Fences For Orphans

God helps with airline tickets

Mary Ann — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:45:50 +0000

We have been working on getting our airline tickets to Costa Rica (CR) for several days. Follow the events of the last several days of that activity and see how big God is.

Last Friday, I received this text “Prices are high and our travel agent is working on some creative options. Start praying for a nice deal to suddenly appear on Monday!”
That evening I sent an email asking many to start praying.
On Monday our CR Trip Coordinator sent our Costa Rica team the following note – “I’ve been working on airline tickets for over a week now and I guess the economy must be improving, because travel is up and so are prices. We budgeted for airline tickets to be somewhere around $700-750. As it stands, the Saturday departure will take us significantly over that price range and Matrix will not be able to absorb that extra cost. We’re asking if it is possible for those of you who preferred to leave on Saturday, March 10th to leave on Thursday, March 8th and then all of us return 1 day earlier than planned, which would be Saturday, March 17? If we can do that, we should be able to keep costs in line with what we originally communicated.”
After working more with the travel agent, it turned out, in addition to leaving 2 days earlier, we needed to ask everyone if they could stay a day later leaving on Monday March 9, instead of Sunday March 18. To our amazement everyone’s work schedule allowed them to responded “yes”, which moved us toward getting some descent prices. That was a miracle!
On Tuesday, our CR Trip Coordinator sent our CR team the following note – “I just wanted to update everyone on our tickets. We purchased them today and praise God a million times over….not only do we have a direct flight, but the price went down a little even from yesterday. The travel agent called me and said – God must have big plans for your team because less than 24 hrs ago some of the tickets were as high as $1,300 and we could barely find a flight to get us all there when we wanted to arrive. God is good!” Another miracle!
End result – we got our tickets for an average of $650.00 per person, with one exception for the team member coming from Mississippi.

We serve an amazing God, who can even direct the airlines. Now who else do you know who can do that! THAT IS A MIRACLE!

Haiti Orphanage Opportunities

Mary Ann — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:16:59 +0000

The Global Orphan Project sent an email letting us know that we had $13,741.00 in our account. They offered us two awesome opportunities to help orphans:

Designate $6,000.00 to dig a well at the Hince Village. Hince is the village LifePoint Church adopted and offered us the opportunity to partner with them. I had to say “yes”. I love the idea of providing fresh clean healthy water wherever possible. Water is life and something so many of us (including myself) take for granted.
Designate $7,741.00 to help purchase beds for the Desire Village. Desire is one of the villages we visited on our March 2011 Matrix trip. Of all the orphanages we visited, Desire was the one that touched my heart the most. At the time, about 65 children called Desire home. The kids were sleeping in large canvas tents (see pic) with most of the boys were sleeping on the dirt floor. The water well (see pic) they were using was a source of the Malaria outbreak earlier that year. Since that time another US church has adopted Desire and things are slowly improving. It was a great blessing to be offered an opportunity to be a part of meeting the needs of these children.

THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART!

Boys tent at Desire

Desire’s water well

New Timothy Project Coordinators

Mary Ann — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:14:11 +0000

God is amazing. Just a few short days ago we announced The Timothy Project. Today, we have Timothy Project Coordinators. It is amazing how God works. When they contacted me, they explained that God already had them researching international foster care which is very similar to what The Timothy Project is. It is amazing how God works!!!

Status Update on Fences for Orphans & Upcoming Mission Trips

Mary Ann — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:49:32 +0000

A Fences for Orphans update:

We’ve completed several small projects in the last month amounting to approximately $1,600.00 in donations to the Hince Village in Haiti. Hince is the village Life Point Church in Plano TX has adopted in Haiti through The Global Orphan Project. Thanks again to our volunteers and homeowners.
We’ve sold two larger projects that we will be starting next week. Stay tuned for volunteer opportunities.
Although things have been slow lately, we have been busy issuing quotes. We have numerous very promising quotes in the works. I feel like we have a water balloon that’s just about ready to burst. Get ready for the flood!

A Costa Rica update:

Our March trip is firming up. We have 12 awesome trip participants signed up and eager to go. They started their pre-trip assignments today.
We also now have a flickr account with all our past Costa Rica trip pictures. Check it out to ‘see’ what’s been happening. http://www.flickr.com/photos/matrixcostarica.

A Haiti update:

Our February trip to Haiti is set. We have four awesome participants going to Haiti with us.
This is going to be an awesome trip. We all can’t wait to see what God has in store for us. Stay tuned for our trip reports. We leave in just over 3 weeks.
This is an exploratory trip of sorts so please pray that we see and hear what God’s involvement for us in Haiti going forward.

