Natasha Kamps - Langley Washington
My name is Natasha Kamps. I currently attend Langley Christian and Missionary Alliance on Whidbey Island located in the Puget Sound. I have grown up on the island and loved every minute of it. I am looking forward to returning to Gabon for the second time. I just graduated from South Whidbey High School and will be attending Simpson University in Redding California this fall. God Bless!
July 2010
Dear Family and Friends,
God is Love. I would like to thank you for your prayer and financial support I would not have this amazing opportunity without it. Last summer I had the opportunity to travel to Gabon West Africa with five other close friends Michael and Jenna Berry, Shannon and Jason Craig and Shelby Ball. We were able to raise over $20,000 to travel and support local projects in Gabon through support from our community, church, family and friends. We spent an incredible two weeks in Libreville working with the a local church Nzeng-Ayong, the children of the Hope House, the Gabonese run medical clinic and the church plant in Okolassi. Our eyes were opened and hearts stretched as we experienced God's hand in this country. The people are incredible! And I learned so much from these people and their joy and love for the Lord! The missionary Tim Brokopp encouraged each of us to daily look for ways that God was speaking to us through any or all of our senses. I wanted nothing more than to feel God's presence and found myself being selfish thinking God should just talk to me already. Then I realized this was all in God's timing not mine and when I calmed my heart and looked to him he spoke to me in ways that I never imagined. I strongly felt God's call on my life to serve him overseas wherever he might take me. I am open and willing to follow his calling and this summer program will give me more time to explore God's plan and learn more about missions first hand. God has put a special place in my heart for these people and projects and I feel strongly that he has more waiting for me in Gabon. I would appreciate prayer for wisdom, patience, boldness, and understanding. I am nervous but know that the Lord is in control. Please pray that God would prepare my heart and open me up so that I am faithful, available and teachable. Most of all I desire to surrender myself to him bringing praise and glory to him during this time, as I was reading the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan I came across an interesting thought that I would like to share...
We are consumed by safety. Obsessed with it, actually. Now, I'm not saying it is wrong to pray for God's protection, but I am questioning how we've made safety our highest priority. We've elevated safety to the neglect of whatever God's best is, whatever would bring God the most glory, or whatever would accomplish His purposes in our lives and in the world.
Would you be willing to pray this prayer? God, bring me closer to You during this trip, whatever it takes....
As I continue to look towards this trip I am praying that God would fill me, satisfy me and give me the strength and perseverance to seek him wholeheartedly giving all I am to him to be used, broken, changed, stretched, and renewed finding myself at his feet. Without his love I am nothing I want and desire to be his faithful servant. You have all had such a great impact on my life and as I blog I hope to share the experiences and the things that God says to my heart while I am away so that you too can experience what God is doing in Gabon. This trip wouldn't happen without Gods provision and your prayers and support it means the world to me! Thank you and may Gods love surround you and bless you!
Sincerely,
Natasha
God is Love. I would like to thank you for your prayer and financial support I would not have this amazing opportunity without it. Last summer I had the opportunity to travel to Gabon West Africa with five other close friends Michael and Jenna Berry, Shannon and Jason Craig and Shelby Ball. We were able to raise over $20,000 to travel and support local projects in Gabon through support from our community, church, family and friends. We spent an incredible two weeks in Libreville working with the a local church Nzeng-Ayong, the children of the Hope House, the Gabonese run medical clinic and the church plant in Okolassi. Our eyes were opened and hearts stretched as we experienced God's hand in this country. The people are incredible! And I learned so much from these people and their joy and love for the Lord! The missionary Tim Brokopp encouraged each of us to daily look for ways that God was speaking to us through any or all of our senses. I wanted nothing more than to feel God's presence and found myself being selfish thinking God should just talk to me already. Then I realized this was all in God's timing not mine and when I calmed my heart and looked to him he spoke to me in ways that I never imagined. I strongly felt God's call on my life to serve him overseas wherever he might take me. I am open and willing to follow his calling and this summer program will give me more time to explore God's plan and learn more about missions first hand. God has put a special place in my heart for these people and projects and I feel strongly that he has more waiting for me in Gabon. I would appreciate prayer for wisdom, patience, boldness, and understanding. I am nervous but know that the Lord is in control. Please pray that God would prepare my heart and open me up so that I am faithful, available and teachable. Most of all I desire to surrender myself to him bringing praise and glory to him during this time, as I was reading the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan I came across an interesting thought that I would like to share...
We are consumed by safety. Obsessed with it, actually. Now, I'm not saying it is wrong to pray for God's protection, but I am questioning how we've made safety our highest priority. We've elevated safety to the neglect of whatever God's best is, whatever would bring God the most glory, or whatever would accomplish His purposes in our lives and in the world.
Would you be willing to pray this prayer? God, bring me closer to You during this trip, whatever it takes....
As I continue to look towards this trip I am praying that God would fill me, satisfy me and give me the strength and perseverance to seek him wholeheartedly giving all I am to him to be used, broken, changed, stretched, and renewed finding myself at his feet. Without his love I am nothing I want and desire to be his faithful servant. You have all had such a great impact on my life and as I blog I hope to share the experiences and the things that God says to my heart while I am away so that you too can experience what God is doing in Gabon. This trip wouldn't happen without Gods provision and your prayers and support it means the world to me! Thank you and may Gods love surround you and bless you!
Sincerely,
Natasha
