[July 8]

Yesterday was long and nerve-wracking. I got to GE around 8:30. The bus was late to pick us missionaries up, so we missed registration and the announcements on where we would be sleeping, where our team was, where our bags were, etc. It felt chaotic and I was not excited. Somehow though, I met one girl named Brittany who became my "buddy". It was nice to find someone who kind of knew what they were doing. Still though, I shed a few tears, but only a few because I was confident things would be better in the morning. So far, thankfully, they have been.

Colossians 1:10-12 says this:

And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

After reading this I remembered how my family, friends, and brothers and sisters in Christ are praying for me. They are praying this prayer in the middle of my discomfort and not so happy attitude. They pray this because they love me. I pray this too. I pray that I can bear fruit that will benefit and encourage others in my actions. I pray that I will grow in my knowledge of the Lord, and grow in my faith in Him so that He can give me endurance and patience so I can run this good race. I'm ready! Use me! Teach me!

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I talked with my mom and Michelle Crissinger tonight. It was SO COMFORTING to hear the voices of people I love. When I got back to this metal dome (a giant sauna filled with bunk beds) I met a girl named Amy. She sleeps on the bunk across from me. She just got back from a trip to Japan where she helped with relief work. She graciously gave me her bug spray, sunscreen, left over baby wipes, and flavored powder to put in my water! Hooray! haha I'm incredibly THANKFUL right now. Together, we talked about her trip, both the encouraging and discouraging things she went things she went through. I just want to tell you now...this girl has the faith of Mother Teresa. I feel so very blessed because of her.

[July 7th on the plane to Dallas]

There are majestic clouds outside my window. Majestic is the only word I could come up with.

I met a girl in the terminal who is also going to Global Expeditions. Her name is Megan and she is going to Romania. Cool, eh? As I talked with her my nervousness slid off me, leaving me feeling free and excited as I now sit on the plane. Before boarding we got Bogangles which also probably aided me in feeling better. I scarfed it down just before we boarded and thought, "Oh this might be my last "real" meal for awhile!" I'm trying to prepare myself mentally for the training I will go through under the hot Texan sun and try to imagine what my time in Zambia will look like. Only time will tell.

I think back on the past few months...and stress comes to mind. I got stressed about getting the shots and prescriptions I needed and the flight that I'm now on booked. I just stressed...over...a lot. I remember worrying because everything seemed to rest in my hands. I put all the pressure on myself! What I didn't realize was that the whole time I was in the Lord's hands (as I will continue to be for the rest of eternity). Praise God! It is not me who is in charge of making things happen. It is the Lord. Now that I have given up the reign, I feel such an incredible freedom sweep over me. I pray I can remember my place. I am not in control, but I am in the safe arms of the One who is. Praise be to God.

[Our Hearts Are Full]

"Americans seem to expect that everything will be provided for them. For us," he said, "this ear of corn is a gift from God. This evening's rain is a shower of mercy upon us. This healthy breath is life-giving. And, maybe tomorrow we will not have such things, but our hearts are so full from God's provision." -a Kenyan man

[Love People]

I think everyone should watch this video. Really.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1378237514624&comments

[Thinking of You]

Little ones whom I hope to meet...I'm praying for you. I hope you come to know that you are deeply loved & that you are not forgotten.

[Happy Tears]

Last week, in the midst of trying to trust my Father, I freaked out. I panicked at my situation and the list of unknowns that sat before me. I called my mom and almost began to cry. I was stressed because couldn't find roommates for the next school year. And I was creating more stress by comparing the support that I had raised with how much money my roommate had raised (she is also doing mission work this summer). I kept saying, "I know God will provide", but in that moment those words were empty. I thought, "Maybe if I say it enough, I'll really feel it." I had asked just about everyone I knew about their future living situations and kept finding out people had already made plans, signed leases, etc. I didn't see how God was going to come through. I looked at the 25% that had been raised to for me to go to Zambia and I doubted God's calling for me to go. "At this rate", I thought, "how will I be able to get enough?" I realize now that I doubted He would provide for me because it was rooted in a deeper, quieter fear that the Lord did not love me personally. I continued to spill out my worries to my mom as she listened and poured encouraging words and love onto me in return. That night she helped me to see the hope that was ever-present in the situation, the hope that I had simply stopped seeing.

