Life Connections

Dear Friends,
I hope you are doing well and that you enjoyed your summer.  Let me open this letter by saying thank you!  Thank you for your prayers; thank you for your financial support to LCI and those you have helped to go on one of our trips; thank you for being physically involved in Life Connections International either by going on a trip our just helping us by volunteering at one of our Bring Life events.
 As I read my Bible it is amazing to see how many times it says to either be thankful our to rejoice! I am beginning to truly understand the discipline it takes to be a thankful person. It is very easy for us to think negatively or be discontent with the circumstances we find ourselves in.  At times we dwell on what we do not have, always thinking that the grass is greener on the other side.  But how many of us are consciously making an effort to be thankful for what God has given us and what He has done for us? 
One of the fruits that we often see when people go on missions trips with LCI is that they come back reassessing their lives.   Oftentimes it’s the little things in life that they realize they have been taking for granted: clean water to drink, shoes to wear, shelter over their heads; they begin to realize they don’t have it so bad.  But they are also challenged by the rich joy and true gratefulness of the people we work with in these countries. They may not have much in the material sense, but they are very rich spiritually and they are grateful for the little they do have.
We can learn a lot from these people. Our hope and prayer is that we can build bridges to see lives changed: for those who go on our trips and for those that we interact with while sharing the love of God in word or deed.   We want be in the business of bringing life, and in some cases that means helping the body wake up and become a thankful people.
Thanks again for your support! Let’s go forth and bring life to the nations!
Tyler Lennon
President
Life Connections International
Costa Rica
July Costa Rica trip report by Vicki Vlachakis:
My mission trip to Costa Rica this July was an opportunity for me to step out of my comfort zone and get a first hand experience of God’s plan in that country. Our team from LCI partnered with Missions Impossible International, an organization run by Phil Jones.  Phil is an inspirational character who was led to serve within a poor community called the Precario outside of San Jose, the capital.  We served alongside Phil and helped in the “Rancho,” a former shelter in the poor community that has been cleverly converted to a facility that accommodates a variety of needs, including health care, Bible study gatherings, and outreach events. 
The most impactful part of our mission was interacting with the people in the Precario and being available to listen, relate and even play with them.  We also had an opportunity to meet the Jane Jones Beca students.  They are high school-aged youth from various poor communities in the San Jose area including the Precario.  It was a truly special experience to witness how God provides light and hope in their challenging and distracting environments. 
It will be hard to view my vacation time the same after this mission trip.  Very few could live up to the adventure and lasting impact this had on me, and those I met.
Golf Tournament
On June 30, 2008 LCI held its first fundraising golf tournament at the Malibu Country Club.  A total of 52 golfers participated, which was a real blessing.  The first place team was lead by Tyler’s dad, Ted Lennon, and his team from Stone Eagle in Indian Wells, Calif.  It was nice to have him be able to play, and funny to have his dad win the first tournament. LCI was really blessed by all the support given from friends and family of the ministry.  Also, a big thanks to all of the sponsors: Stone Eagle Golf Resort; Face the Music; Westside Shepherd of the Hills Church; Vivitar; Double Edge Creative; and Waters, McClusky and Boehle Law Firm.  
Mexico
August Mexico trip report by Kiuk Kaya Lee who has been on the trip before:
Thank you for your prayers.  They are truly so powerful.  I had a wonderful time once again; it was truly amazing.  God is always at work.
I think prayer and missions are a way for us to be blessed to be a part of what God is accomplishing.   The entire trip is always orchestrated by God to minister to the children as well as each of us in attendance.  This trip we spent time with the children and did work projects to help the physical building – such as painting/drywall and paving the driveway with gravel.  What was so great was just watching God work and orchestrate everything so perfectly. All He needs are willing vessels.  We were able to play with the children, feed them lunch and just hang out – even longer than we had originally anticipated. 
I used to always think that missions were about doing work and painting walls or building something – about having a tangible product that shows what you did for Him.  God just really showed me that serving Him is not always about accomplishments and painted walls, but about people and relationships. It was as much or more ministering to me than any ministering I felt I was doing at City of Angels.  I am such a work in progress in Him and going on these missions trips are also about Him showing me His heart through these children as well as His desires for me.
Malibu Surf Movie and Contest
LCI was one of the ministry partners that came along side Malibu Christian Surfing Association in its fourth annual “Surf Classic” on Aug. 23 at Zuma Beach in Malibu, Calif.  The night before on Aug. 22, Walking on Water productions, Malibu Ministries and Calvary Chapel Malibu hosted the Malibu premiere of its latest film “Walking on Water.”  Both events turned out great: a real sense of community was built and solid relationships were established. The film theme fit with what opened this newsletter. Professional surfer Brian Jennings took two young, up-and-coming surfers on a trip to show them amazing surf spots around the world.  More importantly, though, they got to see what God was doing in the lives of other young people around the world. They witnessed the joy of young Christians from South Africa to an orphanage in Peru. These two kids were impacted in a great way in their faith and were able to see their world in a completely new way. The surf contest the following day was also wonderful.  It was good to see the great turn out with the local families and the support MCSA received from different sponsors. Building community and building relationships is such an important key to building God’s Kingdom – and these two events did that. 
Scotland
A team of five people are heading to Alva, Scotland, to work with David and Elizabeth Fraser Aug. 31 – Sept. 8.  The team will be working with their youth, encouraging the churches in the community and will be involved in a prayer and worship event with several churches and ministries in the area on Sept. 6. Please pray that they will be an encouragement and blessing to the community of Alva and to the Fraser family.
 

Dear Friends,