I love when God gives you signs…

For example, God has provided the opportunity for me to go on two mission trips (2006-Cambodia  &  2007-India), and when He provides… it is something breathtaking, to remember, for sure!.

During the last week of the mission trip to Cambodia, with Teen Missions International (www.teenmissions.com.au for the Australians, or www.teenmissions.com for U.S.) I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go on team again… a few months later I wrote these words to remember God’s grace…

“Thankyou God for the fifty dollars in aid for my trip, it’s a restrengthening time for my faith in You.  Were you also trying to tell me something on team, with Shandri, about when she said it’d be interesting to see how I’d have changed in the next year?  Did you tell me, through her, that I would be coming this year?  If so that’s about six signs/helpings from you already.

1. Telling me at bootcamp to go.  When I had doubts (on how I’d raise the funds, second year around; look after my health, without being a burden on the leaders; learning all 40 required memory verses - as I was embarrased I didn’t learn them this year; and being not 100% sure if I’m meant to go, needing Your permission to conduct this process again), you told me to take a leap of faith, to grow in faith, trust in You and go again this year.
2. When I was confused where to go,  I prayed and it didn’t seem like I was getting an answer from You, with my deadline coming up.  But I told You if you were happy with what I wrote on the registration sheet, to give me a sign.  Well I was counting money from Cambodia, in Australian dollars, and thinking wouldn’t it be funny if this amount of money, and the amount of money Mum owed me (before I went to Cambodia), added exactly up to the $50 registration money, and also wouldn’t it be funny if I miscounted, only to recount and find out it’s the right amount = :).
   And I did exactly what I thought.  It exactly happened how I though.  So it’s ovcious You hand is in there.
3. Belinda had a feeling that in the end I’d choose India —> Encouragement.
4. Faith thought I looked Indian on the Cambodian team pre-trip photo sheet.
5. Kate just consistently encouraging me for India.
6. Shandri’s saying.
7. $300 coming in all before the deadline… with $250 coming the day before it was due.”

I love these moments.  They are such a cherishable reminder that God is always there for you… for anyone!  We just need to call on His name, and ask for His help.  Matthew 7:7.

I’m hoping to go on a trip end of this year, not with Teen Missions, but with a Christian University group called Student Life - I will tell you more about them later.  But even though I haven’t got the necessary $500 in my hand right now, and it is seeming more and more unlikely that the full $1800 will come in… I am trusting that He (God) will provide and will help me grow in the lead up to this awesome opportunity provided.

God moments are awesomely COOL!

philippians4:

like for a salary? like if I were to be a missionary and would have to raise support in order to make my salary?

 There wasn’t enough room in the question box.  But I think it’s a great idea.  I know people who oppose this idea, thinking that a missionary should raise their funds 100% themselves, because it’s for “their” trip.  But I believe that the missionary should do what they feel comfortable with.  Sometimes it is better to hop out of your own comfort zone and raise support though, as this is how God can show Himself to you, and builds your level of trust and faith in the process.

givesmehope:

A couple of months ago my parents separated.

My mum has been struggling for money every since. Today my mum collected the mail, and along with 3 bills, their was an anonymous envelope with a $500 gift card in it.

She broke down on the grass.

That person and their generosity GMH.

givesmehope:

At 21 and 9 months pregnant my husband passed away from the result of a car wreck.

I was heart broken, depressed and didn’t know how I was going to raise 2 small children on my own.

People I didn’t even know came together and collected diapers, wipes, clothes, food and money to help me out.

People who went out of their way to help a stranger GMH

Dear Friends and Family,

Wow, another year has almost gone since I last had the chance to write to you. Some of you I see regularly and some of you not so much, which I wish was different but sadly locations and times can make that goal difficult to achieve. 

How are you all? What’s been happening? What has God been doing in your life? I look forward to hearing your answers either by email (rakaah@gmail.com), mail (15 Logan St, Gatton, 4343, QLD) or text message, but let me tell you my answers in advance.

