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Posted in General Posts
by Amy Christian
on 12/3/2008
Our One Year Anniversary
Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give me the desires of my heart.
Psalm 37:4
I know this verse to be true time and time again. I am so in awe of how great our Abba Father is!
October 13, 2008 marked the day of our one year anniversary. Jared knew this day meant a lot to me and that I was wanting to do something special. I was blown away by how special he made it for me!
I wasn't thinking we were going to be able to do much of anything. I thought about what I would like to do, but at the same time I was looking at our checking account. Silly me to be limiting our amazing Father. God knew the desires of my heart before I even told Him.
So here's what happened:
We got to go exactly where I was wanting to go, Ruidoso, NM! We stayed at a nice, huge house in a really nice neighborhood. An amazing family from my mom's church was letting us stay there, however long we wanted, for a really cheap amount (only the clean up fee). I was so excited and so thankful, knowing that was God who did that. Wait, it gets better. Once we got there we noticed the cleaning lady hadn't come from the last people that stayed there, seeing the sheets taken off the bed and their check still there. We called the family who owned the house, not knowing what to do and guess what...we got to stay there for FREE (I think 3 nights)!! Wow, God had really blown me away.
I had packed a lot of food so we wouldn't have to eat out all the time, then Jared surprised. A dear friend of Jared's gave him $100.00 for us to go out to eat at a nice resturaunt. At this point, I could of cried... me not cooking, oh so heavenly! Everything was going beyond what I had asked for. I didn't pack anything real nice to wear, thinking we wouldn't eat at a nice place, so I got to go out and buy a new shirt for dinner!
I had a blast!! We got to go shopping and hiking! Everything I wanted to do and more (I actually got to buy something instead of just look haha). Jared found a GREAT deal on a backpack for the World Race that was 1/2 off. PRAISE GOD! It was incredible!
On the day we were leaving we were going to take hike for about an hour and it ended up taking six hours. That's a whole story in itself. It was fun though! 
We took our trip the week before our actual aniversary date. I thought we wouldn't do anything execpt maybe eat out on the real date b/c we already had a great time! But no, Jared went far above and beyond what I would of ever thought!
You know that dear friend of Jared's I was talking about earlier that gaves us $100.00 to eat, well he was so sweet to the both of us. He owns a cute local Italian restuant, that just happens to be my favorite resturaunt. He let us eat there for FREE! Not only that, when we got there, they took us to our table pulled out our chairs for us. I have NEVER felt so special as I'm looking at our table with a huge vase of roses sitting there! God was showing me how special of a daughter I was to Him. I really felt like a Princess! I looked at the roses in awe and shock knowing that Jared didn't get those for me b/c he already got me some pretty purple (my fav color) flowers that day. That's right, I got two bouquets of flowers that night! Jared and I were both treated royally that night! We got to eat whatever we wanted and they even brought us a "special" dessert out!  God truly does know the desires of our heart and He loves to treat us royally!
Praise our Abba Father!
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Posted in General Posts
by Amy Christian
on 11/29/2008
This blog is from another missionary with AIM, Ericka Bennett. There are some great gift ideas for family and friends to help support orphans & women who have gotten out of the sex trade. There's another organization that sells fair trade coffee and mugs, that supports orphans called Saints Coffee. Saints Coffee even has gift packages!
As you're Christmas shopping, why not
buy something that makes a real difference in the world? Check out
these three options that take your buying power up from more than just
getting a great product. With each purchase you bring hope to orphans,
widows, and women being rescued from the sex trade. You're also
impacting their families and their communities! Who knew a t-shirt,
scarf, or purse could have that much power?
The Sound of Hope - click here to buy a T-shirt!
The proceeds from just one t-shirt is enough to feed an orphan in
Swaziland one meal a day for over a month!
The Sound of Hope is a music-driven campaign that raises money and
awareness for orphans in Swaziland, Kenya, and India. Find out more by
finding our fan page and group on Facebook, or add us as a friend on
myspace!
Corridor of Hope - click here to buy handmade jewelry and beautiful silk scarves from Thailand and India!
At Corridor Of Hope we are devoted to connecting orphans, poverty
stricken communities and YOU. We are the corridor, a passageway to help
people who can't help themselves. We help bring them hope by bringing
you quality and affordable products from these countries. In turn,
Corridor Of Hope will donate these resources back into their
communities by supporting orphans, thereby empowering YOU to help in a
multifaceted way. We will bring you updates and newsletters regarding
the orphans and how your purchase made a difference in their lives.
Timbali Crafts - click here to buy a handmade African purse from Swaziland!
TIMBALI CRAFTS are created by women who work as volunteer cooks at
feeding centers for orphans in Swaziland, Africa, where over 40% of the
population is HIV positive.