The Timothy Project :

As you may know, Matrix Ministries was started to be a ‘matrix’ of ministries – whatever God wants us involved in, we’re open. One ministry God put on my heart way back in the beginning of MM was to offer college aged children of foreign pastors the opportunity to come to the United States, attend a community college, earn an associate’s degree, and then return to their own country to serve God in whatever role He has called them to. Many students in foreign countries don’t have the opportunity to attend college in their home town/country. Offering this ministry is a way to reward foreign pastor’s and their families for the many sacrifices they’ve made, and faithfulness they shown, in shepherding God’s people in difficult situations.

We have our first candidate. She is 22 years old, very sweet, and fully bi-lingual. She would like to move to the US for 1 year to strengthen her English even more before seeking a job as a teacher. She would like to work as an intern in a professional environment while in the US. She is very mature, good with computers, and learns quickly.

We have two asks of you:

1) The Timothy Project needs to be fleshed out. If you have:

experience with students,
experience with foreign students,
experience with foreign employees,
a gift at figuring out processes,
a gift in administration,
or, you are just interested in getting involved in this ministry,

PLEASE contact me as soon as possible. We need to put this ministry together as soon as possible.

2) If you are interest in adopting, financially and/or relationally, students in The Timothy Project,

PLEASE contact me as soon as possible. God is good, all the time!

That’s it for now. Please continue to pray for us and the ministry. God continues to move in amazing ways and we are excited to be a part. Thank you for partnering with us as well.

How God guided and blessed Fences for Orphans in 2011

Mary Ann — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:53:21 +0000

How God guided and blessed Fences for Orphans in 2011

Some highlights of our year:

We completed 37 Fences for Orphans (FFO) projects.
We donated just over $34,000.00 to help build orphanages in Haiti, Uganda, and Mexico.
We donated just over $13,000.00 to help fund a student center and other projects for a partner church in Atenas, Costa Rica.
We established ministry partnerships in Costa Rica with two orphanages; Hogar de Vida and Casa de Casey, a local church; Iglesia Biblica, and a local ministry; The Brook Ministries.
We conducted three 10 day mission trips to Costa Rica.
We participated in the Grand Opening of Casa de la Cultura Student Center for Iglesia Biblica in Atenas, Costa Rica.
We partnered with The Global Orphan Project for one mission trip to Haiti.
We established our first US church partnership with LifePoint Church in Plano, TX.
We have started conversations for a second US church partnership.
We now have four additional volunteer staff members: a Costa Rica Coordinator, a Haiti Coordinator, a Volunteer Coordinator, and a Web Master.
We have our first ‘paid’ employee, along with a contracted Crew Chief.
We began conducting monthly ‘staff meetings’ to better coordinate our activities. (I know that doesn’t sound exciting, but to a growing ministry – it is).
We purchased a truck for FFO.
We greatly increased the FFO volunteer network.
We participated in Celebrate Freedom, the largest Christian concert in America, to sponsor their Children’s Tent and enlisted volunteers.
We conducted our first radio advertisement on KLTY, the most listened to Christian radio station in America.
And, lots of detail between the lines.

Our staff is full of anticipation and excitement as we get ready for 2012. We already have two mission trips planned for the spring of 2012, and are talking with other groups about summer trips. In February we will travel back to Haiti to visit orphanages where FFO funds have been used to help take care of orphans. In March we will travel back to Atenas, Costa Rica to work with Hogar de Vida, Iglesia Biblica, and The Brook for projects at Hogar de Vida and Iglesia Biblica. We will also partner with Iglesia Biblica for a city-wide project in Atenas. (Both trips are going to be very exciting.) We will continue to seek ways to grow FFO for increased volunteer and ministry impact. We have plans to redesign our web pages (FFO and MM). And, we would love to bring our Crew Chief on as a paid employee, and move forward with additional paid employees as we grow the ministry.

2011 has been our best year yet at Matrix Ministries, but we need your help as we continue to run through the doors of opportunity God opens for us.

Please know that your faithful partnership is making a difference. I can hardly wait to see how the Lord will continue to transform lives through Matrix Ministries and our partnerships (including you) in 2012!

If you would like to send your gift by check please send it to:

Matrix Ministries

742 Pulitzer Ln

Allen TX 75002

You can also use our convenient PayPal online donation button at www.MatrixMinistries.org. Fence for Orphans is a registered DBA of Matrix Ministries Corp.

