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3rd quarter 2025

10/14/2025

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This quarter brought some much-needed rest, retreat, community, fellowship, and the celebration of my youngest sister's wedding. The highlight was the Global Outreach Retreat in Kusadasi, Turkiye, where the theme was Return, creating space for opportunities to reconnect deeply with Jesus. These retreats are something I look forward to as I love the reunions of people I have known and worked with for years now, some as long as 10 plus years! It is the community for me, where I can be together face-to-face with not just colleagues but people who have become dear friends. And having the chance to make new friends too! Our morning sessions were centered around the book of Ephesians, as we had a day trip planned to Ephesus as a part of the retreat. It is amazing to walk in areas that I have read about many times. And to be challenged and stretched through the teaching of His word. 

From the retreat, I headed to the Canadian Rockies for my youngest sister's wedding in Banff, Canada. The days were packed with activities and adventures, the scenery was absolutely breathtaking, God showed off His glory in His creation in ways that seemed unreal, but yet there we were. The highlight for me was having time with the Lord as I walked across a skybridge, with the sun setting and these massive mountains all around me. In that moment, it was a reminder that God is bigger than the grief I have carried. And new hope was born, and I turned the corner on the grief journey towards New Beginnings. It is a journey, and I know there will be times of revisiting anger and sadness, but for now, I am thankful for new insights and new mercy. 

We pushed Rise Up across the finish line, and it is now in the official piloting phase. If you want to learn more about app-based small group programs, check out the Anchored in Hope website. This is the adult app-based program. There are QR codes that will take you to the app store where you can download the "THI audio" app and find training for both Anchored in Hope and Rise Up. Since Rise Up is currently being piloted, please contact me if you're interested in exploring its immediate use. 

This next month, I will be traveling to Nairobi, Kenya, for a Global Community of Practice event called Stronger Together. This event is for connection, sharing, and empowerment. I will be co-leading a workshop experience on using Unstuck with Natnael, a facilitator using the resource in Ethiopia. I am also moderating a panel discussion on using the inmate material in trauma healing. But the most exciting thing for me is I will be reunited wth Rumbi during this event. She has the opportunity to share best practices in working wth children. We last saw each other in Uganda in January 2020 for a children's training, and we haven't been able to be together since then. We are both very excited that the Lord saw fit to bring us together during this event. Simba will join us in Kenya at the end, so he can spend time with Rumbi for their anniversary, which means I will also get to see him! It has been 9 years since Simba and I last met in person, and 20 years this month since we first met in Zimbabwe. Thank you for your support and prayers. If you know me well, you know I love details, so I would love the chance to share more personally about this last quarter. Reach out, let's talk! Enjoy some of the pictures in the meantime.

Grace and peace to you,
Misty
Prayer requests:
  • For the health of my parents. The oncologist was not pleased wth my mom's latest results, so he will see her sooner this time for a PET scan. My stepdad seems to be doing better regarding his cardiac health as a result of a med change, but has been falling recently, and we are uncertain of the cause.  
  • For safe travels this quarter in trips to Kenya for the Stronger Together event and Atlanta for the International Conference on Missions. 
  • Please pray for the continuation of the Rise Up pilot. Pray that we are sensitive to the needs of the youth we work with and that they experience connection and healing.
Did you miss my announcement last quarter about the publication of Unstuck: A Teen's Guide To Living In Uncertain Times?

If you work with youth, check out this resource: https://beyonddisaster.bible/for-youth and let me know how I can assist you.
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Partner Now
There is still time in 2025 to partner with Misty Bodkins and Ministry Care. There are 2 ways you may donate to Misty at Ministry Care. You can make checks payable to “Ministry Care” and send them to:
 
Ministry Care
14934 Pacer Ct.
Carmel, IN 46032
 
Or you can also make an online donation, using Givelify, on our website at www.ministrycareinternational.org
 
Ministry Care is a 501c3 therefore your donation will be tax-deductible.
 
If you have any questions, feel free to email us at [email protected]
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2nd quarter 2025

7/22/2025

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This quarter brought some exciting news! As you are aware, Ministry Care has been collaborating with Compassion International and the Trauma Healing Institute at the American Bible Society on an app-based youth program. This program has numerous components, including producing training videos, developing scripts, and recording content for eight sessions. Additionally, it involves selecting a name, logo, and visual illustrations, as well as creating supplementary materials such as a leader's guide and youth journal. There has been considerable behind-the-scenes curriculum development over the last 18 months or so. I am thrilled to share that the new program, Rise Up: Building Strength and Resilience Together, is now available in the App Store. 

