Less Than Two Weeks...

With less than TWO WEEKS until our team leaves for Managua, Nicaragua, there is much to do.

First of all, there is still financial support to be raised. If you’d like to be a part of helping us undertake this mission, then please feel free to give here. If you’ve already donated, my prayer is that the Lord will bless your generosity 100-fold for your obedience to Him. For those of you who participated in our Spin Fundraiser at N:Motion yesterday, you all blessed us abundantly with your prayers and financial gifts! How amazing it was too, to be led in such an awesome experience by two of my Nicaragua team members, Katie Crowell and Mari Fisher. You two were amazing, and I love getting to know my entire team better and better; it has come as such an unexpected blessing to me.

Second of all, there is that mile-long to-do list that needs tackled. I feel sure though with a lot of prayer and coffee and lack of sleep that it will all get done before I leave. Well…the important things anyway. ;)

Third, there is the matter of setting my heart and mind on things above. The message at church this past weekend highlighted a verse in Colossians (3:1-2) that jumped right off the page at me:

“Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

I felt the Lord nudge my heart, that this wasn’t just a word for my daily life, but specifically for this trip. I believe there is a harvest of freedom, healing, and restoration that the Lord wants to reap in Nicaragua. And I feel certain that the harvest won’t just be in the leaders that we will be ministering to, but in our own hearts as well. God is preparing us, probably in ways we haven’t even realized yet, to do the work that he’s set before us. And all he asks of us is our willingness to go, and to set our hearts and minds on things above through this process.

In my struggles and frustrations and busyness, I will set my heart and mind on the things God has in store for me. In the midst of a country where I don’t speak the native language and don’t know the people, I will set my heart and mind on God’s holy plan. When we face opposition—however it may come—I will set my heart and mind on the power God has given me through Christ.

I invite you to join us in this process; to pray with us for this trip, and to set your heart and mind on things above, the things that God has in store for you as well.

Anticipation!

     We haven't left yet and I already feel stimulated encouraged, and grow passionate about our mission.  I have left my comfort zone and am boldly defying my past timid demeanor to passionately follow God's call.  I am no longer concerned about the world thinking I am crazy for going on a mission trip!  I am proud to take up the cross and go where He leads me!

     God made us to serve. The principle "It is more blessed to give than to receive" is not another tired platitude, it is part of God's natural order - it feels right.  We actually feel blessed when we give.  Seacoast Church will be sending ten people to Nicaragua.  I  pray that Nicaragua is an “assault on our senses.” We have gathered our collective experience and some of what has led us to serve.  The overwhelming presence of God among us is incredible!  We have accomplished much in a short period of time.  We have the right chemistry to make a change!  Our spontaneous passion is fueled by the Holy Spirit!

    As we anticipate what lies before our group in the next several weeks. we keep our minds and hearts open and are faithful to the prompting of God’s Holy Spirit.  We are all bound together by the love of Christ and that love mysteriously removes the differences we may feel that separate us one from another.

     We are, as St. Paul writes, “one body, one Spirit.” Sometimes our very senses need to be assaulted in order to help us remember who we are and whose we are. We are one with those who have come before us, those who are with us, and those who will follow us.  What a blessing to share in ministry with this committed group of fellow pilgrims in this sacramental journey!

     We want and welcome you to live vicariously through our blogs and experience God working through our group.We welcome and appreciate your prayers for our team.  If you feel The call of the Holy Spirit to help us with our passion you may make a contribution to our efforts.  No contribution is too, small.  Thank you for sharing with us!

Nicaragua Missions

18 Day...and counting


     The  days are going by quickly as our planning and fundraising comes together. I have loved how this team is so creative and willing to get involved on  fundraising events. I think these events have helped us form closer bonds and learn more about each other as individuals. We are really getting to know each others personalities. This weeks meeting was filled with laughter and joking as we feel more comfortable speaking out. It is a blessing get to know,  Katie, Frank, Carrie, Abbi, Katie, Lynn, Denise, Ed and Becky. It will be great serving with them in Nicaragua. I am so excited about going.  It still amazes me the course of events that took place for me to even be part of this trip since I was so recently in Nicaragua. A truly God ordained meeting between Katie Walters and I.
     The ministry that we are going to do while there is going to be such a blessing to the missionaries from Christ for the City International. They work so hard and represent God in such a selfless way. The complete example of one who has said, "Yes, God, take me. I will do anything and go anywhere." What a humbling feeling to be able serve them and bring refreshment to their lives.
    As you journey with us through the final weeks of preparation please seek the Lord and how He would want you to be part of this mission. We ask for your prayers, and if God has so lead please support this mission financially.  We thank you in advance for your commitment to this ministry.
                             SEEK-PRAY-SUPPORT
    

19 Days

Just 19 days for The Lord to prepare my heart to pour into leaders who are impacting the nation of Nicaragua for Jesus. The moment my feet touch the ground of Nicaragua will be special because it will be the moment I'm stepping into a calling that I know God has placed on me. I don't feel ready yet. But I have such a sense of excitement because I'm confident that God will provide all the tools I need. My flesh is nervous and feels unprepared, but my faith tells me that God is doing something big. Really big and at just the right time.
 
In these 19 days that are left until we leave, my struggle is honestly with my mind. My thoughts are scattered and my mind tries to tell me that I have too much to do before I leave. It's trying to tell me that I won't be able to "get things together" in time for myself and for my husband and children who are staying behind. My schedule is full and I'm battling to find time alone to pray and seek God in His Word. But I know these things are simple hurdles that can be overcome by prayer and the support of my team. In fact, every time I meet with my team I feel a fresh sense of clarity and anticipation for our trip. I love how quickly our team has bonded together, and I know we all share the same passion to see God move while we are in Nicaragua. But we also know that we can’t make the impact we desire to make without the support of those around us.
 
And that’s why I'm just going to go ahead and ask that you lift us up in prayer. Pray for our hearts, that we would be receptive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and that we would recognize the divine appointments that God has lined up for us. Pray that the hearts of the leaders at CFCI (Christ for the City International) would be tilled in just the right way to receive what God has for them. Pray for refreshment for them. Pray for the financial support we still need to make this trip happen.
 
And one last thing. Today marks the beginning of us fasting together as a team. We will be fasting this week and possibly up until we leave, if that seems to be how God leads us. I invite you to join us in that fast if you feel God nudging your heart to do it. But fasting or not, we need your support!

So whatever you do—give, pray, and/or fast—thank you! You are playing a vital role in this mission, and I can’t wait to share the stories of impact that your support will bring!

To donate to our trip to Nicaragua, click here:

https://public.serviceu.com/PaymentForm/15591/?OrgKey=a724bfb0-33c4-447d-9df8-ccdadd445df9