Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from Uganda!! Our plane got in at about 10pm, we played some games and took naps. What a great start to the new year! We are now waiting for the second half of our team to get in. Then in the morning we all head to Kampala to work with the kids at Loving 1 by 1! I can't wait! Here are some pictures from our trip!

Team Uganda 2013!

Please keep us in your prayers as we 

prepare for outreach and grow closer 

together as a team over the next few 

months. Also, as we raise the funds needed 

for all of us to get to Uganda! Thanks! 

My YWAM Blog

Hey, I know I haven't written here on this blog for a while. And it will probably be a long time until I do. I started a new blog for my YWAM missionary training, which starts next week!!! So please check out my new blog: http://sendmelordillgo.blogspot.com/,  and please become a follower too! Thanks!

Current Fundraisers For YWAM Training

Cookie Mix Fundraiser:


I am selling Chocolate Chip Cookie Mixes. 

They are $10 each and $5 for shipping (if not local). 


These cookie mixes will make 2 dozen delicious chocolate chip cookies. 


Leave a comment or message me if you are interested in purchasing one (or many) and I will get back to you about payment options. 

Amazon Fundraiser: 


A while back, I got approved to be an Amazon Associate! That means: I will get a portion of the proceeds from whatever you by on Amazon.com. BUT the only way it will work is if you GO THROUGH MY BLOG!


SO, I just added an Amazon.com search bar on the left side of my blog. (It's right under the donate button and the title is "Support my through your purchases". All you have to do is: put in whatever you are searching for and that will take you to Amazon.com. Then you just go on with your shopping as usual! It's that simple! It's only one extra step to help me out! Plus, it doesn't cost you anything extra! (Don't worry it's not going to tell me show my what you purchased or anything like that). :)

Please share my blog link with your friends and family so they can participate as well! Especially anyone you know who shops on Amazon a lot!










Stay tuned for more Fundraisers coming soon! 


7 weeks before I head to Wisconsin! I can't believe how fast time is flying by! I have a lot of work to do before then! 




If you would like to make a donation towards my YWAM training please use the "Donate" button at the top of my blog. 


I am still in need of about $5,000 before December! I will only have to have my tuition cost ($3,350) by September 16th. But of course, I need to try to raise as much as possible by then so that I will have enough funds for Outreach (overseas). 

Thanks so much friends!! 

Giveaway for Adoption!

THIS is one of the necklaces you could win by entering Kanani's giveaway!

 

3 easy ways to enter..

-Donate $10 (or more!) to Kanani's grant fund here (1 entry)

-Share this post on facebook (1 entry)

-Blog about this giveaway (1 entry)

Check it out!! 

http://askingwithfaith.blogspot.ca/2012/07/win-necklace-save-kanani.html

2 month countdown!

I Just bought my plane ticket to Milwaukee, Wisconsin! 

In exactly two months from today I will be sitting in an airplane bound for Wisconsin! 

I will be leaving my whole life behind to follow God's leading, 

there is nothing more exciting (and hard)! 

Over North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland (to change planes)...

 then West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and finally landing in Milwaukee! 

All in only 5 short hours! 

(Yes...flying still amazes me!)

I am so thankful that I get to spend the weekend with this precious boy...

William

And his incredible family...

before they take me to Madison

 to begin my YWAM Training! 

Thank you Bridget (and family) for your willingness to open your home to me and bring me to Madison! You are such a blessing to me!

So, It's official now, no turning back! 

YWAM, Madison here I come!

And no matter how scary, or uncertain that may make me feel, I know it's what I'm supposed to do!

I know it is going to be the most amazing experience in my life (so far)! I cannot wait to "Know God and make Him Known"! 

And the people from all over the world I will have the privilege to serve with and learn with are going to be such an amazing blessing to me! We are going to have some incredible stories of how God brought us together, how He provided for each and every one of us, and How faithful He has been to us! I just know it! 

62 days till take off!!

And in case you are wondering, yes, I do still have a lot of money to raise before then! Check my sidebar for the amount needed. 

If you would like to give, please message me or go through paypal by pressing the "donate" button at the top of this blog.

