A weekend with history...

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to go to San Diego to visit Mrs. Viola, an old friend of my grandparents. She'll be 100 in January, and she has planned for several years to fly me out for her 100th birthday. Since I won't be here in January, I went out a little early.

I spent the weekend listening to her tell stories about the past. She was a nurse anesthetist during WWII and landed on the Utah Beach one day after D-Day (see pic below!). She is a great, detailed story-teller and remembers almost all about her experiences in Europe. She also saves everything, so she has pictures, newspaper clippings, even her old uniforms - very interesting.

Here are a few pictures:

Landing on Utah Beach one day after D-day.

Mrs. Viola and her brother were both in the war. This is the actual flag that hung in her parent's home while they were gone. Because Viola was a commissioned officer, she outranked her brother. Their mother disapproved of this and would tell Viola that the top star was her brother's and hers was the bottom.

Showing off her and her brother's medals and insignia.

Enjoying our short time.

Update...Kind of

While nothing is finalized for my trip in January, things are looking very good for me to go through Fellowship and STILL LEAVE IN JANUARY!!! This is truly a blessing, as there really is no way to get things arranged in such a short amount of time other than relying on the Lord to make it happen.

There are still a lot of things that have to happen and there's a possibility that I'll leave a little later, but so far things have been incredibly smooth. I truly haven't done anything...stuff has just happened! If I go through Fellowship, I will probably go to Uganda, maybe Zimbabwe, and there's a possibility of Tanzania as well. I will continue to post updates as I get more information.


In other news, I'm on my way to San Diego to spend the weekend with Mrs. Viola, my 100-year-old friend. I've only met her one other time, but I am very happy that I am getting the opportunity now and am praying that our conversation will be fruitful. This woman has seen and experienced so much. She was a nurse anesthetist during WWII and was on Utah Beach two days after D-Day. She was also there during the Battle of the Bulge. I am hoping to "interview" her and record some of her experiences!

P.S. I truly am on the way. American Airlines was offering free wireless Internet in-flight and I am totally taking advantage of that!

Disappointment

On Thursday I got a message from AIM asking me to call them when I got a chance. They had some questions for me. On Friday, I got a chance and called them. I was certainly unprepared for the news they gave me. They told me that my trip to Africa had been canceled.

Explanation: The trip I was going on was called the Novas project. It's the newest of AIMs programs and the January trip was going to be only the second group to be sent out. However, I found out Friday that the response has been poor and AIM was losing quite a bit of money on Novas. So they decided to cut the program. I was stunned, totally taken off guard.

I do not blame AIM for this. I understand the reasons they cut the program and I think they were very honest about the whole process. Do I wish I had known sooner? Of course. But the final deadline to apply wasn't until November 1, so I was just way ahead of the curve as far as planing and preparation goes (I know this will be shocking to those who know me...NOT!). Several people had just applied in the last few weeks. All that to say, AIM wasn't dragging out the decision-making process and passed along the news as soon as possible. I still have a great deal of respect for the organization and strongly believe that they are making a global impact for the Kingdom of Christ.

At this point, I have several options:

1. I can go on another AIM trip. There's one leaving in January for three months. I could go to Swaziland, Kenya, or India. I am praying about this option. They also have an eleven month trip called the World Race. You visit 11 countries in 11 months. I love relational missions, so this is not a good option for me. I want to go to one country and stay there for the duration of my trip.
2. I can find another organization to go through. As long as they're non-profit, AIM can transfer all of my support over to them. At this point, this is the option I'm leaning strongly toward. However, it's very overwhelming to think about beginning the searching process over...I'm supposed to leave in January!!
3. I can not go and my supporters will be refunded. Obviously this is not what I want but I am trying to be open to this as a possibility.

By the grace of God, I have been filled with an overwhelming sense of peace ever since I got the news. Am I overwhelmed? Yes. Disappointed? Absolutely. Confused? Most definitely. BUT I truly am at peace with this. I'm not freaking out or devastated, just clinging to the truth that Christ will be glorified in all things and that whatever He has in store for me is much better than anything I could ever imagine.

With that said, I am still feeling incredibly overwhelmed. I have a lot of research to do if I'm going with another organization. The good news is I have all my shots, anti-malarial medication, passport, and everything else I need for spending 8 months out of the country. Hopefully that will expedite the application process with another organization.

