See You On The Field

March 11, 2016 Mihaela Echols7 Comments

One night after praying for Samiton Peter was telling me how he wanted to support him more. Peter and Samiton met in Malawi back in 2015. They became very close and after getting to know Samiton and hearing his heart for wanting to learn Peter told him he would like to support him in going to college.

THAT’S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.

That night we made a web chart of who is in our community and different ways we could raise support.

We knew asking our church as a first resort was not the best idea because of how much they already pour into other ministries. We are also hoping to expand our ministry partners. So plotting to figure out something else this idea of combining ultimate frisbee and supporting Samiton with a large community of different friend groups came to our minds. The idea seemed like a worthwhile shot so we brainstormed some ideas to get the ball rolling.

“I made some calls and formed a core team to help me plan this out. It is awesome to see friends come together who share a common heart for serving and ministry. As the time gets closer I get more excited because I know God has been showing me that all it takes is a few people who love him, want to serve and he does the rest. At the end of the day my hearts desire to support Samiton comes from my walk with Christ. After going and seeing the radically different world they live in I thought to myself ‘I took so much for granted’. This friend of mine Samiton humbled me in many ways and I could not come back from that experience radically changed wanting to continue to help.”

-Peter

See you on the field!

Peters Malawi story: A Different World

Find event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1678619989044476/

Prayer At Work

October 26, 2015January 18, 2016 Mihaela Echols17 Comments

https://hylaandpeterechols.com/2015/09/09/a-different-world/

https://hylaandpeterechols.com/2015/07/03/i-am-overwhelmed/

https://hylaandpeterechols.com/2014/09/05/her-identity/

Welding…it was what I was hired on to do but not what I did for the first year and a half of my job. I did have a couple of welding opportunities throughout the time which I was grateful for. Fire watching was my job which meant watching the welder for how ever long and making sure everything is safe. I understood that this was an important job but it got monotonous after months. Most of the time I would come to work feeling frustrated because I felt like I did not earn the money which was being given to me. I also felt like I was not being effective for God either but He started to change my thinking through a mentor of mine.

It all started with an idea he threw out to me…prayer. Before this idea came along I had been praying throughout the day but this expanded my prayer life immensely. People would receive my text asking what they needed prayer for. God used this time in the beginning of my job to be effective for Him, our relationship, and the people I interacted with.

“I always knew he was praying for me when we were friends.” – Mihaela

As time went on this process changed my thinking and allowed me to have contentment because my identity did not rest in working hard every day. Though like most guys we want to work hard and I yearned for it, but Christ is my centerpiece. Being up to date on just how exactly I could pray for people was the highlight of my day. I hope you guys are encouraged with how God can turn something seemingly boring into an awesome time in prayer.

https://www.bloglovin.com/people/hylaechols-17002353

Bless You

September 20, 2015September 22, 2015 Mihaela Echols1 Comment

Peter and I look through our receipts. I calculate from each account. Do we have to live this way? No. But we choose to. Most people ‘ choose this lifestyle. Maybe some day we will be full in full-time ministry on ministry support but for now we work the nine to five jobs. We are tent makers. When we say tent makers we are referring to Paul in the Bible who made tents to support his ministry spreading the gospel around the world.

When we get over time all we can think of is all the people we can bless around us.

For Peter, his missions trip to Malawi A Different World opened his eyes even more on how much we have and how greedy so many people are. He was reminded of how little people can have and still be content. He then realized how much he can bless people around him by having the job he has. His passion for giving grew abundantly.

Readers we write this to encourage you to continue to bless those in greater need. I (Mihaela) will be honest it was very hard for me to give joyfully or even give at all especially in the paycheck to paycheck days. But over time God was working in my heart. When I started Project Hope Just an Idea passion for the misunderstood burned in my heart. I stopped worrying about my bank account and let God do what he does best, provide.

II Corinthians 9:7

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

My Retreat

June 24, 2015March 21, 2016 Mihaela Echols21 Comments

2 Corinthians 4:16-18
“Therefore we do not lose heart.
Though outwardly we are wasting away,
yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us
an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen,
but on what is unseen.
For what is seen is temporary,
but what is unseen is eternal.”

“Malawi…Peter is in Malawi” I answer when everyone asks where he is.

He is gone for a month.

The first night away from him I was in a daze. I looked around. No one was there. Amen. No honestly Amen. It doesn’t sound like I miss him, but I do. There are countless times in a day I want to hear his voice or even watch my phone buzz knowing it’s him on the other line.

But he is not my everything. God is.

This is where God has us right now in our engagement and we are both happy because this month away is only going to make us stronger as a couple. Readers do not miss this part. I am not talking about our distance and lack of communication. I am talking about what we are doing in our month away. He is in Malawi serving missionaries, welding, and serving the people living there. I am on a retreat! This is our separate season and we are taking advantage of it by serving Christ. I am overwhelmed by how far God is bringing us as a couple and as individuals. I don’t know the girl I was a year ago. She is a stranger.

This retreat has been awakening to what God is doing in my heart. I have been able to catch up with old friends and get started on more ministry projects, and dive into the word. He is preparing me to become a partner, a companion, a mother, and missionary with Peter. Some areas need more work than others but pardon my progress. When Peter comes back he will be different as well. Both of us stronger in Christ than we were when we said good by for a month.

https://hylachamberlain.wordpress.com/2014/12/12/the-gentlemen/

https://hylachamberlain.wordpress.com/2015/05/10/going-to-the-chapel/