Update with Africa Inland Mission

Good Afternoon Everyone!!!!

Last week I received some very exciting news from Africa Inland Mission.

I was officially invited to Candidate Week!!!!! Candidate Week is the last step in the application process and I am very excited about this.

The official description is as follows: The week includes an introduction to the mission and its ministries, the history of the mission, as well as seminars on a variety of topics aimed at preparing candidates for service with Africa Inland Mission.  Candidates will also meet a counselor who has their Personality Profiles. That meeting completes the candidate’s file, which will be reviewed by the personnel committee during the CW.  Candidates will know the status of their application by the end of the CW.  Upon approval of their application by the Personnel Committee, Candidates become Appointees, and they will be able to confirm their Field Assignment with the candidate office.

I will be going to Candidate Week February 10-15. It is in Peachtree City, GA. It will be held at the AIM headquarters. I am hoping and praying to have an assignment and go from candidate to appointee that week or shortly after. I am applying for the TIMO part of the AIM ministry. TIMO means Training in Ministry Outreach. It is a two year foundation for a lifetime of ministry. You can watch a short video about it HERE.

Please join me in prayer as Candidate Week is fast approaching. This has potential to be a launching point for some major changes and possibly a lifetime of ministry. I am very crazy excited about this!!!!!!!

Please pray specifically for the following:

-AIM staff as they prepare for the candidates to come 

-all the candidates that will attend 

-everyone's hearts are open and listening to God so that His will may be done

If there is any way that I can be praying for you, please let me know! I would love to hear what God is doing in your life too.

Flashback Friday: the first orphanage

Months of anticipation
Lots of preparation
Hours of traveling

…….all leading up to the moment. The moment I went to my first orphanage in Africa. It was in August of 2011. For just under 7 months, I had been anticipating the trip to Ethiopia and Rwanda. Through God's handiwork, a friend and I had signed up for the same trip. We were 2 people on a team of 20, that came from 7 different states, and traveled around the world to a foreign country to minister to orphans and widows.

Leaving the airport in Kigali, Rwanda, we were extremely exhausted and in a daze as we tried to process being in a country so different from home. We loaded up the buses and went straight to the Rwanda Genocide Memorial Museum. There, we learned about the history of the country, as well as causes and effects of the genocide. It was an emotional roller coaster! That first night, most of us slept very well from the physical and emotional exhaustion that we were already starting to feel.

Morning came and we felt like a whole new team. We were filled with excitement and anticipation as we prepared to go to the first orphanage. I remember our driver taking us on a detour that left us with an interesting story but eventually we made it to where we are supposed to be.

Kimisagra Orphanage!

It is land locked and on a hill. It is a small hike up a steep hill to get there. (Each time I return the walk up seems less and less but the first time for anyone is always a little shocking.) We climb the hill and gather in a tiny room to hear some history on the orphanage and meet the workers. This was interesting but we could see the kids craving our attention and love more than a football player craves a super bowl win.

Eventually, we finished the interesting but less desired formalities and we were able to go with the kids. Somehow, I was the first to make it around the corner and into the courtyard where the kids had gathered. It was and still is an unforgettable moment.

Children swarmed me faster than a hummingbird flaps its wings. Some wanted a hug and then backed up one step. Some wanted to hang on and never leave. Some walked over smiled and just looked at me. Others came and just giggled with pure joy that I had come from so far to see them. I felt like I couldn't move. It seemed like the children were multiplying and I was overwhelmed. Of course, this all happened in a matter of seconds that felt like an hour. As more of the team made it to the courtyard, the kids spread out and seem to lay their claim on which muzungu (white person) was theirs for the day. 

It was here at this orphanage that I learned how truly thankful someone can be for something so small. 

a wooden toy car

a new headband

someone to play catch with

or even a hand to hold

These kids were emitting gratefulness in amounts that I never knew existed. 

One girl was thrilled to be up in the air. Something that most parents do to some degree and she had probably never had such joy.

I may have enjoyed it more than she did. 

