The first in a series of four coffee coasters we're creating

Our family is printing four different coffee table coasters this year to share with you and others with whom we partner. This is coaster #1. Here’s the story behind the photo…

While in Southeast Asia, as we set up for a large “outreach” I saw a group of kids playing on a wall. I went over with some friends to meet them. As they flew kites, laughed with each other and told stories, I jumped up on the wall. In doing so, I could see on the other side.

I took this photo from the top of the wall

Standing between physical & spiritual poverty & a place of hope

There, I saw the impoverished situation in which they lived…that area has unclean water and poor sanitation and more. They had a look of joy on their faces, but the adults we saw on the other side didn’t. Also, most in that area hadn’t heard the Truth that can set them free. We were sharing that truth on the other side of the wall.

Since then, it’s been my hope to help people in their situation literally and metaphorically get “over the wall.” What can we do to help them find life saving water and nutrition and Eternal Hope?

I use the photo on the coaster on the front page of this website, and in many other places…it represents so much to me. Through our work with the Convoy of Hope Interns, we’re doing our best to help kids like them get over the wall. And we’re working with an upcoming army of compassion to see it happen. Through a feeding program that helps them and their families in sustainable ways, we hope to help feed their bodies. Through sharing Truth, we hope to feed their spirit…and we don’t do it alone.

Our interns and intern staff are required to raise money for their service with Convoy of Hope. It’s no different with us. As Career Missionary Associates with the Assemblies of God assigned to Convoy of Hope, the funds we raise will go towards living expenses, and to help keep Convoy of Hope funds focused on sharing hope with people around the world. Partnership with us helps the Convoy of Hope Interns and the work of Convoy of Hope.

We’re humbled and grateful for the people who stand with us financially, and who help us help kids like them get over the wall.

Those who pray and those who give are absolutely a part of the stories you see here.

Thanks to you for even looking at this page. For those who are a part of the financial support family, thank you. For those considering it, please know we’ll work hard to serve as good stewards. We commit to: living with integrity and generosity, a strong work ethic, and with good communication to you. We thank you too.

Special gifts and monthly support can be set up and sent by visiting our AGWM support page. There, you’ll see ways to use a debit card to send money on a monthly basis, or for specific events.

If you would like your own coaster (or some for your church/cafe/other friends/etc.) to help you remember to pray for us, and of your partnership, please email mattwilkie(at)gmail.com with your address. We’ll mail you one right away.Also, please let me know if you have any questions, and again, thank you.

With appreciation,

Matt

I.D. Cards from 1940

She and Grandpa Wilkie served as missionaries in Latin America beginning in the early 40’s. I was moved while going through her things when I found these I.D. cards from some of their earliest travels.

These cards note they were traveling from Santa Ana, El Salvador, the city where their missions work began. They later served in Bolivia and Uruguay.

In 2008, I was riding through the mountains of El Salvador towards that same city, Santa Ana. I was with a Latin American Child Care (LACC) school director, and we were working with the Convoy of Hope Interns. After telling the director about Grandma, I thought I’d call her. In our conversation I learned more about their work in the country, and found out she had been sponsoring a “little” girl through LACC.

I learned her name and my friend made a few phone calls. Within a few moments, we had Silvia, who was then 16-years-old, on the phone.

April and I soon met Silvia and her family. It was fun seeing the photos of my grandmother that were in her bedroom.

Silvia holding pictures of my grandmother and cousins.

You can read about my first visit to Silvia here. We were devastated a few months later when he father was murdered. I believe Grandma’s prayers during that season were a big part of helping her family.

About a week before Grandma passed away, Silvia emailed me to let me know she would soon graduate from high school and start nursing school. She knows that she’ll be a key bread-winner for her mother and brother…and she wondered if the scholarship Grandma had been giving could go towards he collegiate work.

Normally, the scholarships end with graduation, but we’ve been given permission through LACC for donations to be made in memory of Grandma…and the funds can go towards helping Silvia through her 5-year nursing program.

To make a donation, you may mail a check with “In Memory of Ruby Wilkie” in the memo line to:

LACC

1445 N. Boonville Ave.

Springfield, MO 65802

The strongest emotion I feel as we celebrate her life isn’t sadness or despair or anything else negative, but instead it’s gratefulness. I’m thankful to have had her and her prayers in my life for these 39 years…and I know Silvia’s life is changed too. I’m hoping to work with you and others to help carry on her legacy…

Four generations...

Here, she shares a bit of her life, which doctors said she wouldn’t be able to live normally…

So glad Jessica is on this team… from mattwilkie on Vimeo.

