I have so many things that I want to say, but I'm not sure how to articulate them! I do not claim to be a writer by any means, so bare with me:)
So many things have happened in the last few days.
The Lord blessed me with a donation towards the Mission He is sending me on! Just one more confirmation of His Will for me.
With this donation I am now 100% in, I have paid my deposit and then some, no turning back!
Turning back. That has been the theme running thru my head these last few days.
I said in an earlier post that I needed prayer for the impending attack's from Satan. This is how it is manifesting: My mind has been racing with all of the things that could go wrong! I have never been on a plane larger than a 16 seater, and that was to and from South Carolina. That's it! And now I have committed to a 30 hour plane ride over the ocean!! AAAAKKK!!! I am scared! Hearing about the hospital in Kenya scares me! Just thinking about what if I got sick or broke a limb or something horrible and I was stuck in a 3rd world hospital! My mind is being attacked! I am horribly afraid of shots, and there are a couple of them I have to get and I'm pretty sure they aren't gonna feel good! (that one is petty but a serious fear nonetheless!)
FEAR!
This is how Satan is invading.
My prayer is for a peace and calm over all of my fears. I ask that all who read this, if you could just say a quick prayer for myself and my family, for peace, provision, and trust in Him. If you could at least say one prayer for us, I would be so grateful. If you could remember us daily in your prayers, I would be so grateful. However you choose to remember us, I will be grateful, because the power He has given us as believers in prayer is amazing!
Pray that I will continue to prepare my heart and my mind for the Mission ahead. That I will remember what Christ did for me and remind myself that this is nothing compared to the sacrifice my Lord gave when He took the FULL cup of God's wrath for me and for you the moment He died on that roman cross.
My fears are slowly fading, as I bring them to God. He is faithful to provide us with the things we need.
Don't let me confuse you though, I am soo excited about this trip! Those are the bad things, but here are some good things!
I am so excited to see the children's faces as they sing praises to the Lord! I am so excited to be able to share the Word of God with those who do not know Him! I am so excited that HE has given me the opportunity to go to the nations proclaiming His name! I am excited to see another country that God created. This trip is a blessing not a burden. I tell you my fears so that you will know how to pray for me, but I also tell you my joy so that you will know how to praise with me!
I cannot wait to take pictures, I cannot wait to see what the Lord has planned for this trip!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Taking things for granted
Today I shared with my daughter Reagan that I would be going to Africa for 2 weeks in the summer. Needless to say there were tears! I had to explain to her what a missionary does and why and how this is a good thing, it is in obedience to God. She calmed down after a bit and I think by July she will be excited. She is already so faithful even though she is so young! She speaks of Christ often and loves to read her bible. I am very blessed to have children with a heart for God!
I seem to be noticing the little things lately as I learn more and more about the needs in Africa. Yesterday Reagan got upset because she was given animal crackers in her lunch and she apparently isn't fond of animal crackers, and then today she got upset because I gave her a pop tart with no icing on it! I began thinking about the children in Africa who are lucky to get one measly meal a day and nothing as tasty as a pop tart..with or without icing! I began explaining to Reagan about these children, some who die because they don't have enough food to sustain their little bodies. I'm hoping that is a lesson we all learn through this. We are so blessed and take it all for granted! So that was the beginning of my day.
Then I got to work and got a phone call from Kari (my friend I mentioned yesterday who just got back from Uganda), she was telling me about another mission trip that is going back to Uganda the first week in March and how her heart longs to be there! They have decided to become full time missionaries, it is just a matter of God's timing to raise the money and have supporters to live there full time with all of their children. I have to say I am so excited for them!! They love a specific Ministry called Caanon and she wants to be there with the children so badly! They have emailed the pastor over that mission and they heard back today! The Pastor is so excited to talk to them about the possibility of them coming full time! What a blessing!!! It is so amazing to see Christ moving in their lives! She had called at first just to tell me about that trip, well then she called back a bit later to tell me she had received the email from the Pastor and that now it makes sense for one of them (her or her husband) to go on the March trip to talk logistics with the Pastor!! Wow! He really does know the desires of our hearts people! So please keep Kari and her family in your prayers and they begin to walk in obedience to the Lord's calling in their life!
After lunch, I get back and Jenny is here. I begin talking to her about the trip. We begin talking about so many things involved! I am soo excited! She showed me pictures of Chris and Lisa who are the founders of the organization and a video of some of the kids from the school they started, so cute! The Organization is called Real 4 Christ, they are only about 3 years old. If you want more information you can visit their website at www.real4christ.com.
