When we were kids Christmas morning could not
come soon enough for the five Barnes children.
I remember one year Gone With the Wind stayed on repeat because the four
hour long movie helped the days pass more swiftly.
Christmas Eve would finally dawn and we'd spend all day building a fort. Every sheet, blanket and pillow in the house,
went towards the creation of our own magnificent fortress. While each kid contributed to the overall
structure of the fort, we were each responsible for whatever interior we
desired to sleep in. And then come the
late hour of 6:00pm we set out Peppermint Bark and Diet Coke (our Santa
didn't like milk) and we would hustle to our little dens to sleep. We did this for years. Even when my friend Misty came to visit,
bless her heart. And yes, three of us
were college graduates.
The rules have changed a bit since boyfriends and
husbands started attending Christmas.
The fort has diminished to a trundle bed for whatever sibling is in from
out of town, our curfew has extended from 6:00pm to 10:00pm and Santa gets
carrots, celery and Pelligrino in lieu of cookies. But every year, gathering with my siblings
has remained some of the best moments of my year.
This year I'll spend it a little different. The husband is taking me to California to
spend it with his family. Fortunately
for me there will be nieces and a brand new nephew to build forts with. And maybe this year I can eat the cookies and
Diet Coke.
If you haven't heard yet - I met the most wonderful man and we're getting married!:)For your reading enjoyment - here's our story, to be followed by the proposal.
I told my dad I was going to marry Joe Bunting before our first date.
In September 2010, Joe came to Gainesville and we randomly ended up at a coffee shop connecting about his last year on the race....
I wanted to send you a thank you note for awhile, but
apparently they don't let you do that (cause you're anonymous and all) - so I'm
hoping you see this.I just wanted to
say thank you.Thank you for helping change
the world.
A lot has happened at AIM recently.We just sent out our 90,000th
person last month.And most recently, our
trafficking team just returned from Southeast Asia.They got to minister to HUNDREDS of girls in the
bars during their time there.And some
of the girls left for good.Read Cara's
story here.You helped make that happen.
Thank you. I thank you and Cara (the girl from Cambodia who no longer has to sell her daughter or her body) thanks you as well.
Funny thing about being a missionary, you get to practice trusting the Lord...ALL THE TIME. See, you don't make as much as you would in the for-profit sector and so sometimes you can't afford everything you want and sometimes need. But, there is the added perk of deeper trust and faith. The Lord provided in three distinct ways for me this last month and I wanted to share with ya'll.
I haven't posted in awhile, but, never fear, I have a couple of blogs in the queue.:) In the meantime, I did want to share a video my brother just posted. He just recently returned from spending the summer in Haiti. On his way home he stopped over in West Palm Beach to revisit where we grew up and AIM started. It's amazing to see the things that changed and didn't change in the past 21 years.
We talk about death a lot in AIM and in Christian circles. Death. Die to your flesh, die so you can live. I remember when I was on the race and anything difficult would happen, my friend Amanda would say, "This is just your opportunity to die!"
My twenties have been much of that. And it seems that I'm not alone in that process.
We talk about ROI (return on investment) a lot at AIM, we always want to measure what we're investing with the benefits we see from it. I wanted to share a story that I recently came across that I hope will show you some of the return on investment you are getting from supporting this ministry.
Our Real Life teams are out for the summer, ministering in various parts of the world. One girl, on a team in Uganda came across a young boy who had been kidnapped. Witchdoctors told his captors that he could not help them until they had made a child sacrifice. Hours later, Allan was discovered, castrated, with a stab wound to the neck, an ax to the skull and whimpering in a pool of his own blood. All at the age of six. Katie shares the story here...
It's funny the things the Lord uses in your life. He really is no respecter of persons; or movies for that matter. A number of my coworkers and I went to see
the movie, Despicable Me, Friday after work.
It's a sweet, clever, funny movie centered around a villain, who against
all odds (mommy issues) finds that deep down he is kind and indeed has a heart.
The movie uses three orphans to expose the villain's pure
heart. And as I
watched the movie, I found my heart breaking for the three little cartoon
characters. Prior to their new father, no one cared for them, no one loved them. They went to bed every night, alone. They went bed without anyone to tuck them in, much less love them - I me cry as I write
this! It's not okay for any child to have to feel alone in this world.
