Here I am almost 4 months into God’s decision for me to go on this amazing 11 month long mission trip. I cannot describe to you all the different emotions that I have experienced since then. Everything from pure joy to despair that I can’t do this. But through it all He has continued to give me peace. Even when I have decided that nope – today I’ve decided I’m not going – there is peace knowing I’m doing what God has asked me to do.
I’ll be honest. This week was one of those weeks. I was overwhelmed by things which was very different from the week before. I had gotten my backpack which was fun and exciting. Got to try it on and get fitted. Cool stuff. But this week I woke up and saw my pack as something completely different. It will be my “house” for 11 months. I will sleep in a sleeping bag in a tent for a good portion of those months and will endure bucket showers. This week it was too much. Too overwhelming. My humanness reared its ugly head. My desire for the comforts I’m used to overtook my desire to help the lost and broken. Yet God just kept reminding me that yes, while it wasn’t going to be easy, it was also going to be great and that there are greater needs than my comfort. Through it all He has been patient with me.
So I want to invite you on this journey. One that started 4 months ago and will continue till I return in November, 2010. I may be the one traveling, but this trip is as much yours as it is mine. So here is an update on my race route and on my fundraising efforts. To date I have received $2,460 in donations and another $3,150 in monthly pledges totalling $5,610. I’m already a 1/3 of the way to my needed amount! Thank you so much for your generosity! For me to reach my goal of $16,000 before I leave in January I have broken it down to what I would need monthly starting in June ’09 until I come back in November ’10.
2 donors at $100/month
4 donors at $50/month
6 donors at $25/month
I encourage you to prayerfully ask God what He would like you to give. I know that He will bless you as you will be helping to care for the orphan, widow and lost. These are the treasures of God’s heart. Tom Davis in his book “The Fields of the Fatherless” says it best. “God promises that if we take care of the needs of the fatherless, whatever we put our hand to will be blessed: our work, the home we build, and the relationships we hold – even the families we lead. When we pay attention to the treasures of God’s heart, we put ourselves in a position of blessing.” If you are unable to donate financially, know that prayer is just as important and is appreciated just as much!
The Race Route:
January – New Zealand
February – Australia
March – Malaysia
April – Thailand
May – Cambodia
June – Uganda
July – Kenya
August – Pioneer Africa
September – Romania
October – Ukraine
November – Pioneer Eastern Europe
So come join me! I will do my best to share every part of it so you can experience as much as possible while I’m in the field. I want you to feel what I feel, see what I see and have God work in your life as He will be working in mine. I am so excited to do this for you, for if it weren’t for your love and support I couldn’t be Jesus’ hands and feet for you! Love you all!
