Another MK Retreat Testimony by Warren Groves

As I continue to think about MK Retreat coming July 26-31 in Orlando, Florida, I get so excited.  Especially as many of you share your testimonies with me of how this event was the one challenging, life-changing event!  I wanted to share another testimony from Patrick Warren Groves, MK to Kenya about how it MK Retreat revolutionized his life!  We would love to hear yours!  For more information about MK Retreat click on the link below!!

MK RETREAT 2012

My MK Retreat Experience
by
Warren Groves

While at MK Retreat I overheard two MKs talking about their plans to start some kind of youth program in the country of their calling. My siblings and I had been talking about the lack of youth ministry in Kenya for a long time. However we never really did anything about it. If it were not for this moment, and many others, I doubt there would be Faith 'N' Love Youth Outreach Ministry today, or that I would've been a part of its birth.
 
There was a lot that MK Retreat helped me get over. That moment helped me get over the question, "can I start a youth ministry at the age of eighteen?" I don't have to tell you that at this age, we youths face a lot. Temptation is all around us, and sometimes we make mistakes. So how could I possibly be one of the leaders in a youth group! God is a merciful God. MK Retreat helped me remember that.
I believe God used MK Retreat to empower and uplift me. Usually as a young person, or perhaps even as just a person, you feel so much pressure around you to conform to this world. You feel if you're not listening or watching that, or you're not wearing that you're not normal. At MK Retreat if you're not crying at the altar or speaking in some strange language or trying to live for God, you're not normal. It counteracts the pressures of this world, and makes you feel freedom as a Christian. And, when you leave, you remember all those young people who you've spent that amazing weekend with, and think to yourself, I'm not alone, and that freedom you felt at MK Retreat goes with you wherever you go.

I don't know what else to say, but thank you God for giving me MK Retreat and my MK family! I can look back to that weekend and be reminded of the love and support that is with me. I will cherish until the day I leave this earth. I love you guys!!!

MK Retreat 2012 Information

Are you as excited as I am??!!  I can't wait because MK Retreat 2012 is going to be fantastic, awesome, exciting, dynamic and off-the-hook!!  We have the information for costs for this event.  We are so excited to be able to go to Orlando, Florida on July 26-30 for our MK Retreat 2012.  We get to have classes, fellowship, fun and then if you want to spend some time with us at Universal Studios and even Seaworld!  So all I can say is start planning now and get ready for an awesome MK Retreat.  All the information you need is below!  Can't wait to see you there!!

The MK Retreat 2012 information

Dates: July 26th- July 30th
Location: Orlando, FL
Hosting Church: Pentecostals of Apopka- Pastor Mike Williams
Ages: 15 and older if flying internationally – 12 and older if parents are staying in town locally
 (We ask the parents not attend sessions unless they are also MKs)

Schedule:
Thursday- July 26th- Arrival – Thursday PM- Meet/Greet
Friday- July 27th- Classes at POA
Saturday- July 28th- Classes at POA
Sunday- July 29th-Universal Studios –Islands of Adventure
Monday- July 30th SeaWorld.
Monday Evening- Fly out

Hotel: SHERATON ORLANDO NORTH HOTEL
600 North Lake Destiny Drive, Maitland, FL 32751

Pricing:  There are several price points depending on the length of your MK’s Stay and also the parks they want to go to. The Prices below are per person.
Single- 1 per room, Double- 2 per room, Triple- 3 per room, Quad- 4 per room.

Check out of hotel Sunday Morning Depart Orlando Sunday Morning (including 3 nights hotel,  6 meals)  
Thurs-Sunday    
Single- 277.00
Double-158.50
Triple-124.00
Quad- 106.75

Check out of hotel Sunday Morning- Depart Orlando Sunday Night  (including 3 Nights hotel, Universal Studios,  9 Meals) 
Thurs-Sunday    
Single-360.00
Double-241.50
Triple-207.00
Quad-189.75

Check out of hotel Monday Morning -Depart Orlando Monday Morning (including 4 nights hotel, Universal Studios , 9 Meals)  
Thurs-Monday    
Single-439.00
Double-281.00
Triple-235.00
Quad- 293.00