Thank you!!

Kindle Fire Giveaway Winner Announced!

The Kindle Fire Giveaway is over! The drawing is done! Altogether there were 24 entries! That's $240, and as you know my goal was $400. So, sadly there can't be a Kindle Fire given (refer to rules in the original post to find out why). 

But what is being given is half of the amount raised! Which is $120! 

So without further ado.... 

here are the pictures and video of the drawing before and after: 

All Entries

Ready to draw the winner

Here is a video of me drawing the winner from the basket:

Congratulations Mary Krizay!!!!

You won the pot of $120!

(Coming your way soon!)

The WINNER!

So that leaves $140 to add to my goal of $7,000 for YWAM Missionary Training School!!! This is amazing! I cannot thank each and everyone of you who entered, enough!! Thank you so much! It really means so much to me that you would support me in this journey that God is leading me on (in 78 days) to become a missionary!

*If you have any questions or concerns please leave a comment! 

2 Years Ago...

2 years ... that's way too long!! 

Oh Uganda how I miss you!! 

When can I go back God??

June 6th 2010 was such an amazing day! So much fun, fellowship, and food with our Uganda family! 

‎

Kindle Fire Giveaway- Extended!

So, I've decided to extend the Kindle Fire Giveaway for one more month.

Right now there are 24 entries ($240) and only 16 entries ($160) left to go!! This is really good, but in order to reach my goal, I feel like an extra month will really help. (This is my first time doing a giveaway like this, so I wasn't really sure exactly how long it should last). I hope this doesn't upset anyone! This will be the only time I extend it, so if the goal isn't reached I will draw a winner and split the pot (which is at $120 right now!!). I really want to see someone win that Kindle Fire!! :)

So, I will draw a winner on:


July 1st, 2012 at 6pm (ET)!!!!! 

Are you excited to see who wins? I know I am!!

If you'd like to enter please click the "donate" button on my sidebar and put this in the notes section: "for kindle fire giveaway".

Thank you so much!!
I couldn't do this without each and every one of you!!

Wow!!

Just broke $2,000 in donations today!! The new total is $2,125, (not even counting Kindle Fire entries)!! 




This means over half of my YWAM tuition is PAID for!!!!! God is so good!! Thanks so much to everyone who gave in some way (including prayer)!! I couldn't do this without you!! It means so much to me to have support from each and every one of you! 


Stay tuned for more fundraisers, giveaways, and opportunities to give! 


________________________________________


Only 9 more days to enter the Kindle Fire Giveaway!! You don't want to miss out on this amazing prize! (If I could enter I totally would! :)) 
Please share with your friends and family! 


The total for the Kindle Fire is up to $180 right now. Which means I still need to raise $220 to actually purchase it. If I don't meet that goal I'll be splitting the pot with the lucky winner. As of right now the pot is at $90, so that's a good chunk of change! Enter now by clicking on the "donate" button up above! Please put in the notes: "For: Kindle Fire Entry" so that I know. 


Thanks again everyone!! 

Giveaway for Adoption!

This family is bringing home 2 little ones from China very soon and needs to raise the travel funds. Check out this awesome giveaway they are doing and get involved!

http://browneyesandbarefeet.blogspot.com/2012/05/giveaway-time-ipad-and-other-prizes.html?showComment=1337622551004#c130702922062262483

I Love My Church!

    So, I've been going to an amazing church for the past 2 years and I am so honored that God has allowed me to be a part of it! Just last night we had a Vision Event were we looked back at what God has done and what God is going to do in the future. It was awesome! So much life change has taken place through NewSpring Church in my own life and in thousands of others lives as well! Even with it being such a large church God speaks through our pastor (and others) to each of us individually every week! From just last night I got so much out of the message that pertains to my future in missions and with YWAM. It's just awesome! Here are a few quotes that really jumped out at me from the message: 


"What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?" 


"Faithfulness is not something God does, it's what He is!"


"In order to step into our destiny we have to step away from our security."


"We have to be willing to walk away from the ordinary to experience the supernatural"


"Some people say: 'I'm only going to give when it's convenient for me', and these people don't change the world."



