Kori Bourdeaux Testimony

I came to know God when I was around the age of thirteen. I did not grow up in a Christian home, matter of fact nobody in my family were Christians. 

My father left me and my mom when I was under a year old, and I haven’t heard mom him or had anything to do with him in the past seventeen years of my life. As a baby I was very sick and being that my mom had me at eighteen, she had no idea of what to do. Basically for the first year I lived with my grandma until we moved to Chetwynd and then Tumbler Ridge. We eventually did move to Dawson Creek where my mom met Dean when I was around the age of three. At age five my mom was having another child, Zachary. Shortly after that my mom moved out and met another guy, within four years my mom was having another baby, Anthony. When Anthony was born we were living in Houston BC again, in consideration of moving twice in one year. We did move back to Dawson a few months after Anthony was born and being in a horrible horse accident and being sent to Vancouver Hospital. 

After moving back to Dawson my mom sent myself and Zachary to a Christian school, which is where I first started actually learning about God and the Bible. At Ron Pettigrew I met some really great people that are still in my life today. The teachers all taught me to do better in things that I never thought possible. At the beginning of grade seven my mom did something really inexcusable. That day let’s just say that was the day that everything changed for me, when I couldn’t go back home. For about six months there were arranged visits with my mom and a lot of counselling. After those six months I had to move back to Houston to live with my grandparents. While I was in Houston I was very mad at God and I thought that there was something that I would have had to do to make this happen. 

I was going to church full time at this point and was still going to a Christian school, yet I did not feel very accepted wherever I went. One day when I was grounded to my room on a weekend I was flipping through the Bible randomly. As I was doing this I asked God “If there is any reason that I should believe you, prove it!” The next second changed my life for the better; I opened the Bible to Psalm 139. Right then and there I felt like I became a Christian, and started to forgive the people I loved who have hurt me in the past. Two years later I moved back with my mom in Dawson and went back to Ron Pettigrew. At this point neither of my brothers lived with her anymore; they both were living with their fathers. Of course being that my mom was a single parent working full time I basically got to do whatever I want, whenever I want, however I want. I was a Christian, but I got myself into a lot of trouble most likely from not having a strong foundation to stand on.

After a year and a half and four houses later my mom did another inexcusable thing, which at this point I had a choice, so I ran to the closest friend. I was so shaken up that I could barely breathe to tell what was going on or even tell them who to call. Once they got a hold of Melanie and she came she took me to see my youth pastor who helped calm me and pray for me. For me there was a lot of hiding out from my mom, although I did end up calling her once just to know that she was doing okay. On April 16^th I talked to my mom on Facebook until I had to get off. The next morning my brother and I got the most horrific news, my mom died in a horrible car accident that night. After finding out about this I went through great depression and started falling away from God. Almost a year later I started walking on my own again and actually doing the things that I loved to do. Now that I’m actually enjoying myself again I realize that God is a real rock that can hold me even when troubled times come my way. I have also realized that God would have never put something on my shoulders if I could not overcome it. 

There were many times where I wanted to give up, but deep down there was that little bit of hope to keep me going each day. I believe that God would want me to go to Haiti because of all the experience and love that I can give to everyone. Of course I would go to be there for God and be His disciple; I’m just there for His works not mine. God has put this strong desire on my heat to show people that don’t know Him, and the miracles that He can do in one’s life. Although I cannot tell the Haitians everything that I know, I can still tell them that God loves and cherishes them all so uniquely.

Melanie Stenhouse Testimony

When I think of both my passion for missions and my faith in Jesus I would have to say that I found both at a very young age. I had a very simple childhood that came with all the love a kid could ask for. I was the fourth of four kids. My parents were young and didn’t have much for family or financial support, so of course with that came struggle and difficulty. However my earliest memories of my parents were not of them complaining but of them relying on their faith. We had peace, our needs were met and we all understood that God was in control. My Mother prayed with me every night...yes every single night J. And as a result I gave my heart to Jesus at a very early age. I remember my mother talking to me about missionaries and about how war and famine affected the lives of children around the world. I knew even then that I wanted to help. It was not just a passing fantasy but a dream and a desire that took hold and grew with me throughout the years to come. 

