We undoubtedly believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and we also believe in the vision Pastor Morris and his wife Aidah have for their homeland of Africa. We believe in these things so much that we were willing to take a risk and mail a few letters, park a few cars, sell a few trinkets and dedicate a little bit of money to serving in Africa once again. Still, despite all that belief we scrutinized our decision - especially in light of fundraising. Is it right to try this thing one more time? Should one of us stay home? Should we both stay home? Did we hear God correctly or is this all our idea?
I'm so happy to report that our fundraising is complete and it was nothing short of an act of God - literally. David and I had done all we could on our own and as part of the team and still we were about $3,000 short. We were unnerved by that fact, but had to recognize that we had done all we could and the rest would have to be up to God so we prayed about it and waited. The next day we were with our team leader discussing our funds when a good friend of ours calls up to say he wants to make a sizeable donation! I mean we literally said something like, "It will be okay, God will provide" and within 3 minutes the phone call came!
The next day, while depositing the donation, we discovered other unexpected donors had made visits to our account. All in all, within a few short days we went from thousands due to a mere $400! But God wasn't done showing off yet. A few days from that point, there came other donors who felt moved by God to support our team until all of a sudden we found our whole team fully funded!
The Bible says "It is more blessed to give than to receive" [Acts 20:35] and I'm starting to think it's true, because the feeling that overwhelms you when you are the recipient of generosity is not an altogether comfortable feeling. I think they call it humility.
More than ever, I am acutely aware of the fact that we do not make this trip alone. Yes, we go with God, but we also go with each and every person who felt led to support us in prayer and with their finances. I am humbled and honored to do this work for God and on behalf of all those people who said, "Yes, we support this. Yes, we support you."
Dave made a profound observation. Even though he worked as hard as he could at fundraising, it wasn't enough. He still fell short. It was God who bridged the gap and brought our funding to completion. The same is true for our salvation. We can never be good enough or work hard enough to be holy and perfect. Only God is holy and perfect and we are a flawed creation made in his image. Yet he loves us. He delights in us and He desires to be with us so God made the way. He bridged the gap between us. He did what we could never do.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." [John 3:16-17]
We can never earn the way ourselves.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." [Ephesians 2:8-10]
We're excited to see what God has planned for the people of Akala, Kenya this year. Thank you all again for your support.
- Julie
My husband and I are in the beginning process of raising funds to serve in Mozambique. It is very hard and humbling to us as we see people give, yet that is how God works through His people and they too get a blessing out of it. I will continue to follow your journey
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