Who Is Matt?

Well hi guys. In a perfect world, this is me:

However, if you've known me longer than five seconds, you'll find out that my typical state is something more like:

 

Matt Wright
I am an 18-year old with a huge passion for Jesus, music, and anything downright goofy.  I have one older brother who is out of college and has a job in Louisiana.  I come from a family of engineers (both parents electrical and my bro is civil), so I'm the odd one out working on my commercial music degree at college (Audio engineering if that counts?).  I've lived in Texas my whole life, and I have loved it.

What do you enjoy doing?
Anything music.  I love playing instruments, leading worship at church, writing music, and listening to music.  I also enjoy hanging out with friends and family.  And as the second picture states, goofiness is my expertise.

What is your "undiscovered" talent?
Peeling potatoes by the bagful.  There is definitely an art to this, and potato peeling tournaments are the future of sports.  (I work at In-N-Out Burger for those who don't know).

What keeps you up at night?
The state of the sex trafficking/porn industry and how our culture seems to accept it.  The extreme destruction inside it can't be understated.

What is God doing in your life?
God continues to show me my need for Him, how desperately I need Him on a minutely basis, and how it is Him alone that I need (nothing and nobody else can take His place).

David, the king of Israel, mighty in military strength and lacking nothing, says:
 "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." -Psalm 20:7

Wow :O

What do you hope for this trip?
I hope that God uses us to reach the kids in the Czech with the gospel.  I also hope that God will use the kids in the Czech to teach us something as well.  In all, I just pray the Christ is glorified and that we are humbled before Him.

:)

Meet the team post 2 - Alex

Alex Wickham
College freshman, chocoholic, baby loving, big sister to 7, special needs advocate, dork and a half, Jesus loving, world changer wannabe, Massachusetts-born Texas girl

What do you enjoy doing?
Spending time with friends and family, and doing ministry work- especially pouring into people and leadership/administrative tasks. Hobby wise, I love crafts, books, baking and babysitting :)

What is your "undiscovered" talent?
Hmmm.....people are usually surprised to find out that I love card making and scrapbooking...does that count? :)

What keeps you up at night?
The orphan crisis, especially the plight of special needs orphans worldwide

What is God doing in your life?
Right now, God is teaching me how to live brave. As somebody who deals with multiple anxiety disorders, this is huge for me. I can live my life with the freedom of courage because he has already conquered everything I have to fear. He is greater than my fear and everything that I fear.

"You make me brave- no fear can hinder now the love that made a way" - Bethel

"But he said to me, 'my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'" 2 Corinthians 12:9a

What do you hope for this trip?
I hope that God really works in the lives of these kids and radically changes their lives. I also hope that God uses this experience in the lives of all of us on the team and changes us for the better.

So, who are we...?

As my first official blog ever, I thought it appropriate to introduce myself and tell you a bit about who I am.

Chad Leraas

Husband to my dearest bride, Tamara (rock star!).  Father of 4 amazing daughters, Mykaela, Moriah, Marissa (that's her in the photo), and Marlee.  I wasn't born in Texas, but I have lived here most of my life, so I call myself a Texan.  

What do you enjoy doing:  I enjoy using my gifts and passions to encourage, excite, motivate people's lives.  I love it when I see someone find their niche and really come to life.  It's like they glow!

What is your 'undiscovered' talent:  I've found that I like being creative in the kitchen.  Oh, and I like to sing.  

What keeps you up at night:  It saddens me to see people so focused on things of this world - material things, pleasures, admiration.  

What is God doing in your life:  I have struggled with identity issues throughout my life (Who am I?  Where do I belong?).  God is showing me that I have my identity through Christ, and that nothing I do or don't do can affect that.  He has chosen me.  The Creator, Sustainer.....chose me!!  

Isaiah 43:1  But now, this is what the Lord says - he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Isreal:  "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine".  I have my identity in Christ.

What do you hope for on this trip:  First and for most, I pray that Christ is glorified with our words and actions.  I hope that we can be a blessing to those we come in contact with.  New life with Christ is an exciting thing.  I hope we can show that.  Finally, this will be a fun trip to experience with my #2 daughter, Moriah.  I hope for lots of memories with this girl!!

The team is set and ready to GO!

Here we are! The 2015 Grace EFCA Czech Republic Mission team. This is exactly the perfect team for this trip, ready to serve God, 4D Ministries and all those God brings to us. From left to right we have: Alex, Laura, Mona, Alicia, Randy, Matt, Chad and Moriah. 

In less than 2 weeks, we will be leaving on a jet plane with our final destination being the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic is the 3rd most atheistic country in the world (Global Index of Religiosity & Atheism) with nearly 30% of the country defining themselves as "Convinced Atheists". What an opportunity we have to love on folks (adults and kids alike) and to preach to gospel....and if given the opportunity we may even use words :). Our actions and attitudes will be our main evangelism tool for this trip, but we trust God will give us many opportunities to verbally share what it is to follow the one true God. 

We covet your prayers as we get closer to travel time. So many logistics, so many plans and so many preparations. But, we serve a God who ordains our steps...how cool is that!

Proverbs 16: 1-3
1 To humans belong the plans of the heart,
    but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.
2 All a person’s ways seem pure to them,
    but motives are weighed by the Lord.
3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
    and he will establish your plans.