Faith like Abraham

For the past month I have been with my parents in Ukraine as we are adopting a 16 year old boy. It has been such a trying experience but God has shown himself powerful. It seems as if every day there is a full out spiritual war and it is exhausting in all aspects of the word. But God has never left our side. He has constantly reminded us that He is in control and His ways are higher than ours. Over and over again He has lovingly proved Himself faithful. During the past two months I’ve been spending quite some time in Genesis reading about Abraham’s incredible faith. Everyday, though my faith is tested and tried, my relationship with God is stronger because of it. I am learning to rely FULLY on Him for EVERYTHING without doubting His goodness and that He will take care of me.

Recently I received an email from my trip leader, Sarah, saying I need the majority of my trip money by April 1st! I immediately resorted to my old ways and started to freak out. Brian and I are raising
the funds together and we have no where near the amount of money we need in a short 10 days. I know God knows that so I should be fine, right? My heart knows that God is in control but my head is still trying to think logically about how we will do this. There is no way we can raise that much
money so soon. But God does the impossible, doesn’t He? He’s reminded me of countless stories in the Bible where He has done something no man could fathom. Then He showed me situations in my own life where He allowed me to do things I never thought possible. He allowed me to see past
decisions and why they didn’t work out the way I had planned. There’s no way I could’ve planned where I am today or even thought it possible. And who knows what else the Lord has done in my
own life that I don’t even know about? God is God whether I see it or not, whether I understand it or
not, whether I like it or not. I truly do not see how this task ahead of me is possible but I will not stop praying for a miracle, for His will to be done and not mine. I know without a doubt that God’s power
will show through this regardless of the outcome. I am continuing to pray for faith like Abraham.
Please join with me in praying that His will be done in all things!

Hello friends and family!

Just to warn you…this is my first attempt at blogging so bear with my story telling and writing skills (or the lack thereof).

I have recently been given the amazing opportunity to go on a mission trip with Global Journey. We will be traveling to 5 countries over the course of two months and I could not be more excited! I can’t stop thinking about all the amazing things the Lord is going to do in the hearts of those we come in contact with and also in my own.

When the Lord first spoke to me about overseas missions I was in Ukraine ministering to the orphans. I immediately fell in love with the people there and thought for sure I would live there one day. The Lord has blessed me with the ability to go back several times after that and each time my passion for Ukraine has grown stronger. Last summer I was unable to go on a trip because I was going to school and working. I really felt like I was missing out because I didn’t go out and serve or do anything for God so I decided to commit to a mission trip for this summer before looking into school or work. The Lord showed me that I’m always going to be busy. I’ll always have something to commit to. So I prayed and surrendered my summer to Him…not really expecting that He would ask me to give up my WHOLE summer. But, as usual, the Lord’s plan is SO much greater than anything I could ever think of myself. He has taught me that time and time again this semester and I am excited to see where else He will lead me.

Recently, I was getting a little overwhelmed with the amount of money we have to raise and all the preparation and the spiritual fatigue that may come with the trip and the Lord brought this verse to mind, Ephesians 3:20 “Now to Him who is able to do IMMEASURABLY MORE than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.” How refreshing is that? There is no reason to depend on our own strength or ideas because the Lord can do immeasurably more than we can imagine!

I would just like to ask you to be in prayer for our team and for everyone we meet. That everything we do will lead people to the throne of God and they will see His love through us. Colossians 1:9 “For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not stopped praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God”.