Jeffrey Albertson 2009

A Slideshow of the Best Pictures from Ukraine!

2009-11-24T06:44:00.000-08:00

Pictures of my trip to Ukraine

2009-11-19T15:04:00.000-08:00

Click here for pictures of my trip to Ukraine

My ticket is bought to go to Ukraine!

2009-09-06T10:22:00.000-07:00

Hello!
I wanted to tell you that the Lord has brought an opportunity into my life to go to Ukraine with a Mission Helps team to finish a church basement Oct. 22nd though Nov. 6th! We are going to help the Sturtevant family, whose blog is on my blog list. God provided a plane ticket for me that will enable me to travel on the same planes that the team leader is also flying on even though I bought my ticket much, much later than he did. Praise GOD!

The Lord has also provided a job for me at our local ACE Hardware store! Tomorrow I will start my third week there. I am still learning the ropes! My boss gave me permission to take this two-week trip to Ukraine at my first job interview. Again, praise the Lord!

More pictures of boot camp and Haiti

2009-07-07T15:51:00.001-07:00

My pictures of TLC Haiti 2009

Pictures of my TLC trip

2009-07-02T15:50:00.000-07:00

TLC 2009 Haiti

The report of my trip to Haiti

2009-07-02T11:02:00.001-07:00

This year I was privileged to go to Haiti as a member of an eleven person team from Touching Lives for Christ. We had Josh and Misty Petty as our team leaders. On our team we had three girls, three boys, and the Pettys’ three sons.
The first week of our three week trip was spent at TLC boot-camp, where we learned how to work with each others’ personalities, how to work together, and how to minister in Haiti.
This year Touching Lives for Christ had nine teams going out to minister throughout the
world. Every thing at boot-camp is designed to bond the team together. Every morning at 6:30, each team goes through an obstacle course in which the only way to get good scores is to work as a team. At every meal a different team is assigned to K.P. duty. In K.P. duty the team must work together to get a good score. Each morning after breakfast we had personal devotions, then each team cleaned up their camp-site. Then we had a quiz on our Bible memorization and we had 2 1/2 hours of classes. After lunch we had work time and more classes. After supper we had some team time and then an evening service.
The Saturday after boot-camp we packed up our camp-site and headed back to Hobe Sound, FL. Saturday night our team went to Perkins, then went to Wal-mart to buy supplies for the trip, and went back to Hobe Sound and packed our 22 bags.
On Sunday all the teams gathered for morning worship and lunch. Then on Sunday night we participated in the TLC 2009 Commissioning Service.
On Monday morning, we flew to Haiti. We worked with Joel and April Hess and Jesse Hales of Haiti Gospel Missions who live and work in Despinos, Haiti. The first week we spent in Despinos. We painted the HGM clinic, worked around the compound, visited the school, participated in three Bible studies, visited a nearby orphanage twice, went sight-seeing and took pictures with U.N. soldiers in Port-au-Prince. On Sunday morning we participated in the church service in Despinos, and on Sunday afternoon we took a Haitian bus to Leogane; about two hours away.
We attended their Sunday evening service and prepared for our coming three day VBS. At Leogane we did not have any running water, so we had to do things a bit differently than usual. We had 280 kids for our VBS on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. We started the VBS at 9 AM, but the kids started showing up around 7:30. Our team did not put on the VBS, but rather sat with the kids while April Hess, James and Louison (two young men from the church in Despinos) presented the program. Each day after the VBS service, we helped serve the kids rice and beans for lunch. Every night we had camp-meeting services in which we shared our testimonies and special songs. Our team leader, Josh Petty, preached two of the nights (Sunday and Tuesday) with a translator and Jesse Hales preached Monday night.
On Wednesday afternoon we made our way back to Despinos. On Thursday and Friday we worked at the Despinos church alongside those of the congregation in landscaping the church compound. We helped them remove two large trees and make a gravel pathway around their church. We also helped them break up their stony ground, so that they could plant grass. After we were done they planted a lot of flowers in the areas that we prepped for flower beds. Also, they planted a palm tree.
On Saturday we worked around the HGM compound. Saturday afternoon we had some fun. We gave the Hesses money and free babysitting for their two children so that they could go have time alone at a restaurant. While they were gone we had a water balloon fight, a hot
dog cookout, and watched a film.
On Sunday we participated in their church services and a kid’s club.
On Monday some of the team went to the orphanage and some of the team went with April Hess and went and handed out “Jesus, My Very Best Friend” books (by Joy Budensiek) and tracts in a town a 20 minute walk away from Despinos. On Monday afternoon we went to a hotel and had some recreation time before leaving Haiti on Tuesday morning.

