Missions Trip to Thailand?

It's officially OFFICIAL...

I'm going to Thailand July 22nd - August 2nd of 2026!!!

This feels like a crazy and beautiful story that's beginning to really unfold due to the mercy and grace of God!

It all starts with the impromptu trip I made to Orlando, FL for the Exponential church planting conference in March of this year. I had been invited by my church leaders in the summer/fall of 2025, but didn’t make any moves to get there, mostly out of fear and distraction from the daily grind. I am so grateful that the beginning of this year had totally shaken up my routine ways of thinking and being, so when it was mentioned that the SOLD OUT conference was less than 2 weeks away, I internally jumped at the chance to go! I bought a plane ticket almost immediately, reserved a rental car, and coordinated with a friend to stay in the Airbnb she booked for herself (which she was SO GRACIOUS to offer to share her bed with me ~ thanks Mary!!). At that point, the chances of getting a full access pass to the conference looked slim, but I asked the question, moved in faith, and the answer was yes! It’s like something in my brain/soul had instantly switched and dropped my normally cautious lens of ‘fear of the unknown.’ But I started taking risks, knowing that if it was the Lord’s will, that He would provide; and boy, did He ever!

My solo travel/trip to Florida provided a lot of firsts for me: first time flying, renting a car, and navigating a major metropolitan city alone; and the first time staying in an Airbnb by myself… I was definitely out of my element, but there are no tragedies to report - only testimonies - Praise God!! Once I got to the conference, I was in the company of my pastors and friends, Brady and Sydney, and I was immediately moved by the Presence of God. In the first workshop I attended, I made 2 friends that the Lord set up for us to run into each other multiple times throughout the week. We ate together, prayed together, and even worshipped together on multiple occasions, in a conference hosting of hundreds of people while not intentionally seeking each other out. Mind Blown. But the best part was attending my 2nd workshop and meeting Shelby, Jeremy and the Family Gathering Church crew. When I tell you that God was so intentional with us meeting and becoming friends, I absolutely mean it! I’m airing out all of my business here, so I’ll have you know that I showed up 15 minutes late to this workshop and tried to sneak in the back of a very small, jam-packed classroom, and sit in a chair along the wall, but the room attendant saw me, picked up a chair, and set it next to Shelby; which actually blocked the only safe path to exit the room ~ so there was NO WAY I was going to miss what God had in store for me! When I sat down, she complimented me and said my sweater was cute; which if you know me, immediately set me at ease! 😉

The workshop was on prayer and for the engagement portion, we were asked to pray for each other. Shelby and I connected really well and she gave me great recommendations for books on discipleship to study in a small group setting. Afterwards, she said that she felt the Lord put it on her heart to stay in touch with me and she asked me for my number; and then introduced me to her friends and family that were in the room. I had a blast, but then we went our separate ways because the conference is so big. Later that evening, she sent me a text inviting me to a networking dinner with the Greenhouse Multiplication Network at the resort her and her family were staying at. Upon invitation, I knew in my spirit that it was an immediate yes, even though there were logistics and factors that otherwise would have had me second guessing my decision to go, but I felt the peace that only the Holy Spirit provides and I got myself to that dinner. 

What happened next is next to miraculous in so many ways! Upon arriving, I learned that my new friends are from Kentucky and are church planters/pastors/ministers in the Wesleyan denomination, which makes them even closer than family! My church, New Heart Church in Ithaca, NY is a Wesleyan church plant and it’s just beautiful that at the root, we share the same beliefs in doctrine and core values. Amen ~ Hallelujah!! From there, I got introduced to the whole family, her parents, brother, friends, spiritual leaders, mentors, mentees and more brothers and sisters in Christ. I genuinely felt so loved and was instantly taken into the fold as a part of the Gillespie/Folkerts Family in a way that I can say I’ve never been so welcomed by so many strangers before. I’m still reeling about it 2 whole months later, and I know that the way God moved in this group of people really affected them too! It’s been the absolute HIGHLIGHT of my whole trip to Expo and that’s where Thailand (finally) comes into the picture! Jeremy and Shelby are a part of the ministry, Thailand NOW, formerly known as the Thailand Methodist Mission, and annually lead missions trips to  plant churches, support growing church plants, bring the Gospel to unreached parts of the country, and help vulnerable children stay in school and out of brothels and sex trafficking.

Not the most flattering pic of me (lol!) but the joy and peace I felt with them instantly made feel at Home.💖 

I am currently working to fundraise $4,000, and if you feel called or moved to support me in any way for this trip—whether through prayer, donating gently used clothes or household items for the rummage sale, baking a sweet treat for the bake sale, helping with organization or operations, or by giving a financial gift of any amount— 

I AM SO DEEPLY GRATEFUL!! You are an answer to my personal prayers!!

Thank you so so much for taking the time to witness me bare my soul and thank you for your support, material, emotional, and/or spiritual. Stay tuned for a flyer with more details on the sale and for ways to connect with me throughout this journey!

God Bless and Talk Soon!

~Felicia