I'm home!

I'm home safe, sound and trying to process my experience. I'll post again soon, but until then, please know that I'm grateful for your prayers! Big hugs and tons of love!!

Proverbs 22:2
Rich and poor have this in common; The Lord is the Maker of them all.

It's here! Time to JUMP!

God has orchestrated everything beautifully, and my donation bag is bursting at the seams!

Thank you so much for all the generous and sacrificial support you have graciously shared! The contents of my 50lb bag of your donations include lots of: pillowcase dresses, boys athletic shorts, girls & boys undies, triple anti-biotic ointments, anti-itch creams, lice treatments, cotton balls, band-aids, and a few boys t-shirts! You helped to purchase the Bible story illustration boards that will enable me to have a visual aid while sharing God’s Words and chocolates for the nannies at the orphanages!! You also provided a considerable cash donation that will be used for the childrens’ needs on that side of the ocean! Thank you! I’m completely humbled and unbelievably excited to share your gifts!!! May God richly bless what you have laid before Him! Luke 6:38

Here is my heart; please pray for:

*Safety and good health for my family here at home!

*Godspeed in travel! Ask God to send His angels in charge of us and protect us from the beginning to the end of our journey, uneventful and smooth flights (literally), good weather and timely connections. We (Darrell & Cherie Corzine and I) leave at 8 a.m. in the morning (Sunday) and get there early Tuesday, Uganda time.

*Protection! Ask God to bind evil, help us avoid any danger and remain in great health. This past week has reminded me that I must choose to believe that whether home or away, He is in control of my life.

*Unity for our group! The team is made up of 31 folks from all over the US. Most of us will be meeting for the first time in DC. Pray that I am completely humble and gentle AND courageous enough to do what might not be in my comfort zone. Ask God to help me love my team well!

*Saturation of the Holy Spirit on my words when teaching Bible stories. Pray that my nerves don’t get the best of me, that my mind would be clear with the details of God’s miraculous Word, and that He would speak through me!

*Realization of my “so what”! When I used to lead Young Life, I tried to get my kids to ask themselves, “so what?” after reading the Word, or during a struggle, joy or challenge! In other words, in light of whatever is going on, what is God teaching me and showing me? How will it relate to my everyday life? Pray that I would be fully aware and sensitive to Jesus and His leading. I know I will learn far more than I teach. I will gain more than I give. It’s the way it always goes when I jump out in faith to follow Him. He is so good.

*Salvation and mercy for the children! Pray for the orphan...all 147 million of them (worldwide) and those who are serving them each and every day.

*Glorification of Christ alone! Above all, may He be lifted up. No matter what.

Thank you again. I’ll truly be counting on you to pray me through!

Great is the HOLY ONE!
HIS voice thunders in marvelous ways!
HE does great things that I can't begin to understand!
HE is my strength and my song!
HE anchors my soul!
I'll close my eyes and JUMP!

Big hugs and much love!
Cynthia

Thanks for the Sugar!

God is so very good! A heartfelt thanks to all of you who have sacrificially and generously made financial gifts! My trip costs are completely funded! I am overjoyed!!!!

Some of you know that over the last semester my students made pillowcase dresses that we intended to send to a wonderful organization called Little Dresses for Africa (see sidebar button)!! I made the contact to confirm a few shipping questions, and when I received her reply, I had to laugh! Near the end of her email, she wrote, "We are always looking for groups going to Africa who can take them for us." I guess that would be me!! My trip leaders are working on the details, but it looks as though I will be able to hand deliver these precious dresses at one of our stops. I'm thrilled! My amazing students worked diligently, and it will be a privilege to represent them!






However, being the aunt of amazing nephews, I am determined to not go empty handed for the boys! I plan to hit Wal-Mart and pick up as many athletic shorts and t-shirts as I can fit into my 50 lb. donation bag. If you would like to help financially with this, please email me, and we'll make arrangements for your donation!!

I'm getting excited!!!! I know without a doubt that I cannot do this on my own. Only God could use someone like me (when I am weak, He is strong) and give me such an extraordinary group of folks to love me though it. Thank you again for all the encouragement, special notes and prayers! I'm more than grateful!!!!! This morning I read these words and found them most appropriate! Thanks for the Sugar!!

"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."
Proverbs 16:24.

Relentless...

re·lent·less (rĭ-lěnt'lĭs): Steady and persistent; unremitting: the relentless beat of the drums.

In my initial prayer letter, I made the comment that the best word I can use to describe the Lord's presence in my life lately is: RELENTLESS! Since the day I met Michelle Outman at Kankuk last summer, it almost seems as if I'm having informational birth pangs!! Crazy, I know!!!

