#2: Meet the Team: Read about how God called and led them to Africa.

Meet Elva:
As I prepare to go to Nairobi, Kenya with my church family, Calvary Chapel Beach Cities and Far Reaching Ministries -- extended an extra week with World Harvest -- I don't think I can prepare myself for WHAT I will see. The Lord has been working in several areas of my heart and life, and trusting Him - even when life presents itself in ways I would never orchestrate. God, however, is the conductor of the life - the composer, creator, and ultimate sovereign one, and if we simply MOMENT BY MOMENT put our hope and trust in Him, life will unfold before our eyes in ways we could never expect. When stormy days and tumultuous waves crash against our comfy boat -- Jesus asks if we have the faith to continue to trust in Him.

The Calvary Chapel Missions Conference in Murrietta proved to be a turning point in my life: with three different people who did not or barely knew me prayed for me concerning Africa and one prayed concerning serving a particular religious group. Two weeks after that, I was contacted by World Harvest whose ministry involved both groups. 8 months after the conference, I find myself going to Africa.

The Lord didn't put in on my heart to send letters to ask for support in going: not this time. In fact, I felt very strongly that I was NOT to write letters for this particular mission's trip. The last week before the funds were due, I resigned to not going, as I had not raised all the funds. I even told a few people I wasn't going... when I learned that... the funds were in, and I WAS GOING!

So, Jesus has made it very clear that He is leading me, and off to Africa is where I am headed. My husband, Brian, who is unable to go, has been my greatest encouragement and cheerleader for what God is about to do. There is nothing, I in myself, have to offer those I am going to serve. It is only Jesus in us, that pours out His Life and Love through us, when we are empty of ourselves. Praying, spending time with Jesus, and fellowshipping with those I'll be serving with, is my only means of truly preparing. While I am catching up on the culture and devastation of these areas, it the Lord working through me by the power of His Holy Spirit that His ULTIMATE plan will be accomplished.

Please pray for our team...to that end. That Jesus would be lifted up and that we would TRULY be His hands and His feet.

What is it that God is calling you to do? Are your eyes open to make the most of every opportunity? Have you shared your faith with someone recently? Ask God to give you the opportunity AND the boldness through the Holy Spirit to speak out in faith. If you ask this, you truly will see Him answer. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (or fear), but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline (or sound mind). (2 Timothy 1:7 NIV/NKJV).

Meet Brent:
His Story Coming Soon.

Meet Robin:
Her Story Coming Soon.

Meet Melissa:
Praise the Lord for all that HE has done to get me on HIS way. He gets all of the GLORY for this trip. I am so excited to see how He will work amongst our team and stretch me beyond my reality to more of His.

He started to prick my attention toward a short term mission trip by way of multiple friends who are either in full time ministry or have had the opportunity to take a short term mssion trip. My desire started to build as I vicariously experienced the blessings they received from serving Him in a bigger way. My church, Calvary Chapel Beach Cities, announced that we were planning to send a team on a short term trip initially to the Ukraine. I was on board...wherever the Lord wanted to send us. Somehow these plans fell through which spurred the research and building of the trip to Africa.

As I began to pray, I realized that God had already provided for the BIG needs prior to me asking. In the process He revealed that this is completely in line with Scripture. Please take a look at Isaiah 65:23-24 which states "Before they call, I will answer them; and while they are still speaking, I will hear." and Genesis 24:15 "Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor, came out with a jar on her shoulder." (It is better to read both in context) Practically, I am required to take ten consecutive days off of work which is exactly the period of the trip. This was a huge blessing because I would not incur resistance or put undue stress on my team at work. Second, I saw God provide for the financial means to send me on the trip very soon upfront. I received support from my family after initial concern due to the unrest in Nairobi. My mom considered an encounter with a candidate for a job at her clinic who is from Nairobi to be God's way of reassuring her directly. My dad had a similar reassuring encounter much later in the process. I am blessed that God works in such intimate, personal ways in order to meet our needs. He continues to display is character as his "El Roi" name displays in that He sees us right where we are and meets us. HE is a good God who is more than worthy to be praised.

Most importantly He confirmed His call on my life to go to Africa through Scripture. He brought me Isaiah 58:9-11 on three occasions. Please read the whole chapter for context, but the verses state, "Then you will call and the Lord will answer. You will cry and He will say, 'Here I am.' If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desie of the afflicted, then your light will rise in the darkness and your gloom will become like midday. And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail." Meeting the needs of the afflicted...going to the widows and orphans...meeting tangible, spiritual, emotional needs seems to beat very in-tune with the heartbeat of God. I feel blessed to get to see Him move in a way that is so important to Him. He confirms this thought in James 1:27 which states " Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep onself unstained by the world."

I have seen confirmation along the way which has increased my faith beyond measure. Some of these have been through friends who have confirmed the call on my life and committed to pray. THANK YOU! Your prayers and petitions are invaluable and the most important thing in God's economy. Another was a song by Caedmon's Call titled Two Weeks in Africa which resulted in a fellowship moment with the cashier and a song which basically describes our trip. I ask myself if this is coincidence? Probably not! Finally, direct answers to prayer through provision of jerseys for our sports camp and spiritual movement amongst my circle of influence. Please continue to pray for salvation.

I challenge you to take the time to get to know our God in an intimate way. HE is an amazing God of adventure, surprise, and amazement. Get quiet with Him, block out the cares, distractions of the world and let Him reveal HIS reality. It is beyond anything you could ever ask or imagine. The decision to follow Him as your personal Lord and savior is just the beginning of the exciting adventure He has planned for your life. Are you up for it?

Thank you for keeping our team in prayer as we embark on this trip. I truly do consider this to be a partnership in which God uses all parts of the body in order to effectively accomplish HIS purpose. You are just as much a part of the team as those of us going and we need you. I can't wait to come back and have amazing stories to glorify Him for His goodness and the great things He will accomplish on the trip.

Meet Mike:
His Story Coming Soon.