Hello Wonderful People on the other side of my computer scree!
Just a simple update. I am currently sitting at $7,343. All thanks to God and your willingness to give. That just leaves me $7,657 to raise before October 6! I’ve bought my plane ticket to LA, which is where I will be leaving from. I’ve bought the last of my essentials for outfitting and have just a few odds and ends left to get. Woohoo!
I love charts so here is a quick visual financial breakdown :
|
People |
1 gift |
3 gifts/ 3 months |
= |
|
75 |
$102 |
$34 |
Fully |
|
50 |
$153 |
$51 |
Funded |
|
25 |
$307 |
$103 |
!!!!! |
If only 25 people or families gave $307 either one time or broken up into several months. I could be fully funded. Twenty-five people could make that happen! Shoot, 1 person could make that happen. I’m not picky. Whatever.
I practiced packing my bag this week. Oh dear. That was an experience. I used this pack all summer. Fitting a summer’s worth of outdoor gear and toiletries was a breeze. I’ve never had to pack all my belongings to last a year.
Leaving behind that pair of shoes, that outfit, the extra journal…that’s hard. I’m still not under 40 lbs. This is important because in some countries, particularly Asian countries, you can’t take luggage more than 30 lbs without accruing inhumane fees.
Jesus said to the original twelve, “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts- no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave.” (Matthew 10:9-11)
I can’t imagine taking nothing like the disciples did. Maybe one day I’ll be there. With only the clothes on my back and a passport in my pocket. I’m taking a pack, an extra shirt, and an extra pair of shoes. I think Jesus was getting at a principle there but I’m no scholarly theologian. I think he was getting at this: You’ve said here I am, send me. Now, what are you willing to sacrifice to follow me? Security? Shelter? Clothes? Food? The ability to plan? Relationships? A Mr. Coffee?
Are you willing to trade your grocery store for an open air market with whole dead animals for sale? (Yuk, but yes.) Are you willing to trade your micowave for a campfire? (Ugh. goodbye convenience… Yes.) How about a toilet for a hole in the ground? ( *sigh*…. yes.)
How about being exposed to things that you can’t really change like being thrust into the results of a 50 year long civil war or a country devasted by AIDS or places that are just so corrupt that to be there immediately feels dark and heavy?
I know I am going to encounter some really tough situations.
I know I am sacrificing more than I’ve even recognized yet.
I know I’ve been in some pretty gnarly situations and I know this trip is going to expose me to even more.
I know I am going to be painfully stretched. I feel it already.
But am I going to be a worker worth my keep? If I am honest, I have doubt. But I also have hope because I serve a wonderful, loving and gracious Father who wants to equip me for whatever He asks me to do.
I am so thankful to be surrounded by a community of prayer warriors lifting me as I step into a very dark battle.
So how can you being praying for me as I move forward?
Pray Today:
That my funds, as well as my teammate’s funds, continue to pour in. One of them is already fully funded. Yay!
That we are able to pour back into our resources and not deplete them.
For the Lord to be intensively preparing us for whatever lies ahead, and that we would recognize where He has gone before us and prepared a way for us.
For joy and peace to be in our hearts as we receive what ministry has been assigned to us.
For our families, its not easy for them either.
