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yllekeener
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Name: kelly-renee
Birthday: 7/20/1982
Gender: Female
Interests: listening, learning, lighting, leaping, lasting-relationships, and laughter
Expertise: i'm getting MUCH better at trying things
Occupation: Student
Message: message me
Member Since:
4/30/2004
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| one trip down...two to go!WOW!!! Thanks for sticking with me and reading these -
i have 23 mins to write to you, now that my first trip with Heart of the Bride is over and I embark on my next 2 trips with Overland Missions, and all I want to do is send you the good word about one particular boy named .....Kellys.
That's right - we share the same name (almost) and he was such a blessing in the whole functioning of the camp. He lives in Kitwe, Zambia and he is the oldest of 5 kids, he's 16 (though he's so skinny and sweet faced that you'd think him 13) and his parents both died this June. The days here are about 70 degrees, but the nights are 30^F and boys like him who don't have a place to sleep have to wear any and all clothes they have to attempt to keep them warm at night. Already i could see boys stealing from him because he's new to the streets.
I made a friendship with him that was like that of my brother Francisco and as innocent as my sister Amanda, and was able to slip him some extra clothes and presents without the other bigger street bullies detecting...but i'm a little worried for him. He's at a tender spot and trying to keep it together for his whole family. Please know that i'm not saying that people aren't suffering in the states as badly if not worse, because we all know they are.....I am just writing this to you because you've supported me in prayer and this is the one boy God laid on my heart more than anyone. If it touches you too please pray for Kellys. (dad i was able to slip him 2 pocket knifes in his shoes and a conveyor guys t-shirt at the last minute too - you should have seen his eyes well up with thanks!)
Kellys speaks English and prays with his whole heart and when we played soccer he ran hard - even though he was suffering from exhaustion from Malaria (which God healed when we prayed for him!).
Please pray for Kellys to be one of the first boys who gets to live in the ranch when it is built. He's tender and i'll send you a picture of him when i get home.
There is a desperate need for used or new clothes, belts and shoes here in Zambia as it truly is a poverty stricken, sickly nation.
You may not think you few old clothes, sweaters, shoes and pants from the 90's will make a difference, but i personally watched suitcases of clothes just empty into the hands of people who only had one set of clothing. So, if you read this and can spare some items and about $15.00 to ship them, please , in the next few days, mail your leftover male and female clothes to:
Karen van de Voorde
w/ Heart of the Bride
823 Lake Amick Dr.
Niceville, FL 32578
She is sending out the last load of clothing by the 15th of Aug - and they cover the overseas shipping through donations, so please send anything you feel led to send. No gift is too small. Seriously, even a belt is worth the postage.
Yikes! only 2 minutes!
I love you. I want you to know how much I appreciate emails and prayers. Chris and I changed a lot on the first trip, and for those of you who don't know she will be arriving home today. She is a new girl , i think you'll see! it's BEAUTIFUL!! and I am about to enter mozambique via a HUGE army truck. It's been great as the Lord has been teaching me to sit back and let him and others be in charge and lead. I'm submitting and finding strength in that somehow.
And,... I'm missing my Adam really bad.
God give me strength!
Till 3 more weeks when i might write again,
Kelly | | |
| from Amsterdam - en route to Zambia
On April 2nd, one day after I dropped off Adam at the airport for a 3 month mission trip, God put this trip to Zambia and Mozambique on my heart and though he tweeked the length of it from staying indefinitely to staying the 7weeks, I have been going along in faith, making partial payments to a lot of people in an attempt to cover the $5,600 price this whole trip was costing. I worked, and fundraised as you all know, but 3 weeks before the trip, the situation looked bleek as i was still in the whole $2,600 and received a rejection phone call and email from a hoped for source that seemed to have the money to give but felt they shouldn't. Their reason was because of doubt and MAN, did i start doubting after that. The enemy used the doubt of others to weed into my own head and all of a sudden I started sobbing and sobbing wondering :
Did I really hear God?
Maybe I'm not supposed to go on this trip.
I guess I'll just not go at all and stay and pay back the non-refundable money.
If they don't believe in me or this, then it must not be right.
It must just me pushing this thing -maybe God doesn't want me to go on a mission trip.
I am so confused.
I voiced these thoughts, and I prayed, and I cried, and I played my sax, and I grieved more deeply than I have in a long, long time, and then..... I just kept on going. I picked up myself and realized that even if I was capable missing God, that nothing in my spirit was telling me that I was missing God, it was only circumstances and people.
See, I believe now, that I declared that i would "go" in faith and because I am God's daughter, He wants to honor what I declare and He wants me to honor it too. If I quit before He has the chance to shine, what glory does he get? And also, what if i declare something that God tells me to do and don't do it? How many people don't trust God or me anymore? God is Word and our word is IMPORTANT to keep. Though we are allowed to change our minds and break our covenants and leases all the time if we want to, we lose something when we break our word - so when you declare something in faith that is impossible to complete without God, DON'T let the enemy or people or circumstances tell you that it can't happen and that you missed God. God won't fail you, just keep depending on him.....even til the VERY last minute....here's why:
So, since you see that i'm in Amsterdam, you konw i'm already on my way to Lusaka, but what you probably don't know is that 1 week ago I was $2,600 in debt and I got a call from someone for $1,000.........then a missionary tithed her support money to me for $240, my grandmother's bill was $50 less, so she sent it to me, a few others added some support, but still , i was $1,000 short.
Well, yesterday -July15th - THE DAY I LEFT FOR AFRICA - someone gave me a check for $999.24 (she's not cheap - her fav. number is 24)!
