The Wince

His smile was amazingly bright as this “20-something” security guard handed me his AK-47 to handle and examine. It was a well used gun, nothing new about it, dings and scratches each with their own story that I was not sure I wanted to hear about. As I held the gun I imagined the many people who at one time may have been on the other side of the weapon. My mind raced through scenes of the movie “Blood Diamond” and I could picture how intoxicating one could feel as the power of the weapon was combined with greed, hate and evil. As I slung the AK-47 over my shoulder I was reminded of the young man who recounted to me his story, the story of a small boy who was taken by force from his village and made into a killer as part of a militia.

Mani was just like any other eight year old boy playing in the fields when an armed group of men entered the village. The militia went from house to house rounding up as many of the men as possible bringing them into the center of the small village. Women fled screaming into the nearby fields trying to hide. Some of the soldiers who chased them did unmentionable and despicable things to those they caught.

The militia leader came and put a pistol to the head of one the village men…

This is one of the many stories of what is called the worst humanitarian disaster ever in human history. For more than a hundred years, starting with King Leopold II who owned this country as his personal possession, this nation has been ransacked and raped of it natural resources and people. Finally in 1908 the world spoke with one voice and said no more… but the disaster just continued as Leopold handed control over to his country, Belgium. With the fear of a communist takeover in the 1960s the United States installed a “friend”, Mabutu Sese Seko, a brutal dictator who perpetuated the disaster and lived like a leach off his own nation. Recent wars and fighting have resulted in more than 6 million people murdered (some place the dead near 20 million), hundreds of thousands of women raped, families destroyed and a nation left in complete ruins. Even today 25,000 a month die from disease and isolated trouble.

With a new democratically elected government lead by, President Joseph Kabila, the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo have some hope. The largest United Nation peacekeeping force in the world occupies this nation allowing the government to begin to bring some stability. There remain some areas where fighting still breaks out but the people are hopeful that peace will one day come and a new nation will emerge.

I am working with an international partner, Congo Initiative, as they are building a bi-lingual Christian University with educational tracks in business, engineering sciences, journalism/communication, family health, and theology. I recruit Master’s level teachers to be instructors for two weeks to two years. I am also connecting churches and businesses into a collaborative partnership to help with everything from training to construction. Today we are starting our third year with approximately 260 students. When I visit, it is not unusual that I meet a parliament representative or a government official touring the facility encouraging the faculty to be strong and faithful as they grow new leaders with a different mindset; new leaders who will not perpetuate injustice and corruption as they enter the market place, political arena, and church leadership. While visiting one student residence there was an inscription scrawled on the wall in French. It said, “We had no future… We did succeed… It was no accident”. Having seen the future through the eyes of these students and knowing the past I weep every time I have to leave. What a difference between the past and this new future.

“The militia leader ordered the man to his knees as he cocked the gun. Mani winced as the he heard the shot. There was no more resistance, everyone join the militia as they marched off into the bush.”

January 7th I take a church to interact with Congo Initiative leadership to determine if a partnership can emerge. Pray for this work and partnership. The hope of a nation rests in the hands of a new generation and those God brings to partner with Congo initiative.

This is your investment. This is your joy.

Blessings,
Mark

We're Plunging into the Ocean!

“Sir, please place your belongings on the table for inspection.” All toothpaste, gels, fluids are removed and taken away to be destroyed. This is the sixth time I have been searched as I walked through the Manila Airport. I wonder what is happening. Why is the security so tight? Finally in the holding area I find out that there is a security threat to blow up a US bound airplane departing out of the Manila Airport by Al-Qaeda. As you recall all the inspections, watch all the police dogs walking around sniffing you and your bags and observe officers watching you as you wait for the plane to lead up, you can’t help having a feeling in your stomach. Will this flight be the last one? Do I feel like flying today?

Finally we are able to board the plane. Taking my seat I lean back and begin to think of home. I wonder what the family is doing and I long to see them. Traveling isn’t bad but it can be tiring as it leaves you emotionally fatigued. Every trip is a torrent of dealing with issues, problems, strategy development, encouraging those who serve and a level of member care. But it is worth it as you know new churches are being started, lost people are finding Jesus and hope is coming to many new believers. You think about this and remind yourself, Yes, It Is Worth It! Oh, the announcements are done and we are beginning to take off. The taxi and familiar rumble down the runway now the gentle swoosh into the sky. Aahh, closing my eyes I imagine being home again.

