Friday, July 25, 2014

september malawi journey update

this last week we had our first "official" team meeting for the journey to malawi in september. i was so excited to have a meeting and meeting those i would be serving with for two weeks in malawi. we did get to find out that we will be doing evangelism in villages that surround Esther's House and that we would be spending time with the orphans and widows of esther's house. both of which i am super excited about since it allows  to fulfill the follwoing scriptures:

Matt 28:19-20  "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."
    
James 1:27   "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to VISIT orphans and widows in their affliction."


other things we will do while there are potentially some construction work, vacation bible school activities, and we will get to minister to missionary families living there (the Wilsons and the Carneys.)

I am beyond excited for what God is going to do in and through this journey to Malawi in September!

but can i ask you to pray for us?


- pray for many, many Gospel opportunities (in airports, airplanes (lots of time spent in airplanes one of our airplane rides is 17 hours long!!!!), and in Malawi)
- pray for the safety of our team in traveling and in health
- pray that we are an encouragement tot the missionary families living over there now
- pray for more guys to join our team
- pray that each of us fully financially supported in the cost that it takes to go over there.
-  pray about whether the Lord would have you financially support me (please click here if you would like to financially support me)

Thanks everyone in advance!

excited for my next post which i hope to have up later this weekend...

remaining in Christ

     just barely over  three years ago my oldest brother died and then two weeks later on July 27, 2011 my dad passed away. I knew my dad was in failing health but was NOT even prepared for the shock of loosing two family members within two weeks of each other.
     today i stopped at a gas station on my way home from work. the cashier has seen in me in there a few times. she asked me what exactly i did for a living. i told i worked with two year olds at a daycare. she then proceeded to ask me if i smoked or drank...both to which i replied no. she told me that there was no way that she could do it. i told her it was God who gave me the strenghth (and the love for what i do.) don't get me wrong....i absolutely LOVE what i do but any body who is around kids will know that there are just hard days now and again (its just how you choose to respond on those days.)
   so why did i choose to share these two stories together in one post? glad you asked! Remaining in Christ is (and the faithful prayers & love that God surrounded me with) is how i was able to come through a very difficult two weeks three years ago. it is still hard every time this time of year rolls around but again God never fails to give me strength to make it through. and on those hard days with my two year olds...God gives me strength and reminds me that what i am doing is investing in the future of these little minds and that i have the potential to show them so much of Christ's love (doesn't Christ do the same for us when we have hard days?). and then when i get to see that my work has payed off...like when my just turning two year olds know how to pray before meals or know almost every word to every toddler Christian song that i play for them or they want to say thank you to the lady who brings us lunch or give a hug themselves when someone is sad...let me tell you MY HEART IS OH SO FULL!!
   my conclusion: "I am the vine. You are the branches. If anyone remains joined to me, and I to him, he will bear a lot of fruit. YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT ME."    ~ John 15:5