So, my boss, Drew Springer, comes to me today and asks how the fund raising is going. I told him I was close to being halfway there. Then he drops a bombshell. He's going to give me some money but he said he will match whatever I get in the next week or two. HE'LL MATCH IT! That means if I get $50 in donations, he'll give me $50. If I get $500, he'll give me $500. So, what I need to do, is obviously get $1,000 of donations from people with in the next couple of weeks...obviously...
I guess this brief blog is my plea...if you have planned on giving it would be great if you could get it to me or the church in the next week or two.
Thanks so much!
p.s. - There is no time limit on the prayer coverage...just...so...you know...
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Leavin' On a Jet Plane...
Five years ago, I left Ghana. In my heart, I knew someday I would go back to Africa. From that time, on the plane, God has been preparing me to go back. I believe this summer is my opportunity.
This blog post is to inform you of my intention of going to Botswana and also to ask for your support. From July 25 through August 9, 2009 a team from New River Fellowship will travel to Botswana, Southern Africa to minister to the peoples of Maun, Botswana. We will serve through construction, hut-to-hut evangelism, working with AIDS orphans, visiting the village churches and so much more. We will serve alongside the Lackey family, founders of Love Botswana Outreach Mission (www.lovebotswana.com).
Botswana is a fairly peaceful country. It is roughly the size of Texas and has an 81% literacy rate, $15,800 income per capita and a population of approximately 1.7 million people. Although it seems to be a sparsely populated country (mostly due to the excessive mortality rate of AIDS), Maun, Botswana is a crossroads not only to other parts of Botswana but to most of Southern Africa. Love Botswana Outreach Mission was set up in Maun to provide a central base to train and educate others to minister in the area.
Your prayer support is coveted. Having served in the bush of Africa I know spiritual forces are not to be taken lightly. I’m asking that you pray for me and for our team that we may carry the truth of God boldly and speak His words faithfully, that we will stand up to Satan with the strength that only God can give and that we will obey the Spirit of God wherever He may lead us.
I am also letting you know of another need. You guessed it, money. The estimated cost of the trip is approximately $4,000. If you feel God is leading you to help me cover some of these expenses I would greatly appreciate it. Checks should be made payable to New River Fellowship (please put my name and Botswana on the memo line) and are tax deductible as a charitable donation. Send money to:
New River Fellowship
Attn: Betsy Admire
3252 E I-20
Hudson Oaks, TX 76087
Lastly, I want to thank you, whether by prayer or donation, for any way you are able to support me in this mission. I feel so strongly that God is calling me to make a difference in lives during this trip, as well as continue shaping me into the woman of God he has called me to be. I look forward to sharing with you how God worked through your prayers and financial support.
In His Strength,
Mary Beavers
This blog post is to inform you of my intention of going to Botswana and also to ask for your support. From July 25 through August 9, 2009 a team from New River Fellowship will travel to Botswana, Southern Africa to minister to the peoples of Maun, Botswana. We will serve through construction, hut-to-hut evangelism, working with AIDS orphans, visiting the village churches and so much more. We will serve alongside the Lackey family, founders of Love Botswana Outreach Mission (www.lovebotswana.com).
Botswana is a fairly peaceful country. It is roughly the size of Texas and has an 81% literacy rate, $15,800 income per capita and a population of approximately 1.7 million people. Although it seems to be a sparsely populated country (mostly due to the excessive mortality rate of AIDS), Maun, Botswana is a crossroads not only to other parts of Botswana but to most of Southern Africa. Love Botswana Outreach Mission was set up in Maun to provide a central base to train and educate others to minister in the area.
Your prayer support is coveted. Having served in the bush of Africa I know spiritual forces are not to be taken lightly. I’m asking that you pray for me and for our team that we may carry the truth of God boldly and speak His words faithfully, that we will stand up to Satan with the strength that only God can give and that we will obey the Spirit of God wherever He may lead us.