There are many ways that my trip affected me. One way I was challenged was in seeing how the missionaries and the Christians that I met are willing to be content with having nothing. We in America think that there are things we can’t live without: Ipods, computers, email, A/C, three meals a day, lots of clothes, cars, running water, hot water, etc. We worked with people who have very little of this world’s goods and are still content. They are content to live on rice and beans. This changed the way I view “essentials”. If you have Jesus then you truly have all you need to be satisfied, but if you don’t have Jesus you’ll never have enough, no matter how much “stuff” you have. Even though I met many who have learned contentedness, there are many Haitians (especially the children) who desire to have the things that I had. If I wore a watch many would ask for it. It taught me the importance of not wearing things that were a stumbling block to our ministry. Kind of in the same way, I was challenged when I saw children in the neighborhood around the compound who knocked on our gate and asked for food, because they hadn’t eaten in two or three days. It sheds a new light on verses like these:

1 John 3:17, 18, “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”

If you are given the opportunity to go on a short-term missions trip, I would recommend going, because it changes the way you think. It shows you how missionaries live and helps you know how to better pray for them.

I'm leaving tomorrow!

2009-05-31T09:22:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, I am leaving for Florida for TLC bootcamp June 2nd to the 6th. My fight is leaving Denver at 10:25am (MST) , and I am arriving at West Palm Beach Florida at 5:15pm (EST). On Sunday, the 7th of June, we are going to be in the Touching Lives for Christ Commissioning service. YOU can watch it here on June 7th, at 6:30pm (EST). Then, on June 9th, my team will fly to Port au Prince, Haiti.

31 days of praying for Touching Lives for Christ

2009-05-23T20:14:00.001-07:00

TLC has put together a general itinerary which you may find helpful to know how to pray.

June 1: TLC Staff and team leaders gather at Boot Camp. Pray that they capture God's vision not only for the respective fields, but also each team member.

June 2: Pray for the kids as they travel to Florida today in anticipation of Boot Camp

June 3: Boot Camp begins. Pray for ease of adjustment into a totally new atmosphere.

June 4: Pray that the classes and evening challenges will touch the heart and spirit.

June 5:Pray for protection, safety, and health. It will be hot!

June 6:Pray that the teams will bond, and each person will love and appreciate each other.

June 7: Everyone is back for the Commissioning Service. Pray that the Holy Spirit will bless it with His presence.

June 8: Pray for traveling protection as teams leave to literally circle the globe.

June 9:Pray that the missionaries and team will quickly bond.

June 10: Pray for the culture shocks to come and go quickly.

June 11: Pray that real love and concern will exude from each TLC member.

June 12: Pray that the teams will continue to love and appreciate each other.

June 13: Pray that God will give wisdom and insight into the monetary concerns of the team.

June 14: It is Saturday, a day when the teams will be preparing to minister on the Sabbath. Pray for God’s anointing on each person

June 15: Pray that through the team ministries, many new people will find the Savior.

June 16: Many teams will be traveling to their second destinations today– pray for protection!

June 17: Pray that children's ministries will be blessed by God.

June 18: Middle of the trip, spirits usually take a dip, pray that everyone can keep focused.

June 19: Pray specifically for the team leaders. Team leading is a huge responsibility!

June 20: Pray that communication between missionaries, team members, and leaders keep open.

June 21:Pray for the National Church leaders and local congregations that the team has touched.

June 22: Two week teams must begin to think of wrapping things up, so many emotions! Alaska team will be beginning their 6,000 mile flight home. Pray for their safety.

