ISSUE 7
THE
A MAGAZINE BY CONNECT GLOBAL
CELEBRATING IMPACT We are proud of our team for making a measurable impact
Part 5 of a Bible App Devotional
THE
A MAGAZINE BY CONNECT GLOBAL
CONTENTS 03
CELEBRATING IMPACT Non profi ts are agents of Posi ti ve Change
05
WHAT KIND OF WORK DO YOU DO? We do thi s work because i t i s the ri ght thi ng to do.
11
5 SIMPLE TEAM BUILDING TIPS Bui l di ng and mai ntai ni ng a great team i s paramount i n 99. 9% of the endeavors worth pursui ng
15
ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING A monthl y seri es shared vi a YouVersi on and the Bi bl e app on Anxi ety.
LAST WORD
18
Mi chi gan i s on our heart and i n our prayers.
COVER PHOTO: The waterfront of Chicago taken July 2022 during The Fellowship Event in Rosemont BACK COVER PHOTO: Mendoza Family in Traverse City Michigan at LINC event
Editor in Chief Javier Mendoza Writers, Contributors, and Editors Danielle Mendoza Jordyn Conley Mwila Agatha Zaza Alicia Arthur Vyshnavi Nallandigal
Contact PO BOX 47381 Tampa FL 33646 (214) 725-4352 Email: hello@connectglobal.org Website www.connectglobal.org
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
The st t rR ee s of us “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew11:28NIV This time of year many of us are taking time to vacation, travel and use our time for things that don’t involve work. However, research shows that "768 million vacation days, up 9% from 2017 go unused— with more than half (55%) of
We must realize that we are in serious need of an overhaul in how
workers reporting they do not use all their
we rest. We need to find ways in our everyday lives to make time
allotted time off."
to rest. To rest and 'recreate' ourselves on a regular basis keeps us from having to 'vacate' our lives at not optimal times. We have to
During the year we have hard times finding
find ways to integrate quality rest into our lives.
balance between work and life and even harder times resting, Sleep is one of the most
As we look at our time that we have on this earth we certainly feel
elusive but also one of the most vital elements
the pull to make the best of the time we’re given but I would
in our health and yet studies suggest that we
argue that the way in which we can actually make the best of our
are getting less sleep than at maybe anytime
lives is to not forgo rest. Our family deserves to have us at our best
in history.
and our jobs demand a lot, but in order to give our best we need to find rest.
Rest gives us stronger mental health, can boost creativity, increase productivity, promote well-
We have to clear our schedule and clear our minds in healthy and
being, reduce stress, improve our mood, and
productive ways, so that we can be our best self to our families,
strengthen our relationships.
our work, and every endeavor we have decided is worth our time.
Adequate rest is needed to return our bodies
Time is our most valuable and finite resource. We need to be
back into a state of homeostasis allowing your
intentional with how we use this time and make every effort to
body to recover and repair from stress and
encourage those around us to do the same.
anxiety.
Time is something that is not promised. We do not know what Rest can be one of the most needed things for
tomorrow will bring therefore we need to stay focused on Today
true balance yet we stay so deprived of it most
and how our actions will make the best of what we have in front
days.
of us.
How do we remain productive and keep up
I hope you remember that you can rest in God, after all He is the
with the pace that we have created for
creator of you, me, and the original "day of rest".
ourselves? The truth is we really can’t. THE CONNECTION MAGAZINE |
AUGUST 2022
FEATURE
Celebrations Impact
Non profits are agents of Positive Change
By Mwila Agatha Zaza Climate change, conflict, and inequality, even the entertainment industry reminds us in films, books and musicof the challenges that face the world today. While war and poverty are not new to humanity, this is the first time in history that news and discussion about those topics assail us daily, hourly, and even by the minute. If one has a mobile phone, it’s possible to set it to provide regular prompts on happenings from the news agencies and on TV, 24-hour news channels allow us to follow wars by the hour. Furthermore, we are in an age where the social and political structures that were once held sacred are subject to criticism: politics, monarchy, religion, and charity are regularly critiqued and questioned. In fact, the non-profit sector has recently found itself under dissection and attack again. It’s in this environment, that many people who work in or are interested in non-profits begin to agree with many of the sentiments expressed in the media. “What good can I do,” is a question many will ask themselves as they decide whether to undertake charitable work.
