Dear Friends and Family,
I present to you my first newsletter as a missionary of Hands of Mercy. Yeah!
God is doing great things! He is providing prayer partners. He is stirring up hearts to come along side me in this journey and financially support me. I have raised over half my support! Thank you again because you are ones who are helping me to live out this burning desire and passion to SERVE. Serve in a ministry that is changing hearts and lives one at a time including the hearts and lives of the missionaries themselves. The greatest thing God is doing in my heart right now is helping me to see beyond my own understanding. I had a plan, but I have surrendered that to Him and am allowing His plan, one that is so much greater than my own.
Office Work
September 2nd I began working in the Hands of Mercy office in downtown Redlands. I am excited to continue building relationships with the men and women that take care of the essential parts of the ministry on the states side. I am researching health insurance options, making PowerPoint presentations, running errands, updating the HOM website, etc. Building great communication now will help when I am miles away and in another country where communication is a little trickier.
Training
Only a few days now till I will be on a plane to Colorado Springs, Co for my three weeks of missionary training. I am staying right on the grounds of the Missionary Training International facility. Training is Monday through Friday from 9-4, so evenings and weekends are free to continue studies from the day, build relationships and explore the area. The training consists of large group sessions and small group time that will focus on developing skills and character in these 6 areas: Spiritual, Personal, Lifestyle, Interpersonal, Cultural, and Endurance.
Prayer Requests
Thank you for being my prayer warriors! Many of you are aware that for 10 weeks now I have been battling some form of hives. The cause is still unknown. By patch testing we ruled out it being anything that is contacting my skin such as lotion or detergents. I am now going through more blood work to rule out Lupus. After that the next step will be allergy testing, but this is like finding a needle in a haystack and very costly. I continue to be in good spirits and just take one day at a time, but pray for an answer so the doctors can treat it properly.
This leads to another huge prayer request and that is health insurance. Right now I’m able to get most work done at a clinic in town and have also been graciously blessed with a few doctors and dermatologists that have provided their services at no cost. When in Mexico I will need to be covered. Coverage costs vary from $80-$450 a month, quite a big difference. So my prayer is that, despite my pre-existing health issues, I would be accepted by an agency that provides the coverage I need but is reasonable.
Then there are always little things that I know God will provide in His time…a vehicle that will withstand the 9 mile rugged dirt road.
Yours in Christ,
Jennifer Dahlin