June 23: Guatemala, Haiti North and South, and Spain will be flying today. Pray for their safety. India, Russia, and Lesotho are beginning their last week of ministry.

June 24:Teams which returned from the field yesterday will be returning home from Hobe Sound. I actually fly home on the 25th.

June 25:Pray that our three week teams will be refreshed.

June 26:May their ministries become even more fruitful.

June 27:Pray for continued protection, safety, and health.

June 28:Young people, children, and adults– so many have been touched! So many good-byes.

June 29: India, Russia, and Lesotho will be beginning their travels home– God’s protection is needed.

Welcome home three week teams!

Progress!

2009-05-04T20:33:00.000-07:00

Things are coming together! My goal of $1600--GOD has provided! The team has been chosen. My Team Leaders have emailed me lots of things needed for knowing what to expect. Please pray for my Team Leaders, Josh and Misty, and my fellow team members: Huston, Hunter, Kyle, Brittany, Philip, Kayla, Sarah, and Billy, as we survive TLC bootcamp (June 2-6) and then go to Haiti June 8th through June 24th!
Jesse Hale's (a missionary there) blog tells more about the place we are going and about the missionaries that we will help.

I get to go to Haiti!

2009-04-09T19:22:00.000-07:00

On March 31st the TLC director, Joy Budensiek, wrote me an email and told me that the trip going to Mexico had to be canceled due to lack of availability of team leaders and members. Since that time I have been writing TLC and ultimately chose to go to Haiti. Around June 8th my team will fly into Port-au-Prince, and will go about an hour north. Joy Budensiek said that “we will have more building projects going on than you can imagine.”
Even though my prayer card says that I am going to Mexico, please pray for me as I go to Haiti. I am sure I will need it!

I am not going to Mexico!

2009-04-01T17:43:00.000-07:00

Recently the TLC Director, Sister Budensiek, wrote me and said that the TLC trip to Mexico had to be canceled. So, I need to choose another country to go to! Pray for me as I choose!
Haiti is at the top of my list right now.

jus' a lil' update

2009-03-02T18:21:00.000-08:00

Hello!
I've successfully gotten 27 of 30 TLC support letters out the door.
I gave a 6 minute speech about my trip to our homeschool speech class today.

I get to go to Haiti!

2009-02-16T15:45:00.000-08:00

Can I tell you about an opportunity God has given me?

It’s a three-week mission trip with Touching Lives for Christ (TLC)! TLC is Lord willing going to 22 fields this year, but God has chosen me to go to Haiti.

We will have enough building projects to keep us busy for the two weeks we are in Haiti.

I have had an interest in working in construction on a mission field since I started seriously thinking and praying about my future. I am thankful and excited about this opportunity to try it!

In order to go though, I need your support. Most importantly, I need your prayer support. There are so many things that only God can do- both in me going, and in all the TLC operations.

If you desire to pray for me and the people I'll be going with, please pray that:
(1) God will put together the right teams for the fields.
(2) God would lead and provide in the lives of my team leader, the other team members, and the missionaries we are going to help.
(3) God would provide for my need of financial support.
(4) God would lead, stretch, and use me.

I’m really grateful that God has given me a passport before I even applied to go on a TLC trip.

God has provided a job for me the last five years, and has provided some money for going on a TLC trip.

I don’t have all I need though. I believe that God wants me to go and will provide the way!

The cost of the trip is $1600.

If God lays it on your heart to support me, please write me at JDAenterprises [at] gmail [dot] com by May 1st.

Touching Lives for Christ gives tax-deductible receipts for all donations.

If you can’t support me financially, that is okay! Please do pray for me though.

"And my God shall supply all
your (and my) need according
to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19

More than anything, I ask you to pray for me, because it is God who is able to support, protect, and guide me.

Thank you for your time and prayers. May God bless you!

Jeffrey Albertson
JDAenterprises [at] gmail [dot] com
http://JeffalbertsonTLC09.blogspot.com

2008-12-31T19:16:00.000-08:00