In one week I will be on my way to Cape Town! It is hard to believe that this whole mission trip has been in the works since December -- just over 6 months at this point! I really can't contain my excitement very well, but it isn't a "all-at-once" excitement, but a gradual build up excitement. Think of yourself as a 7 year the night before Christmas. It is like that, but much more gradual yet higher total excitement!
One thing I would like to post here is that I won't be able to update this blog as compehensively as I previously thought. The reason being is that we are not allowed to take our laptops with us (I guess I could take it, but in all honesty, it will probably be more of a hassle than what it needs to be). However, I will have my phone and I just downloaded the Blogger app. Basically, what I think I will do upload shorter blog posts throughout the trip. Then, at the end when I am back home, I can post longer, more exhaustive blog posts!
Finally, an update on support raising: I am at $4,515 with $1,785 to go! I know God will provide somehow, someway! However, if you are reading this and would like to give, you can give on my Cru profile at https://give.cru.org/0691240.
And, as always, keep the ministry team and I in your prayer. It will be an exhausting five week period, but so rewarding and humbling at the same time. We need prayer just as much as the financial support!
Until next time,
Eric
Monday, June 17, 2013
Saturday, June 1, 2013
The Home Stretch
This is it. The final run. I am leaving for Cape Town in 23 days! With that being said, I felt that I should update everyone on how I stand support wise.
At the moment, I have raised $4,215. That means I have $2,085 to reach my goal of $6,300. I trust in God that the support will come in these last few weeks. This is a very faith-stretching experience, and I know that I need to keep that in perspective. I want to thank all my supporters thus far no matter what you have given (prayer, money etc.). I can only trust that God will bring in the rest!
At the moment, I have raised $4,215. That means I have $2,085 to reach my goal of $6,300. I trust in God that the support will come in these last few weeks. This is a very faith-stretching experience, and I know that I need to keep that in perspective. I want to thank all my supporters thus far no matter what you have given (prayer, money etc.). I can only trust that God will bring in the rest!
Saturday, May 11, 2013
The Final Batch (hopefully!)
Hello Everyone,
Although this post is coming a little over a month from when I leave for South Africa, the journey to this point started way earlier! I decided on a Summer Project (what Cru calls mission trips) after the past four years, thinking they weren't for me. But God sure has a way of making you do things He desires. In a Jonah-like experience (you know, minus being swallowed by a fish for three days), I went from not even thinking about a Summer Project (SP for now on) to wanting to go on one no matter the cost (even if it is $6,300)! Regardless, I am happy with my decision and am in the final stages of South Africa preparation. Want to know what that looks like? Fortunately for you, I took a picture:
Yes, that is a Christmas tree poking up from the top. It's Nich's, my roommate. He is going on a SP too, but to cold Russia and you should follow his blog too here.
That is the last of support letters I need to send out, God willing. In total I have sent about 130 letters out. That means I have wrote my address
Anyways, more seriously, this whole process has been very faith-stretching for me. I know God will provide. He absolutely will. But the question is how? Will he let all the support role in right away, that way I can sleep easy? Or will it come in very slowly over the entire time I'm sending out letters? Perhaps none of it will come until a week before I leave. Not ideal in my opinion, but I would trust God's opinion over mine any day. What if it simply doesn't come in? Like what if I am short $2000? What then? Am I not suppose to go on the SP? Maybe. But maybe God is building me up for something greater. Romans 5:3-5 succinctly explains my thought process on this:
I need to wrap this up soon (I'm sure you are getting bored). If you made it this far, keep reading because this is the good stuff: prayer! I need lots of it. I mean, lots. Doing God's work isn't straightforward and easy; it will be frustrating, difficult and exhausting. So a quick prayer list:
That is it. My simple, first post that marks (on the internet at least) the beginning of an amazing experience and journey! Check in every now and then. I plan to update this enough so that you have a general idea of what I am doing the entire trip! If you have any questions, please do so. This blog is here to give my supporters (and anyone who wants to read this, I won't discriminate) a chance to "be there" with me.
Although this post is coming a little over a month from when I leave for South Africa, the journey to this point started way earlier! I decided on a Summer Project (what Cru calls mission trips) after the past four years, thinking they weren't for me. But God sure has a way of making you do things He desires. In a Jonah-like experience (you know, minus being swallowed by a fish for three days), I went from not even thinking about a Summer Project (SP for now on) to wanting to go on one no matter the cost (even if it is $6,300)! Regardless, I am happy with my decision and am in the final stages of South Africa preparation. Want to know what that looks like? Fortunately for you, I took a picture:
Yes, that is a Christmas tree poking up from the top. It's Nich's, my roommate. He is going on a SP too, but to cold Russia and you should follow his blog too here.
That is the last of support letters I need to send out, God willing. In total I have sent about 130 letters out. That means I have wrote my address
Eric Longover 260 times (it is committed to memory now and forever). Seriously, I am starting to get a dent in my finger where I have been holding the pen. I have no idea how people did the support raising prior to computer printers. Lots of respect for them, lots of it.
406 Packard St., Apt. 315
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Anyways, more seriously, this whole process has been very faith-stretching for me. I know God will provide. He absolutely will. But the question is how? Will he let all the support role in right away, that way I can sleep easy? Or will it come in very slowly over the entire time I'm sending out letters? Perhaps none of it will come until a week before I leave. Not ideal in my opinion, but I would trust God's opinion over mine any day. What if it simply doesn't come in? Like what if I am short $2000? What then? Am I not suppose to go on the SP? Maybe. But maybe God is building me up for something greater. Romans 5:3-5 succinctly explains my thought process on this:
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.No matter what happens, God is building character in me. Now I wouldn't really call support writing "suffering" (my hand will beg to differ!), but it definitely has been much more stressful than I was expecting, which easily qualifies as a trial. James 1:2 further hones in on this point:
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.Therefore, I gladly count it joy. The results of support raising are far more important than the support itself.
I need to wrap this up soon (I'm sure you are getting bored). If you made it this far, keep reading because this is the good stuff: prayer! I need lots of it. I mean, lots. Doing God's work isn't straightforward and easy; it will be frustrating, difficult and exhausting. So a quick prayer list:
- Divine strength, stamina and wisdom for the ministry team and I
- God will soften the hearts of South Africans. Pray that they are extra prepared to hear us when we come
- That the final support I need will come in on time (I'm at about $2,200 of the $6,300 I need)
That is it. My simple, first post that marks (on the internet at least) the beginning of an amazing experience and journey! Check in every now and then. I plan to update this enough so that you have a general idea of what I am doing the entire trip! If you have any questions, please do so. This blog is here to give my supporters (and anyone who wants to read this, I won't discriminate) a chance to "be there" with me.
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