This time last year I was packing, saying goodbye to friends and family, and heading to Atlanta to launch for the World Race. I was worried I forgot something, but in reality I over-packed (yes, it is somehow possible to over-pack for 11 months of travel). I had no idea what to expect, but that was really the best approach.
A year ago, I didn’t know…
- it would be so hard to leave so many amazing people each month.
- I would see God in new and amazing ways. His faithfulness is astounding.
- the orphans would love me even more than I loved them.
- there would be family members I would only see again in Heaven.
- I would speak around the world.
- God’s love reaches beyond my comprehension to the man who may been the one who robbed us years ago in Costa Rica.
- that if I could, I would choose to get lice again if it meant I could love on the kids of Thailand all over again.
- I would find food that was actually too spicy for me to eat.
- I would have so many dreams.
- what it truly meant to sacrifice my wants and desires.
- you could meet some neat people hitchhiking (which is an accepted practice parts of Africa).
- the oppression in Asia
- the poverty and need in Africa
- some of the amazing organization that are changing lives and communities around the world
- God would open the door to a dream He gave me about 15 years ago!
As I have been reflecting on the past year, I want to share two things with my reader. First, I want to share some of the amazing organizations I’ve seen in action around the world. I also want to share what is next for me.
Here are the ministries that you can be lifting up in prayer and donating your time or money to them.
Christian Light Foundation Costa Rica
This ministry is right in the middle of one of the most dangerous slums in Central America. This neighborhood is one that the police won’t even enter. Yet, Christian Light Foundation is loving on the kids of Los Guido, Costa Rica and feeding them while they disciple them. I heard heartbreaking stories of the kids growing up in the middle of violence, abuse, drugs, and homicides because of gangs. But, I saw kids laughing, playing, and learning about the love of Jesus all because they were at the Finca getting food, love, and discipleship. For more information visit http://www.clfcostarica.com/index.html
Tree of Life International
A ministry in the rural parts of Honduras. It was formed with the mission of providing spiritual, emotional, educational, and physical assistance to the poor, oppressed, abused, helpless, or disadvantaged people and communities of Honduras. They have children’s programming at least twice a week to disciple the kids. They also do door to door ministry as well as minister at a psychiatric hospital and substance abuse rehabilitation center. It was amazing to see how they were pouring into the children and being a positive influence to them. Seeing the kids learn about the love of Jesus and walk in that love was amazing. Most of these kids don’t have much at home, but they have the hope of Jesus and people who believe in them which is changing these young lives. They are currently in the process of building a children’s home. Find out more about this ministry at http://www.treeoflifehome.org/index.htm
Remember Nhu
I don’t know that I could say enough good things about Remember Nhu! Their mission is to end child sex slavery through prevention. Their ministry is worldwide. We got to be a part of how they are changing Thailand. They take kids in who are at high risk to be sold into the sex industry. The children get food, clothes, a places to live, schooling, and discipleship which enables them to thrive. I encourage you to watch the video about how this ministry began https://remembernhu.org/meet-nhu.html
Manna Packs – Feed My Starving Children
Each day in Swaziland I saw preschool children receive two meals a day and I saw grade school students get a meal every day. Manna Pack meals have reached nearly 70 countries around the world. After seeing the poverty in many areas, it brought me hope to see an organization meeting that need. A squad mate of mine actually has volunteered to put Manna Packs together in her home town, then in Africa she got to distribute the food that she helped package before she left for the Race. Check out this organization and see if there is a volunteer opportunity near you http://fmsc.org/mannapack
Toms
I know most of us, if not all of us, have heard of Toms. I don’t own a pair of Toms yet, but I will! After seeing the kids in Africa with their little Toms, I saw the impact that they truly have. Many kids were in shoes that were falling apart or way too small or full of holes. But each year the children were given Toms which made them light up. Go buy a pair of shoes and know it will make an impact http://www.toms.com/
Timbali Crafts
Want African bags or home decor, but you can’t go to Africa? I have the perfect solution for you! The Timbali women help to feed more than 2000 orphans and vulnerable children each day at feeding centers in their rural communities. Timbali Crafts seek to reach out to the physical and spiritual needs of these hard-working women, who would otherwise have little or none. Each day I would see these women sewing bags and iPad cases. Knowing that the money from these purchases went straight back to the women helping feed and teach the orphans in the community caused me to buy many of their beautiful goods. Go buy a bag or home decor and impact a community in Swaziland http://timbalicrafts.org/
Seeing each of these ministries has changed me because I’ve realized that each of these ministries began with a God given dream. The more I saw people walking out the dreams God had given them, the more God stirred up the dreams He had given me. So, at the end of September, I will be returning to Honduras (Tree of Life International) for a short trip to talk with them about my God given dream of opening up a school in an area of great need in Central or South America. 16 years ago I went on my first mission trip to Bolivia and the poverty broke my heart. It was at that time God began planting this dream within me. 12 years ago I went to Chile and helped build a school in the slums. At that time, I knew I wanted to open a school where the need was great so that it could be used to change generations to come and change the community in turn. Now, God has stirred that dream and opened a door.
Part of me is scared to speak this dream because it will be challenging and I might fail, but I have realized that God will not fail. So, I’m letting Him lead me to a new journey. I might not end up exactly where I think, but I’ll end up exactly where He wants because I will follow Him each step of the way.
***To continue following my journey go to my new blog https://alwayspursuingdreams.wordpress.com/ ***
I want to say a huge thank you to each of you. Thank you for your support and your prayers. This time last year I didn’t know what would follow, but I knew I had a great group of people around me cheering me on and covering me in prayer and here I am in that same place again this year. THANK YOU for your financial support, your prayers, and your encouraging words!!! You are the best!!!
