New Adventures

Hey everyone!
I know it's been a while since I've posted, but I thought I'd update you all on my next big adventure.

A few of you know that I tried to spend a few weeks down in Belize this past summer.  I was trying to do some volunteer work with a ministry my church works with down there.  The ministry is called Laugh Out Loud Ministries, or LOL Ministries, which is an orphanage.  It's run by Jervis and Melissa Fisher. I had been in contact with Melissa when trying to go down there and was really looking forward to meeting her and Jervis and helping with their orphanage. Their orphanage is a little different from what you would consider a normal orphanage.  The children there may not necessarily be orphans, and instead may be abandoned or come from a situation where they are not able to live at home.  This really drew me to them, but as I tried to settle my plans for going down nothing was working out, or coming together. I was disappointed but didn't see any solution and called off the trip.

Now I understand that God had something else in mind. I recently heard about a trip that JFC, my church, was planning down to Belize.  I almost immediately felt drawn to going, and was feeling like I was supposed to go.  I went to the information meeting a few Sunday's ago and was blown away.  The more I listened to the leaders Bruce and Taylor the more I believed I was supposed to go.  After the meeting I talked to Bruce for a few minutes, and after setting up the required interview he spontaneously asked me what I thought I would bring to the trip. This lead to an in-depth discussion about why I want to go to Belize, my missions history, and several other things, it was kinda a pre-interview interview haha.  From there he highly encouraged me to get my application in as soon as possible saying I sounded like a perfect fit for the trip. 

I spent the beginning of last week scrambling to finish my application and get it turned it, but hadn't even finished it by Thursday.  I got a text from Bruce about midday on Thursday, asking how the application was going.  He also had texted me to let me know that he and Taylor had been praying, and that even though I didn't have my application in they believed I was supposed to be on the trip and so they were giving me a spot.  (What I failed to mention earlier is that they are only allowing 12 people to go on this trip) I feel so incredibly blessed to be given this opportunity, and to have a spot on the trip. After getting Bruce's text I teared up and just got incredibly overwhelmed.  I really believe I am supposed to go on this trip, and to have that confirmed by the leaders of the trip, and to be given a spot on the team is almost more than I can ask for.  I just feel so incredibly blessed!

The trip is going to be October 23rd through November 1st. We will be working with LOL during the days and then doing various ministry services in the nearby villages during the evenings, at least that is the plan right now, this may change depending on what the needs are when we get down there.  The only bad thing about this is... I will be missing school, 10 days of school. 

So my first prayer request would be that God would start working on my teacher's hearts now and thaty they would be understanding and not penalize me for the trip.  I would also like to ask for prayers for my bother and sister-in-law who are also applying to go, and that they would get accepted and also be able to join me in this adventure.  My last prayer request would be for funds of course.  As with any missions trip I will be getting most of my funding from supporters.  Please pray that I would trust and have faith that I will get the funding I need for this trip. 

Thank you all for reading, and joining with me on this new crazy adventure! I can't wait to see what God is going to do with all of it! God bless you all!

Dawn