There and Back Again: Netherlands

Based in Rotterdam, Netherlands, (working in an old converted water tower!) Jesus.net is an organization that mainly excels at networking and implementing digital solutions to all sorts of humanitarian projects. The core group is probably only about 15ish people, but the number of other groups they are connected to has to easily bump them up to several thousands of individuals in all kinds of positions. In fact, one of those groups launched 'The Chosen' series, which takes stories out of the Bible and gives them high-production level treatment. It has been generally well received and the rights just got moved to the Jesus.net group.  There is quite a lot that falls under the conference umbrella; it's called Jesus.net, and at the core, it provides networking and resources to non-profits and ministries. All that to say, this group has some momentum and is looking to do a lot of good, so if you have an interest in networking or maybe have something to contribute, it might be worth getting in touch. Click their logo below if you want to explore on your own.

Some of their work include:

• A Miracle Every Day [+334K subscribers] is an encouraging daily message about life-inspired themes like dreams, doubts, struggles and wonders. Started in 2015 in French, currently the series is available in 18 different languages and distributed using the Salesforce platform.

• The Codex: We offer free courses about the basics of Christian faith, plus a wide variety of courses on topics such as prayer, forgiveness, marriage and identity through CODEX, the online interactive learning platform [+109K profiles].

• YouVersion: Yeah, that one.

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My part mainly was to network and gauge the global field on interest in mental health ministry. Make no mistake: Japan is still our focus, both for this mental health care project and ministry as a whole, but that journey has been met with all kinds of hurdles (finances, skills, manpower, and the list goes on) which requires going outside our current bubbles to try and find more people who can meet those needs Japan has. This was the main purpose of going.

I found two things: Mental health, especially depression and anxiety, is widespread and is an epidemic in its own right. But I think many of us were aware of that already, right? What is worse though is that it is hugely impacting our pastors, missionaries, churches, and many non-profits trying to help others. Secondly: There was a huge interest in our small automated mental care program, but not only as a method to meet a need of and reach those who don't know Jesus, but it also became apparent that this tool is just as needed, if not more so, by those doing the reaching out!

In a few places of the world, some of the stigmas around mental health is starting to finally fade away. We can be more open about those kinds of struggles and find help, understanding, and often empathy. But even in those places, there exists another bubble where that stigma lingers, and I think that is often found in Christian circles. Just like we often reply with the perpetual "I'm good, how are you?" when greeted on a Sunday morning, hiding behind that "life must be good because I'm a believer and need to be perfect" mask, we do the same for our mental well-being: fake it. So it doesn't come as a surprise that a way of getting help and recovery for such struggles in a no-risk, no-judgment, and anonymous way would be extremely popular! Japan is no different. This is a culture where people need to be 'put-together’ and personal struggles need to stay in the dark, never seeing the light, until it crushes them.

So hopefully, as our ministry grows and we find the resources and help we need,  these mental care models can be shared with and adapted to any culture or setting that calls for it.

Of course we need to complete it first!

It's the Final Countdown!

This post is meant to connect to the campaign for the final countdown so if you didn't get an email, this might seem out of context! Sign up with yours so we can get you caught up if that's the case.

We only have $500 to go for monthly amount! And we are over half-way left to go for one-time: 37,500!

That one-time goal amount you have seen floating around may seem like a huge number for a mission’s trip, but this isn't for a few days, weeks, months, or even a year. It is meant to pay for a lifetime of mission’s work in Japan. 

These funds will go directly to our "out-going" costs. Just like the money you might need to move into a new house, we need these finances to set up a life in Japan and to be equipped for ministry there. This will pave the way for housing, visas, transportation, flights, two years of language school, and utilities. (You might notice these numbers total up more than what is being asked for, and you’re right! Some has been raised already; we only ask for what we still need)

Our website: https://team.org/givenow/us/add-donation?v2glid=92353 (Here you can do recurring or one-time and it's tax deductible!)

Our One-time Go Fund Me: www.gofundme.com/petkoffs2japan (This is only for one-time donations and they do not give receipts for tax purposes, but you can watch progress here real-time.)

Why is This State So Big?

Nearly all of March was spent with us on the road from Northern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and finally Texas. The main focus was all about sharing God's mission for Japan and bringing people on to be a part of that. We had some great meetings with family, friends, and new faces. We gained some new supporters, ate some interesting (good!) food, and even better, gained some new stories. 

We began our trip leaving from Morgan Hill, CA and made our way across the I-40 which we found takes us on a much more scenic and less busy route to my hometown of Payson in AZ. It also avoids both LA and Phoenix, and who wants to drive in LA by choice? Not I. We pulled it off in about 12 hours over the course of one day, but this leg of the trip has been done a few times now. We stopped to stay with my family for a few days while we made a few calls, had a couple meetings, did some car maintenance (Ended up being pointless, read on...), and bought more food because road snacks are important to over-all well-being and keeping Nick awake.

We left Pine and went south through Phoenix, were we made a pit-stop in east Mesa (car things again...) then out east into New Mexico. At this point, crossing the vast empty desert that is New Mexico, it felt I might pass from old-age before I saw another city/town/something with more than a tumbleweed and single gas station, but oh what little did I know. But it happened, we hit El Paso! Texas! I could feel the second wind coming on, this was our destination state, it can't be much further...

6 hours later, I could drive no more. The great plains of Texas defeated me, and nearly the cars gas tank. It had seemed that I was spoiled on seeing a gas station every 10 miles or so for much our trip, but the phrase "everything is bigger in Texas" must also apply to the distance between stations. This dawned on me as what my family refers to as the "idiot light" on the dash for one's gas level had now illuminated, effectively stamping me as the idiot. So I was hungry, car was hungry, wife was just barely keeping my sanity by playing road games, and thus we decided a more lasting stop was needed. We picked a small hotel in Fort Stockton to stay the night.

Two things happened that night. One: we got into the hotel somewhere around 1am. Second: a special thing occurs on Sunday March 12th that a person in AZ doesn't care about. Daylight Stinking Savings Time. DSST. Somehow I managed to plan us into getting a bit less sleep and putting our arrival time later and later, yeah, I am pro at logistics. We still managed to get enough sleep and finish our trip moving into Houston later that evening. 

The actual time in Texas was eventful and the trip back trouble-free. My Aunt and Uncle were generous in providing us not only a place to stay, but also fed us with food that was much tastier and classier than our typical value meal road grub. We loved spending time with them and all the connections we could make, both new and old. We are hopeful to go back out (even further east next time!) to keep sharing this mission.