At first, every now and again something would come up about orphans. Now? It seems that everywhere I turn, I am faced with not only the plight of the orphan but what God's Word says about my (our) part in it. I admit, some of the information I research and investigate purposefully on my own. And, I do have FB and bloggy friends who are deep wells of resources on the matter. But there are days when everything from radio blurbs, news specials on TV, my normal morning podcasts of various teachers around the world, and even "chance meetings" at Walgreens reinforce the stirring in my heart. God has been steady and persistent in his elightening me that there IS an orphan crisis, and I AM responsible to respond. He is unremitting; my mind and my heart can't seem to think about much else for too long!!! I can't even take a good long bubble bath any more without thinking about the fact that there are children so desperate that they would gladly drink my prissy bathwater in place of what they currently have. I don't know exactly what He is calling me to do in response to this quickening of my heart. But I do know that going in July is the start.

The example given at the end of the definition is wonderful: the beat of the drums!! What great symbolism for Africa!!! Perhaps I will hear those drums while I'm in Africa. But if not, the beat of my heart seems to resound loud and clear as a reminder that there is an urgency, and I am to respond! The closer July gets, the faster my heart beats!

What's the beat of your heart? If you have not ever considered sponsoring a child who needs you, YOU SHOULD!! :) Here's just a few organizations you might want to check out:

Gospel for Asia
www.gfa.org

Children of the Nations
www.cotni.org

Amazima Ministries
http://amazima.org/

Children's Hopechest
http://www.hopechest.org/sponsor-a-child/


Today has been a wonderful Friday full of God's grace and peace! The bruises on my arms from the shots are finally gone, and I'm completely humbled by how the details of the trip are coming together. I am grateful for you!!

Thank you so much for your continued prayers and support! WooHoo! Adventure comes!!!

Much to learn...

First of all, thank you so much to those of you who have made donations and prayer promises! I'm truly humbled and encouraged!! My first deadline is just around the corner, and I'm hanging onto words that I heard from a dad in the blog world that goes something like this:

If God favors it, He'll fund it.

I'm praying for favor.

Tonight our team had its second conference call meeting! It was a great time of planning and education. Education about HIV. Carolyn Twietmeyer (www.projecthopeful.org) did an incredible job enlightening us to various aspects of the disease. Now, because I am a teacher, I have to go to those summer training things every year for public educators. Every year we are trained on HIV and even have to take a little test and sign it that we have been through the training. What is interesting is that tonight, in the time Carolyn took to speak with us over the phone, I learned more than I ever have in all the years that I've been to "official" training. PLEASE go to Project Hopeful's website and get the REAL information from people who live it.


Shots tomorrow! YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!

A good question and a better question...

Some people have been asking me a really good question!! Why am I not going to Ukraine this year? I don't know that I have an answer that will satisfy curiosity, because my only answer is that God is leading me to Africa this summer. I cannot even begin to imagine what He has in store for me, what I will learn and see, and how it will be woven into my story. I do know this: God often draws me out of my own security, comfort and control into a place where I just have to trust Him. Period. This time it happens to be to Uganda and Ethiopia to experience Him through the lives of precious orphans.

I still have a heart for Ukraine and the amazing people who live there. It is an honor to serve in such extraordinary place!! Jan and Michael Gott have had, and to continue to have, a profound impact on my life and I, as well as countless others, have been changed through their ministry. If there were ever two people who were anointed, it is Jan and Michael. I admire, respect and love them deeply! Many of the team members that I serve with have become my dearest friends. God willing, I will be serving with the Gotts and their teams over and over again.

I will continue to support Michael Gott International with my prayers, time and my finances knowing that their sense of urgency in calling people to come to Jesus is real and powerful. Please click on their website on my sidebar (Ministries that changed my life) for more information, and perhaps the better question should be, "Where will you serve this year?" I'd love to pray for your adventure!

Thank you for following me on my latest adventure!!!!

I can't believe it!!! Africa has been stirring in my heart for about three years and God has orchestrated an unbelievable opportunity. It simply makes me want to squeeze my eyes shut and scream, "YIKES!!!" If you haven't already received a copy of my initial prayer letter, send me an email! It would be my honor to share my heart with you about what God is showing me!

There are many firsts for me about this trip, but possibly one of the most exciting parts is that I need your help. Not only do I need you to pray me through the entire process from today until further notice :), but this time I'm also asking for your financial support--a chance to serve Him together.

I need to raise $3,400 for my trip, including a payment of $2,200 by May 25th. We will also be responsible taking donations and supplies to the multiple orphanages and programs that we will be assisting. Please check them out! They are extraordinary! Click on the buttons on my sidebar to explore!

The Uganda portion of this trip will be spent working at Amazima Ministry's feeding program. Also, we will be working with the orphans at Canaan Children's Home in Jinja.

The Ethiopian portion of this trip will be spent working with Kid's Care orphanage, Mother Teresa HIV orphanage, AHope HIV orphanage, children living and working in the dump in Addis and a ministry for street children. There will also be a day of ministry at the Ethiopia Fistula Hospital in Addis.

PLEASE click on the ministry buttons on the side bar, read about the authentic love of Christ that is fleshed out through these amazing programs, and get ready to be blown away!!!!

I'm incredibly overwhelmed, excited and humbled that God has put this trip in front me! Oh, that I he will use me in spite of me!!

Many of you have prayed me through Young Life, Ukraine and of course, real life! Thank you for joining with me again as I jump out in faith!!!