Dear Friends and Family,

Only 46 days until I begin my journey! The thought actually scares me to death. It seems as though there is still so much to do before I go and time is just flying by. Right now I am living in Sheboygan Wisconsin with my family and just really enjoying time here. Although I really haven't done much besides work its been a nice time to relax and reflect. I'm always on the move so there is rarely a time in life where I can just stop and think so this summer has been nice. I have had a lot of time to just read in the Word.

One thing that God has really been showing me is that He desires us to know Him more. After being in Bible School I just expected to have things down and I'd be able to advance and learn greater truths. I was growing very frustrated as I needed to back track and solidify my foundational beliefs. After talking one night with a good friend I was very encouraged as he reminded me that its not about being this super spiritual, all understanding Christian, but rather day by day moment by moment trusting the Lord and seeking Him. I think we as Christians so often want to understand all these things about the Lord and grow frustrated when so much of it is beyond our understanding, but maybe God made it that way for a reason, so that we would have to just trust him moment by moment and stand in awe of just how great He is. God knows what He wants to reveal to us and some days its just the simple things, but even in those things He's working greatly. God is good.

Please be praying for me as I continue preparing to leave. I still have to raise quite a bit more money which has been a great stressor but Ephesians 3:20 and 21 has been my comfort, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen" I know that God is in control and if this is where He wants me to go, which I believe it is, then He will provide. Also pray for the Lord to prepare me mentally and spiritually as I will be leaving many behind and voyaging to a place of great uncertainty for me. I do not know exactly what the Lord has for me there but I know that He knows what lays ahead of me and He can prepare me. Lastly please pray for my friends and family. I know me leaving has put a great deal of stress on them and I just desire so greatly for them to understand why I am doing this, and also for them to rest knowing that I am in safe hands.

Thank you all for your prayer and support. You each have been such an encouragement to my life. How I wish I could just sit down and talk to you personally and hear about your lives. Please feel free to write, call, email, anything and keep me posted on your lives and how I could be praying for you. I love you each so much. God bless you. -Samantha

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the saints to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know that this love that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19