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2023 Amazon River Mission Trip

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2023 Trip Video

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A Decade of Gratitude

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My first trip to the Amazon to work with Ray of Hope Amazon was in April 2014. Here is me and Ray of Hope founder Gloria.
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July, 2023….ten years later and neither one of us has aged a bit!
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All my words fall short
I got nothing new
How could I express
All my gratitude?

I could sing these songs
As I often do
But every song must end
And You never do

So I throw up my hands
And praise You again and again
'Cause all that I have is a hallelujah
Hallelujah
And I know it's not much
But I've nothing else fit for a King
Except for a heart singing hallelujah
Hallelujah


Gratitude by Brandon Lake

This past July when I returned from my most recent mission trip, the words of Brandon Lake’s song Gratitude kept running through my head. Ten years of going to the jungle with Ray of Hope Amazon. Gratitude.

First off, how has it been 10 years? Secondly, how did this happen to me?

For those of who don’t know my background, I grew up in the church and was originally from Peoria, Illinois. I met my wife in Kansas City, and we both were regular church attenders. We did some church activities at each of our locations, but all that mission and discipleship stuff was for someone else. And besides, I’m just an energy consultant. I’m not a pastor. Then, while living in the DC area I got inspired to take my first international mission trip to Haiti and dragged my dad with me.

That one trip to Haiti led to another trip to Haiti after moving to Kansas which eventually led to my first trip to meet Ray of Hope in April of 2014 where I knew this was where God meant me to be. Ten years later the age of 55, I can’t imagine what my life would be like without this experience. Prior to going to the Amazon, I never regularly prayed with others, helped people come to Christ, played guitar, led worship, baptized anyone or preached in a church. And now I’ve done all that and more.

I’ve seen God’s work in the jungle and the miracles He has delivered over and over. John 21:25 says, “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”

That is how I feel about all I have seen in the jungle. And if you talk to others who have gone on trips or to any of the Ray of Hope volunteers; they all have amazing stories of God’s work in the Amazon.

I’ve likewise met some of the most amazing, giving, servant-focused people in the world. Year after year the people who volunteer with Ray of Hope continue to bring me and our teams incredible joy even as the faces change. Then, there are the people of the jungle with whom we get to interact who are so genuinely thankful for all that we do with and for them. Lastly, we have the jungle pastors. I have never felt more humbled than when I get to spend time with these amazing individuals who have so little, but give so much as they work for our Lord.

Certainly, this is not all easy. In fact, at times it can be really hard. I’ve been challenged physically, mentally and spiritually. So many needs. What can I do? How can I help? Where should we go? How do we prioritize?

At the end of the day, all that is noise. The key is to not be paralyzed by indecision or to know God’s detailed plan for you. The answer is to just go….in your church, locally, nationally or internationally. It took me until the age of 44 to find my role as a jungle missionary. Regardless of where you are in life, just go. God will lead you.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

—Proverbs 3:5.

Lately, I love sharing how I went from a church spectator to an active participant in the mission field. If your church or organization has a need for a speaker, I’d love to come to tell my story and the story of Ray of Hope Amazon. There are SO many others who regularly attend church just like me that could help the Kingdom with the gifts God has bestowed upon them. If this is something of interest to you, please reach out to me at Brent.Kassing@rayofhopeamazon.com or 407-252-3271.

Thanks for letting me share about my journey, and these incredible 10 years.

With much gratitude….God Bless,

Brent

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