An entry of my journal from June 4th:
As I sit here skimming through the blogs from the teams who leave tomorrow (the 5th) for Uganda, Kenya, India, Guatemala, Thailand and Honduras I'm overwhelmed by what God is about to do in the next couple months through these college students (and their leaders). God is a pretty cool guy and does really awesome things through those who allow Him to move. And here are 6 of the 10-12 teams from AIM going out ready to do whatever to bring the gospel in these countries.
Two words: SO COOL!
Of these couple hundred people I know 3, and each are leaders.
Neal, is going to Honduras, I don't know him well, but from the time I spent back in November in Jinja, Uganda with him and his Kenya team I know he is a great man of God.
Kiersten went to Uganda with me, now she is headed out to Kenya. I love her SO much! She is a prayer warrior, constantly she is going to her Father in heaven. When she prays things happen, change comes.
Kayla, was my roommate in Uganda. God has been taking her all over the world with AIM. First to Kenya as a participant (4 months), then to Texas as a team leader (5 weeks), to Uganda as a leader (3 1/2 months), to India again a leader (4 months), and now to Guatemala leading (2 months).
I want to be like her. No, not because she has been traveling like crazy, but because of her heart for God, children and living out God's will.
I saw today (the 4th) someone posted on her Facebook wall saying she is like wax, always molding to God's will quickly. That's the perfect imagery for her life. She flows, molds and moves into what God wants for her, because what God has planned is so much better than what she could ever want or plan.
I struggle with doing that. I want it to change. I'm slowly learning how to be "like wax" to God and His will, but I'm not quite there. I hope that by this time next year I will be like wax molding to God's will, without being frustrated because it's happening different than what I thought/planned, and no complaints found in my heart.
There was something else that happened as I skimmed through the blogs: I realized a change has happened in my heart! I am so happy and excited!
Since I've come home back in December I've been happy for those going out on the overseas mission field, but I've also been so jealous of them because I have to wait 'til September to go out… But today I am not jealous or envious. If you were to open my chest and inspect my heart you wouldn't find jealousy or envy.
YAY!
Update: I'm almost to the $4,000 mark! WOOHOO! I am 65% to my first payment of $6,000 (I have 3 payments total)!
If you still want to give to make this trip a reality, please do so soon so I can make my first payment by June 21st. You can either go to this link. Or you can make a check out to "Adventures in Missions" with "Jalin Irene Bailey" in the memo line and send it to Adventures in Missions PO Box 534470 Atlanta GA 30353-4407.
Prayer: Please keep praying for me and my team, that we don't become discouraged as we continue to raise support for our trip. Money is coming in slow for all of us, and our first payment is quickly coming. Also keep the current Passport teams in your prayers they left for their countries yesterday! Some teams are still traveling either in buses, taxis or planes, and other teams are just beginning to deal with jet lag, and culture shock.
