Israel

Last year Kara decided to take a risk and attempt making a trip to Israel happen with her 11^th grade Bible students. She first went on the trip as a student in her high school, Holland Christian. She was so moved by the trip that she returned to Israel while studying at Calvin College. She fell in love with the history of Christianity and the Bible and went on to major in Religious Studies. The organization, That the World May Know, makes the trip every year and while teaching Bible here in Honduras, she had the idea of seeing if the organization would consider sending her students on the trip. Last year she began inquiring and asked to be granted a meeting with the heads of the organization. Once they agreed to meet with her, she and her class began working hard.

Over the summer and at the beginning of this year they all put together a proposal for the trip to get official approval. They have pulled together a portfolio of letters and profiles of the individual students, and an incredible video. In October Kara went back to the States for a wedding and made a quick detour to Michigan to meet with the director of the trip to discuss the final decision – if it were even a possibility for these students to go. She would not reveal the details of the conversation until she got back so we all waited eagerly to hear the results! Screams could be heard all over town when she announced to the class that the organization wanted to send them to Israel! The trip itself could easily be the biggest adventure many of them could take in their entire lives, it could inspire some to pursue greater things in their future, and it would give most the opportunity to make their faith their own.

To check out their profiles, go to http://www.followtherabbi.com/site/abundant-life-schools.

Now the big issue remains fundraising. The trip costs $5500 per student and that price is beyond anyone’s means here. Kara has put together a fundraising packet including a video featuring the students describing how much the trip would benefit them, personal letters from each student describing their own faith stories and what the trip would mean to them, and a letter asking for financial help. They have reserved 30 spots on the trip for our students and are going to fundraise as much as they can to send every single student. If they do reach the full fundraising goal, they will send as many students as possible however Kara does not want to be the one who decides which students will not be going.

The organization is sending out their own letters to accompany her packet for a month of power-fundraising; she has also set up a site on Indiegogo to spread the word. Would you take a look at it? Even if you cannot donate any money personally, prayers are just as powerful. I would love to see those students get the opportunity to leave this tiny town and have their worlds rocked by the Lord. Kara has worked so hard to make this trip happen and everyone wants to see her dream come to life for her students. So start praying with me! I have faith that the Lord will make this trip happen for every single one of those 12^th grade students. They have already saved money to get passports and are fundraising around town to contribute as much as they can to the trip. Pray that the money is raised for everyone to go so that they can experience God in an incredible way!

Here is the website to read more, watch their video, or donate, and thank you for whatever support you can provide: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/honduran-students-dream-of-israel