Help me get fully funded (birthday wishes)

A week and one day from today, I will be celebrating my 27^th birthday,   

This year, all I want for my birthday is to be full funded  for my missions trip to Africa at the end of April.  I am praying (and believing) that that will happen.  God has already shown me that it is indeed very possible and I am very thankful to those, who have already supported me in this journey.  Your support has been overwhelming and God continues to open up my eyes in how He provides for His children. 

Now since I am turning 27 (I know, I am getting ‘old’), I thought it would be a neat fundraiser if people donated $27 towards my account at Seeds of Hope.  The neat thing is, for $27 you will STILL get a charitable tax receipt as any donation over $25 qualifies for one!!  AND although Seeds of Hope is Canadian based, they DO have an office in USA which means Americans are ALSO able to receive a charitable tax donation for anything given over $25.  So it is a ‘win win’ for both you and me!!  The even cooler thing is that, if only 52 (yes 52) people gave $27 I would be FULLY FUNDED!!!  Now, I know I know more than 52 people.  In fact, I spent last year traveling with OVER 52 people while on the World Race. 

I have included important information about donating (either through a cheque/check in the mail or online via pay pal) so I would like to put that challenge out there to the internet world!

This year, for my birthday, all I want to be is full funded for Africa.  Would you please help me in that?

FOR CANADIAN DONORS:

Please make cheques payable to:
Seeds of Hope Children's Ministry

and mail them to

Seeds of Hope Children’s Ministry
#101 33119 South Fraser Way
Abbotsford, BC V2S 2B1
Canada

*IMPORTANT*

PLEASE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ON A SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER/STICKY NOTE (NOT in the memo)
RE: NIKKI FRIESEN
(Thus making sure it gets accredited to my account set up through Seeds of Hope)

You are also able to donate via PayPal/Credit Card online through
http://www.seedsofhopecm.com/get-involved/general-donation.php

Once you click on the PAYPAL button, you will be directed to a new page where you will be asked to fill in a description.  IN that spot, please also mark it as

NIKKI FRIESEN

FOR AMERICAN DONORS:

Please make cheques payable to:
Seeds of Hope Children's Ministry

and mail it too

Seeds of Hope Children’s Ministry
PO BOX 897
Chico CA 95927
USA

If you send a check in the mail, please include MY NAME (NIKKI FRIESEN) on a sticky note as well!! This is VERY IMPORTANT!!!

However, You are ALSO able to donate via online (through Pay Pal) as well through following the above website instructions

http://www.seedsofhopecm.com/get-involved/general-donation.php

Once you click on the PAYPAL button, you will be directed to a new page where you will be asked to fill in a description.  IN that spot, please also mark it as

NIKKI FRIESEN

Please help me get fully funded in a week!!
Thank you SO MUCH for your love and support!! 

25 years young

I am into my last 18 hours (ish) of being 24...tomorrow is another day and another birthday for me...the BIG 25 Quarter of century (as my younger, 18 year old brother likes to remind me!).

Wow, 25 years young (cause I refuse to say the word 'old'!) and what a crazy 25 years it has been!  I had a fantastic day in the city yesterday with my mom and what a blessing it was!   Pedicures (yes in -25 degress C weather!), Mongo's for lunch, MEC for WR shopping (got lots done and spent a lot of money!! Is it July yet?!), starbucks and a movie to finish off the day! What a blessing and a joy!! here are just a few pictures from our pedicures off my itouch!

mom and I-love her!

In the movie theater

yes I wore sandals...it was AWESOME!

 For real though, one of the best things about 'mother/daughter days', is the car ride in.  Just being able to simply talk for that hour/hour and a half in and then again back home, is something I hope I will never take for granted!  It is something I know already I will miss TONS when I am racing next year on the WR. 

With my birthday around the corner, and with the race right around the next corner-It doesn't happen that often, but there are days/times when I DO compare myself to those around me..especially friends that I grew up.  Friends who have been married for a few years already, with a kid or two or one on the way.  Friends who are planning their weddings or recently got engaged, or buying a house or 'moving on' with life.  I cannot help but think to myself...'why is that not me?' Am I that far behind on life?' What the HECK am I doing with my life?  Questions like that, that I KNOW God has figured out and knows HIS plan for my life...so  God likes to remind me of the things that I HAVE done in my short life of 25 years...and wow what a list/adventure/ride its been!

As I was talking with my mom last night, I realized that yah maybe I dont have a PHD or masters, or a husband, or kids or things like that...things that people really 'push for' in this area...things that are the 'norm' but thats okay with me (And just for the record, this is NOT a post bashing ANY of those things...I realize that God calls us each to our own walk/path in HIS time..so please understand me on that!)

Yes I do have a 3 year BA 'under my belt' through SBC but what is way more, in the last 7 years of being out of high school...I have had the honour of traveling international not once...but 5 times to 4 different, but equally amazing for their own way, places.  Each trip overseas-whether it was for school in Sweden, or my second time back to Seeds of Hope in Zambia, has helped shaped who I AM today.  You do not need a degree to go and love...you just have to be willing to be God's hands and feet and to be broken for Him.  You need to be willing to step out of your comfort zone and take a risk on that person, or child that the world deems as 'untouchable' and 'unloveable' because that is where Christ is.  The people that I have met in my travels--will always hold a very special place in my life.  I know God has placed each one of them in my life, when I needed them the most-even though I may not have known it at the time.  I can honestly say I have brothers and sisters in Christ around the world, lifting me up and prayin for me...now THAT is a humbling experience!

To bring it down to more of a 'local level' my three years at SBC challenge/blessed and encouraged me in a way that I never could have dreamed.  That too, GREATLY shaped who I am today through solid biblical teaching done by amazing professors who love Jesus, to older women in dorm who were willing to take a 'chance' on me by investing their time and energy into me, to classmates, roomates and friends--the list goes on


Basically-here is to 24 amazing, hard, challenging, joyful, stressful, broken, healed, years of living!! Thanks Jesus for each and every one of them.  Thank you for the greatest gift of all...to be called YOUR Child!!!

Love you Jesus!

Spring

Spring is in the air here in southern Manitoba and wow does it ever feel great!  Its like moods switch here on campus or something...its prettyy awesome for sure.  I am guessing tho, that there is snow or at least, more rain in the near future, cause I mean really, it is southern Manitoba!  but yeah all in all, life is pretty sweet thats for sure.  I am starting to work on final papers, getting quotes and topics picked and slowly starting to wind down with that.  Only like 4 weeks of classes left! whoa scary!!!  this is ridiculous for sure! Final semester!  what next is the plan for sure..hmmm ah well.  God knows what He is doing..I just gotta trust him with that and not let go.
Tomorrow is another major day...22 years old....wow crazy....where did time go?  its been a good run so far, that is true.  It feels like I have done a lot, yet at the same time, very little in my time, but then again, I will only be 22...still a youngn I think :D
Thank you God for giving me this life.  For blessing me with another year that is about to wrap up in like 5 hours.  Thank you for fun, for family, for amazing friends who love and support me.  For the very air I breathe.  That you that YOU love us teh way you do.  God you are so good.