Seven.

Want to know a crazy thought?

In exactly seven days I will be (God-willing!) in a  plane flying over the Atlantic Ocean.

I can't believe it ... this is actually happening!

As far as I know, all the documents, immunizations/medications, and finances have been received!  The only thing standing between me and this adventure is 7 days, packing and several Walmart runs!

I think it finally started sinking in today when I started packing my clothes.  For the first time, I actually felt fear and doubt.  Like, can I really do this?  I can barely sing ... much less teach others!  BUT - I know that God has pushed me towards this trip for a reason, and I need to TRUST that He knows what He is doing! :)

So that is where I am at right now, and now I thought it'd be nice to share a couple of general facts about India to give you a very broad idea of where I'm headed!

A common question I get is about the language barrier.  Being so diverse, India actually has 22 national languages.  While the majority speak Hindi, English is taught in schools and is used in national/political/commercial administrations.  Although there may be more difficulties with the youngest kids, I should be able to communicate with the students.  While teaching, there will always be someone with me to translate :)

The majority of Indians are also devoutly religious - with approximately 81% identifying with Hinduism, 13%  with Islam, and 2% with Christianity.

Even though India is slightly more than 1/3 the size of the United States, it's population is almost 4x the amount of the United States.  India is also ten hours ahead of Eastern time.

Prayer Requests:

• That I would be able to trust God and daily surrender to him, so that he will be able to work fully through me!
•  That I would be sensitive to God's voice as continue to plan out my "lessons" and musical experiences*
• That the rest of the team's preparations would go smoothly.

Thanks so much for all of your overwhelming and humbling support!

Amanda 

*Music Therapy lingo for activities with a purpose :)

Because LOVE

Hey everybody!

I'm sitting here drinking peppermint tea* and trying to put off practicing guitar by writing an update to all of you!  I mean, I guess it's technically not procrastinating because I've been putting off writing this update for even longer.

Anyways ... I can't believe that in exactly three weeks and 1 day I will be stepping on a plane, headed for India!  Well, first London and then India.  I actually didn't realize how close it was until I made that nifty little countdown.  The past couple weeks have been a whirlwind - and I know that the next week and a half are going to fly as I'm finishing up the year here at school.

And now here's the part of the show where I vomit  pour out all of my thoughts in an attempt to make them organized and coherent :)

Sometimes when I tell people about going to India they give me a strange reaction.  Their eyes glaze over, their noses wrinkle in disgust.  Why would you want to go there?  Diseases.  Filth.  The lack of Western toilets.  Heat.

I actually love this opportunity because then I get to share a little bit of my heart for this trip.  I'm sure there will be a long post on that in the future, but it can be summed up in two words:  Because love.  I guess you could throw of in there if you're grammatically inclined.

The concept of an all powerful, all knowing God that is not only intricately concerned with our lives, but also loves unconditionally is what separates Christianity from all other religions.

During my short time in India, I want to give the kids a little taste of this love.

Because isn't that what Christianity is all about?  Self-less, sacrificial, unconditional love.

My main objective will  be to teach each of the 4 groups of children (ages 8+) a song to perform at the closing program.  I think I'm also going to teach all 4 groups Rend Collective's "Build Your Kingdom Here" ...


Isn't it fun?  It makes me want to dance!  I also might try to incorporate streamers or shakers :)  The program is really mission-focused, and I hope that this song will help tie the week together!

I'm also thinking about teaching "Every Move I Make" (with motions!) and "Oh, How He Loves".  I'm not sure about a song for the youngest group.  "Jesus Loves Me" came to mind, but I would love a way to make it more interactive and upbeat.

And finally, I'm hoping to do some other camp songs just for fun ... Pharoah Pharoah, anyone? :)

Okay, I really do need to practice guitar ... so I'm going to wrap this up with my current prayer requests!

Prayer Requests:

• My Visa - the passport is returning to my house as I type, and I am still waiting to hear about whether my visa application was accepted.
• Time management - it's getting harder and harder to take time out for God everyday.
• Immunizations will hopefully be happening this week!
• Continue to pray for the children that we will be in contact with in India!

