It is wild how quickly the launch date is approaching
(estimated launch date 6/13/2010)
and I am unbelievably excited, increasingly overwhelmed, and supremely
thankful. Most importantly I am thankful
for all of you who have helped me along this journey. So many people have offered encouragement and
advice, prayed for me, pledged financial support and given of their own
possessions to ensure I have what I need. You all have been a huge blessing in my life, and I pray that you are
blessed in return for your willingness to contribute to this ministry.
So far I have been very blessed by many generous people who
have stepped forward and helped me arrive at each goal I needed to reach. Each time I was amazed at the Lord using his
people just at the right moment to show me the provision that has been planned
for me. Even when I didn’t fully believe
it could happen. I’ve been humbled
repeatedly during this process and I just have to assume it will happen each
time I lose faith that what I see as impossible will actually happen. Each of you who have contributed did not know
that you played a part in making the impossible happen – but believe it is
true. I now stand at exactly $8500
raised – the exact amount I need to move forwards towards launching. I don’t believe anyone was pulling off a grand
conspiracy in the background, or any other human orchestration of
ensuring the exact amount came in at the exact moment it was needed. However provision was miraculously provided –
“rarely early, but never late,” as a good friend recently reminded me about the
character of God.
Again in my worry and unfaithfulness I was explaining to a
friend a few weeks ago at lunch that I didn’t know how I was going to buy some
of the gear and other provisions that are required for this trip. She immediately replied: “put everything you
need on your blog and it will be provided.” Ha, wow, why didn’t I think of this! And why don’t I have that kind of faith yet that the Lord will use his
people to provide when I am unable – and to say with confidence: it will be
provided. I assured her that was a good
idea (wishing secretly that I had come up with it myself), and agreed I would
do so.
So, to keep things simple and short I am asking anyone who
might have previously wanted to help me in this journey but didn’t for whatever
reason to please pray and consider getting involved now. I have just about five weeks left before I
launch off and to put it lightly – am in need of a home (tent), closet
(backpack), and some other essential items that will keep me basically alive
and well to do the ministry work put before me. I want to stress that absolutely no contribution is too small, every bit
counts and the blessing of it is multiplied exponentially. I have been witness to the power of a few cheerfully
giving souls being led to contribute and seeing a magnificent result. It amazes me still how excited some people
have been towards giving and I hope to reach that level of joy in helping
others in the future. It has truly been
an inspiration in my journey to learn the power of giving and receiving.
So, I am now taking another leap of faith and asking anyone
who feels led to please help me with obtaining the following items which are not
optional for obvious reasons. I really
pride myself on not being picky or demanding in what I ask for, however in this
case I really must be specific as we will likely encounter some pretty harsh
living conditions that require specific gear. Here is a quick list of items I must have and even some links to find
what I’m talking about (I’ve done some research!):
1. My new home: REI
Half Dome 2 Plus Tent
http://www.rei.com/product/794296
2. My new closet: Osprey
Waypoint 85 Travel Pack
http://www.moosejaw.com/moosejaw/shop/product_Osprey-Men-s-Waypoint-85-Travel-Pack_10090232_10208_10000001_-1_
3. My security (not
really)/fix it all tool: Leatherman 830846 Skeletool Multitool
http://www.amazon.com/Leatherman-830846-Skeletool-Multitool/dp/B000XU9NXW
4. My one
luxury item: Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow – Medium
http://www.rei.com/product/719843
There are also a few other items I need, but given that they
are things like quick dry underwear and prescription anti-malaria pills, I
would rather just sort those out on my own! Please feel free to contact me at any time if you would like to help in
any way or have any questions about anything. Again, no contribution is too small – and I assure you it will all go
towards meeting these very specific needs for this trip. When I’ve secured each of these items I will
post a comment below letting everyone know so that I don’t wind up with three
tents, two backpacks and no pillow (crucial item, by the way)!
If you feel led to help me secure these very vital items,
please feel free to contact me by phone to let me know, or mail me a check (my
address is in the contacts tab on the left), or come find me – I’d love to see
everyone and chat about this entire journey! Again, none of this would be possible without the generosity of
believers who have stepped forward already, and those who will step
forward to allow us who have been called to go.
I thank all of you again for the multifaceted support that
you have blessed me with. Without the
peace of God’s provision – revealed only as I am prepared to receive it, and
the generosity of His people I would have never made it this far.
Please continue to pray for my team and me as we draw closer
to launch and finally meet each other at training camp in the end of May.
-Jeremiah
