I'm so excited yet so stressed out at the same time. There's still more to be done before I leave (still need a few more monthly donors to reach my 50% goal, need to purchase larger luggage, etc. etc.) I feel overwhelmed at time.
Good news is the camp is filling up and my Russian visa is
on its way back to me! I had some difficulties a few weeks ago through
the processing of it but I received confirmation last night that it's on it
way. Praise the Lord!! Thank you all so much who prayed for that breakthrough.
I was also asked to help lead in music during the camp time so my guitar will
be joining me on my trip. I'm so honored that they asked and nervous at
the same time. Please pray my guitar arrives safely in my travels.
Here's a few specific things to be praying for over my trip
(some of these were passed down from the camp coordinator as well).
1. They have almost all the textbooks for camp done.
(Remember...they are covering the story of Moses.) They found out the advance
level text book didn't get completed by the person responsible so they are
frantically working on it. Pray for those volunteers who are jumping in and
getting the work DONE.
2. They have a camp doctor lined up. However, she is VERY
pregnant and there's a chance she might have the baby early. So, they are
praying for a back up nurse or doctor to be with them for that week as well.
Please pray for that person to join this camp staff team.
3. They have 100 campers registered. They are hoping for
50-60 additional campers. It is normal for Russians to wait 1-2 weeks prior to
commit to camp so they are not worried, but nonetheless would like to have a
full camp of people if possible. So, pray that the Lord sends the right people
who need to hear the Gospel.
4. There are 30-32 native English speakers that have
committed to coming to camp (including our team.) So, pray for those volunteers
that are coming from long distances...that their visas get approved and their
travel goes smoothly.
5. That all luggage and equipment make it safely and
in a timely fashion to Moscow. The camp is an hour and a half outside of
the main city so we really need everything to be with us when we land.
6. That I am able to get the last few supporters to be
at my 50% goal. To make this one of my official training trips I need to
be at the goal when I get on the plane. It's been difficult to meet with
people during this busy season and it's setting me back on reaching my goal.
Pray that God will lay the people of Russia on peoples hearts and that
more would want to partner with me in reaching them with the hope of Jesus
Christ.
7. My stress level is very high right now. I've
been training for this trip (there's a lot to learn in leading a trip - a
lot of behind the scene things take place to make it successful), doing my
normal logistics job for e3 Partners (I help other leaders get their trips out
the door as well), helping with our church youth outreaches we've been having
for the past month, and we just finished VBS week at our church where I was the
upfront dancing and singing weirdo (had such a blast but I'm sooooo tired
now!). Oh and trying to meet with people about supporting me to be a
missionary to Russia. Yeah....I'm spinning a lot of plates right now.
So with this, I'm feeling very exhausted and run down in many ways.
Please pray for strength and mental alertness as I prepare to leave for
Moscow in 15 days.
There will be more emails in the days leading up to my
departure but I want to include my prayer calendar here so you print and put it
somewhere that will remind you to pray for my team while we're in
country.
I am so thankful for all of you in your prayer support
over me. There are times I am feeling so weak and then a rush of strength
from the Lord comes over me - I know it's all of your prayers! I can't
thank you enough. Also, please let me know of your prayer needs so I can
lift you all up as well.
Feel free to share this email with other prayer warriors you
know of as well. God bless you all!!
