FYM Africa September 2009 - Making Disciples; Reaching Our World

How I Was Called to the Mission Field

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Looking back on my life, there is a lot I could mention when discussing how I've ended up where I am. I can only know bits and pieces compared to the mass symphony (John 21:25) that God has been/is/will be orchestrating, but I can't help but share (Acts 4:20) the bits that I know.

Deep in the summer of 2005, a close friend of mine, BJ Higgins, returned from his second 30-day mission trip to Peru. His consuming passion (Jeremiah 20:9) for telling people - including Christians (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11) - about Christ was salient before, but it had only increased (John 3:30) upon his return. He became sick and was hospitalized in mid-August (Philippians 1:29). But even as he lay mostly unconscious, many things were happening (Isaiah 43:19):

A blog was set up in order to keep BJ's family and friends updated not only on his physical status, but his family's emotional condition as well. Soon it was visited daily by hundreds of people praying for him and his family (James 5:13-20), and an incredible unity (John 17) began to form among everyone involved. The root of our prayers was simple, but sincere: "Christ, if You will it, heal his body, but do the thing that will bring You the most glory, the most recognition." (Luke 22:42)

On September 26, 2005, BJ passed away (Psalm 116:15). This sparked my interest in missions (Psalm 2:8), as well as my unshakeable certainty that I would soon become involved with how God is loving people and bringing them to Himself (Luke 19:10) in places beyond Indiana and the United States.

Since his death, I have been on a few trips with other people seeking to love and show and tell people about Christ (1 John 3:16). I was able to go to Mexico, Canada, and many places throughout the US. I adore how being a missionary is a lifestyle (John 15:5, Galatians 2:20, 2 Corinthians 5:16), and am so thankful that the people who have poured into my life have been examples of this.

Now, I could give you statistics and stories and global situations and use them as reasons why I am headed to South Africa. I could tell you that I know the exact details of why I am going, and fool myself into thinking that God needs me. But He doesn't. He will accomplish His purposes whether or not I choose to obey Him (Acts 12:23).

However, with what I've tasted and seen (Psalm 37:4) of the abundant life (John 10:10) that results from following Him at all costs (Mark 8:35), nothing else even begins to compare to how good it is to abide in Him (John 15:1-5) and stand in awe (Ecclesiastes 5:7) at how He works. This applies not only to joy and thrill and adventure, but to suffering and pain and anguish of heart as well (Psalm 136:16). Because when there's pain, He is our healer and restorer. When there's suffering, He is our comforter (2 Corinthians 1:2-5). In everything, He IS (John 8:58) exactly what we need, and gives us fantastic, undeserved things (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

I end this with both certainty and uncertainty: I am certain that God is good (Psalm 136). I believe He desires to use these nine months as a part of my journey with Him, and His journey with others (Ephesians 3:20-21). I am, however, uncertain of the details. But I have absolutely nothing to fear (Psalm 27), or prove (Galatians 6:14, Colossians 1:22), or worry about (Matthew 6:34, John 17:22-24). Please pray that this state of mind (Hebrews 12:1-2, Romans 12:1-2) would become a solid state of heart for God's people (Ephesians 1:18, Psalm 16:9).

Psalm 56:9b - This is know, that God is for me.

Changes!

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I hereby interrupt a series of blogs to note a number of changes that have been made to this program:

-What would have been a week of boot camp immediately before heading to South Africa (on September 9, 2009) has been moved to August 6-11. The intention behind this is to give the team more time to process and prepare at home after camp before heading out.

-What would have been three and a half months of discipleship training, or "The Awakening," has been moved from South Africa to Matamoros, Mexico. The allotted time for this is two months, and we will be joined with what was the Latin America team.

-What would have been outreach teams of roughly a dozen people have been minimized to groups of five or six. This is huge -- because it has opened doors for missionaries in places other than South Africa to host us due to smaller team sizes.

As a result of these changes, I may end up somewhere different than what I originally signed up for -- but I am more than alright with that. I did not commit to a nation; I committed to my God.

Trust in the Lord, and do good;

Dwell in the land, and cultivate faithfulness.

Delight yourself in the Lord,

And He will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord;

Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

And He will bring forth

Your righteousness as the light,

And your judgment as the noonday.

Rest in the Lord

And wait patiently for Him.

--Psalm 37:3-7a

I am honestly stoked about these changes! The changes themselves excite me -- but beyond that, I love the fact that God is being followed and changes are being made this far along in the process!

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,

His greatness is unsearchable.

One generation shall commend Your works to another,

And shall declare Your mighty acts.

On the glorious splendor of Your majesty,

And on Your wondrous works,

I will meditate.

They shall speak of the might of Your awesome deeds,

And I will declare Your greatness.

They shall pour forth the fame of Your abundant goodness

And shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.

The Lord is gracious and merciful,

Slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

The Lord is good to all,

And His mercy is over all that He has made.

--Psalm 145:3-7

How I Was Called to the Mission Field

Wed, 1 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We were asked to write a blog about how we were called to this mission trip. Here is my story...

This is what the Lord says- your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go."

-Isaiah 48:17

Isn't it incredible to be able to look back on your life, at the joys, the hardships, the struggles, all of it, and be able to see how God has used it perfectly to His plan? That is where I am now. I look back at my life, my walk with the Lord, the times I thought I would never make it through, and I can see God's hands molding me, bringing me to this place where I am following His call to serve in Africa. It leaves me speechless and it awe of Him. You see, to understand how I was called to missions, and Africa in particular, you must understand the journey I have taken.

I was born and raised in a Christian home, and taken to church every Sunday. Yet, I didn't really understand Christ's sacrifice for me and what it meant to be a Christian until I was 14. On a youth trip, I accepted Christ into my life and began my walk with Him. At the same time, I started supporting a little boy from Kenya through Compassion International. Little did I know that God had just planted a seed and my love for Africa and serving would grow from that point on.

Over the next few years, I became very involved in my church, yet I was following the "protocol" of Christianity and didn't really trust the Lord with my life. I said I was His but held tight to the steering wheel, refusing to give Him control. So when I left for college and was thrown into an alien environment full of partying, drinking, and living solely for worldly desires, I was lost. I tried to hold firm to my beliefs and values, but without a solid foundation and identity in Christ, I stumbled into the darkness. Yet God was faithful and gave me a strong woman of God as a roommate. She was a comfort and encourager and helped steer me away from the temptations of college and shared her faith with me. She truly introduced me to what a life in Christ could be. God used her to open my eyes and heart to Him, and I began to seek.

