Therefore, I thought maybe that God was trying to show me that I need to help these kids by showing them Gods love for everyone.  Since no one at home seemed to love them God almost told us to introduce them to the Gospel.  In Tucson we also worked on the church building  that we were staying at, by painting the outside of it.  It was fun working with everyone and doing something for the glory of God.  All in all, I had a great time!  Again, I'd like to thank everyone who supported me on the trip. 

Jessica Hood
I would like to thank Aisquith and all of the people who supported us financially and with their prayers.  I have wanted to be a part of a missions team ever since I learned that youth could be involved, and the taste of missions work has made me want more opportunities.  I have been changed by this mission trip and am grateful for the opportunity to go. 

On this trip I was impacted most by the poor living conditions on the reservation. I realized that poverty is not just in Baltimore or other major cities.  It is everywhere.  Some are so poor that they cannot afford shoes.  Without shoes, the children cannot go to school, and without an education, it seems hopeless for them to get a good job and escape the horrible cycle of poverty. 

Like inner Baltimore City, many kids have a horrible home life.  When we discussed fear, numerous kids were scared of a relative at home who abused them.  The kids were hungry for attention, so when they got to Vacation Bible School they just wanted to be held and played with.  It was sad because when you picked them up you could smell that they were not clean and many kids had teeth blackened with decay. 

I have flashbacks of the trip and I get sad - even cry when I remember the children's' faces.  There is a picture burned into my memory of a little boy on Andrew's back - so happy to be with us.  he has a great big smile that reveals his decayed teeth and evidence of a neglected life.  Initially I was afraid that I could not get past their uncleanliness in order to minister.  Once I hugged the first child, my fears were gone and I wanted to hug them all. 

Unfortunately, the future seems bleak for those children.  the adults do not have many options to improve their living.  Jobs are limited and few will have the chance to attend community college.  To increase their odds of a better life, they need to land a job in one of the bigger cities.  Then comes the logistics of keeping a job in the city: clothing, transportation, childcare, etc.  The complications pile up and the situation seems hopeless. 

I keep wondering, " What can we do to help?"  We are limited in so many ways.  I think the best thing we can do is pray that their hearts would be open to the Gospel.  Accepting Christ would change their priorities.  Sending money and supplies may relieve surface problems for a short period, but a lasting change can only come  from the transformation of their hearts.  Now that the trip is over and we are all home, we need to remember to pray for the people in Sells. 

Jared Newmann
Before we left on this trip to AZ I thought it was going to be a disaster, because of the fact that we never really found out what we were going to do there.  It was nothing like that .  The trip was a great success in my eyes and I had a great praise for what we had done and how we changed some of the not so good things of the area.  It was great to see the different cultures that surround us that we don't see.  That really helped me understand what we're really there for.  I had such a great time there with the kids and the things we did with them.  Also the way the people there saw us as we were working in the areas of clean up they just seemed so pleased at what we were doing.  I hope this helped them realize why we were there and what we are trying to accomplish.  Also I would like to say thank you to those who, with their devoted prayers really helped us through our long days of working and spreading God's word.  I would like to thank God for the patience that He provided for us to work with these kids who were sometimes violent and ill tempered and also being able to understand where they are coming from in the sense of their bad backgrounds with their family.

If I had to pick a favorite part about the trip I'd have to say the Vacation Bible School.  I loved the children there, and even though I had the crazy and wild 3s, 4s, and 5s, I learned patience and just had so much fun with them!  Them being so young, I wondered how I could witness to them or how they would listen to what either I or the teacher had to say.  Despite their age and the way they seemed to not pay attention, one little boy's question almost brought tears to my eyes.  We were making beaded cross necklaces and he just looked up at me and asked, "Why did Jesus have to die on the cross for us?"  What better opportunity was that?  Throughout the week God did provide opportunities like this one, for all of us. 

I just want to thank all of  you who supported us through prayers and finances.  We couldn't have done it without all of you.  I continually thank god for the many opportunities He has given me to do with Aisquith.  I honestly couldn't be more blessed to have such awesome friends as all of you that went on the trip with and have shared such great memories with. 

John Ceselsky
When we began to plan for the Impact trip this year, there was a great bit of undecided ness in my heart.  Where should we go?  What would we like to work on?  Would there be anyone willing to go?

Having ministered the past two years in Guadalajara, Mexico, many of us felt that a return to Mexico wasn't in the best interest of the team.  We wanted to expose team members to other needy peoples, regions, and ministries.  There was hesitation, though, in choosing a new project like Tucson, with it's many unknowns, especially given the overwhelming success of the past two trips to Mexico. 

But the Lord blessed, as He always does.  The Impact Committee came to a nearly unanimous decision to go to Tucson, and then unanimously decided to work with the native community there.  (There was also an option to minister to the growing Hispanic community in South Tucson).  Then the Lord blessed again, as we ended up with a team of 22 individuals.  Previously, our largest team was 19, and only 16 for trips requiring air travel. 

Preparation for the trip was quite different this year.  We didn't know exactly what form the ministry would have for us this year.  Additionally, we had 8 first time Impact team members (3 of which had never flown before). 

Again, the Lord brought it all together, even though we weren't sure what we were going to be doing until Monday afternoon (during the trip).  Basically, we shared in five areas of ministry:

1. Painting - Most of the team spent Tuesday through Friday mornings painting the church building where we were staying.  This helps MTW build a solid foundation for relationships with the natives on the reservation and the churches in the area. 
2. Roofing - Four of us, including myself, spent Tuesday through Thursday repairing the rood of an elderly lady on the reservation.  When I saw the roof on Monday with other team leaders, we were moved with compassion for this poor woman.  The Lord blessed us with three excellent mornings to do the work.  A special thank you to David and Jared Newmann and Jason Loveless for their willingness to get up with me at 4:30 am in order to serve this widow in need, and for their tremendous work. 
3. Basketball Camp - Each afternoon, 7 of us participated in a basketball camp for local children.  This was a wonderful opportunity to interact with, teach, and love children who were desperate to see a fun, yet positive Christian role model.
4. Vacation Bible School - Again, in the afternoons, 15 members of out team served with Calvary Korean Presbyterian Church to put on a VBS.  This ministry reached out to over 100 local children.  I know that this was a lot of hard work and required a lot of patience on the part of our team members.  They did a fabulous job and the Lord was praised.

In addition to these activities, all of the churches participated in an evangelistic outreach program on Thursday night.  This event featured singing led by Jason Loveless and other members of our group, testimonies given by Shannon Johnson and Seth Warner, and an evangelistic message by myself.  The night also involved the loving care and the interaction with the local community that all of the team members performed so well. 

So, we began with a lot of questions.  But, as always, the Lord manages to lean and guide.  In my opinion, the trip was very successful.  I saw the Lord work in and through 22 individuals.  I saw 22 people give what they had - and not complain.  I saw 22 people offer themselves to the Lord saying, "Here I am, use me".  And I saw 22 people greatly blessed. 

I would like to thank the entire Aisquith community for supporting the vision of our Impact program and for supporting us as a team, both financially and through much needed prayer.  You were represented well.  Thank you again. 
 

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