No Words Can Express

25 Jan 07. The day I sat at my work and talked with downtown businessmen, Maurice workers, Wells Fargo and US bankers, as well as small business owners about the adventure I will be taking in a month. The response was phenomenal. We were able to raise over $400 in a day. That left me speechless before Adonai (my Lord). People were giving, asking me to bring them back monkeys, watch out for large snakes, and telling me to be careful and not get worms in my feet. Others asked if I was worried about safety. I haven't really thought about it because we are going to bring good tidings, as well as encourage them. My thought is that if we are going over their to do good, then there is nothing to fear. This is either naive thinking or great faith (I'm banking on the faith).

There was one man, whom we at the Greenery have gotten to know, that openly spoke out that he was not able to support someone with church affiliations. I am praying for him because he has some deep wounds in life and is covering them up with things that just numb pain and never actually take it away.

Other than he, people were excited and cannot wait for me to go, come back, see pictures and listen to stories. I have a co-worker who wanted to actually go on this trip with us, but she is not a believer so she asked if she could go to do the work needed to be done and not participate with "the God stuff". In my head I am thinking, if only you knew what you were getting into. The Lord would have her by the time the plane landed in Monrovia before any work started. She is also in my prayers.

Needless to say, the day was spectacular but the night was not so. I had managed to pick up a 24 hour bug from a co-worker and have been in sick mode for the past day. Hopefully this will pass sooner than later. I am just thankful it wasn't yesterday that I got sick.
I just praise the Lord because when he calls you somewhere, he just wants to be trusted. I am doing that and I have less than $400 left to raise for the trip. PTL!!!

I am leaving for Liberia in 40 days. I have been worrying how the finances would come in so that I may hear what the Lord wants to tell me in a foreign country. Not only does he have a word for me when I get there, but he is going to speak life into the Liberians that are losing/gaining hope, attempting to trust humanity for the first time, seeing people (foreigners) who want war as much as they want yellow fever.

I have managed to send out letters to friends and family. I have prayed that the Lord would prompt people to give accordingly. I have also cringed on the inside as I share God's heart and plans that he has for Liberia (I don't like asking people for money). There hasn't been very many people to respond toward this vision. I have asked the Lord to see what he sees. Sometimes I miss it because I am seeing what I think should happen, but in reality He is completely looking in another direction.

As my vision has been shifting, this happened: a friend that I will be traveling with, Axel Olson, asked the company we work for if he could put up a flyer letting people know that he was going on a trip to Liberia. Our HR person said she would be willing to do this as well as send out a flyer to all the group homes, to all the employee's, and all the businesses that support our company. On top of that, Trillium said they would match whatever the businesses and employee's raised. I was floored! Why would a business support something a church is doing? Maybe if they were Christians, but I am not sure where the owners stand in their faith.

This has started my mind to think outside the church body bubble. I could not put language to what the Lord was trying to show me but it all came together yesterday. My other job (I have two jobs) is working in a coffee shop owned by the Holiday Inn in Downtown Duluth, MN. As I was talking to my boss, she mentioned talking to the district manager of the Holiday Inn Duluth about letting me set up a stand with information about Liberia in our coffee shop dining area. Not only did the district manager say it was OK, but that she would allow me to do a raffle and she would offer a presidential suite to be raffled off! Are you kidding me? Why would this company do this knowing that it is benefiting the Lord's Kingdom? maybe they don't know that, but it's amazing. I am starting to feel the freedom to ask other businesses to support me on this trip. I asked my mechanic and he said he would be willing to, but he would have to ask the co-owners. Maybe I'm a little late on this band wagon, but how much more effective would believers be when it comes to furthering His kingdom than to go into businesses asking them to be involved with missions? Christ-followers or not. (I realize there is something that I haven't rally thought of like soliciting. People don't like being bothered, but how about prayer. Pray first then go out and ask the Lord to show which businesses to go to whether they like it or not- boom-shakalaka!)

So, this is the beginning of a 30 day journey (before we go to Liberia I still need $1000 by Feb15) and following. I believe that any missions that I am involved with will have businesses supporting me. It's a crazy idea to me, but God is BIG. It's his money and he will let people know when to support others (of course we have free will and they have the right to deny supporting anything they want.) But this isn't going to stop me from thinking about this.

Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh I am/I will be what I what I am/will be (Exodus3.14)

This is who He is. I will trust you and set my expectations higher, because you are above all.

Thank you for putting boundaries for the seas, putting the stars in order,
setting the springs in the depth of the sea, leading light to its home,
causing it to rain where no one is, putting wisdom in people's inner parts,
satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
provide food for the raven when it's young cry out to God and wander about for lack of food.
Job 38