P.S. You are invited to come with us to Haiti and/or Costa Rica. Please let me know ASAP if you are interested. We are still looking/needing help to accomplish our objectives for the Costa Rica projects. We need you!

Have a happy New Year, and may God bless you greatly in 2012.

Ray & the MM Staff.

How can a fence in DFW affect students in Costa Rica?

Mary Ann — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 19:41:09 +0000

How can a fence in DFW affect students in Costa Rica?

It is so amazing to see how volunteers building fences in DFW backyards can be used to impact lives in around the world.

In March, while on a mission trip to Atenas Costa Rica, Matrix Ministries Corp (MM – the parent not-for-profit company of Fences for Orphans (FFO)) was asked if they would be interested in helping build a new student center (Casa de la Cultura) building at a local church (Iglesia Biblica El Cordero de Dios) there. After a short time of prayer, we accepted the offer. Once back in the US, FFO started asking homeowners if they wanted to designate their funds to Casa de la Cultura. Several accepted, and over the course of the next several FFO projects approximately half the funds needed for the new building were raised. In July and August, MM took two teams of volunteers back to Atenas to help build Casa de la Cultura.

On Saturday, Oct 1, Iglesia Biblica conducted the grand opening of Casa de la Cultura. Yesterday, Oct 11 we received word that Iglesia Biblica had announced to the community that it would start conducting English as a second language classes in Casa de la Cultura. 20 students signed up immediately.

Casa de la Cultura will also be offering a safe environment for student to do homework using Casa de la Cultura computers. Steve Lucas, a US pastor in Costa Rica who attends Iglesia Biblica and was instrumental in the construction of Casa de la Cultura, recently came to the US to collect donated IT equipment for Casa de la Cultura. Sunday, Oct 10, Steve returned to Casa de la Cultura with four new laptops, a printer, and a router. He says they should have the Internet center up and running very soon.

Before the Student Center no productive activity existed in Atenas for students in the community. Now, they already have 20 students signed up for English classes! Amazing! What a great outreach …and that it is already happening is such a blessing.

God is so faithful. When He calls us and we respond, He does some amazing things. A big thank you to our FFO homeowners, FFO volunteers, MM mission trip participants, and our partners in Costa Rica.

Ray Young

President, Matrix Ministries

Haiti Report – Trip Dates: 4/23/10 – 5/1/10

admin — Fri, 28 May 2010 18:57:00 +0000

How do I explain what I experienced in Haiti? As many of you who have been on mission trips know, it’s difficult to put an experience into words. And sometimes even more difficult to discern how God would have you respond given a new revelation of the ‘real’ world. Hence, why it’s been almost 4 weeks since my return and I am just now writing my thoughts.
As many of you know, Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. It is certainly the poorest I’ve been to. From that perspective, the earthquake only added to an already bad situation. One lady asked that we would pray that she be able to move to a different country. On the other hand, many Haitians love their country very much, and are excited about what’s happening. Many Haitians sense God is doing something special in their country, and the earthquake was just part of His plan. They very much want to be a part of what He is doing. That has me asking, “Why was I there?” “What is His purpose for me in regard to Haiti and what He is doing?”

Once you get beyond the destructive results of the earthquake, you will find that many Haitians believe the earthquake was actually a direct answer to pray. For them the earthquake was as much or more a spiritual event as it was a physical event. The Haitian’s will tell you it shook more than the physical, it shook the spiritual. During and after the earthquake the Haitians were praising God for this manifestation of His movement in their country and the results they are seeing.

Something I was not aware of was the spiritual history of Haiti which we learned firsthand from the Haitians. Haiti has been a spiritually dark place for many many years. About 205 years ago the Haitians as a country made a pack with Satan that if he would help them win their independence from the French, they and their children would worship him for the next 200 years. This is where Voodoo fits in. Voodoo is the actual worship of Satan including human sacrifices, curses, demon possession, etc… It has been their national religion for 200 years. It is not a belief in superstitions, etc… like I thought. It is as real as Christianity. It is the worship of the only real spiritual realm other than Christianity. It is the worship of our adversary.

Tim, our trip leader, said he talked with a Haitian who told him about an African Voodoo high priest who came to Haiti to learn from a demon how to raise people from the dead. The high priest said as he flew into Haiti he had never seen a place covered with spiritual darkness and demons like Haiti. We heard many stories about demon possession, how Voodoo priests practice their art of casting demons into people, calling up curses, and human sacrifices which still occur today. Before the earthquake they even performed Voodoo worship and sacrifices under the nation’s palace as part of major country events like government elections. (Image – The Haitian Palace).