I will never forget the first orphanage, the first group of kids that stole me heart, the first time I saw such gratefulness come from someone who had so little. Those kids will never know how much they changed my life and how much God has done since this moment. I suppose I will never know the same for them. But I can look back and know that for that moment these kids knew they were important and someone loves them.

$20in14days Fundraiser update!!!

Greetings everyone!!!

Tomorrow is the last day for the $20in14days fundraiser. (Although, donations are welcome any time for the trip, any team members, or the ministries we will visit.)

So far, through you, God has provided about $1200.

My trip is now funded completely and I will continue to help with some fundraisers so that if any team members are running short, I can help them.

Please continue to support our trip through prayer as we will start preparing quite soon. Actually, two more people signed up today. That makes a total of 8 people that are going to bless many ministries in Ethiopia and Rwanda. I am so excited to share with these 7 people (and maybe more) an experience that is so eye opening and life changing. 

If God leads you to not only support us in prayer but also financially, then we would love to have you be part of the trip in that way. Everyone is called in some way to be part of ministry. I believe God will lead you and open your eyes to the way that He wants you to further the Kingdom. 

To support our trip financially, here is how you can do it:

1. Checks can be made out to "Visiting Orphans"

     -I can accept them and mail them to VO

     -if you mail it to VO please indicate the trip and if you want it to go toward a specific team member

2. I can also accept cash donations

3. Go HERE for online donating:

     -For fund category please select "Ethiopia/Rwanda: Leader - Rowe"

     -team member or ministry name please enter "Katherine Rowe"

    ********you may leave this area blank and your donation will go toward the trip in general and be used for other team members or ministries we visit**********

4. If you wish to mail checks directly to VO please make sure my name and the trip name are on the memo line. You can abbreviate it to"Et/Rw July 2014; Member K. Rowe"

Following are the mailing addresses for Visiting Orphans and myself

Visiting Orphans

449 Metroplex Drive

Nashville, TN 37211

Katherine Rowe

1515 Robertson Ct.

Clarksville, TN 37042

I am endlessly thankful for how God has used you to bless me and then allow me to bless orphans in Africa.

Stay tuned for un update with my journey with Africa Inland Mission. That will come later this week!!!! Great and Amazing things are happening!

$20in14days fundraiser

Happy New Year!!!!

Only about 12 hours into the new year and I've already heard a variety of stories for how people ended the year. I know one family that had a wedding last night and another had a unique trip to the ER (with everyone healthy and happy at the end). I spent it with a wonderful group of friends playing games, laughing, and most importantly making some life long memories.

Resolutions are not something that I make a habit of doing. I might have some unofficial goals of varying degrees each year. This year my first goal is to have the Visiting Orphans July 2014 trip fully funded in the next two weeks. I have just over $1000 left for my trip to be fully funded. Although, I would love to raise more than that so our team may be able to bless the places we visit or that I may share with other team members if needed.

I am calling this the $20in14days fundraiser.

I am asking for 50 people to donate $20 within the next 14 days. If this happens, then my trip will be fully funded. Anything I raise above this will go toward the ministries we visit or other team members.

If you feel called to support our trip financially, here is how you can do it:

1. Checks can be made out to "Visiting Orphans"

     -I can accept them and mail them to VO

2. I can also accept cash donations

3. Go HERE for online donating:

     -For fund category please select "Ethiopia/Rwanda: Leader - Rowe"

     -team member or ministry name please enter "Katherine Rowe"

4. If you wish to mail checks directly to VO please make sure my name and the trip name are on the memo line. You can abbreviate it to"Et/Rw July 2014; Member K. Rowe"

Following are the mailing addresses for Visiting Orphans and myself

Visiting Orphans

449 Metroplex Drive

Nashville, TN 37211

Katherine Rowe

1515 Robertson Ct.

Clarksville, TN 37042

As always, thank you so much for your continued support! It is such a blessing to have a group of family and friends that truly believe in and support what God is doing in my life. I hope the new year brings you great blessings and new adventures!