Its the Final Countdown! :)

ONE WEEK FROM TODAY! I will fly out to NewYork and then have my checkout with AIM on Monday. My departure to Kenya will be on August 9th around 6:00 pm.

God has been so gracious to supply all my support needs. He is so faithful. I am also so thankful for the special times He has given me with some of my family and friends these last two weeks. I know He will continue to be with me this week as I pack and get ready to say "see you later" to so many people. Today at church I was reminded from Judges 6 how our Strength is found IN the Lord. How He is WITH us. Just like He promised Gideon when he would be going up against a huge army with "just" 300 men. But God knew what He was doing when He told Gideon to send those men home. It was a chance to see God's power and Glory shine! It was such a great reminder to me of where my strength comes from and I am so thankful for God's presence and care in my life.

Will you please be praying with me:

Time management.. I have so much to do with packing and finishing up my last Bible class before I go. I need to be wise with how I spend that time.. But I also want to make the most of the last days with family and friends.

My Grandpa has been having some chest pain and is having trouble with his physical heart.. We are also praying for his Salvation! Please join my family in praying that God would work in his heart to soften towards the Lord.

Also, could you be praying for baggage and smooth connections? There is always the potential for difficulties with airlines on baggage allowance and lost luggage.. I want to remember that these things are not what is most important and that God will get what He knows I need there. Thank you for your love and prayers!

Next time I write it will probably be from RVA! :) I will have new staff orientation for the first 2 weeks or so before my 9th grade girls will join me in our dorm. I am so excited for what God has planned. I am so blessed that God has allowed me to have a part in this work.

Serving with you!

Amy

change of plans. :)

July Update

WOW.. I have often heard and seen how God’s timing is not my own but I guess God wanted to remind me of that again. J AIM called me on Friday to see if I would be willing or able to leave in August instead of waiting to leave in October. They usually only send people out certain times of the year so that incoming missionaries can attend an African Based Orientation for 2 weeks upon arrival in-country. Our stateside director was talking to the director at RVA and they were hoping I could come and be there for the start of the school term. SO. Since I told the Lord I was willing to go whenever He wanted me to go, I prayed about it this weekend and talked to my family about it and God gave me a peace that now was His timing and He even confirmed it by providing ALL of the support I needed. I am FULLY supported in my outgoing and my monthly pledges. I am so thankful. God is my ever-present, Jehovah-Jireh (my provider) and what a blessing it is to trust Him and see His faithfulness to complete and enable for what He has called me to do. I am also so thankful for the partners He has blessed me with in ministry in all of you as I know that I would not be able to go without you being willing to allow God to use you in your prayers and financial support. So asante sana (thank you very much) J

Please be praying with me that God would be preparing me to have a willing and flexible heart for whatever He calls me to do while in Kenya at RVA. I am so excited to meet the 9^th grade girls I will be living with in the dorm called KeDong and to start building relationships with them.

Also, I now only have 3 weeks to finish preparations! I am confident that God will provide the energy and time since He has opened the doors for an early departure. Please pray for wisdom in getting things finished on my outgoing to-do list and for smooth transitions. I will fly to NewYork where AIM’s HQs are and then leave from NY to Nairobi on August 9^th.

Please pray for special times with family and friends before leaving. It is never going to be easy to say Goodbye, but God didn’t say it was going to be easy. I know I can lean on Him fully for His strength and grace that He has promised us in His word. I am SO excited to see the ways God will work in all of these requests.

How you can help: Since I am going to be a “mom” for these girls, it has been suggested that I should stock up on fun treats that teenagers enjoy that are harder to get over there in Kenya.. some examples are kool-aid packets, ranch packets, small gifts for birthdays, hard candy, etc.. (anything that is lighter weight and non-perishable, or at least will travel well J ) If you would be interested in contributing to that sometime the next 2 weeks, please let me know by email or giving me a call to make arrangements. (my cell is 317-506-0231) amyjarr@gmail.com

“Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.” Psalm 33:20-22

Serving with you,

Amy