Working unto Jesus

Today my mother shared this little clip of poetry/ song that Amy Carmichael wrote.  She was a missionary to India who saved many young girls who were kidnapped and sold from a life of sex slavery.  The Lord used her for over 50 years on the mission field.

Amy Carmichael labored and did not look back or seek her own comforts.  She took her chance while upon this earth to die for Jesus so that she might live eternally.  May this poem be an encouragement to all of you who are taking missions trips.  I pray this encourages your heart as it has mine.  Here it is:

Jesus, Savior, dost Thou see

When I'm doing work for Thee?

Common things, not great and grand,

                                   Carrying stones and earth and sand?

                                  I did common work, you know (Jesus Speaking)

                                   Many, Many years ago;

                                   And I don't forget.

                                   I see everything you do for Me.
                          
                             -Amy Carmichael

Please Lord Hear the Cries of Uganda Journal #1

I wanted a place to share testimonies....so I thought this may be a place where I can start sharing my own story with you of how the Lord worked in my heart before going to Uganda in 2008.  So, in retrospect, I want to give you a little taste of my experience there and the ways the Lord was incredibly upon my trip there.  I will begin with the few days prior to my trip and the journals I found when reminiscing of my days in Uganda......I pray you will be blessed in some way as you read my personal journals of Uganda.

Written at my apartment in California....before Uganda:

Dec. 25, 2007 10:17am

I was up until 4am this morning cleaning up WATER that overflowed from my wash machine after I tried to connect it myself.  My BRAND NEW PLACE was soaked with water all over the floor!!!!  I felt already completely stretched beyond my limits and now this is happening!!!  The only thing I think is that the Lord is preparing me for Uganda and the things He will be doing to stretch me there.

I know this is an act of obedience to the LORD to be journaling so I dedicate this journal and everything I write to the LORD Jesus Christ.  I need Him SO much right now.  I am so weak and tired and empty without Him.  I do not know how He is going to come through for me with all my prayers I have lifted and all my desires. 

Right now, I lay all my desires before You Oh Lord.  You are my heart's desire and only You.  Whatever in my life you are planning, I want you to know I trust you.  I am walking with you to the end.  Just please keep holding my hand. 

If it was up to me, I would be so lost right now.  I need your guidance and strength.  I seek whatever You have for me to be blessed.  Please, Lord do not let me make my own way for myself.  I want my life to be your way, not my own.  I lay ALL my desire before You.  I o not count my life dear unto myself.  It is nothing to me to give it all to You.  I hope in You, Oh Lord in all things.  Please Lord, have your way. 

I have cried and set all of my heart out before You Lord, so many times.  I am dry right now of tears.  I just have to keep abiding in You and waiting upon You.  Help me Lord, to delight more in you.  I give my life to you again today as a Birthday gift for you, Jesus.  You are my Gift of highest value.  Help me to treasure You and honor You high in my heart and set You above all else, that I might gain You.  I love You so much.  I want you to be so close to me in this life that I hear you in everything and see you in everything and feel you so close to me. 

Please, exalt Your highest will for me in this life whether it is to live or die for your Name.  I am ready to be poured out.  I feel you are pouring me out more and more and all I ask is that when I am empty, please fill me with You.  When I am dry, please be the drink I desire.  Laughter is good, but LORD help me to know You and please You more in all things.  Let your Joy be my strength today.  Help me to see You more clearly.  I need you so desperately.  I am NOTHING without You. 

Please help me in preparation to go to Uganda.  It is all for LOVE that I desire to go.  Just please help me to love you like Jacob loved Rachel SO much and waited and worked for her with NO contact for 7 years and it was like only a few days to him because of the love he had for her in his heart.  I want to love You like that, Oh Lord.  I ask you Lord to help the people of Uganda to see you inside of me.  Please Lord, send me to be Your vessel there.  I want to ask LORD that You please help me to build strong ties there with the people.  Help me to have deep relationships built with the people there with a love so pure and so strong between us that could only come from You.  I do not want to go there and not connect with people.  I go there to be brought near to those who are near to you.  Please LORD help me not to miss anyone or anything you have for me.  In every circumstance, please give me Your burdens and Your heart there.  Let Your Name be lifted high in my life and not my own.

May the people of Uganda praise You for all You have brought in answer to their cries for help.  Please Lord, help us to hear their cries.  Show us their cries for help and please help us to be equipped to bring them what they need.  I want to do ALL you have me to do there.  Please Lord, overwhelm me with You.  May I be so full of You that it is no more I who lives, but Christ Jesus in me.  Unite my heart to hear their cries.  Please Lord, burden my heart with your burdens for them.  Break my heart to bleed and cry with them and on their behalf so we can be united in our cry to Your Holy THRONE!  Please set my heart on FIRE to reach them.  I just want them to know You hear them.

Please do something eternal with this trip....with every part of it.  Please bless ALL who have labored into this harvest with me.  Show yourself strong on their behalf.  Thank You so much for all those people who love you that you have brought me as my family.  I love all my brothers and sisters in You SO much.  Please draw us closer and fill us with your burning love for one another and for the lost all around us.  Let us be pure in our love for one another and may all of our motives be pure.

