Sometimes God does things that are beyond any of our expectations. Like leaving zero room for doubt kind of things. Things that cause us to stop and say there is no way anyone could ever convince me my God isn't real and powerful after this. This is one of those times!
Lets back up... The Monday before thanksgiving the IChooseYou board let me know that I would in fact be going to Uganda for 6 months in May! I began fundraising a week or two later in hopes that I would be fully funded by March or April. I sent out letters and expected to have to send another set of letters, make visits, as well as do other things to raise the support to go.
God had other plans.
My goal was to raise $12,000 to cover monthly living expenses as well as the actual travel costs.
Wednesday I received news that I am ecstatic to share with you...
I currently have $9,500 in my account!!!
I have been fundraising for only one month! I only need to raise $2500 more! And the crazy part is that I was planning on saving a total of $4000 toward my trip so basically I'm done!!!
Beyond that I have really felt like I need to have money for an emergency plane ticket saved just in case, and now that is looking like its going to happen! I know it will happen actually! God is doing this! In a big, mighty, exceeding all my biggest expectations kind of way! Praise Him!!!!! I know I shouldn't be this shocked and amazed by God doing great things but I am! Join me in praising him for what he has done!!!
Just a little side note- for those of you that still want to give please do! If I have any extra I will set aside an emergency travel fund and then the rest will go toward my next trip. If you have any questions at all please feel free to contact me.
Once again Praise God! I am humbled by this generous gift from my Father. Thank you Lord!
Friday, January 4, 2013
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas everyone! I received one of the greatest Christmas gifts today! I got news that I am half way to being fully funded!!! God is so good! I am constantly amazed at his faithfulness. To be merely a month into fundraising and already half way funded is astonishing. God has plans that far exceed anything I could ever dream up and I'm getting small glimpses of his beautiful plans already.
I would like to give a HUGE thank you to everyone that has given so generously already! I just can't imagine what I would do without you. Thank you for letting God use you for his mighty plans.
For those that haven't given yet but want to, don't worry there is still time! If you'll look back a post or two there are instructions on how to give. As always, if you have any questions feel free to contact me!
Most of all I have a request for everyone, whether you have given or not. Please commit to being in prayer daily for me and this trip. Pray for God to be glorified in everything and for his purposes to be fulfilled. Pray for wisdom for me in the planning, transition, and my stay in Uganda. Pray that above all else His name would be made great from this season in my life. I will continue to post prayer requests as they come up but those are things I need prayer for in general.
Once again, THANK YOU! I'm just blown away at God's goodness.
Merry Christmas! Don't forget to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus today :-)
I would like to give a HUGE thank you to everyone that has given so generously already! I just can't imagine what I would do without you. Thank you for letting God use you for his mighty plans.
For those that haven't given yet but want to, don't worry there is still time! If you'll look back a post or two there are instructions on how to give. As always, if you have any questions feel free to contact me!
Most of all I have a request for everyone, whether you have given or not. Please commit to being in prayer daily for me and this trip. Pray for God to be glorified in everything and for his purposes to be fulfilled. Pray for wisdom for me in the planning, transition, and my stay in Uganda. Pray that above all else His name would be made great from this season in my life. I will continue to post prayer requests as they come up but those are things I need prayer for in general.
Once again, THANK YOU! I'm just blown away at God's goodness.
Merry Christmas! Don't forget to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus today :-)
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Monthly support
I just wanted to leave some information regarding monthly support for those of you interested in this.
As I mentioned in a previous post I am looking for 30 people to sponsor me with $30 a month for at least 6 months. There are a couple ways to do this.
1.) Send in a check made out to Cypress Creek Church to:
Cypress Creek Church
P.O. Box 1357
Wimberley, TX 78676
When you send it in you could request to have a stamped addressed envelope sent to you monthly to send in checks.
2.) Automatic Bill Pay online! Most banks will allow you to go online and set up an automatic bill payment monthly. Follow the steps and set it up to be sent monthly to:
Cypress Creek Church
P.O. Box 1357
Wimberley, TX 78676
**Put my name in the memo!!!
A lot of people have expressed interest in this option because you won't have to remember to send it in every month!
I hope this answers your questions about monthly sponsorship!
Thanks!!!
As I mentioned in a previous post I am looking for 30 people to sponsor me with $30 a month for at least 6 months. There are a couple ways to do this.
1.) Send in a check made out to Cypress Creek Church to:
Cypress Creek Church
P.O. Box 1357
Wimberley, TX 78676
When you send it in you could request to have a stamped addressed envelope sent to you monthly to send in checks.
