Over the last several weeks we basically had to step away from our everyday lives on
short notice in order to get Pat the medical attention she has desperately needed for a
long time. Our Westwind family made that possible. You prayed, you encouraged, you gave
us food, you gave us money towards the trip to the Mayo. God blessed us — through you.
Pat is now well on her way to what we believe will be a full recovery, and you played a
part in that. We praise God, and we thank you.

With much love and gratitude,

Kevin and Pat Mayer

Please continue to be in prayer for Kevin and Pat. Read their blog HERE.

Thank you all again for your prayers! We are doing well. We have be able to see a Nepali church and attend some feasts given to us by Hindu families. These experiences have been really good for us. We are seeing more and more of the Hindu/Nepali culuture. With one week to go, we are wrapping things up here. Our hope is to spend this next week really seeking the Lord with how to come back to the US and implement all that we have learned. I’m sure it will take a while to process, but our plan is to seek out the Lord and His desires for this Nepali community on the east side of Des Moines. Please pray for endurance in this last week, ears to hear from the Lord, as well as,safe travel back to the US. Our flight leaves on Friday, October 9th and we arrive home on Monday, October 12th.

Thanks again and see you all in a couple of weeks!
Love,
Ben & Meredith

Hey!
Thank you for your prayers! We really appreciate them! Things are going well here. I am taking some Nepali language courses with the hope that I will be able to speak a little to some of the older generations, as well as, some of the Nepali refugees that cannot speak very much English. It’s a challenging language and I’m only getting a crash course, but I think it will be really helpful!

As for Ben, they are coming back early. The trek got incredibly intense and Ben had been sick for the majority of the trek. So, the guys decided to turn around and come back. From what I’ve heard, these treks are extremely intense and at times really dangerous. For example, there may be only enough walking room to have one foot in front of the other. Also it is common to gain 1400-2000 meters of altitude in one day- which is really hard on the body. So, I think they are a little disappointed, but are trusting that God has gone before them and He is in control! Right now they are at the mountain airport waiting for a flight back. The planes will only fly out if the sky is clear, so please pray for clear skies and safe travels back. Otherwise, they will wait day after day at the airport.  

This coming Saturday we will be attending a Nepali church service. Please pray for insight as I observe the service, as well as, possibly some Christian Nepali’s to talk to!

Thank you so much for your partnership! We are so grateful for you all!

Meredith & Ben

Please continue to pray for them.

So far things are going well here. Ben left today and had a successful first flight. They will be taking a second flight tomorrow and then start their trek. So, please pray for continual safety in travel as well as good health. Sickness is pretty common when traveling into extremely remote areas and can be pretty miserable. So I’m sure Ben would really appreciate your prayers. On the “urband front” (and I use that term extremely lightly considering Nepal isn’t comparible to any U.S. city) I am faring well. I have been able to talk with other missionaries who are here ministering to Hindus. This has been really encouraging. I’m planning on visiting a Nepali Church as well as pick the brains of these missionaries and God willing hear some stories from believers who were formerly Hindu. I’m excited to see God move! Please pray that my eyes and ears would be open to all the wisdom and ideas that God is going to impart to me.   Thank you so much…we are more than thankful for your prayers and support! Love,Ben and Meredith

Our first update from Ben and Meredith shows the importance of prayer and patience as we seek to be missional.

Thought I would email and update you on our travels. Well, today we were delayed on two of our national flights, therefore causing us to miss our international flight to Singapore. So, our only option was to spend 2 nights in L.A. This happened b/c Nepal does not have daily flights that come into Kathmandu from Singapore. So the next time there is a flight is this Friday, which would be Thursday night in Iowa. There’s about an 11 hour time difference. So, please continue to pray for our travels this week! We trust that God has purpose even in this time of waiting.

Thanks!
Meredith & Ben

Please continue to pray for them both.

