What an amazing opportunity!!!!

Family and Friends,

I have been given the unique opportunity to extend my mission work in Africa in two different ways. The first is by making a trip to Uganda. My uncle, Dr. Robin Wilde, is the Executive Director of the Foundation for Hope in Africa (www.foundationforhopeinafrica.org) and will be travelling in Tanzania and Uganda at the end of my commitment with YWAM. Once he arrives in Arusha, Tanzania where I have been living since September, he will take me to places in Tanzania and then to Uganda! This is the country I had first considered when signing up with YWAM. My uncle is traveling there to inspect some projects his foundation has completed and we will be visiting several schools, orphanages, and water wells. We will travel all over the southern part of the country as well as the central and northern parts. It will be an exhausting week, but an opportunity for me to visit a very poor country and see what God is doing there. In fact, after this trip to Uganda, I will return to Tanzania and volunteer for several weeks at the Kim Jones House near Mt. Kilimanjaro. This orphanage was also built by the Foundation for Hope in Africa.

My uncle is paying some of my costs, but with airfare, visa and hotel, I still have some funds I need to raise. I am very fortunate to have this opportunity while I am already in Africa and hope you can help me with these expenses.

After my time at the orphanage I will travel back to the YWAM base in Arusha, Tanzania. I will be living here for another month. During this time I will be ministering to and working with the Masai people in the surrounding villages. In Isaiah 30:21 we read, “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.” Many people say “love is blind”, well, I beg to differ. Love is not blind, in fact it a quite the opposite. Love chooses to see, and despite of all the things you see that hurt or displease you, you still love. Some of the most powerful words in the entire Bible are found in 1 Corinthians 13. In verse 7 and 8b it reads, “[Love] bears all things, believes all things, hope all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” That is love. This is the love that compelled God to send His only Son to die for His lost creation. Love is what held Jesus to the cross. This is the love dwells within me. Love is what flew me to Africa; and love is why I am still here. I believe that I have heard that word behind me, and it is leading me to stay here in Africa a month longer.  I have fallen in love with the Masai.  This is no ordinary love, in fact it is extraordinary. This love is of God and not of me.

I have this feeling that I cannot describe. Have you ever felt the mixed emotions of joy, fear, anxiety, restlessness, and love all at the same time? That is how I know this is God calling me to this work. He is the one speaking to my heart and giving me a love for these people. Love can empower you to do crazy things. Love is the force behind me compelling me to reach these people. But in order to do this, I need your help.

Combining these two life changing experiences will cost around $1600 dollars. Your love, support, and prayers have carried me all the way to Africa and now I am asking for them to carry me just a little longer. I know God is asking me to stay here and I know that He will provide the finances and protection. I am stepping out in faith with obedience.

I ask that you would please pray about how you would like to respond to this letter. Any love offering will help and I know that God will greatly bless you for your heart and generosity. The deadline for these expenses is February, so please take the time to pray about how God would like you to respond. Please continue to pray for me as God speaks to me and shows me the plans He has for my life! I am excited to see what my future holds, and I cannot wait to see the many new things God will reveal to me during my extended stay in Africa.

Much love to you all and May God bless you!

If you have any questions, or you would like to mail me any support I ask that you would email my mom at this address: carswellmegan@yahoo.com 

Thank you and may God bless!