Machine Parts: Chicago
My time these last few weeks have definitely been interesting. Now, I can understand why my spirit got so excited when I was still in West Virginia and watching 'Hugo'.
You see in the movie there is a part where the main character, Hugo, who is showing all of Paris to his friend from the backside of the clock tower and he refers to the world as a machine.
I don't remember the whole monologue, but Hugo related that he sometimes thought the whole world was a machine and with a machine there are NO extra parts, meaning all the parts for the machine have a purpose and a reason for being present, and if the whole world is a machine, then he is a part of the machine and so has a purpose and reason for being apart of the world. Each person in the world, then has a reason and purpose for being apart of the world.
I bring the dialog up because this past week I came up to Gainesville, Georgia for some Long-Term Missions training to go to Ireland later on in the year, and as the week progressed and I recovered from a brief bout with food poisoning I started to process more and more just what Ireland will look like.
After one of the sessions, Josh Rene from my World Race squad stopped to talk to me and asked me about joining Adventures Youth (AY) for the summer. I told him no (again as he asked me in January) because I'm trying to get to Ireland and everything; however, I think the night before when I had dinner with my squad coaches (Mama C and Pappy) I may have prayed or thought about considering AY if there was a position in Chicago.
So, as Josh was asking me about the summer I asked him where they needed positions and he talked about spaces in Atlanta, Western Pennsylvania and I think St. Louis. He told me to pray about it and get back to him. I walked away and began going down the steps to lunch and on the fourth step down, Josh piped up, 'Oh and in Chicago.'
I wish I could paint a picture of my face and spirit in that instant, but I cannot. Let's just say my heart and spirit piped up and knew it was a pretty good sure thing from the moment those words were spoken.
With all this said, I will be in Chicago for the summer as a 'Head Coach' with AY summer staff and help set into motion the sports camps ready to occur during June and July. As part of my salary, I need to raise $500 and so I come to you and ask for your support. You may support me at this location: http://www.adventures.org/give/donate.asp?giveto=staff and all you have to do is put WAGONERAJ in the staff member box.
I will be honest with you I have been struggling with this decision because Ireland is so prevalent on my heart and I just want to be over there; however, the Lord has been speaking to me about needing to do my due diligence in my support raising for Ireland, as well as being open to the fact that this opportunity with AY is a piece of the puzzle for what is to come.
God, then, reminded me of the dialog in 'Hugo' and how for this season, this summer, I am a 'machine part' that is needed and important for the Chicago team and mission to work properly.
Will you pray for me as I move into this season and as I try to figure out just what the future with Ireland will look like (more to come about that subject)???
Also, will you consider clicking the link above and supporting me for this summer?? If I could get 100 people to donate just $5 to me, then I will be fully funded. OR 50 at $10 will also fully fund my summer.
Please let me know if you can support me prayerfully or financially. If you also know if anyone would be willing to sponsor me on a possible vision trip to Ireland in September or October, then please contact me at [email protected].
Thank you for your prayers and support! They are a great encouragement to me! Much love my friends!!
~AJ Wagoner (ajwagoner.com)
