Just finished the last class. They did well overall. Not the easiest bunch to teach, but I think they enjoyed it and learned something new. The whole concept of no McDonald’s, wifi, video games, or other modern conveniences we have in America was a huge shock to them. One kid literally said “I got to have my two-ply (soft) toilet paper”, when we told them the people in jungles don’t usually have toilet paper unless they happen to go to town and buy it-(they would just use leaves). The toilet paper overseas is much more thin than we have here in America. It’s the little things 🙂 The kids had no clue what missionaries are or what they do. All of the teachers were super appreciative of what we said and what we do for a living. Thank you guys for praying for us! We hope that this helped to impact these kids (and teachers) and challenged their worldview. 

-Seth and Nicole Stokes

Hi guys, we just want to put a brief update and a prayer request out there. Please pray for us tomorrow (Friday), we have an opportunity to share in an inner-city public school about our ministry. This is an amazing opportunity and we do not want to take it for granted; we have to be sensitive about certain points (in regards to our faith), which is to be expected, but other than that, we get to talk about the logistics of living in another country in another culture and missions as a whole.

Many of you know where this world is at, one day our very faith will be put to the challenge and the freedom to say we are Christians will be taken away from us, but while today is still called today, let us rejoice and share about our Savior and what HE is doing overseas. This might be the only opportunity for kids to ever have and see that there is a life outside of the American “dream”, and that there is a world in-need, without any hope for their future. Yes, we have to be sensitive and be wise in how we share, but just coming in and sharing about our lives and that we are willing to give-up modern day conveniences and following the Hollywood drama and famous athletes will be so foreign to them, we might as well be speaking another language. This world and Satan have blinded so many people that while we share, we are guaranteed to see shocked faces that just don’t understand what we are talking about nor have any frame-of-reference to comprehend the message we will be sharing… both students or faculty. With all that being said, pray for us as we present. Pray that we are clear with our ministry and what missions is, pray that we are sensitive to what we “can” and cannot say, and pray God stirs in the hearts of both students and faculty that our God is BIG and HE is worthy of praise and our service, we have an option for this life outside of what our culture dictates to us.

We have been plugging away at the countless emails and logistics that it takes to get back overseas, especially when you don’t have the safety of a giant umbrella organization watching over you. In some aspects, it has made us depend more on God and depend more on each other, so we are grateful for that as well. We will post in the next day or two about some registries we put together and a donation-list, which many of you have been asking about, so stay tuned for that. As always, we love and appreciate you all!

Your feet to the unreached, Seth and Nicole Stokes.

It is crazy to think that we head back to Vanuatu next month; time flies and we just finished our last “tour”. We still speak every week except one in one-way or another (as of now). It has been great catching up with old friends and making new ones. God has been gracious to raise our monthly support over the past two years; He has been so faithful to us in this area we can honestly say, “We don’t worry about finances”. He has led us this far, why start being anxious now? During this last term (2 years) that we served, we were always around 90% monthly support and now as we wait to see people transfer to our new organization we project to be around the same percentage… maybe a little more? We will give that actual figure (percentage-wise) by the end of March once we have a consistent amount so that you all can know where we are standing in that particular area of our lives.

With that being said, as we were heading home for our first furlough, we knew we had to raise some substantial start-up costs for our full-time allocation into the tribe. Our monthly support keeps us in the day-in and day-out grind, but these initial, and Lord willing one-time, costs are too big to budget in a few short years. Most missionaries label this as projects or what not, and that is essentially what we are doing; making people aware of our project list. We can say by God’s grace alone He raised about 50% of our start-up funds in a short time and we haven’t technically made our needs list “public”. We have said pray for us in our needs, and several people have inquired more specifically, and then God uses them to achieve this goal. We have refrained from posting the actual project list because this is our Gideon-fleece per se; we are asking God to WOW us. He has been fulfilling this list piece-by-piece and to each of you who have been a part of that, we say thank you! God is using you and your sacrifice to show us His character and greatness. If we do not reflect upon Him at the end of this, then we are not focused on the right thing.

Which leads us to our being “overwhelmed by the gift” moment, the moment when we got overwhelmed by one of our supporting church’s and boy we were grateful that we were not asked to get up and publicly share afterwards. Our dear friends and a supporting church asked us about our needs this upcoming year. They took it seriously and prayed about what role God would have them to play in contributing towards our needs list. WATCH THEIR VIDEO HERE. Make sure to scroll down to their Facebook post post on February 13^th, 2017. They presented us with ALL the funds to purchase our solar-system (solar panels, batteries, and the equipment), and the funds for ALL of the materials for our house. WOW!!! Not much we can say other than THANK-YOU while chocking back the tears of joy at what God just did through this one church. What a total blessing! A church decided to in a sense, completely buy our house, basically to the dollar amount. Our God is too good to us!

