Free from the Stuff

I've got to hand it to God, He sure does know what He's doing. God showed up BIG time for the Missionaries Yard Sale we had this past weekend. Now I'm free from all the stuff (how great that feels!) AND I raised over $900 in funds for the Celebration Zimbabwe Kids Ministry! That was just the icing on the cake :)

Between the 4 of us Celebration Missionaries headed to Africa and Greece, we raised over $2500!! And all from a yard sale, that doesn't happen every day. God definitely wants us there and is seeing to it that we get there.

It was a perfect day, sun shining; perfect location; and perfect time to share about what we will be doing to share the gospel to the nations. And it was FUN!

Not only that but my work permit application is in the hands of Zimbabwe officials and I'm praying and believing that all will go smoothly and quickly to get me there sometime in the beginning of the year. Will you stand in prayer with me on that?

I'm trusting that God will bring more monthly supporters in my path to get me to 100% goal by beginning of next year. I'm already 60% of the way there! Check out this video to see how you can help: http://vimeo.com/16488922

There are other great things on the horizon also, so be on the lookout for that soon :)

Together we can make a difference in the lives of African children!

Blessings in Christ,
Shannon

Will You Respond?

Will You Respond? It's a question we should ask ourselves daily. With so much need in the world how couldn't we? At the beginning of the year I make my journey full-time to live in Zimbabwe, Africa to help lead the Children's Ministry of Celebration Church Zimbabwe. It's a calling I don't take lightly. Moving half-way across the world isn't a decision anyone should take lightly. Will you take 4 minutes out of your day and watch this short video and pray about partnering monthly into this amazing ministry? I just have $1000 more in monthly I need to raise before hitting African soil. EVERY little bit helps. Your RESPONSE will last a life-time and change a life.

For info about how you can become a monthly partner email me at shannon_routzahn@hotmail.com

Blessings in Christ,

Shannon

I Can't Take it With Me to Africa

Come on out Saturday November 13th from 7 am to 2 pm for a HUGE Celebration Church Missionaries Garage Sale. We Can't Take It With Us!! We missionaries are headed to all four corners of the world to share the love of Jesus Christ. As you know I'm headed to Zimbabwe full-time to work with our Children's Ministry there. The less I take with me, the better :)

Location: The Learning Tree School Parking Lot, 7440 Merrill Rd

Face Painting by Linda Shrenk 8 am to 10 am Fun for the whole family!!

Hope to see you there!!

Shannon

Africa on my mind

My heart aches for Africa, the sights, the smells, the people, and especially the children. As I sit here by heart also goes out to the whole Ohlerking family and everyone around the whole world that Dave Ohlerking impacted and inspired. I personally didn't know him as well as others but his Godly mentorship as a long-term missionary in a time when I so needed it will never be forgotten. I cherish his advice as well as Jean's. God speaking through him has put me on the path that I'm on; a path to help the children of Zimbabwe- to love them, to value them, to continue the work for the children of Africa that Dave O started. I'm ready for God to work through me; for children's lives to be changed. Please stand in prayer for my full-time move there and also pray for the Ohlerking and Healing Place Family during this difficult time of Dave Ohlerking's passing to be with Jesus.

All for Christ's glory,

Shannon

Overflow

I'm in love. I'm in love with Jesus; I'm in love with Africa, with Zimbabwe, and the children here. My heart is overflowing with joy. What a precious trip this has been. Words can't really describe what I am feeling. I just feel honored and so very thankful that God called me to this nation, that He would use me. Most of all I just feel extremely blessed. Any comforts I will miss from the USA I know in my heart will be worth it. Because God knows the plans He has for me, plans to prosper and give me hope for my future. And my heart is telling me more than ever that Zimbabwe is what God has for me. As I sit here in the team house this morning enjoying the breeze come through the window I write this. I'm in awe of God's beauty here; the purple jacaranda trees are blossoming all over and are so beautiful. The team has left to travel back to the States to bring the good news of all that we have done to our friends and family. I have one more week here and I'm going to treasure my time with each person as much as possible. Because I know that is what is most important; the people God will put in my path.

This past week I got to see the women, men, and children of Zimbabwe flourish. A true revival is happening in this nation. It started even before this; with the Joyce Meyer Festival of Life conference and with all the previous teams that have touched this soil. Our team came alongside the women of Celebration Zimbabwe to put on the Taste of Shine conference and what a huge success it was!! With close to 500 women each day attending, they were pampered, valued, treasured, and empowered. Pastor Chipo, Pastor Dixon, and Pastor Mercy brought powerful messages and I know the women walked out of Bulawayo City Hall feeling a change in how God sees them. I had the honor of helping organize the childcare so the women could attend the sessions and really get poured into. We had over 100+ children each day and I had so much fun playing with the children, teaching them new worship songs, coloring with them, and just loving them. I'll treasure that time forever and I treasure the team that helped make it a success.