However, once the 200 year pack ended things began to change. Evangelical faith in Jesus Christ grew. About 2 months before the earthquake about 250 Evangelical Haitian pastors began to pray that God would do whatever necessary to delivery them from Satan and shake their country, government, and people to bring them to Himself. They see the earthquake as an answer to that prayer. During and since the earthquake people continue to praise God. Voodoo priests are turning and accepting Christ as Savior. They say the darkness has lifted. They sense a new hope and a sense of joy that makes no sense given their situation. But they see things differently than we do. I think it is easier for them to see God because the world’s stuff doesn’t get in their way. God has a funny way of making the poor man rich, and the rich man poor.

There is much for us (big brother – maybe elder brother) to do in Haiti (little brother – maybe even prodigal son) as God fulfills His new plans for them. Funny, as I type this, the verse I sent out this morning to the Good News distribution list comes to mind– “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:14-17

What did I see that touched me most?

Port-au-Prince is full of tent cities. Make shift shelters for those left without homes. Many are actually tents in well organized communities. But most are shelters made of sticks wrapped in blankets and sheets. Several times we went into a tent city to put tarps over their shelters. They were so grateful. It wouldn’t take long before people caught on to what we were doing and within 15 minutes we would be surrounded by men, women, and children asking us to come put a tarp on their shelter. I have seen cardboard houses before, and even plastic houses, but these were the first sheet houses I saw. A sheet so thin you could see through it.

What did I feel that touched me the most?

I expected there to be men, women, and even children living in the tent cities. But what I did not expect was the number of infants living in the tents. Infants as young, or younger than my 7 month old grandson, but much smaller. Mothers who were no longer able to produce milk for their babies and could not afford to buy any asking us for milk. Toddlers sleeping naked on sheets on dirt floors trying and stay cool in their little 5 foot by 4 foot shelter made of sheets and blankets. A mother pleading for a tarp to cover the shelter over her babies. A mother we could have easily past by like we did so many others. I didn’t expect that. It’s still too surreal. It’s too hard to imagine, even though I saw it with my own eyes. It’s a world away from where I sit now in my American dream house trying to explain it to you. What do I do? What do we do? What garbage can a mother dig through to find something to feed her infant who can only drink liquids? How many verses flow through my mind concerning those of us who are rich, and those who are in need. Stay tuned.

The people of Haiti want a place to live. The people of Haiti want food to eat. The people of Haiti want clean water to drink. The people of Haiti want a future for their children. The people of Haiti want an economy where they can work to support themselves and their families. The people of Haiti want to go to church (BTW – their churches are full). The people of Haiti want Bibles they can read. The people of Haiti want to be discipled, to have spiritual resources to learn from. The people of Haiti want what we so often take for granted. But in many ways the people of Haiti are better off than we are. Have you read the Beatitudes lately?

I am still trying to discern what God would have me do. Stay tuned for that. I have some thoughts, but I am still working and praying about them. Please continue to pray with me. Consider praying about what your part might be. Maybe we’re in this together. Thank you for sending me. Forgive me if I got too preachy. I believe God causes and/or allows all things for His purpose. I pray He remains patient (I know He will) as we determine our next steps. Romans 8:28.

BTW – I did not get to participate with anything related to orphans. The first day there we were instructed to lay our own agendas at the foot of the cross. I did that. I did ask one of our interpreters where the orphans were staying, what their housing situation was like? He said many have been gathered together by caring adults and are living under tarps in tent cities just like everyone else. I know there are orphans in Haiti, more now than before the earthquake. Matrix Ministries will begin to give Fences for Orphans funds to aid in the construction of Haitian orphanages. Pray as I research how that should happen.

God bless.
Ray

Reggie Fence Project

admin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:41:00 +0000

Once again our volunteers came through. We had 11 volunteers participate in our inaugural fence project. The client, Reggie, was very pleased. Reggie sent me the following text on Sunday:

Reggie:”I got in late yesterday and awoke this morning to a beautiful fence. Thank you so much for working with me on achieving this.”
My reply: “You are welcome Reggie. Thanks for working with us so we could benefit orphans together. Call us when you are ready for Phase 2. God bless.”
Reggie: “God bless you too! I guess that’s what makes Him so special, He has a great way of accomplishing things if we listen. Lol.”
My reply: “Amen.”

I think Reggie hit it on the head. When we listen, He has a great way of accomplishing things, and we get to be a part of what He is doing.