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“A life of blind optimism is not the best way to live, but neither is unrelenting pessimism” says Jared Wolf on his website. This captures a useful approach to development work, it’s necessary to stop and consider what good the sector has contributed to, to celebrate, which helps identify what good we can hope to accomplish in the future. Non-profits and community initiatives have worked with governments and bi- and multilateral organizations to make and support incredible change in the last century. If we dare to look at the world through a positive lens, three of the most noticeable changes that non-profits have contributed to include: Our generation is the most literate in history: According to ourworldindata.org only 12% of the people in the world could read and write in 1820, while by 2016 only 14% of the world’s population was still illiterate. The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights enshrined literacy as a human right, kicking off a global effort of mass education. Since then, we’ve come to understand that literacy is more than the ability to read and write but is also a driver of social change, gender equality, sustainable development, economic participation, improved health, poverty reduction and expanding opportunity.
Increasing global literacy also promises political participation, which is crucial for accountability from politicians and other leaders. According to Concern US, when citizens are literate, they’re better able to follow politics, more likely to vote and to find other ways of democratic participation. We live longer than ever before: At the beginning of the 19th century life expectancy was approximately 40. In 2016 the global average was 72. The concepts of mid-life crises and silver surfers have entered contemporary parlance while innovations in the medical field promise an improved quality of life for older people. For most people born today even basic health care is better than what would have been available 100 years ago. Public health measures such as hand washing, wellness education and sexual and reproduction health education have had immeasurable input from non-profit organizations as has reducing infant mortality. A longer life brings more opportunities for individuals, families, and societies. Mwila Agatha Zaza is an independent consultant with two decades of experience in international development. Her focus is on supporting NGOs across the world in fundraising communications, including in proposal development, strategic planning and optimising digital presence.
Danielle Mendoza with Maria Merlot and a portion of screen protectors for the tablets that were purchased for students in Honduras. The internet is connecting the planet. The internet and its related technology has profoundly changed communication and how society shares and uses knowledge. Today, 40% of African and 55% of Asian youth are connected and have access to harness the opportunities facilitated by digital technology. While the commercial sector design, builds and distributes the means to access the internet, in many regions the non-profit sector has been instrumental in increasing access through education and distribution of devices as well as using the internet to promote, as the World Bank states“inclusion, efficiency, and innovation”. Non-profits now use the internet to train youth for the workplace and help pregnant women and new mothers to access health care among many other applications.
Though the world should celebrate these achievements, the enormity of what is still to be done can be overwhelming. Where societies lack resources, where governments and local leaders lack political will, where for-profits pillage resources unchecked and where conflict creates uncertainty, non-profits of every size and composition will continue bringing hope to millions.
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Literacy, health, and the internet are all powerful tools for the realization of human rights. However, the distribution of the benefits of social, political, and economic change remains highly inequitable - and this is where non-profits and community changemakers have the most work to do and still need people who are willing to commit themselves to the work. Connect Global is at the forefront of investing in communities and individuals through Education, Maternal and Infant HealthCare, eliminating Hunger and providing Clean Water.
CONNECTGLOBAL.ORG
Jorge and His Daughter Allison in Costa Rica and Nicaragua leading a mission trip in July 2022
WHAT KIND OF WORK DO YOU DO? BY JAVIER MENDOZA
When thinking about what it is that we at Connect Global do on a daily basis it’s a little difficult to break down for people.
and I discuss what compelled us originally into this world of missions and of seeking to serve and walk alongside others both in the US and in different nations around the world.
We are essentially a non profit that was founded around the idea that we could all make a difference in people’s lives by going to them, and simply serving them.
We have all found ourselves doing lots and lots over the years to build an organization that could really make a difference.
Of course we have written and revised our mission statement over the years to describe what we do, but that does not exactly sum up the impact of our actions in a ‘ground level’ sort of way. It is also not sufficient at describing the Why behind what we do. In one of our recent podcast episodes Danielle
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We have become accountants, fundraisers, travelers, painters, chefs, plumbers, school teachers, website designers, preachers, as well as so much more. We have found ourselves serving in these capacities because that was what was needed in order to help someone at any given moment or to sustain the community outreach that we have implemented over the years.
