Dear Family and Friends,
Philippians 2:9-11 says "Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
The Lord has powerfully used these verses in my heart and life in the last few months. He has shown me that there is nothing apart from Himself that is worthy of my praise and adoration. I have been given this wonderful truth, and now the Lord has allowed me the opportunity to share it with the people of the United Kingdom.
I met Bob Landis, the director of MTT ("Make a Timothy Today"), a few months ago at the Bob Jones University Missions Conference they host each year. I wasn't looking at the booths of the missionaries to specifically go, but to be more knowledgeable on the mission boards that are out there right now. I came across Mr. Landis' display and had a wonderful time talking with him. I realized he was taking a team for a month to the UK and was very interested in finding out more. I filled out an application and turned it in a few days later and then began to pray about this opportunity. Its time frame was perfect, the location was one that I had been wanting to go to for a very long time, and it seemed like a step in the right direction. I got a call from Mr. Landis about a month later saying I was accepted on the trip.
I am nervous and feeling very inadequate for the month that we will be there, but I know that through Christ, anything is possible. I am so very thankful to the Lord for allowing me the opportunity for this ministry trip, and I would ask, that even though you may not be able to support me monetarily, you would, more importantly, support me through your prayers. I am praying about locating to the UK after graduation for a year or two, so this trip will help me in that decision making process. This is a big step for me, and a step I am taking in faith.
The total cost of my trip is $3,745. As a college student, that number seems insurmountable, but I am confidant that my God, who is Lord over all, is fully capable to bring that money in. I will be including in this letter a prayer card for you to stick somewhere so you can pray for me.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter, and for any help you may be able to give me.
In Christ,
Hillary
Deadlines:
February 24, 2006: $ 1,206
April 21, 2006: $ 1,206
June 5, 2006: $ 1,206
but i don't think i will. it is my rule to be happy on my birthday. :)
so i had to get my ID out for some guy yesterday cause he refused to believe i would be 24 today. he thought maybe 19. ouch.
one more year till i have been alive for a quarter century. what a blessing! i enjoy life. i am happy to be alive.
happy birthday to me!
this is my first time ever to have a valentine on valentines. kinda weird, but nice. :) daddy claims he has been my valentine since i was born...but he has mom...so i am not really flattered.
but anyway, may your day be filled with joy. daddy reminded me that Jesus is my #1 valentine. that should fill everyone with joy.
i love the color green because it is so new and fresh looking. i love it because it makes me remeber i need to be constantly growing. at first, i liked it my freshman year cause my teacher that i idolized liked it. then i liked it for its own merits. :)
recently i have had some friends added to my friend bank, and they have been pushing me to that growth. it is always amazing to me how my social circle shifts and moves as much as it does, but the Lord always brings that core group of people that build me up and nurish me and shove me towards the Truth. i am so blessed by the friendships that i have been entrusted with. steph, jordan, andrea, jillian, josh, adrian. i have many surface friends. i know many people. but it is wonderful to have these friendships that are close and challenging. (side note: i wonder how many people i know....hmmm...interesting thought)
so if you know me, challenge me to strive to godliness. point me to Christ. i am good at the whole sinful man part, and the weak heart, so i value above most things a friend who can, in love, say "hill...what in the world are you doing?"
in the beginning of time there was a girl. and she was pretty stupid.
yesterday she decided to get into a headbutting match with the soap dispenser and lost. she ended up with foam soap all in her hair and down her shirt. how dumb can you possibly be!!?!?!?
she also got a paper cut from a cardboard box. the box just came out of nowhere! i swear! i mean really. some boxes these days. you try and raise them right and they just end up hurting you.
she also said stupid things in front of her favoritetest person's parents and sister. and of course became a lovely fire engine red color...
and that was almost as good as yesterday when she walked around all morning with her zipper down in the back.
so all in one day she did very well at mortifying herself and feeling quite dumb all day!!!
please don't judge me for my idiotic ways.
these are thoughts that have been inside my heart for a couple of weeks that haven't had time to come out yet.
i have had the opportunity to be at my job for close to two weeks now. it will be two weeks on monday. i really do enjoy it. i have never had a job like this and am having so much fun! yes, i get tired and, and yes there are aspects that i don't enjoy...but i love it! i get quite interesting people in there. like the homeless guy looking for free coffee. the guy that comes in every day after working out. he always gives me a tip. i am pretty sure he is uber rich and over 60. the guy in the red car that drives thru every day and gets a tall coffee. the one that comes in his bmw convertable with the top down in all sorts of temps. the lady with the "how to be happy" book. the cute little boy that i have lost my heart to. he has curly sandy blond hair and blue eyes. beautiful. this one family that comes in...mostly the mother and daughter...sometimes the son...and yesterday the dad as well. (why do i always do stupid things around them????????) i like them the best. they are good people. (the son is pretty nice too! k. sap aside now.) i like the people i work with. paulo is wacky and strange, but hey, that makes two of us. jessie is a blast to work with. she and i get along great and have so much fun. and we always get tons in tips...i think its cause we are so cute! =) overall, work has been good and happy. i like it.