Oh, and subscribe (put your email in the box on the right, tutorial here!) to get these posts sent straight to your email!

Hugs!

Amanda

*Huge thanks to Ron and Polly for the tea and chocolate covered beans!  They're keeping me sane ... and awake :)

the final fundraising post!

This is going to be the last post about funds, I promise!

First of all ... I want to thank everybody for all of your contributions!  I am completely blessed and overwhelmed by the incredible outpouring of support that I have received.  Out of the $2800 that I needed to raise, $2735 has come in!  That's right ... I am only $65 short of meeting my goal!  

Just for fun, here's the last pie chart :) 

Anyways, so I think it goes without saying that I am very excited!  When I got the email, there may or may have not been some squealing and jumping ;)

 If you were at church - thank you for enduring my awkward, scatter-brained announcements/prayer requests.  I hope everything makes more sense on here!

**Finally - subscribe to get these posts sent straight to your email ... just enter your email in the white box on the right column!  I would hate for you to have to miss out on all of the excitement :)  If you are still confused, I wrote a handy-dandy tutorial here!

Prayer Requests: 

• Praise - my passport came on Friday while I was at home!  I mailed my visa application today ... so that's the next thing on the list to pray for :)
• Shots - long story short, I am on a waiting list for immunizations.
• You can continue to pray that I will continue to be able to prioritize my time while I am finishing out the semester and trying to prepare for this trip.
• Start praying for the kids that will be at the camp!  It's never to early for God to start moving :)

Thank you for having faith in the the work that God is going to do through me in India and beyond!

Amanda

Financial Update

Me again!

Let the countdown begin!  In 39 days I will be on a plane headed for India! :)

So nothing has really changed since last week ...
I'm still waiting for my passport so I can send it back out for my visa and order plane tickets ...
I'm still practicing my ukulele ...

One thing that has changed, is that I have gotten more support!  A big thanks to everybody who has helped me in this way ... you are a true blessing!  I currently have $1080, with $1720 still needed.

Here's another nifty pie chart ... 

because let's be honest, everything is better with pie :)

I am really excited to have my account up in 4 digits, but there's still a lot of money needed yet.  If you are sending the check by mail, you can still send it to the church's PO box (address here)  ... as long as it will arrive by Saturday.  So, like send it tomorrow!  If the check won't make it by then, you can contact me for further directions and addresses :)

And here's my most recent list of prayer requests:

• That I would be able to find a ride so I can get the rest of my immunizations.
• Finances!! LCMI would like the money on April 23rd.
• The semester is coming to a close (3 weeks of classes left, and one week of finals!!) and things are starting to pile up. You can pray that I will be able set aside time every day for the Lord, and continue to keep my priorities in order!
• Passport ... I'm really praying that it will come in this week so I can get my Visa sent out.
• And you can continue to pray for communication among the staff, and that my faith would continue to grow as I prepare for this trip!

Thanks so much!

Amanda

the financial stuff

Hey everybody!

I can't believe that it has been just over 2 weeks since I announced my plans to everyone at church!  I have been extremely blessed already by the outpouring of support and interest that everyone has shown.  I just want to say that giving money isn't the only way to support me!!  Prayer is also very crucial ... and that is why I put prayer requests at the bottom over every post ... but, right now finances are also very important!  

I just thought that it would be fair to let everyone know where I am at financially ... I need to raise a total of $2,800 for the 17 days I will be spending in India.  The includes everything from malaria pills, to my passport and visa, room and board, plane tickets ... etc!

Currently, I have $700 .. which looks to be about 1/4 of what I need.

This occasion clearly called for a pie chart :)

Here's the part where faith comes in!  LCMI would like the money by April 23rd ... that is 2 weeks from now.  I feel strongly that I am meant to go on this trip, so I know that God will provide the money!  

If you go to my church, you can direct all the money to Elmer.  For those of you who don't go to my church ... it's okay, you can still give towards my trip!  

