Eva: love flows here.

Eva here-Love is a funny thing. It's transcends all of my expectations. On this trip, I have seen love in the most tangible form. It's definitely in the smiles of the children, their laughter and within the context of their hope beyond their circumstances.

Yesterday (Wednesday here-it is a 9 hour difference from USA to Malawi), we spent time at the COTN compound in Mtlisiza with children from the feeding program. met a wonderful woman by the name of Ester. She was a house Aunt to orphan girls. We also saw the women of the widows program which was amazing since they are being trained to become self sufficient now in creating crafts and sowing.

Today (Thursday) we spent time visiting the town of Muzu where we spent time to do a benefit concert to raise the funds for the borehole back in November 2009. We spoke with the chief of the area who let us know that he had a damaged borehole that hadn't been working for 3 years. So we too part of the funds raised and paid for it today. All around us we had children who gathered and were skeptical at first... but then I introduced myself to them (incorrectly) in Chichewa of course! Lol. It was so funny. I tried to say "what is your name?" and said something like: tooth is your name? They laughed at me of course. I would too :D

The men who were brought to fix the borehole, fixed it within the next few hours. They were done. This borehole should provide water for thousands of people in the region. Love truly flows from Africa. This is a picture of the men working on the borehole:



And the borehole is done.




Until later
Tionana!

- Posted by Eva l :) using BlogPress from my iPhone

Eva:The battle of control (PS 10 days left!)

Eva here--
So we made it! All of the funds were raised, including some extra funds for the momentous event of leaving for the continent of Africa for our entire TEAM! We have 10 Days left! I'm pretty excited. I still feel like I might forget something... eek! That's the only part of all of this I'm sorta nervous...strangely I've been fine when I think about traveling nearly 1/2 way across the world?

Building up our departure, I've been having issues with the crazy disagreements (small ones), all around frustrations, weird dreams, illness... including a sizable headache that lasted all of yesterday! What I have to say to that is: HA! Today I laugh at the face of adversity or more like: squint-in-the-day-light. I have tried to let go all of the lame stuff that has occurred recently without having a complete melt-down, or have it completely steal my joy. Honestly I have had my moments...which were honestly quite chaotic.

My God is good. Even when times are hard. That is the most important. I am staying pretty optimistic. Especially today :) I am very realistic: that with any mission event, we (as a team) might come into some issues/disagreements/setbacks. That happens whenever you do anything unknown and you are open and flexible to God's calling... Spiritual attacks are all over the place! I'm just saying this from direct experience. It is also non-exclusive to mission trips, but in our daily lives as people of God.

Change happens, no matter HOW much a few of us Type-A perfectionists like to plan stuff. I'm on my way to "recovery" in the level of being a perfectionist. This level of planning has always been a survival mechanism for me..."the master of my own destiny" as I've been told?? ugh! That is such deep level of deception that has taken a stronghold on my mind. Granted, I control my actions (free will) but it takes a lot for me to realize (again) that it's not all about me. It is one of those life-long lessons where I will need to be constantly reminded. This level of control manifests itself within the amount of work I take on, how I do it and how I balance my time (which has been extreme levels of trial and error). I am the type of person that freaks out if this post I am writing on this blog has improper spelling and is grammatically incorrect.. lol!!!

I'm in a constant state of learning and re-learning that life is full of situations that I can't control. I don't always give that impression. I am pretty laid-back as well. I am trying my best to not let this level of control hinder the team or myself at all:

Proverbs 19: 21 (NLT)
"You can make many plans, but the Lord's purpose will prevail"

So, I'm pretty convicted. Proverbs is so straightforward. It's pretty amazing. I'm working on giving God the rest...I'm still a work in progress... now were is my checklist..?

:)

Down to the wire..

With only 27 days to go, the team an I are gearing up for the Malawi trip! We are officially departing August 1st and the deadline for the funds is still July 17th, 2010.

Officially we have purchased our tickets with the $2700. All of the team members and I are still fundraising for the remaining: $700.

I'm still pretty excited regardless. Right now I am still gearing up for the information on water purification and safety. My team member Whitney is in charge of the wound-clinic. These are some of the services that we are offering when we get to Malawi.... but again... who knows what God has in store??

Also this weekend of July 10th-11th we will be commissioned with the remaining missionary teams (Romania, Uganda and Indonesia) in the main services at Bridgeway Christian Church.