So glad Jessica is on the team.

Here’s the first single from his band’s latest project. It’s ironically called, “The Story of Our Lives.”

What is a time or situation in your life that helped you gain perspective?

Here, he shares 2 minutes of his incredible life story. I’ll post about other team members in the future.

What gives you perspective?

When Amber asked if I’d write about some of our former Convoy of Hope interns for OnCourse Magazine, I got excited. The team members (past and present) make up an enormous part of my life…I love that God’s given me the opportunity to work with them.

Samantha & Brittany

You can read about Samantha and Brittany in OnCourse here (on page 24). Samantha was on our team to Bangladesh/Nepal/Mobile, AL, last year and is now in school. She’s preparing for full time work as a missionary in Tanzania. Brittany was on our Summer ‘08 team to Nicaragua and El Salvador, and has done a ton of other missions trips. She’s now working working with one of Convoy of Hope’s partners in Dallas, Buckner International…she helps provide shoes to kids around the world.

Proud of each of them.

It’s fun filling out reference forms (got to fill out 3 this week…) and seeing where God takes our former interns…who we see as still a part of the family.

Another

The latest? Here’s Andy…he just got hired with the development office of the Eastern Mennonite Missions in Pennsylvania. They’re lucky to have this guy….

The upcoming generation will do well…

I’m quite sure that the next generation of those who will serve and lead internationally will do so with passion and focus and a huge love for Jesus and people.

Do you agree?

Grace has shoes

In the midst of one of the world’s most beautiful landscapes, I watched Grace get shoes.

In Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, we ventured to the heartland of the Masai people. The Masai are a proud tribe of beautiful people with a semi-nomadic culture about which many books have been written. There, our Convoy of Hope interns spent time with some big thinking pastors to partner with them and their churches to show compassion throughout the valley.

It was there we encountered Grace. I’m not sure of her age, but she’s a beautiful follower of Christ who was taking care of her younger siblings. Our team connected well with her, and noticed she didn’t have shoes. While Grace isn’t the only teenage Masai member with no shoes, she was the one with whom Shannon, a 18-year-old intern, was speaking. Shannon had more than one pair, so why should Grace have none?

That day, in a gesture that some might consider small…Grace got shoes.

There’s a lot of places grace needs shoes…amongst the hurting, ashamed, poor and wounded. I want to be like Shannon, ready with any small/medium/large gesture to make sure she has them.

Standing Grace, with her siblings

]]> http://www.aroundtheworldwithjesus.com/2010/12/10/giving-shoes-to-grace/feed/ 45 http://www.aroundtheworldwithjesus.com/2010/11/25/10-things-for-which-im-thankful-a-not-so-traditional-list/ http://www.aroundtheworldwithjesus.com/2010/11/25/10-things-for-which-im-thankful-a-not-so-traditional-list/#comments Thu, 25 Nov 2010 17:04:37 +0000 Matt http://www.aroundtheworldwithjesus.com/?p=960 Over the last decade, I’ve seen more of the world than I dreamed possible. It’s opened my eyes to things for which I’m thankful…things I never considered until the “around the world with Jesus” life began…here are some real examples:

arsenic in water can cause sores

1. I’m thankful I don’t have sores on my legs because of arsenic in my water supply.

2. I’m thankful we have enough food on our table so we don’t have to consider whether or not to sell a family member to those who might hurt them in order to pay for food for others in the family.

3. I’m thankful that when I go home I don’t worry about anyone in my family threatening me because of my belief system.

4. I’m thankful that every single night of my 38-year-old life I’ve had adequate shelter…in the midst of snow/ice/intense heat/wind/crazy storms and more. Every night.

5. I’m thankful I’ve never had to look in trash piles for food.

6. I’m thankful the Bible is translated into the language in which I think, dream and speak.

7. I’m thankful for the Church and amazing people around the world who care about those in need so much it’s moved them to help those in their own communities…people like Pastor Jose, Sascha, Raul, Pastor Paul, Pastor Boris and my pastor,Rick.

8. I’m thankful for people who care about others so much they’ve left home to live in the midst of those in need to offer help and hope. This year alone I’ve worked with Jason & Kristi, Duane & Lori, Karl & Ann, Dustin & Natalie, Larry, Bryan & Kim and others.

9. I’m thankful for people who partner with us so we can do what we believe we’re supposed to be doing.

10. I’m thankful that in a few hours, I’ll sit with a family I love and enjoy a fabulous meal (and good coffee…)