"Sorry that it has taken some time for me to review your application and get back to you regarding serving with Rafiki Africa Ministries. I have reviewed your application and we would love to have you serve at the orphanage!!
What dates would you prefer to come to Uganda? On your application you mentioned coming for 6-8 weeks and anytime in the Spring of 2013. We would love for you to come sometime in February 2013"
Did you read what that said? Cause I have read it one million times now so feel free to read it again. Seriously go read it again, or I am not continuing.
I AM GOING TO UGANDA IN FEBRUARY 2013!!!!
So the first time I said it out loud to a friend on the phone I just started crying and laughing. I have waited, and prayed, and waited, and prayed for this email. Then it got here, prayers answered, this stage of waiting is now over, and now I am planning/fundraising/preparing for a trip to Africa.
Praise Jesus for this moment, for the moments to come, and for the day I get to live out a call He has placed in front of me. I am excited, and overjoyed at this opportunity. Now that it's happening, in hindsight it is easy to see God had this planned long ago. Many things happened to get me to this point where I could not only hear and discern this call from God, but that I would have the exact people in my life now encouraging this trip, and loving me through freak out after freak out.
So in 29ish weeks I will be boarding a plane with my Bible and an ipod flying across the ocean (conquering my fear of planes, and airports) with Jesus as my guide, my friend, and my protector. I couldn't think of a better travel partner to be honest (My mom is wishing that her, 5 body guards, a friend, and a traveling connoisseur were going with me, but I keep telling her Jesus is a way better option.) Bless my mom for worrying, but uhh I too am a worrier by nature (anyone want to guess which parent passed that onto me? I'll give you a hint...it wasn't dad!) and therefore I need her to not worry, because I need her to stop me from worrying. So prayers that one of us (my mom or I, or both would be nice) could maintain a grip on reality as this adventure proceeds.
Other details:
Fundraising starts NOW. This trip is going to cost money (lame right?) but the money will be there because God has called me to this so I am not going to get hung up on this little detail. I have bills back here I have to maintain while I serve in the orphanage for 8 weeks, I have to cover my own airfare, and due to inflation in Uganda it is about $300/week right now to stay in the orphanage, which would cover transportation, food, internet, housing etc. So currently this is what I need: Fundraising ideas, helping to carry out those ideas/plans, and prayers. If you would like to donate to this trip monetarily I can give you the information on where to send the money so it is tax deductible.
Please know that money is not the only way to support me in this. Prayers, encouragement, love, helping hands are all going to be needed to get this underway. God has all of the money in the world, and I believe that the money will happen one way or another. I firmly believe God hasn't gotten me this far for anything to stand in the way. There will be obstacles, but I have a God bigger than any obstacle.
Most importantly: Please keep praying. Prayers, prayers, and more prayers. Last week one of the lovely ladies I go to church with pulled me aside and told me she felt the Holy Spirit pulling on her to encourage me. I needed it. God has His way of working through people in times like this. It means the world to me to have such strong support from everyone. My mentor for the past two months has been diving into this with me, and helping me with every freak out I've had, and on Thursday told me she really believed in this, and that too means so much to me. I need my family in Christ more than ever right now as I spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally prepare for this trip. I am 22, and my life is changing in dramatic ways. I know I CANNOT do this without God and my Christian community, I know that. So Thank you times a million for any words of encouragement, love, or prayers you send up to God for this trip over the next 29-37 weeks.
All my love to each of you!
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