It was my sophomore year during my first Jamaica mission trip that I truly became a follower of Christ. The Lord tore through the protection and barriers I had placed around my heart. He humbled me, showed me my selfishness and pride, showed me forgiveness and grace, and began to put my life back together. I learned how to open my heart to strangers and those in need. I learned that He has given me a heart for service and for others. I began to trust in Him and gave my life to Him. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways, submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. - Proverbs 3: 5-6 From that point on, the Lord has placed missions strongly on my heart. I returned to Harmons, Jamaica 2 more times, and each time I learned more about who I am and who the Lord is molding me to be. I literally fell in love with serving the Lord through missions. I find it incredible that the same thing God used to bring me to Him turned out to be the future He had in store for me as well!

As my faith in Him grew, the Lord began to turn my heart away from my plans of moving back to Dallas, going to graduate school, and starting a high paying career and placed long term missions on my mind and heart. I fought at first because I was scared of following a path that I wasn't in control of. I told myself that it wouldn't work, that there were too many other things I wanted to do with my life. Yet God is faithful, and one night, on bended knees and tears, I gave it all to Him, I committed to go where He called. As I gave my fears to the Lord, He alleviated them and placed missions so strongly on my heart that I can't imagine doing anything else! My heart is on fire for Him, and over the years, through involvement in Invisible Children, and multiple organizations at my school, I have grown to love Africa and have a deep desire to serve there. God is good, all the time!

So here I am, excited and nervous, yet trusting fully in the Lord to lead me down His path. I am standing on the edge of the cliff, taking hold of God's hand, and leaping, knowing He will lift me up.

Many are the plans in a human heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. - Proverbs 19:21

Expectations for My Missions Trip

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We were asked to write a blog about how we felt before leaving on this mission trip. Here is what I'm expecting...

Where should I begin... This trip is so out of what i know or anything I have before experienced that it makes it so hard to even know what to expect. I don't have any idea of what kind of place I will be living in, what I will see when I wake up in the morning, or the kinds of people I will interact with through out the day, but I know that God will be there in it all. When I think about the trip I get so excited about all the people I am going to meet (from the team to the people that we will all meet on the missions field) and I am excited for our lives to connect and impact one another. "As iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another" Proverbs 27:17 I'm looking forward to meeting other followers of Christ who desire to spread Christ's love and to reach out to his people. I expect to have my heart broken for the people of Africa, and for Christ to use me in some way to impact the people that I meet.

I know that my walk with God is going to grow and that I will learn to lean on him and trust him in new and powerful ways. I am expecting this trip to change and impact me in so many ways... I'm just not exactly sure what all those "ways" are going to be yet! But God will be there in it all!

How I was Called to the Mission Field

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We were asked to write a blog about how we were called to this mission trip. Here is my story . .

1 John 3:18 says "My children, our love should not be just words and talk, but true love which shows itself in action".

My sophomore year of high school I was shown the Invisible Children documentary. It was then that God broke my heart for the children of Africa. It has since been in the core of my heart, growing steadily stronger with every beat to go to Africa and succumb myself to the poverty and tragedy that these children call reality every day.

It was not until the end of my third semester in college when the call to Africa started to become real. I had my whole life planned out by the time I entered my second year of college. Every detail of my life was planned out according to where I thought God was leading me. But then I realized that God was pulling me in a different direction and that I had completely lost track of the path that He had laid out for me. So I took all of my ambitions, all of the plans I had made and surrendered them to God by taking my fourth semester of college off to get back on God's path. It was then that He revealed to me His plans of me pursuing my dreams and my greatest passions by following Him. He revealed to me a life of servitude and a life with more purpose than I could have ever planned for myself. He showed me that if I follow Him and let Him lead me, He will give me life that is more beautiful and joyful than I could ever imagine. I have always felt out of place in my life, like there is something more to it than what I was living. I have never had any desire to live the "white picket fence life" or make money and have nice things (please don't be mistaken in thinking that I see this lifestyle as wrong, but simply not for me). With this calling to missions in Africa, I knew that God was taking me home to where I truly belong. It was at this time that I knew that God had already planned my life for me and there was no sense in me trying to plan it out because honestly, the way I would have planned it out would not be nearly as perfect for me as what God has in His plan. I feel like a puzzle piece that has finally been put in the right place, where it fits perfectly and makes the whole picture come together just that much more. I like to think that my life will be used by God to make the picture of His universe more complete. Every puzzle piece fits into the picture differently, and just the same, every person has a distinct purpose in this life; mine is to devote my life to one of poverty to show the people who have never experienced joy or love, the beauty of the God who loves them. God has led me to Africa and I know that being with these people and these children who are so broken will be more difficult and more painful than I can handle, but with God's strength I can have the power to make a difference. With the grace of God I can be the miracle that they never knew they would live to see.

I started looking for mission opportunities and came upon this adventure that I am certain is in God's will for my life. It really is true that when you "seek your happiness in the Lord, He will give you your heart's desire" (Psalm 37:4).

Expectations for my missions trip

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I'm expecting to grow closer to God and to understand him more, I think that when we begin to love the people in Africa, the ones that maybe nobody else has shown love towards, we will come to a better understanding of God's heart for his people and who He is.

I know that this is going to be a challenge, living with a group of people, being away from home and being physically/mentally/spiritually challenged but through it all I am expecting to build amazing relationships that go beyond ordinary friends. I hope as a team we will challenge, encourage, comfort and love each other and ultimately at the end of the day know that we can really trust each other.

I am really excited about the trip although it still doesn't feel real and hasn't really sunk in yet. The thing that I am nervous about is the support raising; I have days when I am so confident and full of faith and then I have days where I feel overwhelmed. Lately God has been bringing me to the realization that I can't do it but He can and I just need to let go and trust him, which is scary to do.

But most of all, I want to have fun! I know this is going to be an experience of a life time and I am excited to meet the team and to see what God has in store for us.

How I was Called to the Mission Field...

