I’ve gotta start somewhere, even if my starting place happens to be my least favorite. From a screen. I’m wired as an extrovert so I love people in my space. But through the world race, more than just enjoying the presence of people, I’ve come to appreciate the value of face to face interactions. Cause those are actually an endangered rhythm of the human race. Have you realized that?
{I believe part of my role in the kingdom is to cultivate spaces of grace, patience, genuinity and healing. To create raw community. Where people are seen, heard; fully known and totally valued. Where the spirit of the Lord is welcome to not only come but to stay- and do his thing- in bringing beauty about from ashes.}
So there are fewer things I value as highly as relationships. In the spirit of honestly – I’m struggling to begin the process of building a long-term support base to move to Guatemala. Because I believe the kingdom is allll about sharing our hearts. The commonality of our desires and passions to see love conquer and peace reign, weave us together in unity. That unity gives way to the Lord’s manifest power. We from there,graciously come together in support, in every way, to further His work through individual lives because He’s our central source of sustenance. We lack nothing because everybody gives. (Acts 4:32-37)
I’m not struggling to begin support raising because of a lack of trust, at least not today. But I’m struggling because I have this idea in my head of how I want to do. And isn’t that always the struggle. God let’s us in on his plans & promises and we- with every good intention, want to see it’s fruition ‘our way’. It’s our human nature to take the reigns of whatever horse is in front of us.
But God. I love this phrase in scripture because it always signifies that no matter what has or is occurring, it isn’t outside His sovereignty. This is always the part where things get good.
So here’s my but God.
He knew He would open this door when & how He did. He knew exactly where’d I’d be and what I would need. See all I want to do is have coffee dates and dinner nights, listening to all the ways God is bringing light to the cities you live in through you and your gifts and passions and beautiful obedience, and I want to sit across the table and share the very same things. Inviting each other into praise for the glories of God we’re both experiencing. To be able to encourage each other by stories of His faithfulness.
But I’m currently on the other side of the globe from most of you, making that pretty much impossible . I’ll be back in the states in 3 weeks, but after a week of leadership debrief at the AIM office, I’ll be spending 2 weeks visiting my parents. The 2 months after that I’ll be surrounded by high schoolers in the woods somewhere in North Carolina. I’m abundantly thankful for that job but it goes right up until the couple of days before I head to Guatemala for the first 6 weeks.
Once I’m back in the states, I’ll be at the AIM office for a couple weeks of long term mission training. Come late October through the holidays I’ll be more than available for countless coffee dates and face to face hellos!
Until then…I’ve gotta start here. Writing to you from across the world from the screen of (my miraculously still surviving) iPad. Asking for support in the least relational way.
But God knew this. He knew it’d be this way, that I’d be tied up in commitments. Beautiful commitments. I think He did it this way to keep my focus on His will and His power. So that my focus daily would remain on loving. The ones in front of me. Cause that’s all I can do. And trusting God to love me, in every way. I think it had to be this way so that I couldn’t do it and so that He would have to.
He knows what I am capable of and now I need to remember what He is capable of.
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SO here we go!
How much do I need to raise?
Internship: $1,600
Monthly (as staff, after my internship): $1,000
What does that cover?
Essentially all of my basic living needs. Lodging, food, local transportation…
*It does not cover flights to and from Guatemala
How can you partner?
Online Gifts:
1. Hit the support button at the top of this page
2. Make sure my name is in the participant box
3. Enter the amount & select either monthly or one time
(*I am praying for monthly donors, since this position is a long term commitment)
Checks through the mail:
1. Make checks payable to Adventures in Missions
2. Write Cali Castaneda in the memo
3. Mail checks to
Adventures in Missions
PO Box 742570
Atlanta, GA, 30374-2570
*Donations are tax deductible
Partnership in prayer:
In any commitment or action we take in advancing the kingdom of God, the enemy is there to resist us. It is his greatest mission to stop us. So please fight alongside me in prayer against all of his ways throughout this process.
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*If you would be interested in supporting other financial needs, such as flights to and from Guatemala, and other unforeseen expenses as a I prepare for this transition you can donate through
PayPal:
1. Sign in and click the ‘send’ button, located on the top right (If you don’t have an account, to sign up is easy& free)
2. Enter my email: [email protected]
3. Enter the amount and click continue
So much love to you all, and if you have questions please don’t hesitate to ask!
