When considering the prospect of picking up my whole life… changing everything and going to Paris, so many questions filled my mind. One of them went something like this:

“Do they really need help in france?”

I mean, I know there are people who need help no matter where you go in this world… but don’t they need more help in Africa or the Middle East or someplace where they have obvious needs that you can see? Needs like hunger, lack of shelter, spiritual and physical oppression, or isolation from other churches make many areas look like they have such a need for the hope and love of Jesus Christ that we should put every resource we have available to them… not places that seem to have everything they could possibly want and need!

These concerns were echoed in the words of the current missionary in Paris, Raeni Roos, who I will be joining, along with her husband and two little girls. She said to me, that when she and her family told other people about their calling to France, many responded by saying “Well that sounds like a nice vacation!”

How discouraging! But, I have to say, that I understand the response. I didn’t have a clue about the immense need for the gospel in France until I asked the Lord for clarity, and researched what the Spiritual situation was for  myself. This is what I found through The Christian Missionary Alliance:

Little more than one half of 1 percent of the French population professes to be evangelical. This mostly unchurched, post-Christian nation is often referred to as the “missionary graveyard.” While progress seems, at times, painfully slow, it appears that there is a new openness to the gospel in recent years.

In realty, France has one of the lowest percentages of Christians in all of Europe. While our schools in the U.S. have taken the Bible out of schools, the schools of Paris have assigned the Holy Book as their number one text book taught in mythology classes. When Raeni shared that with me my jaw hit the floor! She went on to explain that Jesus is given the same status as Santa Clause in French culture: He isn’t real… but the stories are entertaining. When sharing this with a dear friend of mine she imagined how difficult it must be for people in France to become convinced in the existence of our Lord and Savior: “It would be like trying to convince us that we should believe in Santa Clause.” Raeni Roos also told me of the deep state of depression many people struggle with in France. “In the few years that I have been here, there have been many times the metro had to be stopped while I was on it; because someone committed suicide by jumping in front of our train.”

The Lord gently spoke to me, and said

...This is why I am sending you

Even though we cannot see their needs… many people in France are hopeless. What darkness they must be in without the hope of Jesus Christ… without the knowledge that their life has meaning and purpose… and that they are loved more than they could ever imagine!

If the Lord is speaking to you, would you partner with me so that I can follow His call to France?

Here’s how:

Prayer Requests:

1.      That the Lord will use me as I long to make a contribution to His work

2.      That God will provide for my expenses

3.      That I will have safe travel and good health

4.      That my team members and I will develop healthy relationships

• A big part of following this call from the Lord, to serve Him in Paris, is raising support to get there and live there. This seems like such an overwhelming undertaking! I truly believe, though, that God is able to do abundantly more than we could ever ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20-21)!
  
  I have been asked to raise $1,850.00 for each month I will be there. That means for my one year stay I will need to raise $22,200.00.
  
              -If 62 people give $30 a month for one year, my goal will be met.
  
              -If 37 people give $50 a month for one year, my goal will be met.
  
              -If 19 people give $100 a month for one year, my goal will be met.
  
  If you feel the Lord leading you to contribute, this may be done by phone, check, debit or credit and you will find the instructions both here and at the end of each blog post. If you give using any of these options you will receive a tax receipt from Envision to deduct from your taxes in the coming year.

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Your donation will be placed into an account set aside, through Envision, for my trip. If you select the “make this a recurring give” option, then your gifts will begin to be placed into my account once you enter your information and will continue for the duration of my stay in France (March, 2015).





Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your love, support and prayers!

• If you wish to donate by CHECK:           
  
  

           Make Payable to “The C&MA”
           Memo Line: “Envision – Amanda Burggraf”
          

Send to:

The Christian And Missionary Alliance/Envision Office Attn: Becky Gorton

P.O.Box 35000   
Colorado Springs, CO 80935-3500

• If you wish to donate online via DEBIT or Credit Card:
  1.  Go to the Give page of the C&MA Website: Https://secure.cmalliance.org/give/
  
  2.  In the box under the “Give to International Workers and Special Projects”   section, type: "ENV – Amanda Burggraf" and then click the red   “Give Now” box that appears.
  
  3.  Type in the desired gift amount and fill out the form below.
  
  4.  You have the option to make this a recurring gift by clicking on the box underneath the total.

 

• PHONE
  If you would like to give over the phone, please should have your credit card ready and call Envision’s toll-free number:
  
   (866) 443-8262
  
  -between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (MST) to make a gift.
  
