Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, until the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)
In this Scripture, God is calling each of his Children to make disciples of those we meet, though not all of God’s Children are called to the mission field in other countries. Sometimes our mission field is our own home. Regardless of where your mission field is, we are all called to the Great Commission.
For the next few months I will be involved with something I would like to share with you. I have volunteered to go on a mission trip to China April 14-26, 2009. I will be joining a team with Zimmer Foundation for China (ZF). It will be a pleasure to share skills and techniques in my own work with these people. Each of us has also been asked to prepare ourselves for this trip with prayer and study of Chinese history and current events.
In the planned Zimmer orientation meetings we will cover topics such as cultural sensitivities, political realities, and possibilities for evangelism and personal witnessing and general preparation for overseas work. We seek the Lord’s guidance for our trip. We realize we are in the Lord’s hands and expectantly wait what He has in store for us during this trip. The members of the team will include Christian professionals from across the USA.
The Zimmer Foundation for China is a non-profit organization established to implement holistic programs to improve the economic and spiritual conditions in rural Guizhou. It is a US 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization established in memory of Rev. & Mrs. Gerald Zimmer who served in China 1936-1948. The Foundation relies on a wide network of volunteers in many cities and states in the United States for its fund raising, project selection and activity coordination. More about Zimmer Foundation can be found at their website http://zimmerfoundation.org.
The April 2009 the team will go to Tongren prefecture, Guizhou, an area of 4 million people that live in remote villages and outlaying areas. The average annual earning is less than $120. Worst yet, many of these people have not heard the Word. We hope to share about Jesus when given the opportunity.
The officials invited us to share our English conversation and cultural exchange working side by side with educational officials and students during a ten day period. We will meet students financially supported by supporters of Zimmer Foundation from the near by villages. The University scholarship students supported by ZF will serve as our translators for they know Mandarin and the local dialect.
On Sunday we will worship in a small church originally founded by Rev. Zimmer.
Would you pray that those involved, including me, will be stretched in our spiritual growth and experience new avenues of trusting the Holy Spirit for guidance and wisdom with these witness opportunities in China? Much time has been spent already in preparation, in prayer and with monthly meetings. I am asking you to pray for me. April 14-26, 2009 is the trip. Mark it down on your calendar. This is asking for a lot. Financial support is important. Each of the participants is asked to raise their own funds before March 1 to cover the expenses of $2,000. If you are so led, you may contribute to this need by sending a check for $25, $50, or more to “Zimmer Foundation for China” designated for me. Send it to Zimmer Foundation for China, 47 Spring Hill Road, Belchertown, MA 01007 or myself. The tax deductible check must be made out to Zimmer Foundation for China and the entire amount will go toward my expenses.
Would you take the time now to let me know of your support? I thank you a head of time for your prayers. Your prayers are most important. My goal is to have twenty prayer partners.
Blessings,
Jen
Living a Blessed Life 