"God's will is God's bill."


"What the King wants the King pays for."

   God, You are awesome! Thank you so much for using others to prepare my heart for Your service! It's not going to be easy to leave my church in September when I move to Wisconsin, but: "God calls us to take up our cross, not our pillows". God doesn't call us to the easy things! If He is maybe we need to listen closer for His still small voice, and actually question if it's really God's voice we are hearing.  Growing People Change! If we aren't  changing, we aren't growing! 


So "Here I am Lord, Send me"!!

KINDLE FIRE GIVEAWAY!!

Sunday Snapshot: My Heart for Missions

(And Kindle Fire Giveaway)!

Ever since 2008 God has been breaking my heart for orphans and needy children around the world. In 2010 I went on my first mission trip to Uganda, Africa. It was an unbelievable experience! The two weeks went by entirely too fast, and honestly I did not want to go home! During our time there we had the amazing opportunity of traveling around to different parts of Uganda to show God's love to the people. 

My favorite part was spending time with the children, many of which were orphans or needy children. These children changed my life! So, of course when I got back home I could not stop thinking about them. I never will forget their joyful personalities and precious smiles! 

Being able to hold the babies in one of the baby homes was such an awakening experience! These babies had been abandoned because their families could no longer take care of them, some dumped in dumpsters, some left in trash bags on the side of the road. I wanted to cry every time I would hear their stories. But there was hope for every one of the babies we held! They had been rescued! And each one of them had the now had the opportunity to be adopted into a family that they could call their own, forever! (Not long after returning home all of the babies we met had been matched with amazing families! Now most of them are living here in the US! I was beyond excited to find this out! I love adoption!)

I will never forget all the amazing people we met in Uganda! 

Now, almost two years later, I am getting ready to begin my missionary training with YWAM (Youth With a Mission)! I am going to Wisconsin in September for the Children at Risk Discipleship Training School. This is a 6 month program where first we will learn in a classroom setting, then we will GO and serve overseas. I am so excited for this journey into missions that God is leading me to! 

I am currently raising funds to help pay for my school tuition and my time overseas with YWAM. God has already showed up big in prompting you guys to give! So far $1,405 has been raised in 4 months! 

And I have 4 (and 1/2) months to go!
(I need $7,000 total)

So, I've put together another fundraiser! 

This one is going to be fun! 

I'm giving away a 

BRAND NEW KINDLE FIRE!

Here's how you enter:

Every $10 you give will equal 1 entry! 


(So, $20 equals 2 entries, 
$30 equals 3 entries, etc.)


There is no limit to the amount of 
entries you can have, 
so give as much as you'd like! 

You can make a donation through my paypal button on my sidebar (on the left). Please leave a comment telling me the amount you gave, and your email address so I can enter you into the drawing and I can contact you if you win. 

I will randomly select a winner (and post pictures of the process) on July 1st, 2012 at 6pm EST! 

Details:

*I am setting the goal at $400 for this fundraiser. (If this goal is met, half the funds will go towards purchasing the Kindle Fire, and the other half will go towards my YWAM training). Of course, if the donations exceed my goal all the rest will go towards my training.*

..........................

Please Note: 

*If $400 is not raised during this time I will still draw a winner, but that person will instead get half the amount of money raised, not the Kindle Fire.*

Please, please, please share this on Facebook, blogs, twitter, etc. Thanks so much! 

*(Paypal will charge the receiver, which would be me, a fee unless the funds are coming from your bank account or your paypal balance. So please make sure that this is where your donation is coming from, or if you are using your credit card or debit card please give a little extra (59 cents for $10, 88 cents for $20) to cover that fee so that your donation will still equal $10, or however much your donation is. I normally wouldn't mind paying it, but I want to make it fair for everyone. Thanks!)*

Next Year...

