Connections
It seems like life is a series of connections. As Believers, we truly UNDERSTAND that God makes these connections. It is amazing when you can see how some of these connections go full circle. It’s almost like it “CLICKS” when it happens!
This is a very abbreviated version of a series of these connections as they relate to Mission: Mobility.
Brad Clark and his wife travelled to Iowa, from Kentucky, in 2006 for their daughter to receive clubfoot treatment with the Ponsetti Method. Dr Ponsetti developed a non-surgical treatment, treating patients in Iowa City Iowa. While on this visit, the Clarks had the opportunity to meet John and Jean Mitchell. John is the inventor of the Mitchell Brace, which is the foremost prescribed brace for clubfoot correction in the Ponsetti Method of treatment.
Fast forward a few years, 2009. Brad was fundraising for a mission trip to Guatemala. They sent out an email to help raise funds needed to build a home for a widow (Blanca) and her children. The Mitchell’s received this email, from someone who they remembered meeting briefly. After researching the missionaries that Brad was working with, Bethel Ministries International (www.bethelministriesinternational.com), the Mitchell’s donated toward the home. From that point on, On His Path (www.onhispath.com) became partners in support of Bethel’s efforts. (On His Path is the Christian Non-Profit Organization that the Mitchells founded to benefit those in need, worldwide!) The Mitchells were very impressed that Bethel had so many facets to serve the needy and disabled in Guatemala, and that ALL these facets had ONE common goal….to spread the GOSPEL!
(Brad’s 2009 team in front of Blanca’ new home)
July 2011 my family and the Mitchell family travelled to Guatemala to serve with Bethel on a mission trip. This was truely life changing for my family, opening our eyes to missions. We were humbled while helping the needy with food distributions, clothing distributions, home building and the wheelchair distribution! While on a visit to one family, Chris was telling us about building this home for Blanca and her kids. Jean realized at that moment THIS was the home they donated to (that Brads team built) which was the original connection for them with Bethel! God made the connection. “CLICK!”
(2011 family mission trip with the Mitchells)
Time passed…. August 2012, God presented us with the opportunity to collect equipment to help Bethel’s wheelchair ministry. (This would develop and grow into Mission: Mobility in February 2014). This collection ministry is generously supported by On His Path.
November 2012, I “met” Brad through many phone conversations to transport equipment he had collected to Iowa for loading on the first Iowa container. Resulting from that, Brad invited me along on his January J127 (http://www.j127.org/blog) men’s mission trip to serve with Bethel. John Mitchell joined me on the trip. This was a tremendous blessing, it was especially great to have John, Brad and Bethel connected together! “CLICK!”
(Chris [Bethel Ministries] & John)
(The 2013 J127 team)
An especially impactful moment was when Brad shared with us how when his daughter was younger and they realized the complexity of her special needs. He recalled praying (often) that SOMEHOW God could use her unique gifts to reach people for Christ. Sitting in the van that day in Tecpan Guatemala, God truly revealed to Brad how through her special needs and the clubfoot treatment, Bethel is now receives support by the Mitchell’s and On HIs PATH and many are receiving the Gospel. PRAYERS ANSWERED!! “CLICK!”
(The January 2013 J127 team)
We return home and continue with life. We also keep collecting. God then reveals how the collection ministry is much more far reaching than originally expected! Thus, Mission: Mobility is born! Brad and I become great friends and stay in regular communication as we develop this new mission. I am very thankful for his input and ideas, and for his excellent work in designing our website! He is a HUGE blessing to Mission: Mobility! He is a HUGE Blessing to me!
This weekend more connections were made. The Mitchell’s son, Matt, got married in Louisville Kentucky. We were so excited to celebrate the marriage of our good friend Matt. It was an AWESOME, PowerfuL weekend of events! All so Christ centered! It was an amazing weekend. Matt and Olivia will be a fantastic couple who God will use in amazing ways! Of this, I am sure! I was equally excited to finally visit Brad at his home and meet his family, and share my family with him. There are people you meet in life that you rarely see, or meet for the first time and it is like you have always known them. You just connect! That was our experience with the Clarks! What an awesome family! What a great connection! “CLICK!”
(Brad & Holly Clark, Taylor, Annette & Rick Fulton)
It was great to visit with Brad about his collection efforts. We also visited his storage location and saw the trailer he uses when collecting equipment.
The Clark’s joined us at the wedding and reception. It was a joy to reconnect the Clark’s with the Mitchell’s! “CLICK!” (I am sorry I neglected to get a photo of the Mitchells and the Clarks together!)
This summer my family is scheduled to spend a week serving with Bethel again! We are excited to return to GUATEMALA !!! Especially, to return as a family. And, we will be returning with the Mitchell family. It will be nearly the same group from our first experience. We are excited to return to serve in the many ways Bethel serves the people of Guatemala. I am especially excited to distribute wheelchairs collected by the many volunteers of Mission: Mobility! I am excited to see what connections God will make!
Thank you for your support!
Meet Brad Clark…… Brad is a long time Bethel Ministries friend. His first mission trip was in 2009. He has served with Bethel a total of 6 times. He has lead the January J127 men’s mission team for the past 5 years! (link) This group continues to return to Tecpan, Guatemala and serve the people of Juan Macario’s church. I have had the awesome privilege to be a part of two of these trips. They are very amazing, because of the RECONNECTION with the people who have been helped in previous years! “CLICK!”
Brad is a pilot for UPS. He has an amazing heart for SERVING, especially to support Bethel Ministries and all they do. He is an integral part of Mission: Mobility, always there to help in any way needed. Brad also has another connection to Guatemala. He and his wife Holly have 3 adopted daughters. 2 from China, and one from Guatemala! Thank you for all you do Brad!
I am thankful for that prayer Brad and Holly said over their daughter many years ago! As a roundabout result, I am now a part of Mission: Mobility, and helping answer that prayer by providing the equipment that helps Bethel Spread the Gospel! “CLICK!”
Dios te Bendiga!!!!