Lots of good news to share with you. I didn't update last week because I was still trying to figure some number stuff out before I shared anything with you.
Here is the first piece of good news...
I am at $600 in monthly pledges and $1,645 in one-time pledges. PRAISE GOD!! I just heard from Pastor Alan last week and its looking like I won't need as much monthly as I thought I was going to need in order to live there. So I will only need to raise another $500 in monthly pledges to make my budget. I am well on my way in one-time pledges as well. The $1,645 I already have will go toward my plane ticket. I still need to raise $2,400 in one-time pledges for the rest of my plane ticket as well as some extra expenditures I will have when I first get to Africa. God is providing, family!! Thank you for listening to God and obeying His leading to help me!
If you are still praying about the amount, whether it is a one-time donation or a monthly pledge, I thank you in advance and can't wait to hear what God speaks to you. Some of you have already indicated that is what is happening and I appreciate that. It is always good to know that you have decided to support me, even if you don't know the amount, that way I can hope for it and know what to look forward to.
Another piece of good news is...
Pastor Alan wrote me an email today letting me know that they just painted my room and it is ready and waiting for me. I asked him to send me a picture so you can see it. I also let him know that I plan to arrive there the first week of September. It will be a perfect time to get there because schools will be back in session and their ministry events start back up in full swing around that time. I will hit the ground running, but I'm EXTREMELY excited to know that I will be needed and busy. I'm VERY ready for new challenges and a new part of my life to start.
One last piece of good news...
I am doing great. God has been speaking some new things to me. He is revealing some strengths I never thought I had and some spiritual gifts that I need to start developing. I realize that my last few blog entries have been pretty intense and have sounded kind of down, but just know that you are on an intense journey with me. It is better if I am honest about how I am feeling and what I'm going through so you know specifically how to pray for me. Your encouragement during those times helps me get through the hard days...you are the ones, along with Jesus, who help me refocus on the bigger picture of what I'm doing. It helps me to be real with you because I know that you are fighting for me in prayer...so don't be discouraged, because I'm not.
Standing firm,
Gina :)
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Saturday, May 17, 2008
The Orphanage
I heard from Pastor Alan this week. I'm not sure I mentioned this before, but he has been feeling a leading from the Lord to start his own orphanage. Because of the horrendous inflation and AIDS epidemic, mothers are now having babies and throwing them down the sewers because they are either sick or don't have enough money to feed another child. Pastor Alan has had a vision of saving these particular babies through the orphanage he wants to start.
Once he got back to Zimbabwe after his long itineration in Ireland, he got right to work putting together a board of directors and trustees to handle the purchase of the land, and the initial inquiries/decisions of the orphanage. He had to do this because in his own words he is "the wrong color". The government of Zimbabwe would never let a white man start an orphanage in their country. The great news is, they have found the perfect building for the orphanage. It is a 12 bedroom, 7 bath home with a large yard, a swimming pool, and several other great amenities. Pastor Alan will have to raise $450,000 U.S. dollars to purchase the land and building. He is asking for our prayers, because he will have to come up with the money in a VERY short amount of time. Please join me in crying out to God for Pastor Alan and this very important project he is getting under way. It is a much needed orphanage and would benefit the innocent babies of Zimbabwe in an immense way.
As for me, my nights have been filled with tossing and turning. When I'm not doing that, I'm waking up every hour. I wake up every morning feeling exhausted and drained. I am getting tired earlier every day. This is not good. I need my rest to stay healthy. Please pray that my sleep will return to me and I start waking up feeling refreshed again. Feeling tired all the time is making me feel discouraged and making small situations seem worse than they actually are.
I appreciate each of you. I will be getting an up to date report on my monthly and one-time support soon so I can keep you informed! Thanks for celebrating with me and praying for me.
Staying in the battle,
Gina :)
Once he got back to Zimbabwe after his long itineration in Ireland, he got right to work putting together a board of directors and trustees to handle the purchase of the land, and the initial inquiries/decisions of the orphanage. He had to do this because in his own words he is "the wrong color". The government of Zimbabwe would never let a white man start an orphanage in their country. The great news is, they have found the perfect building for the orphanage. It is a 12 bedroom, 7 bath home with a large yard, a swimming pool, and several other great amenities. Pastor Alan will have to raise $450,000 U.S. dollars to purchase the land and building. He is asking for our prayers, because he will have to come up with the money in a VERY short amount of time. Please join me in crying out to God for Pastor Alan and this very important project he is getting under way. It is a much needed orphanage and would benefit the innocent babies of Zimbabwe in an immense way.
As for me, my nights have been filled with tossing and turning. When I'm not doing that, I'm waking up every hour. I wake up every morning feeling exhausted and drained. I am getting tired earlier every day. This is not good. I need my rest to stay healthy. Please pray that my sleep will return to me and I start waking up feeling refreshed again. Feeling tired all the time is making me feel discouraged and making small situations seem worse than they actually are.
I appreciate each of you. I will be getting an up to date report on my monthly and one-time support soon so I can keep you informed! Thanks for celebrating with me and praying for me.
Staying in the battle,
Gina :)
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Purifying My Heart
This past week was a battle. The enemy has been prowling around me like a roaring lion looking to devour me. I have been feeling like there is a war raging all around me and I am standing in the middle of it fighting all by myself. The devil wants me to feel like I'm all alone, that I'm all by myself and he is threatening that when I grow tired, he will strike.....he has been trying to take my relationships from me and is using the mistakes I have made against me. I've been feeling like I'm failing everyone around me and that by the time I'm ready to leave, I won't have any friends here or any support.
BUT....I AM WINNING!! We don't fight against flesh and blood but against principalities and the dark forces of this world. I have finally recognized these feelings for what they are....GIGANTIC LIES. I will stand firm. I will pray on the armor God has fitted me with and I will not stop fighting. I am not fighting alone....God reminded me this week that He has surrounded me with all of you. When I am weak, He is strong. His grace is enough for me, His power is made perfect in my weakness. I am apologizing for my mistakes and cleaning up the relationship messes I have made. I will not let the enemy win. I pray against him in the name of Jesus!!....he has no hold over my life. I stand on the neck of the oppression that I am all alone, that I'm failing everyone around me and that I'm getting tired.
We are in the midst of a spiritual battle, but we reign with Jesus. He has equipped us with everything we need to win. We need only to hold on to the truth that we are victorious in Him.
I thank God for you everyday. Your prayers are what have been keeping me strong. Thank you for being my prayer warriors.
Standing in battle with you,
Gina :)
BUT....I AM WINNING!! We don't fight against flesh and blood but against principalities and the dark forces of this world. I have finally recognized these feelings for what they are....GIGANTIC LIES. I will stand firm. I will pray on the armor God has fitted me with and I will not stop fighting. I am not fighting alone....God reminded me this week that He has surrounded me with all of you. When I am weak, He is strong. His grace is enough for me, His power is made perfect in my weakness. I am apologizing for my mistakes and cleaning up the relationship messes I have made. I will not let the enemy win. I pray against him in the name of Jesus!!....he has no hold over my life. I stand on the neck of the oppression that I am all alone, that I'm failing everyone around me and that I'm getting tired.
We are in the midst of a spiritual battle, but we reign with Jesus. He has equipped us with everything we need to win. We need only to hold on to the truth that we are victorious in Him.
I thank God for you everyday. Your prayers are what have been keeping me strong. Thank you for being my prayer warriors.
Standing in battle with you,
Gina :)
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