The Beginning

I went on my first mission trip last year around this time and was completely blow away by the blessings I received by helping other people and showing them the love of Christ.  Growing up missions was never really a huge priority in my life.  I fit nicely into the category of "if I give my money to missions at Easter and Christmas that should be enough", but through a mission trip to a poverty stricken area in Kentucky my outlook was changed.  After my trip I prayed and prayed that God would present an opportunity for me to do mroe mission trips and over the past summer I was offered an invitation to travel to Ukraine for the summer of 2012.  I was terrified at first!  I mean the farthest I have ever been away from hom eis Florida, out of the country is a whole other story.  I prayed for close to a month asking God what I should do.  My answer cam one Sunday morning at church.  the sermon was about how God didn't need us because after all he is God.  Instead he uses us to spread his word so that we can receive a blessing.  God had also been dealing with my heart by reminding me that if we don't follow the great commission and go to the ends of the earth those people will die and go to hell.  During the alter call I basically ran to the alter and laid it all out for the Lord.  Then and there he answered my prayers and I knew that I needed to take this opportunity to go to Ukraine.
At the end of May I will travel to L'viv, Ukraine and stay for 6 weeks in an effort to spread the word of God to the people I meet over there.  There are many prospective mission activities I will be participatingin while I'm there.  I will be working with daycamps at orphanages which share Jesus through music, Bible lessons, and sports.  I will also be working on community projects which include playground ministries, anti-human trafficking projects, and outreach programs. 
I am starting this blog to document my progress as I plan to go to Ukraine this summer and as a way to keep family and friends up to date while I am gone.  I believe that God will greatly bless me through this trip and I want to share those many blessings with as many people as possible. 
As of now I have recently submitted my passport application and sent letters to family and friends in an effort to raise money for my trip.  My local church is also planning a fundraiser for this weekend to help raise money as well.  I believe that God will provide me with the funds that it takes to go to Ukraine and he is already proving that to me!

"And my god will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
-Philippians 4:19