 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:
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]
0 Comments
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:
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. 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]  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  TCK team Prayer requests:
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/ 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]  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:
While navigating loss, there are still some highlights for this quarter:
Misty Prayer requests:
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] 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! 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] 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:
With love, Misty  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  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:
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:
Misty Prayer requests:
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]  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:
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 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]  It has been a minute, friends, since I gave you an update. Between ministry and helping out family, my schedule seems busier than ever! This quarter started with a bang. I loved bringing in 2023 in Rome, Italy, speaking at a missionary care retreat. Then off to Memphis to facilitate Advanced Equipping for Trauma Healing. This was three days after I arrived back from Italy. I said yes to the training as my co-facilitators are also life-giving friends. And I lack a local community (except for family, the nearest is one hour away), which has been hard. So I will take it where I can, even if it means some hectic traveling. I love that my community continued as I headed to Philadelphia after that for meetings with my American Bible Society friends and colleagues. We are moving into some exciting expansions for the Healing the Wounds of Trauma curriculum, including a resource for helping teens who have experienced community violence and a new audio model. I'm looking forward to sharing more with you in my next update. I traveled to Villa Ridge, MO, in February, for an Initial Equipping. This was an amazing group of women, and it was an honor to spend time with them. I am grateful for new prayer partners as a result as well. Outside of trauma healing, I have worked with Sharon in a weekly debrief with a missionary overseas. I have helped develop an online tool kit for a resource called Strength from Weakness. I have also been working with Global Outreach on developing protocols for the missionary care team. As a friend says, clarity is kindness, and having protocols helps you know what to do. We have looked at topics such as what is considered confidential, what different levels of crisis look like, and how we can respond at each level. The highlight of this quarter was a vacation in the Outer Banks!! It was my first time there. And even though I did not check all calendars and still had work to do, it was just the setting to be in. What would you choose? Beach or mountains? For me, it would be the beach. This time last year, I had told a colleague it would be nice to work from the beach. And the NEXT WEEK, the Lord opened up the Philippines partnership, and I got to spend A LOT of time in a beach setting while working. I love that the Lord granted me the desire of my heart, especially after a tough year. And I love I am continuing that in 2023. In 2022, I learned that we can make our plans, but the Lord truly directs our steps. 2022 was completely different than I imagined, with some things like the Philippines not even on the radar as we planned for the year in 2021. And, of course, we did not expect the loss of my aunt or a lung cancer diagnosis for my mom. Keeping that in mind, here is a tentative idea of what is planned for the next quarter:
With peace and love, Misty Highlights of 2022 (just a little delayed):
 Due to phone issues, I have also lost many contacts. I would love to come and visit you or your church and give an update. Please reach out to me at 765-603-3643 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] Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Thank you for your continued partnership in a very tough year. I am eager to see what 2023 has in store, as 2022 had many surprises and twists. Also, due to phone issues, I have also lost many contacts this year. I would love to come and visit you or your church and give an update. Please reach out to me, and let's talk! Be on the lookout for my end-of-the-year update, coming soon!! I have learned this year that we can make our plans, but the Lord truly directs our steps. I reflected on what I thought 2022 would look like, and it was completely different than I imagined, with some things like the Philippines not even on the radar as we planned for the year. Here is an idea of what Ministry Care is planning for 2023:
With peace and love, Misty 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 2023, particularly for His peace  If you would like to make a donation for 2022, it is not too late! Click on the link below to give online, using Givelify. Thank you! 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] |
AuthorMisty 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. Archives
April 2025
Categories
Misty Bodkins
|
RSS Feed