T-minus 4 days and counting

Hello all. This has been an amazing week and a half. I found out Monday that my entire trip plus a couple hundred more was paid for. On Sunday I thought that I needed $1500. Mrs. Joyce at the BCM and I had our wires crossed and our numbers jumbled. I only needed $1300 and that's what I asked for on Sunday morning in front of the congregation. Well as God typically does he showed off on Monday. Long story short, the last lady to come in the church office on Monday said that she prayed about how much to give to me. She said that God gave her a number and that's what she gave. Lo and behold, the amount she gave put the total for the day at $1500. He is just so amazing.

I got my passport in the mail today. So now all I have to so is pack and I'm ready to go to Wales!!

On a completely different note, Ginny and I are back together. God really used her trip to Peru to give her perspective. He taught me faith and obedience through it all. I'm not going to use this journal to talk about our relationship a lot. I just wanted to express how happy I am with her and how much I truly love her. She is so amazing and I am truly blessed to have her.

To all of my church family at Jacksonville and Lithia 1st Baptists: Your love and support have truly pointed me to the throne of our Lord. I am truly humbled by the unconditional outpouring of support, both financially and spiritually.

I grew up in Lithia Springs 1st Baptist. I wouldn't be the man I am without the upbringing that you guys provided. You provided the foundation of my faith that has allowed me to learn and grow in the Lord. Thank you so much for all you have and continue to do for me.

The Lord has brought me to Jacksonville 1st Baptist. I have met and gotten to know some of the finest people through the church. The feeling of belonging and the atmosphere of love has allowed me to grow more this summer than any other period of my life. To all of the staff at FBC J'ville: It has been my honor and privilege to learn from you and serve with you this summer. It is through your leadership and talents that God is glorified in our church. To all my youth and parents: You are the best part of my "job." It has been one of my greatest joys to serve you this summer. I will take a part of every one of you with me to my ministry in Wales. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for loving me and accepting me this summer.

Well, with all of that being said, I need to go to Wal-Mart with my lovely girlfriend. The next post will be my last from the States! Leave some love!!

-Robert

What a crazy couple days...

Hello all. Been a crazy couple days. I still don't have my passport, but it's not because of a lack of trying. I've jumped through so many hoops to get it and I'm almost done. I send it off tomorrow to the company that will expedite the process. I can't wait until I get it in my hands.

On a better and more productive note, I keep getting money left and right. I got 1,100 dollars total on Monday. WOW. I got $500 from the church and $600 from families in the church. Derrick told me tonight that there is a lot more coming this week. I can't believe that this is coming together so well. It's not that I don't have faith or don't think that God is capable of pulling all of this together. It's just that I don't feel worthy of any of the support that I've gotten. It's so humbling to have the support of a church that I've only been with for 3 months. Thanks so much to everyone who has or is going to support me in this endeavor. You will be with me in my ministry, and you will be blessed for sure.

Please begin to pray for this mission trip. I have all of these fears and insecurities and the closer it gets for me leaving, the harder they come at me. I need prayer so very much. Thanks everyone. Leave some love.

-Robert

Gettin there...

Hello all. I had another good day of rounding up money for ye old Wales trip. I visited 4 Sunday School classes today. The feedback was great and I feel like people are really getting behind me. I just found out that the missions committee is going to give me $500 and that some of the Sunday School classes I've been going to are going to start raising money for me. As of right now I need $2050 to go. So in a week and a half I've raised $1650. I can't tell you how humbling it is to have this much support behind me. I've only been at Jacksonville 1st since May. To hear people that I truly respect and admire tell me that they will do whatever they can for me is one of the most humbling experiences of my life. To anyone who is helping raise or giving me money, thank you from the bottom of my heart. God has been so real to me this summer. He is continuing to do so in all of my preparation for this trip. I've been rambling so I'll stop. My heart is so content right now. It's a peaceful feeling to know that you are right in the will of God. Thanks everyone. Leave the love.

-Robert

Now there's two of us!!

Hi everyone, here's the scoop....

Now Stella is going with me to Wales!! That will make the trip over and all of the travel much more bearable. Now all we have to do is get the travel agent to pick up her phone and help us out and we'll be good!!

I have about 1,200 dollars raised so far, and I still need about 2,500. That's without any church support. When I say "church" support I mean a check from a church. 1st Baptist Jacksonville has been a tremendous help in my fundraising effort. I couldn't go with out their help.

So all in all this trip is coming together quite well. I've had my stressed out moments. I wouldn't be Robert if I didn't. But this is working out really well. I think it's just now hitting me that I'm going. Passing out popcicles to the Southerners has really hit me hard. I'm REALLY going to miss marching this fall. Everyone, including Mr. Bodiford has been so supportive of me and this trip. It's true what they say about being a Southerner. It's one BIG family. I'm going to miss all of you guys this fall.

Well that's all for this post. I'll let you know if anything big happens. Leave some love!!

-Robert

Well....

This will be my journal for my trip to Wales. I can't tell you how excited I am about going. This trip has really started to come together over the past few days. As excited as I am about going, I'm really apprehensive as well. I'm going to miss seeing my friends and loved ones while I'm gone. I know that in time those things will pass and that God will teach me something in the midst of all of it. If anything this blog will be an honest and real glimpse into my 3 1/2 months away from the States.

I leave September 4th and return December 10th. I'll miss TJ and Val's wedding, that really makes me sad. It is an honor to be asked to be in a wedding, and I want you to know that this is the only thing that I'd miss it for.

Well, that's about all for now. Still need about 2,000 dollars for the trip. If you feel led to help call the church office at (256) 435-7263. Leave some love!!

-Robert