Such A Blessing...

WOW! I can't believe that I doubted God for one second! I always knew deep down inside that I would some how get enough funding for the trip, but I had my doubts! I kept telling myself that since God won't waste an opportunity to show off his glory, love, and mercy that he would use my funding as an opportunity to show me personally how AWESOME HE IS! I guess I always knew that but I had never really experienced it personally! It was such a relief as well as a blessing to hear that my trip was totally funded! The pastor's son who is going on this trip had gotten an extremely large check. His account was fully funded so his mom wanted the money to go into my account so now I am already to go in the funding department! I don't think you can ever be emotionally ready for a mission trip so even though we go through a ton of training it may never prepare us for the slums! I am really happy that I don't have to get shots because they scare me nearly to death! I am over all of the hard parts of the pre trip phase and I am getting ready as best as I can spiritually and emotionally for the trip! It is only 2 weeks until the team departs and I CAN'T WAIT! Thank you for all of your prayer and support!

Indescribable!

I'm SOOOO amazed at what God has done in my life. I've finally found a Bible I can understand and LOVE reading. My God is so INDESCRIBABLE! I'm so thankful of all the work he is doing in my heart. I'm extremely excited to go to Kenya. Every time my family drives past the airport I find myself day dreaming about landing in Kenya and the excitement I felt on my first two trips becomes renewed each time! I have a couple concerns about the trip but my number one concern is raising funds. I want to raise enough money so my parents aren't burdened with having to pay however much money I don't raise. I know God has it all under control and been praying that he will use this to bring out the best in people not the worst. I don't want to make people feel burdened by giving so if you feel this way just pray about it then decide if you're going to give. I definitely need your prayers! Please pray for protection, provision, and that we would impact the people of Nairobi for God's glory not ours! Thank you so much!

Support My Trip to Africa!

I would like to share a poem I wrote which I received an award for this week. It will also be published in a collection of student writings:

Red Sun Rising:
the Orphan's way of life in Kenya

Beneath the blood read sun I can see tears fall like a small blue gem as it makes it's way across his face, leaving small streaks on his mud creased cheeks.

Hope, like the fiery orange sun, is setting on his chances to find a cure. Even in his ragged clothes he understands as much as we do. His mother and brother are slowly fading away and will soon be just a memory.

Soon they will die, and he will have to scavenge on his own. When that time comes he will not remember how to hug or what it feels like to be wanted.

And not long after he will be an outcast. He will sniff the glue offered by drug dealers to keep sorrow and neglect far from his mind. He thinks his life is all for survival and he regrets that he was born into such a terrible world.

As he shuffles around the trash heap trying to find food, the blood red sun starts to rise and so does his hope.

This year World Orphans is partnering with Plum Creek Community Church (where our family attends) to take a team to Nairobi, Kenya and I would like to be a part of ministering to orphans and serving with my Dad. We will be leaving June 14th and returning on June 24th. While in Nairobi I will participate in different kinds of outreach like ministering within the slums, sports camps, and medical clinics.

I need you to pray about supporting me financially and with prayer. I have raised $400 so far and need to raise an additional $2,600. There are different ways you can give a tax deductible donation.

1) Send a check with ST2003Vinson in the memo field to:
World Orphans
PO BOX 1840
Castle Rock, CO 80104

2) Click here and give online. Make sure my funding code is in the memo field.

3) Call 1-888-ORPHANS and make your donation over the phone.

Follow me on this journey by tracking my blog, my Dad's blog, on Facebook. Thank you for all your prayers and support!

Veronica

Here It Goes... Again!

I can't believe it! I'm actually going to Kenya... AGAIN! For the third time I will be going to Kenya! For this mission trip my memory verse is: Ephesians 6:11-12 "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." I just love that verse. I picked it out for this year because when I go to Kenya, this year will be the first year I go to the Slums. I definitely need to be prepared for that! I will be in Kenya June 17-26 and I really need your prayers and financial support. Both will be greatly appreciated! If you would like to financially support me, you can write a check with Veronica Vinson on the memo line, Thank you for all your prayers and support!

Send ME!

In the Vinson household whenever you turn twelve of thirteen you get to go on a mission trip with dad. Well, I'm about to turn twelve and I've been asking God where He wants me to go. My mind says "New York! You can go see The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway!" but I think God wants me to go to Kenya for the third time. He's been giving me signs at church, through conversations, and by whats going on in my life. This year is perfect for me to go because my dad is leading a team from our church to go to Kenya in May and dad is planning on taking Max [my older brother] but is unceartain about taking me. I need other people to be encouraging about me going to Kenya and to pray that what God has been saying is true and that dad will let me go with him. I can take care of myself on a mission trip. It's not like this would be my first time on a trip. I wouldn't need dad hovering over me making sure I'm taking my medicine on the trip. There will be tons of adults to keep me in line and I know all the drills any way. But I still need reassurance about htis Kenya trip.