Taking a ride on an aeroplane

Hello Wonderful Friends-

The Answered Prayers Just Don’t Stop!
Down to this very moment, I have felt so incredibly blessed. This journey began merely 6 months ago and I have been consistently and overwhelmingly blessed over and over. Thank you for being such a huge part of that blessing through your prayers, donations, hugs and encouraging words. It has made all the difference! And as I prepare to leave this afternoon, I have the feeling that I am truly ready for this. Mind you, I know this will be the hardest thing I have ever done and yet, I know that with all of your support and with God’s great strength and love, there is really nothing that He can’t do through me. It’s a pretty amazing feeling! I promise to keep you posted on what is happening the whole way!

Prayer Hour
In particular, one of my favorite things to do in recent months has been meeting with friends and praying for El Salvador each month. It has been a joy and an honor to sit together with people with two simple desires—to thank God for His work in our lives and to seek His will for our lives & the people of El Salvador. We have prayed for Nuevo Renacer, ENLACE, and even each other. And I am reminded why we do this—it is so encouraging…and healing…and empowering. Truly there is a real and beautiful power in gathering together to pray. Thanks for all of you that have shared in those times with me. It has been the power behind everything that is happening right now. And I wanted to share some of the effects of your prayers:

Budget Raised! – In God’s great and awesome providence and through your sacrificial giving, I have raised my goal amount for my annual budget through one-time gifts and monthly commitments. AND I am most of the way towards the funds I will need to purchase a safe and reliable truck. This simply blows me away and every little bit has added up to meet my financial needs! Now I can head to El Salvador with a great deal of peace that I can take the level of Spanish classes that I will need, I can buy myself a bed when I get there and enjoy food, electricity and clean water. I can even afford a trip home at Christmas! God is good and you have all been pieces of His providence in my life. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!
Prayer Team is still going – One of my consistent prayers has been that the monthly prayer times that I have started that focus on El Salvador would continue. Well, at our last gathering Sheri Harkavy offered to help keep the ball rolling. I cannot even begin to express what a great peace and joy it brings to think about my River West family gathering together to pray for El Salvador and encourage one another. It actually brings a few tears to my eyes. You know that saying, “Out of sight, out of mind”?—Well, I think that is every missionaries fear and it blesses me so richly to know that friends will continue to gather to pray for El Salvador, ENLACE and for me personally. Awesome!
Spanish – Well, my Spanish is still terrible. I eavesdrop on every Spanish conversation that I pass and I understand virtually nothing and certainly could not respond if asked. And yet, oddly, I am at peace about it. (That might change when I hit the ground tomorrow morning…hehe) I guess my feeling is that I put in what effort I could and I think that will help. As soon as the River West team leaves in November, I am heading to Guatemala for intense immersion classes and I figure that will help really solidify things. And otherwise, I will just HAVE to speak. I will probably sound like a 3rd grader, but so be it!! God has provided in every single way thus far and I know that this prayer will be answered in a mighty way.
Transition – It’s hard to leave a place you love and yet, ALL of your support has helped me continue following this journey. I leave with complete confidence that this is the right direction and that some pretty cool things will be the result both in my life and in all of your lives. Isn’t it cool how one step of faith can impact us all? Not that my step is so great—everything has been provided for me, at this point it isn’t really faith, as much as just common sense—but as I see you all have faith in what God is doing through me, as I see you step up to give, pray, donate suitcases and other supplies, offer to come visit, etc. it strikes me that a current has been set in motion and God is reaching around the world through this small action and yet, it touches of you and then you continue it forward with your support and next it will impact some stranger in El Salvador. It really seems like a very tangible way of sharing the many blessings in my life and your lives, but it also seems to be moving people to greater knowledge of God’s love for them—and isn’t that really what it is ALL about—sharing God’s love with one another. It is so good to be a part of this and I am so psyched to continue bringing you along side me.
So Much Luggage – Thanks everyone for all of the luggage! I was able to pack quite a few bags for the teams coming in November to check as their second bags and deliver to me. So I won’t have to pay a dime for shipping any of my possessions to El Salvador. Sooo Awesome!
Everyone meet Ginger – She is an answer to prayer! Ginger will be moving into my room shortly! She is a great girl that is nice, loves the Lord and works with orphans in Africa. I could not have hand-picked a better replacement for my sweet home and my sweet roomies! Yes!
Car still for sale – Well, I got 4 calls to buy the car yesterday! Yahoo. But then a friend backed into the car and dented the hood some. So, I took it off Craig’s List and am hoping to speak with insurance folks today. Thankfully both Darcy & my parents have offered to help show the car & sell it once we can get the dented hood fixed. ;) It’s so awesome to have folks willing to help take care of that detail while I am gone. So keep praying for a quick turn-around for the fix and that this won’t impact the sell of the car beyond a brief delay.

And I could go on and on with so many more answered prayers, but I actually need to finish packing. ;)
My next email should be from San Salvador!

I sure love you all!