Thank you so much for being willing to walk this path with me! My first year at Northwestern College is just about over! It went by so fast! This summer, as I continue walking with the Lord, I have been praying for next steps. I know that deep within me, God has created a heart for missions! In fact, I have changed part of my major to focus not only on Elementary Education but also on Missions and Justice. Since I was young, I have had a deep desire and passion to serve others and share the love of Christ. This passion has only increased since starting college, and I am continuing to say “yes” to God. This time, my “yes” is to a summer mission internship through Experience Mission. I am so excited for the opportunity to serve in the Navajo Nation in Arizona! This summer, I'll join a team with a few other young adults to serve the Navajo people! I will work with local pastors and churches, reaching out to their communities through outreach and work projects and leading church mission teams as they partner with us throughout the summer. As I prepare to be the hands and feet of Jesus, I have learned some statistics that might surprise you! First, 35.8% of people live below the Federal poverty threshold, compared to 12.7% in the United States. Also, 30% of families live without running water. They drive for miles to haul barrels of water to meet their basic needs. It is estimated that 15,000 homes do not have electricity, and unemployment hovers around 11%, almost triple the national average. It's truly humbling to realize that such challenging circumstances exist in one of the world's wealthiest countries. Yet, it's also a privilege for me to play a small part in bringing about change as I serve and share the love of Jesus in this part of our country. So, what will I be doing, and how can you partner with me on this journey? Well, first, I will be living without indoor plumbing or running water, so that will definitely be an eye-opener for me! Please pray for my heart to be open to the daily struggles of the Navajo people. Throughout the summer, multiple missions teams will be coming on short-term trips, and I'll be responsible for organizing and facilitating their trips! Please pray that God will use me as a light for the people willing to serve in the community. One main outreach project I am very excited about is working with children by hosting Kids' Clubs! Please pray that I can reach these kids and help lead them to Christ! I will also be working to build relationships and understand how to best meet spiritual and physical needs. Please pray for wisdom and guidance. In addition, my team will also be facilitating different construction projects. I expect that we will have many opportunities to help increase families' access to plumbing and running water and housing upgrades; please pray that these physical needs will be met. I can not wait to see what God has in store for this summer! Although Experience Mission covers basic expenses such as travel and food, this will be a financial sacrifice for me, and I anticipate having other living expenses. I have a goal of raising $2,000 in support to help meet my needs over the summer as I minister to the Navajo people. I need a network of people who will support me through prayer, love, and finances. I will be serving from May 20th to August 5th, and this opportunity comes with a lot of responsibility and long hours. I know that God is preparing me for wherever he may lead me in the future. This opportunity will stretch me in so many ways, but where I struggle the most is knowing that I will be away from home longer than I have been. For those who know me well, this will be HARD. Please pray for strength and that my faith is strengthened through this experience! Knowing that I have the support of others will help me during these challenging weeks. I'd love it if you could be a part of that network and support me, whether financially, through prayer, or both! I am very grateful for your support in helping me pursue the calling God has given me! If you have any questions or would like to chat about this opportunity, please reach out to me! Please stay in touch! I anticipate having internet access on the weekends, and I will be posting updates on this page throughout the summer. I can't wait to share what God is doing! Thank you in advance for your love, prayers, and support! May the Lord bless you and keep you, and may His favor shine upon you. With love, Maddy Warning