Tuesday, December 16, 2014

amazed and encouraged!!!

My sending church has every missionary establish a monthly prayer group, they call them Barnabas Teams.  Yesterday was the second time that my Barnabas Team gathered and I am just amazed and encouraged by them and their hearts for the Lord!!!  Such an incredible privilege to gather with this group and praise the Lord together, pray together, and know that they love me and want to encourage me on this journey to Guatemala!!!  

Support just keeps going up!!! I received a recent report and was amazed and encouraged that I can officially say that I'm at 52% of my support with others who have mentioned being interested in becoming financial partners.  I wasn't sure if the Lord would allow me to be at the 60% needed by mid-January which is the goal in order to be able to attend a required orientation in Feb. I'm now expecting that goal to be reached, and maybe even surpass that goal =)  The Lord is so faithful!  As the Lord continues to expand the team of people supporting me financially, I am so thankful for how each one is a unique story of God's faithfulness!  I feel more than just supported with money, but I feel prayed for, encouraged, and loved - that this team of people are journeying with me and are already playing an important role in ministering to the Treasures of Guatemala!!!

If the Lord is calling you to join this incredible team- there is still time and plenty of needs, and you too will be amazed and encouraged along with me!!!
I'd love for you to be part of my prayer team for sure!!!
The next goal will be getting another $1300 - $1500 in monthly support and another $18,000 in one-time gifts in order to be able to move to Guatemala!!!
If you you are able to join my financial team by supporting me monthly or with one-time gifts, click HERE for the direct link to my organization, TEAM, who collects all donations and will send you a tax-deductible receipt!


Monday, December 8, 2014

Seeing the Beauty of the Lord

I was recently asked how I have seen the beauty of the Lord in my own life or in the lives of others, and it took a moment to think about how I could answer that.  Have I seen the beauty of the Lord in my own life?  The truth is, the beauty of the Lord is all around us!  I can see the beauty of the Lord laced through my journey getting to Guatemala.  I can see the beauty of the Lord in unlikely places like the Guatemala City Garbage dump where the hug of a child reflects the beauty of the Lord.  I can see the beauty of the Lord all around me in His creation. Once I started looking I could see it over and over again - even in the falling brown leaves or the soon to be cold winter!  


What about you?  How have you seen the beauty of the Lord in your life recently?  
Ps. 27:4 "One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek:  that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple."


Conferences
October was an exciting month at my church as we focused on global missions.  I had many opportunities to share with others about Guatemala and the Lord's faithfulness in leading me there.  

In November, I was able to attend the Global Medical Health Conference in Louisville.  It's an amazing time to gather with around 2,500 people who are also interested in or involved in medical missions.  I had a great time learning from others as well as reconnecting with many others that I've journeyed with at different times of my life whether in Chicago or Cedarville or Indianapolis or Togo or Nepal or Guatemala!!!

Changes
I will continue to work in the Riley ER as long as possible, but I have cut down my hours some to allow for a little more time to focus on preparation!  I started an internship at my sending church, College Park Church, with the Global Missions department which is such an honor!  I'm currently there every Tuesday!!!
Continuing to wait for the Lord's timing in moving out of my apartment.  
Along with this comes packing/sorting/purging, all of which I'm horrible at!!!  
Any help is welcome =)

The journey to Guatemala
I have about 40% of my monthly support - and I rejoice in how the Lord has provided EVERY one of those dollars!!! 
Would you also like to partner with me on this journey? 

Here are a few ideas: 

*I need people to pray for me, can you do that? 

* I need monthly supporters, any monthly amount helps, but I can't go to Guatemala until I'm at 100%, will you join me as a monthly supporter?  

* I need one time donations for pre-field training and transition/start up costs - if I need to get a car, it could be up to $20,000, can you help with that?

* I would love more opportunities to share one on one or with small groups or churches!!!  Do you know anybody who would like to hear more about this ministry?

Do you want to know more about prayer or financial partnership?
I would love to talk with you more!!!!

If you already know that the Lord has called you to be part of this ministry, you can click HERE to begin online donations.  Once I have 100% of the monthly costs needed to move to Guatemala, I can go!!!  That will be an exciting time to come to the point of knowing that the Lord’s abundant provisions will allow me to go and serve the least of these and bring His hope to those who have no hope!!!

***My desire would be to return to Guatemala by March of 2015!!!  
Watching and waiting to see if that is also the Lord's timing!!!*** 

I can’t tell you enough how much your prayers and support along this journey have meant to me!!!  And, how much I will continue to need that as I walk this new journey!!!  Please continue to let me know how I can be praying for you!!!  It is a privilege to have the opportunity to bear our burdens together as we take them to Jesus and entrust Him with ALL things!!!