I believe this is my very FIRST blog post….ever! As we prepare for this trip to Uganda, it has been such a joy and blessing to be able to share with other people what we’re doing and why we’re doing it. I’ve had many interesting conversations with people at work about our upcoming trip.
What has really touched my heart over the past few months is the generosity of friends/colleagues and their willingness to live open-handedly. One of the medical units (Medicine 3A at Trillium Health Partners – Mississauga Hospital) that I work on is being really innovative and started a 50/50 draw to help raise money for us! I’ve attached a picture of the sign they posted on their door. The latest update is that our itinerary has changed somewhat. We will now be spending more time in the villages and also going to Nairobi, Kenya for a week to help teach in the Amecet Ministries school. All these changes bring about another change to our fundraising goal. Our family is gearing up for our 2nd Zumba Fundraiser at our church held out of Willowdale Pentecostal Church in North York this Sunday. If you’re looking for some exercise or just fun with friends and family, swing on by to our church this Sunday! Joo-Meng
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Now that there are only a few months left until we fly off to Uganda I think about all the things we need to prepare and it's a lot. I think about how much left we need to fundraise and it's a lot. We had a meeting with Amecet and they updated us on our travelling schedule and plans while we are there and it's a lot. They spoke of long days, malaria, teaching children, teaching pastors and bishops, home visits, impromptu rallies, visiting orphans and it's a lot. Honestly, some days I ask "Why?". Some days I want to throw in the towel and say "Forget it, we're not going." and some days I say to God "Please, send someone else. I can't." You see, Adrian and Sherene, the directors of Amecet, were my security blanket. They were my known in the unknown. They were supposed to go with us into the villages. They were supposed to save me if I got stage fright and couldn't preach. They were supposed to save me if they saw my kids eating something they weren't supposed to. They were supposed to say stay close we'll keep you safe. But last week they informed us they won't be travelling with us into the villages anymore. Plans have changed and we will be on our own with our driver. I started to fear for our safety and our health. I started to doubt my abilities to teach and preach and I said "Send someone else...I can't" and the Lord said to me "HOW BIG IS YOUR GOD?" When I thought of preparing for all the teaching He said "How big is your God?" When I thought of how much left we still need to fundraise he said "How big is your God?" When I thought of sickness and safety he said "How big is your God?" My breath caught and I started to cry because MY GOD IS REALLY, REALLY BIG!!!! I was reminded of it last night when my husband came home with a $10 bill and said this is from so and so, he sold his minion set and wants to help send us to Uganda. I was reminded of it when my son sold his meccano set and said "I can keep this but I want to give this for our trip instead." We are so blessed to have people in our life who look past certain things and only see a family who are answering a call, believe in it and want to sow into it. In times when I doubt and think we are nothing, someone comes a long with $10 and tells me we're something and believes we have a lot to give. This friend of ours who sold his minion set might not have very much. He certainly could have said I don't need to give, they have more than I do right now but he did something that reminds me how big my God is. He reminds me of the story of the Widow's offering. Mark 12:41-44 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” Many people have sowed into our trip and we are thankful for every cent. Every amount sends us the message of your love. Some have apologized to us that they can't give very much and each time we are touched and we say it's a lot. I think of what my God can do through us and the number of people who believe in us and IT'S A LOT!!! So to our dear friend, our son and all of you who have sowed into our mission...thank-you. We love you all and pray that the Lord would bless you and for all that you have sowed into the lives of others may you reap a hundred fold of what you have given. Right before Christmas we had a Zumba fundraiser in the west end to help raise funds. It's a busy time of the year but thank-you to all those that came out to support us. We had a great time dancing and worked up a good sweat. I've never seen Joo-Meng dance like that before ;) My long time friend from highschool, Becky, and her friend, Danielle, led the class. They did a fantastic job and had us doing the Salsa and Russian something in no time. They even sprung a surprise and had us teach the last song! John Knox Christian School (where the children attend) was kind enough to donate the time and gym space for us to get our sillies out and Mr. Douglas, the school director of facilities, gave up his evening to make sure we had the sound system up and running and could hear the beat! Thank-you to all for your love and support. For those that missed the great night, not to worry....we'll be holding another one in the spring in the east end =) Watch the videos to see how much fun we had!!!! Thank-you to all those who supported us by purchasing raffle tickets. The kids had a lot of fun drawing names. We had a great response. WINNER OF THE KATE SPADE PURSE!!!!! WINNER OF OUR ONE OF A KIND HAND PAINTED BOWL BY ELLIE WINNER OF A CUT AND STYLE BY TIFFANY This post comes a little late but I finally found some time to write.
Oct 21st marked the launch of our fundraising campaign as the children got ready to participate in their celebration of missions night at their school. They were one of 22 groups of students that made homemade creations to sell to raise funds for charities. The kids were able to fundraise for their mission trip. They spent a week preparing their poster board and creating one of a kind goodies to share. What did you miss you ask? Jacob's amazing cream cheese chocolate brownies Nathaniel's fantastic chocolate chip cookie squares Abby and Ellie's beautiful homemade ear rings, necklaces and bracelets raffle tickets for a kate spade purse, a one of kind creation by Ellie, haircut and zumba tickets They raised $167 that night! I am so proud of them for not hesitating to give up their summer to serve the Lord in a country that is going to take them out of their comfort zone. They are so excited to meet the friends I keep telling them about and especially excited to see their friends that moved there last year. There are still raffle tickets and our zumba class is coming up. Don't miss out on the fun and thank-you for coming to look at our website and supporting us! |
AuthorJust someone who is excited to go to Africa with her family to do the work of the Kingdom! Archives
September 2016
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