Anyone who knows my mom, Suzanne, knows she has a servant heart; she’s loving, gracious, and generous…and a little quirky.
Growing up, I watched my mom serve at church. Putting together bulletins, teaching the 6th grade Sunday school class, working in the kitchen, helping with the Christmas rummage sale, and so many more things that I can’t even remember. I have loved sharing the same belief and love for Jesus as my mom. I thank her and my dad that they raised me to know a Father in Heaven that sent his son Jesus to die for me. Without knowing Him, I don’t know who or where I’d be or what I’d be doing.
College commencement, May 2016
Serving with my mom at the Huntington Food Pantry’s Hunger Walk and Festival in 2012
In summer 2013, we got to serve alongside each other at something called Convoy of Hope (check them out to see if there’s going to be one coming to your nearest city, its an incredible event!) in Springfield, Massachusetts. Despite what was going on in her personal life, she still showed up that day and served because it was something she felt called to do and nothing was going to stop her. My mom’s resilience and strength impacted me a lot that day.
I am so excited that now my mom and I have a chance to serve together in Swaziland, Africa, for one week at the end of September!
This is called Parent Vision Trip (PVT). Adventures in Missions believes in intergenerational ministry and this trip “exists to provide an opportunity for Parents and their World Racers to experience missions together, to catch up on what God has been doing, and perhaps provide a space to take steps toward healing and reconciliation where needed.”
We will be working with the Adventures in Missions Swaziland base in Manzini and Nsoko, at various Care Points with the children, cooking for and feeding up to 7,000 children, teaching, playing, and doing skits. We may also be doing home visits in the area to share the Gospel and pray for anyone in need.
Through my own fundraising for the World Race, there were countless times when God blew me away with the generosity of friends and family! Fundraising changed from something I dreaded into a time I look back on where I saw a lot of growth in my faith and trust in God, and got to experience God’s tangible provision through the body of believers. Then, when my team fundraised for a van in Thailand, I was honestly so excited and full of faith that God would provide the money and that passion came from my past experience, knowing God would be faithful yet again.
Now, I am (honestly) so excited to fundraise for my mom so that this trip can be possible! We are asking for $2,000 which will go towards the $750 fee for lodging, food, local transportation, and ministry costs, plus the cost of a round trip plane ticket.
My mom had to overcome a lot of fear and anxiety to take this step of faith to come on this trip. I encouraged her to bring it before the Lord and see what the God wanted her to do, knowing that whatever it was, God would provide peace. She said that as soon as she made her decision, she has not felt any anxiety at all! Praise Jesus! God doesn’t bring confusion, fear, or anxiety.
Please pray for my mom and the precious lives in Swaziland that will be impacted through this trip!
Thank you for being part of not just my own journey, but now my mom’s as well!
If you want to help make this trip possible, please follow the link:
https://www.gofundme.com/hfacpp-send-my-mom-to-africa
My supportive parents at my church’s outdoor service last summer
