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Author: Maria Brockhaus

YWAM – DTS Fundraiser Letter

YWAM – DTS Fundraiser Letter

Hello Family and Friends,

Hi! My name is Maria Brockhaus and I am so grateful for the life I have been given, and that I have had the opportunity to meet and know you. In many ways, it actually a miracle! When I came to America and first heard about Jesus, he changed my life forever.  Sharing His name with others has since became my calling. Jesus lifted me out of a lonely and dire place, and I know he will do the same through His Spirit to others, and I have the opportunity to do just that!

I’m emailing you to ask if you are willing to partner with me as I learn more about God and strive to make Him known overseas.

I’m currently in an intensive 6-month training program geared to “Know God and Make Him Known.” I’m spending the first 3 months in Oakhurst, California where I’m hearing from over 30 speakers. A few of the topics are: recognizing God’s voice in my life, Kingdom Culture, God’s Character and Nature, how to recognize and deal with spiritual warfare, and how being a missionary looks practically in life. Those are only a few of the things that I’ll be diving into over the next 3 months!

In 8 short weeks, I will be traveling overseas with my school staff and fellow students to Armenia! 

Since I was 17years old, God has been speaking to me about being a missionary. It’s so amazing that now 2 years later I’m living as a missionary. Over the past year year I’ve grown to truly know God’s love for me. It’s something that daily changes my life and I can’t imagine not sharing about His love with everyone I meet. The phrase “Fully known and fully loved” has been really impactful to me. I’m so stoked to go to Armenia and share about God’s love!

I need your help.

To fully devote myself to what God has called me to, I need to be financially supported by a committed team of people who are eager to see the nations reached.

This program that I’m in cost $7000. The lecture phase is $3,000 that covers my housing, food, class resources. The outreach phase is $4000. $1,500 is for my plane ticket to Armenia and $2,500 is for my housing, food, and the ministry in the country.

I have been blessed with my travel expenses to move here and with $6,170.00 toward the program already. I am still in need of, $830.00. 

God has been showing me time and time again that I cannot do anything on my own strength. He has been teaching me that He has created us for relationship and community. 

This is why I’m reaching out to you. 

Someone once told me: “When you give to missions, Jesus’ mission, YOU are a missionary.” A missionary isn’t just the person who physically goes overseas, but everyone who is on that person’s team. 

Will you join me in Jesus’ mission?Will you join by financially sowing into what God is doing in my life here in California and in Armenia?

I want to directly ask you: Are you willing to commit to supporting me financially with a one-time donation of $250, $100, or $50 To reach my fundraising goal by November, only 26 people need to commit to give $250.

How to give:

  • Check or Cash mailed to:
    YWAM Yosemite 50034 Hangtree Lane Oakhurst, CA 93644
    (Include my name in the memo line)
  • Gofundme: https://gofund.me/2bd6d406
  • Venmo: @Maria-Brockhaus

You are giving to a lasting work. I am committed more than ever to see Armenians reached for Christ.Help me see God move more in my life and in Armenia by partnering with a one-time donation of $100. Together, as a team, we can see God transform the world with the Gospel.

I would love to connect via phone to answer any questions you might have.

Thank you for obeying the Lord as you pray and consider joining this ministry to reach Armenia for Christ.

In Christ’s Love,

Maria L. Brockhaus

My Lifelong Treasure!

My Lifelong Treasure!

Rrrr. Ahoy everyone. 

This is captain Maria speaking: 

Do you remember the time when you were little, someone introduced you to pirates or treasure boxes full of gold and coins? I remember hearing little stories of pirates going on their ships searching for their treasure. I loved it when they would open maps and go through their awesome adventures. I was excited to see or hear pirates opening their treasure boxes and seeing what they got inside.  As I would watch and read these stories, I heard myself saying, if I were a pirate, what treasures will I find, what kind of adventure will I go through? How will I travel to get my treasure. When I was a little girl, I would pretend with other kids that the playground was my pirate ship and I was a captain looking for treasure. I imagine going through a crazy adventure, and finally getting to my fake treasure box that was colored with markers and paint. Inside were rocks and sticks. 

I unlock the box.

Click. 

Creeeeeeek.The top of the treasure chest opens. 

“Yes! We found the treasure!!” I yelled cheerfully while celebrating with other kids. 

As excited as I felt, I did this game over and over. Pretending there was treasure to find on the playground. 

This is how I felt when I found real treasure. True treasure: Jesus! 

Receiving this gift was an adventure, from this day, I still remember. 

It all started when I was ten years old. I arrived in the United States from Russia with my new parents, Amy and Andrew. Not knowing English yet. I entered my very first room. I saw everything was green and summer like during winter. I was shocked to see that San Diego, California looks like summer even though it was late november. I saw wonderful parks and I met amazing people. I loved it all (I still do). 

That wasn’t the best part. I remember one night, my parents sat with me in my room. Gave me one of the precious treasures anyone could receive: a bible. 

I’ve seen a bible before in Russia. But as a kid, I wasn’t interested in reading a huge book written full of metaphors and parables. At the time, as I received my very first bible. That moment with my parents felt special. I opened it and felt the soft thin pages. 

“This is a book we want you to keep and read whenever you want to. It holds special clues and love letters from Jesus. Which is another treasure we want you to keep.” My parents told me.

I heard of God and Jesus in my childhood but never understood what was special about them. So I asked respectfully, “Who is Jesus, and why is he so important to you?” 

My parents responded, “Jesus is our friend. He saved us from our sins. He is our Messiah.” 

I was more confused than ever. A friend? How in the world can anyone save us from our sins? What does Messiah mean? 

My parents read me like a book, “Here…” they said.

My mom flips through the book, then she stops and reads, “John 3:16 states ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” She paused, then said, “God loves us so much that he even sent his own son, Jesus to die on the cross for us. Jesus was perfect. But we are not. He knew that, so he took our sins by dying on the cross for our sins. Without him, we can’t be with God. He’s the only way to get to heaven. If we accept him, we will be with him forever.”

I nodded, not wanting to respond because I still didn’t understand what that meant. 

I looked at my clock, it read 8:15 pm. I went under my covers. I looked at my parents and said, “thankyou for sharing this information with me, I will think about it more. Goodnight. I love you.” 

That night, I couldn’t fall asleep, all I could think was what my parents told me. It bothered me when I didn’t have answers to my questions. 

A few weeks went by, I went to my parents and asked them, “how do I get to heaven? How do I receive Jesus in my life as my savior and messiah?” 

“Simple. Pray.”

They showed me how and explained to me that I can pray however I need to and wheever I am. I can pray with my hands open or closed. I can pray in the morning, noon or even at night time. I can pray about anything, God will listen to me. So, I left my eyes open, because I felt comfortable doing that. I sat down on a chair. And my parents prayed for me. 

I can’t tell you ya’ll how I felt afterwards. It was like the moment when I opened my fake treasure box, so excited that I found treasure. I felt the Holy Spirit instantly. My body felt alive. I knew this treasure would stay with me forever. 

It’s my lifelong treasure. 

I still don’t have all the answers to my question but I know I have guidance and a map that will lead me to a place of wonders. Where my treasure will still stand. I can’t wait, to say the same thing as I did when I was a child, “Yes! I found my treasure!!”