My parents were great examples to me. They showed me what it means to have unconditional love and mercy for people. If somebody was hungry they were fed, If they needed a home our door was opened. My Mom would drop everything if a friend was in need, that’s just the way it was. This was the example of Christs love I was given, it was never about preaching at people, just loving them where they were at. They prayed... my parents prayed all the time, dinner, bedtime, in the car, on walks, while checking cattle, chopping wood, cooking... You get the picture. That prayer was a blanket of protection around me when I was putting myself into situations my youthful self just didn’t understand.

My Parents fostered children and this played a huge part in shaping me. I remember kids acting out in ways I didn’t understand and my Mom explaining to me “why”. I began to study people and what I noticed was that there was always a reason behind every behaviour.  As a result I developed a love for the “hard to love”. I learned to love people because they were there and not because it was an expected family duty. Then came my little sister Mikayla! Mikayla was adopted by my family at the age of seven. It is my love for that amazing kid that transformed my view of the world. I learned first hand what a difference a little love can make in a childs life. It wasn’t that we were exceptional people. In fact I was terrible in school, I battled my siblings and my parents, we were a very typical family! We just had to reach out and BE there. God did the rest.  Her life was transformed... and so was mine. Fostering also exposed me to some pretty intense situations that I didn’t know how to deal with. There was a lot of heart ache and confusion in that time. I didn’t have any Christian support outside of my home to turn to and I quickly began running from God, never feeling good enough for Him. I saw him as fearsome and far away. When I moved to Dawson Creek at the age of 18 I felt very used up and alone and began to cry out to God again . A friend of mine invited me to church and I found a new hope in Jesus. He showed Himself to me in very personal and undeniable ways.

I have always been a very stubborn and pigheaded person so some lessons were hard learning for me. For years I would compare my relationship with God with that of a toddler. Having been warned by her father not to put her hand in the fire or go near a staircase. After a few years of hard lessons and coming back burned, broken and bruised, I’m finally learning what it means to trust that my God truly knows what’s best for me. I’m learning that my God truly loves me for me, the me I am right now and not the me that I hope to be. I’ve stopped believing that God loves only the perfect. I know he will use my talents and my imperfections if I reach out in faith and follow when he calls. I’m messy and chaotic and make mistakes. God knows that and yet he calls me.

Today I am a twenty eight year old working mother of four. My husband Dean and I have four kids. My family is a little complicated but I’ll do my best to explain. Our oldest daughter Kori is seventeen, Dean and I adopted her two years ago when she lost her mother in a car accident. Kori is a walking adventure. I’m never sure what to expect from her. She is full of life and loves to challenge people. Her story is hers to tell but..what a story! My stepson Zachary is twelve. Zac and Kori had the same mother, although they miss their mom deeply they are thankful to have each other. Zac Is a very loving person who thinks deeply for his years, he is the kind of person that makes me want to be a better person. Dean and I also had a son together, Landon is now 7, he is a bright imaginative kid with a killer sense of humour and a very serious passion for music. Last but not least is our youngest daughter Elizabeth. She came to us at six weeks of age and was placed with us for adoption seven months later. Elizabeth is beautiful, and full of energy. She can be very sweet but when she gets that little twinkle in her eye look out! Her favourite pastimes include loving our dog to death and annoying her brother. She definitely makes our family life entertaining! My children have taught me....well to trust God and to rely on him. Their needs are daunting to say the least. After years of feeling like I could never be enough for my kids I’ve handed them over to Jesus. Thankfully I have watched them blossom since. Now I’m just glad to be a part of it! I’ve learned you just need to show up! God always provides.

 I work in the special education class at Mountain Christian School as a teachers assistant. I LOVE MY JOB! It wasn’t a job that I went looking for but there is no doubt that I’m in my element there. It would take me hours to tell you about all the miracles I witness daily in that classroom. I learn every single day. Just like with my own kids, I leave them in Gods hands. I show up and I trust God with the rest. Our mission field is all around us, in our families, our friendships and our jobs. The opportunity to go to Haiti and learn and hopefully make a difference is a dream come true for me. Most people understand the gravity of the situation in Haiti and I know it will stretch and challenge me as never before. I’m not sure I can make a difference, but I KNOW God can. All I have to do is show up!

