20 May Exciting news…and request for prayers.
In August I am going on a mission trip to Kenya.
Let’s be real…I’m terrified. Shaking in my pantalones. But…I know, I shouldn’t be. God will provide for all we need and I know that, but I cannot seem to shake this feeling that my world is about to be turned upside down and inside out. I am sure that it will be one of the best experiences I have ever had, but…until the ashes and dust have settled I am clinging onto Jesus for dear life.
I have a lot of thoughts on this upcoming trip, but for now I just want to share with you the letter I will be sending out to my friends and family. This is not my typical blog style, but I felt it was important to share.
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Dear family and friends,
Allow me to take you on a small journey that has been my life since I graduated from the University of Georgia in December of 2009. In January of 2010, I attended the Passion Conference. Passion is a weekend long conference that now travels world wide, celebrating God’s truth and love. The entire weekend was one that shook me to my core and challenged many of the truths I believed, but was not living like I believed. Over the weekend I had the opportunity to do a prayer walk. I prayed for more than just a few-five minutes for the first time in my life. In fact, I spoke with God for almost two hours that afternoon. At the end there was a verse from Acts 26:16 (NIV), “Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me.”
Over a year later, that proclamation—that God made to Saul, who then became Paul, to go and tell others of what he had seen—has come to fruition in my life. As many of you know, I am currently in school getting my Masters in Marriage and Family therapy at Richmont Graduate University. This wonderful program has used people, friendships, and education to rock my world to it’s core.
I have been extremely blessed.
I have never felt more blessed and truly appreciative for those blessings in my life than I do today.
God has moved in my world and somehow my little heart has received a taste of the huge grace that is offered. And my little heart has drank, and drank deep, of the grace and love of it’s Savior.
Because I have recognized my countless blessings, I feel compelled to do the only natural thing one can do when one’s ‘cup overfloweth’ …that is give back.
I currently have the opportunity to give back in a big way…through a trip to Ngaamba, Kenya (pronounced gom-buh). In August of this year I am going on a trip through GlobalX with my church, North Point Community Church. My group is going with a group from 410Bridge which has been working in Kenya for years. 410Bridge has been working to transform the nation of Kenya through a growing passion for missions within the church. 410Bridge’s strategy is “to empower local leaders to identify and implement sustainable solutions to the physical and spiritual needs within their community.”
The group I am going to Ngaamba with is helping a community in education. We will be working within an orphanage with the adults and teens. We will be spending lots of time loving on the children (of course), teaching them biblical truths and principles, and working with the leaders there to help them learn to be able to do the same things once we’re gone.
I do need your help though, as I set out on this adventure. First and foremost I am not too proud to admit that I am scared.(Terrified is probably a more appropriate word.) I foresee the bubble I daily live in being shattered to ground, in the best way possible, but shattered nonetheless. I need your prayers. I ask that you pray for the people of Ngaamba, that their hearts and minds would be open to Jesus; for my group, that we would all do and say boldly what we believe to be true; for safety, protection, and provision. Lastly, that we would allow God to use each of us in whatever way He wishes.
Of course, I am also raising money for this trip. I trust that God will provide for all that we need throughout this trip. If you feel led and would like to donate you can go to https://my410bridge.org/emilylorin to securely donate to my fund..
Throughout the trip we will be blogging and keeping things posted here: http://2011globalxkenyateam.blogspot.com/ and you can always check back to my blog here: http://www.impracticaldreaming.blogspot.com/ which will be overflowing with updates and photos whenever I have the chance. If you have any questions or would like more information you can email me at emilylorin@gmail.com.
If nothing else, thank you for investing the time to read this little letter. I appreciate the prayers and donations tremendously! I pray God will bless you for blessing me in this adventure!
Blessings,
Emily Lorin
“Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me…For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
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**Photos are from Kimber and her amazing trip to Africa, thanks sweet friend
***More news and updates to come on the trip!
KJM
Posted at 20:42h, 22 Mayyay yay yay!!