So as I'm sure many of you have been wondering, there have been some updates to my trip. It has been a very emotional time of prayer and decision making. I realize that most of the "facts" I had been getting were coming from the media, which tend to sensationalize the news. Mark really helped me to understand what exactly was going on over there and a big thanks to him for helping clear everything up. The area in Japan where they are is a very safe place to be right now. Even in a worse case scenario, their area would remain unaffected by radiation. The earthquakes of course are a constant reality in Japan, but they are something Japan is continuously prepared for. All this to say: I would be in a totally safe area of Japan. Daily life is pretty much normal again.
As I prayed about the situation, I prayed that I wouldn't be swayed or moved by fear. I didn't want to be afraid that I wouldn't be safe in Japan and I didn't want to be afraid of not having all the provisions if I went. I also didn't want to be afraid of what people would say if I stayed or entertain the "what-ifs" of this decision. I prayed that this would be a decision that I felt the Lord lead me to make and that He would give me peace about it. It was very emotional to say the least, and I feel that it stretched my faith in ways that I don't know that I fully see yet. After a few days of much prayer and seeking, I felt like the Lord placed it on my heart to stay. It was a hard decision, and my heart felt very heavy and saddened that I wouldn't be going after so much time and effort got put into the preparations. However, I do believe this is the right decision. This is the decision that I felt I wanted to make and I'm trusting the Lord that He is taking care of everything.
I know that this was a very hard decision for me to make, and I cannot thank enough those of you who have supported me nor tell you how much I appreciate you in my life. Your love and encouragement have opened my eyes so much more to the love of Christ and the support that the body gives to one another. I also want to thank Mark and the FUSE ministry for being so patient and understanding. I feel like, from the short time I was able to spend with Mark on Skype, I was able to feel the love they had for me and excitement about me coming, even when they had never met me. What a tremendous blessing!
I do want to be open and transparent about the funds that many of you have donated to support me and this trip. I do not plan to use those funds toward my own selfish purposes. On the contrary, I hope to be in close contact with you to let you decide what you would like to see happen with your funds. I've come up with three options, but of course, being that it's your money, if there's another way you'd like to see that money used, please feel free to let me know. One option is to receive your donations back. Please know that there is no shame in asking for those funds back. I just wanted to make that option clearly available. If you would like that money to go to the FUSE ministry in Japan, that is another option, and an option that I'm planning to take with some of my own funds. A third option would be to open a separate account that is not easily accessible to me that would be reserved for a future trip to Japan. I realize that the Lord still has a call on my life and I believe that part of that call is to Japan, so even though I don't know when I will get to go, I still believe that I will indeed get to go. So if you would like those funds to go into this special account, you may opt for that. Again, I want to be as transparent and open as possible with your giving so that there is no room for the enemy to connive or deceive or tempt. Also, again, if there is something else you would like to see done with your donation, please, please, please feel free to let me know. I apologize for any inconvenience and I know that this can be a sensitive issue. I also, again, cannot thank you enough for how much you have generously supported me. It's really been so overwhelming how much of an encouragement this has been and I pray with all my heart that no one would lose their reward in Heaven, nor that your gift would be squandered or disrespected.
Thank you again for all your support and encouragement and most of all, your prayers. If I could, I would please ask that you continue to pray for clarity as the Lord continues to lead me from this decision. It was a tough one to make, but I'm doing my best to hear the Lord and follow Him. I'm so thankful and honored to have a family such as you around me. Thank you! I will continue to keep you all updated and informed.
Blessings,
-Travis
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