Send me to Kenya....By buying a t-shirt =)

 

See this cute t-shirt my sweet friend Katy helped me design?  If you buy a shirt, YOU can be part of my trip in a very tangible way!  Later this afternoon, I will post prices and deadlines for ordering.  You can also join my Facebook group - search "Help Tara Go to Kenya".

One thing I ask, if you purchase a shirt, please use it as a prayer reminder every time you wear it! I know without a doubt that with all of you praying for this internship, God is going to move in some incredible ways!

More details coming this afternoon....

**UPDATE***

I am taking pre-orders for shirts until March 25th.  The shirts should be ready the second week in April.  After that, if there is still a demand, I will reorder more shirts!

T-shirts are for sale for $15, $18 if I need to mail it to you.

Please leave me a message with the number of shirts/sizes you would like and the best way to get it to you!  Also, I would really appreciate it if I could get cash/check from you before the last day to order so I can pay the company to make the shirts! ha!

Thanks so much guys! God is showing me so well the faithfulness of His Church!

Go...Pray...Send

Jambo! Hello!

I have already had several wonderful people ask me how they could help me as I prepare to spend a portion of my summer in Kenya interning at a Buckner International orphanage.  I'm sure many of you have grown up hearing the same thing regarding missions as I have: As believers, we should always be praying, going, and/or sending.  I feel confident that God has asked me to go, at least for this short while.  Therefore, I need to ask for your support - to pray and to send.

1) PRAY "And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith." Matthew 21:2
This is my most desperate need!

As I mentioned in my previous post, please pray for:

• the Kenyan people
• the children at the orphanage where we will work
• the intern team I will be part of
• our safety, physical and spiritual health
• the Buckner staff that works there
• the work that Buckner is doing in the orphanage and in their community
• that hearts would be softened toward the message of the gospel
• that Christ would be glorified through it all

 2) SEND  "And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." Luke 10:2

How you can send (I will be mailing out letters soon with additional information and details):

• Eat! My family and I will be having a support-raising dinner in the near future...details to come!
• Buy a t-shirt - My dear friend Katy has so graciously agreed to design a "Help send Tara to Kenya" shirt for me.  Be looking for fliers, emails, and Facebook group soon!
• Donate items for the children in the orphanage - Each intern will pack 2 suitcases.  One for their personal clothes, etc.; the other with items for the kids/workers in Kenya.
• Fun things! School supplies, sheets of stickers, hair bows, coloring books/crayons, sports balls, air pump, Play-Doh, jumpropes, nail polish, card games, etc.
• Donate monetarily - I don't have the final amount that I will need to raise as of yet, however it should be around $5,000.  If you wish to donate, you can visit my Buckner support site:  http://donate.bucknerfoundation.org/taramoore10

 Thank you for taking the time to read through this.  Know that most of all, your prayers are needed!

Mungu akubariki! - God bless you!

-t

Buckner Internship Announcement!!

Last night, on my way home from "date day" with Mom and Dad (we saw Dear John and ate at Outback), I received an email from the Volunteer Director at Buckner International.

It said:

"Congratulations!  This is to confirm that you have been selected to be an “Abandon” Summer  Intern with Buckner International.  You have been assigned to Session 1  (May 27 – June 26, 2010)  in Kenya....."

WHOOP!!!

Needless to say...I'm excited!  God is so good.  I had been doing really well about not worrying about my future...until this week.  Grad school stuff is not going well and I've started to really question what that means and asking for clarity.  God knows what He's doing! I still don't have all the answers I'd like, but this is a good start.  I feel this is confirmation that I am least moving in the direction God wants me.  He had put Kenya and this internship on my heart for a reason...I have a good idea that I will find out why come May. =)

At this time, I still don't have many details about the internship (I still don't know where in Kenya I will be going, etc.) but I should know more in a few days.  I do know the following: I will be living and working at an orphanage.  I am part of a four girl intern team that will be ministering in Kenya.  One of them is an Aggie also!! That will be great for instantly building a connection.  We are encouraged to start visiting with our team to get to know each other before May.