I am also letting you know of another need. You guessed it, money. The estimated cost of the trip is approximately $4,000. If you feel God is leading you to help me cover some of these expenses I would greatly appreciate it. Checks should be made payable to New River Fellowship (please put my name and Botswana on the memo line) and are tax deductible as a charitable donation. Send money to:
New River Fellowship
Attn: Betsy Admire
3252 E I-20
Hudson Oaks, TX 76087
Lastly, I want to thank you, whether by prayer or donation, for any way you are able to support me in this mission. I feel so strongly that God is calling me to make a difference in lives during this trip, as well as continue shaping me into the woman of God he has called me to be. I look forward to sharing with you how God worked through your prayers and financial support.
In His Strength,
Mary Beavers
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Meanwhile: Nonsense...
So I know I posted this earlier on my facebook status but it really does bear revisiting.
Today was the TEA Party in Weatherford. For those of you who haven't a clue what's going on in American society...TEA stands for Taxed Enough Already...but I'm not here to blog about that and how effective it is or isn't...oh no...I'm talking WAY more serious than that...
The TEA Party march started at the First Monday Grounds and then came up south main and around by the square and across the street from my workplace. So what does any office do at 4:30 p.m. when you'd rather not be at work? That's right, you go outside...stand on the sidewalk and stare...
We watched people go by with flags and signs and all kinds of things...some people even brought their dogs...let the barks be heard loud and clear! No more taxes!! The government is stealing kibble from our mouths...(OKAY so they dogs didn't actually have signs or do any barking...but it's my story and I'll tell it like I want!)
Needless to say there were young and old and everyone in between. When all of the sudden, a bright red beacon gleaming from the middle of the masses emerges...it's bright red...and the older gentleman wears it proudly...tucked into his dress pants...none other...than the great...
Tomato?
Seriously, this man had a Bob the Tomato (you know, from Veggie Tales) t-shirt on. Bob the tomato attended the TEA Party here in Weatherford...let's see YOU beat THAT!
Today was the TEA Party in Weatherford. For those of you who haven't a clue what's going on in American society...TEA stands for Taxed Enough Already...but I'm not here to blog about that and how effective it is or isn't...oh no...I'm talking WAY more serious than that...
The TEA Party march started at the First Monday Grounds and then came up south main and around by the square and across the street from my workplace. So what does any office do at 4:30 p.m. when you'd rather not be at work? That's right, you go outside...stand on the sidewalk and stare...
We watched people go by with flags and signs and all kinds of things...some people even brought their dogs...let the barks be heard loud and clear! No more taxes!! The government is stealing kibble from our mouths...(OKAY so they dogs didn't actually have signs or do any barking...but it's my story and I'll tell it like I want!)
Needless to say there were young and old and everyone in between. When all of the sudden, a bright red beacon gleaming from the middle of the masses emerges...it's bright red...and the older gentleman wears it proudly...tucked into his dress pants...none other...than the great...
Tomato?
Seriously, this man had a Bob the Tomato (you know, from Veggie Tales) t-shirt on. Bob the tomato attended the TEA Party here in Weatherford...let's see YOU beat THAT!
More China
Because I said I would post more on China...here is day two...however, don't expect more and when they do come it could be quite interspersed...
Monday, October 20, 2008
7:00 a.m.
I slept pretty well all right and BAM (Emeril-style) my eyes opened at about 6:30. Joni and I got ready and literally RAN to meet the bus. It was a 3 minute ride (but a 20 minute walk!) to the part of school we had her classes in. When we got off the bus we still had about 40 minutes till classes started. We checked out the cafeteria but decided to opt for a bakery shop instead to procure our breakfast. Hmmm...maybe not so wise of a choice. Chinese pastries can be very deceptive. Just because it looks sweet - doesn't mean it will be. We got these little things that looked like donutholes - hmm - they were filled with "something" that looked a bit like shredded meat and soy sauce with perhaps a bottle or two of liquid smoke...not so tasty when you are expecting something sweet. We ate the rest of what we had chosen and it was off to class.
