Think the thoughts, feel the feels...write it down

Hello all!  This week is my fourth week of Ministry Partner Development and boy has it been a roller-coaster!  I've had three MPD appointments this week.  I've called more people this week to set up appointments and to follow up with letters that I sent them.  That takes a lot of faith, at least for me, because I am really putting myself out there.  A good handful of the people I've called have inaccurate numbers so I can't follow up with them in that way.  Some of the other people that I've called have said no to supporting me and gave me no referrals.  Referrals are really important in this process because I need to contact and work with as many people as possible; I want lots of people to serve God's Kingdom through this capacity.  This is a great ministry, not because of me, but because of God! If the call ended in an appointment or a commitment of sorts, I'd feel really encouraged and happy; but if it ended with a "no" and no referrals...

So this week I've gotten more stuff done for STINT than usual (I plan on increasing this) and this really excites and comforts me.  Today I talked to my Ministry Partner Development coach, Alison (who's wonderful, by the way), and told her all the stuff I'd gotten done, and stuff that I was working on, and planning to working.  We also talked about how I am doing spiritually and emotionally and otherwise.  I was talking to a friend of mine who is raising support for STINTing in Chile and a wave of excitement came over me. Sometimes, just out of the blue, I get really excited about Argentina!  I'm perpetually happy about it, but then these waves of excitement and anticipation about STINTing spontaneously come!  This is real!  I'm really getting to do this! Yesterday was my college-young adult pastor's birthday and he said that he's literally quit jobs over having to work on his birthday; but what he said after that struck me: even though technically he w...

Hello!  I wanted to give y'all an update on how I'm doing and feeling thus far.  I have to raise support for STINT; this means that I depend upon different people, organizations, groups, companies, or whoever to give financially in order for this ministry to work.  I build this team of people, Ministry Partners, by writing letters, making calls, going on appointments, maybe even doing fundraisers.  Once a week my Ministry Partner Development coach and I have a phone appointment (she lives in a different city) and talk about the process: what I'm doing, what I need to be doing, goals,  and accomplishments.  She has been WONDERFUL and I am so glad that that's she's walking me through this process. I am not the best planner, nor do I enjoy making schedules for myself, especially during the Summer months, so this has already been a great challenge for me.  Each day I have so much to do that involves STINT and non-STINT related activities; just the though...

Hello! So I love the Bible and what the Bible says about God's heart for "the nations".  When I and other people say "the nations", they mean anywhere but their homeland.  Here are some verses that really are strong reminders for me, and hopefully you, of why missions are Biblical. >>>Matthew 28:18-20~ And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations , baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." >>>John 3:16-17~ For God so loved the world, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. >>>Romans 10:14-15~ But how are they to call on Him in ...

Hello folks!  I wanted to take some time to share more deeply how the Lord has called me to missions in Argentina, so here is my CALLING STORY      My story starts when I was a child, even before I was a Christian.  When I was around kindergarten age, 5 or 6 years (perhaps younger), I told my mommy that when I grew up I wanted to travel around the world and learn about/explore/live amongst the different cultures and languages and religions of the world.  But, I said, I also wanted to tell them about Jesus;  I asked her if there was such a job and she told me yes and it's called a missionary.  All throughout my life, this has been a consistent desire of my heart, to: go into all the nations and tell them about the love of Jesus.            Fast forward to Summer 2009 where I went on a Summer Missions Project to San Jose, Costa Rica with Campus Crusade for Christ.  It was there that ...