On my way to AFRICA!
For those of you who haven't heard from me in a while (I apologize- life has been insanely busy) - here's an update! I finished my internship at Farmville Baptist (what a blessing my church family has been, and what a blessing to teach those youth!) and on May 10th I graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Communication. At this point, I wish I had the time to reflect back on the incredible experiences I have had here at Auburn, and to share with you some of the ways I have been forever impacted by the people I've met, places I've been, and things I've seen. Sadly though, there is no time for reflection - only action!
My plane leaves Atlanta for Africa around 8 am Saturday morning. As I prepare to go I wanted to share this information from my support letter (since I didn't get to mail as many as I'd planned).
- - - - - - -
Dear friends and family,
You are getting this letter, because you have faithfully loved, supported, and encouraged me. Now, as I prepare to go on a mission trip to Africa, I will need that love, support, and encouragement more than ever! Many of you are probably shocked to hear that I’m going to Africa, but I assure you, it was not a reckless or hasty decision. Though this may be the first you’ve heard of it, for the past nine months God has been working in my heart and life to prepare me to make this commitment.
Last summer, I had two friends in Africa- Matt in Zambia, and Russell in Kenya. At the beginning of the summer, I had no desire to go to Africa, but I committed to pray for my friends while they were there. Little did I know what God had in store for me! Prayer can move mountains, and it can move people to Africa too!
While contemplating my desire to go, I took a class about missions. During class one night, a speaker challenged those of us who said we wanted to go overseas with this question: “If you really have a heart for the nations, then what are you doing here? Now? How are you reaching the nations from where you are this week?” He shared that if our call was sincere, we would be burdened enough to be doing something now, instead of just waiting on the chance to go overseas. Believing that, I’d like to share with you how God has been preparing my heart to answer His call to Africa, and what I’ve been doing here while waiting on the chance to go!
July 5 – an entry in my journal
The passion inside me for Africa continues to grow. My prayer now is that God will make a way for me to go!
July 7 – an email to my friend Matt, in Zambia
You have been on my heart DAILY since you left. God has really given me a heart for Africa (which continues to intensify) and placed a burden on me to pray for you and your group constantly- more than anything ever before.
July 8 – an email to my friend Russell, in Kenya
Over the past few months God has given me such a heart for Africa that continues to intensify! It's hard to explain, but it just keeps growing and growing- I have no doubt that I want to go. I can't wait to see what the details of me going will be- I'm so ready for God to reveal it!
July 12 – another email to Matt, in Zambia
He continues to intensify my heart for Africa and for you all there…
July 23 – another email to Russell, in Kenya
I want to go to Africa so badly lately... I just know I will get an opportunity to go there, and I hope it's in the coming year. I'll definitely be investigating the possibilities soon.
August – December
I took a “Perspectives” class at a church in Auburn to learn more about international missions.
January 4
I became a sponsor for Dama (5) and Erick (7), two Compassion International children in Kenya, Africa. (www.compassion.com)
February 3
I held a benefit concert for the Invisible Children of war-torn Uganda (www.invisiblechildren.com), raising $1,927 to send children to school in Africa.
February 5
God provided the $300 I needed to pay my deposit for the trip to Africa. I made it just in time to get one of the last 2 spots available!
I will leave for Swaziland (Africa) on May 26, and will return June 12. I am going with 21 other students from Auburn, through Grace Campus Ministries (www.gracecampus.net) and Adventures in Missions. We will be working with AIDS orphans – children whose parents died of AIDS, or are too sick from AIDS to take care of them. We will also work with some individuals who have AIDS. The reality that I am finally going to Africa continues to sink in everyday, and my excitement continues to grow (as if you can’t tell from the picture above! Ha!)
I have never even been out of the country before, and now I am trying to prepare my heart to go to the most AIDS affected country in the world (over 40%). I am overwhelmed to think of all I will see and experience, and all the ways it will change me, but I am compelled to go. Through fear and uncertainty, I hear the gentle whisper of a loving voice, my Father’s voice, saying “Go child… go to the poor and wretched. Go to the lonely and forgotten. Go to the motherless children. Go to the lost and dying. Go child… be My hands and feet. Take My LOVE, My HOPE, and My LIGHT to a dark world.” And so, I will go – with a heart full of peace and hands ready to serve!
I have been blessed to receive above and beyond the amount of money I needed to go. For this I am incredibly grateful. Still though, I desperately need you to PRAY!
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.
Colossians 4:2-4
Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith.
2 Thessalonians 3:1-2
Please pray:
For protection (physically and spiritually)
For UNITY for our group
For God to work IN us
For God to work THROUGH us – pray that they will know Him by the way we love them!
