My First Real Breakdown

So I'm using this blog to be totally and completely honest and transparent about all that I'm going through in hopes that it will allow you to get a full grasp on what this process is like for me. Well...tonight I honestly have to say I broke down. I just felt so overwhelmed with getting my apartment ready to move out, my car breaking down, trying to figure out what I'm going to do with school and getting ready to move to move to Africa. All of these things have kind of mounted up and I've never really had an anxiety attack, but this is probably the closest I've ever been to having one. I deffinitely am feeling attacked and feel as if Satan is targeting my joyfulness I've been feeling about this whole thing, I know God has me in the palm of His hand, but it's just really really difficult right now to keep a joyful attitude when I feel so overwhelmed.

The first of the lasts

So tonight was my last Christmas celebration with my mom's side of the family. It was crazy because I had no idea how I was going to have such a hard time realizing that I'll probably not see a lot of them for at least two and a half years. At one point I had to go to another room because I was crying, I honestly didn't think I'd get that emotional about it. I only see most of them once a year at Christmas, but it was crazy just thinking about the idea that I won't see them on Christmas Eve Eve like I do every year. I'm so blessed to have such a big and loving family, and I honestly felt so supported and loved tonight.

I think I need a bomb shelter

These past couple of weeks I honestly feel like I'm getting attacked from every side, and I just kind of want to curl up, close my eyes, and wait for it to be over, but I know that's not what I'm supposed to do. I know God doesn't give me more than I can handle and that through these times of being attacked, I'm called to cling to Him and grow in my faith, and to realize that He's preparing me for this next step in my life, but it's still tough. I'm facing issues with school, friendships, and my grandma being in the hospital. This is a humble prayer request asking for prayers for strength and for me to remember He's got me in the palm of His hands through these tough times.

Blessed are the flexible...right?

Ok, so I just found out that the training I have to go to in July was pushed back to be about two weeks later, which then means that I have to leave for Uganda about a week later than originally planned. I know it is just a week, but I want to be out there so badly that it honestly makes me so sad that I have to wait even longer than I thought. I know I just have to keep trusting in God and His timing, but it's times like this when I feel like asking God "are you sure..?" Anyways, just be praying for me that I will be able to not get discouraged about this little change and that I would continue trusting in Him and Hist timing.

It's everywhere I tell ya...

So lately everywhere I look there's something about Africa from commercials, to TV episodes, to movies, to even Christmas songs, and today another thing was added to the list...it was a light display at an event called The River of Lights. It was amazing! It's like all the time God is reminding me where He's guiding me and reaffirming that Africa is where He wants me to go.

Online Donations

You are now able support me through the Global Adventures website (www.globaladventures.org) and under "support a missionary" find my name and put in the amount you would like to give. It's fast, easy, and secure.

It's starting to sink in

I keep having in my head that I'm going to Africa in a matter of months, but it's honestly really just starting to sink in. Right now I'm watching a TV program where the main character leaves for Africa and he's saying goodbye to all of this friends and family, and I'm crying because I can't help but think of how I'm going to be doing the exact same thing in 8 1/2 months. I'm not having doubts because I know I'm able to rest on the peace God has given me about this decision, but I still have my moments of having a hard time.

"An open door for effective service"

That is what Paul told the Corinthians about the church in Ephesus in 1 Corinthians 16, and that is exactly what I feel about this opportunity in Jinja. God has opened this door wide open and through the passions and gifts He has given to me as well as the miscellaneous events He has placed in my life to prepare me, I can honestly say that if I continue to seek Him in this, that I will be able to serve effectively with the people down in Jinja. Just thought I'd share that little revelation with y'all.

Prayer Request

So lately, I've been feeling like I'm in a boxing match and losing terribly. For a week or so it seemed like my knee was getting bad again, and therefore I was starting to think that I would need more surgery, but it then got better. Praise God! Now, as I've been feeling just emotionally, physically, and spiritually exhausted, I got one of the worst colds I've ever had. It basically has taken me out of commission for the past three days (and yes, one of those days was Thanksgiving). I'm sitting now in the coffee shop, just b/c I needed to get out, with a roll of toilet paper b/c I have to blow my nose so much and aches all over my body. I just ask now that you pray not necessarily for me to have this sickness end, as through all of this I know I'm being tested, but that I would have the strength to endure.

