It's 2015!!! Happy New Year!!!

(Love this! Sing praises in every tongue and every language!For English watch at 5:00) 

Happy New Year! 

Wow 2015!! Can you believe it? This morning I went with my Dad to pick up the Visa which I will be needing for Thailand! I can not believe it! Another step closer!
As of Monday, I have only one week left before leaving for Thailand.
On our trip into D.C we were headed to meet up with my brother and we were waved down by another driver. She alerted us that our back tire was completely flat--some how we did not notice it-- and not only that but she offered to show us the tire place. Praise the Lord it was just around the corner and in the perfect timing.

UPDATE:
I will have to pay for insurance before leaving (approximately $1,000).
The cost of the program ($6,000). This updates the minimum to at LEAST $7,000 to leave.

Praise God for all your sacrifices and prayer! 
So far subtracting visa, application fees there is a total of $4,915.00 raised!!
To reach my fully funded goal of $12,000 I still need $6,675.00 left to be fully funded!!

=Minimum Needed: $2,085
  Fully Funded Needed: $6,675
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To continue the story about today...

At the tire shop, thankfully it was so close and was open. But there was a young man about my age in front of us. After getting out of the car so that the men could take off the bad tire, I feel an urge to ask the young man about Jesus. I debated it in my head and the randomness about what I would say, in the end I remained silent, regretting it terribly. Thinking now, what a moment, the time for the perfect flat tire, behind another, couldn't that be a reason for the flat to have occurred? But I chickened out. I know that I am not needed to be used, if I do not obey, God will send another. How heavy is the call on my heart? How heavy if I become worried about awkwardness/randomness. Even deeper, the fear of rejection... pray for boldness, you will get the situations in which you are called to be bold.

There are two books that we were asked to read before our trip. Is That Really You, God? by Loren Cunningham; The Missional Entrepreneur by Mark L. Russell. My Dad has been kind enough to let me borrow his Kindle (which is cost efficient and immediately accessible). And today I have been reading the first one today; which has been encouraging.

"Hearing God is not all that difficult. If we know the Lord, we have already heard His voice--after all, it was the inner leading that brought us to Him in the first place. But we can hear His voice once and still miss His best if we don't keep on listening. After the what of guidance come the when and how." 

~Cunningham 

God is so good! This year has already been heavy, but it is a year full of Grace and Humility. Wish you well, and may peace be with you. I can not thank God enough for you all who have been a tremendous support.

P.S. I am still praying and ask for prayer for this upcoming trip. For the hearts of our team members and myself as we embark on an entirely different culture and lifestyle for the next 5 months and learning the language.

~Rachel