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

    We were asked to write a blog about how we were called to this mission trip. Here is my story...
    I guess looking back I can see that God has been inviting me to come on this journey for a long time, I didn't know where I was going to end up, but He faithfully led me one little step at a time. Last summer I worked at a youth ministries houseboat camp, and it simply changed my life. Before I worked at the camp I was on a rowing team and had some big plans to get a scholarship and to go off and row at a big four year school, but God had other things in store for me. I got hurt half way through the season and through a lot of prayer and tear filled conversations I started to see that God was leading me in a new direction. I ended up serving on houseboats that following summer, which would have been impossible had I still been rowing. When I was at camp I was physically, emotionally and spiritually tired, ALL OF THE TIME, but it just seemed right to be fully dedicated to ministry and daily challenged to grow in my walk with the Lord. I fell in love with serving Christ with my everything. When I came home and got back in the comfort of my "typical" life, I really missed having my attention undivided towards ministry. I think once you really see the way that God is moving, working and shaping lives you want to be apart of what he is going every minute!
    I spent the next few months after camp filling out college applications, working a couple of jobs, and finishing up my undergrad at the local community college, but even as college opportunities presented themselves it just didn't seem right. I had a chance to go visit my "dream school" and although it was a great visit and seemed to be everything I imagined, as I walked off the campus I knew in my heart that it was not what God had planned for me. I knew that I would be working at camp again this summer but none of my plans seemed to be coming together for after camp. I started to worry about it and thank about it all the time, until one day I gave it up to God and decided not to think about the next year or try to make any plans for it. I have always had it in the back of my mind that I would like to do a long-term trip but had never really looked into it or really thought or prayed much about it. Soon after I decided not to plan, God put a peace in my heart, and followed it up with a new message in my email inbox. It was from Adventures in Missions and although I have been receiving emails from them for YEARS this email caught my attention in a new way. I started looking into the programs that they were offering and started to pray about it, and asked a prayer group I attend to pray about it, and then prayed some more. God swung the doors wide open and here I am... planning on spending nine months serving his beloved people in a country He created with new friends that He planned for me to know and be friends with before I ever even existed. God has led me one step at a time to this place, to this adventure, and I am excited to see HIS PLANS for my life unfold.

Expectations of my Missions Trip

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We were asked to write a blog about how we felt before leaving on this mission trip. Here is what I'm expecting...

I'm expecting the unexpectable which is ironic I realize, but I have no idea what to expect of my time in South Africa other than God's presence. I believe that this trip will drastically change the entire team's perspective, and unite us all for one cause. I hope that we can build a place of true communitiy where everything belongs to everyone and revolves around a love for each other and God.

Acts 2:45-47 And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met. They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.

Basically, I wish that God would move in us, so that we can move others closer to him while also maintaining a wonderful harmony among our fellow believers.

I have no expectations, but I have a lot of hopes and wishes for this amazing adventure. I am not worried about much of anything, other than support raising, but God is God and He can make money come from trees if He wants too. So, I'm ok with that now. Also, my mother will be experiencing a tremendous amount of alone time with my brother and father. Pray for her. They are wonderful boys, but they gang up on us when we're alone.

How I was called to the mission field

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We were asked to write a blog about how we were called to this mission trip, so here is my story:

Since moving to Canada, I have thought about going on a missions trip several times but it wasn't until I was in Banff for a seasonal job last summer that God really pressed the idea of missions on my heart. Its funny how God works; I was away from home, family, friends and all that's familiar when he turned my world upside-down. It was totally God timing; without anyone else to lean on I was learning to depend on God more and that's when he called me into missions and challenged me to depend on him even more.

When I started searching for missions trips I read a bunch before I came across the AIM website. When I read about the First Year Missionaries trip, it was like something inside just clicked', God spoke to me and I knew this was the one! I looked into going with the 08-09 team but it was already full so I thought ok well maybe next year, we will see what happens. During the next few months I couldn't stop thinking about the FYM trip, inside I just knew I was meant to do this and I couldn't imagine doing anything else next year; so I applied and by the grace of God was accepted :)

Being born in Africa has given me a strong heart for the continent. So I am really excited to be going back now that I know God, so I can share his love, hope and grace with everyone I meet.

How I Was Called to the Missions Field

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

"Faith that does nothing is worth nothing," James declares in his short, but marvelous book (chapter 2). South Africa, missions, is my something. God calls everyone to do something, this is what he has called me to do.

For the specifics keep reading >>>

I have always planned on going to college. My parents, lovingly of course, have forced that idea into my brain and I have never rejected it. Cedarville, a wonderful Christian University, has been my choice for years. I intended to attend there this fall, but I will be in South Africa. Rough commute. Anyways, I grew up in a Christian family so God has been a very significant part of my life since the beginning. I thought of how amazing it would be to live in another country as a missionary, but I also thought that living in Cinderella's castle and stealing price charming would be ideal, so there isn't much merit in my early dreams.

However, in the last few years, I have been fervently seeking some avenue for my life. I have had so many different plans that were widespread, but always people-oriented. I wanted to help people, somehow. At my friend's youth retreat, we listened as a few missionaries shared their stories, and they touched my heart. These people helped people in the most essential way. They didn't save lives, they saved souls. That is what God has called me to do, I felt it then like I feel it now. Later that year, my home church hosted an Impact World Tour event which is basically a showcase of evangelicals with talent. The thought of traveling for the sole purpose of spreading God's word amazed me again. This is what I needed to do (minus the breaking concrete with my face).

I proceeded to make God's plan for me fit into my plan for me. I was going to go to college for missions, and I was happy with my decision to do that. Pastor Brian (PB), my youth pastor, mentioned something about a trip to Africa for college-aged students and I thought about it, even researched it a little. I was not qualified for it because I didn't have any college experience at all yet. So, at first I threw out the idea. Like I said before, I had ALWAYS planned on going to college right after high school. PB got me thinking, but Richie (my brother, kid with the ridiculous fro) got me moving. After PB said something, I was looking into the prospect, but my little brother is who really convinced me. Richie wondered why I was going to put myself in debt and further away from my goal, the missions field, to learn how to do something that I am already capable of doing. I wondered too. Smart kid that little brother of mine.

I searched further online until someone recommended the AIM organization to me. I found the FYM program to South Africa, and I knew that this is what God wanted me to do. He wants me to go to Africa right now. People are dying; they are desperate for God, and I can show them how to find him.

This is my something.

Dad, I love y o u, and this is why I need to add this side note here: I do plan on going to college when I return, to major in whatever specfic part of ministry that I have grown to love, if that is God's plan for me. I still think college would be a wonderful experience, but so is going to South Africa in God's name and I believe that is what He has in store for me now.

