See the Transformation

Different Ways to Support Me

In this economy it can be hard to commit to financially support a missionary. The last thing you want to do is to commit and then need to back out. The reality is, there are many ways you can support a missionary. Yes, financial support is of a big concern as we all need to reach our budgets so that we can continue living on the mission field. Another way is by giving needed gifts. These items could be anything from new tennis shoes (because shoes wear out quickly in places like Africa) to vitamins to keep the bugs off (nobody wants malaria) and to electronics that will make life easier (such as external hard drives to prevent from loosing everything because of a power surge).

As I get ready to leave for Africa, there are many things that I will be purchasing to accommodate living in a third world country. I have created a list through Amazon.com to help my supporters know the items I am looking for. If you would like to donate items on the list, it is an equal blessing to me as financial support. You can find my list at:

http://amzn.com/w/1SW795Y7HEBAM

or by searching Amazon Wishlist's my name - it is labeled Sending Nicole to Africa.

I appreciate everyone's supports: whether it is financial, gift, prayer, encouragement....please know that you are equipping me and giving me the courage to go!

24%

This morning I wake up to the realization that I will be presenting in front of my church in a handful of days. This Sunday, I will be giving a "mission moment" regarding Mercy Ships. My mind is reeling with ideas and things I would love to share but the looming time limit is making it difficult to organize my thoughts to fit into the 5 minutes I am given. Please pray that God will speak through me and that I get across the point He wants me to make - it's not about me its about Him.

I will also be receiving a love offering and hopefully some supporters who would like to financially support me on a monthly basis. I am currently at 24% of my budget (pledged). I will be leaving for training in September - the D-Day for my finances coming into place. I can't say enough that I trust my God will provide all of my needs - He will make a way as He has always done for me. I must admit though.....the 75% remaining and 22 weeks to raise it....makes me slightly nervous.  BUT NOTHING is too big for my God!

Life is quite busy - school full time, learning French, fundraising, preparing for life in Africa...my excitement is barely contained and makes it hard for my focus. I am also quite excited for training that I will be attending in June. I will be learning more about Mercy Ships and also attending a Fundraising Seminar. My family is hoping to be able to put together some sort of fundraiser event for me this summer. Maybe at a park, maybe at another building in the area. If you have any suggestions please feel free to suggest away!

I thank God for choosing me, of all the people, He is calling me - I am so lucky!
I thank everyone for reading my blog.
I thank everyone for praying for me.
I thank everyone who supports me - your belief in me shakes me to the core and means the world to me.

So that's the end of my rambling mismatched thoughts - I can't wait to be able to post interesting things for you guys - like patient stories!

Connections:April 2011

The Man Behind the Tumor

Can you see the man behind the tumor? A man who knows pain, who knows persecution...together we can give him hope. In everything there is hope!

Do you know what hope looks like? Take a look at this woman's face as she is told those sweet life changing words, "Yes, we can help you!" It is as though you can see the relief roll off of her shoulders as hope invades her every sense.

The screening day was a success! Many were scheduled for their free surgery. Many heard those sweet words giving them hope! Let's pray for those who were given this amazing news but also lets pray for those who were not as lucky. It is heart wrenching when not everyone can be helped, it is an unfortunate reality to this situation. God sees them and knows their pain, I pray they find comfort in God's amazing grace, all sufficient love and acceptance.

Desperation

Do any of us truly understand the feeling of desperation? Living a life with absolutely no hope, no future…no life… You see, we have this wonderful promise from our Heavenly Father, “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11. As a Christian, no matter how hard life gets we still have this promise to cling to. In W. Africa, they don’t know about this promise. For the people Mercy Ships seek to help, not only do they have no hope but they are possibly days or weeks away from death. This is a desperation that I cannot grasp. When Mercy Ships pulls into port a new hope comes into town – a last hope. When you mix this kind of desperation together with one last chance for life…no one can tell what will happen. 

My last post was a plea for prayer in regards to the medical screening in Freetown, Sierra Leone on March 7 and 8. Many people came from all over the country seeking one last hope that someone can help them. Usually a couple thousand people show up…this year 15,000 desperate souls came to be screened. No one could have imagined the events that would happen; this has never happened in the history of Mercy Ships. As I am still in Michigan I only know what other have said about the events. 

Basically the desperate crowd ended up storming the gate that regulated flow of people. In the event the crowd broke the metal gate in a last effort to get help. Sadly a man was killed and 13 people were injured as the crowds trampled the innocent sick waiting in line. No Mercy Ships people were hurt but they did have to cancel all screening for the time being. 

Please pray for the crew that witnessed this new level of desperation and crowds being trampled by the mob. These images will never leave them and some of the crew included the high school kids there to help

.

Please pray for the people of Sierra Leone as the need is obviously greater than Mercy Ships has ever seen.

Please pray for the management as they are trying to figure out how to proceed without any more problems.

 

Also – Mercy Ships will be holding a new screening this Saturday, March 26, 2011 at a more secure location. 

PLEASE PRAY for everyone’s safety!

PLEASE PRAY that everyone will be surrounded by the angels concerning them and create an atmosphere of calm and peace.

PLEASE PRAY for the Sierra Leonians as they are in such desperate need of help.

Logistical Thoughts of a Miracle

A few weeks ago a bible study I am apart of was discussing a miracle Jesus performed in John: the feeding of 5,000. We were talking about how crazy of a crowd this would have been and wondered how in the world did they have the food passed around to everyone. Two things came from this conversation: 1. Woman tend to think in logistics of a plan and 2. Jesus can handle it all. If you think of crowd control, passing out food, child care, a place for everyone to sit, etc. I imagine the disciplines were quite overcome with the task before them.

The reason this miracle came to mind is because in a situation where the “workers” can be overwhelmed with all of the tasks at hand; in the end the miracle was performed. We can get so focused with everything that needs to be done. We want it all to be perfect and run smoothly. I imagine things could have really been stressful in Jesus’ day when crowds that large gathered. The logistics of planning an event can over take our lives and easily keep our minds off of the bigger picture. But in the end – the miracle is still performed! We need to remember that despite ourselves and despite our hectic plans – God can still perform miracles all around us. We are not the reason, but He is!

Monday and Tuesday Mercy Ships is having screening days in Sierra Leone. The logistics of this event are easy to overwhelm! The crew will be filling a stadium with thousands of people. Not just people, but people who are hurting, and sick, and dying. They all are hoping to get help, desperate for healing, and this might be their last chance. Every single person is desperate for a miracle; it is as though you can hear their souls cry out for help. Thousands of people will be seeking help and at the end of the day not everyone can be helped. The crew must make their way through the lines and make life changing decisions. The reality of not being able to help everyone is grim, especially when you are face to face with those who are seeking life. The logistics may overcome, but God can still perform miracles. Pray for the crew of the Africa Mercy as they are faced with a tough and crushing week. Pray for those who are planning this event that they have wisdom and strength to get through the screenings. Pray for the crowds, that they would feel the awe-inspiring peace of God and be filled with His Holy Spirit as they wait to be seen. Pray for those who are turned away, that they know that there is still hope and that hope is in a living God. Our prayers here in the states can have an effect in Africa. Through God, our prayers can shake this little nation! No mountain is too high and no valley is too low – so pray with me for Sierra Leone and for Mercy Ships Screening Days this week.