I got this email from Justin's aunt Reva and uncle Jeff…talk about a great birthday gift! 🙂
Hi Amy,
Wishing you a wonderful birthday, filled with God's blessings and the love of family and friends!
Jeff and I want to do something to help you in your race. We would rather help out in a way that
would most benefit you at this point. Whether that would be a monthly committment, purchasing
equipment, insurance, travel or fundraising expenses, boot camp, personal spending, etc.
You tell us how we can best say Happy Birthday to you. We are very proud of you and your heart formissions. You are a sweet young lady and we are blessed to have you in our lives. We could not askfor a better christian lady for our wonderful nephew Justin. We love you.
Aunt Reva and Uncle Jeff.
This was my reply back.. I know its long.. but.. I think it really expresses my heart.. thats why I wanted to put it up here..Enjoy
Dear Aunt Reva,
I am just so overwhelmed right now by this email. What a great birthday gift-I’m speechless!
Honestly, one of the biggest helps you guys can do is to commit to being my prayer warriors. I know that might seem so cliché or excepted, but I am asking for a prayer warrior. I know I will have people praying for me throughout preparation, the journey, the nations…but, I really need more than just a remembrance prayer or a quick “toss in during the blessing over dinner”. I love the book, How to Develop A Powerful Prayer Life by Greg Frizzell. I need warriors that will make time to be very intentional and specific in their prayers for me. I serve a God that is in the miracle working business and I know that prayer is the direct line of communication for that to happen. One of my favorite verses is Habakkuk 3:1 that says, “Oh Lord, I have heard of your great deeds and wonders. I know them so well.. God, do what you did in your day.. Again in my own day, in my own time.”
We have heard the all stories from scripture and we somehow categorize them into a group that is “nice, neat and distant.” But, I know that God is the same God today, tomorrow, yesterday, forever. Those stories of the sea parting, the blind physically able to see again, the dead raised to life again, the lame to walk, demons casted out, life restored.. We just put them into a bundle that happened 2000 years ago.. But.. I need warriors that believe that what God did in those times, He can absolutely do again in our times, today, right now. We just have to believe and harness that power from the Holy spirit: a real, live, tangible thing! Jesus gives us that power! However, we as a society and as a “Christian” today are too weak, uncomfortable and too scared to believe that those things can happen again.
But, not me. I have seen it happen. I have seen people radically accept Christ. I have seen God physically break addictions and restore lives. Even more recently, I have seen God provide over $2000 within 2 days. I believe in Habakkuk. And, I say all that to say.. I need yall to be warriors that believe too.
This race isn’t just an opportunity to see the world, experience crazy foods, sleep on a poor excuse for a pool float for a year or try daring adventures. Its not just about me getting out of my comfort zone, growing spiritually or being scared and uncomfortable…its not about me at all. It is not about me going to build a building, love on orphans, or some other “community service project”. This race is so much bigger, greater and grander that all that. This is strictly about the Kingdom…and, that’s why I go. I am at this point in my Christian faith where I am done with the mentality that God is supposed to provide for me and give me the American dream…just because I walked ten feet of carpet and said, “yes” to Him. (How does that even make sense? But, so many Christians believe and think that way…obviously, myself included.) I am done with “doing things that make me look and feel good.” I am done with self and I am done with things of this life that have no eternal value.
I know that God will be Habakkuk for me….yet.. Even greater, I know that God will be God for me. Who am I to limit God? Yes, He CAN do those miracles and wonders we read about in scripture! YES, He CAN do things that I have never dreamed of or heard of! Why limit God?
So, sorry to get on that soap box…but.. When I say I need prayer warriors, I want people to know what I mean by that before they commit.
Another thing you can do is help me network and fundraise. You have people in your life, circle of friends, network of organizations that I do not have access to….and some of those people have hearts that would want to be apart of this. Help me get the word out. I have no problem calling or meeting people to share my heart. If you get me their addresses, I can send them support letters. I know some people only give when they can get something physical and tangible placed back in their hands.. I can cater to them as well.. I am selling Worldrace t-shirts for $20 and the Samaritan card. The Samaritan Card is a wallet-size shopping discount card. When you buy a Samaritan Card for a mere $20, you tap into exclusive savings of up to 50% at more than 100,000 merchants nationwide. You can help me by selling these items for me as well.
By now – you know that I always make a short story long! To answer your question…being able to focus on the ministry rather than the money would be extremely beneficial. I would much rather be spending time researching my countries, learning languages and figuring how what is the best method to get the Gospel across than dealing with a mountain of support letters. My goal is to have 90% of my money in by December 31, 2011. Just like everything else, it cost to do the Lord’s work! I am finding that some people say they want to support me but are waiting until they get x amount of dollars before they send it in. While this is extremely kind and generous of them, it hurts me in a way. I absolutely MUST meet my deadlines set forth by the WR or I don’t get to go at all or could be set home prematurely from my trip. So, yes! Monthly contributions would be a huge blessing. Having pledges lets the administration side know that I am trying and that it will eventually come in.
Again, sorry for exploding today!…that was kinda unexpected! But I just want to thank yall so much.. This really means a lot to me. Thank you for being there for me and for supporting me.
Thank for you listening.
I love you both so much and I am so grateful to have Justin in my life…so grateful to have his wonderful family as well.
I am blessed!
I love you,
Amy Colley
Thank you for taking the time to read this! Bless you!
Thank you for all the birthday wishes!
