Global X Venezuela: DIA 6: Work Hard, Play Hard

Friday, July 20, 2012

DIA 6: Work Hard, Play Hard

We just got back to our hotel from saying goodbye to everyone. I already miss everyone so much :( What an amazing, life changing week. The beach was absolutely gorgeous today. We took boats out to an island and spent our last day together there. I can not begin to express how grateful I am for this experience, and I speak on behalf of my entire team, as well. The relationships we have formed this week have forever changed us. Many tears were shed tonight as we said our goodbyes, and many kind, encouraging words were exchanged. We have so much faith in these boys because they have such wonderful hearts and they now have a desire to follow Jesus. They are so inspiring...It took us about an hour to hug everyone over and over again. We really didn't want to leave. The people of Venezuela are filled with so much love and this is definitely something we want to bring back with us to Atlanta. Tonight, the boys asked us to write down our facebook names and emails so we definitely all have plans to stay in touch. Everyone we met this week, including the boys and staff and volunteers of Project Jonas, made such an impact on us and we will be forever grateful for the relationships we now have with them. God has done countless amazing things this week and we couldn't be happier to call Him our Heavenly Father, nuestro Señor. Buenas noches <3

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Meet Our Team!

Brandon: The hardworking born-leader... Originally from Orlando, Brandon is a Mechanical Engineer and our team leader. He loves traveling and photography, just to name two of his favorite hobbies. Brandon has gone on several other mission trips, but chose Venezuela this year for a few specific reasons. For one thing, it’s something different and an opportunity to work with and for children, something he didn’t get the chance to do on past trips. He also just loves South America...so it was the perfect choice!

Lexi: The laid-back encourager... Born and raised in Atlanta, Lexi is currently a student at Georgia State University, as well as a Barista at Starbucks. She loves to run, read, go to concerts, and paint. Lexi wants to go on this mission trip to make a difference in someone's life who lives outside her norm. She wants to see life from another person's perspective and be able to build relationships with the ones she is helping.

Becki: The outgoing, dependable planner... Originally from Syracuse, Becki is now in Marketing for Coca-Cola. She loves spending time with her two girls, as well as going to concerts and sporting events. Becki wants to go on this mission trip because she feels so blessed and wants to serve and give something back.

Debra: The efficient organizer... Originally from Northern Virginia, Debra was a Special Needs Teacher and child advocate who just relocated to Cary, NC for her husband’s employment opportunity. She loves running, traveling, and reading. Debra wants to go on this mission trip because she is very interested in other cultures and has a strong desire to help wherever she can.

Kate: The encouraging, light-hearted optimist... Born and raised in Roswell, GA, Kate is a dedicated Preschool Teacher. She loves reading, trivia, and college football. Kate wants to go on this mission trip because she has received so much love and support in her life; and therefore, feels she is at a point where she can pay it forward and finally give herself to others in need.

Jaymee: The detailed organizer... Born and raised in Atlanta, Jaymee is married to Karl on our team. She is a Pharmacist and mother of two little boys, and loves to read and travel. Reading the book Radical with her small group is what ultimately brought Jaymee to sign up for this mission trip. She felt called to do something big...something out of her comfort zone for the Lord because, through this study, she realized how passionate God is when it comes to mission work. She feels so blessed by Him and wants to give back to those less fortunate because it’s our responsibility as Christ-followers.

Karl: The detail-oriented deep thinker... Originally from Texarkana, TX, Karl lived in Connecticut and Mississippi for a while, but was raised in Atlanta for the majority of his life. He is husband to Jaymee on our team and works in Metal Fabrication Sales, specifically selling farm and construction equipment. Karl loves fishing, skiing (water/snow), small business start ups, and real estate investments. Reading 2 books (Radical and Don’t Waste Your Life) and 2 years of household discussions on the meaning of life are what ultimately sparked his interest and desire to go on this mission trip.

Pam: The outgoing, creative analyst... Originally from San Francisco Bay Area, Pam is an IT Director at a Christian School. She loves reading, gardening, crafts, photoshopping, history, and her family. Pam wants to go on this mission trip because, not only does she want to do something big for the Lord, she’s also always wanted to experience Christianity in another culture.

Shannon: The chill, easy-going encourager... Originally from Mission, Kansas, Shannon works for a National Labor and Employment Law Firm, specifically doing HR and recruiting. She is also currently in grad school for Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Shannon loves to hang out with her dog at the park, do hot yoga, enjoy the sun on a patio with friends, read, garden, and travel. She has been wanting to go on a mission trip for years, but several factors prevented it from happening until now. She feels extremely blessed to have received so much financial support from family, friends, and even acquaintances, especially since this is what she had been most worried about in the past. Shannon is looking forward to seeing how God works in the lives of people who are removed from what she experiences on a daily basis.

Marina: The friendly, hardworking optimist... Originally from San Francisco Bay Area, Marina has lived all over the place, including England and South Korea, but has been in the Atlanta area for many years now. She is a Special Needs Teacher/Therapist and loves her job. Marina also loves traveling and experiencing new cultures, crafts, painting, dancing, Spanish, and spending time with her family and friends. She has realized the incredible value of serving Jesus through loving and serving others, which is one of the reasons she wants to go on this mission trip. Also, God’s unconditional love and faithfulness towards her has given her the strong desire to do exactly what she feels He calls her to do.

Jeff: The relaxed jack of all trades... Born in Atlanta and raised in Roswell, Jeff is a self-employed Software Developer. He teaches guitar, bass, drums and singing to inner city kids at Bright Futures. Jeff wants to serve God, give back, deepen his faith, and add a little adventure to his life on this mission trip.

Kyle: The encouraging problem solver... Originally from Warner Robins, GA, Kyle is currently working in Spaceflight Operations for the International Space Station at NASA Johnson Space Center. He is also studying Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering at Georgia Tech. He loves hiking, kayaking, reading, high power rocketry, tennis, anything that has to do with sports, and road trips. For the past three years, Kyle has gone on spring break college mission trips, but had another opportunity come up instead this year. He knew God could use him without any traveling, but he really missed the chance to worship with believers in other countries and share God's love with people in less than fortunate conditions. After praying and fully submitting his life to Christ, this trip fell into his lap and he knew this is where God needed him the most. Kyle is looking forward to helping the development of the drug rehab center, but most importantly, to just sharing the love of Christ with everyone there. It's all for God's glory!