“I will give thanks to Thee, O Lord, among the peoples; And I will sing praises to Thee among the nations.” Psalm 108:3
In an economy where everyone is scared and times are tough--the Lord has provided abundantly!! We all know someone that has lost their retirement, their job, their home, and the list goes on. Yet, the Lord is good and provides to those He calls to do His work! Praise the Lord! I am now officially over half way to my total fundraising goal! As of the report I received today, I am at 54% of my needed funds. It is an awe-inspiring and faith building exercise, in my opinion, to raise support to go and do His work. It is more so in an economy such as ours. To those that have prayed for me, that have prayed that the support will come in, or that have given financially, please accept my heartfelt Thanks!!
It appears that I am on target to raise my full funding by the end of the year. Now, I must trust the Lord and His timing to provide for me in the area of my home. I must sell it or have it rented before I can leave to begin my work. I think this will be the deciding factor on when I go. I need the two months of language school to be effective in my job in Peru. So, the longer I am delayed in leaving for language school, the longer I am delayed in arriving in Peru. The really busy time for short term teams is May to August. Obviously, to our human thoughts and ideas, it seems that April 2009 is when I need to arrive in Peru in order to settle in and be ready to start working with the teams come May 2009! But I am faithful that the Lord will provide all I need to leave at the appropriate time in His plan! Despite my own desires to set the schedule. Please continue to pray that the remainder of my funds would come in; that my home would be sold or rented; and that the Lord would be glorified through it all! Thank you for getting me half way there!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
A Race to Peru
“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1.
Marathon is defined as “a cross-country footrace of 26 miles, 385 yards (42.195 kilometers)” or also, “a contest of endurance,” “an event or activity that requires prolonged effort or endurance.”
This year, I completed my first marathon. I prepared for months. I trained with a group that for the first 10 weeks offered educational classes every Saturday on pertinent running/marathon topics before our “long” runs. I talked to others that had run marathons, brought the proper attire and gear, and put in many a mile on the road actually putting to use what I had learned. The training at times was joyful, exuberant, fun, exciting, and thrilling! Other times, it was hard, long, heavy, painful, and dreadful. But all the time, I had the goal to look forward to—THE Chicago Marathon! It is one of the world’s largest with up to 45,000 entrants! The race was exciting and grueling at the same time. It is most certainly a mental battle in addition to physical. Those were the times when I relied upon Scripture and the God-given mental toughness (or sheer stubbornness my family would probably say) to pull me through. It was a spiritual journey at times through the training and the actual race.
When you train for a marathon, you have a lot of time on the road—just you and God. I spent many a run talking to God about my life and His desires for me. It was especially nice (or let’s be honest, it was providential) as the timing completely coincided with my decision to join Peru Mission and then the following process to achieve that goal. And so it is not surprising that I liken my preparations for Peru and work there to my preparation for the marathon and the race itself. The Lord has told us to “run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Endurance—exactly how a marathon is defined. Endurance implies something that takes time and requires much effort. The author of Hebrews tells us that the race before us requires us to “fix[] our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross.” Heb. 12:2.
This year, I completed my first marathon. I prepared for months. I trained with a group that for the first 10 weeks offered educational classes every Saturday on pertinent running/marathon topics before our “long” runs. I talked to others that had run marathons, brought the proper attire and gear, and put in many a mile on the road actually putting to use what I had learned. The training at times was joyful, exuberant, fun, exciting, and thrilling! Other times, it was hard, long, heavy, painful, and dreadful. But all the time, I had the goal to look forward to—THE Chicago Marathon! It is one of the world’s largest with up to 45,000 entrants! The race was exciting and grueling at the same time. It is most certainly a mental battle in addition to physical. Those were the times when I relied upon Scripture and the God-given mental toughness (or sheer stubbornness my family would probably say) to pull me through. It was a spiritual journey at times through the training and the actual race.
When you train for a marathon, you have a lot of time on the road—just you and God. I spent many a run talking to God about my life and His desires for me. It was especially nice (or let’s be honest, it was providential) as the timing completely coincided with my decision to join Peru Mission and then the following process to achieve that goal. And so it is not surprising that I liken my preparations for Peru and work there to my preparation for the marathon and the race itself. The Lord has told us to “run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Endurance—exactly how a marathon is defined. Endurance implies something that takes time and requires much effort. The author of Hebrews tells us that the race before us requires us to “fix[] our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross.” Heb. 12:2.
The Lord has set before me a race to Peru! It will be an endurance race. One that requires much preparation and prayer. Much like the marathon, I’ve been training. I took an online course in the Foundations and Principles of Holistic Ministry and read other books. I’ve spoken to many a missionary or worker in Peru and gathered information about living and working there. And soon, Lord willing, will be putting to use all that I have learned. I am sure the mission work in Peru will be much like the marathon—at times joyful, exuberant, fun, exciting, and thrilling! Other times, it will be hard, long, heavy, painful, and dreadful. The key to running this race is follow the advice set forth in Hebrews 12:2 and “fix[] our eyes on Jesus.” You may not be a runner or ever desire to run a marathon, but we all have a race to run. The Lord has set one before us all and it will be a race of endurance, but if we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, we can all win the race! When you run a marathon, anyone that comes to cheer you as you run the race is called your “curb crew.” Thank you for being my curb crew for the race to Peru!
