Exodus 33:15-18 "If your presence does not go with me, do not send me there. How will anyone know you are pleased with me unless you go with me? What else will distinguish me from all the other people on earth? The Lord said: I will do the very thing you ask because I am pleased with you and know you by name."
Well, you are reading my blog so I guess I should tell you a bit about who I am and what I'm doing. From reading the description you can tell that I am on my way to Australia, but to tell you why I'll need to take my story back.
In a nutshell: I am an Arizona native, who was born into the typical suburban childhood. I didn't have a care in the world and thought the world was a safe perfect place. But at a young age, that world was turned upside down and I was acquainted with despair. My parents marriage ended and my single mom moved my younger brother and I to New Mexico for a fresh start. My father remained in Arizona, and continued on with his severe cocaine addiction which would permanently sever our relationship.
While I lost my father, moving to New Mexico was the greatest blessing in disguise. Why? Because I, as well as my mom and brother, gained a relationship with Jesus Christ! Since that moment, my life has been a grand adventure filled with many successes and failures. But my journey didn't really take off until I arrived at New Mexico State University. It was there that I would meet my best friends and the people who would help mold me into the woman I am today.
My first semester of college I got involved with a non-denominational Christian organization called Campus Crusade for Christ (now known as [Cru]). Instantly I was surrounded by people I could relate to; students who were experiencing life in the same capacity as me...and I realized I am not alone. Through [Cru] I was able to spend two summers on a mission trip in San Diego, CA; once as a student and once as leader. Now San Diego for a summer may sound like a comfy vacation; however, it was a mission trip and soul-searching and purifying experience that offered everything but comfort. Living in a 3 bedroom condo with 15 other women...and one shower, I learned patience, kindness, and other virtues I had shrugged off previously, and quickly! :) Being in a different state filled with different cultural influences, I started to learn how to love people from all walks of life.
My second summer in San Diego, I was able to intern with the [Cru] staff. I was entrusted with responsibilities I never expected and the Holy Spirit did amazing things in and through me. I got to lead and love a group of girls who I learned from as much as I taught. That trip helped me transition from the student into a leader. The Lord let me see the difference between what I want and what I need, what is permissible and what is beneficial. I saw the world, and my own life, in a completely different light...this time I saw them with eternity in mind. I fell in love with people in their twenties. This age group is tomorrow's future, and they are still in process-growing in wisdom and deciding what they will stand for. If you can change that group of people forever, you can change the entire world for the better. During those trips to San Diego, God revealed to me my identity in him. He showed me that I was "enough", and that even though my father abandoned me; He would never. God took the role of my dad, and promised to love me unconditionally. But with growing there must also come brokenness.
Broken is the perfect word for what Jesus did in my heart. He humbled me to see that I can't do everything on my own, and if I tried, I would always fall short. Regardless of how self-sufficient I thought I was, all of my endeavors would inevitably fail. He showed me that I had been living a mediocre life, one that was full of sin and selfishness. With that realization I made the choice to live my life for Him and Him alone. God brought wonderful people into my life who challenged me, held me accountable and spoke truth into my life constantly.
When approached with the idea of spending an extended period of time in Australia...instantly my heart soared. All I could see and think and speak was focused on Aussie-land and slowly a passion lit inside of me and after a year of praying and pursuing the Lord's will, that flicker became a fire! As a result, I committed to give God a year of my life, specifically a year spent spreading the Gospel. I told him "I am ready, where you send me I will go, so just say the word". Well, God said "GO!!!"
So here I am. An imperfect college graduate with a passion for helping people, standing at a threshold. I have a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology, and the safe next step for me would be medical school or chiropractic school, but I can't deny the very thing I yearn to do... to share the Gospel and the grace of Christ shown to me. I want to love people the way Jesus loves them, even though my flesh desires to hate. I want to meet people right where they are at, without expectations or judgement. I want unadulterated relationships with people that point them to God, so that they can experience the acceptance and salvation I so undeservedly received. My first step towards that goal: following God to Australia.
What I'll be doing: I will be attending a Discipleship Training School where I will spend 50 hours a week learning more about God's character, and how to reach the world by using the gifts and skills he's given me. We will use that knowledge to reach the unreached, love the unloved, and use practical ways to minister to the local community. The second part of my trip will be spent in Thailand and Cambodia, working primarily with the sex trade industry and the orphanages.
Who: I will be working with the christian organization Youth With A Mission (YWAM).
When: July 5th -November 21st, 2010.
Where: Maroochydore, Queensland Australia (Sunshine Coast). Thailand and Cambodia.
In order for me to go I need your support, both spiritually and financially!
Spiritually, please pray:
- That God would be continually breaking my heart and drawing me near in the next few months of preparation. Keep me focused and sustaining me.
- That I can be a good steward of my finances while preparing for this trip and maintaining my job and expenses here.
- For my family and friends. That God would give us all a sense of peace and encouragement as we get closer to my departure.
- For safety and strength as I face spiritual warfare in the months to come.
Financially:
In order for me to even get on the plane to Australia I must raise $10,000. This will pay for my transportation to and from Australia, as well as my airfare to our outreach. It will also supply my room and board, lecture costs, student visa, health insurance, local transportation and supplies.
While this seems like a gigantic feat, I am confident that the Lord will provide. I believe that there are people I encounter everyday who will support and love me in this. If 100 people gave me $100 I will meet my need. That is $20 a month for the next 5 months. In reality, that is one night of not going out to eat at a local restaurant, or a week without Starbucks. It is doable. But this is not a charity or a hand-out by any means. On the contrary, the money is already God's...He provided us with it and it is up to us how we use it. So please, pray, and if the Lord leads, help me fulfill the Great Commission!
You can pay by credit/debit by clicking on the "Donate" Button or
You can mail me your checks or cash to:
Sarah Mulis
1651 Alta Vista Place
Las Cruces, NM 88011
Or feel free to contact me with any questions: 575-644-8639
