Dear Friends and Family,
We hope all is well with you! As you may know, we recently returned from The World Race with Adventures in Missions, where we were able to be a part of God’s work in 10 different countries during our 11 months on the mission field. It was amazing! The experience of a lifetime! A Kingdom Journey (as Adventures founder Seth Barnes calls it). But I learned that it was not "the end all be all". It was merely a glimpse of all that God wants to accomplish through the ministry that He has entrusted me with as His beloved child. The are many hurting, suffering, bleeding, hungry, angry, hopeless, people in the world. I am the song that God the Father is singing into the world to tell the story of redemption and the healing of the broken heart.
I need training. I want to be discipled. I am ready to show up for my life and live out what the Holy Spirit taught me on the World Race. Assimilating back into American culture is easy; integrating is much more challenging. I have changed, for the better. I am not the same person that left the United States in July 2012. I am more yielded to what the Lord wants to do in and through me than ever before. When you heed the voice of God- going where He tells you to go, and doing what He says to do- it is very comforting to know that you are exactly where you belong. If God has you where He wants you and you are satisfied, content, and at peace with it, why would you want to be anywhere else? It's definitely not the easiest path; much more the road less traveled, but it is ALWAYS worth it!
Christina and I witnessed the Lord provide over $31,000.00 for our work with Adventures on the World Race! He is Jehovah Jireh, "The Lord Provides". It came from places that we never would have expected. Through the process God totally increased our faith!
What's Next?
With that, we are excited to share with you what we are doing now!
In September, I (Derek) will be apprenticing under Adventures in Missions in their Center for Global Action (CGA) program. Christina is back in the classroom living out her passion as a 2nd grade elementary teacher.
The CGA was developed by Adventures to prepare former Racers to live out their kingdom calling. During this time of mentor-ship, discipleship, and training I will be equipped to launch into the Kingdom Dreams that God has placed within me. Christina and I will also have the opportunity to be mentored by the couple that trained our World Race Squad and are on staff with Adventures.
Christina's school year started with first week of August, and she is already in Georgia. I will be tying up loose ends in Florida and moving to Gainesville, Georgia starting in September. After I complete an 8 month stint in the CGA and Christina finishes out the school year we will evaluate what God has for us after that time.
Once again, the Lord has asked us to lean not on our own understanding and trust Him with finances as we step into this next season. We will be living off of His income. So, I am reaching out to you and asking for your support. Would you invest in me for this season, supporting me however you can monthly, or one time?
Our greatest need is always for prayer. We want you to feel supported by us to! So please send us an email with any prayer requests that you have! We believe in the "Kingdom Partnerships" that the Lord gives us and desire to be involved in your lives!
How can you give? You can click on the "Support Me" link at the top of our blog. CGA starts September 13, 2013. The total cost of CGA is $3,600, which comes to $450 per month. I need to have 2 months of support in my Adventures account before the start date.
Grace and Peace
Derek and Christina Simke