Check out of Hotel Monday Morning- Depart Orlando Monday Night (including 4 nights hotel, Universal Studios, SeaWorld,  12 meals) 
Thurs-Monday   
Single -528.00
Double- 370.00
Triple-324.00
Quad- 301.00

Deposit- A Deposit of $150.00 is due by May 15th
Final Payment- Final Payment Due by June 30th


FAQ-

1.      Why are we doing it so early in the summer? Many MKs have not been able to attend in the past due to the late date in August. This allows those in school and college to attend.
2.      What should they bring? The dress for everything is casual, they need to bring a Bible, spending money, tennis shoes or comfortable walking shoes.
3.      Why can’t parents attend? We have designed the MK retreat as an event where they can freely open up and share in a classroom setting.  We feel it will hinder the communication by having a lot of non-mks in the sessions. We have had request in the past for parents to attend and we have to fairly say no to all. 
4.      Is MK Minstries raising money for my MK to Attend? 2008 MK Retreat we did help MKs raise support by calling their family and friends on their behalf to help secure funds. This was done as many missionaries expressed the fact that they were having a hard time calling them from the field. For the 2010 MK Retreat we secured ONE TIME permission (From the FMAC) to contact Foreign Missions leaders of each district to see if their district would like to sponsor an MK to attend. This year we will be happy to provide a form letter for you to send out to your family and friends. The cost of the retreat is so low it would not be a problem to raise the monies to attend. I know that there are several pastors and churches that would love to help your MKs – just get the word out there. I know a lot of MKs have already started raising monies for this event.
5.      How can payments be made for the MK Retreat? As missionaries you can transfer money from your personal account to the MK Ministries MK Retreat account with a simple project requisition form. Please designate your MKs name to the financial staff when requisitioning the money. If you have friend, famliy, and pastors that choose to donate- they can call Global Missions and ask for Jeanne Beth Hance. She can take the credit card information over the phone and the money will be put into your personal PIM account (to be later transferred to MK Ministries).
6.       Can the parents join the MKs at the parks? Yes, we have secured a group rate for the parks. Please email Cylinda@upwithmks.com for pricing.
7.      Can missionaries stay at the same hotel even if not attending the MK Retreat? Yes- please email Cylinda@upwithmks.com for pricing.
8.      Is transportation provided? Yes. All transportation from the airport, to and from the hotel, church, and parks are provided. Please send us your MKs flight schedule.
9.      Can Aim Kids attend? Yes MK Ministries also serves as a ministry to children of Aimers.
10.  Can my MKs stay longer? Yes- if you need them to fly out on Tuesday due to flight schedules they can stay another night in Orlando and transportation will be provided for them to fly out on Tuesday. Please email Cylinda@upwithmks.com for pricing

My Testimony from MK Retreat 2010

MK Ministries team is excitedly planning our 2012 MK Retreat in Orlando, Florida for July 26-29!  I wish there were enough words to say what an amazing, life-changing event this is for our MKs around the world.  But rather than hearing it in my words - I thought you would love to hear it in the words of an MK.  Mary Groves, MK to Kenya was able to attend the MK Retreat in 2010 in Illinois.  She and her two brothers, Warren & Joash, would not have been able to attend without the help of financial supporters from the US & Canada and they really needed to come.  In their own words, they were burned out, tired and just going through the motions of being an MK until they were able to attend this event and realized that it could be different. 

I want to encourage all our MKs (no matter your age) to attend this event.  If you cannot attend perhaps you could pray about sponsoring an ON-FIELD MK to attend this event.  We can make a difference in the lives of kids all around the world!

Listen to the testimony of Mary about her experience at MK Retreat!

Mary

MK retreat 2010 literally change me because it got to a point where I felt I was doing my time and at the end of our term I was gonna be out of here - end of story, until Sis Cylinda contacted us about possibly going to MK retreat. I have to admit I was a little hesitant because I felt I wouldn't fit in with other MKs who where excited about their ministry, their "calling" and I made up my mind that this "life" was not working out the way I had hoped or thought it would. However God worked it out so that all three of us siblings were able to make it to the retreat. From the first night of MK retreat I felt so welcomed, loved... I felt apart of something great. but it wasn't until Megan got up to speak ... I felt her passion and the genuine anointing of the Holy Ghost that poured from her as she spoke to us and it triggered desire and boldness in me. Desire for a greater relationship with Jesus, more anointing. It triggered boldness to speak to audiences I never thought I could. See I knew all along God wanted me to teach and minister but I allowed the guilt of my past to hinder me and tell me that I couldn't. That day Megan inspired me not only by her lesson but by her example. MK retreat made me realize that I'm not normal or ordinary and I honestly feel that my time at the retreat added value to my ministry. I arrived at MK retreat with no desire for ministry feeling burned out, wanting to go home and fade into the background but instead I left with drive and desire for ministry. I love you guys, you're my family. Our coming to Mk retreat could not have come at better time. I truly believe the trip saved my life.