In the past six months the Lord has broken my heart in the
strangest way (for me). I haven't gone overseas,
but somehow my heart has just melted for the children without mothers and
fathers around the world. The orphan
cause strikes close to home, not only do I have many friends who have adopted;
but my family has as well. My uncle and
two very dear cousins were adopted into our family. It thrills my soul to know they were rescued
from who knows what. And, I want so badly to
rescue them all.
One of my prayers now
is okay God, what do I do with this? I
want to be a part of the solution. He recently
brought to mind a story from my friend Kristen who is currently out in the field with the World Race. In brief, she and her team encountered a little
girl who was blind, malnourished, abandoned by her father and her mother went to work to earn money in
another city.
The team found her in a shack, naked lying on
the ground. The locals occasionally they left food outside her shack, but didn't bother clothing her because it was easier to not have a mess to clean.
Once they found her, Kristen's team was able to connect the girl with
a social worker, a church and reunite her with a repentant mother. To read the full story, go here.
So, while I continue to interceed for the orphans and asking God how I can be
part of the greater cause, he continues to show me how he's not only working in
the world but using me in the process.
Thank you for each of you who continue to be involved in
this as well. Your investment in the
kingdom is crucial.
Support Update: $6789 left to raise; down $700 from
last week! Still looking for people who
are looking for a place to invest. Thank
you for what you continue to do!
*A group of orphans the Lord that has specifically laid on my heart to pray for, live and work in brick factories in Pakistan. If you'd like to receive updates and pray for them as well, please let me know.
Life is definitely meant to be
shared. Various people have shared life with me over the years, some started out in childhood, and others only a few months ago. I recently got to reconnect with people on both ends of the spectrum. I ( and the rest of the Barnes' clan) met the Watsons when I was four years old
in Florida. I've never really known life
without them. We've gotten to experience the highs and lows of life together, last week we celebrated with Alisha. When we were kids, Alisha was always the most driven of all of us. When we played store (at the age of 7), her store was always some type of accounting firm.
In the past year she has begun competing in triathlons. So when Alisha signed up to participate in a sprint triathalon near Gainesville, this past weekend, we signed up to cheer her on! She did fantastic and even managed to beat her personal record with a new one: 1 hour and 53 minutes. Of course we had a blast screaming for her.
Another friend that I only recently became acquainted with, but has become very near and dear to my heart, is Rocio Doyle. Rocio is a World Race alum I met three years after my race. She is a kindred spirit through and through; one of the types you feel you've known forever. She came down for a visit this last week and it did my soul good to reconnect with her. I felt rejuvenated. I may not have known her for long, but our spirits connect in a way only a few ever do.
The Lord has been so gracious to bless me with numerous different people in life like this. In two weeks I join five of my closest friends from Grove City College as we watch one of our best friends marry the love of her life. After that I'll spend a few days with some of my dearest friends from the race. I am rich in Koinonia, God ministers to me through my friends and I couldn't do this life without them! I love you all!
Only need $7400 left to be fully support raised for the year. You can give here or let me know if you want to get involved!
Happy Summer!I hope
you are all well!I wanted to update you
on my life as a lot as happened in the two and a half years since I returned
from the race!
Upon my return, I felt God leading me away from AIM.I felt
like he wanted me to take some time to develop my identity, independent of an
organization that was so central to my development.So, I took two years and moved closer to
Atlanta, I lived with friends, worked at a restaurant and pursued a wide range
of careers (everything from management to day trading).I really enjoyed working in the restaurant at
first, I got to interact with a wide range of people on a daily bases - it was
like a party happening every day.:)But
after awhile, with the crunch of the economy I found the negativity began to
wear on me, and I didn't like who I was becoming.I consistently remember thinking to myself,
"Who am I?This is not me!"The pressure the Lord applied from a tough
economy, working with individuals who didn't understand the "Jesus" side of me really allowed the Lord to isolate me so I could see
who he made me to be.
So as I continued to seek the Lord and seek opportunities, I
found he kept bringing me back around AIM and I continue to walk forward in
what he shows me.In October of last
year I was offered a part time position assisting in the Marketing department;
specifically recruiting staff for the Marketing department.And just recently they've offered me a
full-time position.I like the position - it allows me to accomplish tasks and work
with people, both of which I am good at. But what really clinches the job for me, is
that it allows me to be a part of something bigger than myself.We work closely with the World Race, a
department that sends out 21+ year olds on a year long trek around the world,
ministering to the poor, the prostitutes, the orphans - the least of
these.A generation is mobilizing across
the globe; and I'm so excited to be a part of facilitating this movement.
