Big News and I Need Your Help!

I usually don't tell this news this early, but I do need all your help. I usually do wait a couple of weeks. Get everything settled, get a plan together, get the final word, and let myself revel in the news before I share it with everyone else. But like I said, I need your help. I will first start back a little ways and delay the news for a little bit...I know you are all hating this right now. ;)

About July or August, I started asking God when I would be going back to Ethiopia. I started really feeling a stirring in my heart that I would be going back sooner than I thought. (I made reference to this in an earlier blog post.) He told me June July of 2011. I filled in that gap with an or and decided it was June or July of 2011. So I just held onto that and kept on going. I knew the gaps would be filled in eventually.

As most, if not all, of you know I was in a car accident a year ago. I've had my many ups and downs this past year dealing with insurance and doctor issues. Not to mention disability issues. I have not had any income since September because of many issues with disability. I have appealed this and am still waiting. They have since received all the paperwork they have requested and are in process of reviewing my appeal. I should hear something by Christmas Eve. Having the appeal go in my favor would be an amazing Christmas present.

On my last two trips to Ethiopia, I have always applied (if you have never gone on a missions trip, applying to go on one will sound weird to you) and paid the deposit right away out of pocket. I have then fund raised the rest of the money. This is typical protocol for mission trips--you fund raise! (Unless you are blessed enough to pay for it completely out of pocket. Which is wonderful!)


I have felt more lately (the past 2 months or so) that God had been leading me towards going back to Ethiopia with the organization I went with in July 2008 on my first trip. This organization is Mocha Club. They are an amazing organization! If you don't know about them please educate yourself. They do amazing work not only in Ethiopia, but throughout Africa. They have done mission trips to Ethiopia every year since 2008 and I knew the dates for summer 2011 would be coming out any day now. I was anxiously awaiting the email. And that email came yesterday!

More on that in a minute. I know, I know. You just want me to get to the point! :) I got the first of 2 surgeries I needed because of the car accident a little more than a month ago. It has been a pretty rough recovery and I had some unforeseeable complications. The doctors have had their concerns and they didn't want me (and still don't want me) to leave the house. The past few days have been good. I'm feeling a lot better than I was even 3 days ago. I'm still not 100%, but I'm getting there. I see my 2 surgeons on the 28th and am hoping to get the all clear to leave the house. I will then get my 2nd surgery as soon as my surgeons say it's ok. It will sometime in February. Then it is just a 3 month recovery after that which will bring me to May.

I know I've stalled long enough so I guess I will just get to it. Remember when I said before God said I would be going back June July 2011. Then I filled in an or for it to be June or July 2011. Yeah. Don't fill in gaps that don't need to be filled in. He meant exactly what He said. June July 2011. I filled out my application yesterday to go back to Ethiopia with Mocha Club for June 21-July 17, 2011. I filled out my application online and like I said I would have paid for my deposit out of pocket right away. They actually wanted me to pay my deposit right away. This time around I have to fund rise every penny of my trip. So I have to start fund raising ASAP to get my deposit in. The total cost of this trip is $3, 750. The deposit that I have to get paid right away is $400.

All donations must be made through Mocha Club. Mocha Club is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization so ALL donations are tax deductible. You can donate online at www.mochaclub.org/africa-trips then click on the icon to "Make a Donation" on the One Month trip to Ethiopia (bottom of page). Then fill out the page will the necessary information. Make sure you put my name in  "Trip Member's Name". Make sure you spell my name right so it counts towards me.

You can also send in check made payable to Mocha Club. Send the check to: 963 Missons Attn: Mocha Club 12160 N. Abrams Rd. Suite 320 Dallas, TX 75243 Please include a note with your check with my name and One Month Ethiopia Trip on it.

As much as I need my trip fully funded, I need prayer most of all. I need prayer that physically I will feel strong enough to get to Ethiopia. God has already told me I will be fully recovered and feeling great before I get there. I need prayer to be fully funded and that my deposit can get paid. And most importantly pray for those in Ethiopia. My heart is in that country. February will mark 2 years since I have last been there and I miss being there so much. Ethiopia is a beautiful country full of beautiful people.

If you feel led to give, thank you very much. I appreciate it more than you know. I am completely humbled that God has chosen me to go back to Ethiopia again. And I am completely humbled that you would pray and/or give that I can go back to Ethiopia.