Thailand Community Service Mission Trip

Hello!

Throughout my life there have been many things I've counted myself out of, and many things that I have personally disqualified myself from, sometimes because of money being a limitation, mistakes I've made, or just general doubt that God is actually good, wanting to do good, and wanting to involve me in the good he is doing.

It was no different with the Empower Thailand trip, I just never thought that I could go. But when I followed my wife Tiera to the first meeting, my wheels started turning a bit, "what would happen if I didn't disqualify myself, and actually believed that I could possibly go?" I was amazed at the welcome I received as I talked further with the Thailand team about the possibility of going, and invited to join the team.

I admire Empower International and the work they do. They work primarily in Pakistan, Myanmar, and Thailand, running orphanages, schools, and working against human trafficking. Despite ways I've counted myself out, I've seen God use my in great ways in Chicago, and I've had dreams to help people world-wide. Not too long ago, I was trying to make it as a day-trader, trying to sustain enough income to buy out some of the brick-pits in Pakistan, shutting down slave labor there simply by buying them out. Unfortunately, I haven't hit that goal yet. While that dream may still happen some day, the reality is that Empower has already been in the trenches, doing the hard work of helping people. They are actively doing the work that many leave in the dreams/ambitions state, but never fully take action on.

This is my chance to take a step forward in faith, and join with what God is doing through Empower. This will be a trip that both Tiera and I are able to go on together, the goal is to raise enough for both of us to go.

Why $6,240? The trip breakdown is as follows:

$2,800 for airfare for Tiera and I.

$1,200 for: Skit supplies, activities for kids, shirts, insurance, emergency fund, donation for missionaries.

$2,240 for Empower.

Whether or not you can give, just taking a moment to pray for the trip, for Tiera and I, for Empower International, for City Church, that's enough for me. One of the things I'll tell the members of my City Church lifegroup regularly just before we pray is, "As we pray, let's really believe that this is the prayer that can actually change what we are praying about." So if you do pray, believe that your prayer is what is going to make a difference!

Please pray for:

-The Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us

-Unity on the Missions Team

-Safe Travels

-The children of Thailand.

If you can give, great! Your gift will go to support the trip for Tiera and I, and support all the work that Empower International is doing throughout the world, and especially in Thailand.

-Ian Kreml