33 Days till Training Camp and 116 Days till Launch . . .
It’s exciting and scary to think that we launch in less than 4 months! I have so much to do before we leave. Training Camp is only a month away! I still have shots to get, learn how to pack my backpack efficiently, and money to raise before I leave!
This past month a lot has happened and God has shown up in a BIG way! I have been officially placed on January Route 3! Which will be now known as S SQUAD! (and our team color is GREEN!) I have bought 95% of my gear for the trip – Backpack, sleeping bag, tent, packing cubes, etc. My backpack is big, but I still don’t know how I am supposed to fit everything I need for a year in it! I am just holding on to faith that it’ll just work.
We have had two country changes to our route. Instead of Greece and Botswana we will now be serving Albania and Zimbabwe! Our squad really has grown to love the people of these beautiful countries praying for them and asking God to guide us to fully serve the need He has called us there for.
Albania is on the Balkan Peninsula is where Paul himself travelled on his third missionary journey. Albania declared independence in 1912, but was occupied by both Italy and Germany during World War II. Behind the Iron Curtain, Albania was under Soviet rule until the early 1990s. Our ministry will vary depending on the host that you are assigned: my team could be working with a summer camp for children in the area, reach out to youth ministries and gypsy camps, or we could work in local prisons. Regardless of the ministry, we are so excited to bring some much needed hope and love to this nation.
Zimbabwe, formerly a British colony known as Rhodesia, boasts intriguing ruins and shares the majestic Victoria Falls with Zambia. According to Amnesty International, the current regime is allowing human rights violations to escalate. Zimbabwe also has one of the lowest life expectancies in the world. The majority of the people identify themselves as Christians but very much need people like our team to help advance the kingdom with love and hope.
Fundraising Updates :
At the beginning of August i still had more than half of my first fundraising goal to raise with just a little more than a month to the deadline. It was the first time I was actually starting to get nervous about if I would be able to raise the support I needed to leave in January. God just wanted me to sweat it out a little and remind me that I need to lean on Him that if I can’t trust Him with something as small as fundraising how did I think I would make it through the next year? As ALWAYS God showed up in such a big way! In less than 30 days we received the remaining $2,865 needed to hit the first deadline of $5,000 and even better with 2 weeks to spare.
My dad surprised me and took me hiking for Labor Day and I was still $600 out from my goal and not really sure where it was going to come from. I was a little nervous giving up 5 days and without cell service to help make this happen. On the third day we hiked a portion of the Appalachian Trail in the Smoky Mountains, as my little legs and I treked behind the group admiring this beautiful place, I was at such peace not caring that the people behind me probably thought I was crazy as I talked out loud to God. As we came off the Trail I got brief moment of cell service for just enough time to get my mom’s texts saying Phil’s Heavenly Pizza wanted to make sure I met the first deadline and provided the remaining $600!!!
Another boost of God-fidence right when I needed it! With the next deadline in December and $12,017 remaining to hit my goal, I am at ease knowing the King of Kings always provides for His daughter.
Thank you to everyone for your support and prayers!
A special thank you to those who have come out for horseback riding lessons to help and to my corporate sponsors for your generous support!
Bronze sponsors ($250): Florida 1st Insurance & Bonnie Ford & Barbara Hilty
Silver sponsors ($500): Phil’s Heavenly Pizza
Gold Sponsors ($1000): Karen and Mario Romine & Tina Mulligan
I have a great feeling God is going to provide a Platinum ($2500) or Diamond ($5000) sponsor soon! None other than He is capable of making that happen!
Please continue to pray for my squad and me as we get ready for training camp and prepare to launch in January! I would love to invite you to pray for each country we will be serving and the people we have yet to meet <3
Many blessings,
Jessica