Expectations about the trip

Mon, 9 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

None of these categories stand by themselves because they are all dependent on one another in my head, but it is the easiest way to make sense of what my expectations are. Here they are in no particular order:

Growth with the Lord

I do expect to go with and through the Lord. I know that there are many things I have yet to experience that will shape this time with Him. Lately a thought that has been running through my head is "Break my heart for what breaks yours" - yes it's a line from Hosanna (written by Brooke Fraser and performed by Hillsong United) but at the time that it began to be a constant thought and prayer, I didn't realize that. I think it's the best description of how the Lord is going to move in my life over the next year. Not only has this become my cry for the FYM trip it has also become my prayer for the mission trip that I'm going on over Spring Break called Beach Reach.

Serving others

Like I said in a previous blog, from a young age I've loved to help others. I've known since I was little that anything I did in life for an extended period of time would have to involve this. So I expect to serve others. South Africans, Swazis, Mozambicans, Batswana, my team mates alike. I don't know what it will look like but as long as I am helping people and being God's hands and feet, its fine by me.

HIV/AIDS

I've been warned HIV/AIDS probably isn't as big of our ministry as I would like it be, but I also would like it to be all that we do besides spending time with the Lord. I don't remember the first time I heard about AIDS, maybe it was when Ryan White died, or when I first saw Philadelphia, or when I saw something on the news and asked my parents what it was. My generation really hasn't known a world in which the disease didn't exist; I mean Rock Hudson died a few weeks after I was born (for my mom she said that his death was the first time it became real to her). Slowly over the years I have gained knowledge about the disease and empathy for those suffering with its horrible effects. All I can really offer is prayer, my limited knowledge, awareness through this blog, and another pair of hands to help hold and show love to others.

Friendships

I expect to make some life-long friendships with not only my fellow team members but with South Africans and the people of Swaziland or Mozambique as well. I'm excited to get to know the rest of my team members and discover my role in our lives together. I've seen the way that God brings together people when they are serving him even for a short amount of time. I can only imagine what will happen when serving together for nine months. Also I'm a realist; I realize that living in such close proximity to other people for a long amount of time can sometimes bring out the worst in people. But at the same time I believe that if the Lord is in a community as strongly as I pray He will be in ours then there is nothing we can't get through.

Vision for the future (after Africa)

For a long time I've been saying I really don't know what I'm going to do when I get back. And I really mean it. There are many options running through my head at the moment but I know I won't be happy unless I am doing what He wants me to do, trust me I've tried it the other way and it's not worth it. I honestly expect the Lord to show me what he wants from me for my life while I'm on this trip...or at least the next step. I will have a college degree before I leave but for me to really do anything with it (besides missions for life) I need further schooling, like an internship to become a registered dietitian. Or to go back to school to get another degree...please don't cringe too much at that Mom and Dad.

Joe

I've been dating this man for over a year now. Less than halfway through my being gone we will hit the two year mark. Now it might seem weird that Joe is part of my expectations for a trip that he will not be on. The thought that keeps coming with him is, if we can make it through Africa and possibly nine months away from each other, then we can make through just about anything. I do plan to go "see the world" and fully expect that it will change me, how could it not? But I'm praying that the ways in which it changes me only bring us closer together not further apart.

Oh and more thing - I've heard a lot about them and I expect to see some amazing sunsets/rises! The one below is a sunrise from Enchanted Rock State Park near Austin, TX.

How I was Called to the Mission Field

Sun, 1 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

How I was called to the mission field.

Not exactly an easy question for me to answer. Something I've realized quite recently was that even before I really believed in God, He was shaping and molding me into the person He wants me to be. In the first grade I received an award of "loves to help others" and that is something that continues on into this day. I know it's a drive that the Lord placed in me from an early age, way before I put my faith in Christ. Sometimes that love to help is taken too far in that I often "mother" people. And over the years this has earned me the nickname of "Mama Graves"...

I think my call to missions began with a youth pastor (Jeanine) and a mission trip called UMARMY or United Methodist Action Reach-out Mission by Youth. I was 16 had never been on any sort of mission trip and she convinced our small but awesome youth group to go to Lake Charles, LA. I know there were at least 10 or so of us that went that first year and it remains one of the best experiences of my life because it was there that I got my first taste of missions. I went the next two years on the UMARMY trips that my church did and loved them both. Somewhere either on a retreat or on UMARMY I heard God's call to be a nurse and use that expertise to go on missions.

Below is a picture of our youth group while we were dressed up for graduation:

So I went on to UT and tried to major in nursing...it didn't happen. So as an undeclared major in the College of Natural Science I followed the pre-nursing plan of classes which lead me to take a nutrition class the beginning of my sophomore year. I loved it and it was so interesting to me! When we were shown pictures of kids from across the world that had preventable diseases due to a lack of adequate vitamins and minerals, I knew I wanted to help and that the Lord was calling me to it. At the same time a few close friends were praying about what to do after they graduated and the Lord led them to southern Africa. This turn of events spawned me to changing my major to nutrition and also re-awakened my passion for overseas missions (even though I have yet to go on one).

So a side note about missions in College: Right before I started at UT in 2004, I took a trip with my parents to Key Largo, FL to go SCUBA diving. That was the year that six hurricanes crossed Florida. My dad and I went on one morning dive (with 5 ft waves on a catamaran boat) before Hurricane Charlie came by and knocked us back to the mainland for a few days. We sat around the hotel and watched as the news coverage came in. We were in Homestead, FL which had been leveled by Hurricane Andrew 13 years before that and was still very fresh in all of locals' minds. In a few days we went back to the Keys to continue diving and I had great time. On the way back to Texas we had to drive through the middle part of Florida and for the first time I saw in person what a hurricane can do. I kept asking the Lord why I was seeing so many people having to pick up the pieces of their lives and yet not be able to do anything to help them. (I moved into the dorms two days after we got home.) My answer came a few weeks later as my campus ministry announced that they would be going on a Hurricane relief trip to Florida right before Christmas. I immediately volunteered.