Allison Walker Testimony

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Karen Ratzlaff's Testimony

Hi, I am 33 years old and I have been married for 13 years.  We don't have any children, but Ryan and I are on a waiting list for adopting from Alberta, as I am not able to have children.  Children have always been a part of my life, so working with them in this capacity is so neat for me.  I like the thought of serving others that really need the help and showing God's love to others.

I grew up in a Christian family.  When I was 4, in a childlike way, I knew that Jesus died for my sins and I wanted His salvation.  The older I got, the more I understood what Jesus did for my life and others.  This led to my interest in missions and what it meant to tell others about God's amazing grace.  Growing up in a church that was missions minded, and parents encouraging it, led me to learn what it is to share God's love.

In high school, I went on 2 Teen Missions International trips, thinking that I would eventually live in the mission field full-time.  In Bible school, God had another plan!  I met my husband, Ryan, there.  We have gone through many difficulties in our marriage, but the one that has taught me a lot about who God is, is the area of infertility.  I have cried many tears and asked "why" more times than I can count.  I so want to be a mother, but so far God has not given me that privilege.  He is gracious to me.  He has given me His peace and is healing a deep hurt.  He is showing me a life with Him as my all.  I am learning to be content with what He has given me.

What God has given me is a heart for missions and being able to support friends who go out.  I many not be able to go, but I can be behind someone who can.  I still get the urge to go into missions more.  I many not be able to always go, but God has been showing me more and more what I can do.  This opportunity at this time in my life is definitely from God.  This trip is coming up at a time that I am able to go is so exciting for me.  I can't wait to have this opportunity to serve others, who really need Him!  I can't wait to see what God's going to do in Haiti, me and my teammates lives!

Testimony of Taryn McGuire

To read more posts by Taryn, Click here
My earliest memories of church are ones of intrigue and awe. However, as I approached my teens, the intrigue had worn off and I felt boggled down by rules and expectations, and this over-riding feeling that something was missing. Fortunately, my mom was also feeling this void and a significant decision was made - we left the Catholic church and began attending a non-denominational church. And as a result, I began to experience the love of Jesus in ways that I didn't know were possible. A huge revelation for me came when I was 14 when my youth pastor told me that Jesus knew me inside and out and still wanted to be my best friend. This was mind-boggling for a teen who felt like she had to put on a mask for people to like her. And, this totally contradicted the traditional idea that God and Jesus are out of reach because of their holiness. I was baptized at the age of 16, and from that day forward readily got involved in service within the church, clubs, and youth missions.  

I still had a lot of growing to do, and so many questions. Fortunately, God blessed me with a fantastic youth pastor, a great youth group (many of whom I also went to school with), and a mother that loved God! Through it all, though, I couldn't piece together how I fit into God's plan. One thing I did know was that I had a desire to serve the less fortunate, which all started from a World Vision commercial I saw as a seven or eight year old. In that brief moment, I realized that every child wasn't as fortunate as me, and my heart ached for them. That inspired me to buy my first - and only - lottery ticket! I was sure that if my sister and I saved our meager allowance of 25 cents for two weeks, we would definitely hold the winning numbers for the $1 million dollar lottery. Little did my sister know, I had no intention of sharing the money with her - I had the entire $1 million already divvied up! I wanted to help my parents and grandparents and buy a few toys for my younger sister, but the bulk of the money was going to help the children in Africa.  Did we win?  Of course not. But that didn't lessen this passion that had taken hold of me. 

As a teen, I was still baffled by how my passion to serve the less fortunate fit into God's plan for my life and how it could fit into a life of missions. You see, my idea of missions revolved solely on preaching the Good News, but the thought of preaching scared the heck out of me! Could my passion and missions fit together? What if my passions weren't actually from God, but of my own desires? This scared me! The words of my youth pastor have rung through my ears a thousand times since I shot these questions his way ..... "Our deepest passions, the ones that are a blessing to others, can only be of God's doing! And, God has given us all unique gifts - not everyone has been created to be a preacher - so go out and use the gifts He has given you!"     

I'd like to say it was smooth sailing from that point on, but it sure wasn't. As I and so many of my friends left for university, I struggled without those foundational relationships. I began dating a non-Christian, and as the relationship progressed I began to believe a lie the devil had planted: " I cannot be forgiven because my sins are too great." The destructiveness of the relationship I was in spilled over into my spiritual life and I began questioning God's motives in allowing these negative circumstances. This lead to me eventually believing the lie that my circumstances were my punishment for the sin in my life.  

