Hi friends!
Tomorrow is the big day! We are leaving bright and early tomorrow (Thursday) morning to drive down to LA. We fly out of LAX on Friday the 18th at 3pm. We will arrive in Santiago at 11:20am, their time, on Saturday the 19th. Please keep us in prayer as we travel. We also ask for prayers for our health, productivity, and our discernment with the Spirit during our eight weeks. Pray specifically for energy, as we are all completely exhausted and the trip hasn't even started yet! We love you all so much, and we hope to update as soon as possible. Thank you!
All our love,
Amanda, Matthew & Marissa
Also, the DR team will be at in n out in Elk Grove tonight at 8pm if you would like to say goodbye!
16 June 2010
07 June 2010
3 college kids. God. And the DR.
Hi loved ones.
It's Marissa again. I realize that I take up a lot of space on this blog, but I think that Amanda has the kindness of the group, and Matthew manages the money and the details and logistics. So maybe I can be the heart and handle the emotions and the writing.
I wrote last week about God writing a story. I must say, this story hasn't even really begun, and yet it's already more exciting than I ever thought it would be. I remember praying at Nancy and Randal's house many months ago for our trip, and God gave me a vision that there would be obstacles, and that they would not be moved, but that we would have the strength and endurance to get around them. I remember the month of February, when we said "yes" to God's call the the DR and then all 3 of us were hit with severe trials and emotional/spiritual attack. I remember last Tuesday when we needed $2,200 by midnight on Sunday.
And I remember driving around Wilton at 11pm the night that we realized that God had provided above and beyond what we needed. I remember the breeze on my face and Matthew singing along with the music on the radio and I remember the smells and the quietness of my spirit and the tears that poured out of me like the gratefulness of a waterfall. I remember feeling so small, so insignificant, and yet so proud to be a crucial part in this story. We said "Yes." God did the rest.
It amazes me that the God of the universe, the God who gently sculpts the mountains with this fingertips, and rocks the ocean back and forth in a lullaby still took the time to put two moles on my left cheek. It's so rare that people catch the dreams that they've been chasing. I cry, because I am a wuss. But God has made all of this possible, and it has very little to do with me and a whole lot to do with His goodness. It has been a tumultuous 3 months. And the real journey begins next week.
I can sit here and write about how $11,000 came into our hands and in 3 months (and was managed by Matthew, by the way. That guys is AMAZING!) I can write about how our entire trip is paid for. I can say that we have already EXCEEDED our goal financially. But those are just details.
I know that some of you don't know God, and I am terribly sorry if I have offended you. But I would feel wrong to write about this moment and not mention His name. Because, like I said, I didn't do this one on my own. The three of us didn't do this on our own strength. And money is really only one small detail in all of this. We have 2 whole months ahead of us. We get to dive into God's love and grace and joy and peace and majesty and we get to share it with his beloved and beautiful people in the DR.
God is the reason we are going. God is the only thing that could cause us to give up our lives, our comfort, our families and go, headfirst, into the uknown.
This is the story that I want to tell. This is the story that matters. It's God's story. And it's beautiful and compelling and I can't wait to see how it ends.
I send the deepest love I can muster to each of you as you read this. May God's grace bless you. If you have given to us financially, we pray that you would be blessed tenfold. If you have been praying for us, know that we have been praying for you, too. If you have encouraged us, it was worth more than you could ever understand.
3 college kids. God. DR.
It's a good day, today.
With all my love,
Marissa
P.S. For those of you asking, we are driving down to L.A. next Thursday, 6/17. We fly out of of LAX on 6/18 (Friday) at 3pm, and arrive at JFK at 11pm. We fly out of JFK at 7am, Friday 6/18 and we land in Santiago later that day. We will try to give an update as soon as possible. Please keep us in your prayers as we travel!!!
It's Marissa again. I realize that I take up a lot of space on this blog, but I think that Amanda has the kindness of the group, and Matthew manages the money and the details and logistics. So maybe I can be the heart and handle the emotions and the writing.
