"For where your treasure is, there your heart is also." Luke 12:34
Let me tell you about one of the most important people in my life. With her dedication to Christ and following His call, she is one of the most influential people in my life. With her encouraging words and honesty, she is one of the most inspiring people that I have ever known. She is the person I have shown my heart to the most, one of the people I trust the most, the one I share adventures with, and laughter, and tears and an unhealthy love of cats and twenty one pilots.
Some might call her my best friend, I definitely would.
We first met senior year in high school, and like most good friend stories, I never expected her to become this important to me.
Our friendship grew slowly, but once established, nothing could tear us apart. The september after graduation, she left for five months to serve in Mexico and Uganda. But distance seemed to make our friendship even stronger, We've been together through breakups and scary accidents and a lot of crying. But also a lot of happiness and laughter.
This past April, she left again for Mexico. For three months this time. We've made a lot of memories since she came back in July. Including spontaneous concerts and trips to Kansas City, where we had our second argument ever.
This Saturday, January 23, 2016, My best friend Mandi Potter, goes back to Mexico. This time for 2 years.
Ive accepted the fact that she will be gone for two years and who knows how long she'll ever be back in Minnesota. But I couldnt be happier for her and proud of the work she is doing.
She is committing her life to God and letting Him take control of that. Its hard to be mad about it.
Ill admit, Im sad, I have to let go of an era. We can never have this time in our life again. We have to move on to the rest of our lives. We'll still be friends, she'll always be my best friend. But theres a lot to say goodbye to this week.
This isnt easy for me, or for her, or for her family, or for anyone else in her life. But no one ever said it would be easy. Quite the opposite actually.
At this point you might be wondering, why am I reading something about Joannah's best friend? Besides the fact I can write about whatever I want and she just happens to mean a lot to me.
No, I actually have a point to this beyond this. I want to tell you about the work she has been doing in Mexico ever since we've been friends. Her first five months, she took part in a Discipleship training school through the organization called YWAM (Youth With A Mission). She studied and served on the Tijuana, Mexico ywam base for 3 months and spent the last 2 months serving on outreach in Uganda.
I have a feeling she's only told me a handful of stories of her time, especially over in Uganda. I feel like some things are meant to be unsaid. But what she has told me has changed parts of my life and has left me in awe of the need for God, but the incredible work He is doing through young people like Mandi. And I suspect many of her experiences have left her in this awe, and has grown a desire in her to help where help is needed. She underestimates her skill and how much God is using her. But she still pursues God with her whole heart to wherever he may send her.
Her heart and her treasure is in heaven. And she is so very willing to serve God, asking Him to send her where He will.
Last April, she volunteered on the YWAM base as a preschool teachers assistant. And she came back a woman confident in her faith, and God, and how He works. But she still lives in humility, knowing any impact that was made was all God, and Him living through her.
And this time, she is dropping her entire life, and trusting God with her future, finances, and everything in between, and moving to Mexico to staff on the YWAM base for two whole years.
And here's the hard part, my friends. Her position on the base is purely volunteering, and her work will be entirely through the YWAM base and she will not be paid.
And she needs supporters. I have been praying for a long time for someone to support her monthly for the full 24 months.
And I realize, for many people, this is unrealistic. I am young and poor and have no money, and if I didnt have adult responsibilities, I would give all my money to people like Mandi and the work they do.
But alas, this world does not allow it. But, my friends, ANYTHING HELPS. And if you can find it in your heart and in your budget to give her any kind of support, please please do this!
Mandi has not asked me to do this, she actually doesnt know im doing this. But Im doing this my friends, because I know this is something she needs. You can imagine how awkward it is to ask people to trust you with their money, when they will get nothing in return. But she is depending on People who are willing to give for this cause.
So my friends, if you feel so lead, please give to my dear friend and the work she will be doing for the next two years. Any amount at any time will help her.
You can donate by going to the ywam site and donating under her name Amanda Potter. On the Tijuana, Mexico base.
If youre interested in hearing more about her missions https://journeywithmandi.wordpress.com/2016/01/05/to-blog-or-not-to-blog/
If you feel lead to donate http://www.ywamsandiegobaja.org/donationsandpayments/
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