But wait, the story gets better! When I was 25, the most amazing thing happened: I became free! My long-term relationship suddenly ended, and God's voice became louder than the lies I had believed for so many years. I heard Him say, "Ask for forgiveness and I will forgive." It was that simple, and all the shame and guilt I felt were lifted immediately from my shoulders. As my spiritual life blossomed again, God blessed me with a life-giving, Christ-centered relationship with my husband, Ryan.

Since then, I have had the great fortune of serving with my husband in countries in Central America (Nicaragua - 1 month house building; Honduras -  1 month teaching, 3 months at an orphanage) and in Kenya (6 months teaching at a Christian school + local ministries). For me, these experiences are a reminder that we aren't supposed to simply exist or live lives revolved around "self", but instead we're supposed to devote our lives fully to God's purposes! Personally, I want everything that I say and do to mirror Christ's love and His radical giving! 

The next step: Haiti. The idea of being a part of a mission trip comprised of a small group of young women brings so much joy to my spirit! I believe we are going to be such a blessing to each other and to those that we serve in Haiti. I am excited to see how God is going to use each of us and what He is going to teach each of us as we prepare together and as we serve together. And from a personal stand-point, my closest family and friends have heard me say on a number of occasions that I often feel out of place in Western society, and that my heart longs to live with the less fortunate. And so, even if it is for just a short period of time, I feel like God is bringing me "home" and I am going to embrace every moment.

I often find encouragement from Proverbs 30:8-9, which reads, "...give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God."

Testimony by Christine Mann

If you want to read/hear more thoughts by Christine, click here. 

On salvation:
I had the privilege of growing up in a Christian home, where we went to Sunday School each week, and memorized lots of verses, which have been a blessing to this day.As a child my faith really was based on what my parents told me, not what the Bible says. I did believe in Jesus saving me from my sins, that He could give me life in heaven instead of hell. But then each year (or less) there would be a group that came and told us what it means to get saved, and I was always so worried that I hadn't 'done it right' and that I better get saved again! and again! and again! When I was 13, a pastor came to our church and told us a story of a man who always thought he wasn't saved, no matter how many times be believed. This man was living in fear all the time of dying and going to hell, and as a result he wasn't able to grow as a Christian. Well, one day he decided to try something different. He went outside, drove a stake in the ground and carved the date in the stake. After that, anytime he started to have these fears, he pointed to the stake in the ground that is the physical reminder that God indeed had forgiven him and Christ had paid for his sins and he is saved, no matter what he felt. That was a big moment for me, I wrote that date in my Bible, stating that God has forgiven me of my sins and Christ has paid for them. It seems like such a small thing to do, but for me it was big. I did have to take out my Bible every now and then and read that little statement in there to assure myself sometimes. Now that I understand a bit more of the Bible, I know it is Christ who saved, the Holy Spirit who seals me, and I don't fear that nearly as often anymore!

On Baptism:
When I was 12, my family was getting ready to go to Zaire (Democratic Republic of the Congo it's called now), and I really wanted to be baptized before we left. The church we were at gave a big folder of papers to go through, with just tons of questions, in order to be baptized. I think that was the first time I realized that my faith was based on what my parents told me, not on the Bible. I kept going to them and asking for answers to the questions and it frustrated me to no end that they wouldn't tell me!! For me, it was just simply that the Bible said to be baptized and I wanted to obey. But those questions made me search the Bible for answers and I think that was a stepping stone for growth for me.