2.) Automatic Bill Pay online! Most banks will allow you to go online and set up an automatic bill payment monthly. Follow the steps and set it up to be sent monthly to:
Cypress Creek Church
P.O. Box 1357
Wimberley, TX 78676
**Put my name in the memo!!!
A lot of people have expressed interest in this option because you won't have to remember to send it in every month!
I hope this answers your questions about monthly sponsorship!
Thanks!!!
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
The adventure (officially) begins!
The adventure officially begins! I will be moving to Uganda for 6 months in May. I am overwhelmed by the amount of love and support I have already received! Thank you!!! I could never express to you how much it means to me to have friends and family join together to support me like this. A few people have asked for details about the trip and how exactly they can help so here is some basic information.
I will be raising support for the majority of this trip. I am saving money for a large portion of it but there is just no way I can completely fund myself. I am going to be asking for at least 30 people to commit to sponsoring me at $30 a month for 6 months. Sponsors will have the option to give monthly or pay $180 up front to cover the 6 months. If that is not something you can do right now but you still want to give you can always give a one time donation toward travel costs. I don't have an exact amount needed for travel yet but I'm guessing somewhere around $2500-$3000. All donations are tax deductible! Make all checks out to Cypress Creek Church and attach a note with your name, address, phone number, and my name. Don't put my name in the check! Only on the note you put in the envelope. Send all checks to:
Cypress Creek Church
P.O. Box 1357
Wimberley, TX 78676
If you have questions please feel free to contact me. Above all else I am asking for prayer, prayer, and more prayer!
Once again, I am humbled by the amount of love and support I have already received. I just can't say that enough. Thank you!!!
Saturday, October 20, 2012
I am living
I am living. Really living.
I have to confess, some days I feel stuck. Like I'm just sitting around while the rest of the world keeps going. This could be credited to not having a job at the moment, feeling purposeless, or sheer laziness. Probably a combination of the three. It's ugly really. To think that even a second of a day could be wasted. To think that I've made that choice could completely hinder me from moving forward, or catapult me into moving because I know the sick taste of idleness.
Thankfully our God is a Merciful God. Thankfully He knows the plans he has for me, plans for hope, and a future. Plans to prosper me. Praise Him.
Tonight, as I was on Facebook of all things, I was reminded that God hasn't left me here. Instead, He has put me here. He has put me in a community full of people that are letting The Lord speak and move through them to literally shape me. I want to tell you a little bit about them...
God has given me a treasure of a friend, sister, and shoulder to know me and love me still. She lets me tag along with her and her husband and never once makes me feel like the awkward third wheel. She prays with me, for me, and even despite me sometimes. Our friendship is permanent. I know this because it has walked through many living hells and it's still intact. I am blessed.
God has given me an amazing mentor, discipler, and friend to walk with me through things I might not have the strength to even whisper to anyone else. When the valley of the shadow comes she tells me to go to the throne before the phone. Then she meets me at the throne and prays and walks with me. I am blessed.
God has given me a crazy wonderful sister to have life with and lead with. She thinks that somehow I teach her, but I promise you it's the other way around. She has taught me so much with her passion for obedience. God has graced me with her beautiful voice, musical talent and passion for loving others well. Let me be the first to tell you that she does, in fact, love others very, very well. I am blessed.
God has given me another fabulous sister to share life with and lead with that is just out of this world. She has so much joy and passion and is fiercely beautiful inside and out. Her honesty is a breath of fresh air and challenges me to be honest as well. I am blessed.
God has given me a brother that leads so very well. His passion for the gospel and making sure every eye sees and every ear hears is like nothing I have ever seen before. He challenges us to seek The Lord and to lead well daily. He prays for us, with us, and for us again. He is there when we have hard questions and always takes us back to the word. I am blessed.
God has given me another brother that really does lead well. He is genuine and honest. He keeps us entertained always and blesses us more than you could imagine with his musical talents. He has a gift for leading people into worship, straight to the feet of Jesus. I am blessed.
I am not stuck. Far from it. I am living. Really living. God has given me so much! I have a spiritual family that blows my mind, and together we are allowing The Lord to use us to change lives. Will we always be here doing this? No. One of us is probably moving soon. I am probably moving shortly after that. People will graduate and move on, but I will always be blessed by these people and this season The Lord has given me.
I know I didn't mention names but I'm pretty sure you all know who you are. Thank you. I am going to miss you all so so much when God calls us elsewhere. Thankfully we're not there yet. :-)
I have to confess, some days I feel stuck. Like I'm just sitting around while the rest of the world keeps going. This could be credited to not having a job at the moment, feeling purposeless, or sheer laziness. Probably a combination of the three. It's ugly really. To think that even a second of a day could be wasted. To think that I've made that choice could completely hinder me from moving forward, or catapult me into moving because I know the sick taste of idleness.
