You know, it really is amazing that God would let me, yes call me to travel thousands of miles away to bless people in a different country. I don't know if all of you know this, but the country of Peru has been intriguing to me ever since....well before I got interested in missionary work. How beautiful that is, that He prepared my heart ahead of time. He knew. And I know that there is more to come! Where, when, I do not know. But I have surrendered my life to His use, and He has promised to bless it!!!
I am going to break away from my usual format here, if that's ok with ya'll. As much as I'd like to sit down with each of you and spend some quality time talking about what God is doing in your life, what your dreams are, as well as the mundane daily things, I cannot. There are just so many of you wonderful people and we are all busy! SO. Here are a couple of things that have been going on with me.
1. Something really nice that I have been doing is meeting new people and getting to know acquaintances better. For example, I have met with several pastors to talk about my trip to Peru. Without fail, these meetings have resulted in my receiving love, wisdom, and encouragement. I understand that pastors are "suppose to" do that, but let me tell you - each man and woman that God calls to be a pastor has their own struggles and challenges. Knowing this, I am humbled and blessed that they would take the time to listen to me ( a youngster in this ministry thing :) and share their life lessons with me!
2. I got to meet a woman whom I now consider a friend at my job this past month. We were sort of thrown together to handle a bunch of kids, without having previously met. It turned out that we could relate to one another well, and it was nice to have that in a what can be trying environment :) I really appreciate her and am thankful that God let us get to know each other!
3. I have two jobs, one working with kids and another at a hotel, doing housekeeping. The housekeeping job is pretty much a seasonal deal, and I have been wondering if I should look for something closer to my home. I very much dislike leaving jobs because I do not want my employers think ill of me (which is ridiculous really). So, I was trying to figure out how/when to quit that job, getting myself all nervous. Then God did His thing. A few days ago, I received my pay check in the mail and with it a letter from the owners of the hotel, saying that they had just signed the papers to sell the business to new owners, and that they would be doing their own hiring. They suggested that I start looking for a new job, thanking me for all the work I had done for them and praying for blessing ( yes, they are Christians:) You see that?!! I am now training for a new summer job.
For those of you still reading this, I applaud you :) I know this has not been the conventional missions trip blog update, but I felt like this was a good idea. If you are anxious to find out how my support is going, then you can read this:
Any gift is still welcome! A one-time gift will bring down the amount I need for monthly support. Monthly pledges can be $5 a month, $20 a month... $100 :) or whatever you feel is right! However the MOST IMPORTANT support I ask for is PRAYER!! Right now I ask that you would keep Pastor Julio Cavassa in your prayers. He is back home and going through therapy, but He still needs more strength and all the blessings you can send His way! The doctors want to give him a mouth guard to keep his jaw from healing crooked, but he cannot open his mouth wide enough to get one in. This is slowing down the healing. His wife Janet also needs prayer, as she is giving her energy in caring for him.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Monday, April 15, 2013
Your Thoughts are Higher than Mine
Happy Monday, Friends!!
I hope that you have been experiencing the GRACE of God in your life lately. I grow more aware of grace every day, and it is a humbling thing for sure. A beautiful, clarifying thing.
Well, God has been up to some things! First of all, He has provided abundantly for my needs. I am happy to announce that the support for my start-up cost has been reached!!!!!!! Through your prayer, God's faithfulness and willing hearts, we have gotten over the first financial hurdle :) I am confident that the next hurdle will be passed soon as well. What is the next hurdle, you ask? ....
Monthly support! Any amount that you can faithfully give on a monthly basis, for one year, is a gift that will enable me to stay in Peru and continue the work that God has called me to. So far I have $80.00 promised, which means I need $306.00 more. Whether you can give $5, $10, or $100 a month, it all helps :)
The second thing that God has been up to is something that I don't understand, but He does. Some of you may have read or heard about the accident that happened involving the pastor of the church I will be serving in. In March, Pastor Julio fell off the roof of the church building, suffering injuries in his leg, hip, arm, and jaw. He was taken to a hospital in Piura, where he was put on a waiting list for surgery. After about two weeks, he was finally worked on and is now home with his family. The doctor had his jaw wired shut, and his body will require a few months to heal. Due to this, he will not be leading services for the next few months. After correspondence between the leaders at Elim Fellowship and the church in Peru, it has been decided that it would be best if I post-pone my original departure date until I get an OK from Elim and the church. So, with that said, I am still planning on spending one year in Peru, in the same place, but will not be leaving in May as originally planned. I will continue to seek support and most certainly ask for prayer - now even more that my family in Peru is in need of God's grace! Please join with me in declaring healing and restoration over that family and the church.