The next year, my mom's family was hit hard by Hurricane Rita and the Texas Wesley has been making a trip every year to the Beaumont area since 2005 to help with the clean up. Yes, even today they are still cleaning up in that area from a Hurricane that hit 3.5 years ago. There just isn't enough help to go around. I never saw the damage first hand from Katrina but I know that people in Orange, Beaumont, Port Arthur, Bridge City, Silsbee, my mom's hometown, and many more feel forgotten by our government and our people. Katrina was terrible, I'm not saying it wasn't, but just because Rita didn't hit a big city doesn't mean that people weren't affected.

My uncle (6'1) next to a downed tree in my grandmother's backyard (about 40 to 50 miles inland):

I think the same thing happens when we hear about other nations' troubles. We say "oh that's awful" but after the initial thought, never really think of it again.

So long story short: My call to missions in Africa began in an introductory nutrition class, has continued through three more classes and a host of friend's blogs. It has become a passion and a flame inside my heart that I hope and pray is never put out.

expectations*

Wed, 4 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

You know how sometimes you hear really sad stories- or terrible stories... Maybe your friend tells you about an accident they witnessed on the highway, and the details they share with you totally break your heart? You definitely pray for your friend, and the people involved in the accident- and the families that were affected... But you weren't there, so that particular experience doesn't stay with you exactly the same way that it does with your friend who was right there when it happened. Your friend saw with their own two eyes, the suffering and pain that was at the scene of the accident. You can only imagine.. Your friend may have had to react right then and there in certain ways, but you can only imagine what you would have done.

SO, no I'm not expecting any car accidents on the trip! (Well I PRAY there will be none!) But I guess the best way to explain how I feel about the trip, is that all I've ever done is read about missions... I've talked to missionaries, listened to missionaries, read about missionaries, watched movies or clips of missonaries, even studied missions a little bit here at school... But I myself have never gone to a different culture with the purpose of sharing Christ's love. My heart breaks all the time when I hear stories from around the world, and I really do get excited about missions- but my eyes haven't seen the reality of Africa, and I haven't personally been in any of the situations I've read or heard about. This trip is going to change me in ways that reading books and sitting through lectures never will. Not that reading isn't beneficial and not that school isn't beneficial- I think that my education is necessary no matter what. But I expect God to change my heart in new ways as my eyes see new things, and as I physically experience new things.

God is everywhere and He is working everywhere. He's worked in my life here at school this year, and He will work in my life in Africa. Just as I said, my life will be changed in different ways- and I'm really excited to see how. I expect to have lasting impacts on my heart.. I'm expecting it to be hard a lot of the time, but I also know that it's going to be fun. I'm really excited about meeting the people on the team and working together.

On a side note, I don't know what we're going to eat- but I'm preparing myself to expect seeing a chicken or poor little animal get killed and then have to eat it and smile. I don't know if that will happen but I'm just going to prepare myself for it! haha!!

Thats all I guess for now! :)

I just like this picture:) Nothing profound to say about it. Its near one of my favourite places back home to just sit and do nothing:)!

Expectations and Anticipations

Mon, 2 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Expectations and Anticipations

I can't wait! I can't wait! I can't wait! is what often runs through my head, but when I slow down and actually think about what I can't wait for there are so many other thoughts and so many other feelings. There is a lot I can't wait for but there is a lot I need to take the time to anticipate and prepare for.

See and know--I have theories and thoughts of how life is for the African people but I don't know. I work with a man from the Philippines who tells me what it is like to live poorly, he knows. I don't know. He can tell me and I have great compassion for his family but I still don't know. I want to know, I want to gain perspective and experience. What that experience involves I have absolutely no idea; I pretty much don't know what I am getting myself into. What a great feeling! It requires total trust and reliance. I ask your prayers in this, that I may surrender the restrictions I place on the trip through my expectations and that I will allow myself to just go with a willing spirit.

A huge time of listening--I desire to know more about my purpose and where God wants my mission field to be. Daily I pray for openness to hearing and seeing God speak in this area.

Answers --Along with expecting many days of listening for the guidance of God, I am also expecting answers. I expect God to show up. I expect to see God in new and exciting ways that I never have before. I expect to see His hand working, his Spirit moving. I expect His signs and wonders in the lives the African people as well as in the lives of those on my team.

Discovery--With incredible excitement I think about all the people I have yet to meet. I think about all the culture I will be thrown into and how beautiful it will be. When I picture myself in Africa I envision my eyes growing bigger and bigger trying to take everything in, trying to capture it all. Patience is good to pray for because I just want to launch this adventure and get going... but preparation is important and necessary.

Trust-I anticipate trust....trust on a deeper level. I anticipate the risks of entering such a rugged country. Thinking of this I pray for my team, that we will fully lean on our faith in God. I anticipate situations that are so much bigger than me and anything I could do to help. I must entrust those people and those situations to God. Even now I am learning the meaning or this word as I look at my finances and as I realize what is required to make this all come together. The biggest thing I can do is surrender it to God and trust He will provide for my every need.

Prayer-I know that it is most important to always be prayerful. I expect to be challenged in this area of my life. I want to journey in prayer and grow closer to God through prayer. I want to spur people on to pray for me and my team and also for the African people. Pray for me over this next year as I prepare to respond to God's asking in my life.

Romans 12:12-Matthew 21:22-Matthew 9:35-38

--jenessa lynn

How I was Called to the Mission Field

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I remember one Sunday morning when I was four years old a man made a presentation in front of our congregation about his travels as a missionary. I got to sit by my mom who operated the old disk slide projector and we watched as he described the situation of the people he visited. The church I grew up in, a Faith Evangelical Missionary Church, often had visitors similar to this one and I always took particular notice in their stories. At that age I didn't recognize exactly what I was feeling, but I have come to realize that a sensitivity began to stir in me towards those less fortunate.

When I was young I seemed to make a habit of turning on the television Sunday mornings specifically to catch the weekly episode of World Vision. Despite the fact that they were often the exact same episode every single week for years, despite that fact that they spoke of injustice and poverty, despite the fact that I would sit on the floor with welling tears I watched with an untouched remote beside me. I liked seeing the moments when the children would be standing together with their families with nothing but each other, young girls carrying babies half their size; I liked to see the boys playing soccer knowing that was the only toy they probably had and mostly I loved seeing the faces full of hope because of support given to families and their communities. I was fascinated, and admired the courage and the strength of such people. Throughout my entire life I have discovered a great passion for children, especially those who are disadvantaged or those who suffer injustice. My mind is ravenous for ways to reach them, to somehow help.

