It was 3:30 in the morning and my hands clenched the steering wheel until my knuckles were white.
My friend and I were driving down the interstate in rural Alabama and the fog was so thick that I couldn’t see more than two reflectors ahead. It was impossible to tell if and when the road would curve and there was no light beyond the small beams on the front of our car to help guide our path.
I’ve never watched a horror movie, but if something happened to us on this road, I had a feeling we could easily become the inspiration for the next poorly done film that would frighten thousands of first-date, pre-teen couples into some clandestine hand holding.
I drove on like this for nearly two hours before the sun began to slowly rise and lighten the skies.
As the fog cleared and I finally loosened my grip on the wheel, I began to remember all of the people back home who had promised to pray for safe travels as we made the two day drive from South Carolina to Oklahoma for our tornado relief mission trip.
As I thought of all the Facebook and blog comments that offered promises of prayers for safety, I felt it down to the core of my being that it was because of those prayers that we made it safely through those two hours– and the other 35-ish hours we spent on the road that week.
I believe those prayers back home surrounded us with a shield of protection and released angels to come guide our car through the night.
I could truly sense the prayers enveloping our car and carrying us safely onward.
Prayers have supernatural power. Sometimes I forget that.
When I send out support letters that express gratitude for “financial and prayer support,” my focus tends to be far more on the financial goal I must reach than the prayers that may be offered on my behalf.
And that’s really quite a shame.
Because while the financial donations get me to the mission field, the prayers get me through every single thing I encounter while I’m on the mission field.
I confess that I have neglected to take seriously the task of finding prayer warriors to fight for me on their knees while I go out into the darkest places of the world to carry the hope and light of Christ to the nations.
In my excitement over the climbing number of financial supporters, I have forgotten to seek out prayer supporters. And I really, really need some prayer support.
When I’m struggling to love on and live in peace with my teammates, I need prayer.
When I don’t like the leadership style of my ministry contacts, I need prayer.
When I’m surrounded by sick, contagious people, I need prayer.
When I’m asked to stand in front of a church in Africa and preach the gospel, I need prayer.
When my heart aches because it’s been far too long since I’ve been able to call home, I need prayer.
When you pray, you move God to protect, strengthen, empower, encourage, and guide me.
I desperately need that. I desperately need your prayers.
If you are willing to commit to faithfully praying for me at least once or twice a week while I am gone, please comment below and let me know.
I want to make a list of my prayer warriors so that when I feel alone and scared in the jungles of Nepal, I can pull out that list and be reminded that I am not alone, but that I am carried forward by the power of the prayers of so many loved ones back home.
If you want to start praying for me now, here are three requests that are weighing heavy on my 
heart…
-One of my greatest fears for the race is the threat of mosquito-borne diseases like malaria. A lot of diseases in these countries are transmitted by mosquito bites and I get more mosquito bites than anyone I’ve ever met. When I toured a mosquito-infested rainforest in Nicaragua, I wore the ridiculous outfit you see to the right and coated my skin underneath with repellant. Some of my friends wore shorts and t-shirts. They got no bites. I had mosquitoes aiming for my nose, the only exposed skin. I am terrified of getting malaria or another illness while overseas. Will you pray for my protection from mosquitoes and the diseases they carry?
-Whereas I am 98% funded (AHH! THANK YOU!), some of my friends on V Squad are struggling to reach the $6500 needed to launch with me in five weeks. Some of these friends include Ashley, who brought me encouragement when I needed it most at camp and Emily, who brings so much love and life to my team. If you feel led to support them, you can do so on their blog, but I also ask for prayers. Will you pray that my fellow missionaries, whom I love and desire to serve alongside, will reach their deadline and be able to launch with me?
-Ever since I signed up for the race in November, I have been dreading the moment I have to tell Grant goodbye for eleven months. Yesterday, Grant and I had to plan our last time seeing each other and our last goodbye, and I cried most of the day just from that. We will be saying goodbye between 8 and 9 am on September 7th, and it would mean so much to me if you would set a reminder on your phone to lift us both up during that painful and scary time. Will you pray for peace and joy for Grant and myself as our obedience to the Lord carries us so far away from one another?
I am sorry for taking this long to truly appreciate those of you who said you would pray for me while I’m gone. In all my planning and fundraising, I was blind to just how much I would need you. Please forgive me for my ingratitude.
Thank you for letting me humble myself before you and confess that I cannot do this alone. I need you and I need your prayers. Please consider joining my support team by committing to pray once or twice weekly for me over the next year. If you want to make this commitment, please tell me so that I can add you to my list of supporters.
Your sacrifice of time and willingness to take my name before the Most Holy and Powerful God humbles me and fills me with gratitude. Thank you for your support of all kinds. Thank you for joining me on this journey.