Jenny was the first missionary they had come visit them, she helped get them set up, so this organization holds a special place in her heart. She started telling me a little about Chris and Lisa, and then told me that she is really worried because today she found out that Chris is in the hospital in Kenya with a kidney stone. My first reaction was, "So what its just a kidney stone." But she started telling me about the hospital and how awful it was and how they don't have to supplies needed to take care of the kidney stone! On top of the kidney stone, he has a catheter that is apparently stuck right now!! His options were to drive 8 hrs on horrible roads to go to a hospital that even comes close to ones we have here, or wait for a shipment of the supplies needed which could be WEEKS!! What an eye opener that is!! We take for granted that we can go to the store and get a bottle of Tylenol, we complain about the price of it in fact! When in Africa simple medical supplies just aren't there! Please keep Chris and Lisa in your prayers as they go through this. Jenny says their emails are so upbeat like its no big deal because their faith in the Lord is so big, but she is worried because she has seen first hand the condition of the hospital he is in. So prayers for them are greatly appreciated!
And continued prayers for me, my family and the whole team going!
I seem to be noticing the little things lately as I learn more and more about the needs in Africa. Yesterday Reagan got upset because she was given animal crackers in her lunch and she apparently isn't fond of animal crackers, and then today she got upset because I gave her a pop tart with no icing on it! I began thinking about the children in Africa who are lucky to get one measly meal a day and nothing as tasty as a pop tart..with or without icing! I began explaining to Reagan about these children, some who die because they don't have enough food to sustain their little bodies. I'm hoping that is a lesson we all learn through this. We are so blessed and take it all for granted! So that was the beginning of my day.
Then I got to work and got a phone call from Kari (my friend I mentioned yesterday who just got back from Uganda), she was telling me about another mission trip that is going back to Uganda the first week in March and how her heart longs to be there! They have decided to become full time missionaries, it is just a matter of God's timing to raise the money and have supporters to live there full time with all of their children. I have to say I am so excited for them!! They love a specific Ministry called Caanon and she wants to be there with the children so badly! They have emailed the pastor over that mission and they heard back today! The Pastor is so excited to talk to them about the possibility of them coming full time! What a blessing!!! It is so amazing to see Christ moving in their lives! She had called at first just to tell me about that trip, well then she called back a bit later to tell me she had received the email from the Pastor and that now it makes sense for one of them (her or her husband) to go on the March trip to talk logistics with the Pastor!! Wow! He really does know the desires of our hearts people! So please keep Kari and her family in your prayers and they begin to walk in obedience to the Lord's calling in their life!
After lunch, I get back and Jenny is here. I begin talking to her about the trip. We begin talking about so many things involved! I am soo excited! She showed me pictures of Chris and Lisa who are the founders of the organization and a video of some of the kids from the school they started, so cute! The Organization is called Real 4 Christ, they are only about 3 years old. If you want more information you can visit their website at www.real4christ.com.
Jenny was the first missionary they had come visit them, she helped get them set up, so this organization holds a special place in her heart. She started telling me a little about Chris and Lisa, and then told me that she is really worried because today she found out that Chris is in the hospital in Kenya with a kidney stone. My first reaction was, "So what its just a kidney stone." But she started telling me about the hospital and how awful it was and how they don't have to supplies needed to take care of the kidney stone! On top of the kidney stone, he has a catheter that is apparently stuck right now!! His options were to drive 8 hrs on horrible roads to go to a hospital that even comes close to ones we have here, or wait for a shipment of the supplies needed which could be WEEKS!! What an eye opener that is!! We take for granted that we can go to the store and get a bottle of Tylenol, we complain about the price of it in fact! When in Africa simple medical supplies just aren't there! Please keep Chris and Lisa in your prayers as they go through this. Jenny says their emails are so upbeat like its no big deal because their faith in the Lord is so big, but she is worried because she has seen first hand the condition of the hospital he is in. So prayers for them are greatly appreciated!
And continued prayers for me, my family and the whole team going!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Africa!
For the last several years I have yearned to be apart of the mission field in Africa. I have so wanted to just pick up and move our whole family! However, being a blended family makes that nearly impossible. Because of this I have also yearned to go over by myself for short trips or even with our family. I kept saying "someday" and have just talked and talked about it.
