“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” – Jeremiah 17:7-8
You are likely headed into a busy season – second semester is half way over, and you’re in the thick of preparing and raising support for your Royal Servants summer. When our lives get hectic, our tendency is for our eyes to drift off our Savior and towards our circumstances. It sounds like this: What if I can’t raise all my support? What if I’m really not supposed to be going on this mission trip? What if…?
Our circumstances can be unpredictable and change in an instant. But for those who trust in the Lord, our source of life and stability is independent from our circumstances, and we don’t need be fearful. Trusting in the Lord means we recognize we’re not in control and don’t always know “the plan,” and while that can be difficult, we do not need to be anxious. We can be confident in the Lord’s character and that He will take care of His people. Likewise, throughout your summer, you are going to have to place your trust – your confidence – in your teammates, in our ministry partners overseas, and in your leadership team without always knowing “the plan.” But, most importantly, you must choose to place your trust in God, the one who has a proven track record of taking care of His people.
Even though your moments and days may be chaotic and full of uncertainty – support raising, tackling the packing list, making your flight on time, sharing the Gospel with strangers in a foreign land, the list goes on – you can take courage in the fact that those who place their trust in the Lord have a constant source of strength and stability despite their circumstances.
Booking Domestic Travel
Last week mailed and emailed all of the mission trip travel documents. Included in the mailing are the Updated Mission Trip Schedule, Travel Health Insurance form, Domestic Travel form, Travel Consultant form, and a letter about COVID guidelines. With the release of the Updated Mission Trip Schedule you can arrange your domestic travel. Please read over each form carefully, especially the Travel Health Insurance form, to be sure you have all of the information you need.
Packing Tips
The Amazon wish list can be your friend. Every summer many of our staff send out, along with their newsletters, an Amazon wish list for the items they (we, I do this too) need for the summer. I know from my own supporters, that they've enjoyed being able to meet my practical needs in such a direct way. So consider putting together your own list to send out to friends and family. Maybe you're not into Amazon - that's okay. Here's another idea: in google drive, create a sheet with a list of all the items you want. Maybe have a column with links to the items from different stores. Then have people sign up to purchase and send you (or hand you in church) those items. Make sure to have a deadline in mind though so you can get everything you need in time.
Mission Trip International Airfare Amounts & Deadlines
In your Prep Packet we let you know that we are required to start booking international tickets the beginning of May. Listed below are the actual dates we will be booking each trip. That means each participant must have enough money in her or his account to cover that cost on that day. If you have enough funds in your account we will automatically book your ticket. However, if you don’t have the funds in your Royal Servants account, you may also give us a credit card to cover the cost.
We won’t charge your credit card—really! We will simply put a hold for that amount and then remove the hold when your account has enough funds to cover the ticket. We would only charge the card if you dropped from the program and didn't have enough in your account to cover what we paid for the ticket. Reign Ministries is only able to process holds for Visa, MasterCard, and American Express cards (debit cards may be used, but there has to be enough funds in the account and the hold will make those funds inaccessible until released). You can find more information on this under "Financial Deadlines" in Preparation Packet booklet.
If you want us to purchase your ticket by putting a hold on a credit card, you will have to call the Reign Ministries’ office before the booking deadline. You are not able to use our online giving to place a hold. You can make a tax-deductible donation for your ticket online, but the amount is immediately charged. You can reach Margaret at 402-541-9849 or call our office 763-535-9555 ext. 721 for the Royal Servants Department. We are in the office weekdays between 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM CDT.
Please note: Donations made online via ACH giving (via your checking account) after April 25 may not clear the bank in time to count towards the airfare. Therefore this online giving feature will not be available April 26 - May 11.
Trip Airfare Cost Booking Deadline
Ireland $1200 May 9th
Costa Rica $900 May 10th
Nepal $1500 May 10th
Morocco $1100 May 11th
Nehemiah $2000 May 11th