Praise Him! I know many of you have joined me in prayer for my upcoming mission trip and the fundraising that I have been working on, thank you very much! I just have to share with you how God is working......
I have a friend named Josh G. Skoglund who also happens to have a heart for missions work. He heard about my upcoming trip and gave me a call to offered his help. Josh has some has been blessed with some amazing tech-y skills and wanted to make a video to help with the fundraising process. So, we made a video! I was positive that God would open the doors to help me raise money I just wasn't sure how. I have to say that when Josh and I met to discuss this idea I couldn't help but see God's hand in it. I love love love seeing Him at work!
I have to admit that the thought of being in a video.....that is posted on the internet..... for all to see..... has been a little rough for me. I tend to be a pretty private person and have a tough time even listening to my voicemail recording with out being embarrassed:) Once again, God is good! He knows what I need more than I do! Hahaha, I guess I will have to get over myself and out of my comfort zone once again. I am trying to remember that the video is not about me. It is about raising money to bless some precious orphans with. That makes it more than worth a little discomfort. Thank you SO much for your hard work Josh! What a gift you have.
Please check it out!
shelby.dean.missions from j.hosh on Vimeo.
Love,
Shelby Dean
Monday, May 30, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
Hello world:) I am very new to blog writing as I am not sure that anyone would care to hear about my inner thoughts up until this point haha! But I now have a purpose that I feel is worthy of blogging about so here it goes........
Last summer I read an amazing book that open my eyes and heart called The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns, the CEO of World Vision. God definitely started working in my heart in new ways as I finished this book and began to read a few more about missionary work in developing countries, serving God’s people, and living a life fully devoted to Christ. The thought of taking a trip overseas to serve God’s children became very appealing to me and so I started looking for a mission trip that would provide this opportunity. I prayed and prayed that God would open doors for me if he wanted me to serve in this way and I just trusted that he would get me where I needed to be.
Around this time my friend was talking about a blog she was reading and how inspirational it was so I looked into it and started reading. If I had only known what I was in for:) It is one of those reads that hooked me, which is great, but this one also makes me extremely emotional as I can’t help but sob as I read about what this young woman is doing in Uganda, Africa. (My poor co-worker probably thinks I am emotionally unstable going to work many many mornings with tired and very puffy eyes:) I still have a hard time keeping my tears under control when I talk about this subject or read Katie’s blog. I really should just except it, stop trying to control it, and just take it as a blessing...... especially because the Holy Spirit tends to lead and guide me through my tears.) Anyways, I cannot begin to describe all of the work that Katie is doing for her community in Uganda but part of it involves starting an orphanage and legally adopting orphaned children. I know, right, amazing and she is only in her early twenties! If you want, check out her blog to learn more http://www.kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com
Through her blog and the suggestion of my dear friend I found out about Visiting Orphans http://www.visitingorphans.org/, a non-profit christian based organization that takes groups on mission trips to orphanages all over the world. I began to pray and save money and I knew God would lead me to where he wanted me. I found a trip that is going to Uganda and Ghana Africa to bring supplies, love on orphans, teach vacation bible school, and I imagine much much more. I felt/feel that this is a great fit for me and placed a deposit down in December. Myself and 23 others, that I don’t know, will be visiting the community where Katie’s ministries are (I might even get to meet her!!!!!) and then flying to Ghana to work with children in an orphanage there. The total time is about two weeks.
Like I mentioned above, I started saving last fall to financially prepare for a trip but I am a full time college student and only work part time so I am asking for help. That help can be financially, through prayer, or I am open to other ideas as well. I am learning that a huge part of this journey is preparing for the trip in various ways. There are many new lessons I am learning through the process, some harder than others. God knows I have a hard time asking for help for anything, especially in a monetary form:) so it is humbling to have to ask but, as always, I am grateful for God’s refining touch in my life. Anyways, I have already had a huge response from some friends and family and everyone wants to help somehow and I am very thankful for that. At first I was thinking that I would set a number and start going from there but it occurred to me that I really should just let God provide what he thinks I need. The total trip is around $4000 plus whatever I can take to buy supplies for the children I will be loving on. For anyone who is willing and able to donate here are some options......
