Unlikely

I'll tell you what...God is so good. The sermon this weekend at Lifehouse Church by Pastor Patrick about Deborah the judge spoke directly to my fears and insecurities about going to Togo. "God chooses the most unlikely people to do the most unlikely things." I know my weaknesses and strengths and I can tell you that I am not the most qualified person to go to Togo. I am not brave, I don't know any French, I adore my coworkers, family, and friends, I really appreciate comfort, and I don't really usually like international foods. Even more than those things, I have been listening to the voices of people in my past and my own fears. These words drill deep insecurities into my heart about doing medical missions. I don't have the strongest faith and I'm not the smartest nurse. I have recently felt very underqualified to go to Togo because of these whispers.

BUT

the most awesome thing about serving God is that these things actually qualify me to be used by Him. In my weaknesses He is strong. At the end of this month I can only give God the glory for whatever transpires in Togo. I am chosen by God and I am chosen for His purpose. I can have God-confidence in place of self-confidence because He wants to work in and through my weaknesses. He alone will deepen my faith and understating of His grace and character. He alone will use me and my skills to help heal. He alone will give me the words to speak truth into the lives of others. I don't have to be qualified. I don't have to be anything other than obedient. This reassurance has been like a weight lifted off of my shoulders as I prepare to go to Togo.

I will also add that when following Him scares me, and requires faith, it is probably a God-size dream that He has placed in my heart. This comforts me in knowing that I am going where I am supposed to go. I am going where only He can lead me. 

I am evidence that God really does lead us on the wildest and most amazing adventures.

What is your God-sized dream?

Stay tuned for more about Togo!

Here is a link to watch the sermon that I reference...

http://www.lifehousechurch.org/sermons/series/43/

India

So when you first saw this blog post you may have thought it would be about my beloved dog named India but its actually not. (Although she is super cute and sweet). 

Rather, I have news that I am so pumped to share about! I have been praying a lot recently about going to India. Why India? My senior year of high school my mom went to India with Mountain Christian Church on a medical missions trip to India where she worked with the Central India Christian Mission (CICM). On this trip my mom was deeply moved for the poverty and spiritual darkness in many parts of the country. She was also inspired by rubbing shoulders with passionate and sold-out followers of Christ as they shared their testimonies of faith and persecution. She came home telling lots of stories of how hopelessness and ashes have been turned to hope and life! Just from her time there I felt God work in my own heart and it was then that I decided to go into nursing because of the opportunities that physical healing brings for spiritual healing. Since my senior year God has taught me so much about the culture in India and the needs there just through simply educating myself and getting involved in supporting missional organizations state-side. I knew that the past 6 years were waiting years and so I have involved myself from afar by supporting organizations that are working to meet the spiritual and physical needs in India and in Asia. After waiting 6 years God has opened the door for me to physically go and serve at the place that my heart has been drawn to for 6 years!

I have been accepted to join a team with Fellowship of Associates of Medical Evangelism (FAME) on a trip to India for just under 2 weeks during the summer of 2016. Not only will I be going with FAME, but we will be partnering with CICM which I am so excited about because my mom loved working with them back in 2009! CICM has a nursing school, orphanage, seminary, and medical outreach. I am still waiting for my starting packet but the estimated cost is $3,600 for the trip so, as excited as I am, its time to get to work raising the money for this trip!

A few ways that I will be raising money so please let me know if you would like to utilize any of these services:

Babysitting (yes, I am putting back on my "babysitting apron")

Photography

Homemade cards (assortments of 8 cards or 8 Christmas cards for $10, I'll be posting pictures soon of some examples)

Handmade scarves (pictures to come as well)

Handmade bookmarks ($1-2 each)

And if you can come up with anything else let me know, I'm open for suggestions!

I will also follow up on how you can donate once I get my start up packet in the mail. If you know me and my passions then you probably understand how excited I am for this opportunity!

Wrapping Babies in China with Love

Earlier this month I hosted my first blanket making party through an organization called "All Girls Allowed." This organization works to show love and support to families who choose to keep their baby girls. Due to China's One Child Policy and the cultural desire to have baby boys gendercide is a serious problem in China. Baby girls are far to often aborted or abandoned by their families because they are seen as undesirable. All Girls Allowed wants to tell parents that every child is valued by God and to come along side of these families to help them through the journey of parenting. (Their website is www.allgirlsallwed.org)

https://vimeo.com/64890601

So the blanket making ministry was started to give mothers something of a baby shower present in order to celebrate the life of their baby girl. When I hosted it at my house 13 people attended and 6 others donated either blankets or money to help with sending the blankets and many more people showed an interest in participating next time! After I collected all of the blankets I took them to the laundry mat to wash all of them and carrying in 5 laundry baskets of blankets made for a great conversation starter to tell people about what we are doing! (One lady said, "You either have a lot of kids or you have a daycare with all those blankets!") :) 

24 baby blankets were sent to China!!!!

With each blanket sent I tied a picture of the person who made it with the blanket and a hand-written note from the person who made it. I LOVED reading the notes from people as I tied them to the blankets! I can only imagine how loved the mothers will feel when they read these after being translated!

After subtracting cost for washing the blankets and mailing them I am still able to send a check for $133!!! That goes to show how generous so many women were in donating to financially support this project. A private company covers all of AGA's office costs so all $133 will go to the families that AGA serves and loves!

Thank you to everyone involved....I can't wait to host the next one....but I think we'll need a bigger space for everyone interested in making blankets!

Here are some pictures for you to enjoy of the party:

Brooke

Anna

Jillian

India "helping" Trish and Brooke

Jamie Bayliss with her cow blanket :)

Ashley and Rosalyn

Mom using her blanket while tying it 

Billie Jo

Jamie Messer

Becky and Anna

Emma

Trisha

Me :)

The Wagner girls made 6 blankets and donated 3 of their own blankets even though they weren't able to come the day of the party.

All of the blankets washed and ready to be boxed for shipping!