..i leave in just 19 days give or take the hours. i can't believe how soon that really is!
i'll go into more detail later.. but it's really been overwhelming sorting out how this is all going to work out and where my heart's at in this. work has been unpredictable, but God's been so faithful.. as i was told tonight that today was my last official shift besides some odd jobs on the side once in a while, i felt the strain of needing to meet the deadline in such a short amount of time. i panicked and stressed for quite a while driving home from a friend's.
as soon as i got home, i checked the mailbox, and an envelope with $200 was inside.
it was sort of a , "shut up and trust me." moment, where i stepped back and realized that no matter how tight financial situations seem right now, God's in control, and i know he'll provide. needless to say, it was really humbling.
i have a total of $4439.89 as of june 24!
This means that the plain ticket is completely covered (it came to about $2321.29)
, and 2118.60 of the school covered - leaving a remainder of just 381.40 to match that.
the outreach amount has not been confirmed, but is standing around $1500, plus the need for about $500 living funds during my stay.
thanks to everyone who's been praying and supporting me, if i haven't already said so. even if i have, thank you thank you thank you. you're such a blessing. :)
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Sunday, June 8, 2008
The BBQ Fundraiser!
Yesterday, June 7th, I had a bbq and bonfire fundraiser at Steve & Nancy Burchell's house. The weather was amazingly humid and hot, but still a gorgeous day! I was so thankful for awesome weather.
I had been getting discouraged because it seemed like so many weren't able to make it - but 50-60 people ended up making it out at one point throughout the day and we had an wonderful time hanging out, eating and had a fun little silent auction!
It was really encouraging that so many people took the time to come and support me in this way - and really let me know that they are excited for this trip and are standing with me in prayer through it! I couldn't ask for more!
A friend of mine kept reminding me to trust God, that no matter how I thought the day would go - or any of my fundraising really - that all I could do is leave it with him. And no doubt, I know that - but it was so hard to take that boulder off my back and leave it at His feet. It's still that way, but He sure shut me up yesterday. :) He blessed us with awesome weather, a beautiful family and their house to hold the bbq at, amazing friends and family who made it out and a total raised amount that I hadn't expected.
The grand total raised yesterday was......
(drum beat, please)
$761.00!!
Phenomenal. Honestly. I didn't expect that, or to see all the faces I did yesterday.
I can't stress enough how much all of you have blessed me!
You are SUCH encouragements and I don't know how else to say that.
He reminded me that I am loved, that this is really happening - and that these compassions and desires on my heart aren't just my own.
From what I've figured out this far, I think I'm about half way to my total goal.
If not everyone knows already, support can still be sent to me while I'm overseas. My sister, Alisa King, will be joining a bank account with me so she can deposit any checks for Swaziland.
The plane ticket is completely covered so far, and a portion of the schooling. Now for the outreach portion. :)
Again, I am honoured and blessed for your friendship and support.
God bless you!!
love & blessings,
Angelie :)
here's a few photos from the day!:
Daniel, Sean, Aaron, Steve & Erica hanging out
Daniel, Chels & I doing matrix moves!
My sister, Alisa - silent auction stuff!
Friends from Lift/Mac came to support me :)
Chelsey Burchell - this girl has been a huge support & encouragement to me for this trip!
I had been getting discouraged because it seemed like so many weren't able to make it - but 50-60 people ended up making it out at one point throughout the day and we had an wonderful time hanging out, eating and had a fun little silent auction!
It was really encouraging that so many people took the time to come and support me in this way - and really let me know that they are excited for this trip and are standing with me in prayer through it! I couldn't ask for more!
A friend of mine kept reminding me to trust God, that no matter how I thought the day would go - or any of my fundraising really - that all I could do is leave it with him. And no doubt, I know that - but it was so hard to take that boulder off my back and leave it at His feet. It's still that way, but He sure shut me up yesterday. :) He blessed us with awesome weather, a beautiful family and their house to hold the bbq at, amazing friends and family who made it out and a total raised amount that I hadn't expected.
The grand total raised yesterday was......
(drum beat, please)
$761.00!!
Phenomenal. Honestly. I didn't expect that, or to see all the faces I did yesterday.
I can't stress enough how much all of you have blessed me!
You are SUCH encouragements and I don't know how else to say that.
He reminded me that I am loved, that this is really happening - and that these compassions and desires on my heart aren't just my own.
From what I've figured out this far, I think I'm about half way to my total goal.
If not everyone knows already, support can still be sent to me while I'm overseas. My sister, Alisa King, will be joining a bank account with me so she can deposit any checks for Swaziland.
The plane ticket is completely covered so far, and a portion of the schooling. Now for the outreach portion. :)
Again, I am honoured and blessed for your friendship and support.
God bless you!!
love & blessings,
Angelie :)
here's a few photos from the day!:
Daniel, Sean, Aaron, Steve & Erica hanging out
Daniel, Chels & I doing matrix moves!
My sister, Alisa - silent auction stuff!
Friends from Lift/Mac came to support me :)
Chelsey Burchell - this girl has been a huge support & encouragement to me for this trip!
The story behind the adventure.
Many of you have received a letter in the mail already about my upcoming trip to Swaziland, but I thought a nice little summary of why I want to go, what the purpose is, and all that jazz would be good for the kick off of this blog.
I can sum up most of my reasoning for going in what I've seen in my family.
I guess you could say that growing up a missionary's daughter instills some sort of desperation to follow in those footsteps, or to jet quickly in the opposite direction.
