Pray for the Mission Team

Pray for the Missions Team

February Family Trip, Feb 16-20, 2012

Very early Thursday morning, while most of us were still sleeping, 19 Ginger Creekers, including several of the Global Missions Team, left for Nicaragua.  Some for the first time, many for the third, fourth or sixth time, all very enthusiastic about serving the people of Nicaragua and excited to see the New Jerusalem church plant. Please be in prayer for them that God would greatly impact their lives and use them to impact others. Pastor Maria will be returning with them on the 20^th and speaking at both services on the 26^th.

Amanda Borre
I have been married to  Jeff Borre for 9 years and we have two hilarious children TJ, 6 and Faith, 4.  I have been a member of Ginger Creek Church for 9 years.  I am a Chiropractor in Warrenville and have always had a heart for serving others.  It has been my dream to go to Nicaragua since the very first scouting trip.  My husband was fearful, until recently, when God moved his heart into welcoming my trip.  I am excited to serve and live alongside the people of Nicaragua with two of my staff members—Becky Mikrut and Marsha Graves.

Dock Caton
I have served Ginger Creek for the last 13 years working with small groups.  I am currently retired after 20 years with the State of Illinois.  My heart has always been in missions. Norma and I spent 10 years in Madrid, Spain.  I have a Masters in Missions and speak the Spanish language.  I have been to Nicaragua only one time, but look anxiously forward to this adventure, and many more in the future.  I am really excited about this trip, because our entire mission team has an opportunity to go and attempt to capture new insights for future ministry.  We have watched our work in Nicaragua develop in a marvelous way these past three years.

Norma Caton
I’m a wife, mother, grandma and lover of life in general. I love the beauties of God’s creation, in all aspects. My husband of 43 years and I are former missionaries to Spain. We have two awesome grown kids Debbie and David, two amazing in-law kids Giles and Marsha, 6 unbelievable grandchildren and two granddogs. Needless to say, my passions lie in my family—I believe they are my primary role in life and my legacy—and in showing God’s love to others through me in whatever way he wants and wherever he chooses. Ginger Creek has been our home for 13 years. I count it a privilege to be part of the church Global Missions Team. I get to witness first-hand how God works in and changes lives. It’s an adventure I want to be a part of! I’m also enjoying my 13th year working for Big Idea (VeggieTales), currently in Customer Service. I deeply believe God has a plan—a good plan—for each of us in his Kingdom work and we will be most fulfilled in life when we seek after and fulfill that purpose.

Debbie (Caton) Davis
For the last 6 years I’ve been a full time missionary to Spain, with SEND International with my husband Giles and our four children Micah (16), Nate (13), Bekah (10) and Jacob (8).  Our ministry in Spain is to youth and youth leaders both in a local church setting as well as in national training events.  I’m in the USA for a couple of months waiting for a visa issue to clear, and staying with my parents, long-time Ginger Creekers Dock and Norma Caton.  While I am unable to be active on the mission field I am called to at  full time capacity, I am thrilled to use Spanish in a new setting.  The Lord certainly is moving world wide, and it’s REALLY cool to see if it from this new angle!  I look forward to learning from our Nicaraguan brothers and sisters and networking, as the Lord allows, to reach this world with HIS gospel and to HIS glory.

Marsha Graves
I am a forty-one year old single woman who loves working with people young and old. It’s my greatest joy. I feel honored to be going on this trip helping a country other than my own. Goodwill starts at home and expands to all. Each one of us must give as he had decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion for God loves a cheerful giver, so this is one of my contributions to him and to myself. I am looking forward the new friendships and bonds I will be making, the start of a “new family.”

Martha Koppin
When my husband Gordon and I reluctantly moved here from New Jersey, our plan was to stay in Wheaton 18 months to three years.  Because of the temporary nature of our move, we didn’t even find a local doctor or dentist, but went back home for our semi-annual check-ups. Our plan was to be back in New Jersey before our daughter entered kindergarten.  Apparently, God had a different plan, because 28 years later, my daughter has not only entered (and finished, I might add) kindergarten,  she and my son, and their families have made their homes in Wheaton, as well. Having learned that God’s plan is so much better than ours, I figured that if He was encouraging me to go to Nicaragua, it wouldn’t be that smart for me to ignore His prompting.  I have been so impressed with sister Maria and her work, and am looking forward to what God has for me next.

Kerrie Kuntz
I have been attending Ginger Creek for 6 years. I own a personal training business and I am a student working on a PA Program. This will be my 6th trip to Nicaragua. When I was asked to be a part of a scouting trip in January of 2008, I was so honored. I thought I was going to be a part of a change that would be so impactful to God’s “least of these.” What I have discovered over the years, however, has been the rather unexpected change that I have seen in me. The word “poverty” encompasses so much more than the lack of monetary means. There is a sort of joy and compassion that I have found in the people of Nicaragua that my whole life, and dare I say, our whole country, is impoverished of. I am so appreciative of the impact that the people of Nicaragua have had on me and the part they have played in bringing my life out of its own sort of poverty.