Over the remainder of the year, we will pilot the program with partners planned in Ghana, Kenya, Colombia, the US, and others that may be added. The program will be piloted in both English and Spanish. We are finalizing the development of metrics and evaluations to assess the program's effectiveness for both leaders and youth. Twenty years ago, my job was more research-oriented, and it is exciting to see some of the measures used then incorporated into the surveys now. I am dusting off skills I have not used in a while!   

Rise Up has been my primary focus this quarter. However, I did have the chance to take a road trip down south. It gave me some sweet time with Jenny and Wayne, other missionary care people I have known for almost 15 years, and to see friends, Shannon and Amanda. Our connection dates back to 2013, when we learned that the Lord is the best connector at a missionary convention. Ask me the story when you see me. It was also a time to visit Global Outreach, where we are working on creating a crisis response workflow, intake form, and team to serve our missionaries better when they have experienced a critical incident. We have had 3 situations just in the last 6 weeks, so it is a growing need.   

This quarter also brought disappointing news. Unfortunately, my mom's cancer has returned in the left lung. Additionally, there is a concern about a specific area in the right lung that will be monitored for now. Due to the health of her lungs, she is not eligible for a biopsy of either place. For now, it has been determined to treat the left lung with four rounds of radiation. She completed four rounds on 7/28/2022, which held the cancer off for 3 years, so we are hopeful radiation will be successful this time, too. But we also know it is very hard on her body. I ask that you remember her in your prayers this next month. They also had significant tree limbs come down in a recent storm, and we are still navigating that, which has added to our stress. I have found a continued tension of joy and peace, along with pain and grief. Thank you for your support and prayers. I would love to share more, so let's talk!

Grace and peace to you,
Misty

If you are interested in learning more about how to help in a disaster situation, consider attending this webinar, Essential Crisis Care in Disaster. It will be held on July 31, 2025, from 7-9 pm EST. Here is the link where you can learn more:
https://www.crisiscareinternational.org/events
Prayer requests:
  • My mom, Debbie as she undergoes radiation this month. Please continue to pray for her healing. 
  • My stepdad, Butch. He has a history of cardiac challenges and has recently been experiencing a lot of chest pain. Pray for wisdom as he meets with his cardiologist and for insight into what may be occurring.
  • For safe travels this next quarter, as upcoming trips are planned: a retreat in Turkey in September and Canada for my youngest sister's wedding.
  • Please pray for the launch of the Rise Up pilot. Pray we are sensitive to the needs of the youth we work with and open to changes if pilot feedback reveals a need. Pray for the youth to experience connection and healing.
Did you miss my announcement last quarter about the publication of Unstuck: A Teen's Guide To Living In Uncertain Times?

If you work with youth, check out this resource: https://beyonddisaster.bible/for-youth and let me know how I can assist you.

Partner Now
Would you prayerfully consider becoming a partner of Misty Bodkins in 2025? There are 2 ways you may donate to Misty at Ministry Care. You can make checks payable to “Ministry Care” and send them to:
 
Ministry Care
14934 Pacer Ct.
Carmel, IN 46032
 
Or you can also make an online donation, using Givelify, on our website at www.ministrycareinternational.org
 
Ministry Care is a 501c3 therefore your donation will be tax-deductible.
 
If you have any questions feel free to email us at [email protected]
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1st Quarter 2025

4/14/2025

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It is a privilege to hold someone's hand as they take their final breaths, but it is also life-changing. In the last few years, I have had the honor of holding both my aunt Sherri's and my grandma's hands. Both experiences were very different. Both brought a sense of peace and comfort that I could be there in their final moments. Both brought joy only the Lord can give, as I knew where they stood with Him. Both brought immense pain and sadness, too. 

We just passed the one-year anniversary of my grandma's passing. I have reflected a lot on that time lately. Perhaps it is only now that I have had the chance to clear out the noise and busyness to hear the Lord speak tenderly to me about the impact her loss has had on my life. As we gathered at the cemetery to celebrate her memory, a few things stood out as we shared.

First, birthdays were monumental and celebrated with such gusto that there was never a question that your life was valuable and a gift. Birthdays were such a big deal, and that did not stop once we became adults. This year, birthdays were poignant and will likely continue to be for a while.

Second, we learned a lot from her about traveling, especially on a budget. A bucket of fried chicken went a long way...at least in those days! She was interested in exploring other places and learning about history and culture, and tried to instill that in us. My passion for travel, adventure, and cross-cultural learning eventually led me to accept a call to serve as a missionary. There is no question for me that some of that was her influence. 

