Dear Friends and Family- Over the past 10 years I have been living in Dallas-Fort Worth and received a masters degree in busiewss. No matter what I have done professionally, my biggest desire has been that the whole world would know the Jesus that I know.
I have had the privilege to serve at a wonderful church called Refuge in leadership with prayer ministry Encounters, as well as an outreach to high school and college students. I have also traveled on short term mission trips to Egypt, Finland, and South Africa. The direction my life is taking now is really no surprise because I have always seen myself serving others and have hoped that it would take me to foreign lands. It really started in May of 2003. I was leaving an Acquire the Fire in Tulsa of all places and it HIT me...like a ton of bricks. I should explain that I had been praying with a friend who was in full time ministry, and I sensed that she was very stressed and the Lord wanted to touch her heart right in the midst of her ministry. We prayed and talked a bit, and then I left. So, what is it that hit me? Well, I seriously “heard” in my spirit these two phrases, “ Your call is to help people STAY where they are called” and “You will be like Aaron’s Hands.” I didn’t know where to start, so I just waited and prayed. Then I began to look at going back to school for a counseling degree, figuring an MBA and some prayer ministry courses might not be enough for what was ahead.***************************************************************************
This summer, I decided to take a teenage girl from my church to visit some friends in South Africa. Not just a vacation mind you...to serve these friends and their ministry, Thrive Africa. Little did I know this three week trip would change the course of my life. While visiting Thrive I began to hear the Lord knock on my heart and ask me to START doing what he told me my call was in 2003. To start BEING Aaron’s hands...to start supporting leaders and to allow the Holy Spirit to teach me what I need to know, one day at a time. So, I talked with Niel and Alece, and I will be leaving in January to serve Thrive Africa, first for a two month trial. If everything works as we believe it will, then I will leave in June for an initial two year commitment.************************************************************************************
Thrive is a ministry that was begun by Niel and Alece van Rensburg. Alece and I were interns together with Teen Mania from 1996-1997. They are located in the heart of Southern Africa, about three hours East of Johannesburg, SA. Thrive is making an eternal impact by equipping and mobilizing indigenous leaders to be Godly influences in their own communities. Please visit their website at www.thriveafrica.com for more information about this amazing ministry.
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How will I be serving?
I have been asked to come and serve primarily as Alece’s Assistant. In this role I believe that I will be working with the current and future staff of Thrive and establishing a kind of HR department. I will also be working on various projects that don’t have a departmental home as of yet, like grant writing. I will also be in charge of the Outreach Staff program which consists of 16-25 year olds who come for two months in the summer to serve as staff during the busy outreach season.
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Timeline and Financial Needs:
Staff Trial :(Jan. 12, 2007– March 18, 2007); Financial Goal: $2,000
Full Time Financial Goal: $10,000 start up costs + vehicle and $1,500/mo
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I would love to hear from you, please contact me at charlene@aaronshands.org to update me on your life.
For more information about my heart and what I will be doing in Africa, please visit my website at www.aaronshands.org.
Created for this time,
Charlene Garrett
1 comment:
Wow, your life sounds full and fun!
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