...14...

Last night I had the honor to pray for a 14 year old prostitute. I held her small hands in mine, kissed her sweet cheek and prayed a covering of protection, love and grace over her.

I have never seen shame like I saw on her face. She dripped in it. Her eyes barely left the ground and she did not smile. She was steeped in humiliation, pain, embarrassment and disgrace. SHAME.

I prayed that she would know the love of God, see her true value and be freed from her chains. Her hopes are in those prayers. Her hope is in knowing that she is the daughter of the Almighty King. Her hope is His grace, His love, His forgiveness, His compassion. Her hope is in Him.

Her shame will be washed away by the blood of Jesus.

That is her hope.

...Safe & Found...

Yes, I do realize the saying is actually "safe & sound" but that does not clearly communicate what I want to say :)

We made it!! Praise the Lord. We travelled very well and arrived in India after over 25 hours of travel with all our luggage!!

We are safe.

I am found.

Kevin always calls India my roots. As usual, he is so right. I am found because I am back to my roots. It feels peaceful to be in India again. It feels right and lovely.

...Safe & Found...

...Today...

Precious family & friends...

PRAISE the LORD...it's finally here!! Kaytie, Sandra, Cliff & I leave for India this morning. We will be gone from September 4th - September 19th.

I wanted to express my heartfelt thanks to those of you who have prayed and helped to support this mission trip financially. Thank you. I'm not quite certain how to fully express the level of gratitude I feel so I trust that "Thank You" will suffice.

Please pray for safe travels and good health. Please pray that we would be effective in our ministry and that the Lord will use each of us to our fullest potential. Please pray for our families while we're away (I know Kevin is in great hands!!)

I leave today knowing we're covered in prayer. I leave today humbled, renewed and dressed in the full armor of God.

Much love and many blessings to each of you,

>R<

...The Rescued Part...

After we leave the red light district we'll be ministering at an orphanage that is home to roughly 300 children.

300.

Children.

300 children who have been rescued. Some may think of orphanages as depressing, sad and overall hopeless. That is so not true. The orphanage is the rescued part.

First, I was discarded. ABANDONED.

Next, I was taken to an orphanage. RESCUED.

An orphanage doesn't have to be depressing, sad and overall hopeless. The orphanage is the rescued part.

I know exactly what we'll find there...

Lovely faces.

Open hearts.

Joyful spirits.

We will love by ministering and minister by loving.

The orphanage is the rescued part.

...Love & Light...

I leave for India in 7 days!!

Throughout the first week in India we will be ministering at Sahaara. This is a refuge of sorts within the red light district in Mumbai. A safe place for women and children who have been affected by human trafficking and prostitution. We'll be hosting a conference called Love & Light. How perfect is that title? What could be better than bringing the love and light of Christ into such a dark place?

Here is what we'll cover:

• Spiritual Warfare
• Crisis Counseling
• Health Education
• Arts & Crafts
• Prayer
• Testimonies

I am so looking forward to spending time with the people who run this incredible ministry as they stare evil in the face every single day. Human trafficking is the 3rd largest illegal industry in the world. Children are being taken from their homes and forced into prostitution at extremely young ages; their innocence stolen. They need to know the love of Christ and they need a safe place to which they can escape. In Mumbai, Sahaara is that place.

Please be praying for the precious lives we'll encounter in the red light district and for all of our protection.

I know the Lord has a plan and I cannot wait to watch it unfold.

...14 Days...

In 14 days I will be joining these sweet faces above in India. I just cannot believe it's so close. I did some packing last night and Kevin and I talked a lot about how strange it will be for us to be apart for 15 days and about how exciting this is going to be. In the coming days I will post details of exactly what we'll be doing in India and about the 3 other people on my team.

I love that so many of you have chosen to be a part of this, whether it be because of your prayer support, financial support or by reading this blog.

I'm so grateful for the Lord's gentle and refining hand. I'm so grateful that He has led me to this point and has provided me with this opportunity to minister in the Red Light District to women and children rescued from human trafficking and to children in a Christian orphanage!!

...All...

The word "all" is defined as follows:

• everything
• one's whole interest, energy, or property
• wholly, entirely, completely

I was wondering today how willing I am to give my ALL to the Lord. In asking myself that question, I wanted to be certain I understood the full meaning of this word ALL.

Now that I understand what ALL means I must stop to ask myself the question again.

Am I willing to give everything; all my interest, energy & property; wholly, entirely and completely?

I believe the Lord wants ALL of us. Our entire heart. Our complete trust. Currently my life is mostly consumed with India as I prepare to go and serve, however, ALL of my life needs to be about serving, loving and giving COMPLETELY. Giving EVERYTHING. ALL of the time.

The path leading me to this trip has been so impacting and life changing that I cannot even imagine what the actual trip will entail. I am going to put forth every effort to give it ALL to serve the Lord everyday.

...The Power of Prayer...

In the last 2 days I have seen the Lord move in an incredible way...

08.04.09

• 10:20 am - Received an email informing me I had to submit the remainder of my India funds ($1,215) by 08.07.09 followed by a lot of encouragement that this WAS possible.
• 10:21 am - Worried & doubted that coming up with $1,215 was actually possible.
• 10:22 am - I started praying.
• 3:25 pm - Sent an email to my church prayer team asking them to pray
• 4:10 pm - Sent an email to some of the incredible praying women in my life asking them to pray
• 6:00pm - Received a call from my Pastor informing me that $300 had come in the offering for my trip.

08.05.09

• 8:47 am - Sent an email to some family & friends requesting more prayer
• 8:58 am - Received a $125 commitment
• 9:00 am - Received a $500 commitment
• 9:01 am - Sat in my office amazed that I only had $290 left to raise...called my husband REJOICING! Called Kaytie, my team leader, and screamed with her on the phone :)
• 9:16 am - Updated my facebook status: "...only $290 to go!!! Praise the Lord...He is THE provider!!"
• 10:56 am - Received a facebook message from a good high school friend who I haven't seen in 11 years..."Hey, I've got $290.00 to give you!"
• 10:56 am COMPLETELY BLESSED AND FULLY FUNDED!!!!!!!!!!

I have said, all along, that I'm certain the Lord wants me in India this September. The enemy has attacked full force but he is no match for our God...KING of Kings...LORD of Lords...CREATOR of heaven & earth.

SUBMIT yourself to the Lord wholly and humbly.

HE WILL PROVIDE.

HE WILL LEAD.

HE WILL BLESS.

...PRAISE THE LORD...

As of yesterday morning, the actual amount needed to turn in by Friday was $1,215. As of 8:30 this morning, the actual amount needed to turn in by Friday is $290.

God is so faithful.

PRAISE THE LORD.

Thank you to those of you who have generously and obediently sacrificed to give and pray.

29 days to go.

...Prayerfully, Faithfully...

The financial deadline is rapidly approaching as all funds for my mission trip to India are due at the end of this week!! I still need to bring in approximately $1,200. I am prayerfully, faithfully TRUSTING the Lord...KNOWING He will provide. I need your help...please pray with me.