Many of the women have been widowed or abandoned, are single mothers,
or grandmothers raising grandchildren that have been orphaned. Craft
sales help provide an income for these hard working women and their
families who would otherwise have little or none.
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Posted in General Posts
by Amy Christian
on 11/12/2008
Hey Everyone! Here is the race route!!!
I'm so excited that I have an idea now of where I'll be going.
Guatemala
The nation of Guatemala is a region known for its spectacular beauty, volcanic ranges, rich cultural heritage and Mayan roots. Temple ruins from the past speckle the landscape and stand as tributes to the historical significance of the country's spiritual history. Guatemalans are people of art and expression; yet, very few see the beauty around them as evidence of a divine Creator.
Nicaragua
The nation of Nicaragua has been heralded as one of the poorest regions in the Western Hemisphere. Homelessness, slums, addictions, destitution, poverty and a severe lack of medical, educational and spiritual resources make Nicaragua a challenging environment to communicate hope. Yet, God's love is reaching the far corners of the country in miraculous ways.
Romania
The northern regions of Romania are home to the gypsy people of Romania. Strangers in their homeland, they are segregated, ostracized and forgotten. Yet, they are a strong, proud and vibrant people who are beginning to embrace the light of Christ in a whole new way. Teaching English, leading sports camps, and planting churches are but a few of the tasks set before us as we enter this area of the world.
The developing country of the Ukraine stands caught between its past oppression under the U.S.S.R. communist regime and the desire to be accepted into the Western world. The forgotten and marginalized of this area are quick to be found if one looks close enough. Come be a part of a revolution, taking back a region from the bondage of Islam and other folk religions. It's a new day for the countries of Eastern Europe!
PIONEER EASTERN EUROPE
Twice during your World Race, your team will take a month to "Ask the Lord" for a new mission field. He may lead you to a location developing, growing and booming or He may lead you to a land untouched by the World Race or even Christianity as a whole. It will be a time to listen to the voice of the Lord and, with true abandon, follow Him into the wild blue yonder.
Mozambique/Malawi
Enter a world of lions, elephants and monkeys, and welcome to Africa. Potentially the most fruitful of mission fields, northern Mozambique and Malawi is seeing sweeping revival in the form of mass conversions, miracles, and churches planted on a daily basis. Teams will be a part of breaking the hold of fear on the people bound by witch doctors and animism.
Swaziland
Swaziland made history by being the first country to reach a 51% HIV/AIDS infection rate across the general population. Through lack of education, superstition and other such deceptions, it is speculated that in 50 years, the country will no longer exist. Though small, Swaziland has great potential to spread the light of Christ to all of Africa.
PIONEER AFRICA
Twice during your World Race, your team will take a month Ask the Lord for a new mission field. He may lead you to a location developing, growing and booming or He may lead you to a land untouched by the World Race or even Christianity as a whole. It will be a time to listen to the voice of the Lord and, with true abandon, follow Him into the wild blue yonder.
Malaysia
Enter a world entrenched in Islam. A people with the thriving metropolis of Kuala Lampur, Malaysians still live in ignorance of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Delve into this culture of works-based religion, strong self-discipline, and uncanny faith, while delivering hope and pointing the people to their Redeemer.
Indonesia
The 17,508 islands that make up the nation of Indonesia are as diverse as their population. Certain areas are completely untouched by outside influences; others carry the exposure, even if only for a moment, of the Gospel story. Be prepared to explore uncharted territories and forgotten areas to further the cause of the kingdom of God.
Philippines
The Philippines exists as an Asian nation marked by notable Spanish influences. The Catholic church and the Spanish derivative of Tagalog (the national language) display a developed and developing front. Yet, the Filipino people are in need of truth to combat their folk religions and deceptive fronts, allowing them to understand God's greater purposes for their lives. They are a strong, beautiful people found in a marvel of God's creation that includes volcanic lakes, island beaches, beautiful mountains, etc.
*Race route subject to change.
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Posted in Mission Trip Thoughts
by Amy Christian
on 10/28/2008
Let me introduce you to one of my teammates... 
I am so excited to introduce you to my teammate: Kate DiLeo.
Click on her name to go to her blog page and read about her.
We have been emailing each other some and she is so amazing!
I'm really looking forward to meeting her in person at training camp.
We have so much in common!
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Posted in Mission Trip Thoughts
by Amy Christian
on 10/10/2008
We were asked to write a blog about how we felt before leaving on this mission trip. Here is what I'm expecting...
