Welcome...Here We Go!

So...for the past few years, I have wanted to take an STM, or Short Term Missions trip.  I watched as teams from my churches came and went, and felt myself wanting to go and serve as well.  I never really looked into it, since I am a single mom and all (what about the kids?  what about the cost?).  Then, I moved and changed churches, and the church I am now a member of is BIG on Glocal Missions (global and local...ya like that, huh?).  After seeing so many people return from times of service, I felt an even greater pull on my heart to go and serve...so I began praying about it. (Isaiah 6:8, "Here am I. Send Me.")

And here I am...now blogging about my first upcoming experience!

It is my plan to keep this updated as much as possible with the process leading up to the trip.  To start, let me post the letter of support I am emailing...and we can go from there:

Hello there!

2011 was a great year for the kiddios and I.  We moved to Baltimore, Maryland, and everyone is happy and doing well at their schools and job.  We were blessed with a great home to live in, and a wonderful church family; though we don’t have a lot, we certainly do have enough.  What more could we ask for?

I am writing you today to let you know what an exciting year 2012 will be for me.  I have been invited to participate on a short term missions trip with Mountain Christian Church to The Prague, Czech Republic this summer.  I am ON FIRE with excitement about this, as I have wanted to serve in this way for years!

From Operation World:  “The Czech Republic has had quite a long and turbulent religious history.  Believers suffered, especially under the Communist regime.”  The freedom they have since gained has resulted in a significant ‘falling away’ of religious influence, to the point where the country is now over 70% non-religious.  Can you imagine living in such an area, where beautiful churches are used as concert halls and theaters, yet never to be the house of God?

From June 22 to July 6, my team and I have been charged to go and help Marek and Elaine Mudrick and their family, who have been living and teaching in the Czech Republic for years now.  With my own personal experience as a school teacher, I am hoping to use those skills to assist their ministry through their “UpWord Project”, which allows access to the public education system, helping to further language studies and multicultural education, among other things.  We will also participate in the construction of the Rivenhill Retreat Center, and meeting the local needs of the ministry with cleaning, organizing, and LOTS of prayer walking!

It is such an honor and privilege to go on this trip and I am humbled by the opportunity to do so.  Would you consider partnering with the team and myself on this journey?  If so, you can serve our team by praying for us, making a financial contribution, or both.  You can donate financially by going to https://www.nfpsystems.com/contrib/contrib.asp?org=139 Short Term Missions, and specify Europe/Rayona Young.  Your support, in any capacity, will be most appreciated.

Thank you so much for your consideration in helping me fulfill not only a personal dream, but also God’s call to The Prague.  Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions.

Gratefully,

Rayona 

So...there we go.  It's a beginning.  I can't wait to go on this trip of service!  I have been researching and blog following (the Mudrik's have a blog, http://mudriks.blogspot.com/ ), praying and researching some more, all to make sure that I am ready to go and be The Hands and Feet of God.

I look forward to this journey, and hope that you'll join me every step of the way!