This trip has been such an important one for me. As I gear up for my full-time move here, I've been able to spend time with the Celebration Kids volunteers, attend kids services at our 3 main campuses in Bulawayo, introduce new Bible lessons and worship songs, and truly get to know my Celebration Zimbabwe family better. I've never known a more loving people than here in Zimbabwe. God also blessed our team with a trip to nearby Victoria Falls where we stood in awe of God's beautiful creation. To think that this natural world wonder will be on my back door step is amazing. I've never seen anything like it.

So as my time here this month wraps up I know the preparation time the next few months back in the States will be a very crucial and important time for me and the children of Zimbabwe. The kids here are ready for Auntie Shannon to be here permanently, as am I. With the goal of beginning 2011 in sight, I will be hitting the ground in the States full-speed to raise the remainder of my monthly support, which is $1500. I know it's totally doable with the people God will place in my path. Will you prayerfully consider partnering into this incredible ministry that will make such an eternal impact for the kingdom of God? All it will take is the following:

Either-

150 people giving $10 monthly
60 people giving $25 monthly
30 people giving $50 monthly
OR
Just 15 people giving $100 monthly

When you break it down like that it's so simple. If God has placed it on your heart to help please do get in touch and I can walk you through the very easy process. The goal is beginning 2011 for me to make the full-time move over and start the ministry calling God has placed on my life.

I'm excited, honored, blessed, thankful, and full of trust for what God has in store.

Blessings in Christ,
Shannon

Celebration Kids Zimbabwe!!!!!!!

It feels so great to be back home in Zimbabwe!!! I just love it here and God has been using me ever since our plane touched the ground on Friday. I've been immersed into Celebration Kids Zimbabwe and I'm loving it. All I want to do is spend time with the kids and teach them about Jesus and show them how much they are loved. Over the weekend I got to help run 3 of the Kids services at our 3 campus locations in Bulawayo. I taught them new songs with dance motions, "I am Free", and "Mighty to Save." It was such a sweet sound to my ears to hear their beautiful voices all singing out. The lesson I taught them at the kids services was about having Faith of Fear. They listened with expectant ears and I believe they truly understood what God wanted me to teach them. Then I got to give the 300 kids Faith bracelets to make and wear so they could remember to always have faith and not be afraid. Oh how they loved it!! The best part of my day yesterday at our Sauerstown campus was when a little boy came up to me after the kids service and with his faith bracelet on his arm said, "I love you so much." My heart just melted. I'm so looking forward to the day when I don't have to leave Zimbabwe, when I can see these children every day. My heart is full of joy with what God had called me to do here with the children's ministry. And I can't wait to see what is in store this week with Taste of Shine Zimbabwe. It's going to be AMAZING!!!! AWWWW YEAH!!!!!!!!!

Blessings,

Shannon

Taste of Shine

In just a little bit over a week I will be back in Zimbabwe, my future home. I have that nervous excitement in my stomach and I'm literally counting the days and packing already. Because I just love the people there; I love the children, Celebration Zimbabwe, the landscape, all of it...and I know it's where God has called me to do ministry work. And it's a great feeling knowing that this is probably the last short term trip that I go on there before moving over full-time at the beginning of the year. :)

I'm headed over Sept 15th with a team of 8 from Celebration Church to help with the "Taste of Shine" conference. It's so exciting to think about so many women of Zimbabwe coming together for this amazing conference that will lead up to Shine Zimbabwe next year!! Last year we launched the first Sisterhood Zimbabwe and it was a huge success! I can only imagine what "Taste of Shine" will be like. Our own Pastor Mercy Lokulutu will be one of the guest speakers along with Pastor Chipo from our Zimbabwe campuses. I'm expectant for lives to be changed, souls to be won, and the women to be empowered for greatness!

It's truly and honor to be able to go to Zimbabwe twice this year and help on the mission trips. I want to thank all of my supporters for generously giving and having a giving heart for such a great cause. God has been so faithful and I'm truly blessed by everyone that has partnered into my full-time ministry to Zimbabwe!!

With only $1500 in monthly support left to raise I know with the help of the people God has placed in my life I will be on African soil full-time by the beginning of next year, 2011. I continue to trust God in all of this. If you have any questions on how you can become a monthly partner please do get in touch. It's super easy and the children of Zimbabwe will be so blessed. As little as even $10 a month will make an impact in their lives. I can't move over full-time until I have raised 100% of my monthly support.

God's timing is always perfect as I keep learning.

Please keep myself and the team in your prayers. I will be in Zimbabwe Sept 15-Oct 6. I will be staying an extra week to work on prep for my full-time move and working with the Celebration Kids services.

Love and Blessings,

Shannon