In the spring of 2007 I went on a missions trip to El Salvador and discovered a rich people of culture and of course children popping out of every bush and from around every corner; longing for attention and love. I was filled with great hope that perhaps right there God could make a lasting difference in their lives through me as a figure of love and of light. In response to God's recent nudging I began searching and praying for an organization that could help me explore where my mission field may be. I chose to be with AIM because of their high emphasis on relationship. I like being able to determine my ministry once I arrive; this removes pressure to make uninformed decisions. I am excited to be going to Africa, and am very encouraged with how Adventures in Missions operates as an organization.

2 Corinthians 5.20

"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ. God making his appeal through us."

Acts 10

-jenessa lynn

Expectations and Such

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Well, I was supposed to write this assignment about three weeks ago, but due to Christmas, New Years, going to Honduras, and the start of a new semester, I'm just now getting around to it so I apologize to the crowd of people (and by crowd I mean one or two people) who have been sitting on the edge of their seat waiting for me to update my blog.

So without further adieu, here are my expectations for the trip. I expect God to cause some pretty radical changes to occur in my life. I have absolutely no idea to what extent these changes will be or how they will come about. That's the beauty of life, it's always full of surprises, and God always works in ways that we least expect. This trip will be full of surprises and I realize that not all of them will be pleasant, but I have to take the good with the bad. I'll be challenged in a lot of ways, but that's the only way to grow as a person and in faith.

I do wonder though how much I will actually be challenged during this trip, and that does worry me a bit. The entire trip terrifies me on some level. I mean I'm putting everything on hold and will be living for nine months in Africa. I believe it's that's where I'm called right now, but it still scares me. At the same time I'm really looking forward to going as I know that this is going to be one of the most pivotal moments of my life and it's going to be an amazing experience.

As for prayer requests, I just ask that everyone continues to pray for this trip and that I'm able to raise the money so that I can go.

I'd like also thank everyone who has already donated so far and for those who have been praying for me.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

- John 14:27

How I was called to the mission field

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I believe that the first time I knew I was called to missions was in the winter of 2005. I was preparing to go on a missions trip to Mexico with my church Cross Of Glory, and God had given me a deep sense of peace with the trip. I had been making lists of all the things I wanted to be when I grew up, and after I decided to go on the trip, I realized there was nothing else that would quite measure up. The list I had made before suddenly seemed unimportant. As we got closer and closer to going on the missions trip, I felt such a deep sense of God calling me to long term missions.

More conformations came before my second cross-country missions trip to Peru. While God was preparing my heart for this trip, I was in a state of change in my everyday life. I was constantly trying to find my place to call HOME. Yes, I have a home, and a family, however, I felt like I needed to be somewhere else. I think this is something that God has blessed me with. It is the simple mindset that we are not "at home" in our daily lives, but that we should always be longing for things from above, and should not make ourselves "at home" on this earth. God has called each and every one of us to missions, some here in the U.S., and some people across the world. However, when I realized this, it helped me to see missions from a different perspective than before.

As I am a senior in High School, I am set with the objective of deciding where I will go in my life in the next year. This last summer, I had been searching for colleges, and more colleges, and more. I found a few colleges that I was interested in, however, I didn't feel called anywhere. I felt very lost, and I was sick of feeling lost in a desert. One night in my living room, I fell on my face and began praying to God. I humbled myself before him, and told him that I didn't care where I went, as long as it was with him. The very next day, as I was searching for schools again, I was reminded of the AIM missions trip I had just been on in Peru. I came to the AIM website, and my heart was ignited with a passion for missions. I knew that that is where God wanted me to be. Its amazing how God works through us, and in his own time.

Alison's Expectations

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

When I first realized I was going on the trip, I tried to envision what it would be like to go on the trip and who I would be with. I automatically thought about my previous trip to Peru through AIM, and hoped it might be something like that... but at the same time.... totally new and different. I am so excited to become apart of this trip, and have high expectations for learning, growing in trust and faith, and becoming very tired from playing and spending time with so many kids. I hope that I find myself at a loss for words when it comes to the experiences we find ourselves in, and I feel that God will work through us, to make that happen. I can not underestimate the powerful things that God will be doing, so I cant really say exactly what I expect God to do, but Im excited to see what he does! I know I will be blown away by the power of God, and the wonderful things he will do through us, because he is Holy. Amen!

Introducing a team member: Sarah Hargan

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Over the past while, I have had the great oppurtunity to get to know Sarah hargan very well. I have learned that she is an amazing girl with a huge heart for serving the Lord. I have also had the oppurtunity to see her crazy side, her halarious jokes, and amazingly soft heart have both proved to be a great blessing to my life, and i know that because of that she will be an amazing addition to the team as well. Since I met Sarah, I knew that God whould use her to do amazing things, but I never knew that would take me to Africa along with her! I am so excited to see how God uses both her and I, and the rest of the team to make a huge impact on Africa!

Expectations of my Mission Trip

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

We were asked to write a blog about how we felt before leaving on this mission trip. Here is what I'm expecting...

i expect God to use myself and my teammates in ways we never thought we could be used

i have no clue what that looks like, but God does. there is a reason why each of us is on this team, and i am so excited to see how He uses us. i pray for faith to do whatever He calls us to do, even when we are unsure of the result.

i expect to be challenged more then ive ever been challenged before

the times when i have grown the most spiritually is when God has challenged me. when my faith is challenged, i realize how much more i need to draw close to God in those times. also, there's a challenge for me to not get distracted when there is so much going on around me. i pray that God will use these challenges to help me become MORE in tune with what He is saying to me through His word and prayer.

i expect my comfort zone to be streched while i learn more and more about stepping out in faith

i love to see where i have learned and grown in the past when i have stepped out of my comfort zone. there is always room for more growth and i am excited to for God to show me the areas in my life where He wants me to grow more. i pray that i am able to see ways that i can step more out of my comfort zone and that i have enough faith to do that.

i expect my heart to be broken

The devestation caused by AIDS is a reality in southern Africa.

i am a huge people person and i have always wanted to be a nurse. it is going to be hard for me to see what AIDS is doing to the people of Africa, especially to the children who have been ripped from their families by this disease. the statistics are sad enough, but to put faces to the numbers is going to be heart breaking. i pray that God breaks my heart, but gives me a vision of hope to share with the beautiful people there.

i expect to be a change, and am praying about how that might look.