Thankfully our God is a Merciful God. Thankfully He knows the plans he has for me, plans for hope, and a future. Plans to prosper me. Praise Him.
Tonight, as I was on Facebook of all things, I was reminded that God hasn't left me here. Instead, He has put me here. He has put me in a community full of people that are letting The Lord speak and move through them to literally shape me. I want to tell you a little bit about them...
God has given me a treasure of a friend, sister, and shoulder to know me and love me still. She lets me tag along with her and her husband and never once makes me feel like the awkward third wheel. She prays with me, for me, and even despite me sometimes. Our friendship is permanent. I know this because it has walked through many living hells and it's still intact. I am blessed.
God has given me an amazing mentor, discipler, and friend to walk with me through things I might not have the strength to even whisper to anyone else. When the valley of the shadow comes she tells me to go to the throne before the phone. Then she meets me at the throne and prays and walks with me. I am blessed.
God has given me a crazy wonderful sister to have life with and lead with. She thinks that somehow I teach her, but I promise you it's the other way around. She has taught me so much with her passion for obedience. God has graced me with her beautiful voice, musical talent and passion for loving others well. Let me be the first to tell you that she does, in fact, love others very, very well. I am blessed.
God has given me another fabulous sister to share life with and lead with that is just out of this world. She has so much joy and passion and is fiercely beautiful inside and out. Her honesty is a breath of fresh air and challenges me to be honest as well. I am blessed.
God has given me a brother that leads so very well. His passion for the gospel and making sure every eye sees and every ear hears is like nothing I have ever seen before. He challenges us to seek The Lord and to lead well daily. He prays for us, with us, and for us again. He is there when we have hard questions and always takes us back to the word. I am blessed.
God has given me another brother that really does lead well. He is genuine and honest. He keeps us entertained always and blesses us more than you could imagine with his musical talents. He has a gift for leading people into worship, straight to the feet of Jesus. I am blessed.
I am not stuck. Far from it. I am living. Really living. God has given me so much! I have a spiritual family that blows my mind, and together we are allowing The Lord to use us to change lives. Will we always be here doing this? No. One of us is probably moving soon. I am probably moving shortly after that. People will graduate and move on, but I will always be blessed by these people and this season The Lord has given me.
I know I didn't mention names but I'm pretty sure you all know who you are. Thank you. I am going to miss you all so so much when God calls us elsewhere. Thankfully we're not there yet. :-)
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Begin
Most of you know that I have been struggling with my life direction since I have been home from Uganda. I am very pleased to announce that I have good news!!!
After endless nights praying and practically begging the Lord to show me what to do and when to go etc. I finally feel like I have an answer. In fact I know I have an answer. Begin.
It was as if the light bulb just clicked one day (aka the Lord spoke to me) and all of my questions about going and doing and what that meant were answered. Begin. Begin fundraising. Begin planning. Begin preparing my heart. Begin praying relentlessly for every aspect of this trip. Begin enjoying the things about being home that I will miss when I'm gone, without complaining. Begin, with my actions, trusting that the Lord is faithful and that He did not bring me this far to leave me.
So with all of this beginning I have some very real, very humbling, things to do. The most humbling of all is to begin asking for help. I have to say that when it comes to fundraising I feel a bit bipolar. I absolutely HATE the beginning of the process. Writing letters and sending them knowing that I am asking for people to give me money is very, very, painful. However, after I am obedient to do so, it is amazing to watch the body of Christ respond! Let me just say that God is faithful and His children are generous!!! I am always amazed at the Lords timing and the selfless giving from my friends and family.
The next couple weeks are going to be spent writing and re-writing my support letter until I cannot bear to look at it anymore. Then sending entirely too many letters, through snail mail, and praying praying praying for The Lord to do what He does best and come through! If you don't mind praying with me I would appreciate it so much!
This thing just got real. I'm excited!!!!!!!!!!!!
After endless nights praying and practically begging the Lord to show me what to do and when to go etc. I finally feel like I have an answer. In fact I know I have an answer. Begin.
It was as if the light bulb just clicked one day (aka the Lord spoke to me) and all of my questions about going and doing and what that meant were answered. Begin. Begin fundraising. Begin planning. Begin preparing my heart. Begin praying relentlessly for every aspect of this trip. Begin enjoying the things about being home that I will miss when I'm gone, without complaining. Begin, with my actions, trusting that the Lord is faithful and that He did not bring me this far to leave me.
So with all of this beginning I have some very real, very humbling, things to do. The most humbling of all is to begin asking for help. I have to say that when it comes to fundraising I feel a bit bipolar. I absolutely HATE the beginning of the process. Writing letters and sending them knowing that I am asking for people to give me money is very, very, painful. However, after I am obedient to do so, it is amazing to watch the body of Christ respond! Let me just say that God is faithful and His children are generous!!! I am always amazed at the Lords timing and the selfless giving from my friends and family.