Many thanks to all who are helping position Matrix Ministries where He can use us to connect volunteers to local and global community needs.

BTW:

1) We’ve already sent our first check to support an orphanage – Go God!

2) I talked to Reggie today and he said his neighbor was so impressed with the fence and what we’re doing that she wants a quote to replace her fence.

God is so good!.

Our Reggie fence volunteers were: Alan W, Bob C, Dick C, Danny L, Dave S, John R, Kathy G, Keith R, Kevin F, Reagan R, and Steve D. Honorable mention to Jay H for providing lunch for our volunteers. Many thanks guys & gal.

God bless.
Ray Young

Welcome to Matrix Ministries Corp.

admin — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:10:00 +0000

The mission of Matrix Ministries is to Connect Volunteers to Community Needs.

The Problem:
Many people want to personally help meet needs in our troubled world, but lack the knowledge and experience to fill the gap between desire and action.

The Solution:
Matrix Ministries helps individuals, groups, churches, and businesses meet the spiritual and tangible needs of local and international communities. We identify and create opportunities for involvement, and offer training to sustain and repeat that involvement.

Here are 4 of our ministries…

#1 Local CIA (Community Involvement Assistance)

Local CIA is the cornerstone of Matrix Ministries. Here we assist those desiring to get involved. There are 4 main aspects of Local CIA:

· A public website that matches local non-profit needs with volunteer skills and interests.

· A church consulting practice for churches lacking paid missions staff but desiring local community involvement. Local CIA trains and assists church lay-leaders in defining and executing a local sustainable and repetitive missions program for their church involvement.

· A business consulting practice for local businesses desiring community involvement. We help define their desired involvement, select an opportunity, and execute the event for their employees.

· Matching up volunteers with individuals (widows, single parents, etc..) in need.

#2 International STM (Short-Term Misisons) Trips

Matrix Ministries offers short-term mission (STM) trips to experience first-hand the needs of our world. STM trips help participants gain a practical understanding of how they can make a difference and then influence others to do the same, as together we are the hands and feet of Jesus. We focus primarily on visiting orphanages in various countries working through local churches to encourage and expand their ministry, in their community.

#3 The Timothy Project

There are many pastors around the world who faithfully sow the seed of salvation and Truth day in and day out. The family members of these pastors are as much a part of their ministry as they are. Without their faithful sacrifice, the Light of the World would not be shining in many countries. The Timothy Project exists to be a blessing and a reward to these families.

The Timothy Project will solicit sponsorships to bring college aged members of these families to the U.S. to obtain an Associates Degree. This opportunity is not available for many of these faithful families in the countries where they serve.

The Timothy Project will arrange financial sponsorship, room and board, transportation, and mentorship for these students while in the U.S. Once they have obtained their degree, they will return to their country to fulfill the mission and vision God has given them.

#4 Fences for Orphans

Fences for Orphans provides an opportunity for individuals, groups, churches, and businesses in the DFW area to support orphans around the world without leaving home and family, or taking time away from work.

Under the guidance of our professional Crew Chiefs, volunteers help build privacy fences for DFW home owners. Our volunteers allow us to build fences at a fair market price and donate all profits to aid in the construction of orphanages around the world.

For additional information visit… http://www.fencesfororphans.org/

You maybe asking, “How can I help?”

- Pray
Ask God to guide, direct, and bless Matrix Ministries in assisting all of us to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

- Serve
· Promote Matrix Ministries.
· Be a community volunteer.
· Use your skills and talents behind the scenes at Matrix Ministries.

- Give
Contribute financially to Matrix Ministries Corp. Most of the services we provide are not revenue generating activities. In fact, it is our dream and vision that everything we provide will be free of charge to those involved, both the volunteer as well as the ones with the need. To do that, we need your financial support on a regular basis.

Matrix Ministries is a registered non-profit in the state of Texas. Our 501c3 tax-exempt status is in progress, and once granted, all donations forward, as well as for the past 2 years, will be tax deductible. NOTE: If you give in Dec 2009, and we get our 501c3 status before April 15, 2009, you can claim your Dec 2009 donation on your 2009 tax return.

Don’t wait. We need your support now, and going forward. No donation is too large, or too small. Please remember to give monthly, and if you’d like a monthly reminder, just let us know.

Send your donations to:
Matrix Ministries Corp.
742 Pulitzer Lane
Allen, TX 75002

Will you get involved with us? If you’re blessed, can you help us help bless others?

God bless.
Sincerely,
Ray Young
President, Matrix Ministries Corp.