Well, that was the
fastest two weeks of my life.
No matter how hard
you try, it is impossible to catch up on a year away from family in just two weeks.
Trust me, we tried.
But it was full of
blessing. Thanks to family and friends we raised over $1100 for our trips! I
need to make special mention of my brother-in-law and his new beautiful Bride,
David and Anna for hosting a surprise fundraiser at their own wedding for us! It's
the most amazing feeling when you discover just how much your family believes
in you.
We also had the
opportunity to speak at our home church in St. John's. It was great to connect
with them again. If we have any new followers, please be sure to subscribe to
our blog, and then you'll simply get an e-mail every time we post. We're going
to do our best to update the blog as often as possible while we're away, so if
you would like to keep updated, this is the best way! Also, if you know of
anyone who would like our updates, please send them the this link http://guitarsandpearls.blogspot.com/
I wanted to take a
moment ( or ten) to explain again just what we are doing this summer. I have a
habit of speaking too much and too fast in public, so I thought you might like
the opportunity to hear it at your own pace.
Matt, in just one
week from today (July 4th) will be boarding a plane for a 16 hour flight to
Thailand. As a part of his Intercultural Degree which he just finished, he is
required to complete a cross cultural internship. We are thrilled that he was
presented with this opportunity in Thailand as I will be in there as well
and we really value having these
experiences together. It is very important that we are in ministry as a couple,
so, we would also want to train as a couple. He will be working with Peter
DeWit who has been a PAOC missionary in Thailand with his along wife Patricia
and their 5 children for over 25 years.
Matt will be helping Peter in any way needed with their church ministry NewSong and their women's ministry Rahab Ministries which helps women trapped in
prostitution. He will be preaching, teaching English and, of course, leading
worship. In addition to working with Peter, Matt will be working alongside
another PAOC missionary, Scott Stewart who has a ministry to the men involved
in the human trafficking industry which is rampant in Thailand. This is going
to be a stretching experience as it is easier to hate those men then it is to
love them, but we are called to love the unlovable, and that exactly what Scott
and Matt will be doing.
A few days after
Matt flies out for Thailand, I will be boarding the same plane, with the same
destination (July 9th). We are flying
out separately because I will be traveling with a team of 5 other girls. If you
don't already know, I have been working with an organization for the past year
called Tattered Tiaras. If you'd like to lean more about us, Click Here.
With all that said,
we're taking a team of 6 girls to Thailand.
We will be working
with Patricia DeWit who has an enormous heart for the victims of human
trafficking. We will be taking part in a program that will give us a look into
the heart of the city of Bangkok and working with the Rahab Ministries. Due to the Nature of this trip, we have
restricted it to leaders and girls over 19. We will be learning about the sex
trade in Thailand and why it is as big as it is, and how we can make a change.
We recognize that it is very unlikely that a team of girls could go to Bangkok
for a couple weeks and completely abolish the whole industry, but we want to
learn about it so that we know why it is the way it is. You can't make a change
unless you understand the need. We will be escorted to areas of the city that
no tourist would ever go, see the things that only locals see. We will shadow
at-risk girls and experience what it is like to work in a sweat shop, or a
noodle stand for little to no wage. Truth is, I have no idea what I'm getting
myself into. An experience like this cannot be prepared for. I am going in
trusting that God will give me the strength to see the things I will see, do
the things I will do and come out changed and better for it.
Once our Tattered
Tiaras program is over, the girls will leave, but I will remain in Thailand
with hubs and Peter and Patricia to help out with their ministry. Both myself
and Matt will return to BC on August 4th.
It's not over yet!
Just 10 days later,
I will be boarding another plane to Malawi, Africa! Tattered Tiaras will be
taking another team of girls, this time ranging from 13-22 in age, to the
Village of Hope. The Village of Hope is an orphanage for children who have lost
their parents due to AIDS, malaria, war or any other reason. We will be working
with missionaries Connie and Dave Buzikievich who are the National Directors of
the Village of Hope. The focus of the trip will working in the city of Lilongwe
and surrounding villages with children and mothers. Malawi will give the team
members an opportunity to see a part of the world they may have never had the
opportunity to see. However, this trip
will not be sightseeing. We want the girls on the team to understand that the
whole world is not like North America and give them the opportunity to see the
struggles and the joys of other countries to hopefully change their perspective
on themselves and the world. We want them to learn that it doesn't take much to
change the life of one person, not only in a foreign country, but in their own
as well. The girls will teach children’s programs, play with children and
assist families with daily activities. I
will be the assistant leader on the team along side the founder and director of
Tattered Tiaras, Kim Moran. I will be "in training" during this trip
as I anticipate leading other teams (possibly by myself) in the following
years.
Needless to say, we
are beside ourselves with anticipation and excitement. We strongly believe that
God has called us to these trips, not for vacation purposes, but in the
position of a servant. Our goal for these trips are to serve the local
missionaries and make a difference in the lives of the girls on the team. We
are trusting in our Lord that He will provide for all our needs. He has been so
faithful so far as we have raised over $4500!! This however only covers our
Thailand trip. We still need to raise another $4000 for my Malawi trip. This is
no small amount, but I like to look at how much we have raised so far and it
reminds me that no amount it too big for God. With the kindness and generosity
of our family and friends, we are over half way to our grand total. Thank you
to everyone who has supported us so far! If you would still like to give,
you'll find a fancy yellow Donate button at the top of the page. This is a safe
and secure way to donate through PayPal using your credit or debit card.
Otherwise, any donations can be sent to our home address. If you don’t have our
address, just e-mail one of us or leave a message and we will get that to you.
I figure it's not the wisest idea to post that online :)
More than money, we
need your prayers! It means so much to us to know that we have a team of prayer
warriors behind us. We cannot go in our own strength. Many of the things we
will be doing are outside of our comfort zones and outside of our ability. We need
God's strength to see us through. Please
pray for safe travels, patience, strength and wisdom to make wise choices,
safety and health while we are away and that we will be effective in our
mission. Also pray for Peter and Patricia in Thailand and Connie and Dave in
Malawi and their ministries.
Well, if you have
made it to this point, you deserve a round of applause. I promise I will work
at keeping my blogs shorter. There's just so much great information I want to
share with you.
Again, be sure to
subscribe to this blog so you know when we post and share it with your friends
and family. To do so, look to the right and you'll find a link that says
"Subscribe" and subscribe by facebook, email of any other of the many
options we have these days.
One last thing, our
dear brother David has started a blog as well called "Christian
Physician". He writes about a wide variety of topics as he is on the
journey of balancing the medical world with his Christian perspective. If
you're cool, which I think you are, you'll love it! You can find his blog here:
http://christianphysician.blogspot.ca
Check out the
ministries we are working with!
Tattered Tiaras : www.tatteredtiaras.com
Rahab Ministries: http://www.rahabministriesthailand.com
Village of Hope: www.vohmalawi.org