I wrote last week about God writing a story. I must say, this story hasn't even really begun, and yet it's already more exciting than I ever thought it would be. I remember praying at Nancy and Randal's house many months ago for our trip, and God gave me a vision that there would be obstacles, and that they would not be moved, but that we would have the strength and endurance to get around them. I remember the month of February, when we said "yes" to God's call the the DR and then all 3 of us were hit with severe trials and emotional/spiritual attack. I remember last Tuesday when we needed $2,200 by midnight on Sunday.
And I remember driving around Wilton at 11pm the night that we realized that God had provided above and beyond what we needed. I remember the breeze on my face and Matthew singing along with the music on the radio and I remember the smells and the quietness of my spirit and the tears that poured out of me like the gratefulness of a waterfall. I remember feeling so small, so insignificant, and yet so proud to be a crucial part in this story. We said "Yes." God did the rest.
It amazes me that the God of the universe, the God who gently sculpts the mountains with this fingertips, and rocks the ocean back and forth in a lullaby still took the time to put two moles on my left cheek. It's so rare that people catch the dreams that they've been chasing. I cry, because I am a wuss. But God has made all of this possible, and it has very little to do with me and a whole lot to do with His goodness. It has been a tumultuous 3 months. And the real journey begins next week.
I can sit here and write about how $11,000 came into our hands and in 3 months (and was managed by Matthew, by the way. That guys is AMAZING!) I can write about how our entire trip is paid for. I can say that we have already EXCEEDED our goal financially. But those are just details.
I know that some of you don't know God, and I am terribly sorry if I have offended you. But I would feel wrong to write about this moment and not mention His name. Because, like I said, I didn't do this one on my own. The three of us didn't do this on our own strength. And money is really only one small detail in all of this. We have 2 whole months ahead of us. We get to dive into God's love and grace and joy and peace and majesty and we get to share it with his beloved and beautiful people in the DR.
God is the reason we are going. God is the only thing that could cause us to give up our lives, our comfort, our families and go, headfirst, into the uknown.
This is the story that I want to tell. This is the story that matters. It's God's story. And it's beautiful and compelling and I can't wait to see how it ends.
I send the deepest love I can muster to each of you as you read this. May God's grace bless you. If you have given to us financially, we pray that you would be blessed tenfold. If you have been praying for us, know that we have been praying for you, too. If you have encouraged us, it was worth more than you could ever understand.
3 college kids. God. DR.
It's a good day, today.
With all my love,
Marissa
P.S. For those of you asking, we are driving down to L.A. next Thursday, 6/17. We fly out of of LAX on 6/18 (Friday) at 3pm, and arrive at JFK at 11pm. We fly out of JFK at 7am, Friday 6/18 and we land in Santiago later that day. We will try to give an update as soon as possible. Please keep us in your prayers as we travel!!!
02 June 2010
DR Update
Hey friends!
Marissa, here. We are leaving in less than 3 weeks for Santiago! Crazy, huh? It seems like just yesterday, Amanda and I were chatting in a hotel in Redding at 4am about how we want to hang out with some DR babies, and now we are actually getting ready to leave! It is amazing how much God has ALREADY done in us and through us. God has provided $8,600 in just a few short months, and so many people have come forward with love and encouragement and support. TONS of support. I am in awe of my friends and family and fellow followers of Jesus. God is using each one of us to better His Kingdom, and I am so excited to read the next chapter in the book God is writing on this trip.
I think you are a part of this story, too. At least, I'd like you to be. You've helped write it this far. We've been shown such love and support in the past few months, and it has very little to do with us, and a whole lot to do with the amazing and wonderful people that we know. We are blessed to call you friends and family.
