The Beginning of the Story

Hello Family, Loved Ones, Friends and Foes!!!
Some of you I know well, others I met years ago in far off places, some I haven't spoken with since those places and others I've seen or talked to in the past week, while still others I wish I had seen or talked to in this past week. However, I wanted to inform you all of a very important adventure I will be embarking on for the month of May this year. It is an opportunity of a lifetime that kinda found it's way to me in a rather interesting series of events. Last semester as I continued tostudy international development at York University, which consists of topics such as poverty, underdevelopment, world issues, AIDS, immigration, education, women in the majority world etc. I found myself asking, "What am I doing for anyone?" As I began to think of AIDS, I came to a point when I couldn't stop criticizing the many people and organizations that are not really concerned with it at all because it doesn't affect their daily lives. Then I realized I was one of those people.

So I decided in my heart and was encouraged through Urbana to give in some way, even if it was just five dollars a month of my East Side Mario's tips to an AIDS organization, little did I know something bigger was in store. At this same time I was trying to be more committed to the church I had been attending. So one Sunday when I didn't have a ride to this church, I nervously called up a nice lady I had recently met and asked her to pick me up. She did. On the ride there she asked me about school and my program and encouraged me to get some experience. I politely nodded as she gave me an example about a team going to Zambia to work with youth, children and AIDS programs this summer. As I left church that day, my mind began ponder about the trip. "That's great." I thought. "I would like to do something like that in a couple of years, once I critically analyze the organization, programs, initiatives, motivations and unforseen problems and results that may come of this (as school has taught me) or when I save some money and when or if ever I finish school." However, in the next couple days, before I had been able to criticize anything at all, she had found my number and called me at home.

"One person dropped out of the Zambia team I was telling you about." She said, "I told the team leader that you might be interested and they'[re holding a place for you, if you want it." My heart leaped with excitement, fear and panic all at once. I tried to bide my time with excuses. "Wow." I started. "I'm just not sure...I will have to be working this summer to pay for school and couldn't be gone for more five weeks." "It's only four." She quickly retorted. "Well...it really wouldn't work for me in June, July or August cause I've been planning on moving to Winnipeg." Again, she replied. "Well, it is just for the month of May." Why didn't I say May?! I questioned myself before throwing out my next excuse. "Well, I really wouldn't be able to afford it, if it was $5000." I knew that most of the trips cost that much and I still had school to pay for. "It's only $4000." she answered. "And you can raise the money through the Church body." Ok, ok. I thought. So I told her I would go to the first meeting and check it out. Though I tried to push the opportunity away, I could feel in my heart a desire which whispered, "Go." All night I was riddled with worries about money, thinking that it would be financially impossible. The next day I got a bursury from my school for $1000.

That is only the beginning too. There are so many other confirmations and coincidental moments so far. As always, there have been many up and downs, indecision, fear and at the same time tremendous excitement, joy and provision all for this month long trip!!! I'm excited to go and I know that the Lord will teach me great and challenging things while I am there learning how to give, serve, and care about the people who are directly affected by AIDS, face to face and far beyond my five dollar bills.

So yes, that's my story, this far. I have attached my prayer and support letter for anyone who is interested in reading even more!!!! If you want an official copy mailed to you, just send me your address and I would be happy to send one to you. Please let me know if you would commit to praying for me, or being one of the 40 (<-details in letter). But I didn't write this mass email for those purposes as some sort of secret agenda. I really just wanted to share this part of my life with you and practice my story writing skills. I hope you enjoyed and if you didn't I'm sorry that you continued reading to this point. lol.

Feel free to write me back any questions, concerns or with stories of your own.

Never stop learning,
Love Renee Heemskerk