I sit here in the downstairs of my townhouse think of all that needs to be done in the next 3 days and not knowing how it all is gong to get finished. I find that it is very much the same overwhelming feeling i had back a few months ago as i was thinking about backing out of the Crimea trip. I was busying running around and trying to take care of life and the family which was leaving me little time to devote to sitting down and devoting some time to writing out the support letters and focusing on the mission trip ahead of us all.
I have to say that i have been overwhelmed but the outpouring from all of you who pulled together and sent in support checks to make this happen for the team. I am pleased to tell you that as of yesterdays meeting we have raised over $12,000 for the work that we are going to be doing in Crimea. The yard sale along that we put together raised nearly $1,200 and the week before that our VBS raised about that same amount to see Chuck in a grass skirt. I, unfortunately, was out of town, so i didn't get a chance to see this spectacle.
God has been proving himself faithful to me through this trip already. I was trying to go about raising my support money on my own strength and power and i have to say that i was dong a wonderfully horrible job of it. I had just about talked myself into the fact that God was telling me that i needed to stay home there was to much to do here. God was kind enough to send a wake up call to me n the form of my co-worker Melanie. I shared my thoughts of backing out over lunch prep in the office on day a month or so ago; and it was then that she said "i don't know about that Brian, you should really pray and talk to God a bit more before making the call to back out. He may really want you there in Crimea." that had me thinking all day long. Not only had i tried to take control of the trip and do i ton my own but i was not really letting God have a part of the process. I turned it around that day and said that i know i can t do it on my own God, if this is gonna happen then ts gonna have to be from you. At that point we were just about 3 weeks (4 weeks if you pushed it) away from needing to buy tickets. No support letter finished, barely started really and floundering around.
Needless to say, when i got home i was checking emails and came across one from the church that said "Hey, you've got money. People are already writing check s for your account for Crimea." WOW, really, i mean come on. "Ok God you're not playing around on this, huh." was what went through my head. God also cleared my mind and i was able to put together the letter and packet that evening and print them out the next day.
I find myself sitting here wondering what is so amazing over there in Crimea that God wants me there so bad. The fact that the last two weeks have been slammed also make me wonder what Satan is up to. I know things go wrong often and always at inopportune times, but...Thursday after work i came home to a flooded upstairs bathroom. Talk about stress and frustration. we've been living in a pulled apart house for about 3-4 days trying to let things dry out and slowly put them back to normal. Its been real hard to focus on much the past few days; let alone the trip. Friday is coming quicker. I find that again i am in need of HIS strength to get through the next few days before i can be turned into a tool in Crimea. Why do we wait to leave the country before we start thinking about being used as God's tools?
Enough garbage dumping, i wanted to share what God has done for me and the team as well as the provisions that he provided through all of you. I cant express how humbled i am to be apart of this and see his work take place in front of my eyes. Do keep us all in your prayers as we partake in the journey ahead. Pray for the loved ones that we leave behind. Pray for the willingness to be flexible once we arrive. Chuck had a great devo last night. said we are on a mission of P.E.A.C.E. We are there to Provide hope to those that cant see it. We are there to Encourage them. There to Assist the families and neighbors that we meet. We are there to Cultivate relationships with the villagers and families we are staying with. Finally we need to be able to Enjoy the time and culture and see how God works. We may be the only Jesus they will see. There is still quite a bit of residue from Communism there. Everyone feels like someone is watching and spies are out to get em.
That said i am beat and need to stop writing and start packing my bags.
Love you all and thanks for the prayers and support as we take this journey together. You are as vital to this trip as those that are physically making the trip! DO NOT forget that.
I look forward to sharing the adventure and daily events as we can.
TTFN
Doc
