I want to Introduce you to Mandi Bartlett. Mandi is part of our church family, works with cancer patients in our community and leads a non-profits working in Tanzania.
You have to love this young lady's heart for God and for people. That is why we are asking 100 people to give $14 to help reach a goal of $1,400 for her upcoming trip.
Below is a guest post from Mandi. After the post I'll share with you ways to give.
Here is the incredible Mandi Bartlett!!!
Anyone who has had a conversation with me in the last year always learns at least one thing about me: On August 4th I'm going to climb the tallest mountain in Africa. Seven days at sub-zero temperatures, minimal oxygen, no first world amenities.
Why? Why do something so uncomfortable, so dangerous?
Because 7 years ago God called me to a tiny village in Tanzania; and my mustard seed- size faith told me to go. I was 24 years old, had never left the country, and had no idea who this God of mine really was.
In the last 7 years I have established a nonprofit organization called Give Hope. We bought 5 acres of land in a remote part of East Africa. We have made it our mission to not only bring education, clean water, and health care to the villagers- but hope. Peace. Faith. Jesus.
I found God there. I found God on red dirt roads, i heard him in a language I didn't understand, and I saw him in people I didn't recognize. He wrecked my life there and nothing has been the same since.
We have been given the opportunity to look people in the eye and tell them they matter. We tell them we may not look the same, or sound the same- but we are loved the same. We have been entrusted with this sacred opportunity to share the love of a God who moves mountains.
He moves them, He created them- and He has given us the ability to climb them.
So in 11 days my team and I will be setting off to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Our basic goal is simple: to raise money for our school. At 19,341 feet tall, this is no small task and as I write about it my heart races in anticipation, fear, desire, respect. The task before us is daunting, but as we lace up our well-worn in boots and throw our packs over our shoulders- I am reminded why.
Why do we travel halfway around the world, and venture into the unknown? Why do we hike for days on end, over a glacier, above the clouds? Why have we set this huge fundraising goal?
Because sharing God's love with the village He called me to all those years ago is worth every step.
I invite every person who has ever had the desire to share the love of God to join me. Every person who has been so desperate to look another person in the eye and tell them God loves them, to join me. Every person who has had their life wrecked by our God to the point of blind trust and overflowing joy, to join me.
Thank you for sharing, Mandi. We are about half way to the goal, and you can join us in giving $14, $20, $140 or anything that God puts on your heart.
Bring your gift to The Community Fellowship this Sunday, mail your gift to the church this week (PO Box 388, Collinsville VA, 24078) or go to www.givehopetz.org and click donate on the bottom of the page.
Thank you for supporting children on Tanzania and for joining us in the mission endeavor.
MICHAEL Michael Harrison 276-647-8231 www.e-devotion.blogspot.com
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