Farewell Reception

Look at this special cake they made for me!

I know I'm coming back in 10 days now but it was planned, and they won't have to do it again in 2 months. LOL!!! The fellowship was fantastic! The food delicious!! And the music, tribal !!! Enjoy the pictures and all the little African details they had! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I feel loved!!!

"Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other." Romans 12:10 ----- I feel genuinely loved and honored!!!! Thank you again!!

Change in Plans

"The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God's help live in joy." Psalm 69:32 (NLT)

What a great verse for today! Okay, change in plans ---- I'm still going to Swaziland 8/30 but I will now be returning with the Oasis team and continue to raise support until 11/1 when I will return to Swaziland.

Why?
1) I personally need to raise more support
2) I can better be used these 2 months helping the Oasis with their Children's Cup Care Point promotion and support for me that was planned for October than to help the Swaziland office.
Now, for those of you that might think, why didn't the Oasis do it earlier, let me just say that I was originally scheduled to not be going to Swaziland to stay until 1/1/08 and the promotion would have then been before I left. Things then made a quick turn in late May for me to go earlier but there was no way to change the Oasis's scheduled plans. I was aware of that and figured I could raise my support through other churches and friends and family. (That did not produce enough to support me there yet, I have less than 25% of what I need monthly and less than 10% of what I need to get a vehicle.)

You know what's cool though in hindsight!!!! God is so awesome!!!! If I had not been planning to stay in Swaziland on 8/30, I would still be at my job with DFCS( I loved my job but it was immensely stressfull and all consuming) and I would not be able to do what I'm going to be able to do now in helping plan a spectacular Children's Cup promotion at the Oasis. (There is going to be a major community golf tournament, videos and pictures from our actual Fonteyn Carepoint with our team from this trip, lots of other things and me!) I don't have to miss it and hear about it by email, I will be a vital part of it.
I see this as such a preparation for me in learning more indepth about the workings of Children's Cup, about being a missionary and raising support and just raising the excitement here to "serve God" and watch Him grow others in ways they never expected!!!
For those who are already sending in their support. Don't worry, it's in the Children's Cup account for me to use when I get over there. I will be relying on my back vacation payout for these 2 months and I will be fine. Maybe God has a buyer for my house now! (but if He had done it earlier I wouldn't have a place to stay when I get back 9/9!) LOL!!

I hope this blog is an encouragement and not discouragement to you! God is still at work and I'm excited that I'm so excited about the change in plans! I pray to maintain a humble spirit.
"The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God's help live in joy" Psalm 69:32

P.S. The reception is still on for this Sunday 8/26 from 3-5 at the Oasis. It's just a drop in type of thing. My sons will be there if you have not made my fine "little" (22 & 20 years old) boys, Kris and Michael. Come give me a hug!!

Kris

Michael

Need Your Help

This is a short blog, for a change LOL!
Thank you for your prayers!!!
If you have been thinking of helping me financially but haven't yet, now is the time. Currently my funding is not there. I have to raise the $2000 - $2500/month to live over there and will have to buy a vehicle. This is hard for me to ask for financial help because I've always been such an independent person.
You can donate toward my support on line @ Childrenscup.org and click to designate it for me or you can mail your pledge designated for me to:
Children's Cup
PO Box 400
Prairieville, LA 70769-0400.
I also have to say that do not take from your tithe to help me. Your tithe to your church is first priority. If you can help me above that, Fantastic! If not,---TITHE instead. If your church as a whole can help with just $25/month or more that would be great. My goal was 100 churches and currently I have 2.
(Those reading this from my church, know that the Oasis church will be asking for your help to also sponsor the Care Point starting in Oct. as well as help me)
As you read this I am in prayer and counsel about whether to return from this mission trip and postpone my full stay in Swaziland until Nov. 1st. Keep me in your prayers! I'm excited about the future and what God will do!!!
Don't forget to come give me a hug Sunday from 3-5 at the Oasis Church,
3275 Tig Knight Road,
Loganville, GA 30052.
Because, as of today, I'm planning on staying but I won't know until I get there if I financially can.
"May the Lord bless You and keep you" Numbers 6:24
Your co-worker in Christ.

Just 10 more days!

