NATL'S PEOPLE
Greg Conklin – President/Relief Director
At an early age, I desired to serve and help others no matter what it would take, from the cub scouts to the CAP (Civil Air Patrol). I now know the passion was placed in my heart and soul that the Lord has placed me where he wanted me to grow and learn, to serve him not man. This passion as a young man to serve led me to the military not just because of family history but to protect and serve others. Where I was challenged in ways never thought of and trained in ways I never thought I could use but in the service of my country. I was trained in heavy equipment usage and transport, setting up a Warehousing, Management of Warehoused supplies and setting up a Logistical chain to Explosives training.
I also joined my local volunteer fire department to help locally because I saw the need. Here for Loyalstock Volunteer Fire Department I was trained in many fields where I became a top ten responder (which meant for the year I was one of the 10 highest reliable to make the call out). I liked the service but felt I needed more so I joined the military full time. I spent the next 12 years serving many different branches, training and working in disasters with militaries from all over the world, and learning many cultures. I did not feel I was being used to my fullest even in the military, and I was unaware still of what the Lord had in store for me.
After I was honorably discharged from the ARMY, I took a job operating heavy construction equipment. However, I still was restless with what to do with what I knew and what I felt was needed for me to do. I then joined a volunteer search and rescue team and they asked me to help them expand their reach, with my military and prior fire training. I have knowledge of rappelling, kayaking, mountain biking, 4x4 offroading, hiking and mountain skills and they wanted these skill sets.
A few years later a friend from church urged me to take my experience to aid our youth ministry and to the Law Enforcement side so I then began working with the youth in my home church teaching them about the environment’s relationship with its creator. I then went through the Police Academy.
In the Police Academy I was asked to serve as an officer of the class, I graduated working as an officer till Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. I went to Slidell, LA with my church where I had only what I can say as a “total change in my view of myself and life.” I went home talked it over with my family, sold most of my belongings packed my things that I would use for the mission work, and headed back to Pascagoula, MS. Where a group called Operation Love Thy Neighbor needed my skill sets. This is where I called home serving those devastated by hurricane Katrina until November ‘07. From 2006 to 2009, I assisted in setting up and revising the training of OLTN's disaster response teams.
Since becoming a missionary, I have deployed teams With Operation Love Thy Neighbor as the National Response Director and helped in Enterprise Al, Americus GA from tornados, and SD from flooding, AL, MS, and LA from Katrina.
In 2008, I served others after the tornados in Kentucky and I have responded to the flooding and Tornado devastation in Missouri and Iowa.
In 2009, after the f5 tornado wipe out the town of Parkersburg, IA and a flood wiped out the town of New Hartford, IA, I teamed up with a group of people I Iowa and co-founded Neighbors Across The Land. I have been using all the skills sets God has given me and provided me training for, to take a vision of helping people by meeting their needs after disasters all across the United States.
This is what I feel has been laid on my heart. I see no other future; I do not feel at peace doing anything else, there is such a peace of heart serving others for Gods Kingdom. Being His servant has been a Blessing.
His Servant
G,Conklin
For a list of all Greg Conklin’s certifications click here:
Marie Mysliwiec – Vice president/Operations
First and foremost, I want to put God number one in my life ALL the time. I am getting better, but it is definitely something I constantly need to work on and be reminded to do. Trusting the Lord is the most important part of my daily walk.
I currently teach in Marshalltown, IA and find God moving in amazing ways daily. This is my 4th year teaching and I teach students with autism and behavior disorders. God has spoken through my job and my students. I am amazed at what he shows me when I am willing to listen.
I have had many opportunities to evangelize and share the Love of Christ. I spent 5 years teaching Sunday School, 4 years on an outreach team working with youth throughout Iowa, and have served on many mission trips growing up. I love finding more ways to be the hands and feet of Christ.
I have always enjoyed serving people. It was not until the last month that I realized that it makes life so much more enjoyable when I am serving to please the Lord and not other people. God has called us to meet people where they are at and this is something I have always strived to do. It is amazing how willing people are to accept Jesus if they see Jesus in you. God has shown me that when all is lost in the physical word, his grace and love can be shared at such a greater capacity.
Jesus has amazing power in my life, if I am willing to surrender and allow him to work through me. I try to live each day following the instructions he lays before me. He has put some amazing people in my life. I have learned so much about myself and what God can do through me, it is astounding. I never thought I would have taken God's gifts for me this seriously, but He has huge plans for our lives and I am so excited to see what He has planned for mine!
KATHIE BODECKER -- treasurer
I prayed that the Lord would lead me to do something that would be to His glory after retirement. Well, I didn’t plan on retiring at 62, but the Lord had other plans for me. In May of 2008 an EF5 tornado hit Parkersburg, IA and changed the lives of so many. Disaster groups came from all over to help with the clean up and rebuilding. Greg Conklin was one that came to help and was using our church as his base. He was also sleeping in our youth room. John and I invited him to stay with us while he was in the area. We got to know more about Greg and his passion for helping those in need when a disaster strikes. It was then that I realized that my prayer was answered and that I could glorify the Lord through helping those in need. As NATL was being formed I was asked to be treasurer. Since I had a financial background and also am treasurer of our church it seemed a perfect opportunity to continue to use my skills. I am excited to see what else the Lord has planned for NATL and what else I might be able to do to help. I may have to step out of my comfort zone but I have put my faith in the Lord that he will equip me to do his work.
JOHN BODECKER – Vehicle Maintenance supervisor/Volunteer
Since meeting Greg and learning about disaster relief and recovery I have also felt lead to join NATL. I have always enjoyed working on vehicles and am excited to be able to be help with the maintenance of the vehicle(s) for NATL. The Lord has blessed me in so many ways. I have had some health issue though out my life but the Lord has allowed me to be a part of NATL and am excited to see where the Lord leads this organization.