Backing up a bit...

i thought it might be good to take a step back and post my first prayer letter. it's encouraging to look back and see how plans have changed, narrowing down details, thing becoming more concrete. before it was just a vague plan, an idea. now it's really happening - we really will be circumnavigating the globe; by plane, over the course of 6 months, ...and skipping a whole bunch of places in between.. but i still like the thought!
2 more months..!!!
becky

Greetings!
My name is Becky Sirinides and I grew up as an MK (missionary kid) in
Athens, Greece from the age of seven. In many ways my circumstances
and the culture and family I grew up with has influenced and shaped
who I am today, as well as determining who I am becoming. Being able
to experience ministry first hand, has given me an interest in getting
involved myself. Now, as I have returned to New Jersey for my senior
year of high school to graduate at Hawthorne Christian Academy, I have
been forced to think more seriously about my next steps in life. After
much contemplation, prayer, and encouragement from my parents, I have
decided to follow God's leading and, rather than attend college right
away, participate in ministry for one year. This is not just an
alternative to college – I have a strong desire to be a part of how
God working through missions around the world.

And so I am starting to plan my trip, along with my close friend
Kendra McCracken who shares the same desire to serve. We plan on
starting our trip in the fall of 2007 and so far we have invitations
from teams in Mozambique, Jordan, Philippines, Ireland, France,
Austria, Australia, Costa Rica, and Mexico. Though we will not be
affiliated with one particular mission agency, we will be working
under the authority of the teams who have invited us there, staying in
each place anywhere from three weeks to three months. I am working and
saving my money towards the trip. The plane tickets will cost
$3000-$4000, not including all the rest of the costs to support
ourselves in each country. I have no doubt in my mind that the Lord
will provide what is necessary.

Matthew 9:36-38 says: "When Jesus saw the crowds he had compassion on
them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a
shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but
the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send
out workers into his harvest field.'" I am willing and excited to be
one of the workers to be sent, and I ask, through your prayers and
support, that you be one of the senders Jesus is calling for.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Becky Sirinides

The Starter

i think i'm gonna follow kendra's lead and begin by posting my most recent prayer letter.
seems like a good place to start
:)

Dear Friends,

I am back! After my year of absence that i spent finishing up highschool in New Jersey, I am back in Greece and I can honestly say that it feels as though i never left. Athens is just as I left it and the past two months I have spent picking up where I left off, reuniting with old friends and, as always, meeting new ones; watching people come and go.

I spend my days at the ARC (Athens Refugee Center), volunteering at Tea House, clothing give aways, family nights, etc. Before I left i was always in school and did not spend much time at the ARC, but now that i am graduated I have the opportunity to go regularly and it has been great to not only be the daughter of a teammate, but actually be a part of the team. It has definitely been a good way to start my gap year, and get an introduction to working in ministry - right at home. The team is great and it has been so much fun.

Now that Kendra and I live in the same country again we have gotten to discuss in more detail the trip ahead of us. We have narrowed it down to 5 locations, starting in January and returning to Greece by August. The following is a tentative itinerary:

Sun, Jan 13...ATHENS, GREECE TO VIENNA, AUSTRIA
February 14...VIENNA, AUSTRIA TO COSTA RICA
March 26...COSTA RICA TO COLORADO SPRINGS, USA
April 10,11...COLORADO SPRINGS, USA TO MANILA, PHILIPPINES
JULY 15...MANILA, PHILIPPINES TO NAIROBI, KENYA
AUGUST 2...NAIROBI, KENYA TO ATHENS, GREECE

We have also figured a budget and it looks like the trip will total around $8,000 not including airfare, which would bring it to $10,000. i have only saved half of that as of yet, but I am encouraged to know that God is in countrol and He will provide for whatever He has planned.

To keep record of our gap year, especially when we start travelling in January, Kendra and I have started this blog where we will keep an update of where we are, what is happening, pictures, stories, prayer needs, etc. Any kind of responses are welcomed and looked forward to - please keep in contact!

Love,
Becky

PS- Any donations can be sent to:

International Teams
411 West River Road
Elgin, Illinois 60123
USA

Make a note that it is for "Becky Sirinides' Vision Trip"
Donations are tax deductible.

Kendra's Prayer Letter

Greetings, one and all, and welcome to Kendra and Becky's blog :) As the whole purpose of this first entry is to post my (Kendra's) prayer letter, I don't want to say too much without repeating myself, so without further ado, read on and find out just what this blog is about:

November 1, 2007

Greetings, friends and family!

I know that it’s been awhile, but we are finally working out the final details of what this coming year will hold for me.
As you may recall, I (along with my friend Becky Sirinides) will be going on a “vision trip”, serving with various ministries around the world, getting involved in different kinds of work (refugee ministry, street evangelism, urban poor, teaching English, etc.). We will begin around the middle of January and end in August, making our journey consist of at least five countries in about 7 months:

• Vienna, Austria…where we will be working in refugee ministry at a center called the “Oasis” (which my parents helped start over 20 years ago)
• San Jose, Costa Rica…working on several projects with short-term teams and developing relationships with Costa Ricans
• Woodland Park, Colorado…working at Camp Elim, a Christian camp run by close friends of our family (the Willoughbys)
• Manila, Philippines…preparing for the annual International Leadership Forum meeting, as well as getting involved in building projects, house to house evangelism, and teaching children
• Nairobi, Kenya…helping with a retreat for Somalian refugees

As you can imagine, this trip will require quite a lot of funds, both for the ticket and for the monthly budgets required for each country. It will add up to about $10,000 US dollars. So far, I have saved, and people have generously given, almost enough for the ticket, which we will be purchasing very soon. The good news is that it doesn’t all have to be raised right now! As long as I have what I need to begin with in January, then I will be stepping out in faith that God will provide the rest when I’ll need it.
There are different reasons that I’m taking a “gap year” between high school and college to go on this vision trip. One of the main reasons is that at this point in my life, I don’t know yet what God might be calling me to do long-term for Him, and that is something I’d like to be sure of (or at least have an idea about) before I begin university. Hopefully within this next year, between all the different sorts of work I will be doing, something will “click” for me, something that I know is from God. I also would love to see other parts of the world and how God is working through so many people in a variety of ways to reach those who don’t know Him. Being a part of that would be an honor for me, and I’m really excited about it!
So I would ask you first and foremost to please PRAY for me. Pray that God will show me wonderful things that He is doing around the world, and that I will allow Him to use me as part of His work. Pray that I will have an open mind concerning where He leads me afterwards.
Secondly, if you feel led to support me financially, that would also be great! ☺ Because of changes that have been made from the original plans, TAX-DEDUCTIBLE investments CAN be made by making out checks to International Teams (with an enclosed note that it is for “Scott and Vicki McCracken’s account—VISION TRIP”). Please send to:

International Teams
411 W. River Rd.
Elgin, IL 60123-1570
USA

Like I said before, I will work with whatever money the Lord gives me. I believe that where God guides, God provides. I’m looking forward to seeing what He has in store for me!
God bless you all, and thank you!

Love, Kendra


No, this blog is not about trying to get random people in cyberspace to read my prayer letter and give money. It's purely for us to write about our experiences on our upcoming trip. Many people have asked us to keep them posted and give regular updates, and we figured two are better than one in this case :) Between the two of us, there will be regular posts, complete with pictures and anything else we feel worth sharing :)

I'm not sure how active this blog will be until January when we set out, but rest assured it won't be forgotten. I'll try and come on once in awhile and share my thoughts and expectations, and maybe give a financial update or two.

Enjoy the blog, everyone!
-Kendra