Wow the last few weeks have been insanely amazing and it feels like I've been here a lot longer than just a month. The ministry is super busy with hosting a team of 30 World Racers (a missions group that visits 11 countries in 11 months, only with 1 backpack each!!) and we are in the final days of child sponsorship!
Child Sponsorship is a program we have to allow children to get an education their families could not afford for them. Right now we have about 150 kids sponsored, but have almost 50 to go!! You can sponsor a child to go to school for an entire year for only $200. This includes their required uniforms, shoes, textbooks, and school supplies. If you are interested in supporting a child follow this link
http://www.68ministries.org/local-ministries/child-sponsorship
But please hurry! We only have about 3 days left!!
The world race team has been staying at our team house for about 3 weeks. They are leaving here on Saturday, headed to Nicaragua. I can't even form words to describe how awesome this team is and how much I've bonded with them. One of my close friends from home, Kelsey Schulz, is on the team, which is a total God thing that He worked out for us to both be here together. Her and I have gotten to spend a lot of time together, which we both definitely needed. The entire team has been so generous, they all helped me move from my apartment into my new house! They even helped me unpack!!! It has been such a blessing to have them and get to know them all. I don't know what I'm going to do on Saturday when they are no longer here.
One of my favorite things we have done this last week has to be the Vacation Bible School we did in Verbena. Verbena is the newest and roughest area we work in. We started a feeding center there about 9 months ago, where every Saturday we feed anywhere between 100-200 kids. We have never had a VBS in verbena, so this week was very special because we had 62 children come play, sing, craft, and learn about Jesus. It was so touching on the last day when the team had a call to Christ and most of the kids stood up proclaiming they wanted to give their lives to Christ. It was such a blessing to see this! I recorded it, but am having trouble posting the video. Hopefully I can figure it out soon!
So with all of this happening, I have also moved into a new house. It's in a great location right next to the church and a half block away from our team house! So there will be no more worrying on how I'm going to get home at night! And I've been so excited because the house has an almost normal American kitchen!! There is way more counter space then my crazy apartment had! And I'm getting to pay the same amount as I was in the apartment! God as usual has provided!!
Just an update on financial support, I'm still coming short of my goal amount. I still need $200-$400 more per month, $1000-$1500 for a car, and the $1200 to attend Spanish language school in the fall. The last blog I posted asked for you to prayerfully consider giving even $10 a month. Unfortunately I did not get any feed back from this, so we are still in the same place. I'm asking again for everyone to be prayerful and see if God would like you to be a part of my support group!
I truly appreciate everyone's prayers and generosity! God has blessed me with so many amazing people in my life to support His calling for my life. Thank you all so much for keeping track of me and for seeing what all God has going on down here!
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Friday, January 11, 2013
Settling In
After being in Costa Rica for a few days now, I've started to settle back in. I've already visited my favorite smoothie place, started working on my flip flop tan, did laundry with the tico washer, and mostly have gotten unpacked. I have however not gotten used to the 4:30 bus wake up call outside my bedroom window every morning, washing my feet about 10 times a day, not having Internet in my apartment, or all the ants that have been calling my house their home.
Even though there are struggles living in a different country away from all of your friends and family, it's all worth it. I'm getting back in the swing of things visiting with church members and welcoming the team that is coming in today. I'm getting to love on people and see God moving. I went to the Wednesday night service at church and it was awesome seeing how powerful it was. I didn't even understand what the message was about, but I could feel it effecting the people around me. It was great to worship with my church family again. I have missed singing in Spanish! And I was very excited because we sang my favorite song! The song talks about giving all the honor and glory to God. It is such a great reminder for me, that all of this is His and for Him!
I'm really looking forward to what God has planned. I can to wait to serve with this team, specifically one of my best friends Kelsey who is a part of the World Race. She will be here with this team for a couple weeks! What a blessing it will be to have her here!! I don't think there is anything better than serving with people you care about!
Also please be praying for me to continue to get settled in. I believe I'll actually be moving here in a few weeks, so ill have to get resettled in there. And also please be praying for the ministry. We seem to be in a transitional period and could really use your prayers.