The final thing that stood out to me was the lessons I learned through the years from watching her life: hard work, perseverance, being an overcomer, loving fiercely, and grit. My grandma had her flaws, as we all do. But it was good to remember the goodness of her life versus the void we still feel.    

I have shared previously about the grief journey. So, where does one find oneself one year after the loved one's death? Many of us are still in the neighborhood of no hope, though some may have moved to new beginnings. And if we are allowing ourselves the time to grieve, this is normal and where we should be. It is only in the last week that I have started to feel glimmers of hope return. Otherwise, it has still been a pretty dark journey: one that I need support from others to navigate, where a listening ear and supportive presence are as valuable as they were in the first week of the loss.

As I have navigated no hope, the best way to describe it is as if I am walking through a lot of fog, unsure of my footing and the next step. It's where I am learning to walk EVEN MORE by faith, putting my trust in the Lord rather than my own strength and abilities to navigate. Why am I sharing this all with you? Part of my reason is to give education, as we find the grief of others, generally, difficult to navigate. And part of my reason is to be vulnerable, even as a believer and a care provider in many spaces, does not mean I am immune to the difficulties faced when navigating loss. ​
Through the fog, ministry continues, and we have hit some milestones this quarter in some of the projects we are involved in. Training videos for Rise Up (the youth app-based program being developed in partnership with the Trauma Healing Institute and Compassion International) have been wrapped up in post-production, supplemental materials are being created, and the audio content for the eight lessons was recorded and finalized just this week! These are huge milestones for this project, with the pilot set to launch globally in August.

Unstuck was published and shared during a lunch and learn in March. This resource can be found at https://beyonddisaster.bible/for-youth. We have been working on this project for two years, so it is really exciting that it is now available and accessible to those who are working with youth. As a reminder, Unstuck is a Bible-based resource for youth (ages 13 and up) facing uncertainty. It can be used either as a small group curriculum with a youth leader or as a personal journal for youth to go through on their own. It provides practical support and biblical wisdom for youth who have gone through disruptive events like natural disasters, displacement, and violence. Unstuck is easily adaptable and can help youth cope with any crisis that causes trauma.
 
I look forward to sharing some other projects we have been working on in the next update. As always, I love to share what God is doing in the ministry, so reach out and let's talk!Thank you for your support and love, 
Misty

Prayer requests:
  • My mom, Debbie. Her latest CT results were not what we were expecting. It has left us with more questions than answers until she has her PET scan and sees her oncologist in July. Please continue to pray for her healing. 
  • For my family, my sister-in-law's family (the Lee family), and the Brown family, as we are moving into the one-year anniversaries of our loved ones' deaths.
  • For safe travels, as upcoming trips are planned for Tupelo, Mississippi, Memphis, Tennessee, and Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
  • Please pray for me as I take time for a personal retreat: pray for healing, for the Lord to meet me where I am, and for wisdom, guidance, and direction.
  • Pray for the Compassion/THI project: that this program will lead to growth, change, and healing to hurting youth worldwide and that we are sensitive to the Lord's leading as we finish curriculum development. 
Partner Now
Would you prayerfully consider becoming a partner of Misty Bodkins in 2025? There are 2 ways you may donate to Misty at Ministry Care. You can make checks payable to “Ministry Care” and send them to:
 
Ministry Care
14934 Pacer Ct.
Carmel, IN 46032
 
Or you can also make an online donation, using Givelify, on our website at www.ministrycareinternational.org
 
Ministry Care is a 501c3 therefore your donation will be tax-deductible.
 
If you have any questions feel free to email us at [email protected]
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End of 2024 thoughts

1/9/2025

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I have struggled to find the words to close out 2024. It ended in several challenging ways, including the death of a cousin, significant plumbing work, a diagnosis of plantar fasciitis, and an ending of family traditions for over 45 years. However, we made some new traditions and memories despite losing the family matriarch, my grandma, in March. The pictures are from each month and combine ministry and being with loved ones. These are some of my favorites for the year. 

Despite navigating grief, loneliness, and the challenges that have continued to come, there were still many highlights for the year. Celebrate with me some of the things that happened in 2024:
  • Unstuck: a Teen's Guide to Uncertain Times was published. It was a joy to be a part of this project, and I look forward to hearing how the Lord uses it in 2025.
  • The Cebuano translation of the Anchored in Hope program in the Philippines was launched in March.
  • Continued service with Global Outreach, particularly working with the teens during care retreats and missionary orientations.
  • The partnership with Compassion Internation on developing a new youth program called Rise Up: Building Strength and Resilience Together, recording training videos, writing content for the program, and preparing to pilot in 2025.
  • I had the opportunity to speak at 2 of my partnering churches.
  • The regional community of practice event occurred in Bogota, Colombia.
  • My mom continues to be cancer-free but continues to be monitored closely.
Thank you for your love, compassion, and support in 2024. Please continue to remember my family in your prayers as the grief is heavy still. May the Lord grant you His peace in 2025. 
With love,
Misty

John 14:27 (NLT)
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart.
And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.
So don’t be troubled or afraid."

