Donations Needed for TEAM KENYA 2009

I have to say that fund-raising is my least favorite part of ministry! I was taught as a "little girl" to never ask for money, it was not "lady-like" and I have struggled with this throughout my ministry! Yes, that is a personal confession, but isn't that part of what blogging is about-- getting personal and real with those around us? Ok, back to my story -- raising funds and requesting money is the hardest part of ministry for me. However, I had a conversation with my Life Coach one day about this very thing, and I realized that there are people who want to support this ministry, and they want to support me. I just have to be ready to make the need known. The most important thing though is that I know that God will supply every need. He owns the cattle on all of the hillsides, and his economy is never in recession!

In September 2008 I travelled to Kenya. I was there to lead a Pastors' Leadership Conference, and Women's Conference. I had been asked if I would go out and minister to a Maasai tribe, and I had accepted. When I was taken out to meet the Maasai tribe I never knew that God would use that time to put such a passion for these people on my heart. It wasn't because the people asked, but because God showed me the pure passion they had for Him as they worshipped Him there under the acacia trees.

I never knew that I would be spending the entire next year planning how I could raise funds and recruit volunteers to take the journey of a lifetime to Maasai land in Namanga on the border of Tanzania and Kenya. But not just a journey, a mission to build these people the church they had been praying for. The elders had given the land and the Chief Ole Sadira had extended the request of the people -- send someone to build us a church/school building.

As I pondered this, I had another heavy burden on my heart -- the children I had met in a children's center in Muthare slums. I had been blessed to take shoes which had been donated and which I had collected, and I sat and put shoes on the children's feet. Some of the children had to be told, "I'm sorry. I don't have any shoes which fit you." I was determined to go back and renovate the children's center. Then too, there were the children in the streets -- orphans. Some of them were lucky enough to have a bag of beans to suck on. So, a real mission would have to reach out to these kids.

I knew that I did not have the resources or the knowledge to build a church! I didn't have the resources or the knowledge to renovate a children's center. I couldn't minister to over three hundred kids and feed them two meals a day by myself. I knew it would take an incredible team of wonderful and dedicated people for this mission hope to become a reality.

With less than 4 1/2 months to go until our time of departure for Kenya, I can say that God is building the most wonderfully equipped team anyone could hope for. We have team leaders who are dedicated and passionate and equipped! We have team members who are ready to do what it takes to get the job done.

But, we still need the funds to get the job done! So, while I hate to ask for donations, I realize I have to let the people who support this work know that the need exists. We need to raise at least $10,000.00! That seems like a lot. But, when you think that to build a church in the USA can costs in the millions of dollars. To build a multi-purpose building to use as a school and church in America costs millions of dollars. To renovate a children's center could easily cost tens of thousands of dollars in the USA! To host an event for over 300 children and provide two meals a day for them could costs several thousands of dollars.

I know Americans are the most generous people on earth. I believe this is one reason God has always blessed America, because the Christians and the people who profess faith in God in America are so ready to bless others.

If you can give, please go to our website: www.lydiaministry.com and you will find a donate now button on most of pages. Lydia Ministries International is a 501 (3) (c) non-profit organization/ministry. Your donation is tax-deductible. 100% of your donation goes to the ministry. We do not take a salary from the ministry. We are all volunteers, including Susan.