Over the past 6 months, Matt and I have felt a tug at our hearts to live our lives differently than we have been living in the past. At the time we didn’t know what living differently would mean for our family but we were open to see what God had in store for us. There have been many conversations between the two of us about changing our lifestyle and living intentionally where we are now. We have
wrestled with what living intentionally would mean for our family and how we could act upon these desires. The verse that leads our decisions for intentional living is Matthew 25:31-46. We want to be a living, breathing, example of faith for our children, church, and community. Our hope is that people would be able to look at us and see that although we are far from perfect, we are striving to walk by faith and live out the calling God has placed on our lives each day. This past January, Ray Henley, a staff missionary with Voice of Hope Ministries contacted us about being a part of a mission trip this summer to Leon Nicaragua. Matt and I were both very excited about this opportunity and immediately agreed that we would do whatever necessary to make this trip happen. Matt has grown up going on foreign missions since the age of 13 and I took my first ever mission trip last year, because I felt God leading me to foreign missions. Since going on that mission trip last year, I have prayed and asked God how our whole family can become involved in these experiences. Through a lot of prayer and guidance we have decided that living intentionally for our family means that our children will accompany us on our foreign mission trips starting this year and into the future. We feel that it is time to introduce our children to a different way of living. We want Will and Aubrey to know that being a Christian is not always the easiest or most comfortable path but that it is about sacrificing your needs by putting other’s needs first by serving, loving, and telling them about Jesus Christ. Our trip will be July 4-July 11, 2015. We will be traveling with a team from South Arkansas. Our team will be GOING, IMPACTING, and BRINGING HOPE. Right now God is doing a great work in Nicaragua and the results are evident over the last couple of years. Last year, Voice of Hope saw more than 14,000 boys and girls, men and women, saved. More than 200,000 meals were fed to the hungry through the feeding center program that Voice of Hope sponsors. Churches are growing and people’s lives are being transformed through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Romans 10:13-15 says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How, then can they call on one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
WE ARE SO EXCITED about bringing the news of Jesus to our brothers and sisters in Nicaragua, but we cannot do it without your support!!! First, we ask that each one of you reading this will be in prayer for our family as we make this trip. This is something totally new to our children and we expect many trials but we know God has a perfect plan for them through this. Currently, we have a few costs that total to about $2,000, that we have left to cover for this trip so we are asking for any financial support that you may be able to give. Would you prayerfully consider sending us to Nicaragua to make a change in the world? We would greatly appreciate your support and THANK YOU for taking the time to visit this page. God Bless You,
Matt and Erin Carter
