Eleven team members from 5 different states ... all united to share God's love, while improving sight for the community of Koklata, India.
Deanna Leimbach
I accepted Jesus as my Lord and savior in 1977 at the ripe old age of 18. Campus Crusade for Christ came knocking on my door at the dormitory at Michigan Tech. They wanted to share the 4 spiritual laws and ask me if I wanted to accept Christ as Lord and Savior. Initially I said no. I thought I had the whole world by the tail. I was a starting linebacker for the Huskies varsity football team my freshman year. Then the Lord continued working on me. I thought back to when I was 14 and my best friend died of Leukemia. Ricky McComb used to tell me that God loved me and had a plan for my life. I just needed to accept his gift of eternal life for the penalty of my sin. I told him at that time that I was a science guy and believed in evolution. When Ricky died at 14, I couldn’t believe that the God he talked about would let him die. After all he was one of the few guys I knew that actually practiced his faith.
Later in college, I wrestled with God and the Holy Spirit and finally gave my life over to following Jesus. In the summer of '78 I followed the direction of scripture and made a public profession of my faith and was baptized in Lake Superior. It still makes me shiver to think about it.
Ever since then I have tried to lead my life to the glory of God. Some periods of life are better than others. But because Ricky shared his faith with me I know that God has forgiven me when I didn’t get it right. Thank you Lord! Thank you Jesus! Thank you Ricky! That is why I go to the mission field. Only born again Christians can share how salvation works to those who don’t know. It is my reasonable service to go.
Becky Bonkowski
My husband, Brian, & I have been married for 36 years. We have three grown sons, two daughters-in-law, one granddaughter (that I love watching) and another one due in mid-April. I enjoy volunteering with our International Ministry at church, and other opportunities as well and am looking forward to my second mission trip to India.
While my husband is unable to join me on this trip, I look forward to meeting five new team members from five different states that will be joining us in sharing God's love.
Please pray for those we serve that they may come to faith in Jesus as they hear the Gospel message and for God's protection and guidance over all areas of our team's mission.
Editor's note: Becky is our chief correspondent from the field.
Laura Esterly
The reason I'm taking this opportunity to go to India to serve the Lord is because of something I heard about 10-15 years ago. I was listening to a testimony from a group of people sharing how they give eyeglasses out to the poor and use it as an evangelism tool as well. At that time, I wasn't able to afford to take any time to go on missions and the only missions I had heard of were all very labor intensive and I knew I couldn't do those. So when I heard about giving eyeglasses away (and very specifically to people in India), I told the Lord I would love to do that one day. So I began to save my glasses every time I needed a new prescription. From that point forward, for financial reasons, it seemed impossible for me to ever do such a thing. Even now, without the generous donors who have paid my way, I wouldn't have been able to go.
Fast forward to this last spring/summer and I kept sensing the Lord telling me to go and do. I kept reminding Him that I don't have money to do that, but He kept urging me to go and do. Finally, I started asking what He wanted me to do. Suddenly, I remembered all those old eyeglasses that I had been collecting over the years. I went and grabbed them and placed them by my front door, and I spoke to the Lord and said I will bring them wherever He wants me to. To be honest, given my financial limitations I thought for sure the only thing He would ask me to do is to give them to some place collecting them for the poor. Especially since I hadn't heard of that eyeglass ministry since that first time so many years ago.
Confident the Lord was just going to have me drop them off somewhere soon, I patiently waited for the Lord to tell me where, as I walked out the door each day. Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months and I began to give up. I started to think I hadn't been hearing the Lord after all, and it was all my own imagination. Then, one day at church, as I went to get the bible study notes for study group, someone handed me the notes along with a flyer advertising the eyeglass ministry going to INDIA! Not only that, but that they needed more people. As I sat there staring at that flyer, what I now believed the Lord was asking of me, I took a deep breath, prayed for provision and jumped in with both feet. And, thanks to some very generous donors, I am able to obey our Lord and do as He said.
