While completing her senior year, Katie continued her mentoring at Christ Central and her affiliation with Child Evagelism Fellowship. She gave piano lessons, did some babysitting, and housecleaning to raise money for her trip to India which began in late July 2011. She wqas involved with our church's mission conference in February as well. The key note speaker at the conference, Fred Kornis, a long time friend from Kansas City, came to our home one night for supper with his wife Barbara. When he heard about Katie's desire to go to India to do mission work, Fred called one of his friends who runs an orphanage in India to see if Katie might be able to stay with them and help out there.

In early May, Don and Katie traveled to Kansas City to meet with Fred and a team of people who would be traveling to India in late July. There were also some missionaries from various countries at this conference, including the man who runs the orphanage in India where Katie would be staying. It was comforting for dad to meet the man who would be looking after his daughter for so many months! In late July, Katie met up with Fred's team and flew to India. After touching base at the orphanage for a day or two, the team traveled around to various mission stations in India for a few weeks, then returned to the orphanage. A few days later, the team returned to the states while Katie remained at the orphanage until early December. While there, she taught music, led devotions, helped the girls with schoolwork and loved on all 15 children. Katie was invited to spend Thanksgiving with Preston and Brenda in another part of India. They are well loved by our church in Aiken.

During Katie's stay at the orphanage, some people from London came to visit. They invited Katie to spend a week at their home in London before traveling back to South Carolina. Thanks to some strategic work by one of Fred's associates in Kansas City, flights were changed and Katie spent an action-packed week in London visiting cathedrals, castles, museums, and various historical sights.

We are grateful for God's protection during Katie's travels and for those who so graciously provided hospitality to her.

Go to http://carryingthelight4him.blogspot.com/ to find out more about Katie's experiences.

Just four words that separates the “nothingness” from the “here and now”.   God made a time and space for us to live in.  God himself is outside of this realm that he made for us, and yet he purposefully and lovingly created this universe for us to enjoy… and in the beginning it was all good.  All of creation, the sky, earth, trees, animals, and plants were good.  And Mankind was very good, as He breathed an eternal living soul into each of us.  

We’ve been studying Genesis in our Sunday School class this year… and have made it through one whole chapter in 5 weeks… I’ve been trying to also slow my own learning down and thinking more deeply this year.  If the Bible didn’t have Genesis 1… we’d always be thinking, “Yes, but what about before that… what happened then, before?”  I Praise the Lord that He didn’t leave us wondering, because God tells us that He was there and he started everything for all of us… and it was all good!  Only after man’s rebellion against God did sin enter the world and everything was suddenly, “not good”.  

The whole concept of God speaking, creating, then blessing (or adoring) his creation, was the way He chose to do it.  We do the same thing… we think or say something, we then act on it until completion, then rest in the satisfaction of a job well done.  This pattern was put into our hearts by God… the part of being “made in His image”.  

What are you thinking or saying this year?  What are your goals that you want to act on?  What are you reflecting on that you just finished, and are blessing/adoring? 

Let’s take the time to reflect on what God has done for us this year of 2012.  In our own “space and time” that God gave each of us, let us press on ahead for His Glory, not dwelling in the past, but living out the full gospel  day by day, and even hour by hour. 

_As the newly appointed Administrative Assistant to Fred Kornis and Vicky Rogers at Heartland International Ministries, I see exciting times ahead for all of us at H.I.M. Headquarters.  I am very eager to get started with what God has placed before me to accomplish His will.  I am thrilled to have joined a team of people who share the same goal of bringing the Gospel to all who need to hear about the beauty of Christ’s love and forgiveness.  I know there will be challenges ahead, but I fully trust in God’s faithfulness to see us through as we trust in Him. 
I have much to learn, but look forward to becoming familiar with all the various functions and projects within H.I.M.  I covet your prayers that I will be able to absorb all that lies ahead of me, and that God will lead the H.I.M. team to assign the responsibilities we believe to be the top priorities. These would include, but not be limited to, assisting with clerical tasks and management of the office, as well as designing teaching tool aids, and maintaining the website.  I will be posting regular blogs with updates of my progress and specific prayer requests regarding this transition time.  It is my desire to be as available as possible, so please feel free to contact me anytime by email:  vickia@heartforhim.org.