I've been putting off writing this blog, but I need to get it done by the end of the week. It's still so far away before we leave and I think I could write this blog better if it were just a month or two away. Here I am almost 9 months before we leave. Don't get me wrong, I think about what all might happen on this trip all the time and Jared & I talk about it a lot, but it's still all scattered in my mind. It's hard for me to try and collect all my thoughts and write (or should I say type) them out.
The main thing I'm expecting is CHANGE!
THE END!!
Ok I guess I'll try to elaborate:
Change spiritually- There's no way I could go and see the things that I'm going to see and not change. I know that I will have to be continually pressing into the Lord asking Him for strength spiritually. I will have to constantly be asking the Lord, "Lord what is it that you want this person to see, hear, feel, etc" I am going to represent Christ to others. I so desire for the people we minister to (& even walk past) to see Christ and only Him. This is something I'm already praying for. They have to see Him and only Him, if not, there will be no change in them, at least not eternal! I know I will learn to rely on Christ for everything, way more than I am now.
 Jared and I are reading a book that's on our reading list for the World Race called "The Heavenly Man." It's about a man (Brother Yun) living in China and his story as he spreads the gospel, gets thrown in prison, is tortured, but most importantly his love for Jesus Christ! This book has encouraged me so much on how important & valuable the Word of God truly is! I believe even now that God is teaching me things and showing me things and with that comes change. He has already started getting me prepared for this upcoming year! I expect my spirit man to grow this coming year more than ever before! I expect to produce fruits of the Spirit! May the Love of Christ abound in all things!!!
HALLALUJAH!
Change physically- I won't be sitting behind a desk all day for one. I know that there will be times that I'll be put to the test. There will be times that I will be so physically tired and won't want to go on BUT the LORD will be my strength! I will really understand that I have no strength on my own. I will have to rely on God for everything and this excites me. I know my faith will grow!
Change emotionally- I believe that I will have a greater love for God and people. I believe God will let me feel what He feels for the little orphan child that I'll be holding. I believe that as I'm hugging the child, the child will feel the love of His heavenly Father. As my team and I are helping the widow lady with things that she's not able to do, that she will see the love of a heavenly Husband, she will realize she's still a bride, a bride of Christ! I believe that expressions of the Father's heart will be flowing through me and that He will allow me to feel as He feels. Wow, how can one not be changed after that?!?
Change mentally- As of right now, I don't know what it's really like for others in different countries, even the ones I've been to. Yeah, I've seen pictures and read blogs and it has changed my thinking...some. I've even been to Mexico and Thailand, but I didn't spend a lot of time with the people. I spent more time working than just spending time talking and loving on them. Once I get out there for myself & having a purpose to show the love of Jesus Christ, it will make my head knowledge become heart knowledge. A father (in the Lord) once told me, "The problem with many Christians is one foot." They have a lot of head knowledge, but until it goes down one foot into the HEART it doesn't do them any good. It's like knowing how to say a word, but w/o knowing the meaning, you can't ever use it. If we as Christians never know that Jesus loves us, how can we share that love? We can say it and tell others, but w/o truly knowing it, the effect is not the same, it's as if it's powerless. Most all Christians will say that they know that Jesus loves them and they may even laugh at the question, but do you really know that He loves you, do you know it in your heart?
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Posted in Mission Trip Thoughts
by Amy Christian
on 10/2/2008
We were asked to write a blog on how we were called to the mission field
For as long as I can remember I've wanted to go to Africa. I didn't know much about it, but I had such a big desire to go. I just knew I would go one day. My interest grew and grew the older I got, not only for Africa, but for all over the world. I wanted to go anywhere and everywhere.
In junior high I got to go on small mission trips to other places in America. I loved it so much, I could hardly wait till high school when I got to go to Mexico on a mission trip! I had no clue what it would be like, I just thought it would be FUN! High school came around and I was getting to go on my first mission trip to another country! We went to help build a church. I was in total shock seeing how poor these people were and how small and empty their concrete homes were. I was devastated. I thought to myself that all these people must be so depressed living like that, until I met them. They had so much JOY! They were so excited and happy that we came all this way to help them build their church building. It made me stop and think of my reasons for going on that trip. I was going for me, myself, and I. I was going for adventure alone. It didn't even cross my mind that I was going to show them Jesus and help them.
They showed me Jesus that week. It was amazing! My life was changed that week in so many ways. My love for Jesus and those people grew so much on that trip. I did not want to leave those people when it was time to leave. All of my friends really enjoyed it, but they were ready to go back home. There was only one friend of mine that felt the same was I did. We did not want to leave at all. We were the last to get on the bus and we went to the very back and started to cry as we drove away watching the little kids laughing and chasing the bus
I looked forward to going on mission trips every year after that, not wanting to leave every time. I then realized why I had such a desire to travel. God put that desire in me, b/c he was calling me to the mission field. What an honor!
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