Funding for Missions

Well hello there! Yesterday I posted about missions and how my heart is to truly help others through my business. I wanted to take the time to share with you about another fundraiser that I started so that you can all have the opportunity to participate if you would like to. I obviously can't do this without the support of others, we all have to work together to make a difference.

Right now I am still supporting the Albania cause that I told you all about before. I will be doing that through the end of the year. I've also just started another fundraiser for a couple here local to me. They will be traveling on a missions trip in Jan. 2012 and need help raising the funds to do so. I just read about it yesterday and it truly touched my heart because they are so humble and kind. They truly want to help others through this trip and the main thing they have asked for is PRAYER, not MONEY. How often do you hear that?!?! But obviously they can't go without money, so that is where I come in. I'm going to share with all of you what I read about their request.....they are okay with me doing so. I feel it will better communicate what their hearts are. It is my honor & privilege to be starting an online fundraiser for them today. If you would like to participate, please email me so I can add you to the invite. If you would just simply like to donate without purchasing Mary Kay products, you are more than welcome to do that too. All of my profit does go to them, so it's really a win win if you do purchase product. I have some great holiday gift sets on sale right now, so you could do your Christmas shopping and help raise money for missions in the process! Thank you all so much and I pray you enjoy reading their letter:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Abby and I are pleased to share with you an opportunity that God has given us to be part of a mission team to Uganda, Africa January 5th-15th, 2012. We will be partnering with our church on this trip and feel humbled that God would even allow us the opportunity to be part of this trip. The purpose for the trip will be to assist in a pastors’ conference through University Baptist Church, conduct home, hospital and clinic work with ill patients, minister to orphans and widows and care for refugees in the Nakivale Refugee Camp.

Abby and I are both scared and not completely sure why God would choose to use us or how he will use us in Uganda; however, we do both feel compelled to go. For most of my life I have not wanted anything to do with missions. I have thought missions was something that was for super Christians who woke up one morning and had “go to Africa” written on their bedroom wall. Being part of our church has pushed us to think globally and not just locally. Through active and intentional exposure to The Word of God, we feel led to be part of this trip.

Our hope is that you will partner with us on this trip. You can help us the most by praying. Please pray that:

God will be glorified - Philippians 2:11
God will provide - Philippians 4:19
We will put down our selfish desires - Mark 8:34
We will share the Gospel boldly - Romans 1:16
We will be diligent in prayer - 1 Thessalonians 5:17
We will be diligent in study - 2 Timothy 2:15

You can also help us by supporting through giving. Please do not feel obligated in any way to give. Please only give if you can joyfully and responsibly support this mission financially. The trip will cost $5,000 for Abby and myself. Also, we just found out yesterday that we will have to pay $3,618 by next Monday (October 31st) simply for airfare. We thought we would have much longer to raise the needed funds, but there has been some difficulty in arranging the airfare for the team and the only way to secure travel is to purchase the tickets early. We still have a need of $2,818 for the airfare. The current total need is $4,200 and we are trusting that God will provide this.

We would like to know who gives so we can respond with our thanks. If you would like to contribute financially, please direct message Abby for our mailing address. If you would rather us not know how much is given, please simply write “Confidential” on the outside of the envelope.

We are so thankful for your support. Thanks for the prayers you have offered up for Abby and myself already. Thank you in advance for the prayers you will pray for us. We love you and we hope and pray God will use you and will use us to share his most amazing mercy and grace with everyone we come in contact with.

Love and blessings,
Corey and Abby

Missions Trips & Baseball

Yes, the title to my post is Missions Trips & Baseball....I think it's catchy, don't you?! I hope you all have been doing well in the past month or so. We have been fighting sickness in the Willard household.....still are. However, I think we are all over the hump and will be good as new within the next week! Yay! Since we have 6 of us in our family, it's easy for one person to get sick and then pass it to someone else a week or two later. Resulting in someone being sick constantly for weeks! Totally drives me crazy and I'm looking for immune boosting things online that I can order for my whole family to take. So if you know of anything that works great, please pass on that info. to me.

Baseball, baseball, baseball......I love baseball! Okay, I don't LOVE it. But my kids do and because they do, I do. You know?! My 12 yr. old has been playing "Fall Ball" and we just had our last game last night. I'm actually sad that it's over! I really do enjoy watching him play and have such a good time. I think sports is such a great way for kids to learn AND have fun at the same time. As long as it's about fun being the primary. I'm not one of those parents who screams at the top of my lungs at my son for making a mistake or not doing something "just right" or "the way it should be".......I HATE it when parents do that. I just tell him to practice, do the best he can, never give up, and have FUN. And he does have so much fun and I love every, single minute of it.

I am going to admit that I have never personally been on a missions trip. I know that one day I will, probably sooner rather than later. My hubby has a huge heart for going on missions trips. Not that I don't, it's just that he is really passionate about it. But I have always done my best to help support anyone I know who is going on one. Whether it's for 2 weeks or 2 years.....they all need support to be able to go and help others. I am very passionate about helping others whenever I can and I'm so grateful for my business because it allows me to do that all the time. It is my vehicle to help others....whether it is by doing a fundraiser for them, helping them feel better about themselves by correcting skin problems, or helping them build their own business to do with what they would like. I am truly blessed to have this opportunity on a daily basis and I never want to take it for granted.

I will be posting later about a specific missions trip that I am supporting right now and I pray that you will choose to participate. Thank you all so much for your support in what I do, it truly means the world to me!!