Adventure with Arbo – In Africa

Discover South Africa through Matt’s eyes as he shows you some of the incredible sights of this beautiful nation.

Through My Eyes by Lauren Bruhn

So, it’s Thursday and usually guest speaker day, but today we did something a bit different. After worship, we gathered around the conference table and two of our staff members, Katie and Gabby, handed each of us a piece of paper that was titled: “My 2011 New Years Letter”. They both shared about how writing down your dreams and goals will motivate you to actually fulfill those dreams or goals. One statistic shows that people who take the time to write their goals down are 80% more likely to achieve them. So each of us set aside some time and found a cozy, quiet spot to pray and think about what dreams we want to fulfill this year. We also thought about what goals we have been pushing aside that we want to face this year too.

When I started writing that letter to myself, things started to pour out of my heart that I didn’t even know were there. My soul opened up to the possibilities. Thomas Edison stated, “The value of an idea lies in the using of it.”

So, some encouragement for each of you- Dream! Pray about the goals that need to be accomplished this year for you personally, because the world needs your ideas!

Family Sticks Together

“God prepared my heart”, Kelly said. “I’ve always wanted to bless people with money to do traveling ministry, but I thought it would be years from now. God answered my heart’s desire and Hilary’s as well.”

Just two weeks before leaving, apprentice Kelly Drury decided to give her entire trip money to intern Hillary Patrick- months of work and planning gone with a single decision. For Kelly it wasn’t a challenge or even a questionable notion, she knew what God asked her do. More so, Kelly believed in the sacrifice she made because she believed in Hilary. She believed that family sticks together.

Another exciting miracle was soon to follow. Because of Kelly’s efforts, the other interns followed her example and quickly formed a strategy to raise the $2,500 that was needed for Andrew Hunt, the last intern without the trip money. With just 48 hours left before their departure date you wouldn’t think there was much hope, but it was just the opposite. Hope saturated the offices and the atmosphere was charged with possibility. It turns out that 48 hours was more than enough time for the interns. The money was raised. Following the announcement of his latest financial breakthrough, cries of celebration surrounded Andrew’s speechless face; he was coming with us. “I know they care about me; they are family.” –Andrew H.