Friday, September 26, 2008
Prayer Requests
As I begin this new adventure God is calling me to, I covet your prayers. Some specific prayer requests I have are as follows:
- That the Lord would bring in my needed financial support in time to start language school in January 2009.
- That my house and car would sell at the right time and allow me to easily transition to Peru.
- That the Lord will prepare me to learn Spanish and adapt quickly to a new language and culture both in Guatemala and Peru.
- For our short-term trip we are planning on taking with Twin Lakes to Peru January 2 to 10, 2009.
Your prayers are greatly appreciated! For our Lord, Jesus Christ said, "therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." Matthew 9:38.
God's Call to Peru
Many of you know that I went to Peru from December 28, 2007 to January 5, 2008, on my first mission trip. Everyone I spoke with that had been on a mission trip before said it is “life changing” and I can tell you that it was! As a result of that trip and much prayer, God has called me to return to Peru, but this time for a much “longer” short-term mission. I have decided to leave my job and family here in the States and have committed to a two year short-term mission with Peru Mission.
Why am I going?
The Lord has said, “And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations.” Mark 13:10. I have been blessed and privileged to have heard the awesome gospel of Jesus Christ since the day I was born. There are, however, areas of Peru where the gospel has never been heard! Through my love for travel and the people of Peru and the impact of the short-term trip I took last year, God has called me to go and serve Him in Peru. While I am in awe that God would chose me to go and serve Him in Peru, I am overwhelmingly excited and blessed to be a part of His work in Northern Peru!
Who am I going with?
I am joining Peru Mission (http://www.perumission.org/) – a group of missionaries and churches currently based in Trujillo and Cajamarca committed to “Renewing Northern Peru through the Power of the Gospel.” Peru Mission plants churches in neighborhoods and through the church establishes medical clinics, schools, university ministry, seminary training, economic development and much more.
What will I be doing?
As the Director of Short Term Team Logistics, I will coordinate all of the short term teams that come to Peru from other countries. This will include working with the participating teams in their preparations, budgets, travel arrangements, and hosting them while in Peru. It will be my honor and privilege to introduce others to the work of Peru Mission and serve with them as they come to Peru and join forces with the missionaries and churches in Peru. I hope to give them all a vision and passion for worldwide missions.
How do I get there?
God has called, but I can only respond and go by God’s blessing and your support. God works through the prayer of his saints—I need your prayers foremost and lots of them! I also need to raise enough money to allow me to travel to Guatemala for language school for two months, Lord willing, beginning in January 2009. I hope to move to Trujillo, Peru by April 2009. Will you join me in this ministry by praying for me and sending me? You have the opportunity to send me through monthly gifts or a one time gift (I need both). Tax deductible contributions can be sent by check, online at http://www.perumission.org/ or by bank draft.
Contact CMS for more information:
Christian Missionary Society
Alleen McLain Support
P.O. Box 53363
Knoxville, TN 37950-3363
Phone: 865-684-4580
For more information and updates as I begin this journey, please visit my blog at http://www.lucillegoestoperu.blogspot.com/ or contact me by email alleenmclain@me.com, phone (601) 750-1659, or mail at 316 Turtle Hollow, Brandon, MS 39047. I would love to hear from you. Thank you for your generous support and prayers!
Why am I going?
The Lord has said, “And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations.” Mark 13:10. I have been blessed and privileged to have heard the awesome gospel of Jesus Christ since the day I was born. There are, however, areas of Peru where the gospel has never been heard! Through my love for travel and the people of Peru and the impact of the short-term trip I took last year, God has called me to go and serve Him in Peru. While I am in awe that God would chose me to go and serve Him in Peru, I am overwhelmingly excited and blessed to be a part of His work in Northern Peru!
Who am I going with?
I am joining Peru Mission (http://www.perumission.org/) – a group of missionaries and churches currently based in Trujillo and Cajamarca committed to “Renewing Northern Peru through the Power of the Gospel.” Peru Mission plants churches in neighborhoods and through the church establishes medical clinics, schools, university ministry, seminary training, economic development and much more.
What will I be doing?
As the Director of Short Term Team Logistics, I will coordinate all of the short term teams that come to Peru from other countries. This will include working with the participating teams in their preparations, budgets, travel arrangements, and hosting them while in Peru. It will be my honor and privilege to introduce others to the work of Peru Mission and serve with them as they come to Peru and join forces with the missionaries and churches in Peru. I hope to give them all a vision and passion for worldwide missions.
How do I get there?
God has called, but I can only respond and go by God’s blessing and your support. God works through the prayer of his saints—I need your prayers foremost and lots of them! I also need to raise enough money to allow me to travel to Guatemala for language school for two months, Lord willing, beginning in January 2009. I hope to move to Trujillo, Peru by April 2009. Will you join me in this ministry by praying for me and sending me? You have the opportunity to send me through monthly gifts or a one time gift (I need both). Tax deductible contributions can be sent by check, online at http://www.perumission.org/ or by bank draft.
Contact CMS for more information:
Christian Missionary Society
Alleen McLain Support
P.O. Box 53363
Knoxville, TN 37950-3363
Phone: 865-684-4580
For more information and updates as I begin this journey, please visit my blog at http://www.lucillegoestoperu.blogspot.com/ or contact me by email alleenmclain@me.com, phone (601) 750-1659, or mail at 316 Turtle Hollow, Brandon, MS 39047. I would love to hear from you. Thank you for your generous support and prayers!
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