Raley Family Blog

February 3, 2008
Wow, alot has happened in the last week and a half. Many of you know we have surrendered to Full Time Missions in Africa. We are so excited to see what God is going to do in and through us as we join Samaria Mission. Well, Sean and Gina (Missionaries from South Africa) are currently in the States and we have been able to spend a lot of time with them visiting. Specifically asking lots of questions and getting lots of advice for the journey we are on.
Here is a little about what we know so far.... We will join Samaria Mission, which is a ministry that was started in 1977 through Christ Baptist Church in Polokwane (used to be called Pietersburg) South Africa. We will work with them taking short term teams into Mozambique. Mark will also be involved in some of the on going training they have with the Pastors in Mozambique throughout the year. We are willing to do whatever He has for us. It is a huge blessing to us to be able to join God in the work He is already doing through Samaria Mission in Mozambique.
We will head to Africa this summer on another short term trip. We are in the process of getting the new team together and preparing to raise the funds for this trip. When our team heads back we will be staying an extra week this summer (along with The Hixon's) and meeting with the leaders of Christ Baptist Church and Samaria Mission. We will also have time to look at housing, cars, furniture stores and check out one of the private schools that the kids might be able to attend. We have heard great things about the school. A few of the missionaries with Samaria send their kids to this school. We even heard they play soccer, which you know is a plus for Brit!
Another HUGE thing that we weren't planning on focusing on until we got back from our trip this summer was raising our support for when we go full time, but God had other plans. This past week we were given a check to start preparing for our full time support. We couldn't believe it and we are sooooooooo excited that God is already providing. Romans 10:13 -15 tells us ... (13) For "Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (14) But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? (15) And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news?"
We are willing to go and tell and we are so thankful to everyone who has supported us in the past and sent us on our short term trips and are thankful for those who will support us and send us in the future as we prepare to go full time.
We will try to keep everyone posted as we continue on the journey. Please pray for us as we start to raise our funds for the trip this summer and for our full time support. Most of all pray for God's will to be done in our lives!!!!!