Lord, let me be an offering that pleases You.  I want to bring a fragrance that will bless You and please You.  Please Lord, do something HUGE with all the love that you have placed in my heart.  Let it be directed where you desire it to go.  May each brush-stroke of my life be painting a masterpiece that one day I will stand with you and see why all the colors never made any sense to me.  Lord, I want to see the work happening during all the times I thought I was suffering in vain.  I want to see the other side of the picture SO beautiful - a masterpiece - that will make all of heaven rejoice to see.  May it all be brought forth to bring glory to You.  LORD, make every stroke of the brush to be working in Your favor so that one day, even if itis not here on this earth, I will understand it all clearly.

Your ways are so HIGH.  Please design Your highest plan for my life.  I love you SO much.  Be glorified today.  Thank you for choosing me.  I am so honored to be Your lady....I wait for YOU....I love YOU....And You are so good to me.  I could not ask you for more.  All of me is Yours.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

Love,
Tabitha

Drinking Water Safely on a Mission Trip

Staying hydrated on your missions trip can be somewhat of a challenge.  When I was in Uganda, I had some scary experiences with drinking water that caused me to want to inform others about the dangers of drinking water in third world countries.

Water is not accessible in many countries like it is in the United States.  Many African people travel by foot many miles to "fetch water" from various sources and wells.  I saw women and children with large Jerry Cans of water on the top of their heads which are used to carry water from village to village.  This water is not safe for drinking.  Many people suggest to boil this water thoroughly for at least eight minutes before it is safe to drink or even for brushing your teeth.  This boiling process helps to rid the water of contaminates that can cause extreme sicknesses. 

Waterborne diseases are caused from microorganisms that are consumed through fresh water sources.  Across the world, many people die each year from such diseases.  Some of these can be prevented through healthy and safe water consumption practices.

While in Uganda, I noticed that some water bottles being sold on the street at various street markets are not safe for drinking.  Some villagers have been known to tamper with water bottles before selling them to travelers from other countries.  This is a way that people are making money with dishonest sales practices.  This water tampering can be detected by checking the bottom of the water bottle you are being sold before paying for it.  A simple way of checking is to turn the bottle upside down and inspect the bottom of the bottle for any marks of tampering.  Usually these will be very small and even hard to recognize.  With careful examination, small holes will be noticed.  At the time these are noticed, politely excuse yourself from purchasing the water and find another merchant.

Some water from natural sources is safe for consumption after a distillation process.  You will want to make sure that you are following safe practices in consuming any water in foreign countries, even the water that is being offered for sale.

Please check out our website for further resources for your next international trip.  We are happy to serve you with travel needs and provide you with helpful tips and items for travel.  Here is the link to our site!

http://www.cheapmissionstrips.com


Safe Travels,

Tabitha Lovell, International Travel Specialist and Licensed Nurse
MKI Group Travel
www.cheapmissionstrips.com

Missionary Airfare For Your Missions Trip

Preparing for your mission trip is very exciting and you will want to make sure the all of the details are covered.  Foreign missions will need some intricate planning and attention to detail.  You will want to think about several things.  First of all, preparing your heart is the most important step.  Prayerful consideration and seeking the Lord are the most important and vital components of any missions trip. 

The Word of God shares how we can be prepared with the full armor of God.  Ephesians chapter 6 outlines the full armor we need to have in place in order to stand strong for the Lord!  Prayer is a vital step and seeking the Lord in your plans.  You will want to be prayerful and wait upon the Lord.  A sensitive heart towards the Lord with an openness to go and preach the gospel to every creature is the first step in preparing for your mission trip.

Practically, there are some other steps to consider in preparing for your mission trip.  You will want to make sure you have your Missions Pastor or a Missionary Travel Specialist helping you in your planning process. 

Many people are not aware that Missionary and Humanitarian Airfare is available to them if they are taking a mission trip.  You can book your trip up to 11 months in advance with little or no money down in most cases to allow you to raise support while still holding your flights.   This is such an amazing tool that many people are not aware is available to them if they are traveling for missionary or humanitarian related purposes.   Utilizing this resource can help to cut your costs significantly.

Adoption travel is another area which qualifies for humanitarian airfare.  Many adopting families are able to benefit from humanitarian airfare when traveling to visit their child and when picking them up from another country.  Humanitarian airfare can be a huge blessing when adopting internationally.  Having an agent who specializes in humanitarian fares and adoption travel can help to set the adopting parent's mind at ease.

To obtain a free price quote for your missions trip or humanitarian travel, please visit http://www.cheapmissionstrips.com

You will want an agency who can provide more than just missionary airfare for your flights.  Having an agency who will take time to work with you individually and serve you with all of the details is key.  It is always best to have someone who will not only book flights, but who will also pray for you individually with the smaller details in mind.  It never hurts to have someone who will be there to help you with everything from flights to baggage and layover questions. 


Safe Travels,

Tabitha L., International Travel Specialist
MKI Group Travel
http://www.cheapmissionstrips.com