In each of our lives there are seasons. Some of those seasons we like more than others. God uses each and every season in our lives to prepare us for the next. God has made it so clear to us that we are to go to Tanzania to bring hope to the hopeless. It has been quite a process, one that at many times I've resisted, but God lovingly and graciously pursued me. Its amazing the freedom that comes from completely surrendering to God and letting him have HIS way. Deuteronomy 30:16 For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep His commands, then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.
God has brought us into a new season of preparation. We are now preparing to Go. I find this season in our lives very humbling. We know that God would have us to go, yet we also know that He has divine timing. Like Nehemiah whom God called to go rebuild Jerusalem, He mourned, fasted and prayed for 4 months before God gave him the right opportunity before the king. Before speaking to the king, Nehemiah prayed and asked the Lord to grant him favor before the king. Nehemiah 1:11 He was willing to wait on the Lord, knowing that Only God could move in the heart of the king. Because of Nehemiah's willingness to wait God gave him favor in the eyes of the king and God provided abundantly for him. These provisions and blessings came to Nehemiah as he waited on Gods timing. I have been so encouraged by the study of Nehemiah. I can wait with confidence knowing that God will provide for our every need.
There are many needs in order for us to Go full time to Tanzania. The biggest of which is financial. These next few months we will be focused on full time fundraising. I used to look at this process and cringe. But God has shown us that our biggest part is to walk in His ways and pray and He will move in the hearts of men and kings. Our God is faithful and we believe that where God calls his people to Go He provides the way. Please pray for us as we continue on this journey. We would also ask that you seek the Lord and see if He might want to use you in this ministry. There are many ways to get involved. Our biggest need as I mentioned earlier is financial, we can not Go to the field until we have raised 100 percent of our funding. If you feel lead to give you can go to http://www.thirstnomore.org/ and note Jeff Schmidt. We are also looking for opportunities to share our vision for Tanzania and what Gods doing there, if your group, church or business is interested you can reach us at jeff@thirstnomore.org .
We are looking to return to Tanzania in January to do well repairs and other ministry, please pray that God would work out all the details. We are so thankful for each of you that have come alongside of us on this journey, through your support and faithful prayers seeds are being planted and people who have never heard the story of hope, are now hearing it and lives will be changed. People in a village in Tanga Tanzania, now have clean water and have heard of the "Living Water" that never runs dry. Many more are waiting for that same opportunity. It is so exciting to be a part of the work that God is doing!