Becky Mikrut
I’ve been called back to Illinois after 8 years of living in Michigan. I will be joining the Missions team at Ginger Creek for the Family Trip 2012 with my coworkers. I was presented with the honor of going on the trip and couldn’t tell my heart no. I am most looking forward to seeing how I can contribute some love, lend a listening ear and most of all learn how I can serve with others in Nicaragua. I will be letting God lead me in the trip and looking forward to the experience that so many say is life changing! Thank You Ginger Creek for this opportunity!

Tom and Sue Okarma
We have been married for 36 years and have been members of Ginger Creek Church for about two years. We have two adult daughters. Sue is a semi-retired teacher is a supervisor of student teachers at Aurora University. She volunteers with various nonprofits and her specialty is fund-raising. Tom is a retired insurance executive who serves on several nonprofit boards and provides consulting to nonprofit organizations for strategy, board development, and governance.

Carol Olsen
I’ve been a member of Ginger Creek for 18 years.  I am married to Kevin also for 18 years.  We have two daughters; Emily (13) and Abby (9).  This is my fifth time to serve on a mission trip with Ginger Creek to Nicaragua.  I am also a member of the Global Missions team and have served in Women’s and Children’s Ministries. In free time, I enjoy cooking and playing tennis.

Von Peery
My family (Jan, Caleb, Mollie, Xander, and I) has been attending Ginger Creek for 10-plus years. I serve in Adventureland, on the IT support team, and on the Global Missions Team. This will be my fourth trip to Nicaragua and I am excited to see what God is doing.

Greg and Lisa Poissant
We have been married for 21 years and have two boys, ages 17 and 19.  We have been at Ginger Creek for 22 years.  Lisa serves in the Children’s Ministry (4-5 year olds) and Greg serves on the Production Team as one of the Sound Engineers.  Greg has been the Director of Quality at TouchSensor in Wheaton for the past 12 years and travels frequently to Asia, Mexico and many parts of the U.S.  Lisa is a homemaker and volunteers in various ways within the community through Church and the North Aurora Mother’s Club.  We both enjoy watching sports together and going to a variety of music concerts.  We are looking forward experiencing our first Mission Trip together in Nicaragua.  We are excited about what God has planned for this trip and are open to being used for Him in whatever way we can.  We hope to build strong relationships with both our team the people we will be serving.

Alison (Penny) Smith
My husband Pete and I are recent transplants to the Wheaton area.  We moved from Delaware last winter in the middle of a snow storm.  We have not regretted the move or the weather and are eagerly listening to God’s whispers and promptings concerning His plan for us in our new home.  We have two grown children and three grandchildren living in the area as well as a son and daughter-in-law in NYC. I am so grateful that God has permitted and paved the way for me to take part in this journey of service and am looking forward to seeing His loving hand at work in the opportunities and relationships we encounter in Nicaragua.

Reggie Smith
I’m married. . . . Justine and I met and have been together since August 1984. We don’t have any kids, only one dog. . . . We used to have three very big dogs.  Lots of pooh back then. We have been coming to GCCC for two and a half years and we’re now group facilitators with ALPHA. I am honored to be a servant going to Nicaragua.  I pray that God uses me as He wants and that I simply get out of His way.

Jennifer Thompson
My four daughters and I have been going to Ginger Creek for the past four years.  We started attending Ginger Creek because I wanted to give my daughters a deeper understanding of their place in the world in regard to serving their community while developing a great relationship with God.  I believe that the Ginger Creek community is helping validate teaching them about committing themselves to be God’s hands and feet because they are growing up to be outstanding individuals, and I see them work hard everyday at making good choices for themselves and others around them.  I want to go on this Mission trip to learn, humble myself and be more intentional about who I help.  I have been a social worker for twenty years as my profession but haven’t yet experienced material poverty outside this country.  I hope that my family and I can learn and grow from this experience.

Marj Walton
My husband John and I have been attending Ginger Creek for nine-plus years. We have three sons, our “Sunshine Boys” who live in California, and one daughter, Jeni. She and Mike and our two granddaughters Bianca and Delia also attend Ginger Creek. I am the Missions Coordinator, serve on the Global Missions Team, and at Guest Services. This will be my third trip to Nicaragua. I am excited and humbled to be a part of what God is doing in that country and here in Aurora.

Jennifer Wiseman
I am twenty-two years old and a preschool teacher for 18-24 month old children at the Goddard School in North Aurora. I am very excited to be getting married at the end of this year. I have been attending Ginger Creek for about five years. I began working in Adventure Land, and at the end of 2009 I went to Nicaragua for the first time. Since then I have gone on many trips and joined the missions team here at Ginger Creek in the beginning of 2011. I am so excited for this trip to listen, learn, and love.