I spent some time in Texas a week ago.  My purpose for going home was a "support raising trip" ... which means, that I need more monthly supporters if I am going to continue doing what I do.  It was an amazing time to catch up with people and I felt SO encouraged every time I shared my story of what God is doing in my life now.  I am changed, I cannot deny it, I cannot go back - I must move forward into all of the newness that God has for me.  I want to share with you what I shared with everyone, and if the Lord puts it on your heart to be a part of my ministry - you will have an opportunity to give.

The Lord has taken me on quite a journey in the last year and a half of my life.  It started in January 2009, as I began my journey on The World Race and went to 15 different countries in 11 months.  I saw and experienced things that I will never forget and I have been forever changed because of it.  I got a chance to teach VBS to orphans in Haiti, teach English in Cambodia, feed homeless in Malaysia, rebuild homes in Botswana, love on invalid orphans in Ukraine, befriend prostitutes in Thailand, worship and pray for Germany, and hold the hand of a 19 year old girl dying of AIDS in Swaziland.  Because of these experiences, I knew that I could no longer work a "normal" 9-5 job and felt very strongly the Lord calling me into full-time ministry, working with The World Race from our corporate office in Gainesville, Georgia. 

I have been living and working in Georgia now since March and I am learning and growing all the time.  My responsibilities are vast and I feel the Lord working through me every day that I am blessed to do what I do for Him.  I get to do interviews with people to go on the World Race & I spend about an hour with them, asking them deep and probing questions.  I pray with each one before and after the interview and make sure that if any of them has had some real wounds that the Lord has brought healing or they have been to counseling before they can move forward in the process.  I also have the opportunity to do Support Coaching with those who will be going on the Race - I encourage them to share their hearts with people and be amazed at how God will provide financially for their trip.  We work together on strategies and ideas for fundraisers, and then sit back and let God take it where we cannot go.  My main job is to be the face of the World Race Alumni, which means, I get to know every single person that we will send out on the World Race from now on.  When they return from the Race, I connect with them and see how we can make the dreams God has given them for the nations a reality.  If someone has a burden for the Jews in Israel, for instance, how can I help connect them to an already established ministry in Israel that will serve the dream of their heart and the ministry's heart.  Last, I have the opportunity to lead trips with Adventures in Missions.  Whether that be 2 week trips during the summer with middle school & high school students, or going back out to lead a World Race team, I have the opportunity to continue going over and over again! 

Within the span of this year, from January 2010 to January 2011 - we will launch between 700-1000 people into 64 different countries and I get to have a hand in each one of their lives.  It is unbelievably humbling to think that I get to be a part of all of their stories.  And, here is where you come in the story.  I cannot continue doing this ministry, unless you become a part of my story.  I have to have monthly supporters to continue on.  I can be completely support raised if I have 38 people give $50/month.  I ask you to pray and ask the Lord what your role in the Great Commission is - and if you are supposed to be a part of my ministry, what the monthly amount is that He is asking you to give. 

You can go here to donate: http://bit.ly/bbfRWN or you can email me at darcisimpson@theworldrace.org and I will answer any questions that you may have.  Thank you so much for your part of making it possible for the world to hear!  I love being on this journey with you! 

 Today has been 5 years since my Memaw went home to be with the Lord.  Even though the pain of losing her is not a fresh as it used to be - I still cannot believe she is gone.  I miss her all the time and especially more recently as so many things have changed in my life.  I am so thankful to be where I am ... but so many times, I wish I could just go to Groves, TX and sit on the couch with her again.  I miss her little wrinkly hands, watching "Days of Our Lives" with her, and watching her do Word Searches -- and I really really miss her cooking.  I wanted to share the beautiful eulogy that my sister, Ashli, wrote 5 years ago when we honored her at her funeral.  It is lengthy, but how do you sum up someone who lived her life for her family and loved you with every ounce of who she was?  Some of the details in this eulogy have changed - there are more grandchildren now and Memaw did find Andri a husband! :)

Please honor her with me today!  I can promise you that I am going to spend the day missing her and listening to 

Loretta Lynn & Dolly Parton all day!  

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Margaret "Memaw" Tompkins 

Margaret Evelyn Tompkins was her true name, but to most people here she was simply known as Memaw, the name given to her forty years ago by her oldest grandchild Dana.  She had twelve grandchildren and seven (soon to be eight) great-grandchildren, but in reality, she was a Memaw to all.  She was the rock of the Tompkins family, and she taught us the true meaning of the word.

