Friday, September 05, 2008

Well....where do I begin? It seems that I can't keep up with this blog anymore...just too many things going on!!

The most recent exciting news is: I'm going to Bangladesh!!! Can you believe it?? I am still getting over the shock myself!!

I'd been praying all summer about a couple specific mission opportunities, but none of them came together as I had hoped! Then just a little over a week ago, I talked with Paul (the coordinator for the Loma Linda University Medical/Dental mission trip that is going to Bangladesh in Septemeber) and he talked about the fact that they could still use some help in "Health Education" if I was interested in going with them. Well, I grew very excited at the prospects, although to be honest.....Bangladesh was the last country I'd thought or prayed about reaching this summer! Anyway, the difficult thing was, I didn't have much time to prepare....they were leaving in 3 weeks!

Well, I decided to come home and pray about it....so I stalled on action for another 3 days (which left me with 2.5 weeks), and made things seem even more impossible to pull together! Finally I had peace to put my feet in the water and see what God would do!! If I could get the financial support I needed, as well as get all my paperwork together by the deadline....I would move forward!

I'm here to report, that God has worked in an amazing and incredible way......far beyond my imagination or hopes!!

Even though I was sooo short on time, and even delayed some more to pray about it all, He is working everything out perfectly. A number of friends came forward in my plee for support (Thanks to all of you that were a part of this!), and the very next day after I decided to put my feet in the water, I had enough financial backing to pay for my Visa expenses (which the group was sending off that very day), as well as make the down payment on my ticket! Thankfully, the price hadn't gone up yet! (And I'm once again reminded...though God may not work on our time-table, He is always on time...never late!!)

Furthermore, I'm not only going to be assisting with "Health Education" with the medical team, but the doors have opened up for me to go volunteer at the Bangla Hope Orphanage while I'm there, where I'll be doing a variety of things....but most importantly, getting to love on the children! I can hardly wait!!!

So, all in all, I'll be gone a little over three weeks. And my date for departure (Sept 14th) is fast approaching!! I'm soooo excited and humbled at this incredible opportunity, and just pray that God will use me as well as our team, in a very special way!

If any of my blog readers would like to contribute.....I'm still accepting tax-deductible donations*....which will go towards sponsoring waiting Orphans as well as building a web site that will continue to support the needs of the "least of these" around the world. My vision and dream is expanding, so pray for me, that God may truly be glorified!

"In as much as you have done it unto the least of these, you've done it unto me..." Matt 25:40

"But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Matt 19:14

2 comments:

Eagle said...

So excited for you!

Love,
Mrs. Arakawa

Khon Kaen Traveler said...

Praise God for willing servants like you, Mel! I'm so excited for you...I will continue to keep you in prayer! Will you post the link to the website you'll be working on? Or, please, please post pics? Go in peace, we love you! -Shayna