"The" Support Letter.

Thought you all might enjoy seeing the support letter that I sent out to a few special people!:

Within the last few years, God has been moving in me and shining his light through me in many ways. I have been given a multitude of opportunities through the High School Ministry at Saddleback Church, and those opportunities have helped me grow through Him in ways that I could never have imagined. Ever since December of 2007, my heart for those affected by poverty has grown significantly. It was at the Youth AIDS Summit during my sophomore year of high school, where it all really hit me how grateful we should be with all that we have. When there are families and orphaned children living in cardboard boxes in sewers not but a few miles from where each one of us Americans reside, I continually ask myself, “what am I doing to fix this?” The images of orphaned children give me chills and bring tears each time I see them. When another opportunity arose in my church for a group of high school students to reach out and connect with the inhabitants of Kitale, Kenya, God pressed it on my heart so much that it is where I will be serving in March of the close and coming new year. This trip will enable me to serve God in ways I would have never imagined.

The HSM (High School Ministry) Kenya 2010 team, while in Kitale, Kenya, will have the opportunity to:

- Evangelize in schools, hospitals, drop-in centers, group homes, city streets, churches and prisons.

- Create and run a 3 day summer camp for Oasis of Hope street kids.

- Participate with mobile clinics, training, evangelism, service, worship and outreach.

- Minister in different capacities to students, orphans, street kids, pastors, church leaders, and the sick.

As you can very well see, this trip will definitely challenge me in ways that I have never been challenged before and will also open my eyes even wider to the image of poverty first hand. I am so stoked to see how God will use me on this trip and how he will use our team to impact the people of Kitale.

/// Here is how you can be a part of this opportunity \\\

Prayer/// I would greatly appreciate your prayer support. Many of us know that prayer is the only way that this trip would ever be possible; completely turning everything over to God and letting Him transform my heart as He pleases. Some aspects of the trip you can pray for are:

//Safe travels. –to and from Kenya and also when we are out and about on the streets.

//For the summer camp –that kids lives would be changed by God.

//For the hearts of the team to be in the right place.

//For great conversations to be made within Kitale and also within the team.

//Strength in the midst of exhaustion/Health while in Kenya.

Financial/// If you feel led, I would love your support financially. I need to raise $3000 by December 15th to make this trip happen. It seems so soon, but this deadline is only placed in order to be able to purchase plane tickets at the best rate. Donations can also be retrieved after this deadline and would also be greatly appreciated. This donation is tax deductible. Checks can be made payable to Saddleback Church and for your own tax deduction purposes, please do not write my name anywhere on the check. Please use the blue envelope provided to return your donation to me for the trip and I will make sure that it is deposited in the proper church account. I would forever be grateful for your partnership in this area of my trip. Donations of any amount would be greatly honored and deeply appreciated.

Thank you very much for being who you are in my life…

I will keep you posted with continual information on the trip.

View my blog at cory-matthew.blogspot.com for updates regarding my ongoing

journey through life in addition to keeping you up to date

on how the preparations for Kenya are going.

Thank you so much! Lots of love!!

Cory Tomlinson

“Then these righteous ones will reply,

‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you?

Or thirsty and give you something to drink?

Or a stranger and show you hospitality?

Or naked and give you clothing?

When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?”

“And the King will say,

‘I tell you the truth,

when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,

you were doing it to me!”

Matthew 25: 37-40