GA Profile

Well, my profile is officially up on the Global Adventures website (www.globaladventures.org) it has a few more details about what's been going on and the work I'll be doing, it will soon have a link to support me online.

My First Time Speaking

So tonight was the first time I spoke about me going to Africa to an audience. It was such a different experience then just normally speaking in front of crowd, but people were laughing, so hopefully they weren't bored out of their mind. It was awesome meeting the people afterwards so if any of you who were there are reading this, it was great meeting you.

Tomorrow Night

I received an invitation to be interviewed at Renovate tomorrow night. It was so unexpected that it was kind of one of those things that God was telling me "Kelli, this is all My doing, because you are supposed to go". It's not like I'm having doubts, but little bits of encouragement that God gives me always reaffirms that this is what He's calling me to. The coolest part about it was that it wasn't any of my doing, it was purely His work.

Support

I now have an account with GA so I am able to receive support any time. There are a number of initial costs that need to be covered, so if you're wondering if there's a need now for support, there definitely is. You can send your check to Global Adventures 4001 Osuna Rd NE ABQ NM 87109 and put "Kelli O'Hea" in the memo line.

Picture time

Yesterday I took my pictures for the GA website profile. I feel like such an awkard person when I'm taking pictures, but hopefully some of them worked out, so far, this one's looking like it could work. I should hopefully be getting my prayer card printed by the end of the year.

My revelation for the day

So as I mentioned in the previous blog, it's basically exactly 9 months away that I'll be heading down to Jinja. At first I thought to myself "9 months! That's too long!!!" but then God opened my eyes to something: 9 months is length of time the baby must be in the womb before it's born. Yes, I know this is a weird illustration, but bare with me. Finding out that I was officially approved was the beginning of this process of me being formed into a missionary. As with babies, if they are born prematurely they are not as healthy as if they were born full-term, in that way if I go prematurely to Africa I will not be as effective as I could be if I were to wait until it's time. As I was sharing this idea with some dear friends of mine (the ladies at the front desk of Calvary) they elaborated on the illustration saying that while there is a pregnancy, there is discomfort, emotional roller-coasters, and morning sickness. During these next 9 months I'm going to go through so trials, attacks, doubts, and fears, but the good thing is that if I keep my focus on God in the end, I will be in Africa doing what I love. My receptionist girls also brought to my attention that Satan wants me to "miscarry" he will do everything in his power to keep me from going, so please keep me in your prayers throughout this "incubation period".

Early August

So I met with Neil yesterday and it sounds like it's fairly reasonable to think that I'll head to Africa in the first week or so of August. Yes, it's about 9 months away, but I have to go through training for three weeks in Mexico. This training is highly recommended and all but required for missionaries entering the field. In that nine months I will also be getting everything else ready for me to move down there including immunizations, graduating, visiting friends, etc... Also at the meeting I found out that when all is said and done, I will need about $2000 a month to cover all of my expenses. I also now have an official account set up with the church, so people can start supporting me now as there are numerous initial costs that I need money for before I leave (i.e. plane tickets, visa, immunizations, etc...). As always, if you have any questions, I will be more than happy to let you know more abot what I will be doing and what my needs are. Continue to keep me prayer that I focus at school.

I'm Officially Approved

I just got the official word from Neil that I'm approved to go. He met with Skip today, and I couldn't focus all daywaiting for the answer. But just a mere few minutes ago, he came in to tell me the news that could change my life. Now, the next step is to find out when next summer I'll be going and start getting things in order for me to go. I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!

Support Letter

Dear Family and Friends,

I hope you all are doing well as this year is drawing to a close; it seems as if 2007 has been a very big year for many of us. This past year has been a whirlwind for me, and it seems as if everyday God has a new adventure waiting around the corner for me, but the bulk of the ride that has been my life began this past summer, and it is this adventure that is the reason for this letter.