The next couple weeks are going to be spent writing and re-writing my support letter until I cannot bear to look at it anymore. Then sending entirely too many letters, through snail mail, and praying praying praying for The Lord to do what He does best and come through! If you don't mind praying with me I would appreciate it so much!
This thing just got real. I'm excited!!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday, September 14, 2012
A breath of fresh air!
I received a phone call from a sweet new friend last night that really gave me encouragement and a breath of fresh air! It was wonderful to be able to talk to her and just know that she knows how my heart feels. It was also nice to hear that I am not alone in some of the things I went through/am going through/will go through. I walked away from our conversation feeling refreshed and ready to go. This time I actually feel like I know what I need to be doing!
Lets take a couple steps back...
After my last blog post I got an email from Patti, my wonderful step mom, that was so sweet and encouraging. She basically reminded me that God calls us and directs us in the middle of what we are doing. I know this to be true. I had a plan when God directed me to Uganda. I even had a plan about Uganda! (one that did NOT involve falling in love and hearing the call from God to be there long term, I might add.) Then in the middle of all my plans God redirected me, and by choosing his plans, he set me on a new path. Now I am on this new path and I'm not quite sure what the next move is. So I have two choices: I can just stop moving all together out of fear that I'll be moving in the wrong direction, or I can continue moving and "doing" until I hear the voice of God directing or redirecting me again. When I look at those options it becomes crystal clear. Keep moving!
Last night in conversation with this friend I realized that the time God is giving me here is going to be time I cherish once I'm away. It is also time that God does not want me to waste! This is preparation time! In dance, a good preparation is completely necessary in order for whatever jump, leap, or turn you are doing to be successful. I know that applies to life as well. A good preparation is necessary for every season of life. It is not time to be wasted.
So where does this leave me in terms of real life?
Well first of all, I need to keep looking for a job that glorifies the lord and not let myself get discouraged by the amount of time it takes to find one. God always provides. I have found this to be true every time I am put to the test.
Second, If God is leading me to serve him long term in Uganda then I need to be preparing for that! So the preparation begins in every aspect now.
Last, I have decided to cherish the time I have here now. Not passively, but actively cherish the time I have here. I know there will be days down the road that I will miss this terribly. So I will be present and joyful in every moment God keeps me here.
How can you help? I thought you would never ask! First and foremost please continue to keep me in your prayers! I firmly believe in the power of prayer and appreciate all the prayer I can get! Then, if you feel led to help financially, contact me! This isn't restricted to personally giving a donation. If you would like to help me network with people that are interested in giving, or organize a benefit night etc., that would be helpful as well! Just contact me at callie.r.eacret@gmail.com.
Lets take a couple steps back...
After my last blog post I got an email from Patti, my wonderful step mom, that was so sweet and encouraging. She basically reminded me that God calls us and directs us in the middle of what we are doing. I know this to be true. I had a plan when God directed me to Uganda. I even had a plan about Uganda! (one that did NOT involve falling in love and hearing the call from God to be there long term, I might add.) Then in the middle of all my plans God redirected me, and by choosing his plans, he set me on a new path. Now I am on this new path and I'm not quite sure what the next move is. So I have two choices: I can just stop moving all together out of fear that I'll be moving in the wrong direction, or I can continue moving and "doing" until I hear the voice of God directing or redirecting me again. When I look at those options it becomes crystal clear. Keep moving!
Last night in conversation with this friend I realized that the time God is giving me here is going to be time I cherish once I'm away. It is also time that God does not want me to waste! This is preparation time! In dance, a good preparation is completely necessary in order for whatever jump, leap, or turn you are doing to be successful. I know that applies to life as well. A good preparation is necessary for every season of life. It is not time to be wasted.
So where does this leave me in terms of real life?
Well first of all, I need to keep looking for a job that glorifies the lord and not let myself get discouraged by the amount of time it takes to find one. God always provides. I have found this to be true every time I am put to the test.
Second, If God is leading me to serve him long term in Uganda then I need to be preparing for that! So the preparation begins in every aspect now.
Last, I have decided to cherish the time I have here now. Not passively, but actively cherish the time I have here. I know there will be days down the road that I will miss this terribly. So I will be present and joyful in every moment God keeps me here.
How can you help? I thought you would never ask! First and foremost please continue to keep me in your prayers! I firmly believe in the power of prayer and appreciate all the prayer I can get! Then, if you feel led to help financially, contact me! This isn't restricted to personally giving a donation. If you would like to help me network with people that are interested in giving, or organize a benefit night etc., that would be helpful as well! Just contact me at callie.r.eacret@gmail.com.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
