New Updates!!!

Ok so I promise to be more diligent at posting things on my blog once I'm in Africa. Since I last posted in May there have been a couple of new developments:

- Jess and Bev Rich are in the states and so I've been able to spend time with them and it's been a really neat opportunity to get to know them better and it's definitely been a shot in the arm with getting me excited about going down there.

- I've had my last day of work at Calvary of Albuquerque, therefore I am now working on Africa stuff full time (mainly fundraising). I know that God is faithful to provide, it's just a question of waiting on Him to provide for me.

- I will head to Montana for five days this Saturday to spend time with old friends one last time before I head out, I can't wait to see everyone!

- And last but not least I got my ticket!!! So it's official I'm heading out on August 27th.

Well, that's just a quick re-cap but I hope I get to meet with everyone at some point before I go.

I've Graduated!!!!

Well this past month has been a crazy one! I got blessed with a new Mac Book which is seriously my new best friend, it is such a blessing and I'm just in shock that I have a reliable lap top for when I go to Jinja. This past Saturday I graduated from UNM with my degree in organizational management and I can't believe I'm finally done with college! It's like with that one event that took merely an hour and a half I went through the transition of becoming an adult, the jingle that kept going through my head was "mommy wow! I'm a big kid now!" So now that I've graduated and had an amazingly awesome graduation party where over 150 people came, I am now really on the home stretch until I leave, which is now only a short 97 days away. God has blessed me in so many unexpected ways and given me encouragement in the most unlikely situations. He is continuing to confirm that this is the path He desires for me to go down and I am so thankful that He is in control! I just need to continue to learn to let go and trust Him.

Africa Party Re-Cap

Well last night I had my first Africa party. It was complete with African food made by yours truly and the help of two of the coolest guys I know (Lukas and Mat). I was super stressed out yesterday worrying about all the little details and wanting it to be perfect, but I know I shouldn't have worried because it was totally bathed in prayer and the night seriously couldn't have gone better. There were at least fifty people there and I loved each and every one of them. I did a presentation that I was so nervous about. I'm able to speak in front of people all the time, but not when I'm talking about myself. I just couldn't believe how perfect it all went, and God blessed me with support of every kind (financial, prayer, and emotional). I thank all of you who were able to come, and be looking forward to another event in June.

So much to do and so little time to do it in...

Who knew that moving clear around the world would require so much preparation. Right now planning for my party, looking for plane tickets, trying to graduate, actually being a productive employee, and doing ministry is really taking its toll on me. I am so excited, but at the same time very overwhelmed right now as not much of this can be done by anyone else other than me. Just be praying that I have the strength and that I would be diligent in all I have to do.

I have a departure date!!!

Well it's all but official. I'll be leaving on Monday August 25th. I just have to get the money for the ticket and I'm good to go. It's so crazy to think that within the next week I may potentially have my ticket for me to leave. Oh my goodness!!! Well it contributes to the excitement but at the same time it makes me have heart palpitations knowing that in 143 days I'll be getting on a plane and leaving everyone for two years.

Developing my vision

Well, over the past month God has really been helping me to define my vision of what I want to do out in Jinja. I knew discipleship was the broad sense of what I would be doing, but now I've seen that it'll be through my joy that God can really use me down there. So with that comes a prayer request that I would be able to be "joyful in everything" and that through my smile people would see the love of Christ. I have to admit I'm getting butterflies and a little sad at times just thinking of the people I will miss back here, but I know that I'm called to die to myself and follow Him no matter where He leads me.

I have a video!!!!

My daddy made this for me to give everyone a more visual idea of what it's like out there. Enjoy.

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