Like I said, I don't understand why this happened, and it certainly was not in my plan. My original reaction was to get angry and confused. Why would God let this happen? Was He closing the door to Peru? Did I hear Him wrong when I felt called? These are all natural thoughts for man (or in my case, woman) to think when big changes take place that we are not prepared for. But the amazing thing is that God knew that this was going to happen, and it does not scare or throw Him off one bit! He can take a terrible situation, like the accident Pastor Julio was in, and turn it into something He uses to bring breakthrough! Whatever the purpose God has in all this, I know it is good, because..
"All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose."
Romans 8:28
Thank you again for your support, friendship and prayers.
Love, Laura
1703 Dalton Road
I hope that you have been experiencing the GRACE of God in your life lately. I grow more aware of grace every day, and it is a humbling thing for sure. A beautiful, clarifying thing.
Well, God has been up to some things! First of all, He has provided abundantly for my needs. I am happy to announce that the support for my start-up cost has been reached!!!!!!! Through your prayer, God's faithfulness and willing hearts, we have gotten over the first financial hurdle :) I am confident that the next hurdle will be passed soon as well. What is the next hurdle, you ask? ....
Monthly support! Any amount that you can faithfully give on a monthly basis, for one year, is a gift that will enable me to stay in Peru and continue the work that God has called me to. So far I have $80.00 promised, which means I need $306.00 more. Whether you can give $5, $10, or $100 a month, it all helps :)
The second thing that God has been up to is something that I don't understand, but He does. Some of you may have read or heard about the accident that happened involving the pastor of the church I will be serving in. In March, Pastor Julio fell off the roof of the church building, suffering injuries in his leg, hip, arm, and jaw. He was taken to a hospital in Piura, where he was put on a waiting list for surgery. After about two weeks, he was finally worked on and is now home with his family. The doctor had his jaw wired shut, and his body will require a few months to heal. Due to this, he will not be leading services for the next few months. After correspondence between the leaders at Elim Fellowship and the church in Peru, it has been decided that it would be best if I post-pone my original departure date until I get an OK from Elim and the church. So, with that said, I am still planning on spending one year in Peru, in the same place, but will not be leaving in May as originally planned. I will continue to seek support and most certainly ask for prayer - now even more that my family in Peru is in need of God's grace! Please join with me in declaring healing and restoration over that family and the church.
Like I said, I don't understand why this happened, and it certainly was not in my plan. My original reaction was to get angry and confused. Why would God let this happen? Was He closing the door to Peru? Did I hear Him wrong when I felt called? These are all natural thoughts for man (or in my case, woman) to think when big changes take place that we are not prepared for. But the amazing thing is that God knew that this was going to happen, and it does not scare or throw Him off one bit! He can take a terrible situation, like the accident Pastor Julio was in, and turn it into something He uses to bring breakthrough! Whatever the purpose God has in all this, I know it is good, because..
"All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose."
Romans 8:28
Thank you again for your support, friendship and prayers.
Love, Laura
Contact Information:
Laura Murphree
4701 Buffalo Road
Warsaw, NY 14569
Phone: (585) 322-2618
Under Appointment by:
1703 Dalton Road
Lima, NY 14485-9516
Tax-deductible contributions: Checks to Elim Fellowship
"Preferred for Laura Murphree's support"
OR Online Giving at www.elimfellowship.org
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Praise Him!
Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who has given towards this trip!! I am amazed by your generous gifts.
I am glad to tell you that there is only $650 to go for the initial cost :) I still need $320 in monthly support pledges.
God is soooo good!
Be expecting a much lengthier update in the next few days.
Love love love,
Laura Beth
I am glad to tell you that there is only $650 to go for the initial cost :) I still need $320 in monthly support pledges.
God is soooo good!
Be expecting a much lengthier update in the next few days.
Love love love,
Laura Beth
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
March Newsletter
Hello friends :)
It’s three months into my
adventure ( I say that because preparing for missionary life is as much a part
of the adventure as is the going) and God is doing amazing things! I have
received a few generous donations from churches and friends who have felt God’s
release to give. God has a way of surprising me with blessings that I do not
expect - like when I recently shared at a church and the pastor promised that
they would give one whole month’s worth of support!! Hallelujah!!
