Last Month’s Ministry Letter Recap: Working With Upward Bound
Wow, August flew by quickly! And with that the academic semester is right around the corner. Yet as eager as I am to get the ball rolling, I recently was introduced to this this saying while listening to a podcast. “Pole Pole,” translated in Swahili to slowly slowly, this last month has been teaching me a lot about speed and timing.
And when I think about speed and timing, I can’t help but consider how four years ago in 2020, those same lessons emerged when I went rock climbing as a freshman with an organization called Lifelines. Slowly slowly I found myself climbing up this rock face, and four years later I find myself climbing again.
Photos of me rock climbing four years ago
August 5th, 2024 - Slowing Down the Car
By the grace of God, last month I got a car; Yet unfortunately, two days after driving, the check engine light turned on (Or in other words, the Lord said slow down). So, feeling a little concerned and nervous about the purchase, I sent the car back to the dealership where they were willing to fix the issue; and while in the process of repair, I was given a loaner vehicle (and even as I’m writing this, I’m still using the loaner vehicle).
Nonetheless, I mention all of this to say that God’s timeline regarding my car situation was a whole lot different from the one in my head. “Pole Pole Maurice, the situation will resolve in my timing.”
August 26th, 2024 - Slowing Down the Timeline
Now, I wouldn’t really categorize myself as a super prophetic individual, but two weeks ago I felt a very strong conviction that I could finish building my support team by August 24th. And to be quite honest with you, that energized me. With my support team in place I would then be able to focus all my attention towards working with students and other aspects of the ministry. However, when August 26th came around, I still hadn’t hit my goal and once again I was reminded “Pole Pole Maurice, your team will be established in my timing.”
Hence, with August now ending, this is where I find myself right now, taking things one day at a time surrendering myself to God’s timing. So yes this update may not be a sunshine or a rainbow, but I think it’s important to be honest and transparent rather than two faced. Yet in the midst of all of it, I’m grateful to be in God’s time frame rather than my own, and I have faith that all of my concerns will be resolved in God’s timing.
Numbers Update
Now although I may not be completely funded yet, we are super close to finishing! I have about 20% of monthly support left to raise, and I’m incredibly grateful for everyone who’s felt led to pray, give, reference someone, and support me in other ways! I truly cannot do this alone, so thank you again for joining my team!
Also, there’s a lot of exciting things coming up on the radar, and I look forward to sharing those things with you all soon!
Support Tracker
Praise Report: This Tuesday I attended my first ever all staff meeting with The Impact Movement. It was an incredible experience to be welcomed in by all the staff and I’m very grateful to be apart of this family.
My Prayer Requests
1. Continued TRUST and PATIENCE within this Ministry Partner Development season.
2. Divine connections, that I may continue to meet new people and share with them about this ministry.
3. The returning and incoming students who I will be working with at UMass come the fall. (Students start moving in today August 28th, and the semester starts September 3rd)
4. My car situation, that repairs go smoothly and I can get the vehicle back soon.