  

 




I would love to hear from you! So please comment!





 




 




 

           I cannot count the number of times I have asked why the Lord won’t just send me a letter telling me how my life is going to turn out… or which way to turn in the midst of a difficult decision. In this life we are faced with so many difficult choices that don’t really have a “right” or a “wrong” but more of a “better” and a “best." The differences between "better" and "best" are sometimes undistinguishable and leave us with no clear idea of what God's best for us really is. Put that together with the fact that, more often than not, the Lord doesn’t choose to communicate with us verbally. We don't get a road map for life outlining which turn we should take next... and so, when standing in front of life's many tough choices, we find ourselves staring the fear of missing God’s best for us right in the face.

              A few months ago, I began to feel like I should start asking God what else He wanted me to do. I just felt a pull toward doing more for Him… but I had no idea what that looked like. I started to pray things like Lord, just tell me what you want me to do. I’ll do it I promise. To be honest, I thought that would be something like volunteering at the Salvation Army or having a small group in my home, but as He often does… the Lord had something else in mind. Once I started praying for His direction in my life I began to see His messages everywhere. He reminded me of my calling as a little girl to the mission field, which occurred while sitting in the pew of a Christian Missionary Alliance church during missions conference. He brought books about missions to my attention, and even my devotions were centered around Abram when he was called by the Lord to “Go” even though He had no idea where He was going. My best friend had a dream about me leaving the country before I even told her what was on my heart. I found out that in Paris, France at the Envision site through the Christian & Missionary Alliance they are understaffed and in need of a counselor for young women, as well as someone with experience in theatre and in praise and worship leadership for this coming year.

              Maybe the Lord doesn’t exactly give us road maps that outline every way we should turn, and maybe sometimes what we should choose is unclear but I feel with all of my heart that in this situation, God has lovingly shown me what His plan is for me… at least for the next year. I am humbled that the Lord would ask me to serve Him. With such clear direction I certainly cannot tell Him no! I believe that in this coming year the Lord has clearly called me to serve Him in Paris, France. 

              So, friends it is with great excitement that I invite you on this journey with me. I cannot pretend to know what the Lord’s plans are for the future but I know that when we are in the center of His will for our lives, there is no greater joy or peace to be found.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

              While preparing to go, I have come to learn how lost the people of France are. They have been told that they have the best of everything- the best food, most refined culture, the greatest artists, etc.. In the same breathe they are told that Jesus is a fairy tale character who can provide no more hope for them than Santa Clause or the easter bunny. This has generated a wide spread spirit of depression and hopelessness in this nation. Jesus Christ is their only hope!

       In the coming weeks I will be sharing with you the more specific needs for prayer in France and I will also be sharing with you the lessons the Lord is teaching me as I follow His leading. I covet your prayers and support and hope that you will come with me on this journey! I am waiting with bated breath, fully expecting to be wowed by our Lord and Creator! Let’s see what God has in store!


I am really looking forward to what the Lord has planned and I need your prayers to help me fully carry out this responsibility that I have been given.  You can play a vital part in my ministry through your prayer support.

 

Prayer Requests:

1. That the Lord will use me as I long to make a contribution to His work
   
2. That God will provide for my expenses
   
3. That I will have safe travel and good health
   
4. That my team members and I will develop healthy relationships
   
    
   
   Thank you so much for your prayers.  If you would like to write to me, I’d enjoy hearing from you.  If you’d like to contribute towards my expenses, this may be done by phone, check or debit or credit:
   
   If you wish to donate by check:
   
   Make Payable to “The C&MA”
   
   The Christian And Missionary Alliance/Envision Office Attn: Becky Gorton
   
   P.O Box 35000    Colorado Springs, CO 80935-3500
   

Memo Line: “Envision – Amanda Burggraf”

 

If you wish to donate online via debit or credit card:

 

1.  Go to the Give page of the C&MA Website: https://secure.cmalliance.org/give/

2.  In the box under the “Give to International Workers and Special Projects”   section, type: "ENV – Amanda Burggraf" and then click the red   “Give Now” box that appears.

3.  Type in the desired gift amount and fill out the form below.

4.  You have the option to make this a recurring gift by clicking on the box underneath the total.

 

Phone – If you would like to give over the phone, please have your credit card ready and call Envision's toll-free number (866) 443-8262 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (MST) to make a gift.