Roughly two hours into the 14 hour flight we are over the Pacific Ocean and the seatbelt sign flashed on at the same time the captain’s voice comes over the intercom, “Please make sure your seatbelts are fastened as we are experiencing turbulence that will get worse.” Moments later over head bins begin to shutter and a few fly open spilling their contents on top of passengers and into the aisle.

I heard the captain say turbulence but this is not very normal. We are swaying from side to side, being tossed up and down, people begin to scream and clutch each other. The plane is being tossed around violently. Your mind races back to all the security inspections and you begin to wonder if something more is happening. If so would they tell us and risk chaos? You remember that Al-Qaeda was plotting to kill hundreds of people on an east bound US plane. Maybe this is it! Quietly I begin to pray and ask God for another chance to see my family. I think, “Is this how it all ends for me, a plunge into the ocean?” I now am moved to begin to pray for the people on the plane. I look down the aisle and extend my hand to a flight attendant who has fallen. Helping her up she smiles and rapidly gets to a seat and buckles in.

This violence buffets the plane for about three more minutes. In all my flying more than a million miles I have never experienced this type of turbulence before. Then we begin to smooth out, finally it is over. Silence fills the plane. Everyone is just sitting and collecting their emotions. I hear small whimpers here and there but for the most part all are fine. The calm voice of the captain is once again heard over the intercom, “folks, please remain seated as our crew comes through the cabin and checks are made to make sure everyone is okay. We just experience a wind shear and the plane is fine.” The flight attendants walk the aisles and a few of us help get the luggage back into the overhead bins. Reflection time!

Have you ever thought about the end? I did. I wondered what it will be like. What will my family feel? Have I told them enough times that I love them? Internally I sob as I realize the love I have for them. The privilege of life itself. Have I shown it? How can I be more to those I love? I think about the gift of another life to come that is with the Eternal God of peace and love. The one I have a chance to know personally. Am I doing all I can to know Him? Change, I have to ask Him to help me change. I need to tell those I love more often that I love them!

During this Christmas make sure you show your love to all!

This is your investment. This is your joy.

Mark Szymanski
www.mszymanski.com
mski@earthlink.net

A Tale of Three Men

“You have got to be kidding me,” was my response to Cathy’s sobbing voice. I listened in disbelief as she told me that due to a lack of parking at Charlotte Douglas Airport she arrived five minutes late at the check in counter and they would not allow her on the plane to Costa Rica. We were looking forward to spending time together after I was finished with my work in Costa Rica, Cuba and discussions about new partnerships in Chile, Peru and Colombia. Bottom line, since she couldn’t come to me I changed my flight and headed home. When I get home we would head to one of favorite places, Charleston South Carolina for four days. I am looking forward to this time away, the first time in two years. As I reschedule my flight back to the United States I had to acknowledge that God was in control even though we planned this time away for months. Perhaps He was protecting us or as the Apostle Paul once wrote, “I wanted to come but the Spirit kept me from coming.” I wondered what all could have awaited us. This was a time for me to just trust.

The next day I arrived at the airport and as I was sitting down two men joined me as we waiting for the flight to board. As a discussion ensued the first man described his sexual exploits with other women even though he was married with six kids this just seemed fine to him. The second man was asking about different parts of Latin America and where he could learn and sharpen his Latin style dance skills. I just sat there, listening and praying for these men. I know the depth of my own selfishness and sinfulness. I thought “who was I to judge,” if my heart was an open book what would people really see? I know I need God every day. So how do I enter the conversation?

The dichotomy here was that the first man who described is exploits told a story of growing up without a father and having to raise himself. He concluded that he was worried about his children and how they would turn out. Later I asked him if he felt he was being the kind of father his kids would be proud to follow. There is no guarantee our kids will follow us, but are our lives attractive enough that our children may want what we have? Was he setting the example he wanted his kids to fallow? Life comes at us and all we can control is our reactions to the serendipitous circumstance we face, good choices. He decided he had to charge his cell phone and off he went. Though my life is not like his we did have something in common… love of children and concern for how they will grow and mature. God help me to make the right choices…

The second fellow was traveling alone as his wife passed away two years ago from a horse riding accident. He described the horror of receiving the phone call and having to make the hard decisions that come with a loved one suffering a several brain injury. I was choking up inside as I told him I was sorry to hear that. After listening I shared about how my father passed away two years ago suddenly. This man decided to do something about his grief. He writes poems. If you want to read them here is his link: www.florineandjohn.blogspot.com. Though my life is not like his we did have some things in common… pain and some level of singleness. Now you have to hear me, on this one. I shared that one of the greatest things I miss due to extensive travel is the ability to touch. Yes, that’s right, touch. This is a powerful sense. Almost half my present life I am away from home and the thing I miss is the ability to touch. I realize that singleness is hard. Married people come home to their wives and children but singles go home to empty rooms and quiet. This man also struggles with this too. Again I realize the gift I have, my family. God help me to love with all my might…

So, now that I am back in the United States and with my family during Christmas of 2009 I am thankful for the gift of family. I wonder if this was what God wanted all along. So He cancelled our trip and allowed me to share some of my life with two other men and hear their story too! I trust you God to maneuver my life.

