Video from YWAM SAMOA. Staff and Students from the DTS helped out with cleaning, setting up seats, and arranging flowers for Sunday service at Peace Chapel Church in Apia.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
January 2009 missionary update
Here is my January update letter, sent out to supporters:
Holiday greetings!
The new year is here and as we make goals, or maybe even resolutions, I wanted to update you on my missionary journey. I currently have a commitment of donations for just over half of my required amount (my goal is 600$/month). I am so thankful for this support; however my departure date has been pushed past January....hopefully only until the end of February. I am trusting God’s timing but also I continue to look forward to buying my plane ticket and making last minute plans to join the on-going work in St. Croix.
During the past couple of months, I can’t help but fight an urgency to be back on the missionary field. God is teaching me lessons in the meantime (as He is faithful to do). When my disappointment in the delay starts, I am reminded of Isaiah. I do want to be available for God, to answer His call, as in Ezekial when He seeks someone to stand in the gap (Ezekial 22:30). I often think "What about the lives I could be touching....pick me.....I need to not waste time and get down there!" . Although it is true that God calls us to serve, Isaiah 59:16 sums up God’s control of His kingdom: " Then His own arm brought salvation to Him.’ And this was AFTER He declared that there was not one person available to intervene for Him. The Holy Spirit doesn’t ‘need’ me and my spiritual gifts in St. Croix to fulfill His purposes there. These are His people and He is caring for them through His own wisdom, power, and timing. It reminds me to be grateful, and honored, to be called to experience more of what He is doing across the world. In the meantime, I continue to learn the ongoing lesson of seeing God in what appears to be the ‘mundane’. Opportunities to interact with people come up every day, whether a relative, neighbor or someone through work (in my case at a Christian bookstore which hasn’t become boring). So, in the meantime while I prepare to head to a new missionary field, I trust God to use me equally, if not more, right where I am.
I’ve decided to include a few ‘fun facts’ to get all of us a bit more acquainted with the island of St. Croix and will include this section in each update letter.
- No US passport is required to travel to and from St. Croix as it is a United States territory
- St. Croix is 1100 miles southeast of Miami, in the US Virgin Islands
- St. Croix is the largest island of the US Virgin Islands
- St. Croix has a Kmart, McDonald’s, and most importantly a Wendy’s!
- Wish me luck as I adjust to driving on the left side of the road
As I continue to seek God’s next step for me, I ask that you reflect on how God is working in your life, and the people He is placing along your path. Please also remember me, both in your prayers and financially, as I strive to meet my monthly financial goal and prepare myself for another transition.
Some of you have asked for some further information about sending your monthly donations. If you prefer to make one donation for the year, instead of remembering a monthly pledge, please feel free as I will then break it down into 12 months. Please follow these instructions if you would like to receive a tax deductible receipt for your monthly support. Make the checks out to "YWAM St. Croix" (not my name) and in a letter or in the note section please indicate my name. The checks will be processed through the YWAM account and accredited to me. I will be notified of your gift as soon as a check is received. Every three months I will be sending out a receipt for those financial gifts. These checks can be sent directly to the accounting department at:
YWAM St. Croix
#4030 Diamond Ruby
Christiansted, VI 00820
This will also be my address so if you wish to simply include it in a letter addressed to me, I will route the payment for you.
I am very interested in hearing your personal stories of what God has been doing in your life, prayer requests and even stories of your travels to the Carribean. Please feel free to keep in contact either by mail (100 Hollywood Ave, Waterloo IA 50701) or by email (skillet25@gmail.com or alkennedy@excite.com ).
May your New Year be filled with blessings and drawing closer to God!
Holiday greetings!
The new year is here and as we make goals, or maybe even resolutions, I wanted to update you on my missionary journey. I currently have a commitment of donations for just over half of my required amount (my goal is 600$/month). I am so thankful for this support; however my departure date has been pushed past January....hopefully only until the end of February. I am trusting God’s timing but also I continue to look forward to buying my plane ticket and making last minute plans to join the on-going work in St. Croix.
During the past couple of months, I can’t help but fight an urgency to be back on the missionary field. God is teaching me lessons in the meantime (as He is faithful to do). When my disappointment in the delay starts, I am reminded of Isaiah. I do want to be available for God, to answer His call, as in Ezekial when He seeks someone to stand in the gap (Ezekial 22:30). I often think "What about the lives I could be touching....pick me.....I need to not waste time and get down there!" . Although it is true that God calls us to serve, Isaiah 59:16 sums up God’s control of His kingdom: " Then His own arm brought salvation to Him.’ And this was AFTER He declared that there was not one person available to intervene for Him. The Holy Spirit doesn’t ‘need’ me and my spiritual gifts in St. Croix to fulfill His purposes there. These are His people and He is caring for them through His own wisdom, power, and timing. It reminds me to be grateful, and honored, to be called to experience more of what He is doing across the world. In the meantime, I continue to learn the ongoing lesson of seeing God in what appears to be the ‘mundane’. Opportunities to interact with people come up every day, whether a relative, neighbor or someone through work (in my case at a Christian bookstore which hasn’t become boring). So, in the meantime while I prepare to head to a new missionary field, I trust God to use me equally, if not more, right where I am.
I’ve decided to include a few ‘fun facts’ to get all of us a bit more acquainted with the island of St. Croix and will include this section in each update letter.
- No US passport is required to travel to and from St. Croix as it is a United States territory
- St. Croix is 1100 miles southeast of Miami, in the US Virgin Islands
- St. Croix is the largest island of the US Virgin Islands
- St. Croix has a Kmart, McDonald’s, and most importantly a Wendy’s!
- Wish me luck as I adjust to driving on the left side of the road
As I continue to seek God’s next step for me, I ask that you reflect on how God is working in your life, and the people He is placing along your path. Please also remember me, both in your prayers and financially, as I strive to meet my monthly financial goal and prepare myself for another transition.
Some of you have asked for some further information about sending your monthly donations. If you prefer to make one donation for the year, instead of remembering a monthly pledge, please feel free as I will then break it down into 12 months. Please follow these instructions if you would like to receive a tax deductible receipt for your monthly support. Make the checks out to "YWAM St. Croix" (not my name) and in a letter or in the note section please indicate my name. The checks will be processed through the YWAM account and accredited to me. I will be notified of your gift as soon as a check is received. Every three months I will be sending out a receipt for those financial gifts. These checks can be sent directly to the accounting department at:
YWAM St. Croix
#4030 Diamond Ruby
Christiansted, VI 00820
This will also be my address so if you wish to simply include it in a letter addressed to me, I will route the payment for you.
I am very interested in hearing your personal stories of what God has been doing in your life, prayer requests and even stories of your travels to the Carribean. Please feel free to keep in contact either by mail (100 Hollywood Ave, Waterloo IA 50701) or by email (skillet25@gmail.com or alkennedy@excite.com ).
May your New Year be filled with blessings and drawing closer to God!
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