Hello everyone!
Firstly, I would like to thank everyone who has donated to my mission trip thus far! I am about 50% of the way to my fundraising goal of $16,277! God has been showing up all over the place and providing for me just like a great daddy would! I now have enough money raised to launch on June 28, which is an exciting and nerve-wracking thought! If it is on your heart to help me raise the last half of my goal, please meander over to the Support Me tab there on the left of my blog to spread a little love and joy! It would be earnestly appreciated!
God is moving in my community, and the amount of support that I’ve received so far has been an incredible blessing.
Fundraising Update:
I am running a raffle, and the tickets are still available for purchase. The drawing is June 14 (need not be present to win) and the prizes are $500, Zach Parise Jersey (MN Wild), Joe Mauer Jersey (MN Twins), 3 Prizes of $100 and 4 Prizes of $50. If you’re interested in purchasing tickets ($10/each) please contact me at [email protected] or 651-402-0801.
On May 11 Green Mill in Hastings is hosting a fundraiser to help me raise money for my mission! If you go to green mill, order take out or delivery, 20% of the proceeds will go to mission trip if you bring the voucher shown in the image below. (Please right click on the image to copy/paste or print it, or email me for a copy) You must present the voucher at the time of payment, so please don’t forget to bring it with you!
Stay tuned! More updates to come! Thanks again to everyone who has helped make this trip possible for me! I am so grateful for your generous souls!
On a different note, the Lord has been preparing me for this grand adventure of servanthood in ways that I have never expected. He has been at work changing my outlooks and desires in ways that only he could. He has sent people into my life to help refine my foundation, give me new perspectives, and most importantly, to change my heart.
One thing that God told me not too long ago is that it’s not about what your foundation is built on, but who. As I thought about it I realized that my foundation was rooted in things of the world: my bank account, my appearance, my abilities, etcetera. I realized that a foundation built on top of my own shoulders isn’t bound to stand very long. I am a strong person, but my strength is fleeting. The strength of God, however, is infinite. His grace is more than sufficient for me. So again, he asked me, Kristen, who is your foundation built on?
I had to come before him and confess that the entire all of my 24 years I have been building my foundation with my wood, instead of his steel. My foundation was weak. It was beginning to deteriorate and rot away.. Since that moment he has been refining me with fire and replacing my rotten wooden beams with his steel ones. One of the biggest beams he’s replaced is where I place my hope. I no longer hope in things of the world; I hope in my God. He is bigger than all of my problems. He has it all under control. I put my faith in him, and I know he will show up when the time is right. He hasn’t failed me yet.
At first the refining process was painful. His fire burned. It was hard to admit that I had so much (for lack of a better term) stuff to fix. But then I realized he wasn’t burning me because I was a full of flaws, he was refining me with the fire of his love. He is changing me because he loves me, not because he is angry with me! Once I had that revelation, changing my heart became a joyful process.
God doesn’t just love, he IS love. His entire being is love. He loves each and every one of us, not just with a small portion of who He is, but with his WHOLE being! I can’t even comprehend the size of Minnesota, let alone the planet, the galaxy or the universe, and God is bigger than all of it! And all of that is LOVE! Do you realize how much he loves you?! The thought of it just blows my mind.
All I know is that I want to share it. We are all God’s creation. Every single person I encounter in these upcoming 11 months is loved just as much as I am by our Creator. No matter if they have HIV, can’t walk, live in poverty, have no job, or whatever their situation may be, they are just as beautiful and precious as me. God has made it my mission to make sure that they know how much he loves them. If that means standing outside in 100 degree heat to serve a meal, holding a dirty child close, digging though the dirt to help build a house, or hiking 10 miles to preach his word, sign me up.
He has made it my mission to serve his people. The best thing I can do for them is make sure they know they are loved by the king. God has changed my heart from being excited to travel to being excited to serve. The new places are just a perk. My mission is the people that I encounter.
Every day I strive more and more to be like Jesus, the human example of God. Jesus gave. He never expected to receive anything in return. Please pray for me. Pray that God fills my heart afresh every day with love I can pour out to his people. I want to live for him. I want to give it all.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog! Posted below is a wonderful video made by my squad-mate (I’ve been lucky enough to meet them all on Facebook)! The video shows a little bit about the World Race, where we’re going, and how we’ll be serving. There are 55 people in my squad from all over the US. We will be working and serving together!
Please feel free to contact me with any questions that you have! Bless you!