Some facts about Kenya that I got from the CIA - World Factbook:

Population: 39,002,772
Size of country: slightly more than twice the size of Nevada
Median age of the Kenyan people: 18.7 years
Infant mortality rate: 54.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy: 57.86 years
HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate: 6.7% (2003 est.)
     - Country comparison to the world: #10
HIV/AIDS - people living with the disease: 1.2 million (2003 est.)
     - Country comparison to the world: #8
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 150,000 (2003 est.)
     -Country comparison to the world: #4

Info from Buckner's site:
There are more than 2.3 million orphans in Kenya with 1.1 million orphaned due to HIV/AIDS. Nearly a quarter of the population in Kenya lives on less than $1 a day.

Please join me in praying for:

• the Kenyan people
• the children at the orphanage where we will work
• the intern team I will be part of
• our safety and health
• the Buckner staff that works there
• the work that Buckner is doing in the orphanage and in their community
• that hearts would be softened toward the message of the gospel
• that Christ would be glorified through it all.

 -t

I Heart Ruche

I heart Ruche.  I do!  If I had more money right now, I'd definitely be buying some cute, new "teaching" clothes from this online store.  Lucky me! They are having a Valentine's Day Sweepstakes! 

Check out the rules on their website: www.shopruche.com  By putting their banner on my blog, I gained one entry, and I can earn another by posting a comment on THEIR blog.  C'mon girls.  They have cute clothes! Maybe you'll win some ;-)

-t

No News Is.....?

No word yet from Buckner...


-t

***EDIT***

I started going over in my head what my interview told me..."You'll have an email from me on the 1st of February."  or was it..."You'll have an email from me the 1st part of February." ???? So, of course, last night I scoured the website for any intern announcements/or at least a date of the announcement.  I found two different dates..obviously one is wrong, and who knows if even one of them is right!

In one place it said that intern selections would be on the 5th; the other said the 15th. So.  Again, I wait. =)

t

Oh, How He Loves Us

He is jealous for me
Loves like a hurricane
I am a tree
Bending beneath the weight
Of His wind and mercy

The love of God is a heavy thing.  So heavy.  When I allow myself to truly contemplate the weight of God's love - the sacrifice, the pain and suffering Christ endured, His gift that is free but so many reject and discard...I can't help myself. My eyes mist up.  My words catch in my throat.  I am overwhelmed by His love.

This weekend, I was a Rise D-Now leader for FBC Snyder.  I had 6th grade girls. NINE 6th grade girls.  Nine precious, beloved, eager, challenging 6th grade girls.  I was stretched this weekend...in more ways that one.  I was refreshed (although exhausted!).  I was encouraged.  Loved on by my church family.  Reminded of my purpose.  Blessed to see the Spirit move.  Excited to be part of it.

And all of a sudden
I am unaware
Of these afflictions
Eclipsed by glory
And I realize just how beautiful You are
And how great Your affections are for me

Today, I am supposed to find out whether or not I have been selected as an intern for Buckner International.  My summer, and quite possibly my life could change with that decision.  I thought about that a lot this weekend.  You know what?  Whatever the outcome, I know what I am supposed to be doing this summer.  Loving on kids.  Telling them about Jesus.  Seeking my Savior.  Resting in His love.  The love and glory of Christ supersedes whatever plans I might have for myself.


Oh, how He love us, oh
Oh, how He love us
How He love us all

We sang this song this weekend.  The band Words in Windows led us in worship.  I feel like this song echoed the heartbeat of what was going on at D-Now...or at least in my heart and among my girls.


We are His portion
And He is our prize
Drawn to redemption
By the grace in His eyes
And if grace is an ocean
We're all sinking
So heaven meets earth
Like an unforeseen kiss
And my heart turns violently
Inside of my chest
I don't have time
To maintain these regrets
When I think about
The way


Our Prize. Redemption. Grace.

The best thing in the world happened.  One of my sweet 6th grade girls, Shyann, accepted Christ on Friday night!  The Lord was gracious enough to allow me to talk with her, lead her, cry with her, and rejoice with her.  What a sweet, sweet gift.  She is so eager to read her Bible, ask questions, and go home to tell her little sister about Jesus whom she now knows.  Please pray for her as she continues to build her relationship with her Savior.  I hope to follow up with her next week.

He loves us
Oh, how He loves us
Oh, how He loves us
Oh how He loves.


Grace and Peace my dear friends.  -t