My summer plans are set. There were so many options for this summer…Rwanda, Seattle, Forest Home…but I feel like the Lord completely changed my path to something that wasn’t really even on my radar. This summer, I am going to Breathe with the Hahn family. I sent out support letters a couple weeks ago, but I wanted to post it on this blog as well. If any of you feel called to support me financially, please let me know, but I more wanted to post it to ask for prayer. And I know it’s still four months away, but it’s never too early to start praying :) So, here is my letter, and here’s to a fantastic summer orchestrated by Jesus.
Dear Family and Friends,
Hello! I have been invited to serve on the volunteer staff at Breathe, a ten-day conference for missionaries and their families happening June 22-July 2, 2011. As some of you may know, I served at this conference in 2006 and 2007, and was blown away by the restoration God did in people’s lives in this short amount of time. I am so thrilled to be able to be on staff again this summer. The vision for this conference is to care for and encourage missionaries who serve in difficult places. Many of these people work in “closed access” countries where it is illegal to be a Christian or even talk about Christianity. This type of support for missionaries that Breathe provides is sorely lacking (or even non-existent in many regions) and, as a result, many missionaries face on-going and overwhelming stress, exhaustion, family problems, etc. This diminishes their effectiveness and often causes them to give up ministry all together. Breathe is a time for them to refresh their spirits and be served and poured into, instead of constantly pouring out.
This ten-day program will be held in Interlaken, Switzerland at a Christian conference center, which is central to missionaries coming from Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Breathe uses a holistic approach that addresses the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of the missionaries through psychologists, doctors, therapists, and counselors.
I have been invited to do the preschool ministry. Essentially, my job will be taking care of the preschool-and-younger aged children while their parents attend the teaching sessions, get counseling, have doctors appointments, or just spend time together. My first year at Breathe, I babysat for a couple who went out on their first date since their kids were born—11 years. It is crucial for couples to get that alone time and I am honored to be able to provide that for them.
In order for me to take part in serving on this team, I need to raise $2,200 to cover my airfare and room & board. If you would like to make a donation to help me, checks can be made out to BFC/Catalyst Int’l and mailed to Bible Fellowship Church, Attn: Karen Narula, 6950 Ralston St. Ventura, CA 93003. Please do not write my name on the check in order to make your contribution tax-deductible. The other way that you can support me is through prayer! Pray for everyone on the team, that we can serve these missionaries as Jesus served. Pray that we can be selfless during these ten days and pour love into these beautiful people. Also pray for the missionaries and their growth and healing during the conference. Pray for God to restore their hearts and refresh their passion for the work they have been called to.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. I hope this letter finds you well and resting in the joy of Christ.
With love,
Alex Gennaro
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