At times our job can be very ‘Instagram worthy’ work like meeting a mayor or being interviewed for the local news, most of the time, though, it is the unseen hustle that makes Connect Global a viable force for good. All of this in the midst of attending the funeral of a 6 year old who just passed away after a life-long battle with cancer or while holding a broken mother in her torment, as she asks us why her baby was taken after only days of birth and not being able to do much more than cry along with her. This is only the very tip of the iceberg in understanding our 'why' and you may see how it becomes harder and harder to answer the question, ‘So, what do you do?’
“He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
Mark16:15NIV
Our work is a gut wrenching, 24/7, heart breaking, satisfying, challenging, ever-evolving, mission that takes us from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows all in a matter of minutes at times. One of the ways I describe what we do, is to say that on a daily basis we engineer and execute deliberate ways in which to demonstrate the phrase, ‘Love Your Neighbor’.
So, what does ‘Love Your Neighbor’ Look Like? ‘Love your neighbor’ is something you may have only heard in Sunday School and can be pretty ambiguous. Does this mean love your physical neighbor — someone who lives on your cul-desac, in your state, or your country of origin? Is your neighbor someone with whom you agree politically, or who holds your same beliefs?
Javier Mendoza addresses Connect Global Mission Team
We believe everyone is our neighbor. From fellow co workers, to the local barista. Our kid’s teacher to the maintenance person in our building. Every person in which we come into some form of contact we describe as our neighbor — and we are willing to Love each of them. We show love in all sorts of ways both here in the United States as well as throughout our years of service in Thailand, Mexico, Haiti, Guatemala, Costa Rica, & Honduras. Love comes in all sorts of packages and transcends language, political opinion, and socio-economic differences.
Javier & Saige Mendoza with concrete floor Team CONNECTGLOBAL.ORG
| AUGUST 2022
We have prepared meals for the hungry, clothed the needy, prayed for the sick, and given shelter to widows and children.
Mendoza Family with Nahun and Edenia Flores in Trujillo, Honduras
‘Love’ as work sounds kind of hippy-dippy, but that is in essence ‘what we do’ and more importantly Why we do what we do. We are proud of the work we have accomplished and we get very excited when others take part in this journey alongside us.
You can make a difference While it is impossible to think we can help every person in the world, it is not impossible for you and I to change the world for one person — or 5, or 10, or even a hundred at a time.
“Do for One what you wish you could do for everyone.” — Andy Stanley We decided long ago that ‘Love Your Neighbor’ would not be just a slogan on a T Shirt, or simply a cute quote for Instagram. Our sincere hope is that loving our neighbors would define us and we would be known for it — and in the end those we have loved would be the one’s showing love, and so on.
We do this work because it is the right thing to do. If you want to join us, we invite you to take a step with us and experience this work for yourself. You will be changed forever. Learn More at ConnectGlobal.org
From the generosity of those who give financially to the adventurers who join us on treks outside the US, we are eternally grateful each time you show Love for one of our ‘Neighbors’. The world is a big place and there are plenty of ‘neighbors’ who need your love. THE CONNECTION MAGAZINE
Javier Mendoza with Pastor Lencho in 2020
5 SIMPLE WAYS TO BUILD A GREAT TEAM JAVIER MENDOZA 1. COMMUNICATE THE PLAN CLEARLY Everyone responds best when they know what’s going on. Without a plan, each team member is left to come up with their own version of what the end result looks like. This will result in chaos. You have to clearly communicate what your plan is and what success looks like so the entire team can carry it out. If you don’t clarify what constitutes a “win” for your team, don’t expect your team to win very much
2. ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUAL INPUT All of us want to be heard. It is our nature to want to be noticed, and be seen as useful. By encouraging input, you will create a way for team members to validate each others importance to the plan. It is a wonderful thing to have your team members recognize your input as important and useful to the team. This only happens if the team leaders allow and encourage input from each member.