Next year (Jan 2013) I will be going overseas for my YWAM outreach! Not exactly sure which country I am going to, but we get to choose in September, once we have started our Children at Risk training and have seen a presentation on each country that our teams will be going to. So I will just have to see where God wants me! I am thinking Asia (Thailand or India), but it may just be my desires, not sure yet. I do not want this to be my decision! I only want it to be God's! For it's He that is sending me and giving me the strength, wisdom, and comfort to even do this at all. I don't want any part of this missionary training to be about me! Wow, that's good stuff, haha, I need to say that next time the Devil tries to discourage me with thoughts about things like: "Am I really doing this?", "Why am I leaving my awesome job, my awesome church, and my awesome family and friends?", "What have I gotten myself into?", "I'm going to miss my life too much", "This is going to be so uncomfortable", "I don't know anyone that I'm going to be spending 6 months with!", "There's no way I will get all that money!".... etc. 

Well, guess what? IT'S NOT ABOUT ME! 

It's about bringing glory to God, and being His hands and Feet, and showing His love to the world, and telling others about Him and how they can know Him. Period. 

This scripture is on my wall and I think of it often when I ask myself: "Why me?" or "I can't do this!" 

1 Timothy 1:12

"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service."

 

And this one: 

1 Thessalonians 5:24

"The One who calls you is faithful and HE will do it."

See, IT'S NOT ABOUT ME!

OK so now that I'm done preaching to myself, here is an amazing video that the past Children at Risk outreach teams put together showing the faces of risk around the world. This video really touched me, because this is where I will be next year! Please watch! Ahhhhh, I'm so excited!!!

The Countdown Continues!!

OK so now the countdown is at ...............................

157 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Until I start my YWAM missionary training!)



So, I was looking back through this blog, and I realized this was the last post I had written about the amount raised towards my YWAM training!! Wow, a LOT has changed since February!! In the past two months $820 has come in! So now the total is:

$1,205!!!!!!!!!! 

That is $470 away from 1/2 of my tution!! All from donations!! YAY!

(I just added a fundraising thermometer to my sidebar so you can keep up with the amount from now on!) 

Also, if you have not yet joined my Facebook group "Help Send Sharon" here is the link: http://www.facebook.com/groups/287354081303531/

(You don't have to give to become a member). 

Be looking for more Fundraisers coming up soon!! And if you have any ideas please share!! 

Thanks! 

Fundraiser through Amazon!

So I got this idea from a friend (Thanks Stephanie!) It's a way that I can raise money for my YWAM missionary training through your purchases on Amazon! How cool is that?

I got approved to be an Amazon Associate! That means: I will get a portion of the proceeds from whatever you by on Amazon.com. BUT the only way it will work is if you GO THROUGH MY BLOG!


SO, I just added an Amazon.com search bar on the left side of my blog. (It's right under the donate button and the title is "Support my through your purchases". All you have to do is: put in whatever you are searching for and that will take you to Amazon.com. Then you just go on with your shopping as usual! It's that simple! It's only one extra step to help me out! Plus, it doesn't cost you anything extra! (Don't worry it's not going to tell me show my what you purchased or anything like that). :)

Please share my blog link with your friends and family so they can participate as well! Especially anyone you know who shops on Amazon a lot!

Thanks so much!! 

Luke's Easter (and more)

These pictures were taken today in China (well really last night) from Luke's home, Shepherd's Field Children's Village.

Isn't Luke getting more and more handsome as the days go by? Still praying for a miracle to happen with his adoption paperwork and his heart.

Jesus died and rose again 3 days later! (What other God has done that? None!!!)

So I think (NO I know) I can trust in Him to do this!!!

I'm praying and believing something will happen by September! That's 5 months away! Either Luke's paperwork will be completed and he will be adoptable, his heart is healed, and/or both!!!

Once I leave for Wisconsin in September I am not sure if I'll be able to continue the sponsorship payments for Luke. If God provides, or course I will still sponsor him, but if that doesn't happen, I am hoping that someone will take over that for me. If anyone is interested, please let me know!

YWAM "Spoil The Orphans" Event

Kids need love and that's just what they got from the current YWAM Children at Risk DTS teams! And next year I will get to witness the children's joy myself! I will be a DTS student and will be traveling to another country (not sure where yet) to love on needy kids. 


Stay tuned for ways you can donate to "Spoil The Orphans" event coming up soon! 

Prayers Needed!

