Monday, June 13, 2011

Destiny


I've always wondered what it would take to become a missionary.  Growing up, I saw the occasional missionary speak at a Sunday service.  The missionary would fill the allotted time with stories of people he had helped and trials he had endured.  If we were lucky there would be a video giving life to his words. But before the story could truly begin he would be packing up his display in the back of the church and heading off to share with the next congregation. 

After these visits I use to sit and wonder if all it took to become a missionary was a call from God.  Did these missionaries wake up one day and decide to move to some remote land?  Was the vision enough to pack up their families and brave some third world country?  I never had the opportunity to find out.  That is until now.

My countdown has begun.  In less than 3 months I will be leaving everything I've worked for my whole life. ( I finally own a Kitchen Aid!)  All kidding aside the preparation has started to put butterflies in my stomach.  Expensive vaccines, outrageous dental work and stretched finances have all occupied my time.  I was pretty impressed with myself until this past weekend when I learned my first valuable lesson.

I've always believed destiny to be something out of our control.  Destiny just happened.  You lived your life to the best of your ability and POOF your destiny swept you away to a place made just for you.  Well, I realized (ok no I was corrected) that you had to STEP INTO your destiny or it would pass you by!  Maybe you're doing something you know you shouldn't or not doing something you know you should... maybe you're doing nothing at all.  Any of these things can leave you stranded as your destiny passes you by!  It makes no difference how hard you are working or how well you are planning.  God needs us listening to Him, trusting Him and moving for Him.  THEN we will be stepping into HIS destiny for us:
 
"No eye has seen,
    no ear has heard,
 no mind has conceived
    what God has prepared for those who love
       him"  1 Corinthians 2:9

This is where I want to be. 





Monday, April 18, 2011

My Story

My name is Naomi and I am from Chicago, Illinois. 

This will be my third time traveling to Honduras in July with Global Impact Foundation.  The families, children, and orphans that I have formed relationships with have had a major impact on my life.  Such a big impact, in fact, that I have decided to devote an entire year to living in Honduras to make a difference in their lives and learn more about them.

During my last trip to Honduras, I was able to see God work through the eyes of a little boy named Jesus.  He had recently become very ill and was frequently losing consciousness.  His family was unable to fund a doctor's visit to diagnose his condition.  While I was there, his condition was worsening. 

I knew that a doctor's visit was imperative.  Through the loving and giving hearts of our group, we were able to pool enough money together to pay for the doctor's visit for Jesus.  Through an interpreter, I negotiated fees with a local doctor.  As it turned out, Jesus was diagnosed with a case of tonsillitis.  If left untreated, his condition would continue to worsen until bacteria traveled to his heart and threatened his life.  Thankfully, we were able to fund the surgery.  During my upcoming time there, I hope to be able to share more stories like this one with you.

I am looking for financial support which will enable me to spend a year making a difference.   I would greatly appreciate any donation, big or small, to my cause.  These funds will enable me to pay for housing costs, food, and transportation.  Any funding above and beyond my needs will go to aid the most needy of Honduras. 

Thank you for helping me help them.  Please keep me in your prayers as I begin my journey.


Naomi Kankowske

e-mail  naomigk1@gmail.com