In this passage, Jesus offers encouragement as he knows the disciples will face increasing challenges and difficulties. And through it all, He promises His peace during those trials. This peace is not the absence of trouble but exists despite trouble. Why? Because of the presence of Jesus. He is where hope has been found in the darkness of 2024. May He bring you His peace in 2025 as we continue to focus on Him and not the storms around us.
Partner Now
Would you prayerfully consider becoming a partner of Misty Bodkins in 2025? There are 2 ways you may donate to Misty at Ministry Care. You can make checks payable to “Ministry Care” and send them to:
 
Ministry Care
14934 Pacer Ct.
Carmel, IN 46032
 
Or you can also make an online donation, using Givelify, on our website at www.ministrycareinternational.org
 
Ministry Care is a 501c3 therefore your donation will be tax-deductible.
 
If you have any questions feel free to email us at [email protected]
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3rd quarter update

10/15/2024

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Grief Journey Illustration

This quarter has been difficult, as this is when the grief starts to settle in. Grieving takes time and energy and is like a journey that leads us through different neighborhoods, like anger, denial, and no hope to eventually a place of new beginnings. We all move at our own pace through the journey and can go back and forth between the neighborhoods. It can be hard to move through this journey as a family, as we are each at different places and must remember to have compassion and grace for one another.

For me, I moved into the darkest place of the journey, the place where it is hard to find hope. This is a lonely place. It has taken a toll on my mental energy, and work takes that much more effort and concentration. For example, this newsletter is late as I struggle to find the words. I have also continued to experience some anger as well, but mainly, I feel very sad. We have done a lot of work at my grandma's house, and her headstone was put in. These things make her loss feel final.

Holidays are coming. Could you check in with those you know who have lost a loved one? I now dread the next few months, knowing they will look very different. Yes, it is time to start some new traditions while mourning the traditions that have now been lost. One of the most helpful things you can do when someone is grieving is simply to listen as the person shares their story. 

I serve on various teams and am thankful for my Global Outreach teammates. We had our GO retreat in June in the Dominican Republic. Because a few families had to cancel, I could step out of the responsibilities of serving on the TCK (third culture kids) team and enjoy the retreat as a participant. I have partnered with GO since 2016, and this was my first retreat as a participant. They saw my weariness and opened up safe spaces for me to cry and process loss and showered love on me. That week, ministry looked like a group of us meeting daily at the pool to share life: the good and not-so-good. We also had genuine, deep-in-the-gut laughter with some team-building exercises for a training day after the retreat. I had not laughed like that in a while. It was what I needed to be recharged for returning home. This was a personal reminder of why we offer these retreats to our missionaries.   

This quarter saw an opportunity for me to get hands-on experience using Unstuck: a Teen's Guide to Uncertain Times. I partnered with the Ron Burton Training Village (RBTV) and Boston Collaborative to hold sessions during RBTV camps. The first was in July, with over 100 teen boys participating, and we did a 2nd one in August with 94 girls. We are now in the final editing stages of this resource, and it will soon be available. I am excited to see what the Lord will do with this resource. RBTV will pilot this in the spring with their students. They sent an interest survey, and 70 teens out of 207 wanted to participate! This is huge and exciting, but it also shows the need as youth are hurting. 

I also had the chance to facilitate small groups using the new app-based version of the Trauma Healing material with Awana Latino. It is encouraging to see them now also holding their own groups. This quarter saw continued partnerships with Compassion International as we worked together on developing a new youth program that will be rolled out in 2025. Training videos will be produced, and scripts will be finalized this next quarter. I also took a real vacation to Newfoundland (stunning landscape) and explored Boston, too! If you would like more details, please feel free to reach out to me. I would love to give an update on what God is doing. Thank you for your support and love, 
Misty
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TCK team
Prayer requests:
  • My mom, Debbie. She continues to remain cancer-free, which we praise God for, but has a left wrist that could use some miraculous healing after a fall.
  • For my family, my sister-in-law's family (the Lee family), and the Brown family, as we all navigate grieving, especially as we move into the No Hope phase.
  • Safe travels as upcoming trips are planned for Springfield, MO, Charlotte, Lexington, and Colombia, South America, as well as other possibilities. 
  • For wisdom, as we begin to offer crisis debriefs in those areas hit by disaster.
  • For wisdom in making upcoming medical decisions.
  • Pray for the Compassion/THI project: that this program will lead to growth, change, and healing to hurting youth worldwide and that we are sensitive to the Lord's leading as we finish curriculum development. 