God has plans prepared for me, and will use me to be a change. change doesn't always happen fast, but it starts when people realize that it is needed. a smile or a hug can change a persons day. time spent with someone can change their life. i feel that i am just a small instrument in the change that God is bringing to Africa, and i pray that i can focus on His will in my life.

i expect my relationship with God to grow deeper

i need to rely on God more in my life. i am dependent on Him, and there are times when i forget that. i need God in everything i do because He is my support and my strength. i will need to hold onto that and learn to draw near to Him in everything. i also need go to Him in prayer more. i need to be in prayer constantly, not just when i am going through a tough time.

i expect a confirmation from God about a possible future in long term missions.

This is one of the main reasons i am going on this trip. My interest in missions has grown during each of the past mission trips i've participated in, and after much prayer, God led me to this trip to Swaziland. This trip will give me a first-hand view at what a life in missions could look like, and i expect that God will show me the role missions may play in my future.

My Expectations

Sun, 28 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

We were asked to write a blog about how we felt before leaving on this mission trip. Here is what I'm expecting.

To be completely honest, I'm not sure what to expect. I know that it will be an amazing and life changing experience, and I know that it will be hard. I know that God will do awesome things through me, and in me, but don't know what he is going to do or how he will be doing it. My main hope and expectation for this trip, is to be changed, and not just a little bit. I really hope that I come home as a totally different person who is even more on fire for God. I also hope, and know, that God will use me to do amazing things in the lives of the people I am witnessing to.

Please pray that God will calm my nerves about leaving for so long, and that he continues to build his fire in my heart, as I prepare to go.

Christmas Facts

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

-The first president to decorate the white house Christmas tree in the United States was Franklin Pierce.

-The first state to recognize the Christmas holiday officially was Alabama.

-Coca Cola was the first beverage company to use Santa for a winter promotion.

-The biggest selling Christmas single of all time is Bing Crosby's White Christmas.

-Each year between 34-36 million Christmas trees are produced to cope with the holiday demand.

-Malls will begin decorating for Christmas on November 1.

How God Called Me to the Mission Field

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior when I was about 14 or 15. I don't really remember exactly how old I was, time is a bit funny with me. Regardless, I was led to Jesus by some wonderful friends of mine who showed me Christ's love by treating me like a brother. Shortly after accepting Christ, my passion for God burned like a gasoline fire. My faith was hard to not notice, but like a gasoline fire, it quickly burnt out because I didn't provide my faith with what it needed to keep burning and grow. A couple of years before my faith bit the dust so to speak, I was asked by my youth pastor if I was willing to go on a mission trip with the youth group through AIM to Matamoros, Mexico. Mission work didn't seem like my cup of tea, especially being as young as I was, but for some reason I felt compelled to go and it was an amazing experience and as a result went the next year to Montego Bay, Jamaica. I learned a good many things on those trips, but one thing I didn't learn is to love others more than myself.

Fast forward to September '08. At this point I had been trying to live my life without God because there were things in my life I didn't want to surrender. I wanted to be in control of my self centered life and I would fight tooth and nail to get what I wanted. All this time though I still went through all the usual motions though of going to bible study, going to church, and such but my heart wasn't in it. Of course trying to live without God, when I had at one time relied upon Him so deeply, didn't work out and bothered me on a daily basis. My life slowly started to fall apart and as a result, I was growing up to be a man I didn't want to be.

September is when I got fed up with my life, when I decided things needed to change. My priorities were out of line and I was the complete and total focus of everything I did. I didn't know what the change that I needed so desperately was though. God quickly showed me one day when I had made a sarcastic remark about moving to Africa, rather than the usual Canada or Mexico. Instead of the customary "Oh and that would solve all your problems!" response, I received a response of people worried about my safety and curious to know why I was leaving and when. I would have never considered myself a person who would ever want to go to Africa but people around me could see me just randomly leaving and packing up to move there.

After mulling over it, I couldn't deny the fact that there was something behind Africa. So I got on the internet and started searching for humanitarian aid in Africa and stumbled across AIM's First Year Missionary program. It was the perfect match of what I was looking for and after seeing it, knew that this is where God wanted me to go. This was something huge though and I wanted to carefully consider it and so the following weeks I slowly turned back to God, the only one who could give me the strength and guide me to be the man that I want to be, a man after God's heart. It's still slow progress, but I know that this is where God has called me.

Here are some passages that guided my decision.

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God... Be very careful, then, how you live-- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is."

- Ephesians 5:1-2, 15-17

"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

- James 2:14-17

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says"

- James 1:22

How God Called Me To Missions

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

They asked us to write about how we were called to the missions field, this is how God called me.
It started when I was a kid, at a missions conference. My friends from Sunday school and I were all talking about how we were going to become missionaries when we grew up. For the rest of them, that idea faded as they grew up, some stopped coming to church, others are working towards different careers, but for me, that passion still burns. Although it started to fade when I began to dream of being a famous actress, and then a nurse, I always felt Gods tug towards the mission field. God's call for me to go to missions started to get really strong when I got into high school. My first two missions trips showed me how strong my passion really was. After traveling to Cat Lake twice, and seeing the work God did through me, in the lives of the amazing children who live there, I knew that this is what God is calling me to. So once I returned home, I began to pray day and night that God would open the door to a longer missions trip. At first, nothing really happened, no doors seemed to be opening, but I kept praying and praying that God would show me the right opportunity for me to serve. For the past several months as I have been praying, God has been opening doors that lead straight to this trip. I have now been seeing God working in my life, making this trip and a future in missions possible.

On My second trip to CatLake God really broke my heart for missions

<--this is us making ballon animals for the kids on our first day of program.

the team with the kids formt he healing center -->

<--Sunshin, a girl from program. While I thought God was using me to change her life, he was really using her to change mine.

How I was called to the mission field

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

We were asked to write a blog about how we were called to this mission trip.

Here's my story...

As I shared briefly in my bio, I have been so blessed to be able to participate on several mission trips. Through these, I have realized that God is calling me to the mission field. This was most clear during a mission trip to Guatemala I went on in July 2008. The fact that I was able to go on this trip was a miracle.

Ever since this trip was introduced, I felt that I was meant to go. It was different from all the other mission trips I had gone on. The length of the trip was longer, fewer people were on the team, and only two leaders were leading us. It was more out of my comfort zone then any other trip I had been on and I knew it would be more of a challenge to me. I was so excited to go on this trip and I looked forward to it even more then my graduation.

