Where to next?

Recently I have been praying over what God wants for me and where and if I should go somewhere this spring.

I am trying to be open.

I am trying to be honest.

I am trying to be bold. And patient.

I am praying over applying to go to Peru, inner city LA, or inner city Chicago for this spring.

Join the adventure.

On the road again (but not off the road again)

I am going to Michigan tomorrow.

I get to see some family members that I love dearly. And it has been far too long since I last saw them.

I pray that God will bless my trip and my travels.

Bonjour!

So. I’m in Africa.

Burkina Faso.

Ouagadougou.

For the next few weeks I have the chance/privilege/opportunity to intern for a C&MA missionary family (the Wolters) here in Ouagadougou! It’s kind of awesome; it’s okay to be jealous.

For all those who have ever been on a short term mission trip somewhere and worked alongside full-time missionaries, have you ever wondered what it is like before your team arrived, or even after they left? Well, I get to see a glimpse into what it means to truly minister to the community here in Africa.

Being an intern, I get to basically do what ever is needed. When ever it is needed.

The intern program here with ENvision in Burkina Faso is relatively new. The Wolters have recently purchased two houses (one for guys/one for girls) for current and future interns working with them. Over the next week or so, I will be helping prepare the girls house so we can move in soon.

I have only been here a few days (after a lot of traveling- PRAISE God everything went smoothly) but I already love it. Some things are truly too hard to put into words. And even sometimes pictures can not seem to capture all that I see. But I see God. He is at work. And it is exciting.

Today I bought some African fabric. A tailer also came and is going to make me some skirts! Yay, patterns and colors; I have missed you.

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Prayer:

• for rest; I keep waking up at 4 in the morning
• for intentionality in seeking out ways I can help
• for ease in learning French.

Love you.

And So The Adventure Begins..

I wake to the sound of water pounding the awning outside my window. My stomach churns. My exhausted body wanting so badly to hold on to sleep, but my mind won’t let it. Restless, I lay in bed trying to calm my frantic mind, knowing if I wait long enough my mother will come wake me up.

I leave for Africa in 5 days. I leave for training tomorrow.

I feel nauseous. I have that feeling I usually get before I go on a roller coaster for the first time. My body tense with anxiety. I’m starving. But the thought of food makes my stomach flip.

I used to think about this moment a lot. Now though, I am not sure if I ever truly believed it would actually happen. When I was young I would tell people I wanted to live in Africa when I grew up. I don’t think they believed me either.

God has been doing great and little and big things in my life. I can honestly say I have been blessed. God has given me a heart for the poor. The marginalized. The disenfranchised. The oppressed. And I could not be more excited. The opportunities in this world are endless and I can not wait to see progress. Hope. Joy.

I don’t know what my future looks like. I don’t know how God will use me this summer. I don’t know a lot of things. And yeah, the uncertainty terrifies me. But I know that God is good. And that I want to live my life to glorify Him. (In whatever capacity that may be).

So for now, I go. I say yes. I trust.

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I talked to my sister this morning. She asked if I was terrified.

(pause)

‘Yeah.’

‘You’re ready.’

I smiled.

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I witnessed a miracle today.

Everything I wanted to bring fit in my suitcase. One suitcase.

The song ‘Our God’ by Chris Tomlin is all that comes to mind. As silly as it seems, it’s the little moments like this that I live for.

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I would LOVE if you would join me on this adventure and journey, and partner with me through prayer.

I hope to update this blog often with stories of my adventures and with prayer requests.

Prayer:

• for safe travel
• for calm nerves; boldness
• for lasting relationships with team members and local people
• against spiritual warfare
• that I will constantly cling to God and trust Him

Love you.

“Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” -Ephesians 6:19-20

Day 7 & Day 8- Driving, Shopping, Beach, Going Home

Driving

Beach

Going home

Getting to Haiti and at the compound

Hanging in the airports

Riding in a tap-tap to the compound in Haiti

At the compound