November 2010 Newsletter

November 2010

            Buenos Dias!  There are exciting times in store for the Bondi Family!  In January, we will be moving to Mijas, Spain for 6 months to attend the G42 Leadership Academy.  Our desire is to be better equipped for our roles in God’s Kingdom; to be like Christ in character, servanthood, self-sacrifice and commitment.  We have experienced this in a part-time capacity at Brookwoods Conference Center and are now considering how we can use our skills and gifts in full-time roles.

Michael’s story:  In October of 2000 I heard a call from God to go “Feed His sheep”.  I cooked at two Christian camps and then at Brookwoods Conference Center.  Over the past few years I have wrestled with living the “American Dream” and have never been satisfied.  Through scripture and prayer, I believe I am being called to fully commit to a grander dream; one for the Kingdom of God.  If nothing stood in my way, I would serve with the ministry Mercy Chefs.  After Hurricane Katrina, Mercy Chefs was formed to “just GO feed people” as their call.  They began by feeding emergency personnel during disaster relief.  They are currently working in Haiti to set up bakeries at orphanages to feed the children and surrounding community.  The Lords message from Matthew 11:28, “Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest” weighs heavily on me as I seek not only to feed people physically, but spiritually as well.

Denise’s story: I absolutely loved teaching music.  My students were “my kids” and I never thought my work was just a job.  But I could only see each student once a week for 45 minutes.  I knew of their drug-infested homes and their nights spent sleeping in cars.  How badly I wanted to pick them up and bring them to a better place; to bring them only the love Jesus can give.  The first step was to go home and be a mom to my own children to share this love. Though this change to full-time mom has had its challenges, God has granted me daily grace as I stop doing it my way and look to His way.  I am learning that if He can help me with my 3 children, then maybe, just maybe He can help me love one more.

It is of a divine hand that we are together.  The passions of our childhood have fused into one dream that together we now share.  The hungry, the poor, the broken and forgotten have our attention.  We are here not just to have children and worship God together.  Rather, to raise up a family who serve the Lord together with all of our heart, soul and mind.  We have no doubt that the work God began in us as one can be multiplied as an entire family to save lives and souls. 

  We cannot begin to do more until we become less.  The journey to this letter has been a constant dying of our own selves.  The Lord has already begun to make a way by providing a buyer for our house.  After Denise resigned from teaching last spring Michael was blessed with a cooking job to provide as we waited for the details to fall into place with our house.  We have been able to serve as Sunday school teachers this fall, and also take part in a course through our church based on the material from Perspectives on the World Christian Movement to further prepare our hearts and minds for service.

We are talking with mission organizations and Christian camps, hearing of the great need for trained, experienced chefs and teachers, all over the world.  Though in reality 6 months goes by fast, we do believe that this timeout from the daily race will allow us to be better prepared for ministry with the intent to serve fully and to keep us from becoming burned out from just going to the next thing.

            We continue to need your prayers and support as we continue on this journey.  Please pray specifically that our time in Spain would indeed equip us and in the right time the next door would open wide for us.  The G42 Leadership Academy is a faith-based non-profit mission organization.  Their website is http://www.g42leadershipacademy.org/.  As we will be receiving no income to be a part of the G42, please pray that our physical needs will always be met.  If our story has pushed on your heart and you desire to support us financially, donations may be made on the website through the donations tab; designate Bondi as intern.  If you would rather give by check, make checks payable to ‘G42’ and mail to: 

        G42, Inc.

  

P.O. Box 130611

 

   Houston, TX 77219 – 0611

We invite you to share your thoughts and questions with us at bondi5chef@gmail.com or follow us on our NEW blog, www.thebondi5.blogspot.com.

With Him,     Michael & Denise

The Bondi Family; Michael, Denise,