3. REINFORCE THE TEAM OBJECTIVES To have a successful team you must rally around the team’s objectives. Clarifying the Win will frame what the end of the plan looks like, but reinforcing the objectives along the way will illuminate the specific steps needed to make that end a reality. If your team has a good outline of the benchmarks needed to accomplish the goal, the likelihood of the team venturing off course is lessened.
4. PUBLICLY CELEBRATE TEAM SUCCESSES There will be no success a team can achieve that is not worthy of public celebration. Big or Small — Expected or Unexpected, everyone wants to celebrate victory. Sometimes we get so involved in work that we breeze right through and forget to celebrate. Nothing can bring a team together quite like success, so be sure to let the team know when you’ve crossed the goal line.
5. PRIVATELY DISCUSS PROBLEMATIC SITUATIONS The way in which you handle challenges will greatly impact the survival rate of your team. When individual team members face or create obstacles to reaching your team’s goal, you must act quickly, directly, and discreetly. Give honest feedback, but make sure it is never within earshot of other team members.
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We invite you to join the Connect Global Volunteer Team by sharing your skills and talents with us so we can help more people around the world.
Ways you can volunteer today:
“Coming together is a beginning.
Social Media Creation
Keeping together is progress.
Copy Editing
Working together is success.”
Prayer Team www.connectglobal.org
-Henry Ford
FEEING LONLEY, ANXIOUS, OVERWHELMED Many have felt this way and it’s not very fun but you can find someone to talk to.
SERIES PART 5 of 7
ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation]. Matthew 11:28 AMP Devotion reposted via YouVersion and the Bible App
Do you ever feel guilty for being someone who isn’t “anxious for nothing”? Does having anxiety give you more anxiety because you feel like you’re not supposed to feel it? Lori was in the same boat until she discovered one thing that changed everything. My marriage was in shambles. I was shouldering all of the responsibility of raising three kids, two of them teenagers (Lord, help me!) all on my own. Working, cooking, cleaning, carpooling, fixing, financing, supporting, loving, providing—it was all on me. My anxiety was through the roof, and I didn’t know what to do about it. I was trying everything I could think of: counseling, meditation, medication, music, exercise, reciting Scriptures, you name it! Nothing seemed to take it away. Don’t get me wrong, it was definitely helping to do these things. I learned to use the tools I needed to get myself centered on Christ again. But I was still struggling. Looking back, one thing I realize I wasn’t trying was “not trying.” If you search Scripture, you will find a ton of verses about worry. I know because I was looking for a magic formula to help me conquer it once and for all. In my search, I found something unexpected. You have to pay attention to see it, but in these verses there are implicit instructions from our Father to do nothing. Yes, seriously—nothing. In Matthew 11:28 NIV, Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” He is doing the work here, not us. We just have to come to Him. In John 14:27 NIV, He says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you …” Are you sensing a theme? He is giving us peace. He is giving us rest. We do nothing. Again in Matthew 6:25-34 NIV, this famous passage tells us not to worry, for God even “clothes the grass of the field,” so how much more will He take care of us?
We’re told to “seek first his kingdom … and all these things will be given” to us. That’s right—did you catch that? Given! God is a giver. He has the answers, and He has our back. Some things we just can’t do ourselves, but that is exactly how He designed it. For us to need Him. All of those things I worried about worked out, one way or another. It wasn’t until I took a breath, rested, truly came to Jesus, got quiet, let go of all the details, told God that I trusted Him completely—and then learned to do nothing —that I finally found peace. Ultimately, my prayers became less about my situation and more about my trust in Him. If you need to do the same, I highly encourage you to rest in Him. You can trust Him. Here’s what I pray when I’m feeling overwhelmed by anxiety again: Dear Lord, I come to You today to ask for help. You are my everything. Lord, I need rest. I give You my worry. Take it, Lord. I accept Your peace, love, and understanding. Help me to turn to You and not to myself. Help me to stop doing and start trusting. Help me to wait on Your answers, because I know that they are good. Give me wisdom, hope, and peace. Thank you, Lord, for Your patience and grace. I love You, and I know You love me so much more than I could ever imagine. Amen. Lori
Text 'Pray with Me' to 844-397-4679 Someone from our team will text you back and can talk with you about anything. Your texts are important to us and will be prayed for by our team. Don’t do life alone. We are listening and encourage you to reach out today.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255
National Domestic Violence Hotline 800.799.SAFE (7233)
National Alliance on Mental Illness 800-950-6264
Do not fear, I am With You
Nahun and His family were our very first hosts in the nation of Honduras in 2004. They have a special heart for missions and for seeing the Great Commission be completed around the world. When we first met they lived and worked in a small village called Cusuna. Their heart for the Garifuna people and their culture is very inspiring and their commitment has been a long term encouragment to many.