Like we said God has been too gracious to us in the area of finances. We will keep everyone posted with our monthly % and our needs list %. But right now if we have to guess, we are at: monthly: 90%, needs list: 50%. Please pray we get this all taken care of before we head back, at the end of April. God uses people and prayer to work out His Divine will, and we take neither for granted. So in advance, thank you.

Please stay tuned to our blogs; we will be sharing about several other avenues to partner with us in the next week or so. We will be creating a donation list (with a registry) of items for us to take back to use for our ministry, so that we can fill this house God just supplied for us (ladies you understand that part). We are also putting together a work-crew list of those who want to come and help build our house at the end of the summer. We are trying to get all these pieces put together, so please pray for us to have wisdom in all of this planning.

We love and cherish you all! We greatly appreciate you and your partnership in our ministry. We are humbled to be your feet, to the unreached, Seth and Nicole Stokes.

CLICK HERE TO GIVE NOW

 

We are reposting this because people have asked about where to send their financial support.

Go to our previous blog that explains step by step how to give through CMC: Giving Through CMC is Official!

Or simply go to: http://cmcmissions.org/donate, and create a username and password, then find Seth & Nicole Stokes and enter the amount you would like to give.

Also, if you haven’t had a chance to watch our latest update video, check it out: Vanuatu Ministry Update

That is all for now, but we will post some new and exciting things this upcoming week. Stay tuned…

Time has been going so fast! We are half-way through our furlough. Click on the link below to read our latest update. Thank you for being a part of our team!

Newsletter-1-17

Your feet to the unreached in Vanuatu,

Seth & Nicole Stokes

The holiday season came and went. Now that we have enjoyed some fun and lots of yummy food it is time to get back to work. We have already had several meetings this first week of the new year. Our schedule is getting filled for the next few months stateside and we have a lot to do before going back to Vanuatu in April. Read our newsletter below to hear more about our time in the States. Please pray for us as we continue to plan for our ministry in Vanuatu and travel visiting supporters while here at home. Thank you for being a part of our journey! May you all have a blessed 2017!

Newsletter: November-December 2016

Your Feet to the Unreached in Vanuatu, ~Seth & Nicole Stokes

 

 

This post is so that we can be faithful to our supporters who are asking us “how do we give to you and your ministry”?

We want to post many things, but we will post this one and let it settle for a day or so in order for us to make sure we are communicating clearly. We have waited to get all the paperwork and processing done before we tell people it is a “go” and well, it is finally done! We are officially signed up with Central Missionary Clearinghouse CMC.

So now churches and individuals can click HERE to give to us online, you can also set up automatic withdrawals just like what we had with NTM.

This is the process to begin giving online:

1. Click the LINK or go to this web address and follow the steps, http://www.cmcmissions.org/donate
2. Click CLICK & GIVE in the middle of the screen
3. Sign up for an account on the page that opens.
4. Go to your email. Open the email that you are sent and follow the instructions in it.
5. Once you have entered the “Click & Give” site with your new login you can choose to make a donation.
6. Click on the second icon from the left (looks like a check with a pen on it).
7. Then select whether you wish to give using your credit card or through your bank account. (Please realize that if you use your credit card about 3% of the entire donation will be deducted each time you donate by your credit card company. However, if you set up the gift through your bank the transaction fee will be a flat $1 no matter the donation.)
8. You will need to fill in your information with either one you choose. You can set up recurring donations with bank account or credit card at this time.
9. If you have chosen the bank account route then you have 3 tabs that each need to be filled in. Remember that your routing number is on the far left and your account number is next to it on any check that you have.
10. In the second box labeled ”Giving Details” – select “Stokes, Seth” from the drop down box on the left (labeled select amount) If the memo field does not show, then click the pen/notepad icon.
11. Input the amount you would like to give.
12. If you would like to make this a recurring donation you will need to click on the box labeled “Setup Recurring Gift”.
13. Click Submit. Click terms and agreements and confirm one more time, then you are all done!
14. You will be taken to a page that gives you all the details of your gift. This is a printable page if you would like to print it to keep. This is not a “tax deductible” receipt. An email confirmation will also be sent to you automatically. You will receive a “tax deductible” receipt directly from CMC once the gift has been processed by them.

---

To give via mail follow this procedure, copy and paste the section that applies to you into a word document, print it out, and fill it out:

INDIVIDUAL DONOR:

CENTRAL MISSIONARY CLEARINGHOUSE

PO BOX 219228     HOUSTON TX 77218-9228

 

Please fill out this form with your first contribution only. You will receive a receipt along with a pre-addressed return envelope for any future gifts. Please tear off the bottom of that receipt and return with any future gift.