And most importantly, that He will get the Glory for all we do, and that His name will be made great among all nations!
You are getting this letter, because you have faithfully loved, supported, and encouraged me. Now, as I prepare to go on a mission trip to Africa, I will need that love, support, and encouragement more than ever! Many of you are probably shocked to hear that I’m going to Africa, but I assure you, it was not a reckless or hasty decision. Though this may be the first you’ve heard of it, for the past nine months God has been working in my heart and life to prepare me to make this commitment.
Last summer, I had two friends in Africa- Matt in Zambia, and Russell in Kenya. At the beginning of the summer, I had no desire to go to Africa, but I committed to pray for my friends while they were there. Little did I know what God had in store for me! Prayer can move mountains, and it can move people to Africa too!
While contemplating my desire to go, I took a class about missions. During class one night, a speaker challenged those of us who said we wanted to go overseas with this question: “If you really have a heart for the nations, then what are you doing here? Now? How are you reaching the nations from where you are this week?” He shared that if our call was sincere, we would be burdened enough to be doing something now, instead of just waiting on the chance to go overseas. Believing that, I’d like to share with you how God has been preparing my heart to answer His call to Africa, and what I’ve been doing here while waiting on the chance to go!
July 5 – an entry in my journal
The passion inside me for Africa continues to grow. My prayer now is that God will make a way for me to go!
July 7 – an email to my friend Matt, in Zambia
You have been on my heart DAILY since you left. God has really given me a heart for Africa (which continues to intensify) and placed a burden on me to pray for you and your group constantly- more than anything ever before.
July 8 – an email to my friend Russell, in Kenya
Over the past few months God has given me such a heart for Africa that continues to intensify! It's hard to explain, but it just keeps growing and growing- I have no doubt that I want to go. I can't wait to see what the details of me going will be- I'm so ready for God to reveal it!
July 12 – another email to Matt, in Zambia
He continues to intensify my heart for Africa and for you all there…
July 23 – another email to Russell, in Kenya
I want to go to Africa so badly lately... I just know I will get an opportunity to go there, and I hope it's in the coming year. I'll definitely be investigating the possibilities soon.
August – December
I took a “Perspectives” class at a church in Auburn to learn more about international missions.
January 4
I became a sponsor for Dama (5) and Erick (7), two Compassion International children in Kenya, Africa. (www.compassion.com)
February 3
I held a benefit concert for the Invisible Children of war-torn Uganda (www.invisiblechildren.com), raising $1,927 to send children to school in Africa.
February 5
God provided the $300 I needed to pay my deposit for the trip to Africa. I made it just in time to get one of the last 2 spots available!
I will leave for Swaziland (Africa) on May 26, and will return June 12. I am going with 21 other students from Auburn, through Grace Campus Ministries (www.gracecampus.net) and Adventures in Missions. We will be working with AIDS orphans – children whose parents died of AIDS, or are too sick from AIDS to take care of them. We will also work with some individuals who have AIDS. The reality that I am finally going to Africa continues to sink in everyday, and my excitement continues to grow (as if you can’t tell from the picture above! Ha!)
I have never even been out of the country before, and now I am trying to prepare my heart to go to the most AIDS affected country in the world (over 40%). I am overwhelmed to think of all I will see and experience, and all the ways it will change me, but I am compelled to go. Through fear and uncertainty, I hear the gentle whisper of a loving voice, my Father’s voice, saying “Go child… go to the poor and wretched. Go to the lonely and forgotten. Go to the motherless children. Go to the lost and dying. Go child… be My hands and feet. Take My LOVE, My HOPE, and My LIGHT to a dark world.” And so, I will go – with a heart full of peace and hands ready to serve!
I have been blessed to receive above and beyond the amount of money I needed to go. For this I am incredibly grateful. Still though, I desperately need you to PRAY!
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.
Colossians 4:2-4
Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith.
2 Thessalonians 3:1-2
Please pray:
For protection (physically and spiritually)
For UNITY for our group
For God to work IN us
For God to work THROUGH us – pray that they will know Him by the way we love them!
And most importantly, that He will get the Glory for all we do, and that His name will be made great among all nations!
I will try to post more details before I leave, so that you will better know how and when to pray. Please add me and my group to your prayer list, and ask your friends and family to pray too!
Thank you in advance for your support. You are all blessings in my life and I am so thankful for each of you! Love, grace, and peace to you!
In HIS hands,
Ericka <><
In HIS hands,
Ericka <><
posted by ericka b @ 10:07 AM
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