Hi friends!
Tomorrow is the big day! We are leaving bright and early tomorrow (Thursday) morning to drive down to LA. We fly out of LAX on Friday the 18th at 3pm. We will arrive in Santiago at 11:20am, their time, on Saturday the 19th. Please keep us in prayer as we travel. We also ask for prayers for our health, productivity, and our discernment with the Spirit during our eight weeks. Pray specifically for energy, as we are all completely exhausted and the trip hasn't even started yet! We love you all so much, and we hope to update as soon as possible. Thank you!
All our love,
Amanda, Matthew & Marissa
Also, the DR team will be at in n out in Elk Grove tonight at 8pm if you would like to say goodbye!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
3 college kids. God. And the DR.
Hi loved ones.
It's Marissa again. I realize that I take up a lot of space on this blog, but I think that Amanda has the kindness of the group, and Matthew manages the money and the details and logistics. So maybe I can be the heart and handle the emotions and the writing.
I wrote last week about God writing a story. I must say, this story hasn't even really begun, and yet it's already more exciting than I ever thought it would be. I remember praying at Nancy and Randal's house many months ago for our trip, and God gave me a vision that there would be obstacles, and that they would not be moved, but that we would have the strength and endurance to get around them. I remember the month of February, when we said "yes" to God's call the the DR and then all 3 of us were hit with severe trials and emotional/spiritual attack. I remember last Tuesday when we needed $2,200 by midnight on Sunday.
And I remember driving around Wilton at 11pm the night that we realized that God had provided above and beyond what we needed. I remember the breeze on my face and Matthew singing along with the music on the radio and I remember the smells and the quietness of my spirit and the tears that poured out of me like the gratefulness of a waterfall. I remember feeling so small, so insignificant, and yet so proud to be a crucial part in this story. We said "Yes." God did the rest.
It amazes me that the God of the universe, the God who gently sculpts the mountains with this fingertips, and rocks the ocean back and forth in a lullaby still took the time to put two moles on my left cheek. It's so rare that people catch the dreams that they've been chasing. I cry, because I am a wuss. But God has made all of this possible, and it has very little to do with me and a whole lot to do with His goodness. It has been a tumultuous 3 months. And the real journey begins next week.
I can sit here and write about how $11,000 came into our hands and in 3 months (and was managed by Matthew, by the way. That guys is AMAZING!) I can write about how our entire trip is paid for. I can say that we have already EXCEEDED our goal financially. But those are just details.
I know that some of you don't know God, and I am terribly sorry if I have offended you. But I would feel wrong to write about this moment and not mention His name. Because, like I said, I didn't do this one on my own. The three of us didn't do this on our own strength. And money is really only one small detail in all of this. We have 2 whole months ahead of us. We get to dive into God's love and grace and joy and peace and majesty and we get to share it with his beloved and beautiful people in the DR.
God is the reason we are going. God is the only thing that could cause us to give up our lives, our comfort, our families and go, headfirst, into the uknown.
This is the story that I want to tell. This is the story that matters. It's God's story. And it's beautiful and compelling and I can't wait to see how it ends.
I send the deepest love I can muster to each of you as you read this. May God's grace bless you. If you have given to us financially, we pray that you would be blessed tenfold. If you have been praying for us, know that we have been praying for you, too. If you have encouraged us, it was worth more than you could ever understand.
3 college kids. God. DR.
It's a good day, today.
With all my love,
Marissa
P.S. For those of you asking, we are driving down to L.A. next Thursday, 6/17. We fly out of of LAX on 6/18 (Friday) at 3pm, and arrive at JFK at 11pm. We fly out of JFK at 7am, Friday 6/18 and we land in Santiago later that day. We will try to give an update as soon as possible. Please keep us in your prayers as we travel!!!
It's Marissa again. I realize that I take up a lot of space on this blog, but I think that Amanda has the kindness of the group, and Matthew manages the money and the details and logistics. So maybe I can be the heart and handle the emotions and the writing.
