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Aspen B.

3M SOUTH AFRICA — AUGUST 22 - NOVEMBER 10, 2022
100% Funded
Still Needs $0 (of $7600)
100% Funded
Still Needs $0 (of $7600)

My Story

In April of 2020 I started a prayer journal. I had no idea what God's plan was for me after I graduated and I wanted to make sure I was walking towards the will of God. I wanted to be more consistent in prayer and be consistent in praying for Gods will to be abundantly clear. June 06, 2020 I listened and felt called in to ministry - there is more to the story than that but I prayed in excitement and thanks for the clarity He had provided " I am going to be a missionary for the one + only LORD! And not in the sense of the everyday work place but as a job - a fulltime career."

Reading the prayer now honestly makes me cringe because I was in such a different place then and lacked the ability to express myself hahaha, but I can still remember the excitement I felt to that call even through the tears in my eyes.

September of 2020 I was living in Southern AL feeling the weight of the call and I was excited but wasn't ready to share. I was afraid to hear people thoughts, I was terrified I wouldn't be supported or I if I shared the thing I so longed to do wouldn't become a reality. I had looked into a couple of different student missions programs in August. And reached out to a few missionaries I knew in the Dominican Republic not knowing where things would lead especially in the midst of the pandemic.

There was a student program going to Spain in November, through a company called YWAM, that I had looked into and felt the call to go. I was in prayer for certainty and clarity over that decision - I specifically remember listening to music the day after asking for clarity and every song that had played after I hit shuffle was about going the distance and going to reach nations.

I ignored God's call I didn't go. One of the requirements to be accepted in to the program was a letter from the pastor. I knew I could get a letter from a pastor no problem - I knew a lot of pastors and I knew they'd all be more than willing to give me a good reference. So what was the problem? Excuses. Excuses were my problem. I had just moved the pastor I wanted to write me a letter technically wasn't my pastor- I didn't know the pastor a our current church, another pastor I could have asked wasn't currently actively pastoring. I made up excuses because I was afraid to ask. I also didn't want to miss out on spending thanksgiving with my family. Because obviously missing out on hot rolls is more important than missing Gods call right?

The real problem was I doubted myself, because I was to afraid to share the passion God had placed within me in that moment. And honestly, when we doubt ourself there is no room for us to trust God. If I couldn't even share my feelings - how in the world - was I going to be able to share the Gospel?

Now almost a year an a half later I am faced with a similar decision to stay or go. This past year I have been working towards so many things that will ultimately "help me" transition into ministry. But really I have been running from God's call. I got so caught up in trying to make money that I made myself unavailable to the will of God. I made myself unaware of Gods plan for me and immune to the works of Him. I allowed myself to accept the provision of God while I ignored His purpose.

In the midst of all of that though, I grew deeper in relationship with him. I learned how to connect with people. I learned how to run a business, build a website, and build relationships with people. I learned how to share stories and speak with confidence. I learned how to pray boldly. I learned what it feels like to be stretched and molded in ways that hurt. I learned what it's like to be refined. I learned what it looks like to make hard decisions and step out of my comfort zone. I learned how to choose faith over fear.

I had a pastor tell me the other day - that sometimes - if we truly want to know will of God in a moment or in a circumstance - try to run from it. And if you can't get away from it then that is what God has called you to do. There is not any theology to back this up or a lot of grounding behind ( which is something he prefaced the statement with) but in the moment I knew I had been running.

And in that moment he told me that I felt I have been running from overseas missions this whole year. I felt guilty for not taking a leap of faith in the fall of 2020. Writing this I realized that although I running from Gods call and running from his plan I was also walking in preparation for his purpose. Things all work out in his perfect timing; here I am now with open arms saying "Father, send me." " I want to go for You, allow it to happen".

This is just a tiny tiny portion of my story and not even a glimpse to the testimonies I have from this past year and a half, and doesn't explain how I got connected to EM but I've written enough to bore a slug... So, I hope to share more later and am looking forward to writing and sharing more of my journey to this point but I would also like share my journey and experience while in Africa. In order to do that I actually have to get there (and survive haha). The goal is to raise $7,600 by July 23rd for a three month mission trip to Africa. I would be so grateful I you are willing to help fund my trip to Africa and allow God to move and work in unreached nations - as well as in me. Every dollar helps but if you are reading this and aren't in a position to give your prayers are truly worth more than any dollar given! I know God provides and works in marvelous ways so thank you in advance for anything and everything.

-Dios Bendiga, Aspen ♡ xoxo

Updates

No updates have been made.

Donors

AARON & ANNA
Clare, MI
$1001%
 
ADAM & SABRINA
Andalusia, AL
$300.39%
 
ASPEN
Andalusia, AL
$5007%
 
BRENDA
Grand Ledge, MI
$1001%
 
BRENDA + MATTHEW
Dayton, OH
$240.32%
 
BRITTANY
Andalusia, AL
$500.66%
 
DANA
Peachtree Corners, GA
$2003%
 
DAWN5510
Battle Creek, MI
$1001%
 
DIANE EVERETTE
Selma, AL
$500.66%
 
FLOYD + PEGGY
Andalusia, AL
$750.99%
 
GAIL
Andalusia, AL
$1001%
 
ISAAC & ANNA
Tawas City, MI
$2503%
 
JAMES & JENNIE
Clare, MI
$6318%
 
JAMZ FUNDRAISER
Andalusia, AL
$130017%
 
JESSICA
Andalusia, AL
$480.63%
 
JOE AND BECKY
Andalusia, AL
$971%
 
JOHN
Andalusia, AL
$1001%
 
JOHN + VICKIE
Andalusia, AL
$1001%
 
JULIE
Olivet, MI
$2003%
 
JULIE CORDIER
Holt, MI
$971%
 
KELLEY
Montclair, CA
$1001%
 
LIBERTY
Lansing, MI
$771%
 
LINSEY
Andalusia, AL
$450.59%
 
MARTHA
Andalusia, AL
$600.79%
 
MELISSA
Climax, MI
$550.72%
 
MICHELLE
Mason, MI
$2003%
 
MISSY PETERS
Olivet, MI
$510.67%
 
PATTY
Andalusia, AL
$2003%
 
PAUL
Bellevue, MI
$5007%
 
PAULA
Kinston, AL
$1001%
 
RANDY
Beech Island, SC
$2003%
 
RANDY AND LYNDA
Olivet, MI
$3004%
 
RICHARD
Battle Creek, MI
$2003%
 
STEVE
Ellijay, GA
$5007%
 
SYDNEY RHUDY
Andalusia, AL
$110.15%
 
T-SHIRT FUNDRAISER
Andalusia, AL
$5457%
 
TIFFANY
Andalusia, AL
$550.72%
 
TRAVIS & MINDY
Andalusia, AL
$170.22%
 
ANONYMOUS
Andalusia, AL
$140.19%
 
ANONYMOUS
Saluda, NC
$1001%
 
ANONYMOUS
Andalusia, AL
$1001%
 
ANONYMOUS
Portland, OR
$150.2%
 

3-Month South Africa

Experience life among several distinct cultural groups by participating in local ministries and living with families.

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Who Is Experience Mission?

EXPERIENCE MISSION exists to bring the hope of Jesus through relief and development projects around the world, developing leaders through internships and volunteer mission trip opportunities, and empowering people in underprivileged communities through initiatives like education scholarships and micro-loans.

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