24!

So there is not a whole lot of new information to share with all of you. My life is getting steadily busier as the days go by. As you could gather from this post's title I only have 24 days left before I fly out for IL.

Here are some prayer requests:

I still need to raise $1,885. I know that that number isn't exactly correct because I know I have gotten some donations since the date that that update was sent to me. However, there is still a lot of money I need to raise. I know God will provide. Thank you to everyone who has already donated! Every time I get another donation I am so encouraged because it shows how God is providing and that he really does want me on this trip. Please keep the rest of my team in your prayers as well. Some have a lot of money to raise as well and they could use the prayer.

Please also be praying that I would use my time wisely in these last few weeks. Time is going to fly and there is still a lot of stuff that I need to do and get ready before I leave. There is a lot of shopping I need to get done and since I hate shopping it is hard to make myself go do it. If anyone sees some good deals on good lightweight, waterproof, windproof rain coats please let me know. I have been looking for deals online as well as at stores, but I don't want to spend $80 on one. I'm hoping to find a really good deal on one.

Thank you so much for keeping me in your prayers. You have no idea what it means to me to have everyone behind me.

Counting Down!

It is just 35 short days and I will be leaving for Illinois! I do have a brief update on my fundraising status. I have $1,665 in my account as of today which means that I still need to raise $1,835.

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I also have just received an updated schedule of my trip. Here is what it look like:

June 19 I arrive in Illinois for Staff Training Camp

June 26 Students arrive and I get to meet the girls that I will be discipling

July 5 Fly to London- My flight leaves Chicago at 5pm

July 6 Arrive in London at 7:10am

Leave London for Dublin at 8:55am and arrive there around 10:20am

Once we arrive in Dublin we take a bus to Londonberry, Ireland.

July 7-16 Ministry in Londonberry

July 17 Bus to Skerries

July 18-25 Ministry in Skirries

July 26 Fly to London- We leave Ireland at 9:05am and arrive in London at 10:30am

July 26-30 Debrief in London

July 31 Return to USA- Leave London at 12:20pm, arrive in Chicago at 3:21pm, and shortly after that I will say goodbye to my team and get on a flight back to the West Coast. Chances are I will have a short layover in Seattle and then fly into Portland. I will hope to be arriving around 11.

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This schedule should help you all know what is going on with me overseas....

What else is new with the trip? Well on a less exciting note; I did a lot of shopping last night for the trip. God some great deals at the Goodwill last night! Still need to get some good walking shoes and some other odds and ends.

Now, I wanted to share with you all some pictures of where I will be going. I just found these online, but it will help you all see a little bit of where I will be. And I promise to bring back tons of my own!

This is Londonberry...

...and this is Skerries

Passport and International Flight

Yesterday was a day of seeing God's provision for my trip. I knew getting into this that God was going to start testing my faith. He wanted to see how much I was willing to trust Him with right off the bat. Yesterday was the day that I had to have $1350 in my account for my international flights. As of this last Saturday I had $1245. Yesterday when I contacted the mission to check to make sure I had enough money to cover the ticket I had $1565! It was so encouraging to me that God provided more than enough just when it was needed.

My second praise has to do with my passport. I chose not to pay all the extra money to expedite my passport. My parents and I prayed a lot about it and came to the conclusion that God was telling us to do this. This was three weeks ago. They say that it usually takes 5-8 weeks or more for it to come in. But God is good and as of yesterday I have my PASSPORT!

God is blessing me so much through this experience and I am being affirmed every day that this trip is in God's will for me.

Provision

Praise God for His reminders of faithfulness. I have to admit that this week has been a challenging on for me and I have been wondering if I will be able to raise the funds necessary to go this summer, but after tonight I know that it will all turn out. I guess I never really doubted that He would bring it all together, but a little extra reassurance never hurts.

This weekend my church is having missions services and they are bringing me up to share just a little bit about what I am doing this summer. I thought tonight went pretty well and I look forward to tomorrow. The response tonight from the few people who came and talked to me was so encouraging! God really used them to show me that He is going to get me to Ireland. One way or another. I'm so grateful for His provision and love for me. But I really need to never doubt His greatness. He has called me to go out and love others for Himself so He will get me there. No doubt!