But this is the fun part. We still need your help. I would like to start by saying that we, above all, ask that you pray for us. We need tons of prayer and encouragement and support emotionally. Please keep us in your thoughts these next few weeks as we prepare, as well as the 8 weeks that we are in the DR. But we also need financial support. And if you have supported us thus far, we are beyond grateful. We are inexplicably gracious for your generosity. We do not ask that you give more than you already have. We ask that you pray before giving, and we ask that you give WITHOUT obligation. If you feel called to donate, every dollar is appreciated. It doesn't have to be a huge. It doesn't have to be momentous or significant. You are helping to write a story, and every letter and word is important and crucial to the telling of that story.
As of right now, we are $1,800 short of our total cost. It's not a huge amount, but it is overwhelming for us. There are several ways that you can support. First, we are continuing to sell tamales through Baja Burrito. They are $20/dozen, and you can choose from pork, chicken, beef and vegetarian. We are putting in an order THIS SUNDAY, June 6, so get the information and payment to us as soon as you can if you are interested. We are also selling tshirts in black and grey, vneck or crew neck for $20 each as well. You can contact any team member for those as well. Lastly, you can just give freewill. Please make checks payable to Marissa Matheny, Matthew McCleary or Living Water Church (for tax-write off purposes) and the donation will be divided equally amongst the group unless otherwise specified.
We thank you so much for your time, support, and encouragement. Every hug, and kind word, and bit of excitement that you are showing for this trip is helping to write an amazing story. And on behalf of Matthew and Amanda, we are beyond blessed to know you, and proud to call you friends, family and brothers and sisters in Christ. Regardless of the outcome of this note, or how anyone responds, we have been blessed thus far, and that is more than enough for us.
Love you all,
Marissa
P.S. Speaking of the concept of story, if you dig it, read "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years" by Donald Miller. It'll rock your world.
Marissa, here. We are leaving in less than 3 weeks for Santiago! Crazy, huh? It seems like just yesterday, Amanda and I were chatting in a hotel in Redding at 4am about how we want to hang out with some DR babies, and now we are actually getting ready to leave! It is amazing how much God has ALREADY done in us and through us. God has provided $8,600 in just a few short months, and so many people have come forward with love and encouragement and support. TONS of support. I am in awe of my friends and family and fellow followers of Jesus. God is using each one of us to better His Kingdom, and I am so excited to read the next chapter in the book God is writing on this trip.
I think you are a part of this story, too. At least, I'd like you to be. You've helped write it this far. We've been shown such love and support in the past few months, and it has very little to do with us, and a whole lot to do with the amazing and wonderful people that we know. We are blessed to call you friends and family.
But this is the fun part. We still need your help. I would like to start by saying that we, above all, ask that you pray for us. We need tons of prayer and encouragement and support emotionally. Please keep us in your thoughts these next few weeks as we prepare, as well as the 8 weeks that we are in the DR. But we also need financial support. And if you have supported us thus far, we are beyond grateful. We are inexplicably gracious for your generosity. We do not ask that you give more than you already have. We ask that you pray before giving, and we ask that you give WITHOUT obligation. If you feel called to donate, every dollar is appreciated. It doesn't have to be a huge. It doesn't have to be momentous or significant. You are helping to write a story, and every letter and word is important and crucial to the telling of that story.
As of right now, we are $1,800 short of our total cost. It's not a huge amount, but it is overwhelming for us. There are several ways that you can support. First, we are continuing to sell tamales through Baja Burrito. They are $20/dozen, and you can choose from pork, chicken, beef and vegetarian. We are putting in an order THIS SUNDAY, June 6, so get the information and payment to us as soon as you can if you are interested. We are also selling tshirts in black and grey, vneck or crew neck for $20 each as well. You can contact any team member for those as well. Lastly, you can just give freewill. Please make checks payable to Marissa Matheny, Matthew McCleary or Living Water Church (for tax-write off purposes) and the donation will be divided equally amongst the group unless otherwise specified.
