Monday, May 16, 2011

My Mission:Love Africa

According to Wiki Answers, the word LOVE appears in the Bible 697 times. There’s one thing that is very evident in the Bible, one thing that Jesus made VERY VERY Clear- LOVE. Our job on earth is to love one another.
My Mission here in life is clear- LOVE. Love every person that I come into contact with as if they were Christ himself, even the ones that are tough to love. My Mission for next summer is simple.
My Mission: Love Africa.
Love the less fortunate that have more to teach me than anyone here in the US could possibly fathom.

To me life is about escaping the “comfort bubble”. Jesus was clear about stepping out of your comfort zone to help those that He called you to help. In the US we are so used to believing that we are “poor” and less fortunate; when just across the ocean I’m sure a widowed mother digging through trash to try to feed her starving children would like to give us a clean slap of reality.  When will the American people wake up and understand that we are SO RICH. We have everything we need right at our fingertips.
I know in my heart that Jesus wants me to help those in need. Whether it be by sending Hope to kids fighting cancer through Battle4aCure or to help Make-A-Wish grant wishes to critically ill children or by saving up $2,500 to get to Africa to give all of the love my heart posses to orphaned children. Jesus said GO. (Mark 16:15) He didn’t say SIT, STAY, and I’LL BRING IT TO YOU. He said get off your couch and "GO into all the world".
So here I am; preparing for my trip. Not only am I preparing financially but I have to prepare spiritually as well. I have no worries or reservations at all. I’ve been skydiving twice, rappelled down a 372 ft building and I drive in Austin traffic every day. God is with me no matter where I go or what I do. Some people think of Africa and automatically think of child soldiers, being sold into the sex slave trade, death and danger lurking around every corner. Africa is a devastated country, but it also holds a lot of beauty and love. I put my life in God’s hands every single day… June 6, 2012 will be no different. I will wake up, take a shower, get dressed, head to the airport and set out on the trip of a LIFETIME. I know without a doubt in my mind that God will take care of me according to His plan. This is His mission, not mine.
I am asking you to accompany me on this journey in some way. If God leads you to give, please give and help me reach my goal. If God leads you to pray, please pray for my team, our travel and the people in Africa.  
Thank you for your continued love and support!
Amanda


p.s.- I would like to say THANK YOU to Jamie for letting me use her amazing pictures for my blog. With her photos and Ben's photos (actual photos from Kenya) a really wonderful guy named Mike created this AMAZING blog for me! Please see the links on the right side to see more of Jamie's work and to visit the Live In Love Ministries website.