I am so incredibly excited about this news I finally get to announce. While this was a letter sent out by mail to some, I did not want to miss the opportunity to also share it with so many of you that might also be interested in hearing of my future travels! Keep reading for more information on doors that the Lord has opened for me in the coming summer break.
Dear Family and Friends,
It’s been a while since I have had the chance to write you all, and I am so excited for the circumstances in which I am currently in that have caused me to write you this time. I am a sophomore at Troy University majoring in communications and minoring in Public Relations. Each day of the college life is an adventure with one decision after the next. Thankfully, I have been pretty confident in the major I have chosen, while I am still trying to figure out exactly where it one day leads me. As I have told many of you before, I’ve felt a call for ministry on my life for several years now. I would love to one day be able to work within a ministry organization or nonprofit in the realms of communications, event planning, or organization. During this season of my life the Lord has been so gracious to open doors for me to learn more of what that calling looks like, while also allowing me to be involved with the work He has for my life in the here and now.
Over the past couple of years, I have had the opportunity to travel to the South Bronx of New York City three times, and this past year to Managua, Nicaragua. Both were such incredible experiences and I could never express how thankful I am to have been able to be involved with them both. My life has forever been changed due to the lives I have encountered in these two places. Recently I have been praying that the door would be opened for me to go again, but this time for something maybe a little farther away and a little longer of a trip. For many years my heart has been set on Kenya, Africa- but I never expected to have the opportunity to actually go. After my dad passed away in 2003, his parents chose to graciously give in his memory to some of their friends working in Nakuru, Kenya, to help fund the building of a school. Since then a school has been built and even added on to with a wing named “The Eric Tew Wing.” I have long desired to visit not only this country, but also this school.
This past semester at Troy has been one of the best. I have made some of the sweetest friends that have been such blessings in my life! One friend in particular is named Lilian Gatheca. Lilian is full of joy and life and can’t help but bring light to every room that she walks into, and she has a heart of gold for the Lord! Lilian is from Nairobi, Kenya. She was sponsored through an organization called Matanya’s Hope to come to America to receive her education. Lilian shared with me one day that she was planning to take a group of friends back with her through this organization on a missions trip for the summer of 2018. Immediately my heart began to skip a beat! After much prayer, asking the Lord for guidance in His direction with my plans for the summer, and with the approval of my mom (after a bunch of prayer on her part, too!) it was set. I will be traveling to Nairobi, Kenya with Matanya’s Hope, Lilian, and a group of Troy students on a month long missions trip in June of 2018. I have never been more excited for an opportunity in my entire life as I am with this one!
Details are being sorted out, plans are being made, and plane tickets are being purchased. While in Nairobi we will have many opportunities to love on the people of this area through our physical labor while also sharing the Gospel and hope of Jesus with them. Some things that we will be a part of is feeding impoverished children and families, distributing clothes, school supplies, Bibles, and other items to local schools and communities, placing rainwater tanks in areas suffering from lack of safe drinking water, raising funds for and constructing a home for a family in need, playing with the children and praying with them and their families, and much more. While all of this work will be taking place a few hours from the school I mentioned earlier, plans are being made for our team to visit the school in memory of my dad for 2-3 days. Matanya’s Hope has a host family that lives in the same city of the school that we are hoping will be a housing option for us in order for me to able to visit this school that is not only special to my grandparents, but also holds a huge piece of my heart.
Kenya has been a desire of my heart for so many years. I cannot fully express how overwhelmed I am by the faithfulness of the Lord to open up this door in this season of my life with these special friends of mine. I know this is the Lord’s direction for my life and I cannot wait to follow Him there and see what all He has in store. I have no doubt that the Lord will provide in every way if this be His will. I have seen Him do it before in my past trips, and I am believing that He will do the same for this one. I write you to ask for not only your financial support in this endeavor, but also your prayers. I am so desperate for your prayers as I prepare for this trip, and for the rest of my team.
If you feel as though the Lord is calling you to come alongside me in this journey, the trip in all with airline tickets, land costs, shots and medications needed, supplies, meals, etc., will be around $5000. While that number is daunting, I am trusting that the Lord already has it taken care of. I ask that you prayerfully consider if contributing towards this trip is something that the Lord would have you do. I would be exceedingly grateful for any amount that you feel that you should give. I wholeheartedly believe that by giving to this mission trip you are personally involved with the work that takes place. Checks can be made to Matanya’s Hope directly and they will be tax deductible.
I thank you in advance for your prayer and your financial support of me in not only this trip, but in so many other aspects of my life leading up to this. I have been incredibly blessed with some of the best family and friends, I am totally convinced. You all have played such a huge role in my life and I am eternally grateful for all the love and guidance that has been poured out over me. I pray the Lord blesses you richly! I will be updating on trip fundraising and preparation through my Facebook page and blog: https://rememberingandrejoicing.wordpress.com, and then plan to continue it while we are there. It is in the hope of Christ that I go forth- the same hope my daddy knew so personally & that my family has clung so closely to since his going to be with the Lord.
Address:
Emily Tew
717 county road 73
Headland, AL 36345
In the hope of Christ,
Emily Tew
And for the sake of tradition…
Love, Em
Want ideas for other ways to support? Consider purchasing one of these t-shirts that will benefit my entire team.
Remember + Rejoice 