Let's grab the heart of the world and turn it to the light.

He will deliver the needy who cry out,

the afflicted who have no one to help. Psalm 72:12   

   I wanted to take some quiet moments this morning to reflect on my upcoming adventure. That sounded really serious. But anyways, I leave tomorrow to head to Nicaragua to work with Chosen Children Ministries for a week. I am traveling with my aunt and uncle and about 20 other people. This is not my first mission trip across the seas or traveling a long distance away from home (example: the summer I graduated from college I traveled across Colombia with my grandfather and my dad for almost a month--not sure how I survived that trip). But, with this trip, I have been more anxious about leaving. I guess when I was younger, I didn't really think about taking off to Jamaica a few times, spending a summer in Venezuela when I was 14, or traveling to Honduras over Christmas break with college friends, or deciding to take 60 college kids halfway across the US to Texas for Spring Break. Now, I'm thinking about what all could go wrong. Have I really become settled in my age that I am restless over a mission trip over seas?

   While I am gone, I asking everyone to keep us in your thoughts and prayers. I have had tremendous support from friends and families while preparing for this trip, financially and emotionally. From a couple families that have help fund my trip, my mom for lending me shorts to wear (because I can't go pants-less in Nicaragua), to a coworker for supplying the materials to make the hygiene bags so that a part of her is being sent to Nicaragua, and to friends who have prayed continuously for this trip. However, it doesn't stop there. That is only the beginning. The most support I will need will be for the next week. Here are some things you could be praying for me and for my team.

• Pray for me! Like I stated, I have been anxious about leaving. I am not sure why my heart has been unsettled for a while now. But I know God is just preparing the prepared. Pray that I will have a peace while traveling, that I will step out of the way and that God will use me to the most extreme while I am in Nicaragua. (Wow- that's a pretty powerful prayer. I better get ready.)
• Pray for safe travels. We fly out of GSP at noon on Saturday, fly to ATL, have a 3-4 hour overlay then head to Nicaragua around 5. We should land there about 10 PM our time. 
• Pray for GREAT health! No sickness. No headaches. No upset tummies. Pray for our team to have a lot of energy and motivation!
• Pray for our ministry. We will be working with the children in the orphanages, sharing our faith, feeding the community, and several other small projects in a short week.
• Pray for the people of Nicaragua. Being a very poor country, they are grateful and thankful for whatever is given to them. Pray that their hearts will be softened and opened to God's word and to us.
• Pray for my mother. She is taking care of my sweet Josie while I am gone. Bless...

   There are so many other things that I could list for you to be in prayer for this next week. My prayer for you is that God will move in your heart while I am gone. Yes, I am in another country sharing God's incredible love. But you, my friend, have a ministry right where you are living. I challenge you while I am gone to do something out of love and care for someone around you. Friend, family member, or stranger-- pay it forward. The Bible states that all we have to do is plant the seed and God will take care of the harvest. We may never see the results of our work, but He does. What is going to be your mission for the next day--week--or month?