Want to help right now due to the disasters in the US?
Here are 2 organizations I can personally vouch for; check them out:
IDES: https://ides.org/
Crisis Care International: https://www.crisiscareinternational.org/
Partner now
Would you prayerfully consider becoming a partner of Misty Bodkins in 2024? There are 2 ways you may donate to Misty at Ministry Care. You can make checks payable to “Ministry Care” and send them to:
 
Ministry Care
14934 Pacer Ct.
Carmel, IN 46032
 
Or you can also make an online donation, using Givelify, on our website at www.ministrycareinternational.org
 
Ministry Care is a 501c3 therefore your donation will be tax-deductible.
 
If you have any questions feel free to email us at [email protected]
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2nd quarter update

6/4/2024

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This quarter has been filled with joy and loss. The joy was watching the Lord move in the Philippines during orientation to the new Cebuano app-based trauma healing program. See below for more details on that. Unfortunately, the day I returned from the Philippines, my grandmother was hospitalized. She died less than two days later. This was very unexpected as her health had considerably improved recently. I was with her when she went to be with the Lord on the morning of March 30th, reading Psalm 23. I cannot begin to tell you how hard this loss is in so many different ways, as she has been the matriarch of our family. She is the one who instilled a love of travel in me when she bravely and single-handedly took five grandchildren on various vacations when we were younger. Thankfully, we have time to work through her house, but for my mom, this adds more layers of loss as she always thought she would be doing this someday with her sisters. And both of them have died in the last five years. We know the Lord is walking with us, but nonetheless, the numbness and pain are real and compounded by the previous losses.

Unfortunately, two weeks later, my sister-in-law's mom, Ann, unexpectedly died of a heart attack. My brother, Shaun, and sister-in-law, Casandra, have been married for four years; however, our families have been connected in various ways for the past 20 years. We had just seen Ann at my grandma's funeral. And 3 weeks after that, I experienced news of another loss, Will Brown. I have known Will and his wife, Phyllis, for 24 years since we worked together at a residential treatment facility for teen girls. Phyllis was my boss and the Director of Treatment, and Will was one of the teachers. They were one of my very first partners in ministry in 2007 and have been a part of my team since, even advocating for their church to partner with me. Ministry is hard, and knowing you have faithful cheerleaders on your side is valuable. Will was one of my biggest ones through these years. In 7 weeks, I experienced 3 losses amidst other challenging circumstances that I am choosing not to share at this time. May is filled with anniversaries as well, such as 20 years since my sister died and 11 years since the break-in. It has been a really tough quarter. I am guessing you are wondering how I am doing, which leads me to share a few thoughts on what has been helpful and not helpful for me personally during this time (others may say something totally different). 

Here are a few things that have not been helpful:
  1. Do not ask, "How are you?" because honestly, I do not know how to answer, and my answer varies throughout the day. This leads me to automatically say that I am fine, but the reality is that I am not right now. My heart is broken. A better question could be, "How are you feeling right now?" Or "What is the hardest part of today?"
  2. Please do not send flowers. I am terrible at keeping them alive, so while they are beautiful, and I appreciate the thought and love behind them, it also feels dreadful when they die and I have to throw them out. Perhaps a windchime or candle could be an option. I do save the card, though.
  3. Expecting me to reach out. I want to, but I do not have the capacity.
  4. I tend to be more logical and less emotional (even the tone of this newsletter) but do not assume I do not feel deeply, especially when alone
  5. Not mentioning the person or the losses I have experienced
 Here are a few things that have helped me:
  1. Text messages checking on me, sharing thoughts of hope or encouragement, but also letting me know there is no need to reply
  2. A hug and "I love you" without the need to say anything else
  3. Staying busy but on tasks that don't require a lot of concentration
  4. Cards in the mail
  5. Friends driving a distance multiple times to help as we start working through the house
  6. Creating a space for me to share what happened
  7. Giving permission to take some time away from meetings and other responsibilities that are not as urgent
My faith in the Lord is also an anchor during this time. I wish I did a better job holding both hope and pain. I know they coexist, but I tend to swing from one to the other. Even still, I know He is with me in my pain. His love for me is unwavering and unchanging, even in the deepest pain. I trust that He will heal, help, and guide us as we start to move into the part of the journey that is called no hope, the darkest part of the journey, the part where we really need our community and friends. And I am grateful I can cry out to Him in these dark moments. 