Thank you all! I miss everyone so much already!
God bless,
Whitlee
Even though there are struggles living in a different country away from all of your friends and family, it's all worth it. I'm getting back in the swing of things visiting with church members and welcoming the team that is coming in today. I'm getting to love on people and see God moving. I went to the Wednesday night service at church and it was awesome seeing how powerful it was. I didn't even understand what the message was about, but I could feel it effecting the people around me. It was great to worship with my church family again. I have missed singing in Spanish! And I was very excited because we sang my favorite song! The song talks about giving all the honor and glory to God. It is such a great reminder for me, that all of this is His and for Him!
I'm really looking forward to what God has planned. I can to wait to serve with this team, specifically one of my best friends Kelsey who is a part of the World Race. She will be here with this team for a couple weeks! What a blessing it will be to have her here!! I don't think there is anything better than serving with people you care about!
Also please be praying for me to continue to get settled in. I believe I'll actually be moving here in a few weeks, so ill have to get resettled in there. And also please be praying for the ministry. We seem to be in a transitional period and could really use your prayers.
Thank you all! I miss everyone so much already!
God bless,
Whitlee
Monday, January 7, 2013
I'm leaving on a jet plane...
Today is the big day! I will be headed back to Costa Rica this evening. The last 4 months of being home have been great! I've been extremely busy spending time with family and friends, fundraising, and found some time to do a little work too.
If you have ever had to do some major fundraising, I'm sure you understand how stressful it can be. Always wondering how people are going to feel when you ask them for support, questioning if you'll ever raise enough, talking to literally everyone you know, always being a fundraiser and praying you aren't driving everyone crazy! My biggest fear this year was that I'd sound like a pledge drive. First of all, I love KLOVE! I listen to KLOVE everyday and it brings me joy. However, everyone who listens to KLOVE knows when the pledge drive is on. Everyone I know who listens on a daily biases takes that week off! I did not want to be a pledge drive, I didn't want people to stop listening. I want people to see how passionate I am for working in Costa Rica, how God is doing amazing things down there, and I want people to want to be a part of it.
Even though fundraising is stressful and even worrisome at times, God will always provide. He has provided me with EXTREMELY GENEROUS PEOPLE!! So many people have given and have wanted to be a part of what God is doing by being able to financially support this work. As of right now I have $1000 monthly donations. I also have about $3000 in the car fund. This is amazing, amazing that so many people have given to make this happen! I am however a little short on my financial goals, I'm sure most of us are! To be able to live in Costa Rica, fly home or leave the country every 90 days to renew my visa, own a car to keep myself safer, and to be able to do personal ministry, I am really needing $1200-$1400 a month and an additional $1000 towards a car.
If you can give financially, no matter the amount, I would extremely appreciate IT. I've asked for monthly donations in the amounts of $25, $50, and $100. As of right now I'm asking if anyone could give $10 a month? If there are 10 people who can give $10 a month, that would be 10 more people involved and an additional $100 a month going to help me stay working in Costa Rica. Please be prayerful about how and if God wants you to become involved!
I have been so blessed to have so many amazing people influence my life. God constantly provides me with great friends and family who help better me. He always knows exactly what I need and He always provides! Thank you to everyone who has helped impact me, serve with me, donate, pray for me, encouraged me, and took time just to chat with me. You are making a difference in my life!
Also, if everyone could be praying for our ministry, a lot of changes have been happening, we are in a transition period of staff coming and going. Please pray for us to have unity and for everyone to work well together. I know God is using 6:8 to make an impact and I feel extremely blessed to be a part of it!
Thank you all again for being so generous with giving and praying for me! It means so much to me! And also just as a reminder I won't have my phone starting at midnight tonight so please contact me through Facebook, Skype, email!
