Look How Far We've Come!

 Wow. We leave for the Dominican on Saturday morning. The Lord has truly blessed our endeavors. The group had set out to earn $10,000 to help cover the cost of everyone going. We ended up raising a little over $9,000. I've gotten everything that I need and I'm working on packing at the moment.
 Our plans changed a bit, though. Now, we're going to spend three days in Azua building the walls of a church building doubling as a multi-purpose building for the church there. Right now, they're meeting under the trees. After that, we're going to Santo Domingo. Prayers are needed for safe travels and that God will bless our work.
 Also, I need prayers that I won't be totally miserable. I know, that sounds extremely selfish and spoiled of me. But I really don't do well in very hot and humid weather (very funny considering I live in Kentucky- humid central) and I don't want my discomfort getting in the way of me enjoying being there and serving. We also need prayers that no one will get sick from the food or the water or even the dreaded Zika virus *gasp.*
 Overall, I expect this to be a fun trip filled with a love for Jesus and a desire to serve the people there.

Dominican Republic Update

 I found out this morning that the missions trip has been postponed to June. It gives us more time to fundraise and gain support. We're going to be working in an orphanage in Santiago. 

 I also found out that it's going to be difficult for me to go for a few reasons. We have to commit to going by January 29th because the tickets are being bought in February. I turn 16 in February so I'll be on the hunt for a job as soon as my birthday comes. By God's will, this can work out and I'll be able to go. But I'll need lots of prayer for myself and for my family to be able to help support me. 

About This Blog

 Ever since I was little, I've been interested in traveling. I was saved when I was 8 and my desire to travel developed into a desire to be a missionary. The past three years I've been working on visiting a family I'm close to in Ireland. They're missionaries there and I was supposed to go with them when they first moved but wasn't able to. But I've been planning on going this summer with my mom. Recently, a missions trip to the Dominican Republic was brought up in my youth group and now we're planning on going to the DR over spring break this year. I had to make a decision on whether to go to the DR this year and save my trip to Ireland for next year or not go to the DR and go to Ireland this year. Obviously, this was a difficult decision and I've had to pray about it.  Money has always been tight in my family so it was illogical to try to pay for two missions trips in the span of a few months. But, I'd been wanting to go on a youth missions trip for years and the fact that I might have to miss our first one since I've been a part of our youth group made me slightly upset. Anyway, I prayed about it and today I got news that the family I was going to visit in Ireland didn't need my help with anything at this point in time. They still wanted me to come and visit, though. The only thing they had that I would be a help with was their church has a soccer camp during the summer and always needs volunteers for it. I'm up for it but it doesn't exactly constitute a missions trip so I'd have to support myself in going there for it. This seemed to take care of my decision. Putting priorities first, I decided that I'm going to the Dominican Republic in the spring and saving my trip to Ireland for when I graduate high school- or earlier if I can afford it. So I've created this blog to document my progress in missions since that is what I believe the Lord is leading me in.
"I'm going on an adventure!" -Bilbo Baggins