One of the most memorable events of the day was the Waconi Walk. A 4.5 mile awareness walk for life. The 212 person Lakota Journey group (of which we were a part) and Native Americans from around the Rosebud Reservation joined forces to give attention to the cause of Christ. There were several guest speakers drawing attention to the need for a movement of God. Our team felt part of something bigger than themselves as they joined hundreds of others to this cause.

In the evening our team had a unique opportunity to sit with older members of the Nazarene church that we are working with. We were given the opportunity to ask any questions we had about Native American culture. It was a sobering time as we heard about Native American children being taken from their parents in the 1950′s and placed into boarding schools. The eyes of the Westwind team were opened to the issues facing Native Americans, including substance abuse, suicide, and losing their culture. Many conversations took place after the meeting that will hopefully bring our team to our knees in prayer for this hurting people group.

Our team was also able to bless the pastor our hosting church. There were several projects accomplished that helped the pastor and his church. The hard work and effort of our team helped free up Pastor Jack to reach out to the community. In the evening a small team was invited back to the drug and alcohol abuse center at the request of the residents there. This time the emphasis turned toward building trust, and sharing testimonies. The director of the center said that no other team has ever been invited back. It was a very special opportunity.

The team’s spirits are high, and they look forward to two more days of Kid’s Club and more service opportunities. As you think of our team, be in prayer for the following issues:

• Energy level of team
• Open hearts of kids to receive Christ
• Pastor Jack and Nancy (leaders of the church)
• Continual reliance on God to lead this trip

After the morning our team spent the time recruiting neighborhood kids to come to our Kid’s Club. Our entire team took part in all the aspects of the program. There were great songs, skits, crafts and wonderful stories. Some highlights were Sarah Stillmunkes’ lesson on GOD HEALS OUR HURTS, and the testimonies of Jon Colyer, Dierdre Sullivan, and Anna Greiman. There were 27 children present, which the pastor’s wife, Nancy, was very impressed.

One of the impact moments of the day was when we were invited to lead a service to a group of Indians in an Alcohol and Drug treatment center. Papa John, Jay Safford, John Harrington and myself got to be a part of this unique opportunity. Alcoholism and drug abuse run rampant on the reservation and seeing it up close and personal was not only enlightening, but heart wrenching. John Harrington’s testimony, which is similar to many at the treatment center, was what lightened up the room, as people heard how they could be freed from substance abuse with the help of God and his son, Jesus. There were tear-filled eyes on the faces of many patients when John shared that only Jesus could set them free.

It was a great day of ministry and the rest of the week will be just as filled. Please be in constant prayer for our group.

Tomorrow we will be worshiping as a church with White River Nazarene Church. Pastor Jack has invited us to potluck dinner following the service. Later in the afternoon we will be hosting the first of four Kid’s Club programs, involving music, crafts, skits, message, and snacks. We will be concluding our day by having a hotdog cookout for those who came to our club.

We are excited and appreciate any prayers you can offer.

1. Pray for safe travel as we take the 8.5 hour trip West to White River, SD.
2. Pray for the town of White River as we begin a ministry relationship.
3. Pray that our Kids Club will show children that God loves them.
4. Pray for safety of the team
5. Pray for God-ordained experiences that will stretch our team and share Christ to others
6. Pray for people to come to know God through Jesus.

Check back the this site from time to time to get updates (and maybe even a picture or two).

Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations worldwide through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God’s Love. Westwind is excited about the opportunity to help serve underprivileged children around the world. Here are some ways you can make a difference in the lives of those children:

Pray. Please pray the God will touch the heart of ever child who receives a shoe box gift and that he will bring many children and families to faith in Christ.

Pack a Gift. A shoe box filled with small toys and other gifts can open hurting hearts to God’s love. Instructional brochures are available at the offering table on Sundays beginning November 23 – December 6. The information can also be found at www.samaritanspurse.org. When your gift is packed you can return your boxes to the church on Sunday or bring them to the church office on or before December 7.

Give. Please remember to give $7 or more per box to cover shipping and other project costs.