While navigating loss, there are still some highlights for this quarter:
  • Launched the Cebuano recording of the new app-based trauma healing program in the Philippines 
    • We had over 120 participants, the largest group I have facilitated 
    • We had many technological challenges, yet we also watched the Lord show up in many different ways and provide
    • This app can reach areas in Mindanao that are not as accessible to the traditional trauma healing training model
    • Groups have already started, including with the military in the area
  • Continued piloting of new material to help youth who have experienced community violence (if you want to know more, reach out to me)
  • Debriefing training in Dallas and a team meeting in Philadelphia
  • Developing scripts for a new youth program in partnership with Compassion International and the Trauma Healing Institute (this project will continue throughout this year in different phases)
We appreciate your prayers through these difficult times. Thank you again for your support and love, 
Misty
Prayer requests:
  • My mom, Debbie. She returns for her next PET Scan and oncology appointment this month and we continue to trust the Lord for her healing
  • For my family, my sister-in-law and her family (the Lee family), and the Brown family, as we all navigate grieving
  • Safe travels, good health, and incredible ministry opportunities for upcoming travels (Dallas and the Dominican Republic)
  • For the teens I will be working with to feel heard, seen, and known in the DR
  • Wisdom for ways we can effectively help our hurting youth as we look at existing trauma healing material and revisions to be made while at the same time developing new material
  • For wisdom in making upcoming medical decisions
Donate Now
Would you prayerfully consider becoming a partner of Misty Bodkins in 2024? There are 2 ways you may donate to Misty at Ministry Care. You can make checks payable to “Ministry Care” and send them to:
 
Ministry Care
14934 Pacer Ct.
Carmel, IN 46032
 
Or you can also make an online donation, using Givelify, on our website at www.ministrycareinternational.org
 
Ministry Care is a 501c3 therefore your donation will be tax-deductible.
 
If you have any questions feel free to email us at [email protected]
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1st quarter update 2024

3/17/2024

0 Comments

 
Grace and peace to you. It is hard to believe we are already in the middle of March! It has been a quarter full of obstacles and challenges but blessings and opportunities too. One of my highlights was the opportunity to work with five teens who are heading overseas with their parents during a Missionary Orientation Training at Global Outreach. Those five were split between 2 families, one heading to Uganda and the other to Ethiopia; I know a little bit about both countries ;-) It was an incredible week, and I am grateful for the intentionality of Global to train not just the adults but to work with the entire family to prepare them to transition cross-culturally. The theme is rooted. My friend and Director of Missionary Kids, Emily, has done a great job putting together the lessons as we explore things we learn from the root systems of trees and flowers and the spiritual applications to our lives and transitions to a new place. For example, we look at the Cacao, and by examining how chocolate is made by looking at the different stages of the cacao, we can talk about the process of transition and sanctification. This is my third year working with the youth, and I love being a part of their care team. 

Focusing on youth has been a part of my ministry through the years, from when I was first a case manager at a residential teen facility to the counseling ministry in Zimbabwe and, more recently, helping develop curriculum for youth and working with MKs. We will finish our pilot of Unstuck, a Teen's Guide to Uncertain Times (focusing on community violence) in the next few months, but the feedback from both leaders and youth has been very positive. If you would like to know more, please feel free to contact me. I do believe this will be a valuable resource moving forward. We are outlining a new program for youth in partnership with the American Bible Society and Compassion International. Please pray that all of the details of the content and training come together in the next few months. 

This month I will return to the Philippines. Trauma Healing has been developing an app-based version of the Healing the Wounds of Trauma program. Last June, we recorded the Cebuano version. It is now in the app and ready to be launched. There will be a 2-day orientation March 25-26 where over 120 leaders will gather to be oriented and trained and then sent forth throughout Mindanao to offer healing groups in Cebuano. Please pray for the safe travels of participants that week, a flexible mindset with the schedule as there is a lot to cover but also a lot more people than anticipated, a strong wifi connection as we will need it across the two days, good rest, and adjustment to the 12-hour time zone difference.  