On Spiritual Growth:
In Grade 10 I had some JW friends that rode the school bus with me for 2 hours each way. One day, one of them sat down with me and tried to convert me. This was one of those moments in life that slap you across the face and wake you up! I remember being absolutely humiliated and shocked that I had no answers for the hope I have in Christ. I walked in the door to our house crying my eyes out that I was such a failure as a Christian. I distinctly remember my dad saying to me that I needed to learn the answers from Scripture myself, and he wouldn't explain anything to me. Way to go dad!!! I took on this challenge with all the ambition I could muster up as a 15 year old. It didn't take me long to stop searching for answers to refute the JW religion, and started simply learning what it means to be a Christian. I didn't understand most of what I read in my Bible, but it was a start for me. I started to read and read and read! God gave me this hunger for His Word that was stronger than I have probably ever felt since. The summer after highschool, I worked at Camp Sagitawa, a Christian kids camp. I remember having the same issues there as I did with that JW friend of mine. I had no answers! In tears, I went to a friend who was a strong Christian and asked him if he thought I should be there at this Camp, when I had no answers and couldnt help these kids, I just felt like I couldn't do it! I will never forget, he said to me, "no you cant do it, and that is exactly where God wants you, because He wants to do it through you." And it occurred to me that I wasn't relying on God, but on my own wisdom for answers. So, back to Scripture I went! This is when God taught me to pray. I would sit on the deck overlooking the lake and read and pray and pray and pray for those kids and for help. God gave me a love for Scripture and for Himself as I read through the Psalms and found myself in David's cries for help.
I still don't know why people believed in me so much, but there was enough generosity to get me through a year of Bible school. And I was so excited to learn!! Truthfully, I  learned a little, but mostly just grew up a bit there.

On Missions:
While at Bible college, God gave me a desire to do missions and brought Venture Teams International along. I joined them and did 2 trips, which is 2 years. God gave me a ministry of prayer with my first team, and it changed my heart. There was alot of bitterness and anger there, and God worked it out so that the skits I was supposed to be angry in were really hard to act out after that first year! During that year, God allowed me to get really sick. In Tanzania, I came down with Cerebral Malaria, dysentery, Parasites, amoebas, and several infections. On Christmas day, they were calling my parents telling them that they were going to try to send me home on the airplane but I may not live through it. For some odd reason, they gave me the choice to go or stay and I chose to stay. It was a near-death experience that was SO not life-changing! I just remember lying there staring at the ceiling or sleeping the whole time. There were many that came to see me, and I would visit with them and try to reassure them. There was alot of fear then. The funny thing is that some of the Tanzanian church people we were traveling with, told me that they were so amazed when they came to visit me and encourage me I always had a smile on my face! haha! THAT was God! I was too sick to even know what was happening!! It took me a month before I could sit up with out passing out, and then another month before I could walk without over-doing it. God provided a missionary family for me to stay with while I recovered, she was a nurse too!! This family took me in and treated me like one of their own kids. THey were so honest with me about what being a career missionary was. I LOVED it in Tanzania regardless of what happened there. My team grew really close as a result of the trials we faced together and I knew that I wanted to do full time missions.
After VTI, I went in search of a mission organization. Funny thing that happened, even though mission organizations are always begging for more missionaries, they all turned me away!!! They wanted me to get a degree in something, it apparently didnt matter in what. I really had no clear direction from God as to what career to go to school for, so I worked for 4 years before I heard of New Tribes Mission. I was with NTM for 7 years and I dont regret a minute of it! God used those amazing missionaries to teach me so much of His grace and His plan and purpose for my life. I learned much of the Bible, of theology, what we believe and why. The first 3 years were an amazing time of  growth in my understanding of truth, and my relationship with God. He is so good, and I see that time as a gift from Him. God directed me to Guinea, West Africa to the Moslem people. There is so much that God taught me there, about His faithfulness, His grace, His Sovereignty, and so much more! God taught me what it means to forgive, what it means to truly love. He showed me the gut-wrenching pain of losing a Moslem friend to an unknown illness. And then He taught me what it means to trust Him no matter what the circumstances. This one is an on-going process :-) I got increasingly sick while in Guinea, and had to leave the mission. I came back to Canada so disillusioned and afraid. It really didnt make sense to me why God would bring me through all of that, just to send me back to Canada! The doctors told me I would never be able to go back into overseas missions with this illness. AT that time, God brought along a Christian man that I married 2 and half years ago. Funny thing is, a year ago i had surgery that has made me increasingly healthier, and it turns out my husband is the one that cant go overseas because of HIS illness!!!  I still have a passion for missions, overseas and locally. God has used the difficulties in my life to reach out and love others going through similar stuff. God has brought so many women into my life that HE has used me to encourage and give hope to. God's ways are truly best and it's an honor to be used by Him in this life. I look forward to what He will do in and through me in this trip to Haiti!!!