Tracey Riggs
I am a retired orchestra teacher and professional violist. Retirement has allowed me to participate in the International Friends Ministry at St. Matthew and to devote more time to the Joyful Noise handbell choir, which I have directed for 36 years.
Retirement has also given me more time to spend with family. My husband, Ray, and I have been blessed with 3 children and 5 grandchildren. Much of my time is spent enjoying the company of Cadence, my almost 9-year-old granddaughter (Colin’s daughter), who lives nearby. However, Ray and I follow the roads to Alabama (Alison) and Maryland (Dan) to see the other kids as often as we can.
I am excited that my daughter, Alison, is also going on this mission trip to India. It will be my second trip to India, but my first trip to Kolkata. It was amazing to see the Lord at work last year in Punjab and I am looking forward to watching our amazing God at work in West Bengal!
Thank you for your prayers. I (we) need and appreciate them!
Alison Bickel
Alison has been on several mission trips and was the greatest encourager of her parents' previous trips to India. She is passionate about missions and her joy in the Lord radiates from her. Alison grew up at St. Matthew, Walled Lake, attending the dayschool, and currently lives in Alabama with her husband and children.
Cassandra Mammen
A resilient and inspiring woman, and at 70 years old, she has woven a tapestry of experiences that reflect her unwavering spirit and commitment to both personal and spiritual growth. Having been divorced, Cassandra decided not to remarry, choosing instead to focus on her family and personal aspirations.
In her pursuit of education, Cassandra earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management from U.W. Strout, accomplishing this significant milestone at the age of 50. Her story stands as a testament to the belief that age is never a barrier to achieving one's goals.
Cassandra is the proud mother of four grown children—two sons and a daughter residing in Wisconsin, and another son living in Texas. Her family has played a central role in her life, and she cherishes the bonds she shares with her children and grandchildren. With four lively grandsons, ranging from 12 to 22 years old, Cassandra has experienced the joys of family life through multiple generations.
About 35 years ago, Cassandra joined St. Paul Church in Grafton, where her children grew up attending the St. Paul Lutheran School. This community has been an integral part of her life, offering spiritual nourishment and a supportive network of like-minded individuals. Engaging actively in the church's activities, Cassandra has participated in mission trips to Alaska, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and India. Her commitment to service extends to her membership in the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML), where she finds fulfillment in contributing to various local community projects and supporting missionary families through modest donations.
Cassandra's involvement in the church goes beyond service, as she also lends her voice to the choir. St. Paul Church is blessed with an abundance of musical talent, including organ players, singing groups, instrumental ensembles, and awe-inspiring handbell performances. For Cassandra, attending church is about hearing the Word; but there is also an opportunity to listen to uplifting music from the congregation members. Praise the Lord.
Through her journey, Cassandra recognizes that she may not possess any extraordinary talents, but she firmly believes in using her hands to work and make a positive impact in the world. Her acceptance into mission work has been a blessing that came in its own time, reinforcing her deep-rooted faith that aligns with the belief that everything happens in accordance with God's plan
Kelly Bone
Please pray that the hearts of those we will be serving in India are open to hearing how much Jesus loves them.
Mark Schmittling
I have worked in various management capacities in the technical arena. At one point in my career I was a member of the internal audit department. We conducted both domestic and international audits. It provided me an opportunity to travel the globe from Venezuela to Italy to Singapore and more. I also I had another opportunity to work in South Africa for 6 months. Similarly, my wife and I have traveled extensively including, Hawaii, Alaska, Italy, France, Germany, Bali and numerous other countries.
Later in my career I worked for a California based consulting firm. My client was Isuzu Motors in Plymouth, Michigan. It allowed me to become familiar with Japanese culture which could serve me well with St. Matthew’s focus on the Japanese in our International Friends Ministry.
Considering my Lutheran upbringing and travel experience, participating on the current India mission trip was an appropriate decision. I previously participated on another mission trip and traveled to Punjab, India in November 2019.
I know sharing our Christian faith and distributing glasses to the Indian people will be a rewarding experience.
Karen Mensching
Karen is from Illinois and has been on four previous eyeglass missions.
Larry Stika
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