Dear family & friends,
In the fall of 2008 I had to make a tough decision. I was working for Mission Discovery as a project coordinator. My job, essentially, was to run short-term mission trips in Mexico, Central America, and the United States. I would go to a place, find a need, then figure out a way to meet that need. This was a complex 18-month process that began by connecting with locals and ended with groups of volunteers from around the world traveling to help those in need. It was an amazing experience and I was humbled to be a part of something so much larger than myself.
As a full-time missionary, I was supported by an amazing group of individuals that willingly donated time and money to Mission Discovery on my behalf because they believed that as humans we are all called to do something greater than ourselves. They saw what God was doing to meet the needs of the world’s poor and wanted to play a part. They knew that God had given them gifts and resources to be used to bring Him glory, and through Mission Discovery, they were a part of a team that was was changing lives. They were using their time and resources to give God glory by providing for the “least of these.” They were showing the world that there is love, that there is hope, and that there is a God that loves them and is waiting for them with open arms.
It was an incredible experience...one that changed the lives of thousands of people, including my own. Unfortunately, when the economy crashed in 2008, I knew it was time to leave Mission Discovery. I didn’t have enough funding to be a full-time missionary and I didn’t want my lack of funding to hurt those I was trying to help. So I chose to return to Missouri and reconnect with my family, my friends and my community. It was a hard choice, but ultimately I believe that it was the correct choice.
I returned to grad school and received my teaching degree, eventually taking a job as a Spanish teacher in Stockton, Missouri. I immediately knew that this rural high school was where God wanted (and still wants) me to be. My experience in the classroom as shown me that although the setting and the rules are slightly different, teachers and missionaries are fighting many of the same battles. We are fighting against oppression and against apathy. We are fighting to show the world that there is a better way; that there is a hope for a better future; that what they see isn’t all that there is.
I love being a teacher at Stockton, but my heart has always yearned to continue my work with Mission Discovery. Mission work will always play a major role in my life, and to deny this is to deny a part of myself. Fortunately, others feel the same way. Mission Discovery has kept my fundraising account open hoping that one day I would be able to return. Finally, that time has come.
After a 4 year hiatus to complete grad school and get settled in Missouri, I am finally able to partner once again with Mission Discovery to help meet the physical and spiritual needs of the world’s poor. This year they have asked me to coordinate and lead 5 weeks of Hurricane Sandy relief projects. From June 6th to July 13th, hundreds of High School students and their families will travel to New Jersey and New York to help rebuild what was devastated by the superstorm that is estimated to have caused at least $50 billion in damages, making it the second-costliest hurricane in history behind Hurricane Katrina. My job will be to work with the local church to organize this relief effort. I am tasked with coordinating work sites & materials for the volunteers; as well as coordinating food, lodging and all the other little things that are required to serve those in need.
I am writing you not only to let you know about my reconnecting with Mission Discovery, but also to ask for your help in a number of ways. First and foremost, pray for the project, the volunteers, and those being served. There are a lot of unknowns in a disaster relief project as the situation changes daily. Pray that the needs will be met and that above all God will be glorified. Second, consider giving financially. I do not want my working with Mission Discovery to take money away from those in need. Please donate to my account either using the enclosed envelope or online at www.missiondiscovery.org (just click on “donate” at the top of the website and find my name in the “staff support” section) to help cover my expenses. Finally, I have a need for volunteers during the 5 weeks of projects. At this time, I still need interns & worship leaders. If you feel called to serve in one of these roles, please call me or email me at robcantwell@gmail.com. I would love to have your support!
Thanks for your support through the years! I wouldn’t have this opportunity without you and I pray that God will guide you as we journey through this next adventure together.
Thanks
Rob Cantwell
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