Missions: Snail Mail

   I finally got going on sending out support letters today, address- and stamp-ing just under 20. I know you're probably thinking, "That's not much," but let me tell you, it took an outrageously long time! Anyhow I thought y'all might like to see it...

Dear Family and Friends,                                                                            April 2014

            I am so very excited to share with you that I, after much prompting from the Lord, have decided to spend my summer on missions.  I will be joining a group of students and several adults from our church on a trip to Nicaragua this summer, from July 24^th through August 5^th.  I will also be returning to Operation St. Cloud this year from June 15^th through the 21^st.  Over the past few years, I have felt God slowly tugging at my heartstrings, drawing me toward a love for missions.  Nicaragua, in particular, has captured my attention (and dare I say my heart?); I have found that my interest in its people and culture has been slowly, yet steadily, increasing.

            During Operation St. Cloud, we will be staying each night at the Place of Hope (placeofhopeministries.org), a local, God-based shelter, which has a wide variety of programs, such as children’s ministry, sober supportive programs, and much more. Throughout the day, we will have the opportunity to minister to the Place of Hope staff, community children, the local homeless population, and much more.  I went on Operation St. Cloud last year, not knowing how much it would affect me.  I returned far more enriched, blessed, and grown than I could ever have imagined.

            This will be my first trip to Nicaragua and my first out-of-country missions trip; I am brimming with anticipation.  We will be partnering with Enrique and Carol Acosta (“Repairers of Broken Walls” [rbwmissions.com]) and will be working with a church in Managua, helping to continue construction on their church building as well as putting on a VBS for the children in the community.  I as of yet do not even know for sure exactly all of what will be required of us, but I can guarantee that God will be involved in and central to everything we do.  I am muy emocionado (very excited)!!!

            The cost of these trips appears to me to be quite staggering.  The trip to Nicaragua will cost about $1,700, which includes air fare, in-country transportation, and much more.  That, coupled with the comparatively small $150 for Operation St. Cloud, makes a grand total of $1,850.  That is a lot!  Would you considering partnering and supporting me in this?  Any monetary support would be greatly appreciated.  More importantly, though, I humbly ask for your prayer for myself and the rest of the teams for both trips.  Please pray, firstly, that God would prepare the hearts of those whom we will come into contact with.  Also, please pray for us as a team, that God would supply exactly what we need (which I know He will) and that He would use us and change us in profound ways.

            I have a few final notes for you.  If you do indeed desire to support me financially, you can send either cash or check to my address.  Your check can be made out to Calvary Community Church.  And if you wish to make your donation tax-deductible, please leave the memo line blank.  Also, if you want to track my progress leading up to and after these trips, you can visit my blog.  And if you have any further questions, feel free to email me (anna.k.emerson@facebook.com), send me a Facebook message, or call me.

With much thanks and love,

                                    Anna Emerson

P.S. To be computer-smart, I am not including my phone number or street address. If you need either, please send me a Facebook message or email me at my the above email address (which is not my actual email address). If emailing me, please include your email address so that I may respond to you. And if you know my actual email address, please feel welcome to use it. Muchas gracias!

Also, Mom came up with these great response cards. Here's what they look like...

Anna Emerson - 2014 Summer Missions

__  YES!  I/we will be praying for you and your team!

__  YES!  I/we would like to support you and your team financially. 

                __  $10     __  $25     __  $50     __  $100     __ other:  _______

Make your check payable to:  Calvary Community Church.