My mom just had a recent positive report from the oncologist and will continue to be followed up every three months. My grandma has also made significant improvements in her health. That is a blessing for me as this next quarter will see an increase in traveling, so I ask that you continue to remember them in your prayers. Thank you for your continued encouragement and partnership.In His love,
Misty
Interested in knowing more about how to respond to a crisis? Join us for a comprehensive online event that equips responders with the essential crisis care basics they need to know. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, this event is designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively respond to people in crisis. From understanding the basics of trauma to the fundamentals of trauma assessment and psychological first aid, we will cover it. Join us for this interactive workshop. See the link below to register. Please feel free to share with others.
Join us for an Essentials in Crisis Care Workshop on April 2nd from 9 to 11 am EST:

https://crisiscareinternational.networkforgood.com/events/69243-essential-crisis-care-basics

Crisis Care International is led by my friend, Stacey Sutherland. It is an honor to get to co-facilitate this workshop with her. Please consider joining us!
Partner Now
Would you prayerfully consider becoming a partner of Misty Bodkins in 2024? There are 2 ways you may donate to Misty at Ministry Care. You can make checks payable to “Ministry Care” and send them to:
 
Ministry Care
14934 Pacer Ct.
Carmel, IN 46032
 
Or you can also make an online donation, using Givelify, on our website at www.ministrycareinternational.org
 
Ministry Care is a 501c3 therefore your donation will be tax-deductible.
 
If you have any questions feel free to email us at [email protected]
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Holiday reflections 2023

3/17/2024

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Facebook memories can be a wonderful thing. Incredible reminders of God's goodness and faithfulness. And reminders of hard times, too. Quite a few have come up this week, reminding me where we were in 2019. We had just lost my aunt a few months prior, and my mom was hospitalized. There were moments we weren't sure if we were going to lose her also. She was released on December 22nd, a wonderful Christmas gift while we also navigated grief. 

Our family has seen God's hand on their health in many ways, and this past quarter was no exception. My grandma spent time hospitalized due to an abdominal aneurysm. In between trips to Egypt and the Philippines, I also spent significant time hanging out in a nursing home with her while she was going through rehab. She is home now, and we are grateful she is with us. We are no strangers to loss, though, and the absence of those who have passed away is always felt during this time of year. 

This quarter saw an increase in caregiving responsibilities and a realization that there are few of us left to provide that care. I am grateful Jesus says we can come to Him when we are weary, and He will give us rest. I have needed that rest for sure. As a board, we continue to seek the Lord's direction and purpose for Ministry Care in 2024 and look forward to seeing how He leads us. 

Here are a few highlights of 2023:
  • Continued opportunities for debriefing and crisis debriefing 
  • Development of a new curriculum, Unstuck: a Teen's Guide to Uncertain Times, which has had incredible success with the youth served
  • Launch of a new app-based small group program by the Trauma Healing Institute and being a part of that launch
  • Continued service with Global Outreach, particularly working with the teens during care retreats
  • The opportunity to speak at 4 of my partnering churches
  • Going to Egypt for the first time
  • Returning to the Philippines several times; the recording of the Cebuano app-based small group program
  • My mom continues to be cancer-free, although she does have a new area they are monitoring
Thank you for all of your support in 2023! With you, we can do what we do. Please continue to remember my family in your prayers. There are still some hurdles along the way regarding health. Blessings to you and your family for 2024!

With love,
Misty
Picture
Davao City, Mindanao, Philippines
Numbers 4:24-26 (NIV)
“The Lord bless you
    and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”’

May this be the blessing for 2024, particularly for His peace
Donate Now
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3rd quarter news

9/8/2023

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Picture
This quarter included time in Egypt! This was my first trip there, and it was amazing. Though we did not have much time to be tourists, we did manage to see the pyramids. And it was spectacular! 

Before reviewing this quarter, I thought I would share the core values that Ministry Care has. The core values define and shape our approach to ministry and the way we relate to each other.  The seven core values are as follows:
 
  1. Integrity Guided
  2. Compassion Motivated 
  3. Accountability
  4. Reliance on God
  5. Mission Partnership
  6. Relationship Oriented
  7. Grace and Mercy

Mission partnership and relationship-oriented are two big values for us. This is often why we are partnering with many other organizations and individuals, which can make things confusing at times when I talk about working with others, like ICM in the Philippines last year. This year alone, we have partnered with Team Expansion, Paraclete, ABWE, Global Outreach, American Bible Society, and others. And we look forward to new partnerships as the Lord sees fit. 