When I arrived back in Nairobi the Lord seemed to give me opportunities and boldness to teach in ladies meetings, Sunday school seminars and children's ministries. Then finally He placed FNL on my heart. FNL youth outreach ministries, is a group that my brothers and I along with a young couple, Bro Nick and Sis Phyllis, started to reach Nairobi youth. We started the meetings September 2, 2011 with 9 young people in attendance. Shortly after 2 young men received the Holy Ghost. In our second service we had a awesome time in the presence of the Lord. We sang "Freedom", you guessed it, we didn't get to preaching because the worship service took off. Today we have 13 faithful excited young people who attend our meetings regularly and this past Saturday we were so excited to have 9 young first time visitors from the south sudanese community here in Nairobi. Also this past weekend we met with the UPCK board of Nairobi youth devision to plan outreach events for the rest of the year. next weekend in place of our bible study time we are going to be taking FNL to the streets witnessing and inviting young people to our meetings. One of the young men that got the Holy Ghost invited us to his school for bible study last year and they invited us back next week on March 14th. God willing in May we will be meeting in the park to minister with dramas and choirs and handout flyers and tracts. At the end of the year we are also organizing what we are calling "Nairobi Youth Fest." a lock-in, talent and fellowship night here at HQ featuring FNL praise singers & band and drama team. 
Everyone is ecstatic about what God's doing and ABOUT to do among Nairobi youth. I believe by the help of God the Nairobi youth ministry will launch UPCK into a new level of revival.
 
Thank you MK Ministries and MK Retreat for inspiration, support and for simply caring. "We feel your love" and love you guys too. Please continue to keep us in your prayers and also join us in prayer for a mighty revival in Kenya and South Sudan. 

 

Awesome MK Update

Just had to share with you all the amazing report from Patrick Warren Groves, MK to Narobi, Kenya!  He has started a youth group and has some great testimonies of exciting things happening!  You can follow him on twitter @warrengroves and continue to stay updated on this great report!  We first received this note from Warren last month. . .


 Just feeling so good after having an amazing youth service this afternoon!!! I know your prayers are with me as mine are with all of you, and I just want to show my appreciation. MK ministries has inspired me to be more than a "sit back and relax" Christian, and my siblings and I have started a youth group since september of last year, with a young Kenyan couple(who are actually expecting their first child). God bless MK ministries and all my fellow MKs!

Check out his testimony sent to MK Ministries just a few days ago. . .

Our FNL group will be, starting this month, going out onto the streets to witness. In May we'll be going to a park that is near downtown Nairobi, and we are inviting all the churches of Nairobi to come for what we are calling "outreach in the park". In this park we will be having music and drama ministry as well as, of course, witnessing.

We had a meeting yesterday(which would be Sunday) with some of the leaders in the Nairobi area, and laid out all the plans for this year. So there is much more that I believe God has in store for us. However, please pray for us. We may need permits to be able to go forth with some of our plans, and we are praying that God would keep us away from those who may be looking for a bribe.
 
Thank you and the MK team. Honestly without the encouragement and support of you and our MK family I don't think we would have been able to do anything like this. Thank you again and God bless!

Warren

Thoughts From The Journey For The Journey

by
Cylinda Nickel

I must remember to share the following with my girls….

Steve Shirley & Cylinda Shirley Nickel

When I was six we lived in a guest house in Nevis – where I got spanked for throwing ginups (fruit) seeds on people’s
heads off the second floor balcony onto the parade below.

What if I forget to tell my kids about when my friends and I were content to spend the afternoon cleaning up cow patties
in the church yard to get ready for the IYC trip when I was seven. How my favorite place to play in St. Martin was an old
broken down VW Bug that I would sit in and play for hours.

