planning to go...who will go with me?

May 20, 2009

Dear Friends and Family,

God’s truth, love, and grace are three big concepts I have learned over the last few year and several months ago I was challenged as to whether or not I was ready to put these skills into practice. A friend mentioned that she was thinking of going to Africa for the summer, I was excited as I had been longing to go back to Kenya; I however was thinking two weeks, and she was thinking longer. The conversation got me thinking, how long was I willing to go and what was I willing to give up to be there? After conversations with friends and a growing passion in my heart to serve others, I made a commitment to go.

Trena Ivy, is a missionary serving in Kenya, Africa and I will join her to be “a second set of hands” for 6 weeks. Trena oversees two orphanages and a school for learning disabled students. I am excited to see how on a daily basis God will use me, while I meet people and get to know their stories. Unlike other mission trips I have gone on, this one has no set schedule to serve, other than my arrival and departure time. I will leave Houston June 15th and stay with Trena until August 3, 2009.

The journey to go has reshaped my understanding of trust; God has called me to trust on Him and not base my trust on what my earthly eyes can see. I know that He wants me to see how worthy He is in being called trustworthy.

Will you commit to go with me?

Perhaps in prayer or financial support.

Please pray:
•Physical- That my body remains healthy and strong, that I am able to eat the right foods needed.
•Safety- travel to Africa and entering customs alone be smooth, connecting flight in London on time, making smart decisions while talking and meeting people
•Work-that I remember to see what God is already doing joining Him and not planning my own activities, that I love the people with a love from the Lord, I will not be a burden to Trena but a second set of hands in her ministry
•Financial- I am still trying to raise financial support for those who desire to give. The total trip from June 15-Aug. 3 is going to cost about $3,327. This amount will include airfare ($1,426), food and drinking water ($734), shots needed for the country ($380), insurance, visa and traveling in the country ($787). At the start of this letter in May, I had $835, that has increased to a total of $1,105!

Thanks to all who have already started praying and given financially to see God use me in a powerful way this summer. I can’t wait to share what He is going to do.

Thanks to all who are asking how to donate. You can do it two ways, you can send it to me and I will apply it towards costs already spent ( such as the plane ticket and shots) OR Trena's ministry is registered for tax deductions, so you can send a check to the ministry and then she will write me a check.

If you send it to His Cherished Ones, be sure to write Kenya 09 in the memo line, so she knows it is a donation for me. Here's the address for that:

His Cherished Ones, Inc.
11307 Travelers Way Cir.
Houston, TX 77065

My first blog!

Always wanted to blog, but never really had a reason to share my life with the rest of the world on the Internet. :)

BUT now...

(picture of me with

some kids in Kenya, 3 years ago)

Thanks to all who are even interested in following what God will do this summer while I am in Africa. I would love to share the link for Trena, who I will be staying and working with this summer. Her site does an amazing job of describing the ministries she organizes and has some even better pictures of the kids!
http://hischerishedones.org/