Brown Family Mission Trip 2010

Our family will be serving this year on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. We travel with a group out of people from Indiana, Tennessee and Kentucky. This will be our second year serving and just as we did in 2008 we are raising money for our travel expenses to the Rez and this year also car rental, as Chris' new company vehicle will not accomodate our needs. I have been asked to direct the VBS this year and will be having to carry supplies with me also. If we have any money left over from what we raise (hopefully), we will be giving leaving that with Pastor John Lovelace to us as winter propane money for the people on the Rez. They suffer very cold winters there. We will be heading out on June 10th for the 20+ hour drive and then returning on the 18th. We ask for your prayers for safe travel, guidance in my VBS role, and that God use our family to plant a seed of faith while we are there.

If you feel led to help us with travel expenses and the cost of the mission trip, please mail any contributions to:

Winchester Cumberland Presybterian Church
200 2nd Avenue NW
Winchester, Tennessee 37398

Note on your check that the contribution is for Brown Family Mission Trip and your donation will be tax deductible.

Our church will also be taking up a love offering on May 23rd.

Here is some information about the community we will be serving (third world country statistics - hidden away in the land of plenty):

* Median income is $2,600 per year with 85% to 95% unemployment.
* Infant mortality rate 300% higher than the U.S. national average.
* Diabetes and Tuberculosis rates 800% higher than the U.S. national average.
* Elderly die each winter from hypothermia (freezing).
* At least 60% of the homes are severely substandard, without water, electricity, adequate insulation, and sewage systems.
* School drop-out rate is 70%.
* Recent reports state the average life expectancy is 45 years old while other reports state that it is 48 years old for men and 52 years old for women.
* With either set of figures, that's the shortest life expectancy for any community in the Western Hemisphere outside Haiti, according to The Wall Street Journal.
* And the list goes on and on….

When God Calls....

The Beth Moore conference this weekend in Atlanta was wonderful! A worship experience that I am literally unable to put into words. I highly recommend reading Beth's new book "So Long Insecurity" - well worth the purchase!

I have known for many years that God would call me into some type of ministry, but always thought it would be missions (since that is what I dreamed of doing for God when I was a child). Lately, God has opened several different opportunities up around me and I am really trying to discern where God is leading me. I am in prayerful decision mode right now. For an ADHD person, trying to find where you are supposed to be HAS to come straight from God, because the Lord knows we can't figure it out on our own AT ALL!

I have been chewing on the thought all morning that if we wait until we think the "time" is right or we are "right" or we are "good enough" to do certain things for God, then that time will never come! I am an imperfect person. I will never be good enough or feel like I fit the bill. Therefore, we must step out in faith. We must know that God will only take us where He wants us to be and that in that place there will also be provision. Come with me and step out in faith!

Beth Moore - So Long Insecurity!

So even though it seemed like it wasn't going to happen - I am going to be in Woodstock, GA tomorrow get to see my sista Beth Moore speak live on her new book "So Long Insecurity". Those of you who know me, know that I love how God has used her to teach so many women about the Word of God and that she is SO down-to-earth.

I pray for safe travels for myself and my little car and I can't wait to hear a word from my Father this weekend! Praying for you all to have great weekends and wonderful time with friends and family!

Busy, Busy, Busy......

Haven't had time to blog lately, but wanted to drop in and update. We are all doing well. Chris is VERY busy with work this time of year so he has been gone quite a bit. Jacob is trying to finish up school for the year and the girls just finished TCAPS which they said "were a breeze". :) I am busy with work and school myself and am also preparing for our trip to South Dakota coming up on June 10th. We will be serving again on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and I will be directing the VBS there this year. Please pray that I can get everything ready to go and that the Lord will use our family in a powerful way to help the people there on the reservation.

"Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you."

Jeremiah 32:17

Jacob

Well, another year has passed and I wish time would slow down. Jacob will be 15 tomorrow and eligible for a learner's permit! Wow, can you believe it? I am so blessed to have such a wonderfully unique son and can't wait to celebrate his b'day tomorrow! Hope you have a blessed weekend!

Melissa

The Messiah Tour - Atlanta

Chris and I are headed out tomorrow at noon to help chaperone a trip to the CIY Believe Messiah Tour in Atlanta. We are really excited and blessed to be able to take such a great group of Middle Schoolers to the event. Please keep us in prayer for safe travels and that it be a changing event for our Middle Schoolers.

www.ciy.com

Melissa B.

A few Easter pics