After graduation, the school staff had planned an all night "grad party" for all the graduates. It was there that I injured myself due to an accidental fall. I wound up in the hospital, paralyzed from the waist down. There was no change in my condition for 10 days, and I tried to hold onto hope as long as I could. A week and a half before the trip, I broke down. I cried out to God for an answer. I wept as I asked Him to confirm to me that I was going on this trip, or give me peace if I wasn't meant to go. My heart broke as I prayed that prayer.

However, as I continued to pray, my toes began to wiggle. This was the first movement I had from the waist down in days. I knew at that point that I was going to Guatemala, and in a week and a half, we were on a plane.

In Guatemala, I found the reason for my being able to go there. I met a boy who had been paralyzed from the waist down and was hopeless. My heart broke for him and his family. It was so humbling to see that God had put us there to bring him hope; and because I had been in his position, I was able to relate to him so much more then I ever could have before.

Seeing the awesome things God did and how he used us on that trip helped me to realize how much I wanted to go into missions long term. I definitely didn't want to leave Guatemala and I wanted to return to the mission field as soon as I got home. I found the FYM Program and see it as my perfect next step into long term missions. At this point, I have 9 months until I leave for Africa, and I am glad to have this time to get to know my fellow teamates and prepare myself spiritually, emotionally, and physically for this trip.

I Can't Find the Sample Support Letter?

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

It is located in in the Support Raising Handbook that you can find from your Account Page under Required Reading Section.

A Sample Missions Support Letter

Dear Friends and Family,

Hello! I hope this letter finds you well. I am thankful for this opportunity to share what's been going on in my life lately. God has been using me and teaching me in many ways not the least of which has been a call toward missions. I was excited when I found out about an opportunity to join Adventures In Missions to (place). I applied and have now been accepted! I plan to leave (when you are leaving).

My greatest desire is to learn to share the gospel with people my own age. I've discovered that I have a real heart for youth and a love for those desiring to grow in Christ. I have longed to minister in a place where people are aching with hunger for the gospel. During this trip, I will be discipled and trained in various areas of ministry and missions. I will also have the opportunity to minister to people who need to hear of salvation through Jesus.

I thank God for this opportunity that is before me and trust He will meet my needs. Ultimately, my prayer is that He will do that through you. I would be honored if you could partner financially and prayerfully with me in this ministry. I am specifically asking for five people who will commit to pray for me each day until I return. Also, I must raise $4,500.00 for the year that goes directly to AIM. This will cover all my expenses while on the field.

REQUIRED PARAGRAPH:
I have enclosed a response card and pre-addressed envelope, which invites you to share in this ministry. Please make checks payable to Adventures In Missions. Including the enclosed card will provide AIM with all necessary information. In turn, they will send you a receipt. They request that you send all donations at least two weeks before the trip. Adventures In Missions is registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. Donors will receive receipts for their gifts with the understanding that the disbursement of those gifts lies completely at the discretion of Adventures In Missions and that the gifts are non-refundable and non-transferable, per IRS regulations. Gifts may be tax deductible; please consult a tax advisor

I am very excited about how God will use me and what He will teach me through this experience. I hope not only to be a blessing to those I serve, but also to you. My desire is to go as your representative of Jesus Christ. I hope you will prayerfully consider being part of my ministry. Thank you so much!

In Him,

Important Note: Personalize this Support Letter, do not just copy and paste it. Include some facts about the location you are going to. Make it fit YOU!

What Topic Do I Use to Post My Article?

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

You will notice that there are many topics to choose from. We ask that you do not made a new topic and use the ones that are available.

Topic Descriptions:
Trip Updates:
   A Trip Update - For AMB and RL to use as they are on the field

Blogging Assignments:

   Blogging: Missions Trip - Second Blogging Assignment

   Blogging: Expectations - Third Blogging Assignment

Topics for the Contributors to Use:
When you post an article you have a few choices to post your article under.

   Everyone: Fun Stuff - Feel free to use this for Fun Things that you post

   Everyone: General Posts - Use for all your other articles that don't fit under anything else

   Everyone: Prayer Requests - All Prayer Items

Office Only Topics:

These topics are only for those who work in the office to post. When you go to those topics, you will know that the information came from the office.

   Office Only: Admin - Office Details

   Office Only: Blogging - Blogging

   Office Only: Deadlines - Paperwork Deadlines

   Office Only: FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

   Office Only: Flights - Flights

   Office Only: Funds - Support Targets

   Office Only: Listening Prayer - Bible Study

   Office Only: Route Info - Articles for World Race only, that deal with their route info

   Office Only: Staff Communications - Articles from staff members

   Office Only: Support Raising - Support Raising

   Office Only: Training Camp - Infomation about Training Camp

   Office Only: Trip Preparation- Help in preparing you for your trip

Team Member Bios and Pics:

   AMB and RL. All your team members will be posted here.

   FYM, CL and WR - You have personal blogs and this is not used for your teams.

Can I email or fax paperwork in?

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Yes, you can but sometimes we do not recommend it. If you have all your paperwork to send in please mail it all in, in one envelope. If you only have one piece of paperwork you can email or fax it in.

Email address: admissions@adventures.org

Fax number: 770-983-1061

I Mailed in my Deposit but it Does Not Show up in my Support Account?

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

There are many reasons why this might be happening.

ONE: We have not received it in the mail yet. (For some unknown reason it takes mail a little longer to get here than other places. Sometimes things can take a couple weeks to get in.)

TWO: We have received it but after we receive it we send it to a lockbox which then processes it and then sends us a record of it and then it goes on our database. So, it could be on it's way to the lockbox, it could be being processed by the bank, or it could be waiting to get put in our system.

THREE: You filled out the check to something other then, "Adventures in Missions." If so your check is being sent back to you and you will have to rewrite it.

FOUR: Your check bounced. Every once in a while we get a check that bounces so make sure when you send in your check that you have the sufficient funds.

So, if you sent it in with your paperwork, made the check out to "Adventures in Missions" and there were sufficient funds in your account, give it 3 weeks to show up in your account. Please remember that we mark your paperwork when it comes in and then mark your deposit when it shows up in your account.

Where do I Mail in my Paperwork?

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

You will mail your paperwork to:

Adventures In Missions

Admissions Department

6000 Wellspring Trail

Gainesville, GA 30501