60 days to go!

It's been just over 5 months since this journey began. It was right around the beginning of December, when one by one, obstacles to the trip of a lifetime started being removed. Now, with just 60 days to go, I start this email to try and gather you together. There are so many of you who have supported me - both financially (such that I have reached my goal of full support), and in prayer (such that so far no hurdle has shown insurmountable). I now want to use this forum to gather you together and give you these updates and to request your ongoing prayers even more specifically, as the time approaches and the needs become clearer.

Thirty two gifts have been received by Chosen People Ministries in just three months since I first sent out letters to just over a hundred people. My first deadline of March 1st (just the deposit) was met on February 20th. Having risen over 75% by the middle of April, I was eligible for an extension until June 15th to raise the remainder. Given a couple checks still being processed, I expect to meet that a full month early, and in enough time that Chosen People Ministries will not have to front any amount in order to purchase all the advance ticketing required.

I am overwhelmed with the generosity of so many who would support me in this endeavor. I expect that is only the beginning of what will surely be a life changing trip. I ask for your continued prayers, focusing on the following specific needs:

· The dates for summer camp for my kids are not what I'd originally thought. Jessica (the older one) will be able to remain at Camp for nearly my entire trip, but Rachel (because she is too young) can only stay for the 2 weeks BEFORE my trip. This makes it necessary for me to make arrangements for Rachel for the whole of the time I am in Israel.

· Please pray that my family can step in – particularly my brother (Scott), my dad (Bob), my aunt (JoAnne), my uncle (Pete) & my ex husband (Jude). Pray further that God would show us his provision for 2 remaining blocks of three days each during those weeks.

· I have to take a business trip to New Jersey the week BEFORE the kids go to Camp. This will lengthen the time we are apart to FIVE weeks.

· Pray for Jessica, as she will be at Camp for a month, the last half of which will be without her sister. Pray for Rachel, as she will be at Camp on her birthday.

· Pray for the safety of the team, which currently consists of 22 members. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. We begin on July 7th, when we all meet. Our travel dates are July 8th / 9th and July 22nd.

· Pray for me & my girls, as we prepare for what we all expect to be a time of great spiritual growth for each of us in different ways; and for the ways in which we'll all be changed as a result of it – that we might be faithful to the investment God is making in our lives.


I know that many of you have had us in your prayers already. I can see that already as the answers are pouring in. Please continue to pray specifically as above, and as the Spirit leads. I hope in early August to be able to host a gathering where my girls & I might share with you all that this experience has offered. Certainly, we will share online where necessary, but I'm so grateful that so many of you are part of our lives in such a way that we can share in person. I would love to hear back from any/all of you, and to correspond more personally about this and also about what is going on in your life. I will try & keep you updated as this incredible story develops!