God' has come through in a big way

I am truly amazed at how God has come through on this mission trip. A month ago this wasn't even on my radar and when i was asked I was very hesitant. I was concerned with my "deployment" coming up that my leadership would say no. Or with the countries I may have to fly through to get to Tokyo my security manager would say no. But when I asked all the people who could have said no said yes. Not to mention a podcast i chose at random after eing asked was about missions, and when i tried to live stream a church i was checking out in Tampa their Sunday message was on missions as well. So God was telling me i was supposed to say yes. Now the only thing left to do was raise the support.

I'll admit that when I drafted my initial list of support team members i made sure to go big I was thinking to myself if each person gave between $50-$100 I would be good or at least I could cover the rest myself. Man how little did I think of God at that moment. Through your generous contributions I've been able to see just how much God can provide! You guys are awesome and you have been a blessing to me.

 Below is a song that I've been playing on repeat the past few weeks. I was doing some questioning when I found it on a praise album I had just purchased, I had heard it once at church and it almost brought me to tears. As i sat in my dining room two weeks ago listening it definitely brought me to tears. It pretty much sums up where i'm at with my walk, I don't know what is ahead of me but i'm going to step out on faith. It's been a bumpy road but it's been a most rewarding one, in 2014 has been different, but that doesn't mean it's been bad.

Hillsong United - Oceans (Where Feet May Fail), feat. Taya Smith from bobmarshall on GodTube.

Initial Post

Many of you are here because you have read the support letter for my mission trip and have agreed to support me either prayerfully or financially and for that I’m truly grateful! Many responses I’ve received also asked how they could be praying for me specifically as I prepare for the mission trip. As I stated in my initial letter, 2014 is just going to be different, and I can honestly say three months in and it's been a ride. That is what has motivated me to start writing this blog. It will give me a great avenue to share with you what God is doing in my life as I prepare for my mission trip to Cambodia, as well as my "TDY", "deployment", seven month vacation, whatever you choose to call it, to Tampa. It may be raw at times and honest but I believe that this will be a good avenue to share my walk and my struggles but it can also be a place to receive encouragement and possibly encourage others.

Right now God has been teaching me a lot about love in all its shapes and forms. It hasn't been an easy journey especially as he has revealed some of my short comings when it comes to relating to and loving people around me. I can be a selfish person and tend to be set in my ways; He has been doing some work to get me out of that mindset. Over the past few months I've started going to two new small groups and it has allowed me to connect deeper with people from my circles that I hadn't before as well as meet new believers. I've also been meeting with folks one on one and making an effort to be a better listener.

As I ready myself for Cambodia I ask for prayers for God's provision. Not just in finances but with country clearances and having the time to complete everything necessary so my leadership will allow me to go. For Tampa I pray that the lord will have a community waiting for me and that I will find them very quickly and that he will use that time as a time to grow me into a better believer.