We knew that applying for the STM trip to Ethiopia would require faith that God would provide the funds to get us there. We don't have the money to pay for it ourselves, so that was the end of the story - TO GO, GOD MUST PROVIDE. We signed our applications and turned them in Sunday, March 7th. Over the next week, we worked on writing our support letter and request for ministry partners.
On Monday (this Monday, March 15th - so roughly 7 days since the STM application was turned in), the hubby and I began to email and mail out our support letters. We are still in the process of doing so. Monday, we were excited to get the word out and begin the journey of sharing about our trip and inquiring who would want to join our team as ministry partners. Honestly, I was anxious about how slowly funds might come into the mix... desiring and praying that we'd feel a firm confirmation of our pursuit of this trip.
And God more than showed up...
By Tuesday mid-morning we $600 worth of support + the $200 we turned in for our applications. Current total $800.
I found myself overwhelmed! Humbly broken! I believed, but wow! God you blew us out of the water, I couldn't contain the feelings inside - complete AWE of our Lord. I quickly walked to the bathroom, closed and locked the door. I cannot remember the last time I was overwhelmed by such humility before the Lord... I dropped to my knees (yes in the bathroom floor - thankfully I work for a smaller company, helps the clean factor a LITTLE)... I dropped to my knees and tears streamed down my face. I cried. I lifted my hands with tears flowing crying out to the Lord in my heart and mind. Thank you God! Thank you God! Thank you Lord! I had a complete worship service there in the bathroom, just me and my God. He blew us out of the water. Thank you Lord.
By Tuesday night we had $100 more... current total $900.
God you are so good!
By Wednesday afternoon we had $500 more... current total $1400.
I almost couldn't handle it... thankfulness beyond belief!
By Thursday afternoon we had another $130... current total $1530!
WOW.
Let me put this back into perspective... Within 36 hours the LORD had provided for 1/4 of our journey! A complete fourth of the "large" number we have to raise is done! God is big folks - REALLY BIG! He's reminding me and Mr. McGoo right now that we are so small... and God is bigger than the box we put Him in! Amen!!!!
Thank you to those that have already began to pray for us and/or financially support us. We have been overwhelmed in a way that I hope changes our lives forever. We wait in great anticipation to share and testify what God continues to do in this experience!
Story #3 (yeah, there's another God story already!) coming soon...
More info from National Geographic about Ethiopia:
Ethiopia is a landlocked country in the northeast African region known as the Horn of Africa. The country has a high central plateau, with some mountains reaching more than 4,000 meters (13,000 feet). The Great Rift Valley splits the plateau diagonally. The western highlands get summer rainfall; the lowlands and eastern highlands are hot and dry. Most people reside in the western highlands as does the capital, Addis Ababa—the highest capital city in Africa at 2,400 meters (8,000 feet). The population is almost evenly split between Christians, living in the highlands, and Muslims inhabiting the lowlands. The Oromo, Amhara, and Tigreans are the largest ethnic groups.
1 comment:
I love it when God is so obvious :) Thanks for sharing!
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