Last fall my father took me to Spain and Romania.In Romania the World Race was hosting a
conference called the Awakening (www.theworldrace.org/awakening).About 200 of us pitched our tents on a massive campground and spent a week
reuniting, encouraging and worshipping Jesus.For the racers currently on the field it was a time of rejuvenation during
an intense year of ministry.For alumni,
it was a reminder of the work that was done in them and what the Lord continues
to do around the world.And for everyone
it was a sweet time to fellowship in community.We left there reminded that we are on this journey for a reason and that
the Lord is hard at work.I left
encouraged knowing that God had a plan for my life
Re-launching myself into a fund-raised position is a scary
endeavor; however, God has always shown himself faithful.Many of you have resources to give and need a
place to invest in the Kingdom.If
you're interested in partnering with me in this, please let me know.I need people who are outside of the AIM
circle who can get involved through prayer, financially and relationally.If you are unable to contribute financially,
please do not feel like our relationship is in jeopardy.It is simply important to me that I build a
network of people who want to stand with me for cause of Christ
My immediate needs are $2500 a
month which ends up at $30,000 a year.I
am looking for people I can share the highs and lows of this journey with.I want you to have the opportunity to be a
part of that.All donations are tax
deductible.You can go online and
support me by going to my blog and clicking on the support me button.Or, if you'd prefer, you can mail a check,
with my name in the memo line to: Adventures
In Missions, PO Box 534470, Atlanta, GA30353-4470.I also have the opportunity to minister to the
World Racers I am trying to mobilize in Ireland this August.If anyone has miles they'd like to donate,
please let me know.
I cherish you all and am so grateful that the Lord has sent
such a multitude to join me in the journey.
Love,
Talia
And yes, I will be resurrecting the ole blog, so feel free
to subscribe on the left.)
Christmas Eve would finally dawn and we'd spend all day building a fort. Every sheet, blanket and pillow in the house,
went towards the creation of our own magnificent fortress. While each kid contributed to the overall
structure of the fort, we were each responsible for whatever interior we
desired to sleep in. And then come the
late hour of 6:00pm we set out Peppermint Bark and Diet Coke (our Santa
didn't like milk) and we would hustle to our little dens to sleep. We did this for years. Even when my friend Misty came to visit,
bless her heart. And yes, three of us
were college graduates. 
Dear Anonymous Donor,
Funny thing about being a missionary, you get to practice trusting the Lord...ALL THE TIME. See, you don't make as much as you would in the for-profit sector and so sometimes you can't afford everything you want and sometimes need. But, there is the added perk of deeper trust and faith. The Lord provided in three distinct ways for me this last month and I wanted to share with ya'll.
We talk about death a lot in AIM and in Christian circles. Death. Die to your flesh, die so you can live. I remember when I was on the race and anything difficult would happen, my friend Amanda would say, "This is just your opportunity to die!"
We talk about ROI (return on investment) a lot at AIM, we always want to measure what we're investing with the benefits we see from it. I wanted to share a story that I recently came across that I hope will show you some of the return on investment you are getting from supporting this ministry.
It's funny the things the Lord uses in your life. He really is no respecter of persons; or movies for that matter. A number of my coworkers and I went to see
the movie, 
One of my prayers now
is okay God, what do I do with this? I
want to be a part of the solution. He recently
brought to mind a story from my friend 
Life is definitely meant to be
shared. Various people have shared life with me over the years, some started out in childhood, and others only a few months ago. I recently got to reconnect with people on both ends of the spectrum. I ( and the rest of the Barnes' clan) met the Watsons when I was four years old
in Florida. I've never really known life
without them. We've gotten to experience the highs and lows of life together, last week we celebrated with Alisha. When we were kids, Alisha was always the most driven of all of us. When we played store (at the age of 7), her store was always some type of accounting firm.
Another friend that I only recently became acquainted with, but has become very near and dear to my heart, is Rocio Doyle. Rocio is a World Race alum I met three years after my race. She is a kindred spirit through and through; one of the types you feel you've known forever. She came down for a visit this last week and it did my soul good to reconnect with her. I felt rejuvenated. I may not have known her for long, but our spirits connect in a way only a few ever do.
Upon my return, I felt God leading me away from AIM.
Last fall my father took me to Spain and Romania.