We thank you so much for your time, support, and encouragement. Every hug, and kind word, and bit of excitement that you are showing for this trip is helping to write an amazing story. And on behalf of Matthew and Amanda, we are beyond blessed to know you, and proud to call you friends, family and brothers and sisters in Christ. Regardless of the outcome of this note, or how anyone responds, we have been blessed thus far, and that is more than enough for us.
Love you all,
Marissa
P.S. Speaking of the concept of story, if you dig it, read "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years" by Donald Miller. It'll rock your world.
27 May 2010
17 May 2010
32 days.
Hola Amigos!
Yesterday was AMAZING! Thanks to everyone who came out and supported our trip! Baja Burrito es muy delicioso. Special thanks to Colin and the staff at Baja for putting this on for us! We love you guys SO much! Here are some photos from yesterday!
Yesterday was AMAZING! Thanks to everyone who came out and supported our trip! Baja Burrito es muy delicioso. Special thanks to Colin and the staff at Baja for putting this on for us! We love you guys SO much! Here are some photos from yesterday!
The Braithwaite family, PJ, Ashleys and Squaron.
PJ and Kati
Josh and Matt Midthun
Cori & Chris Ashley
Naomi, Derek, Tony, Ariana, and Taylor
Matthew, Joel and Ben
Squaron
Cori and Matthew (in the middle of a conversation about Lost)
Amanda and her brother, Andrew
Andrew. Eating two burritos. At once.
Marissa y Matthew
Team DR (Amanda, Marissa and Matthew)
I know I didn't get pictures of everyone, but thanks to everyone who came! It was great so see so many amazing family and friends there!!! We love you all SO much!
For those of you who have been asking, we leave June 18th, a little less than 5 weeks away! We are still working on getting all of our funds, but God has been providing like crazy lately. Our continued prayer is that "Thus far has the LORD helped us." (1 Samuel 7:12. Read the story of the Ebenezer stone.) We are getting SO excited, and are SO thankful for everything that God has given us so far. If you have donations for the orphanage, get those to us as soon as possible! Dios le bendiga, mis amigos.
En el amor de Dios, Marissa
19 April 2010
Potatoes and Provision!
Hey everyone!
Yesterday we had our first big fundraiser at Matthew's and my home church, Living Water. We decided to do a potato bar, because Remedy (our college group that the three of us go to) had done one in the past, and it had been pretty successful. We ended up raising above and beyond the amount we thought we would make, and we blessed with the presence of family and friends. We cannot express the gratitude we feel for God, and our families, friends, and church.
Saturday afternoon, Matthew and I met with Kris Puccinelli (or Mama Kris, as I call her), our second mother, mentor and college group leader at Living Water to do our big shopping at Sam's Club (Amanda had to work, so she couldn't make it). Then, Matthew, Kris and I went to Kris' house to scrub and wrap the potatoes in foil. Our wonderful friend Ariana helped out, too! We managed to finish all of the preparations in about 2 hours, which gave us time to celebrate our friend Tony's 21st birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TONY!
Sunday morning, we woke up bright and early and spoke at two of Living Water's services to inform everyone about our trip and our fundraiser, and afterwards we headed over to St. Peter's Lutheran Church (our mother church, big thanks to them!) and used their ovens and kitchen prep area for all of our preparations. We cooked potatoes, made a salad, cut brownies and onions, and crock-potted some chili. Our friend Danielle came and helped us out that afternoon/evening because she is WONDERFUL! Our fundraiser started at 5, and people began PILING in the door. We had about 30 people RSVP and had bought around 100 potatoes (I honestly thought that would be too much) but by about 5:30pm we were wondering if we would have ENOUGH! God provided a miracle for us, and everyone got a potato! One of Matthew's and my former youth leaders, Siobhan, even brought homemade cupcakes for everyone! It was great to see everyone coming together to support us!
