Ethiopia Mission's Trip

Greetings, Friends!
Last summer, I was living in Santa Barbara and went to meet a friend for coffee. At the end of our fellowship, I asked her if she would like to go somewhere and pray. She wanted to pray right where we were, in a busy outdoor plaza. Though my lack of faith brought me much discomfort to pray in public, I am so grateful I stayed put as I would have missed a huge piece of the puzzle that God had for me. She began to prophecy over me that I needed to start creating art again, as God was going to use it for a higher purpose. I believe this prayer positioned me to receive God’s plan a few months later when I moved back to Tucson.

I took the Lord’s call in December to quit my full time job in order to commit more time to art, trusting that He would provide. I had no idea that this year’s journey would lead to life-changing perspective. Through the trials and seasons of refinement, the Lord has radically transformed my heart and mind to have a better understanding of the true nature of His heart, and His deeper purpose of creation: to glorify Him.

The way I now view work, time, wealth, and relationships has changed dramatically. I have further discovered that my greatest blessings are my hands and mouth, as they give me the gift of opportunity to create life on a daily basis. No longer do I live to serve myself, but I live with an intention to find what is pleasing in the eyes of my father. It is my daily mission to create unto Him, and speak words of life to those who surround me. Needless to say, 2017 has taught me to live my life according to Colossians 3:17:

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

I am fueled with a desire to use my time and gifts to make a daily impact not only in Tucson, but at a global level. I believe that now is the time to embark new territory and pursue missions work in the places I have been hearing the Lord call me to serve for the past year. My first trip will be a short term mission trip to Ethiopia September 15-27 with Pantano Christian Church and their partners Unite 4 Africa (U4A). We will be visiting and serving villages to encourage local believers and U4A leaders.

How can you help?
As the time is near for this short-term mission’s trip, I invite you to come alongside me in this adventure through prayer, financial support, or both.

Prayer:
I cannot express enough how prayer is such an integral part of this mission. I humbly ask you to commit the following in prayer:
·  That God prepares my heart and mind as well as the hearts and minds of the people we will be with for this trip.
· That God would cultivate a deeper level of sensitivity to his Spirit in order to serve and minister to those I will be interacting with.
·  For safety in travels
· My future in Missions work: I believe that the Lord is calling me to pursue more opportunities within the mission field, including Paris. I could use further clarity, direction, and sensitivity to the Lord’s will. 

Financial
Along with prayer support, I would ask you to prayerfully consider supporting me financially. The approximate cost of the trip will be $3,000. I believe the Lord is wanting to further stretch my faith in using my art to fundraise my mission trip. If you feel led to donate on my behalf, please consider the following options in how you can support me financially:

1.     Take my greeting card challenge!!
This year when praying about how God wanted to use my art, He spoke to sell them as blank greeting cards. The mission behind using my art in forms of cards is to encourage others to speak words of life. Our words carry enormous weight. They can build, yet they can destroy. It’s amazing how the content of few encouraging words can position someone into their destiny, yet a few careless words can unravel a prosperous future. Proverbs 15:4 says:

“The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.”

You can find a vast assortment of my designs on my Etsy site. I am going to ask that you would pray over each card, and ask The Lord to show you who He desires you to send a note of encouragement to.

2.     Purchase Original Artwork or Art Prints
You can find my original paintings and art prints on my website . Please contact me directly on my website, or Donate on my GoFundMe account.

3.     My Favorite: Purchase a “Spirit-Led” Commissioned Painting
This option requires more vulnerability than the other two options!! I would love nothing more than to take the time to pray with you, allowing room for the Holy Spirit to inspire and give vision for the painting. This would privilege me with the opportunity to be a committed prayer partner in your journey.

Pricing: I want to leave the door open to let God direct you as to how much to donate for commissioned creations, as I would hate to rob God of an opportunity to minister to you through the art! Please note that standard commissioned pieces range from $70-$150 and is determined based on material fees, size of canvas, and the complexity of each piece. Most of my paintings take between 4-8 hours with the time it takes to sketch, outline, and paint.

4.  Donate any amount through Pantano Christian Church
·Please send your gift to Pantano Christian Church, 1755 S. Houghton Road, Tucson AZ, 85748, Attn: Accounting
· Make checks payable to “Pantano Christian Church”. On the memo line write, “E. Africa Trip-D. Ambuel.”
·The church will record the donation and send a statement to you at the end of the year. 

Upon return from Ethiopia, I will report on my experience! Thank you in advance for your prayers and consideration of financial support.

With all my love,
Dani Ambuel