A Big "Thank You"

    I would just like to share this post from one of the newsletters that we sent out last year, before we even started this blog. It's just our way of thanking those who have supported us and felt that it would be great to include it here again.

     We want to take this time to thank all our prayer and financial partners. In a short period of time, we were able to raise 90% of our goal! Currently, we are still looking for 13 people who can commit to $50/month to help us complete our fundraising for this trip.  We are so grateful to all our partners who have encouraged us through this process.  This amazing response has been an answered prayer that God is blessing this journey.

      

     Our first step to this journey was to complete our Pre-Missionary Training in Springfield, Missouri last June 2014.  Although we were there for only 2 weeks, we were able to connect with other missionary families, and we were also able to create friendships that will last for a very long time.  The training had an incredible program for the kids called” ISMK,” International School for Missionary Kids. The children learned that they are not only “Missionary’s Kids”, but that they are also Missionaries!   We were all excited to be commissioned as official “Missionaries.”  As the Great Commission states in Matthew 27:19 “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

Our 1st Church Visit

AMIGOSENCRISTO

      We are also thankful to Edward Vega who invited us to speak at their church AmigosEnCristo.  It was a wonderful experience to be a part of a Spanish Christian Church, and also to meet people who were so excited to hear about what our family is doing.  This was definitely a wake- up call for us to start immersing ourselves in the Spanish Language.  Selah is now watching Dora and the “Frozen” movie in Spanish!

MVP'S (MOST VALUABLE PARTNERS)

*JULIAN RUIZ

      Currently, we have our fundraiser shirt program by Booster.com.  The first time we launched the fundraiser, we were able to raise $450.  By popular demand, we decided to re-launch the fundraiser program till August 31, 2014. Our designer, Julian  helped us create shirts that will help “Give Smiles, Change Lives!”  Thank you to all our partners who joined in the “Wear it and Share it” program!

Our fundraiser shirt

*GRACE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

      We would like to thank Grace Christian School for raising $100 during the Clubhouse Summer Camps and for supporting our family to our trip to El Salvador. During the summer camps, they passed an offering collection for their special mission project,  Phil and Mia Gendreau, Evangelism and Dentistry Missionaries. They asked the kids to look around the house for tubes of toothpaste and dental floss, and to bring a quarter for each one they had. We were so blessed by having our daughter’s school spread the word about our mission trip to El Salvador.

*MEDSEND

      Thank you to MedSend for approving the grant to pay for our student loans! Phil received an email about this while he was at a lecture taught by a professor who is a part of the MedSend board.  God is so good!

      This is the new medical rural clinic where Phil will be serving alongside Dr. Boris, Abbey Richardson, RN, and Tammy, RN.  The building was dedicated on August 22, 2014. Don Triplett, Founder of the King’s Castle Ministries gave an inspiring message during the dedication. The medical building is in the center of an area where there is a great need of medical and dental attention.  The area is surrounded by a city of poor people that have no access to any hospitals or clinics.  We are excited to be there to help these people take care of their physical needs, and to share to them the Good News about Jesus Christ.

Training in Virginia…

   Phil just came back from his dental missionary training in Abingdon,Virginia. The training was held at the Jubilee Retreat Center August 13-17, 2014. He had the privilege to train with around 30 other medical professionals.  He learned many things about how to treat patients in a different country and how to maintain balance with his family at home.  Phil also was able to spend quality time with our Aunt Hazel and Uncle Richard who happens to own a lovely bed and breakfast in Abingdon, Virginia.  

Stay tuned for the next post as we prepare for our trip to Costa Rica...


Your missionaries,
Phil, Mia, Selah, and Shiloh