~Eva

Status

Ok! Status update. I'm currently looking forward to the events to come. :) I'm still working temporary and that will be lasting a few weeks longer (which is sad).

Personally: I'm getting prepared for the shots etc. I'm not afraid of needles so that's cool. It's pretty pricey but I've saved my personal money along the way so that's positive (and I know I need to get booster shots too).

Right now I'm at a status of about $2000. The cost and fees when up for the tickets a little bit so I'm shy $1900. As far as time is concerned, I'm a little further than half way, but I believe that the Lord will see me through this :) The due date for funds (last date) is July 17th. Thanks so far for all of those who have donated thus far thanks! :D

If you haven't received your Thank You note in the mail... be looking for it very soon! (I was a little late in dispersing..oops!)


In Christ's name-

Eva

Thanks so far!

Amazing! I thank you for all your contributions. I have officially received a little over half of the amount needed. Stay tuned for more info to come... And check out
Bridgeway Malawi Blog :D

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Letters :)

If you haven't already received one, I have mailed out support letters. Check your mailboxes!! :) That is all.

PS Thanks for supporting me in this journey so far.

Getting My Articulation On (LOL)

Ok I'm getting really really excited now. I've prepared my letter for people to pray and donate if Lord willing.

But I do not believe the Lord wants me to pay for it myself (self reliance) which is the opposite of this effort and the point in all of this. The body of Christ and his people are to work together as a well functioning.. well..body. hehe. How exciting for others to take part in this journey or at least the knowledge what can be done. I think God's trying to teach me something in this.

We all have different gifts and are made so unique. How exciting. I guess that makes me who I am for a reason to be excited about the journey and about keeping the motivation throughout.

I also just realized I wrote "exciting or excited" about 4 times already. haha

God is consistently good all the time. Maybe that's the point.

In the Wildness But not Alone

I have to say today was a weird one. The reason why I am writing a second post is on the nature of Spiritual Warfare. Is this journey done alone? Or is it more than that.

Just as Jesus willfully prepared himself for his journey into ministry (as I have been studying with my life group from Bridgeway YAM) on the book of Mark. In Chapter 1, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. After the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus and the Heavens opening up (which to this day blows my mind). It states in verse 12:

"Then the Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals and angels took care of him. " NLT Mark 1:12-14.

Wow. Really? So my God of the Universe decided to place himself in an area of humility and tempation before doing ministry? At what times in my life have I been tempted/distracted before any major decision I've made out of fear? It always seems to me at every point in this journey will I be tempted or tried. I truly my spirit is being attacked for reasons unknown. Right now my life is weighing heavily on the questions I have in my life right now:

1. Am I bound for Malawi?
2. When is the right TIME for me to move?
   
3. Where does God want me to work (career and ministry too)?
   

Big things. But literally today just considering the possibility of doing Malawi I ended up with so much backlash from my family. Not fully in concern for my well being.. but a lack of understanding what my intent is. The timing seems right. I'm not gonna lie. Everything makes sense and my heart is at peace with the decision no matter what the outcome. This is most peace I've had in a while.

Like Jesus I feel like I'm in the wilderness...with the knowledge I'm not alone.

TEST 1...2...3

I've decided to create a blog. What better time than now, especially since I'm with the knowledge of what God has been doing in my heart these last few years. It has become more evident within the last MONTHS, that I am being prepared for something larger than myself.

Today was the first Malawi meeting with a few of the peeps from Bridgeway's Young Adult Ministry (YAM). Some of my thoughts have been tugging at my heart that I will need to pray about myself before I can form into words...

I am taking this experience as my ultimate test of my faith. I felt burdened back in November 2009 that I should be doing something with my degree, with my skills and gifting. That was when I felt that it was time to get a passport. I have this desire to live the way God has made me. I studied Nutrition and Dietetics to impact Public Health. I have done so in many ways throughout the Sacramento Region via volunteer or directly within the workforce. This recession (and my time without a job) has gotten me thinking.

Someone once told me: "When you are local, you should think globally and when you are global, to think locally."

Such true words that have resonated in my head. Therefore this is my test of faith that God will not only provide but that I will be a true vessel for Him and his work. For myself and the team from YAM to be the Lord's hands and feet. Yet I am at the beginning stages of all of this. We'll see what God's plan is in the end.

**I will continuously lift all of my concerns in prayer as I begin to formulate my thoughts for prayer and support letters to send to family and friends.**

Test 1,2,3...