Dear family and friends,
Greetings from home in Maryland! I hope this letter finds you well even with all that is happening in the world around us. It has been almost 5 1/2 months since returning home from Gateways Training School in Cyprus and I can’t believe 2009 is right around the corner. I have really enjoyed my time home being able to spend time with friends and family and catching up with wonderful stories. I have been keeping pretty busy with work as I attempt to save up as much money as possible. Throughout the past months I have been able to see much fruit of the labor spent during Gateways Training School (GTS). I can proudly say that the training I received at GTS has helped me a lot with continuing to strengthen my relationship with the Lord while returning to life as usual. Though there have been challenges along the way I know with all my heart that our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever and that no matter where we are, He is there with us. I have been so blessed by what God has done in me through the school and what He continues to do in me today. I can see now how much GTS helped strengthen my foundation in Him that I can remain steadfast among all the world throws at me on a daily basis. It has been truly remarkable to see the difference in my own life now compared to this time last year, and I look forward to the continuing work in this next year.
As most of you know in January I am returning to Cyprus for the second year program at GTS. I am very excited about this because, as much as I have enjoyed my time home, I have really missed Cyprus and the community that is there. This past year we learned a lot about our identity in Christ Jesus and really strengthened the foundations of our faith. The second year program is most focus on our destiny in Christ and what our calling is. There will be more ministry training as well as ministry opportunity through this program and I look forward to receiving this training and even more impartation from our teachers and leaders. The curriculum for this year is a little different due to new visa restrictions the EU has put in place this year. We are only granted a 90 visa in a 6 month period so therefore our school will be about 4 weeks shorter this year. But this is also giving us a new opportunity which I am very excited. This year our 2 1/2 week trip to Israel will be extended to a full 4 weeks! This means we will have more ministry opportunities as well as more time to spend with people we connected with this past year. And we will again be going on a month long outreach (missions trip) at the end of our school. We do not know which country we are going to yet but the leadership team is already praying about it and we should know by March. I am looking forward to a very exciting year in which I expect the Lord to do a lot in me.
As I stated earlier, I have been working a lot since being home and I have been saving up my money so I can put it all towards GTS2. I will continue to work until a week before I leave for Cyprus but even with the amount I have worked I will be unable to save up enough money to cover the expense of the school. Below is a list of my expenses for the school and how much money I need to have. The deadline for my tuition is the 15th of December and my outreach money will not be due until later on in the school year.
Expenses For GTS2 2009
Roundtrip plane ticket: $1,540.80 (Already paid for by me)
Tuition: $5850.00 (Fixed exchange rate from 4,500 Euros)
Outreach: $1,952.70 (As of 12/10/08. Actual payment is 1,500 Euros so U.S. Dollar amount is subject to change depending on the exchange rate.)
Total amount for GTS2 2009: $9,343.50
If you would like to help support me you can send a check to me at:
Tony Dillon
19130 Capehart Drive
Montgomery Village, MD 20886
You can make your check payable to Phillip Dillon. I know that money is tight for everyone due to the current state of our economy but any little bit you can give would be really appreciated. And even if you are unable to give anything I ask that you pray for me that all the finances that I need for this school would be released. Prayer is one of the greatest gifts we have and I would love all the prayer I can get! I leave for Cyprus on the 25th of January and I would love to see you before I go. I will be returning from my trip on the 19th of June unless an opportunity arises for me to go to Germany after school and visit some of the people we met there on our last outreach trip. I’m praying for the Lord to open that door. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this letter.
"The LORD bless and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace."
– Numbers 6:24-26
Sincerely,
Phillip Anthony Dillon
And Guys,
If you are interested in helping Tony, but feel more comfortable making your checks out to the church, do it and drop it in the bucket with a note in the memo line for “Tony Dillon” and we will make sure he gets it and that you get the right deduction in January!
Blessings!
pd