(prelude: read the previous blog ‘to be homeless’ for context:)
Things I DID dream to be:
A vet. A pilot. An elf from Lord of the Rings. A famous singer. Belle.
You?
Things I DIDN’T dream to be:
Missionary, Wilderness lover, ‘hippie’, obsessed with snow. looking like this….
Regardless of what I expected and didn’t expect, I know I love to dream. There’s adventure in it. There’s hope and possibilities.
Yet, the longer I’m on the race, the more I’m continually finding people that aren’t interested in pursuing any dream:
unless it’s for FOR Him.
Now, with that aspiration, there can be no guarantees. A dream can get tossed around, shaken up, stretched, maybe even destroyed.
But the more people I meet, the more I hear the echo, “….it’s worth it.”
At least that’s what I got from them.
Meet Aaron and Ashley Reninger. The young couple from Virginia who said, ‘yes,’ to following God and a crazy dream.
Now I have to say, how I met these guys, was crazy. Try a couple of team members going to an Apple store in Riga to buy a pair of headphones—which turned into meeting the cashier who asked what we’re doing—which then led into a conversation about an orphanage her and some college students visits—which led to us buying tickets and sitting on a bus to volunteer at this special needs orphanage—which THEN led to a fellow American sitting two seats in front of me on the bus inquiring what a couple of crazy college students were doing….
–the rest is history.
Aaron and Ashley. Lived the American Dream, young, married, the world at their fingertips….
And they had many dreams, but gave them to God, who told them to go.
So they went. Started by selling the house and listening. They went to Africa and helped in large water purification and feeding projects. Whereupon God took that dream, shaped and molded it to include the country of Latvia. Latvia then opened their eyes to a place with packed orphanages and a need for orphan education, supplies, and direct financial support. He took their dream squished it and made it bigger. Specifically, He led their hearts to support teens to go a bible school in Latvia. A school that provides a place of year long education where they are poured into with life, truth, and given the tools needed to succeed. To date, they are partnering and teaching at this school, providing funds, brining supplies to orphanages and continuing with the projects in Africa.
–I’m 23, and was encouraged to look at this young couple, see their faith, hear their story, and to be reminded its possible for God to do huge things through dreaming in Him. The best part?–
They’re not looking for recognition.
They’re just obeying.
because it’s “worth it.”
So, if you think of them. Pray for them! These are from Aaron, also check out their website.
1. Wisdom on how to bring jobs and more schooling to mid age students and orphans.
2. Support for purchasing supplies and paying utilities at the orphanages and school.
3. Political connections with the European Union.
4. A house near Riga for large weekly youth meetings.
http://bringingafuture.com/