Update: June 28, 2011
At this point, the best option to help with this trip would be getting money or supplies directly to me.
Last summer I read an amazing book that open my eyes and heart called The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns, the CEO of World Vision. God definitely started working in my heart in new ways as I finished this book and began to read a few more about missionary work in developing countries, serving God’s people, and living a life fully devoted to Christ. The thought of taking a trip overseas to serve God’s children became very appealing to me and so I started looking for a mission trip that would provide this opportunity. I prayed and prayed that God would open doors for me if he wanted me to serve in this way and I just trusted that he would get me where I needed to be.
Around this time my friend was talking about a blog she was reading and how inspirational it was so I looked into it and started reading. If I had only known what I was in for:) It is one of those reads that hooked me, which is great, but this one also makes me extremely emotional as I can’t help but sob as I read about what this young woman is doing in Uganda, Africa. (My poor co-worker probably thinks I am emotionally unstable going to work many many mornings with tired and very puffy eyes:) I still have a hard time keeping my tears under control when I talk about this subject or read Katie’s blog. I really should just except it, stop trying to control it, and just take it as a blessing...... especially because the Holy Spirit tends to lead and guide me through my tears.) Anyways, I cannot begin to describe all of the work that Katie is doing for her community in Uganda but part of it involves starting an orphanage and legally adopting orphaned children. I know, right, amazing and she is only in her early twenties! If you want, check out her blog to learn more http://www.kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com
Through her blog and the suggestion of my dear friend I found out about Visiting Orphans http://www.visitingorphans.org/, a non-profit christian based organization that takes groups on mission trips to orphanages all over the world. I began to pray and save money and I knew God would lead me to where he wanted me. I found a trip that is going to Uganda and Ghana Africa to bring supplies, love on orphans, teach vacation bible school, and I imagine much much more. I felt/feel that this is a great fit for me and placed a deposit down in December. Myself and 23 others, that I don’t know, will be visiting the community where Katie’s ministries are (I might even get to meet her!!!!!) and then flying to Ghana to work with children in an orphanage there. The total time is about two weeks.
Like I mentioned above, I started saving last fall to financially prepare for a trip but I am a full time college student and only work part time so I am asking for help. That help can be financially, through prayer, or I am open to other ideas as well. I am learning that a huge part of this journey is preparing for the trip in various ways. There are many new lessons I am learning through the process, some harder than others. God knows I have a hard time asking for help for anything, especially in a monetary form:) so it is humbling to have to ask but, as always, I am grateful for God’s refining touch in my life. Anyways, I have already had a huge response from some friends and family and everyone wants to help somehow and I am very thankful for that. At first I was thinking that I would set a number and start going from there but it occurred to me that I really should just let God provide what he thinks I need. The total trip is around $4000 plus whatever I can take to buy supplies for the children I will be loving on. For anyone who is willing and able to donate here are some options......
Update: June 28, 2011
At this point, the best option to help with this trip would be getting money or supplies directly to me.
Make a check to Anchorage Wesleyan Church and place my name in the memo line. If you live outside of Anchorage you can send it to 1041 East 76th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99518.Go to https://www.visitingorphans.org/donations/donate.aspx and make a donation there. Be sure to use my name, Shelby Sonnentag, when it asks if you want to donate to a specific team member. Also, select the trip Ghana/Uganda July 14-27.Another option is cash or check directly to me to take along for purchasing items to donate while I am there.
There are also some other opportunities in the works coming soon.
Please feel free to contacting me at anytime! shelbydjbsr@yahoo.com
Thank you so much for the prayers and help! I am so looking forward to what God has in store and also sharing this journey with all of you.
With Love,
Shelby
With Love,
Shelby
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