The three men in this story all need your prayers, the first man who seems all about himself, man number two who is seeking healing and intimacy, and man number three who is seeking God’s continued leading. Pray for us all. I am reminded of how needy we all are and how the Father of all life is so willing to give His life to us. God, help me to want you…

This is your investment. This is your joy.

Mark Szymanski
mski@earthlink.net
www.mszymanski.com

Feet are Beautiful

While standing about a kilometer form the ocean in Dakar Senegal I stretch out the collar of my tee shirt and taking a deep breath I feel the winds have finally shifted and the cool breezes are beginning to blow in from the ocean. I look around for the team from North America I will work with and all but a few have assembled near the old truck we’ll take to a village located nearly four hours into the bush of interior Senegal. Welcome to Islamic West Africa.

Rounding everyone up and getting supplies of water and gifts onto the truck our first order of the day is to commit our time to God. Visiting this Islamic village with a small but growing church of thirty people, will be long and tiring day. “All right, let’s push!” This is how we get the truck started catching it in gear as the diesel engine lets out a burst of choking smoke we run and jump into the truck, sit down and settle in for the long ride.

Two and one half hours later we pull up to Bartimee Hospital that our partnership has helped build. This is the only Christian hospital in this Islamic country and the only medical hope of tens of thousands they treat annually. As I enter the waiting area I hear the Jesus Film playing on a TV but I have to quickly take a deep breath and settle my stomach as the sights and smells of sickness penetrate my senses. I see sick people everywhere with things like dysentery, malaria, a preteen boy moaning at the end of a wooden bench… his upper chest hurts – pneumonia… you don’t take life for granted here. Every day it is a blessing just to wake up relatively healthy. Here you fight ordinary sicknesses that have been eradicated in many countries but left unchecked here, they’ll kill you. You see simple infections that grow into grossly disturbing conditions, and just having a baby may cause you to die; it’s all sobering and very sad.

I’m here to measure the construction progress made on the additional two floors of the now four story hospital. A donor sent a couple hundred thousand to complete it and I’m going to inspect the progress. It is looking good as we are down to the punch list of small items to complete. Now we just need to outfit the two new floors with beds and equipment. I make a mental note that when fully outfitted we’ll see 107 beds, two operating rooms, a radiation room, x-ray machines, and many other pieces of equipment, all things I take for granted back home. Before we leave a prayer of thanks is given to God for the progress.

“Load up”! With another push start we get the dilapidated white behemoth truck moving again. I wonder will this thing even make it another mile but this is truck is in good shape. I just chuckle to myself as I sit in my seat looking through the floor as the ground goes by. Further in the bush we go. Taking a turn off the road we head off across the sand. Passing the scrub grasses and the occasional person we travel eight kilometers into wasteland. Splashing through a water hole we head closer to our location. Suddenly we enter another water hole and the truck jolts to a stop. A sick feeling comes over me as I realize this is not a good sign. You feel the tires spin but no movement. You hear the driver let out a few words that you don’t recognize and then you see him slump in his seat. You know what is happening. “We are stuck!”

“Everyone out!” Exiting through the water my two colleagues and I size up the situation. A two ton ancient white behemoth of a truck with thirteen passengers is stuck about ten kilometers from the nearest road in 120 degree heat, no tow truck and no shovel. We did have a four door two wheel drive truck following us with three other colleagues, maybe, just maybe! So we tie up the ropes and as we gathered to push this truck out of the mud several young boys from a nearby village come to help. We place out hands against the truck, bow our head to push, and then it happened…

I noticed many of the boy’s feet had no flip flops on them. I took a long good look at their feet as they sank into mud. I had boots on, they had none. Now feet are not normally beautiful but theirs was. They were feet of gratefulness, dirty, malformed here and there, cut up, calloused, gnarled but beautiful. After several failed attempts to push the monster we decide to load up the team in the pickup truck send them to visit the village located another four kilometers away while my two colleagues and I think.

