Wednesday, June 24, 2009

UPDATE!!

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...

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

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!

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!!