She had two freshmen oral classes that morning. The students were very excited to meet me and after I told them about me they asked some questions. Mostly about being home-schooled and about me living in Africa.
We then joined some of Joni's teacher friends for lunch and it was SOOOO yummy. One dish was like hash browns but not cooked all the way and in an oil of some sort. There was an eggplant dish that quickly became one of my favorites. A green bean dish and something called cola chicken...or was it coke chicken...either way it was fabulous- also a tofu dish that was VERY good. 
After lunch we had a sophomore culture class and then we came back. I was starting to get very sleepy so I laid down and slept right through Joni's free talk. She woke me up in time to eat dinner with another foreign teacher and then 3 others joined us for conversation later. Oh- dinner - we had garlic shoots! Yum!!
Monday, October 20, 2008
7:00 a.m.
I slept pretty well all right and BAM (Emeril-style) my eyes opened at about 6:30. Joni and I got ready and literally RAN to meet the bus. It was a 3 minute ride (but a 20 minute walk!) to the part of school we had her classes in. When we got off the bus we still had about 40 minutes till classes started. We checked out the cafeteria but decided to opt for a bakery shop instead to procure our breakfast. Hmmm...maybe not so wise of a choice. Chinese pastries can be very deceptive. Just because it looks sweet - doesn't mean it will be. We got these little things that looked like donutholes - hmm - they were filled with "something" that looked a bit like shredded meat and soy sauce with perhaps a bottle or two of liquid smoke...not so tasty when you are expecting something sweet. We ate the rest of what we had chosen and it was off to class.
She had two freshmen oral classes that morning. The students were very excited to meet me and after I told them about me they asked some questions. Mostly about being home-schooled and about me living in Africa.
We then joined some of Joni's teacher friends for lunch and it was SOOOO yummy. One dish was like hash browns but not cooked all the way and in an oil of some sort. There was an eggplant dish that quickly became one of my favorites. A green bean dish and something called cola chicken...or was it coke chicken...either way it was fabulous- also a tofu dish that was VERY good. 
After lunch we had a sophomore culture class and then we came back. I was starting to get very sleepy so I laid down and slept right through Joni's free talk. She woke me up in time to eat dinner with another foreign teacher and then 3 others joined us for conversation later. Oh- dinner - we had garlic shoots! Yum!!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Day One - China
2:30 p.m. (approx 24 hours after waking up to get to the airport) Sunday October 19, 2008
Arrived in Shanghai, China and there was a HUGE line at customs. When I finally got through and found my luggage I walked out. It was then I was wishing Joni was a blond...she was a little harder to spot but I found her! I was so excited to see her but it was already 3:10 and the bus for Hangzhou left at 3:30 (the next one not leaving for another 2 hours) so we had to hurry. Burger King would have to wait until the return trip in 12 days. We lugged my bags to some random elevator that wasn't even working properly and shoved ourselves in with too many people and a motion sick girl. We rushed out and over to buy our tickets with 5 minutes to spare. Enough time to use the toilet (they even had a western style toilet at the bus station!)
We stored my bags under the bus and were on our way. The bus trip NORMALLY takes 3 hours. When a traffic jam stalls you for an extra hour however...yeah...
SO - needless to say, it was about 4 hours till we got to Hangzhou. Just in time to take the hour long bus BACK to Xiasha...where Joni's school and apartment was. We both looked a little rough at the end of this trip. We got to Joni's apartment about 8:30 and decided to "dine in" on some soup a friend had given her. We unpacked my bags and I'm happy to say she was pleased with all the goodies! We chilled out and then went to bed about 11:00 because we had class the next day...in fact, a whole day full of classes. The first one starting at 8...a.m.
More of China to come...
