Greetings family and friends,
I wanted to let you know I will be going on a mission trip to Uganda, Africa this November. Our church sponsors 3 villages in the Ngariam area that is home to over 500 orphans. Our church has funded projects to build/repair water wells, provide education, medical/preventive medicine and most recently building 3 Care-points (these are meeting/eating/worship buildings). My family has sponsored a girl named Mary for about 2 years now (she is Sydney’s age).
In December of 2010 it really started to weigh heavy on my heart to make this trip. I wanted to go, but wasn’t sure when would be a good time. In January of 2011 during a fellowship dinner, our music worship leader approached me and asked if I would be interested in going on his next trip. It was at this time it became clear the Lord wanted me to go therefore, kicking off a growing period for me.
I felt strongly this was something I was being called upon to do. I believe the seeds for this were planted about a year and a half ago when I started going with our church to Prison Music Revivals. I remember years earlier when they would look for people to help with these ministries saying to myself, “There is no way I would ever do that”. Fast forward, now I can’t imagine not doing that work for the Lord. Words can’t describe the feeling you get when you go against your own nature and do something the Lord lays on your heart to do. You then see and understand it’s all for his glory, not ours.
With this, I ask for your help. I ask, after prayer, you do only what the Lord has laid upon your heart, not out of guilt or pressure. Regardless if you are able to help financially or not, I ask you to keep me, my family, and the others on our mission trip in your prayers. We will need them. I will be leaving November 10th and should be back on November 21st.
If you are wondering why the church doesn’t cover the travel expenses on the mission trip here is why. The trip costs over $3,000 per person. There are 4 of us going this trip which would take away $12,000 that could be used for the mission and would be counter productive to what we do. This is why I have reached out to you. Any amount you feel you can give willhelp and is greatly appreciated. If I reach what I need for the trip, anything above that will be gifted to the mission and used wisely.
Gifts can be tax deductible with a donations receipt, if needed. Please let me know and I can tell you how that needs to be handled. If this is not a concern, donations can be made directly to me, which I promise will only be used towards the mission.
Again, I ask only give what you can and not out of any guilt or pressure. There will be no hard feelings if you cannot give financially. Please, just keep us in your prayers.
Sincerely,
Rodger RinehartMatthew 25:34-40
1 Peter 4:10-11