As we sat under a baobab tree for a time then decided to build a dike dividing the water and mud hole in two parts. We’ll bail the water from one part where the truck is stuck in to the other. Once completed, we begin the task of digging. Now if you can picture four men, three of us and the driver on our knees and bellies pulling mud with our hands and arms out from under the breadbox type of truck’s wheels and frame in 120 degree heat while the group of young boys from the nearby village scratched their heads and watch us. Every once in a while I would stop, catch my breath, look, smile, and wonder what they were thinking. Have they ever seen anything like this before? Maybe they were wondering what planet we were from? What would make us think about bringing a truck like this, with semi-bald tires, a bunch of “tubobs” (foreigners), driven by a Senegalese city driver out into the bush 10 kilometers from the nearest road?

What they may not know is that we were bringing Jesus to the village along with fresh water, a new church building, and of course hope.
After three to four hours of digging, pushing and pulling we got the truck out. This magnanimous feat was nothing compared to the village chief who said to the team, “Whatever you need to help bring life and Jesus to our people just ask. I will make it happen for you. Each of you has a home here and our people want your Jesus” he said. The Senegalese church planter who is working in the village said, “This is amazing and unbelievable. They are so responsive.”

My mind again rocketed back to the scripture in Romans 10: 14-15; “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

It’s all about feet; my feet are your feet… and from my perspective, your feet are beautiful.

By March of 2010 this village of nearly 1800 will have a fresh water supply, an almost completed church building, weekly visits from a gifted Senegalese church planter and of course new life.

This is your investment. This is your joy,

Mark Szymanski
mski@earthlink.net

Caught in Cuba!

The police flashed their lights and waved us over to the side of the road. My colleague and I along with two Cuban brothers tucked our heads down as we sat in the back of the stake body truck trying not to look to conspicuous. Since the night was clear and cold we pulled our jackets up around our faces providing additional cover. For a foreigner it is illegal to ride in an “unofficial” vehicle and as we return from a training center on the western part of the island we were hoping to get back to Havana undetected.

As the two policemen approached the truck on began to question the driver demanding to see his paperwork while the other mounted the side of the vehicle. Flashing the light across the four of us he began to shout out questions. Quickly the two Cubans began piped up and began to provide answers. My colleague and I leaned against each other trying to appear as if we were sleeping. I kept my eyes closed and prayed.

From December 6th to the 12th I will once again enter Cuba with a new colleague who will be helping me develop this partnership between thirteen North American churches and other groups and a small Cuban organization whose goal is to develop sixty new churches over the next four years. One new project I will be working on is to establish a missionary training program led by a Cuban who has personally planted 27 churches. These men of God are not content with just reaching their own people, they are praying about being sent out one day to other places in Latin America and beyond. They dream about sending missionaries to Africa and Central Asia. December we will start that process in faith by training potential leaders for this vision.

From Cuba I will be collecting data for potential partnerships in Columbia, Uruguay, Peru, and Chile. Continue to pray for these travels.

The policeman’s flashlight seemed to be trained on my face. I could see the light through my closed eyes. He kept yelling out questions and I kept still. Suddenly he jumped down from the side of the truck and as he returned to his car we started off again for Havana, a close call. If we were caught we could have been jailed, turned over to the US Immigration Authorities and prosecuted in the US. (Normally we apply for a special visa for this type of travel but this was just supposed to be a quick trip in to deliver training materials and some money). God spared us and we learned a valuable lesson.

Sometimes we take risks. We calculate the costs and trust God. So I thank you for praying for us. Also would you pray for this young movement of church leaders? They desire is to not only train more leaders to start churches in Cuba but to start the process of sending people from Cuba to other places around the earth. Cuba has good relationships with former Soviet countries like Angola, Kazakhstan and even places like Iran. Their dreams are big and their faith challenges me to keep connecting resources to them.

This is your investment. This is your joy.

Blessings,
Mark

PS: Right now I am in Senegal developing several partnerships for North American churches, businesses and individuals to consider getting involved in. Go to my blog for October’s news story about Senegal.

His Face Told the Story

You could see it all over his face… the doctor pulled back a tattered blanket form the child’s face and leaned in to examine her. The mother of the child walked about eight miles in near 100 degree heat after hearing a doctor would be at a neighboring village. The child’s neck was nonexistent due to a large growth which was slowly choking her.

