Wednesday, June 29, 2011

2 weeks!

Ahhh! I can't believe it! I will literally be in Africa in 15 days! People ask me if I am excited and honestly, I only get excited when I talk about it.  I really don't know what to expect but I know that I will be excited when I step foot in the airport. I have had such a blessed summer with so much fellowship that I don't even want to leave now. Pray that Satan stay far, far away from our hearts and minds concerning this trip! 


If anyone is in Summerville, or the Charleston area, on July 9th at 6pm my family is putting on a "send-off" party (I don't like the term "going-away" because I won't be gone that long).  Please come join us! The more the merrier, just shoot me a text or email letting us know so that we have enough food.


P.S. Go Gamecocks! That's all I have for now.   :)


To God be the glory!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

3 weeks!

I forgot to mention... Last night I realized that we have 3 weeks until we leave!! I got chills when I was talking about it with a friend. Ahhh! Please join my team and myself in prayer for our time leading up to our trip, for God to prepare our time there and for the people we will encounter.

: )

Psalm 48:14

"For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end."


We had our second conference call Saturday, though it felt like our first again because we had a whole new country to talk about and also an itinerary to discuss. I'm such a fan of itineraries because I love planning things/ having a plan (which helps me to feel in control), this is so bad! I'm not in control of my life and that is something that God has been teaching me over the past three years. We have already learned to stay really open to changes and to remain flexible but it is still good to be able to anticipate some of the things that I may be doing in Africa.  Some of these things may include working with Amazima ministries, Canaan's Children's Home, Sixty Feet (a children's prison), Return ministries, Project 61, travel down the Nile river, Beza International, and America World Adoption Transitional Home. Wow! These are some incredible opportunities and ministries where I pray that I can be the hands and feet of Jesus. I just cannot wait!

Another change besides going to Ethiopia rather than Uganda is that I will be flying out of Charleston on the 13th rather than the 14th.  This is no big deal. I will spend the night in D.C. with most of my team members, which will give us the opportunity to get to know each other. 

Something else that I am looking forward to/ anticipating a lot of learning and growing from is the remainder of our conference calls.  We have also been encouraged to fast and pray before, during, and after our calls.  This should really help the Lord speak to us and prepare us for this trip and for His work.   I am so excited for this time that I should be able to grow closer to the Lord and spend more time in prayer and in His Word. 


I just received an email that is just another way to see exactly how much God is in charge of this trip and how good He is! There is expected to be a strike with the aviation systems in Ghana (where we were supposed to go until not too long ago). What a blessing! God totally had this planned for us. 

Monday, June 13, 2011

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord...


Well Autumn, my trip leader, told us early on that we would need to remain flexible with this trip... I'm always flexible so that's not a problem with me. While they were arranging our travel plans from Uganda to Ghana, they realized that we would be waisting so much time traveling that we wouldn't have much time to spend in Ghana and really do God's work and build relationships. Option one was to keep the trip Uganda and Ghana, option two would be Uganda only, and option three was Uganda and Ethiopia (which we will be flying in and out of anyways). After the group speaking with God and then all "voting" on it, God is sending us to ETHIOPIA!!! 


I was thinking about this driving home the other night and thought, surely God laughed every time we told someone we were going to Ghana or talked about Ghana. He already knew we would be going to Ethiopia! Wow! The Creator of this whole universe knows what each and every one of us are going to do before we even do it. Just think about that... it brings a smile straight to my face. 


I know absolutely nothing about Ethiopia but I don't even care! I watched the movie Mama Heidi, which I highly recommend to anyone and everyone, and she repeated one thing which has resonated in my mind constantly since watching that movie, "love the one in front of you"... (I really, really encourage you to Google or check out some YouTube videos on Heidi Baker. The movie, Mama Heidi, is also available on Netflix.) God blessed me with the gift of loving children and I cannot wait to show that to them and just love those sweet, sweet children!


"love the one in front of you"

beginning.

The first conference call with my group was June 1st. Just hearing more about our trip from an actual voice, rather than reading about, gets me excited. Every time I hear from Amy (currently in Ghana) I just can't wait to be there! It also helps that she is there, and has been before, because I feel like I can go straight to her with any questions. What a sweet, sweet blessing she is to me! 

On another note, the Lord has called so many people to generously and graciously support me financially as well as prayerfully and in so many other ways. I know that was a lot of adjectives in one sentence but seriously! What a beautiful example of God's grace. Let me explain: so many people who have donated their time, money, prayers, etc. hardly even know me. I have done nothing to deserve their support. I did nothing to deserve Jesus but it was "by GRACE" that I was saved. How beautiful! Praise Him for that! While I have raised all of the financial support that I personally need, there are many things that my team is hoping to provide for the orphanages and orphans. Again, if you feel that God has called you to support these children please contact me at machinnis@gmail.com and I would be happy to share with you some of their needs and provide a way to donate.

"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen."
-Philippians 4:19-20

fyi.

In 2008, during my freshman year at the University of South Carolina, so many wonderful things happened. I joined a sorority, met some of my best friends, and came to know Christ more than I ever had before. Through the encouragement and prayers of my sisters, I now live my life serving my Savior who paid the ultimate price for my life. This past January, I began my senior year of college and felt that I should take advantage of any opportunities that came along while I am still able. I had been praying for God to show me what He wanted me to do with my summer and came across a friend’s pictures who just returned from Uganda with Visiting Orphans. Being an early childhood education major, I have always had a passion for children so I knew right away this is what I was called to do. Not long after praying and seeking the Word, a Christian musician, Lecrae, and his song Send Me weighed heavy on my heart and a great friend directed me to Isaiah 6:8, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’”

This summer I have an amazing opportunity to visit orphanages in Ghana and Uganda, Africa. This fourteen-day mission-trip is being organized by a Christian non-profit ministry called Visiting Orphans. Visiting Orphans organizes trips for Christian groups to visit orphanages all over the world. Their mission is “to awaken the body of Christ to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the 163 million orphans by visiting them, loving them, and sharing the Father’s heart.” You can learn more about them at: www.VisitingOrphans.org .

It would be greatly appreciated if partner with me and many others in prayer that our team will have unity and that our travels will be safe and we will remain healthy. Pray also that God will teach me more about Himself and especially pray that we will be able to communicate God’s love to the children we meet.

While God has put it on so many people's hearts to graciously provide for my trip cost, we are still collecting money to directly meet the needs of the orphanages and orphans. Please email me at machinnis@gmail.com if you feel that God has called you to support this mission in any way. Please stay tuned to this blog for updates prior to and upon my return from Africa. 

Blessings,
Meredith