Reflecting

An excerpt from my application essay:

Though I am confident in the Lord’s provision, I am young and inexperienced and appreciate the support, security and comfort of the community and mission base of Thrive Africa. The Twenty4Seven internship allows room for spiritual growth and stretching but is a gentle introduction to international mission and cultural immersion. I know Thrive Africa is an environment that will foster the further develop of my spiritual gifts and ability to discern God’s call to mission.

I didn't mean this when I wrote it, but I mean it now. I am confident in the Lord's provision. God has really worked in my heart since my acceptance to Thrive Africa and I have really learned to live by faith. God will give me all I need; He really will; He really has. Our God is a god who provides. My goodness, I can't express how exciting this is and how much contentment I feel in trusting Him. The security of money consumed me before this experience and I was unable to free myself from obsessive saving and extra shifts at work. I now joyfully give and responsibly spend my money, knowing that He is the foundation I will build my life upon. Each day I wake with expectancy knowing God will give me good gifts and abundantly prepare me for the year ahead. I love Him! He is so good.

Farewell

Tomorrow is my last day of work with the OCJ. My office gave me a card full of words of encouragement and a gift of $100.00. He provides with love and generosity.

"Alicia, It's been a joy! You are a light here at the OCJ and I will miss you. I wish you much success in your quest to make a difference. Stay safe, and keep in touch!"

"Good on you for pushing your limits and wanting to do better things in this world!"

"Changing the world is a big responsibility; I'm glad that it's someone like you leading the charge! Good luck with all of the adventures that lie ahead."

"Good luck on this adventure. I think what you are doing is absolutely fantasic. Blessings."

"Good luck, and God bless Alicia. May angels guide you on your life journey."

"Well Alicia, it's been a slice."

This really is a sad day. I have loved so much of my time here.

Lesson

Humility encourages generosity.

Yes! Yes! Yes!

I was rolling pennies today in the lunch room at work, $13.00 of pennies donated by a co-worker. Another co-worker threw in $20.00 of encouragement. Then another offered to bring her pennies too, excited to unload. Praise God.

God cares for us too. I was exhausted from such a busy weekend. A friend invited me for pedicures and though I know I need to be responsible with my money and am usually busy on Monday nights, I agreed to go, knowing that this would be the pampering and relaxation I desperately needed. Generously my friend insisted on giving this to me as a gift, a gift to support my mission. Provision is such a weighty word and I think I am beginning to understand.

Amen.

Bakesale

Money raised: $1929.38

Oh my goodness. Could God love me any more than this?

Another $230 in donations too. HE PROVIDES. Believe it.

Affirmed

I am going to South Africa, officially. I recieved my visa in the mail today. My dad called me at work excited to tell me. I made him open it to be sure. How exciting!

Rumours of His Glory

I recieved $1,100 over the weekend from five supporters, some I didn't expect. Praise God. I also found out that my flight to see Diarry will cost only $120. God is so good. He really provides.

Answered Prayers

God loves me! And He hears me. Praise God!

I will fill in this note a little later..

Farming

.. for cans and bottles and recyclable drink containers. Four heaping wheel barrels full! Praise God. Bethany and I used trick-or-treating as an opportunity to travel door to door collecting cans for Africa. So many people were so generous and loving. It was such an affirming night and so fruitful. We had to treck back home to unload twice. We returned our bountiful crop for $63.34! He provides! We also recieved a $15.00 donation and a handful of chocolate.

Round Three

Ryan and I returned another load of Recylcing today. $32.25. He provides! I love our recycling dates.

Provision

He provides! Ryan and I returned the second load of recycling and made $30.02 for South Africa. Praise God! God loves us SO much, you know?

Recycle

How exciting! Ryan and I made our first trip to the recycling depot yesterday and were refunded $19.25 for South Africa. This is encouraging, our God is a good god. I am so thankful for You God, and for Ryan. And for Beth. Yes, for Beth.

Reward

God rewards faithfulness! Yesterday I sent a $50 gift to Diarry my sponsor child and dedicated this to Karen for her birthday. Though I need to be conservative with my money as I prepare for South Africa I gave with a joyful heart and God gave back. Hours later a co-worker responded to my note about bottle recycling with a $50 cheque! He is so so good.

In God We Trust

Someone left a note on my desk this morning: Good luck Alicia!

On the note was a drawing of an angel and enclosed was a one hundred dollar American bill that read: IN GOD WE TRUST.

Amen.

I have been so discouraged this week, but again I am reminded, He provides. Yes He does. Praise God!

Generous Gifts

Trust Him. He will provide.

I know this, but I don’t know this. I have to be reminded, always. Money is such a burden to me and the discomfort of asking for donations is overwhelming. I want to give these reservations to God, put my faith in my Provider, but the anxiety paralyzes me. A deposit of $950.00 USD is necessary within 30 days of our acceptance. This deadline is September 28. I waited this week, hoping, praying that I would receive a gift to cover this payment. I really wasn’t praying though; not with my heart; not with commitment; not with expectancy. I knew I wouldn’t have enough money for the payment and that I would have to take from my personal savings. I spoke with Karen last night, my spiritual mother, and shared with her that I was both going to send the payment myself, and that I would need to pay $100.00 to have it arrive in New York on time. She spoke with love, but frustration. She encouraged me to wait. I was convicted and emailed Thrive to explain that I hadn’t yet sent the money and could not have it arrive until late next week. They replied with grace and I made arrangements to send a payment on Friday.

Karen and I meet each Thursday for dinner. She had encouraged me to wait because she had collected a number of gifts from my sponsors. Earlier today, Karen met with one of her ESL students for coffee. Her student shared with excitement that she had recently committed her life to Christ [praise God!]. They spoke about God and discussed questions of faith and Christian living. Her student then said this: “I want to give.” Karen shared wisdom about tithing and the number of ways you can give to God. Karen spoke of the church, her support for overseas missionaries, and as an illustration spoke of the cheques she was bringing to give to me. The woman was moved and quickly wrote a cheque to add to the collection. A person, who does not know my name or my story, gave me $600.00. I don’t even know how to accept such generosity.

I woke this morning with not a dollar yet received in sponsorship: $15,000.00 shy of my $15,000.00 need. I received $4,640.00 today. How affirming! Thank-you SO much to those who were able to support me.

Trust God. He does provide.