March Madness

March Madness is not just about basketball these days.  It has been a crazy and exciting month for me. I have been looking forward to our class on mission trips.  I am a planner so I was so ready to hear everything about Uganda so that I could start making plans and have goals to work toward.  We heard two testimonies of individuals that have been on mission trips.  These were very inspirational and gave great in site to what to expect, which is the unexpected. Mark gave us more information that I could process that day but it was very helpful to know why Journey Church chose these two countries and the relationships with each missionaries. There were two shocking moments during the class.  The first was when we were told that if we were given food by locals, no matter what it was or how sick it could make us, we would have to eat it.  Yikes!  The second was the new cost of the trip.  The cost went from $2500 to $3000 because of flight cost. This scared me because I didn't think that I could come up with that much more money. He told us how a man had his whole trip paid for by writing letters and asking for small donation of $12. This is something that I thought of but NEVER wanted to do.  How does the saying go??? "Never say Never." After considering the new cost, I knew I was going to have to come up with a way to get more money so I broke down and wrote the letter.  I only sent our around 30 and asked for $15 donations.  I was shocked that by the end of the week I had 2 checks - one for $50 and one for $25. This just goes to show how great God is and how he will provide for us.  

One of the greatest things to come out of the missions class is that my good friends Matt and Stacy are now considering to go to Uganda instead of Honduras!  It would be so awesome to have them there to share this experience.  Since I know they have a lot of money to raise, we had a discussion in our small group on ways to raise money and came up with some great ideas. It will be great to work together to raise money and split the proceeds.  I also have a jewelry show that one friend is donating her profits from and a yard sale that I am working on. It looks like the money planning is underway.  Now, I am on to getting all my shots and have found a friend who is a PA and she is going to help me with getting those covered by insurance to reduce my out of pocket expense. 

To top off this great month, Jimmy announced that April 17th is Arise Africa Day at Journey.  Godfrey and Joy are coming from Uganda!!  We are trying to raise $50,000 that weekend to give them to complete the second phase of the Orphanage. I am SO EXCITED to see them.  I have only seen them once in my time at Journey and I am looking forward their visit. 

There are just a few days left in this month and I can't wait to see what God brings.