I hope this letter finds everyone
safe, happy and healthy in the first part of a new year. I had the
amazing oppurtunity of ringing in the New Year in Kansas City at the
International House of Prayer with one of my former students from New
Zealand who very quickly became one of my best friends. We worshiped
in 2013 with 25,000 other people, dancing and singing to the Lord.
What an amazing end to one year and fabulous start to another!
First and foremost I want to say from
the very bottom of my heart, THANK YOU! Thank you so much for the
ways which you have effected the last year of my life and the support
you have sent while I've been in the missions field. From the
financial support, to the prayers of hundreds of people around the
world, the care packages, the post cards, the letters, emails,
facebook posts and Skype calls. I have been blessed beyond belief in
2012 by the outpouring of support from all of you. If I had to answer
the “What did you learn?” question quickly and within the
confines of a one page letter, it would be that my God is faithful. I
thought I knew what that word meant, but I did not. Not until this
year. In more ways that I can count God proved himself as a faithful
in my life; from physical miracles, to revelations of what the
Father's love can do in my life, to the amazing relationships I
gained, the ways I learned and grew as a person, a leader, a
daughter, because of His goodness. My life has been forever changed
because of my work with Youth With A Mission in the last year and I
could not have been a part of this amazing opportunity without your
love and support, so once again THANK YOU!!
Secondly this letter is to answer the most common question
that I have been asked since being home, “What's next?” And after
much prayer, counsel and conversation I finally have an answer to
that question. I'm going back! While going back was always the plan,
to staff next years Snowboard Discipleship Training school, God has a
way of taking our plans and sometimes switching them upside down on
their heads to fit into His bigger and better plan. I've been called
back to Youth With A Mission, New Zealand as early as the end of this
month. I'm going to be helping with our first quarter school that
starts this month, training with our full time staff on base as well
as helping with the administrative side of raising up next years
Snowboard Discipleship Training school that I will once again be
staffing come May. The past year has been such a learning expereince
for me. In so many ways I believe that helping to train up young
missionaries in New Zealand is exactly what God has called me to at
this point in my life. I love being able to walk this journey out
with the amazing people God has brought and continues to bring across
my path. There are so many different facets of God's heart that you
can see when you are helping to disciple and train young adults who
have a heart to see the world changed for Jesus. I am incredibly
passionate and excited for this call on my life. At this point I
believe that God will have me in New Zealand through the end of 2013.
And while last year at this time I was nervous and timid to send
these letters out, this year I am excited. I'm standing in the
aftermath of an incredible year of God's faithful provision and
trusting He's preparing to do the same again. Heading back to New
Zealand so soon after returning home has obvious financial obstacles.
I've been blessed to be able to go back to my job supervising our ski
school at Elm Creek, God also made a way for me to work along side my
Mom at her work at Park Brook Elementary school. What a sweet way for
us to be able to spend time together before I head out again! Even
with my jobs, in order to go back to New Zealand when planned, I will
need to help and support of those around me. Right now the greatest
need is about $2000 to purchase my plane ticket into the country and
the visa to keep me there. Would you consider a one time gift to help
get me back to the place I believe God is calling me to invest my
life? Once I am in New Zealand my staff fees for room, board and
living expenses are $100/week. As this time I'll be in New Zealand
much longer than I was last year I am praying that God would lay on
peoples hearts to join with me and support me on a monthly basis.
Even a small gift, given consistently goes so far! Would you pray
about joining with me in what I believe will be one of the greatest
moves of God in my life?
If you choose to support financial
there are a couple options right now:
- To give online with a credit card or debit card I have a link through my Paypal account on my facebook page as well as my website: http://tonarnia.blogspot.com .
- You can send a check to me at our base in New Zealand. 14 Church St. Oxford, North Canterbury New Zealand 7443
Thank you again for every form of
support that I have and continue to receive. In more ways than one in
the last year I realized how this life with Jesus is not something we
could ever do alone. Thank you for partnering with me in this
journey. Please feel free to contact me in any way with any
questions. I will continue to update my blog with details and
information surrounding my departure, ministry and this crazy
adventure God has us all on called life.
Thank you!
In His grace,
MANDI!
“Love the Lord your God with all
your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind and with
all your strength.” Mark 12:30
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