I wrote last week about God writing a story. I must say, this story hasn't even really begun, and yet it's already more exciting than I ever thought it would be. I remember praying at Nancy and Randal's house many months ago for our trip, and God gave me a vision that there would be obstacles, and that they would not be moved, but that we would have the strength and endurance to get around them. I remember the month of February, when we said "yes" to God's call the the DR and then all 3 of us were hit with severe trials and emotional/spiritual attack. I remember last Tuesday when we needed $2,200 by midnight on Sunday.
And I remember driving around Wilton at 11pm the night that we realized that God had provided above and beyond what we needed. I remember the breeze on my face and Matthew singing along with the music on the radio and I remember the smells and the quietness of my spirit and the tears that poured out of me like the gratefulness of a waterfall. I remember feeling so small, so insignificant, and yet so proud to be a crucial part in this story. We said "Yes." God did the rest.
It amazes me that the God of the universe, the God who gently sculpts the mountains with this fingertips, and rocks the ocean back and forth in a lullaby still took the time to put two moles on my left cheek. It's so rare that people catch the dreams that they've been chasing. I cry, because I am a wuss. But God has made all of this possible, and it has very little to do with me and a whole lot to do with His goodness. It has been a tumultuous 3 months. And the real journey begins next week.
I can sit here and write about how $11,000 came into our hands and in 3 months (and was managed by Matthew, by the way. That guys is AMAZING!) I can write about how our entire trip is paid for. I can say that we have already EXCEEDED our goal financially. But those are just details.
I know that some of you don't know God, and I am terribly sorry if I have offended you. But I would feel wrong to write about this moment and not mention His name. Because, like I said, I didn't do this one on my own. The three of us didn't do this on our own strength. And money is really only one small detail in all of this. We have 2 whole months ahead of us. We get to dive into God's love and grace and joy and peace and majesty and we get to share it with his beloved and beautiful people in the DR.
God is the reason we are going. God is the only thing that could cause us to give up our lives, our comfort, our families and go, headfirst, into the uknown.
This is the story that I want to tell. This is the story that matters. It's God's story. And it's beautiful and compelling and I can't wait to see how it ends.
I send the deepest love I can muster to each of you as you read this. May God's grace bless you. If you have given to us financially, we pray that you would be blessed tenfold. If you have been praying for us, know that we have been praying for you, too. If you have encouraged us, it was worth more than you could ever understand.
3 college kids. God. DR.
It's a good day, today.
With all my love,
Marissa
P.S. For those of you asking, we are driving down to L.A. next Thursday, 6/17. We fly out of of LAX on 6/18 (Friday) at 3pm, and arrive at JFK at 11pm. We fly out of JFK at 7am, Friday 6/18 and we land in Santiago later that day. We will try to give an update as soon as possible. Please keep us in your prayers as we travel!!!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
DR Update
Hey friends!
Marissa, here. We are leaving in less than 3 weeks for Santiago! Crazy, huh? It seems like just yesterday, Amanda and I were chatting in a hotel in Redding at 4am about how we want to hang out with some DR babies, and now we are actually getting ready to leave! It is amazing how much God has ALREADY done in us and through us. God has provided $8,600 in just a few short months, and so many people have come forward with love and encouragement and support. TONS of support. I am in awe of my friends and family and fellow followers of Jesus. God is using each one of us to better His Kingdom, and I am so excited to read the next chapter in the book God is writing on this trip.
I think you are a part of this story, too. At least, I'd like you to be. You've helped write it this far. We've been shown such love and support in the past few months, and it has very little to do with us, and a whole lot to do with the amazing and wonderful people that we know. We are blessed to call you friends and family.
But this is the fun part. We still need your help. I would like to start by saying that we, above all, ask that you pray for us. We need tons of prayer and encouragement and support emotionally. Please keep us in your thoughts these next few weeks as we prepare, as well as the 8 weeks that we are in the DR. But we also need financial support. And if you have supported us thus far, we are beyond grateful. We are inexplicably gracious for your generosity. We do not ask that you give more than you already have. We ask that you pray before giving, and we ask that you give WITHOUT obligation. If you feel called to donate, every dollar is appreciated. It doesn't have to be a huge. It doesn't have to be momentous or significant. You are helping to write a story, and every letter and word is important and crucial to the telling of that story.
