Week 3: Team

I was so excited to meet the Team (minus 2) this past Saturday! I have already been fired up but now to add my excitement with the others...wow!!! I can see Alley connected with one of the couples as well, that was great to see. Being able to step out of our comfort zone is very crucial for our trip, so making these connections is very important.

This week in our Seven Weeks of Prayer is focus on our Team. Perfect timing (God's timing) as now we have a face to go with the names on our list. I just love that! We also have some specific prayer requests mentioned Saturday to add as well.

Let's start with our focus scripture: 1 Peter 4:10-11
"As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen."

Pray...
   
      We'd rely on the Holy Spirit (Proverbs 3:5-6)
                     *HIS Gifts
                     *HIS love and sensitivity
                     *HIS Boldness

       We'd walk in submission- 1 Thess. 5:12-13, Heb. 13:17

       Order and Unity- 1 Cor. 14:40, Matt: 18:19-20

       Protection- Health

       Provision- Financial, Strength (physical, mental and emotional)

 Here are a few personal pray requests shared by the Team on Saturday.

* Peace- few are having dreams that are turning into anxiety (or could even be the the other way around anxiety=dreams). Also peace for our families.
* Financial- few struggling to gather funds required.
                -We also need additional funds for the minitry items.
* Health/Dental issues- decision to handle now or take a chance to wait until returning from the trip.
* The Temi's- an unreached people group in Tanzania. Few plan to gather information on this people group while we are there. Pray these doors open.
*Continue to pray for translators - mainly women translators.
*Prepare our hearts.
*Prepare their hearts.

Thanks again for joining us on this journey with your prayers and support!

Focus/Personal Cleansing & Prep

Wow, less than 2 months away eeekk! So excited! Our group has started the seven weeks of prayer. This week is on Focus/Personal cleaning and preparation. I love how God prepares us. When I started reading Mandisa's book Idol Eyes the end of December it really stood out to me how much she fasted and prayed anytime she really needed direction from God. I remember thinking, wow to be able to have that much obedience.

She puts it this way:
"I've heard it said that fasting is the direct opposite of man's first sin in the Garden of Eden. Instead of eating what is forbidden, as Adam and Eve did, a fasting person refuses to eat what is allowed. The purpose of a fast is to weaken people physically in order to strengthen them spiritually.
The Bible demonstrates that God honors an obedient child who sacrifices food for a while and instead uses that time to pray." -Mandisa

"So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with Him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes." Daniel 9:3

Of course I've heard of other fast besides food, like giving up TV, Computer, things that are distracting us from spending time with God. However, I really feel God has been preparing me for the food fast.

So far I have failed Him twice, I made the mistake of trying this about 2 weeks ago when I worked from home one day. What was I thinking? As Alley would say "Epic fail #1" Then I received the information for the seven weeks of prayer and knew I really needed to do this and was not suppose to give up. So, I tried again yesterday I made it longer than the first time but failed once I got home and made dinner, "Epic fail #2." Oh and does chewing gum count? I dunno, I felt like I was cheating in some way s it probably does count. Ugh, I'm so thankful He loves us no matter how much we fail Him!!!
What's next? I continue my attempts. Any suggestions? I was so hungry yesterday and my stomach started growling right during a meeting..lol. Maybe I shouldn't work out that morning? Maybe I should eat less for a few days to shrink my stomach? I will try to eat less today and retry again tomorrow. Wednesdays are busy days, so maybe that will help? I will keep you posted.



Now to share some humbling news! Check out how close we are to our goal! Just a few hundred dollars away! God is so good! We will be paid in full way before our last due date. Words cannot express how blessed we are. Thank you!
We have started buying our clothes and other items needed. I will be getting my immunizations this week. I know time is going to fly fast and it will be here before we know it.

Please continue to pray for us as we enter the seven weeks of prayer. I will update you each week on our prayer requests. Of course as mentioned this week is on focus, personal cleansing and preparation.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

The "planned" itenerary

Wow...time is going by so quickly. I probably keep saying that each time, but it is so true :)

Steps completed:
1) Sent in our deposits to SWBMA last week
2) Sent off for Alley's passport (yay!)

Yesterday we recieved the planned itenerary from Scott (Director @ SWMBA). I want to share this with you because I know you will be praying for each step and continue to prepare us for this journey.

June 7 Thursday Depart DFW 4:45 PM on American Airlines
June 8 Friday Arrive London 7:50 AM, Depart at 10:20 AM on Kenya Air

DFW to London:



London to Entebbe:



June 8 Friday Arrive Entebbe (via Nairobi) 11:20 PM, Spend night in Uganda
June 9 Saturday Travel to Karagwe, Tanzania (all day), arrive at supper time
June 10-13 Sun-Wed Stay at Guest House in Karagwe, ministry includes visiting and doing evangelism in the villages, leading revival services, teaching students and children, and helping churches as needed.
June 14-17 Thus-Sun Travel to Bukoba and start ministry: church leadership conference, women’s conference, student conference, visit in area churches, do evangelistic work in Bukoba and Nshamba.

This is what it will look like once we leave Uganda:



June 18 Monday Rest, catch evening boat across Lake Victoria
June 19-21 Tues-Thurs Safari – drive through game parks, 2 nights in lodges
June 21 Thursday Arrive Arusha, clean up and shop, catch 7:40 PM flight home on Kenya Air to London (via Nairobi).
June 22 Friday Arrive London 6:45 AM, Depart on American Airlines 9:30 AM
June 22 Friday Arrive DFW 1:25 PM

So what is next? Well, time to start shopping for clothes to wear, we don't own many skirts or polos. So we will be dropping in the goodwill locations between now and then. Also, need to get shots out of the way, Hep. A and Tetanus :)

Total for the trip is $3,500 (each)

Thanks to SWMBA they have provided $400 for each of us as a sponsorship! How awesome is that! Nothing like getting us off on the right foot!

So with that our new total is $3,100 (each)

Continue to pray as we work towards our next payment due date (see below schedule).

Payment Schedule


January 9 - $100 (paid)
January 30 - $1000
March 15 - $1000
May 25 - $1000

I wanted to make the dollar sign into a God sign :) I have complete faith we will meet these deposit schedules with no stress, or worry.

There will be a maximum of 20 people from local churches on this trip. Please continue to pray for us as we prepare our hearts.

Thank you again for all of your prayers and support!

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matt. 6:33

The date is set!

Last Monday, We received the email we've been waiting for, the dates for the 2012 Tanzania trip are tentatively set for June 7- June 23rd. This is just another "Yes" in my book as the dates fall perfectly so we are able to go. If it was one-two more days forward my job would keep me from going as it would fall in a week were no PTO policy stands. God has been so faithful through this journey!

So what's next?

Let the planning begin!

1) Continue Praying: Please pray for a discerning spirit, financial assistance and peace.

2) Preparing: I plan to send off for Alley and Terry's passports so that is out of the way. I actually already have one, so that saves some $$

3) Funding: I've started up my AVON business again in full force to help finance this trip. I can already see God's hand over it too!

Thanks again for joining us on this journey! I can't wait to see what God has in store!

"Direct me in the path of Your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward Your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to Your word." Psalm 119: 35-37