I walked back into my apartment that night, no where closer to knowing the answers to the questions I was faced with. However, I returned with a deep comfort, and was content with not knowing the future. I was blessed with the Lord's peace, but over the next few days I learned and discovered so much more.

The day after talking with my mom, I asked some friends if they had made definite plans for next school year...and if they had room for me. The next thing I knew, I was talking to two excited girls about places to live. God gave me roommates.

The day after that I checked the mail as I walked out the door for class, as is my normal routine. In the mailbox I found a letter from a friend. In it was a note that said, "Amanda, may your trip show God's unfailing love to all you meet! What a blessing you will be." With it was a check that put me at 75% of the support I need to go to Zambia. Okay, let's just pause and take in those 2 sentences. Maybe you'll want to read them again. Unable to move, I kept rereading the note and being covered with more encouragement each time. I was at a complete loss for words. I was blown away by my friend's immense generosity. I was amazed at their family's faithfulness to the Lord and how they... 1. trusted Him so much with their finances and 2. realized how they have been blessed and gave graciously to bless me, so that I can go and bless others. (It perpetuates the most amazing cycle ever.) In that moment being wonderfully overwhelmed, I-praised-God. I can barely describe how powerful this all really was, but it was so much more than an outward display of His provision. In that letter contained silent words from my Father, words spoken intimately to the deepest part of me...words to erase my doubt and fear...words to assure me of one Truth...words that said, " I-love-you."

Wrapped in the arms of my Father...and overwhelmed with His love and His blessings, I cried happy, joyful tears.

[Artful Thoughts]

Tonight, I'm trying my best to wait and be patient for the Lord. I look at the amount of money that's been raised so far and I rejoice! But at the same time I find myself getting anxious and think, "God, this isn't enough yet!" I'm praying for patience and peace, and as before more trust in the One who knows the plans for this whole thing. I'm praying also that He would stir the hearts of people near and far to donate to this mission. Tonight I'm realizing how much I need God.

[Trust]

I thought of Proverbs 3:5 today. It says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." Now, that's a pretty popular verse. With it being popular, we humans can easily begin to glaze over the words and not let its' real meaning sink in. That's what I found I did at least. I, like many other Christians, have read that verse many times, but I've never really acted on it. But when those words randomly popped in my head today, I paid attention. So here's what I'm learning.

"Trust in the Lord", it says. My idea of trust has been to believe that God will bless me, that He will provide for me, comfort me during hard times, that He won't leave me hanging etc. But I've noticed in myself that I can reach a point where I want to take a hold of things because God's plan just isn't cutting it. I doubt that God is still working in my situation and I feel the need to act or "help God out". haha So silly. I then begin to do the second part of the verse. I lean on what I know about the situation. I start wanting to "fix" things and make things happen. In doing that I put my trust in my feeble, small, unfit hands. And you know what I'm learning that leads to? Stress. Failure. Exhaustion. Disappointment.

So what is real trust? Trust in its basic form is: the firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something. In this case, (in every case really) that someone is God. I like that the definition says "firm belief". It's a f-i-r-m--b-e-l-i-e-f. It's unyielding, unmoving. It doesn't change when things down look like they aren't working out. It doesn't stop after a certain period of time has passed and nothing has happened. It-doesn't-give-up.

It's my prayer that I would trust in the Lord more...that I would not be swayed by doubt or wanting to do things on my own. And that's my prayer for you too. Because if we submit to Him in all our ways, then He will make our paths straight as we walk with Him. And that, my friends, sounds like a glorious thing.

[T-Shirt]

If anyone wants to help support me to go to Zambia and tell other people about it, then this shirt is just for you! They're only $15 and all profit goes towards my trip! The awesome graphic was designed by my friend Savannah Holder, so these t-shirts are super unique. Buy one today and tell people about loving orphans and sharing freedom every time you wear it! :)

[898]

As of this very minute, you have helped raise $898.00 for me to go to Zambia. THANK YOU for all who are making this happen. I am so grateful for each one of you!