28 May 2009

here i go

Alright, so here is my last update before I leave for Atlanta/Swaziland, until I can update you again when I am in Swaziland. My nerves are setting in, mostly because I have never flown by myself and although I can't control the flights, I pray it goes smoothly and I wont miss my next flight due to mechanical problems or weather. Team unity is a big thing that we all need to strive for and pray for---it is the only way we will make it through and make a TRUE impact in Swazi. It's gonna be quite an experience...I want to more than anything reach other people than for myself to be changed. Although sometimes you don't have to try and change yourself and your heart, it just kinda flows when you are in such a place and God begins to break up all those layers of flesh and just mold you into His beautiful masterpiece. I know without a doubt I will be changed internally and spiritually, on the outside you may not be able to tell, but you will see my heart when you talk to me. I pray I will be an outstanding example that the Swazi people would see us for representing Christ, not just ourselves...

Here I go. What an adventure and journey it will be. I wake up at 2am. Leave at 3am. Fly out at 5:45am. Get to Atlanta at 10:50am.

Will update as soon as possible....and can't wait to share my PICTURES! :)

IN CHRIST

24 May 2009

Swazi '09- - -Mali '10

It's been kinda crazy planning for two amazing trips at one time. While getting packed up and ready to leave for Swaziland, South Africa, I am prepping with "homework" and assignments for Mali, West Africa 2010. Mali is a part of my major, a requirement to graduate with an Intercultural Studies Degree. It is a 6-month study abroad program with Grace University that prepares students for ministry either back home or on the mission field someday, while immersing ourselves in the culture and learning how to communicate whether you can speak the language fluently or not. Mali is about 95% Muslim, or close to, and they speak French (officially) and Bambara as well as other tribal languages among the country. It is mostly desert as well. Oh, and the time we will be there (Feb-Aug 2010) it is about 100-110 degrees F, daily. But our bodies will adjust to it pretty quickly. My team consists of 5 girls and 1 guy. He sure is going to learn alot with being the only male among us, but he'll grow through it I'm sure of it.

"Homework" consists of reading a book and posting answers to questions online, reading the Mali Travel Guide, taking free online french lessons to start practicing and familiarizing ourselves before we take french in August. Oh and getting a start on my support letter which I would send out in June or July but have to wait till I get back in August and it actually gets typed out and edited, mailed, and sealed!

I keep finding myself comparing the two countries. Swaziland's official language is English as well as siSwati, so in this way it'll be much easier than Mali. Swaziland also has about 40% of their country classified as Christianity, but alot of it is mixed in with ancestral worship and other practices (which is wear my team comes in). Swaziland will be all about playing, caring and loving, and doing whatever we can for the hundreds of orphans we will come into contact with. Maybe some construction, sharing the gospel with anyone and everyone, hospitals, schools, etc. In Mali, we will be taking 18 credit hours through either our own professors, the local missionaries, or one of the local professors there- Joseph Camara. It's about one class a month on estimation. Plus we will be "trying" to speak the little French we know and learning some Bambara as well. We will also be in ministry with wherever we want to help. The heat won't be much help either. Cooking with different ingredients and non-American utensils, we will be making our own meals each day. Washing laundry by hand and whatnot.

I want the challenge though. As long as God keeps the door propped open, I'm stepping forward. I pray after raising support for Swaziland (nearly $5,000 I received), that this would not be a burden to raising for Mali. I pray that God will still survive in the crazy ways He always does. I pray I would continue to seek Him and have faith in the mountains He moves in peoples' lives all the time. I pray He would give my parents faith as well to trust it will come if it's His will.

Please pray for me too.