I will do my best to keep everyone updated throughout the next couple weeks of decision-making. I would greatly appreciate your prayers, specifically for wisdom and discernment.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all of your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your path. -Proverbs 3:5-6

Perspective

These last few months have been absolutely exhausting. Working full time, volunteering, preparing for Africa, and working in the college ministry at my church are just a few of the things that have kept me busy. This past weekend I had really begun to lose sight of WHY I was doing all of these things and had gotten caught up in just how busy I've been. It took a conversation with a child to help me remember.

I was babysitting for two sweet girls ages 9 and 6. They had asked me tons of questions about Africa the whole night. Then one of them asked why I was going. Instead of answering, I responded, "Why do you think I'm going?" Her response? "Well actually, I know why you're going. It's because the kids in Africa need you to tell them about Jesus so we can all be together in heaven one day." Such a simple answer, yet she got it exactly right. That's the reason. The only reason.

I get this question a lot these days, but my answer is never so simple. It always involves an explanation of the worldwide orphan crisis, the AIDS pandemic in Africa and Eastern Europe, the rampant political corruption that allows these problems to continue, the list goes on... My answer includes Jesus too, but it's not all that people hear. But it needs too be all. I want it to be.

The truth is, I'm not going because the orphans need me to bring them food, water, and clothing. I will help them with those things, but the thing they need most is Jesus. It's the thing we all need most.

It took a child's simple comment to remind me of that.

“Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith and your purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12

The Reason I'm Going to Africa...

Do Something Now from Children's HopeChest on Vimeo.

Florida Vacation

Just got back from a fabulous week of family vacation at Fernandina Beach, Florida. It was my first time ever in Florida and I definitely don't know how I survived 22 years without ever going there. It was absolutely wonderful and I will definitely be returning as soon as possible! Highlights:

• Got to spend LOTS of family time. This has become increasingly more important to me as I now live far from them and, come January, there will be an ocean separating us.


• Layed on the beach for hours every day. Boogie-boarded, swam, played volleyball and bocce ball, and walked along the beach searching for crabs at night.


• We saw dolphins every day, including one day where they jumped up out of the water almost 20 times. It was truly incredible.


• Went sailing-another first for me. Super relaxing. Except for when a disoriented bat flew out of one of the sails and started flying around the boat. That was a little more stressful...but memorable!


• We visited the historic town of St. Mary's and spent the day walking around, eating seafood, and touring a historic home.


• Celebrated my 22nd birthday!

Here are some pictures of the week:

This is what I woke up and saw every morning - fabulous!

Me and the younger brother. He's a little tall.

Taking a walk on the sand dunes.

Sailing!

Our little friend who sailed with us.

At some historic house in St. Mary's.

Family picture on the beach.

Dad and the girls.

I really have no idea...

Moving!

In January, I'll be picking up and moving. Where, you ask?

Africa, of course!! Seriously. I'm moving to Africa in January. I'll be there until the end of July.

I've been praying about an opportunity to go oversees to do orphan-care work for over a year now. I thought that I would be going to Russia. God had other plans.

I will be going to either Swaziland or Kenya. Mostly likely Swaziland, but there's a possibility of Kenya as well. Swaziland is a small, land-locked country located almost completely within South Africa (the eastern side is Mozambique). Over 40% of the population is infected with AIDS, resulting in a HUGE number of orphans. It is very common to have child-headed households. Here are a few pictures that some friends of mine took on their recent trip to Swaziland with Children's Hope Chest. The thing that strikes me most about these pictures is that, in spite of the fact that these most of these kids don't have shoes or know with certainty when they will be eating again, they all have joy in their eyes. I love that!

The few details I know:

I will be going through Adventures in Missions. I leave January 4th for Matamoros, Mexico, where I will go through extensive training for eight weeks. I will then spent five months in-country. My time will be primarily spent feeding, caring for, and lovin' on these kids. I return to America July 24th. I truly feel privileged to have the opportunity to share Jesus with the "least of these."

Please be praying for me and my team (who I don't know yet) as we prepare for this trip. I do have to raise support for this trip and if any aspect of the trip causes me stress, it's that!

I will keep you updated on all that happens in the next few months! Thanks so much for your support.

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." - James 1:27