It is now most definite that I will be making the trek back to the emiUK office as a long-term volunteer. I have purchased a plane ticket that will take me back to the UK on February 1, 2010. After arriving back in the UK, I will be submitting my visa application which if approved, will allow me to stay in the country until April 2011. Please pray that the visa is approved!!!
This past semester as an intern in the new emiUK office has been a wonderful and growing experience. Being away from friends and family for so long is never easy but it allowed me to put a focus on my relationship with God as well as focus on who God has created me to be and how best I may serve Him. I have always had a compassionate heart for those who need God's love, and this semester God has given me a passion to serve some of His people through the ministry of emi. Because of this I have a desire to return to the new UK office to be a servant there to assist in any way I may be needed. As an office that is only just beginning its third semester of interns and composed currently of only one full time staff member, there is much to be done. We are still looking for an office space where all the staff, volunteers, and interns can fit into together, negating the need to split everyone up in different locations. Despite the needs and the small staff number, God is working in and through this office. He is bringing excited and willing people from all over the world to serve with the up and coming office as well as providing needed projects in India, Africa, and Eastern Europe.
The long-term volunteer position is an unpaid position. I have been blessed with the opportunity to do some part time drafting for a london architect (the same one who came on the BORN project in India with me!) which will cover the majority of my living expenses! Whoot! However, it will not cover everything and thus, I am again asking for your support for my next year of service with emiUK. I need $2000 to cover visa and flight expenses.
Each semester, the office is going to send out another team to do a project. Thus, I will have the opportunity to help with four more projects and the opportunity to go on three more project trips similar to the one I went on as an intern to Bihar, India. To be a part of any of these project trips, I need to raise about $900 per trip.
The next project will be designing a technical school in Liberia for a ministry called ABC Children's Aid. This ministry is a Christian organization whose goal is to help Africa's orphaned and vulnerable children become godly contributors to their communities and the world. They are in need of a technical school which will enable their work among the orphans of Monrovia to flourish and grow. Liberia has a population of 3 million people, 250,000 of which are orphans. ABC Academy is already making a difference by showing love and compassion to children who are in great need. This project will allow emi to take part in the development of the future, not only in the lives of these children, but of Liberia as a whole. This project trip will take place mid-March. If you are interested in serving on the project team check out the website
http://emiuk.org/projects/projectprofile_11003.html
and if you would be interested in supporting me financially, please contact me by e-mail: chricar1@iit.edu
Thank you all for your continued support and prayers!! Happy Happy Holidays!!