 

DONOR’S NAME______________________________________________________________

 

ADDRESS_________________________________________PHONE_(_____)_____________

 

CITY________________________________________ STATE________ZIP_______________

 

NAME OF MISSIONARY_____SETH STOKES_____________________________________

 

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: _____________________________________________________

 

PLEASE READ: Contributions to CMC are qualified for Federal income tax deduction as allowed by law. All deductible contributions, whether designated or not, are under the control of CMC. We are committed to honor all designations, and if any designation is unacceptable, the donation will be returned. You must make your check payable to Central Missionary Clearinghouse (or simply CMC) to qualify for a tax deduction. Please do not write the name of your missionary on your check. It is illegal to claim a tax deduction for a gift made payable to an individual.

 

CHURCH DONOR:

CENTRAL MISSIONARY CLEARINGHOUSE

PO BOX 219228       HOUSTON TX 77218-9228

 

Please fill out this form with your first contribution for your missionary. When you are receipted for this gift, you will receive a duplicate receipt and pre-addressed return envelope to use with any future contribution. Please make your check payable to Central Missionary Clearinghouse (or CMC). Thank You.

 

CHURCH NAME___________________________________________________________________

 

ADDRESS___________________________________________PHONE_(_____)________________

 

CITY__________________________________________STATE___________ZIP_______________

 

PASTOR’S NAME__________________________________________________________________

 

NAME OF MISSIONARY____ SETH STOKES________________________________________

 

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:__________________________________________________________

 

We hope that was clear, if you have any questions please email us, or call us at (412) 639-6047. We appreciate your partnership and want to make sure this is an easy process for you all. If you would like us to mail this process to you via mail we can do that for you, please just contact us and we will assist you.

Thank you for your partnership and help in this process, your feet to the unreached, Seth and Nicole Stokes.

We started our tour with driving down the Pennsylvania Parkway with snow beginning to fall; a speeding pickup truck swerved and passed us on the right. Shortly thereafter the truck’s tailgate came flying open and their brand new washer and dryer he must have just purchased from a Black-Friday sale came tumbling at us, just missing us by less than 10 feet! The first thing we said was, “we wish we got that on video!” We continued through the snowstorm but by the time we arrived in New York the snow changed to sunshine and crisp winter air. And that is how our trip began, bad weather, a flying washer, and dodging the typical deer from time to time. We are going on our 4^th and final night of driving through the night tonight to get to our morning meeting. We are a little tired, but know we have another 12 days until we get to rest over the holidays. We had a birthday and a family hardship come up during this tour, but God has been gracious reminding us that HE is with us in every step of our journey.

We want to encourage YOU all, churches and individuals, that God has been gracious to us as we transitioned countries and organizations; in regards to our monthly support we have not seen anyone withdraw their partnership from our ministry yet, we have seen over half of our support team in person already and everyone has been super encouraging and said “we are partnering with you”. What a total blessing!!!! We have seen people lose support for lesser reasons, we are so thankful for our AMAZING support team! Thank YOU!

Speaking of support, this week or next we should be able to finalize the transition of our organization for all of you who are interested in “where to give”. We apologize for the delay, but we had some hiccups and understanding we have had many transitions. Once we know, we will make it known publicly.

Speaking of transitions and our start up costs/needs list, we have had many inquiries. We barely made it public and have seen about 20% of our needs come in already. With 4 churches already asking specifically about it and telling us they will help and partner with us, along with some individuals. God is too good and is blessing us tremendously. Yet another affirmation from our Lord that we are exactly where He wants us to be.

To be honest this tour has been quite tiring, but it has been such a blessing to us! We love seeing you all, our support team is amazing and we love getting to see all of your faces, giving you hugs, and then saying thank-you for YOUR faithfulness to our ministry and to us personally. It is crazy that it has been two years already, and Lord willing we will see all of you again in 3-4 years. God has greatly encouraged us on this trip, blessing us beyond measure and more quickly than imagined. We are so humbled to be called YOUR feet, we want to say thank you for your partnership to reaching the unreached in Vanuatu.

YOUR feet to the unreached, Seth and Nicole Stokes

This update is especially for all of our financial supporters. There have been at least 3 reasons why we have put off this email: 1. We have been waiting on others for paperwork. 2. We knew you all would be receiving letters from NTM this week and 3. We don’t like talking about finances.