One of my favorite parts about last night was the feeling of family. I've been going to Living Water Church since I was in the 6th grade (I'm 23 now) and, at times, it is hard to be a part of a place that has known you since before you hit puberty. I so often just want to GET AWAY and do something different, but last night, I was reminded of what church is all about. I get grumpy sometimes, and can complain, but when we needed it, God used our church, which is basically my family, to provide. That says something. I thank God for each person in my church, no matter how I feel about them sometimes, because they are my family, and families love each other, support each other, and help each other grow. I come from a family that wasn't always consistent, and people that were supposed to me in my life, were not. I think that is what gets me most about last night is what it meant when people showed up. And what it means when people give, or when they pray. It means you care. And that resonates in me more deeply than I ever thought it would. This is my dream, and my calling, and to be supported and encourage and loved like family through it all is God's gift to me. YOU are God's gift to me.
The other major blessing of last night was the fact that each of our parents came and supported us last night. Both of Amanda's parents, my mother, and Matthew's dad came. I don't think there are words to describe what a wonderful blessing that was to each one of us, so I'll leave it at that. God knows.
Lastly, I just wanted to thank you for your continued support of our trip! Whether you are digging into your wallet, reading our blogs, praying for us, or just giving us hugs, we are so humbled to be a part of YOUR family. Thank you for helping send us. We love you.
We managed to take a few photos this weekend as we got everything together, and I wanted to share them with you! Enjoy!
Matthew preparing some potatoes!
Mama Kris helping us prepare
Our wonderful friend, Ariana helping scrub potatoes
A very excited Matthew (which is pretty typical)
Amanda making a salad
Matthew and the huge can of chili (and we had 4 of them)
Marissa cutting some brownies
The Amazing Danielle, who helped us out all day Sunday
Amanda and Danielle
Hot Potatoes!
Oven Mitt Five!
Mama Kris and Matthew doing some set up at Living Water
The Spread!
cupcakes made by the wonderful Siobhan!
Jeret wafting the smells!
Enjoying the Food
We heart Ashley!
Matthew & Amanda (Can you feel the excitement?)
Marissa and Jocelyn and Ainsley Feaster
Amanda and her dad
All $1535 in my hands (and now in a bank account!)
Thanks again, everyone for making this fundraiser such a huge success!
With all the love I have in my heart,
Marissa
P.S. I, again, want to thank some special people who went out of their way to help us this weekend. Kris Puccinelli is God's gift to me when my life seems to be falling apart, but she also somehow manages to take care of everyone's everything. She helped prepare, shop, and plan this event! Thanks to Ariana Nicholson who helped scrub potatoes on Saturday, and Danielle Sipes who gave up her Sunday afternoon and evening to hang out with us and prepare everything! (She even did a run to the grocery store because we had to get lemonade!) And to Siobhan Russell, who brought homemade cupcakes for everyone! Thanks to Pastor Joel Midthun (PJ!) for letting us throw this shindig, and everyone at Living Water, Remedy, and our friends and family who came and enjoyed a potato or two. Blessings to you!
05 April 2010
20 March 2010
On Planting, and Watering, and Growing
Hey everyone!
It is definitely Amanda's turn to write a blog, but she hasn't done it yet, (hmmm...) but I wanted to take a few minutes and write what has been on my heart lately. We are leaving 3 months from last Thursday, and our deposit is due in about 2 weeks. We have delivered many support letters, and are now just waiting on God's perfect timing. It is much easier said than done.
I have been spending the past 5 months since I've returned from Kenya really meditating on what it means to be a servant, and whether or not I made any sort of a difference at all during my time there. If I am being completely honest, those 6 months were the most difficult 6 months of my life, however, the experience changed me from the inside out and I will never be the same again. My biggest struggle with the experience came from my own human desires and needs to have my work validated and affirmed; it's so difficult to attempt to plant seeds and try to love people as much as you can and not see the fruits of your labor. In Kenya, I would spend my time with the boys, and I would pray and pour my heart into their lives, and they would still choose to live on the streets and sniff glue. For every boy that wanted to change, there were 5 more running to the streets. The hopelessness of the country starts to wear on you, and it takes submission to the Spirit to keep from becoming cynical. I cannot begin to explain the toll it takes on your heart and your spirit to be amidst the poverty, corruption, and spiritual oppression that exists in that country and so many others like it in Africa.
