Hi Friends!
First and foremost, Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones! I hope that today y’all had the merriest of Christmases.
I’m writing to you from Burlington, MA (aka my hometown) Shortly after I landed on U.S. soil (exactly one month ago) I’ve been staying with my friend, Alyssa and her family. In my free time, I’ve been catching up with friends and family in the U.S. and China, applying for jobs, and very importantly, learning more sweet, sweet lessons. : ]
A book that I’m currently chewing through is The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson. It’s a book that begins with a story about a man named Honi, who was “a man bold enough to draw a circle in the sand and not budge from it until God answered his prayers for his people.” (from The Circle Maker website) Honi prayed for rain for his people, and drew a line in the sand until rain came. Basically, this great book is filled with real stories and practical, very useful advice and tips about “praying circles around your biggest dreams and your greatest fears.”
What does it mean to pray a circle? My personal definition: constantly praying for something on your heart, not just shooting up a one-time prayer. Another important part about praying a circle around something is praying for it believing and trusting that God hears your prayers and will answer it for you for your good.
One tagline from this fabulous book is: God honors bold prayers because bold prayers honor God.
One bold prayer that I have been “praying circles” around is for a round- trip to England to attend my friend Sophie’s wedding. I first met Sophie in Beijing, and she and I became Sistah- Friends almost instantly. She is one of the most humble, inspirational, loving people I’ve ever met. Her big day is in late March 2015, and I really, really want to attend so I can support Sophie on her big day and celebrate the incredible union she’s going to go into with her fiancée, Ally.
(Sophie and I in Beijing, September 2013)
Another reason why I want to go is to see my dad and my paternal grandparents. (They all live over there, in a town very close to London.) Yet another reason why I want to go is to check out worship schools/centers in England and see if I’d be a good fit there for next fall or the year after that.
So here is the point: I’m writing to ask you to consider contributing towards my plane ticket to England. Although the trip isn’t primarily a mission trip, it’s for something I would really like to do. God’s been teaching me that He delights in my delights and loves supporting the things I love doing (traveling, seeing friends and family) and I believe that God is going to not only answer but also honor this super BOLD prayer.
So, if you felt tugs on your heartstrings and would like to contribute to my plane ticket, please email me at [email protected] or holla at me on facebook with a private message.
Thank you, friends and family! As they sign off in England, XOXO!