Where do I send my support to you?! We have been getting this email and question a lot the past couple days, and we are going to answer that again, right here and right now. As you all know by now, our partnership with NTM has officially ended as the last day of this month; that means they will no longer receive any finances for us, and you should have received a letter from them in the past week. We have been in the process of signing up with CMC but are waiting for the paperwork to be finished; it is not done yet so we are waiting on that. It will offer the same services as NTM, with electronic capabilities, online giving, and much more, along with integrity for our finances which we are glad to have. That being said, the best thing to do for this transition time is to send a check to our home church, the address is:

Harvest Baptist Church

224 Harvest Lane

Natrona Heights PA, 15221

Put the Harvest Baptist Church for the name of the check, and then put our name in the memo section, and then add a note specifying that this amount is for us as a “double protection.” We should be done soon with the CMC organization and paperwork, but just in case for December, this is how you can donate to our ministry.

Another thing people have been asking a lot is about our “needs.” We have served for two years on the field, and we have not shared a needs list nor have we made a project to give to, but with next year being the largest financial burden on us with all the start-up costs: 1. Vehicle 2. House 3. Solar system and 4. Shipping. We put together a needs list and compiled all the quotes from shopping around. If you are interested in participating in that part of our ministry and all of our start-up costs, please just email us: stokingthefires@gmail.com.

Okay! We got that out of the way. If you have any questions, please just ask away. We love and appreciate you all, thank you for bearing with us through this process.

**Make sure to read our previous blog (https://stokingthefires.wordpress.com/2016/11/30/exciting-news/)  and watch our ministry update video (https://youtu.be/-EE3W4hRXvI).

Your feet to the unreached, Seth and Nicole Stokes

We have been back in the States for about 2 weeks, and it has been a whirlwind already! Speaking at a church less than 3 days from getting off the plane, preached 3 other times, Nicole has done a ladies missions emphasis, had well over 5 meetings, and then as of Saturday, we started our 57-meeting tour until Christmas Eve. Along with having to do much paperwork, we enjoyed Thanksgiving, saw some family and friends, and enjoying amenities of being “home”, life is in the fast lane to say the least. We finished our NY tour and are in the upper parts of Michigan, planning on being in Indiana by Friday, and that will be our life for this next season. But that is not the MOST exciting news… the exciting news starts now!

 

We have been trying to hold back some details so that when we go around and visit people, we can share all the details face-to-face. But since it will take us days, weeks, and a little over a month to see some, we thought we would share the abridged version now. If you are social media savvy, click here: Vanuatu Ministry Update 2016 to watch our short 6-minute video that encapsulates everything. This is the video we are using to share at churches.

1. It took 10 years of waiting on God… but we have found the tribe we plan to live in and serve alongside! 🙂
2. We head back to Vanuatu on April 30^th to serve with Reach Vanuatu
3. We were given a letter of invitation to serve in the tribe; it says that they desire from us:
   1. A Bible in their language.
   2. To develop a Bible curriculum.
   3. To help build up and plant strong churches.
   4. To develop and train national leaders and pastors.
   5. To help with/host conferences.
   6. To disciple them.
      • Signed by:
        • the community
        • The local pastor and church
        • The group wanting a Bible in their language
        • And the Chief of Chiefs

4. Another super exciting thing is that we were officially adopted into two different family lines. This shows the people that we are serious and want to live there; it is also an amazing tool to share the Gospel. It was exciting for them because we were the first white people to be officially adopted into their culture, they were all so excited and encouraged, and they took it very seriously as well. We did some cultural ceremonies to represent this official acceptance by killing a giant pig, receiving a baby pig and a chicken, and had a feast.
5. We went to the capital and applied for our 4-year visa, the government said it will most lively be an easy process, but will just take time to go be finalized.
6. They gave us land and we plan to start building our house in July-August! If you have been waiting to help us build our house, now is the time to write us and start the process of communication to get you there and help us build our house.

Needless to say, a lot happened those last 2-3 weeks while in Vanuatu. We were running back and forth up until the day before we left, had a few hours to pack up and clean up our house and head to the US of A. We are sorry to reduce amazing facts and experiences to mere bullet points, but we wanted to make sure we were clear and shared the information. It should be only a matter of time until we see you! Maybe tomorrow, next week, or maybe in a month… either way we want to share all the details and the stories behind the whole thing as soon as we can. If you are not scheduled in on our tour, please call (412)639-6047, and we will arrange a meeting on the second tour if God allows.

We hope that was clear and concise, and we hope you are excited along with us! This is a special time for us. That is another reason why we are running around to tell everyone, because this is a special time for you as our supporters… you have invested your prayers and finances in us for this moment. May God be glorified! We praise Him for the journey He has had us on.

As always, we are humbled to be your feet to the unreached, Seth & Nicole