Recently, one of my dear friends Kari and her husband Jason went to Uganda. While talking to her asking her how it all came about, she told me "You know how much I have talked about wanting to be a missionary, well I finally said I have to quit saying someday, and just do it!" This is of course paraphrased, it was a much more in depth conversation! However, it struck something in me. I began praying about it. I then all of the sudden saw Mission trips everywhere! I also just recently started reading "Radical" and that was just like God shouting at me!
Then a couple of months ago my friend and coworker, Jenny, told me she was leading a mission trip to Mombasa, Kenya. I started feeling a pull towards the trip but didn't know how financially it could ever happen.
The trip consists of $3400 in travel expenses, not to mention the weeks off of work.
So I told her no, that right now it just couldn't happen.
I then witnessed the power God has in this area! Kari and Jason raised over $7000 in just a couple of months! God is bigger than my fears of financial stability!
I thought however, I had missed my chance. Jenny had been collecting deposits in December. So I wasn't sure where I would be led, but felt the pull and felt I was supposed to go somehow. Jenny had gone out of town for the Holiday and was gone until last week. When she got back I told her how I felt like a mission trip is where I was being pulled. She then told me that we didn't have to turn in the deposits until February 20th! And the remainder won't have to be paid till 40 days before we leave, and we leave July 7th. That I still had the opportunity if that is what I was feeling led towards! I was so excited!
My next step was to get the approval from my husband. It is 2 weeks away, that is a long time when we have 5 kids! His kids aren't with us except every other weekend, but still 3 kids in the house without me to help get them to school is a lot! He has to leave for work by 5:30am every morning, so we will have to figure out what to do with the kids while I'm gone, that is the biggest hurdle.
So I began praying, Lord if this is your will show me by affirmation from my husband.
I finally told him, "I really felt led towards this trip with Jenny. I feel a pull from the Lord. What do you think?" Not only did he say he thought it was a good idea, he says "I think you need to go!"
So, here I am! I've made the commitment! I am in! I am so excited to see the amazing things God has in store! Please be praying for myself and our family as we prepare for this! We have to work out the girls for the 2 weeks I am gone, we need provision financially, and just spiritually we need prayer, I am ready and waiting for satan to begin trying to attack. It's what he does when he sees us trying to do the Lord's will! So pray for that as well!
I will keep my blog up to date with the different things that will take place to make this trip happen!
Recently, one of my dear friends Kari and her husband Jason went to Uganda. While talking to her asking her how it all came about, she told me "You know how much I have talked about wanting to be a missionary, well I finally said I have to quit saying someday, and just do it!" This is of course paraphrased, it was a much more in depth conversation! However, it struck something in me. I began praying about it. I then all of the sudden saw Mission trips everywhere! I also just recently started reading "Radical" and that was just like God shouting at me!
Then a couple of months ago my friend and coworker, Jenny, told me she was leading a mission trip to Mombasa, Kenya. I started feeling a pull towards the trip but didn't know how financially it could ever happen.
The trip consists of $3400 in travel expenses, not to mention the weeks off of work.
So I told her no, that right now it just couldn't happen.
I then witnessed the power God has in this area! Kari and Jason raised over $7000 in just a couple of months! God is bigger than my fears of financial stability!
I thought however, I had missed my chance. Jenny had been collecting deposits in December. So I wasn't sure where I would be led, but felt the pull and felt I was supposed to go somehow. Jenny had gone out of town for the Holiday and was gone until last week. When she got back I told her how I felt like a mission trip is where I was being pulled. She then told me that we didn't have to turn in the deposits until February 20th! And the remainder won't have to be paid till 40 days before we leave, and we leave July 7th. That I still had the opportunity if that is what I was feeling led towards! I was so excited!
My next step was to get the approval from my husband. It is 2 weeks away, that is a long time when we have 5 kids! His kids aren't with us except every other weekend, but still 3 kids in the house without me to help get them to school is a lot! He has to leave for work by 5:30am every morning, so we will have to figure out what to do with the kids while I'm gone, that is the biggest hurdle.
So I began praying, Lord if this is your will show me by affirmation from my husband.
I finally told him, "I really felt led towards this trip with Jenny. I feel a pull from the Lord. What do you think?" Not only did he say he thought it was a good idea, he says "I think you need to go!"
So, here I am! I've made the commitment! I am in! I am so excited to see the amazing things God has in store! Please be praying for myself and our family as we prepare for this! We have to work out the girls for the 2 weeks I am gone, we need provision financially, and just spiritually we need prayer, I am ready and waiting for satan to begin trying to attack. It's what he does when he sees us trying to do the Lord's will! So pray for that as well!
I will keep my blog up to date with the different things that will take place to make this trip happen!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)