A New Look

I have had lots to think about lately..... I can't believe we are so close to leaving. Before we know it we will be boarding a plane for Africa! Wow! It's hard to put in words how I am feeling right now. I feel scared, overwhelmed, excited, and so many other feelings! It's really happening?!? Wow! I am so blessed to have this opportunity to be able to go and minister to others in another country. The thing is, I think I will be ministered to so much more than I will be ministering to them. I know I have so much to learn and this will be a huge learning lesson for me.

I have found myself grumbling and complaining a lot lately. It can become a bit stressful when you need a lot more money to go on this trip and you don't have it all. Because of this and many other things I have found myself complaining. Jeavon is self-employed with a brand new business and I work part time. Things have been tight, but God has provided. I have found myself complaining because I can't get all the food I think we need. I have complained because God isn't bringing in the money we need for Africa. So sad, I know. But God has put me in check this week. And like I said I have so much to learn that I will learn in Africa. When I was complaining (to myself) earlier this week, the children in Africa came to my mind. They would be so grateful for a quarter of what I have! And I complain because I don't have the "right" food in the house. I guess even before going I am learning to be a little more grateful for what I have. We have plenty of food in the house, nice comfy beds, a warm house, all our bills are paid and we have so much more than we even need! We are blessed! The thing about me complaining about God not providing the money we need for this trip....... God has shown me that He is. It just may not be the way I would have done it. :) So, I am trying to change my heart and focus right now and just be more thankful.

Please continue praying for us as I know this will be difficult for us. This won't be an easy trip, but such a rewarding one! It will be so worth it and I am so thankful that I am able to go! What a blessing to be able to go half way around the world to make a difference, but also for others to make a difference in my life. I will be such a different person when I come back. I pray that my focus is changed even more. Thank you for your prayers and support! God is so great and we are so blessed! I look forward to sharing with you more later.

Just over a month

Wow! It has been a while since I have been on here! I can't believe we are a little more than a month away from leaving for Swaziland! Wow! How scary, but yet such a blessing and a privilege! Please continue prayers for us and the rest of the team. Jeavon and I are still about $2,000.00 short of the amount we need for the final payment, which is due June 1. I know God will provide as He has this whole time! We are so blessed! I am so thankful we have this opportunity. At times I feel so excited about the trip and then there are others times I can feel very anxious, especially when I think about all that needs to be done and all the unknowns.

It's amazing looking back and just seeing God's hand in all of this. There were so many times we thought we would not be able to go, but God has been providing every step of the way and I know He won't stop now. :)

I am on the craft team for this mission trip. I will be working with a few others to do some crafts for the kids and to teach the women a new craft. How exciting! I love doing crafts! :) Looks like we will be doing beading for the kids and we will be teaching the women either how to crochet a bag or a necklace. How fun!

It's hard right now for me to share my thoughts as I have no idea what to expect. I'm sure there will be plenty to say when I get back, though. :) I just know this is such an awesome opportunity and I feel so blessed to be able to be a part of this! Thank you to all of you who have been such a support for us (in prayers or financially)! We are very blessed! We look forward to sharing pictures and stories with you all when we get back! What a blessing! :)

Kerri

The Heart of a Child

There are days that our oldest son, Kaedon, just blows me away! On our way home from small group today he asked if we had enough money for our trip to Swaziland. He said, "Because if you don't, I will give you my money because your trip is more important than anything I could want." Wow! His heart just amazes me! It can be so hard for us sometimes to give just a little of what we have, yet my son was willing to give all he has! It excites me to see my son having a passion for others. This is my goal! I want my children to grow up serving others.

We told him thank you and we appreciated it very much. We decided instead that we would have him go shopping for some special things for the children in Swaziland. So, he is now trying to get more money to buy things for the children. Wow!

This incident just reminds me of the lesson Linda Mulanix did for the teens Sunday night. We are brought up in a society that tells us it's all about us and getting ourselves ahead. Yet, God wants us to live as servants. God wants us to have a heart that is willing to give all we have, no matter what.

There were many parts of Linda's talk last night that really broke my heart. I know that this trip will change me. The thing I didn't know was how much it would change my kids as well. How awesome to see my children wanting to serve and help others and think more about others than themselves.

I can't believe we are about 2 and a half months away from our trip. What a blessing this will be! Thank you all for your prayers and support! We truly appreciate it!

Kerri

Three Months and counting

Can't believe we have just about 3 months until we leave for Swaziland! Wow! There have been so many emotions I have dealt with. I have had fear. So scared of leaving our kids behind. So scared of what could happen. I have also had fear of what I will see when I am in Africa. I know that this trip is going to break me a lot and it scares me when I think about it. But I know it's for the good. So, that brings me to another feeling I've been having - excitement. I am so excited to see what God is going to teach us while we are down there. So excited about all I will learn. I am also excited to be broken, because that will just show me more ways I can serve God. What a blessing! I cannot wait for this trip and feel so blessed to be able to do this! What a blessing that Jeavon and I can do it together as well! We have never been out of the country so this will be interesting, but what an awesome experience it will be!

We have to have over half our money paid by April 1. There have been times where we have wondered if we will even be able to go. This has definitely been a walk of faith for us. We have really had to trust God to bring in all the money we need and on time. :) We will have the amount we need by April 1. Praise the Lord! This makes the trip even more real, as we know for sure we will be going. I thank God for all the ways He has provided for us and made this trip possible! Wow! We are so blessed! Thank you to those of you who have helped make it possible for us to go on this mission trip! We are also VERY thankful for all the prayers as we know we need it! Please continue to pray for us. Pray for our team - that everyone will be able to get the funds they need. Also, please pray that God will prepare our hearts for this trip. Pray that we will be able to minister in the way needed while we are there. And also please pray for our safety there and back. Our children also need prayer as they will be without mom and dad for 2 weeks.

Thank you so much for your support! We really appreciate it!

Kerri Back