Team Dresden: Jason and Cheryl Dietz

Jason and Cheryl Dietz have been in Dresden since June of 2006. They work helping to coordinate efforts in Dresden, and are the Strategists for the Saxon Triangle. They work in close cooperation with the Baptist church in Dresden. They are also attempting to begin new work in the city. Their four children attend German school and preschool.

Team Dresden (Former Member): Amy Harris

"I was born on an Air Force base in Mountain Home, Idaho on January 3, 1985 to Mike and Sharri Harris. My younger brother David was born two years later while we lived in England.

"We traveled and moved many times before my father resigned from the Air Force to pursue a call to the ministry. After he graduated from seminary, my family moved to Colorado Springs to plant a church as Mission Service Corps Volunteers with the NAMB. The church started with the four of us in our apartment and eventually grew, meeting the same elementary school where David had gotten in trouble for passing out Bibles during recess. Serving there shaped a lot of my ideas about how a church should function, and my father's preaching and both my parents' instruction grew me in my faith prepared me to defend my beliefs and biblical worldview.

"I graduated from high school in Colorado Springs and then attended Oklahoma Baptist University, which I loved. It was there that I learned that it was possible to use art in missions. After a year, I transferred to Baylor University and graduated in May, 2007 with a degree in studio art with a concentration in graphic design and a minor in photojournalism.

"After graduating, I served as an intern at a church in New York City as their graphic designer and a missions volunteer coordinator. After that, I moved back to Waco, Texas to work for Columbus Ave. in the youth and college departments.

"I started to feel a call to international missions at a young age. I have also had a life-long draw to produce art (mostly painting and photography), the purpose of which I have struggled to understand, in view of my missionary calling. I am so excited about my opportunity to serve as Creative Arts Engager, in part because I feel like I am getting a glimpse of why God created me the way that he did. I am eager to follow God's will and spread His message of salvation."

Jessica Arnold: Formerly Team Dresden

Meet Jessica, our 4th volunteer with Hands On:

I am a junior at Georgia College and State University with an early childhood education major. I hope to be a Kindergarten teacher one day.

I have been a paraprofessional in a Kindergarten and also a live in nanny. In the midst of many family trials and tragedies, I was encouraged to transfer schools and experience college as just a student. I became very involved in BSU and all it had to offer and was interested in doing summer missions. I ended up applying and serving at a camp this past summer which was the best experience of my life. I cannot even begin to share about it in this short biography; but God was at work; and He still is! To make a very long story short, I surrendered to the ministry that summer. It was soon confirmed that my calling would be missions.

The trials I have been through have made me stronger and forced me to rely on God like nothing else would have. Since those trials, I have come in contact with people who are going through the same heartaches I went through. It blesses me to know that I can help them just because I have been where they are. Even if it is just to listen, that means a lot. Just to be able to say “hey, I know what you’re going through, I have been there” means so much to a person who is at a low. In my time, if I am only able to help one person because of a trial I have gone through; I would do it all over again.

This verse sums up my life: Habakkuk 1:5 “Look to the nations and watch- and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe even if you were told.” If someone would have told me I would be where I am today, I would have laughed. However, God had a plan, He still has a plan; it does not end here. Once I gave my whole life over to Him, He was then able to use me to my full potential. I want to be moved out of the way and I just want to be a vessel for Him. I want no glory, no honor, and no recognition. I do not deserve any of it. I just want to proclaim His name.

Day Smith: Formerly Team Dresden

Here is some information about Hands On member, Day Smith:

I was born in Columbus, MS, a small town of less than 30,000 people. Of course, not many towns in Mississippi are all that big. I'm okay with that, though. I grew up in an amazing family of 6: 2 parents, 2 older brothers, one younger sister, and me. Currently, the kids ages are Todd--29, Corky--28, and Caitlyn--19. My oldest brother, Todd, just married in November, so now I have a new sister-in-law, Rebecca. I love my family beyond verbal description. They have helped mold and shape me into the woman I am today. My parents were the ones who got me involved in church, both being Sunday School teachers. If not for their encouragement, there's no telling what cards I might have been dealt.

I had your average small town childhood growing up. I went to the same high school K - 12. I have plenty of friends who I have known since before the age of 2 (of which is something I am quite proud). After I graduated high school, I spent my freshmen year at Ole Miss, and then transferred to its rival school: Mississippi State. I finished out my college career at Mississippi State with a degree in Chemistry. After that, I spent some time working at a hospital ER and also working retail at J. Crew. My schooling is far from done. I'll start medical school in the fall of 2009 at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. I'm finally becoming a doctor! Now if you ask me what kind of doctor.... you'll never get a direct response.