It's getting close! Wed. was my last day working @ DFCS (Department of Family & Children Services). It is a weird feeling knowing I will no longer be earning a paycheck and have to rely on support of friends and strangers. I have to get a vehicle when I get there and it is strange to not be able to depend on my own paycheck to figure it out. God has a plan, I might not know it but I know it will all work out somehow.
I had my second garage sale and have sold the last of my stuff that I am parting with, with the exception of my china. (People just don't use china like they used to.) I was blessed with meeting a lot of new people during my garage sale and so many were an encouragement. I hope a lot of these new aquaintences, my co-workers, staff at my doctor's offices and other businesses I frequent and my friends are starting to sign in on my blog. I'm not an emotional person but I will miss them even though I might not shed tears now. I'm sure the enormity of it all will hit me more in a month or two.
Thank you for your prayers and know that I appreciate you all whether I just met you this weekend or I've known you for years. I would be lost without the connections.
For those that are not bloggers but want to keep in contact with me, my email is scmomzilla@aol.com. When I first go to Swaziland, 8/30, I might not be able to get online the first couple of weeks but after I get set up I'll keep in touch.
If you have contributed financially and read this blog. Please email before I leave so I can make sure I have your email address for personal updates.
Also, I want to invite everyone to a farewell reception being held at the Oasis Church (on Hwy 81 & Tig Knight Road in Loganville next to Tara Estates) this Sun. 8/26 from 3-5 pm. Come by and let me tell you thank you in person for your prayers and friendship.
Have a blessed week and see you Sunday (unless you live outside of GA) -- Ha!

Amazing Freedom

Friday and Saturday I was at the Women of Faith "Amazing Freedom" conference. To think I almost didn't go!

I thought I was going to be too busy getting ready for Africa!!

This is only part of the group that went!

IT WAS AWESOME!!! SUCH A BLESSING!!!

THE SPEAKERS, THE FELLOWSHIP, THE SPIRIT WAS EMPOWERING!!!!

It was the boost I needed to get ready for Africa. I expected spiritual battles and personal struggles when I get over to Swaziland but not in trying to get over there! Oh my! Walking by faith and not by sight is so much darker than I thought! Beth Moore told a story about the electricity going out when she was in the bathroom in where else -- Africa. (LOL). Anyway as she felt her way out of the can't see your hand in front of your face, pitch black bathroom stall and then bathroom itself, expecting to see a ray of light as she went through the door. What she was met was ---more utter blackness!! When she finally heard her husband's voice coming to get her she said all she could do was stand there with her hands out stretched, wiggling her fingers saying "I'm here, I'm here". WOW!! That is so how I've been feeling lately. I don't have peace about doing the "practical" things I and others think should be done to sell my house.
God keeps saying
"It's okay. I've got it covered!"

"But, God I can't see anything falling into place."

"It is. Just step out in faith"

"I thought I was when I said I would go."

"That was the first step"

"But I leave in less than 3 weeks"

"I will provide"
Wouldn't you know, Patsy Clairmont said this weekend at the conference, "We want to say God make a way and I'll step out in faith and God says take the step of faith and He will provide the way!"
Beth Moore spoke on comfort and resting in God of all comfort vs. making comfort our God. I found being practical and logical is my comfort. Ouch! It wasn't hard for me to downsize my "things" as much as it is letting go of the logical and practical things I and others say I should do but God doesn't give me a peace about it. Luci Swindoll said "Show up! Shut up! and Let go!" There it was again LET GO!!!
"For I am about to do a brand-new thing. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness for my people to come home. I will create rivers for them in the desert!" Isaiah 42:19 NLT

My other area of growth this weekend is to let go in another area. My emotions. "You can't take the emotion out of the devotion." "We are engaging socially but isolating emotionally!" " We keep from feeling by keeping 'busy'." Ouch!! "Can't bury (deny) your emotions because you are burying them alive."

So, maybe I should have named this blog "Let Go".

Let go of having to "see" what God is doing. Stepping out in faith and putting my weight on each step even though I can't see what is underneath my foot to hold me up.

Let go and feel. So if you see me cry (which they said tears from emotions release the toxins in your body--cool!) just pass the kleenex and say "to heal it you need to feel it".

