This week has been full of lots of excitement, tears, fear, and faithfulness.
At the beginning of the week, I was very fearful. I was working on packing my life into 2 backpacks and I had little luck. I felt like I didn’t have much and then when I tried stuffing it all into my packs, I had to keep repacking to make everything fit. I have gotten too used to comfort in my life and God is sending me out with only a backpack of stuff for 9 months. As scary as that could be, I am ready.
However, along with all the fear, God keeps pulling me back in SO tightly. He is so gracious and loving. He knows I am simply human and that I will have fear, but, He wants to get me to a point of being FEARLESS.
One whole day left until I head out and I don’t need anyone to pinch me anymore. Goodbyes are as real as it gets. It is so hard. I just have so many connections here at home and it will be hard to step out for a little bit. But, God has a plan. He has had this as a plan for my life since the day I was born.
Speaking of God having this planned for me, He even told someone from my church a few years ago that He was going to use me in long-term missions. My first international mission trip was to Accompong, Jamaica in 2015. Someone from my church that has been to Accompong many times led the youth group on the mission trip. This faithful man, who led our trip, asked me to sit down with him and his wife this week. I was very unsure of what he was going to say to me walking in to talk to him, however, I left with tears in my eyes and a BIG smile on face. God is so faithful, you guys.
When I sat down to talk to him, he told me that in 2015, when I went to Jamaica, God told him that He would use me in long-term missions in the future. He said that he never told me what he heard from God, but said that it is so cool to see it all come to play now after 3 years of waiting.
Another really encouraging thing was that he said he could see me finding a place God puts on my heart and leading people to go on mission there. The way that he found out about Jamaica in the first place was from a faithful man named Harold. Harold, long ago, listened to God’s voice and it led him to a small village up in the mountains of Jamaica. And now, we have made hundreds of trips up to Accompong to love on the wonderful souls and help them build up people there to lead the village in faith. I love my sweet family in Accompong. God is so good and faithful and loving. No place I would rather be than here in His arms.
So, after he told me all of this stuff, while I was crying in his office, he let me know that what he said wasn’t it. He said that at the beginning of my fundraising process, God told him that whatever was left, he was to pay for it. So, he read on Facebook that I had $2,256 until I met my 90% goal. He said he felt God calling him to pay that. At this point, I was beyond overwhelmed. God KNOWS how to love. And all this time, growing up, I didn’t always know how to love Him back. No more of that.
All that being said, I only have about $1,500 left to pay until I am FULLY FUNDED. My goal is to be fully funded by the end of September. There are quite a few ways for you to help. First, and most importantly, PRAYER! During this year, there are going to be tons of uncomfortable and hard situations that only God can fix. My team is going places where we will need prayer for safety. Also, I pray strongly that we will still be able to go to Nicaragua. Please be in prayer with us regarding the political issues in Nicaragua right now. Also, just prayer in general. There are tons of growing moments for us, tons of ministry opportunities and always times where we can make Jesus famous. Please be in prayer for every single one of us; that we are able to grow and really focus in on what God is saying to us so we can be at full capacity. Second, you can adopt a day or buy a t-shirt. I will be gone for 265 days and would love for people back home to adopt one of those days. On the day that you adopt, I will send you a message telling you what our ministry looks like that day, what God taught me that day, a cute video of a little kid, pretty much anything. Adopt a day for $10; you can choose your kids’ birthdays, your birthday, anniversary, holidays, etc. Please help me get to my financial goal. Last, Lana and Grace will be selling t-shirts for me while I am gone. I would love it if I could have TONS of people wearing the shirts that I made in order to tell a little bit more about what I am doing and what ministry looks like. Little do you know, maybe the t-shirt can point someone to Jesus. So, please consider buying a t-shirt. Talk to Lana Raatz or Grace Dawson for more information!!! My goal is to sell 60 short sleeves and 40 long sleeves!!
Thank you all for EVERYTHING! One day and 14 hours until I board my plane to Atlanta for launch. Please keep me and my entire team in your prayers. Life is about to get different for us and I am so excited.
What if we got fully funded before I leave? One day and 14 hours to get $1,500? TOTALLY POSSIBLE. Lord willing!