Arrived in Shanghai, China and there was a HUGE line at customs. When I finally got through and found my luggage I walked out. It was then I was wishing Joni was a blond...she was a little harder to spot but I found her! I was so excited to see her but it was already 3:10 and the bus for Hangzhou left at 3:30 (the next one not leaving for another 2 hours) so we had to hurry. Burger King would have to wait until the return trip in 12 days. We lugged my bags to some random elevator that wasn't even working properly and shoved ourselves in with too many people and a motion sick girl. We rushed out and over to buy our tickets with 5 minutes to spare. Enough time to use the toilet (they even had a western style toilet at the bus station!)
We stored my bags under the bus and were on our way. The bus trip NORMALLY takes 3 hours. When a traffic jam stalls you for an extra hour however...yeah...
SO - needless to say, it was about 4 hours till we got to Hangzhou. Just in time to take the hour long bus BACK to Xiasha...where Joni's school and apartment was. We both looked a little rough at the end of this trip. We got to Joni's apartment about 8:30 and decided to "dine in" on some soup a friend had given her. We unpacked my bags and I'm happy to say she was pleased with all the goodies! We chilled out and then went to bed about 11:00 because we had class the next day...in fact, a whole day full of classes. The first one starting at 8...a.m.
More of China to come...
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
The Poor Always Among Us?
So here I sit...supposed to be blogging about poverty, when all that comes to mind is a recent conversation I had with a friend. The conversation started when he lamented that his colleagues weren't getting his humor. I told him that when I lived in Africa they didn't get sarcasm (which obviously drips from my tongue - if you know me you know this is true) and that it was a rough couple of years (from a humor standpoint). He wondered if the lack of sarcasm in Sub-Saharan Africa was a factor in agriculture and political stability.
He finally connected the two (okay MAYBE it was a bit of a stretch connecting the Sahara with lack of appreciation for sarcasm to lack of water, leading to no food.) but now that I think about it, I have to wonder. Why IS there so much poverty in the world? Why does it seem to flourish in some areas/countries more than others?
Perhaps sarcasm is not the answer to poverty, political stability, and food in Sub-Sahara Africa. Perhaps it all starts with caring about those in poverty, becoming aware of those in poverty, being so affected by it that you can no longer sit by and do nothing.
For more information about worldwide poverty check out http://www.globalissues.org/issue/2/causes-of-poverty
A little less talk and a lot more action? Check out http://www.endpoverty2015.org/
He finally connected the two (okay MAYBE it was a bit of a stretch connecting the Sahara with lack of appreciation for sarcasm to lack of water, leading to no food.) but now that I think about it, I have to wonder. Why IS there so much poverty in the world? Why does it seem to flourish in some areas/countries more than others?
Perhaps sarcasm is not the answer to poverty, political stability, and food in Sub-Sahara Africa. Perhaps it all starts with caring about those in poverty, becoming aware of those in poverty, being so affected by it that you can no longer sit by and do nothing.
For more information about worldwide poverty check out http://www.globalissues.org/issue/2/causes-of-poverty
A little less talk and a lot more action? Check out http://www.endpoverty2015.org/
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Smalltown, America
As many of you know, I leave a week from Saturday to go to China. I'm visiting a friend who teaches English at a university. She asked me to bring a few items which includes, but is not limited to, the following:
Velveeta (let's face it, we ALL eat it...you'd miss it to if you were denied the ability to purchase it!)
Salsa
Tortillas
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
I love her priorities!
SO- I wanted to make sure she had enough. I bought four boxes of Velveeta, four jars of Joe T. Garcia's salsa (if you have to buy it you might as well buy the best!) and four bags of Reese's, two of the regular size and two of the miniature's (you know, just to mix it up a bit...).
I decided to do the self-check out because somehow I thought it would be faster and I wouldn't have to pretend to be nice to anyone (yeah, it's just been one of those weeks I guess). I put everything on the conveyor belt and began to realize how strange it looked. I was actually embarrassed to have four boxes of Velveeta and the same number of bags of Reese's. All of the sudden I hear this voice RIGHT behind me saying, "Looks like you're gonna have a good time!" I turned around and there is a fairly large man looking at me like it's Christmas and he wants a feast at my house...it also looked like he was bringing his wife...