Thank you for joining in this special effort.

Kevin and Pat Mayer Story

Let us celebrate the amazing power of God!

Westwind Church is hosting a community event in August and we need your help! We are looking for volunteers for a number of positions needed to make this event impacting on the community. You can look though al the positions needed at the link below. You can also contact Brandon (this event’s project manager) to find out more.

Click HERE To SEE OUR NEEDS!

Once you know where and when you will like to work, email Brandon and let him know.

The Thursday Prayer Initiative is a global effort to get people praying for the efforts of Westwind Church. It is our desire that you will take a few minutes out of your day to pray for the listed things below. We know God calls his people to pray (Jude 1:20), and we want to be a church that prays.

THANKSGIVING-

• Praise God for the people he continues to bring to help our Westwind efforts.
• Praise God for the partnership of Cornerstone Church.
• Praise God for those who have taken significant chunks of responsibility to make Westwind happen.

EVENTS

• Please be in prayer for our third ATMOSPHERE on Sunday June 1st. It is designed to connect people to Westwind and each other.
• Westwind will begin connection groups this summer. Pray that God will use them to bring people together through studying his Word and sharing their stories.
• Please Pray for our Summer Outreach Initiatives:

1. Coed Softball Team: We are hosting a team in the Waukee Park and Rec. league. We want to dive into their community.
2. Kid’s Clubs: We are hosting three clubs this summer designed to teach kids the importance of Celebrating the Story, Connecting to others in the Story, and Contributing to the Story. There are a lot of creative details that need to be taken care of. Please pray that God brings us the people we need to serve.
3. Fourth of July Parade: Westwind Church will have a float in the parade. There will be many people gone, so we need God to raise up parade enthusiasts to help!
4. Art in the Park: We are looking to meet a community need and demonstrate Westwind’s passion for the arts. This event will allow artists to present their work in a fun, fair-like fashion. There will be live music, inflatable rides for the kids, and a lot of work for Westwind folk to do to make the happen. Please pray that God lifts up people to serve the community through this event.

• Please pray for the three services we will be having this summer (we call them soft launches). The dates are June 8th, July 20, and August 17th. These services are designed to bring the Westwind folk together and to let others know what we are all about. There is much work to be done in this area, and a lot of materials to be gathered. Excitement builds as we anticipate the first soft launch date!

NEEDS:
As Westwind Church gets closer to its kick-off, there will be certain needs that must be met in order to be effective.

• Physical Needs: Please pray for the acquiring of sound an technical equipment. We are some equipping our offices with the required necessities.
• Personnel Needs: We need people to begin to take ownership of the ministry through serving in their desired ministry area.
• Financial: We are still looking for funds needed to make Westwind Church a reality. We have over half of our 2008 budget (Praise God), but there is more that is needed (especially in the front end, since there will be material costs that need to be addressed.).
• Spiritual: We hope to never forget that we are planting a church because we want to meet the needs of people, both Jesus followers and not. Pray that we are a relevant message of hope and love to all.

Once again, thanks for taking part in our Thursday Prayer Initiative.It really is a global effort! We appreciate your prayers.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers andrequests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying forall the saints.–Ephesians 6:18

Below is a passage of scripture to pray through.

“He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:8)

As Westwind Church continues to develop, pray through this verse in the following areas:

1. “Planted by the water“–That we will continually quenched by God’s Word and connected through his son, Jesus.

2. “Does not fear when heat comes“–That we will be unaffected by hard times as a church, and will continue to do the work set out for us.

3. “Always green“–That we will be a healthy church, vibrant in all we do.

4. “Never fails to bear fruit“–That we will continually multiply our efforts to share God’s story with the entire planet.

(this is part of a message shared at ATMOSPHERE, April 27th)

One thing that both churches have in common is that this is the first church plant for both, so continue to pray for Westwind and Cornerstone as they seek to be a local church with a global mission and help people grow where they are planted!