Thank you!

Thanks to everyone that braved the weather to come out to Moe's tonight! It was much appreciated. It was nice to visit with everyone and great to feel the support. If you couldn't make it out for this one, stay tuned for another fundraising night in the Spring! Thanks again.

Burritos for Ireland Fundraiser

IMPORTANT: You must bring this flyer to the restaurant and present it when you pay.

The Moe's fundraiser is a go! Here are the specifics! It's February 29th @ Moe's Southwestern Grill (28th Street and I-96, by Target). Come anytime between 5p-8p, buy a drink with your meal and present the above flyer. It's that easy. Moe's will donate a portion of the night's proceeds.

Please help me spread the word. Everyone is invited, so tell your friends, family, co-workers, and strangers. Print the flyer off and hand it out. If you would like to help, but cannot make it to Moe's, consider donating the price of what you would have paid for a meal ($5-$8). Donations can be made by clicking the Support Amanda Online Tab to the right.

Moe's Southwest Grill
5070 28th St SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Snag

While on OM's website this weekend, I saw the Impact Ireland trip price listed as $585, rather than $505. After emailing my contact, she reveled that the trip had indeed gone up, due to the current dollar/euro exchange rate. Currently 1 Euro = ~$1.50. This means I need two more "day" sponsors. $85 is not a significant difference, thankfully, but I still need to raise it.

January Report

I had my first check-in with Nancy (my OM contact) this week and have recieved about 10% of the support I need. What a great start! I have also received replies and notes for prayer support, which I am very thankful for. Some days I think, "Amanda, what are you doing? You are going to another country... for three weeks...by your self." Then other days I am content to trust in the plans God is making for our team in Ireland. So, please keep your prayers coming.

In January, I collected many of the things I will need on the trip. I have purchased an internal frame backpack, for my luggage. This seemed the best option, since rolled suitcases might not be able to go everywhere I need to. I researched and finally bought a pair of good walking shoes. It took some time to decide as my requirement were that they'd be good to my feet and look decent with a skirt. Many sites were having good deals after the holidays, so I got the shoes at a fraction of the price. I also puchased my plane tickets and started a mental list of clothing I will be bringing. I'm hoping to locate an inexpensive raincoat in the next months and a carry-on bag that can also double as a purse.

My prayers in January, countinued to focus on the strengthening of my weaknesses and an ongoing conversation about how I reveal Jesus to the world and ultimatly how I reveal God. Not that I reveal God, but how do I, as Amanda, carry the words of God into the world. It's been a month or growth, as well as a month of setbacks. In my prayers I have identitfied area where I wish to grow in knowledge and courage. I'm excited to see how I can serve God in February.

Finally, Januray has been a month of planning. In a way I feel like that is all I've been doing in Januray. Since, what is happening in Ireland is being planned by OM, my focused planning has been on Scotland. I have researched activites, accomidations, bus schedules, and resturants. And though I have done a months worth of research, I have only narrowed categories down. Toward the end of the month I began to realize just how little I knew about Kilkenny, Ireland and how much I knew about Edinburgh, Scotland. This did not seem right as the the ratio of days did not equal the amount of research I had done on each place. Thus my focus in Feburary will be mainly on Kilkenny, Irleand and those that live there.

Thank you again for countinued prayers and the support you have shown me. One month down five more to go.

I just found this link online. It gives a clearer picture of what Impact Ireland will be doing.

Big News!

I just sent out my first batch of support letters. If you'd like to see a copy scroll down. Now, if you did not receive a letter, it's probably because I don't have your address, so if you'd like a hard copy of the letter email me your address at Gayle84@yahoo.com.

Second big news: I got permission from OM to use their tax ID # for a restaurant fund raiser. This is where you host a restaurant night, invited everyone you know to show up, and receive part of the night's profits. If all goes well, I'll be hosting one at Moe's (yummy Mexican!) in February. Stay Tuned!

Third big news: I added a link to the right to donate online. The link also includes my ID #.

Support Letter

A few months ago, I started praying for an opportunity to impact the world outside of what I knew. I felt a restlessness to travel and see how God is moving in other parts of the world. My prayers focused on long term opportunity like the Peace Corp or full time missions. After two months with little clarity and no certainty, I concluded God wanted me to stay put in Grand Rapids for the time being. This lack of answer confused me. I felt God tugging, but had no place to go. It was only then that I realized he had something a little more short term in mind.

From July 1-15, I will be serving, with others from around the world, on a mission trip through Operation Mobilization. We will partner with churches in Kilkenny (South East Ireland) and surrounding areas, helping with summer outreach programs in a variety of ministry areas from children and youth ministry, to community projects. Though the specific details are still being worked out between OM and the churches, the overarching mission is to minister to the people around us.