After the pledges that have
already been made, I am still in need of the following:
$327 in pledges for monthly
support
$1,950 in one time gifts
Remember that any amount you
can give counts! When we give in faith, God is able to take our seed and make
it grow a hundred fold. In this case, the seeds you sow are going into the
“soil” of Peruvian hearts and lives! Many of the people that I will be serving
have grown up knowing only poverty and what the world can give them - which is
not much. God longs for them to know HIM, the life and purpose He offers! That
is why another thing you can do (and probably the most effective too) is to pray.
I have been sent to go to the field in person. When you pray, you in effect are
also in the field with me, doing the work of God!!! How cool is that?
I would like to share
something with you that God has been teaching me lately. As I prepare for this
trip, there are things that I have to do that I am not comfortable doing.
Writing these letters, asking people for money, and standing in front of large
groups of people to give presentations are some examples. The reason I do not
feel comfortable doing these things is because of fear, plain and simple. The
thing about fear is, God has not called me (or you) to it. He did not create us
to fear but to boldly proclaim His love and follow Him without looking behind.
Did you know that fear is a
sin? Did you also know that the Bible says that “love covers a multitude of
sins”? If this is true, then love covers fear. If God is love, and God is in
us, then God’s love in us covers and conquers fear! This is good news!
God’s love and blessing,
Laura
Contact Information:
Laura Murphree
4701 Buffalo Road
Warsaw, NY 14569
Phone: (585) 322-2618
1703 Dalton Road
Lima, NY 14485-9516
Tax-deductible contributions: Checks to Elim Fellowship
"Preferred for Laura Murphree's support"
OR Online Giving at www.elimfellowship.org
Sunday, February 10, 2013
First Newsy-Letter :) :)
Hello lovely people!
I thought that I would update you on how things are going in regards to my trip to Peru. I admit that this process of preparing is unlike anything I've done before. It is a truly humbling thing to realize that all the experience I thought I had in missions was only a taste of what was yet to come! The planning, the fundraising, the relationship building have me quite busy. With that said, I want to reassure you that I am 100% confident (and excited) that God has me where I am at and where I am going for His eternal purposes! The years of longing for something more, for traveling to other places is being realized in my life. And it's all God's doing! It amazes me every time that I think about it.
A review of what I will be doing in Peru: Working under the supervision of Jonathan Edwards in the Betesda church, which is lead by a Peruvian pastor and his family. Teaching and helping with the church's children's ministry on Saturday mornings. Helping with the youth and women's ministry. Serving as a translator/help for missions teams that come to the church. Possibly teaching English 1 or 2 days a week at a nearby school. I will be living there for ONE WHOLE YEAR. As far as support goes, I have received a few donations that I am very grateful for :) I am still in need of some friends who will pledge monthly support (I need $386 per month, a very reasonable amount for a missionary), and $2,050 for my one-time expenses of air fare and visa renewal. Elim Fellowship, my sending agency, requires that I have all the funds for the latter before I leave for Peru. My goal is leave on May 2nd of this year!
In order to make donating easier, Elim Fellowship has set up a way to give online. I hope that you will find this convenient :) To make on-line donations and electronic funds transfers, click here. If you have any questions at all about my trip - what I'll be doing, my heart for missions, how to donate, or anything else, fee free to email, facebook message, or call me!! Thank you so much for being awesome and loving towards me (and yes, I mean that regardless of whether or not you support me financially ;) You are precious!
God bless you abundantly,
Laura Murphree
blurph412@yahoo.com
(585)322-2618
A review of what I will be doing in Peru: Working under the supervision of Jonathan Edwards in the Betesda church, which is lead by a Peruvian pastor and his family. Teaching and helping with the church's children's ministry on Saturday mornings. Helping with the youth and women's ministry. Serving as a translator/help for missions teams that come to the church. Possibly teaching English 1 or 2 days a week at a nearby school. I will be living there for ONE WHOLE YEAR. As far as support goes, I have received a few donations that I am very grateful for :) I am still in need of some friends who will pledge monthly support (I need $386 per month, a very reasonable amount for a missionary), and $2,050 for my one-time expenses of air fare and visa renewal. Elim Fellowship, my sending agency, requires that I have all the funds for the latter before I leave for Peru. My goal is leave on May 2nd of this year!
In order to make donating easier, Elim Fellowship has set up a way to give online. I hope that you will find this convenient :) To make on-line donations and electronic funds transfers, click here. If you have any questions at all about my trip - what I'll be doing, my heart for missions, how to donate, or anything else, fee free to email, facebook message, or call me!! Thank you so much for being awesome and loving towards me (and yes, I mean that regardless of whether or not you support me financially ;) You are precious!
God bless you abundantly,
Laura Murphree
blurph412@yahoo.com
(585)322-2618
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