My main goal at H.I.M. is that Jesus is glorified in all that I say and do.  So, I guess my first prayer request would be that I will keep that at the top of my list of goals; to not lose sight of Jesus and HIM glorified.

This past week I came down with some kind of "bug", which stopped me from going to the office and working.  What is it with our mentality in today's world...that we need to always be "doing" something or "working"...even in the "office" world, if you're not "working" every minute, they say you are not "productive". 

The Lord seems to show us as believers that one cannot be "productive" if we do not make time to "be still and know that He is God..." (Ps. 46:10). It is during those "still" moments that God refreshes us and causes us to be more productive...for His glory.  I seem to always know when it is time to find some "quiet moments" to refresh my body, mind, and spirit...usually when I am overwhelmed with tasks at hand...and when I don't make that time, He will allow me to be sick...then it is time. :-) 

So the next time you are overwhelmed with all of life's pressures, "give it all to Jesus"...He wants to carry our burdens for us ("...casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7.  One must note that before we "cast our anxieties on Him" in verse 7, the author says one must "Humble yourselves...under the mighty hand of God..." in verse 6.) 

Have a "restful" year!

I have been volunteering for a little more than a year now at HIM. It started as just a ploy to alleviate some of Fred's stress, helping out a friend. It turned into a ministry. Almost every Saturday (and let's face it, whenever Fred has an idea), I help out, whether it be designing postcards, the newsletter, or simply uploading pictures onto the computer.

See, how this all began was God bringing my husband Tim and I to Kansas City. I had an internship at WordAction Publishing Company and at the end of the 8 weeks, we both had Salmonella. Lo and behold, Tim's grandmother, Mary Edna Starner, was a dear old friend of Fred and Barb's; so we called them up. If Barb Kornis hadn't graciously accepted us into their home for a few days to heal, I don't know what we would have done. That's how we were introduced to HIM, but that's not the end of the story.

I got a full-time job here in KC, but I wanted to help and do my part in the community by volunteering. We tried Salvation Army, but no one responded to our e-mails. We tried Habitat for Humanity, but they were scheduled for a few months in the future. So, knowing that I have computer skills, and Vicky was in need of help, I offered my services (and Tim offered his carpentry skills).

Most recently, I designed the very website you're looking at. I'm not gonna lie, it was a lot of work, but seeing how many people have responded positively, and used its features, is payment enough.

I have learned that volunteering sometimes doesn't have a schedule, but always has a positive outcome. While I type up documents or update the website, I know that I'm helping people in Nepal and India and Mexico and Nigeria. While I'm organizing files or designing a brochure, I know that the Gospel is being preached to more and more people. If that isn't a reason to volunteer, I don't know what is.

A new website... a new year... a new life... a new vision... a new challenge... a new relationship... a new YEAR!? The whole basis of the "Gospel" is a NEW LIFE opportunity for anyone who will respond to God and His Word completely with all their heart, soul, and mind. We are finally about new lives taken out of darkness into the light. We, day by day, all over the world are "holding forth the Word of Life." All of us who think, care, pray, give, and go to bring new life share a special fellowship that will last throughout ETERNITY! 

Seasons do change. We at HIM sometimes can predict changes but often they come unexpected or unwanted. Life is serious and the Bible is clear that we are in a battle. The idea of "wrestling with spiritual beings" is never
taken too seriously, for which the devil must be very happy. We operate completely by the grace of God and His mercies that are new every morning. Would you join us in this life of faith and pray for us on a regular basis? With whatever else we are doing, PRAYER is the ultimate WORK that few are committed to.

Fred and Vicky have to deal with the day by day business of  H.I.M. With nearly 200+ associates and friends connected with this ministry the massive amount of administration is unknown by most who do not see, respond, and feel these complex circumstances. We definitely need sensitive and gifted help to come along side of us and support this mission.