I have a desire to see God’s kingdom come to earth and am excited that I have the opportunity to witness it in Ireland. It seems a big step to travel across the world by myself, but I trust where God is leading, and that he will meet my needs. Ultimately, I hope he does so through you. I would be honored if you could partner financially and prayerfully with me for this ministry. I need to raise $1,460 ($505 to cover in country cost and $955 to cover airfare) by May 10, 2008. I truly want this to be an opportunity for blessing, both from you to me, and from me to you. Here are some fun ways of supporting with a twist:

• I’m seeking 15 people to act as Day Sponsors with a gift of $40. Besides financially supporting me, I would ask you to be my prayer partner on a specific day of the trip. In turn my prayers would be lifted up for you on that day and you would receive a fun picture including your name somewhere in Ireland.
• I’m seeking people to sponsor airline miles. I will be flying over 7500 miles. Calculated this is around $.12/miles. Those that choose to support me in this way will receive a picture of their airline miles at work (you’ll just have to wait and see).
• I’m seeking people that will partner with me in prayer, asking God to meet the needs of the team in every way: prayers for safety, good health, and courage in our faith.

Please prayerfully consider one of these options. If you would like to help, please send your tax-deductible gift, made payable to Operation Mobilization, with the support coupon to me or to OM, or donate online at https://usa.om.org/GiveOnline/. Please include my personal account number, 2257696, on the subject/for line of the check. Also enclosed you will find a quick form letting me know about your financial gift and/or to let me know you will be praying for me.

I would love to keep you updated on my progress and the happenings between now and when I get back. Returning this form makes that easy! Please let me know if you have any questions about this trip or visit my blog at www.mandainireland.blogspot.com. I look forward to partnering with you in this exciting opportunity!

Love,

Amanda Waldron

Kilkenny

Operation Mobilization Ireland is located in Kilkenny. The city proper has a population of 8,661, but including environs is 22,179; it is the Republic of Ireland's smallest city both by area and population. It is the only city in the Republic that is not tidal (Wikipedia).

I've never seen the Atlantic Ocean and it just occurred to me that I will be flying over it!

God has been giving me great opportunities to work on some weaknesses. He's also been putting some very encourage people around me. Thank you for your prayers!

Bring on The Comments

Hi friends and family,

The comments section is up and running and now you're able to leave one even if you don't have a Blogger account. Make sure to sign your name, so I know who you are. Happy Sunday!

Getting ready for work this morning, I spotted some unopened mail addressed to me. I didn't think we got any mail yesterday. When I opened it up, it was such an encouraging card in reference to this trip. What a great way to start out the morning!

Yesterday, I started preparing for my stints of eating alone in Scotland. I figure if I'll be tasting any cuisine inside a restaurant it will be by myself. So with journal in hand I headed to Subway. I didn't journal at all and ended up eating my sandwich with such intensity I didn't even taste it. Right now it makes me anxious to eat by myself. I feel like everyone is staring at me, which probably isn't the case. I tried to imagine conversations starter with wait staff and cracked myself up with, "So you're Scottish...what's that like." Probably with anything, it will just take practice to eat out like this.

Have a wonderful day!

Yay, my airline tickets came! For the past two days UPS has tried to deliver the tickets, but to no avail and had to settle for leaving an "I was here" slip. Well, yesterday, stuck in my door, was a UPS packet. There was a moment of panic when I turned the envelope over and saw the tear strip already torn and replaced with scotch tape. All I could think was, " If someone took my tickets..." But everything was fine. Tickets in hand, it brings this trip even closer.


Today Prayer Request: Please pray for opportunities for weakness to be strengthened.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Impact Ireland

Thanks for stopping by.

Around the end of September 2007, I started praying for an opportunity to impact the world outside of what I knew. I felt a restlessness to travel and see how God is moving in other parts of the world. My prayers focused on long term opportunity like the Peace Corp or full time missions. After two months with little clarity and no certainty, I concluded God wanted me to stay put in Grand Rapids for the time being. I had been getting more involved at church and knew that any commitment would have to wait until the junior high ministry slowed down for the summer. This lack of answer confused me. I felt God tugging, but now had no place to go. It was only then I realized that he had something a little more short term in mind.

From July 1-15, I will be serving, with others from around the world, on a missions trip through, Operation Mobilization. We will partner with churches in Kilkenny (South East Ireland) and surrounding areas, helping with summer outreach programs in a variety of ministry areas from children and youth ministry to community projects.

This will be my first time overseas and my first missions trip. Normally, I like to ease into things, but God's at work here and I trust he know what he's doing. It will also be my first time flying since I was about 5 years old!

After the conclusion of the trip, I have decided to spend three days in Scotland. I consider this a trip apart from Ireland, and have been saving funds to finance it.

I hope to use this blog as information central for this trip. You have been directed to this site, by me, because of your significance in my life. As this trip moves forward, I hope that you might partner with me in prayer.

Thanks friends and family!