Only 18 more days until I'm in the air!! Thanks for all your prayers, support, hugs and comfort!

I hear Oasis is having a going away reception for me the Sunday afternoon before I leave. I'll let you know so if you live in the area you can come give me one last hug!

These Oasis "CHICKS" are Dee, Machel and Kim!!!

Have a blessed week! My last day at work (Department of Family and Children Services) is Wed. 8/15. I have so much to get done in those 3 days. With God's help I will!!!

Your co-worker in Christ.

Do I trust God?

Do you trust God? Do I trust God?

I know God called me to go to Swaziland. I know He worked it out to go now rather than later. So why doubt He will get everything in order including my finances and support before I go? Because it is easier to look at what I "see" or "don't see" than to trust. As I get closer to the time to depart, Satan whispers doubt in my ear. The last couple of weeks I have been praying for God to send a buyer for my house, no pleading is a better word. Last weekend he did, we are just waiting on the papers to have it in writing. Now you might say wow but there is the rest of the story.

When I had my yard sale at the end of June, this same person came over and offered to buy my house then for what I thought was a low price (the same price he offered this last weekend). You say what changed since it the amount of the offer didn't? Was I feeling desperate? No, because by now I had been able to sit down and really look at what I needed to get out of the house and not carry a financial burden to Africa with me. And you know what, his price which is without a realtor, comes out to be what I need (I wanted more but it meets my needs).

You might think the story ends there with me thanking God but I had a lesson to learn. (I did and continually thank God though) I had whined and prayed for God to sell my house and Sunday, during my quiet time he reminded me of a story about a man in a flood praying for God to rescue him.

As the waters came into his house, a man in a boat came by and offered to take him to higher ground but the man said "no, God's coming to rescue me". The water got higher and another boat came by and the man said the same thing. The water rose to where the man had to stand on his roof and a helicopter came by and the man waved him on still saying God was going to rescue him. The man then prayed to God to not forget him and rescue him from the flood. God said "I already tried to rescue you 3 times and you won't let me"!

Get the picture? God told me that he sent someone a month ago, I didn't need to worry during the last 30 days, just get on board!

Lift you 5 fingers and remember these 5 things:

* God is who He says He is!

* God can do what He says He can do!

* I am who God says I am!

* I can do all things through Chirst!

* God's Word is alive and active in me!

I don't know how God is going to get all my support together but He will get all the details worked out and I'm just going to enjoy the ride!

Bless you for your prayers and encouragement!!!

The Giving Tree

I want to apologize for being neglectful in updating my blog and share with you some of my journaling from my quiet time this morning.

Scripture: "So let us then definitely aim for and eagerly pursue what makes for harmony and for mutual upbuilding of one another." Romans 14:19

Observation: I am so blessed. Chuck Swindoll reflected about "The Giving Tree" (if you have not read this book by Shel Silverstein you should - it's a short children's book) and said "... reviewing my life as I grew older with the tree and the boy. I identified with both - and it hurt. How many giving trees have there been? How many people have given of themselves so that I might grow, accomplish my goals, and find wholeness and satisfaction? Thank you Lord for each one."
I have been so wrapped up in getting ready for my "mission" that I have only been taking from "giving trees" from loving friends and missed an opportunity to "give" (witness) to someone. I have to humble myself that my "to do" list I am letting consume me and take me away from letting the Holy Spirit guide me.

Application: Let go!!! The relationships are more important than the paperwork!

Prayer: Thank you for my friends who have been so sacrificial in their time and talents on my behalf, especially Tina and the Halstead family. They madeover my lawn, cleaned and reorganized my house and even showed my house "for sale by owner" while I was in St. Louis with family. Bless them. Forgive me of being so consumed by my "journey" that I was caught off guard by a comment of another and missed an opportunity to witness of my joy in the Lord. (My walk was not being a tree.) Lord, adjust my focus and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. Don't let me put my "to do" list in place of yours. Thank you again for my many blessings. I give you the responsibility to get my work caught up, my house sold and my sponsorships lined up. It is not by my own power any of this will get done. Help me go ahead and rest in You!

As you can see I use the SOAP pattern from my quiet time. I will share some pictures of my trip and my "home makeover" in future blogs.
Have a blessed day!