If you have ever had to do some major fundraising, I'm sure you understand how stressful it can be. Always wondering how people are going to feel when you ask them for support, questioning if you'll ever raise enough, talking to literally everyone you know, always being a fundraiser and praying you aren't driving everyone crazy! My biggest fear this year was that I'd sound like a pledge drive. First of all, I love KLOVE! I listen to KLOVE everyday and it brings me joy. However, everyone who listens to KLOVE knows when the pledge drive is on. Everyone I know who listens on a daily biases takes that week off! I did not want to be a pledge drive, I didn't want people to stop listening. I want people to see how passionate I am for working in Costa Rica, how God is doing amazing things down there, and I want people to want to be a part of it.
Even though fundraising is stressful and even worrisome at times, God will always provide. He has provided me with EXTREMELY GENEROUS PEOPLE!! So many people have given and have wanted to be a part of what God is doing by being able to financially support this work. As of right now I have $1000 monthly donations. I also have about $3000 in the car fund. This is amazing, amazing that so many people have given to make this happen! I am however a little short on my financial goals, I'm sure most of us are! To be able to live in Costa Rica, fly home or leave the country every 90 days to renew my visa, own a car to keep myself safer, and to be able to do personal ministry, I am really needing $1200-$1400 a month and an additional $1000 towards a car.
If you can give financially, no matter the amount, I would extremely appreciate IT. I've asked for monthly donations in the amounts of $25, $50, and $100. As of right now I'm asking if anyone could give $10 a month? If there are 10 people who can give $10 a month, that would be 10 more people involved and an additional $100 a month going to help me stay working in Costa Rica. Please be prayerful about how and if God wants you to become involved!
I have been so blessed to have so many amazing people influence my life. God constantly provides me with great friends and family who help better me. He always knows exactly what I need and He always provides! Thank you to everyone who has helped impact me, serve with me, donate, pray for me, encouraged me, and took time just to chat with me. You are making a difference in my life!
Also, if everyone could be praying for our ministry, a lot of changes have been happening, we are in a transition period of staff coming and going. Please pray for us to have unity and for everyone to work well together. I know God is using 6:8 to make an impact and I feel extremely blessed to be a part of it!
Thank you all again for being so generous with giving and praying for me! It means so much to me! And also just as a reminder I won't have my phone starting at midnight tonight so please contact me through Facebook, Skype, email!
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Trusting
Looking forward to 2012, I had decided 2012 was going to be the year I completely gave to God. I believe I succeeded at times, but failed at other times. I gave 6 months to serving Him in Costa Rica, and 6 months of fundraiser to return to Costa Rica. I gave Him my overall year. But there were times of struggles, time of distrust, time of worry, time of loneliness, and time of selfishness. Looking back I can see a lot of things I didn't give to God, but all in all He gave me everything. I may have struggled with giving God my all, but I definitely think I tried. Just because there are moments of struggle does not mean we are failing. It means we are growing. God is giving us the opportunity to seek Him, to trust Him, to give Him our all. 2012 was a pretty great year for me, no matter what difficulties I went through, but I know without a doubt 2013 will be an even better year. I've grown more, have more trust, and am seeking God on a higher level than ever before.
This year I am giving God my everything, but something I feel He has stressed already is that He needs my trust. Trusting God is the theme for my 2013. Having full trust in Him is making me even more excited to see what He has planned for this year. I know He has a ridiculous plan. A plan I could never scheme up myself. I'm ready to see what He has for me. My adventure started January 1st, but my first big step is January 7th, as I step on a plane to return to my home in Costa Rica!
I'm trusting God this year. How can you trust Him more this year?
And the one sitting on the throne said, "Look, I am making everything new!" And then he said to me, "Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true." Revelations 21:5
This year I am giving God my everything, but something I feel He has stressed already is that He needs my trust. Trusting God is the theme for my 2013. Having full trust in Him is making me even more excited to see what He has planned for this year. I know He has a ridiculous plan. A plan I could never scheme up myself. I'm ready to see what He has for me. My adventure started January 1st, but my first big step is January 7th, as I step on a plane to return to my home in Costa Rica!
I'm trusting God this year. How can you trust Him more this year?
And the one sitting on the throne said, "Look, I am making everything new!" And then he said to me, "Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true." Revelations 21:5
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