Fundraising Letter

I am preparing my fundraising letter for our mission trip to the Czech Republic. It will go something like this:

Dear Family and Friends,

Just a little over two years ago, many of you partnered with me as I took a mission trip to Hattiesburg, Mississippi. You prayed for me and assisted with funds. Because of your gifts, I was able to minister to those affected by Hurricane Katrina. It was an honor to be used by God in that way, to be able to help repair a roof and to show the love of Jesus to those who needed it. I truly felt God's call that summer of 2006 to step out on faith and take that mission trip to Hattiesburg. It was an incredible experience to be used by God during that trip; watching God provide for that trip through many of you made me stand in awe, and I was humbled.

Now there is a new call for my life. I will be taking another short-term mission trip in the summer of 2009, only this time I'll be going much further than Hattiesburg, Mississippi. I'll be going with several others from my church to minister in Litomerice, in the Czech Republic! Is it scary to think of leaving behind my husband and four kids while I travel to Central Europe? Does my heart break at thinking of not being with them for two weeks? Do I think of all the "what ifs?" Yes, yes, and yes. But God's instructions to me are clear, and I go with a mixture of excitement, awe, anxiety, hope, exhilaration, and fear. And above all, I go knowing that I'm being obedient to God's call for me.

As I was growing up, it was always my dream to be a missionary overseas. During my time in seminary, God spoke very clearly to me that my full-time work would not be as an international missionary. As I've grown and learned and listened to Him more, I feel that I'm still on quite a journey into what He wants for my life. These short-term mission trips, I feel, are a big part of what He will be doing in my life and in the life of my family for years to come. I know that God will show me many important things while I am on this trip, and that His name will be glorified in all things that result from this trip.

While our group is in the Czech Republic, we will be helping with a ministry called Bethel House. Bethel House is a place that ministers to young people who come out of orphanages. These young people need crucial job training and life skills, so Bethel House functions as a half-way house for these youth. Their most important need is to have the love of Jesus spoken into their lives. Bethel House operates many English-speaking camps throughout the year. Our church's group will be leading one of these English-speaking camps while we are in the Czech Republic. The English camps are important, because knowing English will help with acquiring jobs. Through the English camps, we will be able to teach the Bible and share the gift of Christ with those who may have never heard. There are many more ministries of Bethel House, one of which is a coffee house that has literature in English for leisure reading. Our church has already collected and sent many books for this ministry. We want to collect and send more before we leave for our trip.

As I pray and prepare for this trip, I am asking for you to partner with me. This can be through funding, prayer, or both. The cost for me to take this trip will be $2500, the first half of which being an immediate need for the purchase of plane tickets. This will definitely be the most extensive and expensive mission trip I've ever taken, but I know that the God who called me to this task will bring it to pass.

I would be happy to share more information with you about the wonderful ministries of Bethel House. I can't wait to give updates and reports as our church's group prepares for this trip. We will spend the next 8 months in concentrated prayer and training before we leave for the Czech Republic. We will be trained on how to do effective English camps and trained about the Czech culture.

Once again, I stand in awe of what God is doing. I stand in awe that He would use me to bring others to Him. I can't wait to share with all of you what He does, and to give you all my report after this trip is finished. To Him be the Glory.

In Christ,
Amy Sickle

D/S McNary, can you think of anything I need to add or remove?

I AM excited, nervous, scared, etc., but rest in the fact that I'm being obedient. Sometimes I think about it, and it seems like cake. Other times when I think about it, I get scared. What if Scott or the kids get sick? What if something happens to my family? What if, what if, what if? Then I am reminded of Luke 9:51-62. I really do want to follow Him anywhere. I really do want to be that obedient. I am compelled to show His great love to others, for He has shown His great love to me.

This mission trip has been quite an undertaking. I am working with a friend of mine, and we are leading the efforts. I'm happy to have my friend in the planning process with me, she being much more organized than I am! Still, to be in charge of something so huge . . . it becomes overwhelming at times, discouraging even. But I remember that Satan condemns and Satan hates this Kingdom work. We keep going, and listen to the greater Voice, the one that has overcome the world.

Much love to all of you. Look for your letters soon! If you would prefer not to get a letter, please let me know. Otherwise, I'm sending one to every living, breathing person in my address book! Not that ya'll actually live in my address book . . .

Change of Plans, and I'm Delighted

After a conversation on Saturday with D/S McNary, it was decided that our mission trip to the Czech Republic would be postponed. It will take place in 2009 (probably summer), instead of July or August of 2008.

It is amazing how God works. That sounds cliche, even trite; people say it a lot. But it is amazing.

Psalm 37:4 says this: "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."

For most of the years that I've walked with God, when I read that verse, I read that God would give me the desires of my heart. It's taken me this long to look also at the first part of the verse, to understand what it meant to delight myself in the Lord.

Even as Paul struggled, he had this to say in Romans 7:22: "For in my inner being I delight in God's law;"

Delighting in, loving the law of God is not always easy. But when I delight myself in the Lord, things happen. Relationships are reconciled, wisdom comes, opportunities to tell my friends about Christ, peace is restored, real joy comes into my life. Other things happen too - I discover God's will for me, and am delighted by God's gift of a husband and children. I find out where God is working, and am honored to join Him. I dream dreams that seem so big and far away, and God shows me that not only can they become real, but that He has dreamed something even bigger.

On Saturday, Shane told me that that the dates we had originally planned for summer of '08 weren't going to work. The dates that did work for that particular ministy, for summer of '08, coincided with plans that we already had. Even so, as Shane left that place and anticipated talking to BW and I about it, he had a peace. An ocean away, BW and I were talking about something else, and we also had a peace. God was telling us all that next summer wasn't the right time for us, and that His timing is best, and that all is well. So when we talked, not much really had to be said. We rejoiced in what God was doing.

Something else happened: I began sharing some ministry ideas for the future. A local (American) church partnering with a ministry abroad. I have been dreaming for several years now that God would lead BW and I to such a ministry, that we might be involved in some sort of a "home base" kind of ministry, that helps with a church or ministry internationally (ie., the projects that Shane and his ministry works with), which will send out mission trips a couple of times a year, send materials or money, etc., but something with which we can really be invested and really know.

This was just an idea, a dream I've been having and mulling over in my heart and mind. Shane surprised me by telling me that this is actually becoming a movement among international missions.

Wow. God is amazing.

Here's something else:

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20

I'm excited. I'm delighted. I'm asking and imagining lots and lots of things. May they all honor Him, that He might grant me the desires of my heart.

I can't wait, ya'll!

More Specifically . . .

Rather, more correctly, we'll be going to Litomerice in the Czech Republic in the summer of 2008. The above picture is of the Czech Republic, which is in the center of Europe. The below map shows the red dot indicating the city of Litomerice.

Destination: Slovakia, 2008!

Buffalo Wings and I have commited to a mission trip for the summer of 2008, to Slovakia! Please look at my new blog for more information and updates. Much love to all of you!