Back in the Philadelphia area this tumor would have been treated when it was very small but now it threatened the child’s life. The sounds of gurgling and low gasps for breath made your stomach turn. Tears rolled from the mothers eyes as the doctor looked at the child slowly, turning her head from side to side as he poked and prodded with his fingers gingerly. This small little girl just laid there allowing this white stranger whom she had never seen examine her. Suddenly, the doctor yelled out, “Take this girl into the medical hut now and prepare her for surgery!"

The doctor was part of a team whose medical office is one of eleven partners that are in partnership with the Senegalese group I am helping. I have been hard at work implementing a restructuring strategy that I developed nearly two years ago so that this organization will not fail.

Senegal is a country whose population is about 95% Muslim. The organizational (which I do not want to mention) goal is to establish a church in 400 Islamic villages in a triangular region in interior Senegal. This project has challenged me to help with the installation of a new French accounting system, work thought the development and installation of a new business model which will create a positive cash flow, building reserve accounts, a financial tracking system, restructuring programs and personnel from a vision which is causing “death by program proliferation” to a more streamlined ministry approach which is manageable and healthy.

My goal is simple, to assist this national organization to become independent, effective and sustainable in its approach to the region’s needs, and the management and growth of the organization so that Jesus can be introduced to a hundred thousand people. If this region is ever going to be reached it must be done through national workers, not relying on Europeans or American for the total solution.

The churches that are established bring hope through meeting tangible needs like clean water, health care, economic development, literacy, and of course the gospel.

In Senegal successful churches are those that impact people through a holistic approach of word and deed. Imagine a country of 60% to 70% unemployment… imagine children dying of simple diseases like polio, dysentery, and measles… Imagine famine and starvation simply because it does not rain, imagine walking five or more miles just go get dirty water to drink and cook with so you can feed your children and where only eight other nations in the world are more dangerous to give birth in for mothers. The work is hard but it has begun and today we are working in sixty-four villages and churches have been established in thirty-one. We must continue!

"As the people moved the little girl to health hut, which was built in partnership with the national organization, they prepared the child for surgery and after 30 minutes the large growth was removed. The mother was sent home with antibiotics and was asked to bring the child to another village where the group was going to work in a four days. When the child and her month showed up they both walked into the village. The child ran and embraced the doctor who broke down in tears…" This is the joy of partnership. This is the reward of your investment. This is the results you share in.

Please continue to keep our work in your prayers. This organization is not out of the woods yet. We are presently working to develop and train a new leadership team to run the processes in a way which serves the partners and staff well.

I will be in Senegal again November 10th to the 18th. In addition to going deeper on this work I’ll be in discussion with an additional ministry whose focus is in the capital city of Dakar, population two-million. This partnership is working to help urban churches multiply. I will be discussing the potential of developing a partnership between this ministry and North American churches and businesses. One last part of this trip is that I will be starting a discussion with a third ministry in Mali. Once again we will lay out a potential partnership which will also allow North American churches and businesses to engage with two unreached people groups… the Fulani and the Black Moor.

Blessings and thanks,
Mark

Awsome time being with and training 9 new missionaries... almost done. Saturday headed to Atlanta to teach a seminar at Perimeter Church.

Report: Global Muslim population hits 1.57 billion - Check out the story: http://ping.fm/CIULK

Talked to DR Congo yesterday. UWM people doing good developing humanitarian and communication strategies. Need more masters level teachers. The worst humanitarian disaster ever is improving!

Right now I am at Azusa Pacific University in Southern California working on a partnership to advance the Kingdom by placing talented graduating seniors around the world. Thsi article written by Linnea Swenson tells the story of Ryan but now we are expanding the opportunities by placing APU grads in United World Mission fields in the 10-40 Window.

Azusa Pacific Office of Missions Offers Chance To Be H.I.S. Servant

“If your desire is to see God’s name glorified around the world, you’ve got a program right here that helps you find an organization that is already doing that and to partner with them,” senior youth ministry major Ryan Hernandez said.

This fall Hernandez was accepted into the Institute for Outreach Ministries H.I.S.years program,which began last fall, and plans on partnering with Frontiers, a Christian organization that works with the least-reached Muslim communities around the world. “I wanted to be involved in youth ministries, but I knew I didn’t want to do typical American youth ministry,” Hernandez said. “Evangelizing and ministering to kids in another context and culture is definitely something I’ll look to.”

