MY STORY

My Story: All For His Glory

I grew up in Ivanhoe where my family farmed oranges and olives. From a young age, working long and hot days on the ranch helped me develop a relentless work ethic. However, it also made me realize farming was not for me. My father, E. Ray Schlick, was a prominent architect. Therefore, much of my passion and knowledge of construction came from working with him on projects, reviewing plans, and asking him endless questions. This experience passed on from my father will be invaluable as a real estate agent.

During high school, I was active in athletics, participated in a business club called DECA, and met my future wife. However, the most important thing that happened during high school was accepting Jesus Christ as my savior through the influence of my football coach. After high school, I attended San Diego State University where I played football and earned a bachelor's degree in Business with an emphasis in finance. The most important part of my college education was being discipled in my faith by Jake Simpson of Athletes In Action. That period of spiritual growth transformed everything about me and changed the course of my life. I was planning to be a stock broker, but realized that a career as a business teacher and coach would provide many more opportunities for ministry. I am currently a full-time teacher at Tulare Union High School where I have been teaching and coaching for the past 28 years.

After college, I married my high school sweetheart, Saan Mynatt, and settled down in Visalia. It was during that year that we began working as volunteer Young Life leaders. Little did we know that we would spend the next 25 years sharing Christ with thousands of high school kids, while leading Young Life in Hanford and Tulare. During those crazy years, we found enough time and energy to raise four awesome children. In 1998, my wife and I began leading mission trips to Ensenada, Mexico. These short term mission trips turned out to be a very effective discipleship tool for the Young Life students that we were working with. In 2001, my wife and I sold our home, took a sabbatical from teaching, and moved to Argentina to start Young Life. We immersed our non-Spanish speaking children, ages 4 to 10, into school where they quickly learned Spanish and made great friends. God's grace was on our efforts. We trained many leaders and started Young Life Argentina. Now, 20 years later, Saan and I still do not speak Spanish, but the ministry of Argentina Young Life is going strong. To date it has spread into six provinces (states) in Argentina. The very first leader recruited and trained is now the director overseeing Patagonia Young Life (Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Chili). Starting a thriving and spreading ministry without even know Spanish is proof the we can do all things through Christ who gives is strength!

Upon returning from Argentina, I resumed teaching at Tulare Union and Saan began working for Students International. In 2007, while leading a Young Life mission trip to Ensenada, the pastor's wife, Panchita, took us to meet an unreached people group who were Mixteca natives from southern Mexico. This was perhaps the most impactful moment in my life. This was my first touch with extreme poverty. Children with bloated bellies from starvation, people living in lean-tos with dirt floors, no source of clean drinking water, and no restrooms of any type. However, the most painful thing to see were the 13 and 14 year old mothers holding newborn babies. The look of hopelessness in their eyes will haunt me forever. Later that evening our team was so shaken by the experience we had to have a time of debriefing. Many were weeping at the poverty and hopelessness, but one of our leaders words pierced my heart, "I can't see that and do nothing." Upon returning to Tulare, that leader, Rochelle Brogan, began telling everyone about the Mixteca people and their need. In 2010, after the donations of many people in the Tulare and Visalia area, the Village of Hope we built and began ministry. What started as a yearly mission trip lead by my wife and I sprouted into a full-fledged ministry that now reaches thousands of people. In 2017, a few friends and I started the Village of Hope International, a nonprofit organization to encourage and expand the great work happening at the Village of Hope. Have built hundreds of home, two churches and are currently building a daycare. To learn more about the Village of Hope and to give financially, go to www.vohi.org.

Over the past few years our family has really grown. Our three oldest children are married to wonderful Christian spouses and we have five grandchildren ages 6 and under. There really is nothing better then being Nana and Papa. We love to travel as a family, experience new cultures, make memories and build a legacy. In addition, we love having game night and hosting get togethers and celebrations. Our children our continuing our legacy through Young Life. Our son is on staff with Young Life in Kingsburg and our son-in-law, Chris Bradley, is on Young Life staff in Arroyo Grande. My wife and I are active members at Radiant Church in Visalia.

When Covid hit in March of 2019, we were forced to cancel our Radiant Easter Mission trip to the Village of Hope. With no school or mission trip to run I was going stir crazy at home. Therefore, a friend and I started a ministry to the homeless people of Tulare. Currently we have team of 15-20 that goes out multiple times a week to provide for the many needs, make friends, and tell people about Jesus. To date, we have helped many people off the streets, several completely off drugs, and we feed almost 100 each Thursday night without missing. Recently we distributed 70 sleeping bags, many coats, and a lot of tents and tarps to help our friends through the winter season. This new ministry has been so rewarding, making 2020 one of the best years of my life. God really uses all things to work for the good of those who love God and called to His purpose.

During the spring of 2019, Covid provided me with the time necessary to fulfill a lifelong goal, becoming a real estate agent. In October of 2019, I passed my state licensing exam and joined Dani Blain Real Estate. Dani and her late husband, Kevin Blain, were always so supportive of the Village of Hope over the past 18 years, as well as many other ministries and good causes. Their commitment to bring glory to God through their business has always been an inspiration to me. Therefore, when God laid it on my heart to donate all of my real estate commissions toward building homes in Mexico, I knew Dani would be the perfect broker to partner with. Recently, Dani Blain Real Estate has become Cornerstone Real Estate Professionals. I am currently a member of the Shawn Team. This elite team is transforming real estate in Tulare.