How I got in trouble from my parents for running in and reading the test that my Mom had just written for the Bible School
students- after they bribed me with sweets- if I would “help” them out.

How my friends and I that summer also thought we would help by passing out tracts (again I was seven). My friend said

Troy, Steve, Tiny (the dog) and Cylinda

that he would tell my parents (working on the church building) and he did not. So it was dark—my parents could not find
me and I was miles down the countryside—the only white girl giving out tracts inviting people to church.

How my job was to sit on the side of the rode and wait for the ice man to drive up in his cart to buy ice for the day for 2 EC dollars and he would chip off a tiny piece for me personally—that I relished all the way back to the guest house.

How we lived in a one room guest house in St. Martin and all four of us fit onto one motorcycle.

How I would be at church Sunday AM/PM - Mon/Tues/Wed/Thur. and never thought anything of it.

How I would love the one day a week we were allowed to go out to eat.

How I remember when McDonalds first came to our island; how Ronald McDonald was mobbed by the kids and they had
to put him on the roof.

Waiting in line to get baptized!

How those first hamburgers tasted like heaven and they were served in brown papers bags.

How we would not leave service until 1:00 to 1:30 in the afternoon; after several would receive the Holy Ghost.

How during the middle of my Dad’s preaching a Rasta came in and grabbed my dad up (he is 5’7”) by the neck tie and
threatened his life and the ushers (one a former bar bouncer) threw him out literally.

How my list of toys for one summer in St. Kitts was a white VW match box car. My brother had a blue convertible. That
and dirt kept us entertained all summer.

And the list goes on and on and on. I don’t want to forget these things. I want my children to be raised in the simple
knowledge that God, your faith, family, and church are enough. That living your life fully for Him is what it is about. I am
afraid that somehow after these years the fresh vivid memories of so much of my life will fade. 

I want my girls to do more for Him that I ever thought of.
To reach more of their world than I could ever of mine.
To teach more people than I could have in one setting.
To be sensitive to His presence.
To reach out.
To love.
To really care.
To be more than girls--to be ministers of light.
And you know what?
They will!

Cylinda serves as the Office Manager for MK Ministries. She is a MK and a former AIMer to several locations.

You Might Be An MK If. . .

I thought we could take a little time and share some funny perspectives of missionary kids by starting our own, "You Might Be An MK If. . ."!  From one MK to another, I know you will enjoy these!  These first few were submitted by Paula Dennis Townsley, former MK to Japan!  Of course, I know there will be many more added - so I look forward to many more posts just like this one!!  Enjoy. . .

You Might Be An MK If. . .

. . .eating spaghetti with chopsticks is easier than using a fork and spoon.

. . .you won't eat Uncle Ben's rice, because it doesn't stick together.

. . .you have to explain the difference between, "The cow is ON the field" versus "The cow is IN the field".

. . .you take a shower before taking a bath

. . .you call senior missionaries grandma and grandpa.

. . .the message on your answering machine is in two languages.

. . .you move into a new neighborhood and you take a gift to all your neighbors houses.

. . .earthquakes seem normal.

. . .your Mom sends you out to sweep the street in front of your house.

. . .you pull into a gas station and expect people to run out screaming, "Welcome"!

. . .you consider parasites, dysentery and tropical diseases to be appropriate dinner conversation.

. . .you tell people what certain gestures mean in different parts of the world. 

. . .you have to stop in the middle of an argument to find the translation of the word you just used.

. . .you calculate exchange rates by the price of Coke.  

MKs - Life is Always An Adventure!

Camilla Blake, MK to Africa

If you are an MK then you totally get the title of this blog.  As an MK, you never know where you will be, what you will see or the life experiences you will get to have.  So we live our lives always on an adventure!  I would love to be able to share some of your photos and adventures with others!  Send them in so we can share with our MK world!

Love this one - Camilla Blake, MK to Africa, holding a monkey!!  Who else but an MK would have the chance to do that??!!  Awesome!

Amber Sullivan Todd, MK to the Philippines

How about this one of Amber Sullivan Todd, MK to the Philippines.  We are not going to ask what the monkey was looking for!!