This past year has been an interesting year. It’s been one of ups and downs on the roller coaster of life, which I know most people ride regularly with me on, whether daily or yearly. It’s been one of trusting God, losing sight of God’s direction and therefore loss of perseverance of finding life’s enjoyments with God. But it has also been one, where I have learnt a lot of things too.

I’ve learnt to persevere through the hard times; to go to God first (or try to), and rely on God to help me get through the hard times. I’ve learnt the importance of regular quiet times with God, and the fact that regular contact, as we do in our friendships, is important to maintain the growing relationship that God programmed us to have. I have also found direction for six months of my life, which is exciting and a totally new step in an area that I would never have considered for myself four years ago.

For the last few months to almost a year, God has slowly been opening my heart to the concept of doing a Discipleship Training School (DTS) with Youth With A Mission, more commonly known as YWAM.  (More details of this catalyst can be found on the blog I have created to share my YWAM experience, or leading up to YWAM experience, which is www.kara-followinginhisfootsteps.blogspot.com). But one of the more exciting things, which I haven’t actually had the chance to write about on my blog, is that I’ve actually put in an application to one of Australia’s YWAMs AND been accepted, which is REALLY exciting.

In October, this year (2011), I will be travelling down to Newcastle (New South Wales), Australia, for six months, to complete a DTS. What is a DTS you may ask? A DTS is an intensive, residential training course, which is based on the Bible, covering topics like God’s nature and character; building and maintaining Godly relationships; God’s intentions for individuals, peoples, and nations; the value of human life through the eyes of the creator; bringing the promise of hope into a broken world and addressing issues of poverty and injustice, just to name a few. These topics are covered in the lecture phase, which is conducted in the first 12 weeks of the six month course duration, and prepares the students for the following phase, putting the classroom teachings into action, which is outreach.

This year, the Compassion DTS (which is the DTS I am doing), has two team outreach locations. The first team will spend two weeks in Toowoomba helping out in the community, with people affected by the January floods (and yes there is still a lot of work to be done), as well as the general community, followed by eight weeks in Cambodia; and the second team will spend five weeks in Latvia and five weeks in Russia. All three overseas outreach locations will be focusing on ‘children at risk’ and human trafficking groups, which is exciting as it’s a field I was really keen to get into a few years ago, but just didn’t know how to.

Some of you may think that this is crazy, bizarre, and an act of delusion, and maybe I am delusional. But I would rather take the risk and appear delusional for God, and search for the unique plan He has for me, as well as every single one of us, than fit in with every day life; continuing in attempting degrees, spending money, gambling time in trial and error of what I think may be the right direction for my life and losing hope and purpose in living, every time I fall short. So I have decided that no matter what trials, difficulties or challenges I come across in this ensuing journey, I am going to give it everything I have; I am going to trust God with every aspect of my life, and I am going to allow my heart to be open for change. If this isn’t a part of God’s plan, then I will accept it, and seek His guidance for the plan He does have for me, but some help would also be appreciated. 

I am looking for people who would be able to support me, whether through finance, prayer, or anything that you think may help. Currently my prayer requests are as follows:

· Raising all the money ($3950) required for the lecture phase (which covers food, accommodation, classes, etc.) before the due date of 4^th of October 2011

· That the plans God has for me, would become clear and fall into place, and that I’d be able to let go of the plans that aren’t His.

· Ideas to raise awareness and support for outreach, which is between $2500 and $4500.

· Learning to trust in God 100%; be content with His provisions and blessings, and to know that I should not be scared of anything, as He is in control.

· That the people that God has called would respond, whether that is to do this DTS or to speak or whatever God may have placed on people’s hearts.

If you would be interested in supporting me in any way, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I will be contacting you personally in July, especially if I haven’t heard from you, to see how you are going and to find out if you can support me in any way, and if you would be interested in getting regular updates on the whole YWAM experience?

Hope you are all well.

GBUG (God Bless U Good),

Kara Martin

³⁸Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. (Matthew 9:38)

If you would like to support me in any way, please email me atrakaah@gmail.com 

I also have a PayPal account under the same email (rakaah@gmail.com)