It has been awhile since my last update, and I could go into the countless events (like 2 funerals) that have taken me away from this blog - but I won't. Know instead that our Thailand trip is moving forward (updates below) and the women of Thailand and the knowledge that God has something special in mind for me to learn from this trip have never been far from my heart.
So a general update.
We BOUGHT TICKETS! Yeah! It makes it so real. We officially leave on Thursday, May 23rd from O'Hare International Airport here in Chicago. That gets us into Bangkok very late on Friday the 24th. We hope to pass out our Girl Around the World Dresses on Saturday morning before meeting the rest of our Thailand team on Saturday evening.
Then we work, work, work until Sunday June 2nd. We will take a late night flight out of Bangkok and then arrrive back at O'Hare Monday Morning, June 3rd.
So, where am I on fundraising? Well, at last post I was $2700 towards my goal of $3000. Our tickets cost a little more than we thought, so I am probably about $500 away from my actual need. We will, of course, have other expenses such as money to buy the women "Cokes" to give them time to talk to us and be out of the trade. But that was to be expected.
I am in awe of how God has provided, not only financially but in the word's of encouragement and in the little things (my boss said I could take my company cell phone so I will be able to touch base with Colin!) that have been popping up in unexpected ways.
Other than that, it has been an interesting month in terms of Choosing Courage. It is such a High to get to tell people about all of the amazing things. We, as a team, and I, as an individual, get to see how God is working in our lives in new, and sometimes, miraculous ways. In addition, I have been encouraged to open up and share with people where I am going and WHY. This has been a huge Courage Choice. People at work are finding out and at first assume it is a work trip. I choose to take the time to explain what the trip really is and why I am going. This means I am talking about my Christian convictions in my place of employment with people that I have never shared with before.
As we get closer to the trip, I pray that I am focused on why we are going. I do not know what we will be doing each day (specifically), which for me, if you know me, is very difficult. But here is what I do know. We are going to share God's love with women. Women, who like me, just want to support their families, in whatever way they need to do so. Women, who unlike me, have not had the education and choices to support their families in another way.
Think about that. For just a minute. How can you not want to just help these women know that God loves them. Tell them that He thinks they are beautiful and help them to know that they have other options. Wouldn't you make sure a girl you know here knows about her options?
This may not tug at your heart the way it does mine. And that is ok, we are all different. But for me, it is important to remember that this trip is not about me, it is about them.
Thank you again for your support and encouragement,
Karla