As of right now, we are $1,800 short of our total cost. It's not a huge amount, but it is overwhelming for us. There are several ways that you can support. First, we are continuing to sell tamales through Baja Burrito. They are $20/dozen, and you can choose from pork, chicken, beef and vegetarian. We are putting in an order THIS SUNDAY, June 6, so get the information and payment to us as soon as you can if you are interested. We are also selling tshirts in black and grey, vneck or crew neck for $20 each as well. You can contact any team member for those as well. Lastly, you can just give freewill. Please make checks payable to Marissa Matheny, Matthew McCleary or Living Water Church (for tax-write off purposes) and the donation will be divided equally amongst the group unless otherwise specified.
We thank you so much for your time, support, and encouragement. Every hug, and kind word, and bit of excitement that you are showing for this trip is helping to write an amazing story. And on behalf of Matthew and Amanda, we are beyond blessed to know you, and proud to call you friends, family and brothers and sisters in Christ. Regardless of the outcome of this note, or how anyone responds, we have been blessed thus far, and that is more than enough for us.
Love you all,
Marissa
P.S. Speaking of the concept of story, if you dig it, read "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years" by Donald Miller. It'll rock your world.
Marissa, here. We are leaving in less than 3 weeks for Santiago! Crazy, huh? It seems like just yesterday, Amanda and I were chatting in a hotel in Redding at 4am about how we want to hang out with some DR babies, and now we are actually getting ready to leave! It is amazing how much God has ALREADY done in us and through us. God has provided $8,600 in just a few short months, and so many people have come forward with love and encouragement and support. TONS of support. I am in awe of my friends and family and fellow followers of Jesus. God is using each one of us to better His Kingdom, and I am so excited to read the next chapter in the book God is writing on this trip.
I think you are a part of this story, too. At least, I'd like you to be. You've helped write it this far. We've been shown such love and support in the past few months, and it has very little to do with us, and a whole lot to do with the amazing and wonderful people that we know. We are blessed to call you friends and family.
But this is the fun part. We still need your help. I would like to start by saying that we, above all, ask that you pray for us. We need tons of prayer and encouragement and support emotionally. Please keep us in your thoughts these next few weeks as we prepare, as well as the 8 weeks that we are in the DR. But we also need financial support. And if you have supported us thus far, we are beyond grateful. We are inexplicably gracious for your generosity. We do not ask that you give more than you already have. We ask that you pray before giving, and we ask that you give WITHOUT obligation. If you feel called to donate, every dollar is appreciated. It doesn't have to be a huge. It doesn't have to be momentous or significant. You are helping to write a story, and every letter and word is important and crucial to the telling of that story.
As of right now, we are $1,800 short of our total cost. It's not a huge amount, but it is overwhelming for us. There are several ways that you can support. First, we are continuing to sell tamales through Baja Burrito. They are $20/dozen, and you can choose from pork, chicken, beef and vegetarian. We are putting in an order THIS SUNDAY, June 6, so get the information and payment to us as soon as you can if you are interested. We are also selling tshirts in black and grey, vneck or crew neck for $20 each as well. You can contact any team member for those as well. Lastly, you can just give freewill. Please make checks payable to Marissa Matheny, Matthew McCleary or Living Water Church (for tax-write off purposes) and the donation will be divided equally amongst the group unless otherwise specified.
We thank you so much for your time, support, and encouragement. Every hug, and kind word, and bit of excitement that you are showing for this trip is helping to write an amazing story. And on behalf of Matthew and Amanda, we are beyond blessed to know you, and proud to call you friends, family and brothers and sisters in Christ. Regardless of the outcome of this note, or how anyone responds, we have been blessed thus far, and that is more than enough for us.
Love you all,
Marissa
P.S. Speaking of the concept of story, if you dig it, read "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years" by Donald Miller. It'll rock your world.
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