I kind of laughed and said yeah, my thought? Better for them to think this is all I eat than to engage in conversation that is sure to lead to drivel (if you've read my blog before you probably already know the outcome of this post). Then his wife chimes in, are you having a party? I decided to go for the gold and tell them EXACTLY what it was for. If you can't ignore them, might was well confuse them!
I simply stated that where my friend lived she couldn't buy these items. She was living out of the country and I was going to take these items to her.
NO LIE, the woman looks at me like it was a crime to not be able to buy Velveeta and then says, "She must be in another state!"
Okay so if you're like me you're totally laughing...although I give myself credit for keeping it all inside and a serious face.
I re-stated that she was OUT OF THE COUNTRY...she lives in another country where you can't buy these things. I'm buying these things for her...and taking them to her, where she lives...in another country. Once I figured this had cleared things up she begins to tell me about her sister who lives in California and can't buy Ranch Style Beans.
-I'm sorry I just keep laughing out loud and am having a hard time finishing this blog...-
So apparently her sister buys large boxes of them while she's here and then takes them back to California. I kind of faded out at this point and finished my purchase which was taking WAY too long and left.
I left with these thoughts, whether they be wrong or right.
Most people in Smalltown, America have no clue about the world beyond their own. I'm so thankful for my experiences and the ability to see so much of the world.
Maybe it all begins with small steps. These people had insight of what it's like in California, perhaps their next step is global...
Velveeta (let's face it, we ALL eat it...you'd miss it to if you were denied the ability to purchase it!)
Salsa
Tortillas
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
I love her priorities!
SO- I wanted to make sure she had enough. I bought four boxes of Velveeta, four jars of Joe T. Garcia's salsa (if you have to buy it you might as well buy the best!) and four bags of Reese's, two of the regular size and two of the miniature's (you know, just to mix it up a bit...).
I decided to do the self-check out because somehow I thought it would be faster and I wouldn't have to pretend to be nice to anyone (yeah, it's just been one of those weeks I guess). I put everything on the conveyor belt and began to realize how strange it looked. I was actually embarrassed to have four boxes of Velveeta and the same number of bags of Reese's. All of the sudden I hear this voice RIGHT behind me saying, "Looks like you're gonna have a good time!" I turned around and there is a fairly large man looking at me like it's Christmas and he wants a feast at my house...it also looked like he was bringing his wife...
I kind of laughed and said yeah, my thought? Better for them to think this is all I eat than to engage in conversation that is sure to lead to drivel (if you've read my blog before you probably already know the outcome of this post). Then his wife chimes in, are you having a party? I decided to go for the gold and tell them EXACTLY what it was for. If you can't ignore them, might was well confuse them!
I simply stated that where my friend lived she couldn't buy these items. She was living out of the country and I was going to take these items to her.
NO LIE, the woman looks at me like it was a crime to not be able to buy Velveeta and then says, "She must be in another state!"
Okay so if you're like me you're totally laughing...although I give myself credit for keeping it all inside and a serious face.
I re-stated that she was OUT OF THE COUNTRY...she lives in another country where you can't buy these things. I'm buying these things for her...and taking them to her, where she lives...in another country. Once I figured this had cleared things up she begins to tell me about her sister who lives in California and can't buy Ranch Style Beans.
-I'm sorry I just keep laughing out loud and am having a hard time finishing this blog...-
So apparently her sister buys large boxes of them while she's here and then takes them back to California. I kind of faded out at this point and finished my purchase which was taking WAY too long and left.
I left with these thoughts, whether they be wrong or right.
Most people in Smalltown, America have no clue about the world beyond their own. I'm so thankful for my experiences and the ability to see so much of the world.
Maybe it all begins with small steps. These people had insight of what it's like in California, perhaps their next step is global...
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