God waited to the very last minute and many times i wanted to quit, but praise God ! ALLL praise is to God for putting this all together at the last minute.
I still can't believe it - it actually happened! I'm on my way!!
Thank you all for giving and praying for me. I was so discouraged at times, but now I KNOW that I am here for a purpose. You are where you are for a purpose too - (lol - unless God told you to be somewhere else right now, i guess =) and I hope to learn from what God is showing you too.
A special thanks to everyone at Small Pointe Baptist Church - Thank you for helpi
I have 4 mins. left on this ticking internet clock - so i must go...
until i find another cafe -
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| I'm coming back to xanga because i remember things i've said before. It's important to stay connected in a world full of breif encounters. It's important, too, for me to journal. I need it for myself. And lastly, it's important to the people i care about.
I am feeling passionate about missions (though i usually dislike using that word). In just one week (april 1st) Adam, my boyfriend and best friend, is leaving for Zambia Africa to spend 2 months living out of his tent helpting to build a Base for www.overlandmissions.com and 1 month he'll be traveling to remote villages preaching with the same group.
A few days ago Chris Perry, my best girl friend and roomate (that's another story i'll have to update on) here in lakeland, said she wanted to got to Africa with crossroads community church www.thexroads.org but immediately i said "no". "i'm no longer 'into' asking people for money for me to go overseas...i've been on mission trips, so i'm ready to just get a job overseas". Well, i went to church today and felt pressed to stay for the meeting after church. I was psyched to hear about it and that the trip is 2 weeks long, costs $3000, but hopefully $2,000 of that will be raised by the church!!! Wow!! Adam will be coming back fromZambia July 1st, and it's crazy to thik that i might be going there (to another city though- with a mission to build a base shelter for homeless, uneducated boys) just 2 weeks later, but that's the way God works sometimes, so i'm praying about going. After that, i know i would want to go with Overland- Adam wants to go to lightinternational. I don't want to lean on an organization -just like i don't want to lean on money or ideas or family or my reputation, etc. - but i do see that i need a leader/covering. Lord- your kingdom can be here on Earth. Please let me be a part of that!!!
I also feel so called to be a part of Overland more, but i don't know how it could be.. It feels like all i can see is how i'm not free - like i have school loans and stuff, but in the same way I know God can take care of those. I just believe so strongly that the Lord has called them and given me a place with them sometime in the future. But it remind myself, still, not to worry. I think it's Matthew 6:25-34 that talks about not worrying.
God says: (actually jesus said, but since the word is inspired by God -i think it's okay to say God said, right?)
paraphrased "Do not worry about anything- from the clothes that you "just have to match" or that "you can't wear cuz they all make me look fat!"....to the food that you eat or avoid, or just think about all day. Let ME take care of you...and...do not worry about Tomorrow , for tomorrow will worry about itself."
I just love that Jesus loved me. I have a perfect present that was completely free and was offered to me in a way that I could receive it. I have a passion to make that present available and attractive to others, so that they can have life too. Until they do, they are going to die.
So that is why i am passionate about those who do not yet know Jesus. I am specifically concerned for those overseas because as Americans our incredible knowledge and research shows us that people in many many many countries who want an answer and are seeking for Jesus or God, literally CAN'T find him. They do not have churches, they do not know a christian (or one that speaks their language) and they can't find a book (or they can't read). If thousands of Christians aren't seeking to go overseas because they don't even know that they should, and I DO know the need, but don't go, who will go?
Who will go? | | |
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I'm sorry to do this, but....
I'm really spending any connections time efforts on myspace, cuz you can write and do photos easier.....so for dad and those who care, check it out at:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=14438470
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| Okay Heather let me give you your conclusion and then a list of Do's & Don'ts (for both of you)
Why REDS need WHITES:
- to calm them in a crisis
- to listen to them
- to bounce ideas off of
- to feel safe with
- to promote compromise
- to delegate responsibility
- to support them
- to balance them with perspective
- to remind about quality versus quantity
- to communicate logically with (cuz noone else will!!)
Why WHITES need REDS
- to motivate them
- to inspire and encourage them
- to lead them
- to share risks with
- to organize them
- to pormote them
- to establish healthy boundaries
- to provide vision
- to stay task-oriencted
- to set goals and objectives
OK 10 Do's for Developing Positive Connections with Reds: (Advice for you Heather)
DO:
- Present issues logically
- Demand their attention and respect
- Be direct, brief and specific in conversations
- Be productive and efficient
- Offer them leadership opportunities
- Verbalize your feelings
- Support their decisive nature
- Promote their intelligent reasoning where appropriate
- Be prepared wiht facts and figures
- Respect their need to make their own decisions their way
DON'T
- Don't Embarass them in front of others
- Don't argue from an emotional perspective
- Don't always use authoritarain approach
- Don't use physical punishment
- Don't be slow and indecisive
- Don't expect a personal and intimate relationship
- Don't attack them personally
- Don't take their arguments personally
- Don't wait for them to solicit your opinion
- Don't demand constant social interaction (allow for time alone).
And if someone wants to make a WHITE feel good:
DO
- Be loving and sensitive
- Be firm
- Provide a structure (boundaries) for them to operate in
- Be patient and gentle
- Introduce options and ideas for their involvement
- Be simple and open
- Accept their individuality
- Be casual, informal and relaxed
- Look for non-verbal clues into their feelings
- Listen quickly
But DON'T
- Don't be UN-kind
- Don't expect them to always need others to play with
- Don't force verbal expression
- Don't be domineering
- Don't be too intense
- Don't overwhelm them with too much
- Don't force confrontation
- Don't speak too fast
- Don't take away their day dreams
- Don't demand leadership
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