I grew up a swimmer, competitive since age 5 and continued on until about age 17. I love the pool. Oh, and in case you were wondering, I loved watching Olympic swimming long before Michael Phelps was involved, haha. Sports were a big part of my family; all 4 of us kids were prominently swimmers. I also liked playing a little soccer and basketball, with some cheerleading on the side. I watch movies far beyond the average American--most of which are blockbusters. My dad and I went to the movies once a week my last 2 years of college. It's a rare occurrence when we haven't seen 4 or 5 of the top ten movies at the box office.

Most importantly, my life in Christ has grown so much, most prevalently in college. The MSU BSU opened my heart to the huge world we live in and how much it needs God. I grew up in such a small bubble that my eyes were closed off to so much of the world. I went on my first overseas flight in the summer of 2006, and my life hasn't been the same since. Once I stepped off that plane and spent 4 weeks in Maribor, Slovenia, I knew I was going to be returning to Europe one day--but in God's time. I'm so blessed to have the opportunity to return to Europe, particularly Germany, because I've desired to visit Germany since my freshmen year of college when I took German as a foreign language. I've seen God open my heart to foreign missions, and I know He has big plans in store for Spring semester 2009.

Sarah Fisk: Formerly Team Dresden

Here is a little more about our 2009 Hands On Team member, Sarah:

"Currently I am from the Houston Texas area, although I have also lived in Arizona, Minnesota, and Missouri. My mom is a Kindergarten teacher, and my dad is the associate pastor of our church. I also have two older brothers, and a newly added sister-in-law. Stephen is 25, and Josh is 22. Josh and I get along a lot better than Stephen and I do and he is probably my best guy friend I have. Josh just got married in November of 2008, and it was a very joyful day. He married Julie, whom I am very excited to have as my new sister! My dog’s name is Gabby and she has been a part of the family for nearly 8 years now. I am a college sophomore at Mississippi State University, and I have not decided on a major yet. I am unsure as to what exactly I will be doing after college, but I trust that God will help me figure that out in His time.

"My favorite sport to watch is baseball, and I am a huge St. Louis Cardinals fan. Although, since I have been at MSU I have grown a huge liking for college basketball. I really enjoy following it on TV when baseball is in its offseason, and going to the games here at home. My favorite sport to play is Ultimate Frisbee. I am trying to get better at it, but it has been hard because when I was working at a summer camp last summer I hurt my ankle and haven’t been able to play much since. I love meeting new people, and my friends are extremely important to me. I enjoy watching movies and television probably a little too much, although I like to spend a lot of time outside too. I enjoy listening to music often, and whenever my favorite bands come to a town close by I try and make sure to go see them live, which is always fun. I like to take pictures a lot, so I tend to take my camera most places I go. I am becoming more of an outgoing person, although I use to be really shy when I was younger.

"I like to travel a lot, and have been out of the country to Russia, Mexico, and Czech Republic, all on mission trips. I would really like to travel all around the world, and visit as many countries as I can in my lifetime. I am really excited about going to Germany because it is something that I have been praying about and for, for most of my life. God created me with a heart for Germany. When I was in 6th and 7th grade and began to take a German class, I knew that God wanted me to go there someday. That feeling was so strong that for the first half of high school I thought I would take a year off after I graduated high school and go to Germany on a mission trip. However, I soon saw that that wasn’t the time that God wanted me to go and I went off to college right away instead. So this trip is huge for me because I know that this is something that God has been preparing me for, for years. I know he will teach me a lot and words can not describe how excited I am for next semester!"

Jennifer Chapman: Formerly Team Dresden

Get to know more about Jennifer, one of our 2009 Hands On Team.:

"I was born in a small town in northwest Georgia called Lithia Springs. There's no hospital and no post office, but being close to Atlanta made life easier. My family has an interesting dynamic. My parents divorced when I was six, but they remained friends so that my sister and I would not have to go without either parent. Growing up wasn't easy, but it made me who I am today.

"For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to travel. Up until just two years ago, I thought mission trips were only to places that were unlivable and were something I just knew I could get by not doing. That all changed when I went to Miami on my first mission trip. My view of the mission field was forever changed, and my idea of who God is changed. I took Him out of the infinitely small box I placed Him in. I realized that I had to obey God in this way or I would be miserable for my entire life. I realized that I could travel, and I could travel for God. He took my passion and turned it into something to glorify Him.

"None of the things I do in my life could be possible without God or His blessings on my life. Those blessings include my family, friends, and powerful prayer warriors. God has gifted me abundantly, and I can't sit here in my cozy house and not share what I have. Every time I do something for God, I feel at home. He's my driving force. I do what He says, and I go where He wants me to go. Most of the time, I am sure I will mess it up, but He assures me that He will make things work. I am not perfect, but He loves me. The least I can do is obey Him."

Hands on Team: Newest Info

Update to the Update

We are back up to four members.
We have four new team members coming with the "Hands On" program for the first half of 2009. We will have more info about them soon, but for now be praying for Day, Jessica, Jennifer, and Sarah!