Never before have I felt like I had a support network quite like the one I have right now. Over the past month, I’ve received so much encouragement and support from both churches and from individuals that I honestly didn’t know what other doors God could possibly open for me….but He has!
On the OneHope side, I’m currently working and assisting in the development of a new Book of Hope targeting Displaced Communities. While doing what research I can here in Chicago, God is AMAZINGLY opening opportunities for me to reach out to Middle Eastern refugee students. To hear their stories, to hear their needs, and to be able to share with them the hope they can have in Jesus all while researching; however, there are some churches within this refugee community who are not open to missionaries working alongside of them. Please pray that God would open up venues for me to reach out to these students and that God would give me His wisdom, understanding, and discernment through it all. That I wouldn’t get discouraged but continue to be faithful in what He has given me.
A few days ago, I received a massive package in the mail from OneHope. In it were survey forms that they’ve collected from people within the communities nearby their stateside headquarters. As I looked at the surveys, some were ones that I help format numerically, and now I have the privilege of seeing what results will come out of them. I know I may sound like a nerd at times, but I love working through and seeing how it will all fit together…it’s like a giant puzzle.
As you can read, OneHope is in the midst of numerous research projects…which brings me to some exciting news. Mid-November, I got a call from my missions’ director sharing with me that they’re needing to move up my timetable for me to become an active missionary. They need my training and capabilities in research in these projects and more…the ones I’m currently working on now are the ones I could manage stateside.
After talking with him more, the targeted time is February/March 2010, which will honestly take a miracle to get all the funding together to accomplish this. As I’ve been praying about all the changes, excitement, and nervousness, throughout it all God keeps reminding me of Philippians 1:6 “being confident in this that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” God hasn’t brought me this far to let it all fall through.
Currently, my budget is at 47% and growing, Praise the Lord! And as daunting as a task it might seem to raise 53% of a monthly budget within 2-3 months time, I know God will provide and will open up doors and opportunities. He has and will continue speak into lives, and He’ll continue to give me the confidence in Him to connect with others who will catch onto the vision OneHope has to reach God’s Word to Every Child. God is faithful, and I can trust in that ☺
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Praise Report:
- Speaking @ Churches
- Research opportunities
- 47% of my monthly budget is together, and it’s still growing!!!
- Work in Chicago
- Blessing and support from family, friends, and churches.
Prayer Requests:
- The woman I’m subbing for is VERY sick, pray for God’s healing.
- That God would bless and meet the needs in the churches I’m connecting with.
- Humbleness of heart and continual trust in Him
- The other 53% of the budget would come together when OneHope needs it
- More new Opportunities!!!
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