I've known for a little while now that the situation with my sponsor child, Luke (at SFCV) was serious. He will be 5 next month, his orphanage is not willing to do his adoption paperwork, therefore he is not available for adoption. He is in need of a heart surgery very soon, (he has a SV) but will not be able to get it done in China.

But today I heard from an adoptive mom, that just got back from adopting a little boy (Zachariah) at SFCV, that Luke did not look good. His lips were very blue, and she was talking to the doctor there about his need for surgery. She said that her son has the same heart problem and knows that they are hard to place in families. It hurt her to see Luke there without a family.

This really breaks my heart!!!! If it were possible, I'd fly there now and bring little Luke home with me, and get him the surgery he needed! But in this imperfect world, that is not possible, for many reasons!

What is possible though is OUR GOD!! With Him all things are possible!!

Please, please, please join me in praying for Luke!

Pray that:

1.) His orphanage will have a change of heart and see the best interest of the children to sign the needed papers and allow Luke to be adopted (after his family finds him, of course).

{*this is the best case scenario, which will allow him to have a forever family, and get his much needed heart surgery in another part of the world.}

Or...

2.) That the opportunity will come up for Luke to have surgery in China. (I'm not sure what that would involve, maybe, the right surgeon or the medical funds?)

Or...

3.) That God will heal Luke's heart!



I know God can do any or ALL of these things!! I have no doubt!!

Please join me in praying and spreading the word about sweet Luke!

Thank you!

Here's a short video clip of Luke and his housemates. Luke is the one in the red sweater. :)

The Countdown Begins!

Only 216 days until I leave for YWAM!!

I have to admit when I see that number I get nervous! Is it just me or does that seem like a short amount of time? : ) It's not that I'm not excited, of course, but I guess it's just that I have a lot to do!  

I know God is going to provide for all my needs, even though it is easy to doubt it! (Uggghh, when will I ever learn??)


As of right now I have raised a total of $385!!!


And I got offered a job last week!! An awesome one, at that (working with kids)! I'm just praying that everything works out, and if so, I'll start next week!!

So, my prayers defiantly are being answered, (I've been praying for a job since August!), and God has lead many people to donate towards my tuition (people that I never imagined would donate)!! He answers prayers in HIS way, and in HIS timing!! It usually isn't in any way that we think or imagine, He is awesome like that!


Please, continue to pray that the funds come in, that my new job works out, and that God will continue to teach me to trust Him!

Thanks so much!


 

An Eric Ludy Sermon

‎"Christianity, by nature is NOT convenient. Christianity invades your selfish existence and turns it on its head!" - Eric Ludy
(Eric Ludy's "Deprived Indifference" video a part of this sermon! That should tell you how good it is!)


Eric Ludy - The Band of Rescuers from Ellerslie Mission Society on Vimeo.

Video From Shepard's Field

This one of my favorite video's from Shepard's Field! I love how it tells sort of the "whole story" of how it started and what they are doing now. And the clips of the kids are so precious! 

I love seeing what God is doing through Tim and Pam Baker for these amazing kids in China! I cannot wait to see what He does through them in the future! God has awesome plans for everyone of these children! 

I'm still hoping to visit this incredible place someday! 

(Look for Luke about at about minute: 5:30.)

I miss...

AFRICA!!

Of course, who wouldn't! 

Bradly and I during a church service in Uganda

2012 To Do List

So, my friend, Hayley Catt, had a really great idea to create a To Do List for 2012. It's a list of things you hope to get done this year. I really liked the idea so I'm posting mine own here. 

In 2012 I hope to: 

1. Draw closer to my Creator than ever before.

2. Love others more. 

3. Make more time for crafts.

4. Read more books.

5. Spend less. Give more. 

6. Take a road trip. 

7. Meet (and love on) a child in another country.

8. Play more board games with my family.

9. Take more pictures. 

10. Get a new pair of TOMS.

11. More sister dates with my only sister. 

12. Serve others more.

13. Spend more time with my friends. 

14. At least one long walk on the beach. 

15. Watch more sunrises.

So, now it's your turn? What is your 2012 To Do List?