A year and a half ago, before I had even fully committed to going on my first trip to Liberia and it was just a mere opportunity set on the table in front of me, an elderly man in my home church heard about my desire to go to Africa. After church, he walked up to my dad and handed him some cash. He doesn't know this, but at that time, I was still debating on whether or not I should go on the trip. But once I heard about his donation, I decided it was too late to back out. I still don't think this man fully know's the vital part he played, and continues to play, in changing my life. If it wasn't for his faithfulness to listen to the Holy Spirit's prompting to give to my trip that day that I don't think I would have found myself, six months later, with a heart completely changed, a call to give my life in service, and totally in love with The Lord. This time around, it was that same man who began my journey back to Africa by being the first person, again, to donate to our trip.
However, this year, the Lord must have known I would need a little extra encouragement to make this trip happen. Now, between my brother and I, we would have to raise twice as much money. With the economy the way it is and being that I just asked people last year to support me, I was very afraid and nervous of what people would think when I sent my support letters out. However, I was shut right up when almost immediately funds started to pour in. Amazingly, it hasn't stopped. Each time I check our account, expecting it to be the same as last weeks report, there are more names on the list of people who have given. What is even more encouraging to me is the wide range of people The Lord is using - from people who have been faithfully supporting me for years, to people I have just met, to people who I know are struggling right now yet who's generosity is unmatched, to people I did not even ask for support yet gave anyway. The Lord knows just how to provide in ways which bless and encourage His children and turn all the glory back to Him!
Also, last night, a good friend of ours, Gina MacConnell, hosted a jewelry party at our house with Noonday Collection (http://ginamacconnell.noondaycollection.com/) - an organization that employs struggling women to make jewelry and run a business then sells the products to women in the US. Not only did the sales from this party help women and their families all around the world, but between Gina donating her cut of the sales percentage, donations, and my own bracelet sales, we raised almost $700 for our trip! When I found this out, I literally cried. I am completely blown away by the kindness of all the women who came to support my brother and I and who provided for women in places like Ethiopia, Rwanda, India, Guatemala, etc. Whoever said jewelry shopping can't make a difference in our world!?
Though I wrote this post mainly to say thank you to people who have supported me financially, I do not want to forget those who have been faithful in prayer. While sometimes focus can be centered on finances and the quantifiable numbers, I do not, in any way, want to make people feel like finances take some kinda of precedent over prayer. Both are very important, but I would be nowhere if it wasn't for the people in my life who have committed to pray for me, my brother, Shane, and this trip. I have seen the power of prayer and will be the first to attest that it changes everything. Through prayer, I have seen everything from drug addicts and alcoholics set free, prostitutes redeemed and delivered, people plagued by a lifetime of diseases healed, broken families mended, even cars miraculously fixed and lost items found. The amazing thing about our God is that He cares about us so deeply that He listens intently to each of our payers. He hears the longing of our hearts and when our hearts and desires align with His will, He delights in answering them (Psalm 37:4). So for those of you who could not donate financially but are faithfully praying (and, of course, to those who are doing both), from the most sincere place in my heart - Thank you.
Here is a few specific current needs to pray for:
- That The Lord would bless the supplies Shane, Tim, and I are taking over, allowing it to exactly meet the needs of the people where we are going.
- Opportunities to share Christ's love and words to say during those opportunities.
- Please pray that we are sensitive to the Spirit's leading - wherever that may be.
- That Spiritual warfare would be minimized and their would be a hedge of protection around all of our heart's and mind's. That the Lord would send His angels to guard us in all our ways (Psalm 91:11).
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