My name is Jake Whitener and I am from Farmington, MO where I am a high school teacher/coach. To say I am blessed is an understatement with all the gifts and opportunities I have experienced in my 38 years on this journey of life. I have a strong supportive wife, Mandy, of 14 years and four beautiful/healthy children. While the pathways of life’s journey allow us to experience our own peaks to valleys, the true calling of life is being able to help others place value within themselves to see the hillsides in front of them.

Favorite Saint: My favorite saint is St. Joseph. I joined the Catholic faith 10 years ago after the birth of our second child. My reasoning for following my heart to Christ was watching the growth of my children who were already baptized into the Catholic Church. With this, knowing my sole purpose was to be a leader and guide my children, I listened to my heart’s calling. Upon joining, I found the statue of St. Joseph in the church and knew that I have no greater gift to give than the enjoyment of fatherhood. This is my connection and reasoning for the spiritual connectedness to St. Joseph.

Join My Support Team!

I am serving with a team of young adult mission leaders to run a mission trip this spring in the Dominican Republic. We are serving at Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos and continuing work on a multi-year project to construct a teaching workshop that will benefit the students on the orphanage as well as the nearby bateys.
Beyond the great physical work of digging and concrete work, our mission team will run a retreat for our mission group, opening up the door for the Holy Spirit to work in the hearts of those who serve with us. We start each day with Mass, give formational reflections in the evening, facilitate small group discussions, and bring the groups to adore Jesus Blessed Sacrament and to receive His mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Wow! It is such an impactful week for the community we serve, the groups who come to serve with us, for us as mission leaders, and you as mission partners.
Our expected work project expenses for 2023 total approximately $100,000. My personal goal is to raise between $500-$1,000 to ensure that we have the funds necessary for building supplies, given the astronomical rise in building supply costs. I am excited to share with you my journey with God as a missionary and invite you to become one of my mission partners. Everything that we have is from God and everything that we give is from God. Where is God asking you to invest?  Please consider joining me on mission by making a one-time or recurring donation to support the work of Catholic Mission Trips, Inc. Your prayers and financial support will bring hope and restore dignity to the families we serve. We would be honored to have you partner with us at $50-$200 a month. I look forward to connecting with you and experiencing mission together! Thank you for joining my support team!

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    Catholic Mission Trips, Inc.

    43321 Wayside Circle

    Ashburn, VA 20147