Overview
As many of you may know, this past summer I went to Jinja, Uganda on a short-term mission trip with Calvary of Albuquerque.. Preparing for this trip, it seemed as if Satan was trying to discourage me from going in every way possible, it was because of this that I had a feeling that God must have something fairly big planned for me on this trip if I was getting hit so hard, little did I know that God was planning to use this trip to change my life.
While I was on this trip, I soon felt a love and passion for the people, the culture, and the ministry that was taking place around me. The kids at the compound where we stayed quickly took a hold of my heart, as well as the missionary team, and the vast majority of ministries this church facilitated were such a blessing to be a part of for that brief time. I began to feel a sadness not from missing home, but from the idea of knowing I was to be leaving Africa, which after all of the mission trips I had been on in the past had never really happened to me, it was then that I honestly began to feel that I wouldn’t be away for long and began praying about whether or not I was to return to Africa and permanently be a part of the missionary team.
After much prayer and asking counsel of pastors, friends, and most importantly my parents, it became clear that I was to pursue this desire that I felt God had given me to be a missionary in Africa. I met with the missions pastor at Calvary, Neil Ortiz, who encouraged me to continue praying about the matter to be sure that this was something I felt God wanted me to pursue, and after another month or so, my desire to go not only remained, but intensified, it was then that Neil gave me the go ahead to take the next step of submitting my application to be a Global Adventures Missionary to Jinja, Uganda and after a a period of waiting, I'm now officially approved as a GA Missionary.
Now, as I am writing this letter, I am in shock as to how God works as I now have officially been approved to be a missionary, and plan to move to Africa next summer. Throughout this process, I have come to relate to Abraham and the disciples who were called to forsake and all and follow Him no matter where He led them, and it is now time for me to go where He leads.

Ministry Description
As I plan to move to Africa, there are a couple main areas where I am to be focusing my ministry: the youth and assisting with the administrative duties of the church. With the youth, I will be leading Bible studies in hostiles of girls who are unable to attend the youth group, I will also be assisting with mentoring the youth group girls who attend the primary or secondary schools. Along with serving with the youth, I will also plan to serve as the administrative assistant to Bev Rich who runs all of the administrative aspects of the church including child sponsorship programs and the general logistics of running a church. During my first year there I will also attend their School of Ministry.
My vision for the ministry I will be doing is centered on Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” My heart for my work in Africa is to truly make disciples by consistently pouring into the lives of the students and showing them the love of Christ by building relationships with them and for them to experience the faithfulness of God in a world full of chaos and disappointment. I am especially looking forward to working alongside the missionary team that is in Uganda. The team is made up of Jess and Bev Rich, Keith and Ellen Carpenter, Megan Brown, and Ryan McCabe. Each one of these people is being used so greatly by God and their faithfulness and passion astound me, and I am so humbled that I am given this opportunity to work with them.

Ways You Can Help
Now that you know what I will be doing, now, is when you are able to hear of how you could be involved in this work and what my needs are if you feel so led to fulfill them.

1. PRAY PRAY PRAY

Prayer is THE most important thing you can do for a missionary and here are some prayer requests I have as I am preparing to go to the field:

• Preparation for me spiritually, physically, and mentally.
• Focus as I prepare to graduate from the University of New Mexico in May.
• Preparation for my family as we are very close
• For the missionary team and for God to give them wisdom in how to prepare for me to become a part of the team.
• For God to raise up individuals to support me financially and/or to be a part of my care team (see below)

2. Become a care team member
Having a care team is a necessity for a missionary as the care team plays a major role in supporting the work the missionary is doing out on the field from helping with finances to preparing care packages. As a care team member, there are a number of needs that you may fulfill: Care Team Leader, Financial Coordinator, Logistics, Prayer Warriors

3. Financial Support
- Becoming a missionary is a full-time job where my income will come from supporters of the ministry.
- I am responsible for funding all of my living expenses, ministry expenses, personal needs/wants, savings, and taxes
- If you feel led to support me financially, included with this letter is a support envelope for your convenience
- You can also log onto http://www.globaladventures.org/ and under missionaries select my name and click “support this missionary”

For more information on the missionary team as well as the church in Uganda, please feel free to look at the sites listed below:
http://www.globaladventures.org/
http://www.calvarychapeljinja.org/

Thank you so much for your prayers and support. My desire is to be faithful in keeping you updated through this process as well as the developments and news while I’m out in the field. If you have any questions or concerns, I would be happy to have coffee with you and share with you more of my heart for this new ministry. My contact information is listed below.

His Servant,


Kelli O’Hea
(505)250-0198
Krohea@gmail.com

And it begins...

I have submitted my application, gotten the official invite from Jess and Bev, and the next step is getting the official approval from Skip. Boy oh boy, here it comes.