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Missions = Flexibility !!! I have another departure date, as well as a new plan!! It's hard for those not involved to keep up with all the details, but please rest assured that I understand the details and believe this is a good thing. My new departure date is August 25th, and I will travel from Atlanta to Costa Rica and attend language school for one quarter. This will give me the opportunity to get a head start on the language before jumping into ministry with both feet, as well as allowing me time with a few of my teammates (Sean Galton and Mark and Lori Berry and their kids) before we get to the field. At the end of the quarter in November I will travel from Costa Rica to Lima and meet up with Julie Murphy, my teammate and housemate in Peru! Yard Sale of Yard Sales !!!
God is amazing in his provision; he provides more abundantly than we could ask or think… I arrived home from missionary training and had one whirlwind week before the yard sale to raise funds for my support account. We put the word out at church that goods could be donated and dropped off at Lynne or Amanda's house that week before the sale. The goods kept coming, and our eyes kept getting bigger… The night before the sale, I think we were almost discouraged at the prospect of trying to get everything ready for the morning rush; there was so much stuff!!! The next morning, I got up early and got out my Bible. As I read and drank coffee, a smile came to my lips… how funny we are to be discouraged in the face of God's provision, because we feel its more than we can handle!! Of course it is!! That's why its God!! We had a steady stream of customers and my volunteers (friends!!) worked HARD and with a smile. The bottom line, I have $1600.00 more dollars in my support account from the sale, my helpers are still my friends (I think?!), and God has once again taken me to a place of humility and thankfulness in seeing the generosity of my friends with their unceasing help and encouragement, my church family, family and friends with their donations, and in God&'s provision with every detail of the sale. |
Missionary Training !!!
I attended 3 weeks of missionary training in Colorado June 25th-July 13th. It was excellent training. We had morning and afternoon sessions, and evenings free. I walked away from each session with a 'jewel', a piece of information or understanding, or just something to think about, that will be invaluable when I get to the field. There were 35 adults and around 17 kids. We were one bunch of tired puppies. It was so nice to be able to slow down, get to know each other, share our stories, and process the information we were receiving regarding cross cultural sensitivity.
My favorite quote from the week: I went horseback riding with a family while in Colorado. I was going to take their car up the hill and their 9 year old son was going to ride with me. As we got in the car and buckled our seat belts, he asked: 'How old are you?' I told him my age. He said 'Oh..', and sat there thoughtfully for a moment. Then he said: 'I guess you could drive a bus then.' God's Provision !!! I knew God COULD raise the money for me to go in August, but I didn't know if he WOULD. Well, he DID. I have 100% of my one time support, and out of the $2155.00 needed for monthly support, I am lacking $170.00 per month. Any one time support will be prorated toward that monthly figure.
Money is a powerful thing. Scripture warns against the love of money, yet we know God provides it when it is needed for his good purposes. Going through the process of having to ask people to prayerfully consider joining God's work in Peru with me has been a humbling process, but it has given me such hope, joy, and encouragement as I have seen people respond more graciously than I could have imagined, not just with their financial resources, but with their time and prayers as well. I will keep you posted on developments…… THANK YOU!!!!!!! |
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Laura Deadwyler / Mission to the World | |
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Date - August 16, 2001
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