If you get the check in the mail by the week of the 14th, you can mail the check here (it will be to the PO box address).  If you need to send it after the 14th, that's okay too!  The checks just have to be sent somewhere else ... so you can contact me for further directions. :)

Also, very important ... if you're giving by check, be sure to attach a note, or put my name on the subject line!

I just want to thank everyone in advance - this truly means so much to me!  If you want these emails sent straight to your email inbox, you can enter your email in the white box on the left side bar (or check out the tutorial I wrote).

And here's my most recent list of prayer requests:

• The semester is coming to a close (3 weeks of classes left, and one week of finals!!) and things are starting to pile up. You can pray that I will be able set aside time every day for the Lord, and continue to keep my priorities in order!
• And you can continue to pray for my passport, communication among the staff, finances, and that my faith would continue to grow as I prepare for this trip!

Thanks so much!

Amanda

SUBSCRIBE TUTORIAL!

Hey guys!

So the main reason for this blog is to help keep everyone informed!

See that sad, empty white box on the right side?

Yeah!  Right there!

Okay, well all you need to do is type your email in and press SUBMIT.

Then there will be a security caption thing so I know that you're not a robot or something.

And then you're in!  Well, I think it you need to click on a confirmation link through your email or something ... but you did it!

This is through a third-party service, but your email address will be safe ... I promise!  Now, whenever I post it will be sent to your email.  By doing it this way, I don't have to worry about mass emails getting stuck in spam filters, or leaving out email addresses.

As always, contact me or leave a comment if you have any questions!

~Amanda

The Backstory

(LCMI)

Over my winter break I connected with Bethany for the first time in years.  We graduated together in eighth grade, I didn't keep up with any of my old friends*.  Anyways, so she Facebook messaged me and we got frozen yogurt and spent hours talking and laughing.  She mentioned that her and Heather (another friend from our graduating class!) were going to India in late May.  I've always wanted to go to India, but I was also thinking about applying to be a counselor the whole summer.  I think deep down I knew that I would be going on that trip, but I was scared to acknowledge it.  

Before I knew it, I was back at school and trying to get back into a routine.

But I couldn't get India off of my mind.  One Sunday, I spent time praying about what God wanted me to do this summer.  I didn't have a job back home, and I knew that it would be smart to work full time.  

But as I was praying, I felt God's calling so strongly ... 

He wanted me to die to myself and give the summer of 2014 to God.

I would love to say that I did just that right away ... but it took some time.  I really tried to wrestle with God - even though I knew that he would win. :)  But it was good ... I was forced to take a good, hard look at my life and recommit every single area of my life back to God - and I still have to continue to do that everyday!

But anyways, I handed in my application to LCMI.  Over my spring break I met with the wonderful people there, applied for my passport, and wrote and distributed my support letter!  It's been a whirlwind, and some days I can't believe that this is actually happening!!

This trip is perfect for me!  The main thing I will be doing is teaching a music class.  Well, at first I was excited but now I'm kind of scared.  I mean, I can barely hold my own up here at college!  But then at church on Sunday we were talking about how all these "great" men messed up.  This verse is quickly becoming one of my favorites :)

1 Corinthians 1:27

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 

 So - even though I feel like I am not adequate, I know that through me, God will be able to touch the lives of those that I will meet!  A couple pages later, Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9 ...

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so tat Christ's power may rest on me."

So there you have it, folks!  This is where I am at right now ... I'm hoping to post tomorrow about where I'm at financially.

Prayer Requests/Praises:

• I was able to get my Hepatitis A shot for free through my university!  Come one, It's the small things that are exciting :)  I just need to find someone willing to drive me 30 miles so I can get the rest of my shots (this doesn't have to happen right away).
• I'm looking for 2 more dedicated prayer partners!
• And you can continue to pray for my passport, communication among the staff, finances, and that my faith would continue to grow as I prepare for this trip!

Thanks for reading!

Amanda

*I feel really bad about this ... I'm sorry everybody!