23 May 2009

siSwati language

So I'm trying to learn some siSwati phrases before I head to training camp next Friday. Hopefully I can learn some of their language and maybe that would influence them to think we really do care about people on the other side of the world. :) Here are some of the phrases:

Sawubona-------->Hello
Unjani?-------->How are you? (singular)
Ninjani?------->How are you? (plural)
Kusile------>Good Morning.
Ngiyabonga------------>Thank You
(U)ngubani ligama lakho?-------->What is your name?
Ligama lami ngu...---------->My name is...
Sala kahle------->Goodbye/Stay well
Hamba kahle-------->Go well
Ngiyaphila------->I am well
Ngidziniwe----->I am tired
Ngijabulile------->I am happy
Angiphili------>I am not well
Ncesi------->Sorry/Excuse me
Kulungile-------->It's okay
Yebo----->Yes
No----->Cha
Ngicela uphindze------>Repeat please
Shano kancane, ngiyacela------->Say is slowly please


And of course there are a bunch more I could add. Hmmm...maybe I should make it my goal to know these and say these by the time I leave. What do you think? Oh yea, and I can't forget to start on my French lessons for my Mali 2010 Edge Team!

SIX DAYS!


20 May 2009

trip preparations

Oh, packing is a blast! Ha, not really! I have been buying little by little for weeks now and setting everything else as I decide what clothes to bring that I "need" and not just want. It's kind of a difficult task. I've never packed so lightly before with everything fitting into one suitcase (no more than 50 lbs), but I sure know these clothes will be well worn when I come back at the end of July! But I also know that it will be so much easier to live. Don't worry about your hair, how you look or anything else because that is what is the least important to God or anyone going to Swaziland. That's not the purpose. But lighter packing means less comfort in living. We're leaving the comfortable lifestyle of the typical American and giving it up (for the summer at this point). Bucket showers, sleeping bags, skirts (yuck), no blowdryers or hair straighteners, little or no makeup whatsoever, many many many weird bugs and african animals, but the one thing that holds me together and gives me peace- our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. They say that passion isn't enough to follow your dreams sometimes. The passion may die down. If orphans are your passion its not enough. Well what do they say? Your passion has to be JESUS. When it comes down to the bottom of things, it all has to lead back to Jesus as our ultimate passion, ultimate guide, ultimate leader, ultimate desire, and our one true LOVE. He is the one that is going to keep us going. It is something I have been recently thinking about and studying.

19 May 2009

literally 10 days away...
my heart is pounding
my emotions are going crazy
and I am starting to feel the nerves...

17 May 2009

There is a Redeemer

There is a redeemer,
Jesus, God's own son,
Precious lamb of god, messiah,
Holy one.

Jesus my Redeemer,
Name above all names,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,
Oh, for sinners slain.

Thank you oh my Father,
For giving us your Son,
And leaving your Spirit,
til the work on earth is done.

When I stand in glory,
I will see his face,
And there I'll serve my King forever,
In that Holy place.

14 May 2009

11 May 2009

the Wait

Being at home for three weeks without a job or anything "productive" or "meaningful" to do, is a huge change. I'm so used to being busy with my job and schoolwork and being surrounded by my best friends. It is lonely. I feel almost worthless at times. I should be spending these times intensely and intimately with Christ to prepare for the trip ahead and draw closer to Him, but yet I don't. One of my teammates reminded me that we need to relax once in a while. Yes that is true, but it got to me. I hate being in silence and always want something to do. A day of rest is fine for me, but after that I would like to be back in the routine with something that I need to do that needs to be done. It motivates me and keeps me on track. But, I need to learn to just relax and spend this time fully with the Lord.

If I had movies on Africa and AIDS and orphans, I would spend my days watching them, thinking, and praying...

I watch alot of sermons on youtube that keep me going and growing in different areas of my life. Alot of conviction, which is the work of the Holy Spirit. At times like this I feel like my life is on hold and I'm waiting around for something, which I am, but I shouldn't be carelessly lounging around. I should be doing something for God's Kingdom, right?

**Check these videos out if you want to hear some great insight from some Godly men.
http://braveheartedgospel.com/Thots/Archive.html
OR search "David Wilkerson" or "Paul Washer" on youtube.com.

I know that by the time the day comes when I leave for Africa, I'm going to want to wish I had more time to prepare and pray for the next two months. I'm gonna wish I did that. So I am committing myself to doing it, now, tomorrow, and the rest of the 18 days I have to myself.

02 May 2009

Love, Dad


I absolutely love this picture I found. It is truth.
Read. Understand. Seek.


27 days