April/May Newsletter

Mom and Dad flew in for the end of the year festivities! I’m SO glad they got to be here! Earthlight had our very last performance on May 1^st, which was SOOO sad! It was great to have all of our parents there to meet each other for the first time! I miss them so much already! It’s weird to think the singing ministry of Earthlight is done (for me, anyhow) after three wonderful years! Brittney will be managing next year, and my prayers are with her as she continues serving the Lord through Earthlight!

It was very bittersweet saying goodbye to some of my dear friends. It’s a very odd feeling to know that I may never see most of these people again. 
Still, I’ve got several who will be around for the summer, so I’m going to love them to death while I still have them!

 

Derek’s graduation ceremony was May 8^th, so I flew out to Southern California for the weekend to watch him graduate with his Bachelor’s in Communications!   I’m a proud big sis, for sure!             Me, Derek, Chelsea, Jeremy, and Devon!

                    Mom, Derek, me, and Dad!

We had a blast at the Angels Stadium Thursday, May 7^th … FREE HAT DAY!

We played at Santa Monica Beach on Friday before the graduation ceremony…

 “All I wanna do is have some fun! When the sun comes up over Santa Monica Blvd!!!”

It was Girl Scouts of America Day at the ballpark, and Dad just happened to be walking by the entry gate as they entered the field and just jumped in the line with them! He’s the big guy in the gray waving!   Ya, my dad is THAT cool.

(I know… I probably would have jumped in line with him if I was there! He was a troop master for boy scouts back in the day, at least. That had to count for something…. Haha. I was jealous.)

It was a busy 5 days, but I enjoyed every ounce of family love that weekend!  There’s much more I could tell, but those are the highlights!

Fundraising Update!!!!

The Spirit placed a burden on Pastor Darrell’s heart to tell the congregation that their church was supposed to provide the remaining money to complete my goal of $16,000. I was quite skeptical at first and my brain told me not to worry about the money or if people gave at all. This was a tiny, backwoods country church, after all; don’t expect anything. Ah, my weak faith.

God blew me away. I had about $9,000 already in my AIM account, and assuming monthly pledges all come in faithfully; I had about $15,000 accounted for. After the service during fellowship time, $50.00 came. Then $100. I was so thankful. Then a lady came up and asked me how much I still needed. I honestly wasn’t positive of the exact numbers, but I knew it was around $1,000. I thought she was just curious, as she asked about the countries I’d be going to and some other things as well. About five minutes later, she and her husband wrote a check for $1,000! I thought to myself, “are you kidding me?!?!” I hardly knew what to say. She asked me in all sincerity, “is it enough?” Again, I thought, “Are you KIDDING ME???” 

Words didn’t even seem adequate enough to thank them. This was truly a miracle! God’s Spirit spoke, and His people listened and obeyed, and I’m blown away by it! And now, for a round of the only song that seems appropriate: the one that my roomies and I bust out obnoxiously, frequently, and in harmony when God blows us away:

I’m the only one so far on my team of 39 young adults that has met their fundraising goal. Many have barely hit the 1,000 dollar mark. While I’ve been in the process of sending support letters, fundraising by selling t-shirts, bracelets, and speaking at churches since last October, some of my teammates have barely just signed on in the past two weeks, giving them less than half the time I had to get the word out! You can see their pictures and read some of their blogs and how they were called to the mission field here: http://www.theworldrace.org/?tab=teams&group=groupk

Here’s the miracle stats!

So, even though my fundraising goal has been met (or will be through monthly pledgers!!!), there are still plenty of places for funds to be used on this mission’s trip. I ask you to pray about supporting one of my fellow racers, as well! The more funds that come in, the more we’ll be able to do for the people we meet while we’re on the field. I’ve personally still got gear to purchase before I leave, but there will also be many times along the journey that a little extra money will be SO necessary and beneficial!  I’m hoping to be able to purchase some of the team’s shared items as well, rather than having to split the cost. This will help take a little of the financial burdens off of them, as well. I’ve heard stories about racers just seeing the need to buy kids shoes, pay for a village to get some clean drinking water, or just to buy some extra food for people along the way. Sometimes they needed a little extra cash to pay for their luggage on a plane! LOTS of things come up.  Know that every cent will be put forth for the Kingdom’s Work. This is just a way for you to join me on the journey!

Don’t get me wrong, I have faith that even if no more money comes in, Jesus will provide all the needs anyway. He’s THAT great. But, as He’s been showing me over and over, He rejoices in letting us be a part of His Master plan! Still, we have to choose to be apart of it.  He is Sovereign. He is the Creator of the Universe, and has ALL POWER to do anything He pleases. And, somehow, He pleases in having relationships with us, in giving us talents, treasures, gifts, and fruits of the Spirit to be a light in this world to bring Him Glory and Honor and Praise. So, however He tells you to do that, JUST DO IT!  

Maybe He’s asking you to give your money. Maybe He’s just asking you to get more involved in your kids lives. Maybe He’s asking you to reach out to a family member who’s struggling in their faith, or someone that has no idea what it means to know Jesus at all. Maybe He just wants you to love someone past their faults and failures, like He has for us. Maybe He wants you to make more time for Him in prayer. Maybe He’s asking you to do something in your community, to get more involved in your local church that’s reaching out to people in need. I don’t know what He’s asking YOU to do, but I encourage you to listen and obey! This is how we love God and others, and how Christ’s love is manifested in us! 

Thank you all so much for supporting me and joining in this great adventure of service to Jesus. What has Jesus asked you to do for Him today? Today He’s asked me to be faithful in preparation for the race, by working out to get my body in shape, and spending time in prayer for my teammates. He also wants me to stay on the ball with a few little projects I have. Just by writing this, I realized how many days go by that I don’t really ask Him what He wants me to do TODAY. I just fill it, mindlessly. Well, let me just tell you, the adventure is in the seeking for guidance, listening, hearing, and then taking action in obedience! The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love! It’s a daily thing! 

May God bless you as you serve Him today, and this week and this month!  I love you!!!