DO NOT FEAR BY NAHUN FLORES
In the book of Isaiah in chapter 43 and
There are countless times when the streams of the
in verses 1 and 2 it says: "And now thus
rivers of problems and difficulties overwhelm us,
says the LORD who created you, Jacob,
added to that the fire of trial makes us want to go
or Israel has formed you, do not be
back, but, God tells us at this hour, "Do not be
afraid, for I have redeemed you; I have
afraid because I am with you."
called you by name, you are mine. If you cross the river, I will be with you
I am with you when everything seems dark, when it
and the current will not drag you. If you
seems to you that everyone has abandoned you,
pass through the flames, you won't
when you feel tired and dejected, the Lord says to
burn, you won't even scorch."
you, "Don't be afraid because I am with you."
In our earthly life there are many
I am with you when you have lost all hope of
occasions when due to various
surviving, I am with you even in the midst of the
circumstances that happen we feel
flames.
fear, we are surrounded by tragic news such as wars, homicides, famines,
Do you remember the story of those three men
shortages and rebellion, and, although
who had full confidence in abandoning their lives
it is normal to feel fear on some
in the hands of the Almighty rather than
occasions, this is not, nor will it be, the
worshipping another god other than their God...?
rule for all those who have God as their protection and strength.
The Word testifies to us that their bodies were
exposed to high temperatures of fire to such a
This is our God, the strong, the jealous,
degree that their executioners were killed just by
the one who takes care of us like the
approaching, but once again the bible testifies to
apple of his eyes, the one who always
us that they were supernaturally saved by the
tells us "Don't be afraid, I am with you."
power of God since God himself came to protect
them and that not even their clothes or hair were
The Word of God teaches us that in the
singed.
eyes of God we are precious, He has created us and formed us in our
This is our God, the one who takes care of us like
mother's womb, therefore He tells us
the apple of his eye, the one who always tells us
that He Himself has rescued us, has
"Do not fear, I'm with you"
called us by name and that we belong to Him.
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Michigan
ONE LAST WORD
Michigan is a state in the United States in the Great Lakes region. In 1837, Michigan was officially admitted as the 26th state in the Union.
Everyone I have met from Michigan is generous, hospitable, and will geniunly want to hear how you are doing when you stop to chat.
However, Michigan’s path to statehood wasn’t without its own share of drama. A skirmish with Ohio known as the Toledo War delayed Michigan’s statehood and led to a trade: Toledo remained in Ohio, while the Upper Peninsula became part of Michigan.
Every Michigander I know has introduced themselves and when asked where they are from will immediately hold up their hand and gesture to a part on their upheld hand which represents the "mitten" shape of their beloved state.
Today, Michigan is the only state in the nation comprised of two peninsulas. The state of Michigan is blessed with the riches of unspoiled nature: the nation's longest freshwater coastline, lakes that feel like oceans, golden beaches, an abundance of fresh produce straight from the farm, glorious sunrises and sunsets and endless opportunities for living, working and playing.
The 'Wolverine' state is the 10th most populous state in the nation. In 2021, about 10.05 million people called Michigan home. We love Michigan and its beautiful scenery, wildlife, and great coast line, but what makes Michigan special are the people we have met. If you know someone in Michigan, then you likely know someone who is resilient, long suffereing, and kind. Please join Connect Global in praying for our friends, family, and partners who live in this beautiful, and awe inspiring state.
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| AUGUST 2022
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CONNECTION A MAGAZINE BY CONNECT GLOBAL
text (844) 397-4679 email: hello@connectglobal.org www.connectglobal.org
