It's Almost Time...

I leave for Thailand with the ACC Mission Team THIS Thursday!!!

The time up until now has flown by as we've been preparing for this trip, but it still feels like it's forever away...I'm not quite sure how that works!

I have many feelings about this trip...I'm excited, anxious, uncertain, hopeful, amazed, awed, & most of all, I'm humbled. That God would use me to show His love & spread His Word to His people continues to blow my mind! He could do it all himself, but He chooses to use me, to use us.

This trip has already blessed me in many ways. I have been able to share with many people the passion & calling God has given me to do what I'm about to do. I have witnessed over & over how He provides for our every need. I am continually amazed & in awe of all that God will do for you if you just allow Him to. He already has set a plan for each & every person, that if we would just surrender our own selfish wants & fully depend on Him, it will be done.

There have been many times throughout the past year that I have felt so overwhelmed with what I think I should accomplish in Thailand & with what I think others assume I will be able to do there. Every time I feel this way, I have been reminded that it's not my work I'm doing. God called us to "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, to the very end of the age."

I can't make someone's choice for them to believe & to follow Christ. All I can do & all that God has called me to do is to tell them, to give them the opportunity to know the Truth, & to teach them. He does all the work in their hearts & minds.

I have much comfort & hope in the last line, "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." No matter where I go or what I'm doing, God will be with me every step of the way. He has gone before us & prepared the hearts & minds of the Thai people whose paths we will cross on this trip. He will be with us every second of the trip. And He will continue to be there after we leave.

Thank you all for your continued support & prayers!

Serving Him,
Alicia

Newsletter

I have completed the first installment of my newsletter! If you would like to be on my mailing list to receive my newsletters & updates, please send me an e-mail at ajcrabtree07@yahoo.com.

Thanks!
Alicia

HUGE Update

Hello Everyone!


It has been incredibly too long since I've updated my blog, so this might be a lot of information :) God has been doing some amazing things in my life since I updated last!


First, He put me in contact with a missionary sending organization, ACM International (http://www.acminternational.com/). Before this, I was trying to figure out everything being a missionary entails by myself, which was extremely overwhelming. (Believe me, I tried for several months before I realized I couldn't do this on my own & needed help!) So, REALLY long story short...I went through ACM's application process & was accepted as a full member on November 9, 2010! Being a part of ACM, I have already learned SO much, made many connections, & have much more support than I would have on my own, (along with many other great things).


These last several months have been incredibly important in shaping who I'm becoming. God has shown me over & over how He has a plan already laid out for me & that He will provide all that I need. All I have to do is submit to His will, which is harder than it sounds some days, but I am constantly working on it.


Before connecting with ACM, my original plan was to stay in Thailand in February when I go back with the ACC Mission Team. I have since decided to change this plan, rather God has changed my timing as I lean on His ways & not my own. I will still be going back to Thailand with the Mission Team on February 3rd, but will only be staying until March 5th. I am coming back because there are more training courses I want to take & I need to make sure I have all my support raised before I stay in Thailand full-time. I am hoping to be there full-time late summer/early fall of this year. I am still going to be living with Stephen & Mary Wongratanamajcha & working with their ministry, Asians for Christ. I will be providing some health care & working with Women's & Children's Ministries.

Another new "development" is that my mom is going to be my Forwarding Agent! I am very excited she decided to help me in this role because I knew she would do the best job at it :) And it helps her to be a part of my ministry. For those who don't know what a Forwarding Agent is, she will be receiving & keeping track of all my funds, sending out receipts, & basically, keeping me on top of things :)

From now on, I am going to try to be more consistent in keeping you all up-to-date on where I'm at in this journey God has called me on & what He teaches me through this.

As I wrap this up, I want to ask you to be in prayer with me on the following:

* For the ACC Mission Team as we prepare to return to Thailand & our safety on the trip

* For Stephen & Mary and the others in Thailand as they prepare for our arrival & work there

* For safety, peace, & reassurance of our families while we are gone

*For the hearts of those whose paths we will cross in Thailand, that they will be open to the word of God

* For my willingness & openness to be continually molded & shaped by God to be prepared to serve in Thailand

* For those who already have and those who will partner with me in my ministry, both financially & in prayer

* That God's will would continue to be done & His Kingdom continue to spread to reach the ends of the earth

Serving Him,

Alicia