Here are some of the highlights for this quarter:
  • Assisted with the Cebuano recording of the new audio trauma healing program in the Philippines 
  • Continued piloting of new material to help youth who have experienced community violence (if you want to know more, reach out to me)
  • Assisting at an orientation in Philadelphia and in Cairo, Egypt, for a new app-based small group audio program that is now being piloted
  • Led several app-based audio groups as a part of the pilot
  • Continued work with Global Outreach on policy development and preparation for working with youth at the retreat in September
  • Meeting with IDES to discuss emotional and spiritual care in disasters and possibilities of training volunteers in this area
Thank you again for your support and love, 
Misty
Prayer requests:
  • My mom, Debbie. Her latest CT scan shows a new area in her lung to be monitored. Please pray it does not continue to grow and that she will not need a biopsy in December; her oncologist says there could be a variety of reasons for this area and that it does not mean it is cancer. We continue to praise the Lord for the healing He has given her and trust Him with the outcome of this
  • Safe travels, good health, and quick adjustments for upcoming travels (Egypt in September and the Philippines in October)
  • For a potential trip and training that will occur in November in India
  • For the teens I will be working with to feel heard, seen, and known
  • Wisdom for the board as we vision cast for 2024 
  • Wisdom for ways we can effectively help our hurting youth as we look at existing trauma healing material and think through developing new material
Donate Now
Would you prayerfully consider becoming a partner of Misty Bodkins in 2023? There are 2 ways you may donate to Misty at Ministry Care. You can make checks payable to “Ministry Care” and send them to:
 
Ministry Care
14934 Pacer Ct.
Carmel, IN 46032
 
Or you can also make an online donation, using Givelify, on our website at www.ministrycareinternational.org
 
Ministry Care is a 501c3 therefore your donation will be tax-deductible.
 
If you have any questions feel free to email us at [email protected]
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2nd quarter update

5/31/2023

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Picture
A new door!!!!!

Why a door?

This may be the question you are asking.

Well, it is a strange way to start out an update; that is true. This is the main entrance to my house. I celebrate three years here in May. And did not feel safe until one month ago when I got a new door.

Oh, it is just a door, is what you may be thinking. But, for me, it is so much more than that. Maybe you have heard about the break-in we experienced in Zimbabwe. Maybe this is new information for you. But ten years ago, on May 23rd, I experienced a life-changing event. It is a day that will now always be defined in my mind. A day that now carries a "before and after" connotation. Ten years. Wow. The Lord has brought so many good things through that experience: many things to be celebrated, such as those who journeyed with me on my healing. They are the ones who have enabled me to journey with others and why my heart can continue to be bent toward those in crisis. But one thing lost was a sense of safety. So, this quarter, I celebrate being able to install a new door. For many, something seemingly insignificant. But for me, everything.

Here are some of the other things I have been up to this quarter:
  • Continued experience using the Le Rucher debriefing model in Kansas City 
  • Speaking at several of my partnering churches 
  • Facilitating a healing group for a missionary care team with ABWE in Ridgecrest, North Carolina (see the picture below of the rock I stumbled upon while there) 
  • Participating in a Community of Practice hosted by SIM in Charlotte
  • Beginning a pilot of new material to help youth who have experienced community violence (if you want to know more, see below)
  • Assisting at an orientation in Philadelphia for a new app-based small group audio program being piloted starting July 1st
  • Starting and leading a member care roundtable of providers from various organizations
  • Working with Global Outreach on continued policy development, particularly in crisis scenarios
  • A quick getaway to New York City
Thank you again for your support and love. Please continue to remember my family in prayer. My mom, Debbie, is still lung cancer-free, and we are singing our praises!! We ask for prayer for her worsening shortness of breath, and we are still asking the Lord to renew her lungs. My stepdad, Butch, has been attending church with me when I am in town, and we are singing praises for that. I am traveling internationally to the Philippines and Egypt this next month, so please pray for safe travels, good health, and for the Lord to go before me and prepare the way.

With peace and love,
Misty

Interested in Unstuck: A Teen's Guide to Living in Uncertain Times?
Go here first for a review of the material:


https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yVswoURR1_-k0IzhC_6MLOgmh6kvEsEL/view?usp=share_link

If you want to pilot the material, click here for more information:

https://forms.monday.com/forms/3732a2d94543e7e4366ff2de4699a73f?r=use1
Donate Now
Would you prayerfully consider becoming a partner of Misty Bodkins in 2023? There are 2 ways you may donate to Misty at Ministry Care. You can make checks payable to “Ministry Care” and send them to:
 
Ministry Care
14934 Pacer Ct.
Carmel, IN 46032
 
Or you can also make an online donation, using Givelify, on our website at www.ministrycareinternational.org
 
Ministry Care is a 501c3 therefore your donation will be tax-deductible.
 
If you have any questions feel free to email us at [email protected]
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    Misty Bodkins has a Master's degree in clinical psychology. She has worked both stateside and internationally doing counseling, training, teaching, and research. Her passion is working with people who are in crisis. 

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