I did not build anything, I did not teach in a classroom or perform surgeries or donate millions of dollars for relief in Kenya. It still pains me sometimes, to wonder if I even made a difference. But I had to really give my heart and my actions over to God. If I can say anything about missions, it is this: you cannot change anyone. But God can. You have to sacrifice yourself everyday and devote your time to God, and trust that He will take care of it. It sounds really silly, and I wish I could give you the actual insight that is coming from my heart, but all I can say is that it is so much harder to really live it out than it sounds.
I actually took the time to read through most of the New Testament during my 6 months in Kenya, and I came across this verse that convicted my heart. In 1 Corinthians 3, it says, "After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. 6 I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 7 It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. 9 For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building."
We spend so much time wondering if we are doing this whole "life" thing right, that we forget that that's not even the point. We are meant to serve and love God, nothing more. It is not my job to change Kenya or the Dominican Republic, or even the people of Sacramento. It is my job to humble myself and dedicate my time and my service to loving people and reaching them, because that is the job that God has given us as His children. It does not matter who plants the seed and it does not matter who waters it. It does not matter how many kids run to the streets in Kenya because God is in the business of changing lives, and I am in the business of following God. If I skip that middle step, and try to take over God's business, then this spiritual economy that we have going on is screwed because I never took a business class and I hate money.
This is my prayer for our team, and for my own life and my own calling: that we would simply seek God's will and somehow get transfer into the lives of the people that we meet, no matter where we go. Loving people is a tricky art, one that may or may not ever be mastered by any human, but it is our calling to attempt it, and trust that God will clean up the mess we make anyway. We are so excited as a team to get out there and spend time with God's beautiful babies and the wonderful people of the Dominican Republic. Above all, we seek to honor and serve Him. Please keep us in your prayers as we continue on this exciting journey! We love you all, and thank you for reading!
Love,
Marissa
P.S. We also need financial provision. As I said above, our deposit is due in a few weeks. Please say some prayers with us! Thank you!
P.P.S. On a brighter note, I spent some time with a guy from Kenya who now lives in Sacramento and goes to my church. He was a street boy in Nairobi, and sniffed the glue and even went to jail. But he and I talked a lot about his life and my experiences in Kenya, and how I question whether my time in Africa even matters. I asked him if he remembers seeing any wzungu (white people) in Kenya, and he said he did. He remembers their help, and he remembers going to an orphanage started by a mzungu and that was where he turned his life around. He was sponsored by Compassion International, and is now here in America.
So, it matters. (Not that it matters whether it matters. Because it doesn't. But it still makes me smile.)
It is definitely Amanda's turn to write a blog, but she hasn't done it yet, (hmmm...) but I wanted to take a few minutes and write what has been on my heart lately. We are leaving 3 months from last Thursday, and our deposit is due in about 2 weeks. We have delivered many support letters, and are now just waiting on God's perfect timing. It is much easier said than done.
I have been spending the past 5 months since I've returned from Kenya really meditating on what it means to be a servant, and whether or not I made any sort of a difference at all during my time there. If I am being completely honest, those 6 months were the most difficult 6 months of my life, however, the experience changed me from the inside out and I will never be the same again. My biggest struggle with the experience came from my own human desires and needs to have my work validated and affirmed; it's so difficult to attempt to plant seeds and try to love people as much as you can and not see the fruits of your labor. In Kenya, I would spend my time with the boys, and I would pray and pour my heart into their lives, and they would still choose to live on the streets and sniff glue. For every boy that wanted to change, there were 5 more running to the streets. The hopelessness of the country starts to wear on you, and it takes submission to the Spirit to keep from becoming cynical. I cannot begin to explain the toll it takes on your heart and your spirit to be amidst the poverty, corruption, and spiritual oppression that exists in that country and so many others like it in Africa.
