Less than a week to go!!

Hello everyone! Well, this time next week I will be at training camp for Africa! I am totally pumped and cannot wait to start this new adventure in my life. I've bought pretty much all of my supplies (a 2 lb. tent, a sleeping bag the size of a milk jug, lots of peanut butter, batteries..), and am just waiting for Friday to get here. Of course, I'm doing my best to prepare spiritually. I'm currently reading a book about the Holy Spirit while I read the ministries of the apostles in Acts (which is where the Holy Spirit becomes a part of the New Testament story). I'm praying that God will continue to prepare my heart and weed out the weeds of the world that are constantly contaminating it. Please continue to pray for me, my team, and my parents ( :D ) as we plan to go. 


As for when we get there, we will be meeting for training in Chattanooga on Friday the 3rd and will train for four days. Then, on the 7th, we will fly into Entebbe, Uganda. We will be there for 55 days, after which we will return to the States for a night of debrief before we go home. We've been told to expect of a lot of prison and hospital ministry and a bunch of playing with street kids. Bring it on :) 


If you want to hear what we're doing and how we're doing while we're gone, please visit the team blog at: http://expedition.adventures.org/ 


Thanks for your support!


Lauren

My Provider

Have you ever been challenged by God but afraid to obey because of circumstances? If you have, then you'll know how I felt. A couple of weeks ago, I was called to do something. I was called to give. I like to give. But this time, it made me nervous; after all, I owed Adventures in Missions $2500 at the time. I prayed that God would make it really really clear to me that I was supposed to give, to whom, and how much. Of course, he did. It was hard, but I obeyed.

The amazing part, other than the peace he gave me, was what came in the mail just a few days later. The exact same amount of money that I gave to others what given back to me for my trip. The exact same amount. Now tell me that that isn't an awesome God! 

Still later, today I received another huge blessing. My uncle works for Cook's Pest Control on the corporate side. Apparently, he was talking to a district manager and somehow got him to donate $100 to my trip through the company. A couple hours later, two other managers and a friend had also agreed to give. So in one short day $400 was donated toward my trip!

I don't know why I worry. God is such a provider. He has never failed me, and I don't know why I would think He would now. Praise God.

Malachi 3:8-10 — “ ‘Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, “How do we rob you?” In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.’ ”




2 Corinthians 9:6-9 — “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: ‘He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.’ ”


Lauren