The H.I.S.years program started last fall and allows recent graduates seniors the opportunity to pursue missionary work abroad without the added responsibility of paying off student loans. “There’s a lot of freedom. They help us, pray for us, guide us, and offer suggestions, but nothing’s forced. They [the H.I.S.years staff] are here to facilitate and free us up,” Hernandez said. If a student is approaching the stage of “what am I going to do after I graduate,” the H.I.S.years program is one worth looking into. “Its purpose is mobilizing young adults toward involvement in God’s global agenda,” Executive Director of the Institute for Outreach Ministries George Bache said. This “sending” program, offered through the Institute for Outreach Ministries, is specifically designed for APU graduates to take advantage of while in their first year after graduation.

“The acronym stands for Hearing, Investing and Serving. The idea is that now that I’m graduated, I’m going to give Him, His years,” Bache said. “You’re going to give Him back two years for the blessing of being able to come and gain this gifting of education and opportunity at Azusa Pacific.”

“By the grace of God and a certain creativity, relentless pursuit, some prayer and serious conviction, we found a way to find a enough money to pile it now to remove the financial barriers. We’ll cover your student loans for two years. And you go out and serve,” Associate Vice President for Internationalization Matt Browning said. Students can apply for the H.I.S.years program in the fall of their senior year. The whole fall semester is available for students to begin planning, researching and talking with organizations. In the spring, students are asked to commit 100 percent to the H.I.S.years program.

“I believe we have a responsibility as a God First university to get uniquely creative to figure out how to make the corner of Citrus and Alosta a launch-pad for people to solve world problems,” Browning said. The H.I.S.years staff are committed to finding experts to help students get financial advice and assistance on managing their loans post graduation—whether a student is in the H.I.S.years program or not.

According to Coordinator for Program Development and Mobilization Jillian Gilbert the program is designed for those with student loans but will also help those without loans.
Although H.I.S.years has only been active for the past year and a half, there are already 15 students in the program. Six graduates were sent out last year and nine seniors are preparing to go out in 2009.

“Our ministry philosophy is holistic, meaning that, it’s not just about spreading the good news but it’s also about being in the community, in community development, reaching them in a practical way,” Gilbert said. Students can receive more information on the H.I.S.years program by going to the Institute for Outreach Ministries and speaking with the coordinator for program development and mobilization Jillian Gilbert.

Thanks for helping us advance the gospel by building the harvest force.

Mark Szymanski

Cuba

Today I had the priviledge to meet our Cuban brothers who are in the US meeting with partners. As you know I help facilitate a group of 13 partners who interact with a movement in Cuba whose goal is to plant churches across the island. Pray for me as I will visit the island in December to introduce another person into the partnership. Our effort is resulting in new churches and new leaders being trained at a seminary level.

Our goal is to see another 100 churches planted in the next several years and a fully equipped seminary established. Thanks for your prayers and partnership.

Reflextions

Well, I am on my way home from Atlanta sitting at exit 40 on I85. Decided to stop at Arby’s before it got too late to eat. So it’s about 9:00 pm and still two hours from home. I heard a country western song on the radio about being from a small town and I couldn’t stop thinking about my town, Etna, Pennsylvania. Not sure just how big it is today but it was about 2000 when I grew up, four stop lights, a school that had about 100 from 7th to 12th grade… when you played football you played both sides, offense and defense.

I had no idea the direction God would take my life. I never saw the ocean until 21, never flew on a plane until I was 22 and it seemed people grew up to go to the mines, military, or steel mills. But now I have had the privilege to visit some 80 countries, help more than 1300 people serve someplace in the world, and be a part of too many lives to count. I really never thought this would or even could of happened to me. I am totally awestruck and humbled and right now stopping to thank the Lord for this all. Even today I had the chance to listen and encourage two more people toward what God is calling them to. One to South Africa and the other to India.

If it all ended tonight I would say that God was too good to me. I have a great family with awesome kids, a beautiful wife, great friends like you, and I have seen the goodness of God all around the world. So thank you for being part of my life. For praying, giving, and helping me be a faithful man responding to what God is asking.

BIG LOVE to all of you,
Mark Szymanski

14 New Missionaries Expected in October

October 11 to the 16th I am expecting 14 or 15 new missionaries to join United World Mission. Would you stop and pray for them rightnow? They will be headed out to places like Kazakhstan, Senegal, Spain, DR Congo, Estonia and Thailand.

I am preparing for my first Expansion retreat with my leadership team. On Wednesday and Thursday we'll tackle several issues and grow together as leaders. Pray for our team: Keith Keller - Director of Expedition237; Gabe Smith Director for Communication; Billy Dempsey Director for Mobilization and myself, Director for Expansion and Global Partnerships.

I am working on the new uwm web page.. watch for it soon!