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
Monday, January 31, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
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
Thanks!
Alicia
Saturday, January 8, 2011
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.
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
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
God is Good!!!
The ACC Mission Team was truly blessed from the garage sale this past weekend. We raised $1500 for medical supplies for the trip to Thailand in February! Thanks to everyone who donated, sorted, priced, & worked the garage sale. It was a lot of hard work, but definitely worth it! And thanks to everyone who stopped by & made purchases & donations!!!
God Bless,
Alicia
God Bless,
Alicia
Friday, June 11, 2010
Fundraiser
Hello everyone!
Just wanted to let you all know the Atlanta Christian Church Mission Team is having a garage sale & bake sale this Friday & Saturday from 8am to 4pm to raise money for the mission trip to Thailand in February. The church is located at the corner of 3rd & Maple in Atlanta.
Hope to see everyone this weekend :)
Alicia
Just wanted to let you all know the Atlanta Christian Church Mission Team is having a garage sale & bake sale this Friday & Saturday from 8am to 4pm to raise money for the mission trip to Thailand in February. The church is located at the corner of 3rd & Maple in Atlanta.
Hope to see everyone this weekend :)
Alicia
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Welcome!!!
Welcome to my blog, Living the Call!
To start, I'll give you a little background to who I am & what I'm doing.
My name is Alicia Crabtree. I am 25 years old & live in Atlanta, IL, where I was born & raised. I am a member of the Atlanta Christian Church. I am a Registered Nurse & work in the NICU at St. John's Hospital in Springfield, IL.
To make a long story short, I'll start about two years ago. I was at a point in my life where I had everything I thought I wanted. I was happy, but I felt like something was missing. So, I began actively seeking God's call for me. Almost immediately after turning over my wants & surrendering my life to His will for me, I got an answer. God was telling me to serve Him on the mission field. I knew this calling was from Him because never in a million years did I ever think I would be a missionary. In fact, growing up & hearing about mission work, I knew I would never be a missionary. The thought of leaving my family & everything I knew was not a pleasant thought & not something I wanted to do. But now, God was calling me to do just that.
I started by researching & learning about what it means to be a missionary. I felt a strong pull to children & orphans, so I looked into orphanages & orphan ministries. A couple months after starting this journey, I was approached by Brian Siltman one Sunday after church & he asked me if I would want to go on a medical mission trip to Thailand. Without hesitation, I said yes. I thought if anything, this trip would be good experience for me to know if mission work was truly where God was calling me.
The Mission Team from Atlanta Christian Church traveled to Thailand October 16th-26th, 2009. During this time, we set up several medical clinics in the villages around Chiang Mai. (You can read more about the trip at www.accmission.blogspot.com)
Within the first few days of this trip, I knew without a doubt that it was my calling from God to serve on the mission field. More than that, I knew that God was calling me to serve in Thailand. I spoke with the Mission Team about this while we were in Thailand. After returning home, I continued to pray & seek guidance about it.
After being home & continuing to seek & listen to what God was calling me to do, I continued to believe that it is His will for me to be a missionary & to serve in Thailand. On Sunday, April 25, 2010, I announced that when the ACC Mission Team returns to Thailand on February 3, 2011, I will be moving there.
I have been working with Stephen & Mary Wongratanamajcha, who live in Chiang Mai. They are currently building a Christian Gospel Center in Chiang Mai, where I will be living with their family. The Gospel Center is a multi-purpose location where church services, camps, & other ministries will be held. I will be helping with the Women's Ministry, teaching English for the Children's Ministry, & providing some medical care.
That's my journey the past two years up to today. It's been extremely humbling and amazing to surrender my own selfish wants & to see what God has called me to. I know it won't always be easy, but with God in control, everything is possible!
Check back for updates & to continue on this journey with me!
Alicia
To start, I'll give you a little background to who I am & what I'm doing.
My name is Alicia Crabtree. I am 25 years old & live in Atlanta, IL, where I was born & raised. I am a member of the Atlanta Christian Church. I am a Registered Nurse & work in the NICU at St. John's Hospital in Springfield, IL.
To make a long story short, I'll start about two years ago. I was at a point in my life where I had everything I thought I wanted. I was happy, but I felt like something was missing. So, I began actively seeking God's call for me. Almost immediately after turning over my wants & surrendering my life to His will for me, I got an answer. God was telling me to serve Him on the mission field. I knew this calling was from Him because never in a million years did I ever think I would be a missionary. In fact, growing up & hearing about mission work, I knew I would never be a missionary. The thought of leaving my family & everything I knew was not a pleasant thought & not something I wanted to do. But now, God was calling me to do just that.
I started by researching & learning about what it means to be a missionary. I felt a strong pull to children & orphans, so I looked into orphanages & orphan ministries. A couple months after starting this journey, I was approached by Brian Siltman one Sunday after church & he asked me if I would want to go on a medical mission trip to Thailand. Without hesitation, I said yes. I thought if anything, this trip would be good experience for me to know if mission work was truly where God was calling me.
The Mission Team from Atlanta Christian Church traveled to Thailand October 16th-26th, 2009. During this time, we set up several medical clinics in the villages around Chiang Mai. (You can read more about the trip at www.accmission.blogspot.com)
Within the first few days of this trip, I knew without a doubt that it was my calling from God to serve on the mission field. More than that, I knew that God was calling me to serve in Thailand. I spoke with the Mission Team about this while we were in Thailand. After returning home, I continued to pray & seek guidance about it.
After being home & continuing to seek & listen to what God was calling me to do, I continued to believe that it is His will for me to be a missionary & to serve in Thailand. On Sunday, April 25, 2010, I announced that when the ACC Mission Team returns to Thailand on February 3, 2011, I will be moving there.
I have been working with Stephen & Mary Wongratanamajcha, who live in Chiang Mai. They are currently building a Christian Gospel Center in Chiang Mai, where I will be living with their family. The Gospel Center is a multi-purpose location where church services, camps, & other ministries will be held. I will be helping with the Women's Ministry, teaching English for the Children's Ministry, & providing some medical care.
That's my journey the past two years up to today. It's been extremely humbling and amazing to surrender my own selfish wants & to see what God has called me to. I know it won't always be easy, but with God in control, everything is possible!
Check back for updates & to continue on this journey with me!
Alicia
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