My parents not only inspired and grew in me a heart for Jesus, but a heart for cultures, world religions and justice. That inspiration only deepened in my experiences at McMaster University this past year, especially with my wonderful little student church (Lift Church), and my activism-related classes in peace, women's and health studies.
My sister, Alisa, went with YWAM to Nicaragua a few years ago on her Discipleship Training School, and the way her heart changed and molded like His heart was gorgeous. She continued and did a Counseling School in Australia, and again - made me want to do the same.
I can say with confidence that God has laid Africa on my heart - and to be honest, I have no idea what that means. I have never been to the continent before, I know little of the culture (learning!), and I know less of what exactly it is He has in store for me there. I'm not sure if the passion to go means just for short-term or eventually long-term - but one thing I do know, is that I'd go to the ends of the earth if He asks me to.
But for years, it's been in the back of my mind, a twisting and torturous whisper to 'go'.
Like mentioned in my letter, I'm at a place of crossroads where I'm not entirely sure what my future holds career-wise or when I'll reach the goals I've had, or where exactly my home is. With my family slowly scattering across Canada and even across the globe, it's not hard to wonder where I fit in all that - especially being alone at this point.
I felt a strange comfort in this timing, and in this location. I'm so thankful this opportunity has come up, and needless to say - terrified! My base leader, Jim Nave, has said that our team is just 5 people at this point, though he's hoping for at least 11. Many are Swazis, with one American and one Kiwi. This means I'll get insanely close with my group! But it also means I'll experience the Swazi culture and people to a greater extent, with hopefully as little distraction as possible! Thank the Lord :)
From what I know at this point, I'm flying out from Toronto on July 13th at 11:10 pm, arriving in England at 10 am the next morning, and flying from England to Manzini, Swaziland that afternoon, arriving in Swaziland at 11:10 am on July 15th. That means I'll be missing orientation and my first day and a half of classes, but I'll get caught up in no time I'm sure!
It's actually really funny that I chose Swaziland, prior to knowing that it was the highest in HIV/AIDS in the world. As people hear that, I get comments like, "Leave it to Angelie to pick the most daring country". When in all honesty, I didn't know! Haha, lucky for me, things like that don't bother me at all. And let's be real, if I were going to the most daring country, I'm pretty sure aids would be the least of my worries!
That being said, with my family all over, my future unsure and my purpose in Swaziland unfolding, your prayers are my backbone. It's hard to always stay faithful in prayer, I'll be broken and admit that.. but Lord knows this is for Him, this is in His hands, and I'm in His hands - so thank you for holding me there even when my knees don't have the strength to stand.
I can sum up most of my reasoning for going in what I've seen in my family.
I guess you could say that growing up a missionary's daughter instills some sort of desperation to follow in those footsteps, or to jet quickly in the opposite direction.
My parents not only inspired and grew in me a heart for Jesus, but a heart for cultures, world religions and justice. That inspiration only deepened in my experiences at McMaster University this past year, especially with my wonderful little student church (Lift Church), and my activism-related classes in peace, women's and health studies.
My sister, Alisa, went with YWAM to Nicaragua a few years ago on her Discipleship Training School, and the way her heart changed and molded like His heart was gorgeous. She continued and did a Counseling School in Australia, and again - made me want to do the same.
I can say with confidence that God has laid Africa on my heart - and to be honest, I have no idea what that means. I have never been to the continent before, I know little of the culture (learning!), and I know less of what exactly it is He has in store for me there. I'm not sure if the passion to go means just for short-term or eventually long-term - but one thing I do know, is that I'd go to the ends of the earth if He asks me to.
But for years, it's been in the back of my mind, a twisting and torturous whisper to 'go'.
Like mentioned in my letter, I'm at a place of crossroads where I'm not entirely sure what my future holds career-wise or when I'll reach the goals I've had, or where exactly my home is. With my family slowly scattering across Canada and even across the globe, it's not hard to wonder where I fit in all that - especially being alone at this point.
I felt a strange comfort in this timing, and in this location. I'm so thankful this opportunity has come up, and needless to say - terrified! My base leader, Jim Nave, has said that our team is just 5 people at this point, though he's hoping for at least 11. Many are Swazis, with one American and one Kiwi. This means I'll get insanely close with my group! But it also means I'll experience the Swazi culture and people to a greater extent, with hopefully as little distraction as possible! Thank the Lord :)
From what I know at this point, I'm flying out from Toronto on July 13th at 11:10 pm, arriving in England at 10 am the next morning, and flying from England to Manzini, Swaziland that afternoon, arriving in Swaziland at 11:10 am on July 15th. That means I'll be missing orientation and my first day and a half of classes, but I'll get caught up in no time I'm sure!
It's actually really funny that I chose Swaziland, prior to knowing that it was the highest in HIV/AIDS in the world. As people hear that, I get comments like, "Leave it to Angelie to pick the most daring country". When in all honesty, I didn't know! Haha, lucky for me, things like that don't bother me at all. And let's be real, if I were going to the most daring country, I'm pretty sure aids would be the least of my worries!
That being said, with my family all over, my future unsure and my purpose in Swaziland unfolding, your prayers are my backbone. It's hard to always stay faithful in prayer, I'll be broken and admit that.. but Lord knows this is for Him, this is in His hands, and I'm in His hands - so thank you for holding me there even when my knees don't have the strength to stand.
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