Pages

I guess 'Pages' is a very broad title, but with so many things happening to so many people I know and love...new beginnings, times of closure and engagements of significant moments, not to mention weddings and first year birthdays, I decidied this was an appropriate title. I'll begin with one event at a time so as not to make each 'Page' entry too lengthy.

Page One - this post about Frank's Great Adventure In Missions actually began in November 2010 when our charity, Hunger Response International hired Mark N. on a part time basis. Mark had experienced an amazing adventure prior to working with us and he referred to it often as a time of life where he was challenged and shaped by God. I shared about his stories with Frankie, my youngest - 21 yr.old son and then next thing I knew, Frank was signing up, saving up and preparing us all to embark emotionally and financially upon his adventure of a life time...the World Race, an initiative of Adventures in Missions http://www.adventuresinmissions.com/.

Eleven Months...Eleven Countries where Frank would be encoutering and working with some of the world's poorest people. Oh the things he will see, the people he will meet, the cultures he will experience!! How exciting!

Once Frank decided to go, he researched it and after deciding that this was the perfect opportunity, timewise in his life to do something like this, he realized that maybe there would be more to this adventure than just traveling the world. Perhaps the Lord had a greater purpose planned for him. He decided to go for it.

The first challenge was to figure out how in the world he was going to come up with $16,000! What a huge amount of money to raise in seven months! Faith...that's what everyone told him...have Faith! Well, with hard work, tremendous saving, humbling himself to share his need with others, selling bracelets and much more including having the people in his life show amazing support and donating to his mission trip, it was becoming a reality.

The fact is that this was already a huge part of the adventure, albeit a very difficult portion of the trip that caused a great deal of emotional challenges for Frank. Saying that, it was also a great way to begin the trip because by the end of the seven months and by the time he headed off, he was over the top delighted to discover that he was indeed, fully funded for the costs of the trip (not much in the way of spending money...though this is still trickling in)!!! And this trip became not only Frank's trip, but many, many others are traveling with him via his blog and facebook postings. Yes, it was confirmation that God did want him on this journey as did many others who belive in him and what this opportunity will accomplish in his life.

Thank you on Frank's behalf for all the wonderful people who helped Frank. I know that he is so blessed by all of us. As he begins his pages in his life's journal, so too will the pages of my life's journal be affected and so many of yours. When Frank gets the opportunity to email, blog http://www.franksawatsky.theworldrace.org/ or facebook entries, I look forward to a whole book of adventures that will challenge my life and where I'll be left asking, "how has God worked in me on this page of my life today?"

Frankie, we're all with you!! Looking forward to each page you write, each picture you post!

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