Just for a little update to start: Things are going well financially for my trip. I believe I’ve raised more than half of what I need if not more. My spaghetti dinner made $1,010 and was a really big success. I have another event May 19. It’s a benefit concert at Lampeter Church of the Brethren at 6:30pm. Thanks everyone for all your support!
It's funny how God works sometimes. I've been trying to figure out what to write about. I'm not very good at this blogging thing. So I sometimes won't write for awhile because I don't always know what to say. But I've found that as I write God uses what I write to teach me. I tend to write about the thing that I need to hear the most or the thing I need the most. What do I need the most now? PRAYER. I've been missing out recently on my prayer and quiet time. I keep going and going and don't take time to stop and listen to what God is telling me. I'm scared of what he's going to tell me. Fear has really been gripping me lately. I'm afraid of what's to come, I'm afraid of the unknown. It's stopping me from experiencing God now and now is when I need him most! So how do I change? How do I go from busy, busy, busy, to just being and listening to what God is saying? Saying no to doing thing? Getting up early in the morning? making some sort of routine to take that time to listen and pray. And it's not just praying for me but praying for the other girls going with me, for the girls over there that we'll be working with, for Swaziland, etc. It's so much bigger then me. Also, I need pray partners. I need people to be specifically praying for this trip and what God is doing! I can't do it alone and would love for anyone who is willing to pray for me and the trip! I've been amazed by how God has provided for me for this trip and how generous and supportive people have been. So I know God's hand is guiding me and leading me in each step of the way!
"Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
You ever wonder why certain things happen, why God puts you in a certain situation, or why God leads you in a certain direction. I keep wondering what He is doing and how this is going to change me and those girls over in Swaziland. Part of me hates change with a passion, not knowing what is going to happen next can be scary. But the other part of me is beyond excited for this experience. This whole experience has kind of been a dream of mine for a few years now. This is what I want to do with my life, work with girls who have a history of abuse and have a hard home life. I want to help these girls realize they have a voice and what they feel and want matters. Proverbs 31:8-9 says “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” We are called to be advocates for these people. I am called to SPEAK UP for those girls, to not let them go unnoticed. Hosea’s heart’s (the organization I am going with) mission speaks to this. “We exist to empower the girls of Swaziland to achieve freedom from sexual abuse and hope for a better future by serving their physical, emotional and spiritual needs through a holistic, restorative process.” My prayer is that God would use me and the others going this summer to change hearts and reveal God’s love to these girls, that they may be able to experience it themselves.
It's funny how God works sometimes. I've been trying to figure out what to write about. I'm not very good at this blogging thing. So I sometimes won't write for awhile because I don't always know what to say. But I've found that as I write God uses what I write to teach me. I tend to write about the thing that I need to hear the most or the thing I need the most. What do I need the most now? PRAYER. I've been missing out recently on my prayer and quiet time. I keep going and going and don't take time to stop and listen to what God is telling me. I'm scared of what he's going to tell me. Fear has really been gripping me lately. I'm afraid of what's to come, I'm afraid of the unknown. It's stopping me from experiencing God now and now is when I need him most! So how do I change? How do I go from busy, busy, busy, to just being and listening to what God is saying? Saying no to doing thing? Getting up early in the morning? making some sort of routine to take that time to listen and pray. And it's not just praying for me but praying for the other girls going with me, for the girls over there that we'll be working with, for Swaziland, etc. It's so much bigger then me. Also, I need pray partners. I need people to be specifically praying for this trip and what God is doing! I can't do it alone and would love for anyone who is willing to pray for me and the trip! I've been amazed by how God has provided for me for this trip and how generous and supportive people have been. So I know God's hand is guiding me and leading me in each step of the way! 