1 Peter 3: 3-4 says:  "Do not let your adornment be merely outward – arranging your hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel – rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God."

Although Memaw loved getting her hair done at the beauty shop, wearing jewelry, and getting dressed up, her real focus was on the intangibles, and she had a quiet faith and a strength that she passed on to her family.  She would tell you about her faith any time, but more importantly, she lived it in love.  Her house was full of its evidence – the Ten Commandments on the dining room wall, spiritual readings sitting next to the Word Find books in the living room, her Bible on the dresser in her bedroom, and the Gaithers or other gospel music that she loved to listen to in the house. 

She demonstrated her love on a daily basis, loving each of her family members as themselves and remaining a devoted wife. Although she knew her family had flaws, she simply chose not to focus on them, and heaven help anyone who talked badly about her family.  She always knew that singing was not the strongpoint for her granddaughters Deena and Kim, but any criticism of the two was rebutted by Memaw defending them and claiming that they "sing good."

Memaw was a strong-willed woman who knew what she believed and what she wanted, and she never had a problem communicating it.  She loved to talk about politics every morning with her good friend and neighbor Edel.

Memaw loved to cook for others and was very proud of her Thanksgiving dressing and gumbo.  She kept her house stocked for visitors to drop by any time (which they did often) and always kept a jar of pickles and the cookie jar available for the grandkids, among others.  Anyone who ever spent time at Memaw's house knows where the cookie jar is stashed.  And she enjoyed cooking a big roast with rice and gravy on Sundays when she had Randi and Chris over each week.

Memaw had an amazing memory and would not let us get away with exaggerating or fudging facts for humor's sake.  She was quick to correct any misrepresented points.  And she never forgot a birthday or anyone at Christmas.

Memaw had a good sense of humor and tolerated her grandchildren making fun of her.  She always laughed when Andri and I fought over who would inherit her gold shoes, and she loved the chaos at her house, leading to often answer the telephone by saying, "Memaw's Zoo..."

Out of all aspects of Memaw, the most notable and most telling was the top priority she put on her family.  There is evidence of this all throughout her house, as she surrounded herself with pictures that she kept up for years of Jody in the Navy, Cheri in high school, the girls in dance recitals, and David playing T-ball.  More importantly, and as everyone here can attest, she was involved in her family's lives.  Memaw was at everything – every baseball, T-ball, basketball games, track races, singing performances, pageants, dance performances.  And she traveled all across the country to watch her family:  with Chris to Waco, with Andri to Austin, with the dancers to Disney and Las Vegas, and with Deena to Nashville. 

Everything important in the Tompkins family happened at Memaw's house, and it usually involved her sitting on the front porch, watching us play football or kickball in her tiny front yard, some game Kari created called "Colored Eggs," or Branson running in circles with Uncle Gary.

Memaw was a dignified woman who loved us but always had to make sure she told us to "Behave."  However, she always said it with a smile on her face, as we created the newest way to entertain her with a rap song, Kim's and Andri's rendition of "Busted," Darci's or Chris's dance moves.  We knew that despite her need to make us "mind," she loved our creativity and the chaos that ensued.

If it's true that opposites attract, then she and Pepaw were a perfect pair for sixty-three years.  She cared for him as a servant, and the grandkids always got a kick out of hearing her fuss at him to Behave when he sang the Do-Nut Song or told us funny stories. 

Even though her body grew weak, she was still as sharp as ever.  While very sick in the hospital a year ago, she made sure to communicate this by writing on a card, "I still have my mind."

Memaw gave to everyone more than just herself ... she gave a legacy ... of family, love, strong values, and responsibility. 

John 5:12 says:  "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." 

Memaw exhibited that love.  On Friday and Saturday, as she lay in the hospital during her last time with us, we saw the very definition of love and how it is exhibited through family.  And we are truly blessed to have that in the family that she founded.  And we know that she is running around heaven with a new set of knees, in a pair of gold shoes, with her sons James and Randy, taking care of great-grandchild number eight. 

We will always hear her voice and feel her presence, and we will always know that she is telling us to Behave. 

(And now, she can look for a husband for Andri in heaven, rather than in all of the doctor's offices.)   

Memaw - I love you so much and I thank you for all the ways you loved me... I miss you and Pepaw so so so much!