Update

Ok, update time. Not really a huge update, but definitely pretty cool stuff to me none the less.

I received another $200 in donations from people for my trip, which is awesome. That leaves only like $1,345 to raise by the first of next month. Yea I know, not a lot of days between now and then, but I'm trusting and believing God that all the money will come in.

Second of all, a couple donated a head lamp to me, for use on my trip. This is actually something that I was going to have to buy, so it's definitely a HUGE blessing that they just donated one to me. Now I don't have to worry about that part of things to purchase.

Yea, that's about it. But still exciting I think. Oh yea also, if anyone is planning on sending me a check, make sure to leave the memo section of the check blank. My name can't be anywhere on the check otherwise you won't get a tax deduction on the donation!

Tribulations and Stuff

"And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope mketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."

This passage from Roman's 5 sort of jumped out at me, and I figured I would share it. Tribulation here basically means pressure, which was sort of interesting to me. I suppose that must mean that we're going to have pressure, or tribulations, at times in our lives, and that it's perfectly normal that it happens.

The key is that we glory in those tribulations, instead of getting down in a rut and letting the pressures of life and situations overwhelm us. Something I'm having to learn more about and work on for sure. The Amplified version says..

"Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patience and unswerving endurance..."

This was definitely something that I needed to read. Just today I was feeling the temptation to worry about my trip, about finances, about how everything was going to work. I know I know, I just posted something along these lines the other day. But it's a process I guess, and I'm having to learn to walk it out.

The point is instead of getting down and out, I just need to worship and praise God for the victory ahead of time. It says to exult and triumph in my troubles, not sit around and complain and worry about them. Easier said than done I guess, but it's completely possible. The Bible says the result of glorying in tribulation is that it works patience, which causes us to have fortitude and to persevere, which develops the maturity of our character, which in turn produces hope.

But it all comes back to the beginning, which involves us worshiping Him during times of trouble.

Oh and just an update for everyone, another person contacted me about supporting me financially yesterday. Which was pretty awesome, and came at like just the right time. God's for real going to make all this come together, and it's going to be amazing.

Sunday

So got the chance to hand letter's out about my upcoming trip to a few people at church today. Definitely exciting stuff, and just reinforces in my mind that God is going to take care of things.

I mean it's amazing how calm I'm becoming, even with deadlines and time frames that I have to keep to. Any time I start to get a bit concerned or worry starts to try to creep in, I've decided to just start worshiping God and thanking Him that its done and paid for. At first, to be honest, that was pretty hard. But its starting to become not only easier, but to be a somewhat normal response concerning my trip.

I mean to be honest, worrying about money or how things are going to work out or happen won't change the situation at all. That's for real one thing I'm learning through this process. I'm reminded of what it says in Mathew..

"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?"

What's all that mean? Well basically, don't worry. It's not going to do any good. God can handle things, so just trust Him. It goes on further to say "seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.". Which is something I think we all can work on. And is for real something I'm learning to work on. Trusting Him, seeking Him, and believing that He'll take care of the rest.

Getting Started

Three months and fourteen days. That's all the time that stands between myself and going to Africa. Intense.

I don't quite know how to start off this blog. Or even who might decide to read it or keep up with it. I just figured I would keep people updated on the whole process of my trip, and all the details involved. I guess partly because I wanted to keep a record of everything that happens, and the process that I go through.

I honestly can't explain the excitement that I've been experiencing since I decided to go on this trip. It's crazy, I mean really. I've always enjoyed traveling, though I've never traveled internationally. I've enjoyed flying. I always get like this insane strange enjoyment when I get on a plane and travel somewhere, even if it's only a two hour flight. And all of a sudden I'm aiming to travel to Africa.

I don't know what to expect when I get over there. Actually I take that back, I do know what to expect. Well, at least somewhat. I expect to minister God's word to people that may not have ever heard His word before, and see awesome results. Which is huge step for me in a way, because I never pictured being able to have the resources or time to travel over seas to do something like that.

Wait back up, back to traveling. Ever since I've made the choice to go for this trip I've been wanting to travel like a million times then ever before. And not just Africa. I want to go other places. I just want to step out and do it, and for the first time, I really see that as a total possibility. I really don't think anything can hold me back, and am confident that God can make everything work out. I'm having to trust Him completely for this trip, in every area.

Oh yea, back to expectations. I expect my life, along with the lives of the people I travel with, and the people that I minister to, to be completely changed. In a good way that is. I expect to come back different that when I left, and expect God to move and work through me and around me. It's going to be awesome.

Since I'm updating people I figure I should cover every aspect, and that includes the financial side. Let me just say first and foremost that I'm expecting God to move here. I'm believing people will donate towards my trip, and help make this possible. I don't want people to feel pressure from me, or to feel like I'm begging, I just want them to listen to God and if he directs them to give, then give. Regardless of what happens God is going to make this happen, and He's going to provide. I'm trusting Him.

I currently have to raise around $5,500 total, give or take a bit. The airfare will be about $2,200, and the trip itself costs $1,450. I've also included money for the time missed from work, the shots that I'm going to be receiving (which come to about $600) as well as the costs of getting a passport, visas, ect. That being said I have already raised around $600, between money I've saved and donations. That brings be to about $4,900 left.

I do have deadlines though, the first being my airfare which is due on May 1st. That's in exactly two weeks. Honestly I'm not worried at all about that, I know for a fact that I'm suppose to be in Africa in August, and I know God will make a way. But for anyone out there that wants to know my current schedule, there it is. My other two deadlines are June 1st and July 1st, though I'm believing for all the money to be in and the trip totally be paid for by the end of June.

In advance I want to say thanks for anyone that keeps up with this blog. Thanks to anyone that donates, thanks to anyone that keeps me up in prayer. This trip is going to be awesome, and I can't wait.