I'm on my way!

I'm writing this from the Dallas airport. Monday the 28th I went to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho to meet with my team at Bryon's house. We had some team devotional time, some wonderful food courtesy of Bryon's mom, and some preparation to leave. I am currently short 155/month and $336 one-time, but Amber had enough excess to at least cover my expenses for now so that I could go! God has once again shown his faithfulness and his awesome provision just over the last few days. I am both relieved and excited to finally be going!

We had an awesome send-off from last year's Mérida STINT team, and despite some itinerary and almost missing item troubles (we had to reroute from Miami to Dallas because of the storms, and one of my teammates left a purse on the plane which was thankfully picked up and left at the gate rather than flown away), we will be in Caracas at around 8 pm (5 pm pacific coast time). We'll be heading to Mérida tomorrow at about 2 pm. Further updates and my first official newsletter will be coming within the week.

Quick Support update

81.5%- 405/month and $936.91 one-time to go. Leaving on Monday, so I need to have it in by Sunday night

Colorado STINT briefing, prayer requests, support update

Wow, I just read my last post and I am amazed by God's provision! In 11 days my support has gone from 38.5% to 70.9%, which is over $10,000. I have 9 days left, but I'm praying specifically that the remaining $510/month and $3007 will come in at least before next weekend, so that I will have that time to spend with friends and family before I leave.

I am currently at STINT briefing in Copper Mountain, Colorado. It has been an excellent week- I have met my 3 US teammates- Bryon, Emily, and Amber (Angye and Claudia are Venezuelan ladies who will be joining our team when we get there). We seem to have a diverse set of skills and personalities, which I know will be of great help in our ministry as a team this year.

After a seminar on spiritual warfare this morning, I ask your prayers specifically against spiritual attacks on the ladies on our team. STINTers, especially ladies, in the past have often suffered from nightmares and other troubles sleeping, depression, or other troubles. Also pray for excellent communication in our team, that the enemy will not be able to confuse or distort it.

I will be back in Ferndale either tomorrow or Monday, and Lord willing I will be sending my first official newsletter well before I leave, with lots of thanksgiving for God's provision.

Update/Birthday

As of yesterday (Aug. 5) I have officially celebrated 22 complete orbits of the earth around the nearest star. I helped to commemorate both my birthday and my time at Lake Tahoe summer project last year by getting dinner at Applebee's, where I was working on that same day the previous year, though in California.

I am currently at 38.5% support and rising. I'm praying for myself, my teammates, and all the STINTers this week as we prepare for the final stretch before the briefing week. At this point I can do nothing but kneel before God and say "have your way in me." I can trust in Him alone to provide if I am to go to Venezuela in His name.