A good friend told me at the beginning of this journey, "people you expect are NOT going to support you, and people you may not know well at all are going to surprise you." Now she can say, "I told you so." The past few weeks have been interesting. After stressing and worrying about a church that might support me, or at least listen to my ministry, I finally emailed the letter. It only took 2 months ;) In a matter of 1 day, my stress and fears were transformed. Not only could they not support me, they would not even hear about my ministry. That was a big discouragement, not the lack of support, but the lack of hearing about the ministry to these kids.
Support has not been coming in much these days. But I'm still waiting. I would be fine with start up, but without monthly support (right now I have $170 monthly) I could only stay until Christmas, which I know is not God's plan.
The encouragement, music. I have heard many new songs, whose lyrics are exactly what I need to hear. But more encouraging, in the form of music, is the missions benefit concert being planned for me to share my ministry and open the church's eyes to the need of missions and missionaries. Many times here in Florida I have felt apart from my closest friends, so a few months ago I would never have imagined the blessing that is taking place. I will have my stressful opportunity to talk in front of the church to announce the concert and a time to talk in the concert, but the focus will not be on me and my words. As you know, I'm not the most outgoing, being in front of people, kind of person. So God is using others to help me share the ministry!
The concert is Friday, September 3 and we are having practices 2 days a week. We will have an international pot luck (where I get to play Spanish worship music), a silent auction for paintings, a time of worship, a time of original songs written and time for me to share as well as a pastor at the church.
Leeland "Follow You"
You live among the least of these the weary and the weak. And it would be a tragedy for me to turn away. All my needs you have supplied. When I was dead you gave me life. How could I not give it away so freely?
And I'll, I'll follow you into the homes of the broken. I'll follow you into the world. I'll meet the needs of the poor and the needy God. I'll follow you into the world.
Use my hands, use my feet to make your kingdom come. To the corners of the earth until your work is done.
I give all myself, I give all myself, I give all myself to You
** the pictures are of the kids at Casa de Luz... I did not take them, I just borrowed them to show you. I wish I was there to take them! **
