Espinosa August 2024

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

I find it hard to put into words just how thankful I am right now. I published my first newsletter at the end of June, and now it is August. At the end of June, I had raised $0, and by the beginning of this month I had raised 90% of the funds I need. In one month I raised 90% of my required support. One month. Thank you all so much. Your prayers and donations mean so much to me. I am so thankful for everything the Lord has done for me this summer, and I am thankful for three things in particular: I am going to serve the Lord in Africa, I have confidence about doing so, and there are so many people supporting me.

Firstly, I am thankful for the Lord allowing everything to come together so that I can go serve Him in Malawi. I have my plane ticket and will be leaving on September 4! I spent the last week of July in Eustis, Florida at the Rafiki Home Office going through training and getting my plans finalized. At the end of my training, which consisted of learning about all six of Rafiki’s Programs, I was officially commissioned to Malawi for a year. Lord willing, I will land in Malawi on September 6, and I will go right to work helping wherever I am needed. The work I am most looking forward to is assisting with P.E. classes and coaching Flag Football.

Rafiki Malawi front gate

Secondly, I am very grateful for how the Lord has given me greater and greater confidence that I am doing His will. I have been praying that I would trust in Him with all my heart, not lean on my own understanding, and acknowledge Him in all my ways, and He has certainly made my path straight thus far! The fact that everything has come together so quickly and without much difficulty shows me that the Lord is leading me along the way I should go. I could not ask for greater confidence!

Thirdly, I am so appreciative of how supportive everyone around me has been. I have gotten so many encouraging notes and emails, and I have had so many encouraging conversations with people that have gone even further to give me confidence about my calling. I have not gotten a single questioning look when telling someone about my plan to go to Africa for a year! I am so blessed to be a part of such a godly, caring, supportive church community, both at my current church and my previous church in Columbia. The staff at the Rafiki Home Office have also been particularly helpful during the past month, helping me with my travel plans, getting my finances in order, and setting up my page on the Rafiki website (https://RafikiFoundation.org/missionary/joshua-espinosa-714). The Lord has surrounded me with so many godly people who want to serve Him and see His will be done!

The campus I will soon call home

A view of the school buildings

I hope to be fully funded by September 4, and since I already have enough to depart for Africa, I will still benefit from one-time donations or monthly pledges. Praise be to God, the giver of every good and perfect gift, in whom there is no variation or shadow due to change! I have full confidence that He will continue to make my paths straight. Please pray that I will trust in Him with all my heart, which is much easier said than done, and that I will not take for granted any of His gifts, especially the generosity that He has allowed others to show me! Also please pray that my travel would be smooth and without delay, and that I would not be anxious about airport difficulties . I look forward to writing you all again from Malawi, but I hope for now that I have been able to adequately expresses my thankfulness to the Lord and to you all!

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