I did not build anything, I did not teach in a classroom or perform surgeries or donate millions of dollars for relief in Kenya. It still pains me sometimes, to wonder if I even made a difference. But I had to really give my heart and my actions over to God. If I can say anything about missions, it is this: you cannot change anyone. But God can. You have to sacrifice yourself everyday and devote your time to God, and trust that He will take care of it. It sounds really silly, and I wish I could give you the actual insight that is coming from my heart, but all I can say is that it is so much harder to really live it out than it sounds.
I actually took the time to read through most of the New Testament during my 6 months in Kenya, and I came across this verse that convicted my heart. In 1 Corinthians 3, it says, "After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. 6 I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 7 It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. 9 For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building."
We spend so much time wondering if we are doing this whole "life" thing right, that we forget that that's not even the point. We are meant to serve and love God, nothing more. It is not my job to change Kenya or the Dominican Republic, or even the people of Sacramento. It is my job to humble myself and dedicate my time and my service to loving people and reaching them, because that is the job that God has given us as His children. It does not matter who plants the seed and it does not matter who waters it. It does not matter how many kids run to the streets in Kenya because God is in the business of changing lives, and I am in the business of following God. If I skip that middle step, and try to take over God's business, then this spiritual economy that we have going on is screwed because I never took a business class and I hate money.
This is my prayer for our team, and for my own life and my own calling: that we would simply seek God's will and somehow get transfer into the lives of the people that we meet, no matter where we go. Loving people is a tricky art, one that may or may not ever be mastered by any human, but it is our calling to attempt it, and trust that God will clean up the mess we make anyway. We are so excited as a team to get out there and spend time with God's beautiful babies and the wonderful people of the Dominican Republic. Above all, we seek to honor and serve Him. Please keep us in your prayers as we continue on this exciting journey! We love you all, and thank you for reading!
Love,
Marissa
P.S. We also need financial provision. As I said above, our deposit is due in a few weeks. Please say some prayers with us! Thank you!
P.P.S. On a brighter note, I spent some time with a guy from Kenya who now lives in Sacramento and goes to my church. He was a street boy in Nairobi, and sniffed the glue and even went to jail. But he and I talked a lot about his life and my experiences in Kenya, and how I question whether my time in Africa even matters. I asked him if he remembers seeing any wzungu (white people) in Kenya, and he said he did. He remembers their help, and he remembers going to an orphanage started by a mzungu and that was where he turned his life around. He was sponsored by Compassion International, and is now here in America.
So, it matters. (Not that it matters whether it matters. Because it doesn't. But it still makes me smile.)
14 March 2010
12 March 2010
08 March 2010
Video Blog #2! We have a support letter!
We finally have a finished support letter. We're a little excited.
28 February 2010
First Official Video Blog!
All four of us are here for our first official video blog! Mustaches! Thin is in!
27 February 2010
22 February 2010
Our First Blog!
Hey Guys!
It's Marissa, Aron, Matthew & Amanda! We are so excited for our trip to the DR this summer. For those of you who don't know, and somehow stumbled upon our blog, we are going on an 8-week mission to Santiago, Dominican Republic this summer! We are planning to leave June 18th and return August 14th! Our main duties (as we understand) will be to work in the orphanage with the kids, and work in the schools teaching English. We are SO excited to answer God's call and be His hands and feet.
We ask for your prayers of protection over each one of us as we begin this journey. In the past 3 days, we have experienced the attack of the enemy in a few of our team members, and, though we know that God makes everything glorious, the stuff going on pretty much... SUCKS. Keep us in your prayers, as we continue to make plans, and please pray for the remaining team members, as they still have to talk about our plans to their family members! Hooray!!!
Love,
Marissa
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